African restaurants are uncommon in Singapore despite our country’s status as a culinary hub. In fact, the only one that comes to mind is Kafe Utu, an African cafe and lounge tucked away on Jiak Chuan Road.
Its founder Kurt Wagner has now opened a sister establishment called Tamba at Duxton Road. And it’s an intimate 25-seater space with a huge dose of heart. More than just a tribute to West African culture, it’s a deeply personal journey for Wagner who spent his early childhood in Liberia and has named the restaurant after his late adopted brother.
“Tamba was effortlessly warm and generous, and I am proud to have created a space to celebrate his life and culture. I hope that Tamba is a place that elicits the emotion of wanting to return and where home is not a place, but rather a feeling,” says Wagner.
While touches of Tamba’s life permeate the space, it is the sense of home that will resonate with diners. Stepping into the two-storey conserved shophouse on Duxton Road, one is immediately transported into another world, with a thatched roof, rustic textured walls, clay artefacts, and a wooden mural by French sculptor Etienne Moyat.
Spirited food and drinks
The restaurant pays homage to West African heritage and cuisine (and Tamba’s personality) with an assortment of signature house specials, smoked meats, seafood, and vegetables.
Try African staples such as Jollof Rice cooked with sofrito, Sakura chicken, and smoked pork belly (similar to fried rice but saucier); Tapalapa Bread with goat’s milk ricotta, drizzled with house-smoked honey and smoked bacon butter (a must-try); and Suya, a grilled skewer dish made of Angus tenderloin. The Pepper Soup is a clear winner, a rich and flavourful bowl of seafood and offals with a spicy Habanero kick.
The bar boasts a collection consisting of over 60 percent of African spirits, with a cocktail menu split into two parts. The first is inspired by stories from Tamba’s life growing up, with cocktails such as a Tamarind cachaca cocktail, The Next Pele (Tamba was a soccer star on his team) and a clarified milk cocktail, Vita (the name of his soccer team).
The second part of the menu is ”Friends of Tamba” includes Chouti, a cognac-based tongue-in-cheek drink, and agave cocktails Smoker’s Kiss and Get A Room.
Tamba is at 101 Duxton Road, Singapore 089964. Make your reservations here.
