Dining out during the pandemic was unimaginable for us for the longest time. But with everything else, Cafe Aylanto has been ahead of the pack. The entire staff is seen wearing gloves and masks, and, they have QR Code menus to access the restaurant menu on their mobile phones. They have to be scanned through mobile phones. Using these touchless menus limits the spread of the Coronavirus through physical objects that go through multiple hand exchanges.
Before, during and even after the pandemic, Cafe Aylanto will continue to be an integral part of Lahore’s food scene. Their branch in DHA Lahore’s Z Block, continues to uphold Cafe Aylanto’s standards in regards to the ambiance, cleanliness, service and most important of all, flavour.
We started our food journey with Aylanto’s Crab Au Gratin, which is served hot and covered in cheese. The crab is fresh, the flavours are rich and hit all the right spots and is perfect for all the seafood lovers out there.
Making the most of the last of the winter season, we also ordered Cream of Mushroom Soup.
It was hearty, full of flavour and the cream did not overpower the taste of the mushroom, which is just as it should be. Our first course ended with fried calamari rings and Spanish Chili Prawns. While a lot of restaurants end up serving rubbery, chewy calamari, and overcooked prawns, Aylanto get’s them just right (EVERY TIME). Covered in the perfect crunchy batter, the calamari is fried to a beautiful golden brown – these are the only rings we need in our life, at least for the moment!
But the other star of the show, was the Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
The creamy spinach and artichoke are baked with a delicious parmesan crust. This dip is served with yummy crostini. We love how it breaks between our teeth, offering the perfect contrast to this creamy dip.
For mains, we were served Penne Arrabbiata and Decked Beef. Needless to say, both dishes were impeccable. If you like a little bit of a spicy kick in your dishes, the Decked Beef is just what you need. With the absolute perfect temperature of the beef, the creamy sauce makes it the perfect entrée for us.
The Penne Arrabbiata is the perfect option for pasta aficionados. The perfectly cooked penne is coupled with the perfect creamy tomato sauce and parmesan cheese (TIP: Ask for some grilled chicken to be added to it, making it the perfect pasta dish for anyone!), we can’t decide what the star of the dish is. If you’re into the classic pairing of sauce and pasta, you NEED Aylanto’s Penne Arrabbiata in your life.
To end our beautiful medley of flavours, we ordered the Caramel Bread Pudding and Tiramisu, and can we just say, there is nothing better in this world than dessert, especially if it’s done by Café Aylanto.
The Bread Pudding is definitely something to write home about. Made with fresh baked bread drenched in the not too sweet caramel sauce, no visit to Cafe Aylanto is complete without ordering this classic dessert. The Tiramisu was also the best we’ve had in the city. Most restaurants end up masking the bitter coffee taste of a Tiramisu with the sweetness from cream or custard, but Aylanto let’s the coffee sing while keeping the rest of the flavours pretty low key. If a punch of caffeine is what you need in your desserts, look no further than the Tiramisu at Cafe Aylanto.
Keep up with all the new happenings at Aylanto DHA by following them on their Instagram page (@cafeaylantodha) – if nothing else, the delicious pictures on their page will get you through a tough day at work. Follow away: