Courtyard is a common name among the fine diners in Kathmandu. My friend and I planned for lunch there so I called the restaurant in the morning but could not make a reservation because the phone was unattended, even when I called twice. I called up later in the day and the person on the phone courteously gave the directions of the restaurant and sent someone to show where to park. As soon as I entered the alley leading to the restaurant it was sort of a welcoming environment. At its main entrance the restaurant has a small garden that is not spectacular, it could use a gardener for a facelift. The restaurant, designed in a lounge style, is housed in a small old building. It has poor lighting and also the wall paint looked very shabby. Though the space has been adorned with quite a few vibrant sculptures they seemed old and unkempt. The test tube flower vases were empty. The waiter greeted me with a smile who seemed unconfident. After asking him about a few dishes his lack of knowledge was a turn off, which explained his lack of confidence. The first two fish dishes I asked for were not available. Seasonal fruit smoothies were unavailable albeit being on the menu. So, I ended up ordering a Blended Mochaccino for drinks, which took some time to arrive, but it was excellent with defined taste of good coffee. Pasta Carbonara with white sauce was a delight as an entrée. Though meagre on the portion and poor on the presentation, the taste of cream and meat was soothing. It could use a bit of garnishing for aesthetics though. Later I tried Salami pizza which was loaded with generous amount of meat and cheese, but the crust was only half cooked. Upon letting the server know, he took it back and reheated the remaining portion of the pizza, which was amusing because good restaurants usually cook new ones in such instances. Lastly, the restroom was the biggest disappointment, which was worse than a public toilet. As the bills were paid and I was ready to leave, there was no effort from the waiters to find out if the food and the experience were fine. I guess my experience speaks why the restaurant looked deserted even during lunch hour. COURTYARD RATING Ambience: 5 Food quality/presentation: 7 Quality of service: 4 Hygiene: 4 Value for money: 6 Overall satisfaction value: 5 Pradeep Karmacharya is an owner of a store. He is  a dog lover and a food enthusiast who loves travelling, adventure  sports, reading, and cooking