Sherpa House Restaurant - Himalayan Food in Downtown Golden

Last week, during our October snowstorm, we trudged two blocks through the snow (I think it was only one foot deep at that point -- by the end of the next day it was two feet deep) to the Sherpa House Restaurant and Cultural Center, one of our favorite eating places in downtown Golden.  (The picture of the restaurant was taken on a more typical fall day in Golden.) 

Hearty Himalayan food from the "top of the world" seemed like the only possible choice on a night when winter had come way too early (although we also think it's a good choice on spring days, summer days, and fall days...).  They serve Sherpa and Tibetan entrees (Sherpa means "people from the east," as the Sherpas are originally from Tibet), as well as Nepali and Indian dishes.  (The picture below is of Lhakpa, the owner, in traditional dress serving his yak chili at the recent chili cookoff in Golden.)

Lhakpa Sherpa and his family have done an amazing job of converting a brick house built around 1900 into a representation of a typical Sherpa house in the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal.  One dining room is set up as a traditional family living area with kitchen.  Shelves and hooks display the implements of everyday life, and the focal point of the room is the hearth that would provide both heat and cooking in the traditional home.  Another dining room contains an ornate Bhuddist shrine.  Yet another is a gallery with gorgeous photos of the Himalayas.  The Sun Room has windows that can be opened up if the weather is fine, to provide a close-to-outdoors dining experience, and the large patio at the back of the house is available for enjoying our 300 days of sunshine a year. 

The setting isn't simply a backdrop to the dining experience at the Sherpa House.  The staff is always ready to answer questions about the Sherpa culture and history, about Nepal, and about the cuisine.  They treat their customers with friendly hospitality, as if they really were welcoming us into their home.

On this particular night, we started with cauliflower Pakoda, battered deep-fried cauliflower. The batter is light and the taste of the cauliflower isn't masked by breading or grease.  Bill had chicken Tikka sizzlers: marinated chicken pieces served with onions on a sizzling skillet.  I had chicken Thukpa: a huge bowl of soup swimming with chicken, fat noodles, and crunchy vegetables, served with Naan, a flatbread cooked in a traditional clay oven.  We also tried their Chai this time, and it was beautifully spiced.

On past visits we've enjoyed their Momo (dumplings filled with meat or vegetables -- very similar to Chinese dumplings), their Daal (or lentil) soup, many different varieties of Naan (the cheese Naan and onion Naan, particularly), their wonderful yak stew (they also do variations with vegetable, beef, lamb, or a combination of meats), chicken Bindalu (spicy chicken curry), and Saag Paneer (delicately spiced spinach with cheese and cream).  The dishes are mildly spiced, but they'll crank up the heat for you if you ask.

They have traditional Nepali beverages and desserts, as well as beer on tap from our local microbrewery, the Golden City Brewery, and a selection of wines.

Their full menus for lunch and dinner are on their website, as are pictures of the Sherpa family, their staff, some of the dishes they serve, and the dining rooms.  There is a map, as well.

They're located at 1518 Washington Avenue in downtown Golden, just two blocks from the Dove Inn Bed and Breakfast.

Thanks for reading my Innkeeper's Blog.
Annette