Exceptional Pakistani cuisine is now available in the food court of Al Reef Villas, Abu Dhabi.
Back in the day, when the Al Reef community was just coming to life, finding places to eat or get food delivered was an absolute nightmare. There was no Yas Mall or the food court and hardly any deliveries, so if you wanted to get food you really had to plan ahead.
Then things took a turn for the better, the food court opened and a nice selection of restaurants sprung up seemingly overnight and one of the was Baithak, a nice little Pakistani place that soon became quite popular with their breakfast menu and more.
Around a year or so, things took a dramatic turn for the better when Taste of Lahore, one of the best Pakistani restaurants in Abu Dhabi, took over the management. A new chef was the first change and the menu was subtly tweaked to create a mini replica of Taste of Lahore itself. Read out full review of TOL here.
The Venue
Situated in the food court of Al Reef Villas, Baithak offers a full Pakistani menu with takeaway, delivery and due to the current situation a limited dine in option as well. The place is always buzzing with the food delivery guys picking up huge parcels for delivery, which is a great sign.
The Food
We went over to do a quick mid-week takeaway and are happy to say the food was way better than what we had experienced in the old days.
No meal can start without a kebab starter, so we went with their classic Peshawari chapli kebab, two huge muttin patties grilled to perfection, charred on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside served with a tangy mint chutney. The spices were perfect, and the taste was just right.
Taste of Lahore is known for their exotic varieties of fresh baked bread and naan, so we had to get the bread basket that had a selection of their bestsellers made fresh as we waited, perfect for the kebab and for mopping up the gravies.
We went with one of our favourites, the Chicken Karahi, tender pieces of chicken simmered in a fragrant, flavourful gravy in traditional Lahori style. The taste was spot on, tangy and sharp dressed with slivers of ginger and green chillis, we just kept dunking our naan in the delightful gravy.
Along with the karahi we went for a palak gosht, a mutton curry made with spinach that had a creamy and delicate flavour, the spinach was fresh, and the mutton was falling off the bone tender, just delicious.
We can’t go to a Pakistani place without getting some biryani and the guys suggested we try their fish biryani, so it was a fish biryani this time, the rice was perfect, and the fish was fresh. The traditional biryani experience was elevated to the next level.
The meal ended with some delightful kulfi, a kind of milk based ice cream which is rich, creamy and extremely flavourful and the perfect end to a delightful meal.
The Verdict
We can say with confidence the TOL team has turned Baithak into a little gem of a place, the food is exceptional, the portions are huge, and the pricing is extremely budget friendly which is a rare combination in today’s times.
The packaging was excellent, and the staff will cheerfully guide you through the menu offering excellent suggestions, which makes the whole experience a delight. We wish we lived closer, so we could enjoy the food more. Full points to the TOL and Baithak team, loved the experience.
The Contact
For more information and to place orders, please all +971 2 582 2221 or +971 54 506 9806. Orders can be placed across all the popular food delivery platforms as well.
