“ The question is, have you ever had bad Indian food?? Tamarind is an unsuspecting gem in the heart of North Oakland! Located in a home-turned-restaurant, it's a quaint, plain location with excellent food! We started with samosas, which were great! Their tamarind sauce was to die for. Then we ordered chicken tikka masala and lamb vindaloo both medium spicy. It had us sweating but the perfect amount. Both dishes were excellent and came with a small side of mint chutney. The chicken in the tikka masala was tender but not dry, and the sauce was perfectly sweet and spicy. We also ordered 'the bread basket' which was definitely too much for the two of us but would be great for a larger party to share. The mango lassi was also perfect! The perfect amount of service. Just came to check on us to order and to bring the food. Very friendly ownership and staff. I look forward to coming back! ”

“ Such a lovely, homey restaurant in a super adorable red house with colorful paintings, nice dining area with pretty windows, and a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. I had the Sweet Lassi ($2.99), which had cardamom and other sweet spices, giving the smooth, milky drink a delicate taste. As for the meal, we shared the Garlic Naan ($2.49), Mix Grill ($16.99) and Lamb Korma ($10.99). The Garlic Naan was quite tasty, with butter and actual garlic, served warm and slightly crispy. The Mix Grill consisted of Shrimp, Lamb, and Chicken, along with onion on top of a sizzling cast iron pan. All of the meat was cooked perfectly and nicely charred. The Shrimp was my favorite, followed by the Lamb. Shrimp was juicy and well seasoned. Lamb was succulent and full of bold flavor, while the Chicken was tender and tasty. Lamb Korma was served with rice and some green veggies. The sauce was rich, creamy and savory with hints of cashew, while the lamb was wonderfully tender. I preferred the Shrimp Korma and wish I had ordered that. Shrimp was cooked beautifully and melt in your mouth delicious! Service was solid. Our waiter was very friendly and made sure we were taken care of throughout our dinner. All of our dishes came out in a timely manner. Prices could not be beat and everyone was happy with their meal. ”

“ Good food, but with some menu clarity issues. I hadn't tried this place in a while, but recently picked up some takeout to revisit and reevaluate. My first observation is that the menu expands well beyond the standard options that you would find at any Indian restaurant in Western Pennsylvania. There are a number of options that represent Indian dishes not commonly available in this region. Awesome. If I have one minor nit, it's the difficulty around connecting what's on the menu with what will actually end up in my order. As an example, the chilly gobi start is described as sautéed cauliflower, but it's actually deep fried and then sautéed cauliflower. That's not a huge deal, but more clarity would be helpful. The mirchi bajji was also deep-fried, which was not immediately obvious. All in all, this was a great experience with friendly staff and an excellent takeout packaging. The parking situation can be a little challenging, but the food is nicely seasoned and enjoyable. You just need to be ready for items to tend toward the side of being somewhat heavy. ”

“ Food came out quick despite it being busy and the portions were really generous. Loved the bread basket with so many different flavors! ”

“ We stumbled onto this restaurant on the way to another. It was full of people and looked warm and inviting, like going to a friend's house. We shifted course and ordered Naan, Tandoori Chicken, Chai Tea, Lamb Vindaloo, Spinach Dosa. All entries were 5 star in taste, generous portions at reasonable prices. My favorite was the Tandoori Chicken. It melted in your mouth, was some of the best I have had. The atmosphere as promised was like being at a good friend's house for a first rate dinner. Highly recommend this restaurant next time you are in Oakland. ”