Restaurant Name: Tamarind
Location: Mayfair, London
Visited: January 2011, Business Lunch
Tamarind is a great restaurant serving delicate but punchy (Moghul cuisine) food matched with great service and atmosphere.
I have to admit I have only ever eaten here for lunch and for business - which does mean my attention is less on the food and more on the business. However, Tamarind's surroundings make it easy to enjoy both. This latest experience was the best I have had, perhaps having temporarily lost their Michelin star they are damn well making sure it stays, and rightfully so.
I opted for the 'Winter' set lunch (which you always do on business lunches!) and started with light Tilapia fillets followed by lamb cutlets in a brown onion and spiced sauce. As always at Tamarind it's the accompaniments that are delivered that are so very moorish. It isn't until you start scraping the bowl of the side dish that you realise that it was as good as the lamb cutlets you were eating. If not better. On this occasion we had warm chickpea salad, rice & naan bread (the best you have had) and other delights that fused together perfectly, as they should at this level of dining.
We opted for dessert and had Rose ice-cream with baked apricots. Absolute heaven, in fact I can taste it as I write. If it wasn't for the fact I would ruin the memory I would attempt this at home. I do confess I love anything Rose (especially if it starts with Laduree Macaron) but this dessert was exceptional.
Not to be overlooked, Tamarind also serve white chocolate dipped mint leaves with their coffee which are worth the wait every time. They are so good I almost didn't want to tell you.
It isn't surprising every business contact I dine with leaves the lunch happy. Surely this is good for business, or so I keep telling my expenses bill....
