Review: Tampopo
Review: Tampopo
Lucy Kane checks out the new Asian street food restaurant on the Wimbledon block.
Tampopo has burst onto Wimbledon’s restaurant scene with a fresh, new offering that is tantalising foodies. The menu offers a deliciously curated selection of Asian street food drawing on a variety of eastern cuisine and western influences to deliver some favourite dishes with a creative twist, all under one roof.
No visit to Tampopo is complete without a cocktail or two. Our evening kick-started with some classic Margaritas and a Raspberry Fizz. You would be completely forgiven if your evening is hijacked by the cocktail bar but we had heard great things about the food and were keen to sample the menu.
The serving style is sharing plates, delivered as they come out from the kitchen so they arrive piping hot. This relaxed style of dining is proving to be popular with all ages. We were dining amongst mixed groups from couples with young children, families with three generations to intimate dining for two or larger get togethers.
Sumptuous, sizzling tamarind prawns arrived first, beautifully garnished. With a sweet and sour sauce, the prawns had us politely fighting over the last one. Luckily resolved when the pork gyoza arrived. The Szechuan crispy squid served with a yuzu mayo, chilli oil and pea shoots had a perfect balance of hot, crispy and fresh. A reliably good wine list delivered a very drinkable rose and red wine that paired well with the food flavours.
The pad Thai is creatively reinvented, served wrapped in an omelette and cooked to perfection. I like a greens dish and the broccoli arrived tender but with a crunch, sprinkled with a touch of chilli. The black rice, served cold, arrived a little late for my liking, although delicious it would benefit from a serving suggestion.
There are so many great choices on the menu so there’s plenty to keep you coming back for more, bring a group of friends so you can taste a bit of everything.
The decor is a visual feast, combining contemporary styling with eastern delights. The space is well zoned so our table was sufficiently private but still enjoyed the buzz of other diners. We finished our meal Tampopo style – with an espresso martini and a Korean apple sour, the perfect accompaniment to the Japanese dessert twist – chocolate mochi martini.
