The name of this delightful Pan Asian restaurant may be a little difficult to pronounce after too too many drinks, but the food at TooTooMoo is certainly easy on the taste buds, and very popular with the locals.
Located in North London’s Crouch End and a new branch in Highgate for takeaway, the restaurant gets its name from an ancient Indonesian folk tale, in which a young girl, TooTooMoo, goes to great lengths to provide a varied diet to a visiting giant. We certainly received an equally considered and pleasant welcome when we visited the restaurant last week.
The first thing that hits you upon entering the restaurant is the funky and fresh decor, which is enhanced further by the sizzling sounds and smells that rush out of the open kitchen, awakening the senses. TooTooMoo manages to combine the relaxed vibe of Asian street cuisine, with the comfort and class of a quality inner city restaurant. The food merges the ancient with the modern, and effortlessly drifts between Far Eastern and South East Asian cuisine. There are some wonderful and unique elements that transport you to a far off land and a menu that provides choice to just the right degree.
After much deliberation, we went for the Soft Shell Crab Tempura served with Jalapeno Chilli Aioli, Wasabi Tuna Maki Sushi and Duck & Watermelon Salad for starters; the Beef Rendang, slow cooked Curried Beef with Roasted Coconut & Sweet Potatoes and Wasabi Lamb for main, and Frozen Yogurt with Mixed Berries and Oreos Dark Chocolate Biscuits for dessert. All were mouth watering and made for a truly indulgent experience. Washed down by some of the many great Asian beers on offer, we could hardly have asked for more.
Other great options on the menu include – Maguro (tuna) and Sake (salmon) sushi, Shrimp Tempura and Crystal roll starter, Chilli Shambal Prawn with Malaysian Chili paste, 100% organic brown rice, and the Salmon Miso, which is Tootoomoo’s main signature dish.
Although great take-aways are also available, and indeed was how the restaurant began, this is far from your simple local Chinese. It is a great location for anything from a quick lunchtime bite to a more substantial evening get together, and can be pleasant and relaxing or more frenzied when the occasion warrants it. Group bookings and parties are also on offer. It’s a small restaurant, with a vibrant and unique atmosphere to compliment the decor – if you’re planning a quite and intimate occasion then this might not be the place for you.
The great team provide the icing on the cake of Tootoomoo as an experience. Philip and Ricky form a formidable partnership and ensure that both the function and the food remain at the highest level. During our visit, Philip, Tootoomoo’s founder and CEO, took great care of us. With a vast amount of experience within the hospitality and food sector, he certainly knows what he is doing. Ricky, the executive head chef, works tirelessly to ensure that the menu delivers. He is highly experienced and passionate about fresh and exquisite food. Together they have made Tootoomoo one of the finest eateries in the city.