TAMARIND SEED

He says:
Tamarind Seed (formerly known as Tamarind) has been making waves in Atlanta ever since it re-opened in Colony Square earlier this year. Creative Loafing called it a “transcendent food experience.” The editors at Citysearch have named it the best Thai in town. So have several of our friends. And you know what? They’re right. After just one visit, Uptown Girl and I are in full agreement that Tamarind Seed sets the standard for Thai cuisine in Atlanta.

Tamarind Seed eschews the hokey bamboo cottage chic of other Thai eateries and instead embraces the sleek glossiness of its Midtown neighbors. Subtle arrangements of flowers and spice jars are recessed into the otherwise spartan walls. A humongous flat screen TV hovers over the bar and plays ESPN highlights. Let’s just say the décor is more Crescent Street than Patpong Road.

She says:
We started out with spring rolls for appetizers. The old standard didn’t disappoint. The rolls were crispy and not too oily, and the dipping sauce drizzled over the plate added a welcome tanginess to the veggie-filled rolls.

I ordered the Siam Chicken as my entrée mostly because it comes in a hollowed-out pineapple shell, but I was pleasantly surprised by the deliciousness of the dish. The pieces of chicken were slightly breaded and crispy on the outside, but tender and meaty inside. It came together very well with the sweet and spicy sauce, which was embellished with cashews, mushrooms, and pineapple chunks.

He says:
Likewise, the grouper in green curry was a wonderful dish. The fish had been seared just long enough to give the edges a pleasant crunch and yet short enough to maintain the interior’s incredible tenderness. The green curry had greater complexity than what you’d find at Surin or MaLi; the coconut and curry accents had a greater clarity and lighter touch than the sauces at those establishments. Tamarind Seed’s dedication to fresh, high-quality ingredients truly comes through in a dish like this.

The Pad Kee Mao was another well-executed dish, with the noodles tender and springy for the perfect mouth-feel. In my experience, if a Thai restaurant can deliver a simple noodle dish like Pad Thai or Pad Kee Mao with excellent results, it will deliver on pretty much everything else as well.

She says:
Out of the desserts we ordered, the fried bananas stole the show. The banana chunks were deep-fried in spring roll wrappers and served piping hot with a heaping scoop of sweet coconut ice cream on the side. Delish.

He says:
I agree, the fried bananas were dynamite. The other two desserts we ordered, the chocolate mousse cake and mango cheesecake, were serviceable but struck me as odd since they’re not really Thai desserts. I hope that Tamarind Seed will round out its menu in the future by adding a few more traditional desserts like shaved ice or sticky rice in coconut milk. After all, an authentic meal deserves an authentic finish.

We say:
Until further notice, Tamarind Seed is Atlanta’s Thai restaurant to beat.



Tamarind Seed
1175 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30361
(404) 873-4888