Kolachi, Beach Avenue (Do Darya), DHA phase 8

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Who hasn't heard of Kolachi, the Spirit of Karachi, a seafront restaurant located at the Do Darya strip of eateries in Defence phase 8? Apparently no one, or so it seems. 

 Do Darya can be reached by going along Beach Avenue or Seaview Road, the main road in front of Clifton beach.

It can also be reached by going straight along Khayaban-e-Shaheen, passing by Creek Vista apartments.

Kolachi is the second restaurant in line when arriving at Do Darya via this route. The roads along this way are quite dark and desolate, mind you, but don't let that deter you. :)

Above is a shot of the main foyer area of Kolachi.

There is a prayer place (musalla) for men and a jumping castle for the little ones on site.

All restaurants on Do Darya are dimly lit and open-air: exclusively alfresco dining.

The lighting and decor is unique at every restaurant, with ample use of wood and cobblestones.

Kolachi has both wooden chairs and couches for dining.

Restaurants at Do Darya all look out over the sea, very close to the water. The above photograph just doesn't do justice to the actual experience of looking out over the water and clear skies at night from the wooden balconies.

Crabs, small shoals of fish, seagulls, trawlers, the moon and stars - all can be spotted easily from any restaurant at Do Darya, which can allow diners to relax by getting temporarily away from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan, traffic-smog-ridden city life and enjoy the scenic outdoors in peace - a rarity in this sprawling seaport city.

Once again, the photograph doesn't do the full moon justice.
But hey, I tried to capture a nice moment. :)

 

First off, Kolachi is not a cheap place to dine. The prices shown in the menu are exclusive of 17% tax. 

 Their main specialties are barbecue, kababs, karahi's and handi's.

The portion/serving size of handi's, kababs, and karahi's at Kolachi is more than enough for two hungry adults.

Pastas and seafood.

Almost every food item is cooked to perfection and served neatly/impeccably.

In fact, dining at Kolachi reminds me a lot of BBQ Tonite: the prices, food quality, focus on desi food/meaty BBQ fare, housekeeping/hygiene standards, and service excellence, all are at par at both restaurants,-- at least in my opinion. 

 

However, even though meat is clearly their specialty, they also have Chinese and Thai food on offer.

Steaks and Lebanese entrees as well.

Expect to easily pay Rs 1100 per head when you dine at Kolachi, especially if you intend to have their ice creams as well.

Their focus on serving only hot flatbreads is commendable. A waiter (or two, in case of larger groups) is always around to make sure your breads are replenished with hot ones.

Chicken White Karahi (half) - Rs 900

Well-marinated and tender chicken pieces sauteed in a creamy white sauce, accentuated by the aromatic dash of color and spices brought by the sliced large green chillies.

How was it? Well, let's just say the wok was wiped clean with the flatbreads and not a morsel was left over. :)

Kolachi House Pasta -Rs 600

The tagliatelle pasta strips were floating in a rich, creamy, and fresh Alfredo sauce.
The serving size was enough for one very hungry adult, or two moderately hungry ones.
Thumbs up!

Speaking as a major pasta aficionado, I loved this dish, especially the grilled chicken julienne on top.

Plain Kulfi - Rs 180

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream -Rs 180

Chocolate Fudge Ice Cream -Rs 180

I know it's obvious that we all were in the mood for ice creams the night we went this month (in November, when it was still hot).

Once again, two adults can easily share one of these ice creams. The strawberry cheesecake flavor was especially good.

Verdict: At Kolachi, the high quality of service is their distinguishing quality, which keeps customers coming back again and again. The whole experience will make you feel cared for and respected, from the time you enter the premises, till you leave. They highly value your feedback about their service and food.

I can explain it better this way: after moving out from home, to attend college or to start married life, when you visit your parents' home for the first time and sit down for a meal, how are you treated? Can you relate? Well, that is how they treat you at Kolachi, especially if you visit on a weeknight, and arrive early, before the maddening crowds start thronging the place.

I always used to prefer going to the buffet restaurant that is located right next to Kolachi, called Mirage (dinner buffet there is Rs 1300+tax), because I value privacy, peace and quiet instead of crowdedness and noise.

Here are a couple of photos of Mirage restaurant below:

Main ground floor of Mirage Restaurant.

Mirage buffet serves over 50 unique dishes, including soups, salads, snacks, and desserts.

I would wonder each time why there were such incessant crowds and long waiting queues next door at Kolachi. Now I know. It's how customers are treated there, because at first visit, you will probably think that there is nothing different or out-of-this-world about the food they offer.

But when you leave, the way the managers will come to ask you how your experience was, if you have any complains, and the way they'll listen to your feedback, will make you feel valued as a customer more than at any other restaurant.

Kolachi is like BBQ Tonite all the way, in my opinion. Succulent and expertly-cooked meat served impeccably at its desi best!

Kolachi contact numbers: 021-32003628 , 03032766571 (reservations are highly recommended).

Note: Dining at Do Daryai is especially enjoyable during the winter months, since there is no air conditioning in all the open-air restaurants there, so alfresco dining next to the sea is amplified in experience due to the (fleeting) wind chill factor.

Waheed Kabab House, Burns Road

Waheed Kebab House located on a side lane just off main Burns Road needs no formal introduction. It is very famous for its "fry kebabs".

If you want to get to Waheed from main Burns Road, turn left into the lane that has this shop on its corner.

There it is - on the broken, uneven road, amid all the pedestrian crowds, traffic, smog, overflowing sewers and open-air vendors selling fried fish, amrati, and french fries. Can't miss it. :)

They do not have hand-held menus, just a rate list placed strategically on the wall. Here it is in Urdu. Topping the list: a variety of Nihari's.

 

Then come the kebabs and other meaty fare. 

 

The same rate list is printed prominently on another placard, this time in English.

The prices are fairly reasonable.

 The main dining hall downstairs.

 

The relatively more private and small "family hall" upstairs.

It was fairly clean, very similar to the upstairs portion at Cafe Chullu Subhani.

Chicken Kebab plate, Rs 130.

The Fry Kebabs that Waheed is very famous for, priced also at Rs 130 per plate.

Succulent puri paratha, served piping hot.

Complimentary green chutney and chopped red onions.

Roti or chapati is also available as the more healthy choice.

The Fry Kebabs are made of beef mince, fried in butter, not ghee, as the waiter confirmed.
They were out of this world! 

The owner confirmed that this is the item most ordered by diners at Waheed.

The regular Chicken Kebabs were also tender and mildly spiced.

Incidentally, on the main crossing on Burns Road where you turn left to reach Waheed Kebab House, lies Delhi Rabri House, a vintage dessert place very famous for its timeless Rabri.

For those who have a penchant for traditional Pakistani/Indian desserts, Delhi Rabri House is a heaven!

They offer timeless classic desi delights such as kulfi falooda, ras malai, gulab jaman's, doodh dulari (whatever that is), kheer, shahi tukray, gajar ka halwa, and even Rabri ice cream!

If you peer closely enough, perhaps you can read the Urdu menu printed on the placard pictured above. 

My significant other went in to get Rabri,  but decided to have a plate of Shahi Tukray topped with rabri instead. This plate cost Rs 60.

Sheer indulgence! This stuff is not just sweet, but also rich.

This cup-full of Rabri ice cream - a relatively newer offering - priced at Rs 50, was definitely one of the best ice creams I have ever had! There were bits of khoya in it that made the brownish delicacy even more enjoyable.

Burns Road seems to be attracting investors with the passage time. This building houses a Food Centre, smack in the middle of the main road, and has an air-conditioned, more elegant interior and ambiance, while most of the vintage restaurants retain their traditional flavor as well as look.

I have heard stories of how some Pakistani's settled abroad since decades go directly to Burns Road for a bite to eat as soon as they set foot into their cars at the airport. Now I know why.

Waheed is a must-try, particularly if you like kebabs or nihari. 

Try to have a light breakfast and lunch on the day you plan on visiting it though, because you just might be really tempted to pop in for some traditional desserts at the inviting restaurants right across the road after you are done with dinner!

Al Kabab, Bahadurabad

Anyone who has lived in Karachi and has a penchant for traditional kababs, is probably well aware of the famed kabab house called "Al Kabab" in Bahadurabad.

It is located near this major roundabout known as Bahadurabad Chorangi, which has this mosque (pictured) in the middle of it. Once you reach this chowk, just ask anyone around where Al Kabab is, and they will guide you. It is in the street just behind the Happy Ice Cream and Hav Mor Ice Cream outlets.

Despite being widely known and popular, this is what the eatery looks like in the street. You can easily miss it, since it is tucked away because of its small size. Right opposite it is the vintage bridal-wear house called PLK.

If you squint hard enough, you can view the name Al Kabab in the picture above, at the top. People have to eat in their cars. There is no menu card or table-dining option available. Surprisingly, loyal diners of this eatery are not thwarted by its lack of modern culinary sophistication.

These are the Bihari Kababs that Al Kabab  is famous for. They were moderately spiced and extremely succulent in texture. The best I have ever had! Priced at Rs 90 per plate.

They are accompanied by mildly spiced green raita and raw onions.

Also priced at Rs 90 per plate, this dish is called Kheeree and we couldn't figure out why it has this name or what meat it is made up of. We will pass it next time, as some of the bits were not completely cooked till the core.

Seekh Kababs, also priced at Rs 90 per plate, were tender and great in taste.

Puri parathay were very crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Everything was served piping hot within minutes.

Verdict: Al Kabab is a must-try, if you do not mind eating in your car, with plates balanced precariously on the car's dashboard and your legs. The Bihari Kababs are truly out of this world!