Tamarind House was built in 1904 as a home for the management of the Union Steamship Company.

Later it was the home of the British Consul. 

 

It was refurbished and opened as a restaurant in 2004 by Sue Carruthers Brown and her late husband, Robert Brown . Sue is originally from Kenya and Robert  a Cook Islander from the island of Mangaia. Their daughter Pasha assisted Sue with the management of the restaurant. Sadly Robert passed away in March 2021.

 

In mid 2022 Jamie Miller, General Manager and James Miller, Executive Chef have joined the team and are refreshing and expanding Tamarind’s well regarded offerings, with their extensive cafe and catering experience.

Sue and Robert were in the restaurant business together from 1988, originally with The Flame Tree restaurant, and then Ambala Garden Cafe in their private botanical garden in Muri before opening Tamarind House.

They named the new restaurant after the tamarind trees that once grew on the roadside at the property but unfortunately were destroyed in a cyclone. They have planted a tamarind tree on the edge of the parking area, which like the restaurant is flourishing.

Inspired by her years living and working with food in the Cook Islands, Sue published a cookbook in 2010 called simply South Seas Cuisine. It features tropical recipes from Rarotonga and the Pacific Islands. South Seas Cuisine was a tribute to the wealth of tropical fruit, vegetables, fresh fish and other foods found in the Pacific islands. She also earlier published the Tropical Garden Cookbook, inspired by her extensive travels through the Tropics.

Sue and her family also own La Casita Mexican Café and The Rickshaw Asian Cafe, both simple street cafes in Muri offering delicious flavours of very affordable ethnic cuisine.

Tamarind House is one of the most recommended restaurants in the Cook Islands. The restaurant is spread over two levels and overlooks the beach, lagoon, garden and beach deck.

The Ukelele Bar is a private roofed deck venue with a bar overlooking the private beach and lagoon. This is a popular daytime venue for corporate meetings and retreats of up to 40 people. Evenings bring a backdrop of the setting sun and a venue for up to 35-45 seated for a set menu dinner or up to 70 people standing for cocktails.

 

 

Celebrate your next occasion at the Tamarind House. We can easily accommodate weddings, corporate events, private parties, birthday or anniversary celebrations for both lunch and dinner.

Your special occasion can either be held at the Tamarind House Main Restaurant or at the Ukelele Beach Bar  for a private event overlooking the beach and ocean.

If you are interested in making a reservation or would like more details, please call us directly at (+682) 26487 or email us at [email protected].

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