I know the January cliché is all about dieting and health…but sometimes it’s too cold for that. After all, if there’s ever a time for delicious comfort food, it’s today: Blue Monday. So let me tell you all about an amazing meal I had at Imli on the Upper East Side. Give yourself a cheat day, or stick to your resolve and just indulge vicariously through me!
Imli Restaurant on 1st Ave looks chic and modern from the outside. The menu features inventive cocktails, small dishes, and traditional classics: “urban Indian food”.
Besides being a bit off the beaten path (mad east), it’s got all the fixings of a great place to bring a date. Want to make it not just dinner but a memorable date? Eat a meal at Imli and then take a spin on the Roosevelt Island Tram just three blocks away. That makes it off the beaten path in a special way.
All the food was delicious. The small plates are perfect for sharing and where you’ll find see clear “urban” interpretations.
We thoroughly enjoyed:
Chicken chaat – I’d call this a crispy, eastern take on chicken salad
Chicken chaat – I’d call this a crispy, eastern take on chicken salad
Crispy okra – unlike anything I’ve had before, light and crispy, maybe almost like tempora?
Shrimp kolivada – just the right amount of spicy and perfectly cooked.
Beetroot croquets – I love anything beet and these were an unexpected small lovely bite.
Main courses were more traditional which I appreciated. When I go out for Indian food I want to be able to find my go-to favorites.
Chicken Tikka Masala – always my favorite, this was perfectly creamy and comforting and the chicken cooked just right.
Aloo Gobi Muttar – I love vegetable dishes, this one also hits a comfort food sweet spot with potatoes, cauliflower, and peas.
Dals – “Yellow Dal and Dal Makhani” – I don’t think I’ve ever had a particularly memorable dal…these were tasty and a nice pack of vegetarian friendly protein just fine.
Lamb Chops – All the meat dishes were cooked expertly, I was particularly impressed with these lamb chops and also chicken tandoori. I’d never had it this tender and moist.
Naan: the ultimate comfort food!
Flakey, buttery, perfectly cooked. We tried three kinds: plain, garlic, and mushroom. I’d never had mushroom naan before – it was hard to appreciate the true mushroom taste and not obliterate it with the flavors of another dish!
This amazing feast was brought out as a tasting from the chef. I was lucky enough to be invited to the table of primarily food bloggers. Mary in Manhattan organized this NYC blogger dinner and it couldn’t have been more enjoyable. So perfect for a date, or a gathering of foodies! I learned a lot about photographing food from the brilliant minds behind Looped Food, It’s Five O’Clock Here, (F)east, and Ever So Popular, and connected with favorite NYC bloggers Used York City and Rendezvous En New York.
If you want ideas of the best places to eat and visit in NYC these blogs are all absolutely FANTASTIC resources! Check them out!
“Do you want to see the dessert menu?”I almost always say no. I’m terrible at leaving room for dessert… Everything here was so good it was easy to find room for more.
Crème brûlée topped with a traditional kulab jamun and “The Exotic Bomb” – two desserts perfect for testing your date’s sense of humor. Will they be crude like I was and say this crème brûlée reminds them of a nipple? Will they grab the obvious but timely “Bomb Cyclone” comparison?
The Exotic Bomb was a delicious swirl of mango, passion fruit, and raspberry ice cream under a thin chocolate shell. It’s perfectly sized to share and light enough to be a perfect end-of-meal treat and palate cleanser. If your date likes fruity desserts, you can’t go wrong sharing this violently named, delightful dessert.
We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. I’ll never claim to be a foodie but sitting at that table with people who have made it their passion to try the best restaurants all over NYC, I smiled, “This is good eating”. Absolutely recommended!
For menu, reservations, and directions, visit Imli’s website.
Do you love Indian food? Are you being amazing with a strict new diet for 2018 and hate me right now? What are your favorite NYC restaurants…should I try to cover more this year?
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Perhaps a second post on what it’s like to eat a meal at a table of food bloggers?