Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar opened Vaasu, his second restaurant in Marlow this week, and of course MyMarlow has been along to check it out!
We were lucky to get a sneak peek just before opening, chatting with Atul and taking photos of the restaurant, and it looks gorgeous – see full gallery later. Then, most importantly, we went back to eat!
Vaasu opened its doors on 26th October 2020, having had to postpone its planned summer launch due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Since July the restaurant has been open for take-aways only.
Atul first acquired the site in 2019, and now might seem a tricky time to be opening a restaurant, but Atul commented: “People have been asking me, why open a restaurant now during the pandemic? The answer is that the whole team has been excited about this launch for since we first acquired the site which used the be Villa D’Este for 33 years. We have invested time, money and creativity into this new restaurant and although it’s a long term investment, we feel that now is the right time to open our doors”.
Inspired by, and paying homage to Northern India
Atul’s inspiration for Vaasu comes from his travels in India: “I’m passionate about gastronomic discovery and while we cannot travel and explore the world at the moment, we will bring the bounty of India’s beautiful flavours, aromas and spices to our guests. “
The food
Vassu’s menu features à la carte, lunchtime and seven-course tasting menus which pay particular homage to Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan areas of Northern India. The separate takeaway offering will also continue.
The à la carte menu has starters, mains and sides, and it all sounding very tempting, and we can well imagine from our experience of the takeaways they are delicious!
However, MyMarlow loves a Tasting Menu (7 courses for £65), and this gives an opportunity to experience a really great range of flavours, a real showcase for a restaurant. The menu appears in our photo gallery further down – but in short it was all fantastic. Genuinely one of the best meals we have had in Marlow, or elsewhere! It included scallop, chicken, prawn, monkfish – a choice of lamb or venison, and a lovely dessert to finish. The flavours were amazing, and just something a bit different to what you might be expecting. There are also vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian versions of the tasting menu!
The setting
The interior has green and purple colours prominent, with floral artworks, chandeliers and other features – and it all looks fabulous. Importantly in these times, the tables are well spaced apart too.
According to Matt Hulme, of Dynargh Design who worked on the project: “We all need little pleasures to look forward to and so we worked with Atul to ensure that every detail was considered in order to create something very exciting for the town. The design of Vaasu has been conceived to invite guests into a plush and inviting interior with opulent green colours, creating a luxurious fine dining destination inspired by Atul’s experiences in northern India.”
Prices
Prices:
- Starters from £12; mains from £20 and sides £9.
- 7 course tasting menu £65
Opening times and Contact
We would not hesitate to recommend Vaasu, it’s a superb addition to Marlow’s restaurant scene!
Opening hours Monday – Saturday: 12pm – 2:15pm | 5pm – 10pm
Sunday: 12pm – 10pm
Delivery charge: £4 within a 5-mile radius
Call: 07895 109635 to place an order
Tel: 01494 728126 for reservations
www.vaasurestaurant.co.uk Social media: @vaasumarlow
Photo Gallery
