Tava has been on my radar for some weeks now. I had heard some reviews and was eager to dive into the wonderful world of fusion flavours. Tuesday was my day to unwind and take myself on a well-deserved date. My senses were sharpened to complete a comprehensive sensory audit of the Tava Experience.

Location

Tava enjoys a great location right in the Golden Triangle, on the ground floor of the Progressive Mall. The restaurant keeps good company as one of a trifecta of well-recognised dining options.

The Décor

The small space packed an impactful décor punch! As I entered, I was wowed! A celebration of culturally inspired references in a modern space. I was not surprised to see a wall mural depicting the national bird of India: the peacock. The beauty of the piece underscored its symbolism of prosperity and opulence in Hindu mythology. The mural featured rich tones of the bluest blues and a depth of earth tone orange. The orange continued with a series of orange chairs in front of a mirror sequence. The lighting was perfect, enough for photos and dim enough for the mood. The bar décor is complete with the restaurant’s name, perfect for ‘instagramm-able’ selfies.

Overall: a perfect 10 out of 10!

The Welcome

My initial welcome was very scripted and could have had the warmth metre turned up. The off-putting part came after I stood waiting to be seated. I was pointed to the main dining area and told that I could sit anywhere. This lowered the dining experience. After my escorted approach to the table of my choice, a gentleman came and pulled out the chair.

For the welcome and experience setting the welcome party gets a 4.5 out of 10.

The Service

Maybe it is a new way that has evolved in fine dining but as someone whose preference is more old world, a glass of water is for sure a part of the welcome sequence, especially as I had a dry throat from an allergy attack. I asked for water and it was promptly served with the sweetest smile and the requisite rehearsed questions, “Bottled or tap?” “Bottled please.” “Cold or room temperature?” “Room temperature, thanks.” And then we were off to a sweet, sunny start ordering from the presented menus. As the meal progressed, it became evident to me that the ladies had some training and are genuinely sweet persons.

For creating the dining experience the team gets a 7 out of 10.

The Cocktail

I prepared my palate with a cocktail, more so for the experience and the setting of my dining intentions. I selected the mango magarita. The fruitiness of the cocktail was perfect for the upcoming fare. The presentation, rimmed glass and all, was good and there was just enough alcohol for the balance.

For me the team’s effort gets 8 out of 10.

The Courses

Appetiser – I started with the vegetable samosa.

The presentation was amazing and I don’t believe that I had ever seen samosas this size in Jamaica. The samosas were flavourful and packed with notes of cardamom and cumin. The selection of vegetables gave a wonderful crunch. For me, I prefer the smaller versions of samosas, especially when another course is coming up, but these were really good! The tamarind chutney, classically sweet and tart, was the perfect accompaniment for these oversized savoury treats.

Main Course

I chose to go with the butter chicken, my very safe menu choice. It was divine. The chicken was moist and perfectly bathed in the creamy, aromatically infused sauce. It made my taste buds extremely happy. My second protein choice was the shrimp in Tava curry sauce. This was very well-done. The shrimp was plump and the texture was perfect. I enjoyed the flavours in the curry sauce, a perfect blend of turmeric and cumin. I should have ordered a spicier blend for my personal preference; however, what I missed in heat, I certainly did not miss in flavour. Allow me to scream for the garlic naan, fluffy with a slight crisp, it was divine!

The meal gets an overall 9 out of 10.

There is no doubt that Tava has the bones to be an amazing restaurant and a favourite on the wish list of the aficionados and ‘It’ crowd. Several elements came together to create a pleasurable experience for me, the stand-outs being the décor and the food. I will therefore give my evening at Tava a most positive rating of “I shall return.”