The Tamarind Restaurant

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#4 of 51 Restaurants in MalenyAsian, Thai, $$$$

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The Tamarind Restaurant

Review

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About

Located at Spicers Tamarind Retreat, The Tamarind Restaurant, brings a taste of Thailand to the foothills of Maleny. Set in a tranquil outdoor pavilion designed to make the most of the peaceful location, our in-house restaurant The Tamarind specialises in innovative modern Asian cuisine. Headed by Executive Chef Daniel Jarrett, the team have created a menu that allows every dish to be a harmonious balance of flavours that will leave your mouth watering and your stomach begging for more. Fully licensed with an extensive wine, beer and cocktail list. The Tamarind is open to both in-house guests and the public for lunch and dinner. Lunch - Friday to Sunday with Breakfast & Dinner - 7 days a week.

Features

CUISINES

Asian, Thai

Meal types

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

American Express

Free Wifi

Full Bar

Highchairs Available

Mastercard

Outdoor Seating

Parking Available

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Visa

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

88 Obi Lane S, Maleny, Queensland 4552 Australia

Parking Available

Is this restaurant good for local cuisine?

Yes

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closed now

Sunday

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Thursday

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Saturday

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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4.4

322 reviews

Excellent

219

Very good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Dirk W

Alexandra Headland10151 contributions

Nice

Oct 2023 • couples

We were staying at the resort and took advantage of Spicers advertised special, which included dinner. The dinner package is 3-course a-la carte, normally $ 99 pp. The waitress offers (upsells) the upgrade to a banquet "for only $ 30pp more". We stuck to the 3-course, which had a good choice of about 4 or 5 of each entree, main and desserts. All dishes are delicious and well presented ; unlike last time we had dinner there, the mains came with a decent bowl of rice, so there was enough food. The Tamarind offers a lovely ambience and gives you different seating options : outside overlooking the garden (there are heaters), lounge style on the terrace or casual/formal inside. Staff are very much on the ball and friendly.

Written 6 November 2023

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.

Ryan Dillon

Good Afternoon Dirk, We are thrilled you enjoyed your experience at The Tamarind and took in the lovely view and outdoor area. It is a remarkable setting we have here. We hope to welcome you back again soon. Michelle Currie Restaurant Manager

Written 31 January 2024

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

karen m

Brisbane230 contributions

Delicious Meals

July 2023 • couples

Our package included breakfast and a 3 course dinner or 4 course banquet for extra $$. The al a carte breakfast each morning was delicious and filling. For dinner we had the 3 couse al a carte dinner which was exceptional. Highly recommend the food.

Written 31 July 2023

Ryan Dillon

Thank you so much for your feedback. We are so happy you enjoyed your stay and our wonderful breakfast and of course the dining experience at night. Thank you for the recommendation and we look forward to welcoming you back to The Tamarind in the near future. Michelle Currie Restaurant Manager

Written 17 August 2023

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

Sandy T

6 contributions

Spicers Tamarind Restaurant….must go!

Sept 2024 • couples

Spicers Tamarind restaurant is just so very lovely.. where do I start! From the most beautiful, peaceful setting, incredibly attentive, friendly & knowledgeable staff( Tyou Emelie, Hannah&staff!)… incredible food, cocktails & wine that is just so amazingly delicious !! From the moment you enter you feel special, can’t recommend a better venue for special occasions or just to visit a restaurant that provides most amazing food& service!! Can’t wait to visit again!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Written 2 October 2024

Boyd J

Maleny1779 contributions

Quite Wonderful

Jan 2024 • family

We wanted to enjoy a special restaurant for a special occasion and weren't disappointed. Tables are well spaced, the rain forest setting ambience is calming, service solicitous and the food is delicious. We enjoyed the two course à la carte @ $75 a head (including a glass of wine). The combination of flavours in my entree of wagyu beef tataki and main of massaman slow cooked lamb curry were both subtle yet complex, and I savoured each succulent mouth full.

Written 7 February 2024

Ryan Dillon

Hi boydj395, We are so pleased to hear that you thoroughly enjoyed your dining experience with us to celebrate your special day! The flavours of the dishes are punchy and delicious and the ambience is quite tranquil. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon. Kind regards, Michelle Currie Restaurant Manager

Written 22 February 2024

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

Linda C

Gold Coast1 contribution

Unbalanced, sloppy dining experience

Jan 2023 • none

Our family visited Tamarind in January 2023, we’d heard great things about it and considering it has a cooking school next door, expectations were high. Firstly two of the entrees were great (baked tofu & duck salad), unfortunately that’s where it stopped. The curries, and in fact all the main dishes were unbalanced - the very essence of Thai cooking! It was evident nobody has tasted the dishes, far too sweet, no depth of flavour, massive chunks of chilli in the curries yet none in the actual flavour base with vegetables overcooked and mushy, which was a consistent theme to the mains. The crispy fish did not live up to its name with the skin a soggy mess, paired again with an unbalanced, overly sweet sauce. The pork dish was inedible. The service was lacklustre at best and the sommelier pretentious and condescending. For the exorbitant price we walked out feeling terribly disappointed and annoyed nobody even asked about uneaten dishes. Total failure. Please don’t waste your money. It is not worthy.

Written 18 February 2023

GoPlaces49969409266

Hi lindacS6633EW, Thank you for passing on your feedback with us. I am sorry to hear that your experience did not live up to expectations. I would like to discuss this further with you. Please call me on 0459 466 631 at your convenience. Warm regards, Michelle Currie Restaurant Manager

Written 1 March 2023

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

SujoyP

Australia565 contributions

Absolutely wonderful!

Oct 2024 • couples

Hubby and I visited Tamarind for lunch on the October long weekend. From the moment we arrived the staff were amazing. So friendly, professional, knowledgeable and really lovely to chat with. Nothing was too much trouble, and the genuine warmth of the team really shone through. The hotel/restaurant grounds are beautiful, overlooking the rainforest, and it was lovely to sit and enjoy the day with a little live jazz in the background. It’s hard for me to eat out, due to a serious food allergy, but the staff were all over it. Huge, huge thanks to the chefs for the effort they went to to ensure that I was taken care of. I hope I adequately expressed my gratitude as I know how busy a kitchen is during service and being asked to put up something out of the norm can add pressure to an already busy team. Everything from hubby’s entrée, to our mains, to desserts and a cheese plate was absolutely delicious, so fresh, generous portions, and beautifully presented. I couldn’t decide on which dessert to choose so I had two. 100% will repeat this in the future too! Ha! As locals, this wasn’t our first visit, and definitely won’t be our last. Thank you, Team Tamarind, for another absolutely memorable experience! xx

Written 7 October 2024

justcruizen

Sydney282 contributions

If you are forced to east here I hope the Ala Carte is better

Jan 2023 • none

We went as a party of 7 for my wife's birthday. For simplicity on behalf I of the group ordered the Banquet of 8 dished to be shared. It started well with a Coconut soup and then some lamb ribs, then the meal to a turn for the worse, much worse. The remaining 5 savory dishes were all terrible. We ate the Desert as we were still hungry, and my wife doesn't eat sugar It was as if the Chef went home and left the dish washer to cook. The dishes were just stewed mess, without any depth to flavour. the fish dish was hardly touched , nor was the Eggplant Salad. The fish dish would be lucky to have 50g of protein in them. Had the Chef been there he would have seen the dishes come back untouched. When 2 of our party asked for the menu to order alternate food as it was that bad, you would have thought the chef would have been informed. There was no comments or questions from the kitchen. This used to get 5 stars from me.

Written 22 January 2023

GoPlaces49969409266

Hi justcruizen, Thank you for letting us know about your experience. I am sorry to hear that it did not live up to past moments with us. I would like to discuss this further with you at your convenience. Please contact me on 0459 466 631. Warm regards, Michelle Currie Restaurant Manager

Written 1 March 2023

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

409prudences

4 contributions

Overrated and over priced

July 2022 • couples

We waited 45 min for our table after sitting in the bar area. We had to ask for our table before they finally came to seat us. The waiter then tried to offer us a drinks menu over the food menu (which we had memorised by this point). The menu offers nothing special in terms of Asian inspired cuisine and does not cater for many dietary requirements. After over ordering main meals we were told they did not provide take away containers for left over curries (even though the cooking school appears to be next door..?) This was hyped up and we could not understand why. Service was average, waiters pretty much apologising for the fact they work at this establishment. Can recommend The Long Apron if you are after a lovely meal in the area.

Written 6 July 2022

Forde D

1 contribution

Overpriced and substandard

May 2022 • none

My wife is a coeliac and booked the restaurant because it advertised most of the dishes were gluten free. False! The restaurant pays lip service to providing genuine gluten free meals. We ordered from the Al la carte menu but could find nothing that satisfied the gluten free requirement. The restaurant did not have or use gluten free free soy or other sauces, only wheat based sauces. It claims to be an Asian inspired menu but it does not provided the main gluten free sauces used to cook the food. My wife eventually agreed to have a pork dish but couldn’t finish it. The pork was not tender, sliced in large chunks, accompanied by a stir fried book Choi (no sauce or condiments Were used). We mentioned this but the only response by the restaurant was that the chef would be informed! My wife is allergic to oysters, mussels, octopus etc so those items were ruled out and all other entree items had wheat in them even though they claimed to be gluten free. I only art the entrees. oysters were heavenly, but the others were terrible. the kingfish was sliced to thickly and came in a cream type sauce. The beef was covered in a sticky tasteless glue and the octopus was chewy. My mouth and tongue reacted badly to the kingfish as the sensation of numbness removed all semblance of flavor. Again the waiter gave no explanation other then to say he would inform the chef. My wife had to wait 1hour and 55 minutes for her pork. Service was dilatory and certainly below standard for a restaurant that charges $110 per person and $22 for a cocktail. The surroundings are however, very pleasant but with food and service not up to its reputation, we left feeling depressed, disappointed and a trifle sad. As seniors who only want value for money we have been disillusioned by a restaurant that promised so much but gave so little.

Written 8 May 2022

Marilyn F

Melbourne166 contributions

Avoid if coeliac or gluten intolerant

May 2022 • business

Although awarded five stars by others we cannot agree. It does have a lovely setting and Balinese ambience. However a much anticipated evening was ruined because this restaurant does not genuinely understand what is meant by gluten free’. It turned out none of the dishes labelled GF had GF sauces so were only suitable for the rare person who eats GF by choice. On top of being a coeliac, I admit to other issues and not being easy to feed. However this menu would not suit any person who can’t eat GF and the restaurant did not understand this. In addition while it is fine to have a pre dinner drink, no food was offered and it was some time before we were seated ( it was not that busy). Eventually after arriving on time for 6.45, I ate at nearly 8.30. Other issues including these I have conveyed to the restaurant directly

Written 7 May 2022

Richard H

Brisbane141 contributions

Where’s the “Thai”?

July 2022 • couples

Really disappointing. Had really high expectations. Setting was nice and the staff and service was spot on, but the food just doesn’t cut it. It’s been dumbed down to the lowest common denominator and any resemblance to Thai food is coincidental. The food lacked balance. The Sashmj was boring and all citrus. Yes, it’s Jopanese but not attempt was made to fusion it. The Mooloolaba Prawns were nothing special. The Vegetarian Curry was too sweet with no salt to balance it. The Mussels had a nice amount of sour but none of the dishes had actually seen a chilli. If you eat there let the kitchen know if you expect ANY amount of chilli to be added to the dishes. Deserts where pleasant but unremarkable. Probably the only area where they were authentically Thai. Yandini’s Spirit House and Noosa’s Bang Bang do this so much better.

Written 31 July 2022

Carey R

Bangkok252 contributions

Great food with exceptional service

Apr 2022 • family

Beautiful location with great ambiance especially at night. I had the 3 course set menu which had a nice selection with many appealing choices. My stand out was the Penang beef cheeks which was a modern twist with innovative flavors. Excellent wine list that was good value. The service from the greeting to the exit was first class and demonstrated the staff really enjoyed their work. Excellent cocktails and nice range of craft beers. This is the standout restaurant in the Maleny area.

Written 16 April 2022

JEM

Thornlands3 contributions

Insulting

Nov 2021 • friends

Service is very good. Food is lovely until you're full and want to take the leftovers away with you. It was my second visit but I won't be returning. When we arrived we saw people leaving the restaurant with their leftovers but because we weren't guests they refused to let us take ours. We paid more than their guests for our dinner because we don't have a room. My fiance is a big tipper until I've been insulted and discriminated against. Guess who's not coming to dinner again? Guess which restaurant just shot themselves in the foot? Guess who's taking my corporate conference elsewhere? Great way to run a business and blatantly discriminate against paying patrons while costing themselves thousands of dollars worth of potential bookings

Written 3 November 2021

33juliey

Sunshine Coast49 contributions

Excellent food, service and ambience

Dec 2021 • none

We bought a new car and we were presented with a Tamarind restaurant voucher by the car dealership. We had not visited the tamarind before and went for Sunday lunch. We were very pleased with the service and the food. The standout was the smoked fish which had great flavours. The live entertainment was also very good. The restaurant is in a lovely tropical setting. We will go back again soon.

Written 4 December 2021

Judith B

Caloundra20 contributions

It used to be amazing

Jan 2020 • none

The setting is beautiful. The dining room is an airy verandah overlooking the gardens and bordered by a lotus pool. I had eaten here 18 months ago and the food was wonderful. This time I took a friend up there for breakfast and was highly embarrassed by the service and the quality of the food. I apologised afterwards to my friend. She ordered the fruit and cereal to start with. It was nicely presented with the yoghurt and the cereal in tiny individual bowls but impossible to eat without requesting a decent sized bowl to transfer it all into. This took two attempts as the waitress didnt seem to be at all intuitive. Following on she ordered poached eggs on toast. The eggs were cooked to perfection but the toast portions were tiny and there was no butter or other condiment to accompany them. Eggs just placed on top of dry toast, very unappetizing visually. We had to request butter. I had ordered the egg muffin which sounded exquisite on the menu. What arrived was surely a MacDonalds egg mcMuffin. I could not believe it for $22. We were both very hungry having been on the go since 5am and we left the restaurant unsatisfied. For a restaurant that touts itself as an upmarket cooking school and retreat this is simply unacceptable. Dont bother with the drive - just go to MacDonalds as it's cheaper.

Written 13 January 2020