Killroy's, Kathmandu

Arriving in Kathmandu it may be culture shock for many Americans or even westerners period simply for the fact that there are almost no world-wide fast food chains. At least there are the ubiquitous Coca-Cola billboards along the main roads, but you will not likely find a McDonald's, unless it's an oddly-colored daal bhat knock-off version. Nevertheless, many of the districts in the city center are geared to pleasing or approximating the tastes of the foreign guests. There are many cafes and bakeries to choose from, but mostly likely a westerner will search for something familiar. At the very least there is a Baskin Robbins ice cream parlor in true American strip mall decor near the Yak & Yeti Hotel, and it does serve authentic ice cream recipes. Otherwise, there is an excellent selection of classy and clean restaurants in Thamel.

The restaurant many homesick visitors enjoy and find comfort is Kilroy's. It was opened in 1998 by Thomas Kilroy, patissier extraordinaire from Britain and protege of world renowned Chef Anton Mosimann. Thomas brought fantastic recipes and a fine design philosophy with him to open the restaurant in the busy tourist section of Thamel. The entrance leads back through a side street and up a set of stairs to clear away from the smoke and clamor of the busy street. The restaurant offers a great number of tables for patio dining amid a lush garden setting. The menu is relatively inexpensive to western standards and offers delicious and exotic renditions of world classics. However, there are also fish & chips good enough to write home about.