Nepali Restaurant in Bangalore
As I was walking through Koramangala 5th block I happened to see a name board which read as “Bamey’s A trip to Nepal” I was curious to know what it could so go inside to my surprise it was an Authentic Nepali Restaurant in Bangalore with wall paintings and frames with typical Nepali theme, Background Nepali song.
This is the story of a young entrepreneur Nikhil who came to Bangalore from Kathmandu to pursue Bachelors in Business Management at Jain University.
When asked how did he start this Restaurant. He said he got mesmerized with the city, everything about it felt so big and grand and he had never thought of staying back or opening a business, once he was done with his degree. It was these days of being broke and no alternate source of income that made him explore, be adventurous, and look at opportunities to make money. In search of experience, he got his first internship in a startup company that was into corporate events and marketing.
First Month of Internship
In the first month of his internship, he worked for 8 to 10 hours a day. His work was to fold 300 to 500 promotional T-shirts. And deliver them in his scooter from one end of the city to another. He used to eat one meal a day, in the evening a tea and some buns. After weeks of hard work he received his first payment the envelope which had cheque, when opened it said Rs 3000 only. He still remembers how his eyes watered and his heart shrank. He still continued working for them and in a years’ time, they were paying Him Rs 20000 per month. These days of struggle made him realize his strengths and weakness.
“Being born and brought up in Kathmandu.
Momo: The go-to Food
Momos were always the go-to food and favorite street food. The aromas and taste of those hearty Jhol of momos in a run-down Bhatti still linger in my tongue.” He got disappointed with the momos he had here in Bangalore. They somehow didn’t taste like the ones back home. That’s when this thought arises if I ever get to do business here I will surely open a small momo cart or stall.
So he was done with college and started working full time in the same company. It was when coming back from an event in Delhi on Rajdhani train and then suddenly he started introspecting and realized that he was just 21 years old and had no responsibility on his shoulder he neither had wife nor people who depended on him. His parents are still young and healthy. That’s when it hit him that this period of life is when he can go all out and dare to do what he wanted to do that’s when “ the Marwadi inside him blossomed”.
After Reaching Bangalore
He reached Bangalore wrote a mail to his boss saying that I am quitting and packed my bags and went back home to Kathmandu. My parents were thrilled to see me and were also angry that he left his job. His dad asked him So what’s next? He didn’t really know what was next. His parents persisted in him doing an MBA and wanted to see him wear a suit and carry a briefcase to a swanky corporate office. But he knew if he does MBA he would be trapped for life, after investing in an MBA my parents would expect me to get a job, get the investment back, and then marry.
He wasn’t up for that. So he gathered the courage went to his dad and told him that, Dad if I do an MBA in a decent college in Bangalore you will have to invest 12 lakhs minimum. Then you will also have to help me with my monthly expenses. So I want you to give me 5 lakh rupees, the next two years of life. And I will also not ask you for my monthly expenses. I want to do my own MBA and he finally agreed.
Survival in The Retro
He started this retro in Oct. 2014 and it was a real struggle for a new Retro to survive in Bangalore, given the completion. He wouldn’t have survived it without the love and support of our Nepalese brothers and sisters. He has always treated his customers as Guests. And this helps to motivate his team to deliver better and be better than what we were yesterday. Regular customers and relationships have helped him grow.
When I asked about his vision. He believes that Nepalese Cuisine is underrated in the Global Food Market and wants to change that. His vision is to take Nepalese cuisine to the Global Platform. And give people the experience of how rich and flavorful Nepalese cuisine is.
This is the story of one of the Nepali Restaurant in Bangalore.
-Arjun Thapa
Social Activist
Pashupathinath Nepali Janakalyan Samiti, Bangalore
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