The Deli - Mediterranean, Italian and Thai Cuisines.

(To view more photos, click here.)

Situated at the far end of a lane in Zamzama is The Deli.  The upscale restaurant opened its doors in February 2007 to provide fresh and healthy food for health and quality conscious people. The Deli's cuisine consists of Mediterranean, Thai and European.

Entering the eatery, a cosy interior and relaxing ambiance welcomes me. The place was filled with sunlight, coming from large glass windows, the wooden touches given to the restaurant added to the warmth. The décor of the restaurant was very appealing to the eyes - the first thing you notice when you enter is the luxurious chandelier hanging and a large portion of the wall painted and patterned with flowers; rest covered with wallpapers and adorned with black and white framed photographs of Karachi's famous areas like the Old Building of GPO, McLeod Road etc.

I decided to let Tina, one of the owners of The Deli order for me and four dishes ordered were; Italian Style Pasta, Chicken Swiss Polo, Greek Style Fish and Chilli Prawn Avocado Salad. I first tried The Italian style pasta  which was Fetuccine Alfredo, served with fresh basil leaves; after the first mouthful, I didn't speak until after the fourth bite. It was absolutely delicious! The pasta cooked perfectly, creamy, and the chicken was succulent.

Then came the Chicken Swiss Polo, stuffed with mushrooms and spinach served with a creamy sauce, blanched and sautéed veggies; was definitely the best. The chicken was succulent, moist and flavourful. The first bite was a burst of flavours in my mouth.
Moving on to the Greek Style Fish; served with fresh dill and chopped vegetables; avocados, tomatoes, cucumber. I really liked the spices, but I found the fish to be a little dry and over-cooked, left me wanting it a bit juicy. I loved the Chilli Prawn Avocado salad. It was scrumptious! Loved the greens; fresh rocket leaves, fresh lettuce and sweet, fresh avocados. The best part was, that all the ingredients used were fresh; not one stained salad leaf I found in all the four dishes; crunchy, crisp julienne vegetables; a delight!

Quality of food: 8.5/10

Service: 8/10
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Value for money: 8.5/10

The Deli

Shop No. 2-6, 5-C, 

1st Commercial Lane, 

Zamzama Phase 5, D.H.A., 

Karachi, Pakistan

Email: thedelifood@gmail.com

Phone: 021-35838954

Click here to like their facebook page.

Have you been to The Deli? How was your experience? Feedback is always welcome! Let us know by commenting below! :)

The Crazy Chef now does restaurant reviews. If you want your food/restaurant/cafe/new menu reviewed or blogged, please contact me at tennythecrazychef@gmail.com or drop me a post on my facebook page.

All things Seafood - Biryani of the Seas

Bhunni hui Chaanpein

Ingredients:

Mutton / lamb chops 1 kg
Onions, large sized, 5, thinly sliced
Tomatoes, medium sized, 5, chopped
Oil 3/4 cup
Salt to taste
Red chilli powder 1 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Coriander, roasted and crushed, 2 tsp
Cumin, roasted and crushed, 2 tsp
Green chillies, 4-5, sliced lengthwise
Fresh coriander, chopped, 1 tbsp
Ginger-garlic paste 1 tbsp

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till golden brown. Add chopped tomatoes and cook till the oil separates. Add the ginger-garlic paste, chops and mix well. Now add all the spices, half cup water, mix, cover with lid and let it cook on a low heat till the meat is fully tender and the water has dried up. Mix in green chillies and coriander and serve!

Kunna Gosht

Ingredients:

Meat, cut in big pieces, 1 kg

Ginger-garlic paste 2 tbsp

Salt to taste

Onions, medium sized, 2, sliced

Red chilli powder, 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder, 1 tsp

Yoghurt, 1 cup

Whole garam masala 2 tbsp

Black cardamom 2-3

Caraway seed (kaala zeera), 2 tsp

Wheat flour 1 cup

Oil 3/4 cup

Method:

In a pot heat oil and add whole garam masala. When it pops, add onions and stir fry till golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for another minute. Now add the meat and fry till the oil separates.

Dissolve the wheat flour in a cup of water. Now take a bowl and mix in yoghurt, salt, red chilli powder, turmeric, cardamom and caraway seeds and pout it on the meat. Now add the flour paste and mix well. Add 4-6 cups of water, and let it simmer on low heat till the meat is fully tender. Garnish with julienne ginger.

Tipu Burger at Boat Basin

Everytime I pass Mottas, I see quite a crowd of people having Bun-Kebabs from this place, Tipu's Burger situated right next to Laraib Music near Mottas in Clifton. They're sort of a mixture of burger and bun-kebabs, but are delicious nonetheless. The daal-anda and aloo ka bun-kebab taste the best, with onions, sliced tomatoes and crisp, sweet coleslaw, one bun-kebab is quite fulfilling and a palatable treat. And hence, every time I go to Mottas for grocery shopping, I am sure to grab a bun-kebab on my way back.