Savor spicy, authentic Indian fare at Himalayas
Taste of the Himalayas owners Jagadish (Jack) and Mukunda Bhandari, who are brothers, know a thing or two about authentic Indian fare - not only do they boast impressive international Indian restaurant management experience via London and India, but this downtown St. Charles location is their second in the U.S., the other being their award-winning counterpart of the same name in Colorado Springs, Colo. With a resume like that, expectations were definitely up, so we were quite happy when the reality far outdid the hype.
Just a few months ago, this place had an entirely different theme. Now, however, the décor and atmosphere are very inviting and family friendly, with deep maroons and white tablecloths (a standard and popular Indian take on interiors). But there is also a roomy patio outside, an inviting full bar and old-school wooden high ceilings.
The restaurant's self-proclaimed specialty is the tandoori style of cooking. Aside from that, it also imports all of its spices directly from India. We felt we had to have it both ways - Nepalese and Indian, and the combination was spicy and quite memorable.
While munching on some tasty and crunchy papadum (the Indian version of crackers) accompanied by three flavorful chutneys, we settled on the kashi ko bhutuwa appetizer, consisting of small boneless goat meat cubes, crisply stir fried with Nepalese spices and herbs and garnished with cilantro to form a dish that had a punch of flavor in every bite.
Since it was a house specialty, we couldn't overlook the tandoori and chose the reshmi kebab (minced chicken breast marinated in a low-fat sour cream, light Indian spices, cooked in the clay oven to perfection and brought out still sizzling and steaming). Since the kebab dish has no sauce, we chose the palungo ko saag to complement it, a Nepali-style side dish of fresh garden spinach cooked with chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger, which also came with a basmati rice.
The popular naan bread rounded out the feast, and it provided an opportunity to eat with our hands. It had a soft texture and heavenly smell, and had absorbed all the flavors from being baked on the wall lining of the clay oven.
For dessert, we chose the gulab jamun, two warm, golden fried milk pastry ball dumplings in sweet hot saffron syrup.
The experience was nothing short of low-key yet elegant, with great and attentive service that always anticipated our needs. The food was truly masterful in taste and in presentation, resulting in an overall feeling of a fine meal out for a very reasonable price.
• Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. Our aim is to describe the overall dining experience while guiding the reader toward the menu's strengths. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Taste of the Himalayas
Facts: 110 N. 3rd St., St. Charles; (630) 444-1575; tasteofhimalayas.com
Cuisine: Indian and Nepalese
Setting: Family friendly, with white tablecloths, pressed white shirts and impeccable service
Hours: Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; dinner 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily
Price range: Appetizers $2.99 to $8.99; entrees $13.99 to $25.99; desserts $2.99 to $3.99