Review: Zumbura, Clapham
Style points: 3/5
Price: ££
Overall: 4/5
Hidden amongst the cute boutiques and chic cafes in Clapham, lies Zumbura, an Indian restaurant with a difference. Founded by the makers of furniture retailer, Dwell, CEO Aamir Ahmad has created a restaurant that offers the food he enjoyed whilst growing up with his Indian-born parents in London. As a result you won't find a boring old tikka masala on the menu but instead a selection of food from the Purab region in North East India.
The restaurant itself is very visually appealing with its wooden tables, gorgeous tableware and decorated ceiling. It has a relaxed homely atmosphere but still delivers the right amount of swank to make it more than a casual evening out.
Would I Want Seconds?
The staff at Zumbura encouraged us to order a selection of small plates to consume throughout the evening. This tapas style of eating has become fashionable in the past years and is great if you enjoy trying a variety of dishes.
I started with a cocktail called Molly Moo Moo which I could probably drink all day every day. Fruity and vodka based, it was so good I might try to make it at home. We started with pakoras and chaat which both proved to be delicious. The restaurant also gave us complimentary vegetables with dips to snack on with our starters which was a lovely touch.
For the main course I chose the aloo ki tarkari (potato curry) with rice and namuna (peas with garlic and ginger). We also shared a selection of breads which included chappati (wholemeal unleavened bread), poori (fluffy fried bread) and paratha (buttery flaky flat bread). The curry was very light with understated spices which after years of heavily flavoured Indian food I'm not used to. I felt the sauce was quite thin and whilst pleasant, it didn't blow me away. I'd like to point out that this could very well be exactly how the dish tastes in North East India and this is simply my personal preference.
I would hugely recommend the peas which were the tastiest, most flavoursome peas I have ever tasted. Also the breads were great, especially to soak up any remaining sauces, and were a welcome change from my normal naan bread.
For dessert, I opted for the gajjar ka halwa (warm creamed carrot pudding) which was a very different taste sensation for me. Sweet, nutty and warming, a few spoonfuls were enough but it ended the meal perfectly.
Could I Afford Seconds?
The tapas style of Zumbura is great if you have a certain budget. Small plates range from £4.50 to £8.50 with desserts around £3.50. It is definitely affordable and well worth visiting to try a different type of Indian cooking with subtle spices and interesting ingredients. Cocktails are around £7 which is reasonable for London and the Molly Moo Moo is well worth it.
Overall: 4/5
Indian restaurants are often one of the best options for vegetarians as they offer the most amount of choice and Zumbura didn’t disappoint in this regard. There were several other options I could have chosen so it is a good destination for veggies and carnivores alike. The variety within the menu was a great change from what us Brits often expect from the local Indian restaurant and Clapham is lucky to have a restaurant offering something unfamiliar and appetising.
Website: www.zumbura.com
Address: 36a Old Town, London SW4 0LB
Closest Tube Station: Clapham Common
