Fitzwilliam D.
Yelp
"Don't blame me. I'm just somebody who works here", she said defensively at my (mock) complaint. Hearing which, I burst out laughing.
Not a polite smile or laugh when you hear something cute or funny, but the deep belly laugh one has at hearing something ridiculous: in this case, her unwarranted self-deprecation and the disconnect between her words and the reality. For I didn't see her that way at all.
There's a reason why I begin this review with service. Personal ownership can uplift any experience. It was our server's sense of responsibility and concern that saved the day for us, for the customers on our adjacent table glowered furiously all around. They were kept waiting for their bread long long after their food had arrived - while a multitude of servers ignored them and their pleas for attention. Eventually, those guys were ready to wring someone's neck! As I see it, there's nothing that can damage this restaurant's medium to long term future prospects of printing money other than (most) servers frenetically running around like headless chickens - with no collective sense of personal ownership and apparently no system to guide them... I couldn't even be sure that there were section assignments!
Seriously: what can possibly go wrong for the owners? They thrive on past reputation. The HUGE hall is always packed. So, they don't need to do any marketing. And, they clearly don't believe in branding. I mean what sort of name is "Gifto's"? (I don't even remember the words "Lahore Karahi" on their sign...) It's as if the owners wanted to test Shakespeare when he said "what's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell just as sweet..."
Gifto's is yet another Pakistani restaurant that is still faithfully following the Indus Valley civilization business model for a good restaurant: great tasting, cheap food - with little thought given to ambience, atmosphere, or experience. Sarcasm aside, they do a fantastic job at executing on the model: this is the only Pakistani restaurant I've ever reviewed with a five star rating. The food, fresh and flavorful, is just THAT exceptional - and wallet friendly!
My friend is a regular here and so he ordered the Chicken Biryani for a rice dish, and Chicken Tikka from the 'Bar-B-Que' selection. Uncharacteristically, I stopped him from placing his usual order. "Let's go with the Ginger Chicken (boneless chicken with green chillies, onions & chilli sauce) from the Tawa Specials... and also get a Roghni Naan (with sesame seeds)." I'm glad I always trust my gut. For, we literally inhaled the delicious Chicken Ginger and the Sesame Naan was the best I've had in decades...
I doubt one can find better Pakistani food. The overall service, on the other hand... I wouldn't worry about losing those guys to the competition! ;)