The Kathmandu Cafe opened on Christmas Eve on Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville. It’s in the location that most recently housed the Sugo restaurant, and before that, the Left Bank restaurant.
The new restaurant will be serving up Nepalese food, a first for Asheville. Mountain Xpress has the skinny:
Lunches run $6.50 to $11 without drinks. Currently, the menu lists chai (tea), a yoghurt/mango drink and sodas. Manoj hopes to be able to serve wine and beer soon.
Dinner entrees run $9.50 to $15. A quick look at just a couple of the vegetarian entrees includes:
• Aloo, bodi, tama (potato, black-eyed peas, bamboo shoots simmered in curry sauce and Himalayan herbs)
• Vege chau chau (Pan fried soft noodles and vegetables with fresh ginger and garlic)
• Begun bharta (clay oven-roasted eggplant curry cooked in slow heat with fresh ginger garlic, tomato and fresh ground garam masala).There are also chicken, lamb and seafood entrees; thali (combination meals); tandoori bread and Nepali desserts, not to mention appetizers, soups and salads.
Can’t wait to give it a shot. What else is happening on the Asheville restaurant scene?
10 Comments
Good for you Molly. If I head to guess, Brooke will not accept your offer. I have not eaten at your place, but look forward to trying it next time I’m in Asheville.
I agree, while chai pani is good in an americanized fast food way I still think that the real deal is to be had is at mela for indian or kathmandu for nepali downtown. India garden is just too far to drive (or walk). Sorry but truth be told the real deal is authenticity and you can’t make that up. Its like sushi at Zen Sushi or sushi at Ingles, take your pick, some people prefer Ingles…
While Chai Pani is good food, Kathmandu Cafe is fantastic dining.
The setting is relaxing and the food is authentically delicious. I’ve been there a few times and I have never been disappointed. The meals are made to order, so vegans feel free to come. The cheese, bread, dressings etc. are made at the restaurant.
I definitely suggest you stop by.
Brooke,
I am one of the owners of Chai Pani and would like to set the record straight that Chai Pani does not in any way misrepresent itself or what we serve. If you have any questions or concerns about where our food comes from, please ask to see me (Molly), I am there Mon-Fri for lunch. I would be happy to show you our amazing cooks in action so that you can see how our food is prepared and see our sauces and chutneys made from scratch. Yes, of course, there are some things that come out of bottles and mango pickle is one of the few of them… however, we make all of our other chutneys (tomato chutney, green chutney, tamarind chutney, etc) completely from scratch. Please do come in for a cup of chai on me, I would be happy to set the record straight with you and honestly answer any of your questions face to face.
Sincerely,
Molly Irani,
Co-owner of Chai Pani
Sorry I hurt Mark’s feelings but he should ask the SERVERS at Chai Pani where the food comes from. There seems to be a disconnect because when I asked a server where the food came from (the items I was eating anyway) she replied that the bread was frozen out of a bag and arrived on a truck. The same applied to imported pickles that were out of a jar and mango drink and sauces out cans. I mean how does a restaurant so brazenly lie about humane, locally produced stuff all the while serving stuff out of cans, bottles and plastic bags. Hurrah for local asheville servers for whom honesty comes first!
I know one of the cooks at Chai Pani and have eaten there often. The previous commenter called the food there "Americanized Gumbo"?!?! That seems really off. I know these guys and they are serving traditional recipes with fresh ingredients and bright flavors. If using local and fresh produce, humanely raised meats, and made from scratch chutneys and masalas is "americanized" then I’m all for it. And most everything I’ve tried so far on the menu has been flat out delicious.
I tried Kathmandu Cafe when they first opened and liked it too. I love Indian food (having lived in India for many years) and I’m looking forward to good meals at both places. All the Indian places in Asheville have their pros and cons – I just think we’re lucky to have so many choices in a small town and would like to treat them all with respect.
I don’t know why but this place has gotten no publicity at all. The food beats the americanized gumbo that chai pani serves hands down. Hurray for authenticity and genuine down home cooking. I love the hand rolled bread and real pickles. None of the stuff out of botttles, ugh!
Where is the ace plaza in woodfin?
As excited as I am to try authentic Nepalese food (!), I still feel as though the gods taunt us by denying Asheville a pho place. Maybe in 2010.
A new restaurant called Thai Citrus is opening up in the Ace plaza on Merrimon in Woofin. They say they’re authentic Thai. We have our hopes up.