How do you react when the dish you are served is supposed to be a familiar street fare — and instead what you get is a white sphere sitting on a bed of puris? Once you bite into it you know it is the good ole Rangoli Chaat, where the yogurt sphere is served with chilled sweet and sour chaat tossed with sev and green apple. Molecular gastronomy is the way to go clearly, at the all-new Tamak, the all-day restaurant in Feathers — A Radha Hotel in Porur. With a comfortable 75-seater space in 3000-sq-ft, it runs alongside their other restaurant, Waterside, with a live open kitchen, that lets diners see where all the action happens.
Shall we chaat?
Expect a menu loaded with Indian food and a smattering of Continental, Middle Eastern, and Asian fare too. Firmly believing in the no-wastage policy, they also curate meals for large groups looking to dine, without a fuss. After that delightful innovative chaat, we feast on Steamed Chicken Wontons with Chilli oil, which has delicious shredded chicken with a hint of spice. Unlike most other places serving Japanese cuisine, Tamak doesn’t serve sushi but explores tempuras of different kinds like vegetarian, tiger prawns and crab too! The Anda Paratha which follows, immediately transports us to the streets of Delhi, as we bite into the paratha, which is fried with the egg. A Crispy Turnip Cake will rekindle your love for the not-so-loved vegetable, as it is kept simple and served with chilli and crispy crumbs.
Lamb shank redemption
What follows is even better as the Iranian Lamb Kabab turns up next and we dig into it immediately; the minced lamb meat is spiced, with a hint of saffron. It is just the start of a complete meat feast, as the Pork Belly with Tobanjan BBQ sauce is served next, and it is love at first sight. The meat is cooked medium rare and is dressed with the sweet and spicy sauce. If you’re looking for something familiar, the classic Nalli Nihari is a must, as we enjoy every bit of the spicy stew, which is served with two meaty lamb shanks, which are slow-cooked, and melts in our mouths, as we take the first bite. After having had our fill, we are left excited about the signature Matcha Tiramisu. Unfortunately, we couldn’t taste it because of a missing ingredient, but the delectable Valrhona Dulce Chocolate Éclairs and the Rhubarb Tres Leche make up for its absence.
While the éclairs are loaded with caramel, hazelnut, and the creamy creme brûlée, the Tres Leche (milk cake infused with three different types of milk) is different as it is soaked with a sweet and sour rhubarb, and is a burst of flavours, that we like.
Meal for two is INR 1,600 plus taxes.