Tamarind Restaurant

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#23 of 558 Restaurants in CairnsContemporary, Fusion, $$$$

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Tamarind Restaurant

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About

The pinnacle of dining at The Reef Hotel Casino is the world renowned Tamarind Restaurant. With a coveted Chef Hat award and a recipient of the World Luxury Restaurant Awards continent winner for Fusion Cuisine in Australia and Oceania, Tamarind is celebrated as Cairns’ most awarded restaurant. Treasured by locals for special occasions, Tamarind is elegant and exceptional with its exquisite dishes handcrafted from the freshest local produce. The setting, a low-lit dining room with crisp white linen tablecloths, the gentle glow of light reflecting on the timber walls, creates a sophisticated, enchanting ambience for any evening celebration. Tamarind offer a delectable menu of ‘Australian Freestyle’ cuisine. The chefs embrace cooking styles and techniques from an array of cultures. This brigade de cuisine, with their passion for food, creates a culinary experience to savour. Changing seasonally to align with the season’s harvest, the menu at Tamarind boasts only the finest in local

Features

CUISINES

Contemporary, Fusion

Meal types

Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Street Parking

Table Service

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

6-8 Abbott St, Cairns, Queensland 4870 Australia

Parking Available, Street Parking

Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed now

• Opens at 5:30 PM

Sunday

Closed

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Wednesday

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Thursday

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Friday

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Saturday

5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

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4.5

1,129 reviews

Excellent

769

Very good

226

Average

Poor

Terrible

Marti B

Melbourne8 contributions

Tremendous tastes at Tamarind

Nov 2024 • friends

They have a choice of a 2 or 3 course meal which is slightly more expensive than some other places but it is totally worth it. My friend and I both had the pan fried scallops and the duck curry and rice. Both were fabulous. The service was immaculate. Highly recommend for a quiet dinner for two or just with friends.

Written 14 November 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Miki Cugini

Dear Martib, Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to hear that you and your friend enjoyed the pan-fried scallops and duck curry—two of our favorite dishes as well. We're glad the ambiance and service made it a memorable evening. It means a lot that you found the meal worth the value, and we truly appreciate your recommendation. We hope to welcome you back soon for another wonderful dinner. Kind Regards, Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO

Written 14 November 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dirk W

Alexandra Headland10151 contributions

Memorable

Dec 2024 • family

Good location in Cairns, with reasonable parking around. The interior is classy and intimate. Service friendly and professional ; our table staff seemed all to be French. The menu is fairly limited, but offers enough choice to have a varied and interesting dinner. You choose between 2 ($ 89) or 3 ($ 99) courses. Tamarind is fully licensed, but we celebrated a special occasion for which we brought our own wine (corkage charge $ 30). All our meals were well presented and absolutely delicious - highly recommended and we'll be back ! PS Accor Members get a good discount, which makes this really good value for money.

Written 13 December 2024

jasonmitchell108

Cairns41 contributions

Fine dining and service let down by the food.

Nov 2023 • couples

One of the few fine dining choices in Cairns. The service and the decor is in keeping with a fine dining restaurant. So it is a pleasant experience. The menu is interesting, however the food itself is good but not great… I felt the menu and the food was confused and seemed to be trying to be interesting and different but didn’t really hit the mark. There are other restaurants in Cairns who have simpler menus but they stay in their lane and hit the mark everytime, I just didn’t feel Tamarind did this (was my second visit as I thought maybe the first time was a one off). Great wine list is a plus. Overpriced in my mind based on the eating experience, however in terms of a fine dining experience and the service it is ticking some boxes there. I won’t be going back as their is much tastier and nicer food available for less money.

Written 3 November 2023

Wayne Reynolds

Dear Jason, Thank you for taking the time to write a review, at Tamarind we pride ourselves with good food, service and atmosphere and I apologize for having missed the mark on the occasion. I would love to learn more about your experience if you would like to share more, in order to review and improve on our offerings. Sincerely Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager miki.cugini@reefcasino.com.au PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO

Written 10 November 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Hernan V

35 contributions

Delicious Asian inspired food

Apr 2023 • couples

We came here to have a special night as it was my girlfriend's birthday. Although the restaurant is inside a casino hotel, the atmosphere in the restaurant was nice and quiet and the service was impeccable. As we do not eat dessert, we found it especially nice that you have the choice of a 2 or 3-course prix fixed menu. Their cocktail selection is nice and so is the wine selection. I started with the prawns and my girlfriend with the scallops. The prawns were good, but the scallops with dried pork were amazing! She followed with the barramundi, beautifully presented. When it was coming, it reminded me of an old boat. It was nicely cooked with a sweet sauce. I had the duck curry. Although the Barramundi won in presentation, the duck with a Massaman-like curry was out of this world. We paired this with an unoaked Chardonnay from NSW that was reasonably price for Australia standards.

Written 1 April 2023

Miki Cugini

Dear Hernan, Thank you for the lovely review, we could not be happier that you had such a great time and enjoyed our signature dishes. The duck curry and the barramundi have been on the menu since day one and to this day, they are fantastic menu choiuces. Thank you for having us and hope to see you again. Kind Regards Miki Cugini F&B Manager

Written 17 April 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Linda M

Townsville203 contributions

Not the best dining experience

Mar 2024 • friends

I was looking forward to my first dining experience at rhe Tamarind Restaurant. The service was slow and not the best (especially for the price). We ordered a bottle of red wine from the menu, only to be told 10 mins later that particular wine was not available. We then ordered duck curry from the menu, only to be advised it was not available. There is no choice but to have a 2 or 3 course menu which did not suit all of us at the table.

Written 17 March 2024

Wayne Reynolds

Dear Linda, I'm truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience at Tamarind Restaurant. It's disheartening to learn that the service fell short of expectations and that certain items from the menu were unavailable, especially during your first visit. We understand how frustrating it can be to encounter such issues, particularly when you're looking forward to enjoying a special dining experience. Rest assured, your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will address these concerns with our team to ensure improvements are made in both service efficiency and menu availability. We appreciate you bringing these matters to our attention, as it allows us the opportunity to rectify any shortcomings and strive for a higher standard of excellence. Sincerely, Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO

Written 21 March 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JudgeDreadd

Melbourne75 contributions

Nope. No idea why all the awards.

Aug 2023 • couples

Very dissapointing. We made reservations online. On arrival they wanted to seat us in the very drab entrance hall where you had a view of the lovely restaurant down the corridor ! WTF why be so greedy to seat more people in this inferior area? After the waiter first had to go away and consult the manager, we were seated at a lovely table by the window. Lovely interior, friendly waitress, although a bit awkard and very unsure at times. The food needed seasoning. Halfway through our mains a random waiter came and asked our table and tables around us if the food needed salt and gave us two grinders ??? The food was overall boring, lacking much flavour. The chicken & shitake dumplings had no shitake flavour served in packet miso broth. The steaks were okay but not presented well with dangling bits of sinew and fat and the bone marrow bones still pieces of dried sinew stuck to it. So strange for the standard this restaurant claims. The tarragon hash was oily and did not taste of any tarragon. The dessert….Macadamia & Coffee- was almost as if there was nothing on the plate, just small piping spots. I have no idea why this restaurant has any awards and many positive reviews on here.

Written 1 October 2023

Wayne Reynolds

Dear JudgeDreadd, Thank you for the detailed review of Tamarind Restaurant, rest assured I have shared with the rest of the team in regards to food and service and we will utilize your words of advice to improve our service and offering. On a positive note, I am glad that the team managed to change your table to one which suited you better. Kind Regards Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager PULLMAN REEF HOTEL & CASINO

Written 4 October 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kenny_w_16

Brisbane13 contributions

Very average

July 2021 • couples

I have thought about whether or not I should write this review, however it looks like we are not the only ones to have experienced a similar experience. We dined at Tamarind over the Anzac day long weekend. We had been recommended this restaurant by quite a number of locals and booked online. The overall experience was one of the worst I have had a restaurant in this price range. We decided to do the degustation; the food overall was ok, however it seemed rushed and was lacking any real "wow" factor. One meal we had to send back as it was stone cold. We were sat in what the locals later informed of us as the "waiting" area(due to covid (1.5) restrictions- this meant at 9pm the band from next door came screaming though the wall. Speaking with the manager to voice our concerns he did give us a discount, however quite frankly it should been free, we did not enjoy it and would never go back

Written 8 June 2022

Tamarind Cairns

Dear kenny_w_16, Thank you for your feedback from your dining experience at Tamarind Restaurant. It is disappointing to read about your negative experience at our restaurant, and we would like to apologies for any inconvenience the service and food may have caused. It is difficult to respond to an experience from 14months ago, however, we have a new menu and new team. We look forward to welcome you in a near future at Tamarind. Kind regards Murali Tamarind Manager

Written 13 June 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Andrew B

1 contribution

Shamefully DISAPPOINTING !! If I could give a 0/5 I would,

Oct 2021 • none

Tamarind was meant to be the culinary crescendo, to what was a wedding and honeymoon filled with a week of dining in Port Douglas and Cairns. Now I don't try and portray myself as a pretentious foodie, but I do know the difference between a fantastic dining experience, and the experience my wife and I had at Tamarind. We entered the restaurant with excited anticipation, based on the reviews that we had read, but this soon started to fade, as we were left standing awkwardly at the door for no word of a lie, 5 minutes. Yes there we waiters walking by, but not one person acknowledged us, or even attempted to welcome or greet us. It took me stopping one of the waitresses to inform her that we had a booking and we would love to be seated, or even greeted, if at all possible. We were then told that our table wasn't ready, which is fine, as we were soon entertained by another couple who were also left to stand for longer than we had, with zero acknowledgment or engagement. Now at our seats, we were run through the specials and asked if we would like to order drinks by two separate waitresses. I didn't have the heart to tell the second waitress that we had already heard the specials, but this was the second sign that this wasn't going to be a positive experience. It was also at this stage that we were informed that they were transitioning to a new menu, and so some of the dishes that Tamirmnd had supposedly been famous for were not available. This didn't bother me, but the man at the table next to us stated that they had come specifically to eat the specific item and that in such an exclusive establishment, they should always have key menu items available, which I agree with. If you can't deliver every night on the menu, then think about changing the menu. We ordered our entrees, which there is no other word to describe them, other than disgusting. The Duck Liver Parfait Cigar was as limp as a wet biscuit, zero crunch, and seemed to be served on a bed of KFC coleslaw. The Moreton Bay Bug tasted like it had been frozen and thawed just before serving and was the size of a little kids pinky finger and the Kangaroo Tataki was chewy and totally flavourless, as it swam in a reheated Gravox sauce. The Mains were even more of a letdown, if at all possible. The Braised Duck Penang Curry was slightly warm, maybe they didn't heat for long enough in the microwave, as it drowned in an un-reduced lake of coconut milk that was as far away as flavourful as a sauce can be. The Paper Bark Baked Salmon had the misfortune of dying twice, once when caught and the other on the plate, as it was dry, overcooked, and embarrassingly for the chef, the worst salmon dish I have eaten in my 48 years on this earth. After picking at the mains, we just wanted to get out of this culinary nightmare. Again, I'm no food critic, and I give every establishment a chance, but from the moment I stepped into Tamarind, it was the worst dining experience I have had. Keep your money in your pocket. Such a letdown.

Written 24 October 2021

Tamarind Cairns

Dear Andrew B, Thank you for your recent feedback from your dining experience at Tamarind Restaurant. I was disappointed to hear that expectations were not met when you dined with us during your recent visit. I also appreciate you having taken the time to provide further specifics on where we could improve with our food quality and service delivery. Please rest assured that your feedback will be the motivation for our team to improve on the quality of our service presentation and quality of cuisine moving forward. Again, I do thank you for taking the time to reach out and share you feedback with us. If you would like to discuss your experience further please feel free to contact me directly via email below. Danny.huang@reefcasino.com.au Kindest regards Danny Huang Restaurant Manager

Written 24 November 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

gradean

Townsville7 contributions

So upset!

Mar 2022 • none

Never have I been so disappointed. Cairns Central Myers’ ladies change rooms have better decor. At a top restaurant I do not expect to find the decor as bad as the food. No thought to the layout of the restaurant feels and looks like a railway forgotten store room. No welcome poorly laid out. Paper bits sticking from under table legs not even attempt to hide such table levellers. The meal was disgusting I could not chew the dry, tough pork. In fact had to go to the loo to flush a mouthful. ….And that was after minutes of chewing and sipping water to assist. Deep fried bits tasted like stale fish and chip shop oil. The lotus fried “compliments” were oil drowned as was half the items on my plate. Thank goodness the cheese board was edible …uninspiring but edible. They have only two options … one 2 course $75 per head and one 3 course $95 per head. Drinks extra. And the white wine only just cold. Local footy club has a better standard and at one quarter of the price! Restaurant’s reason for short menu is there is no staff for the kitchen. I was so upset I shall never go back again. Horrid run down facility with tropical mould smell and no absolutely no attempt to make it a dining experience to enjoy. Staff seemed unaware that this used to be a premium restaurant site of Cairns they served with out asking if all was to our liking or satisfaction. Just had to alert you. Do spread the word. I’d hate others to find this once magical place now is just so bad.

Written 17 March 2022

Tamarind Cairns

Dear Geraldine, Thank you for your feedback from your dining experience at Tamarind Restaurant. I am disappointed to hear that your expectations of our menu were not met when you dined with us during your recent visit. I would love to speak to you personally. Please contact me on the following email address to discuss this further; tamarind@reefcasino.com.au Kindest regards Maggie John Tamarind Supervisor

Written 18 March 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

wjen9237

Hong Kong19 contributions

Good dinner out

May 2023 • friends

Service was great and really appreciated that they let us cancel dessert after we realized we did not have enough stomach space left. The food was good but not outstanding. For entrees, the tiger prawns were basically just small shrimp without much taste and the garnish or other parts of the dish didn't add much flavor, but the chicken and chorizo was more unique and tasty. For the mains, we ordered the pork belly and duck curry - both dishes were also a little bit too sweet, but overall very generous portion sizes and still quite tasty.

Written 31 May 2023

Miki Cugini

Dear Wjen, Thank you for taking the time to review our Restaurant, I will check and monitor alongside chef on the Prawn size and quality, thank you for pointing that out. We are looking forward serving you again in the future. Kind Regards Miki Cugini

Written 19 June 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Margaret A

1 contribution

Fixed set menu

Apr 2023 • none

Food was delicious. We could not fault anything from food to service. However we were not aware that there was a set menu which was disappointing . There was no choice given. You either choose a 3-course meal which was $90per head or a 2 course meal $80 per head. We're locals and have eaten in so many nicer restaurants around town but have never come across one that was pricey and you were given a fixed set menu.

Written 8 April 2023

Miki Cugini

Dear Margareta, Thank you for taking the time to review the restaurant, and we could not be happier that you have enjoyed both food and service. The menu offering is listed on our website, the set menu is a direction we have taken to offer our guests a full dining experience it being a special occasion or a foodie. I do apologize for any lack of clarity on the offer and hope we will have the chance to see you again. Kind Regards, Miki

Written 10 April 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

valerievalerie22

Cairns13 contributions

How terribly disappointing

Dec 2021 • none

Has some new management been brought in to drastically reduce the overheads? The very experienced staff has been replaced. The food has become a very pale version of what it was. My $26 open wonton was inedible as too salty. The crispy fried barramundi was tiny and not crispy and served with some very dense would be gnocchi. My companion’s fillet steak was mediocre with a mishmash of conflicting flavours. We were offered dessert on the house but declined this as, well, the food is not up to par. To add insult to injury, we were charged public holiday surcharge on 24th December which to my knowledge it is not. I have been a regular customer for many years and this was the last time. It’s such a shame.

Written 24 December 2021

A W

1 contribution

The only choice for an unforgettable culinary experience in Far North Queensland

Sept 2023 • friends

My recent visit to Tamarind was absolutely sensational! I can't say enough about the scallops; they were downright fantastic. And that Angus steak? Pure perfection, so buttery and obviously of the highest quality. Even the sides, like the duck fat potatoes and greens, were so abundant that we couldn't possibly finish them all – what a treat! But what truly warmed my heart was the personal touch they added to our celebration. I had mentioned it was a birthday in the note on my booking and when dessert arrived, they had "happy birthday" written on the plate. The dessert itself was a masterpiece of delicate flavours. The dessert menu has been exceptionally curated. I'm beyond impressed with Tamarind, and after this recent visit, it's hands-down my only choice for top-quality cuisine. If you want to be blown away by culinary excellence, make Tamarind your next dining destination.

Written 18 September 2023

Wayne Reynolds

Dear Waw, Thank you for taking the time to review Tamarind, we are thankful you choose to spend your special occasion with us, and proud that it was a memorable one and that the team took such good care of you. I will pass your comments to the kitchen in regards to the food, as we have only recently launched our new menu, they will be glad to hear. Kind Regards, Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager PULLMAN REEF HOTEL & CASINO

Written 18 September 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jason S

9 contributions

Very Disappointed

Jan 2021 • none

I will start off by saying that the service was excellent. The atmosphere is still the same with subdued lighting in an Asian-fusion style setting. Value for money! Well, if you didn't have an Accor card you will be sorely disappointed. I watched a younger couple beside us order 1 main between them after they realised the cost. We have been patronising Tamarind for many years, it being our favourite restaurant in Cairns & was highly recommended to friends and acquaintances. Our visit in Jan 2021 left us frustrated and wondering how it got to this. It's an A’ la Carte restaurant, and I get that, but much smaller portions than before was a real disappointment. The iconic Cassava Cake desert is a shadow of its former self. Deconstructed and no butterscotch sauce. The Chef and restaurant Manager have done a good job in cost cutting for their employer whilst delivering much less to the customers dining experience. I guess you wouldn't know any better if you were a tourist, but the locals are very disappointed.

Written 4 January 2021

AkshayS10041

Dear Jason S Thank you for taking time to write about your dining experience. I am glad that you enjoyed the service that we had to offer. At Tamarind we always keep customers first and their satisfaction is utmost priority. I do like to offer my apology as the cassava cake wasn't up to your expectations, however I can assure you that we haven't reduced the portion sizes. Please be rest assured that necessary action will be taken so that this does not happen again. once again thank your for taking time to write your feedback Warm regards Akshay Sawant

Written 19 January 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

E4t3r

7 contributions

Food, service & atmosphere don't match HIGH price

Dec 2023 • couples

Ate there 3 times in 2018 and 2020 with good experiences. This review is for Christmas night 2023. 2 people had degustation menu and 1 had matching wines. Lost 1 star for saltless and tasteless food. Dessert was too rich and too large. Lost 1 star for being overpriced ($170 per person, $60 for matching wines per person). Lost 1 star for lack of Christmas atmosphere and overly loud music. Lost 1 star for unresponsive staff. For a bill of ~$400 AUD for 2 people, we would not repeat or recommend the experience.

Written 2 January 2024

Wayne Reynolds

Dear Eater, Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent Christmas night experience at Tamarind. We genuinely appreciate your past visits and are grateful for your continued patronage. We're disheartened to learn that your recent visit did not meet the high standards we aim to provide. We apologize for any disappointment caused by the taste and seasoning of the dishes, as well as the size and richness of the dessert. Your feedback regarding the pricing, Christmas atmosphere, and music volume is also valuable, and we are sorry to hear that these aspects did not contribute positively to your overall experience. We understand your concerns about the cost, and we want to assure you that we regularly review our pricing to ensure it reflects the quality and value we strive to provide. We will also address the issues you raised about the atmosphere and staff responsiveness to improve future experiences. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your feedback further and learn more about your specific concerns. If you are open to it, please reach out to me ( miki.cugini@reefcasino.com.au). We value your honest input and would like the chance to make amends. Once again, we apologize for falling short of your expectations, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Tamarind for a much-improved experience in the future. Warm regards, Miki Cugini Food and Beverage Manager PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO

Written 4 January 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.