Double the pleasure: New Italian restaurant offers food and ambience

Fantasia opens in sprawling E-11 Markaz.

ISLAMABAD: The one thing that Islamabadis love to splurge on is food. They are spoilt for choice when it comes to the familiar, indigenous taste and the comfort of driving to a nearby eatery. This may say something about the Oriental Italian eatery “Fantasia” that opened up in the sprawling E-11 Markaz on Saturday evening.

Umer Riaz, the restaurant owner, said the eatery specialised in steaks and burgers, adding that the signature crème cheese cake was a delight for the sweet tooth. “We have hired the capital’s top managers and chefs to ensure good food and quality service,” he added.



The eatery combines the dining experience with laidback, casual snacking. The cozy interior houses dining tables and chairs as well as couches next to an LCD screen mounted on a wall.  On the far end, a bar serves an assortment of fruit-based drinks and sodas.

The interior exudes an artistic feel, with ambient photos and paintings adorning the wood-panelled walls. “There are two things that you go to a restaurant for - the food and the ambience. I’ve just had the hors d’oeuvres and they were really good and the interior is very inviting,” said guest and actor Ayesha Omar.

Chris McGuire, a guest, who was having a fruit drink with a friend, said he was enjoying the ambience and would like come back and try out the steaks.

An architects’ team from AP Design has designed the interior, creating an aura of Italian cuisine in a small hub of the capital.

The launch was hosted by Concept Events and Planning.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2014.