Whoever said all good things come in small packages must have had Xclusive by CFU in mind. 

It’s not the size of the portions but the melding of ingredients and flavours of the uber-delectable morsels at the multi-floor eatery — which recently opened for business in Karachi DHA’s Phase VIII — that lingers in the memory for long after.

I was ushered to the fine dining restaurant with its plush black interior by a dear old friend who had insisted I must try their menu. And what a menu it was! 

We partook of a thick crab cake with a crispy, seared top (thanks to the maitre d’ wielding a  blow torch) to the juicy beef carpaccio for appetiser. This was followed for the main course by the marrow-infused steak, which was a beef medallion steak with marrow served right off the shank bone, and grilled chicken with sun-dried tomato sauce, served with a side of mushrooms and sauteed vegetables. 

The zesty lemon-buttered catch of the day also came highly recommended, but our party of two chose to pass.

Xclusive by CFU in Karachi offers an eclectic fine dining menu but it’s the setting and space that seem to be stealing the show

What dinner menu can be complete without drinks, and the selection on offer had me scrambling and searching Google on my smartphone to check out the ingredients. The original cocktails obviously have a splash of alcohol added for flavour, but our tropical lagoon, mojito and Ibiza mocktails were alcohol-free and thus deemed safe for consumption. But they still had a real kick to them.

Finally it was time for my favourite section on the menu and the classic vanilla salted caramel slice and classic chocolate ganache cake for dessert were everything they were spelt out to be... and more. 

The taste of the salted caramel cut through the sweetness of the vanilla on my palette, much like a hot knife through butter, and the sticky chocolate ganache had me licking the roof of my mouth with the tip of my tongue for any of the leftover magic. 

The three-level restaurant houses a reception lounge on the ground floor, a dining area on the first floor, kitchen and pantry services on the second floor and a bar and drinks area on the third floor.

As a true desi at heart, I rather enjoyed the flavours on offer and, to be honest, it even opened my mind to the concept of full-on fine dining. Even the other guests seemed to be having the time of their lives, just talking and soaking in the atmosphere charged with the clinking of glasses and the clatter of cutlery striking the platters, and the precious moments spent in the company of good friends and loved ones in a classy, comfy environment. 

What more can one possibly ask for? 

The writer is a member of staff.
X: @faisal_quraishi

Published in Dawn, EOS, January 21st, 2024