Tamarind Winter Park, FL Review

Restaurant Name: Tamarind
Location: Winter Park, Orlando
Date of Visit: Sept 20 / 26, 2025
Price Range: $$
Cuisine Type: Indian
Reservations: Yes – Toast
Parking: Yes, Shopping Center
Dietary Notes: Vegetarian Friendly
Vibe: casual / family-friendly
Visit Type: Lunch / Dinner / Group
Takeout: Yes – Toast

Tamarind Indian Cuisine Review: First Impressions of This Hidden Gem in Winter Park

My best friend and I found Tamarind in the best way possible – totally organically. We were hungry after a long morning of shopping and errands, and looking for a spot to grab a quick bite before our 40+ minute drive home. While I was sitting in the car looking for a place to eat, he pointed out that there was an Indian spot right in front of us. As it turns out, we both love Indian food so we thought, sure, why not?

Tamarind is an unassuming little place tucked away in the corner of a typical Florida shopping strip, bracketed by a Petco and health lab. Inside is spacious and low-key, with plenty of room for small to medium groups. My friend and I were expecting something quick an simple, and it had decent reviews online. What were NOT expecting was to have our minds blown by the quality of the food.

Oh boy. We were absolutely delighted. So much so that we dragged his wife, my other bestie, a week later for dinner.

Tamarind is a cozy, casual spot that delivers flavor and variety that rivals the Indian I’m accustomed to (in Central Jersey, no less!).

Best Dishes at Tamarind Indian Cuisine: Generous Portions & Standout Plates

For our first lunch visit, we opted to do a tapas style tasting of almost the entire appetizer / small plate menu. It did NOT disappoint. There wasn’t a single dish that we didn’t enjoy immensely, but there were a few standouts worth shouting out. The gobi Manchurian and tandoori stuffed mushrooms were tied for absolute favorite. I was even on the fence about the mushrooms but they really blew me away. Among our other choices were the vegetable samosas, onion bhaji, and chili naan (very spicy, very worth it). Between the two of us this was more than enough food – we did go a little crazy – but we wound up finishing our plates anyway.

For our dinner visit we trimmed down on the apps, repeating only the mushrooms and gobi, and adding some garlic naan to the table. We also enjoyed the mango lassi and masala chai since we skipped beverages the first round. Our main dishes consisted of paneer makhani, with a rich smokiness from the charcoal. The palak paneer was savory and delicious. Lastly I had the bhindi anardana which was cooked well, though I felt it needed a little more flavor. The food was well portioned, not overwhelming but enough to leave us satisfied. As a bonus, none of us eat meat and I’m happy to report that Tamarind is very vegetarian friendly. Our carnivore friends have no shortage of options on the menu, which classics like chicken tikka and lamb biryani available.

Service was excellent on both visits, but there was a noticeable difference between our lunch excursion and dinner. Things were a little slower and busier at night, between in-house patrons and non-stop take-out orders. During our lunch visit the food came out right away but we found ourselves waiting a bit at dinner. It was well worth the wait, however.

Is Tamarind Indian Cuisine Worth Visiting?

I still can’t believe this great place is just hidden away in the middle of a busy shopping center. It’s a great value for the price, an absolute treasure of Winter Park. The restaurant can accommodate small to medium groups and has an efficient take-out process for those on the go. If possible, you may try going during the lunch hours for the best experience, but I wouldn’t shy away from dinner just because it’s busier.

So I absolutey recommend Tamarind as a top spot for Indian lovers in the Winter Park / Northern Orlando area.