Written by: Varda Nisar
Posted on: May 11, 2018 | 
| 中文
Mindanos entrance
Judging by the crowds that we saw during our Friday lunch at the newly opened Mindanos, one would be inclined to suggest that the people of Islamabad really want to give any new eatery a chance to win their hearts, and that the ‘food scene’ in Islamabad is still a long way from being saturated.
Located in F-6 Markaz, it is slightly tucked away behind the restaurant Munchies. Though it did take a minute for us to locate it, we were able to take our car right up to the stairs leading to the place – so parking is definitely not an issue. The restaurant itself is located on the first floor, with a simple, yet modern façade, which gives you the impression of a place that is comfortable by not being pretentious.
Once inside, you are greeted by the Manager and Staff, who lead you into the restaurant where your seating options can vary from the terrace to nice big chunky sofas, having the potential to accommodate large groups and couples out for a nice lunch. The almost floor to ceiling windows provide the interior ample sunlight, while the greenery inside gives the place a serene feel. Music is not on people’s priority list when dining out, but here it was perfect!
The menu itself is diverse, providing you with breakfast options, to continental, steaks, pizza and pasta. The prices were also reasonable which was reflected in our bill.
We started our dining experience with BBQ Wings which was served quickly and tantalizingly hot. We had to give ourselves a minute before we could actually dig into these perfectly spiced, saucy treats. The portion size was huge, putting the main course at risk of not being truly appreciated after such a big starter serving.
Coming to the mains, we ordered the Club Sandwich and the Thai Chicken Red Curry. Though their novelty item is the Molten Lasagna, but as luck would have it they had already run out of it.
The Sandwich was delicious and different. Though I prefer my Club to be in chicken only, the turkey was a game changer. The bread is just so slightly toasted to retain its softness, while the sauces refrained from overwhelming the senses, keeping the meat the center of attention. And let us not forget about the fries – just a slight bit salty and crispy, just as nature had intended them to be. 10/10 for us!
The Thai Chicken Red Curry is part of their fusion menu, so don’t go expecting a perfect replication of your experience of a Thai Curry in Thailand. It is creamy, the hint of coconut ever so subtle, served with egg fried rice, which though being a first for me, wasn’t all that bad. Served with a cabbage salad and steamed vegetables, Mindanos have put their own touch to this favorite of mine, which I am comfortable giving an 8/10.
Our food was accompanied by Butter Beer, which in this heat was much welcomed. A milk and vanilla ice-cream drink, the sweetness of the drink was just so that it didn’t take away anything from the savory side of our meal.
The Dessert, being the last item that one has, is what ties the whole experience together having the capability to either make or break all that came before it. We ordered the Molten Lava Cake, which surprisingly was perfectly balanced. Neither the generous amount of lava that oozed out, nor the cake itself were overly sweet, the result being that it didn’t make you feel full and heavy like most desserts.
The staff was fabulous. They checked up on us during our food, and considering it’s a new eatery, asked our opinions about the portion size, overall experience and what we would prefer to see changed.
The food came out to be under PKR 1500 per person and was well worth the money. The timing of the food, the freshness, its flavors, the way they managed the rush hour like pros, which to this point most eateries can’t handle - was all spot on, which makes us give it full points.
Our only regret, having missed out the Molten Lasagna!
All images provided by the writer unless mentioned otherwise
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