“Colorado’s Hidden Gems” is a column exploring places around town that are little-known to CU students.
About 30 minutes up Canyon Boulevard from Boulder, you enter the modest town of Nederland. In this lazy yet beautiful town there are all sorts of little stores and boutiques that are worth exploring.
But Kathmandu Restaurant is a destination worth traveling to independent of the town it is nestled in.
Kathmandu Restaurant is located on 110 North Jefferson St., in Nederland, and it has some of the most authentic Indian food you will find in the Boulder area. The décor and lack of interior design radiate a vibe that will make you question what exactly you are about to eat. But just because these people didn’t hire an interior designer doesn’t mean that they can’t whip up a tiki masala that will blow your mind.
Right when you walk in you can feel how locally praised this place is with only the “regulars” ordering and chatting up the servers at 3:15 p.m. on a Tuesday.
Beyond the authenticity of the people running this dive is the food. The extensive menu offers an array of appetizers, soups, lamb/chicken entrées, and of course a diverse array of naan bread; the staple food when it comes to Indian cuisine. Kathmandu offers vegetarian and gluten-free options, too. A typical entrée comes with lentil soup and rice priced between $10-12, making it fairly affordable. They give you huge portions, so it’s important to come hungry if you really want your money’s worth.
But the real charm Kathmandu has to offer is its lunch buffet special, offered daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. – close on Fridays. For $10, you can indulge in an all-you-can-eat experience with 20 menu items to chose from, including vegetarian options. Just about anything you would want to order from the menu you can find in the buffet, except you can eat as much of it as you want without stuffing your pockets.
Kathmandu Restaurant is the spot to go if you have an appetite for authentic Indian food and gives you an excuse to explore Nederland. The somewhat inconvenient drive will prove worth your time after trying this food.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Wyatt Carlson at wyatt.carlson@colorado.edu.
