ITP Indian Travel Places: Food, Travel, Tourism Business Events and Trade Shows
Address: Conrad Bengaluru, 25/3, Kensington Rd, Someshwarpura, Ulsoor, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008 India
Time: 11 AM to 1 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 2,500
Cuisines: Mediterranean
Facilities: Serves Non Veg, Full Bar Available, Valet Parking Available, Serves Cocktails, Outdoor Seating
Tiamo – Conrad Bengaluru, Ulsoor: DECOR
I was curious to see what the newly-opened Conrad and its restaurants looked like and began at Tiamo. It’s quite lovely in the way pool-side spaces can be with attractive views of the city by night. The seating rambles around the pool and while we sat out in the open, we had to move into a pavilion when an unseasonal shower came down. The setting is Tiamo’s winning proposition.
Tiamo – Conrad Bengaluru, Ulsoor: FOOD
It’s a Mediterranean menu, tilting heavily towards Italian. I can’t help thinking there’s a surfeit of Italian restaurants around, particularly in the star hotels, and they are beginning to cause burrata fatigue. In any case, Tiamo’s version, served with compressed tomatoes and a swirl of gazpacho — which sets it apart — is perfectly nice. The appetizers also include a Mezze Platter of predictable hummus, labneh, muhammara and marinated olives. The Gambas al Ajillo was my warm appetizer. The prawns were fresh and cooked right, but the dish could have done with more generous a pool of olive oil. Tiamo’s menu is compact and there’s a small selection of pasta, pizza, burgers and sandwiches. I chose from the mains and had the Grilled Sea Bass in Grenobloise, the classic sauce of browned butter, capers and lemon from the south of France. The fish was perfectly rendered and so were the sauce and accompaniments. I also tasted the Wild Mushroom and Celery Risotto, which was rich with the flavor of a porcini nage.
The hotel’s executive chef told me they are making a concerted effort to use local ingredients. There’s a selection of local cheeses, including Camembert from Kodaikanal and a curry leaf-flavored cheese from Pondicherry. So, you can wrap up your Tiamo meal with cheeses or sweets. My pick of the desserts would be the Warm Bitter Chocolate Cake, and there’s the Tiramisu that’s de rigueur on Italian menus.
There’s a well-stocked bar and you can order a good glass of wine while you admire the view.
Tiamo – Conrad Bengaluru, Ulsoor: SERVICE
Service is exceptionally good and the restaurant manager does a great job of attending to guests and ensuring their comfort.
Tiamo – Conrad Bengaluru, Ulsoor: PLUS AND MINUS
The pool-side location and the al fresco dining experience are the best parts about Tiamo. The food has a predictable, playing-safe quality to it and doesn’t quite make you go ‘wow’.
