You may find good eating options woefully skimpy in Ranikhet. The better restaurants are at the better hotels. Do not expect any culinary delights in the town. The food is standard Mughlai at most places, or Indian-Chinese if you really want to stretch it.
One excellent place to eat is the restaurant at West View Hotel on the Mall. Beautifully decorated with china plates, large mirrors and printed wall paper, the restaurant creates an authentic English ambience, reminiscent of quaint log cabins in the English countryside. Although the cuisine on offer is Indian, Chinese, Thai and Italian, do stick to Indian. The food is simple but excellent, with a homemade simplicity. Ask for some local delicacy - pahadi raita or Nepali dal - and the staff will obligingly whip it up for you even if it's not on the menu. The restaurant has outside seating as well, overlooking the undulating valley, great for sunny afternoons.
