Himalayan Delights at Madame D’s, Shoreditch
Walking upstairs to this boutique style restaurant felt like we were about to eat vast culinary delights in the comfort of our own living room. Cosy and intimate, expect to share a table with other East London foodies. This new restaurant has been set-up by founders of the successful Indian restaurant, Gunpowder, strategically placed across the road to absorb the crowds that form.
The focus of Madame D’s is Himalayan cuisine – the dishes evidently show Nepalese, Tibetan and Chinese influences in this understated and no-thrills venue. Following the theme of Gunpowder, hearty and home cooked style food is served. Whilst the service is friendly and accommodating this new restaurant is evidently having a few teething issues. The oven breaking meant the seabass was cooked in a ‘slightly different way’ – the fish was succulent yet on the slightly overcooked ‘mushy’ side.
The paneer dish lacked a burst of flavour, disappointing when its dark, rich appearance looked so promising. However, the fried chicken stole the show – juicy and succulent with a perfectly crisp coating that included a coriander flavoured sauce drizzled inside to add vibrancy and intensity.
Overall the menu is both exciting and promising, mixing cultures and experiences through dining. Some dishes need to up the notch in terms of flavour and heat whilst aiming to keep the simplistic and comforting home cooked style Madame D’s prides itself on. Once the restaurant finds it feet, there’s huge potential here and the menu offers a unique selling point for the area.
