Alexandre Rizvi, the eponymous owner of Xander's Cafe in Karachi, off Clifton’s 26th Street, is no stranger to the culinary world: besides his own study and work experience in the field, he is also the son of the owner of the famous Café Flo that has been around town since before cafes became fashionable.

Xander’s has its own clientele of young and not-so-young fashionistas done to the teeth in designer wear, and in their wake male admirers/companions of the same breed, adding to the chic of the discreet cafe. Rumour has it they come for more than the food — to see and hopefully be seen by the dashing owner, who luckily can be spotted popping in and out of the cafe throughout the day.

A pretty lignum vitae tree welcomes you to the cafe, and through its leaves you get glimpses of the interior. There’s outdoor seating with large overhead umbrellas for fresh-air lovers and for spill over from the indoor section. Over-sized wall fans keep the flies and the heat at bay. A traditional Italian brick pizza oven steams in one corner.

Inside, the focal point is the signature citrus green glass table tops that lend zest to the place, flanked by chairs upholstered in complementary purple. The walls are a collage that adds to the vibrancy, with green walls serving as the base: a glass panel on the outside wall lets in light and space, showcasing the pretty tree outside, with a frosted section for some privacy; next to it is a panel with a blackboard to display the special menu of the day; one mirrored wall adds depth to the small area; the main wall has wood-panelling with light niches that meets grey upholstered high back sofas midway. Off the main dining area is the bar and service kitchen.

Xander’s has got the cafe look down to a T, as well as a cafe menu, with all-day egg and sweet breakfasts, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, fish & chips, pizzas, desserts, coffee, hot and cold beverages and shakes, juices and cocktails, plus varying daily special items, and a surprise khao suey thrown in.

Xander’s famous wood-fired pizzas have a lovely smoky flavour. Fresh, bright bell peppers, aromatic basil, stringy mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and Xander’s own homemade fresh pesto sauce help them put up what may be the best pizzas in town. Personally, I like the soft and doughy base, but some would prefer a base that is slightly crusty on the outside.

The Classic Eggs Benedict give a lovely soothing feeling with the yolks seeping into the fresh, thick bread. The Cheddar Cheese Omelette and the Classic Mediterranean Omelette, rich in ingredients, make a delicious, satisfying breakfast.

The Prawn Open Face Sandwich is my personal favourite here. I’ve been wanting to eat that sandwich for a decade now, since I saw Jamie Oliver make it by the sea-side on one of his cooking shows on BBC. The grilled prawns sprinkled with sesame seeds are succulent, the dressing is light, the lettuce is crisp and the brown bread is homemade. The Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich is very flavourful, and the Club Sandwich is one of the best in town. So is the Old School Cheese Burger. It has one of the best patties in town (I know, I’ve said that for three items now): thick, juicy and fatty, with a smoky char-grilled flavour, served with golden fries that are crispy on the outside and soft and steamy inside. Xander’s signature Trio of Mini Burgers (blue cheese, honey mustard and sauteed mushrooms) are a popular item.

The Blueberry Pancakes, Stuffed French Toast, Red Velvet Cupcake, Chocolate Cake and Croissant and Butter Pudding are on the sweeter side of sweet for me. The coffees and drinks are run-of-the-mill fare.

The prices are average. Breakfast items range from Rs300 to Rs500, pizzas and sandwiches from Rs500 to Rs700, salads from Rs200 to Rs450, desserts from Rs200 to Rs400 and beverages from Rs200 to Rs400. The servings are just perfect for a diet-conscious person like myself, but my hearty-eater friends still feel peckish after their meals and would like the portions to be at least 20 per cent bigger. The food takes 15-20 minutes to arrive. The staff is well-informed, attentive and accommodating. Xander’s is closed on Monday and does not take bookings so you can either get your choice of seat at a quiet time, wait a while to be seated, or just have to go somewhere else if it’s choc-a-bloc full.

Will I go there again? I do, often, for its lovely ambiance and light food; for a quiet early morning tete-a-tete, a laid-back breakfast with family, a light solo snack between errands, or a late night dessert with friends after dinner. What I like about it most is that it throws me no surprises. I know I’ll get the same great food and same great service every time I go.