Summer days tend to get particularly long drawn when one is fasting but there is always something to look forward to, as far as iftaar dinners go. Like elsewhere in the country, the phenomenon of going from fasting to feasting mode within minutes manifests itself to the fullest in the capital.
The city, otherwise infamous for being asleep all year round, dramatically comes alive with the thing that locals do best – eating out at sehri and iftari. With various eateries screening the football world cup, there is an added incentive for them to enjoy the match while devouring a choice snack in the company of family or friends.
So whether you are looking to fuel up before dawn or wrestling those Ramazan pangs at dusk, here’s a list of the top five eateries worth checking out:
Chaaye Khana
For the average tea lover and breakfast person, this sehri-only joint is a natural choice. Meher, who went in the early morning hours with a friend said she had to wait in a queue despite getting there two hours before sehri. “Although it’s probably one of the busiest food places, you get quality food here which is also affordable. I had the cheese omelettes with brown toasts and the service was very good,” she said.
While they serve the regular breakfast menu, the omelettes and parathas become staple diet for sehri goers during Ramazan.
The regular breakfast options include pancakes, waffles, crepes and sandwiches to go with coffee or tea of one’s choice.
According to a waiter at the outlet, customers start trickling in as soon as 11pm for sehri and it is hard for anyone to find a spot if they walk in around the wee hours since the place is bustling with friends and families. The café does not serve iftaar.
The Lime Tree
Keeping it traditional and somewhat exotic, The Lime Tree is offering several varieties for sehri. The menu comprises parathas, aloo qeema, French toast, mushroom cheese, channay, naan, lassi, power smoothie and a variety of omelettes.
Their iftari has standard items such as dates, paapri, fruit chaat, bhel puri and dahi baray and well as small pizzas, springs rolls, tea, water, rooh afzah and lemonade.
The buffet dinner is more elaborate, comprising chicken handi, Afghani pullao, reshmi kebab, mixed vegetables, naan and raita, Russian salad, chicken lasagna and shahi tukray.
“The barbeque and rice are amazing,” said Faizaan, who is planning another iftaar outing with his family at the restaurant. “The service is prompt and the waiters are friendly, they’ll serve you on your table,” he added.
Entourage
Speaking about the newly-launched Mediterranean restaurant, a customer said the sehri buffet is a bit eclectic. “There’s too much of everything but that’s a good thing because you have a lot of variety.
They also serve the ingredients and the fish you won’t ordinarily find in the market,” he said. The restaurant also offers an elaborate buffet sehri menu including roasted tenderloin with herb puree and jalapeno sauce and tandoori paratha.
Soul at Lush
Iftaar at the guesthouse-turned-restaurant is an elaborate affair. While the iftaar platter includes standard items such as samosas, pakoras, chaat, dahi ballay and rolls, dinner is a combination of lentil, meat and vegetables.
Aqs
The picky eater would not be disappointed with the ala carte menu for sehri that comprises chicken qeema, aalo bhujia, murgh chanay, haleem, omelette, paratha, toast and qulcha to go with lassi or tea.
When it comes to iftaar, the average foodie is spoilt for choice – from appetizers such as buffalo and BBQ wings, mozzarella sticks, fries and onion rings to crispy chicken strips. There are salads for the health conscious eater and an assortment of grilled entrees including chicken achari boti, chicken makhani and chicken badami qorma.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2014.
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Give us lazy people ( me ) in Karachi a list as well.