Red-carpet launch: A perfectionist’s spot for lunch and dinner soirées

Street 1 cafe opens in Kohsar Market.

ISLAMABAD:

Serving as a hub of elite hangout spots, Kohsar Market in the hot and happening neighbourhood of F-6/3 saw another fabulous addition on Tuesday.

With Mocca Coffee, Table Talk and Gloria Jeans already open and the who’s who of town spotted dining and munching away in the market’s cobbled stoned oasis, Ahsan and Samreen Bhatty of Street 1 Café knew that they had to open up their own little spot for lunch and dinner soirées here.

The owners, along with interior decorator Ali Omer have ensured that their new café has a very relaxing ambience. “My husband is a perfectionist and for the past six months we have been designing and re-designing this place to make it the best spot in town,” said owner Samreen Bhatty.

The Manhattan-inspired dining area with cafe booths and a bar area is tastefully done, while the mahogany woodwork gives a very chic yet casual feel to the space.

Owner Ahsan Bhatty said it was fairly easy for him
to name his café, “All I did was honour the street I grew up in.”

To complement the couple’s zeal and vigour to provide quality food, ambiance and service to the people, they hired leading fashion and Public Relations director Rezz Aly Shah to do the launch. The night turned out to be a jam-packed soiree of socialites, bureaucrats and models. Roshnay and Sophiya Khan dressed in Roberto Cavalli dazzled the night, while Sobia Mustafa, Mohsin Khalid, Laila Zuberi, Samina Lakhany along with Deputy High Commission of Australia Paul Mully walked the red carpet.

“It is looking quiet good, the mint lemonade is really refreshing,” commented Tabinda Usman, a customer.

The general mutter across the crowd had nothing but wonderful things to say regarding the new launch; apart from the tacky signboard that has been placed across the front of the café, the evening was thoroughly enjoyable.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2011.