LAHORE: Nestled in the heart of DHA, Chaye Thaana is the newest addition to the area’s saturated food market. As distinct as its name sounds, the cafe has gained some serious attention by all the food magnets out there. Since it has now become a norm to establish themed-based cafés in Pakistan, the creative team behind Chaye Thaana have chosen the theme of a police station for their venture. One of the highlights of the place is that its theme is what sets it apart from the rest. It makes one comfortable with the idea of lunching at a police station As dark and dreary as that might sound, the cafe’s theme of choice makes the regular audience engage without any apprehension about sitting in a “lockup” and having their meals. Chaye Thaana is open to the public everyday from 5pm to 12am however on Saturdays, it has its doors open until 1am. We headed over to the cafe and tried out some of the items on the menu. Here’s what we thought of the place. STRENGTHS — one of the highlights of the place is that its theme is what sets it apart from the rest. It makes one comfortable with the idea of lunching at a police station. The other element that stands out at Chaye Thaana is its interior. There are jail like bars at every nook and corner coupled with steel wires and actual hanging ropes at the doorstep. These props alone are enough to send a shiver down your spine, however these shivers are taken care of once you take a long sip of the coffee from their exquisite menu. The other highlight of the cafe is its sitting arrangements. Having both outdoor and indoor sitting, there is a something for everyone approach as those of you would opt to sit outside can enjoy a lovely ambiance and take in the pleasant weather with some soothing tea to relish. Staying true to its theme, the cafe’s menu is called a “Parcha” and offers a variety of food items. From the menu, we tried their Pizza Paratha Wrap priced at Rs 180 and their Chicken Samosa from their Snacks section. It is priced at Rs 150 and is served with the cafe’s signature sauce and fries. Next we tried their six-piece Wings, which were available for Rs 250. Do try out the cafe’s steak, called Thaana’s Special Steak, which is priced at Rs 425, also served with their signature sauce and fries. We personally recommend all you foodies out there to try Chaye Thaana’s Pizza Paratha Wrap and Nutella Tea (Rs 120) with your friends and in the meantime, play a game of cards, which are right there on the table. How could we forget the cafe’s Chicken Paratha Wrap, which is at an affordable rate of Rs 160. It is indeed mouth-watering and is rich in flavour, taste and aroma. However, the clear winner on the menu or shall we say Parcha is the Nutella Tea. The creative team behind Chaye Thaana takes the theme quite seriously as one can spot portraits and mug shots of criminals lining the walls right behind the “SHO’s table”. Like we mentioned earlier, the creative team takes the theme quite seriously and it’s both entertaining and unique to see that your order comes out in prison thaalis instead of fine-dining crockery. One thing that doesn’t work in the restaurant’ favour is its tight and compact premises. It can only entertain a limited number of visitors at one time A cherry on top is the staff’s uniform. The servers and the attendants are dressed to look like convicts. Imagine the entertainment one is subjected to when you see your order being brought out by a server wearing a jailbird’s uniform. The noteworthy advantage of dining in at Chaye Thaana is the fact that it is economical as you might have guessed by now and the food items are extremely light on your pocket. WEAKNESSES — Chaye Thaana’s Special Steak did not really work for us. One thing that doesn’t work in the restaurant’ favour is its right and compact premises. It can only house a limited number of visitors at one time. Also, the lighting in the café is not very favourable for those who prefer having their meals in a bright-lit room. The writers are web editors at Zaiqa TV. They can be reached at annieirfanblogger@gmail.com and sara.shahid88@yahoo.com Published in Daily Times, January 28th 2018.