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    Food Review: Café Aylanto, Islamabad

    Written by: Mariam Nadeem
    Posted on: August 04, 2017 | | 中文

    Cafe Aylanto, Islamabad

    Café Aylanto was launched in Islamabad this July, and a lot of hype has been surrounding the restaurant. Yesterday, I visited it with a Lahori friend for a late lunch.

    Located in Gol Market, F7, already a prime location for eateries of Islamabad, the café stands out due to its fine dining approach. Valets stand on the street so that the typical rush in the streets won’t be a problem for customers. To ensure that the atmosphere of other cafes does not interfere with their intended ambiance, Cafe Aylanto has placed huge trees and bushes in their walkway, to cut off all other restaurants from view. The building has been beautifully designed, in a contemporary style, so that the exuberance of the restaurant will be evident. Walking through the outdoor seating area, one can’t help but admire the masterfully landscaped garden.

    Interior of the Cafe Aylanto Islamabad

    Interior

    At the main door, we were informed that full operations haven’t been assumed yet. At present, lunch is served from 12:00PM to 4:00PM, and dinner from 7:00PM to 11:00PM. Having reached at 4:30PM, we decided to return later. However, the head waiter ushered us in with a happy laugh, saying that we were lucky since the chef was still in the kitchen. I cannot guarantee that everyone who visits in off-hours will have the same pleasant experience, but mine demonstrates that the service is eager to please, friendly, and accommodating.

    Once inside, the décor and interior really struck us as beautiful. The café has a very modern, chic feel to it. With leather and velvet sofas, and fragrant roses placed in vases as centerpieces, the seating is luxurious. The lighting was dim, with oil lamps burning in each corner and low hanging chandeliers, which leads to a romantic yet sophisticated atmosphere. The windows give a generous view of the sunlit garden. Even the waiters come across as impeccably dressed for the job. In terms of aesthetics, the Islamabad branch is far superior to Lahore.

    Before ordering, we were served sliced carrots and cucumbers with a yogurt dip, as well as a breadbasket with butter, on the house. We happily munched away as the vegetables were cold, fresh and crisp, while the bread was soft and warm - straight out of the oven!

    Bread Basket - Cafe Aylanto Islamabad

    Breadbasket

    The menu turned out to be a huge booklet with exceptional variety. However, everything was still categorized under typical headings such as pastas, brick oven pizzas, burgers, and main dishes in seafood, chicken, and beef. We asked the waiters to recommend their signatures and settled for Mushroom Soup as a starter. I ordered the Moroccan Chicken and my friend ordered the Mexican Burger. We decided to split the Linguini with Prawns in order to try the pasta. They do not have a dessert menu yet, nor do they have any special drinks – once they become fully operational this will be taken care of. The menu is relatively pricey – if one were to have just one starter and a meal, it would round up to Rs. 1500-1800 easily. With something like a beef steak, it would round up to Rs. 2500. Ours was around a whopping Rs. 4000.

    Mexican Burger - Cafe Aylanto Islamabad

    Mexican Burger

    Since we were the last few people being served lunch, our food arrived promptly. The soup was rich in flavor – the ingredients used were of a superior quality than those, which other restaurants use. However, there was no bread or crackers to accompany it, which left me disappointed and unable to fully enjoy it. The burger was fantastic, with a succulent beef patty and an original zesty sauce we have never tasted before. The side of fries was perfect - crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. The Moroccan Chicken, however, did not distinguish itself and was quite bland, while the serving size of the brown rice was also disappointing. The dish is popular in Pakistani restaurants and I have eaten better, far tastier versions. The Linguini with Prawns had a hearty serving size, while the prawns had been cooked in a flavourful cream tomato sauce. While we enjoyed the dish, there was yet again no bread, as one would expect with pasta in an upscale restaurant.  

    Linguini with Prawns - Cafe Aylanto Islamabad

    Linguini with Prawns

    A favorite among food lovers in Lahore and Karachi, Cafe Aylanto is a welcome addition to the capital. Perhaps, one must give levy to the restaurant regarding food, since it has just opened. Service and ambiance, however, are well above those of established restaurants. If you want to make an impression on someone, Café Aylanto is the place to go. In time, I hope that all that was lacking in their dishes will be made up for.

    Morrocon Chicken - Cafe Aylanto Islamabad

    Morrocon Chicken


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021