India Palace - Fort Myers' Jewel in the Crown
Of all the restaurants in the Fort Myers area, India Palace has made a name for itself. The attractive staff and the Eastern ambience are the most compelling things about this place, but once you taste the food you know why they rank so highly on every reviewers' list.

Opened in 2000 by the Singh group from Fort Lauderdale, the restaurant is a beautiful little area hidden away in old Dragon Plaza, where Garibaldis used to once be.

The managers Tejinder and Kabir both understand the relevance of the restaurant in an area populated by endless McDonalds and Bob Evans. Indeed, the lunches here are packed, and dinners are taken on a reservation basis.

The best thing is that there's an entire vegan menu, and you can order special dishes that you remember from your last trip to India or England. I ordered Bombay Potatoes which was not on the menu and it was a delight! Just as I remembered it from 30 odd years ago!

The cheery staff, including bartender Tiffany Bannsworth and Manager Kabir Ahamed saw to my meal and drinks as no one had in ages. Indian courtesy is indeed a special thing! The walls here have peach pastel tones and there are wallhangings of old Indian tapestries, including the Taj Mahal.

This restaurant is handicapped accessible and they have a kids menu (with delightful little chicken fingers-like things called pakoras) so bring the entire family along. Seniors can order half orders of anything on the menu, which makes this a complete family experience!

Highly recommended!    [28 Dec 2001 15:15:52]

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Recommended Dishes: chicken tikka masala, eggplant bhurtha

     ­Vishwas Balan   

Definitely a Winner
We recently visited India Palace with our children and were surprised at how such a large restaurant and bar were expertly headed by just two experienced managers. Everything here is classy without descending into kitsch, an infamous facet of nearby 'Passage to India' located at Bonita Springs.

Manager Kabir Ahmed is one of those managers whose attention to detail is at once impeccable and enviable. Writing this review for a local newspaper, I noticed how he and fellow manager Tejinder took multi-tasking to a whole new level! The service here is courteous without being overly saccharine (at most Indian restaurants, the servers and waitresses come over to ask you how the food is at least ten times during a meal!). The friendly staff only lend a more distinctly lovable feel to this eatery - the mood if more European than Indian, but the food is as ethnic as they come.

Sample the delicious Chicken Tandoori and tikka masala and you'll know what I am talking about. The eggplant bhurtha, navaratan shahi korma, and Aloo Chole are the top-sellers here, but since I am a meat lover, I found myself re-ordering seekh kebab and chicken pakora, two dishes that you can't get enough of!

India Palace's strength lies also in its bar. I ordered a robin's nest and Fuzzy Navel and they were second only to ones I had at South Beach years ago. And thats a huge compliment to a restaurant that has only just begun spreading its wings and taking flight! All in all, a wonderful experience, and one that you should enjoy with the company of your family.    [05 Feb 2002 15:00:49]

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Recommended Dishes: chicken tikka masala, beef roganjosh, kulfi

     ­Cassandra Bogart   

Still Leads the Pack
After dining at Passage to India of Bonita Springs and the newer 'Curry Hurry India Restaurant' in Fort Myers, I am tempted to say that India Palace needn't worry about the 'competition'. The food is far and away brilliant when compared to the other ethnic restaurants in the area, yes, even surpassing Pastrami Dan's Kabob House in Naples, which has made a name for itself with its shish kebobs. India Palace is admittedly lacking real variety when it comes to the menu (all the food is from the Punjab region of India, and more 'Indian' dishes such as vada, idli and the southern coconut delicacies do not find a place on the menu) but they do well with what they have. After all these years, I am glad to find a place that makes chicken tikka masala the way it should be.    [29 May 2002 22:39:21]

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Recommended Dishes: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, beef sag, rasamalai, onion kulcha, chicken pakoras, special variety tray, mango lassi, achar (mixed spicy pickles)

     ­J. Furlong   

A Big Jewel for a Small Town
I've eaten at several Indian restaurants in places as diverse and far-apart as California, Texas, Mississippi and Florida, and in as big cities as Los Angeles and Dallas. What a shock to find the best Indian restaurant of all I've eaten at (8, total) in little Fort Myers, FL.

Although India Palace's menu is mostly limited to Punjabi (Northern Indian) specialties, that is rather normal for most Indian restaurants. And yes, there are a few (very few) South Indian specialties (Lamb Madras, Shrimp Madras). I've tried possibly half of everything that appears on the menu (I shy away from lamb and some seafood) and can honestly say that everything is at least very good, if not totally outstanding.

Their menu is very similar (a little more limited) to their parent restaurant's ("Punjab" in Fort Lauderdale). You can see Punjab's menu (again, very similar to India Palace's) by clicking on this link:

http://greatlocations.com/fortlaud/menus/menupunjab.html

You will find great chutneys (for dipping) here, and the Tamarind chutney is not to be missed - it's the only Tamarind chutney I've ever tried at any Indian restaurant that tastes like it comes from real tamarinds, plus it's not water-thin like that of most restaurants . In addition to an ample, if not cornucopia-esque number and variety of dishes, India Palace has a very good assortment of breads, appetizers and accompaniments. Complimented by a decent wine list, several different domestic and imported beers and a full-service bar, India Palace surely has just about anything a diner could hope to find.

Their service is great and formal (always ties or semi-tuxes), if muted and silent at times. And they actually do more than they should to accommodate people. They operate on a skeleton staff, but still manage to get everything out on time, or nearly on time. To make sure you get the best possible service, though, try not going during peak hours (6:30 - 8:30) on either Friday or Saturday.

The most popular or best dishes at India Palace are: for meat lovers - Chicken Kerahi, Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Rogan Josh; for seafood lovers - pretty much anything with shrimp as their shrimp are big, fresh, and juicy; and for vegetarians - Eggplant Bhartha and Paneer Tikka Masala. Also, their Biryanis (rice mixture dishes with meat(s) and vegetables) are definitely worth trying. You can't go wrong with any of these (or with anything else, really).

The dining is semi-formal with tasteful painted cloth pictures, Hindu statues, and the requisite sequined Taj Mahal portrait on framed cloth. The air is clean and crisp, and the earlier you go in the more likely you'll be able to catch a whiff of their great incense. There is a foyer with a fish tank holding some quite active, health fish, too, and they can be a joy to watch.

Special notes: 1) India Palaces cooks your dishes to taste. You can specify mild (which should be tolerable to anybody's palate), medium, or hot; if you are one of those who really likes your ethnic cuisine hot and your tolerance is high, then try asking for more than just "hot" as they've scaled down the overall spiciness since they opened nearly 2 years ago (in December 2000) to accommodate the typical American palate. 2) They have a lunch menu (no buffet), and I think the flat fee is $5.95 (maybe it's $6.95) and it's a great value as you have several entrees to choose from, which all come with rice, bread and also soup, I think.

India Palace has already had its fair share of accolades - it was rated a 4 star restaurant (for food), 3.5 star overall by Jean Le Beouf, the local restaurant reviewer, and many months later was featured as one of the 10 best inexpensively/moderately prices restaurants in all of Southwest Florida (this is a metro area of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Spring and Naples which, if not exceeding 500,000, is pretty close to it).

They are open for lunch 5 days a week from 11:30 - 2:30 Tuesday - Saturday and are open for dinner every night of the week from 5 - 10.

Their address is 11605 S. Cleveland Avenue (synonymous with Highway 41 and Tamiami Trail) and they're located in the back center of the Dragon Plaza food and shopping center. Their phone number is (239) 939-2323.

I reserve 5-star ratings only for the best restaurants in the biggest cities, so don't take my ratings as any sort of disagreement with previous reviews on this site. It is more out of a respect for superlatives (very abused in this day and age) than disrespect for this great restaurant that I don't wantonly give it 5 stars in every category like every other reviewer here has.
   [21 Nov 2002 19:00:00]

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     ­William Noel   

Simply The Best
I have dined at both India Palace in Fort Myers and Passage To India in nearby Bonita Springs many, many times. India Palace is my favorite, but I want to make it clear that it is a close race between the two. Passage To India is far from "kitsch". Both are classy, authentic dining experiences.

The onion chutney at Passage To India is sweet, whereas at India Palace it is very hot. The Tandoori Chicken at Passage To India is not red, whereas at India Palace it is very red. I have favorite dishes at both restaurants.

India Palace is wonderful: the atmosphere is quiet and classy, cloth tablecloths, well-dressed staff. While you can easily spend over $50 on dinner for two, lunch is vert cheap and a real bargain as you get a lot of food. It's only $6.95!

I'm a big fan of their Lentil Soup. It is very flavorful and gets any meal off to a great start. It's an option at dinner, but comes with the meal at lunch. At lunch they bring you "salad" which at first I could not understand: just lettuce, tomato, and cucumber...no dressing. I thought that was odd, but after having it a few times I must say it a refreshing change. We Americans tend to douse our food in oils and sauces, and to enjoy a naked salad reawakened my tastebuds to natural foods.

My favorite lunch item is the Tandoori Chicken or the Eggplant Bhartha. The Eggplant Bhartha is eggplant, tomatoes, and a ton of peas in a curry sauce. It's wonderful. Lunch comes w/ Lentil Soup, salad, rice, and naan bread.

My favorite dinner is Tandoori Shrimp. It does not seem like a lot of food at first glance, but w/ all that comes with it, it's more than enough food and I leave stuffed every time. I also love the Chicken Korma, a creamy dish w/ raisins and cashews. The mix of flavors is amazing and I have a hard time ordering anything but this.

They have the best Vegetable Samosas in town, and their insanely hot onion chutney makes a perfect blend. (Hint: I find that the "Fresh Samosas" you can get on Saturdays at India Bazaar just down 41 taste exactly the same as the ones at India Palace, and so does the chutney.) Most meals come w/ naan bread but I often order Garlic Naan instead as it is wonderful; so fresh, so buttery, so garlic-y.

I like my food spicy and you can get it as hot as you want. Just tell them "triple X" if you want and they'll do it!

I find that even on a Friday or Saturday night during season, I am not having to wait for a table or my food. The entree may take a while but w/ soup and appetizers, I'm never hungry. Also, you do not need a reservation for dinner, but they do accept them.

I could eat there every day. I already go so much I wonder if they laugh at me. But I don't care, the food is so good!

I give five stars for everything because compared to all the restaurants in this area, 5 stars is accurate.    [11 Jul 2003 10:42:03]

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Recommended Dishes: tandoor shrimp, chicken korma, eggplant bhartha, chicken tikka masala

     ­Lauren   restaurantreviewerREMOVETHIS at spamex dot com

Unbelievable Fusion Cuisine
Ever since the departure of India Palaces' star manager Kabir Ahamed, the quality of food has been getting progressively worse and their acclaimed 'mix-and-match' policy (though unwritten) no longer holds as good as it once did. Part of this is definitely due to the absence of what I would call SW Floridas' most caring restaurateur, but also due to the fact that the remaining staff have no idea where to begin or what to do when asked for requests.

Case in point: when Kabir managed the place, I used to order shrimp and mushrooms simmered in saffron milk with white wine sauce. This is admittedly not on the menu but he did it for me every time. I am a 63 year old woman, but all my tastebuds are in working order so believe me when I say that its perhaps the greatest dish I have ever eaten. These days, its a wonder I am even able to get anything done to my request at all! I am not fond of chicken curry (with gingered rice, no less) and the staff seem to pay no attention to the fact that I cannot stand the concept. They recommend it to me every time!

Of the dishes that do stand out even now is the amazing chicken cream korma, a fusion dish if there ever was one. It consists of chicken pieces, boneless, tossed in turmeric and deep fried, and then simmered in a thick broth of cream and chicken stock with onions and Indian spices. Yum! All dishes are served with basmati rice or buttery 'Naan', which is a fusion version of regular Indian naan (something to do with the proportions of wheat flour)......

Bottom line: The restaurant is still fine on one level, but the absence of the person who made it wonderful is a sore point indeed. Heres hoping that it can someday return to its former glory.    [08 Mar 2004 07:34:49]

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Recommended Dishes: shrimp korma cream, tangy onion rings

     ­Anonymous   

Simply Awful Experience
My husband and I have eaten at many wonderful Indian restaurants in Washington, D.C., New York, and elsewhere - both expensive and inexpensive. We went to India Palace two nights ago on the recommendation of a friend who had traveled extensively in India. Despite this, we still didn't have high expectations.

However, this awful place didn't even come close to meeting our lowered expectations! The glowing reviews above are clearly from days - and managers - past. Although there were only two tables filled in the restaurant, our waiter was unresponsive to the point of rudeness. We had to ask repeatedly to have our water glasses filled.

But we could have overlooked the surly service had the food been good. Instead it was virtually inedible. My chicken tandoori was not properly cooked (and was cold), the chicken tikka masala was tasteless (well, actually, it tasted bad), and our appetizers (onion bhaji, pakoras) were greasy. And for some inexplicable reason everything was very salty.

The waiter did not seem surprised that we ate little of our food, so this must be a common occurrence. Avoid India Palace at all costs!    [03 Oct 2006 12:12:36]

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     ­Tina Modotti   

Horrible Indian Food
If you want horrible, greasy, unauthentic Indian food, go to India Palace. I have grown up in Bombay, India, and the fact that this restaurant is called Indian food is a disgrace. I know many people who have eaten here once and never come back. The food is really bad. i do not recommend it at all.    [28 Dec 2006 16:07:16]

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     ­Anonymous