As much as Lahoris like indulging in oily curries and spicy meals for breakfast, which is complete with a big glass of lassi and tea, of late, those same Lahoris have their options full of trying out a fine-dining brunch which comes with sushi burger, avocado toast and eggs, pancakes and quiche. There is a certain clientele which is being targeted here and we headed over to Gaia to see what the hype was about. Under the aegis of Chef Shakeel, the brunch menu is the newest addition to the restaurant’s Asian fusion with Japanese food. The new brunch might take a moment to catch fire as people would need to develop their taste for the unique additions STRENGTHS – there is something for everyone. Eggs, burgers, waffles and pancakes, no you are not going home unsatisfied or hungry. So much so that there is even a brief menu for children which includes Chicken Katsu and a Cheeseburger, priced at Rs 575 and Rs 525 respectively. The children can choose from sides that are Turkey Bacon, French Fries and edamame salad, all below Rs 350. The general menu includes Turkish Bread whose price begins from Rs 750 to Rs 1,050, Beef Burger priced at Rs 850, Sukiyaki Burger for Rs 795, French toast at Rs 595, Eggs that range from Rs 695 to Rs 950 depending on the serving, Garlic & Spinach for Rs 795 and Creamy Mushroom for Rs 795. There’s an entire dedicated menu for Appetisers & Salads consisting of a Bread Basket for Rs 495, nicoise and edamame salads ranging from Rs 950 to Rs 1,050 in addition to calamari which is for Rs 650. The chef tells us he’s coming up with unique desserts too in the near future. Half done eggs on toast are delicious, tender and moist and crispy at the same time. They satisfy your tastebuds and are filing at the same time. The sushi burger is a unique concept arriving in Pakistan for the first time. Before that, we only browsed through Insider Food and wondered if Pakistan could ever have food like this. You might have mixed reviews if you’re trying it for the first time but it’s definitely worth giving a shot, especially considering how the medium rare beef and soy sauce mixed mushrooms just melt in your mouth giving an enriching experience for the tastebuds. The Edamame Salad is refreshing, juicy and new. It’s new for us as before this, we had never tried edamame so it came across as a delicious new addition to our collection of most liked foods. There is something for everyone. Eggs, burgers, waffles and pancakes, no you are not going home unsatisfied or hungry The presentation is beautiful. Signature to Gaia, the presentation really takes your breath away. It’s meticulously done so you eat with your eyes first. The service is swift. WEAKNESSES – the new brunch might take a moment to catch fire as people would need to develop their taste for the unique additions. Either this or the food might need changes in its choice of ingredients in order to cater to a bigger clientele. Adding burgers to Gaia’s other Japanese cuisine of sushis and nigiris is a confusing concept and might take away the exclusivity of the place. Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.