The Clay Oven Restaurant — Restaurant in Himachal Pradesh

Went with great expectations and came out with bad feeling. I rarely put review unless it leaves a lasting impact. This is probably one such instance.

Two gents sitting next to us ordered Thupka - I could hear them saying it's totally bland. They asked the waiter to provide some sauce. Waiter kindly informed the lady-in-charge who assisted with set of sauces and I heard her saying "this is how we make Thupka". 2 minutes later I see those two guys walking towards cash counter to pay. I asked what were they eating and should I order it - one of them said without a flinch that it's tasteless. I inquired if he knows how an authentic Thupka tastes like - to which he said "plenty of time I have been to Dharmshala and had it, if the owner doesn't like us we won't come back". While walking out he said - do try the bakery though, it's good. To which we obliged and ordered 1 blueberry cake and 2 chocolate cake pieces. Later was good.

A group of 3 young people came and sat on the other side of us. They ordered some shake. I notice after a few sip all of them decided to call the waiter to ask for some sugar as the shake was less sweet. The lady-in-charge came to inform they add honey not sugar to which the youngsters said add honey. No issue. The lady-in-charge grinded her teeths...

Our order - with high hopes we ordered a few things, I ordered Pad Thai but I got some slimy spicy noodle with corn and ketchup. Puzzled I didn't knew what to do other than asking people in my group to taste if they like. Nobody liked the looks let alone the taste. We had 5-6 other orders billing Rs1890, way more than what I would expect to pay for the quality of food that was served. Curiously, I asked if the lady-in-charge knows how Pad Thai is made? to which she replied "this is how we make it". Without me asking if she would charge for food that someone won't eat - she somehow expected this question and answered "we have put efforts making it and I will charge for it". Since she opened the money topic - I asked "would you consider replacing it with some other food that is edible". She bluntly said "you can order another item but Pad Thai will be charged as well". We finished our food at our leisure (except me), paid and walked out.

I got disheartened by the behaviour of lady-in-charge. Food was anyways bad, but it's normal to encounter both tasty and not so yummy food when you travel

Price: High $$$ for the food standard, taste.

Business is about money but when someone is in food serving business - I believe it is also important that your customers don't go out...

This restaurant should be more properly called Jimmy's Himalayan Kitchen. Maybe the takeover or name change is recent and given Jimmy's several outlets, including Asian Kitchen, a bit confusing if you use Google Maps to search for this place. Located above Jimmy's Bakery and Café, this restaurant is in a prime location on McLeodganj's Main Square. You need to access it by a staircase, and then you've a choice of sitting in the narrow balcony or indoors(good for cold days). Since it was sunny, the diners present were all on the pretty balcony. The menu is really substantial and has a range of Nepali, Bhutanese, Tibet, Ladakhi and Himachali dishes, just as its name suggests. I ordered a vegetable thenthuk and a milk tea as an appetizer. The tea was disappointing but the thenthuk that followed came in a huge bowl. The vegetables were fresh and crsip and so were the wheat dumplings. It was a delight to finish the bowl, which was more like a meal for two. After lunch I lingered for quite a while. Enjoying the sun and indulging in people-watching. It's a fine place to observe people from across the country and the world and the frequent traffic snafus due to McLeodganj's famously...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Clay Oven Cafe (Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen) in McLeod Ganj, and it was a truly delightful experience. The cafe offers a serene ambiance that perfectly complements the scenic beauty of the surrounding area. The peaceful setting makes it an ideal spot for a relaxing meal.

The menu boasts a variety of delicious options, and I particularly enjoyed the pizza, thukpa, and Pad Thai noodles. Each dish was prepared with fresh ingredients and had a distinct, flavorful taste. The pizza had a perfect crust with a generous amount of toppings, the thukpa was hearty and comforting, and the Pad Thai noodles were well-balanced with a delightful mix of spices.

The service was prompt and friendly, adding to the overall positive experience. Whether you’re looking for a place to unwind after a day of exploring or simply want to enjoy a good meal, The Clay Oven Cafe is a must-visit in McLeod Ganj.

Overall, The Clay Oven Cafe provides a wonderful combination of great food, peaceful ambiance, and excellent service. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting...