Tamarai is a sexy jewel in the crown of Drury Lane. Walk through the tunnelled corridor to find a restaurant, bar and club combo for a night that offers a little bit of everything.

The Venue
Tamarai is a beautifully presented venue that has it all without being a Jack of all trades. Something akin to an Aladdin’s Cave, as soon as you walk in you know you’ve found a treasure. Although it's three venues in one, it is kept open plan with each area opening out onto the next. The black wood and dark feel is transformed with the clever use of lighting and hints of bright pinks and purples. There's a large dancefloor where the DJ can be seen spinning out his tracks in a booth that’s incased in glass and several private hire areas. A beautifully presented bar and funky dining area complete the beautiful Tamarai and every box is quickly ticked.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere changes as the night progresses but the overall feeling is brooding, hot and undeniably sexy. Before 10pm the bar and restaurant are the main focus. Early clubbers hang out in the private hire sections or in the limited but plush seating areas. The staff are friendly, although some of them suffer from the stress of trying to coordinate three venues in one and can be brusque in their manner.

Just be aware that the club starts to hot up from around 10.30-11pm, the music begins to pump and the hot girls and cool guys come out to play. If you’re trying to enjoy a nice meal and have a conversation then this is not the time to do so. Book in earlier, eat your fill and have some cocktails then move on to the club to avoid shouting over your dinner.

The Music
The music at Tamarai is an excellent, uplifting selection of RnB and old school club classics. However, don’t expect a lot in the way of cheesy tunes here, instead there's a commercial mix of good music that quickly has everyone away from the tables and hitting the dancefloor. Unusually for an RnB club there is no attitude here, just like-minded, glamorous and unpretentious people all out to lap up the music, let loose and have a good time.

The Food
The restaurant serves incredible Pan-Asian food of the highest quality. The dining area drips with sex appeal and is perfect for a party or funky twist on a romantic meal. You may not expect a bar and club to have a restaurant of this calibre on the premises, but the food served here could just as easily be served at a top restaurant. The summer 2009 menu includes a variety of stunning dishes courtesy of head chef Manish Mehrotra, whose CV includes New Dehli’s Indian Accent restaurant. The food isn’t cheap but it’s relatively reasonable when compared to many other restaurants located in clubs. A tasting menu with ten dishes is available for £52 pounds, and an additional £17 for five wines as well.

Sweet chilli lotus root (tamarai means lotus) with chives and fresh coriander (£6) is an interesting take on the usual pre-starter, with a pile of crisp lotus root coated in an intensely sweet chilli sauce. Like a posh version of crisps, but much, much better. Beef satay (£9) is another standout, with incredibly tender beef coated in a creamy peanut sauce. The mango and papaya salad (£8) is very refreshing, despite the almost eye-watering shock of the spice used in the dish.

Mains include curry leaf prawns (£19) are huge and succulent, coated crisply with a mix of moreish, fragrant spices. Thai chicken green curry (£15) is also a good choice, with an large amount of the pale yellow creamy sauce mixed through with chunks of well cooked chicken, a good balance of sharp spiciness and sweet creaminess. Desserts include seasonal fruit satay (£7.50), with large squares of ripe fruit pushed onto thin wooden sticks, and iced mango with goji berries and bitter chocolate mousse (£7), both light, refreshing ways to end the meal.

The Drink
The choice of drinks is diverse with a large range of premium spirits that you don’t find in just any old bar. The cocktails are quite pricey but won’t break the bank and there is a nice mix of the classics and a funky twist on some standard mixes.

Where this bar really shines though is the wine list. Winner of The Best Wine List in London, the choice is extensive and ranges from the reasonable to budget-blowing. The latest wine list has been attentively designed by wine consultant Charles Metcalfe, with specific wines chosen for each dish on the new menu. Bottles range from around the world, with choices including France, New Zealand, Spain and Australia. Some of the stand-outs include a Stonier Chardonnay 2006 from Australia’s Yarra Valley, which has an elegant citrus taste, and a pale pink, aromatic Vivanco Rioja Rosado 2007 from Spain.

The Last Word
Tamarai is one hot venue. The restaurant, bar and club are all incredible, and if you hit each at the right time the movement through the evening is seamless. Just be sure not to dine too late.

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