K2 Balti House

Trusted for 10 years

The building now commonly recognised as the K2 Restaurant was first built in 1936. At that time, the building was used by several Breweries to deliver barrels of beer by boat, as the building was situated just next to the river.  Later, it was converted into a pub named The Whip and Collar, and in early 1994 the pub was itself relocated, leaving the building as a perfect site for a restaurant. Riaz, the Manager of K2 Balti House, started his career at only 16 years old in a local restaurant as a junior, and made his way up to running top London restaurants.

After he had established himself in London, Riaz decided that he would bring top quality Balti and Kashmiri cuisine to his home town of Hemel Hempstead.Local architects and builders were commissioned to convert the building to a Mogul-style interior decor. So, the Pub was closed and the building re-opened six months later as the Restaurant you see today. Riaz has a passion, fascination and nostalgia for Kashmiri cuisine which he wanted to share with his customers. To share the true taste of Kashmir, Riaz trains all his chefs with the original culinary method still used in many continental countries today.  All food is freshly prepared, and is cooked on the premises using the finest herbs, spices and fresh vegetables, and the most succulent cuts of meat.  Fusing modern culinary methods with traditional processes, and combining modern technology with traditional clay ovens, our dishes allow you to enjoy authentic Kashmiri textures, and exquisite flavours. The menu is regularly updated and upgraded, keeping pace with changes in the marketplace. 

We promise you ample scope to enjoy your usual favourites, with more traditional dishes from Kashmir and Baltistan, and the opportunity to taste the latest in culinary development. In 2001 the restaurant was extended again to provide a beautiful glass conservatory overlooking the landscaped garden and adjacent river.  In addition, we added a separate Function Room with its own integral bar, for Private Dinners and Parties. Many who come to K2 Balti House recommend it to their colleagues and friends, as the perfect venue for dining and for meeting with friends or business colleagues.

WHY IT IS CALLED K2, AND THE HISTORY OF K2 ITSELF

The roof shape of the K2 Balti House building closely resembles the outline of the K2 Mountain, and the restaurant interior owes its origin to the region of Kashmir and Pakistan known as Baltistan where Balti cooking originates from.

In 1856, during his survey trip to India, Captain T.G. Montgomerie surveyed the Karakorum Range of mountains.  When he measured them, he identified them all by using a prefix of the letter "K"  -  and thus K2 gained its abbreviated name.

The restaurant’s "Balti" cuisine also owes its name to the K2 range, as K2 is located on the Pakistan/Chinese border, in a Kashmir region known as Baltistan.

At 28,250 ft, K2 is the second highest mountain in the world. Sometimes it is called "The Savage Mountain’’ for its fierce storms, constant avalanches and hazardous rock faces. For every four people who have reached the K2 Summit, one has died while trying to reach the peak.