The Himalayan-Nepalese Cuisine

My dinner club choice for October was The Himalayan on 17th Ave. To be honest about this selection, I probably would have never found this hidden gem, although it did fit the exterior image of my mission to find a "divey" restaurant that serves great food. This tasty treat was recommended to me by several patients (while cleaning teeth) after I spoke of living in MardaLoop.

Although it fit the "divey" appearance from the outside, I did not find that was the case on the inside. First impression was the food must be good with the restaurant being nearly a full house on a Thursday evening with a couple reserved tables (including our own) and as expected it sold all of us!

The food is as it is described in the menu as "unique", being significantly influenced by Nepal's neighbouring countries Indian and China. The food at the Himalayan was absolutely something different and delicious! If you're looking for a restaurant that serves up a plate of flavour look no further! 

Our order:

Appetizer: Chicken Momo, Vegetable Chatamari

Entrees: Himalayan Grill (with chicken) and Chili Stir-Fry (with chicken)

As we do at most restaurants, we shared everything that was ordered. To begin this taste bud journey, a complimentary crispy pita/chip dish and dipping sauces was served which got my stomach talking and excited for the next dishes to come! All four of us loved the chicken momo's, aka dumplings, as well as the vegetable chatamari (the dipping sauces really made these dishes!). Although we did enjoy the himalayan grill, the chili stir-fry was definitely the dish leaving you wanting more. The spices in the entrees really got the taste buds going and the naan bread served along side is always a nice treat. And lastly, whatever dressing they served on the salad with the himalayan grill was to die for! 

On a final note, the service was very good at this restaurant. The server went above and beyond splitting up the salad and rice evenly amongst the four of us to share along with the entrees. Very friendly and always smiling :) We would love to come back and try some more delicious items on this menu!

-S

 overall ratings:

Food	8.25	Service	9
Presentation	7.75	Value	7.75
Ambiance	6.25	Will you go back?	Solid 4 Yeses!

final score - 7.8

Dinner at Laurier... come si come sa

September's meal at the Laurier Lounge on 12th Ave left us all a little wanting, however, we must admit they had a tough crowd to please that night. September means back to school for 3 of the 5 of us, and it seemed we had all arrived a little tired and a little cranky. Rather than being a refreshing change of pace to rejuvenate the group, however, our lackluster meal only compounded the collective mood. The food was ok. Everyone ate their meals and more or less enjoyed them, but we didn't love them, particularly for the price. Between the 5 of us we tried several dishes including the ribs, the French onion soup, coquille St. Jaques, escargot, the Cajun Chicken burger, and the French Garlic Prawns. We also tried a variety of cocktails, wine, and beer. Nothing stood out as amazing, with the notable exception of the poutine. We added a side poutine and all agreed its some of the best in the city! The building itself is cute, and is a nice location for a quiet and intimate dinner. We were seated in a semi-private room upstairs which was nice, although a little too warm. The service was friendly and prompt, but not standout. Our expectations had been high going into the meal, as we have all frequented the Laurier Lounge for brunch, but our dinners didn't compare to the fond memories of bennies and crepes.  It left us with the impression of a once great restaurant that had become a little too comfortable with their menu. We might be keen to try it again if they shake things up a little but as it stands we all agreed that this would not be a repeat dinner venue. That being said, we are sure to go back for a sunny brunch on the patio next summer, which is worth every penny!

-J

further thoughts from a disappointed diner:

Dear Laurier,

You were descent enough but no wow factor or anything that left me wanting more!

I chose the escargots and they were decent enough... I don't know about you guys, but I sure love a garlicky tasting escargot and instead they tasted more like a diluted garlic oil. The atmosphere had great potential with the separate rooms upstairs and a nice patio but sadly the food didn't match the pleasantness of the surroundings.

Perhaps time for a menu change?? Or at least add more flavor to what you're serving!!

-S

overall ratings:

Food	5	Service	7
Presentation	5.5	Value	4
Ambiance	8	Will you go back?	Only for brunch

final score - 5.9

One shot of crispy goodness please!

We decided to try Khao San Thai Kitchen when it caught our eye from across the street during margarita fishbowls on the Los Chilitos patio. Not right at that moment of course, otherwise I doubt we would have remembered much about the place other then they had food and we ate it. So a few days later we returned with relatively sound minds, excited to try the new addition to 17th Ave. With Thai dining in Calgary seeming to only exist in fast food form or as super pricey, we were eager to see if a nice middle ground had finally been established.

First to arrive, I was immediately struck by the friendliness of all the workers. After being seated I was greeted by a lovely man who I assumed to be the owner due to the sparkle of delight that appeared in his eye when I replied that the 'occasion' was our monthly dinner club. 

Looking around while sipping on my wine, the interior is basically the same as it was during the space's previous tenants, JAROblue, other than the new ornate Thai wall treatments. It makes for a fairly contemporary space, which I figured would also be reflected in their Thai cuisine.

our order: 

Chicken Satay

Spring Rolls

Poung Chom-Poo (Steamed Dumpling)

Pad Thai

Red Chicken Curry

Beef Sweet & Sour
Steamed Coconut Rice

When the dishes arrived there was definitely a contemporary spin on the presentation, steamed dumplings coloured pink and sculpted like roses and spring rolls served in shot glasses of chili sauce. But while the food was plated with a modern twist, the first few bites revealed tastes that were wonderfully authentic and traditional. As the plates arrived, we each delighted in every new flavour sensation. At many Thai restaurants there is barely enough of each dish to share between 2 people, but Khao San Thai's servings were large, leaving more than enough for everyone. 

For me the best entree we had was the Red Chicken Curry. For being so thin the sauce was extremely flavourful and with a bit of the coconut rice even the smallest bite made my taste buds zing. Seeing the  other curries listed on the menu, I can't wait to get back to try them! Even the Pad Thai, which is usually pretty basic, was exceptional. So based on that alone I can only imagine how tasty some of their more complex dishes would be. 

The service continued to be outstanding throughout dinner and even when we proclaimed we were too full for dessert (but we'll take another round of drinks), the waiter surprised us with a complimentary fruit plate. Our high spirits from the delicious meal kept the wine flowing and eventually inspired us to tie one on that Tuesday night. So thank you Khao San Thai Kitchen for a wildly successful August dinner club!

- c

overall ratings:

Food	8.5	Service	8
Presentation	8	Value	7.5
Ambiance	7.5	Will you go back?	Yes x 5

final score - 7.9

Allow us to introduce ourselves...

Before we dive into our first 'official' review, suppose introductions are in order. b*tches be eatin' is the new blog for our casual dinner club that brings five good friends together once a month for a hopefully tasty experience. We each take a turns choosing a local independent restaurant ranging from hot & new to long-time favs to local dives, all depending on the mood of the month. Following our meal, we all provide our feedback and whoever chose the location does the write up!

Just to clarify, we aren't always b*tches, but come to expect total honesty in our reviews. We consider ourselves to be very well rounded diners and with the exceptional selection of restaurants in and around Calgary we are eager to share our finds! Looking beyond the top 10 lists, we aren't afraid to get adventurous, so look forward to some colourful dining tales!

- c