Thursday, September 20, 2012

Not so sure about Nepali Kitchen in Lincoln City, Oregon...

I have heard great things about this place.  Not sure I should call it Collage Foods, Cyber Gardens or Nepali Kitchen as it has all 3 signs on the front.  Last Tuesday I took my son in there to try the food.  Atmosphere and decor have not really changed since the last few owners, but it's charming either way.  I believe we sat on the Nepali Kitchen side for about 5 minutes before the cook emerged from the swinging kitchen doors.  He hastily handed me a menu and returned to the kitchen.  Now, Lincoln City is full of excellent restaurants that are bustling with servers and customers alike.  This place was dead at noon.  I have to admit, I could already see a few clues as to why.  1. No actual server to greet you and make you feel like they're open for business.  2. Cleanliness (lack of). 3. Diminished atmosphere, no music. I decided to try the food anyway.  Upon referral, I was told they had Gluten Free Soups and menu options and were very knowledgeable about the needs of people on a Gluten Free diet.  My experience was much different.  I don't expect every server and every eatery to know all about this.  However, I do expect some gamesmanship.  If someone is going to be accommodating, us Celiac's can tell right away.   Straight from the look on their face when we drop the G-Free BOMB!  It's most realistic to have low expectations and be met with positives.  Anyway, After looking over the menu....reading every detail....looking at the pictures....and investigating the overall quality of the menu itself, the cook finally emerged.  If I was in a hurry, I would've walked up the street and gotten something else...anything else!  We ordered one breakfast skillet to share, meat and vegetable with toast on the side. Simple.  As he scurried away, I shouted out what we would like to drink....we had already invested 15 minutes and weren't going without!  As we sat and admired all of the adornments on the walls, ceiling, doors, bar etc...we began to wonder how all glass tables and high chairs were thought to be kid friendly?  I mean, I believe what I read on Urban Spoon!  Yet, we sat waiting an unusually long time for our "skillet" which was described as a combination of hashbrowns, eggs, vegetables and meat.  It didn't exactly specify which vegies and which meat...call it adventurous to order breakfast at Nepali Kitchen and have mystery eats!  I wish we had a server that I could've asked more questions of about Gluten Free options because the lunch and dinner menu looked fantastic.  But, breakfast is generally the safest option for me.  However, I will reiterate, I think we were in the wrong place!  Moving on, our food arrives and we were left once again to forage silverware, cream, sugar, napkins, salt & pepper from the next table....because our cook was back in the kitchen!  Luckily, nobody was there to witness our thievery!   The food itself was simply plated on a clear glass plate with the toast piled right on top of the layered shredded hashbrowns, and scrambled up eggs.  Fantastic.  My son said his food was good.  Not that he's asked to go back, but just the same.  I believe I will try again to enter the Cyber Garden Cafe in the adjacent room.  There's no outside entrance now?  If the sliding glass door is locked for customer entry, than I am not sure what else to do but give Nepali Kitchen a big "EH?"

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