Author Topic: Himalayan - Nepali - Tibetan food  (Read 39243 times)

Offline jhny

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Himalayan - Nepali - Tibetan food
« on: March 01, 2008, 09:28:02 PM »
My husband and I loved going to Himalayan Yak at 72-20 Roosevelt Ave, but they closed some time in December for "renovation," according to a worker coming out of the building. I was told they were going to reopen after Christmas, but here it is March and the metal gate is still down every time I pass by.  There is no answer at their phone number, but it hasn't been disconnected. 

Does anyone know whether or not they will return?  We miss them.

Thanks,
JHNY
« Last Edit: June 17, 2008, 10:31:54 AM by toddg »

Offline toddg

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2008, 10:08:27 PM »
This is terrible news.  I hadn't made it to that corner of the neighborhood in a while, and actually just this week walked by and saw that Himalayan Yak was closed.  I checked on Chowhound, but didn't see any reference to it closing, so I convinced myself that they must just be closed on Tuesdays.  But now with your report that they've been closed since December, I fear the worst.   :(

If it doesn't reopen, then together with Burmese Cafe that's two tremendous loses for the JH foodie scene!

Offline toddg

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2008, 10:09:59 PM »
The next time I stop for momos at Shangrila Express, I'll ask if they know what's up with Himalayan Yak.  I bet they'll know.  It's a tight-knit community.

Offline Shelby2

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2008, 06:46:30 PM »
Maybe I missed this discussion, but what actually happened with the Burmese Cafe?  I went there once when some friends came into town and we all really liked it and planned to go back.

Offline jhny

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2008, 07:29:32 PM »
Toddg, thanks for checking with Shangrila.  I'll look back here for news.  JHNY

Offline abee

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2008, 09:49:05 PM »
Apparently, the both of those restaurants heard that I wanted to check them out and have been busy closing down before I get the chance...  :P

Offline toddg

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #6 on: March 03, 2008, 09:27:54 PM »
Okay, here's the definitive Word on the Street (at least in the vicinity of Shangrila Express)!

One person I spoke with said he was pretty sure that Himalayan Yak is genuinely closed for remodeling.  He thinks they are planning to expand and renovate their space.

The other person I spoke with said he thought that it had closed for good.

Perhaps there is a way they can both be right, if the restaurant is planning to move into a new, larger space elsewhere in the area.

In any case, the results are inconclusive, and more research is necessary (especially if it involves momos!).

Offline jhny

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #7 on: March 03, 2008, 10:12:08 PM »
Thanks for letting us know the results of your research.  I think there's another Himalayan place in the neighborhood, maybe between 73rd & 74th, or 72nd & 73rd, one block north of Roosevelt, before 37th Ave.  Maybe they would know what's going on with Himalayan Yak.  If I can find the place and check in there, I'll let you know.  I keep hoping to run into one of the service staff on the street to ask them.  Meanwhile, maybe we should picket in front of the closed restaurant with signs that say, "Bring Back the Yak!"

JHNY

Offline NY_Epicuriousity

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Across from Kababish on 74th street - Nepalese food
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2008, 02:24:59 PM »
So the other day walking from the train on 37th road to 74th street I noticed Kababish is "closed for renovations", but there's a Nepalese place that replaced the old Pizzeria (which was only good for a 4am "drunk slice - and even then it was a little dodgy).  I'm always looking to try something new to try in the nabe and the little I've had from there has been really good.  The chicken and beef momo's are really fresh and yummy, and I had some super spicy potato dish as well.  Can't wait to try more from them - any suggestions on good nepalese dishes I should check out?
« Last Edit: March 07, 2008, 02:31:39 PM by NY_Epicuriousity »

Offline Avela

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Re: Across from Kababish on 74th street - Nepalese food
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2008, 08:18:00 PM »
That's the newly reinvented Merit Farms...been there forever

Offline Shelby2

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Tibetan restaurant on 73rd - Om Tibet
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2008, 06:28:51 PM »
Just wondered if anyone has been to this place?

Walking back from Zabb the other night I noticed Om Tibet on 73rd just off of Roosevelt.  I opened the door to find a cozy-looking place with a tiny bar and several small tables.  Picked up a menu for future reference.  I don't remember ever hearing anyone mention it, and a search on chowhound from the past year brings up no hits.

Yet I did find a few blogs with photos such as Eating in Translation and Project Me

The writer of the latter blog also wrote this review in NYMag

"Tavern-like from the outside, Om Tibet’s dark façade punctuated by a neon beer sign gives little indication of the calm that lies within. The first thing diners see upon entering is a photo of the Dalai Lama peering over the back counter. Images of Lhasa’s famous Potala Palace are repeated across the ochre walls, and hushed world beat music is randomly punctuated by jarring bands such as the Scorpions. The food, too, alternates between mellow and wilder flavors. Traditional yak meat—from the shaggy-haired bovine—has been replaced with more accessible stand-ins, beef and lamb. Simple, fortifying thenthuk, hand-pulled noodle soup with daikon, wilted spinach, and sparse slices of beef contrast with the palate-tingling shapta special, spice-coated rectangles of beef stir-fried with wedges of jalapeño, red onions, and tomatoes. Both can be eaten with fluffy tingmos, steamed rolls that are favored over rice. Momos, steamed crescent-shaped dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, are treated as a main course, though non-Tibetans might enjoy sharing a plate to start. Fortunately, the only place yak products show up is in steaming mugs of bocha, a salty, yak-buttered tea that eerily tastes like popcorn."

Offline buddy

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Re: Tibetan restaurant on 73rd - Om Tibet
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2008, 02:50:40 PM »
I  know two guys who like it a lot.  One's a vegetarian, the other is not.
First, do no harm.

Offline jhny

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2008, 08:12:59 AM »
Update:  I found the place that sells the Himalayan food, but the workers there didn't know anything about Himalayan Yak.  One of the other customers said he'd also heard that it was closed for renovation.  The phone number is still ringing with no answer.  We continue to hope for its return.  If anyone has any news, please share it with us.

Thanks,
JHNY

Offline jennsch

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2008, 10:09:49 AM »
I really miss Burmese Cafe. Their steamed fish curry was one of my favorites in the neighborhood (actually, make that, the city). I sort of sense that maybe they just weren't quite busy enough -- it was busy right after the Village Voice review but, after that, was rarely full. And I'm not sure if they did any delivery at all.

Offline jhny

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Re: Will Himalayan Yak Reopen?
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2008, 03:43:40 PM »
Good news!  We just went by the restaurant today and there was a big sign that read, "Coming in April -- Himalayan Yak." 

JHNY