FARGO - Nepalese and Indian flavors will soon be available in a new downtown lunch cafe.

Kilbourne Group announced Friday, Sept. 29, that the owners of Moorhead's Everest Tikka House, 420 Center Ave., will open a lunchtime eatery called Everest Cafe in the lower level of the Black Building, 118 Broadway N.

The new restaurant will replace the former Romo's Tacos there that closed in late May when owner Rodolfo Romo Garcia disappeared. Fargo police reported Sept. 7 that the restaurateur was found alive, though his location and reason for leaving town weren't disclosed.

Manager Nabin Dangi said an exact opening date is still in the works, but the restaurant is on track to open sometime in the first week of October.

Everest Tikka House will remain open with its full buffet in the Moorhead Center Mall. Dangi said that while longtime customers of the eatery will find some similarities in the new menu, Everest Cafe will serve food that's "a lot different" than its Moorhead location.

listen live watch live

The cafe will especially focus on momos, or steamed dumplings stuffed with vegetables and meat that are a popular street food in Nepal. Everest Tikka House already serves this dish, but Dangi said diners will find even more varieties, such as jhol momos, or dumplings served in broth, as well as vegan, chicken and beef versions.

"We're going all-in with momos for down there," he said.

Everest Cafe will also offer pakoras, or fried mixed vegetables, stuffed pastries called samosas, chai tea and other options.

The restaurant is owned by Saru Pokharel, who also owns the Moorhead eatery that opened in 2015. She and Dangi opened another restaurant, Fargo's Himalayan Yak, 1450 25th St. S., last year, but no longer own that business.

Dangi said Everest Cafe will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. He said food will be served in recyclable to-go containers, not plates, though customers can also eat in the Black Building.