Welcome to the perfect blend of culinary delights and a cosy ambience at Sparrows cafe.
Nestled in a quiet street in North Gulshan this cafe-restaurant hybrid promises an unforgettable dining experience with great ambiance.
Pankaj Debnath, the manager of Sparrows, walked us through the restaurant and gave us an insight behind their philosophy.
Food
For appetizers, we tried their wild mushrooms with garlic cream featuring five different types of Japanese mushrooms sautéed with thyme and butter. This dish, served with garlic cream and carrot puree, is without a doubt one of their most appealing selections.
The wild mushrooms each add their own distinct umami flavours, which were not muddled in any way, which is a respectable accomplishment. The garlic cream not only looked nice on the plate, but it also added the appropriate amount of acidity, and the carrot puree supplied exactly the right amount of sweetness to the mushrooms.
The loaded fries are fresh-from-the-oven hand-cut potato fries topped with a dollop of sour cream and mozzarella cheese.
The chips were crisp, and the mozzarella added some gooey pleasure. However, it lacked the "wow factor" that would have set it apart from other chips.
For mains we tried the Rigatoni Tucson pasta. It is a tomato and bechamel sauce mixture topped with sun-dried tomatoes, sliced chicken, and parmesan cheese.
Despite the fact that a hint of creamy Tuscan flavour was visible, the creamy texture needed to be a bit more significant to be appreciated, thus the pasta seemed a little chewy and dry at times.
Their smoky roasted mango chicken is a delectably hearty dish served with a flavorful mango sauce, the bright orange shade of which will first make you relish the tang of the seasonal fruit, and a side of salad and well-seasoned fries, this chicken dish is a winner through and through. It comes with a side salad and seasoned fries.
A lunch at Sparrows costs between Tk550 to Tk4,500, excluding VAT.
The pricing is a little high, but it's understandable given the location and the current economic condition.
Ambience
Sparrows, located in Gulshan 2, is likely to make you feel at one with nature, quiet, and serene because it has seats both outside and inside, has an outdoorsy vibe to it with the plants on the ceilings, wall hanging plants, royal blue chairs, and dark wooden tables.
The cafe has a botanical ambience, derived from the name of a bird and inspired by it as well.
Large windows allow sunlight to fill the rooms with natural light throughout the day.
There are crystal lights strung over the ceiling. A chandelier made of metal rods with pendants placed in between them gives the bar an asymmetrical appearance.
It is a spacious restaurant that features not just a formal dining space but also a separate area that can be reserved for private dining.
Challenges
Sparrows has been operating for three years. It first opened its doors in January of 2020, but had to close almost immediately owing to the Covid-19 pandemic in March of that same year.
The pandemic, according to Debnath, was their most major challenge.
"We had our grand opening in January of 2020, but we then closed for a few months and reopened in December of that same year," he explained.
Debnath stated that they began to get noticed one month after fully resuming operations, and they have remained popular ever since.
Inflation has also limited the cafe's growth, but the founders are still attempting to stay open by cutting their profit margin.
"Bengal Meat is our meat supplier, and they review their prices every two months; however, since we are unable to do the same, we have instead cut down our profit margin," said Debnath
Verdict
Despite the price range, you must try the wild mushrooms at Sparrows, and the mango chicken is their seasonal best, so totally worth it according to everyone who has tried it in front of me.
Sparrows is more than just a restaurant; it is an engaging experience for nature lovers. When you step through its doors, you are immediately taken to a relaxing retreat where the environment mimics the splendour of nature.
The lovely decor, filled with earthy tones creates an enthralling environment.
