Tamarind Tree
Aug. 26th, 2006 09:50 amOfficial site
It's really hard to pick a "best" vietnamese restaurant in Seattle; so many of them are good for various reasons, and all the ones I go to have their strong points. Tamarind Tree is easily the nicest one I've ever been to, though, in terms of decor, presentation, and the price you pay. It's a very lovely restaurant, especially when compared to some of the holes in the wall I go to, but their prices aren't any more expensive than anywhere else. Going in, you'd expect it to be expensive, but it's not.
The partially-covered patio has a waterfall and will make you forget the huge, crowded parking lot you walked through to get there. Inside, orange and burgundy walls frame rows of tables, cleverly divided with tall plants. Tasteful, soft music plays, which is a refreshing change from "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," which I have heard at two other restaurants in the neighborhood.
CONDIMENTS ON THE TABLE
None. I do hate the convention that the fancier a restaurant is, the fewer condiments will be on the table, and have never enjoyed having to ask for one. They do tend to bring chili sauce out with bun, and when I had soup there and asked for hoisin sauce, they brought it along with chili sauce. What you will find at every table is a nice squarish plate for mixing and sharing, a square teacup for your tea, wooden chopsticks, your soup spoon, and your napkin. As you place your order, they whisk away any items you won't be needing.
THE FOOD
It's killer. They have the best spring rolls I've ever tasted. I like to go with![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
patosa and jcii and order the Tamarind Tree Rolls and the Spring rolls. Each order is 4 large rolls, which makes them cheaper than anywhere I've seen. Even though I wish they used thicker noodles, their bun is great, and features an unusual selection of chopped cabbage and other vegetables. Check out the nice little dessert selection as well.
BEVERAGES
The way they serve their coffee is unique. The coffee seeps into the cup you'll eventually drink out of, instead of a separate cup, and rather than bringing a cup of ice, they give you a whole pitcher and tongs. The Tamarind Tree also has a very well-stocked bar, and a nice selection of specialty cocktails. I agree withpatosa's theory, that the cocktails are probably where their profits come from.
This place also boasts restrooms that warrant a separate review, and one of the coolest waiters in Seattle. One warning: The hours are 10am-10pm, but don't go until at least 10:30. They just don't have it together right away. I ordered bun right at 10am, didn't get it for nearly half an hour, and only had time for a couple of bites before having to pack the rest up and leave to make it to work on time.
It's really hard to pick a "best" vietnamese restaurant in Seattle; so many of them are good for various reasons, and all the ones I go to have their strong points. Tamarind Tree is easily the nicest one I've ever been to, though, in terms of decor, presentation, and the price you pay. It's a very lovely restaurant, especially when compared to some of the holes in the wall I go to, but their prices aren't any more expensive than anywhere else. Going in, you'd expect it to be expensive, but it's not.
The partially-covered patio has a waterfall and will make you forget the huge, crowded parking lot you walked through to get there. Inside, orange and burgundy walls frame rows of tables, cleverly divided with tall plants. Tasteful, soft music plays, which is a refreshing change from "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," which I have heard at two other restaurants in the neighborhood.
CONDIMENTS ON THE TABLE
None. I do hate the convention that the fancier a restaurant is, the fewer condiments will be on the table, and have never enjoyed having to ask for one. They do tend to bring chili sauce out with bun, and when I had soup there and asked for hoisin sauce, they brought it along with chili sauce. What you will find at every table is a nice squarish plate for mixing and sharing, a square teacup for your tea, wooden chopsticks, your soup spoon, and your napkin. As you place your order, they whisk away any items you won't be needing.
THE FOOD
It's killer. They have the best spring rolls I've ever tasted. I like to go with
patosa and jcii and order the Tamarind Tree Rolls and the Spring rolls. Each order is 4 large rolls, which makes them cheaper than anywhere I've seen. Even though I wish they used thicker noodles, their bun is great, and features an unusual selection of chopped cabbage and other vegetables. Check out the nice little dessert selection as well.BEVERAGES
The way they serve their coffee is unique. The coffee seeps into the cup you'll eventually drink out of, instead of a separate cup, and rather than bringing a cup of ice, they give you a whole pitcher and tongs. The Tamarind Tree also has a very well-stocked bar, and a nice selection of specialty cocktails. I agree with
patosa's theory, that the cocktails are probably where their profits come from.This place also boasts restrooms that warrant a separate review, and one of the coolest waiters in Seattle. One warning: The hours are 10am-10pm, but don't go until at least 10:30. They just don't have it together right away. I ordered bun right at 10am, didn't get it for nearly half an hour, and only had time for a couple of bites before having to pack the rest up and leave to make it to work on time.
