Walking across the red-carpeted floor, under the palatial and ginormous chandeliers, my friend and I checked into Nadia’s Café for our reservation. We were ushered to a polished black table flanking sleek leatherette chairs, with the magnificent view of the café’s buffet facing us. Ample lightening inundates the entire hall with a feel-good vibe, bouncing off framed tapestries and murals. Featuring a blend of continental, desi and Mediterranean cuisine, the café on its regular hours allows diners to savour the exclusive buffet, with a choice to order from their a la carte menu. The menu spread was extensive featuring considerable items from fresh salads, soups, seafood, grills & steak and a promising selection of Pakistani specials. My friend was intrigued by the ‘on the grill’ section which offered Australian tenderloin and Tasmanian fillets – beef choices which aren’t usually offered by most steakhouses in the metropolitan. He settled for Australian Tenderloin with side-lines of sautéed vegetables and jacket potato while I being a seafood buff, ordered Tiger Prawns Skewer from the seafood specials. We warmed up to our server who was immensely courteous and attentive, on his insistence we decide to give Mughlai Mutton Curry from Pakistani specials a shot. As we waited on our order, we skimmed through the fit-for-a-king buffet, which promised a feast of Chinese, Italian and Pakistani grub. Lading our plates with appetisers of fried prawns, garden salads and sauces, we nibbled on them setting the mood for feast ahead. Within ten minutes a steaming steak arrived on our table – a chunk of medium-rare meat dribbled in a dark gooey sauce. We knifed into the tenderloin, finding it to be flavoured to perfection, with its dip adding a delicious piquant under taste. We couldn’t quiet place the taste of the sauce which was a blend of smoky barbecue flavour and moderately spicy, but eaten with sautéed cauliflower, carrots and cheesy potatoes, the taste was exquisite. The real highlight, however, were the Tiger Prawns – king sized prawns, tossed in buttery relish infused with vegetable stock and spring onion trimmings. I couldn’t get enough! Prawns had a distinct smoky taste, with the semi-thick buttery sauce renewing its overall flavour to savoury. Mughlai Mutton Curry was the last to arrive on our table – aromatic curry looked as appetising as it tasted, with cashew and raisins condiments adding a sweet note to an otherwise savoury desi dish. Although full to the brim and with protesting waistlines, we couldn’t help but be lured towards the buffet section again – I tried well-seasoned mini herb steak, which was spiced with basil crushings and a serving of delectable seafood soup. We ended our early dinner on a sweet note with swigs of fresh mango shake and shots of panna cotta.

Location: Marriott Hotel, 9 Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi

TASTE

From an extensive a la carte menu to an exclusive buffet, every dish hit the right note with the taste buds. Diners have diverse cuisines to choose from, each served with a promise of fine taste.

AMBIENCE

Everything in sight – from modern furniture, marble floors, lightening and overall construction – is polished and impeccably put together. Savouring your feast, the ambient atmosphere grants you the pleasure of dining like a royalty.

SERVICE

With a courteous manager, attentive wait staff and super-quick service, Nadia hits the ball out the park with this one.

PRESENTATION

Food is presented in old-school yet sleek manner. Buffets can call for chaos, but the one at Nadia’s boasted of adequate arrangement with separate bars dedicated to main entrees, salads and dessert.

VALUE FOR MONEY

You are treated like a royalty at the metropolitan’s finest hotel, which comes with a splurge. On special evenings, it’s

worth it.