Food with history at unbeatable prices[too expensive]

Kathmandu Post had a review of Baithak restaurant(located in outrageously expensive Babarmahal Revisited) today. It reminded me of the time I was there...

Portraits of different Rana ministers hang on the walls. Traditional Jaipuri and Nepali architectures greet you as you enter. The wooden floors seem to be classic example of the numerous styles and designs of Nepal circa 19th century. Baithak Restaurant, at Babar Mahal Revisited, preserves the history of the past, and serves the finest cuisines in the present. Established in 1997, the restaurant changed owners in 2009.

So far so good. Agree with everything.

The owner, Samrat Pandey, brought in a breath of fresh air in terms of the restaurant’s ambience and taste. Baithak has been decorated with a fusion of Nepali and Indian architecture--little Jaipuri puppets, and designs carved on the walls and ceilings gives a rather spectacular impression of the restaurant. Even the dining area is unique: tables and chairs are placed like royal dining styles. The restaurant’s peaceful environment, with its lush green trees, and its outstanding service make Baithak the best place to treat oneself; a live cultural show in the evenings serves as a further bonus.

It's getting a teeny-weeny bit hyperbolic, but still essentially correct. It does look a lot more Indian that Nepali, but what with all the confusion about the birth of princes and princesses, you really can't tell the difference. Good to go, except the part about 'lush green tees' which in reality are 'unkempt bushes in flowerpots'.

The menu, which has choicest delicacies from all over the country, including momos, mriga ko sukuti, choila, and sekuwa, all of which are served on elegant silverware and crystal. Vegetarians need not worry, as Baithak serves quite a few delicious veggie dishes as well. The Thali is the main course, and a must have at that, and has equal portions of rice, dal, Jhane ko Saag, salads, pickles and meat curry. The Mriga ko sukuti (dried, spiced-up venison) is also a must try. Its taste, enriched by adding various herbs, is simply irresistible. One may not want to dine at Baithak, thinking it serves the same old Nepali food that we eat on a regular basis.

Mmmm...Momo<drool>....

Uhh, what was that? Oh yes-- the food's quite heavy, as is to be expected, and just the same Momos are not as good as they could have been. They show their royal stuff with lots of ghee in Dal, and pretty much everything else, and that might explain the shockingly high cost of everything there(I wont mention the prices, but be prepared a lot to pay for everything, including Momos]. But honestly, I wasn't there to eat. It was for the ambiance and the experience(while I was getting totallyripped off )

It offers the best in Nepali dishes, and eating there is completely worth it, even though it is quite heavy on the pocket.

'Quite Heavy' is SUCH an understatement. 'As heavy as a big fat elephant who eats lots of ghee and other greasy Indian foodstuffs' would be a more honest assessment. Having said that, it is a nice place for people with no concern for money(I/NGO, govt. employees, burn your the organisation's wallet for this: it's an experience) or a real liking for everything Indian pretending to be 'genuine' Nepali.