The iconic Hotel Excelsior on Sarwar Shaheed Road in Karachi’s Saddar area underwent a rather drastic and thorough renovation some time ago, which also eventually led to the opening of its fine-dining restaurant, Karachi Brasserie.

Its social media page describes it as a “modern European restaurant”, which actually dovetailed with my experience when I visited it with a bunch of friends one pleasant evening last month.

For one, parking was not an issue. After finding space right in front of the eatery, we were ushered, by a rather friendly doorman, into a huge space with French windows that was chilled to perfection. The modernistic setting and smart furnishings provided the ideal ambience, made better as it was sparsely occupied by diners at that time.

The server took our order of mocktails — Apple Mint Cooler, Electric Blue and Mint Lemonade — that arrived in no time at all, and justified their names in taste and look.

The impressive exterior and interior of this ‘modern European restaurant’, along with its menu, is a rarity in the heart of Karachi’s Saddar area. Easy accessibility and moderate prices make it a welcome culinary addition

The appetiser, Mediterranean Salad, was fresh and tangy, with strips of grilled chicken adding to the green summer perfection. The Chilli Prawns, however, failed to impress because of their miniscule size and sparse numbers.

Over to the main courses, and the Beef Steak Sandwich, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Fettucine Alfredo and Trio of Sliders ticked all the boxes in terms of a freshness in flavour, presentation, wholesome taste and texture.

Not one to shy away from dessert, our order of Tiramisu and Dark Chocolate Tart spoke volumes of the chef’s prowess with all things sweet and savoury.

All in all, the visit to Karachi Brasserie turned out to be a rather enjoyable ‘fine-dining’ experience in the heart of downtown Saddar — a location that is not known for such restaurants. It was indeed a wonderful discovery and The Brasserie is a welcome addition to the culinary landscape of Karachi.

The writer is a member of staff.
X: faisal_quraishi

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 23rd, 2024