Restaurant: The Smokey Cauldron
Location: F-6 Markaz, Islamabad
Rating: 2.5/5
Items & Pricing:
1. Godric's Hollowed - Rs 699
2. 'Shroom and Chicken Sandwich - Rs 449
3. The Goblet of Fire - Rs 319
Islamabad is known for its diverse range of delectable and innovative food choices. From different takes on fancy cultural cuisine to rich and affordable street food, the folks of the twin cities truly thought they had seen it all – until the introduction of The Smokey Cauldron. The Harry Potter-themed café that gained notoriety for its homage to the wizarding world took Islamabad by storm when it first launched in 2016. It reportedly serves a variety of food and drinks suited to fulfil customer preferences. Previously known as the Hogwarts café, the cosy little joint sits in the corner of F-6 Markaz in a world of its own, but is the café worth the craze or is it yet another misconstrued façade set in place to lure in devoted fans?
The Cauldron attempts to immerse visitors into the full mystical experience as portrayed on the big screen. Upon first glance, the cobble-stoned building incites excitement and sparks curiosity among life-long fans of the book series, allowing them to step into a whole other dimension; the interior, while fitting to the conventional theme, lacks maintenance. The wall where the poignant words of Dumbledore were once inscribed now slowly chips away letter by letter. The overbearing amount of neon post-its overlaid one on top of another, fully encasing the rustically carved wooden pillars, is enough to thrust avid fans back into the muggle world.
Segueing on to the main event – the food; they say the determination to a good burger is the different elements of flavour it offers. The cafe's famous Godric’s Hollowed is not exempt from this assessment rubric. The first bite into the crunch coated chicken patty seemed promising. The succulence of the meat blending in with the velvety richness of the thousand islands condiment makes for an ambrosial treat. The poultry remained uniformly tender throughout, a quality not found in most thick patties. Each mouthful was packed in more punch with its combination of crunchiness and the trail of cheese that connected the current bite to the next. The sogginess of the sesame buns, on the other hand, dampened the juiciness of the fillet that would have otherwise been translated to the customer had it been toasted.
The ‘Shroom and Chicken Panini' promises patrons of the Cauldron a cheesy grilled sandwich, loaded with chicken and mushrooms, marinated in an undisclosed sauce and enclosed between two grilled pieces of bread. The genuine article, however, cut corners on its promise. Though the chicken was generously stuffed, it conglomerated with a rubber-like substance instantly transitioning from soft meat to a squidgy texture, which was almost too strenuous to swallow. Seeing as the sandwich was meant to be grill-based, the addition of underdone, canned mushrooms seemed like a heedless move executed by the chef. The sauce, an obvious combination of regular ketchup and mayonnaise, overpowered every other added ingredient altogether, masking whatever traces of cheese that was found in the three-cornered item. The served side of the bread received extra toasted love from the grill as opposed to its unseen over-moist counterpart, demolishing any consistency that existed.
The French fries that accompanied both dishes were sparsely dispersed over the planked board, too meagre for any individual to enjoy. The hue on the fries was evident enough that it needed a few more minutes in the fryer to acquire that golden coloured crisp we all relish. A light sprinkle of oregano graced each fry, adding an earthier yet tangy undertone to meet an otherwise elementary side dish.
No amount of food is complete without a drink to wash it down. The Goblet of Fire is described as a green apple lime that will get customers soaring. With the items given name and the café’s intrigue towards incorporating the theme in its menu, one would expect a drink such as this to be served in nothing other than a goblet lit with a harmless yet entertaining flame. Unfortunately, that was not the case; the beverage was instead served in a mortal-realm designed glass found in every common household. It presented itself as a highlighted verdant elixir with an effervesce consistently bubbling its way to the brim of the glass. Nonetheless, the first sip pleasantly shocks the tastebuds, paving the way for a zesty lime to momentarily kick in before being left with a satisfying ascorbic aftertaste.
The Smokey Cauldron receives a generous 2.5 out of 5 stars for its overall quality in food and atmospheric appeal. To put it ever so plainly, the joint was established as a ploy to tempt Potterheads into an otherwise lacking dining experience. If visiting a themed café does not fall into your list of priorities in selecting a place to dine with friends, a more fitting and affordable option for burgers and sandwiches would be Feast, located in Al-Hameed Plaza, G-11 Markaz, Islamabad.
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