Imli Indian Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Ormond Beach

I spent 20 years in New York City and was in the wine business,so food is something I know very well.My friends also owned Indian restaurants,in the city and in Jackson Heights,Darbar,Bombay Palace I ate at very often..We decided to visit this restaurant based on the reviews,we visit Daytona Beach 4-6 times a year,since we live a little over one hour drive, only one couple was eating when we arrived,we ordered the one appetizer of small pieces of vegetables fried in chick pea batter,mixed tandoori meats and vegetables in Tikka masala sauce.Well when the mixed grill came out in less than 15 minutes I was skeptical.The flavor and spices are not there.. very bland..was supposed to be two of each but only one small shrimp on the platter,4 pieces of chicken breast,one thigh,one drum stick,2 small lamb chops and 2 cubes of chicken,chicken was very dry,missing salt and lack of spices...The Tikka masala sauce more like tomato sauce,no spices and heavy cream.,very bland.The garlic nan was the best thing we had.We ate about one third and brought the rest back to the hotel,refrigerated and will take home and re cook the meats,we do cook our own ethnic foods and very good at it....My advice to the owner and chef...Please don't try and alter the dishes to please Americans and foreigners,most people want the original dishes,the heat can be adjusted by using less chili powder and green chilies.but not...

We visited Imli Indian Kitchen on a bustling Saturday evening as a party of four. Despite the busy night, we were promptly seated. The restaurant is located on the barrier island, not directly on the beach but right across from it, with plenty of parking available.

The first thing I noticed about Imli was its elegant simplicity. The tables were spacious, the ambiance was perfect for conversation, and the staff was extremely courteous and professional.

The menu was extensive, well-laid-out, and easy to understand. Although I am new to Indian cuisine, two other members of my party are quite familiar with it and made some great recommendations. I started with a delicious mango cocktail. We also ordered butter and garlic naan, which were tasty, and the onion bhaji for appetizers, which were crispy and well done. My main entrée was the Tandoori Chicken, which was excellent. The chicken was moist and nicely cooked, and the yogurt marinade gave it a wonderful kick. Everyone else equally raved about their entrées, which are pictured below.

The service was excellent. The servers were courteous, professional, and showed pride in their work. Questions were answered enthusiastically, and they made some excellent recommendations.

We were extremely pleased with our visit to Imli and look forward to returning in the...

Update 7/9/2025: We just ordered Imli from GrubHub, and the chicken in two of the three dishes were dry and overcooked, and the naan was not fresh but rather hard in parts. Disappointing. I hope this was just an off night and not the way it will be going forward.

Original Post: I am not sure I can express in words how excited we are to have an Indian restaurant in Ormond! Coming from the DC area where there is exceptional Thai and Indian food, it is hard to find that in Florida. Although I'm not sure any place in Florida rivals those of some of the DC places, Imli Indian Kitchen and Bar has some VERY good Indian food! The service and atmosphere is top notch. We tried the Califlower Manchurian, Saag Paneer, Tiki Masala, Butter Chicken, and of course garlic naan. We ordered everything medium spice. Let's start with the naan....amazing, get it. The butter chicken was good with a hint of sweetness. The Tiki Masala was rich and thick and wonderful. The Califlower Manchurian was good. The sang paneer was a bit disappointing as the paneer was not very hearty, and the spinach was not the color/consistency that we typically prefer. It's just amazing to have a very good Indian food place so close.

The service was amazing, quick, and friendly. Please give this place a try. We look forward to going...