ISLAMABAD: Live cooking at restaurants is not a fad that has caught on in Pakistan, apart from roadside restaurants and dhabas, where one is compelled to share seating space with the tandoorwallah and the barbeque grill. Though roadside spots aren’t the destination of choice for the more health and hygiene conscious among us, there is still hope for those who like make sure that their food is clean and healthy and made in front of their eyes.

Visitors to Islamabad’s famous Kohsar Market now have another option if they want a change of taste from the traditional café food that is usually served there: Porterhouse. But even though they’ve only been around for a year, the management of Porterhouse are not new entrants to the food game in Islamabad. The steakhouse-slash-deli is owned and operated by Nasir Mehmood Qureshi, owner of that Islamabad institution, Qureshi’s – the meat shop.

In fact, it is the Qureshi’s outlet in Kohsar that has now been rebranded to Porterhouse, and as you’d expect from 45-year veteran purveyors of meats and condiments, the food is spectacularly good.

Live cooking at capital’s newest delis draws foodies by the dozen

Their specialties are burgers, steaks and stir-fry, but the kind of meat that is on offer here is nearly without parallel in the twin cities. Juicy prime cuts, from T-Bone to Filet Mignon, can be made with your choice of sauce and served with fresh vegetables.

Or, for the foodie on the go, the generously portioned steak burgers, which are served with an assortment of pickles, tomatoes and fresh lettuce and crisp French fries, are guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds.

Mr Qureshi told Dawn that after being in the food business for the better part of a decade, he was unsatisfied with the quality of food he would be served at restaurants. “We’ve been making burger patties and steaks for many years now and when my friends said I should open up my own restaurant, it seemed to be the logical thing to do,” he said.

All the meat and the produce used at Porterhouse comes from the Qureshi’s store and customers are welcome to watch the process from picking out the meat to the portion being served up on a well-decorated platter. “Everything is cooked in front of the customer,” he says.

Mr Qureshi seems encouraged by the response to his outlet and says he’s planning to expand to other parts of the twin cities, including Bahria Town and Rawalpindi, in view of growing demand.

The deli exprience

In nearby Sector F-7 is another Islamabad institution that is looking to offer customers something new. Papasallis, the name that used to be synonymous with pizza pies in the capital before the advent of Pizza Hut and other imitators, now boasts The Corner Deli.

Located next door to its old outlet in Jinnah Super Market, the deli is a breath of fresh air in the stuffy restaurant circuit of Islamabad.

Tastefully decorated like an authentic deli and complete with outdoor seating and Wi-Fi for those who like to work on the go, The Corner Deli boasts an impressive menu of deli-style sandwiches, savoury and sweet crepes, fresh fruit juices and salads that are filled with creative ingredients such as fresh strawberries and chicken bits.

Zeenat Ayesha, the owner of the deli, told Dawn that she wanted to cater to the new, health conscious market of foodies in Islamabad. “None of our sandwiches have mayonnaise and we use feta cheese and balsamic vinegar; only the best of ingredients. We even have gluten-free crepes,” she said.

Despite being one of the youngest new eateries in town; The Corner Deli opened in early February, the deli has built up a loyal clientele with its unique approach to food. The live cooking is a bog draw, as is the presentation of the food.

The juices are also served in glass bottles. “Sherry Rehman liked them so much, she took one home with her,” Ms Ayesha told Dawn with a chuckle.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2015

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