Have been wanting to try Faarzi for a while. The location used to be a longstanding Irish pub…read morecalled Grandstand, where a good friend of mine and I used to frequent for the yummiest buffalo wings and shepherd's pie. It was sad to see Grandstand close, but I was elated to see a Nepalese and Himalayan restaurant open in its place since I'm a big fan of the flavors that the cuisine offers.
Met up with a friend on a Sunday night. She was already excited by the aesthetics of the exterior of Faarzi and was snapping away. When we opened the door, we were surprised by how pretty the interior was. It was filled with lush, vibrant colors and fun decor that was a tasteful mix of contemporary and rustic, which provided a nice, high-end vibe. It felt authentically Tibetan with a contemporary touch to it. We 'd it! It is the prettiest Nepalese restaurant that I've been to in Queens!
Once we sat down, a complimentary basket of popcorn arrived. To my surprise, it was DELICIOUS! It was buttery and just savory enough -- not as crisp as popcorn that's just been popped, but so good that it was addictive! What a nice TREAT!! I couldn't stop reaching for it and according to the sign outdoors, the popcorn has unlimited refills!
Now, for the food! We ordered 4 dishes to share:
- Bhatti Ko Faarzi Masala Chowmein: Wow, just wow!! The masala spice brought this chow mein to another level! Every mouthful of noodle was al dente and had a balanced bite of a perfect amount of masala spice, ginger, savoriness, and a mild kick of heat. It's on the oilier side, but so flavorful that I kept scooping for more! Can't wait to revisit Faarzi and eat more of this!
- Boudhha Ko Faarzi Gheu Momo: We ordered the chicken option. The size of the momos was slightly smaller than the momos I've had before, but they were bursting with flavor! Each bite tasted of cumin, cilantro, garlic, and spices that are very familiar in Nepalese food combined with the fragrant Szechuan peppercorn. The lovely tingling mala flavor from the peppercorns was delicate, but delightful! The momos were delicious, each morsel of meat was wrapped in a thin, chewy skin, which gave it a nice bite even though the chicken filling was on the drier side -- the tomato-based sauce that came with it compensated for it. The sauce was so good, it could literally be eaten with anything. The menu mentioned that 2 sauces would accompany the momos, but only one sauce was paired with them. When we asked, we were informed that the other sauce was the chili crisp hot sauce that I had received earlier when I requested for chili sauce. The momos were definitely a flavor bomb with the tomato-based sauce!. Every bite was heavenly!
- Piro Nauni Wings: The wings came, and we couldn't stop ooo'ing about the visual presentation of the dish. There were 2 wings and 2 small drumsticks with a shiny glaze, they were hung on a little contraption that looked similar to how roast meats are hung by the window in Chinese restaurants. It was very cute! The wings were smoky, juicy, slightly sticky and sweet with a good amount of spice that tasted of tandoori. It would be even more fantastic if the skin were crispy. Give the crunchy puffed rice plated on the bottom of the wings a try! It is toasty, crunchy, and delicious and adds a layer of flavor to whatever you decide to add it to. Just delicious!
- Jadiyaa Lal Mohan: A juicy, moist, sugary, alcoholic dessert that is not only unique, but fun! There are 4 donut-hole-sized balls of soft, fluffy cake, similar to cake pops, that are soaked in a sugar syrup. Stuck into each cake ball is a shot of whisky in a plastic tube, which you can squeeze to infuse the whisky into the cake however much you like. Since the whisky is quite strong and the shot is generous considering the size of the cake, if you do not like whisky, you may want to try the version without it though it is the whisky that gives the cake flavor. The cake would be much more interesting if it had more of the flavors that Jadiyaa are loved for or maybe if the sugar syrup paired with it was flavored with the spices used to make Jadiyaa. Far a more subdued whisky flavor, give the whisky shot just a pinch and enjoy!
We had a great time at Faarzi -- great food, great vibe, good portions, and there was live music towards the end of our meal! Not to mention, we thoroughly enjoyed the Mukhwas style mix of spices and candy bits that were served at the end of the meal! i Can't wait to return to Faarzi to try the Pani Puri, which looked delicious and beautiful!