Chef Laxman Bhandari’s refined Nepalese cuisine continues to impress diners, 10 years on from opening.
As a chef with more than 30 years experience, Laxman Bhandari has worked all over the world, in restaurants and hotels in Dubai, India and Nepal to name a few.
For around the last ten years however, his base has been somewhere a little less exotic but no less rewarding.
He opened the 50-seater Da Mount Gurkha Nepalese restaurant in 2015 in Liverpool with his wife Geeta, who manages the front of house, with the aim of providing refined Nepalese cuisine.
As a fine-dining establishment, Da Mount Gurkha has won plaudit after plaudit from diners and reviewers.
While the majority of customers are familiar with Indian food and many of the dishes you might find at curry houses, the same cannot be said for Nepalese cuisine, which has enabled the restaurant to build up a loyal following.
“Our customers are really excited to order the food and taste something different – and when it’s served fine-dining style, it’s even more special,” says Geeta.
“People are keen to try food that is well-presented. To stay ahead, it’s all about the food we serve, how it tastes and looks and superlative customer service.”
The restaurant may be located in Liverpool but once you step inside, you might feel instantly transported to Nepal, with authentic background music and the walls adorned with pictures of Nepalese mountains. The restaurant underwent a refurbishment in 2021 and also has a modern feel.
Exacting standards
Laxman works long hours – the same as when he first established Da Mount Gurkha and is clearly a talented and dedicated chef and the driving force behind the restaurant.
Even his wife admits that she does not know how some of the dishes are cooked, such is her husband’s skill at being able to adapt dishes at a moment’s notice or prepare something completely new.
Being creative, trying new foods and adding a twist to even the most well-known of dishes is his forte.
As one would expect, Laxman uses a range of spices, including specific Nepalese mountain spices (while the restaurant sources as much as it can from local suppliers, some harder-to-find ingredients come from London),
Food presentation is equally important, – for Laxman, food does not only have to taste good but look good too. Unsurprisingly, he is the one who motivates and inspires everyone in the restaurant to strive for the best service possible.
Geeta says she mostly cooks for the family at home (giving Laxman a well-earned break) but even then, he often casts a critical eye over dishes.
Da Mount Gurkha’s most popular dishes include the spicy chicken Dhede Khursani, made with peppers and cream and the Bhutwa, served with chicken, lamb or fish.
There’s also a varied selection of ‘momos’ – Nepalese-style dumplings, filled with chicken or vegetables. Vegetarian dishes are also plentiful on the menu, which Geeta says are proving very popular with younger diners.
Attention to detail
In charge of front of house, Geeta ensures that customers arrive happy and leave even happier. She previously had a career managing different teams in travel agencies and hospitality, and this business experience has stood her in good stead when it comes to managing the front of house.
Her tip to provide the best customer experience is to preempt and anticipate any problems that may arise – if any issues can be dealt with before they become too big, then customers are much more likely to leave satisfied.
While Geeta acknowledges that they can’t do everything for everyone, both Laxman and her try to get as close to 100% customer satisfaction as possible. If customers request a dish that is not on the menu, Laxman aims to serve one that is similar, while Geeta says being attentive is important too.
“We try to ask for feedback while the customers are eating, so if there’s anything we can improve there and then we will,” she says. “We also make sure they have anything they might need, such as more drinks or side dishes.”
Laxman is also keen to ensure that the menu does not change too much, preferring to add a new dish every now and then or introducing a twist to a long-standing favourite.
“We’re conscious our customers might get upset if we change the menu too much and too often,” says Geeta. “They are used to our food and dishes and if they can’t find something they like, they will be disappointed! We add dishes every now and then but try not to remove any.”
Forging on
In its 10 years of trading, Da Mount Gurkha has had its fair amount of challenges. At the time that Laxman signed for the property in 2015 and prepared to open a restaurant, a deadly earthquake struck Nepal; Geeta was there at the time, and it was a stressful moment for all concerned.
When Covid forced all restaurants to close, Da Mount Gurkha had to adapt quickly to ensure it made it through the pandemic, and it had to offer takeaways for the very first time.
Today, it still offers a takeaway service, although this is only a small portion of its business as Laxman and Geeta prefer to focus on the dining experience.
Having started the business in such stressful circumstances, and survived the Covid pandemic, Geeta and Laxman appear ready to deal with anything that might be thrown at them. They have responded to the rising costs of energy and ingredients by increasing (slightly) the prices on the menu, conscious that they do not alienate their customers, many of whom are regulars.
“While we have increased our prices, we are spending more so it’s always a balancing act when it comes to making a profit.” says Geeta.
“We only want to increase our prices a little because our customers are in the same situation with the higher cost of living. It’s important for us to keep welcoming back our diners and to attract new ones and we are excited for what the future holds.”
Da Mount Gurkha
71 Crosby Rd N
Waterloo
Liverpool L22 4QD
Visit the website.
