What do we need to know about Pachamama?
It’s a new restaurant in Marylebone, dishing up Peruvian dishes made with British ingredients. Tom Catley is the head chef with an impressive CV – he's worked at Ottolenghi, Peyton & Byrne and, most importantly, Amaz in Peru.
There's a fabulous cocktail bar serving up home-infused Pisco cocktails, as well as a huge range of gins, rums, whiskeys and tequilas.
Where is it?
Tucked away on Thayer Street, Pachamama is recognisable from the street only by its pink neon sign outside. It’s best to hop off the tube at Bond Street and walk down James Street, where the sickly sweet smell of shisha pipes hangs in the air. You’ll find a few bars down there, should you be inclined to stop on the way - but be warned, the cocktails in Pachamama are worth holding out for.
What’s the vibe like?
The decor is kind of like stepping into your long-lost Peruvian grandmother’s living room… in a good way. Mis-matched mirrors adorn the weathered walls, and deep red velvet tasseled lampshades add some dim lighting overhead.
There are long tables for sharing with other diners, adding to the casual vibe.
If you don’t like a bustling, lively and noisy atmosphere then Pachamama isn’t for you. The main dining room is packed with tables so close together that your neighbours will be joining in your conversation, and it's impossible to walk to the loo without having to apologise for knocking into at least three people on the way.
There’s also an in-house DJ, making it the perfect place for after-work Pisco cocktails at the bar or a casual dinner with friends.
What should I eat?
All the food on the menu is meant for sharing – a kind of Peruvian tapas. The menu is divided into four sections – Mama's Ceviche, Josper Oven, Robata Grill and Salads and Sides.
The Mama's Ceviche section boasts dishes like Devonshire sea trout with watercress, beetroot and bleeding tiger's milk (£9) and chilled prawns with garden peas, mint and wasabi tiger's milk (£9). We tried the Wild Cornish sea bass with samphire, radish, sweet potato and tiger's milk (£10), which was delicately plated, stunning to look at and packed with flavour.
Dishes from the Josper Oven include 28 day ages Dexter ribeye (£12), smoked Gloucester Old Spot ribs with English malt and peanut glaze (£10, and highly recommended) and sweet platain with Sussex feta and aji salsa (£7). We couldn't resist the crispy lamb belly with miso and green aji sauce (£10) which was absolutely divine. We also had the clams and mussels with Pisco, ginger and coriander (£11) which was super flavoursome and a perfect size for sharing.
From the Robata Grill menu we tried out the blackened herb-fed chicken with treacle, lime and wild oregano (£8), which has a brilliant flavour but was a touch undercooked. If we were to go back we'd try the flamed octopus with purple potatoes, capers and crispy shallots (£8).
To go with all this we chose a side of purple potatoes with peanuts, mint and crispy onions (£6) which can only be described as a posh potato salad. Other sides include butter beans with tomatoes and lime (£7) and quinoa with avocado, Granny Smith apples and coriander vinaigrette.
There's a small selection of starters, including tacos, chicharrones and crispy duck legs starting at £3.
What about drinks?
There's only one thing for getting in the Peruvian spirit, and that's Pisco. The house cocktail, Papa's Pisco, is a mix of Pisco, lemon, egg white and Amargo Chuncho and we can highly recommend it. Mama's Pisco with raspberry, mint and orange juice is deliciously refreshing - perfect as an aperitif.
We were assured by other diners that the Dark Mamacona - made with rum, falemum, orate sherbet, lime and agarve syrup - was also worth getting.
The wine list isn't as extensive as the enormous spirit menu, but there's a good variation, starting at £20 and going up to £95. There's a few available by the glass, and 250ml and 500ml carafes are also on offer.
Overall thoughts
We loved the lively vibe of Pachamama. The DJ, brilliant cocktails and sharing plates made for a casual and laid back evening.
Pachamama is at 18 Thayer St, London W1U 3JY. Find out more.
Hot Dinners were invited to eat At Pachamama. Prices were correct at the time of writing.
