In my last post, I talked about the most happening mall that has opened up in K-town: Dolmen Mall, Clifton. It is hands down the most sprawling and spacious mall in the city!
Well, this month, Gloria Jean's Coffees opened up yet another outlet on the upper floor of Dolmen Mall. Pictured above is its main (ground) floor.
Situated under this picturesque canopy on the ground floor, is an aquamarine colored water body having small gurgling fountains, which adds a nice touch to the overall ambiance.
Result? People, especially children, continually throng its periphery, taking photos and just watching the water bubble.
No surprise that a security guard is always nearby, trying to stop little children from climbing up on the edge of the fountain, lest they fall into it in their excitement!
Can you notice
Cinnabon in the distance in the photo above? :)
As you can see, the shops on the upper floor of the mall are yet to start doing business.
Can you guess what that centrally located kiosk visible in the photo above, sells?
Hint: FroYo (Frozen Yogurt).
En route to Gloria Jean's, you will pass the about-to-open outlet of Gun Smoke.
The entrance to Gloria Jean's Coffees is a bit obscure (it is not visible from the ground floor), but once you arrive on the first floor and spot Gun Smoke, you can find it easily.
A few small tables have been placed outside the entrance on the veranda, for those who'd like a view of the lower floor of the mall below whilst dining.
If you walk into Gloria Jean's and wonder why everyone seems to be reading a newspaper, its because their menu is in the shape of one. :)
Nice touch, me thinks! :)
Local Pakistanis are not much into reading, as it is.
The "newspaper" has different "sections". This one details the wraps, sandwiches and steaks.
All-day-available breakfast menu.
What I liked is the article next to the menu that describes the benefits of eating a healthy breakfast! An avid reader and writer like myself awards a big thumbs-up to the menu at Gloria Jean's.
Desserts, enjoyed by most with a caffeine fix.
Coffee menu.
They also have chillers, milkshakes and good ol' desi chai (tea), latte style.
The staff more than welcomed my taking a shot as they prepared an espresso shot (pun unintended).
I like earthen tones in interior decor. The couches, ottomans and sofa chairs add a very cozy, soothing touch to the ambiance.
The wooden walls and floor are reminiscent of walking into a cottage in the hills. :)
As much as possible, I try to never photograph people when I take pictures in eateries.
Nevertheless, I've now learned how to "edit" (smudge out) the faces of any people who come into the photos I take, to respect their privacy.
Overall, I like this outlet of
Gloria Jean's much more than
the one on Sindhi Muslim.
The best part about it were its huge glass-pane windows that provide a wide view over the Karachi shoreline, allowing diners to gaze
out over an as-yet uninhabited area along the sea.
I am sorry I could not capture that view, since we visited this outlet at night.
The delectable desserts, including cheesecakes, Black Forest cakes, chocolate cakes, cookies and tarts. (Refer to the menu above)
Book-lined bookshelves too! I like. :)
Give me a book (or anything else to read) over a television program any day.
There is no dearth of space in this outlet. Nevertheless, expect a long queue at the cashier when you place an order.
The wood-paned walls and tall indoor plants add to the homely atmosphere.
Aussie Chicken Club Sandwich - Rs 415 plus tax
This sandwich came with Cole Slaw, chilli sauce, a generous helping of French Fries.
It was just okay; nothing to write home about. The sandwich and its contents (cold cuts of chicken) were decidedly....um, cold, whereas the fries were hot. Eh?
I would probably not order it again.
Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese - Rs 325 plus tax
Accompanied by a piece of garlic bread, the bowl in which this arrived was quite unique. Its rim was much wider than its center, which was deep.
The quantity looked little at first, but after I dipped the fork in and mixed the gooey potpourri around, it looked like this (below):
Cheesy sauce generously draped the macaroni, which was dotted with cubed chicken, green bell peppers and mushrooms. The portion size was great! I had trouble finishing it off, even though I was ravenous.
The only thing I did not like was that I could taste the rawness of the diced capsicums and onions in the macaroni.
It seemed as if the macaroni had been tossed with cold vegetables and chicken, and topped with hot cheesy sauce.
I prefer pasta that is baked through after all its ingredients are added to it, to ensure that the veggies are cooked, yet crispy.
This differentiates a hot pasta dish from a salad!
Chocolate Fudge Cake slice - Rs 210 plus tax.
Very rich and dense, this cake left the quintessentially bitter taste of pure dark chocolate in the mouth.
The
good thing about all-day breakfast items that are found on the menus of cafes all over Karachi nowadays, is that there is a wide array
of things that children love to eat that parents can order for them, such as omelets and
French Toast.
My children wanted
Waffles. However, we were told that waffles were not available. What a downer!
So instead we ordered
Blueberry Pancakes.
Blueberry Pancakes - Rs 295 plus tax. The cute little jug contained warm, oozy maple syrup.
The pancakes were light, fluffy and warm. A hit!
Potato cakes - Rs 50 plus tax - accompanied the pancakes.
These were thinly sliced, square-shaped slivers of potato sandwiched and baked with what tasted like sour or clotted cream in between; I am not sure, though. Whatever the filling was, we liked these potato cakes nevertheless.
Verdict: What the savory fare lacked in taste, the location, comforting ambiance, sprawling view, rustic interior and family atmosphere (expect lots of little ones running up and down the outlet!) made up in overall dining experience.
I will probably return here some day in the future, insha'Allah, to capture the view from the windows; probably in the day time, especially if and when any of my girlfriend(s) from abroad customarily visit during the summer.
FYI: Contact number of Dolmen Mall, Clifton: 021-35294255
UPDATE
I went back soon to capture the view of the sea from the glass pane windows in Gloria Jean's Coffees, Dolmen Mall during the day:
You have to admit that that is one
great view!
The management sure was using their brains when they invested in this space of the mall to open a GJC outlet.
During the day, GJC is brimming with lady shoppers and their children; not to mention, young students lounging around with their laptops. There is a constant turnover of customers of all age groups.
The bright light suffuses the entire eatery.
What I like is the family friendly atmosphere. Your kid won't be told off or glared at, by either the staff or the customers, if s/he tries a few typical naughty antics (viz. standing on the couches, pattering across the wooden-floored corridors, or staring at the delectable cake display with their nose plastered flat against the glass, demanding their choice of a cake slice at the top of their voice! *sigh*).
We had some chillers - perfect refreshments for a hot summer afternoon.
From left to right: Chocolate Cake (again!),
Mint Chocolate Bomb (small: Rs 245), and
Crème Brûlée Chiller (small: Rs 245). The latter both had whipped cream toppings (on request - the servers ask your preference).
The chillers were quite refreshing, with the
Mint Chocolate Bomb containing a subtle but not overpowering blend of mint and chocolate (duh?), laced slightly with an undermined taste of coffee. Do pass over the heavy, sweetened whipped cream blob on top if you are counting your calories. [I am not. :)]
On a subsequent visit to Gloria Jeans with friends, more savory lunch items were ordered.
This is
Spaghetti Bolognese, for Rs 446
The beefy sauce was everywhere. Extremely filling. For those who avoid red meat, this dish is not for you. :)
Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Rs 455 plus tax
Penne Al Arabiatta - Rs 446
Portion size deserves a thumbs up. The pasta was cooked through and drenched heavily in the sauces.
And now, snaps from a more recent breakfast meeting:
From the all-day breakfast menu: Aussie Omelet - Rs 365 plus tax
Low-fat Frittata - Rs 315 plus tax
Cinnamon French Toast - Rs 215
Jumbo Combo: Garlic Bread, Onion Rings, Buffalo Wings, and Potato Skins, accompanied by 3 kinds of sauces. For Rs 595 plus tax.
All in all we were a satisfied lot after having our food.
