In 2017, Chef Yasir Jaswal entered the culinary industry by opening a burger restaurant in Islamabad called Jessie’s, after his father, who was known by his friends as Jessie. His most recent endeavor is a European-style restaurant that bears his mother Ruby’s name.
As it is displayed on the front door, Ruby’s has a distinctly European feel about it, one that is subtly and somewhat comforting.
Ruby’s interior is unquestionably stylish, featuring a tiny patio, pedant-shaped modern lights, glass mirrors, vintage Chesterfield quilting, and a roof with a classic twist. Small oil paintings hang on fawn-colored, textured walls, and timeless furniture and accessories are mixed in with the modern design to create an attractive marbled effect. The space is simply too dark, so the contemporary glass doors set in a strong wood frame assist welcome much-needed sunlight.
The chef, Ayesha Mehboob, and the businessman, Jaswal of Jalaibee fame, share credit for helping choose the menu items. She has almost ten years of culinary experience, having worked in a variety of Karachi restaurants, including Ginsoy, Aristo, Movenpick, Arbo café, and a steakhouse. She also completed short courses in the United Arab Emirates and learned how to age and cure meat.
The menu is dominated by pastas, risottos, and spaghetti bolognaises, with a typical smashed beef burger, bread pudding, roasted tomato soup, fish and chips, and Ruby’s signature sandwich serving as the menu’s counterpoints. The food is undoubtedly more Italian in origin. Jaswal, who spends three to four hours at the venue during peak hours, reasoned, “I wanted a small and simple menu that can be altered every three to four months, keeping the in-demand dishes and trying out some new ones as and when need be.”
Ruby’s, which opened lately with a lot of social media hype, is located in a cul-de-sac in F-8, one of Islamabad’s older neighborhoods. There are about 40 seats available inside the restaurant, while there are more seats outside.
There was a choice between broccoli walnut soup and roasted tomato soup when I visited. Because the broccoli soup is buttery and contains walnuts, which make it even heavier on the stomach, it is not advised to have it for lunch unless it is the only thing you are eating. If you are on a lunch break and must return to your employment, choose the roasted tomato soup instead.
Sun-dried pine nut pesto, croutons, and a drizzle of cream transformed the bowl of tomato puree into a work of art, showcasing the chef’s artistic presentation. The puree was very thick, dominating the other elements in the soup, which had all the appropriate ingredients and could be plainly identified. Additionally, the garlic bread required a little more toasting and additional garlic. At Rs1,195, the soup was reasonably priced.
Going on to the appetizers, the roasted tomato soup went nicely with the Lemon Butter Honey Prawns. These big prawns dipped in parsley butter herb seasoning are a must-have because they are so easy, light, and flavorful, entwined with Thai chilli, coated in honey, and moist. This lemon butter honey prawn appetizer, which costs Rs1,495 and has a large quantity of prawns, was both fresh and meaty, despite the fact that many people in Islamabad shun seafood because they doubt its freshness because of the travel time.
Chef Mehboob, who has entered the Islamabad culinary scene, says working in Islamabad is extremely different from working in Karachi. The taste buds of Islamabad are extremely picky and particular. The platter should appear full because they dislike side orders.
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