There are new restaurants opening in Dhaka every week. Some hit it out of the park while others have been a hit or a miss.
It is hard to sift through the hype to figure out what place is actually worth your money, so we at Dhaka Tribune have done the hard work for you.
Here is a list of our top four restaurants we think are worth the hype and value for money.
C’Paris
Located in Gulshan 1, they are currently the only restaurant in Dhaka serving French food, with a menu curated by Michelin star chefs.
Must-haves: Their outstanding duck confit on a bed of chickpea risotto, beetroot, and a carrot puree is a show-stopper. Even if you weren’t a fan of duck before, this confit will change your mind.
From their salads to their mains, they’re all absolutely delicious.
Not only was the tender meat top-notch, but the carrot puree and the beetroot sauce added new layers of depth with a little bit of tartness from the beetroot, slight sweetness from the puree and a lingering earthy taste from the chickpea risotto, making it an incredible ensemble that tasted exquisite.
The beetroot salad, too, was one for the books. The lusciously red and thick sauce accompanying the beetroot with nuts and cream was an utter dream of a salad. The tart beetroot sauce entirely took over our palates and made us appreciate a well-made salad like never before.
If you want a slice of Paris in Dhaka, C’Paris offers both the ambience and fantastic food.
The price range for a meal at C’Paris is Tk600 to Tk3000.
Butternote Jazz Café
This one-of-a-kind jazz cafe in Banani serves impeccable fine dining cuisine.
From prawn salsa canapes to the roast chicken in velouté sauce with fries, a complete package with enthralling music and mind-blowing food.
Must-haves: The roast chicken was well-cooked, tender, and masterfully seasoned. The strong hint of black pepper added just the right amount of kick, and the cherry tomatoes brought out the tartness in each bite.
The sauce, made with chicken stock and roux, was a highlight in itself. Lusciously thick, creamy, and dominantly umami. The fries were well-seasoned and forever a comforting addition to the dish.
Although a classic, this version of the roast chicken was a standout through and through. The roast was delectable, and the sauce was an absolute masterstroke.
Their grilled chicken sandwich with pesto was the gold standard for comfort food. From the first bite to the last, the chicken was moist and well-cooked.
What stood out for us the most was how the sandwich allowed the pesto to shine. The subtle-nutty taste of the pesto lingered in every bite, complementing the grilled chicken.
The combination of the soulful jazz music and the delectable food can get you in the zone for hours, and we promise you, once you visit Butternote, it will become a spot that you revisit often.
The price range for a meal at Butternote Jazz Cafe is Tk400 to Tk2,500.
The cafe also hosts live shows every weekend with an entry fee attached for the music on weekends.
Slaw Bistro
This spot, located in Tejgaon-Gulshan link road, is worth the travel for their tantalizing brunch dishes.
From their variety of egg dishes to their desserts, all the dishes will have you swooning for more.
Must-haves: Their Chimichurri Eggs Benedict was an absolute breakfast delight. It had poached eggs drenched in a spicy cilantro hollandaise with some creamy avocado and caramelized onions. We kept reminiscing about this chimichurri delight for days.
The Spicy Chicken Vol-Au-Vent was another one of our favourites.
The tender chicken was served with house-made puff pastry and bathed in a creamy, herb-infused broth. Packed with parsley, and a dominantly savoury taste that was extremely comforting and felt like a warm hug of a dish.
Santorini by IKitchen
This Mediterranean restaurant, located in Gulshan 2, is an absolute masterpiece. The atmosphere, as well as the food, is truly worthwhile.
From their buffalo mozzarella salad to their shrimp saganaki, it’s all finger-licking good.
Must- haves: It is hard to believe their Shrimp Saganaki is a starter. Featuring two king prawns over a thick house-made tomato Saganaki sauce complete with olives, feta cheese, and jalapenos, this saganaki sauce was to die for, and an utter success.
The prawns immersed in the sauce made for a boisterous flavour explosion on our palate.
We also thoroughly enjoyed their Chicken Shish Tawook. The chicken was melt-in-your-mouth soft, yet retained its meaty texture.
The Tawook was served over a pita bread with a side salad on top. From the Tawook to the side salad, everything was masterfully seasoned.
This version of the Shish Tawook made us relish an otherwise classic dish that we often overlook, on a whole different level.
The price range for Santorini by Ikitchen is Tk3,000 to Tk5,000 per person.
All these places have opened recently in the last year or so, and have already proved that they’re here to stay. The next time you plan to head out to eat a good meal, and also want a beautiful atmosphere, we promise you any of these four places will serve that purpose.
