Cafes are a booming business in Dhaka city. They pop up here, there and everywhere. Apart from creating soda water hypes momentarily, many of these eateries fizzle out after a while. However, one of these relatively new pop ups might just be here to stay. We are not just talking about a cozy, high pro set up. Cafes run on a little more than just good selfie lighting. And that’s exactly what iram’s café, located in FR Tower, Banani (right above Preetom burgers), feels too. Its life’s blood, true blue, feel good food, is a definite game changer. Good service, essentially provided not just by extremely supportive staff, but by Iram, the owner herself, adds another feather to its cap. Ranging from salads, to pasta and dessert, and even Chinese set lunches for budget savvy eaters, iram’s has something for everyone. Give us a read for some dos and don’ts of this place before you go exploring. Here’s what we tried:
Prawn on Toast (Tk200) Rated: 9.5/10
This one was as good as prawn on toast can be. They give you four, good sized pieces of toast served with a sweet chili sauce. A healthy amount of prawn, and the well toasted, golden brown bread - with the right balance of softness and crunch to signify that it was freshly made and not heated and re-heated prior to serving. This one sets a benchmark for the other dishes to come.
Chicken Sliders (Tk300) Rated: 7.5/10
As iram’s isn’t a full out burger joint, they don’t boast fully loaded, designer burgers. Staying true to their image of serving a wide variety of food, however, they offer a mean plate of two chicken/beef cheeseburger sliders (mini burgers) for Tk300. Served with a side of french fries and coleslaw, this could pass as a meal on its own, among lighter eaters. An appropriate amount of sauce and soft, small buns make up this baby of a burger. While we felt that the size of the patty inside could be a bit bigger, the wholesome taste of burgers didn’t let us dwell on that fact for too long. There were two to get through, after all!
Grilled Chicken with Cream Sauce (Tk300) Rated: 8.5/10
Some may wonder why we went for a common chicken meal which we could get just about anywhere. While the name suggests basic comfort food, this dish is a well-kept surprise! What you have here is some well barbequed chicken (leg piece) with cream topping - not too spicy but with a very deliberate Indian touch. Think very creamy chicken kebabs and more. Priced at Tk300 and served with sides of mashed potatoes and sautéed veggies, one may want the portion of chicken to be a teensy bit bigger, without regretting a single bite.
Mee Gorey Noodles (Tk320) Rated: 9/10
What can one say about mee gorey that hasn’t already been said? Still, if we must comment, let’s just say this was a full, spicy plate of noodles with all the laces and trimmings of good pasta. No frills attached and none needed, this was a simple, yet classic dish, and it left no room for complaints. Priced at Tk320 and served on its own.
Dragon Chicken (Tk320) Rated: 10/10
Served with butter rice and sautéed vegetables, this one stole the show for us. A full bowl of chicken and pepper gravy, we have yet to see a broth parallel to this one. Whether it was the red and yellow peppers in the dish, or the flavoursome, buttery rice, all analysis flew out of our heads at that point of time and we enjoyed food at its basic, most primal level. If you want a meal to remember, this dish is your best bet.
Red Velvet (Tk180) and Oreo Cheesecake (Tk230) Both rated: 10/10
Both of these are killers. By now we knew iram’s was a better than safe stop for foodoholics, but as we later realided, if there is anything it does better, it’s got to be their knockout desserts. The right amount of cream cheese and the right amount of cake, it puts the velvet in the red velvet slice. We’d have totally gone for a second piece but the cheesecake was waiting, and dear God, that one was by no means less! Their Oreo slice could give any dessert lover a ride to nirvana. You can smell the cookie in every bite and after the last morsel too! Priced at Tk180 and Tk230 respectively, none of these will disappoint!
Strawberry Mojito (Tk250) Rated: 7.5/10
If you like your drinks a little tart, the strawberry Mojito is a safe option. It goes a little further than just a mojito, with its mint topper and strong flavour, but then again, it’s only good for people who like it a little tangy.
Blue Devil Smoothie (Tk250) Rated: 10/10
For people with a sweet tooth, and possibly those without, this is a tall glass of the stuff of little babies’ dreams. A creamy sweet drink, with a hint of vanilla, this will take you back to candy floss and childhood. It’s quite a looker, too!
