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Singer Yasir Jaswal stepped in to the culinary arena in 2017 when he opened a burger joint in Islamabad by the name of Jessie’s, named after his father whose friends called him Jessie. His newest venture is a European-style eatery named after his mother Ruby.

Ruby’s, as is emblazoned on the entrance door, has a markedly European influence, one that is subtle and, to some extent, cozy.

A small patio, pedant-shaped modern lights, glass mirrors, classic Chesterfield quilting and a roof with a classic twist, Ruby’s interior is definitely fashionable. The place has been done in a contemporary design but intertwined with classic furniture and accessories with adorning marbled effect, small oil paintings hanging on fawn-coloured, textured walls. The modern glass doors set in a sturdy wood frame help welcome much-needed sunlight, as the place is far too dim.

The credit on the selection of the dishes on the menu is shared between the entrepreneur, Jaswal of Jalaibee fame, and the chef, Ayesha Mehboob. She has more than 10 years of culinary experience working in different restaurants in Karachi, such as Ginsoy, Aristo, Movenpick, Arbo café and a steak house, learning skills on aging and curing meat as well as doing short courses in the UAE.

The food is definitely more influenced by Italian cuisine as pastas, risottos, spaghetti bolognaises dominate the menu, with the balancing act coming in the shape of fish and chips, bread pudding, roasted tomato soup, a classic smashed beef burger and Ruby’s signature sandwich. “I wanted a small and simple menu that can be altered every three to four months, keeping the in-demand dishes and trying out some new ones as and when need be,” reasoned Jaswal, who spends three to four hours at the venue during rush hours.

Opened recently with much fanfare on social media, Ruby’s is housed in a cul-de-sac in F-8, one of the older sectors of Islamabad. The seating capacity inside the restaurant is around 40, whereas the outside seating area will be much bigger once ready, according the supervisor.

When I went to visit, it was a choice between roasted tomato soup or broccoli walnut soup. If you are on a lunch break and have to go back to your workplace, opt for the Roasted Tomato Soup as the Broccoli Soup is buttery and the walnuts make it even heavier on the stomach, and is not recommended unless that is the only thing you’re having for lunch.

The virtuoso soup bowl brought to light the chef’s artistic presentation with sun dried pine nut pesto, croutons and a drizzle of cream making the bowl of tomato puree into a work of art. The soup had all the right ingredients and one could easily make out each component, but the puree was too thick, overpowering its companions. The garlic bread also needed more garlic and a bit of extra toasting. The soup was reasonably priced at Rs1,195.

Moving on to the appetisers, the Lemon Butter Honey Prawns paired well with the roasted tomato soup. So simple, so light and so flavourful, entangled with Thai chilli, drizzled with a honey coating and moist, these large-sized prawns dipped in parsley butter herb seasoning is a must have. Though many in Islamabad avoid seafood, questioning its freshness due to travel time, this lemon butter honey prawn starter priced at Rs1,495 with ample number of prawns was both fresh and meaty.

Chef Mehboob, who recently made her debut in the Islamabad gastronomical scene, finds it a very different experience working in Islamabad as compared to Karachi. “Islamabad tastebuds are very choosy, as well as finicky. They don’t like side orders — the plate should look full. I have observed that Islamabad palettes prefer rather bland food, more of just salt and pepper than spicy herbs like Karachiites,” she explained.

Our party of two ordered Fish and Chips, and Ruby’s Sandwich. The white cod fish had a mild flavour with a dense flaky texture. It was batter fried, golden brown in colour, with the crispy fish flaking easily with the fork even after a handsome drizzle of lemon. “Most of the items we use in our restaurant are imported. For example, the cod fish, cheese, spices, herbs and even soy sauce bottles we are buying from vendors who are registered importers,” explained Jaswal. Having said that, two medium-sized cod fish fillets for Rs2,645 is undoubtedly heavy on the pocket.

Ruby’s Sandwich on the other hand was a full meal on its own. Sliced grilled chicken slathered in homemade cranberry jam on a subway bun, melted sharp cheddar cheese with a crispy turkey bacon topping — this sandwich was something to write home about. The bun could have been more toasted as it was getting a little mushy and crumbling as it was being polished off. The wedges were also soft and not crispy enough to make any noise when you bit them.

The dessert section offered Rich Cocoa Mousse, Lava Cake and Choco Melt, but what we choose to share was a sticky date pudding. The beautifully manicured warm cake fresh out of the ramekin brought back old memories. The pièce de résistance in this dessert is the butterscotch sauce, which the server poured on top before our eyes. The cake, which had transformed into an ultra-moist sponge after the drizzle, was a bit gooey and my one gripe was to ask for more butterscotch sauce.

The need for a palate cleanser arrived and a caffeine kick was the perfect answer. Espressos, double shots, lattes and cappuccinos were amongst the prime contenders on the menu. At a glance, to accompany the coffee was a Matilda Bruce cake, chocolate chip cookies, brownies and, of course, banana bread.

Ruby’s is a good addition to Islamabad’s culinary milieu, so long as the people running it continue to give it personal attention.