Salon De Kathmandu Cafe and Bistro: A rejuvenating dining experience

The first time I visited Salon De Kathmandu Cafe and Bistro was five years ago, on a friend’s birthday. I loved the place. So recently, I thought of giving it another visit. To my surprise, the place has changed completely. It’s even better than what it used to be. It’s livelier. The garden, which used to be empty, now has a bar right in the middle. At the corner, there are two chambers built aesthetically for group dining, and a quaint little coffee shop called ‘Bhawana’.  While we were waiting for our food, I happened to meet Lakpa Sherpa and Jennifer Lan, who are now running Salon de Kathmandu Cafe and Bistro in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, a few blocks away from Hotel Radisson. They have been running this restaurant for the past three years. They told me about their first visit to Salon de Kathmandu, and how they enquired if the building was for sale. “The former owner trusted us to maintain the reputation they built,” says Sherpa. I believe they have surpassed the former owner’s expectations. Salon de Kathmandu is definitely unique. It’s one of the rare places where you’ll find many unique specialties.

“We switch some items in the menu every three-four months in order to let our customers try some of the seasonal foods,” he says. Take the Fried Snack Platter for example. The dish’s components were rather different from other platters I have tried so far. There were four different types of appetizers: fried sausage, fried pork cheese, fried chicken teriyaki and salads dressed in balsamic vinegar, served with ketchup and mayonnaise. Everything was delicious. No wonder why it’s one of the best-selling dishes at the cafe.

For the main course, we went with Korean BBQ Pork Steak. It’s a must try. The sticky rice is served along with tantalizing marinated pork, salads. and freshly grilled onions. For me, the dish didn’t taste like Korean until I tried the spicy Korean soybean paste that came along with it. It had an authentic Korean flavor. The texture and spices were on point. The bistro’s Creamy Pumpkin Soup is another top seller. Most people are reluctant to try pumpkin at a restaurant. But the earthy flavor, velvety texture, and delicate sweetness of pumpkin are all very soothing to the palette. Multigrain bread came alongside in a bamboo basket. For those who are lactose intolerant, I recommend seeking out other alternatives from the menu. This might not suit you best. The dish tastes amazing, but the overwhelming creaminess made it quite challenging for me to finish it all by myself. After a heavy meal, I wanted to have a salad, and they had some good options. I went for Harvest Salad. Salon de Kathmandu has organic green veggies growing in their garden, and that’s what comes to the table. With fresh greens, seasonal fruits and vegetables, crunchy walnuts, quinoa, cheese, pumpkin and pomegranate seeds as well as other toppings, it’s a dish that you must try.  If you browse the menu, you will be tempted to taste everything there. The manager and employees are quite helpful. Your choices will be catered to, and they will explain each item carefully. While we’re talking about staffs, I can’t overlook how well-dressed the staff was. Their uniformity made the atmosphere even more classy. The aesthetics of the restaurant is immaculate. The food was served in cute pastel and minimalist ceramic plates. Also, for drinks, they provided us with woven coasters. They have both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Inside, you can enjoy fairy lights and the aesthetic decor of plants and light. While outside, you get to see the panoramic view of the garden. After 6:00 pm, the staff lit the candles on the tables.  Salon de Kathmandu is a perfect eatery to go on a date or catch up with friends. The atmosphere is calm, fresh, pristine, and the food is splendid. Also, you needn’t worry about parking. What more can one ask for?   Their Specials:

  • Korean BBQ Pork Steak
  • Fried Snack Platter
  • Harvest Salad
Location: Lazimpat, Kathmandu Meal for two: Rs. 2000 Opening hours: 8:30 am -10:00 pm Contact: 01-4511820 Online payment: Accepted Parking: Available