Tamarai London Review
Unless you're paying attention you're likely to miss the small doorway on Drury Lane that is Tamarai’s entrance. The single doorman may even be off-putting for a lost tourist, and it’s unlikely that Tamarai gets much in the way of passing trade. The inconspicuous walk down two flights of stairs to the restaurant floor has the feel of an exclusive members club.
The concept for this restaurant was taken from the flower it's named after. The Lotus is a symbol of the sun and rejuvenation, but the decor is closer to the lazy calm of the moonlight, almost decadent, with soft lighting, a comfy looking lounge area and just a scattering of couples whispering to each other.
At most eateries, arriving at 9:30pm you'd probably be catching the tale end of service but not here, a late licence and a bar capacity of 200 to add to the 110 seats mean you can eat right up until midnight, and leaving at about 10:30pm the place is just filling up with a rowdier crowd taking advantage of the ample and inventive cocktail list.
Tamarai opened in September, its design is still fresh and the gentleman who served us was helpful, informative and seemed genuinely pleased to be doing his job. The victuals on offer are described as Pan Asian and are prepared under the watchful eye of well-travelled Head Chef, Manish Mehrotre, who's training in the Southern Indian region of Chettinad, has really paid off.
The menu suggests that an 'ideal sharing portion' for a couple would be 4-5 small plates, salads or soup, followed by a large plate and desert each. Ignoring the suggestion in hindsight was a bad idea, because it’s there for a reason. Having to choose between a niggling hunger and a dog meat hot dog on the way home is not what you want.
We went for the sharks fin soup with shredded tofu, from China, and enjoyed the contrast between the flavourful stock and the soft meat. Then ignoring the fine selection of small plates and salads, and fighting off the urge to order for myself the Burmese Beef Kauk Swey – meant for two – I plump for the Baby Barramundi with Shitake, and the lady picks the Malaysian Penang Curry Sea Bass. Luckily our waiter realised our mistake and suggested a side of Asparagus.
The food comes on two platters placed in the centre, which is definitely the best way to eat and avoids the need to spoon feed each other 'a taste' or clumsily drop a forkful of Sea Bass in your lap. Needless to say it was excellent: Asparagus and fish cooked to perfection, with just about as much taste as you could ask for. Add the appallingly good five-spice chocolate mousse, a few stolen mouthfuls of the roasted sesame and white chocolate semi freddo with wild berry coulis, a couple of fine cocktails served in an ice-filled goldfish bowl, and a perfectly adequate double espresso, and you find yourself wanting to lay back on some sequined cushions, light up your opium pipe and sip some fine champagne.
Look out for that doorway.
Gareth Rees (28 11 2006)
Tamarai London Description
Tamarai restaurant and bar launched at the end of September 2006 on Drury Lane in Covent Garden. The restaurant serves Pan Asian cuisine and seats 110 for lunch and dinner with an additional bar capacity of 200. Rare among London restaurants, guests dining at Tamarai can enjoy a late night license and complimentary parking in the building.
The lotus, a symbol of the sun, of creation and rejuvenation is considered to be the first flower to appear on earth and is intrinsic to the folklore of some of the world’s ancient civilizations. Symbolising the eight-fold path to enlightenment in Buddhism, as well as in Hindu mythology, the lotus is a form that has inspired art and emotion through the ages and is the icon that has been the design and cuisine inspiration for Tamarai (from the pronunciation of thamarai – chettinad/tamil for lotus).
Tamarai’s head chef has travelled and trained extensively within the southern Indian region of Chettinad, (located at the coastal line of the Bay of Bengal) and is bringing with him specialists in each cuisine including a grand master chef from Chettinad. The brigade also includes dim sum chefs who prepare a larger variety of dim sum for lunch to accompany an extensive range of salads and juices from a juice bar.
The regularly changing menu features dishes such as Grilled Baby Barramundi with Nam Prik Pao Noodles, Penang Curry Sea bass with Spicy Mee Krob, Chettinad Rabbit Varuval with Cinnamon Scented Poha and Tomato Mustard Chutney, Char Grilled Beef with Malay Chilli Jam and Green Papaya Salad, Vietnamese Caramel Pepper Prawns with Golden Garlic, Burmese Chicken Kauk Swey, Sweet Chilli Lotus Stem with Chives and Coriander.
In addition to the restaurant and bar, Tamarai also has a private dining room, a photo arcade and a digital gallery that showcases cutting edge art and can be transformed into a screening room too. Tamarai is Old World Hospitality’s second London restaurant after Chor Bizarre, Mayfair. The company operates India’s largest foodservice and entertainment centre as well as 11 restaurants in New Delhi.
Customer Reviews for Tamarai
The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Tamarai.
“We really enjoy dining at Tamarai It is always great for a large group and even for just a small family.”
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Connor, Manchester (3 months 28 days ago)
“We were the first to arrive at this restaurant and the atmosphere and service was excellent. The food was superb.”
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connor, covent garden (4 months 28 days ago)
“Great dining experience! We had the prawns which was cooked to perfection and very tender.”
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[ Unknown ], manchester (6 months ago)
“The service was excellent. The server was very attentive without being intrusive, knew the menu very well and even answered a question about the ingredients. We never felt rushed even though we spent a long time at our table. The food was very good also, especially the curry leaf tiger prawns!”
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Bob, Manchester (6 months 11 days ago)
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“The whole experience was very elegant, the staff were attentive without being intrusive, and the wine was perfectly matched with the courses-would recommend to friends for a special occasion for a small group of friends or couples.”
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[ Unknown ], manchester (7 months 1 days ago)
“I’ve been to Tamarai a couple of times for dinner and their place was packed but I some how managed to get a table for two, why do I keep going back? Well it’s very simple, the food is quite cool and the ambience is out of this world.”
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londoner, covent garden (8 months 5 days ago)
“Every meal I've had at Tamarai is great. The decor is awesome. The food is well thought out. Having just spent months in Thailand, I was happy to see Tamarai with some of nice Thai dishes.”
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Londoner, London (9 months 5 days ago)
“A fantastic night!!... I came to Tamarai with high expectations of a great night and I wasn’t disappointed. The Chef’s tasting menu was amazing and the service was very good. We decided to stay back for the club night and the place was buzzing.”
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Charles.Cheers, London (9 months 25 days ago)
“I took a client to this restaurant, truly great place I was really impressed. The food was amazing, especially the Soft shell crab and tiger prawns! Its beautiful, the service is great and with 50% discount I could not believe my eyes. Tamarai is a nice surprise!”
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[ Unknown ], London (1 years 15 days ago)
“Very pleasant experience, we liked the atmosphere, the food was well presented and surprisingly tasty, all together it was well worth trying, especially with the offer on Tuesday evening. Was quite packed for a week night.”
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Ben_Colland, London (1 years 4 months 20 days ago)
“Excellent!”
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Smentha Elworth, Lonon (1 years 9 months 20 days ago)
“I cannot stress how utterly disgusted i was with the level of service by both staff and more surprisingly the Manager at this very overpriced restaurant. Firstly our waiter was insistent on our ordering both our starters and main dish straight away having only given us two minutes to consider the menu. The menu itself offered very little. Our waiter came over to our table to clear our starters away whilst i was still eating. The restaurant turns into a club later in the evening. My friends and i had ordered a round of drinks and on two occasions our glasses were cleared away when they were still half full. We complained to a member of staff who seemed completely uninterested and asked to speak to the Manager. The Manager again offered no apology, dismissed our complaint and when we asked his name in order to make a formal written complaint refused to give his name. We carried on with the rest of our evening and i was even more appalled to later see another member of staff again clear away a half full glass from another table without checking with diners.”
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Varsha Vekaria, London (1 years 10 months 13 days ago)
“I was told from friends that Tamarai isn't worth it to go for a late night drink, but I still wanted to go so I went there on 7 march with two of my friends hoping we will have good time, instead we did not. The drinks were not as described on menu they tasted very strange and we had to wait more then 15min for one cocktail to arrive. Staff didn't look like they knew what they were doing and not friendly at all. So in the end I guess my friends were right, not a place you want to spend your evening.”
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john , london (2 years 24 days ago)
“I thought this place was excellent... even though me and my husband arrived a little late as we were due to be there at 10.00pm the staff were extremely friendly, they kept our table for 35minutes. The food was divine, I thought the the tab service for the bar was a really good idea. Overall I think the decor was stunning in Tamarai - its absoultely amazing - dark and mysterious - very trendy restaurent. Will definitely be going there again.”
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amina, east london (3 years 9 days ago)
“Fantastic. Glamorous. Delicious. A group of us went after work and had the most fantastic time. Cocktails were lethal and a caramel prawn starter was utterly amazing.”
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Katie taylor, London (3 years 25 days ago)
“A friend booked an area for her leaving do, whilst being on the pricey side and the drinks being a little pretentious it seemed like a nice place for a change. Then however a jumped up idiot obviously dismayed that he and his friends were being made to stand at the bar asked a waiter to come and move us to one side - which the waiter did as he was being slipped a note! Had he come to ask us I don't think we would have minded but as it was it was irritating. Having said that though the rest of the service was excellent and the particular waiter you looked after us was a real gem. ”
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Amy , London (3 years 3 months 22 days ago)
“Great cocktails - some of the best i've had in London. Swanky and def upmarket. Bit on the pricey side though, but Tamarai is worth it as a treat.”
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Sam Rowland, London (3 years 3 months 24 days ago)
“Great ambience & buzz until about 12am when it started emptying but still held its atmosphere, exquisite food. Music to soothe the soul. Tamarai is very friendly, welcoming and helpful customer service which is becoming rare in London. Our recommendation for your main = curry to share (Burmese I think?).”
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Miz, Birmingham-ish (3 years 4 months 2 days ago)
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