Atrio Café and Grill opens in Islamabad

The restaurant offers coffee from Vermont’s Green Mountain Brewery.

ISLAMABAD:

Resting atop the bustling Jinnah Super Market, Atrio Café and Grill finally opened its doors to customers in the capital city this Friday, satisfying the niche for a restaurant with a vibrant view.

The two-story café claims to be a combined experience of casual coffee-dates and fine dining with a generous menu that includes the highly recommended barbecue grill items, soups, salads, steaks, pastas and desserts in addition to a generous selection of cold and hot coffees from the popular Vermont based brewery, Green Mountain Coffee.

Businessman and owner of Atrio Café and Grill Imran Rashid believes that the capital city was missing a rooftop experience in the market that is said to be ‘the heart’ of Islamabad; where tired shoppers and foodies can now enjoy being in the center of all the activity.

Within an hour on opening night, the rooftop with a weather-and-wind-proof canopy and comfy white couches skirting the glass railings were full with food lovers. The aroma of freshly grilled red snapper and tangy chicken fingers was in the air and the guests were welcomed with mint margaritas. The chefs also prepared tender chicken pieces, kebabs and hors d’oeuvres that circulated on the tables. Along with a serene atmosphere inside, the backdrop comprised of scattered lights   that glittered as they fell upon Margalla Hills.

Mohammad Shiraz, a suited guest at the opening, shared a table with friends and other guests overlooking the market. Having sampled everything from the red snapper, chicken fingers, chicken Bolognese to the barbecue items and moist chocolate cupcakes, Shiraz said he enjoyed the pizza the most, with its range of toppings that included chicken, salami, vegetables and garlic-mayo sauce.

The floor below is a contrast to the chaos of the rooftop; its interior and big glass windows overlooking the market reminiscent of a New York-style café.  The lighting is dim and warm, and mirrors reflecting the space made it appear to be larger than it is.

“Islamabadis need to be really pushed to come out,” commented Nadir Afridi with a laugh. Afridi, who was at the restaurant with his wife and child, was grateful for a new dining option and vowed to return to try something else on the menu.

The wifi-equipped café is open between 12pm to 12am on weekdays and 12pm to 1am on the weekends. Its rather ambitious menu is priced between Rs300 to Rs1,000 per head.

Boasting to be the only place in the otherwise reputedly dead capital city, where customers can enjoy a contrast of ambiance and food that encourages one to truly unwind, Atrio Café and Grill is sure to attract a lot of attention in the coming weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2012.

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