Original Crepe Factory, Khadda Market, Phase 5, Defence

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Tucked away in one of the side lanes off Khadda Market on main Khayaban-e-Shamsheer is Original Crepe Factory.

The website of this business is surprisingly quite well-maintained and comprehensive. Browsing it made me want to try out crepes for breakfast on a Sunday.

Original Crepe Factory is located in the side lane near the clothing store Labels (which is clearly visible on main Khayaban-e-Shamsheer).

There is a parking lot right opposite, on the side of the road having the "banglows" (*chortle* :P).

We were the first and only ones there. 

I was immediately disappointed to note that, even at 9:45 a.m in the morning, the drapes were drawn and there was no natural light. This made us almost want to go elsewhere.

Almost. :)

The staff insisted that they could not lift the drapes.

Anyhow, everything else in the ambiance was alright. The couches and coffee tables were comfortable and inviting. However, space was limited.

The rest of the interior gave off a warm aura due to the mahogany hues and the ample use of wood. 

There are seating options for lone crepe aficionados as well. :)

The couches are situated just in front of the bar and coffee counter....and the wall-mounted television (yawn).

The staff cordially shut it off when we requested them to, since we were the only customers. We enjoy talking to each other over our meals, instead of staring passively at a screen.

You can see the baristas prepare your caffe's and lattes right there, on the coffee machine near the counter. A great chance for my home-schooled children to see how a latte is made. 

Even the crepe-making machine (a flat, non-stick griddle that looked like this) on which the staff prepares your crepes, is right there in front of you. My children really enjoyed the live cooking demo. :)

They have never had crepes before, so they kept asking how crepes are different from pancakes, until they finally saw them being made.

Original Crepe Factory call themselves a bistro. 

Thats the best shot I got of the menu.

Most of the crepes in the a la carte menu range between Rs 300 and Rs 480. All prices quoted are inclusive of taxes.

There are both savory and sweet varieties of crepes on offer. The portion size leaves nothing to be desired.

They have a special set of items for breakfast (brunch), called "Omelet Crepes".

Chicken Sticks - Rs 275

They were out of Mozzarella Sticks. Disappointing! :-|

These chicken sticks that we ordered instead, were served with a tasty sauce/mayo that tasted almost exactly like tartar sauce.

Hot Chocolate Crepe - Rs 430 

Drizzled with hot chocolate sauce on top, this crepe was stuffed inside with Nutella. A chocaholic's calling, truly! :)

Hands down, the Hot Chocolate crepe was a big hit with my family, especially the kids (even the baby!)

Which chocolate-lover wouldn't enjoy a breakfast like this?

I took another shot to highlight the ample, oozing Nutella filling.

You'll be licking the sticky chocolate off your fingers and plate when you have this crepe!

Mushroom and Cheese Omelet Crepe - Rs 420

The good stuff oozes out when you cut it open. 

We ate the crepes by dissecting them down their middle first.

You can see the alternating layers of omelet and cheddar inside the delicate folds of the crepe.

Behold the melted cheese!

The piping hot crepe melts the sliced cheddar when it is folded over it. Yum.

In this shot, you can see the mushrooms as well.

Cheese, mushrooms and omelet in every bite. Delicious!

Cafe Mocha - Rs 190

Their coffees are somewhat cheaper than the ones at other popular joints (such as Espresso, Roasters, Gloria Jeans, and Cinnabon), even though the quality and quantity is the same - something that I really liked.

Tea - Rs 90 (tea bag chai, not doodhpatti).

Latte Macchiato - Rs 190

I am a bit confused. I ordered a latte macchiato but got what distinctly seemed like a cafe latte.

In the description of this drink on their menu card, they stated that it would comprise of the contents of a latte in reverse: steamed milk, topped with milk foam, topped with espresso. 

Whatever the case, a macchiato is supposed to have a "mark" of espresso on top of white milk (and hence the name), no? Where is it in the picture above? :P

Whateva! :-/

***

Verdict: It was an enjoyable outing, and the crepes were great. No complains about the taste, quality, or quantity of the food. The service was prompt and cordial. The staff made us feel very much at home, despite the din created by our spirited children. 

I will be going there again if I ever feel like having crepes, in sha Allah. :) I don't think we Pakistanis get crepes so easily anywhere else in Karachi.

Butler's Chocolate Cafe, Dolmen Mall, Clifton

For the authentic chocolate flavor and quite a wide array of breakfast and savory items, Butlers Chocolate Cafe has definitely made its mark in Karachi.

Their first outlet still operates successfully on main Zamzama boulevard, but they are now also doing business in full swing at their new outlet which is on the ground floor of the burgeoning business center, Dolmen Mall Clifton.

Sadly, the outlet resembles more an airport 'thoroughfare' waiting lounge than a cafe, as it is open on 3 sides, with the constant heavy traffic of shoppers and passers-by having a look at what you're eating. Hardly any privacy. 

A furniture store flanks its back side. I must admit that this adds to the overall aesthetics of the ambience. :) 

Ouch. The tables are a bit too close together for comfort. Plus, I am not a big fan of the stiff, uncomfortable chairs in this cafe (which are the same in design as those in the Dolmen Mall Food Court up on the 3rd floor).

This outlet of Butler's is right opposite the debut branch of UK's Debenhams.

For hot chocolate, nothing beats this: Butler's Famous Hot Chocolate - Rs 290

Interestingly, the waiter at this outlet took our order by tapping away on his smartphone! :)

The service was prompt and polite. No complains. 

As for the hot chocolate itself, I can safely say that hitherto I have not found a combination of sugar and chocolate of any kind done as well as Butler's (except perhaps the chocolate cake at Nando's!). In fact, the only reason we visited this outlet in the first place was because of my sudden craving for a hot, chocolate drink (which is thankfully rather rare).

My children love this starter: Mozzarella Cheese Sticks - Rs 370

Those were some massive cheese sticks! Finger-licking good (hot and crisp). 

Although the price is steep, the quantity was worth it. We also enjoyed the sauces that accompanied them.

Chicken and Mushroom Soup - Rs 230

The bowl seems shallow in the picture, but the soup's quantity was good, as was its taste and texture. It was so hot that I had to wait a bit before tasting it. It was creamy and delicious, laced with ample, chunky mushroom slices. 

Here is the total bill of our rather eclectic snack-tryst. 

As you can see, the prices were exclusive of GST (Government Sales Tax). 

Verdict: A good place to hop into if you have a sudden craving for chocolate or coffee whilst shopping at Dolmen Mall. Don't expect any peace and quiet or privacy, though. You'll feel more like you're probably sitting on the platform of a railway/subway station. :P

Bella Vita, Zamzama, Defence Phase 5

The Italian patisserie of sorts, Bella Vita, recently made its debut on 9th Commercial Lane, Zamzama. In Italian, Bella Vita means "good life".

It is located in the lane opposite Pizza Hut, a little on the back side.

I don't understand a single one of those words! Thankfully we have Google Translate. :)
The meanings of these 4 Italian words are: sweet dish (dessert), cup, drink, and ice cream.

Tons of woodwork accentuates the cosiness of the interior. Wood seems to be the raging interior decor trend nowadays.

The walls are embossed with the Bella Vita logo, and the lights are covered with the design of a city skyline.

 You can see that a lot of work has gone into decorating this Bella Vita outlet.

Paintings adorn the wooden walls inside.

The interior designer or owner seems to be a big fan of Vincent Van Gogh.

A small tray is erected in one corner from which customers can pick up straws, sachets of brown sugar, napkins, etc.

Like every other business on Zamzama, space is neither available, nor a plus point.
However, whatever space there is, has been furnished to maximize comfort, with wood furniture and comfy, high-backed couches.

The counter displaying all the gelato flavors is located right in front of the entrance, so that as soon as you step inside, a colorful array of sweet treats warmly welcomes you.

Notice the chandeliers? I like!

Coffee machine and other dessert-preparing paraphernalia behind the counter (photographed with the staff's permission).



Right next to the entrance also lies a kiosk offering customers a flick through glossy foreign magazines. Thankfully they are not cheap celebrity tabloids!
As always, I love indoor planted greens.

Hot Chocolate is available for Rs 190

Can't help agree with their logo, eh? 

As the name suggests, loads of sweet stuff is on offer here at Bella Vita.

Lots of sweet offerings, ranging in price from Rs 200 - Rs 400.

Hot and cold beverages. I tried my best, but the photo still came out
 blurry. You can make out the entrees if you peer hard enough, I guess. :)

The delectable-looking gelato spread.

There is something here even for the diabetics and weight-watchers - at an added price.

Chocolate-covered gelato bars too!

The gelato flavors are not plain, but blends of different ingredients and sauces.

Many more desserts are also available, viz. tarts, cakes, cookies, et al.

I think they caramelize the tops of the puddings in these little ramekins to convert them into hard-topped Crème Brûlées just before serving them.

Cinnamon Rolls - Rs 225 plus tax, each. You can request the staff to heat these up before serving them, which is what we did.

Regular Hazelnut Gelato - Rs 140 plus tax
This was an appetizing blend of chocolate and hazelnut flavors. Soft and light, and definitely less creamy than regular ice cream, you could feel the crunch of the sugary crystals as you took a bite.

Regular Tiramisu Gelato - Rs 140 plus tax
Light coffee flavored gelato that would definitely not jeopardize your night sleep. 

Bella Vita offer cakes too.
Every eatery does huge slices of sumptuous cakes nowadays, don't they? But who's complaining? :)
Red Velvet seems to be the in-demand ruler of the roost that seems to outclass every other cake on the menu!

The prices of cakes are the same as those at other similar eateries ~ Rs 2500 per 3 pounds.

Glazed Cinnamon Roll - Rs 225 plus tax

A warm, sticky toffee sauce was drizzled all around the sugary-glaze-topped, delectable cinnamon roll that was served dusted generously with fragrant cinnamon powder.
The kids tucked in, and every unwinding of the doughy twirl brought about satisfied sighs from us.

 Chocolate Lava Cake - Rs 350 plus tax
In the background: Mozzarella Sticks

The mozzarella cheese sticks were nothing to write home about; they were more than a bit on the dry and bland side.

However, the lava cake was just divine! It was very rich, because of the heavy melted chocolate that oozes out of its center, not to mention the blobs of cream that are generously drizzled on the plate along with it.

I made this video to show what a quintessential "molten lava cake" looks like when it is cut open (FYI: I own all copyrights to this video, so please do not share).

Verdict: Bella Vita seems to be here to stay. I think the gelato is quite affordable, if you remember that it is a very unique kind of ice cream with special ingredients.

That being said, since one can buy a filling plate of biryani or a succulent tikka with the same money that just a scoop of gelato at Bella Vita costs, we can admit that the sweet indulgences of Bella Vita are probably better for once-in-a-blue-moon treats on special occasions.

That is just my opinion though. :)