The Malaysian food franchise Papparoti has finally opened up at Dolmen Mall, Clifton.

It is located right across from the elevator on the ground floor, right next to Summit Bank, which is right next to Debenhams. It is across from the centrally located (and clearly visible) outlet of Butlers Chocolate Cafe.

Like KFC's Colonel Sanders who cooked up (pun not intended) the original, innovative fried chicken recipe, we now have a Pappa Sahib who is bringing to us a unique kind of "roti" or bun. :)

The outlet has been done up in hues of golden-brown and beige, reminding one of the main ingredients of flour and butter that warm baked buns are made up of.

I like how the huge white chairs juxtaposed against the dark wood accentuate the grey brick walls.

There is not much seating space inside the outlet, perhaps for about 20 people, at the most.

Which is why there are a few tables situated outside the outlet as well. The waiters serve you there. A welcome change from the self-service in the crowded Food Court on the top floor!

 There are a few combo's that will get you one chai with one signature bun. 

All of these are available at approximately Rs 320 (after adding tax).

The combo's of coffee+bun are a bit higher in price.

You can get one bun only for ~ Rs 250.

Yes. Ouch!

In addition to hot chai's and coffees, there are chilled milkshakes on the menu as well. 

Verdict: The signature Papparoti buns get a thumbs-up from me. But we all know that a full meal can be obtained in the price of just one of their buns (yeah, I did the math) :) Good for a once-in-a-while treat.

FYI: We visited this outlet at around 10 a.m on a Sunday, a down time for business in the mall, because we wanted to enjoy a winter morning breakfast outing/chai run without going through a noisy crowd.

Therefore, we had the whole outlet to ourselves. I'd highly recommend visiting it at this time (even on a weekday morning), otherwise be prepared for noise and crowds.

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Opening of PapaRoti

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Amid much aplomb, The Noodle House was launched in Karachi in the past year, with its first outlet in Pearl Continental Hotel.

It is an international restaurant chain offering South Asian cuisine, which, as the name suggests, focuses mostly on different types of noodles.

Recently, its second outlet was inaugurated in Dolmen Mall Clifton. This outlet boasts amazing ocean views during the day.

It is right next to the Fatburger joint on the second floor of the mall, opposite the food court.

Here is the ocean view that is, in my opinion, one of the greatest assets of this particular branch of The Noodle House.

In one corner, there is a raised kiosk surrounded by latticed wood partitions. This offers a bit more privacy to those who wish to dine at this corner table.

The rest of the restaurant is rather similar in ambiance to Fatburger. Except for the ocean views, of course. 

Chicken Pad Thai 

To view the complete menu, including the prices of dishes quoted exclusive of tax, please click here.

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Its no secret that the Food Court at Dolmen Mall, Clifton, is by now a regular jaunt for our family, because we tend to do our groceries in bulk from the mega mart located on the floor below it, a.k.a Hyperstar.
Air conditioned and all-inclusive commodity-wise, and surprisingly boasting competitively economical prices, it is a great, one-stop place to get all your household and grocery shopping needs met under one roof.

Shopping there means we get to try out the Food Court rather regularly as well.
Above is the bird's eye, aerial view of the mall from the Food Court, which is on the second floor.
Right across, you can see Gun Smoke restaurant and advertisements for Fat Burger.

Of course that is not a head-less man! Duh. I just use good photo editing software to wipe out the identity of the people caught on camera (despite my best efforts to try to avoid shooting others). :P 
I included this picture to display the spaciousness of the Food Court. 

Shooting for a drama serial was going on in this section (on the raised wooden deck that is located right in front of the elevator).

The tables and chairs extend across almost the entire 2nd floor (with more branded eateries yet to open, such as Fat Burger and The Noodle House).
What I like best about eating here is the overall family-friendly atmosphere (lots of strollers, bawling infants, children running around, doting grandparents balancing little tots on their knees....you get the picture!) and the complete absence of loud music.
Rather nice high-chairs are also available for toddlers.

Anyway, One Potato Two Potato (a.k.a OPTP) is the food business attracting the longest customer queues nowadays at the Food Court of Dolmen Mall, Clifton.
However, we all know that burgers and fries are something we should not eat too regularly...at least those of us who are no longer 12 years old. :)
Which is why I almost always make a beeline for China Grill.

I really like the taste of the Chow Mien, Fried Rice and curries at China Grill.

Peppercorn Shrimps: this is my favorite curry among all the ones that China Grill offers. 

This is the menu. For a more detailed look, you can visit their Facebook page.

I chose to order the Wok-a-Meal combo, which has 2 main entrees (curries), one side of either rice or noodles (chow mien - only available in chicken), and one soft drink. 

Price of Wok-a-Meal is Rs 399.
If you want Peppercorn Shrimps curry with your combo, you can add it to your meal for an additional Rs 70.

Recently they have started offering juices as well. 

My combo ready and served at the counter. Serving time is 10 minutes.

This whole thing cost Rs 640: Rs 470 for the combo (because I chose shrimps), plus Rs 190 for the additional Chow Mien(visible on the right).
Portion size is definitely not a plus point. However, the combo will fill you up adequately, insha'Allah.
And as I said, the taste and quality of ingredients is great!

 I counted. There were a grand total of seven shrimps in the Peppercorn Shrimp curry. The Kung Pao Chicken curry that is visible on the right side of the plate was hardly any different.

Sorry for sounding like such a cheapskate, but I actually want to use this blog to inform the readers what they will get for their money, even if the taste of all the items was great. Just don't expect a big portion size.

That being said, I love the way the Peppercorn Shrimp Curry lives up to its name and comes doused with coarsely chopped peppercorns, instead of pepper powder.

Please remember that almost all the fresh food that is available at the Food Court in Dolmen Mall is a bit on the steep side. You won't get anything substantial (i.e. a filling meal) for under Rs 400, that is for sure.

Exceptions are the fresh baked goods (such as croissants, breads and muffins), not to mention, the full roasted chicken that you can buy from the deli inside Hyperstar for only Rs 389 (no kidding!).
In addition to these, the Hyperstar deli also offers fried rice, vegetable noodles, samosa's, spring rolls, biyrani, cold salads, daal, chicken makhni, crispy fried chicken, and other desi foods. Not everything is always fresh, though. 

Note: outside food is not allowed inside the Food Court. Yes, if you want to eat at the Food Court, you must buy something from one of its vendors.
Go figure! :)

Verdict: I really like the food at China Grill, albeit the slightly steep rates. It is hitherto my favorite vendor there.

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