Finding open restaurants during the holiday season in Brisbane is not an easy feat. As most of our favourite chefs are away enjoying their holidays we were forced to drive around the New Farm area to survey what was available for dinner on the Boxing Day Public Holiday.

We eventually settled on Tibetan Kitchen as I needed to review it anyway and parking looked easy! It currently boasts a neon yellow partially painted wall as it sits on the corner of Brunswick and Arthur Streets in the Valley.

Seating is all indoors which was quite welcome as it was a warm evening. I believe they have seats out in the back and upstairs too though we were seated in the almost full front room. Water and menus were promptly brought over (unfortunately I cannot say the same for the food).

Wanting to savour as many dishes as I could we opted for a few starters, sides and one main along with two cokes – beer would have probably suited more however I was trying to give my poor liver a short break between the xmas and new year festivities.

The food did take a long time to come out much to the agitation of my dining companion who was rather hungry. It was also staggered so we got the main first which was a Sherpa chicken with a side of rice. The meat was quite tender and swimming in a kind of mild curry.

Next came the starters and sides – they were out of the samosas so we settled for a plate of Aloo Chop which was a potato pattie covered in chickpea batter and as the waitress rightly pointed out very similar in taste and texture to the samosas anyway. Two portions of poppadoms and a final dish of the Tibetan bread. The last dish was a bit of a surprise as it actually was very similar to a pizza – a base of flat bread covered with tomato and melted cheese. Both the bread and Aloo Chop were rather spicy (hence the need for beer).

As we were quite full we did pass on the opportunity for dessert and picked up the bill which was round about the $50 mark (of course part of that was the public holiday surcharge).

All in all it was a good meal though not a standout but that might be because I am not really a big fan of Indian/Nepalese/Tibetan food. They are dishes I feel like once in a while but not too often so am not that great at working out what is good and what is not. I still need to try the Himalayan Café on Brunswick which I am often told is better for Nepalese food.

Bare Essentials: Tibetan/Nepalese
A: 454 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
T: 07 3358 5906
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 17.30 – late
P: $$
Drinks:  BYO & Licensed
W: www.tibetankitchen.com.au