Edinburgh's new Indian restaurant and cocktail bar, Tantra, began its soft launch on Friday 29 October, with an initial offer of 50% off the menu to tempt in Edinburgh foodies.
Self-described as 'progressive Indian cuisine', the impression is very high-end, with menu choices like the Black Gold Gosht, slow cooked hyderabadi blackened lamb shank crusted with 24k gold leaf, priced at £33. Though expensive, many of the dishes sound rather mysterious and intriguing, definitely something a little different to other city centre Indian restaurants. Don't expect to get a chicken tikka masala here, though you can order the decadently entitled Oasis of Thar (crisp okra on daal filled churma tartlet).
As well as the main course options, the menu also features small plates, which were showcased at the restaurant's launch night, and it is hoped guests will enjoy these while indulging in the extensive cocktail offering. The Tantra Crisp Board was certainly a world away from your standard poppadoms and featured a range of varied dips and sauces, the fig and apricot chutney the highlight. The Angara Chandan-Smoked Paneer Tikka was the standout of the evening, spiced cottage cheese al la plancha spiked with sandalwood smoke, tzatziki, imli glaze, CML coulis and lemon caviar.
The website states a 'mystical experience' is 'guaranteed', so it will be interesting to see if this new venue will be as successful as the hugely popular Dishoom.