It’s worth taking a trip to the suburb of Woolston just to visit this stylish Bangladeshi restaurant. Manager Shueb boasts a wealth of experience in Bangladeshi dining and, along with his business partner, has been providing the inhabitants of Southampton with a delicious taste of authentic Bangladeshi cuisine for the past year. Ideally based on Portsmouth Road, Tamarinds is easy to find among the small parade of shops. Inside, the decor is simple, elegant and welcoming. There is an intimate feel, with fresh flowers on the tables and a relaxed atmosphere ideal for couples, families or groups of friends.

The menu is clear and easy to understand, offering a good range of dishes, and choices can be made hotter or milder to suit the individual palate. The recommended tamarind duck – a tender duck curry with a special homemade tamarind sauce – proved an unusual and memorable choice, bursting with wonderful flavour. Prices here are reasonable, with an all-you-can-eat buffet available on Sunday and Monday for just £10.50 and £5.50 for children (prices and menu subject to change). Testament to Tamarind’s success is its loyal local clientele – I urge you to follow their example and sample the tempting tastes and friendly service of this budding restaurant.