It took us a few days to finally get a chance to eat at Karachi’s latest eatery, located on main Khayaban-e-Shamsheer, where the old Café Zouk used to be. Anyone who might have driven past the Canadian food chain recently will probably have seen the scores of people waiting outside the restaurant, eagerly lined up to get a table. It’s not that Paramount doesn’t have waiting space inside; it’s just that the sheer number of people wanting to try Middle Eastern cuisine is so high that the lines extend way beyond the parameter of the restaurant.

Therefore we were daunted by the task of even attempting to visit the restaurant but luckily managed to find a table without having to wait for longer than five minutes. Perhaps going early did the trick (8.30 pm is early considering people were queuing up to get a table at 10.30 pm.) Being greeted with a huge smile by the staff members is always helpful in setting the right atmosphere for the diner from the very beginning and Paramount managed to do just that and thankfully maintained this hospitality well until the end of our extremely filling meal.

The décor is the perfect cross between Middle East and the West, as it has incorporated the distinct mosaic tiled walls with sleek minimal counters from where the food is served. Also, Paramount hasn’t utilized the second floor of what used to be two-story restaurant but that doesn’t mean that the interior is cramped. The eatery has been designed spaciously, keeping in mind the personal space of diners. Therefore, no one will be breathing down your neck while you eat or listening in to your intimate conversations.

On to the main part: the food. Let us just say straight up that the food at Paramount isn’t bad but perhaps the hype ruined it a little for us. We were expecting to be bowled over by never-been-eaten-before cuisine, to make sense of the multitudes of people willing to wait out in the cold. Still, if we keep the disappointment of the hype aside, the warm and soft pita bread served in the beginning was indeed heavenly. It literally melts in your mouth and is perhaps one of the best breads you will eat in the city.

The waiter suggested we order a mixed combo platter, which has a variety of Lebanese delicacies that also include side orders of hummus and fattoush salad.

The salad was a well balanced blend of tossed greens, sautéed in a wonderful lemony vinaigrette.  Lebanese food is perhaps best for those who are health conscious because it consists of a variety of grilled meat and colourful vegetables.

The platter consisted of chicken and beef shawarma, kafta, shish tawouk, falafel and barbecued beef. Everything on the platter was grilled to perfection, with the correct blend of zesty flavours and the right textures. However the fried vegetarian fritters were the highlight of the meal as a falafel is the most authentic Lebanese food item that is not similar to anything cooked in Pakistan.

Moving on, the dessert was the risky part because Lebanese sweets are extremely different from the kind of sweet dishes Pakistanis are used to. Regardless, we decided to try the baklawa and the Lebanese and Nabiseih kinafe, a cheese pastry drizzled with a sugary syrup. The kinafe proved to be a disappointment, perhaps the use of cheddar cheese is incorrect, or maybe our palettes are not used to the fusion between the two.

Thankfully, the value for money isn’t too bad. We had a fulfilling three course meal, along with beverages, and ended up paying Rs.1500 per head, which included the service charge as well.

In conclusion, the eating experience at Paramount is recommended for those who like healthy, grilled food. However, our suggestion is that you wait out the storm for a few days before going, and if the long lines persist even later, then make sure to be prepared for a long wait.