Written by: Mehr Jan
Posted on: November 18, 2020 | 
| 中文
The Interior of Rumba
Those who hold a passion for good food are often always on the lookout for exciting new dishes and dining possibilities. For instance, food enthusiasts like myself are usually on the quest for the perfect steak. A good steak is often rare to find, but the effort is worth the reward.
Meat and steak lovers in Islamabad are well aware that finding a scrumptious steakhouse in the city with big, flavorful portions, is as rare as getting a perfectly succulent medium-rare beef cut. After several disappointing experiences in a row, the opportunity to have a ‘steakathon awakening’ seemed tempting, for it was advertised on the signboard of a newly-opened café that promised mouthwatering steaks.
Rumba, an African themed café/restaurant based in Bahria Town-Islamabad, promises quality meat which is cooked to perfection, using authentic African spices and flavors. It was launched over a month ago and has a number of dishes on offer besides steaks. These include grilled beef and chicken, pasta, burgers, African appetizers, salads and more.
The Restaurant From the Outside
Located in a quaint spot in Bahria Town’s Phase 2, the interiors are inspired by various recognizable aspects of traditional culture, welcoming famished diners with rhythmic drum beats as background music. The menu is impressive and diverse, although the dishes are not quite authentic African. However, there was a wide variety of steak sauces from which to choose. As a mushroom-enthusiast, I opted for the Mushroom steak, a grilled fillet topped with wild, creamy mushroom sauce and traditional herbs. Aside from that, I decided to order a plate of deep-fried calamari from the appetizer selection, to satiate my craving for crispy and golden seafood. Finally, I decided to end it on a sweet note, with a New York-style cheesecake.
While waiting for my order, I noticed that the eatery also has an outdoor seating arrangement and to my surprise, I came to know the venue had already started hosting musical events and social gatherings. This includes the ‘Full Moon Drum Circle’ and an African Food spread with "Malangaan the Band”, a local street music band gaining popularity in the city. This location is already becoming a popular spot for youngsters, with a hip and lively setting.
Mushroom Steak
My sizzling steak’s presentation was quite pleasing to behold, served with a side of steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes. When people think steaks, they visualize the perfect texture that also needs to be the right temperature and ideally seasoned. Rumba did live up to its expectations as the steak was properly well-done, as I had wanted. The sauce also had that sharp taste of mushroom that was generously draped over the well-sautéed vegetables. I only wished that the serving portion was bigger, so that there was a larger cut of the steak to enjoy.
The calamari, unfortunately, was quite average in comparison, as it was more breaded than needed, and maybe the squid was not very fresh. However, the chilled glass of Berry Blast helped wash down the meal nicely. I also enjoyed some of the ‘Chicken Spinoccolli ordered by the other party, which was a breaded and stuffed chicken and a side of vegetables and French fries. Although the chicken was cooked well, one really struggled to find the promised stuffing of spinach, olives, mushroom and cheese. That made the dish something of a disappointment.
Calamari and Berry Blast
After the mostly satisfying savory experience, I was ready for dessert. I had my eyes set on the cheesecake now, and I was disappointed to see such a small slice which did not look that spectacular either. But the first bite quickly quelled my apprehensions: the cheesecake was creamy and light, with the graham cracker crust complementing the smooth taste of the cream. As with the steak, one wishes that the portion was more generous. Overall, the dining experience was quite satisfactory, and I did plan on returning to try more flavors of their steak.
The New York Cheesecake
It has been difficult for new restaurants to survive amidst the lockdown, and there is a need to offer many dishes for all tastes, so as to attract the largest number of customers. However, the fact that traditional African flavors were so heavily advertised, makes the absence of African dishes all the more pronounced. If the restaurant wants to stand out and continue offering its lively atmosphere, it should not be afraid of focusing on its strengths: steaks and strong flavors.
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