Fire and Ice is pretty much a landmark of Kathmandu as far as I’m concerned. It’s just always been there. I can’t remember the first time I went there because I think if you grew up in Kathmandu it’s a place you always go to for good pizza. Not that I’m a pizza snob (How can anyone be when they got slobs of squashed tomatoes with pungent yak cheese on top of soggy dough for lunch at boarding school and was told that was pizza?) so I’ll eat Pizza wherever, Bakery Café, Jazoo, you name it. But, when I want good Pizza, it’s got to be Fire and Ice.

As a historic landmark in its own right, Fire and Ice is a busy place. Busy enough that it’s got that good restaurant vibe. You know how too often you go into restaurants in Kathmandu and it’s awkward because there are about servers waiting on your one table because there’s just no one else dining there? Not Fire and Ice!

If you go in the evenings, be sure to make reservations otherwise be prepare for a wait. It’s not usually very long since because of how busy it is people don’t feel comfortable and hence won’t sit back, day dream and sip their coffee. Of course it doesn’t have the rushed feel of a fast-food joint, but a healthy in-between.

So, yes, if you’re headed there for dinner it’ll be crowded. I usually just go with a friend or two so it’s never been much of a problem but the best time to go, in my humble opinion, is late afternoon. The servers are chilled (they’re otherwise very rushed at dinner time) and your order will arrive just as quickly but you won’t feel as pressured to zoom through your meal. You can enjoy a decent conversation and order another glass of Iced Tea (best Iced Tea in the valley, I tell you!).

The pasta is good there. Delicious pesto sauce – that’s my favorite and you can choose whether you want spaghetti, fettuccini, penne and so on. The menu is in Italian (or so it seems to me) but it’s numbered so if you don’t know how to say “Rompipalle” or “Capricciosa” it won’t matter. The waiters aren’t snooty like they are in the posh Italian and French places in the west. Number 14 and 27 will do just fine. And there is a good description listing the toppings in English so you’ll be able to choose to your liking.

One pizza is good for two people – you can order two different toppings and that’s what usually what I do. The potatoe-topped is something special. The sweet baby corn is delicious. The cheese is right. You can’t really go wrong. Ranging between Rs.350 to 480 it’s not a bad deal if two people are going to be fed.

The side dishes and appetizers aren’t disappointing either and are delicious to munch on while you make small talk and wait for your main course. The garlic bread is also to die for. The marinated mushrooms cooked to perfection. The Caprese isn’t all that exciting, but the Green Salad is simple and crisp.

Overall, it’s a good place. Very little has ever gone wrong for me here!

Fire and Ice gets a 5/5 – good food, better company!

Since Valley Foodie can’t cook and hates to clean up after creating havoc in the kitchen while frying  eggs in place of a “real meal” the only option she has is to explore and to eat. You may think such an individual could not provide solid food reviews, but really, it’s the opposite (because she watches Master Chef). Anyway, who says the way to a man’s stomach alone is through food?