Serene surroundings

When we think of fine dining restaurants in Lahore, ‘Polo Lounge’ instantly comes to our minds. The best part about this restaurant is that it is situated in the middle of historic Polo Club, one of the oldest clubs in the world. Since its inception in 2002, the Polo Lounge has earned the reputation as one of the best restaurants of Lahore and it has been successful in maintaining its loyal clientele over the years. The serene surroundings give one an opportunity to relish good food - away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Brainchild of Hina Rabbani and Asma Ramday; the menu caters to the varying taste palettes of Lahoris - known for their obsession with good food. The restaurant also boasts of an impressive interiors. This week You! speaks to Asma Ramday who talks at length about the interior, food and all that needs to run a successful eatery... prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

You! What motivated you to open this restaurant?
Asma Ramday: We (Hina and I) often came to The Polo Ground for riding and absolutely loved the ambiance of the area. We felt that it would be the perfect space for a multipurpose restaurant that could cater to all riders and players as well as the perfect experience for those viewing the matches. When the opportunity presented itself, it was something both of us pursued with passion. Since the restaurant is based at the Polo Grounds in Lahore, it is very much steeped in the sport and culture of Polo.

You! What makes The Polo Lounge different from the other dining experiences in Lahore?
A. R: The Polo Lounge is a unique fine dining restaurant because it focuses on innovative food within a very distinct, luxurious ambiance inside with an unrivalled view outside. The Polo Lounge is about experiential dining.

You! Tell us something about the interiors. Is the restaurant designed on modern lines?
A.R: The restaurant like the food incorporates fine classic finishes drawing more on the European heritage. We wouldn’t necessarily term it modern because there is an emphasis on a more classic and refined look. Hina and I envisioned and executed The Polo Lounge’s interior aesthetic.

Since we aim to provide a top notch service with food to match, we want everything ranging from the cutlery to the seating to embody the same refinement. We chose classic furnishings and simple cutlery to complement the overall decor.

You! What type of artefacts or paintings have you chosen for the restaurant?
A.R: In line with the location and the general theme of the place most of our artefacts are related to horses and the more equestrian side of things. From sculptures to paintings to small details, you will find a lot of Polo inspiration in our decor.

You! What’s the philosophy you go by when it comes to running a restaurant?
A.R: Our philosophy is based on providing our clients with an absolute culinary experience and everything is built upon this philosophy.

To make sure a restaurant is successful one has to make sure they are constantly present and engaged to ensure everything is being done the way it should be. Hina’s sister Aneela is a professional chef in London and she comes several times yearly to train our staff and makes sure we are meeting international standards.

You! Do you feel your restaurant is expensive as compared to other high-end restaurants?
A.R: We are a fine dining restaurant with a sincere focus on haute cuisine, and we are therefore priced accordingly and fairly. Also we cost our dishes according to the quality of what we serve, which is always without compromise: to this end, we are one of the only restaurants in Pakistan to have our own organic garden to provide fresh ingredients for dishes. We make no compromises in our quality of meat and we also have fresh fish flown in from Karachi every day.

You! What type of cuisine you offer to your clients?
A.R: It is a diverse cuisine that incorporates predominantly European influenced dishes using organic and high quality ingredients. One of our popular dishes is the Grilled Tiger Prawns, which consists of prawns, seasoned with a multitude of organic herbs, and grilled to the perfect consistency. Our Red Snapper is another favourite and is served with vegetables and Dill sauce. In desserts, our signature is our chocolate puddle cake which is a moist cake with melted chocolate inside.

You! What are your future plans?
A.R: At The Polo Lounge we are always innovating. Be it now with the introduction of our Barbeque menu or then with our latest project, our bistro called ‘The Pantry’ in Gulberg, Lahore.