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The Cave: A subterranean sanctum for foodies

The Cave: A subterranean sanctum for foodies

This eatery in Islamabad appears to be modelled on the inside of a cave somewhere in Tora Bora!
05 Oct, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Increasingly, the capital has developed a thirst for the ‘trendy’ and nowhere is this more evident than in the restaurants that have opened up recently.

For the foodie who wants to get away from hip teens and selfie crowds, however, there are still some haunts in the capital that aren’t trying too hard.

If you do fancy a more old-fashioned approach to food and want to break the monotony of traditional sit-down establishments, you may want to step into The Cave.

Located in Blue Area, walking down the dimly lit steps, one emerges unexpectedly into a space that may as well be modelled on the inside of a cave somewhere in Tora Bora, albeit with far more creature comforts.

Burgers served with good ol' french fries
Burgers served with good ol' french fries

The decor stays true to the restaurant’s name: from the ceilings hang the occasional stalactite and the dimly lit interior gives one all the sensation of being in a subterranean cavern.

In fact, so conducive is the environment to conversation that most of the crowd here at lunchtime consists of corporate-types or university students on their lunch break.

The menu boasts simple dishes but there are a number of different cuisines to choose from. You can find Italian, Continental, Pakistani and American food here, most of whom are time-tested. The selection is the same one would get at any desi continental restaurant, which works well if you are not looking for something too eccentric.

According to restaurant manager Tariq Shami, their steaks are the most popular item with regulars. “The American Beef Steak is most people’s all-time favourite,” he said. Served on a hot-plate, the sizzling chunk of beef arrived flanked by broiled vegetables on one side and mash potatoes on the other.

American Beef Steak
American Beef Steak

The restaurant has been around since the 1990s, but has not seen many additions to its menu. But, Mr Shami revealed, The Cave would be expanding their menu soon and a greater variety of Pakistani and Mughlai dishes could be expected soon. The restaurant, he said, will also restart its popular buffet, which had been discontinued for some time.

Amna Owais and Maleeha Khan, students who were polishing off a Fettuccini Alfredo during their lunch break, said they enjoyed coming to The Cave as it was cosy, affordable and offered a good range of various types of cuisines. “The fact that it is close to our hostel also helps,” they giggled.

Another young man, Zahoor Khan, told Dawn he frequented the restaurant because, “Their food is light and tastes good, so you don’t feel bad even if you eat out here every day.”

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2015

Comments

Zaheer Khurshid Oct 05, 2015 10:21am
This reminds me of one Resturant in Karachi some decades ago, "WOODS & CAVES" by name and located near IBA city campus. I do not know where it has gone now. Their food was very good and just looked like woods and cave from outside as well from inside.
Recommend
lala Oct 05, 2015 11:49am
go burgers ! more burgers !
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Slava Oct 05, 2015 01:18pm
Nice restaurant. Waiters are a little slow but the food the AC are good.
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Monty Oct 05, 2015 01:51pm
I simply fail to understand the relevance of naming 'Tora Bora' here..I hope you are aware that caves do exist within Pakistan too..and satire and humor aside, when you're starting off describing a place by comparing its decor to Osama Bin Laden's one-time hideout, you're pretty much setting them up for ridicule from the start.
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A. Oct 05, 2015 02:15pm
Horrible food experience we had 3 years ago. we ordered 3 dishes, including 1 entree and 2 mains, the starter was greasy and drenched with oil, the mains were restaurant's own vile version of foreign cuisine. We returned one main dish right away, and we were still made to pay for the dish we didn't even had. Who would have gone back to that restaurant again then. Our restaurants seriously need to learn about 'customer service'
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Hafsah Oct 05, 2015 02:59pm
Most of the food sucks except the steaks! very TASETY STEAKS! oh n awful air conditioning, so damp n sticky in the basement
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khanm Oct 05, 2015 06:10pm
i guess human instinct goes back to its roots.... we will always be the cave man
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Omer Kayani Oct 05, 2015 07:29pm
This place was located in Saddar,Rawalpindi before moving to Islamabad.
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