The construction-ridden and ever-narrowing streets of Zamzama now have another hotspot to boast of -– Olé, the latest entry in the world of cafes and restaurant.Located in Lane 6, right opposite an empty plot, much to the delight of the customers looking for a convenient parking spot, the café offers a simple and elegant, all-wooden –– bar the windows –– entrance, that sets it apart from the existing all-glass facades that many eateries have adopted.
The lighting is neither dark enough for it to be mistaken for a posh restaurant, nor bright enough to be taken as a teen hangout –– and the seating arrangement limits the crowd to easily manageable groups, both in terms of numbers and sound levels. Since the clientele comprises of all age groups, the seating includes regular tables and chairs as well as cushioned benches.
The eatery caters to diners and coffee-lovers combined, and business hours are from lunchtime to just past midnight. Its fancy, colourful menu proved to be an extensive one; offering everything from nachos to steaks, burgers, Italian offerings, sandwiches and desserts. In the beverages section the menu included both lattes and cappuccinos –– including flavoured versions of both –– as well as iced substitutes, milk-based and soft drinks.
While the complementary offering of garlic bread was not the best start to the afternoon, as it lacked the garlic spirit and zest, the nachos, complemented by the pepper dip, made up for them, as did the fries.
The main course, in the form of the chimichanga –– pastry filled with chicken, cheese and a healthy, and generous, serving of vegetables –– and steak Olé, accompanied by a variety of steak sauces, arrived on-stage; the appetising aroma made us dive in straight away.
The chimichanga tasted more of cheese than anything else, but the serving was generous enough to fill one’s stomach, even if a day’s fast preceded the meal, and the salsa-type sauce definitely enhanced the taste. Do make a note that, in a similar manner to steaks, the chimichanga must be eaten hot or will become decidedly unappetising. Steak Olé lacked the a uniform level of cooking essential for steaks, however, with its serving of vegetables and potatoes on the side, it made for a satisfactory meal; not sparkling but filling.
Coming to the desserts selection, we were faced with quite a variety to choose from and decided to go with the vanilla mint blast, since it carried a “must try” tag, and a blueberry cheesecake. As we waited to be served we took in the ambiance and the music, which was on the loud side, considering the café’s target age-range. However, we did not get too much time to savour the surroundings as the service was quick and our dessert was soon on the table.
While the mint in the mint blast was on the lighter side, the scrumptious cheesecake, with a healthy amount of blueberries, was an apt end to a good meal.
On a separate visit, we decided to sample the coffee and a walnut brownie with vanilla ice cream. While it took 35 minutes for the coffee to arrive –– owing to machinery breakdown –– the walnut brownie, laden with chocolate syrup, made the long wait worthwhile. The latte, (made from Indian beans as we were told) although on the lighter side, was a welcome sight, especially as it boasted just the right amount of froth (unlike most outlets in Karachi) and tasted divine with the brownie.
Overall, the eatery could very well prove to be a major hit on Zamzama, not only due to its friendly and (mostly) quick service, but also the range offered on the menu, and their coffee. Although pricewise it is at par with the majority of the restaurants in the area, the entire experience makes it worthwhile.
© Faras Ghani 2008
Published in The Review (Dawn newspaper) Jun 5, 2008
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