Namaste Kathmandu is conveniently located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town - eager diners have never had it so easy. The restaurant is uncluttered, with simple yet striking white and red decor, and gold candleholders and vases hinting at its Asian origins. The staff are similarly unfussy, achieving just the right balance of attentiveness and unobtrusiveness. Those who are unfamiliar with Nepalese and North Indian cuisine can rest assured that they will be helpfully guided through the menu, which also draws influences from Tibet.

Namaste Kathmandu opened three years ago, and is owned by a Nepalese family, so you can rest assured that recipes here are authentic. The menu is conveniently split into two sections, one offering Nepalese cuisine, and the other North Indian dishes. While we made our selections, we were treated to crispy homemade poppadoms with an assortment of chutneys. We started with a dish of chicken which had been marinated in cream and Nepalese herbs, and then barbecued in the traditional way. From India, we enjoyed a starter of chicken tikka with spinach, mint and spices, which was extremely tasty and flavoursome. For the main courses, we sampled the garlic chilli chicken, a wonderfully warming dish, and lamb cooked with peppers, green chillies and fresh herbs. Both dishes were served with garlic naan and egg-fried rice, which we at first thought excessive, but couldn't resist gobbling up.

To finish, we opted for the gulab jamun, sweet Indian doughnut in a golden syrup sauce, and the kulfi with whole nuts and fruit - two delightful desserts. Namaste Kathmandu is an excellent restaurant, and provides much more than a meal out - it offers a culinary exploration of Nepal and India, right in the middle of Edinburgh.