Located among the majestic Margalla Hills at Pir Sohawa, The Monal is a fine option which no one should miss when in Islamabad – the city of colours!
Over the past few years, people have experienced many changes in the food quality at some leading restaurants of the twin cities; but The Monal Restaurant in Islamabad never disappoints anyone.
Starting from the variety in their menu to the quick service of the staff, everything is consistent from day one. It appears that they have not only maintained their services but also achieved a name among the top restaurants of the twin cities.
Over the weekends it is always jam-packed with people. What amazes us most is that even on the busiest days, the restaurant manages to pull their services well.
Let’s talk about food now. Just like most restaurants the menu is very lengthy, including breakfast, lunch and dinner items, fast food, traditional dishes and drinks, sweet dishes etc.
All-Time Favourite
Mostly people’s all-time favourite is their quite popular Cheese Naan. It tastes great, you’ll never find such naan anywhere; the tender bread with the soft melted cheese excites your taste-buds leaving a creamy and salty effect which lasts for a while.
Services
The waiters always present everything in an organized and professional manner, from placing the cutlery on the table to clearing out dishes. During the three-course meal we had, they kept on asking everyone if they needed anything.
Three Course Meal
The three-course meal starts with a soup usually and there a variety of soups available in the menu. Chicken Corn Soup specially is very delicious accompanied with fish crackers and garlic bread; the rich flavour of the soup is simply tantalizing. On a scale of ten we would give it a 9.
In the second course of the meal you can have anything like Chicken Boneless Handi, Chicken Seekh Kababs, Chicken Chops served with crispy hot French fries, Karhai etc. Theres handiis accompanied with Roghni Naan and Salad, the aroma of the handi is always tempting, the food is always well-cooked and the flavours are exciting. The Seekh Kababs are tender and delicious with the proper balance of spices. The scrumptious Chicken Chops, the chicken breast always perfectly cooked with a delicious and crispy coating. Overall their meal is beautifully prepared.
In the third course you can have any desert. The most ordered desert here is “Chocolate Cheese Brownie Cake”- a delicious combination of cheese and chocolate which makes this dessert irresistible. They serve it on a plate with a slice of brownie cake drizzled with chocolate syrup with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, which makes this dessert heavenly. On our scale we would have rated it more than 10- it is a definite must to try.
Ambience and Interior
How can we forget to mention the beautiful interior and exterior of the restaurant? While having a meal, our surroundings matters the most. People always prefer to sit outside at the Monal and enjoy the beautiful view of Islamabad from the top of the Margalla Hills. The Monal offers a spectacular view of the entire city. The restaurant has seven terraces which provide an amazing view. These terraces have their own themes- there is a terrace for families, a general terrace, a balcony for those who want to find peace and privacy. The dining hall is paneled with a huge glass window so that the people who are sitting inside can also have a good view of the majestic hills.
