Go Green Machan: An infusion of good and could-be-better!
CILLA KHATRY
Set in the busy restaurant lane in Jhamsikhel right opposite Singma Food Court, GG Machan is an oasis of calm and style. Truly warm and inviting, to the point where you feel as if you’re in someone’s home, this place lives up to its name with its bamboo and cane décor.
The ambience is reminiscent of the jungle resorts in Chitwan making it easy to forget that you are in the middle of a bustling city. Whether you’ve stepped in for a quick lunch or for dinner to unwind after a hectic day, the place has just the right seating arrangements to cater to your needs.
The music isn’t intrusive and the waiters are knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant. Shaded lamps provide soft lighting and the food is worth every rupee you spend for dinner.
Photos: Bijay Rai
The variety of food is appreciable. From salads and soups to appetizers and main course meals, the restaurant offers Chinese, Indian, Nepali and Italian delicacies and to top it off, the menu looks appealing as well. At first glance, there appears to be a lot more for vegetarians to select from but the menu offers interesting choices for non vegetarians too.
The chef, Drona Bhattachan, surely knows what he’s doing as the food is succulent and prepared to perfection. Making a selection can be quite challenging, in a good way of course. You can close your eyes and put a finger on the menu and the dish that arrives will leave you craving for more.
The vegetarian starter, Twakka Makai, which is battered sweet corn garnished with green chilies and spices is light and crunchy. The tangy flavor will have you licking the crumbs off the plate. The smell and the taste take you back to your school days when getting a paper cone of chatpatte from the local street vendor was a special treat allowed only on days you’d earned points for being extra good.
The chicken egg roll, one of the items on the quick lunch menu which offers Chicken Manchurian and an array of sandwiches as well, is a delight. Unlike rolls you’ve had elsewhere, this one is different as the onion and capsicum garnished chicken bits come wrapped in an omelet.
The momos, however, take the crown. It’s worth returning for. And they’ve recently introduced “jhol momo” as well. So momo lovers, you know where to head the next time you have a craving for a plateful.
Prices are remotely modest, especially given the quality. The food is slightly on the spicy side so it’s best to make your preferences known beforehand.
There are some important exceptions to this restaurants’ quality: the GG Fried Chicken is often overcooked and dry which makes it a lot chewy than even meat lovers like it to be. The carrot cake is bland and they’ve chosen to stack two slices of carrot cake to give it a layered look but without a middle filling the dish misses the mark. The end result isn’t orgasmic enough as “desserts” are, as a rule, supposed to be.
If you steer away from ordering these items, the rest of what you select will be swoon inducing. From the all senses indulging spiced mutton soup to the mouthwatering akbare aloo, the choice is endless. The service is quick so you won’t even have to suffer the hungry growls for all that long.
If you are looking for a night with fancy drinks, then look elsewhere. The bar disappoints. The drinks aren’t anything to rave about. You’ll be better off ordering a glass of coke instead of expensive drinks that other places will serve for half the price.
The ambience, music and food, however, more than make up for the glitches that if taken care of would up the wow factor several notches and result in a complete package of a restaurant.
GG Machan is less than a year old and they have already tinkered with the menu a bit, so there’s no doubt that, as they grow, they will adapt
and continue to flourish. There are definitely some kinks to work out, but nothing that’s not forgivable or that which will stop you from recommending this place to every second person you meet.
Opening hours: 12 noon to 10 pm
Budget: Rs 1500 – Rs 2000 for a dinner for two
Parking: Complimentary
For reservation call 01- 555429
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