Lunch at Karim's Cafe - Review

 

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Karim's Cafe, located on the rooftop of Union Gold Mall in Islamabad, with my university friends. I must say, it was a delightful experience. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The decor was rustic and charming, with a beautiful view of the Margalla Hills that is the main attraction of Islamabad. If you are a Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan fan, you would just love the Cafe. 

The interior was very traditional, yet modern. The walls were painted with portraits of poets, and alongside their poems were written. The sitting area was quite spacious with both indoor and outdoor areas. There was a cute corner with bean bags which for someone like me was the perfect picture spot. It was all canopied with lights that when lit gave the best ambience. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the service was top-notch.

As for the food, it was extremely delicious. We ordered their Thali, Half White Handi and Naan Basket.  The Thali included Handi, Daal, Chicken Boti, Mix Vegetables, Chicken Ginger, Ragni Naan, and Biryani for Rs. 999. The serving was enough for 2 people to share. The Chicken Boti was extremely juicy and tender. You could tell that their marinade was flavorsome by the taste of the chicken. It had the perfect balance of spicy and smoky effects. My favorite item from this Thali was the Mix Vegetable. I have never had mixed vegetables this tasty in my entire life. If you don’t like vegetables, once you eat this, you will start loving them. It was sautéed vegetables in Makhan (butter) with the touch of Handi. They were perfectly cooked.

Their Daal (lentils) reminded me of the one my grandmother used to make in our village. The taste was very delicious and extremely nostalgic. Chicken Ginger was more like butter chicken nonetheless it was a treat for my taste buds. Biryani looked appetizing; the aroma was wonderful. Despite that, it didn’t taste as good as I expected it to. I’m a fan of spicy food, and I like my biryani spicy. This, however, didn’t meet my expectations. It wasn’t bad if you like slightly mild biryani then you will enjoy it.

The White Handi which costed us Rs. 1199. My absolute favourite Handi is white Handi, therefore I was very excited to try theirs. The presentation was 10/10; garnished with almonds and green chillies extra points for that. The chicken was so tender, it melted in my mouth. The curry gave birth to a perfect marriage between cream and butter. It was so creamy and super rich. The thing I liked the most was it had quite a lot of chicken pieces in it that would be sufficient for 3 people. It was the standout dish for me without a doubt.

What is a great meal without a sweet end. The management was so good, we were served with complimentary Jaleebi. They were very generous with the portion; we were three people and still we couldn’t finish it. Not because it was not delicious, it was heavenly, but because we had already eaten too much. It was coated in Sheera (sugar syrup) and was piping hot – an absolute delight. To stay true to the theme of their restaurant the Chandi ka warq (silver leaf) added that traditional touch. Just what we needed to end this delicious meal.

Overall, my experience at Karim's Cafe was fantastic. The food was commendable, the atmosphere was cosy, and the service was impeccable. Whether you are in the mood for a spicy chicken dinner or just a casual bite, Karim’s Cafe has something for everyone. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Islamabad.