Spending a few hours at Spicers Tamarind Retreat feels like an escape. Even if you’re not staying the night, you can still enjoy the lush rainforest backdrop from the restaurant and chill out. The Tamarind is driven by warm, friendly service and the dining pavilion takes inspiration from Thailand, with the menu meandering around the region. Alongside spice-friendly wines, there’s a smart mix of local craft and Asian beers that complement hotter dishes. A beautifully balanced green curry takes a generous twist with chicken and wild ginger dumplings and Mooloolaba prawns. The menu features a haul of fresh local seafood, but in a dish that includes ribbons of confit squid, candied anchovies and kitchen-garden herbs, roasted Moreton Bay Bug struggles to hold its own against a tomato sambal and satay sauce. Balance is restored by a silky coconut cream pudding paired with an intense basil sorbet and black sesame.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Wine: ★
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
