A new approach to cafe styled dining at Crafted Blends
Last night I decided to explore the outskirts of Sharjah and chanced upon Crafted Blends. Sprouted up on the University Road amidst lots of other creative food joints, this homegrown cafe is a favorite among locals and youth. With industrial inspired interiors, cozy cushions and colorful chairs, Crafted Blends is on point when it comes to connecting with their target audience using design and aesthetics.
Their compact menu features some amazing appetizers, petite pasta specialties, tempting tacos and beautiful burgers. Not to forget the delicious desserts and drinks.
Read on to find out what I tried, what they did right, and what they can do to get better!
The Blended Platter
Our first selection on the menu was The Blended Platter. I have really mixed feelings about this platter. For one, the shrimps tempura were perfect. Perfectly marinated and coated in panko crumbs, these tiger prawns were the right amount of spicy and right amount of crispy. The tempura fried veggies along with it weren’t so much. They felt excessively oily and it was quite difficult to taste the flavor of the vegetables within the coating. I would have preferred steamed or sauteed veggies instead.
The Japanese cheese balls actually squirted out cheese when I first poked my fork into them. But that was alright because what followed was unbeatable cheesy goodness. A combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese along with jalapenos and hot sauce, these little spicy cheesy balls are wrapped in Noori sheets and fried to a crispy perfection. Yes, they were somewhat oily too, but it was acceptable and went hand in hand with the cheesy inside. I would recommend trying the tempura shrimps but give the veggies a miss.
Other famous options include Crusted Chicken Stack and Street Fries which will probably be on my wishlist the next time around.
Crispy Chicken Burger
While the appetizer platter was a little oily, the burger really made up for all the previous disappointment. This Crispy Chicken Burger is available as a burger as well as a slider so you can choose your preferred size. I would suggest go for the burger, since it’s not as huge as you would dismiss it for. Simple but perfect in every way, it starts with soft buns that sandwich a piece of crispy fried chicken within. Other toppings and condiments include a slice of cheddar cheese, pickle, lettuce, tomato and a very tangy mustard mayo dressing.
If this is not enough, or if you want more variety, try out their Buffalo and sweet & spicy chicken burgers. Or opt for the signature or classic beef variety. They also have a crispy tiger shrimp slider which I’m definitely eyeing for my next visit.
Prawn Tacos
One thing very apparent from the menu at Crafted Blends is their mix of different distinct cuisines. There is a heavy influence of Japanese, Italian, American and Mexican flavors and we tried three of the four. After the Japanese tempura and American burger, it was time for these Mexican tacos.
Placed under the Fusion Tacos section on the menu, these Prawn Tacos came with crispy fried shrimps placed over melted cheddar, and topped with tomato salsa inside a flour tortilla. The cheese and salsa combination added a little Italian pizza touch while the side Wasabi mayo dip brought along a Japanese twist. This was probably the most fusion oriented dish on the menu. In terms of taste, the tortillas were quite fresh and the prawns were just yum.
Their beef tacos are similar to the prawn ones. But if you want to try something different, go for their Middle Eastern inspired chicken tacos with dill, jalapenos and Harissa sauce.
Churros
Did someone say Churros? These crispy creamy sugary Churros at Crafted Blends was yet another Mexican inspired dish, only this time, it was a dessert.
Coated with sugar and deep fried to a crunchy perfection, they were slightly saltier then I had expected, but crunchy and doughy nonetheless. The chocolate and dulce de leche dips on the side saved the day.
Coffee & Cold Drinks
We had to try their coffee, because that’s one thing they pride on. We opted for the cappuccino and it came with a beautiful latte art on top.
As for the cold drinks, they are yet to come up with Mojitos, so we just settled for this Fentiman Rose Lemonade instead. Honestly, this one has become quite a favorite for me these days.
While Crafted Blends is gaining a lot of popularity amidst foodies, I would strongly suggest they add a healthy section to their menu or the option of baked/grilled for otherwise fried items. They have recently come up with a new breakfast menu with eggs, French toast and pancakes which looks quite interesting. If you’ve tried that out, let me know how it was in the comments below.
Crafted Blends
Location: Next To Super Bonanza Hyper Market, Opposite Defence Camp, University City, Sharjah
Contact: 06 5353330
