IMAGINE THE COUNTLESS scenes in movies where the main characters are sitting down at a wonderfully ambient restaurant, talking about their feelings or about their businesses.  Watching such scenes makes you wonder what it would be like to be a guest at one of those restaurants. Let me tell you, the Chimney Restaurant at Hotel Yak and Yeti will most probably give you that exact feeling. If you are a fan of rustic interiors and elegant furnishing, then you will not be disappointed. The restaurant looked so elegant, that honestly, I felt out of place being there. 

With perfectly set tables, with table covers, rolled napkins, and wine glasses set on each table meticulously, it amplified the warmth that the restaurant already delivered. The entire setting looked perfect for business outings, casual meetings, or simply a good time out with close ones or with that someone special. Going into Chimney, there is just one thing that you should keep in mind, you are not prepared for what it offers. 

Hotel Yak and Yeti has been a fine service establishment at Durbarmarg for the past 41 years. They have offered absolute service and accommodated thousands of guests, and leave little to no room for complaints. Of course, this is not a hotel review by any means. The main objective for the visit to the hotel was to try the food at the new Chimney Restaurant. The hotel is a classic in itself, and so is the taste that they have offered throughout the years. Their tastes encompassed Nepali tastes with western and intercontinental tastes and have always delivered magnificent food to their guests. With that in mind, the new restaurant aimed to freshen the tastes and create newer experiences for their guests and customers. 

The highlight of visiting any restaurant is the food, but the entirety of the time there plays a huge role in the impression it sets. I looked around the restaurant, as if I had magically entered Narnia! There were so many things to take in, and just being there made me feel out of place. The warm ambience in the spacious, and might I say exquisitely vintage, interior of the restaurant had already made my heart jump. We were greeted warmly, and as we were kindly led to our table, there wasn’t a sour face in sight. I’d give that a massive thumbs up. The service staff greeted us in a polite and friendly manner, which isn’t seen in most eateries these days. It is always nice to be greeted so nicely when sitting in a restaurant; lightens the mood.

The menu that they have is huge! My eyes just kept looking at all the dishes that they served. If you can’t picture what the actual dish would be like when you read the menu, then you’re a boring person! Before we ordered, we had a chance to interact with the Head Chef, and the staff there. You’d expect them to be quite uptight and closed up, but it wasn’t such at all. The chef, himself, created an open conversation leaving no room for unwanted awkwardness or seriousness. Getting to speak to the team felt more like a friendly meeting which lightened the mood for everyone. 

We started off with their Methi Thepla Tacos and their Sticky Pork Buns. Methi thepla tacos, yup! This unique fusion of classic South Indian taste and Mexican cuisine tasted wonderful. The thepla tacos complimented the BBQ pulled pork filling wonderfully. This dish was already a popular choice among the guests, and with one bite I could understand why. The sour cream spread with apple and avocado worked wonders with the pork, and the flavor of the tortilla blended it all together perfectly. The sticky pork buns also delivered the perfect zing! The braised pork belly was yet again exquisite with the hoisin sauce it was coated in, but it was the steamed bao, which to be honest, I wasn’t that big of a fan of. Although the dish would’ve lacked its appeal if it wasn’t there, for my tastes, it could’ve been different, but hey! I’m not complaining! 

I almost failed to mention the Chimney’s Signature Concoction that began the meal. Their chai fashioned concoction, which was bourbon, homemade masala chai decoction, bitter and brown sugar, brought out the excitement to the entire meal. Served in a kettle like how chai is served, it was a joyous moment taking a single sip of the drink. Although it was alcohol, there was no room to pass that off!

The main course we dove into comprised of three dishes: Malabar Shrimp Fettuccine; Som-tam Glazed Pork Belly, and Chicken-a-la-Kiev. Sounds fancy doesn’t it? The pork belly was the first thing we dove into. Well it’s meat, why wouldn’t we?! The wonderful pork belly, served with Burmese coconut rice and baby bok choy, was a beautiful dish. Although the plate looked a bit empty, the elements that were placed on the dish had no fails. The coconut rice was not overpowered by the coconut infusion, which is also great for people not so keen about the coconut flavour. The pork belly was succulent, and was the definite star of the dish. If only there was more!

The shrimp fettuccine was an amusing dish. The shrimp and pasta wrapped under mustard and curry flavoured coconut, chillies and tamarind sauce created an amusing adventure for our taste-buds. I am not complaining about the dish overall, there might not be a single complaint at all, but what really struck me is how much the pasta tasted like popcorn! I like popcorn, so you can imagine why it was amusing. Overall, I’d say that this dish is a must have. Its unique, its savoury and its filling. Quite a wonderful dish to partake in.

Now visually, the star of the day was the Chicken-a-la-Kiev! If you’re ordering this dish, the dish looks stunning and confusing at the same time. No one would guess that it’s actually chicken at first glance. What made the dish exceptional was what came with it! This timeless classic at the hotel was a delight to the tastebuds, the eyes, the nose and the tummy. The chicken was enveloped in a crispy crust sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes is what I would classify as foodgasm! As we cut into the chicken, the warm butter oozed out and surrounded the elements of the dish! When cut in half, a warm surprise of mushrooms filled the chicken, looking almost like a piñata! The visual punch had us salivating and the taste was a knockout! The chicken tasted perfectly balanced with the crust, and the mushrooms, made warm and tender by the butter. The bed of mashed potatoes was a wonderful delight in itself, and perhaps that best mashed potato I’ve had in a very long time.

The entire experience with the meals was a total knockout. It was part amusing, part confusing but definitely mesmerizing. But that wasn’t the end of our food adventure. There is always room for dessert!

I am not such a big fan of sweet foods, but we just had to try the Baked Alaska! Need I tell you what goes into a Baked Alaska? They added a bit more visual touch to the dessert with flaming alcohol poured over it to 
make it look increasingly scrumptious. For sweet lovers, the Baked Alaska at The Chimney Restaurant would be a match made in heaven! Cold, and warm and sweet; oh so sweet! Despite not being much of a sweets person, I would gladly call this dessert, a perfect ending to a wonderful afternoon of food! 

If you’re not already enticed by the sound of the dishes, I suggest you go and try the wonderful delights at The Chimney Restaurant at Hotel Yak and Yeti, Durbarmarg. If you love food, and you love being in a place that makes food taste and feel special, then there should be no hesitation, you should be at the Chimney Restaurant to treat yourself, and your loved ones to an afternoon or an evening of fine dining and mouth-watering cuisine.