Stroganoff Met Thentuk

Gesmo Pizza House
Fort Road, Leh
Tel: 253153
Meal for two:?Rs 600

With the sun beating down our backs and half a day’s gallivanting under our belt, a quick cooler was needed. The problem was not a dearth of places to eat—but the fact that there were far too many. Gesmo Pizza House’s quaint green windows overlooking Leh’s colourful marketplace settled the matter. We weren’t disappointed, for Gesmo, with its great service and a cracker of a bakery, had me back thrice that week.

The menu was no surprise: a touristy mish mash of Israeli, German, Indian mains to Conti breakfast platters. We sipped merrily on the punchy Mint Ginger Lime Juice (Rs 70), while waiting for the Israeli Fafa (Rs 150), a humongous portion of excellent hummus and lightly flavoured stir-fried veggies wrapped in a naan. On another visit, we had Veg Thentuk, flat noodles in a yum garlic gravy with lots of greens. The Chicken Stroganoff was super too, meat in a garlic mushroom gravy with rice and a side of veggies and fries. On most days, Gesmo was housefull—it didn’t stop me from raiding the bakery counter with its home-style cakes and giant, buttery cookies. The banana, lemon cakes (Rs 50, Rs 40), though soft and moist, could have done with a little more flavour, but the cinnamon chocolate roll and almond cookies were heavenly. Bonus points for the house Yak cheese we brought back, great stuffed in quiche or just to nibble. But good cheese or not, Gesmo had me at hello.