Khausa, main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, Defence phase 6

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

 Ah, the quick entry and exit of high-end restaurants from the diverse food spectrum of Karachi! Restaurants open up and close down in the blinking of an eye, or so it seems. 

I once visited Khausa Restaurant on main Tariq Road, and really liked it.

Well, there is some good news and bad news about it.

The bad news first: it has closed down.

The good news: it has now opened up on main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, a stone's throw away from Desi and Gon Pacci. 

The establishment is spread out on more than one level, with a half-floor (sort of like a verandah) constructed above this downstairs portion within the premises.

The decor is more plush and elegant than the one that this basement restaurant had on Tariq Road.

There are 3 tables on the above floor, where we chose to dine. 

Actually, there is some more, somewhat-bad news. 

One of the better things I liked about the Khausa on main Tariq Road, was it's economical prices. Check out the old prices here (before they remove this jpeg, heh).

 The money on fuel that you'll save on the jaunt to Tariq Road will now be spent on the food at this new outlet, because the prices at Khausa have been conveniently doubled.

Yes, doubled. Ouch. :-|

I love Khau Suey, so I ordered the Burmese version (the one with yellow curry) with prawns.  

Khausa offers five types of curry that you can choose for the Khau Suey that you want to have: Classic Creamy, Coco Curry, Stir Fried, Yellow Curry, and the more expensive Mohinga Soup (whatever that is).

The base of curry and Khau Suey noodles will cost you Rs 345, but if you want a topping of meat curry on it (and who doesn't? :P), such as chicken, beef or prawns, there will be extra charges of Rs 145 - Rs 245.

So you'll be shelling out approximately Rs 500 or more per serving of Khau Suey at this restaurant, which is clearly above the going rate of Rs 350-Rs 450 that you can get per serving of Khau Suey at Simple Dimple or PepperLime. 

The consolation? The ample quantity, high quality, and freshness of the food. I had no complains about it. The service and ambiance has improved a big notch as well.

Every order of Khau Suey comes with this tray of crunchy, tasty and spicy accompaniments. 

Once you start eating the Khau Suey mixed with these lovely garnishes, this is what your plate will look like. Yum!

   

Chicken Chow Mien - Rs 325

Awesome flavors and freshness. You can see for yourself, eh?

The menu has a comprehensive Thai cuisine section, a few Chinese dishes, and some other additions as well (check out the whole menu on the restaurant's EatOye page), although the sandwiches/burgers have been removed.  

Verdict: if you like Khau Suey, you will probably enjoy the offerings at Khausa. 

While the economical prices and long car ride have been bid adieu with the restaurant's relocation to main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz (the head waiter told us that the lack of parking space in front of Khausa on main Tariq Road was the main reason for the restaurant's shut down there), the diners have gained in terms of ambiance, variety and freshness/quality of the food/ingredients. 

The customers that could previously not drive out all the way to Tariq Road and meander through it's heavy traffic, now have a nice place to sit down and eat Khau Suey.

Oh how I wish that everyone on this earth could afford to eat good, clean, and delicious food like this! :-(

The Diner, Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, Phase 5, Defence

I had read both positive and negative reviews of this eatery, called The Diner, which is located on main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz along the same side lane that has Espresso, Habitt, Sawadika and Subway - that one day I decided to try it out.

When we entered, the waiters told us that the floor upstairs was the smoking area, and asked us to sit on the ground floor.

However, we proceeded upstairs any way, as the ground floor was a bit short of space. 

The ambience is anything but that of a "diner". Its quite on the chic side, with dim lighting, huge glass windows, and tilted mirrors adorning mahogany colored walls.

The walls have pictures of the dishes on the menu. Unique!

The Diner is famous for its burgers. Main entree's are priced at the usual Rs 450-700.

They also have what is called "Brick Oven" Pizza.

The Gourmet Burgers menu that they are supposedly famous for.
However, burgers are not on our family's favorite foods list. 

The dessert menu is surprisingly limited.

Their beverages menu indicates that diners can come here for just coffee as well. 

French Fries (after the kids took their shares) for Rs 225 plus tax.

Penne in Pesto Sauce, with Grilled Chicken, Mushrooms and Oven-Dried Tomatoes (merely a few strips) for Rs 485 plus tax.
A huge disappointment! The portion-size was a big let-down compared to the price of this entree. Pesto sauce is supposed to be thick and green in color. Can you even see it in this picture? 

The Club Sandwich with Roast Beef, Grilled Chicken, Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato, for Rs 395 plus tax.
There was a choice between white bread and brown bread.
Again, the portion size left a lot to be desired. Also, you'd think they'd throw in some more French Fries and Cole Slaw, which are standard on-the-sides for Clubs, at the rate they are charging!?

Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream, for Rs 285 plus tax.
This was, surprisingly, a huge hit! The brownie was warm and rich.
Might I also add, the waiter's attitude very apparently took a 180 degree turn, from hitherto sullen to very friendly, as soon as we ordered two desserts.
How 'surprising'! Money talks, doesn't it? 

Oreo Sundae for Rs 295 plus tax.
This dessert had two generous scoops of ice cream, one Vanilla and the other Chocolate, topped with crushed Oreo cookies, crumbled brownie chunks, cream and chocolate sauce.
It was very scrumptious and so heavy that one person could not finish it off!

Verdict: I would not recommend The Diner for lunch or dinner, but I think its not so bad for coffee or dessert. The portion size of the dishes was just not worth it, especially in a city like Karachi, where you can easily get a better value for your money (and service by more courteous staff) at other, similarly-priced, upscale joints. 

Espresso, Khayaban-e-Shahbaz, Defence Phase 5

Espresso Coffee House hardly needs any introduction. It is a very popular coffee house/cafe that has three outlets in Karachi: one on Zamzama, another in The Forum shopping mall and the third, its largest outlet, on main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz near the Shamsheer/Hafiz crossing.

Breakfast menu: breakfast at Espresso is very popular.

Desserts are a big hit with young and old alike, especially when complemented by a hot or cold coffee.

When we went at 6 p.m, the diners included a variety of diverse people: young people in groups, ladies in pairs, and students with laptops, not to mention executives and senior couples, all enjoying a cuppa. Note: passive smoking might be an issue while dining here.

Mochaccino @ Rs 245

Mocha Frappe @ Rs 215

Mars cheesecake @ Rs 275 - layers of vanilla cream with cadbury chocolate in between, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Too heavy for a single person, but good when shared by two!

Verdict: Very few, if any, do coffee and cake like Espresso. For most, it is akin to Starbucks in taste. Try it out to see for yourself.

Note: when it is crowded, the guffaw-infused conversations at the adjoining tables can be easily overheard, especially at Espresso's cramped Zamzama outlet. The loud music is a bit of a turn-off  as well, when you are already listening in unintentionally to others' surrounding conversations. Also, passive smoking could be an issue for those who are not used to hanging out with ardent smokers.

Secret Recipe, Khayaban-e-Shahbaz

Note: This franchise has closed down since this post was published. This restaurant no longer exists at this location.

Located on main Khayaban-e-Shahbaz in Defence Phase 6 is an outlet of the international Malaysian food franchise called Secret Recipe.

The interior is spacious and tastefully decorated in red and skin hues.

Here you can see the counter housing their baked goods, in particular the scrumptious cakes. Their cakes are huge in size and priced between RS 1400-Rs 2500 per cake. However, the size and quality of the cake makes the price worth it, especially since other local bakeries offer ordinary gourmet cakes at similar prices. The restaurant has three levels, including a basement.

The seating arrangement has both dining chairs and sofas/couches for the more cafe-style look.

Whenever we have gone to Secret Recipe, we have noticed that it has a family atmosphere, with the usual presence of youngsters/teenagers "chillaxing", in addition to groups of ladies and families with children.

The starter menu. Prices are in the same range as the other expensive restaurants in the vicinity.

Thai cuisine is also on offer in the main menu. You can see that one main a la carte entree costs between Rs 350-500.

We had gone for dessert. The desserts range from Rs 100-Rs 200 exclusive of tax; mainly cake slices of different kinds, including cheesecakes. It is difficult to pick which one to have!

A slice of the cake Chocolate Indulgence cost Rs 165. It was as good as it looks, believe me!

Hot Chocolate

Smarties and ice cream. Notice that the edge of the dessert spoon is inscribed with their name! Unique.

A huge slice of Chocolate Fudge Cake cost Rs 145. And I mean it when I say "huge"! One person can finish off this calorie-infested nemesis of their diet only if they are very hungry.

Verdict: It is a good restaurant with tasty food and high quality desserts. Portion size is satisfactory and the staff is polite and welcoming. Highly recommended for family or girls'/ladies' outings.