Peruvian delights at Pachamama, Marylebone

Style Points: 4/5
Price: £££
Overall: 5/5

Pachamama in Marylebone is a delightfully folkish looking restaurant which serves up stunning Peruvian cuisine using some of the most extraordinary ingredients to produce and intriguing menu!

The restaurant itself is beautiful and although it is quite a large space, it doesn’t seem so until you look closer because of the small snug concaves and cozy sectioned spaces. The décor is composed on low lighting, exposed areas of brick wall, vintage lampshades and wooden dresses with pot plants resting on top – very welcoming indeed!

Would I Want Seconds?

Pacahmama's Head Chef Adam Rawson has created an attractive and innovative menu split into sections including sea, land and soil and many of the dishes are designed to share.

The drinks center around Peru’s national spirit, Pisco and in honour of this I ordered the refreshing and fruity Mama’s Pisco cocktail, which was made of Barsol Quebranta Pisco, fresh orange, raspberry, mint, lime, sugar.

For starters we ordered a variety of dishes to share, included delicious brown crab and yuca churros, small bites of smoked cheddar tequeños and beef and short rib croquettas. We also ordered our main courses on a sharing basis and I tried their signature dish the scrumptious seabass ceviche served with samphire, crunchy radish and tiger's milk. We also ordered the black trompette carapulcra, Iberico pork with pluma, maïz, huacatay and Miso-curred carrot, red quinoa, Peruvian kimchee to eat as a salad.

Each of the dishes were delicious and part of the reason we ordered so many dishes was the small portion sizes of the plates. We could have quite easily eaten our way through the entire one page menu given the size of the dishes!

As a result we had to order desserts and tried the chocolate quinoa with Peruvian chocolate and toasted quinoa, which didn’t taste like salad as we expected. I also ordered the leche frita a delectable pudding made with coconut and brown butter. We also tried the sweet bites truffles platter which were five pieces of decadent and not overly sweet Peruvian chilli & cacao truffles.

Could I Afford Seconds?

Although designed for sharing, the portions sizes at Pachamama are quite small, this meal that if you’re hungry you are very likely to order the majority of the dishes on their short menu. This means you will definitely have space for seconds and the prices won’t put you off too much.

The snacks cost between £5 to £7 and the main courses were from £8 to £21 for the beef short rib. The decadent desserts were approximately £8 and cocktails were the same.

Overall?

Pachamama scores highly for me. The food, service, decor and ambience were all unique and amicable. As the food wasn’t heavy and the menu changes here with the seasons, I will definitely be returning to see what new delights grace the menu!

Website: pachamamalondon.com
Address: 18 Thayer Street, London, W1U 3JY
Closest Tube Station: Bond Street