Zaika Restaurant (Kensington)

• This and Tamarind were the first ever Indian restaurants to gain Michelin stars
• They rather bizarrely thought that Italian food was the way to go on the site
• Who although born in Mumbai has actually worked with other cuisines recently
• The head chef is Dayashanker Sharma
• Formerly of Imli and who has worked with Tamarind Collection for many years
• Mineral water was a hefty £
• Tamarind chutney and chickpeas topped with yoghurt and some rather incongruous blueberries
• The tamarind was pleasantly balanced
• 14.50) coated with a crust of curry leaf
• The spices were muted but above all the scallops had no inherent sweetness
• The main courses were more consistent
• Although the spices were rather restrained this was a good dish
• The surroundings here are pleasant and the service was slick
• The flavour combinations are just stunning
• The set menu gives you a little taster of everything you could want to try (essential with this kind of food I find
• ) and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable
• If you're a fan of Indian food then this is one of the best places in London to experience a refined menu
• The old banking hall which houses Zaika is an imposing building
• The dining room is lush with plants
• Traditional Indian art is complemented by wood panelling and ornate plasterwork
• This time I was invited to try the Vegetarian Tasting Menu &ndash
• One which I was assured can be provided on request at any time
• My daughter is a very fussy eater but even she enjoyed all the dishes
• I slightly felt the serving staff was overworked but maybe because the restaurant was completely full
• Reality struck the drinks were flavorless and lacked alcohol and the food was very slow to come and mediocre
• The prices are high and the service very slow
• Absolutely fantastic food one of the best Indian restaurants I have been to
• The slow cooked lamb in spices was melt in the mouth and the black lentils and okra blew my mind
• Adorned in silk drapes and antiques Zaika certainly is an impressive restaurant
• It was proved that the most authentic Indian restaurants in UK are situated in the heart of London
• The cocktails were very unique and refreshing
• Another way to distinguish an authentic Indian restaurant from cheap imitations is when the papad (poppadums) are complimentary instead of charged
• The vegetarian starter platter was amazing with a samosa
• The Paneer Tikka Masala was good but not the best I have had
• The Mango Kulfi was small but brilliant
• One of the best Indian restaurants in London
• Probably the best Indian FOOD that I've had so far in London
• The ambience is grand and royal
• Zaika of Kensington (member of the Tamarind Collection restaurant family) was one of the first Indian restaurants in London to receive a Michelin star and this is truly deserved
• You can really feel the Mughal palace influence with the authentic dé
• I started off with the vegeterian trio
• Went great with the papadum trio sauces that had just that right spicy kick with the tangy feel
• The Murgh Handi Lazeez was too smoked for my tasting not as lazeez as I expected
• A tantalizing mix of prawns and warm coconut milk infused with the right amount of spices
• Arabs like their rice buttery so this was just an OK plate of rice
• Zaika of Kensington is owned by the Tamarind collection which also owns the world&rsquo
• S dining room is majestic and relaxing
• Went after an event in Kensington just before the Kitchen was due to close for the night but welcomed in
• The menu selection is fairly minimal but not to say that's a bad thing as the quality of the food was excellent
• Dessert sampler as seen in the photo was clean and refreshing
• Zaika restaurant is a fine dining Indian restaurant owned by the Tamarind group
• It is located on the Kensington high street and as the history goes is in the same place as an old bank use to be
• What first hits you is the grandeur and sheer size of the restaurant
• The high ceilings are well complemented by the centre aisle bar and warm interiors
• T understand the language (most songs were in Hindi or other Indian regional languages) is inviting and meant to make you feel comfortable in the surroundings
• The presentation of starters menu was very impressive and the small little accompaniments with each of the starters was the highlight for me
• The vegetarian trio and the Ajwaini macchi were hands down one of the best one&rsquo
• Especially the vegetarian samosa within the trio was a benchmark for the restaurants around London for how a samosa needs to be made
• Ajwaini macchi had just the right flavours and was cooked to perfection
• The green chutney was a good compliment to the dish
• The Nihari (Lamb Shank) although was cooked to perfection with meat literally slipping off the bone
• What it lacked for me was the spice and flavour which has made Nihari one of the best known Awadhi dishes in the world
• Kadai Chicken on the other hand was one of the better one&rsquo
• The right balance between spice and sweetness from the onions was well complimented with breads
• Dal makhani again was one of the best you will find around London and for me was on par with Dishoom&rsquo
• Dates and banana lassi was an interesting combination although for me flavours were closer to a milkshake then a normal lassi
• Masala Lassi was full of coriander and green chilli&rsquo
• The samosas were over fried and so oily
• The trio chicken was good as well as the biryani
• The butter chicken was just so bland
• Only two highlights were the trio of chicken and chicken biryani
• The starter was really good along with the food
• All the options were worth a try
• T more highly rated as this is the best Indian restaurant I&rsquo
• When I say best I mean best from start to finish
• The starters are out of the world we had the vegetarian trio
• The paneer tikka masala and the karahi chicken were excellent as well but the unmissable dish is the Dal Makhani
• I have always said your mothers cooking is the best but this food is so close to my mothers (I'm indian) that its a close contest
• I will be dining there again tonight but we are running late for our 2030 table so hope after this good review the table is held
• Here we list India's best restaurants ln london Zaika was fantastic
• The service was excellent and prompt with the food arriving only about 5 mins after ordering
• White fish plater was mouth waterring
• Garlic naan was disappointing
• The highlight was definitely the chilli passionfruit martini
• I think their speciality is food other than curries
• The interiors are done very well
• We ordered Vegetarian Trio which was simply delicious bit the quantity was a bit less
• Tandoori Subzi was Okayish and nothing extraordinary
• Paneer tikka masala and Dal Makhani and it was surely the best I've ever had
• Though the atmosphere was not appropriate as was too much towards a club or pub
• 1) I went to collect my takeaway and was forced to give 12% service on a takeaway I went and collected myself
• At the end of the day this is an Indian restaurant
• 3) The prices are extortionate
• T fantastic and there is no white table cloth
• Being vegetarian generally the choices are limited but that was not the case here

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