The Terrace Garden: Crave barbecue? Here’s where you can go

If you’re searching for a place to grab a quick lunch or dinner, a laid-back pub, a place for a meeting, or to hang out with your friends, The Terrace Garden on the fourth floor of Radisson Hotel in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, has everything you need. From delicious food and top-notch service to a nice view, this place is just perfect.    The newly redesigned outlet has both indoor and outdoor seating areas. The Mexican-themed restaurant has a stunning matte red shade and offers a wonderful fine dining experience, with live music for us to enjoy.    For the food, our first recommendation will be their newly introduced barbeque buffet. They have a total of ten vegetarian dishes and seven non-vegetarian dishes at each barbeque. They offer a selection of fresh grills and veggies, and they give you fish, chicken, sausages, lamb chops, seafood, and a combination of paneer, mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes, and bell peppers to choose from. They also have squash, beetroot, and yam for the grill. Each dish has a unique and distinct flavor.    The one we tried had African flavors, says the chef, that included cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and sesame seeds as its seasoning. It’s called kuku paka (African-styled chicken in coconut sauce), and cheesy baked potatoes with sour cream, bacon, and chives, for the main course. It was filling, and delicious. Since the chicken is marinated a day earlier, the dish is tender and flavorful.    Our next recommendation is the chicken kabab from the buffet itself, with garlic bread, cheese, olives, cabbage, red bell peppers, and tomatoes on the side. The seasoning makes the world of difference. One will definitely enjoy the barbeque at this restaurant, especially with a large group. The price of the buffet is only  Rs 2,999, and it’s unlimited.    For dessert, they have banana caramel pudding, malva pudding, pineapple upside-down cake, milk tart, New York cheesecake, koeksisters, apple pie, bitter chocolate tart, and hot brownies. We thought the New York cheesecake was the best. It had heavy cream, with additional cream in the mixture to make the cheesecake denser, creamier, and smooth.   Their specials BBQ Mexican Torta Chukundari Kebab   Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 10:30 pm Location: Lazimpat Meal for two: Rs 2000 Online Payment: Accepted Call: 01-4411818 Parking: Available 

Sundown Ktm: A slice of Santorini in Kathmandu

You might not be able to go to Greece soon but you can sample its food and get a taste of the culture while living in Kathmandu. Sundown Ktm, UWTC in Tripureshwor is a good Santorini-styled restaurant where you can indulge in some fabulous Greek cuisine.  As lovely as the decor is, the food is equally delicious, with lots of variety at that. We advise you to start with Sundown Potato, a dish that is similar to Mustang Aloo. It’s seasoned fries with spicy and zesty flavors. It makes for an excellent snack. For the main course, we recommend you try Chicken Cordon Bleu. It’s made of lightly fried chicken breasts that’s coated with breadcrumbs, and stuffed with ham and cheese. It’s served with rice, sauteed vegetables, and white sauce. It’s a delicious meal that is filling as well.  Another dish you must try is Grilled Chicken Leg. Served with mashed potatoes, red wine sauce, butter cheese, and fresh herbs, the chicken is succulent and tender. The seasoning is smoky, leaving you with a lingering aftertaste. And the red wine sauce adds a much needed zing while beautifully tying in all the flavors. There is also a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for you to enjoy with your meal.  The restaurant is serene and relaxing. With a blue and white color theme, you are instantly put at ease. Pink Bougainvillea flowers lend a cute pop of color. There’s also a  stunning rooftop lounge where you can wine and dine, while watching the sun set over the city.  A word of caution though, the place is always packed, especially during lunch and dinner. So make a reservation if you don’t want to be kept waiting. Also, making a reservation will fetch you a 10 percent discount. Their service is A grade with friendly staff. We think it’s the ideal place to spend a fun evening with friends or go on romantic date nights.  Chef’s specials:

  • Chicken Cordon Bleu
  • Grilled Chicken Leg
  • Sundown Potato
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm - 11:00pm Location: Tripureshwor  Meal for 2: Rs. 2000 Online payment: Accepted Contact: 9801812003 Parking Space: Ample 

Old House: An oasis of calm

Old House, located at Purano Naikap, is a great place to unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The outdoor cafe is famous for its breathtaking views of the nearby hills and mountains. You can also get a good bird’s-eye view of Kathmandu from here. What’s great is that the food is good, and it’s affordable too. The momos are really fantastic here, with Nanglo momos being its specialty. It’s basically a momo platter served in a nanglo (which is a round tray made of woven bamboo). There are all different kinds of momos as well—steam, fried, kothey, and chili. You can also order momos in bulk—in packs of 30 and 50. The price of 30 momos is Rs 460 while that of 50 is Rs 890. If you think you can have momos at any restaurant in Kathmandu, then think again. The momos here are delicious as the meat is really succulent. The blend of spices they use to marinate the filling is, we assure you, unlike anything you have ever tasted. The chicken khaja set is worth a try as well. It’s quite filling with beaten rice, bhatmas sadheko, aloo ko achar, chicken, egg, papad, and salad. We don’t recommend this for one but if you are there with a friend who doesn’t find sharing his/her food, definitely give this one a go. The sekuwa is pretty decent too. You can let the servers know your preference so that they can grill it to your liking. Expect the place to be full if you go there in the evening or during lunchtime. The interior is cozy, and there are more than enough tables to accommodate quite a few customers. If you prefer a calmer setting to enjoy your meal, there is also a private room away from the main restaurant area. But if you are planning to visit Old House during the weekend, it might be a good idea to make a reservation. Their specials Nanglo Momo Chicken Khaja Set Sekuwa Opening hours: 12 pm to 8:30 pm Location: Purano Naikap Online payment: Yes Meal for two: Rs 1200 Call: 9849892912 Parking space: For bikes only

Jimbu Thakali by Capital Grill: Busy for a reason

It’s impossible for Nepalis to get bored of daal-bhat. For many of us, it’s the ideal go-to meal at any time of the day. So, it’s no wonder why there are so many restaurants serving thakali khana in Kathmandu (and the rest of Nepal too!). But there are only a few places that capture its essence. Jimbu Thakali is one of the most popular Thakali establishments in Kathmandu. With branches in Lazimpat, Baneshwor, and Jhamsikhel, it’s a thriving business so much so that you will most probably have to wait for a table every time you go there. We tried their chicken khana. It was fresh and served hot. The food is slightly on the oilier side and it can be a little spicy for those who can’t tolerate much heat. Our issue was there was no tarkari—just spinach and fried potatoes. Also, with so many customers at any given time of the day, the service is a tad bit slow. When you find yourself waiting to be served a second round, you sometimes lose your appetite. But you don’t have to choose from the khana sets only. There are other items on the menu that are really good. We love their starters. The chips chili was mouth-watering as were the mutton momos. We also recommend the timur chicken and spicy chicken nuggets. They are both crisp and light—great as snacks but not filling at all. The dip could have, however, been better. There are plenty of vegetarian options as well as some specialties that we have heard great things about. We didn’t find any flaws as far as the ambiance was concerned. The place is clean, comforting, and spacious. There are both indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. And in the winter months, sitting under the sun as you indulge in some good food and conversation can make for a delightful time. Their specials: 

  • Thakali khana set
  • Timur chicken
  • Mutton momo
Location: Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur Card/Online payment: Accepted  Meal for two: Rs 2,000 Reservation: 01-5544011 Parking space: Ample