In the recent past, Lahore has seen a gradual rise of its culinary scene, where a plethora of restaurants have popped up on the circuit in an effort to make the booming metropolis a new hearth of international cuisine. One such example is the Canadian restaurant chain, Eggspectation which has opened up in Lahore as the latest beacon of foreign flavours.

Situated inside the Boulevard 57 building that also hosts Lahore’s latest and most-revered cinema space CUE in Gulberg lll, Eggspecation is quite the centre-point these days. Lahoris have been making a beeline to the new eatery despite its blink-and-you-will-miss-it setting during the outdoor dining days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The best way then of course, is to notice where all the food ‘connoisseurs’ are heading inside the building to find out where it is; that is if you can’t spot them from their signature white sun shades.

Decked up in a more off-the-cuff nature – which is the new en-trend thing amongst restaurants in Pakistan – Eggspecation is an amalgam of a no-nonsense diner and a modern-take on casual brunch – of course, while still keeping it all upscale.

The menu, too, follows suit to this idea.

Offering a wide array of options, the menu is spread over several extensive pages that display everything from breakfast options to savories such as crepes and salads alongside a grand list of mains that pertain to the larger Eggspectation ideology. Out of the delicacies, we went for a mix of choices that included Bruschetta Parisienne, Montreal Poutine, Bacon Mac and Cheese, Italian Meatballs & Marscapone Tagliatelle, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Piri Piri Salami Flatbread.

Starting off with the appetizers, the Bruschetta Parisienne, showcasing fresh-chopped tomatoes mixed with garlic and pesto, and the Montreal Poutine, which is a play on the Canadian favourite and includes fries covered with smoked meat, cheese curds, and a homemade special gravy, the two displayed uniquely distinct flavor profiles. While the former played on the idea of successfully mixing Italian and French flavours, the latter undoubtedly shined bright as the perfect take on a classic North American delicacy. From bits of meat to the smoky gravy, it all made perfect sense as it encapsulated our taste buds.

The flatbread, which came right after the starters, added to the gluttonous brunch fest that had been manifested on the table. Tantalising one’s need for a bit of spice – something the South Asian taste palate would always want – the flatbread did its job perfectly. The pieces of hot salami alongside a hot San Manzano tomato sauce made for the perfect blend of flavours, which fit the Pakistani taste to the tee.

Onwards to the mains, the roller-coaster ride of flavours took a rather stagnant turn. While there were some enjoyable highs, there were also some miserable lows as well. The Cordon Bleu for example, served as one of the good highlights when it came to the entrée menu. But then again, there’s really not much that could go wrong with a dish that has now gone into the annals of Pakistani fusion cuisine history for its existence on menus since probably the 1980s.

The other two pasta options – the Bacon Mac & Cheese and the Italian Tagliatelle – unfortunately had nothing that one could write home about. They were contrastingly basic and lackluster in taste if compared to how well they were presented. If the eyes could do the eating, these dishes would probably have passed with flying colours, but alas! One just wished the flavor profiles were as well curated here as they were with the starters.

The drinks, which usually are the complementing beverage to a hefty brunch, were stuck in the middle somewhere as well. The fresh and hand-squeezed options, such as the Tropical Teaser – comprising a blend of mango, banana, and pineapple - stood out.The Spa Coco, a coconut drink as the name suggests, was sadly dull in every way it could have been, making the overall experience a hit and a miss.

Amidst the many new restaurants opening up in Lahore, Eggspectation is a high-stakes contender given that it is an international franchise. However,whether it will survive beyond its novelty appeal is still a question we can’t predict the answer to. Time will tell, but what we can say is that we ‘eggspect’ a little more ‘eggcellence’ and a little attention paid will take it a long way.