By all outward appearances, the restaurant business in Dhaka is booming. However, only the best ones stand the test of time. The Old Street as a casual eatery stands with pride at the heart of Dhanmondi Shatmasjid Road offering a serene ambiance and scrumptious food with competitive price. The immaculate, newly designed restaurant is preordained to invite social gatherings for foodlovers residing in Dhaka.
The name of the restaurant sparked in the mind of owner Safwan Rezvi when he thought about the street it is located in. “Satmasjid Road is the very first street launched in Dhanmondi, and the building we have chosen is the foremost commercial building to be approved by the government. It all made sense”, says Safwan Rezvi.
Safwan Rezvi has been involved in the restaurant business for the last 5 years, starting with a small food cart and then a catering service and bakery. His experience in food business helped him deal with the new competitors and has also helped him understand the customer demand. Deciding on a prime location in Dhanmondi, his main goals with the restaurant was to offer a casual dining experience in a competitive price and a nice view. Every part of Old Street is hence seamlessly synchronized- the impeccable but easygoing service, the sumptuous food menu and a spectacular panorama of the cityscape. Special attention was also given to the sound setup, installing Harmankardon speakers for hosting social events. Along with Safwan Rezvi, the restaurant currently has three other partners- Hasibul Huda, Imtiaz Ahmed and Arman Khan.
Satmasjid Road is the very first street launched in Dhanmondi, and the building we have chosen is the foremost commercial building to be approved by the government. It all made sense” – Safwan Rezvi
The 2200 sq. ft restaurant emanates a warm atmosphere ideal for a cozy dining or a big gathering. The owner went for a rustic look with French influences in the doors, windows and colour scheme. “It took us 3 months to complete the design of the entire restaurant. We spent relentless hours to create the perfect ambiance in both interior and exterior. Our main asset was the cityscape view and the sight of Abahani filed. Hence we decided to keep it unobstructed”, says Mr Rezvi.
The basic materials used for the design were metal, wood, glass and tiles that work in perfect harmony. Large windows have been installed to allow the sunlight inside the restaurant during daytime. For artificial illumination, warm lighting was setup with recessed lights and pendant lights that impeccably complements the wooden textures. Matt paint with shades of grey, yellow, green, white and black create a soothing flow.
Every part of Old Street is hence seamlessly synchronized- the impeccable but easygoing service, the sumptuous food menu, and a spectacular panorama of the cityscape.
In terms of seating arrangement, the capacity of 100 was considered and hence, different types of chairs and couches were utilized. “Since my father is involved with timber business, he supported us with all the wood supply along with ply boards. The rest of the light fixtures, frames and electric machinery have been imported from China and the metal was bought from a local supplier”, explains Mr Rezvi. All in all, Old Street as a restaurant, manages to create one of the most impeccably high-caliber dining experiences in Dhanmondi that is vibrant in spirit and on the plate.
