Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXIII

7 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Akshay and Shalini Dosaj The Tamba story The cool and relaxed vibe at Tamba belies the three years of painstaking forethought, research and planning that were invested into every last aspect of the concept and execution. The result feels effortless and thoroughly organic; visitors to Tamba won’t see any signs of the growing pains that can sometimes plague new ventures. Owners Akshay and Shalini Dosaj, alongside restaurant development manager Rupesh Shetty and the rest of the Tamba team, prepared everything down to the most meticulous detail, so that Tamba could hit the ground running – fully realised and firing on all cylinders, from the menu to the highly trained staff to the décor. About the name “Tamba is a Hindi word that means ‘copper.’ But it also has meanings inmany languages and nationalities, fromAfrica to Japan to even Estonia. In the pure Hindi sense of the word, the name appealed to us for our Indian-inspired restaurant, as copper is one of the earliest materials used for cooking vessels, so the link to kitchens and cooking was very strong. We gave a lot of thought to it, but in the end, that’s the reason we picked Tamba: at its heart, it’s a pure Hindi word, but it’s very international; the meaning in Hindi links to kitchens, and it fit perfectly with what we were trying to create – a restaurant that is Indian at its core, but with a universal appeal, using ingredients and techniques from around the world, and incorporating global sounds and visuals – all brought to you by an international team.” – Akshay Dosaj, Tamba co-creator and owner In was in 2013 that husband and wife team Akshay and Shalini Dosaj first landed on the Tamba concept. Whilst Akshay was raised in Britain and Shalini in Al Ain, both share an Indian heritage, as well as an affectionate respect for the culture and food of India. But despite an abundance of Indian-themed restaurants in the UAE, the UK and beyond, the pair felt that something was missing – that Indian dining had not evolved in many ways, and that it wasn’t keeping pace with the burgeoning food scene in Abu Dhabi. That’s when inspiration struck: what if there were an Indian restaurant that was fun, cool and trendy; one that could bring a fresh new appeal to a wider audience, yet sit alongside some of the finest restaurants in terms of the quality and innovation of its food? Thus the idea for Tamba was born. Once Akshay and Shalini came up with the concept, they began to scout around Abu Dhabi for locations. It was love at first sight when they saw a 5,500 square foot space located on the 6th floor in the World Trade Centre, in the area that is now called The Hub at the Mall – a prescient choice, as three years later The Hub is one of the hottest dining destinations in Abu Dhabi. With beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, allowing natural light to pour in, a fantastic skylight running right through the centre, and a 2,500 sq ft outdoor terrace, the pair knew they had found the ideal spot to launch their vision.