Ok, so right off the bat let me get this out of the way - I'm a professional carnivore. I went in knowing I was going to be having meat of some kind, maybe goat, possibly yak, but definitely a meat based entree.
Our host and waiter for the night was Bikash Kharel himself, and he guided us through the menu based on what my wife and I were each looking for. We took his advice and ordered the Aloo appetizer, the Kathmandu Poppers, and the vegetable Jhol Momos, to be followed by the Nepali Alfredo and the Chitwan Ko Taas (a flame charred goat dish - told you I'd be getting some meat). We each settled back into delicious glasses of iced chiya (WIK's deliciously spicy real tea take on traditional chai), and waited for the food to arrive.
Now, it was Valentine's Day night and every table was filled, so I was prepared to wait a bit, but the Aloo and Poppers came out of the kitchen quite quickly and hoo boy, they were incredible. the potatoes have a lovely spicy bite, mixing cumin and, unless I'm really off, cardamom with the smokiness of the potatoes and the riproaring bite of these chopped green deadly spicy peppers - which were just right, having enough heat to make you remember what you were eating, but not enough to make you stop. As for the poppers, they are a take on the traditional Jalapeno Popper but they are made from much larger peppers akin to the Italian Frying Pepper and stuffed with a gooey mix of potato and cheese. Lightly battered in an almost tempura-like batter, they are heavenly. Just enough bite and pepper flavor with a cheesy gooey balance and perfectly served with a remarkable chutney on the side.
Almost as if they were staging the courses for us, we had barely finished the appetizers when our momos appeared. A silky tomato and spice fueled broth surrounded these delicate little islands of noodley vegetable goodness. I have had dumplings all across the City and these are the tops. Vegetable dumplings are notoriously difficult to do well, as they are often a bit blah once you get down to it - not these. Every bite is an explosion of flavor. Not spicy at all, but complex and tasty, the eight momos in the bowl are just enough for a two person soup course, and the soup that these magic little ecstasy factories float in is a perfect compliment.
We sat back and had a little bit of time to digest and chat and I can say, without reservation, that I could eat those three dishes every day for the rest of my life and be perfectly content with it. Now remember, I'm an affirmed, card-carrying meateater. We hadn't had a scrap of meat yet. that's a pretty huge endorsement of the aloo, poppers, and momos.
After a brief moment to digest, out came the entrees, and they did not disappoint either. The alfredo is creamy and perfect with a hint of tomato and spice - almost like an alfredo sauce married a tikka masala. Hearty and rich, and served with a side of garlic naan, my wife rapidly found herself entering food coma territory. My Chitwan Ko tass was also spectacular - heady, hearty chunks of goat with a perfect rind of char and spices served with traditional puffed rice and several sides of mixed vegetables and a dried bean reminiscent of the West Indian Fry Channa snack food.
Stuffed to the gills, but still hanging on, I opted for dessert and was rewarded with a take on the sel roti - a large rice-flour donut dusted with shaved coconut. Piping hot and gooey, this sweet, almost funnel cake was a perfect way to cap the meal. Next time, I'll be sure to order a hot chiya with it, as I imagine they are a perfect couple.
Fooded up sufficiently, we got the check and, hey, it was totally not bad at all! The prices are beyond reasonable for the amount of food you get, and the atmosphere is fun, laid back, and homey with a thatched rood cottage screening off the kitchen and Parliament Funkadelic pumping through the house sound. Word to the wise - they currently only take cash, but there is a conveniently located ATM in the back of the restaurant, so if you forget to bring greenbacks (or like both myself and the Queen of England, just never travel with cash) it's not too big a problem.
All told, not only will we definitely be back, but we'll be bringing friends. Maybe in the warmer months so we can take advantage of the back-yard dining space! read more