Tucking into the new À La Carte menu at Crowne Plaza Residence
The evening started with a slight confusion when my contacts at ICE Today and I set out for Crowne Plaza, and arrived at the hotel at the Gulshan 2 intersection, instead of our intended destination, the Residence tucked neatly into Road 35. Whereas Crowne Plaza Dhaka commands attention in the busy intersection for events and excitement, the Crowne Plaza Residence is targeted towards longer-term guests who want a quiet, discreet stay. Suffice to say, it definitely passed the discretion test.
Located within the Crowne Plaza Residence, Panache is a distinguished dining venue offering a refined ambiance, breathtaking rooftop views, and a commitment to culinary excellence. They have recently launched an Á la carte menu, comprising of tried-and-true hits, and we were here to check it out.
A quick elevator ride took us from the cozy lobby to Panache under the stars. My first impression of the restaurant was of a retreat from the hubbub of the city, and between the excellent views and the tasteful music, all the stress of a long day immediately faded to the background. The layout of the dining space was arranged in split levels around the rooftop pool, with a cabana area, an upper deck, and a lower space with a view of the live kitchen. Careful placement of greenery around the tables and along the walls provided relief as well as privacy, while the festive party lights added just a touch of sparkle to the sleek lines and minimalist elegance of the space. Based on ambience and visuals alone, this is an ideal place to come for a relaxing meal.
We took a moment to catch up with with Chef Mohammad Khawaldeh, the Syrian-born Executive Chef at Crowne Plaza, who gave us a small refresher on past food events at Crowne Plaza, including Mediterranean Festival, Seafood Festival, and so on, we proceeded, welcome drinks in hand, to sample the á la carte offerings from the new menu.
A fresh start
For starters, we got the Greek Salad and a hummus platter. The crunchy freshness of the salad veggies were perfectly offset by the creamiest, crumbliest feta cheese, which inspired rhapsodies, especially paired with the oven-warm pita bread. The hummus platter gave us a selection of three different types of hummus, all of which had subtle flavours, with the generous addition of olive oil, which was the prominent taste when tried with the pita.
From surf…
Our next course was the seafood sampler, which allowed us to try smoked king prawns, crunchy calamari, chewy octopus, and crispy fried pomfret. The smoky flavours of the king prawns were the standout, while the calamari and octopus both provided delightful mouthfeel. The pomfret was definitely a pivot after the fresh green tastes from the previous course. Seafood lovers should find something to look forward to in this selection.
…to turf
The main course was a feast of grilled meats, and here we truly got the Levantine flavours of Chef Khawaldeh’s culinary background. A selection of three different kababs with Mediterranean flavours, to tender chewy chicken skewers, and a few small cuts of steak thrown into the mix for variety, this sampler was a meat lover’s dream come true. While my personal preference is for medium rare steak, one could hardly argue with the charring and smoky flavours of the premium well done cuts.
A sweet finish
The menu offers many options for the sweet tooth, but for dessert, we tried two items: Apple pie á la mode, and chocolate lava cake. The pie was the perfect blend of tart and sweet with a cinnamon kick, and a crunchy biscuit base, while the chocolate dish was more cake than lava, but perfect for the slowly warming weather.
Overall, the new menu provides quality options on familiar favorites. There is nothing too adventurous in the offerings, but everything on offer is prepared with care and choice ingredients, so one is assured of a good meal in a great atmosphere, and is an experience worth repeat visit.
The À La Carte menu will be available exclusively on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, inviting food enthusiasts to experience an unforgettable dining affair.
Panache is located on the 7th Floor, Crowne Plaza Residence Building
House 16/B, Road 35. Gulshan 2, Dhaka.
For reservations and inquiries, please call 01966662152.