NOVU DHA — Restaurant in Lahore Cantonment Tehsil

They missed 4 stars by a whisker,.and the tragedy is that they could have done it by just refining a few things. So the positives first: a) as this is a small commercial area, so parking is NOT that big an issue. b) it wasn't that crowded, so we just walked-in. c) The seats were comparatively comfortable (compared to a lot of others which are a torture). d) The temperature was good, not too cold nor too hot (but the soup eaters will sweat). e) The portions were comparatively larger, and Honey Chicken was nice, the Mongolian Beef was OK. f) The service was quick, and prices average.

But the biggest positive was that, there weren't any families with kids nor loud people. You could actually have a conversation and a long one.

The negatives: a) The A/C near our table was not working, so in hotter weather, it would have been difficult. b) they had opened the outside doors, so while it was airy, it also let in flies / mosquitoes etc. Putting up mosquito lights would have been good. c) No crackers or anything were served, as apparently our order was not big enough (3 of us didn't get crackers, the 2 next table did get crackers), d) The Mongolian Beef was FRIED in oil, while you do need some, that much just kills the taste. If the Chef had used half or better 1/3rd the Oil, then that would have been excellent. e) You have to go by the open kitchen on your way up to restaurant, and the cooking smells pervades. While some of it is nice, better ventilation is needed.

In short, a good place which missed being excellent due to easily avoidable and correctable mistakes. If you want to have a long conversation in comfort,...

Im personally a big fan of small eatries especially the ones which are small on purpose so the owners can keep an eye on everything and can provide quality food. The small sector shop area has turned out to be one of those small eatries niche area which started from dessert directory and G.Y.M. and then expanded to a couple more joints. Novu on a saturday evening was pretty bz keeping in mind it only has 4 tables, 4 inside and 2 on the terrace. We were 4 pple and ordered the novu special fish, two beef entrees, all 3 with sticky garlic rice and one chicken entree with noodles. Noodles were exceptional and the chicken ordinary. A restaurant is always judged by me by the quality and cooking of beef, both were exceptional here. Novu fish was something different, a bit spicy and a bit tangy so i will give it good marks for being innovative. Chicken salad was very good and dynamite shrimps were ......err just dynamite shrimps, copy of the famous pf changs which even the local version of pf changs cannot do right so cant blame NOVU for not doing it the right way instead just adding thousand island sauce to mayonnaise kinda taste. The only thing missing here was the courtesy which is synonymous to such a small restaurant. The head waiter refused to place the order of chicken salad and dynamite shrimps ahead of the main order by giving the excuse that the chef gets confused if one table has two separate orders!!!! Just lame ! Owner missing from action kinda excuse. But still i would suggest to give it a shot for a change of taste and spices. Overall a...

Ordered Novu Pan Asian for dinner tonight through FoodPanda. Ordered the Thai green curry and the beef both with garlic rice. The garlic rice is where the trouble started. It was brown rice made soggy with a brown soy based sauce. It was so bad to look at I immediately called the restaurant. The staff was nice but on edge as if I was not important. I asked for the rice to be taken away and fixed and I was told to pick up new portions myself. So the genius on the phone started out his customer service by asking the customer to pick up and drop off his mistake. I did not comply and he ended up agreeing to deliver new portions and picking up the old with a open time limit saying he did not have a free rider. Again if this was a customer service championship this restaurant would be disqualified. Finally after 2 hours upon exchange I opened the new boxes to find duplicate looking rice slightly less salty and alot soggy. Called myself innocent looking up at Allah and called it a night. Now at one hour past midnight I'm fuming. I wish this place to close down in a grease fire.😡 Obviously without casualties.🥺 If I could give this place negative stars I would....