Erasing the Memories of Past Restaurants
Not so long ago the height of theatre district dining was a slab of roast beef and a crusty Yorkshire pudding at the now-defunct Ed’s Warehouse on King Street West. Amongst Tiffany lamps, women sat stiffly and wore white gloves, and if a man arrived improperly attired, he was jammed into an ill-fitting jacket and handed an ugly tie by surly waiters. No one mourns the passing of those days, now that one can walk across King Street directly from glittering Roy Thomson Hall into the Indian embrace of Kama. A Blessing from the Hindu God of Love
In Hindu mythology Kamadeva is the god of love, and “kama”, as in kama sutra, literally means desire. With his bow of sugarcane and honeybees and his arrows of fragrant flowers, the titular Hindu cupid should seduce through scent, and Kama does not disappoint. From the moment diners enter, sharp curries and garlic suffused with sweet cilantro, mint and silky smooth ginger greet them in an enveloping olfactory embrace. Recessed lighting dramatically creates an elegant setting in warm interior tones of saffron. Terracotta statues of Kamadeva watch over patrons from their mantle perches. A pleasant romantic reverie might cloud one’s thoughts, if not for the fiery ingredients of Indian cuisine.

Where the Familiar and Exotic Combine
Kama prides itself on the breadth of its buffet, attracting healthy crowds of office workers at lunch, and a theatre audience during dinner. As with all great theatre, presentation is important. An attentive staff matches the telling detail in a vertical sprig or Taj Mahal of garnish, and the à la carte menu is almost as extensive as the buffet. Pakoras, samosas, tikkas, tandooris, vindaloos and masalas are all readily available. There are also more exotic dishes, though, such as Pakistani gosht and Parsi sali boti. Kama understands that seduction is always an entertaining play of the familiar and the exotic, and its addition to the theatre district is a welcome embrace.