#TerrificTakeout #PeachyDeegan #Imli Summer 2018 #WhomYouKnow #Manhattan @ManhattanPeachy @ImliRestaurant
Yes you can have pizza at an Indian restaurant!
And you can have Chicken Biryani, Peachy's favorite Indian food:
It's not who you know, it's Whom You Know and we know Albin Vincent, one of the three owners of Imli Restaurant, located on first avenue not far from Mover and Shaker Mayor Ed Koch's bridge. Imli Restaurant is owned by Albin, Ram Reddy and Mervyn Winston, and this is their second feature. Imli is the Indian word for Tamarind we are told. They were first featured last winter:
This time, we began with the Crispy Brussels sprouts. We love this vegetable in general, and this creative edition was deliciously seared and boasted a nice crunch as it is roasted and pan-sauteed.
Drumroll please.
Obviously if you know us at all, you know Peachy is a DEEGAN not a VEGAN and of all meats she likes beef an awful lot, as in steak and cheeseburgers. Due to Hindu beliefs, we almost never see beef on Indian menus, but Imli has it.
Kerala Beef, marked with an asterisk indicting it is spicy, is simply sensational. Cubed beef, garlic ginger, tumeric and chili powder make this a memorable flavor you'll adore.
It is delicious and we cannot wait to eat it again.
The Scallops were another appetizer we tried, and they had a nice kick to them as they incorporate fennel, cardamom and curried lemon butter. We noticed we really liked the music here and they played Huey Lewis, Rod Stewart, Billy Joel and Cyndi Lauper.
Moving along with the beef theme, you should know you can even get a great hamburger here. This is the Imli Spicy Burger, and it is absolutely spicy. It put Peachy on fire so if you have tame Irish tastebuds too, you might ask them to turn it down a bit. A blend of three cuts is served with a brioche bun and what makes it Indian is the spices in the meat: Whole Coriander, Ginger, Garlic, Tumeric, Curry and Chili Powder. We are pro-cheeseburger and think there should be a cheese option. White American cheese or mozzarella would make this even better. We are thrilled to see a hamburger at an Indian restaurant.
Continuing along the American theme, Imli also has a tremendously delicious Tandoori Pizza adorned with chicken, red onions, peppers, green chili and coriander. It is RIDICULOUSLY delicious. Who knew you could have Indian pizza!?!? Now we know, and you know too. It is quite different from Italian pizza as the spices and ingredients are different but it is something you should try. We like seeing imaginative and inventive when it is also delicious like this and not trendy and with flavors that don't work.
Let's return to the classics. Saag Paneer is terrific and bright with many many chunks of paneer in it. The spinach base has a smooth consistency that forms the base for your inner cheese monster: paneer is cheese. Another convincing entree is the Coconut Curry Shrimp, which has tails, so watch out and don't eat them in your enthusiasm. We like the tails to be absent from the plate. It was spicy yet balanced and will not put you on fire.
Of course we spent some quality time with our best friend, Garlic Naan.
This is Indian Garlic bread, for the uninitiated.
House Chicken Curry, above, is another fabulous traditional option for entrees that proves in every bite that you should not mess with a classic. The house recipe of curry leaves, ginger, fennel and coriander is fragrant and fresh and not overpowering. And finally, Chicken Biryani, Peachy's personal favorite Indian food, is a fantastic conclusion.
Imli continues to have a strong showing and we like the American influence on their menu that is new to us. We look forward to seeing what they do next.
