Greer's OC

The award-winning Tamarind of London at Crystal Cove Promenade isn’t just the most visually stunning contemporary Indian restaurant in OC, it’s also the sister restaurant to the Michelin ranked flagship location in London.

And thanks to their wildly talented Executive Chef Imran Ali, a leader in the Modern Indian Cuisine movement who visits India every year to meditate and charge his culinary creativity, the menu offerings are delectable, some are vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy free. Even Los Angeles Times’ restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold named it the “Best Indian Food” of 2013 in Southern California.

Chef Imran’s journeys inspire his elevated, diverse menu creations and sophisticated offerings for every occasion, mood, appetite and palate. He even takes special orders for locals who are craving hard to find dishes.

Tamarind of London’s dishes are visually artistic and colorful, with complex spices and flavors such as the aloo tikki and masala aloo, a grilled potato cake with cumin and ginger; spiced masala-potato croquette with smoked tomato chutney; sweet potato crisps; and lassen jhinga, tandoori grilled prawns with kalonji, garlic, marinade, tulsi salad; and baingan ka salan, a baby eggplant curry with Indian baby eggplant, moilee curry sauce and Indian risotto; tandoori chicken served with a cranberry chutney and cucumber salad; and chicken tikka masala, a chicken breast tikka in makhni sauce with sauteed onions and dried fenugreek leaves.

Other favorites that you must try include the dumpukht biryani, its signature rice biryani, sealed with a pastry lid, with a choice of vegetables, shrimp, chicken or lamb; the goat cheese naan; Safrani Machhi, a Charbroiled Chilean Sea Bass marinated in safron, ginger and green chillies; apricot curry sauce; Indian risotto; and the grilled quinoa with punjabi pyaz; and lastly the mulaim rattan curry, lemon chili scallops simmered in a lemongrass scented coconut curry served with garlic naan

Tamarind of London offers an upscale Indian dining experience, signature cocktails, a generous Happy Hour and it’s open for lunch and dinner daily.

Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday; and open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m.

Tamarind of London is at Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7862 East Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach. 949.715.8338.