Silver Oak Restaurant

Being up here in Shimla on Circular Road means we deal with a lot of walkers. We are tucked inside the Crystal Palace Hotel, right near the Metropole Cottage area. If you know where the tourism lift is, we aren't far from there at all. The weather changes every hour sometimes, so we spend a lot of time wiping down tables and making sure the heater is actually working. It’s a busy spot because of the location, but we try to keep things quiet enough so you can actually hear yourself talk. The kitchen is small but we keep it moving. You’ll hear the pots clanking and the staff calling out orders most of the day. We don’t have a massive menu, just the things we know how to make well. Some days the fog rolls in so thick you can’t see the road outside, and those are usually our busiest times because everyone wants to come inside for something hot. We’ve got a few windows that look out toward the hills, though sometimes the trees block the view. The furniture has a few scratches here and there from years of people coming through, but it’s sturdy. We just focus on getting the food out on time and making sure there’s enough tea for everyone. It’s a simple setup for people who are tired from climbing the stairs around town.