Namaste Kathmandu

17–19 Forrest Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2QH

Telephone 0131 220 2273
Food served Mon–Sat noon–2.30pm, 5–11.30pm; Sun noon–2.30pm, 5–10.30pm. [Extended in Festival].
Average price £20 (lunch); £20 (evening meal)
Email
Website www.namastektm.co.uk

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

Behind big plate-glass windows on the busy Forrest Road, Namaste Kathmandu is an unassuming and clean-cut curry house. The interior wood panelling is decorated with authentic brassware and artwork which hints towards the restaurant’s Nepalese influences. Main course options (tikka masalas, kormas and other usual suspects) can be changed up with chicken, lamb, prawn or vegetable, while Indian staples such as pakora, samosas and naan breads are all well executed. The menu’s Nepalese crossover brings unique options for more adventurous diners. Lamb in particular proves a particularly well-matched partner for the rich but not overly hot Nepalese spice blends. Musical instruments from Nepal including the sarangi and madal adorn the walls. Knowledgeable staff guide diners through the good value set-price thali lunches or pre-theatre offerings, all of which give a good sample of dishes from the a la carte menu.

High point: Nepalese influence creates an interesting menu
Low point: Very busy during festival season

Number of wines sold by the glass: 3
Delivery: Free (within 3 miles), minimum order £20
Private dining: Up to 30 covers
Provides: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Gluten-free options, Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Free wi-fi
Music on stereo: Traditional Nepalese music
Capacity: 90
Largest group: 50
Open since: 2007
House wine: £13.95 per bottle
BYOB: £2.50 corkage (wine only)

Comments & ratings

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8. edinburghsusan – 14 Aug 2011, 7:03pm Namaste Kathmandu Report

Probably the best curry I have ever tried! The prize is totally worth it.
Staff is great - perhaps over-attentive sometimes.

I would suggest NOT visit Namaste Kathmandu on FESTIVAL TIME at all, at least during weekends. Too busy, the managers try to approach people even if they do not have time or place - definitively something they should change.

But the rest is perfect. Music, atmosphere... great!

7. theTeller – 11 Aug 2011, 8:52pm Namaste Kathmandu Report

Booked a table for two for 6th August well in advance.
Table not ready when we arrived.
Total chaos and lack of organisation.
When the table was ready, we were rushed through our meal - main meals being offered before we had finished our starter.
Three requests for more drinks needed before they eventually arrived.
Staff refused to serve coffee after meal as they were clearly desperate for the table (Festival time, you see, got to 'make hay while the sun shines')
Similar complaints from diners at adjoining table re. lack of coffee and the bare-faced affrontery of the Maitre d' (if you could call him that).
Both sets of diners resolved never to return to this gang of money-grabbers.
Avoid like the plague.

(See my blunt and to the point review on their Facebook page. ***Caution not for the easily offended***).

6. Louis Jadot – 23 May 2010, 11:58am Namaste Kathmandu Report

Had a great Nepalese meal here with 5 friends. The staff very very helpful and caring towards us. The Nepalese flavours were perhaps more subtle that traditional curry, and were very tasty.

They even have Viognier and Torrontes on the winelist, which is quite forward thinking for an Indian Restaurant, and they are aromatic wines that are perfectly suited to the spicy flavours.

Worth a visit.

5. MoMo – 29 Aug 2009, 3:57pm Namaste Kathmandu Report: You can choose between Nepalese or Indian options. Nepalese was very good. The service is pretty good considering the size of the restaurant. Also, the staff helpful and friendly. In my opinion, this part of town i.e. south of the Royal Mile is where most of the really good Indian restaurants are located.

4. comment removed: This comment has been removed by a moderator.

3. Adit – 5 May 2009, 6:37pm Namaste Kathmandu Report: Definitely go for the Nepalese options, a bit different and much tastier than the very average Indian dishes. The service is attentive, perhaps over-attentive at times.

2. Adam – 27 Sep 2008, 4:16pm Namaste Kathmandu Report

I have visited the restaurant last night. It definitely worth Hit list recommendation. We enjoyed the curry, most probably the best chicken curry, I ever had.

The staffs were caring. The restaurant looked quite busy but we had our food in time and the rice was fluffy. Definitely will go back!!!

1. Very disappointed and still hungry – 18 Aug 2008, 10:05am Report

I visited this restaurant with a group of friends during the festival. Upon arrival we were shown to table for 8 crammed into the bar area. We had booked a table for 10! After some delay they added on another table and a couple of chairs but it was right in front of the kitchen access so far from ideal for those sitting on the end.

After a bit of a wait we ordered starters and mains. Some considerable time later our mains arrived! When we pointed out that we hadn't had our starters we were asked if we had wanted them first! The waiter took an executive decision to cancel our starters and just put out the main courses. We wouldn't have minded but two of the main courses and two portions of rice were cold. The chicken was cleverly described as "boneless" - thigh alert. The meat was quite pink although on balance did seem more or less cooked.

We were given free desserts as compensation but the table was split over whether to tip - the waiting staff were polite and helpful but the lack of any overal organisation and apparent chaos in the kitchen really let this place down. Unfortunately we are too put off to consider going back to try the starters.

Average rating 3.5/5 from 6 reviews of Namaste Kathmandu.

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