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Lahore's nightlife never slows down. Not even during Ramazan. We love to grab any opportunity to dine out - even if that may be going out for sehri. Gauging by the popularity of last year's sehri buffet at the Salt n Pepper Village over others, it was ample incentive to get dressed up even in the middle of the night to dine out. Booked well in advance for sehri at weekends, it seems desi really does it for us during the month of fasting, since any other restaurant offering sehri last year was not packed like the Village, far from it.
In case it escapes notice that iftari and sehri deals are being offered by all eating-out places, the banners that pop up all over the city will not let you forget. While downtown Lahore has always been known as an excellent hangout for desi-style eating out at odd hours of the night, more so during Ramazan and sehri time, the trend took a long while in creeping up towards the yuppie part of town. For authentic old-world charm, one can always head off to the Gawalmandi Food Street for sehri, if feeling particularly adventurous or on a low budget; the place will be quite happening and food no less good.
Most restaurants are only offering iftari deals, but the relatively recent and popular Mirchi has joined the bandwagon and is also offering sehri this year besides Cafe Zouk (weekends only), and of course Village. Iftari/dinner deals vary from between Rs 400 to much less for the newer places in town. Freddy's Cafe, it seems, banking on the success of their very popular hi-tea deal which kept some action going during the endless summer, have even greater variety in the iftari and dinner buffet with loads of desserts as well, but are on the upper end of the price spectrum. The food is bound to be good, and if you are truly starved then it's worth the tag attached. Speaking of good food, Mezzo of Islamabad fame, with a branch now in Lahore as well, has two deals on offer. There's the Al-fresco barbeque offer out in the courtyard - and just the right weather for it, one must say, as well as the eating indoors deal. Indoors you can choose from regular Mezzo fare - Continental, Thai and Lebanese. This, too, is from iftari to dessert and everything in between.
Zouk regulars never miss out on the iftari deal; good value and trademark scrummy food. However, one can't help but wonder that while others offer dessert you get Nestle fruit yoghurt here...good for digestion after stuffing oneself? For desi food iftaris there's always Mirchi and the Village.
All in all the month proposes to be heavy on the wallet and taxing on the stomach lining. But then again as it comes once in a year, enjoy, for without scrummy yummy chatt patta food, holidays and festivals just would not be the same.
Recent additions to Lahore's gastronomical scene, Cafe Salsa and Eclipse are offering deals that are certainly tempting enough to keep pace with the competition, both at Rs. 190. Interestingly, no-one seems to give much thought to having a weight watchers selection for the health conscious or those who intend to shed those extra pounds during Ramazan. Bon appetite...
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