Restaurant Review: Kathmandu Kitchen in Davis, California - Indian-Nepali Food at Its Finest

One thing I love about my family is that we are all open to experimenting different international cuisine. We have been up and down the pallets of the world and today's stop was Nepal. Well, not exactly Nepal, but close enough: Kathmandu Kitchen in Davis, California. Although we have had Indian food in the past, it had been a number of years and the craving was there today.

In any other town, a Tibetan-themed restaurant might seem a bit out of place. But at the home of University of California-Davis, Kathmandu fits in perfectly at 243 G Street, a road that is also home to Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese eateries. However, Kathmandu Kitchen's restaurant has been a local favorite for ten years and we were about to find out why.

When we first entered Kathmandu Kitchen, we noticed a beautifully designed wine bar made of hard wood. It seemed like the perfect waiting place for seating because of the dark yet inviting ambience. We arrived early so seating wasn't a problem in the spacious restaurant. I counted dozens of tables all topped with white table cloths, white cloth napkins and large drinking glasses. Who knew that an elegant touch could be hidden in Davis' otherwise college-town feel?

As I looked around the Kathmandu Kitchen I observed many Tibetan-themed decorations and paint schemes that gave this place a feeling that I was in an authentic restaurant but I wasn't too far from home. The forest green and white paint was obviously hand done but it gave Kathmandu Kitchen a down-home feeling if there is one in Nepal. There were Nepali figurines strewn about the bar area and several posters of Tibet and other great Indo-China landmarks. Even the semi-private banquet room had a wall covered with a beautiful, 15-foot poster of several Indian characters.

Our service was prompt by a man who had plenty of smiles and made sure to ask us on a regular basis if everything was going well. The hostess/cook came out from the kitchen and chatted with us about the restaurant and answered any questions we had. She made sure we were satisfied with our meal; she could tell we were out-of-towners.

My wife ordered a chicken Tandoori plate while I had a Boti (Lamb) Kabab plate. Both came with Nan (flat bread) and basmati rice. We ordered the Little Ghorka dinners for the kids that included stewed potatoes, chicken dumplings and basmati rice. Every meal was absolutely fantastic! The adult meals came out on hot plates that were still cooking our meals, kissing our noses with still stir-frying onions and seasoned chicken and lamb pieces. Every bite was tender to the mouth and covering taste buds with curry and spice. I couldn't get over how easy it was to cut the large lamb pieces; they almost melted in the mouth on every bite. Even the burnt onions were good! Just a note: if you ever get served food on a cooking plate, be sure to stir! My wife marveled over her chicken Tandoori, declaring it the best she's had.

The kid's plates were silver with dividers to keep the food from mixing up and sloshing. That is always a nice touch! Their chicken was tender as well. Although they didn't like the potato and broccoli stew, my wife and I had no problem helping them finish it. The potatoes were smothered in a sauce that was wonderfully rich in garlic and cumin. "I should have got this instead of the rice!" I thought to myself.

We weren't even able to finish our meals and had to box them up for home. Kathmandu impressed us beyond belief and it is sure to be a regular stop for us every time we visit Davis. Nothing like a little Nepali food to make you feel at home!