A burger-quest in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Up until a few years ago, the only burgers the capital could boast were ones that thought holding political protests on a hot summer’s day was a human rights violation.
Now though, Islamabad’s food scene has come to be dominated by a host of burger joints and fast food outlets, which have proliferated at great speed. But be warned – to paraphrase George Orwell – while all burger places are equal, some are more equal than others.
But what does this mean for the capital’s foodies? Who does the best burger in the city and are Islooites really spoilt for choice? The answers to these questions are not as straightforward as putting a meat patty between two buns.
The latest burger bar in the capital is Jessie’s. Operating out of a small but tasteful space in F-7’s Jinnah Super Market, the eatery has only been around for a month or so. But in that time, patrons seem to have formed their opinions about the outlet and don’t seem willing to budge.
The restaurant itself is tastefully designed; there is a lot of dark wood that gives it a rustic and log cabin-esque feel. There is even an outdoor balcony for those who prefer to have their meals under the open sky.
Whether you seek value for money or the best in gourmet ingredients, the capital’s burger joints have something for everyone
But as with any newly-opened establishment, the menu is still under construction, so to speak. The owner, filmmaker Yasir Jaswal of Jalaibee fame, takes a keen interest in what he refers to as his “day job”, and goes up to each table to ask for customer feedback.
“I know burgers, so I’ve decided to stick to what I know,” he says. Explaining his mantra, Mr Jaswal points out that while he uses the best locally-sourced produce, he wants to avoid using imported ingredients, since that drives prices up.
“I get my meat from Qureshi’s and we make our own buns,” he declares, adding that he wants to expand the menu to include sandwiches and other snack items.