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Trinity Café is located in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, 100 meters further down the road from Ullens School. It serves good quality food and the space is nice and clean. We first tried the food here a few months ago and since then we’ve been regularly ordering takeaways or visiting the place to hold meetings and indulge in some good, wholesome food while at it.

First, we must mention that their portion size is quite generous. The food is cooked really well too. Their Butter Chicken with Rice has become one of our absolute favorites. The gravy hits just right—it’s neither spicy nor sweet. There are more than enough chicken pieces to make it a truly satisfying meal. But you might need an extra portion of rice depending on how hungry you are.

The Chicken Biryani also deserves a special mention. The meat is tender and juicy and the rice is aromatic and flavorful. Again, there are more than enough pieces of chicken and quite a huge serving of rice. One biryani is enough for two people. If you don’t like cashews and raisins in your biryani, be sure to tell the staff that and they will make sure they aren’t added to your plate.

If you aren’t in the mood for heavy meals, they have light appetizers—regular ones like momos, chicken chili, and paneer pakoda among others—that are tasty and just enough to tide you over until dinner time. They also have pizza and pastas, if that’s more up your alley. The pizzas are neither thin nor thick crust. It’s somewhere in between. If you have it hot, it tastes really good. Just a word of caution, don’t take this one to go. The pastas, on the other hand, are prepared well. They know what they are doing here.

You can also visit Trinity Café for breakfast. They have a nice selection of items on the menu. Besides the set breakfasts, the pancake is also hearty and filling. It comes with a side of seasonal cut fruits to balance out the guilt of having gluten and refined sugar. They also have a wide array of coffees and teas for you to wash down your meal.

 Their Specials:

 Chicken Biryani

Butter Chicken with Rice

Breakfast sets

 Location: Khumaltar, Lalitpur

Opening hours: 8:00 am – 8:30 pm

Meal for two: Rs 1000 to 1500

Call: 01-5230979

Parking: Available

The Olive Garden located at Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu had to close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, they recently reopened on Aug 20. Intrigued by this, we decided to visit it for some authentic Italian cuisine.

When it comes to Italian food, the usual suspects like pizza, cheese, and pasta come to mind, and we had similar expectations. But to our surprise, there was no pizza on the menu. Nevertheless, the menu had much more than we anticipated.

The restaurant offers two choices of candlelit ‘Table d’hôte’ dinners. This term translates to ‘table of the host’ and refers to a fixed meal offered by the restaurant that can’t be customized much.

Both options are priced at Rs 4,500 net and include a starter, soup, pasta, main course, and dessert. There are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options available. Additionally, there’s a pricier option at Rs 11,000 net that includes a bottle of premium wine.

We decided to go with the non-vegetarian option with wine. While we waited for our dishes, the executive chef Gyanesh Dass, who has over two decades of experience in Italian cuisine, along with the other staff members, took the time to explain how they meticulously crafted the menu. They reassured us that the flavors were adapted to suit the Nepali palate. The attentive hospitality was evident from the start, not just for us but for every customer.

For starters, we had Garlic Prawns. These prawns were cooked with garlic, complemented by tomato confit, and served with a salad of fresh herbs. Creamy yet slightly crunchy, they offered a delightful burst of flavors. Next, we tried the Zuppa Di Pesce, a rustic tomato stew brimming with squid, shrimp, and fish. Served with toasted bread, the soup had a robust texture and a subtly sweet and distinct flavor, as the executive chef had promised.

Moving on to the pasta course, we savored the Spaghetti Bolognese. Topped with cheese, this dish featured a chicken mince sauce with a pleasant tang from the tomatoes. It was a heavy course leaving us concerned about how we would manage the upcoming main course. Surprisingly, the main course turned out to be light and uncomplicated. The Chicken Oreganata, a chicken thigh marinated in herbs and grilled, was served with a green pea ragout and honey-glazed carrots. It paired seamlessly with sips of wine.

As we waited for dessert, we found that the entire dining experience, including the background music, cozy seating, and the gentle flicker of candlelight, added an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal. The dessert, Classic Tiramisu, was sweet, but a hint of lemon refreshed our palate after the array of flavors we had experienced.

For those planning to visit, we suggest arriving a little starved to fully appreciate the culinary delights this place has to offer.

Their specials

Spaghetti Bolognese

Fresh Wild Mushroom Risotto

Classic Tiramisu

Location: Lazimpat

Meal for two: Rs 4,500

Opening hours: 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm

Contact: 9851048331/01-4511818

Online payment: Accepted

Parking: Available

A good cup of coffee, soothing music, comfortable chairs, and loads of books summarize the experience at Bodhi Books and Bakes in Tangal, Kathmandu. The cafe is pretty to look at and will make you feel welcome with its laid-back ambiance. Potted plants, beautifully arranged books on the floor-to-ceiling shelves, artful photo frames on the wall, and the combination of blue, yellow, and white colors make the place look lively and vibrant. 

Once you step in, you will see that the place has a good number of seating spaces for both small and large groups. You will find people lost in their world or chatting away with a friend. Some will be busy working on their laptops, some reading, and some just enjoying a good cup of coffee or tea. This is where you can just be yourself, do your thing, and have a nice time.

One thing that most people enjoy at Bodhi is the variety of tea they serve. And they have mentioned the benefits of each tea on their menu as well. The one we liked is Clarity Tea. It’s a herbal mix of Chamomile, Laliguras, Green Tea, and Mint. A pot will give you around four cups of tea. 

Another good one is Blue Lavender Latte. It’s a shot of butterfly pea tea topped with foamed milk. It’s pretty to look at and tastes equally good. If not tea, you can easily opt for a cup of coffee or other drinks like hot chocolate and lemonade. You will have no complaints.

They have improved a lot in terms of food as well. Most of their food items look good and are delicious, from snacks to a decent meal. For snacks, we usually go for Loaded Nachos, available in veg and non-veg options. If you’re looking to have a good meal, there are burgers, sandwiches, wraps, or their signature I Love NY Pizza. No matter what you choose, you will not be disappointed. 

Their specials: 

• Signature I Love NY Pizza
• Loaded Nachos
• ‘Twakka Tareko’ Nepali Chicken 

Opening hours: 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

Meal for two: Rs 1,500

Online payment: Accepted

Parking: Available

Remember the South Side Wine Bar we reviewed in May? François Driard, the owner of the wine bar, extended an invitation to us to experience his culinary venture, Emilio’s Pizza in Bansbari, Kathmandu. On a rainy day, we ventured there, discovering the unique delight of savoring piping-hot food in the rain.

At Emilio’s Pizza, you can choose between indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. The indoor area exudes a cozy living room atmosphere, with comfortable couches that you can plonk into and chill. Alternatively, the outdoor space boasts a green haven with pebble flooring. Opting for the outdoor setup, we found ourselves shielded from the rain by a recently installed translucent roof.

Amid a diverse selection of pizzas, including Napolitana, Margherita, Melanzana, Pepperoni, Chorizo, and Calzone, we set our sights on their distinctive Signature Pizzas. This particular assortment featured options like Smoky Chicken, Burrata, and Shiitake among others. We decided to sample the Smoky Chicken and Burrata offerings as they recommended.

Our initial serving was the Smoky Chicken pizza. Its ultra-thin and tender crust, with a crispy edge, was complemented by the luscious cheese on top, enhancing its overall flavor.

The next delight to grace our table was the Burrata pizza, an artful assembly featuring tomato sauce, Burrata (an Italian cheese crafted from mozzarella and cream), and arugula (known as rocket leaves). There was a mild tanginess to it due to the Burrata, along with a touch of bitterness from the arugula. The crust mirrored the Smoky Chicken variant, maintaining its consistent texture.

In addition to pizza, we were introduced to an array of Ravioli pastas, boasting fillings of buffalo, mushroom, and crab. Our preference led us to the crab-filled option. Its unique seafood essence offered a distinct flavor experience, slightly unfamiliar to Nepali palates.

We also recommend Flammekueche, a delicacy composed of thinly rolled bread dough fashioned into a rectangular shape, brimming with finely diced onion fillings that contributed to its delectable crispiness.

Apparently, the bread, dough, and cheese are made from scratch.

We suggest planning a visit during the afternoon hours to relish the fare in a tranquil setting and steer clear of bustling crowds. For an elevated culinary experience, consider pairing your meal with their fine selection of wines, as the place’s roots trace back to a wine bar that subsequently evolved into a remarkable pizza haven.

Their Specials

Signature Pizza

Ravioli Pasta

Flammekueche

Location: Bansbari

Meal for two: Rs 2,500 

Opening hours: 12:00 pm–9:00 pm

Contact: 9823711002

Online payment: Accepted

Parking: Available