Tag: food reviews

  • To brunch or not to brunch at Thanda Garam?

    To brunch or not to brunch at Thanda Garam?

    Finding a decent place to brunch in Lahore is quite a feat considering most of the good brunches are buffets. And those that aren’t, aren’t really all that great. You have them once and you don’t want to visit again.

    Thanda Garam had been on my list for quite a while and last weekend, I finally got the chance to brunch there. We went to the Gulberg branch, which is located off MM Alam Road. The interior of the place was done in pastels and it was bright and lit. The staff was also welcoming and very friendly which added brownie points to the overall experience.

    The restaurant/cafe had a simple brunch menu with only a handful of options to choose from. Most of their brunch dishes are perfect for those who are health conscious since they consist of eggs and fresh vegetables. The waiter who took our order recommended us the Hugo based upon our preferences and so we ordered that.

    Hugo Bowl

    When our order arrived, it looked very appealing. The breakfast bowl had eggs, spinach, grilled chicken, carrots, mushrooms and rocket leaves. Two small pieces of multi-grain bread accompanied it. The taste of it, however, wasn’t all that great – there was too much creamy spinach which overpowered the rest of things in the bowl. The scrambled eggs were fluffy but lacked flavour. The best part of the entire dish was the bread – it was absolutely delicious.

    French Toast

    After the overdose of spinach, we needed something to tantalise our tastebuds so we ordered their French Toast and oh God, those were divine. They were crispy from the outside and fluffy from the inside. The cream that accompanied was so delectable that I had to stop myself from licking clean the plate. The only thing I disliked about the dish was that there was too much Nutella – but then again those who love Nutella will absolutely love this. I’d recommend the restaurant to make Nutella optional and add a jam option as well – Strawberry or Apple Jam with these french toast would be delightful.

    Last but not least, I also tried their Mocca Mocca Frappuccino and didn’t like it much. The taste of the coffee was too strong because of which the frappe ended up tasting bitter. The perfect Mocha Frappe strikes the perfect balance between chocolate and coffee and this one sadly missed the mark.

    Though the food was well presented and I quite enjoyed the ambience of the place, Thanda Garam’s brunch failed to impress. The only thing I’ll be going back for is the french toast.

  • Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Nestled in a quiet corner in Shaheen Market, E-7 Islamabad is a tiny eatery called Cafe Rustic. According to the cafe’s Facebook page, the eatery is the “dream mixed with a perfect dash of passion, vision and perseverance” of two foodie friends. With Cafe Rustic, they hope to present a “handcrafted selection” of foods from around the world. Though the eatery has several options on the menu, it is their burgers that really stood out.

    Considering burgers are a staple diet of millennials, it was actually my teenage son who introduced me to this cosy, little cafe. Though I was content with my favourite joints in Islamabad, I decided to give this place a shot and I’ve been a regular ever since.

    I’m not really a big fan of chicken burgers, so I opted for their lamb burger and voila! I was sold. The patty was thick, juicy, with just right amount of toppings. And the best part is that the burger was not sloppy. Lamb burgers are tricky to make and not everyone can get them right, but Cafe Rustic managed to nail it with their offering. The size of the burger is also adequate and leaves you more than full.

    Watch how they make their lamb burger in this video:

    https://www.facebook.com/caferusticislamabad/videos/688691434935829/

    Meanwhile, my friend ordered their chicken burger and he was quite satisfied with it. According to him, the chicken burger was the right amount of juicy and full of flavour – it struck the right balance between mild and spicy – which was a winner. The bun was also great as it didn’t crumble.

    Apart from their burgers, we also tried their fries. Cafe Rustic offers three different types of fries – Halloumi, Green and Sweet Potato – and each one of them has a unique flavour, are absolutely delicious and a must-try. Their Halloumi fries, in particular, are excellent- they are crunchy, fried to perfection, and have an amazing taste.

    Photo Credits – Momina’s Space

    As far as the drinks are concerned, once you’re done eating, you will definitely need their Peshawari Tea to wash down all the food and digest it. Other than that, their coffee is authentic and frothy – absolutely loved it.

    The only problem with the eatery is that it is small and there is not much place to sit which can be a little overwhelming and a nuisance, especially if you’re a bigger crowd.

    Nonetheless, the place is a must-try for everyone who loves their meat and is looking to try some succulent, gourmet burgers. Hope the owners can maintain the standards and their interest in keeping it alive.

  • New York Chicken and Rice: Did Karachi’s Walla get it right?

    New York Chicken and Rice: Did Karachi’s Walla get it right?

    Anyone and everyone who has been to New York City has tried – and raved about – Halal Guy’s chicken and rice. The dish is so popular that there are copycat recipes of it online. I’ve tried making it once but to tell the truth, is not as easy as it looks.

    The key is the sauce and the rice and of course, the chicken. You really need to get all three down to create that New York synergy.

    The Halal Guys in New York. Check out those lines

    A new hole in a wall restaurant in Karachi, Walla, situated in the upcoming restaurant hub on Khayban-e-Shahbaz, is run by a Pakistani who spent many years abroad. He’s come back because he believes there is a big market for a shawarma and chicken and rice joint in Karachi – and says that business has been good.

    Walla

    I went in specifically to have the chicken and rice – and to see if it lived up to it’s inspiration.

    Walla, which means “I Promise” in Arabic is a strange name for a restaurant but maybe since it has an instant Arabic recall, it was the name of choice. With a black and orange theme, an animated Shaikh with shades, it’s not your regular dhabba-style “Arbi Shawarma” joint. Seems like it’s got an uplift, perhaps an ode to the modernism being declared by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

    The interior

    I called and ordered ahead:

    “Just the chicken and rice?” the person taking my order asked.

    “Yes, with extra sauce.”

    The white sauce was on point. Perfectly seasoned, with the right amount of garlic and yogurt. I could have just sat there and taken tiny spoonfuls of the sauce with nothing else. This particular chicken and rice also had a red sauce, which felt a little unnecessary – and also under seasoned. If they really wanted to keep the red sauce, they should just mix a little more than necessary Sriracha in the white sauce and be done with it.

    I added a lot of white sauce and a sliver of red

    The chicken was tender and flavourful, perfectly balanced. It had the tang of lemon and the zest of coriander but the knife in the heart of this almost, almost perfect dish was the rice.

    I assume the chef thought that a Pakistani palette would require Pakistani masala. So instead of the rice being slightly tinted with yellow turmeric, the rice was shoved into haldi like no one’s business. With a mix of other masalas, the taste of the rice was so overpowering, it took over the whole chicken and rice and that’s where it’s New York inspiration disappeared into the Times Square sir. Poof.

    Meanwhile, I didn’t try the shawarma but I’ve heard good reviews.

    While Walla did not match up to Halal Guys, much to our disappointment, it was a close second and decent place one can go in case the cravings get unbearable. As for the rest of those who haven’t tried Halal Guys, you’ll probably enjoy it more.

  • Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Interior done in simple, soothing shades of mints and greys, Caffè Praha has caught the attention of Karachi ladies since it’s opening a fortnight back. Whether it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, or dinner, the place is always buzzing.

    I first visited the place for lunch and though I was really impressed by the mini lunch menu – it had just 6 mains – it was my second visit for a breakfast brunch which I actually enjoyed.

    Nonetheless, we began our meal with some meaty starters – Korean Sticky Wings, Prawn to be Wild and Chicken Strips. All three dishes were juicy, succulent and an absolute treat.

    • Chicken Strips
    • Korean Sticky Wings

    From the breakfast menu, we tried the Old Town Omelette, which was stuffed with cheese and spinach; the Salmon Avocado Brioche served with Hollandaise Sauce and Guacamole and the American Breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs and sausages. All three dishes were pleasing to the taste buds and did not fail to impress.

    • American Breakfast
    • Salmon Avocado Brioche
    • Old Town Omelette

    But the winning dish on the breakfast menu was the Steak on Toast. The delightful dish had succulent pieces of meat on scrambled eggs and mushroom in white sauce all perched on a bed of toast, potatoes and peas. I am without a doubt going back for this one.

    Steak on Toast

    Last but not the least we tried their Freshly Brewed Coffee and Rose Latte, which is coffee mixed with pink rose water. While we enjoyed the fresh coffee, the Rose Latte was a total disappointment – not recommended at all.

    • Freshly Brewed Coffee
    • Rose Latte

    To sum it all up, my friends and I had a wonderful experience at Caffè Praha. Happy staff, sinfully delicious food and reasonably priced, this place is here to stay.

  • Déjà by Khadija – a cosy experience

    Déjà by Khadija – a cosy experience

    Tucked inside Sui Northern Officers Co-Operative Housing Society, Déjà by Khadija is a cute little bakery café. Decorated in pink, gold and grey, this cosy café’s décor and the presentation of their dishes set a good impression.

    Now let’s discuss food! We tried their sharing platter, which was quite delectable and filling. The taco parathas were yummy, as were the assorted bread, especially the one with white sauce in it, but the aalu chaat was not all that great. While the chicken strips were nice, they could have been better. The mozzarella sticks with sauce were great but the assorted fries were so-so, especially the wedges.

    Sharing Platter

    We also tried the K’s Style Chicken Parm – it was well cooked and the sauce wasn’t too acidic though we do think they could have added a bit more parmesan. The Open Lamb Sandwich was also very well made with soft meat, which wasn’t smelly. It was served with sauce, didn’t taste too meaty and the cabbage was paired well with it.

    Meanwhile, the Baked Marinara could have been better but as an afterthought, it wasn’t all that bad. We absolutely loved the Mushroom Toast. It had just the right amount of mushrooms, and the chilli scrambled eggs were just perfect. We highly recommend that if you love eggs!

    • Baked Marinara
    • Mushroom on Toast

    What we really enjoyed were the drinks which were presented in a very fun way; they reminded you of Chemistry Lab at school. The ice-cube with rose petals was also a nice touch. Strawberry Lemon Potion was nice with the right amount of tangy and strawberry juice. Strawberry Slammer is also lovely.

    • Strawberry Lemon Potion

    Coming onto the desserts now. Déjà also serves homemade ice-cream. We tried their chocolate ice-cream, which was nice but very creamy. Their gurr (jaggery) ice-cream wasn’t good; too much aftertaste of butter or cream and minimum taste of gurr.

    Meanwhile, their French Toast is excellent – it was soft and crispy and the caramel sauce that comes with it was delicious. The best part was that they didn’t skimp on it like a lot of other places. After Amu and Aylanto, this is another place that makes really good French Toast in Lahore.

    Off-the-counter Mango Cheesecake was meh (5 out of 10) – it was more like mousse than a cheesecake. But the Apple Pie slice was good (7 out of 10).

    Overall, Déjà was a good experience because of the nice and cutesy ambience. They serve good portion sizes for a reasonable cost, which is a major plus point (Per person cost comes to Rs 1500). If the owner is around, she ensures that you feel welcomed and are properly taken care of. However, we do wish the chairs were comfier; it felt like a ‘grab your food, quickly eat and go’ place. Or maybe – given the shortage of space – this is their aim at the moment.

    We recommend that everyone should try out this place as you get value for your money and the ambience makes it different from the rest of your restaurant experiences. Just keep in mind that it is a small place with very few tables so if you’re a large group, either reserve a table in advance or otherwise be ready to wait.

  • D’Amla: A pleasantly, expensive experience

    D’Amla: A pleasantly, expensive experience

    When D’Amla eatery launched in Karachi, it was received critically. More than the food, the outrageous prices of the items and the owner’s behaviour seemed to irk the customers who took to social media to bash the restaurant. To be honest, the prices of the platters were touching the sky but overall it was not that expensive. Other than that, the owner had advertised the restaurant as less of an eatery and more of an experience.

    A few days back I decided to visit the restaurant on a whim and it left me quite surprised. I, for one, am not the person who goes on reviews as I like to make my own judgments.

    Our meal started with Ceviche with White Pearls, Three Cheese Large Bowl Salad with Nuts and Fruits, Chicken with Wasabi, Parsley Sauce Prawns with Potato Puree and Undercut Meat (Smoked) with Greek Curd Cream. The Ceviche was a refreshing change from the usual as were the prawns.

    For the main course, we had Lamb Chops with Portuguese Potatoes, Argentinian Rissoto with Sujuk and Grilled Chicken Thigh, Prawn Pesto Spaghetti and Swiss Charcoal Chicken. Oh man, these dishes were to die for. The meat was succulent and juicy, the seafood fresh and the Sujuk which is a Turkish sausage was absolutely delightful.

    Rissoto with Sujuk and Grilled Chicken Thigh

    No meal is ever complete without dessert so for that, we had Walnut Tart with Vanilla. This was so fresh and yummy that I had to stop myself from ordering another one.

    Given the negative reviews, I was a bit skeptical about visiting D’Amla but the small, dimly lit restaurant won me over and I cannot wait to go back. The food was not only well-presented but it was delicious to the core. Everyone has their own experiences – someone’s cup of tea might not be yours, so it’s always better to decide for yourself.

  • NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – The takeout Lahoris have been waiting for

    NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – The takeout Lahoris have been waiting for

    We’ve all grown up watching Hollywood movies in which Chinese takeouts are the thing. And let’s be honest, we’ve all secretly wanted that. Though most Chinese and Pan Asian restaurants in Lahore offer takeaways and deliveries, they rarely offer single servings which is why you usually have to think twice before placing an order.

    Enter NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – an Asian Stir Fry Kitchen which has been creating waves on social media and all the food groups. After reading some fabulous reviews on their dishes, I gave in to my temptation and placed an order. Considering their prices were also comparatively reasonable, I didn’t need any more convincing.

    From the 16 gravy options they have, I tried their Crispy Honey Sirachi, Sweet and Sour Manchurian, Mixed Mushrooms Teriyaki and Hot BBQ Shashlik and am happy to report that not one of them let me down.

    All dishes are single servings and come with a side of plain steamed Asian rice packaged in a paper carton. The food was delivered piping hot in small black plastic containers and it was good to see that their serving size was pretty good – it was more than enough for a person. The quantity of vegetables in each dish was also impressive and they were well-cooked.

    My favourite from the options has to be the Mixed Mushrooms Teriyaki and Sweet and Sour Manchurian. Most of us Pakistanis are used to eating saucy Manchurian which tastes like ketchup mixed with chicken. But Noi’s Manchurian was neither saucy nor ketchupy – it was just like the name suggested – perfectly balanced between sweet and sour. The Mixed Mushroom Teriyaki also had a similar flavour but with a stronger Ginger flavour. The mushrooms in this dish were delicious – they were better than anything else and I would order this dish for the mushroom alone next time.

    Meanwhile, the Crispy Honey Siracha was extremely spicy and literally puts your mouth on fire. What I didn’t like about it was how it was barely crispy and the taste of honey was hardly detectable.

    Mixed Mushroom Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour Manchurian

    Nonetheless, given the quantity, taste and price, Noi is highly recommended. Their kitchen is open 5:30 pm onwards till late night but they are usually sold out long before closing time. Best is to place your order ahead of time so that you don’t end up disappointed.

  • Loafology: Divine Breads

    Loafology: Divine Breads

    There was a time, not very long ago when the only bread we found in our cities was Dawn ki white wali bread. Foreign sounding breads weren’t available in Pakistan until they came with a big bang.

    Loafology in Islamabad took the lead when it comes to producing the best bread in Pakistan. And as an avid bread finder and baker, I say that with full authority. There is no better multigrain bread in the country than the one at this bakery-cafe.

    The Walnut Raisin

    Making bread is a real art. After spending a week of learning how to make bread in a bakery in small-town France, I quickly realised that it isn’t an art. Its downright precision. The ingredients, the temperature, humidity, space where it’s kept varies from bread to bread. Writing on a small note pad as a young Frenchman explained with gestures and broken English on what temperature to keep for which bread, I felt small in the even smaller white space.

    Inside the Restaurant

    I am not a fan of their popular brioche and sourdough bread but their raisin and walnut bread and the eight-grain bread will take your breath away. So much so that you’ll be sure to buy the bread in bulk and lug it back to your city, freezing it for a month, cutting a piece every day and hoping it lasts forever.

    Its not always the bread that makes the sandwich. It might be the core of a good breakfast or sandwich but if the other ingredients don’t hold up, it can’t be the only saviour. Sadly, Loafology’s breakfast and sandwiches have never done their bread justice.

    Desi Omelette

    The interior is quaint, a guaranteed hit with foreigners and aunties out for a lunch. Bright and happy, it reflects the openness of Islamabad and the joy of the abroad. But the food stops short of being good. The Loafology Omelette walks the bland line and bite after bite, falls into the land of no salt and the slow-cooked shredded beef needed more BBQ sauce. While the food has all the elements needed, it just doesn’t match up to the mark – not once but a few times.

    Regardless, we will all keep going back. For the bread, for the happy ambiance and the joy of knowing you can freeze the bread and let it linger for a month or more.