Cosmopolitan cafe

Cosmopolitan Cafe

Cosmopolitan Cafe: 

Visited this new eatery located at E-street Clifton a few weeks ago, and found it to be a promising addition to the upscale cafes in Karachi. The modern decor, with the hand-painted mural depicting the cityscape of Karachi invites one to come inside & relax. The scrumptious desserts makes one want to linger over coffee & dessert with friends or family.

 

For more details about the place, and the menu on offer, please check out my review published at Dawn.com

  

 Cosmopolitan Cafe: Modern decor, sinfully amazing dessert 

Contact Details - Cosmopolitan Cafe

Address:
C-33 Main E Street
Block 4 Clifton
Karachi, Pakistan.

Telephone:
(92-21) 3-529-0156, 3-529-0058

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CafeCosmopolitanPk

Launched:
15th August 2014

Pantry - A globally inspired cafe

"Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince and Dine like a Pauper"

Breakfast is the topic of discussion on my Facebook page these days - lots of quick & healthy ideas. But Sunday's are meant for lazing around & a leisurely breakfast in the midst of family & friends. Breakfast at home has its own charms, but the not having to clean up anything (except your wallet) experience that you get when eating outside is beyond compare.

Pantry - Breakfast

Today I am going to review the breakfast I had recently at Pantry. Comprising of two floors, Pantry is a welcome relief from all those tiny cafes that are opening up in the city these days which are such a problem if you are dining with a large group, or if someone has kids. We ourselves were a group of 5 people with 2 kids. We decided to sit on the top floor which is more spacious and also had a little bit of space for kids to move around. The ground floor is smaller, but it has their drinks & desserts counter along with a display of fresh artisan bread & kitchen appliances for sale.   

Pantry is one of the few places where the menu, tagline & ambiance are in sync with another. "Comfort food with global influence" is the slogan written on the menu and this is reflected beautifully in the cafe. The setting is of a casual cafe, with beautiful windows letting in loads of fresh light. The menu isn't huge, but it features an eclectic mix of favourite dishes from around the world. So there's Tuscan scrambled eggs from Italy, Eggs Benedict from France, Lettuce Wraps from China, Beef Pho from Vietnam and so on and so forth. What further interested us was the ingredients mentioned - instead of a typical cheese & mushroom omelette, theirs is known as Country Omelette with caramelized onions & emmental cheese. Instead of basic pancakes or french toast, they have cinnamon buttermilk pancakes & french toast with salted caramel. 

Since a few of us reached earlier, we decided to order coffee while waiting for the rest. My last coffee experience at Pantry was a bit sad since my friend and I had ordered the wrong coffee, which didn't give us the jolt needed to wake up in the morning. This time asked the waiter for his recommendations, and ended up ordering large/tall cafe lattes which were exactly what we needed! It's a major pet peeve to go to a cafe with a huge variety of coffee on the menu & a clueless waiter - glad to say this was not the case with Pantry. 

We were a bit disappointed when placing the order since they didn't have pancakes or sweet potato fries or the chocolate tart on the menu. One of us had already had breakfast & had planned on ordering just the tart but was disappointed. The tart did become available later, but she had changed her mind by then.  

Our total order consisted of the following:

1. Masala Omelette - Rs.390
2. Greek Omelette - Rs. 480
3. Country Omelette - Rs. 480
4. Cajun Jambalaya Chicken - Rs. 550
5. Cheese Poppers - Rs. 480 
6. Chocolate Tart - Rs. 370
7. Short Cappuccino - Rs. 210
8. Tall Cafe Latte - Rs. 250

Pantry - Cheese Poppers

First to arrive in about 10 minutes were the Cheese Poppers - Golden nuggets of cheesy goodness served with a chipotle & jalapeno aioli. These were so good, both in looks & taste, but the 4 piece serving size was quite small compared to the price.

Pantry - Greek Omelette

The rest of the order came after 10 minutes - my friends ordered the omelettes and I had ordered the Cajun Jambalaya since I wasn't in an eggy mood. The Country Omelette & Greek Omelette were both served with roasted potatoes & grilled tomatoes along with a basket of freshly made bread with butter & jam. The omelettes were light & fluffy, with cheese being the star ingredient in both. The Country omelette had a more savoury meaty taste with caramelized onions, mushrooms & melted emmental cheese. On the other hand, the Greek omelette was lighter as it had onions, tomatoes & capiscum with feta cheese & fresh rocket leaves. 

Pantry - Country Omelette

The Masala Omelette was Pantry's take on the Desi Pakistani Omelette and instead of bread, it was served with Palak Paneer & Paratha's. It was instantly & happily devoured by my friends two kids so I am going to assume it was good. 

Pantry - Cajun Jambalaya 

The Cajun Jambalaya was a visual delight when it come with the liberal use of colored capiscums (green, yellow & red) with a sprinkling of paprika at the edges of the plate. The linguini was cooked perfectly, and the cajun spices complimented the sweet peppers brilliant. However, I felt it missed something, maybe shrimp would have been a better option or some side option to provide just a bit of crunch.

Pantry - Chocolate Tart

In the end, we decided to order the chocolate tart since it was now available. It was a fitting end to a delicious meal. I have always preferred savoury over sweet and there are few desserts that make me change my mind. This was one of them - a rich dark chocolate tart with a walnut crust served with cold vanilla ice-cream! So indulgent and absolutely delicious. The only negative would be that the ice-cream felt store-bought and I think fresh would complement the tart better. 

The service at Pantry was as good as the food we had with attentive & trained waiters. It was annoying that a few items weren't available but the waiters were well-versed about the menu and informed us on time. I do wish that there was more space downstairs, as that is non-smoking. It's never a good idea to sit in a small place with kids which is why we opted to go upstairs, but that was obviously smoking. 

Overall, Pantry is a cafe that is a must visit, especially if you are in the mood to try different cuisines. I am planning on buying their fresh bread, and using it to make sandwiches for my home-made cheese. The prices vary depending on the dish & ingredients. If the dish is using local ingredients, then the per head costs are similar or slightly higher to other cafes. However, if deciding to order a dish that incorporates expensive ingredients like fresh buffalo mozzarella or smoked salmon then the per head cost goes up. 

Contact Details:

Pantry

14-C, 10th Commercial Lane,
Zamzama, Phase 5, D.H.A.
Karachi, Pakistan.
Tel: (92-21) 3-581-0515, 3-581-0517

Vintage Bakeshop & Cafe

Vintage Bakeshop & Cafe - The ambiance & decor

Vintage Bakeshop & Cafe: Visited this quaint little eatery a few weeks ago. Even from outside, Vintage makes quite an impact with the beautiful yellow door, and once you enter, the decor takes you right to the Victorian era.

For more details about the place, and the menu on offer, please check out my review published at Dawn.com

Vintage Bakeshop & Cafe - A classic cafe with a modern twist 

Vintage Bakeshop & Cafe - The food & desserts on offer

Contact Details:

Vintage - Facebook Page

Address:
25C, Khayaban-e-Seher, Off Saba Avenue, Phase 6, DHA, Karachi, Pakistan

Telephone:
021-35341722 - 03218957066

China Kitchen - Gourmet Chinese in Karachi

Please 'like' me on Facebook to keep updated with new posts, tips & tricks, or to ask me any questions: Kay's House of Treats 

I have been wanting to try China Kitchen ever since I found out that they had scallion pancakes on their menu. I remember trying them out for the first time at Tao in New York and I just fell in love with the dish. Simply put, they are similar to our lache kay parathay with sesame oil and scallions (green onions) as the filling served with a ginger dipping sauce. Simplicity personified but oh so delicious!

I finally got to go to China Kitchen last week and the food was AMAZING! It brought back memories of proper Chinese food that I have had abroad and loved because every dish has a unique taste instead of tasting exactly the same!

China Kitchen

Interior & Ambiance:
The first thing that you see when you enter the restaurant is the beautiful courtyard with life size Chinese statues and artifacts. The inside of the restaurant is just as tastefully decorated with Chinese artwork hanging from the walls, oriental style pottery strategically placed around the restaurant and the beautiful red wooden doors.

China Kitchen - The typical Chinese Round Table

Food:
What we ordered or actually I ordered (it was my birthday and I was so excited that my friends just gave me the menu) was the following:

1. Hot & Sour Soup in Chicken
2. Scallion Pancakes
3. Chengdu Chicken
4. Chicken with Chilli & Black Bean Sauce
5. Black Beef Pepper Steak with Ginger & Spring Onions
6. Deep fried Red Snapper with House Special Salsa
7. Singapore Noodles
8. Steamed Rice

The moment the soup arrived, I knew that this was the real deal and we were going to be having some pretty amazing food - this was no red ketchup version but a proper smoky full flavored broth with the proper H&S soup ingredients - bean curd, black mushrooms & bean sprouts along with chicken of course!
From the main courses, the Red Snapper was my favourite dish of the day - delicately cooked snapper in a salsa sauce that surprisingly incorporated apples was both a delight for the eyes and the taste buds. For a person who rarely eats beef, considering I ate two helpings of the beef steak with ginger & spring onions is an indication of how good it was. The Chengdu chicken made with hot bean paste came with a spice warning, and while delicious in its simplicity is not for the faint hearted. Our second chicken entree was the classic chicken in black bean sauce with a delicious salty distinct smooth sauce. The wok-fried Singapore noodles with stir-fried vermicelli were good but a bit neglected considering the uniqueness of the rest of the entrees. 
Unfortunately the thing that I was craving (the aforementioned scallion pancakes) did not measure up to the ones I had abroad - the ones here were just a little bit oily and not as flaky but the rest of the food, especially the hot & sour soup more than made up for it.

China Kitchen - Chicken with Chilli & Black Bean Sauce

China Kitchen - Hot & Sour Soup

China Kitchen - Scallion Pancakes

China Kitchen - Chengdu Chicken

China Kitchen - Red Snapper with House Salsa

China Kitchen - Singapore Noodles

Service:
From start to finish the service was excellent. The waiters were attentive but not annoying. It did take some time for the main course to arrive after the soup & appetizer round but we were enjoying the ambiance & company so much that it wasn't  a concern. The best part was that the waiter knew the menu and guided us properly when I asked him for suggestions on what to order.

Overall Verdict:
China Kitchen stands apart from the other Chinese eateries/delivery places in town as it offers gourmet Chinese cuisine with items on the menu that I have yet to see anywhere else. The prices are a bit high but worth it considering the superior quality & taste along with the fine dining experience. 

Ranking:
Food: 9/10
Price: 8/10
(On average should cost Rs. 1000-1100/head or more depending on the variety of food ordered)
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Service: 8.5/10 

Restaurant Details:
Address: 73/5, Swiss Cottages, Clifton Block 4, Karachi, Pakistan-75500
Phone: +922135860184 , +923332209169
Email chinakitchenpk@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinakitchenkarachi/info

Neco's Natural Cafe & Store - Healthy Food with a Twist

Neco's Natural Cafe & Store is a venture of the Hobnob Group, and comprises of three things in one location - a cafe, a deli/bakery & a store with the common denominator between all three is the focus on natural & healthy products.They not only manufacture in-store (like shampoos',conditioners' & hair oils at the store and salad dressings, cereals & whole wheat pasta at the bakery) but also source from other companies (Daali, Mom's Garden, Zoya's Herbal etc.) providing one convenient location for everything. 

However, no matter how many times I have been to the store (which I love), I have only been to the cafe once (this review being the second time). The reason being whenever Neco's would come up as an option, it would always be 'oh, that place has healthy food, its going to be boring' or 'oh, someone went there but didn't like the food - it felt like diet food' and so on.

This time the same argument popped up but since that was the only option, we were all like 'let's just go' and I am so glad we did because the food was BRILLIANT! It was healthy no doubt (fresh versus processed, brown bread versus white bread) but there was nothing bland or diet about it.

Early Dinner at Neco's

Food:

Ordered the potato wedges, grilled chicken sandwich, chicken & mushroom crepes, prawns laksa & Neco's french toast with banana & honeycomb. 

Neco's Wedges - the best in town!

Potato Wedges: The star of the meal had to be the wedges – beautifully crisped on the outside, with a hint of sweetness (probably honey). 

Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Neco's

Grilled Chicken Sandwich (what I ordered):  Fulfilled my expectations of what I expect from a chicken sandwich - freshly made toasted brown bread in a grilled chicken sandwich with a complementing sauce (spicy aioli in this case) so that it does not bland. The meal was completed with those yum potato wedges & coleslaw.  

Neco's Chicken & Mushroom Crepes

Chicken & Mushroom Crepes: I loved the presentation of the crepes - folded up like a parcel. It's not possible to see the filling, but they its much more easier to eat. I took a bite of this and the crepes were nicely made, with a rich and creamy chicken mushroom filling. Definitely something I can see myself ordering next. However, my friend didn't enjoy the salad. 

Neco's French Toast

Neco's French Toast with Banana & Honeycomb: The french Toast is one of the signature items on the menu served all day. Wasn't the best looking dish in terms of presentation, but one bite was all it took to understand why its one of the most popular items on the menu. Thick slices of this delicious bread toasted to perfection topped with whipped cream, banana's and crunchy honey comb. The fact that it's supposed to be whole wheat bread (baked in-house) was the icing on the french toast. 

Chocolate Milkshake

Chocolate Milkshake: The picture says it all - my friend loved it while we enjoyed the seasonal fresh juices.

Prawns Laksa: Tried only a bite of it from a friend, and loved the burst of flavors, combined with the kick of the chilli oil that was served on the side. However, I feel the laksa will be more preferred by adventurous eaters, since the prawns version which my friend loved and I only tasted was a bit fishy. Next time I go, will try the chicken version. 

Verdict:

Food: 9/10
Price: 8/10
Service: 9/10
After this visit, I can safely say that my misconceptions about Neco's as a cafe are gone and I see myself stopping at the cafe instead of making a beeline for the store downstairs which I normally did. The cafe itself has a great ambiance and the menu features dishes that make it great for breakfast & snacks/coffee. 
In terms of pricing, I felt some of the items were a bit high (main courses), however, the ingredients they use are natural, organic & made fresh in-house which will justify the price for customers who understand the difference. The menu offered does offer food that will be considered diet food but at the same time, they offer super indulgent items like the french toast and their desserts. So just order carefully :)
Also, do get some cookies from the bakery while leaving - they offer chocolate chip and double chocolate chip flavors with chocolate chunks instead of chips which just make them the best cookies in the city in my opinion. 

Contact Details:
Address: 8C, Lane #1, Bukhari Commercial Area, Phase 6, Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi
Telephone: 021-35844517 & 021-35242654
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/necosnaturalstoreandcafe

Timing: 8:00 - 11:00 6 days a week (Mondays closed)

Mong Chow - Bringing South East Asian flavors to Karachi

Mong Chow is a relatively new entrant on the Karachi food scene serving 'South East Asian Bowl Food', however, currently their menu features primarily Burmese cuisine. For Karachiites, Burmese food equals Khow Suey/Khausey/Khauk Seuy (however, it is pronounced), however, theres are a lot of other dishes & flavors that represent Burma.
The menu is small, and currently offers 12 items comprising of appetizers, main courses & desserts. However, since they are specializing in flavors that are not run of the mill, I do like the idea that they are focusing on making sure that those few items are done well instead of having a hotch potch of items. At the same time, I do wish they would add other South East Asian flavors on the menu - would love to have a good Pad Thai or Vietnamese Pho *sigh*. We were three people and we all ordered different things in order to try out the menu. Timely delivery by Urbanite, with excellent packaging by Mong Chow - there were multiple boxes for every dish all labelled and they were plastic wrapped to ensure no spillage.

Needed to keep a newspaper below all the items for easier clean-up later :)

Food:

My favourite thing out of what was ordered had to be the 'Mandalay Chazan'. Comprising of thin Vermicelli style noodles with a chicken & mushroom curry, served with boiled eggs, chilli flakes, fried onions, coriander & lemon. I loved the thin noodles along with mushrooms in the coconut curry, which provided such a refreshing change from the typical Khaw Suey that is served. 

Mandalay Chazan all mixed up

Mung Bean Vermicelli Noodles

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Ohn No Khauk Suey

The 'Ohn No Khauk Suey' was similar to the style of Khow suey that is made/available in Karachi. Comprising of egg noodles (which I have always preferred over wheat) in a chicken and coconut curry served with coriander, spring onions, boiled eggs, crisps, chilli flakes & lemon. Flavors were good, but I preferred the Mandalay Chazan better.

The third item we ordered was the Beef Rendang served with Yellow Rice & Pickles. Its an Indonesian dish, and it was the inspiration behind my version of Chicken Rendang. I remember reading Mong Chow's menu when it opened and loving the description of the dish, but since I rarely eat beef, I had to improvise. Since I rarely eat beef, specially not this beef cut, my opinion on the taste would be biased but loved the fragrant yellow rice served with it. My little brother on the other hand liked it and found it similar to a 'Bhuna wa Salaan' with Oriental flavors. It's not something I would order again for myself, unless they come with a Chicken version or if they start selling the rice separately.  

Beef Rendang

Yellow Rice

  

Verdict:

Food: 8.5/10
Price: 8.5/10
Service: 9/10
Packaging: 10/10 
Overall, Mong Chow is a refreshing change to the Karachi food scene and would be loved by people who love South Asian flavors and/or are willing to try new things. They have a take-away outlet in Farids at Ocean Mall & they also deliver via Urbanite. In terms of pricing, most of the main dishes are priced at PKR 400 - 450 and the portion size is easily enough for one person. 

Final Comments:
Not serving run of the mill food is what sets Mong Chow apart, at the same time the food they offer is an acquired taste and hence may not to be everyone's liking. Thus when trying it out for the first time, order something simple like the Khaw Suey, and then go with adventurous by trying out new things.
One last advice for any broth like dish - its all about adding the different condiments and mixing it all up and then its loads of flavors in every bite. Same is the case with Mong Chow - Don't and I repeat this again DON'T take out servings of the noodles & the curry separately and try to mix it up in your plate. Just mix the noodles & the curry & half the condiments ten adjust to taste. 

Contact Details: Phone:0331-4455901 Email:mongchow1@hotmail.com Website: www.facebook.com/mongchowpk

Cafeela - Review

Had been hearing about Cafeela on a lot of Facebook groups, and finally got the opportunity to try the food yesterday via home delivery. We were three people at home, and we decided to order a mix of things to be able to sample the menu. Ordered the sesame chicken as starters, chicken club sandwich, chicken fettucine alfredo & the chicken shawarma with pickled vegetables. Even though it was a strike yesterday, the order came exactly within 45 minutes as stated. 

The first thing that I noticed was the packaging followed by the presentation and size of the dishes ordered. Even though Cafeela is a mid-ranged delivery outlet, every item had been presented well with sides & garnishes and packaged in such a way that the presentation was not spoiled during delivery. The sauce and the coleslaw that accompanied the shawarma & the club sandwich respectively were packaged in little plastic boxes of quite good quality so there was no spillage; the sesame chicken & the alfredo were covered first in cling wrap and then cardboard. This is probably something very basic, but it does speak of an attention to deal from the owners perspective in not only just the food, but also in the training of the delivery boy.

Moving onto the food now. First of all, the deep fried sesame chicken which was served with what I think was a tartar based sauce with vegetables. I initially thought it was coleslaw, but on noticing the coleslaw with the club sandwich, I changed my mind. I was expecting some chilli garlic/ketchup sauce with this, but surprisingly the sauce complimented the chicken strips really well. The chicken itself was great, it was moist & crispy, with the sesame seeds giving it a nice crunchy texture. Overall, this dish was our favourite from the entire order.

The chicken club sandwich a pretty classic sandwich, quite filling and delicious and great value for money - definitely something I can see myself ordering again.  It was filled with chicken, omellete/egg and vegetables in three layers and served with coleslaw and a generous helping of spicy fries -pre cut into 4 pieces making it really easy to eat. 

The chicken shawarma was the one item that none of us were happy about. Presentation wise it was great; it came with pickled vegetables & the typical shawarma white sauce with olives as garnish. But we all felt there was something off in the taste of the shawarma. I personally thought the major issue was with the onions as they were a little bit soggy (making the shawarma soggy too) with strong after-taste and the shawarma itself was missing either some salt or lemon juice. But the pickled vegetables & the white sauce were good. Probably not something I would order again, but probably not something I would order again. It was a little too bland and would be preferred by people who like the authentic version and not the desified version that has become so popular here.  

The last thing we ordered was the chicken fettuccine alfredo with mushrooms and vegetables - definitely not the typical fettuccine alfredo but an interesting Desi version of an Italian classic. The fettuccine was cooked perfectly, the sauce was creamy and delicious, but it was a little bland for our taste. But in this case, its a matter of personal preference since we do like spicy food. 

Overall, I would give Cafeela an 8 out of 10 - great food at affordable prices; We did feel the food was a little bit bland, but again, that's more to do with what we ordered and personal taste. Next time when I order, will make sure to order appropriate dishes. 

Overall Rating - 8/10
Dishes Ordered: Sesame Chicken (PKR 385),  Chicken Club Sandwich with Fries (PKR 275), Fettucccine Alfredo with Chicken & Mushrooms (PKR 435) and Fried Sesame Chicken (PKR 385) for a total bill of PKR 1,445; Definitely good value for money since there was more than enough for 3 people with leftovers for the next day. 

Contact Details:
https://www.facebook.com/Cafeela
0213 - 5845618

New York Pizza

The opening of 14th Street was the advent of the New York style Pizza in Karachi - basically pizza that is large, wide, thin, and foldable with a crispy base. Not that Pizza Hut or Domino's didn't offer thin crust pizza but it just didn't become as popular as when it was started by 14th street. Obviously, once the concept become popular, lots of other Pizza places started opening with some hits & misses. So far, the biggest hit in the concept (at least for me)is well, New York Pizza (quite aptly titled). I have to credit the discovery to my cousin since she was the one who made me order and I am so glad I did. The Pizza was huge (it's 21 inches so the biggest in Karachi) & delivered , piled high with delicious toppings (as you can notice) and it was delivered very hot right on time.

Going into detail - first of all, their service was really great - the order taker helped me out in explaining the menu properly & he didn't get irritated when I made him hold for a minute just to confirm the order with the rest of the family.

While ordering you first need to decide on the type of Pizza (New York Style or traditional) Size (for New York Style its a slice, half a pizza or full 21 inch pizza), then the topping (ordered the full pizza so had the option of choosing two flavors - choose New York Special & Chicken Fajita), then the sauce (its either Mild, Hot & Extra Hot - but its the same sauce for the entire pizza) then the vegetables (you have an option of choosing whichever vegetables you want with your preferred flavor) and then sidelines. I had gone for Combo 4 which was 21 inch Pizza and 1.5 litre drink for Rs. 1749 and it was more than enough for 4-5 people (5 girls with 1.5 slices each). 

Moving on to the Pizza itself - it came before the stipulated time - their delivery service is quite good because it has so far been delivered either on time or before. It was delivered quite hot and we just started eating the moment it came. Everyone loved the pizza especially the generous amounts of topping. The crust was thin & crisp and yet soft otherwise it feels like you are eating hard bread. What I found really delicious was that they stuff this white sauce or maybe cheese sauce in the edge of the crust. I don't particularly enjoy the edge of the pizza because it just tastes of bread and but this stuffed sauce made the end part really flavorsome. The entire family found the New York Special better than the Chicken Fajita - had more flavor and different kinds of smoked meat. Additionally they serve it with garlic butter and red chilli flakes.

All in all, a good experience leading New York Pizza to be so far, my preferred delivery place for Pizza.

Contact Details: 
Contact: 021-35350404, 0213-35350606, 021-35342868; 03325350606
Home delivery in DHA-Clifton (Karachi) only
New York Pizza - Facebook Page
Website: www.nyp.com.pk

Chai Master - Real Desi Breakfast

Arabic Paratha & Plain Paratha

The first time I saw an advert of Chai Master on Facebook, I was like oh no, don't we have enough coffee shops that now a gourmet tea shop is also opening up; I was expecting somewhat pretentious tea served in China cups, but when it opened up and I got a chance to go there I just loved their concept - it was just so "Dhaba-Chic". 

Doodh Patti & Lachaydaar Paratha at an "affordable" price in a "decent" setting where you can sit with friends and family and not be stared at by random people; on paper, thats such a simple concept but so far, I haven't seen it in anywhere in Defence at least; I am also not a big fan of Halwa Puri's but I love Chai Paratha so I was just really excited. We got there at 9:30 am on Sunday and opted to sit inside; there were a lot of cyclists outside from "The Critical Mass Society - Karachi" and it was just obvious that they were really enjoying the breakfast and the atmosphere.

Arabic Paratha - With Chicken

We ordered the "Disco Chai", plain lachay daar paratha, malai paratha & two Arabic Paratha's with Chicken; I liked the fact that they told in the beginning that the Arabic Paratha's would take 5-10 minutes to make which isn't a lot of time but it was nice that they did. They also had basic eggs (fried & scrambled) along with Fateera (baked pie with various stuffings).

Disco Chai

 Moving onto the food; absolutely absolutely loved it; the Disco Chai was like so good; it was real Doodh Patti and the smell was just heavenly; the Malai Paratha was crispy and hot & the Malai was the real deal; I absolutely hate having Desi breakfast with Tea Bag wali Tea or Tetra Pack ki cream and paying exorbitantly on top of it; I mean, chai needs to be steeped otherwise there's no skill to it, its just hot water and flavor from a bag; the Arabic Paratha's were also great, and was basically chicken mince stuffed between two square paratha's, cut into rectangles and served with ketchup. The food itself was pretty affordable, with the desi & simple food costing less (Rs. 25 for doodh patti & Rs. 30 for paratha) to the Beef Fateera costing Rs. 350 but which serves 2-3 people so all in all, it would fit within everyone's budget based on how much they want to spend.  

At the end, the owner came upto us and asked us for our opinion on the food which we were quite pleased to share and also to share the news that they will be soon be introducing more items in their menu and that is something that I am quite excited about. 

Malai Paratha

Ginsoy: Desi-fied Chinese at its best

Have been hearing a lot about Ginsoy ever since it opened but have not been able to go there; just a few weeks I finally managed to make a plan to go there but unfortunately wasn't able to get a table :(. However, the considerable wait time along with the number of people patiently waiting only made me want to find out what the big deal is, so I thought of just ordering it at home. It was a bit difficult to order since we were just 3 people and we wanted to order at least 2-3 things; also, even though Ginsoy is both single & full serving, the single serving is quite expensive (average 400/serving) & the difference between the single and full serving is about Rs.200 which isn't really a major difference. I finally decided to order the following, and this time we wanted to order something different from the typical Manchurian & Schewzan & Chopsuey. 

1. Tom Kam Gai Soup - Single
2. Tom Kam Goong Soup - Single
3. Crispy Beijing Chicken - Single 
4. Hot & Spicy Chicken - Single 

The food came within about 30-40 minutes and it was piping hot and I just loved the Chinese take-out style boxes that it came in; made me wish they had fortune cookies as well, that would have just added to the authentic take-out style food .. 

Absolutely loved the food; it was definitely Desi-fied in terms of the spice level, but still had that authentic Chinese/Thai taste; the Thai soup had lots of lemon grass, galangal and enough of a spice kick to totally clear up my sore throat; for me, an authentic Thai soup is one which is spicy but yet has that balance of flavors which makes you forget about the spiciness; and oh yes, they also gave complimentary fish crackers along with the typical condiments;

The Crispy Beijing Chicken- Loved the texture; very addictive and similar to having pop-corn; stayed crispy when warmed up the next day, and it actually tastes pretty great cold as well. The only issue with ordering this is that its a pretty dry dish so for people who like gravy, they would need to order something else.

Hot & Spicy Chicken -Woahhh, this was so spicy and I would have loved just a bit more gravy so that I can mix it with the rice properly, but this was really good; it was more masala-ish (in terms of texture) but didn't have that ketchupy cornflour taste that makes all Chinese entrees taste similar.

The order came out to be 450/head which is actually a lot but we had leftovers for the next day. I think I would prefer going to Ginsoy rather than ordering; if I do order, I'll make sure there are sufficient people and probably order something other than the typical Manchurian & Chicken Chilli; for that, I'd much rather be ordering from Golden Dragon which has brilliant deals for 3-5 people; but overall its a good addition to the restaurant scene in Karachi. 

I did have one major issue with the order taking, as I had specifically made sure both soups were with chicken and should not have any seafood due to my brother having allergies, however, the Tom Kam Goong soup had prawns; this obviously resulted in me getting pretty upset because I am so careful about it; called them up, lodged a complaint on the phone and online; in response they sent a replacement soup with chicken and also got a message from their customer service department that this matter will be looked into. So really appreciated that.