Review: Permit Room Kid’s Menu

The Permit Room in Oxford is the more relaxed sibling of Dishoom – the kind of place you’d associate with cocktails and conversation, not highchairs and finger food. But step inside, and it is a welcoming space with charm, warmth, and surprisingly great options for little diners.

If you’ve visited any Dishoom, you’ll know the look: mid-century furniture, Bombay-inspired art that suggests stories. The Permit Room follows suit but dials down the formality. There’s a huge bar area, a stripped-back menu, DJ decks and an emphasis on casual dining. We visited on a Wednesday lunchtime, and the room buzzed with families, couples, solo diners and students, a genuinely mixed crowd.

Despite the grown-up vibe, staff didn’t blink when we arrived with our toddler. A highchair was swiftly provided, crayons handed out, and when I apologised for food flung on the floor, I was met with a smile and a gentle, “Happens all the time.”

The menu has been trimmed compared to other Dishoom sites, offering more of a tapas-style, all-day café approach. There’s a strong cocktail list, snacks, curries, rice and grilled items – hearty, flavoursome dishes built for sharing. Although, in our case, sharing quickly went out the window.

I ordered the Chicken Ruby, while my partner opted for the Prawn Moilee. Both arrived fragrant and beautifully presented, and both were so good we ended up guarding our plates rather than passing them across the table. The Moilee was a standout: a light, fragrant South Indian-style curry with a stunning yellow colour, gentle coconut notes, and just a hint of spice. The prawns were well-sized and tender, and paired with rice, the portion felt generous and satisfying without being heavy. These are bowls of comfort: rich, layered spices and just enough heat to satisfy without overwhelming.

We also ordered chakli – spiral savoury snacks, a little too bland for our liking and also a little late to the table. This might be fine if you are relaxing over drinks, but when our child is hungry, mealtime can be less relaxing, more distracting.

The children’s menu is small but considered, and blissfully there’s not a nugget in sight.

We chose the paneer fingers: lightly spiced, served with crunchy-tender broccoli, fluffy rice, and a pot of creamy raita. The plate arrived hot (a bit too hot for toddler fingers at first), but the food itself was generous in portion and full of variety. Our son, still only one, devoured the paneer and was particularly taken with the raita.

At £6.50–£8.50 depending on the dish, it’s not the cheapest children’s option in town, but the quality is far above average. And if nothing on the kids’ menu appeals, you’re welcome to order any adult dish in a smaller portion.

A cheese naan from the adult menu (ordered early to tide our son over) was also a hit: spring onion added interest, though this is not described in the menu and is something to be aware of if you have picky eaters. It also arrived piping hot – something to note if you’re feeding little ones.

Service was friendly, but there were a few bumps. We had to call over staff more than once, and two items were forgotten from our order. To their credit, they apologised and fixed it quickly – and floor manager Taylan took the time to tell us about the restaurant’s Bombay-Persian fusion concept and how Permit Room differs from Dishoom. That extra effort went a long way.

The only thing missing? A small snack for children on arrival would make a big difference – a bit of bread or something to nibble on while grown-ups choose. But really, that’s nitpicking. We loved the option on the children menu to draw your own art piece and submit it to win a family breakfast and to see your art on the wall. Better than a simple colouring sheet, Permit Room has thought about older children who would relish the opportunity to create their own design and have it displayed..

If you’re raising a foodie, or just want a change from the standard kids’ menu, this place deserves a spot on your go-to list. Just maybe don’t expect to share your curry.