The ambience of the restaurant is basic yet elegant. The small waterspout right at the entrance and a small Japanese-style garden on the first floor give the feeling of visiting a small resort on the outskirts of town. The polite and friendly staffs have a calming effect even before you sit down for dinner.[break]
Alice is certainly not dramatic in décor but the sparkling clean space will certainly make a good first impression. The variation in sitting arrangements will also strike you during your very first visit.
With low chairs and tables, the seating arrangements are spacious and comfortable. One can choose from indoors, terrace, semi-indoors to private family rooms. Standing true to its slogan, “A place for family,” the restaurant also has a playroom for kids and a nanny to take care of them. Though the children’s room is on the ground floor, it’s so interestingly constructed that parents can keep an eye on them even from the first-floor balcony.
But no matter how good the ambiance, it’s the food that’ll decide a restaurant’s credentials. The menu, to start off with, doesn’t disappoint at all. It features a large range of varieties from Thakali, Continental, Japanese, Italian, and Chinese cuisines. You’ll be surprised by the number of snacks offered by the restaurant. From traditional appetizers like Ragatko Sausage to Japanese-style okra salad, they also offer regular continental snacks. And if you aren’t in the mood to experiment with the meal, then you can also choose other familiar Nepali snacks.
The Week, on its part, recommends Alice’s special Baby Corn Chili for starters. The vegetarian snack has a unique but somehow familiar taste to it, a bit of spicy ingredients added to crunchy baby corns, making you go for every piece on the plate.
There’s nothing extraordinary in the Baby Corn Chili but it’s certainly different from other baby corn dishes. Alice seems to have a lot of such twists in their dishes: buckwheat and spinach momos being other instances. The Thakali set, a popular combo among Nepalis, is also worth a mention for its finery in appearance and tastes.
But it’s the momos that takes the spotlight. Buckwheat momos can also be a guilt-free dish for diabetic patients. Likewise, the Thakali Set offers an array of traditional dishes; however, you can choose over the regular set or ask for buckwheat bread or Dhindo or Usina Rice instead. Even though these aren’t your favorite dishes, you should nevertheless give them a try because at Alice, they definitely taste better.
You can also order Sabasiyoyaki, a Japanese sea fish for a side dish and combine the local and international tastes in your meal.
The foods are extraordinary and you can pick on any dish from the menu even if you’re unfamiliar with them. The well-informed waiters will always be there to help you with your choices. The service is also very neat for dinner; but if you visiting the place for lunch, be prepared for a moderately slow service.
And if you want to end your meal with something sweet, then you can be a little disappointed for Alice certainly lags behind on desserts. The menu does offer cakes and ice-creams, but if you’re a lover of fine desserts after a delicious meal, then the place can be a big letdown.
Apart from that, the prices for all the dishes are quite moderate, with quantities enough for two people. The prices for the drinks, too, follow suit. Unlike in many restaurants, the prices for the liquor here aren’t outrageous. But if you prefer fancy drinks, then there are very few the bar can serve you with.
If you’re with the kids, they’ll certainly vote for it for the family’s next eating out. It’s ideal for family gatherings and business meetings, with the varieties of foods that are tailored to serve people of different ages and tastes.
The place is one of its own and is certainly a place for family. It serves you with pure delightful foods and has a good ambience for groups. If your family enjoys loud conversations and roars of laughter instead of live band or music at the backdrop, then it’s just the right place to be.
Fast facts
• Opening hours: 12 noon to 10 pm
• Budget: Rs 1,500-2,000 for a dinner for two
• Parking: Complimentary
• Call 01-4429207
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