New York Coffee, Zamzama, DHA 5

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـانِ الرَّحِيمِ

Apologies to my readers and subscribers for the year-long hiatus in updating this blog. We had not stopped eating out, though, in case you were wondering. Its just that I got tired of waiting for photos to upload here on blogger. :)

In the meantime, though, I was actively uploading photos (and the occasional video) of my foodie experiences on instagram. 

New York Coffee has been around for quite some time now, located on Zamzama boulevard just opposite the prominent building of Pizza Hut. It is a stone's throw away from Bella Vita. 

The cafe is quite spacious and has an open-plan kind of design. 

The seating arrangement includes wooden chairs and soft couches, both. High chairs are available for babies.
That's not a window in the photo above; the walls are all adorned with life-size mural-like pictures of scenes in New York. 

The bar: where the beverage-concocting magic takes place at the hands of the baristas. 

Muffins, chocolate fondue, lava cakes, cheesecakes, chocolate chip cookies, and other delectable baked goodies are on display near the coffee and drinks bar.

The cafe has several savories on offer to go along with coffee and desserts. Prices on the menu are quoted exclusive of taxes.

I spotted their 9-inch, thin crust pizza ordered by diners on an adjoining table. 

Coffees and teas. I have only tried their cappuccino and it was very good! 

Sorry about the blurred shots of the menu. 

I've heard their lava cake called Molten Rock Chocolate is tops! Here is what it purportedly looks like.
I haven't tried it yet, though, much as I love lava cakes. 

They also have special tables for pairs and couples. 

Mix Berries Delight Waffles- Rs 425

This is our favorite item on the menu, for which we keep going back. Few places in Karachi serve fresh, hot waffles straight off the griddle, and New York Coffee is one of them. 

They also serve waffles with plain maple syrup or Nutella. However, their "multi-berry" waffles come with tinned (and frozen) strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, dollops of whipped cream, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, in addition to maple syrup. 

Enough calories for two people! Or, as in our case, 3 children. :)

Fried Eggs With Beef Bacon - Rs 460

We had to ask for more bread, but otherwise, this dish left no room for complains. The egg portion was massive! I can't eat three eggs like this, so we shared (we do that a lot). 

Vegetarian Crepe - Rs 395

This crepe arrives hot, with a sumptuous center filled with mushrooms, melted cheese, and black olives. The crepes are large and soft.

The style of folding the crepes changed on a subsequent visit. And where were the Heinz baked beans? Forget much? :P

Nutella Pancake - Rs 375

The pancakes have Nutella in the batter too. You can see chocolate spots dotting the core of the cooked pancake when you dig in and break them apart to eat. 

Ready to dig in: drizzled with maple syrup and dotted with butter.

One of the best pancakes I have had in K-town: hot, light and fluffy. Much better than the overrated ones I have ordered at Espresso, The Pantry, or Marigold and Honey Cafe.

I don't like how they serve the butter though. Lurpak butter sachets?! Really? 

For a picture of what their "multi-berry" pancakes and a cup of cappuccino looks like, check out this instagram shot that I took: 

Four Cheese Omelet - Rs 450

The omelet was huge and stuffed and topped with melted cheeses! The hash brown was crisp and hot.

They accommodate customers' choice of either bran or white bread with the egg dishes on offer. The portion size of the eggs was once again more than enough for two adults. 

I like my omelets nicely golden browned, so I shall probably pass this in the future, and just stick to fried eggs.

Besides the food, New York Coffee cafe sure knows how to whip up a great cup of coffee! I sprinkled brown sugar on the creamy froth atop my 'small' cappuccino (yes, they serve large-sized caffeine portions too) and stirred it for your viewing pleasure. 

***

Verdict: Portion sizes of the dishes are great. You should go really hungry, if you want to finish your main entree dish and sample some of the great desserts on the menu as well. 

As for the ambiance, it's all good, except for the loud music and cigarette smoke, both of which are a real turn-off when its crowded! Since the cafe is open-plan and allows customers to smoke, you can end up inhaling some of the toxic vapors whilst dining. And who enjoys that?! 

Also, if the table next to you becomes occupied with boisterous youngsters, you probably won't enjoy your meal due to the added louse noise and lack of privacy. So go at a down time. 

The staff is courteous, welcoming, and friendly. The coffee and desserts won't disappoint!

If you like coffee, lava cakes, pancakes, and waffles, this is the place for you to visit next time.

Pizza Point, Badar Commercial, Defence phase 5

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

It took us a rather long time to discover Pizza Point.
Apparently it has been around for a while, considering that it delivers 24/7 for free all over Karachi, and already has many outlets in the sprawling metropolis.

Earlier this year, a new Pizza Point outlet opened up in the Badar Commercial area, right across the road from Bundoo Khan. 

This bling announced its arrival on the street that already embodies a thriving 'food avenue'.

The outlet has 2 floors. The ground floor has a 'starry night', outdoorsy kind of theme as it's interior decor, with lots of fake plants.
That's the salad bar in the background - a bit 'bare bones' as you can see.

Couches and booths predominantly serve as seating for larger groups. 

The upper floor is more airy, spacious and well-lit.

Reminiscent of Pizza Hut, the red-walled upper floor has both tables and chairs, as well as booths and couches.
Don't even think about setting foot inside the washrooms in this outlet, even to just wash your (or your children's) hands. They stink! [*gag*]

There is also a private dining area/room in one corner of this floor, which can be reserved in advance.

There is the room, visible in the background in the above shot, where you can see glass windows. We once reserved it for a larger, extended family dinner.

Chicken Lasagne - Rs 300

The lasagne was delicious! And I was really glad to be able to order it with chicken instead of beef.

Another shot of Chicken Lasagne, from a subsequent trip.
For the whole menu at Pizza Point, click here.

Salad - Rs 275
We have found the salad bar items (pastas, seasonal fruit, croutons, boiled potatoes, and dressings) to almost always be very fresh. Notice how the croutons resemble 'namak paray'? :)
 
What we usually order at Pizza Point for our main course, is one of the "Dhamaka" deals, as well as the 'Buy one, get one free' offer on pizzas that can be availed via the Rs 500 membership card.
Click here to view latest deals on offer.
The deals prove much more economical.

Two large pizzas and one pitcher - Rs 1299
In the background: Cheese 'n Pepperoni 
In the front: Afghani Feast

The Afghani Feast flavor rocks, because of a special sauce that they use on its base.
It is a bit on the spicy side.

The Cheese 'N Pepperoni flavor is loved by my family.
As the name suggests, it has only two main toppings: cheese and beef pepperoni.

Arabian Green

Arabian Green is one of my favorite pizzas at Pizza Point!
It is quite spicy, because of an underlying base of green chili sauce (hence the name).
The jalapenos and generous swirl of garlic sauce on top of it also add an awesome twist to its flavors.
Don't have this if you don't like spicy food, though.

Another shot of the large Cheese 'N Pepperoni Pizza

The Arabian, without the flash: Check out the garlic sauce that accentuates every bite.

Verdict: Pizza Point offers great pizzas at comparatively economical rates, especially if you avail their membership. 

Some of their flavors are very unique, such as Afghani Feast and Arabian Green. We have also tried a lighter tasting flavor, called Italian Lite, which will be loved by those who dislike spices. 

A great alternative to Pizza Hut, in my opinion. No offense. :)

Note: This outlet at Badar Commercial has no play area for children. Also, their management needs to seriously spruce up and maintain the washrooms' level of sanitation.

Here is a link to the Pizza Point Facebook page.

Breakfast at Charming Snacks, Clifton

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

I have already blogged about how we enjoy dining at Charming Snacks at night; an eatery located on the main road outside the side lane leading into Delhi Colony, with the home store Habitt nearby.

Well, there is a small kiosk just behind Charming Snacks that serves lachchay-dar paratha's with omelets on weekend mornings (Saturdays and Sundays), which are very much like those available at the famous Quetta Alamgir Hotel on main Alamgir Road.

Since breakfast eating out is the rage of the day nowadays in Karachi, with many eateries now offering an early-bird menu for the hungry early risers, and also since the short winter daylight hours facilitate going out in the mornings on weekends, we decided to try out the anda paratha breakfast here.

2-egg omelet - Rs 40 (Rs 20 per egg)

This omelet was full of chopped onions and green chillies, just the way I like it. However, the generous topping of black pepper powder was something I could have easily done without.
Nevertheless, it was a good anda!

Lachcha (لچھےدار to be exact!) Paratha - Rs 15

Dotted with black kalonji (black cumin seeds), and slightly sweet, these paratha's are delivered to you so piping hot, that you need to really practice self-control otherwise your fingertips can get burned trying to break them apart before they have cooled down. Steam exudes as the crisp folds unleash their latent heat.

Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, these paratha's are made with white flour and tava-fried, so it is best to have them only once in a while.

And like all unhealthy foods, they taste absolutely divine with those omelets! :)

Ever since my other half has had a taste of these paratha's, he is the one who usually suggests we go to Alamgir Road or Charming Snacks for breakfasts on Sundays.

Called "pizza", this local dhaba "invention" comprises of the base of a lachcha paratha topped with an omelet - Rs 35 each.
Our children prefer these "pizzas" because they are less of a hassle than eating separate anda's with paratha's on hot plates balanced precariously on their laps in the car.

Doodhpatti Chai - Rs 20

I am not a big fan of our local dhaba-style doodhpatti chai, simply because it is almost always too sweet, and more often than not, it comes topped with a crust of thick "balai" (cream) on top, as you can see in the picture above.

However, I love how they serve it in ceramic cups! :) Strong (as you can see) and creamy (made with organic, "khula doodh" or un-packaged milk), it is best enjoyed by those who love a thick, slow and rich brew of tea.

Verdict: Easy on the pocket and a great option for chilly, wintery mornings, the lachchay-dar paratha's and "pizzas" available in this small kiosk behind Charming Snacks are a great option if you cannot go all the way to the crowded Alamgir Quetta Hotel on a weekend morning for breakfast.

The service is good and swift. Just do remember to take along hand sanitizers, tissues and a newspaper or two to place on your lap, as eating crisp and flaky paratha's in the car, on plates that are steaming hot at first, can get a tad messy!

This is desi naashta eating out at its best! :)

Pizza One, Shaheed-e-Millat Road

 I stand guilty as charged. I visited an outlet of Pizza One more than a year ago, and only recently remembered that I have yet to publish the post about that visit on this blog.
I was reminded by Pizza One's prevalent Facebook ads, which made me realize that the business is thriving.

The spacious upper-floor outlet of Pizza One is located in Bahadurabad.

The board is easily visible from main Shaheed-e-Millat road.
The slogan is "Big and Better".

The entrance downstairs leads to a reception area adjacent to their takeaway kiosk, and an indoor waiting area.

Please bear in mind that prices have gone up since this visit of ours to Pizza One last year.
Their contact number is still 021-34321370-4, as visible here, though.

 

Its good for diners who usually eat at comparatively cramped eateries to once in a while enter a restaurant where space is ample.
This lobby on the ground floor leads upstairs to the main dining hall.

A separate party room is located upstairs.

This room was vacant. My guess is that it is reserved for private parties.

This is the main dining hall, complete with a few wall-mounted plasma television sets blaring sports, and a DIY salad bar.
As I said, its very spacious and brightly lit. The decor is pleasant and the ambiance is family-friendly.

No family-friendly eatery comes without a play area that will keep the young ones entertained. 

I really liked the "lapbook"-style menu.

Pizzas are on offer in many different appetizing flavors.

As I said, prices must have gone up by now. But you can see that they are still pretty reasonable.

To find out the latest prices, please click here to view the menu on the official Pizza One Facebook page.

Don't go all "eww" now, because I just had to showcase how clean the washroom was! I can't stand the stinky, filthy washrooms in almost all of Karachi's eateries, including those found in outlets of foreign franchises, such as KFC and Pizza Hut. Very few restaurants manage to keep theirs immaculately clean and properly functioning, even if they start off with a good washroom, so credit must be given where it is due.
Note: one of the cleanest washrooms is found in BBQ Tonite. 

Some new additions to the menu - reminds one of Pizza Hut doesn't it? Gotta keep up with the competition, eh?

Fajita Feast Pizza, regular size, Rs 440
Er, I think they need to replace this baking tray.
The pizza was delectable, though. No complains there.

Regular Tikka Feast Pizza - Rs 440

Verdict: Thumbs up for the spacious and clean outlet, the prompt service and the quality and taste of the pizzas. The little ones had a blast in the play area.

I think its great that there are thriving local pizza businesses in our huge cosmopolitan city that are preventing monopolization by international franchises, if you know what I mean. :)

Would definitely visit Pizza One again, if I have the chance, insha'Allah.