If you told me the “D” in Madame D stood for “Dammmmn!” I’d believe you because the Himalayan inspired dishes I tried at this Commercial Street restaurant (from the same team behind nearby Gunpowder and Gul & Sepoy) were so damn fine.
I was at Madame D’s in mid November taking up the restaurant on an invitation to have a taste of its recently launched menu, featuring a new range of gorgeous momos (Tibetan style dumplings). I loved every ferociously flavoursome bite.
Highlights were many (essentially everything) but I especially enjoyed the super moist Himalayan fried chicken (£10), the tiffin masala lamb noodles with fried egg (£14.50) and the fiery masala beef ribs with Sichuan sour cream, pine nuts and coriander drizzle (£9).
As for the momos, I hope next time I go I’ll be with a big enough crew to order the lot: pork momos pan-fried with tomato and garlic chutney (£6); vegetable momos pan-fried with chilli and garlic sauce (£6); and mixed seafood momos pan-fried in seafood broth (£6.50). Each had its own appeal, but I suppose if I had to choose just one I’d probably pick the seafood.
Room for dessert? It’s worth keeping in mind when the afters feature aniseed sticky toffee pudding with stem ginger ice cream (£7.50).
The drinks menu intrigued but I was there during lunch with a work-related meeting scheduled for afterward.
Madame D is located at 76 Commercial Street, E1 6LY. Find out more at madame-d.com.