Tamarind

Ph: 4030 8897; The Reef Hotel Casino, 350 Wharf St, CAIRNS 4870 www.reefcasino.com.au

Modern Asian, $$
Open 7 days 6-10 30pm; Licensed; AE V EFT
Chef Craig Laska (10-12-08) Owner Accor Sofitel Hotel Casino (10-12-08)

Mietta's Review
Warm brown tones envelope you as you enter this very plush restaurant and the smell of lemongrass oil fills the air. The real surprise are the prices - it's not expensive. Excellent Asian food and many recommendations from chefs in the area.

Other published opinions

Courier Mail Food and Wine Guide 2009 Queensland Score: 15/20, One Hat "A world away from the casino in which it is housed. Tamarind exudes tranquil Asian style from the moment you step inside"

Age Good Food Guide 2009 "From the retro Deco dome to its tropical colonial hotel foyer, the Casino is a marina-side landmark"

Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2009 "From the retro-deco dome to its tropicalcolonial hotel foyer, the Casino is a marinaside landmark"

Courier Mail food and wine guide Queensland 2008 Score: 15/20, One Hat "Although part of the casino, separate access, a garden terrace and own street frontage isolate Tamarind entirely, which is as it should be because it is difficult to think of an ambience more at variance with a gambling den"

Gourmet Traveller 2007 Australian Restaurant Guide "Although it's located in a casino - a funny sort of a home for a subtle restaurant with a touch of the mystical - Tamarind suits the Far North, bringing Asian influences into the finedining arena. On a reasonably priced, Asian-inspired menu, dishes such as tempura silken tofu stuffed with chicken and served with ginger, lime and palm sugar dipping sauce are as good as you'll find anywhere within cooee."

Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "The menu straddles much of Asia, with Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese influences on show, but dishes have a modern edge and flavours are all powerful yet balanced"

Courier Mail Lizzie Loel 17/5/05 "The Tamarind restaurant in the Reef Hotel Casino in the heart of Cairns is one of the new school of hotel dining rooms, in touch with the outside world and its food trends ... The score Food: 15 Wine: 14 Service: 12 Ambience: 15"