I first discovered Imlee with my wife not long after they opened in '03. The food was unlike anything we'd experienced before. Soon after, we were dragging everyone we knew over there. There were always problems with the service. The servers weren't friendly, and offered nothing in the way of help with the menu. Still, we continued to go at least 1-2 times a month. My favorite dish was the lamb biryani, a rice dish that came in a piping hot casserole.
Then something happened. The quality of the food declined, and they changed the way they served dishes like the biryani. We figured it was under new ownership, so we stopped going.
Fast forward to earlier this month. In the span of a few days, a friend told me about a great meal he'd had at their lunch buffet, and the Herald published an article on the wonders of Imlee. We decided to give the lunch buffet a try for old time's sake.
Big mistake. The waitress never asked if we were familiar with the buffet or offered any choices. She just brought out various plates. Whenever I tried talking to her she'd mumble something I couldn't understand. Dessert, which is included in the buffet, was never offered. I had to ask her for it when she brought the check, and even then wouldn't tell me what the choices were. I ended up having to point at something on the next table that ended up being a lot better than what we got.
As far as the food goes, the nan bread, the corn chowder and the samosas were spectacular, but the rest wasn't memorable. With all the options for Indian food in Miami, I think it'll be a long while before I come here again.
Pros: At Least They Try...I Think
Cons: Service
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