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    Food Review: EAT, Islamabad

    Eat Restaurant, Gol Market, Islamabad

    Written by: Syed Hashir Ali
    Posted on: August 11, 2017 | | 中文

    #EAT, Islamabad

    In the heart of Islamabad, a new eatery by the name of ‘#EAT’ has opened. Serving both Continental and Pan-Asian cuisine, the restaurant is quickly becoming the talk of the town. If online buzz is to be believed, this is one place worth checking out, and so we decided to pay it a visit.

    Situated near Gol Market, F-7 Markaz, the shopping hub of the city, #EAT appears to be a nice place to flee to, after a tiring shopping spree. The catchy signboard is a bold yellow ‘#EAT’ on a black background. Visible from far away, it acts as a reminder of your basic need to eat, each time you pass it by. The exterior isn’t very attractive, since the eatery is located on the first floor of a shopping plaza, and doesn’t have its own building.

    #Eat Restaurant, Gol Market, Islamabad - Open Kitchen

    Open Kitchen

    The interior is fairly well-detailed and based on the overall theme of a Thai Jungle. The pillars, which support the canvas covered roof, are decorated to appear as tree-trunks. Lanterns with bright bulbs hang from every pillar. Artificial leaves, bamboo sticks and plants are placed around the walls, as well as on the ceiling. Instead of having walls, two sides of the restaurant have wide windows, which gives a sense of space. The most impressive feature of the design, however, is the open kitchen, which enables customers to see their meals being prepared.

    Unfortunately, one corner of the restaurant is nonsensically different from the rest. A congested segment, with the walls painted a dull shade of maroon, and quotes from motivational leaders pasted on the walls, there seems to be no point to this area. Moreover, the chairs are also disappointing in terms of comfort, and my advice would be to opt for the comfortable sofas placed near the windows. From here, one can enjoy a nice view of the Gol Market while eating. Overall, the informal café like ambiance of the restaurant is rare amongst the city’s Pan-Asian eateries.

    The menu at #EAT proudly displays a variety of food, ranging from Chinese and Thai dishes to Sandwiches and Continental main courses. However, it doesn’t feature any desserts, which is a little disappointing. 

    Spicy Chicken Wings - #Eat Restaurant, Gol Market, Islamabad

    Spicy Chicken Wings

    In appetizers, we enjoyed the Spicy Chicken Wings, priced at PKR 395. A set of 8 honey glazed wings, these were a juicy blend of sweet and spicy, and we were pleased with our choice. We also tried the Rice Cheese Balls, another delicious entrée created out of a decent combination of rice, cheese and spinach. However, this item, priced at PKR 375, only has 4 pieces, which is rather disappointing since we really wanted to have more. Thus, while we enjoyed the delectable appetizers, the quantity left something to be desired.

    #Eat Restaurant, Gol Market, Islamabad - The Beef Bowl

    The Beef Bowl

    In the mains, we ordered the beef bowl, priced at PKR 625. We chose the Beef in Oyster Sauce to be served with rice. It had a unique taste, healthy ratio of meat and rice, and overall a good serving size which left us sated. Additionally, we ordered the club sandwich. Priced at PKR 425, I would not recommend this to anyone. It consisted of some inadequately seasoned chicken, eggs and salad, stuffed between two bland and untoasted slices of bread. Perhaps, it will be advisable if the restaurant sticks to serving only Pan-Asian cuisine.

    #Eat Restaurant, Gol Market, Islamabad - Club Sandwich

    Club Sandwich

    As refreshment, we tried the mint margarita and the lemonade. Although the mint margarita was too sweet for my liking, the lemonade was one of the most refreshing ones I have ever had. 

    We also had concerns regarding the service which isn’t the best. The drinks we ordered, for example, arrived when we were done with our main courses, even though the restaurant wasn’t very crowded.

    Overall, #EAT should be tried as a new addition to the Pan-Asian restaurants of Islamabad. As compared to other similar places, the eatery is reasonably priced and won’t put a serious dent in your wallet. While there is much that can be improved, #EAT has the potential to become a fairly good restaurant given time and effort.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021