The Tamarind serves a wide sweep of Indian cooking from its Scott Street dining room in central Blenheim. Its menu is built for several ways of eating, from a quick dosa or biryani to a table filled with starters, breads and curries. Dine-in service is joined by pickup and delivery, so the restaurant works just as naturally for a relaxed meal out as it does for dinner at home.

The opening section rewards diners who like to share. Samosa, pakora and onion bhaji sit alongside stuffed mushroom, pani puri, chilli paneer, chicken tikka and chilli-garlic prawns, with mixed platters gathering several flavours on one plate. Dosa are a particular draw: plain, ghee, cheese, masala and spiced Mysore versions arrive with sambar plus coconut and tomato chutneys.

Curries range from familiar favourites to dishes with a stronger regional identity. Butter and tikka masala sauces are balanced by vindaloo, korma, saag and Kolhapuri preparations, while the house specials include lamb rogan josh, lamb shank, Chettinad cooking and eggplant masala. That breadth makes it possible to choose mild, creamy comfort or a more aromatic and assertive combination without leaving the same menu.

Rice dishes give a meal another centrepiece, whether the choice is fragrant biryani or one of the restaurant's fried-rice options. Meat, seafood and vegetarian sections provide useful flexibility for mixed groups, and breads, accompaniments and small plates make it easy to build a spread rather than order a single main each. The result is an approachable neighbourhood restaurant with enough detail in its cooking to reward exploring beyond a usual order.

Address: 14 Scott Street, Blenheim Central, Blenheim 7201, New Zealand

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The Tamarind 2017 Menu Menu updated on 17 Sep 2026

Starters

Samosa (2 Pcs)

$13

Golden fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes and peas, served with house chutneys. V

Vegetable Pakora

$12

Seasonal vegetables coated in chickpea batter and deep fried until crisp. V GF

Onion Bhaji

$13

Finely sliced onions seasoned with herbs and spices, fried to perfection. V GF

Stuffed Mushroom (2 pcs)

$13

Mushrooms stuffed with mildly spiced chef’s special stuffing. V GF

Chilly Paneer

$18

Crispy fried Paneer tossed in spicy, tangy and garlicy glaze with capsicum and onion. GF VG

Pani Puri Shots (6 Pcs)

$13

Crispy Puris stuffed with spiced potatoes, designed to be filled with tangy, sweet & spicy flavoured water. Pop the whole thing in your mouth for an explosion of flavour! V

Dahipuri Canapes (6 Pcs)

$13

Mouthwatering bite sized puris filled with potato, onion, tomato, chilled sweet yogurt topped with tamarind chutney, green chutney and chickpea noodle crisps — a flavour bomb. VG

Samosa Loaded

$16

Golden crispy samosa smashed and topped with potato, onion, tomato and chutneys. VG

Chicken Tikka (4 pcs)

$14

Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, cooked in tandoor. GF

Chicken Tikka (8 pcs)

$25

Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, cooked in tandoor. GF

Chilli Garlic Prawns

$22

Prawns sauteed with garlic, chilli and Indo-Chinese flavour. GF

Chicken Fry

$18

Gluten free crispy chicken bites with an Indian spice twist, served with mint yogurt. GF

Chilly Chicken

$21

Crispy fried chicken tossed in spicy, tangy and garlicy glaze with capsicum and onion. GF

Chicken 65

$21

Appetizer made of bite-sized chicken marinated in yogurt, spices and curry leaves. GF

Dosa (Tamarind's Signature Dish)

Crisp rice and lentil based savoury crepes, served with Sambar (lentil stew), coconut chutney and tomato chutney. GF V Non Spicy

Plain Dosa

$19

Plain Dosa with chutneys and Sambar.

Ghee Dosa

$20

Plain dosa cooked with ghee, making it super crispy.

Cheese Dosa

$21

Plain dosa spread with mozzarella, giving it a cheesy texture.

Masala Dosa

$22

Plain Dosa with mild cooked potato-onion stuffing.

Mysore Dosa

$23

Same as Masala Dosa with a hint of tangy, medium spicy Mysore chutney mixed with the stuffing, giving more flavours to your Dosa.

Rice & Beyond

Mixed Vegetable Biryani

$23

GF VG

Chicken Biryani

$25

Lamb Biryani

$27

Vegetable Fried Rice

$23

GF VG DF

Chicken Fried Rice

$25

GF DF

Triple Schezwan Chicken Fried Rice

$26

Combination of rice, noodle and chicken cooked in spicy schezwan sauce. GF DF

Tamarind Specials

Lamb Rogan Josh

$29

Kashmiri-style lamb curry cooked with yogurt and aromatic spices.

Lamb Shank

$30

Slow-cooked lamb shank in Tamarind’s rich, signature flavourful gravy.

Chettinad

Chicken $27 / Lamb / Beef $29

Authentic Tamil Nadu curry with roasted ground spices, coconut and curry leaves. DF

Exotic Eggplant Masala

$26

Half eggplant simmered in Tamarind’s rich, signature flavourful sauce.

Curries

All curries are served with your choice of: Paneer $23, Chicken $25, Lamb or Beef $27, Fish or Prawn $29

Butter Sauce

Boneless marinated chicken cooked in a rich, creamy, buttery tomato based sauce.

Tikka Masala

Marinated Chicken Tikka simmered in a spiced onion-tomato and cashew sauce.

Vindaloo

Hot and tangy Goan-styled curry with vinegar and spices.

Afghani

Creamy white cashew based sauce with subtle spices and yogurt.

Korma

Cashew and cream based mild curry with yogurt and spices.

Lahori

Pakistani styled rich, robust thick gravy made of tomatoes, onion, garlic and ginger.

Mappas

Mild and creamy South Indian sauce cooked with coconut and curry leaves. DF

Saag

Healthy and comforting spinach based creamy sauce with traditional spices.

Kolhapuri

Fiery Maharastrian curry made with roasted coconut, dry chillies and spices. DF

Vegetarian Curries

Butter Paneer

$24

Cottage cheese cooked in a rich tomato and butter gravy.

Paneer Tikka Masala

$24

Paneer simmered in a spiced onion-tomato and cashew sauce.

Mixed Vegetable Korma

$23

Seasonal vegetables cooked in a mild coconut and cashew gravy. DF

Saag Paneer

$23

Paneer cooked with spinach and aromatic spices.

Paneer Afghani

$24

Creamy, mildly spiced curry with delicate flavours.

Lahori Paneer

$23

Traditional Punjabi-style paneer curry with bold spices.

Dal Makhani

$23

Slow-cooked black lentils finished with butter and cream.

Lentil Spinach Curry

$24

Healthy and comforting yellow lentils cooked with spinach, garlic and cumin.

Mushroom Matar Masala

$24

Mushrooms and green peas in a thick masala gravy.

Parotta / Naan

Plain Parotta

Garlic Parotta

Aloo Parotta

Peshawari Parotta

Garlic & Cheese Parotta

Cheese Parotta

Gluten Free Dosa

$11

Extras

Chutneys — Coconut / Tomato / Tamarind / Mint Yogurt / Sambar

Steamed Rice

Jeera Rice

Coconut Rice

Biryani Rice

$12

Raita

Papadum

Kids Meal

Kids Butter Chicken & Rice

$16

Shoestring Fries

Chicken Nugget & Chips

$13

Fish Bites & Chips

$13

Desserts

Gulab Jamun with Vanilla Ice Cream

Royal Saffron Ras Malai

$11

Kulfi (flavoured ice cream popsicles — as per available flavour)

Mango Sorbet (3 scoops)

Signature Dishes

Hand-picked favourites from our kitchen — crafted with authentic aromatic spices.

Masala Dosa

$22

Crisp rice and lentil crepe with mild cooked potato-onion stuffing, served with Sambar, coconut and tomato chutney. GFV

Chicken Biryani

$25

Fragrant basmati rice layered with marinated chicken and slow-cooked with whole aromatic spices. GF

Lamb Rogan Josh

$29

Kashmiri-style lamb curry cooked with yogurt and aromatic spices — a Tamarind Special.

Butter Paneer

$24

Cottage cheese cooked in a rich tomato and butter gravy — comfort food at its creamiest. Vegetarian

Tamarind Mixed Platter

$30

A chef’s selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian starters — great for the table.

Chilly Chicken

$21

Crispy fried chicken tossed in a spicy, tangy and garlicy glaze with capsicum and onion. GF

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Fried rice Typical in Blenheim: $21.45 $23.00

The Tamarind Menu