EAT: Rewalsar, Top Chen

Mid-morning hunger pains led me to Top Chen near 10 A.M. Located just across from Nyingmapa Monastery, a main draw for Rewalsar tourists, it was thanks to two loud customers sitting on the balcony yapping on their mobiles that I stumbled upon this place. I was sold on the outdoor seating providing perfect people watching views of the long, narrow main street around Rewalsar Lake.

Upstairs open-air dining at Top Chen overlooking the Monastery

Customers enter by way of cracked cement steps located on the side of the building. Although the sign below pointed up, as you climb the stairs you start to question whether you’ve found someone’s home or the restaurant. After a few more steps an open doorway reveals the “entrance” to Top Chen. This entrance leads right into the kitchen. Proceed through to the balcony to discover it’s the only seating available (Rainy days must be a bummer). The decor is simple but the views are what anyone should come here for.

The menu read like any Tibetan/Indian restaurant in this area of Himachal Pradesh. Muesli, momos, eggs, paranthas, tea, etc. If that doesn’t suit you, the owner makes her willingness to accommodate any requests well known. An entire page was devoted to a personal message relaying her gratitude for your visit and her desire to please the customer. No request was considered too much! An Indian entrepreneur she was.

Service was prompt, courteous and efficient. The portions of momos and tea were more than enough to fill me and yet the bill was paltry. Walking through the kitchen on my way out I noticed the owner hard at work prepping for the expected lunch crowd but she still had time to flash a smile and thank me for stopping in.

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