There are always those days when one looks to having fun without taxing the last dregs of the month’s hard earned salary. And that’s where restaurants like Biryani of the Seas or more famously, BOTS fits the bill.
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| Biryani of the Seas, Clifton |
Location and Ambiance
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| Outdoor Seating Area |
Setup
as an informal roadside eatery, BOTS is a seafood restaurant with two outlets in
Karachi – Clifton and K.A.E.C.H.S. Reputed to be the better one, Biryani of the
Seas, Clifton dwells between PSO House and the Clifton Bridge making it fairly
easy to locate.
The
restaurant offers primarily outdoor seating with inexpensive plastic furniture spread
over a broad lane in front of the premises. One also has the option of sitting
indoors in the air conditioned double storey dining hall next to the outlet.
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| Air Conditioned Dining Hall |
Opting
to sit outside, we were quickly shown to a grubby table and handed the menu by
a hurried waiter. The black and white colored, double-sided four leaf menu is
quite extensive and on first look baffles the diner on what to order.
With
an eclectic mix of dishes ranging from biryani, soups, omelets, karahis,
curries, barbeque, Chinese seafood, rolls, pizza and much more, the restaurant has
something for everyone. You name it and they’ve got it.
Main Course
We
decided to order the Prawn Biryani (single) and Dhaka Fish
Finger (250 gm.) priced at PKR 200 each and the Prawn
Makhni Handi (single) priced at PKR 600. All prices are
inclusive of tax.
Dhaka Fish Finger
The order was brought within 15 minutes but sadly in parts. The Dhaka Fish Finger was the first to arrive with a serving of eleven (11) pieces of fish.
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| Dhaka Fish Finger |
Fried
in a batter of flour and white sesame seeds, the fish was mildly spicy, moist
and smelt fresh. It was served with two types of dips, one a spicy tamarind
chutney and the second a tomato dipping sauce.
The
tamarind chutney with pieces of coriander, green chilies and crushed red pepper
corn was too watery to give any texture to the fish but the tomato dip with a
concoction of thin strips of carrot, ginger and garlic went fabulously with the
fish and enhanced its flavor twofold. The serving size was generous and suitable
for two people.
Prawn Biryani
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| Prawn Biryani |
The
Prawn Biryani which is considered the restaurant’s signature dish came
next but was barely warm so we requested the server to replace it. After being
reminded twice, he finally found his way back to our table with the biryani
which this time was thankfully hot.
With
a liberal serving of prawns, the biryani was very spicy and tasted like any
other that one would find at a dhaba. The prawns were well cooked, soft and
coated in a spicy masala. The tangy raita accompanying the biryani was
blissfully cold and had the right amount of zing.
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The serving was generous and filling for one person. If you are not one for spicy food, I would recommend that you steer clear of the biryani. I myself am a fan of all things spice, but I felt that the fieriness in the biryani eclipsed the overall taste of the dish.
Prawn Makhni Handi
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| Prawn Makhni Handi |
The
Prawn Makhni Handi came last and turned out to be the better part of our
order. Served steaming hot, the handi was a rich potpourri of cream and butter
with a healthy but manageable dose of spice.
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| Roghni Naan |
Garnished
with white sesame seeds and crushed cumin, the dish tasted divine and was
freshly made. The serving also did not disappoint with a helping of around 17
to 18 succulent prawns making this dish ideal for two people. The
roghni naan ordered alongside the handi was also fresh from the oven and helped
amplify its flavor.
Service
The
service is quite speedy and efficient but the staff is usually harried and
prefers spending the least possible time per table. Also, the waiters are not
very knowledgeable about the exhaustive menu and not well-trained in the art of
guiding consumers on what to order or give their recommendations.
Hit or miss? A hit!
With
a price tag of PKR 400 - 700 per head, Biryani of the Seas is
your typical dhaba-style roadside eatery offering seafood for the masses, average
service quality, minimum fuss about hygiene and an abundant local population of
stray cats.
It
is no fine dining restaurant but therein lays its very charm. The laid back and
unpretentious environment is what we all need now and then to de-stress.
The
emphasis on great value for money, a very diverse menu and simple but fresh, savory
seafood is what makes BOTS a winner. The restaurant also delivers all over
Karachi and is great for students and office goers who want wholesome food that
is light on the pocket.
The
establishment however does not accept credit/debit cards and takes payment by
cash only.
Go for it if you:
- Love sea food
- Are looking for a good meal at a great price
- Have a penchant for spicy food
- Prefer to order from a diverse and wide selection of dishes
Don’t go for it if you:
- Are not one for the informal roadside dining experience
- Want a wide variety of desserts to chose from
Rating
- Ambiance: 2.5/5
- Service: 3/5
- Value: 4/5
- Presentation of Dishes: 2/5
- Dhaka Fish Finger: 3.5/5
- Prawn Biryani: 3/5
- Prawn Makhni Handi: 4/5
My overall rating for Biryani of the Seas (BOTS), Karachi is 3/5.
Have you been there yet?
Written by Rabia J. and published in Blush Magazine on March 8, 2013.
