Zaika

The lamb shami kebabs are crispy on the outside and dissolve into a purée redolent with spices and flavour when gently forked, belying the unimpeachable quality of the meat, qualities also evident in the deeply fiery red lamb chops 5 Reviews

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2007

The waiters at Zaika are among the most caring staff we’ve encountered in Dubai, constantly fussing over you, helpfully suggesting many alternatives every time you order something; always refusing your first choice; displaying a touching concern with your carbohydrate intake – really, they worry too much. And as your meal progresses, and the sad-eyed chap in the funny outfit looms up silently yet again, you start to feel distinctly self-conscious and tense and your meal starts to become something of an ordeal. This is a pity, as there is much to recommend about Zaika.

Reached via the novelty of a golf buggy and situated in the depths of the Murooj Rotana complex, this pleasant and tastefully decorated restaurant does a brisk trade in expertly executed, slightly daring, north Indian creations. Try the exciting cachumber salad to kick-start your palate into life with a blast of citrussy cucumbers and carrots, neatly diced into microscopic pieces and presented in a banana leaf. Or there’s seared tuna, the creamy flesh offset nicely by a crunchy scattering of black pepper. Mains are clean and simple, and feature simple, first-rate ingredients. The lamb shami kebabs are crispy on the outside and dissolve into a purée redolent with spices and flavour when gently forked, belying the unimpeachable quality of the meat, qualities also evident in the deeply fiery red lamb chops.

Vegetarians enjoy a wide selection too – the veggie biryani arrives covered with a pastry dome that wafts a delicious, fragrant cloud of steam when pierced, making you want to guzzle the lot. Happily, desserts are Indian ice creams, lassis and fruit, ending proceedings on a beautifully presented, if typically super-sweet tip. A popular family hangout, Zaika needs to trust its customers just a touch more, in order for them to book a return visit.

• Previous reviews
  • 19 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 26 March,2008- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 27 June,2007- reviewed by Time Out Dubai Staff
  • 30 April,2006- reviewed by Time Out Dubai
  • 27 February,2006- reviewed by Matthew Lee

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.