Written by: Zainab Hasan
Posted on: December 07, 2018 | 
| 中文
DIY Eatery
The hustle and bustle of Bhittai Road has welcomed yet another restaurant, DIY Eatery, amongst the star-studded line up of old restaurants. It is being hailed as Pakistan’s first software powered restaurant. The owners have created an app for a menu, which facilitates the customers by allowing them to comfortably order either while seated in the restaurant or from the comfort of their home. DIY Eatery app allows its valuable customers to tap into their individuality, creating dishes from scratch by choosing their ingredients.
The well-lit ambiance of the restaurant is the first thing you notice upon entering, which reveals the intricacies of the layout. An interesting structure made out of blocks, leads the way from the entrance to the individual seating areas. The colour red breaks the classic and all-time favourite combination in interior design; black and white.
After settling down, a waiter hands you a tablet and explains how their app works. At first, it did feel strange that we weren’t browsing through a booklet. But the experience is similar to ordering at Subway, except that it’s on a tablet. Menu specials are divided between signature and custom-made dishes. The categories subdivide into Appetizers, Burgers, Salads, Chicken, Pasta, Sandwiches, Seafood and Desserts. You can also craft your own meals using their DIY.Build, which throws in a variety of ingredients for burgers, steaks and pasta.
From their Appetizers, I ordered Fish Fingers, which came with a side of French Fries and Tartar Sauce. The soft and crunchy crumbs, led to the tender centre of the fingers. However, I wish the meat itself had flavour, instead of just being covered with a scrumptious crust. The tartar sauce didn’t do much for me either.
The handsome slab of Sirloin Steak rested on a wooden plank, along with grilled vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes that can be easily enjoyed even without the steak. My first bite of the well-done steak was bursting with flavour and juices from the meat. The Spanish Sauce it had been paired with had a nice consistency, but an overwhelmingly salty taste that didn’t go with the delicious steak.
For me, pasta is one of the most sought after items on any menu. However, the Penne Arrabiata I ordered ended up disappointing me in terms of taste. I felt like the pasta hadn’t been allowed to completely simmer in the sauce, and thus hadn’t absorbed its punchy flavours.
Through DIY Build, I chose a sesame bun, chicken minced patty, pickles, cheddar cheese, turkey bacon and barbecue sauce, which resulted in a burger loaded with fresh ingredients, and having a distinct flavour. The burger was finger-licking good, so I’d say you should take the risk, and order a DIY recipe. I paired this with a tall glass of Chocolate Shake with Oreo crumbs, which looked and tasted good. A hint of coffee was an interesting surprise, cutting at the expected sweetness of the drink.
Crème Brulee was the last stop on the menu. With a glazed and caramelized web of sugar, resting atop the moist, mildly sweet custard base, it was like tasting beauty in a bowl. It was an absolute delight to have the Crème Brulee, which was just as delicious as it was aesthetically appealing. A must have from the menu!
DIY Eatery is an interesting choice for people who like to be in complete control of what they eat. Being a regular customer will earn you points, to avail discounts and free meals in the future. The per head cost, ranges from 1200 to 1500 Rs. The staff at DIY Eatery is hospitable and efficient, and their customer service is certainly commendable. Since DIY Eatery is a newbie in the food industry, it will take them time and customer feedback to make some much needed adjustments; however, they certainly have the potential to succeed.
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