The clean eating trend is still fairly a new concept in Karachi, with many eateries introducing a separate section on their menu. It’s often a funny talking point for who may share a sense of humour of seeing delectable glutinously guilt-crammed options and healthy ones alongside, making it harder to stick to the diet or calling it a cheat day. Despite the city’s endless love for carb and calorie loaded options, the idea of clean eating and restaurants catering to it are springing up around town. A colleague and I visit Pesto in the lunch hour and in summary, it certainly was a treat for an average Tuesday. An eatery run by two couples, Pesto’s menu includes calorie counts plus a breakdown of carbs, proteins and fat, making even the nonchalant eater a conscious one. From the vast menu and a lot to pick from, we opted for The Beef Goddess Burger because that’s what a Tuesday needs, a burger. My colleague chose the Pulled Beef Flatbread; eyeing the Lean Bowls section, we settled for the Autumn Chopped Chicken Bowl to cater to experimental taste buds. We were advised not to skip the sugar-free hot chocolate and after one sip, I could tell why. Our lean bowl arrived first; salads always make for pretty Instagrammable bowls and lacking in taste but this one was a clear winner on the table. Roasted beetroot, diced apples, chunks of feta cheese, dried cranberries and grilled chicken topped with power seeds; the natural flavours of the fruits and veggies paired beautifully with mildly seasoned chicken. The burger with a side of fries arrived next; sitting on the serving board, I couldn’t see what was so goddess-y about it but a taste test later, I was a believer. Grilled to perfection, the beef patty locked in the juiciness and pickled cucumbers packed a flavoursome punch. The winning element was the whole wheat bun, light, fluffy and guilt-free. Special mention for the air-fried fries! The flatbread was trialed last, whole wheat crust topped with slow cooked beef, in-house marinara, jalapenos and mozzarella was surprisingly spicy but couldn’t beat the rest of our options. On recommendation, we opted for the strawberry cheesecake from the desserts section and it was a fitting end to a health-conscious feast. If oversweetened, a cheesecake is a failure. But the keto variation at Pesto was nothing short of divine in taste, texture and presentation. Despite a three course meal, we weren’t slipping into a food coma; Pesto packages clean eating and doesn’t skip on taste.

Address: 14-C Saba Avenue, D.H.A Phase 6, Karachi, Pakistan
Average cost for 2: Rs 2500 to 3000

TASTE

Clean eating is a virtue at Pesto. So is taste.

SERVICE

Despite the detailed menu, we were navigated through the menu to choose the best to suit our palates.

AMBIENCE

Fuss free and green, captures the essence of the place and concept well.

PRESENTATION

The colours in the Autumn Lean Bowl were undeniably catchy and oh-so-Instagrammable! The rest of the plating was once again, fuss-free and neatly done without being OTT.

VALUE FOR MONEY

The entrées remain on the pricy side but portion sizes are big enough for sharing and the dining experience is definitely worth the money.