What would you say if I told you that you could get £3 whisky and to-die-for curry dishes if you rubbed a Buddha’s belly? You’d say yes, right? Me too. Which is why I ventured down to Battersea in search of Tiger Dram’s secret pop-up.
Venue
Down a darkened alley on Battersea High Street you’ll find the portal to Tiger Dram’s curry and whisky-fuelled world. I’ll not give away it’s exact location (that would be spoiling all the fun) but when you do locate it, you’ll be met with its gallant gate keeper aka, the Buddha and his bountiful belly. After a couple of rubs of his gut and a few rings of a bell, you're as good as in (if they have space that is). After we discovered all of this (believe me, it took a while) we were greeted by a cosy den of mismatched furniture and exposed brick work. On further inspection we noticed the many retro posters that adorned the walls, one of a massive circus tiger that I wanted to take home with me, and a variety of whisky bottles, all of which you could order from the menu, they sat proudly behind the lengthy leather bound seating to the right of the venue. And yes, I wanted to bring all of these home, too.
Tiger Dram's secret pop-up oozes with homely features.
Food and Drink
Slinking towards a glass of house Portuguese white wine £5.50 to begin our evening, we ordered the soft-shell crab tempura with mango pickle chutney £9.50 and the crispy lady fingers £4 for starters. The lady fingers, also known as okra pakora, were incredible. They held a perfect crunch and the combination of spices ensured the intense flavour lingered on after every bite. As for the crab tempura? It was just as good with a light and crisp batter enveloping the meaty crab and the mango chutney complementing each mouthful.
Moving onto mains. These guys boast one helluva curry selection; so, naturally we ordered two types - the chicken and the fish. The fish came out sizzling in a coconut green chilli and curry leaf sauce £9.50 and chicken in a rajastanian curry £9.50. Both were satisfying, with the fish winning the spice war. Our blue cheese naan bread £4 and plain rice £2.50 were traditional accompaniments with both dishes and went down a storm. We lapped up every last bit of sauce with our fluffy and cheesy naan.
With whisky choices starting from £3 and working their way up to £9, Tiger Dram’s selection is not only varied but very accessible. Going for the high percentage option, I ordered the Amrut fusion Indian Malt Whisky 50% £8. Each whisky comes served in 25ml measures but my whisky choice just happened to boast an award-winning status. It carried fruity notes and had a slight spicy kick. Don’t fret if you’re not a whisky connoisseur, they have a couple of suggestions suited to first time whisky drinkers. Finally, this bring me to my last course - dessert. Both ordering the cheesecake £4, me and my companion revelled in its bittersweet taste. It came served deconstructed and drizzled in a fresh strawberry sauce.
Fiery curries and comforting small sides are what Tiger Dram is all about.
Atmosphere
When the cat's out of the bag for a pop-up like Tiger Dram, the news spreads across like wildfire. With a reservation for 7pm, we were one of few people in the venue, but once 8pm hit, people were flooding through the unassuming entrance outback. There were a lot of celebratory parties taking up the majority of the long tables but smaller tables, like the one we were seated at, were kept for walk-ins. Atmosphere wise, the place was cheery with a lovely warm glow about it.
Served straight, on the rocks, or with whisky stones, these guys have got you covered.
Summary
If you want to get up close and personal with a Buddha and down and dirty with some whisky and curry, look no further than Tiger Dram’s pop-up. It’s a real hidden gem worthy of taking up anyone’s Saturday night plans.
