Simon Indian Palace is located near Bloomingdale’s, and you can almost miss it. The first NYC restaurant venture by owner and entrepreneur Nurul Amin, Simon Indian Palace is driven by a team of three chefs – Executive Chef Jalal Bhuiyan (Baluchi’s, Amma), curry specialist Miraj Bhuiyan (Baluchi’s, Curry Kitchen) and tandoor master Shohag Alam (Mahal Kita, Nimbooda). The team work together to create specialty non-vegetarian and vegetarian appetizers and entrées from the vast and extensive menu. I stopped by there with a friend the other night to experience it all.
Inside, the atmosphere is modern and inviting. I was shown to a table that wasn’t too dark, and the mood lighting didn’t make it impossible to see.
I started with a nice Mango Lassi, and an order of Lasooni Gobi, which is crispy cauliflower with garlic. Even if you hate cauliflower, this is a must. It’s crispy, and not steamed like many cauliflower dishes are, and the garlic sauce it’s in brings out a lot of flavors. This isn’t what you think of when you think of cauliflower. I can’t say I’ve had anything else like it, and it was very off the beaten path for many people when they get Indian food (the couple in the booth next to me sat down and immediately ordered Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan).
For an entrée, I had the Malai Kofta, a meatless meatball type of dish with mixed vegetables and paneer, in a curry sauce. I also had the Simon Chicken Special, which was a chicken dish with a curry sauce. Both tasted very fresh, and had just the right amount of spiciness. I finished the meal with a small, but delicate, rice pudding.
The staff at Simon was very courteous and helpful. The restaurant makes sure to purchase ingredients from the farmer’s markets each day, to ensure that each dish is made with fresh ingredients. And that commitment shows up in their dishes.
For more information or to make a reservation, please visit their official site.