State Street and adjacent areas have a lot to offer when it comes to food options. However, no restaurant takes patrons around the world the way The Globe, located right by State Street at 309 N. Henry St., does. The Nepalese owned restaurant serves dishes with influences from Nepal, Japan, South Korea, India and many other countries.
Walking into the restaurant, patrons are greeted with colorful walls, small sculptures of Hindu deities and framed newspaper articles that praised the restaurant. The kitchen can be seen behind the cash counter, and as someone who enjoys seeing kitchens in action, I liked it. Space isn’t the most plentiful indoors, but a few tables set up outside make up for it.
Most items on the menu can be made with chicken, tofu, pork or shrimp, which is great for people with dietary preferences. Patrons can also choose their desired spice level, with zero being mild and five their spiciest. The menu also includes steamed, heart-healthy items for those who want or need it.
My most recent order from The Globe was Tibetan chicken dumplings, and a plate of Indian Tic Tac Curry with chicken and a spice level two. The dumplings can be prepared three ways: jhole — immersed in tomato chutney, fried or steamed. I went with steamed dumplings, which came with a dipping sauce. The chicken was well seasoned, and the sauce added tart.
The Indian Tic Tac Curry came with a side of rice. The curry is tomato based with chicken, broccoli, cilantro, peas and carrots. It can be compared to curries more commonly associated with Indian cuisine, like Butter Chicken. Despite being flavorful, the curry did not feel rich. The Indian Tic Tac Curry is an upgrade on the generic, soup-like curries found at other restaurants.
Other dishes I have tried include their take on Korean BBQ, Teriyaki, Tacos, noodles and pita wraps. A dish I wish to try at some point is their special bento box, which is described as an “authentic Nepali combination platter.” As one may expect, the menu items are varying degrees of authentic, but I think authenticity across the board can be overlooked if the food tastes good, which it absolutely does. I am just as tempted by the Korean BBQ as I am by the Indian Tic Tac Curry.
There is often debate on whether so-called “ethnic food” should cater to the white palate or stay true to itself. I think fusion food allows people from other cultures to try new things, so there is definitely a place for fusion restaurants in the culinary space. All in all, every item on the menu is worth trying, and with the customizability and variety on offer, you can truly circle the globe.
Grade: A
Anupras Mohapatra is a former opinion editor for The Daily Cardinal and currently serves on the Editorial Board. He is a senior double majoring in Computer Science and Journalism.
