Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: September 29, 2020 | 
| 中文
Waffles from 'The Pancakes' (photo credits to 'The Pancakes')
International and national food chains, large-sized restaurants, and well-established food joints are more likely to draw in more people as they offer consistent quality and service compared to a new neighborhood deli, corner coffee shop, or the little bake house. Places that one has frequented for years, are fairly predictable in terms of the menu, taste, and the likely dent to the pocket. What you miss out on is a sense of experimentation, the spirit of supporting small businesses, and an overall more personalized experience. But the newcomers in the restaurant industry must also realize that at the end of the day it will be their taste, quality of service, and the trust that they build with their clients that decide the fate of their ventures.
‘The Pancakes’ in I-8 sector of Islamabad is one such small eatery, that defines itself as a dessert shop but offers an array of waffles, desserts, savory items, hot and cold drinks, and of course, its raison d'être, pancakes. A small space nestled in the upcoming side of I-8 Markaz, the seating capacity is about 12 seats, with lots of natural light that adds to its charm.
The Restaurant Interior (photo credits to 'The Pancakes')
Minimally but tastefully decorated, ‘The Pancakes’ opened its doors for the patrons earlier this year. “We soon had to close the place for dine-in due to the pandemic, but kept serving for take away, car dine-ins, and home deliveries,” explains the first-time entrepreneur and eager owner of The Pancakes, Mamoon Musaddiq. It opened the dine-in services again in August, and has the potential to be the perfect hideout for those who live close by and want to enjoy some quiet time with their laptops on a sunny afternoon. If only the food on offer and the service for diners becomes as charming as its dollhouse-like interior.
The menu is very exciting at first glance, and offers many variations in its five sections, namely: pancakes, waffles, savory, desserts, and drinks. I didn’t mind the fact that the mango milkshake which I wanted to order, wasn’t available. But running out of Nutella for a Nutella-filled Pancake, in a pancake shop, is indefensible.
Disappointed but trying to stay positive, I started with the Waffle Burger. While the breezy waffle was perfect with just enough sponginess, thickness, and moisture, the filling of chicken chunks in a red sauce was rather disappointing in terms of flavor. The Chicken Panini ordered by another diner had the exact same filling in their bun, despite being a different order.
The Burger Waffle (photo credits to the writer)
The best part of the meal was the Banana and Chocolate Chip Pancake, which was wholesome, soft, and chewy with just the right amount of sweetness. It is comforting to know that finally there was an establishment offering freshly made, authentic pancakes in the capital. The apple crumble also made up for the earlier woes, as it was just near perfect with an extremely appetizing aroma filling the small eatery space. The touch of cinnamon and the freshly chopped apples baked in a flaky crumble was a great treat to order on a Sunday afternoon. Their Banana Bread is also highly recommended.
Banana and Chocolate Chip Pancakes (photo credits to the writer)
Then unfortunately came another disappointment. The drinks ordered were Cold Coffee, Berry Mix and Strawberry Milkshake. The Cold Coffee was the worst of the three, with no ice-cream base, unlike what was initially indicated by the server. The three drinks slightly improved after adding some sugar to them, but the initially bland taste of the coolers had already spoiled the mood.
While the prices of all the food items were very reasonable, the extra-charge for the coffee was a big minus. When I drew the server’s attention to this, his nonchalant behavior was appalling. He very casually struck that item off the computerized receipt with a pen. After adjusting the amount, he brought me the change, and mistakenly another client’s receipt. What really threw me off was that on that receipt too, there were two items cut as they were also charged extra money.
Apple Crumble (photo credits to 'The Pancakes'
‘The Pancakes’ needs to get its act together, in terms of addressing the weaknesses in its menu and service, if it wants to get a steady foot fall. As Mamoon concluded our side chat, “I will continue to try and improve this place. I have invested a lot of passion and hard work in getting in together. I will make sure to fix these issues but you must give it another try.” For the love of pancakes and waffles, I hope he does it sooner rather than later.
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