Xander's Clifton — Restaurant in Karachi Division

Xanders

Second day in Karachi and was looking for a good breakfast.. everyone kept saying to head to Xanders. Hadn’t been before and now I keep asking myself why it took me so long to finally try this place. So we had....

Short Rib Egg Benedict (9/10) Anyone who has ever cooked an Egg Benedict knows it’s not an easy dish to get right and trust me, I’ve broken enough egg yolks in the process to know! This Benedict was so well balanced.. each individual item was made just right. Normally, restaurants overload on the vinegar in the Hollandaise sauce and the kick is usually too much but in this the ratio was perfect. The meat was tender and pulled off the bone and well cooked. Probably one of the best Benedicts I’ve had in the country.

Mediterranean Omelette (1/10)

Jitna acha Benedict tha, utna bura Mediterranean omelette tha. Never been a fan of black olives but it felt like Xanders has a black olive surplus in the inventory pantry because calling it loaded with it, inside and on top, was an understatement. The capsicum stuffed inside was raw with no hint of cheese, or flavour for that matter found anywhere. Had a few bites and returned it. It was atrociously bad!

Nutella French Toast (9/10)

The only reason this wasn’t 10/10 is because the serving was too little!! Yaar this was the best Nutella French toast I’ve had ever.. like ever! When we ordered, I was expecting s generic French toast loaded with Nutella made the world over and wasn’t too excited abt it but one bite and I was transported to my happy place! Ufff so good! Especially the caramelised Apple stuffed inside the toast, when eaten with the raw freshly cut pieces!! Mannn I wanna have it again lol.. but just when you start enjoying the flavours, it’s finished! Farrrkkkkkk 😔😒

Blueberry Smoothie bowl (10/10)

The highlight of the breakfast.. didn’t want to order but the server kept insisting and rightly so. Guys, the idea of an edible smoothie just doesn’t sound appealing but I was so wrong!! It literally felt like being slapped in the face (in a good way) every bite I took. The berry yogurt mix packed a punch and it was loaded with blueberries. The mix was covered with ample fruits and nuts! A must have!!!

Mixed chai (0/10) - Skinny Latte (8/10)

I don’t understand why these places can’t do a decent chai. It’s not the difficult guys!! Skinny latte was lovely, the beans felt freshly ground roasted and ground. Good coffee!

Service (10/10)

Professional staff that actually knew what was in the food they’re serving.. made the best recommendations and when we returned the omelette, the manager himself attended to my complain. Polite and very accommodating! It was definitely an addition to the whole experience at Xanders.

Verdict: coming back fo’sure!!! Damage: Rs. 3650 (worth...

Their pastas are delicious. My favorite ones are Baber pasta, linguine with dill and chicken, and Alfredo. The thing that stands out the most is the chicken in said pastas. I usually don't care for the chicken in my pastas and scoop it out, but this chicken was succulent. It would be safe to the theirs is the best Alfredo I have ever eaten. I have always held the opinion that no chef can ever beat my mom's Italian food, but Xander's pastas successfully did that.

The chef at E-street just cooks his chicken to perfection every time I visit, Masha'Allah, be it fried or grilled. The parmesan crusted chicken is what dreams are made of.

Also, extra points for incorporating mango and other seasonal fruits in the menu. Their smoothies and smoothie bowls are quite possibly the best in K-town. The red snapper could use a little work though. It still can't top my mom's. Their ciabatta bread is okay, nothing to write home about, but the sandwich filling is scrumptious. I might order the same sandwich with a croissant next time or at least ask for the ciabatta to be toasted before serving. The room temp bread didn't do it for me. I am not sure if they serve focaccia, but I can guarantee this sandwich would be elevated if they served it with focaccia.

One more thing, do yourself a favor and don't order greek salad or falsa juice/smoothie from them. Just get some feta cheese and make your own salad. It's not that difficult. Save your money.

I'd love to try their tiramisu pancakes and mango desserts next, Insha'Allah.

Update: still haven't tried those tiramisu pancakes because they weren't serving those the last time I visited, but I did get a chance to try raspberry french toast (Bukhari). I have also tried flourless chocolate cake (E-Street), and double chocolate and raspberry brownies (Tipu Sultan). Their flourless chocolate cake is love. The raspberry French Toast was delicious, but a tad dry in some spots. The brioche could have been soaked in the custard for a bit longer. Their brownies are not for me, way too sweet, and not at all balanced. If that's your vibe, I'd say go for it, but if you like balanced desserts and want something chocolatey, give flourless chocolate cake a try. You definitely...

Xanders is located at an extravagant area of Clifton. This is a casual restaurant with usually a trendy and casual crowd. The place is small though it has three types of sittings. It has an outer space for the people to enjoy the open sky, it has an indoor space adjacent to the kitchen where guests could enjoy there food while it is served directly and lastly it has a roof top for people to enjoy the open air atmosphere while having there dine. There is usually alot of rush and waiting is very common especially in weekends at dinner or at Friday at lunch time. The moment you enter the restaurant the waiter would put a disclaimer that the restaurant is full and your waiting may end in 20 t0 25 minutes. They further put another statement in front of you that it may get earlier or later than 20 or 25 minutes for your turn to come. However some people stay and some leave. The ones who stay usually get there turns and sit. Even if you request the waiter inside to provide you any roof space then the waiter shall provide it. The food is very tasty and much reasonable in terms of there area and ambience. You get good burgers, steaks and cakes. It's a good place to spend good time and hangbout with...