Daily Times

LAHORE: If the structure and the exterior of it doesn’t take you in, the opulence and the lavishness of the stunning interior will definitely take your breath away.

The creative team behind Tuscany Courtyard believes in providing an atmosphere where food lovers get the perfect bargain for their money. The entire inside premises of the renowned restaurant make us believe that indeed we truly have stepped inside an Italian courtyard, where there’s grandeur splashed all over the walls and not just in our meal’s presentation.

Tuscany Courtyard is a well-reputed fine-dining restaurant of Islamabad that has only but recently made its way to Lahore. For people like me, who had never been to the one in the capital, but had heard raving reviews, couldn’t wait to step in.

As with all the well-marketed restaurants in Lahore, Tuscany Courtyard’s parking was seen jam-packed. The reception area had about 15 families eagerly waiting for their turn to be seated, and once inside, the dim-lit inside premises glowed by the elegance of the décor and the art work on the walls. The brains behind Tuscany Courtyard – Khurram Khan, Faisal Khan and Sikander Bakhtiar deserve a worthy mention, for bringing forth a restaurant that is pleasing both to the eyes and the tastebuds. However, the crown indeed belongs to Ali Umar Alvi, who is the architect and the designer behind the stunning interiors of both the Islamabad and the Lahore branches.

The Lahore branch comprises of the ground floor mainly, where there’s both outside and inside seating arrangement. From prominent fireplaces to creative art pinned to the walls, one is truly compelled to appreciate the fine-dining crockery as well as the settees placed in the restaurant. Tuscany Courtyard Lahore will experience the most sky-rocketing sales in the months of February, March and April where it’ll be pleasant to be seated outside in a little courtyard with beautiful water fountains surrounded by greenery on one side and a litany of well-set tables on the other.

Unlike some restaurants in town, that claim to serve only specific European, Brazilian, Australian or North American cuisine, but somehow deviate from sticking to the theme, Tuscany Courtyard is Italy personified. The menu is laden with delicious Italian cuisines, compelling us to order our three-course right away.

There are six different soups to choose from but I’ll recommend the Cream of Chicken & Almond for those who prefer richness and a thick taste. For spice enthusiasts, I’ll recommend the Thai Fiery Soup. It’s light and falls appropriate on the spice quotient. Both are priced at Rs 545 and Rs 575 respectively.

There are a total of five salad types to choose from, with their price bracket falling between Rs 500 to Rs 695.

I definitely recommend the Seafood Tempura Platter priced at Rs 1,575 – totally worth your money! It’s complete with prawns, fish, calamari and veggie tempura served with dips.

You can’t go to an Italian restaurant and not order pizza! From their Thin Crust Pizza section, that gives us a choice of either a whole wheat or white crust, I recommend the Tuscany Special Pizza priced at Rs 845. With exquisite toppings that range from turkey ham, turkey bacon, pepperoni, grilled chicken, olives, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and oregano, the Tuscany Special Pizza is a must-try.

The chicken cheese burgers are rich in taste and impressive in their presentation, served with pickle and a variety of delicious sauces and dips. Do try their chicken cheese burgers preferably with spicy jalapeno sauce. Their prices range between Rs 695 to Rs 725 served with fries and coleslaw.

Tuscany’s Mint Margarita available for Rs 375 only, is not only affordable but is extremely refreshing and proves to be the perfect complementing drink with your Italian meal. This delightful drink will suit our summer outings perfectly – enjoy your drink with a stunning make-believe Italian atmosphere.

Tuscany needs to further its game in the desserts department but stands out for its beautiful interior, the Appetisers, Thin Crust Pizzas and the chicken cheese burgers that taste truly divine.