Namaste Nepal in Wiesbaden, Germany, offers sampler platters known as thalis. This one has three entrees along with rice, salad and a dessert. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)

On a recent cold Sunday around New Year’s, my wife and I craved a restaurant that would be a new but not too exotic experience.

We found just what we had in mind at Namaste Nepal, around the corner from the Schlosspark in the Biebrich district of Wiesbaden.  

The restaurant says it sources its Ayurvedic spices from Nepal, which intrigued us. But having eaten at our fair share of Indian places, we weren’t sure how distinctive Nepalese fare would be in comparison.   

Although we saw familiar menu items like naan, butter chicken and masala curries, we started with an appetizer from the country’s Himalayan roots.

The vegetarian spicy momos at Namaste Nepal in Wiesbaden, Germany, are a twist on the traditional dish. The dumplings are made with a lightly pan-fried dough. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)

The spicy vegetarian momos are a variation on the traditional dumpling of the region. Nepal’s identity came across in the blending of chilis, ginger, cilantro and cardamom in the slightly fried round dumpling.

The momos were balanced with enough heat to warrant their spicy label, without being overpowered by chili.  

My wife chose the Ayurvedic curry with paneer, a non-aged farmer’s cheese. She said the curry’s cardamom- and clove-forward taste paired well with her Ayurvedic tea, which she likened to a softer, more rounded chai.   

The Ayurvedic curry at Namaste Nepal restaurant in Wiesbaden, Germany, is a cardamom- and clove-forward dish. Most meals on the menu have vegetarian and vegan options. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)

The gajar ka halwa and fried apple rings are two of the three desserts offered at Namaste Nepal restaurant in Wiesbaden, Germany. The former is a carrot-based pudding that includes raisins, nuts and various spices, but it is far less sweet than the desserts Americans are accustomed to. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)

I couldn’t choose a single main dish, so I ordered the thali, a sampler platter that had three smaller-portioned entrees with rice, a small salad and a dessert.

There was a chicken turmeric curry, which had a surprisingly creamy texture considering it didn’t contain any dairy, as well as a pleasantly fragrant potato-and-cauliflower dish.

But my favorite of the three was the kalo daal. The curry of black lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas was thick and hearty but didn’t feel heavy. I tasted a cilantro note and other herbaceous flavors I couldn’t nail down, but which balanced it out nicely.

My wife and I agreed that while the curry portions were adequate, more rice would have helped. However, this is a minor complaint about an otherwise fantastic meal.  

The small dessert that my platter came with was laal mohan, a tasty deep-fried dough ball soaked in a sweet syrup with hints of cardamom and cinnamon.

We added the gajar ka halwa, a warm carrot-based pudding with raisins, nuts, cloves and other spices, had a very slight sweetness. I can’t say I would have recognized it as a dessert without knowing better, but I liked the taste and creamy texture.

Namaste Nepal restaurant in Wiesbaden, Germany, uses ingredients sourced from the mountainous country. The cozy dining room seats about 40 guests. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)

The fried apple rings were our favorite dessert by far. The treat combined the sweetness of the fruit with a syrup like the one on the dough ball.

Parking at Namaste can be problematic depending on the time of day, though we found a spot on the street. A bus stop is within a couple of hundred feet of the eatery.  

While I’m still a big fan of a fiery, tangy Indian vindaloo, there’s something very comforting about Namaste Nepal that I’m sure will call me back.

Namaste Nepal Restaurant

Address: Rathausstrasse 4, Wiesbaden, Germany 

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 5:30-10 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; 5:30-10 p.m.; closed Mondays (except on holidays)

Prices: Appetizers, 6-8 euros; entrees, 15-25 euros; desserts, 5 euros; kids menu, 6-10 euros; appetizer, entree, drink and dessert, 30-40 euros   

Information: +49 611-36056093, www.namastenepal.de/