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    Talk of the Town - 'The Warehouse'

    The Warehouse Restaurant and Cafe, Jinnah Super, Islamabad

    Written by: Amna Javed
    Posted on: September 23, 2015 |

    The Warehouse – a quirky little eatery tucked away in an under construction plaza in Jinnah Super, opened its doors to food buffs in Islamabad this September. With its quaint industrial interior, the small and snug café would leave you pleasantly surprised as soon as you enter its premises. Buzzing with customers since day one, we consider ourselves lucky to have found a table only after a short, ten-minute wait.

    Personally, I have been in love with Burning Brownie products; thus I had high expectations from Ammar Mumtaz’s newest venture, and its safe to say that the food we guzzled at the Warehouse exceeded our expectations! Infusing modern cooking techniques with fresh ingredients, a pleasing presentation bundled with a comfortable environment; the Warehouse brings to Islamabad exactly what it needed! The place boasts an open kitchen where chefs with hairnets and aprons can be seen tossing around meat and vegetables, while one waits for their food to be ready. Given the recent adventures of food authorities around the city, the open-kitchen may appeal to those who want an insight into how their food is prepared.

    The Warehouse Restaurant and Cafe, Jinnah Super, Islamabad

    The one page menu at the café is simple, but offers a variety to choose from ranging from tasty appetizers to mouthwatering desserts. What truly makes the food here stand out from its competitors is that all meat is cooked sous-vide – a method where the meat is vacuum packed and cooked slowly for a long period in water – which makes it delightfully tender and allows it to keep its full flavor. The juicy, perfectly seasoned burgers, accompanied by lip-smacking fat, crinkle fries (those found at Shake Shack) would leave your eyes as well as taste buds completely satisfied. The roast-beef Panini, with perfectly done meat, and cheese that melts in one’s mouth, is also worth trying! Ammar’s personal involvement in the affairs of the bistro undeniably adds a cherry on top. While you enjoy your meal, he can be spotted rushing from one table to another to note orders and to take feedback.

    “With only four people in the kitchen, we are catering to an average daily clientele of about 350 and that too while operating only six hours a day!” exclaimed the young entrepreneur. There have been complaints about burger patties finishing and a long wait to be seated; however, the immaculate service and his team’s ability to serve food in less than ten minutes makes up for all that.

    Talking about drinks on the menu, the Warehouse brings a fresh, new twist to the capital; the uniquely brewed coffee and the in-house drinks such as the citrus breeze, served in unique mason jars, would absolutely leave you coming back for more. Considering the fresh ingredients and food quality that is maintained, coupled with well-portioned servings, the prices on the menu are quite reasonable and the experience is worth every penny you spend!


    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