Restaurant makes refugees’ dreams come true

The owners of Route 51 Restaurant, Leela and Yogesh Nepal, came to America 12 years ago as Bhutanese refugees. They had dreams of opening a restaurant and now have a place where they can share their stories with others. 

“When we first opened up, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of people eager to try Asian food,” Yogesh Nepal said. 

They are looking forward to growing their business, while adding more foods to their menu and incorporating concepts from more countries into their fusion dishes.

“We are passionate about the food we serve and are willing to make adjustments to cater to our customers’ needs,” Leela Nepal said. 

The Nepals’ find their motivation meeting new people and sharing their history through food. Route 51 Restaurant opened in June 2021 and offers home deliveries through many food services. 

Frequent customer Andrea London commended the restaurant’s dedication to satisfying all customers. 

“The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The restaurant’s ambiance itself is very aesthetically pleasing,” London said. 

Some of their popular foods are chicken tikka masala, which is chicken marinated and cooked in a spiced curry sauce; samosas, which are fried pastries with savory fillings; and naans and rotis, which are different types of flatbreads. They also offer other curries, pickles, and desserts. 

“I have recommended this place to many of my friends, and enjoy my time here every time,” London said.