It’s OK to break out of the monotony of having samosas and dahi bhallay during iftar, once in a while. There are so many people out there who directly have their dinner for iftar instead of indulging in a litany of fried items like samosas, pakkorras, rolls and then dahi bhallay or channa chaat. As much as this might sound healthier, there are a variety of restaurants now picking up their service and menu, offering items other than the traditional platters. Being the foodies that Lahoris are, this move has been welcomed wholly by a lot of people. Renowned Japanese food restaurant ‘Gaia’ has done it recently. Sushi for iftar? Why not. And then something wonderful happens when beef/chicken steaks are up for grabs during iftar. Eight-month-old Bovinoes Steakhouse offers that for all those too jaded by the regular platters. I headed over to the restaurant and this is what I found. STRENGTHS Everything is original and not a rip off of all the menus combined, like we see so much these days. I also like how the idea of an independent steakhouse is unique and rare. I remember this one really popular expensive restaurant in Lahore, that has a menu completely copied from a high end fine dining restaurant of Kuala Lumpur. They thought we can never catch them, but we did. Ouch! For those who like their iftar to be light, they have an option of choosing from salads and appetisers. So basically, Bovinoes offers something for everyone, and does not strictly adhere to steaks only. The service is definitely swift. One doesn’t need to wait for a longer time to be served their iftar, as that sounds extremely annoying, right? The price range is reasonable and affordable. Starting from Rs 1,100 up to Rs 2,018, there are a lot of items to consume in a fixed bracket, and this is something I personally look for when choosing a restaurant to have iftari at. The desserts are also the highlight of Bovinoes. Do try their cheesecakes, which are soft, moist and come across in different flavours. WEAKNESSES As it is with everything else, Bovinoes comes with its share of weaknesses too. Although there is a full dedicated drinks section on the menu, its beverages are definitely not its biggest strength. From the ones I tried, the flavour lacked the appropriate amount of sugar and other ingredients it boasted of. As much as I loved the salads, some of the appetisers lack the essence of that particular dish, namely Nachos Platter, which were soggy, flavourless and a hotchpotch of sauces and baked cheese. Some of the mains need attention for example the Portuguese Chicken which was mild and a simple roasted chicken, with just a side of spicy sauce/dip. Sometimes, when the menu says “Spicy”, the chefs should know the customer wants the chicken or the meal to be spicy in itself, rather than being served a dip of spicy sauce to have your mild chicken with. Published in Daily Times, June 1st 2018.