The Treehouse@51 is a stunning architectural masterpiece, complete with a long, sensual bar, gourmet cuisine, and outdoor seating in front of a fountain.
St. James in London is a very respectable neighborhood. The area near Buckingham Gate 51, where the Taj Hotel and the nearby restaurant Treehouse@51 are located, is exceptionally nice. They enhance the scenery with their combined sense of elegance.
Ambience
When we first entered the Treehouse@51, we sat down at the long, sensuous bar and ordered cocktails to start the night. Later, we made our way inside the restaurant proper, which had a magnificent glass dining area. It was created by architects at Conran & Partners, and its curving glass walls bring the outside within.
Natural light floods in via large windows, lighting up the slate gray flooring, exquisite pale wood cladding, delicate pinks of the upholstery, and subdued green walls to create a delightful ambiance for diners.
On another day, we may have opted to remain inside. But tonight was bright and breezy, and when we saw the courtyard of the rightfully listed Taj, with its blue and white tiled floor, surrounding flora, and bounded by the red brick structures of the Taj, we knew we had to dine outside.
It was no sweat; the staff sprang into action, we were seated, and we spent the rest of the balmy summer evening eating and drinking to the soothing sounds of trickling water and the muted laughter of our fellow diners.
Food & Drink
There are several well-known and respected beverage brands available at the bar. Treehouse@51 takes great pride in its trademark drinks, which are meant to represent the seven natural “microbiomes” found all over the planet.
A whiskey cream with hints of salty, spicy mango, ginger, and tangerine was my drink of choice, and the glass it came in reminded me of a battered beer can that had been left on the curb. In India, the Versova community regularly organizes a beach cleanup, and this is a tribute to their efforts.
A fellow diner who shared my appreciation for Dirty Martinis ordered the Bummock, so called because it resembles an iceberg’s trough. Tanqueray 10, filled olive, and a frozen coating of savory umami served very cold. The Antarctic and its unique ecosystem inspired its creation.
Due to the menu’s emphasis on communal eating, we started with three of the restaurant’s most famous small dishes. Two examples are the Sabich Taco, which consists of aubergine, potato, pepper hummus, an egg, and pickled cabbage wrapped in warm pita bread, and the Desi Scotch Egg, which is formed of spiced lamb mince and the egg’s core and served with spicy mayo and mango chutney.
Burrata and kale chaat (fried kale, Italian burrata, mint and tamarind chutney, onion, and tomato salsa) were both excellent, but the burrata and kale chaat stole the show. It had the perfect balance of crunch, smoothness, sweetness, saltiness, and tanginess. This means I’ll have to make a return visit soon.
The Scattered Stroganoff and the Bao Bhaji were on their way, and we had no clue how full we’d become from these shared plates. Prime Angus, onions, tomato-chive creme fraiche, and mushroom pate came together to make a robust and delicious stroganoff. The bao consisted of mashed vegetables and potatoes and had a somewhat spicy flavor.
How we managed to eat that much and still have space for dessert is beyond me.
The allure of the flavors and the clever presentation undoubtedly played a role. Masala tea crème brûlée had a distinct masala flavor under the crispy toffy covering, and the apple mousse was presented in the form of a green apple coated in green chocolate.
Even so, I was envious of the nearby table’s dessert when I saw a trio of little magnum-style parfaits. Rose and strawberry, orange and cardamom, white chocolate and yuzu—they all looked to be in gastronomic paradise.
We all enjoyed a bottle of the wonderful Petit Viognier from the extensive wine selection. We were a bit worse for wear when we eventually left the restaurant, but we all agreed that we would come back here with friends.
