Taste of India & Nepal

Taste of India & Nepal
330 N. Main Street
Pocatello Id. 83204
(208) 478-0172

In the 1990’s, Keshab Chhetri was a Sherpa in Nepal earning living guiding climbers up the mountains. Fate would have it that during a 14-day climb he would meet a woman who would change his life forever. Keshab got to come to America for a few months to see what the USA was all about. After returning to his native land, the desire to return became stronger and he came back to America several more times before deciding to stay for good. Keshab lived in various places in California, from Long Beach to Atascadero, but finally settled in Pocatello, Idaho. He wanted a quiet and safe environment to raise his family but he also needed to earn a living.

The Taste of India & Nepal was born. It features the cuisine of Himalaya and is operated by Keshab and his family. Richly decorated with deep red walls and swag silken tapestries draped on the ceilings with luxurious deep purple scarves adoring the doorway dividing the two dining areas. White linen table cloth covered tables with a glass overlay and cloth napkins jetting out of your water glass. Soft Indian music in the background and a gracious host to greet you at the door, although small in stature the restaurant makes up in the quality of its food.

A generous menu offers the diner an assortment of appetizers, main dishes, curries, vegetarian and traditional tandoori -style cooking done in a traditional clay oven. Your choices include chicken, lamb shish kebab, tandoori shrimp or lamb tikka. Most of these dishes are savory and spicy and can be ordered to your heat preference. The vegetarian curries are served with basmati rice and include chole (chickpea) saag aldo (spinach) mushroom bhaji (mushroom and peas) most are served in savory gravy with potatoes and spices.

A generous array of curries is offered including vegetable, chicken, lamb or seafood. Rounding out the menu is Mo Mo (steamed dumplings) served with a spicy tomato sauce and filled with a

variety of meats. Naan, the leavened bread that is cooked in the tandoori oven, is available as is Poori, a puffy deep fried wheat bread. If you order hot and spicy, I would suggest a side order of Raita (a cooling yogurt cucumber sauce similar to tzatziki sauce) or Dal (lentils cooked in spices). You can order a dessert of gulab jamun (cheese balls in sweetened cardamom syrup) or Kheer (rice pudding). Beer from the U.S. and India are featured as well as wine by the glass. Soft drinks, tea and coffee round out the menu.

Open Monday through Saturday, lunch is served 11am-2-pm, and on Saturday, 11:30am-230pm. Dinner is available at 5pm-9:30pm all six days.

More information is available at their website, http://www.tasteofindianepal.com/ .