International menu on K-7’s new buffet

When location is everything, and a business is off the beaten path, the owners become creative in order to satisfy the wants of a spread out community. Some retail shops offer sales, some owners participate in networking with other businesses and some just renovate the entire operation, which is the case for K-7 Lounge on Hafen Ranch Road.

Owners Raja and Patty Gangadharan opened the original pizza/Italian pick-up and delivery in 1996 at Highway 372 and Pahrump Valley Boulevard and moved to the small shopping center across Highway 372 from Big O Tires. They closed for two years and built the current facility to reopen in 2003.

Over the years the business has gone through several changes. Live entertainment was added, the bar ran separately from the restaurant on two occasions and the menu changed from a full menu to pizza and sandwiches. Gisela Toma began cooking her German favorites several nights per week.

The Gangadharans added a bed and breakfast earlier this year to take advantage of visitors to Front Sight.

The latest change is a do-over. The bed and breakfast is in operation and K-7 still rolls out the pizza, but the restaurant is no longer dark. It has a fresh coat of paint, the tables sport white table cloths and the food offered in the restaurant has taken on new flair with the addition of an all-you-can-eat international buffet.

Raja said, “We tried just Italian and although people like it, it’s not enough. We tried adding German, that still wasn’t enough, so now we’re covering four countries.”

Toma is back and in the kitchen with Patty. The two are doing all the cooking.

The buffet, which is only open Wednesday through Sunday, offers German, Italian, French and Indian entrees with soup, salad, vegetables and a variety of desserts.

Patty said, “Everything is freshly made from scratch. We aren’t using anything frozen.” Toma said eventually even the desserts will be homemade. “We’re just starting this and don’t want to take on too much at once. The food has to be good and consistent, then we worry about dessert. It takes me over four hours to prep for the Wednesday buffet.”

The menu changes every week, and although there is a schedule of dishes being served, it isn’t available to the public. Patty said, “You can call, but because it changes, we don’t have a menu.”

For the soft opening there were crepes with chicken and peas, meatloaf, brats and sauerkraut, chicken cordon bleu, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, lemon rice, steamed rice and a dish from Raja’s native India called chicken kurama, which is spicy but not hot. Jell-O, pudding and sour cream cake were on the dessert menu.

It was a popular place to be Saturday, Sept. 14 as customers poured through the door in anticipation of the Pahrump Film Festival which was held on the patio. Others came to eat before heading to another event close by.

Patty is in charge of all things Italian and the dishes from India. Raja said, “She learned to cook Indian food from my relatives back home.”

Toma is German and her brats and kraut are well-known among her followers. She shares the French dishes with Patty.

Because they are serving food in the bar area, the restaurant has become non-smoking as well.

Other changes include the entertainment. There is a stage, but gone are the live bands and karaoke, instead, Raja said he is planning for a coffee house atmosphere. “We’re going to be serving real coffee here. We won’t be using anything but good quality beans and I’ll be roasting them here.”

Patty said the bar has become more of a support to the restaurant. “We serve cocktails, but the choices are limited. We aren’t making those foo-foo drinks with all the liquors in them anymore. If you want a bloody Mary, a screwdriver or a martini-type cocktail, we can make those, and we have beer.”

Raja said they are planning to launch an open mic where people can come with their music, poetry, songs and other talent for a turn on the stage. “We won’t be launching the coffee house right away. Give it about 45 days. One thing at a time.”

The Gangadharans have plans for the patio as well. Patty said, “We’ve been looking into staging plays or dinner theater and having movies among other things.” Raja has plans to cover the patio with breathable fabric and install LED lighting. He said it will make the area easier to cool in the summer and heat in the winter.

The buffet is open from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. K-7 makes pizza from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. They are closed Monday and Tuesday.