Tamarind Bay
Cambridge, MA 02138-5927
Phone: (617) 491-4552
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- JFK Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Indian Food 2007, Indian Food 2006
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-3pm, 5pm-10:30pm
Editorial Review for Tamarind Bay – by Eric Grossman
The Scene
Executive Chef Wali Ahmad, popular star of the acclaimed Indian TV show "Khana Khazana" ("Food Treasures"), chose a simple, subterranean Harvard Square dining room as the ideal site for introducing his unique offerings to American palates. Casually dressed academics and Indian couples fill the sparsely decorated room to navigate Ahmad's challenging menu. Attentive waiters keep wine and water glasses filled with quiet efficiency.
The Food
Forget what you know about Indian cuisine--there are no vindaloos or tikka masalas on the menu--and buckle up for a culinary adventure. Jhinga meethi is a scintillating pot of fenugreek-spiced shrimps, while a dish of shabnam purluft displays delicate button mushrooms stuffed with savory homemade cheese and grilled in a tandoor oven. From quail to scallops to lobster, nontraditional ingredients dot the menu. Vegetarians are well-served, with a bevy of tantalizing offerings--eggplant in cashew gravy, okra seasoned with ginger and onion.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
When to Go"Spice of the Month" dinners are held the second Monday of every month. The dinners include a prix-fixe menu, cooking demonstrations and an informative discussion.
Save MoneyStop by for daily lunch specials ($6 on weekdays, $7 on weekends) and enjoy an appetizer, entree, side, rice, bread and dessert.
What to DrinkThe limited wine list features only a few options less than $30--try a cooling bottle of Lurton pinot gris ($19).
User Reviews for Tamarind Bay
02/13/2008 Posted by Aquabluz
This is not the first time I have been to Tamarind Bay, but this is the first time I tried their lunch buffet. It was terrible compared to any other Indian buffets I've had in the area. The variety of the food was limited (although it did have a curry dish, nan, vegetable, Indian fried chicken, potatoes). In addition, the chicken in the curry was really hard and the sauce was so salty that even when I tried to eat with with nan and rice, it was unacceptable. The vegetable curry tasted like it was chopped vegetable in water. The nan was stale and bland with no garlic/butter flavoring, unlike the other nans that I've had in the area (ex. Cafe India, Tanjore). What dissapointed me most was that the Indian fried chicken was burnt, cold and again, super super SUPER salty. The sauce was a plum flavor that tasted extremely unnatural. Generally, I am not a picky person about food, and I eat Indian food at least once a week, so I thought I would try out Tamarind Bay as friends informed me that their dinner was not bad. For all those who want good Indian buffets, you should definitely pick another restaurant in the area. After this terrible experience, I tried to give some feedback to the waiters, and they had a pretty bad attitude. I will definitely not go back to this place again. Tamarind Bay made me wish restaurants offer refunds.
Pros: Good atmosphere
Cons: Terrible Lunch Buffet, super super salty food
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
02/12/2008 Posted by swaram
Space is too small ...I am ok with it ....Food is really ..really good...curries are very good (Chicken & Goat ) Vegg stuff is also good...Don't expect a Hyderabadi Biryani ..when you ask for a biryani.... little expensive Overall it's good..
Pros: good food
Cons: too small
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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