Veni, Vidi, Vici

If you like listening to jazz and having some good old 'thin-crusted' Italian Pizza, then all you have to do is get a ride across the Rabindra Sharani in Uttara. Standing tall at road number four, amidst the gleaming lights of a chain of restaurants is the Veni, Vidi, Vici.

The restaurant derives its name from a Latin phrase, first used by Julius Caesar, meaning 'I came, I saw, conquered.' Just as Caesar used these words after a flawless finish in a battle in Asia Minor; visitors of the Italian restaurant at Uttara can feel the same after going through some of it special delicacies.
The most difficult aspect for any Italian restaurant in Dhaka is to impress its customers with its pizzas; after all, they can't just be like any other. There's always that extra inch of expectation.  
And to our delight, the pizza at Veni, Vidi, Vici does live up to its expectations. The juicy crunch, accompanied with its thin crust and traditional toppings makes it all worth it. Mind you, our 'pizza test' was not an easy one. They were asked to make a customised version, with prawns on half the side and chicken on the other; and despite the rather tough ask, the outcome was quite smooth. The pizzas range from around Tk 400 to Tk 700 and can comfortably be devoured by two 'average' Dhakaites.

If you're not into pizzas, don't worry, you can be mesmerised by the restaurant's Lasagna. True, Lasagna's tend to be rich, fattening and tasty, but the one at this tri-coloured restaurant, has a unique tangy flavour, courtesy of the sauce served along with it, which actually makes you want to use two forks instead of one! So no matter what Lasagna you order, the sense of vibrancy in the taste remains.   
The pasta is another item which you can go for. Mixed with cheese and a variety of sauces, the pasta complements the other main course dishes.
And that finally brings us to the dessert. Cheese cakes and brownies are found aplenty in Dhaka. All you need to do is step into Gulshan and you have many to choose from. The one here though is more unique when compared to the more commonly seen cakes.
It isn't the typical triangular sweet item you get anywhere else, but a circular, creamy dish that you feel like devouring at one go after taking the first bite. You can also go for the custard-bread combo that leaves a crunchy sweet taste in your mouth after; something that would be perfect after series of pizzas and pastas.
And so the evening at Uttara was actually well spent. Good food and good music; a few things in life can actually better that combination. And so while Veni, Vidi, Vici may not exactly be an extremely 'healthy' ride, it will conquer your stomach.

Photo: Sifath Rumana