Tamarind - Ithaca

Excellent food! Do not let the state of the outside fool you. This restaurant is a jewel! Tables are small but comfortable. The vegetables and proteins were delicately prepared and presented so beautifully. We loved the complex but perfectly prepared curries. You do not use msg, are prepared for various dietary needs, and you can prepare your spicy dish on a spicy scale of 1-5.

This location resells contaminated food to compensate for their own mistakes. If they “mishear” your order they will not replace it with the correct dish just insist that IF they cannot resell it, (for me, that was because of spice level) you must foot the cost of righting their wrong and pay MORE. I have spent too much money here and refuse to go back. I would like to also note that it was pad Thai that they incorrectly gave me and I’m ALLERGIC to peanuts in such quantity. I didn’t make them aware of this but I shouldn’t have had to. they didn’t even offer me a refund, and expected me to give them more money for the dish I ordered, ludicrous. And customer service has been failing to satisfy as of late.

As a loyal customer of Tamarind for 4+ years, I am NEVER going back! I had a pick up order, when I arrived, the woman owner said to me: I know it 's a pickup order, but most people pay tip, you didn 't pay tip this time, so tip next time. That offended me as a customer. First of all, in a pickup order, I received NO service from waiters, so why should I pay tip? Tip to whom? Even if other customers left tip, that 's not a valid reason for me to pay for the ZERO service I received. I am in no legal or moral or social obligation to pay tip. Second, the fact that I was straight up demanded to pay tip by this woman is outrageous and super offensive. Finally, on top of that freaking attitude, they messed up my order, they forgot to give me my drink, and they gave me the wrong dish. Just absolutely diabolical.

Best Duck Curry I ever had! Pad Thai and Pad Lake Ew were also excellent. We talked about what we still want to try when we go back. Service was fast and very friendly, but Dine-in was not available when we visited.

These are the hands below the best Thai place in Ithaca, and could I dare to say NY state! Both Thai friends have also confirmed this, so it is clearly legit. The Pad Lake Ew and Spring Rolls are my favorites!