(212) 674-7400

41-43 E 22nd St (Btwn Broadway and Park Ave, The Flatiron District, Union Square & Gramercy Park)
New York, NY 10010 40.7402 -73.9883

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Neighborhoods: Flatiron District, Midtown

Hours:

Daily, 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm-10:30pm

Price:

$$$

Last updated 5.10.11

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, People Watching, Family Style Dining, Online Reservations, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Indian

What People Are Saying About Tamarind

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – The restaurant was erected in a time of heightened wealth and expectations--early 2001. Since then, the light-filled two-room atrium has made do, managing to keep its private eating nooks--separated by sheer curtains--lively with friends, business associates, ladies who lunch and romantic twosomes. Service is good, with occasional tendencies to hover. – – The Food – Authentic Indian is the restaurant's claim, predominantly northern (tandoori, lamb dishes), with southern thrown in for good measure (seafood, vegetarian dishes). The spices aren't searing, but…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The wait staff defers to Western-oriented eating styles, but this food is made to be shared. If you're going family style, let the wait staff know, and everything will be evenly doled out.
Save Money:
Prix fixe lunch consists of three courses for $21--well worth it as the average dinner entree costs about that much. The specials change every month, but include a side dish and dessert.
Drinks:
The mango lassi is spectacular, as is the mango-tamarind Cosmopolitan.
ambiance
92.30999946594238% positive
  1. The staff is lovely, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is tranquil.
  2. Not exactly an authentic Indian atmosphere.
  3. If you are able, reserve a cozy booth in the back of the restaurant, which is very romantic.
  4. Very lovely atmosphere and incredibly attentive service.
  5. My boyfriend and I love going there for Romantic evening, or for fun w/ friends- (ask for the booth seating).
  6. The restaurant had a lovely lively atmosphere and tasteful decor.
  7. The decor and service was also very good and the place is perfect for a date, business meeting, or just dinner with friends.
  8. He created an extremely friendly atmosphere.
  9. The atmosphere and decor are also outstanding.
  10. The booths are great and give a good view of the rest of the restaurant.
  11. Really like the atmosphere here.
  12. The food is delectably fantastic, the service is top notch, and the ambience is perfect.
  13. We found the environment sleek but warm and comfortable, the prices quite reasonable.
dessert
40.0% positive
  1. Creme brulee tasted like maple syrup over cold eggs, cheesecake was okay at night but the mango sauce which supposedly comes with vanilla smelt as if it was spoiled, you don't even need the sauce, (its already sweet and has mango).
  2. The entrees are pricey, but dessert and apps are regular - all well worth the experience.
  3. We loved the tea room where they serve hot flavored teas with a variety of scrumptious classic Indian cookies.
  4. As for the food, my cod and crab cakes were moist and enjoyable but nothing distinctive.
  5. Kulfi, rice pudding and ghujjia for dessert were also not that great.
drinks
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. The Wines are delicious, the drinks are great.
  2. rasmali This time around not moist but dry, very little pistachios unlike before, only a few drips of milk (aka a few small half and half 1 oz condiments people put in their coffee) and two small pieces for $6
  3. The hostess was a bit aloof, tried to seat us in the front wind tunnel-like foyer/bar/dining room, and did not wish us well at the end of the night, but the waiter anticipated our every need with great expertise.
  4. was at Tamarind last week one more time and had a nice dinner, the Owner and the manager both came to talk to me and my friend and it felt good to have a visit from them to our table, one more thing I must mention is that their wine list is getting very
  5. The tea wasn't much good, the menu and the food was pretty much the same as the $5 curry row fare and the waiter need constant prodding.
  6. Pretty good wine and cocktail selection.
  7. The lamb shank is great but I had that at night and I think the only because its made with wine
  8. The food and drinks are second to none and the portions are huge so I recommend ordering a salad and a shared meal.
  9. We loved the tea room where they serve hot flavored teas with a variety of scrumptious classic Indian cookies.
  10. highly recommend tamarind to everyone who enjoys a nice place to wine and dine.
  11. The mango cosmopolitan was a very tasty drink, which oddly enough didn't taste much like mango.
  12. Great for brunch, try the tea for two - a great value.
  13. Adjacent Tea room has amazing sandwitches and different types of tea
  14. The food is made to cater to your tastebuds, service is amazing, and drinks are delicious!
food quality
81.61999702453613% positive
  1. don't care how great the food is.
  2. For dinner I had lobster masala which was SO good and the lobster meat is pretty generous.
  3. The chicken tikka masala (I couldn't resist) was creamy and sweet, yet complex, and the lamb pasanda (while a bit dry-- the editor was right to recommend you order it "pink") was delicious and unusual.
  4. I'm Indian and can be picky about Indian food so I was surprised when I actually enjoyed the food at Tamarind.
  5. Tamarind is not only the best Indian cuisine in New York, but one of the best restaurants in all of the city.
  6. As for the food, my cod and crab cakes were moist and enjoyable but nothing distinctive.
  7. Very good food, but awful service
  8. The curry dishes were superb.
  9. The food and drinks are second to none and the portions are huge so I recommend ordering a salad and a shared meal.
  10. The chicken was too dry and was not flavorful.
  11. to them the flavors are probably not that threatning and they feel like they are eating unique and special food.
  12. It's a lovely little joint for some good food, fast and just kick your feet up and relax a little.
  13. The tea wasn't much good, the menu and the food was pretty much the same as the $5 curry row fare and the waiter need constant prodding.
  14. The best Indian food I've ever had
  15. My boyfriend and I are both suckers for well-prepared Indian food and its true that many establishments miss the mark, however, that was NOT the case at Tamarind.
  16. If you prefer more traditional Indian food, that is very good as well, but while you're eating there, go for their more creative dishes.
  17. The food *was* pretty good, though, (though certainly not worth the prices) so it's worth checking out if you have an expense account to work with.
  18. more like a very nice restaurant that serves excellently spiced food.
  19. One of the finest Indian cuisine with friendly and efficient service, and authentic Indian food.
  20. Everything was delicious!
  21. we split a tasty vegetable samosa and the malai tikka wrap.
  22. Good food in a nice environment
  23. The food is made to cater to your tastebuds, service is amazing, and drinks are delicious!
  24. Over all the food was good and a good place if you plan in advance.
  25. Great food and terrific service!
  26. The food was great and the portions were enormous.
  27. try the spicy shrimp appetizer (again, not the greatest value in the world but worth the price) and the lamb vindaloo is great.
  28. The food is delectably fantastic, the service is top notch, and the ambience is perfect.
  29. The food has just the right amount of spice for someone like me (who does not like spicey foods).
  30. The food was great, classic dishes I believe speaking from little experience of indian food.
  31. The lamb was truly outstanding.
  32. Great food, great scene
  33. Waitor was not accomodating and (ESPECIALLY relative to other Indian restaurants) and the prices are ridiculously high for terrible food.
  34. My wife had pori and it was on par with the delicious pori that my in-law makes.
  35. The best people and the best food
  36. The food was great, the waiter helpful.
  37. The chicken tikka masala was really tasty and that is the first time I ever enjoyed it.
  38. At last every place might have a off day but overall I'VE never had a bad meal at this place.
  39. We ordered 2 rices - tamarind rice and vegetable pillau - neither was anything special but I guess they were being compared against this delicious rice our family had been eating for the last few days which we got from an israeli restaurant.
  40. the food was very good.
  41. delicious food, excellent presentation, snooty service, but overall a must-go place for nice indian food.
  42. ... managers go outta their way to make you feel comforable -- a must-go place to enjoy food, company and light indian music.
  43. Not exactly an authentic Indian atmosphere.
  44. They have mastered all that is necessary for a proper dining experience, from the attentive, kind, and professional waitstaff, to the sparse yet stunning decour, to the food that surpasses all expectations.
  45. Creme brulee tasted like maple syrup over cold eggs, cheesecake was okay at night but the mango sauce which supposedly comes with vanilla smelt as if it was spoiled, you don't even need the sauce, (its already sweet and has mango).
  46. There is a reason why there are no Indians in the restaurant: the food is terrible.
  47. The quality of the food is truly excellent.
  48. The shrimp dishes was outstanding.
  49. The staff was accomodating, the food was absolutely delicious and the place is lovely.
  50. Our starters were delicious, but the true stars were the entrees - my boyfriends house special venison was perfectly seasoned, tender and scrumptious!
  51. The venison chops were tasty without being too gamey, the mixed grill offered a nice variety of flavors, and two different chicken dishes were both moist and tender.
  52. Always love the food!
  53. We both chose lamb curry dishes from the menu with rice and naan bread and all of the food was fantastic.
  54. Our waiter was an airhead, but the food is magnificent, nonetheless.
  55. Excellent modern Indian food
  56. am utterly and completely shocked at the critic who said that this was the worst Indian food they've ever tasted.
  57. Nothing was really that spicy which was good for me cuz I can't take much of it, but I am sure there are other dishes that are spicier.
  58. ate here on Friday September 8th and the food and service was FANTASTIC.
  59. Kulfi, rice pudding and ghujjia for dessert were also not that great.
  60. have been here a ton of times and always have a great meal an spot on service.
  61. The food is amazing - I'm eager to go there again.
  62. NEVER have I even tasted a mediocre dish.
  63. The mango cosmopolitan was a very tasty drink, which oddly enough didn't taste much like mango.
  64. My chicken korma, well above average and the nan, flawless.
  65. The food at this restaurant is very good, some of the better I have experienced.
  66. The food is amazing, the service is excellent, and the scene is trendy.
  67. The lamb shank is great but I had that at night and I think the only because its made with wine
  68. The food is amazing, your palatte will not get enough.
  69. The service is poor, the food was served cold, was bland, and tasteless.
  70. Also had the vegetable samosa (potato) which was yummy as well and the garlic nanne which was perfect cuz it wasnt stale or hard or anything but soft and tasty!
  71. The food is fantastic at Tamarind.
  72. The Wines are delicious, the drinks are great.
  73. the food here is awesome and the service tends to be very good as well.
  74. The food was absolutely amazing!
  75. The staff is lovely, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is tranquil.
  76. I'm not going to trash the place simply because I had a bad experience there, but here's the facts: the food is very good, the portions are small-to-medium, and the prices are large.
  77. am not a big fan of Indian food but I would say this place is my favorite Indian restaurant.
  78. Cold food served in dirty plates.
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. Pretty good wine and cocktail selection.
  2. We both chose lamb curry dishes from the menu with rice and naan bread and all of the food was fantastic.
  3. communicated my excessively long allergy list to the staff and they carefully and respectfully navigated me through the menu and on towards a satisfying dining experience.
  4. The tea wasn't much good, the menu and the food was pretty much the same as the $5 curry row fare and the waiter need constant prodding.
  5. We loved the tea room where they serve hot flavored teas with a variety of scrumptious classic Indian cookies.
  6. The venison chops were tasty without being too gamey, the mixed grill offered a nice variety of flavors, and two different chicken dishes were both moist and tender.
overall
81.25% positive
  1. The decor and service was also very good and the place is perfect for a date, business meeting, or just dinner with friends.
  2. highly recommend tamarind to everyone who enjoys a nice place to wine and dine.
  3. Over all the food was good and a good place if you plan in advance.
  4. The booths are great and give a good view of the rest of the restaurant.
  5. am not a big fan of Indian food but I would say this place is my favorite Indian restaurant.
  6. honestly believe that this is the best Indian restaurant , not only in NYC, but anywhere.
  7. more like a very nice restaurant that serves excellently spiced food.
  8. In my mind, if this isn't the best Indian place I've gone to, it's certainly in the top three.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. The food is amazing - I'm eager to go there again.
service
88.02000045776367% positive
  1. Great food and terrific service!
  2. The food is amazing, the service is excellent, and the scene is trendy.
  3. was at Tamarind last week one more time and had a nice dinner, the Owner and the manager both came to talk to me and my friend and it felt good to have a visit from them to our table, one more thing I must mention is that their wine list is getting very
  4. delicious food, excellent presentation, snooty service, but overall a must-go place for nice indian food.
  5. The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
  6. The staff is lovely, the food is amazing and the atmosphere is tranquil.
  7. The service was good - attentive an accomodating.
  8. The hostess was a bit aloof, tried to seat us in the front wind tunnel-like foyer/bar/dining room, and did not wish us well at the end of the night, but the waiter anticipated our every need with great expertise.
  9. The booths are a nice private touch and the staff is very friendly.
  10. The service was good an efficient, not magnificent as some have described it, but perfectly good nonetheless.
  11. The tea wasn't much good, the menu and the food was pretty much the same as the $5 curry row fare and the waiter need constant prodding.
  12. The best people and the best food
  13. The food is delectably fantastic, the service is top notch, and the ambience is perfect.
  14. the food here is awesome and the service tends to be very good as well.
  15. The staff was accomodating, the food was absolutely delicious and the place is lovely.
  16. The server was attentive and knowledgable without trying to be our best friend.
  17. Very difficult to find Indian Restaurants were the staff and owners are friendly but Tamarind is in a class by itself.
  18. The service is poor, the food was served cold, was bland, and tasteless.
  19. One of the finest Indian cuisine with friendly and efficient service, and authentic Indian food.
  20. Our waiter was an airhead, but the food is magnificent, nonetheless.
  21. They have mastered all that is necessary for a proper dining experience, from the attentive, kind, and professional waitstaff, to the sparse yet stunning decour, to the food that surpasses all expectations.
  22. have been here a ton of times and always have a great meal an spot on service.
  23. Very lovely atmosphere and incredibly attentive service.
  24. rasmali This time around not moist but dry, very little pistachios unlike before, only a few drips of milk (aka a few small half and half 1 oz condiments people put in their coffee) and two small pieces for $6
  25. communicated my excessively long allergy list to the staff and they carefully and respectfully navigated me through the menu and on towards a satisfying dining experience.
  26. He created an extremely friendly atmosphere.
  27. The decor and service was also very good and the place is perfect for a date, business meeting, or just dinner with friends.
  28. granted we didn't have the reservations, but common sense for any restaurant manager is, "if you can't provide good service, then don't seat the person
  29. ate here on Friday September 8th and the food and service was FANTASTIC.
  30. Very good food, but awful service
  31. The food was great, the waiter helpful.
  32. The food is made to cater to your tastebuds, service is amazing, and drinks are delicious!
value
57.69000053405762% positive
  1. I'm not going to trash the place simply because I had a bad experience there, but here's the facts: the food is very good, the portions are small-to-medium, and the prices are large.
  2. The food and drinks are second to none and the portions are huge so I recommend ordering a salad and a shared meal.
  3. Waitor was not accomodating and (ESPECIALLY relative to other Indian restaurants) and the prices are ridiculously high for terrible food.
  4. For dinner I had lobster masala which was SO good and the lobster meat is pretty generous.
  5. although tamarind is pretty expensive, it's well worth it.
  6. Entrees are pricey ($20-30 i think) but the appetizers are not really (under $10) and its all shareable.
  7. Great for brunch, try the tea for two - a great value.
  8. We found the environment sleek but warm and comfortable, the prices quite reasonable.
  9. The food *was* pretty good, though, (though certainly not worth the prices) so it's worth checking out if you have an expense account to work with.
  10. The food was great and the portions were enormous.
  11. This is probably one of the most expensive Indian restaurants in the city (for dinner, at least), but it's also the best one I've been to.
  12. try the spicy shrimp appetizer (again, not the greatest value in the world but worth the price) and the lamb vindaloo is great.
  13. The entrees are pricey, but dessert and apps are regular - all well worth the experience.
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. communicated my excessively long allergy list to the staff and they carefully and respectfully navigated me through the menu and on towards a satisfying dining experience.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/15/11

Wonderful Experience - Food and Decor and Service

by LoriBasq

This was my first experience eating genuine Indian food. The setting is understated and calming so that it does not distract from the dining experience. The music in the background reminds you that it is indeed an Indian restuarant but does not pound your head but rather soothes you. The presentation of each dish was very appetizing and made my mouth water. The sauces on the lamb and chicken entrees were distinct from one another. The meats moist and tender. There was enough food served that we took some home and so satisfying that we had no room or desire for dessert. A cup of Indian Marsala tea was the perfect way to end the meal. Service was very attentive and the owner visited each table to engage his guests to make sure that they were satisifed in every way! What more could you ask for in a resaturant. I would say that it is better to go to Tamarind at lunch as I did when it is not as busy and when they offer the choice of a price fixed lunch and more economical choices then the pricer dinner menu.

3 Star Rating: Average

09/29/10

Modern, Upscale Indian Restaurant with Loungey Feel

by Janie Ho

Gramercy's elegant ethereal beige-toned restaurant and lounge houses three separate spaces: a long bar with banquette seating up front; a dimmer, more intimate middle pass-through dining room with large windows peering into the busy kitchen like a Food Network show; and a large sky-lit, cushy white leather seated back room with six partitioned side booths laid out like private cabanas--perfect for people-watching.

Furnishings are cloaked in neutral olive-beige tones, nothing to offend the tired eyes of businessmen shushing in from nearby. Calming orchids and tea lights adorn every table.

This smaller sibling to the massive new Tamarind Tribeca--a new Nobu neighbor--is great for prix-fixe business lunch or a night out on the town.

1 Star Rating: Poor

09/26/10

BITTERLY DISSAPOINTED

by a k

Bitterly disappointed. Seated 40 minutes after the reservation, but we couldn't order a drink at the bar.

We had a table of six and were seated in the small room next door to the main dining area at a table meant for four. The only waitstaff there was a well meaning, but clueless busboy who did not know the food or even know how to pour a drink.

I had to leave the restaurant in disgust without even eating.

The manager and hostess were entirely unhelpful.

Not the kind of service one would expect in a 'chic' restaurant or a 'neighborhood gem'.

If you're out for a pleasant evening where the service and ambiance of the place is as important as is the food, avoid this restaurant!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/14/10

Very, very good

by Christoph5

Really like the atmosphere here. The food is even better. The main dining area is comfortably lit by the sky, and gives a nice terrace feeling. The food is amazing - I'm eager to go there again.

  • Pros: Food, atmosphere, modern twist
2 Star Rating: Below Average

08/31/09

Very good food, but awful service

by tallindiandude

The food at this restaurant is very good, some of the better I have experienced. Unfortunately, the food is overshadowed by service that was pathetic. A group of six of us visited the restaurant for lunch on a Sunday afternoon when the restuarant was essentially bare. One would think that they would have appreciated the business. Instead, we were rushed out the door from the moment we arrived. It go so bad that by the for the 15 minutes of our meal, we were essentially being stared at by five different servers. Then one decided to come and stand within 2 feet of our table. We tried to playfully hint to him that we didn't appreciate it by asking him if he "wanted to join us" but he didn't take the hint. When I confronted management, I was told that the issue would be handled and that I would be called back later that evening. No call back. When i called back the following day, I was ridiculed for how I was expressing my frustration. Apparently, I am no longer welcome at this restaurant - what a loss for me?!?!?!

  • Pros: Great food
  • Cons: Poor service and questionable management

The Details on Tamarind

Place Categories:

  • great indian food
  • good service
  • best indian restaurant
  • love nice place
  • great recent experience
  • nice dinner
  • very good decor
  • great tamarind
  • extremely friendly atmosphere
  • very tasty drinks
  • helpful staff
  • bad experience
  • creative classic dishes
  • comfortable environment sleek
  • pricey entrees
  • nice owner
  • never bad meal
  • great desserts
  • favorite indian
  • knowledgable server
  • not flavorful chicken
  • delicious lamb pasanda
  • delicious wine
  • dirty plates
  • fantastic lamb curry dishes
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