After a long day of conventioneering or a long night of clubbing you need a place to refresh and revive…gently.
Fortunately, there is such a place right in the heart of the “New” Boston.
It is called Tamo.
Named for a Japanese hardwood (the same that accents the plush and comfy interior spaces and that is apparently used for baseball bats in the Land of the Rising Sun), Tamo offers a menu that creatively spans nations and cultures, as devised by the internationally trained but locally-tied chef Robert Tobin and Sous Chef Kate Nealis.
From the deep tamo wood screens to the calming swirls of granite and marble to the wave-curved bar to the ocean views that are available from everywhere and the seaside sounds that can be enjoyed on the defined but not enclosed patio (which also features great live jazz on weekends), Tamo is truly an oasis in an ever-more-hectic part of town.
As your body relaxes, your taste buds will be kept hopping by Chef Tobin’s creative menu- a menu that, as full and broad as it is, can be further enhanced by switching in items from Chef Tobin’s (and Sous Chef Kate Nealis’) equally impressive fare card at the somewhat more upscale (yet still plenty comfy) Aura, the all-indoor restaurant at the Hotel. Among the stand-outs on the official Tamo menu are their watermelon-based gazpacho, a chef’s selection of artisanal cheeses that come in groups of three, five, or seven, a selection of a la carte sliders that include everything from black beans and burger to turkey and tuna, a housemade burrata, grilled octopus salad, lobster and potato roesti, veggie sandwiches, and a fresh-baked pizza. In keeping with the Japanese theme suggested by the title, Tamo also offers a trio of prepared Bento boxes, each of which come with its own creative selection of meats, veggies, and other treats. Whether you want a taste of the North End (with arancini and cod fritters), the South End (halibut and BBQ dumplings) or, in keeping with the restaurant’s other wooden neighbors, the “Tea Party:” (with lamb spring rolls, miso corn tempura and tater tots), these three little boxes are a great midday meal or take-away snack. For those who wish to hang by the bar and catch the people passing through the wending lobby space, Tamo also offers a list of “snacks” such as BBQ chicken and cheese dumplings, soft pretzels, and halibut chops (cooked in their own mini-choice of multiple ways), each of which is $9 and all 10 of which can be enjoyed for only $60.
While at the bar, you can also try such local faves as Sam Adams’ limited edition 26.2 Brew (inspired by our Marathon), Tamo also offers an expansive martini menu that includes the creative Green Monkey, refreshing Lemon Cake and the surprisingly good PB&J, as well as a special set named for the MBTA lines that may soon be cheaper than a ride on the T! Among their special signature signature cocktails are a pair of “–grias” made with either pinot noir or pinot grigio (recipes are available on the website, by the way), and concoctions of hibiscus and St. Germain, ginger ale and Jamesons and a handful of hand-picked reds, whites, rose and sparklers that are sure to refresh and complement whatever meal you choose.
No matter what you start with or wash it down with, however, you will be sure to want to save room for Pastry Chef Karen Hodsdon’s tantalizing dessert tray, which includes a crock of s’mores, a jar of cake, PB&J doughnuts, one-hand pies that make for great take-aways and fresh churros with a chocolate dipping sauce that should not be left behind!
If all of this is somehow not enough for you, ask to see the Aura menu, from which you may also choose an endive salad with local blue cheese and other tasty toppings, the famed Aura burger with caramelized onions, bacon, and cheddar on a housemade roll, smoked ham gnocchi with or without lobster, seaweed brined chicken cooked “under a brick” for extra juiciness and flavor, or a series of seafoods that includes a duo of tartars featuring salmon and tuna, perch with black trumpets, trout meuniere with pole bans and almonds, wild salmon with risotto and ramps, or the fresh-from-across-the-street lobster club with lemon tarragon aioli on brioche. Not to be outdone by its neighbor, Aura also offers a savvy selection of Chef Hodsdon’s sweets that includes a fresh lemon mousse, chocolate sabayon crunch cake and strawberry pavlova with pink peppercorn meringues and vanilla yogurt cream that somehow lands on the Hotel’s strictly supervised and surprisingly sumptuous “heart healthy” menu without losing any taste or fun. As the meals are so satisfying (and filling), it is not out of order to dine at Tamo, go to a show or even another bar with your less-informed friends, and then to return for dessert, cocktails, and more relaxing on the deck or in the comfy chairs inside. It is all there for you, so feel free to mix and match and move around as you pelase.
If you are fortunate enough to be a weekend guest at the Hotel or are able to make your way to Tamo after a hard night of partying or a stroll along the Harbor Walk, your efforts will be rewarded by a brunch that is not to be missed. Though the monkey bread with caramel is a must-try, be sure to save plenty of room for each subsequent serving, as all of them (as is the case with all meals at Tamo) are hearty, satisfying, and de-lish-shous! From the more health-conscious options like eqq white and tofu scrambles and yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit to the better-walk-a-bit-more-after-brunch fare like the eggs benedict with salmon or lobster, the ginormous country breakfast and the pant-tightening B.E.L.T. (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and egg), brunch at Tamo is a treat for the mouth and the body. And with the smooth sounds of Jazz and the warm ocean breezes wafting across the patio, the sensual sensations surmount any expectations! It is all so good, in fact, that you may need to lie down after. Fortunately, there is a hotel right upstairs!
If the promise of a great meal, good music, relaxing wave sounds (no wave machine required!) and a top-notch crashpad are not enough, Tamo is adding the allure of golf to the menu! On Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30, amateur duffers and putt-putt fans can while away the minutes (or just the time between apps and the main course or that and dessert…or both) practicing their short game on Tamo’s outdoor greens. As it is right next to the eating area, people can putt while putting pieces of delicious food in their mouth!
So whether you are a conventioneer in need of a break, a tourist looking for a great way to start or end your day in Beantown, a duffer in need of a greens fix or a local looking for something new that you will want to make something regular (and for whom joining the online Tamo Club may be a great idea!), take a taste of Tamo and let the great food and beautiful location change your mood, your ‘tude and (if you let it) your very Aura.
Tamo
One Seaport Lane, Boston, MA
617 385 4315