Let’s start with the odd location of the sink- which was not conveniently accessible to guests as it is Let’s start with the location of the sink which should be conveniently accessible to guests. The room was crowded and one can barely go to the sink when everybody’s seated. Then this picture is how the food was presented, nothing like the pictures that we saw from previous reviews that seem to have abundance of food. The milkfish/ “daing” and eggplant was undercooked, beef skewers were dry and tough, underwhelmed w mushroom sisig , “atsara” lacks flavor …. However, I was surprise with the flavorful duck adobo, and was happy with the crispy lechon kawali, pork spring rolls w an amazing sweet sauce !Tanam should reconsider their menu, step up with the presentation and lastly hire cheerful servers as customer service is equally important to make this place successful.
Dara Behjat
4 stars on the food as it was extremely solid but 5 stars in the experience overall. Highly suggest the table experience especially with large groups
Jennifer Burns
Really wanted to like this place but the service was horrible. While we were waiting 20+ minutes for the check, we could see the servers taking shots. Food was decent but not worth the price.
Brandie Alexander
Wanted to love this place but the mixed drink my friend got was $16 and tiny. I’ve tried ordering the fried tofu but it always shows up incredibly greasy. Oil spills out when I bite into it.
Ken
After reading glowing write-ups in both Eater and Timeout, my partner and I were excited to enjoy what seemed one of the few Filipino culinary experiences in Boston. So it’s disheartening to say that we left feeling disappointed.I don’t know if it was the high price point that altered our expectations (the Kamayan platter is $79 (pre-tax and tip) per person, but in all we found the quality of the food lacking.For a total of around ~$200 the Kamayan platter included: 1 small piece of salmon, 4 chicken wings, 4 tea egg halves, 6 lumpia, and a small portion of pork tocino and pork belly, all on a bed of rice; alongside it were 8 mussels, two small plates of vegetables, and some pineapple chunks and tamarind fruit. (I specify quantities only because the overall quality was lacking, $200 would have been an adequate price to pay for this size platter if the food had possessed any wow factor).The salmon was overcooked, leaving it dry and tough. The tea eggs, while cooked well, lacked a noticeable flavor profile and served more as a space filler. The pork belly arrived cold and the skin was crisp to a degree where it was hard to chew. Other items that arrived unexpectedly cold included the mussels and the pork tocino.The plates of vegetables, which normally would have served as a refugee away from the meat heavy dinner, were left virtually untouched. They were almost entirely unseasoned and arrived cold.The dinner was not without some redeeming qualities. The lumpia were good, along with the chicken wings, which were probably some of the best we’ve eaten. But we ordered a Kamayan platter, so 4 chicken wings and 6 lumpia alone weren’t enough to save the meal. None of the meals components were tasty, interesting, or exciting enough to justify the price point.However, the service was wonderful. Our server was attentive and took great care in explaining each component of the meal.The idea behind the restaurant is exciting in theory, but its execution left much to be desired. Overall, this was less an experience, more an overpriced dinner. Drinks and appetizers seem to be the way to go at Tanam.
Melissa Smiley
This is hard to write because I had been looking forward to trying Tanam for a while and stan Filipino food/culture, but my kamayan takeout order was disappointing.Keeping in mind that ordering to-go will cause some obvious changes to temperature and texture of food, the flavor and execution of the dishes overall were lacking. The pork tocino was extremely dry and under-seasoned, as was the kabocha squash and bok choy. We also received salmon (guessing this was maybe a special for the day). I would have liked a description of what this was, because it was hard to tell what it was supposed to be and came across unpleasantly fishy. The lumpia and tea eggs were decent. The chicken wings were just okay- the menu states these are double-fried but I would not have guessed that without reading this. The kabocha coconut milk puree could use more seasoning. The coconut milk mussels were good, and the pork belly was crispy and juicy. The condiments were good but for the price of the meal I would have expected to receive bigger portions.In general I don’t think the takeout option is worth the price. The takeout kamayan was $140 (not including fees) and I don’t feel I received my money’s worth. I’m still rooting for Tanam and hope they review and consider feedback.
Junie Quicho
Hello Tanam, we were there yesterday, enjoyed our boxed kamayan food and drinks. Even though we pre-ordered for pick up we decided to eat there. We had really good service and the boxed food and drinks we ordered were delicious. However, the Halo-halo party mix was awful. First of all, I felt cheated on the play for names calling a party snack mix Halo-halo which is the name for a very traditional age-old Filipino treat and then serve it badly was distasteful. Everything in it was stale and old. Please check your food items before serving. It was a total waste of money considering the contents are of cheap snack mixes and a small serving size. A cup of old party mix for $8+ was a waste of money.
Janice Zhou
SLOW TERRIBLE SERVICEMy husband and I were really excited to try this place when we saw the nicely plated Kamayan dinner photos on their website, but our experience here was beyond disappointing.We booked a reservation and fully paid for our dinner in advance on Tock before our visit. After we arrived and ordered our drinks, we weren’t served food until 1 hour and 20 minutes later. While we were sitting and waiting on the patio in 20F degree weather, the kitchen was consistently serving and fulfilling take out orders. Every table next to us on the patio has been waiting for their food to be served during this time as well. How can you prioritize takeout orders when we have booked in advance and have fully paid for our dinners?!Finally when the kitchen finished preparing our food, the waitress carried out a tray with all the rice, meat and vegetables. Please note that if you are not dining privately with a big group indoors, you will not get the banana leaf covered table. All the food came on a tray.What’s worse for our experience was that we purchased additional lobsters for our meal when we made the reservation, but we were never served the lobster. We realized that only after we have finished our meal and had to notify the waitress to get our payment refunded.The restaurant is extremely understaffed and poorly managed. The food is mediocre as well. It only looks good on photos.If you have time to kill and would like to impress your friends on Insta, maybe the group private dining option is for you. Otherwise, you should really save you money and time by avoiding this place.
Dawn Banks
My first day in Boston after moving to Ohio just pre-covid. This was a fabulous "welcome back"!I've never had Filipino food before and this was a wonderful introduction.The staff were friendly, gracious and welcoming. The food was fantastic. The drinks were amazing.After a difficult day of travel the day before, this was exactly what I needed.
Eleanor Davies
15/10, I wish I could live here. The rum they serve is so smooth! We went for Kamayan, and there is a sink right there so you and your entire party can readily wash your hands. All the food is incredibly fresh and delicious. A lot of traditional recipes, but a bunch of interesting new recipes too. I loved that they served us rhambutan, Tamarind, and pineapple for dessert. 1000% ask Rachelle for suggestions for food or drink, she knows what she is talking about. Ellie is an amazing cook, she came out and chatted with us and we are excited to see what she is coming out with soon! Love love love love this place, do yourself a favor and come in!!!
This place never fails to deliver. They serve good food for convenient pricing, there is no waiting time even when they are busy.
Caitlin Beatty
Food, service and ambiance were all amazing. Our Kamayan meal was so delicious and special. I had been wanting to come here a long time and I was not disappointed! Thank you!
Nick M.
Absolutely top notch. Great service, very delicious food and plenty to eat.
Hermes blythe
#1 takeaway: This is not filipino food.It has filipino names yes but it isnt a very good reflection of authentic examples of these dishes.To expand its in no way bad food or a bad experience. On the contrary, the staff is very attentive and earnest and the food is quite enjoyable.As it was put to me, however, when asked why one dish looked quite different to the customary food it was named after, the server told me that the chef, Ellie, hand prepares each set of food with her own recipes. This revelation was quite resonant with how I had felt whilst eating the rest of the food. A large disconnect from what i imagined ordering and what I was eating.In most cases a chef's personal take on dishes doesn't change the essence of the dish too much but in this case it did.In their defense, Tanám claims to serve filipino-america food and does not directly state filipino cuisine, but this essentially boils down to the food being a water-downed imitation of proper filipino food.Tl;dr this isnt filipino food its a personal style of food by Chef Ellie with filipino influence. My only qualm being that the names of the dishes imply a traditional kind of dish but aren't that.Possible bias: many filipino dishes are served in heartier portion sizes than here but as tanám is poised more as an artisinal eatery thats simply a difference in business models which I have omitted my disgruntlement on.
Shawn Stricker
I’ve never had such a unique dining experience, and really enjoyed it.
Let’s start with the odd location of the sink- which was not conveniently accessible to guests as it is Let’s start with the location of the sink which should be conveniently accessible to guests. The room was crowded and one can barely go to the sink when everybody’s seated. Then this picture is how the food was presented, nothing like the pictures that we saw from previous reviews that seem to have abundance of food. The milkfish/ “daing” and eggplant was undercooked, beef skewers were dry and tough, underwhelmed w mushroom sisig , “atsara” lacks flavor …. However, I was surprise with the flavorful duck adobo, and was happy with the crispy lechon kawali, pork spring rolls w an amazing sweet sauce !Tanam should reconsider their menu, step up with the presentation and lastly hire cheerful servers as customer service is equally important to make this place successful.
4 stars on the food as it was extremely solid but 5 stars in the experience overall. Highly suggest the table experience especially with large groups
Really wanted to like this place but the service was horrible. While we were waiting 20+ minutes for the check, we could see the servers taking shots. Food was decent but not worth the price.
Wanted to love this place but the mixed drink my friend got was $16 and tiny. I’ve tried ordering the fried tofu but it always shows up incredibly greasy. Oil spills out when I bite into it.
After reading glowing write-ups in both Eater and Timeout, my partner and I were excited to enjoy what seemed one of the few Filipino culinary experiences in Boston. So it’s disheartening to say that we left feeling disappointed.I don’t know if it was the high price point that altered our expectations (the Kamayan platter is $79 (pre-tax and tip) per person, but in all we found the quality of the food lacking.For a total of around ~$200 the Kamayan platter included: 1 small piece of salmon, 4 chicken wings, 4 tea egg halves, 6 lumpia, and a small portion of pork tocino and pork belly, all on a bed of rice; alongside it were 8 mussels, two small plates of vegetables, and some pineapple chunks and tamarind fruit. (I specify quantities only because the overall quality was lacking, $200 would have been an adequate price to pay for this size platter if the food had possessed any wow factor).The salmon was overcooked, leaving it dry and tough. The tea eggs, while cooked well, lacked a noticeable flavor profile and served more as a space filler. The pork belly arrived cold and the skin was crisp to a degree where it was hard to chew. Other items that arrived unexpectedly cold included the mussels and the pork tocino.The plates of vegetables, which normally would have served as a refugee away from the meat heavy dinner, were left virtually untouched. They were almost entirely unseasoned and arrived cold.The dinner was not without some redeeming qualities. The lumpia were good, along with the chicken wings, which were probably some of the best we’ve eaten. But we ordered a Kamayan platter, so 4 chicken wings and 6 lumpia alone weren’t enough to save the meal. None of the meals components were tasty, interesting, or exciting enough to justify the price point.However, the service was wonderful. Our server was attentive and took great care in explaining each component of the meal.The idea behind the restaurant is exciting in theory, but its execution left much to be desired. Overall, this was less an experience, more an overpriced dinner. Drinks and appetizers seem to be the way to go at Tanam.
This is hard to write because I had been looking forward to trying Tanam for a while and stan Filipino food/culture, but my kamayan takeout order was disappointing.Keeping in mind that ordering to-go will cause some obvious changes to temperature and texture of food, the flavor and execution of the dishes overall were lacking. The pork tocino was extremely dry and under-seasoned, as was the kabocha squash and bok choy. We also received salmon (guessing this was maybe a special for the day). I would have liked a description of what this was, because it was hard to tell what it was supposed to be and came across unpleasantly fishy. The lumpia and tea eggs were decent. The chicken wings were just okay- the menu states these are double-fried but I would not have guessed that without reading this. The kabocha coconut milk puree could use more seasoning. The coconut milk mussels were good, and the pork belly was crispy and juicy. The condiments were good but for the price of the meal I would have expected to receive bigger portions.In general I don’t think the takeout option is worth the price. The takeout kamayan was $140 (not including fees) and I don’t feel I received my money’s worth. I’m still rooting for Tanam and hope they review and consider feedback.
Hello Tanam, we were there yesterday, enjoyed our boxed kamayan food and drinks. Even though we pre-ordered for pick up we decided to eat there. We had really good service and the boxed food and drinks we ordered were delicious. However, the Halo-halo party mix was awful. First of all, I felt cheated on the play for names calling a party snack mix Halo-halo which is the name for a very traditional age-old Filipino treat and then serve it badly was distasteful. Everything in it was stale and old. Please check your food items before serving. It was a total waste of money considering the contents are of cheap snack mixes and a small serving size. A cup of old party mix for $8+ was a waste of money.
SLOW TERRIBLE SERVICEMy husband and I were really excited to try this place when we saw the nicely plated Kamayan dinner photos on their website, but our experience here was beyond disappointing.We booked a reservation and fully paid for our dinner in advance on Tock before our visit. After we arrived and ordered our drinks, we weren’t served food until 1 hour and 20 minutes later. While we were sitting and waiting on the patio in 20F degree weather, the kitchen was consistently serving and fulfilling take out orders. Every table next to us on the patio has been waiting for their food to be served during this time as well. How can you prioritize takeout orders when we have booked in advance and have fully paid for our dinners?!Finally when the kitchen finished preparing our food, the waitress carried out a tray with all the rice, meat and vegetables. Please note that if you are not dining privately with a big group indoors, you will not get the banana leaf covered table. All the food came on a tray.What’s worse for our experience was that we purchased additional lobsters for our meal when we made the reservation, but we were never served the lobster. We realized that only after we have finished our meal and had to notify the waitress to get our payment refunded.The restaurant is extremely understaffed and poorly managed. The food is mediocre as well. It only looks good on photos.If you have time to kill and would like to impress your friends on Insta, maybe the group private dining option is for you. Otherwise, you should really save you money and time by avoiding this place.
My first day in Boston after moving to Ohio just pre-covid. This was a fabulous "welcome back"!I've never had Filipino food before and this was a wonderful introduction.The staff were friendly, gracious and welcoming. The food was fantastic. The drinks were amazing.After a difficult day of travel the day before, this was exactly what I needed.
15/10, I wish I could live here. The rum they serve is so smooth! We went for Kamayan, and there is a sink right there so you and your entire party can readily wash your hands. All the food is incredibly fresh and delicious. A lot of traditional recipes, but a bunch of interesting new recipes too. I loved that they served us rhambutan, Tamarind, and pineapple for dessert. 1000% ask Rachelle for suggestions for food or drink, she knows what she is talking about. Ellie is an amazing cook, she came out and chatted with us and we are excited to see what she is coming out with soon! Love love love love this place, do yourself a favor and come in!!!
Restaurantji Recommends
This place never fails to deliver. They serve good food for convenient pricing, there is no waiting time even when they are busy.
Food, service and ambiance were all amazing. Our Kamayan meal was so delicious and special. I had been wanting to come here a long time and I was not disappointed! Thank you!
Absolutely top notch. Great service, very delicious food and plenty to eat.
#1 takeaway: This is not filipino food.It has filipino names yes but it isnt a very good reflection of authentic examples of these dishes.To expand its in no way bad food or a bad experience. On the contrary, the staff is very attentive and earnest and the food is quite enjoyable.As it was put to me, however, when asked why one dish looked quite different to the customary food it was named after, the server told me that the chef, Ellie, hand prepares each set of food with her own recipes. This revelation was quite resonant with how I had felt whilst eating the rest of the food. A large disconnect from what i imagined ordering and what I was eating.In most cases a chef's personal take on dishes doesn't change the essence of the dish too much but in this case it did.In their defense, Tanám claims to serve filipino-america food and does not directly state filipino cuisine, but this essentially boils down to the food being a water-downed imitation of proper filipino food.Tl;dr this isnt filipino food its a personal style of food by Chef Ellie with filipino influence. My only qualm being that the names of the dishes imply a traditional kind of dish but aren't that.Possible bias: many filipino dishes are served in heartier portion sizes than here but as tanám is poised more as an artisinal eatery thats simply a difference in business models which I have omitted my disgruntlement on.
I’ve never had such a unique dining experience, and really enjoyed it.
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