Biryani of the Seas (BOTS): Seafood on a Budget

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.

Biryani of the Seas, Clifton

Location and Ambiance

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. 

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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:

1. Love sea food
2. Are looking for a good meal at a great price
3. Have a penchant for spicy food 
4. Prefer to order from a diverse and wide selection of dishes

Don’t go for it if you:

1. Are not one for the informal roadside dining experience 
2. 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.