The word Tamasha is synonymous with drama, theatrics and telling of a story. And that’s probably just one aspect of what this latest hotspot is about. Aspiring to replicate their successful stint in the capital, owner Priyank Sukhija has set the stage and the curtains go up on January 20. What you can look forward to is an expansive space spread over 9,000 square feet with an open bar and an indoor and outdoor section that has around 330 covers in total.
Ambience: The first thing that catches your eye is the luminous light fixtures and the hanging mirrors right in the centre that definitely create a dramatic effect as you take in the open space, something that’s hard to come by in this city. The warmth of the lights draws you in. The décor is minimalistic but every wall has a story to tell. From the Japanese fortune symbol Koi Carp that adorns the walls to the Flying Pigs, there are definitely many conversation starters including the open bar that showcases Tamasha’s exhaustive alcohol range that proudly stands alongside quirky figurines.
Food: The menu is largely focused on offering you a variety of Indian and International flavours with a slight twist, catering to different palates. So, you will find flavour profiles from the west competing with popular, comfort Mumbai-street food like bheja fry, kheema pav, alongwith flavours from the Konkan or down South and closer home. To start of your meal, we recommend you try the Burrata (Rs 395) which is a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. Served here with lavash and a syringe of balsamico. Deliciously creamy, this one is a great start to the meal. You can also try the Indian Macaroni Balls (Rs 285) that’s loaded with gooey macaroni served with a mango jalapeno mayo or opt for the Achari Shroom Wanton (Rs 245) served with chilli oil. Spicy, sour and sweet this fried wanton pleasantly surprised us when it retained its crunch even when it went cold. For light eaters, we highly recommend the Bhutta & Chicken Quenelle (Rs 195), apart from being a welcome change to the regular sweet corn soup, this one packs in the flavour with every spoon. Our only complain while you definitely taste the sweetness of the corn, the smokiness was hard to detect. The Sabzi and Pasta Soup (Rs 180) and the Chhota Paya Ka Shorba (Rs 280) are also great options. The Laal Maas Irun (Rs 325) is a fusion of Rajasthani favourite laal maas served with an Iranian must-have and all-time favourite brun pav. The pulled spiced lamb goes well with the laal maas sauce and the brun does its job perfectly holding in all those flavours and yet not falling apart. The Madras Curry Chicken Risotto (Rs 370) and Murgh Khurchan Cannelloni (Rs 395) see you enjoying traditional desi flavours with an Indian twist. We will be back for the desserts when the place opens.
Overall verdict: Tamasha lives up to expectations. The drama is in the food and the drinks, the flavours are spot on and the theatrics are limited to presentation. The ambience whets your appetite tantalising you and preparing you for the big reveal that does not disappoint. As far as the drinks go, there’s definitely an extensive list that we would love to sample, something we had to postpone for another day as they were busy adding the final touches.
AT: Tamasha, Victoria House, next to Kamala Mills, diagonally opposite Hard Rock Cafe.
