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The name suggests it all; Kathmandu is an Indian and Nepalese restaurant located on 4121 S.E. 14th St. in Des Moines.

As soon as I walked into Kathmandu, a host greeted me. On the checkout counter was a display of a gold Buddha statue and a white elephant adorned with a jeweled crown.

Behind the cash register was a collection of wine, which added sophistication to the atmosphere.

The dining space wasn’t very large, but was still warm and cozy. The table linens were bright pink with green and white interlaid details on them. A layer of glass was placed on top of the table with the napkins neatly folded on top.

The lighting was dim, which complimented the elaborate display of artifacts from India and Nepal. Indian Bollywood music videos played in the background.

When it was time for us to order, the waiter was very helpful in answering our questions and making suggestions for food as well as the level of spiciness. The host suggested a mango soup to me, but I decided to go with the lentil soup instead. It was mainly yellow lentils blended and seasoned with spices, with a dash of lemon. Although it smelled amazing, I was disappointed with the consistency. It was watery and tasted bland.  Their mango smoothie was amazing though.

The next dish I ordered was Chicken Tikka, a boneless chicken coated with herbs and spices, with sautéed onions and lemons on the side. I felt it was a safe choice as it was chicken.

The next food item was Lamb Boti Kabab. I thought it would come on a stick, but the server brought it out in a cast-iron plate. It was sizzling as if they just took it out of the oven. The smell alone made it known the dish would be hot. It was chunks of lamb marinated in yogurt sauce, ginger, garlic and spices grilled on a kandoori oven.

The last dish I ordered was the Lamb Biryani. It is a saffron-flavored rice covered lamb with curry sauce with nuts and raisins. I wanted to order this dish in the spiciest version they have, but the host suggested I order the medium because it is really spicy. I was glad he made that suggestion because the medium was spicy enough for me. My only dislike with this dish was the nuts; I am not a big fan of nuts. I did love that they have a variety of spices to choose from and that the portions are large.

I would recommend Kathmandu to anyone who likes good, spicy food on a budget and wants to experience Indian and Nepalese culture without leaving Des Moines.

It was a wonderful cultural experience. The vibrant colors, Bollywood music and the smell of spices made this outing worthwhile.