Food

[Spaceman347]

A quick food review:

Northfield's Cafe - a "good" breakfast, nothing fantastic but good food in a nice garden area.

Mike's breakfast - I think that Mike's rates higher than Northfield's. It's a nice 10 minute walk down past the royal palace and has a lovely garden with large established trees and is a lot more relaxing environment. The food was really good.

Yak & Yeti buffet breakfast - good food and nice surroundings although expensive at 660 rs. Full western / indian buffet complete with guy making omletes to order.

Third eye - good food and a great roof top

Rumdoodle was desserted both times I dropped in there, in fact it was fairly empty last time I was there too.

I went for Pizza at Fire and Ice and can't say that I was overly impressed with it, it's not like it was bad but it was just average pizza. Good strawberries and cream though. ;)

Mitra Cafe - very hip little cafe for great coffee and cake although very low ceilings and even lower doorways so you need to watch your head, it wouldn't be out of place in any major city. quite expensive (but that's ok 'cause it was Oli's shout :D )

"Coffee Shop" at Hotel Le' Annapurna - a very nice restuarant. Expensive but not rediculously so. (2000rs for 2 people for main course, dessert and a few drinks)

Kathmandu Kitchen - a traditional Nepali restuarant on Durbar Marg, 700rs set menu. Good food and an interesting display of various local dancing during the meal. Apparently popular with Japanese groups.

Himalayan Java House - good coffee and cakes, and a reasonable breakfast.

The bar in the main lobby of the Yak and Yeti hotel makes some good cocktails.

[yakshaver]

A quick food review:

Northfield's Cafe - a "good" breakfast, nothing fantastic but good food in a nice garden area.

Mike's breakfast - I think that Mike's rates higher than Northfield's. It's a nice 10 minute walk down past the royal palace and has a lovely garden with large established trees and is a lot more relaxing environment. The food was really good.

Yak & Yeti buffet breakfast - good food and nice surroundings although expensive at 660 rs. Full western / indian buffet complete with guy making omletes to order.

Third eye - good food and a great roof top

Rumdoodle was desserted both times I dropped in there, in fact it was fairly empty last time I was there too.

I went for Pizza at Fire and Ice and can't say that I was overly impressed with it, it's not like it was bad but it was just average pizza. Good strawberries and cream though. ;)

Mitra Cafe - very hip little cafe for great coffee and cake although very low ceilings and even lower doorways so you need to watch your head, it wouldn't be out of place in any major city. quite expensive (but that's ok 'cause it was Oli's shout :D )

"Coffee Shop" at Hotel Le' Annapurna - a very nice restuarant. Expensive but not rediculously so. (2000rs for 2 people for main course, dessert and a few drinks)

Kathmandu Kitchen - a traditional Nepali restuarant on Durbar Marg, 700rs set menu. Good food and an interesting display of various local dancing during the meal. Apparently popular with Japanese groups.

Himalayan Java House - good coffee and cakes, and a reasonable breakfast.

The bar in the main lobby of the Yak and Yeti hotel makes some good cocktails.

Thanks Spaceman for the restaurant-guide. I agree with the Northfield and Mike's Breakfast statements.
And Rum Doodle has lost some of it's sparkle since being moved from Sathgumti 3 years ago...
Fire & Ice I like a lot, for it's pasta and it's salads. Never ordered pizzas there, as I am not much of a pizza fan. I eat it, but not as a gourmet thing - just ecause I am hungry and there's nothing else better around. The pastas are very good at Fire&Ice, though.
Must go to some of the others you mention... One tends to stick to the tried and trusted, like Tuckuche Thakali Kitchen in Durbar Marg, or Khishnaparn, or Northfield caffe, Fire & Ice, KC's, Pub Maya. Must expand my horizons a bit, so thanks for the updates.

Secondly, I see that I will probably play a baddie, in the next Harry Potter novel/movie. Thouse hisrstute yaks need a-shaving...

[Oli]

Northfield's Cafe vs Mike's breakfast
I am a regular at Northfield's - I like their 'special breakfast' (spicey egg, potato, beans etc). I went to Mikes yesterday, its a little bit out of the way but worth a walk to check it out and a lovely garden. Their huevos rancheros are deffo better than Northfields. Both places have a good supply of coffee refills :)

Yak & Yeti
"...although expensive..." I visited Spaceman when he was staying here, it's certainly several steps up the quality scale than the dives I am used to frequenting.

Third Eye
Run by Indians. Good food. I've been a couple of times and would return... if there weren't so many other great eateries to sample

Rumdoodle
It's moved a couple of times. I've just been flicking through an old guide that had it more or less opposite the Kathmnadu Guest House. It's OK, but the book is better than the restaurant.

Fire and Ice
I enjoyed the pizza and icecream. Very Italiano, and if you like that sort of thing then compare and contrast with La Dolce Vita

Mitra Cafe
charming cafe bistro in the upper end of the market, quiet and yet right in the middle of Thamel.

"Coffee Shop" at Hotel Le' Annapurna
not quite as posh as I was expecting - but I probably dragged down the standards with my presence. Nice but not special.

Kathmandu Kitchen
I haven't tried this place (yet). My favourite for the traditional Nepali/Newari thali is the 'Thamel House' in NE Thamel.

Himalayan Java House
yes, I quite like this place... nice comfy leather sofas. The cafe downstairs (different establishment?) employs deaf/mute staff, so go there if you want to support equal opportunities in Nepal

And I'll add to the list......

K-Too Beer & Steakhouse
better quality chunks of meat than the Everest Steakhouse. I recommend the blue-cheese stak and the apple momos. Hhhhmmm... this is my first choice for a slap up meal after a trek.

Via Via Cafe
in an old building at the west end of Sathgumati, the new Lonely Planet guide rates it for food, lodging, drinks and entertainment but when I visited yesterday it was very quiet, I shall have another look.

Sam's Bar
my personal favourite for evening drinks. Hip and cool. :cool:

Weizen Bakery
great for a slice of cake and pot of tea in the courtyard.


And there are many MANY more to choose from. I'll be doing my best to sample some more over the next week or so. If anyone has any requests for restaurant bar reviews then please feel free to make suggestions and I'll try to visit and post feedback :D

[Spaceman347]

[B]Kathmandu Kitchen
I haven't tried this place (yet). My favourite for the traditional Nepali/Newari thali is the 'Thamel House' in NE Thamel.

I couldn't remember the name of that place (Thamel House), I really enjoyed the food there too, probably marginly better than Kathmandu Kitchen although I never enjoy the sitting on the floor thing.

[7days]

Well,
Good to hear useful informations like these.
Though food served at all place is the same,the hospitality counts.All have mentioned himalayan java as a wonderful place to hangout,but has any one realised the hospitality of the staffs.We ,while sharing information on this web site shoulde be aware of the fact ;what we say here goes global.So think before you write on anything ,specially when you recommend any place.

Dipendrakhand@hotmail.co.uk

[yakshaver]

Well,
Good to hear useful informations like these.
Though food served at all place is the same,the hospitality counts.All have mentioned himalayan java as a wonderful place to hangout,but has any one realised the hospitality of the staffs.We ,while sharing information on this web site shoulde be aware of the fact ;what we say here goes global.So think before you write on anything ,specially when you recommend any place.

Dipendrakhand@hotmail.co.uk

I suppose, Dipendra, that you've had a different experience to everyone else at Himalayan Java House. I guess no place is perfect, every day of the year.
And some places people write about would have been visited once or twice, like me going to Helena's or Third Eye.

On the other side, I have visited Tuckuche Thakali Kitchen at least 10 times over the last 12 years. Every time with the same satisfaction. The menu is the same, the quality of the food just as wonderful as 10 years ago, and the staff are just as friendly and accomodating.

I guess we all just express an opinion based on our subjective experience on the day (or days, if we've been there more than once).

If you had a different experience, please be specific. In what way have the Himalayan Java House staff been unfriendly (it seems to me that this is what you imply...). Or am I making a mammouth out of a mouse, as I am wont to do sometimes...

[Oli]

I'll be doing my best to sample some more over the next week or so. :p

1905
This is Kilroy's new place on Kantipath, right opposite the new US fortress embassy. It is in an old building with a beautiful garden, complete with fish ponds swans and chipmunks and tables on shaded balconys and pavillions etc. My guidebook says it is frequented by the rich and famous (its expensive enough) but it was deserted when I was there, and apparently the menus are usually more extensive than the one I saw, but the food way good and a veray peaceful atmosphere. :)

OR2k
So far I have avoided this place, but on the recomendation of some friends I have checked it out I am pleased to report that I was pleasantly suprised. It's very laid back with a good selection of vegetarian food. It is a favourite with the Israelis, but I had an interesting time sitting with some trendy locals. Definitely one of the more relaxed and casual places in Thamel ;)

Snowman
one of the hangovers from the hippie era, a little tea and cake cafe just off Freak Street. Also popular with the trendy locals. Maybe not a venue for the big post expedition party but nice for a snack after a walk down out of Thamel.

[7days]

I suppose, Dipendra, that you've had a different experience to everyone else at Himalayan Java House. I guess no place is perfect, every day of the year.
And some places people write about would have been visited once or twice, like me going to Helena's or Third Eye.

On the other side, I have visited Tuckuche Thakali Kitchen at least 10 times over the last 12 years. Every time with the same satisfaction. The menu is the same, the quality of the food just as wonderful as 10 years ago, and the staff are just as friendly and accomodating.

I guess we all just express an opinion based on our subjective experience on the day (or days, if we've been there more than once).

If you had a different experience, please be specific. In what way have the Himalayan Java House staff been unfriendly (it seems to me that this is what you imply...). Or am I making a mammouth out of a mouse, as I am wont to do sometimes...

Hey Yakshaver!
Thanks,it's good to know that some one some where is very keen and interested in replying to each and every one over here in the forum.We all really appreciate your work.Keep it up.

And as for the previous post,i did not mean himalayan java particularly.It could be anyone.The thing that i mean and am trying to explain is that no matter what food the providers provides us all we should be counting is the hospitality.So before rating on personal basis,we should do a little research.Because i think the place you have went have had treated you good but there are thousands of tourists who has been harrased.So let's promote those restaurants who are really ,really very good.

Warmest regards,

[yakshaver]

Hey Yakshaver!
Thanks,it's good to know that some one some where is very keen and interested in replying to each and every one over here in the forum.We all really appreciate your work.Keep it up.

And as for the previous post,i did not mean himalayan java particularly.It could be anyone.The thing that i mean and am trying to explain is that no matter what food the providers provides us all we should be counting is the hospitality.So before rating on personal basis,we should do a little research.Because i think the place you have went have had treated you good but there are thousands of tourists who has been harrased.So let's promote those restaurants who are really ,really very good.

Warmest regards,

I agree, in the main, Dipendra. As I said, there is also the subjective element and the fact that people often just go the once, and may have been lucky or unlucky...
Still, this is a forum for sharing impressions, and not a definitive and authoritative guide... Although, I believe this forum can often be more complete and comprehensive (if you do the research inside it) and more balanced than many guide books...

Please add your own opinion on restaurants in KTM, if you whave any favourites, or horror stories...

[yakshaver]

[QUOTE=Oli]:p

1905
This is Kilroy's new place on Kantipath, right opposite the new US fortress embassy. It is in an old building with a beautiful garden, complete with fish ponds swans and chipmunks and tables on shaded balconys and pavillions etc. My guidebook says it is frequented by the rich and famous (its expensive enough) but it was deserted when I was there, and apparently the menus are usually more extensive than the one I saw, but the food way good and a veray peaceful atmosphere. :)



At 1905: Do they serve fish from the ponds, swans-a-l'orange, or chipmunks au-sarcophage?

[Oli]

At 1905: Do they serve fish from the ponds, swans-a-l'orange, or chipmunks au-sarcophage?

Not on the menu I saw, but this is Nepal so you probably just have to ask and they will oblige.

Now I have a dilemma - I am no longer convinced that Fire & Ice to the best pizza in Kathmandu, also worthy of mention is La Dolce Vita and The Roadhouse. We need some second opinions.... :confused:

Tomorrow I should be going to Bhaktapur for a few days - I shall continue my culinary tour from there :D

[a1jbg]

My favourite place is La Bistro at the T junction in Thamel, upstairs and to the right of the bakery. The chicken tikka massala is the best I have had anywhere in the World, and if you get a balcony seat, you get a bird`s eye view of the hustle and bustle of Thamel.
That was where I intended meeting Oli and Spaceman during my visit in April, but they were next door, above the bakery when I found them, which unfortunately, was not as good.

[yakshaver]

I agree, Le Bistro is a decent place. At Fire & Ice I have pasta, usually spaghetti, and it is awesome. I am not much of a pizza man, unless I am positivelly starved and there is no alternative...

[Oli]

Koto
very nice Japanese restaurant, if you like chopsticks & sushi. It's only open for 3 hours every evening, but apparently it's been about for a long time so evidently they are doing a good job.

I'll try to make time to sample the CTM at La Bistro per John's suggestion, but I'm running out of time here :(

I had a few very nice days in Bhaktapur, it is a beautiful town and a very nice break from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. If you go the try the local speciality - King Curd, or 'juju dhau' in the local (Newari) lingo, and make sure you get it from one of the little 'hole in the wall' vendors rather than from your hotel restaurant.

[Spaceman347]

Good to see that you're still getting lots of good food Oli :) Hope all is going well out there.

[Oli]

All was well and good, but now I'm back home again, back to the grindstone, starting to dream about my next visit to Nepal (penciled in for late Nov+Dec '08) :rolleyes:

I have a last couple of suggestions for this thread....

If you have a sweet tooth (like me) then try the confectionery. Many of them are "same same, only different" but there are one or two that are wonderfully decadent. Good luck finding them.

And finally, I am reliably informed that the lady who runs the night time food trolly that is often found outside the Potala Guesthouse make delicious masala omlettes. :)

[7days]

Hey can anyone tell me where to find good french food?
Please ASAP.


Regards,

[yakshaver]

Hey can anyone tell me where to find good french food?
Please ASAP.


Regards,

You mean in Kathmandu?
The Chimney (started by good ol' Boris, I believe) has some excellent French fare, I am told. Of course being an ovo-lacto-vegetarian, I cannot tell about how excellent this might be... But some people say it's really good.

The Chimnay in Drubar Marg, or thereabouts, probably associated with Yak and Yeti or Hotel de L'Annapurna, or some such.

[7days]

Hey Yakshaver!
thank you so much.You have saved my day tomorrow.

Regards and love,

[yakshaver]

Hey Yakshaver!
thank you so much.You have saved my day tomorrow.

Regards and love,

No worries. Apparently Soaltee hotel, has a couple of very good (and I imagine expensive) restaurants which serve French fare...

[Per]

Third Eye
Run by Indians. Good food. I've been a couple of times and would return... if there weren't so many other great eateries to sample

It is our favourite resturant, along with Ghar e Kebab in the hotel de l´Annapurna. Splendid tandoori food, and they use ghee rather than that mustard oil that gives a lot of the food a foul taste.

— We systematically stick to Indian vegetarian food when we eat in the market, except for breakfast.

[7days]

Reposting after a long period of time.Sorry for the delay,had been bsy with work.

Have came across a restaurant called Beehive Inc Restaurant,and the place is cool,the food however is the same in menu with other restaurants.But what counts is that it is relaxing and informative place.The staff they don't only provide u with good customer service but also with help in whatever matter.So if you're in thamel just peep into Beehive some day.It is located in the world link building and is besides the morrocon embassy across the street in the opposite building.

Would like to hear from Oli and yakshaver 2.How r u doin?
Warmest regards,

[RRainey]

How about the Kathmandu guest house does it have breakfast and if so is it Ok?

Also where to get good Indian food? RR

[Sharon]

The third eye for Indian. I eat there several times whenever I am in Kathmandu

[Oli]

I've never stayed in KGH, nor sampled their breakfasts. I've eaten dinner there many times as its a great spot for meeting random trekkers because everyone knows where it is. My favorite for breakfast is Northfield's, just a couple of doors up from KGH. See 1st tip in 1st post and then note subsequent comparison with Mike's.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing my field research for this thread, thanks Dipendra for bumping it up :)

Malai sanchai cha, tara khusi lagena - mo Nepalma hoina. Tapailai, kasto cha?

[yakshaver]

Thanks for the recommendation 7days. Good to have another good place to sample in Thamel.

A bit more detail as to where it is located, perhaps?

I staid at KGH a number of times. Breakfast is ok but not memorable. I like Northfiled as well for breakfast. As well as hanging out at the bar for half an hour in the evening...

Mike's Breakfast is of course very good, in both KTM and Pokhara. Don't expect Hilton's Sunday breakfast in Sydney, but it is quite ok... The Yak&Yeti restaurant used to have an excellent buffet-breakfast for about 600 Rupess all-u-can-engorge. I don't know if they still have it.

But breakfast is not really civilised dining. It is just... breakfast. I can't get too excited about it. My formeost question is: Does the place have good coffee? And I did not manage to find a place with a good barista machine, or barista skills for that matter, in order to give me a half decent flat white... There are a couple of decent places for good filter coffee, but not Cappucino stuf.
So in Kathmandu get me to a good place for dinner.

[Sharon]

Hmmmmmm Weizen bakery- cappuccino, croissants, fresh OJ....

[Oli]

Hmmmmmm Weizen bakery- cappuccino, croissants, fresh OJ....

And cake! Lovely lovely cake :D

[julia]

I love breakfast, it is my most favourite meal of the day, though I consider myself to be a morning person, Im usually in a bit of a daze! It is nice to get up, have couple of cups of good breakfast tea, didn't find one in KTM! Then trundle off to get breakfast.

KTM always seemed to have a nice feeling about it first thing in the morning, locals pottering around, getting ready for their day ahead, the warmth of the sun coming through and that sort of buzzy feeling you get when you feel excited about the day. I agree with Sharon, Weizen bakery, hmmm. I was told I had to try the yak cheese sandwich, which I did, and it was very nice with a cup of coffee, and watching the world go by.

I found a couple of places where I had a lovely coffee, I wish I could remember what they were called. Where were they Escher?

I remember one was in an Italian restuarant, I even had two cups, and the other was in the curry house. Im afraid I dont like cappuccino much, I love the coffee but not the froth, the froth has the same feeling to me as say nails down a blackboard, I have no idea why. Plus, some places seem to give you more froth than coffee and that isn't on!

:)

[Escher]

There were three places that had good coffee I think.

Fire and Ice - proper filter coffee wasn't it? Ginger in the tomato topping with the Hawaiian pizza was just delish. As was the choc/vanilla ice cream. Have at least two Hawaiians in Fire and Ice every trip. Just love 'em.

Dolce Vita (the italian place on the corner up on the roof terrace) - again proper Italian coffee.

And the left hand place with the roof terrace overlooking the t-junction in Thamel with KGH on the right and the bookshop on the left. You said the cappucino there was the best. The one you had in K-Too's had loads of sugar in it. (Weird that I remember all this about coffee, I don't even drink the stuff)!

Still don't get Northfields. Their breakfasts are rough! I love the Weizen bakery - yak cheese sandwich, black tea, Himalayan times and Kathmandu post devoured for breakfast (sometimes pineapple bag danish too). Julia is right the cool of the early morning as Thamel just gets going is great time to kick back and enjoy breakfast. Though I was disappointed to find this last trip that they had replaced their comfy reclining wicker chairs with bolt upright, uncomfortable wooden ones.

Every trip I try and get to

Weizen bakery for breakfast
K-Too's for steak
Fire and Ice for pizza
Third Eye for curry

The best Thali/Dal Bhat I have had has been on trek. Had some great ones on the AC this year. Khangshar and Shikhar being the most memorable.

What about Pokhara? The food is not as good as KTM I have found but last time we had a delicious paneer butter masala and mutton curry in the Meera Hotel restaurant - comes recommended. For Lazy mornings (and lunchtimes/afternoons and evenings Pokhara style!) I like the Love Kush nearer to Damside on Lakeside. Nice comfy wicker chairs out front, newspapers to read and quieter. Everyone seems to bypass it even though the food is just the same as everywher e else. I prefer peace and quiet while stil being able to watch the world go by. On the downside (as recommended by LP) the Once Upon a Time restaurant gave Julia food poisoning!

[Sharon]

I love lunch or dinner on the roof at theThird eye. The New Orleans or jazz bar whatever that is called is great for dinner. They have good caps. The Weizen bakery got so crowded with tour groups on my last trip that I switched to the blue note. Breakfast was nice and quiet there. I love a peacful time reading or catching up in my trip diary.
The Fire and Ice is always a must as well.

[Oli]

Another place for a long breakfast - I like "Hot Breads", thats the place on the main T-junction just down from KGH where you walk in through a bakery, collecting a plate of cake before heading upstairs to the 1st floor balcony/terrace/roof and get a seat that overlooks the road below then settle down for a lazy morning of people watching with the best view of the most happening corner of town.

Also for cake/pie, pop into the Snowman Restaurant just off "Freak Street" (Jochne)