Spread over 2,500 sq ft, the ambience of Kaafila, the new restaurant at City Centre, lives up to its name that means caravan. The 70-cover eatery replete with “Afghan cultural topography” is the brainchild of four Jaiswal friends — Vivek, Abhishek, Mukesh and Anil — who form VAMA Enterprises. All four feel that the ambience is the USP of the restaurant that serves Northwest Frontier cuisine. 

Skilfully divided into sections or bazaar, beautiful durries, suraahi or earthern pot, wall paintings, thick ropes and Afghan tiles recreate the traditional bazaar. “There are plans for a kids’ corner with portrait-sketching and story-telling. Hence the free space in the middle of the restaurant and besides mocktails that are presently being served, they are looking at the possibility of a bar.

Ok enough of Ambience, Start with Shorba or soup. Try the kebabs, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. The star dishes are Dal Pakhtooni and Kandahari Laham (mutton leg flambeed with whole spices and olive oil and served with a blue flame around it). During winter, guests will be welcomed with Kawa, an Afghani green tea, and Bouranee, a traditional drink made of aged curd.

If you drop in with a large group, try the Khandaani Naan that serves 12 people. End on a sweet note with Phirni or ice-cream.

Pocket pinch: While the vegetarian kebabs start from Rs 95, non-vegetarian main course dishes are priced between Rs 195 and Rs 675. The Khandaani Naan costs Rs 65.