When an entrepreneur’s previous line of work gets dull and boring, he/she often looks for a new venture. That’s exactly the reason why we have so many restaurants and cafes sprouting out of every nook and corner these days. Tehzeeb is one of the latest restaurants to open in Islamabad’s F-8 sector.

The interesting thing about Tehzeeb, which also differentiates it from most other restaurants, is that it’s not just a place to have food; it’s actually a lot more than that. It has a fashion and an art gallery along with the dining area, all under one roof.

The moment you enter the place, you realise how much importance has been given to the décor and the aesthetic details. The doors lead to an open space, which is decorated with antique ornaments with Jinnah’s pictures gracing the walls. Board games have been provided for those who want something to keep them occupied as they wait for their food.

The main dining area is situated towards the left and is furnished with contemporary chairs and tables; a central area, furnished with velvet sofas and beautiful lamps is the focal point of the place.

To give the space an artistic touch, sculptures have been placed in the corners with some beautiful art pieces adorning the walls. Interestingly, the artwork is for sale as well and the owners — Muneeb Idrees and Manail Muneeb — say that they plan to change the wall hangings every month or so. Upstairs, there’s a fashion gallery, which stocks dresses from popular fashion labels like Armani, Men’s Store, Zara and Ammar Belal for men and Kuli Jume, Fizza Azeem, Deeba & Zoe and others for women.

Coming to the main attraction i.e. the food, I will have to say, it is superb! Everything that we tried was delicious, from the appetisers to main courses, desserts and even drinks. The good thing is that the menu here has something for everyone — from pure desi to pastas. It’s actually a mix of different cuisines to cater to a variety of clientele.

Along with desi dishes like Malai chicken, Nargisi koftay and mutton roast they have some selected but delicious steaks, pastas, fish, sandwiches, salads, grilled chicken and even pizza. Their breakfast menu comprises pancakes, parathas, French toast and different kinds of omelette platters and unlike most other breakfast places that open at 8am and stop offering breakfast at noon, this one starts at eleven so you can easily go there for a late breakfast.

Out of all the food items we tried, particularly the sesame wings were delectable with just about the right amount of sesame and spices in it. Among the pastas, Fettuccine Alfredo had two varieties — with chicken and shrimp. We tried the one with chicken which, served with a rich butter and cream sauce, tasted great.

Cannolleni Pasta had a serving of pasta tubes stuffed with a meat filling and was topped with a sauce. The choice of sauce was left to the diners to pick according to their preference. We tried the cream sauce, which made the pasta quite filling and a wholesome dish. Panini sandwich is on offer in three flavours; chicken, veggie and turkey but from the looks of it Chicken Panini which has grilled chicken sandwiched between Panini bread is the favourite.

Another item on the menu that deserves to be mentioned is Chicken Scaloppine di Patate — a serving of soft yet crispy fried chicken with an appetising sauce and mashed potatoes. This combination of chicken, potatoes and sauce makes it scrumptious and probably the best dish on the menu.

The dessert menu, which includes chocolate fudge, chocolate truffle, red velvet cupcakes, chocolate cheesecake, hot molten cake, tiramisu, etc. are done by Funky Bake, an independent café-cum-bakery that focuses on themed cakes and cupcakes. Shahi Tukra, however, is one dessert that the chefs at Tehzeeb make themselves.

The staff at Tehzeeb knows very well how to make your dining experience lavish and elegant. They offer complementary Ferrero Rochers with tea of your choice.

The best thing about Tehzeeb, apart from the amazing food, great service and beautiful décor is that the servings are really generous. Even those with good appetites won’t come home dissatisfied. The place isn’t very expensive either, considering the kind of food and service they provide. With most main courses falling between 350 and 600, your overall bill could be 500-700 per head. It is a highly recommended dining experience!