04/18/08

I'd definetely come back...

by lorenasfm

The food is delicious, specially the chicken momo's. I haven't made reservations and was immediately seated.

The service is excellent, with my water being refilled every 10 minutes :-)

The atmosphere is great with a huge Dalai Lama picture on the wall sending good vibes to everybody in the restaurant.

03/30/08

Calming - beautiful food...

by talluhla

Wonderful greens, wonderful food, and beautiful atomosphere. I had the Thukpa - noodle soup. A peaceful experience.

02/15/08

Sometimes you feel like a monk ...

by albyatlarge

One of my go-to spots when I've got guests from out of town, or when I just want to enjoy a quiet meal by myself. The dining room is very low-lit, with a huge photo portrait of the Dalai Lama looking on and almost no sounds aside from a Buddhist chant recording -- it all adds up to put you in a contemplative (and maybe meditative) mood. The food is similarly humble and unadorned (don't expect the fire and flavors of Southeast Asian cooking), but complex and delectable in its own right. I've gone through about half the menu to date, and so far haven't come across a single bad dish. In winter, be sure to wrap up the meal with a cup of bocha -- that stuff'll keep you warm and blubbery-feeling for hours.

• Pros: Consistently high-quality menu, soothing ambience, low prices
• Cons: Seating is a little cramped

11/13/06

Great place for groups

by awlrain

Had a birthday dinner for about 20 ppl here on Sat night and the service was great. We started early (6pm), so they were willing to let us do indiv ordering instead of the usual prix fixe. Even though we took a long time to get settled they didn't rush us at all. We easily fit into 3 large tables in the back room. The back room was really great - cozy, intimate, and private enough yet still connected to the rest of the restaurant. Inexpensive dishes, decent food. I admit I didn't *love* my tibetian curry, but generally everyone seemed happy with their meals. I sampled someone's salmon dish, which was very tasty. (Portions could be a big bigger though.) Also, the owner, Chimie(?) was very easy to work with in setting up the event. Good hospitality goes a long way in this city. I was also very appreciative when I forgot a bag and the restaurant held onto it for me until I came to reclaim it. Anyway - I would come back here for the atmosphere and price alone. I could see it being a great place for a date too!

• Pros: private room good for groups, hospitality/service, atmosphere
• Cons: portions

10/03/06

Great Place

by knowsny

Everything about Tsampa is fantastic. The food was wonderful, and the menu was wide enough to satisfy vegetarian and dieters. The service was prompt and pleasant. The ambience was great; decor and lighting is zen chic and the noise level was low. Finally, the place is inexpensive. Really a great value and a great experience. I always reccomend this to friends looking for a great date place, group place, or simply a great meal.

08/08/06

I love their amazingly tasty food served in a room with romantic ambiance.

by barbaralois

They serve some of the most delicious vegetarian and even vegan dishes here. You can ask for spicy or mild based on your personal choice. The dishes have very generous portions and you will be tempted to try them all! Great appetizers and salad! Also a great place for a party as they were very accomodating to our large party of 20! Service was delightful and attentive.

02/18/06

Poor food quality and service

by thakarm

Recently went there for dinner with my wife. The ambience was better than I expected but it stopped there. Within 3 minutes after we sat the waiter was hovering over us to get our food order. In addition to the weak service, the food which we had high expectations for was bland and probably cooked/undercooked a few hours in advance.

• Pros: good ambience
• Cons: food, service

11/03/05

nice little spot to linger over some apps

by cdobbelaere

Good vegetables, dumplings, fresh juices. So pretty and mellow and romantic. Fast service, friendly staff, clean bathroom.

09/25/05

Why Tibetan Cuisine Tastes Bland

by janqb

When I visited Tsampa years ago I didn't understand why many dishes tasted bland. Instead of writing a negative review, I let it be thinking who am I to judge Tibetan tastes in food. It wasn't until I returned from Tibet recently that I realized why Tibetan cuisine can be bland. The reason is that when you are living at high altitudes--especially 4000 meters and up--you just don't want heavily spiced foods in your stomach. At high altitudes one has less of an appetite quite possibly because it is more difficult to properly digest foods. For this reason the Tibetans have traded horses with the Chinese for centuries in exchange for tea, which aids proper digestion. So, next time you wonder about the blandness of certain Tibetan cuisine, remember that when you live at 5000 meters above sea level, Tibetan cuisine will be the only thing that you are craving!

• Pros: Ambience, Service, Food

08/08/05

This is far better than blah asian spots

by vassariggy

Went with a friend for dinner. Started with the chicken dumplings (momo), which were rather bland: now I know why they serve a hot sauce with them. We also had the specialty appetizer, these small stuffed balls, which were wonderful! I had the Sherpa chicken dish, which was a new experience for my pallet: the spices, potatoes, chicken, and bread all worked wonderfully together. The ambiance was very relaxing, and the staff was very helpful (although it took a while to get the check). For a new take on Asian food, enjoy a night this gem.

• Pros: Good Food, Fair Prices, Good Service
• Cons: Mediocre momo, Dull dumplings