India Palace in Ft. Myers, FL--A Restaurant Review

Located at 11605 Cleveland Avenue in Ft. Myers, Florida, the India Palace sits unobtrusively behind a small strip mall facing Cleveland Avenue. The building is difficult to find and doesn't look like much on the exterior. Step inside, however, and you are transformed into a lovely exotic setting with lively pictures on the walls in a comfortable dining room.

According to the take-home menu, the India Palace is "the only Indian Restaurant in the Fort Myers Area." Furthermore, the menu states the News Press rated the India Palace as "One of the Ten Best" restaurants in Southwest Florida. If you have not tried Indian cuisine, trust this reviewer-you are missing out on incredibly exotic, sumptuous, and interesting food. Promise yourself now you will find the best Indian restaurant within a 50 mile radius and explore this delectable cuisine.

Dining Experience at the India Palace in Ft. Myers, Florida

The party of three was greeted and seated right away. Arrival was at 5:00 p.m. on a weekday, early by most standards for dinner. The dining room was spacious, comfortable and empty. Padded chairs provided relaxed seating. Water was poured immediately and beverage orders taken. Each diner was asked and specified the level of heat desired in the food: mild, medium or hot. The two ladies specified mild while the man chose medium heat.

Black peppered papadams and spicy chutney were brought to the table right away. Dinner orders were promptly taken. Consider the papadams as similar to bread and butter/olive oil served in more traditional restaurants. Be ready for a pungent, hot taste explosion when you spread a dab of the chutney on a bit of the thin, crispy papadams.

Within 20 minutes, dinner was served, and what a meal it was. This reviewer ordered Fish Tikka Masala. The man ordered Chicken Curry, Dahl Mahlkani (black lentils) and an order of Onion Naan bread to be shared. The young lady ordered Tandoori Shrimp, Sag Panir (creamed spinach with cheese) and an order of Aloo Naan, also for sharing. Ultimately, diners in the party sampled all dishes, including basmati rice served as a side dish. The food looked and smelled divine when it arrived so steaming hot that the dishes could barely be handled.

The Fish Tikka Masala is a white fish cooked in Tikka Masala sauce. Tikka Masala is a fine blend of tomato sauce, butter, cream, onions, green peppers, and Indian seasonings, including garam masala. Paired with the basmati rice, the balance of flavors was nearly perfect. The Sag Panir-creamed spinach with cheese in curry sauce was also highly seasoned and of mild heat. Texture was that of thin oatmeal. Sag Panir is a wonderful side dish for fish and other entrees, too.

Both naan breads were hot (temperature-wise), soft and tasty. The Onion Naan was seasoned with cilantro, a very nice addition to the bread. The Aloo Naan was lightly stuffed with potatoes and peas, which looked "smashed" between flat layers of the hot bread. Delicious! This reviewer definitely could have eaten more naan.

The Tandoori Jumbo Shrimp was first "marinated in yogurt, garlic, vinegar, ginger and Indian spices," according to the India Palace menu. This shrimp was particularly tender and delicious-spicy but good. The Chicken Curry, also quite spicy was luscious as well. The Dal Mahlkani-well-seasoned, lip-smacking good black lentils were the perfect accompaniment to the fish and chicken entrees.

This meal was brimming with seasonings, flavor and textures unlike any other food. Phenomenal! All three diners in the party ate their fill yet the dishes were not empty. They declined dessert.

The Décor, Atmosphere and Menu Offerings at the India Palace, Ft. Myers, Florida

The décor and atmosphere of the India Palace in Ft. Myers, Florida is like one might imagine a restaurant in India-exotic aromas, deep colors, and lively Indian music playing softly in the background. India Palace is clean and relaxing, even with the music playing. It's easy to settle in and enjoy conversation while waiting for your meal.

The menu offers a decent variety of Indian food. Many appetizers are available and ranged in priced from $3.50 to $10.95. The bread listings are varied, interesting and enticing. This reviewer savors the good ole days of eating Indian food in downtown Chicago when a large bread basket with a mixture of 6 or 8 different Indian breads (at no charge) was served and refilled throughout the meal. Those days are most likely gone, given the health focus on reducing bread intake and rising food costs, but I digress. An order of any of the breads at India Palace in Ft. Myers is comprised of 2 large pieces of the freshly made flatbreads. Unlike most restaurants, diners will be charged per bread order at India Palace. Still, these breads are incredibly tasty and worth the money.

Many vegetable entrees are offered on the menu at India Palace in Ft. Myers, as well as those with seafood, chicken, lamb and beef. Dessert choices of Ice Cream, Kulfi (Indian style ice cream), Gulab Jamun (deep fried pastries with honey), and Rasmalai (fresh cheese with sweet milk and nuts) are available if you are looking for a sweet exotic finish to your Indian feast.

Cost of Meal for Three at the India Palace in Ft. Myers, FL

Including tip, the meal for three was pricey, $100.00. No alcohol or desserts were ordered.

Rating of the Dining Experience at the India Palace in Ft. Myers, FL

This restaurant experience in Ft. Myers, FL is rated 4-1/2 out of 5 stars. Save up your extra cash to have an occasional meal at the India Palace. You will be so glad you did.

Sources

India Palace Flyer.

India Palace Indian Restaurant Menu.

India Palace website.

Personal experience.