Dera Pakhtoon
I value my customs and ethnicities as I’m a typical Pakhtun, Dera Pakhtoun is what Islamabad calls me. I represent my Pathaan tribe through my generous hospitality and my original pakhtoun cuisine ranging from Qissakhuwani Qehva to Kababs and Shinwari Lamb Karahi. In a city full of diversity, I play my part by presenting Pathaan culture.
I’m rugged yet traditional. My personality, furniture and ambiance has a very unique style. I have a red attire overall as my floors have red Afghani carpets with the matching steel red windows to look at. Located at Saidpur which is a beautiful village built around me, I’m a mesmerizing place to visit. Meat-lovers are definitely in for a treat!
Lamb Chops
Islamabad being a diverse capital has a huge amount of Pathan residents in the city. So, Pakhtoun culture and people are a major portion of the capital’s diversity. Deera Pakhtoun is a restaurant, inspired by the real KPK cuisine and culture, is located at the serene setting of Saidpur Village. Every single detail about this place is pure Pakhtoun.
The ambiance can be noticed far away from the restaurant itself as it has big red open windows and bright colored walls of the whole place. A small bridge with a painting of ‘’dewar-e-Dosti’’ (wall of friendship) is the entrance to this magnificent pakhtoun place. Up front is the green stall for Qissakhuwaani Qehva (green tea of a famous old market in Peshawar). The Qehva (ggreentea) is served in a steel tray having a small bright coloured tea pot with mini bowls to drink the qehva. Sugar is not used in any of their items instead, they use pure Ghur (brown sugar) as a sweetening ingredient.
A small bridge with a painting of ‘’Dewar-e-Dosti’’ (wall of friendship) is the entrance to this magnificent pakhtoun place.
Go-to dish: Dampukht & Pitta Karahi (Both lamb dishes)
Beside the Qehva stall is a small green door with a stony staircase leading towards the dining place at Deera Pakhtoun. The place has typical Pakhtoun sataaar music in the background with a visible red feel due to window painting, carpets and rugs in the sitting areas along with the plants’ pots on the entrance. It’s very common in Pakhtoun culture to sit on the floor while eating so proper carpeted floor sitting arrangements are also available. Privacy is a concerning element for Pakhtouns so for that purpose, various private hujras (small private dining rooms) are also available.
Although Deera Pakhtoun reflects true Pakhtoun traditions but it also adds a tinge of high-end as well in terms of their serving styles. Waiters appear with steel ornament having water and hot towels before the meal is served. Each Hujra is given a name like Sawabi BLA BLAAA to associate the serene nature and beauty of these places. The uniqueness of Deera is their pure pakhtoun staff. Everyone from waiters to bread makers, chefs, manager etc belongs to Sawabi, Saawat, Peshawar or FATA.
So, the food cuisine is original in taste and cooking style as the chefs are pure Pakhtouns. The menu has a variety of Pakhtoun and Balochi dishes. Pitta Karahi , Shinwaari, Balochi Sajji, Landi Kotal Lamb Karahi & the very famous peshawari chappal kababs are some of the delicious meaty dishes along with roghni and qandhaari naans which are famous pakhtoun traditional naans. A traditional dish named Dampukht is their specialty in which rice are filled inside a goat which is then put in ground oven for overnight cooking.
Dera Pakhtoon can indeed be considered a true place of Pakhtouns with in Islamabad. All meat lovers should definitely pay a visit because it’s a place worth spending because the environment is phenomenal. The hospitality, quality, ambiance, cuisine and traditions are a true depiction of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwan.
Want to know more?
Call me at 0333 4735600
