Page 25 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2017

YETI cont’d from page 24
Because of this, while dining, I prefer something with a bit more malt and Kingfisher certainly fits that bill. This all-day-drinker, imported from India, has a mildly sweet flavor, which pairs well with Yeti’s Indian and Nepalese dishes.
Although easy to overlook, Yeti’s sign does includes the phrase “& Brew Pub.” An oddity at any restaurant, let alone an Indian restaurant, Yeti actually brews their own beer. Brewed in the IPA style, Somname calls his beer Yeti “NPA”, for “Nepal Pale Ale” and it is unlike anything I have tasted before. Brewed with Nepalese herbs and spices, this beer is one-of-a-kind, and makes for a nice departure from the ordinary.
Paying homage to the wine country in which both Yeti restaurants reside, the wine list is deep and diverse with plenty of well-known wines available by the glass at reasonable prices. The Yeti bar tenders also know their way around a cocktail menu. Although colonialism is
a thing of the past, Somname reminds me that India was a former British colony so it has cocktails and mixed drinks in its blood. Another telltale sign of a British heritage are the bottles
of Madeira and Port wines behind the bar. And true to the Commonwealth, patrons might even see a televised rugby, polo, or cricket match while visiting the bar, supplementing baseball, basketball, hockey, and football, of course.
Yeti’s happy hour runs from
4 – 6 PM on weekdays and offers
an exciting array of food items. Priced from $5 - $7, there is something for everyone, from vegetarian to diehard meat eater, and even for those that might not have picked Indian as their first choice. And like Yeti’s regular lunch and dinner menu, nothing on the happy hour menu is heavy or over-spiced.
We started with Samosas, which are triangular pastries stuffed with potatoes, green peas, and bell peppers. Next up were the Momos, which are flour-wrapped dumplings and are available in both chicken and veggie. The Prawn Pakoras are dipped in a lightly spiced batter of garbanzo flour and are definitely unique among the deep fried shrimp we have tasted. The Chicken Sekawa consists of fillets of chicken, spiced with cumin, ginger, and yogurt and are cooked in a tandoor oven. Maintaining extremely high temperatures, this clay oven cooks quickly, while allowing the food to remain moist and tender on the inside.
Everything was excellent but the two standout items were the Meatballs
and the Onion Bhajis. A mixture of beef, lamb, and Himalayan spices, these meatballs easily hold their own against anything the Greeks, Swedes, or Italians produce.
Deep-fried until golden brown, the Onion Bhaji is a mixture of Himalayan spiced garlic, ginger, onion slices, and garbanzo batter. Basically, these are like an inverted, shredded onion ring, only better. And the Tamarind, Mint Chutney, and Hot dipping sauces that comes with the happy hour menu items are not to be missed because each one has the ability to change the flavor profile of whatever you ordered.
A trip to Yeti is not complete without at least one order of Naan. A staple of Indian dining, Naan is normally used to scoop other goodies into your gullet, but Yeti’s stands on its own. Choices include Plain, Garlic, Garlic Cilantro, Olive Basil, Pudhina Paratha (sprinkled with mint and lightly spiced), Mazala Kulcha (stuffed with potatoes, peas, and Himalayan garam masala), and the pièce de résistance, Honey Butter Naan. I tend to avoid unnecessary carbs, but make an exception for Yeti’s Naan, because it is a necessity. In fact, if push came to shove, I would be perfectly happy with just an order or two of Yeti’s Naan and a nice glass of Kingfisher or Yeti’s NPA.
With all the great restaurant options in Petaluma, we rarely find reason to travel out of town just to dine out. Yet, we are so impressed with Yeti’s food, drinks, service, and ambiance that we have visited more than once since first discovering them. And as far as finding a great place to host a happy hour, Yeti offers a unique and delicious experience, unlike any other in Santa Rosa.
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Yeti Restaurant, 190 Farmers Lane Santa Rosa 707-521-9608 and also at 14301 Arnold Dr. #19. Glen Ellen 707-996-9930 www.yeticuisine.com