Zaffarani Zaika is a North Indian restaurant a few steps away from the multi-lingual momo stalls that seem to be the distinguishing characteristic of Yashwant Place (‘Palace’ if you’re a Delhi-ite). I was quite intrigued when making my way to Zaffarani Zaika, never having eaten at those stalls before; a visit there is definitely due. Weren’t there quite a few shops there selling leather products a while back?
Sixty covers in a long room decorated in an elegant but dated style and a little bar at the end are what you’ll see at Zaffarani Zaika; fairly non-descript, but welcoming nonetheless. Comfortable seating (60 covers), nightclub-ish lighting and friendly but rough-around-the-edges service are what you can expect.
I started with a mild chicken broth, Chooze ka Shorba (175) with overtones of turmeric that while nice, could have done with a little more intensity in the base chicken stock. My starters began with Murgh Parcha Kebab (425), six slices of pounded, spiced, boneless chicken breast, pan fried and served with a mint chutney. Don’t let the first bite fool you; this dish has punch and chooses to deliver it slowly. Sit back and wait for the explosion of chili heat and spices with a glass of beer kept ready by your side. Next was the Shahjahani Shikhampuri Kebab (425), a cross between a shaami and a galauti kebab in texture, spiced differently however and quite delicious in its own right. The Makai Kebab (275) was the last appetizer; boiled, spiced and pulverized kernels of corn, shaped and pan fried. This kebab was also stuffed with a little khoya and nuts making the texture very interesting indeed; served with two chutneys – yogurt & walnut and garlic. Talking of shapes, every kebab was perfectly shaped; consistent across every kebab that crossed my p(a)late.
The famous Gosht Beli Ram (475) was next. It held up remarkably well with respect to it’s provenance – spicy, meaty and very good with rotis and a tall chilled glass of anything; excellent! Dilli ka Korma (425) was a dish I just had to try; can’t resist a Qorma, wherever I see one. This one had all the right flavors (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom…), but the texture wasn’t something I’d endorse; more like a lababdar than a qorma. You’ll love the flavors though. Interestingly, for a Delhi restaurant, the Zaffarani Zaika menu doesn’t pay homage to the otherwise omnipresent Dal Makhani, replacing it instead with Dal Zaffarani Zaika (275); a dish difficult to describe but quite easily recommended and very different from the all-pervasive Dal Makhani. I finished with Zaffarani Zaika’s rendition of a Hyderabadi Gosht Biryani (550) and Gobhi Mutter Capsicum (325). The gobhi (cauliflower) was unremarkable though I did like what they did with the biryani even though I prefer the Awadhi variety.
Dessert was the Zaffarani Phirni (150). The musty flavors of under-cooked rice within made it a disappointment.
Zaffarani Zaika is easily found and approachable with convenient parking close by. Being in a commercial hub however, available parking slots may not be easily found.
I took a long time to write this review… a little more than a month. I simply wasn’t impressed though there was a niggling doubt somewhere within that my thoughts weren’t going in the right direction.
The restaurant scene today has so many non-food related features going for it, that one tends to lower the importance of well cooked food. Given the changing world we live in, most of us have become quite dependent on external factors for our sense of well being. We want, nay, need glass floored restaurants with fish swimming beneath… never mind the overpriced, hurriedly assembled morsels served to us in the name of food. We look forward to bar tenders juggling fiery bottles regardless of the cold tomato soup served instead of a Bloody Mary. We’re making more money than ever and spend it with glee on fickle moments in time.
Perhaps that’s social evolution.
If eating out for you is about entertainment rather than food, Zaffarani Zaika isn’t the place for you. If however, when eating out, you’re looking for honest, well-cooked food and north Indian is your cuisine of choice, I wholeheartedly suggest you visit Zaffarani Zaika and I’m fairly sure you’ll return for more.
Pictures
Information
Meal for two: 1500++
Address: 1st Floor, Yashwant Place Shopping Complex, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Phones: +91 9717176552, +91 9717176553
Menu: Click here
I remember the Great India Place Mall at NOIDA had a touch screen embedded in the floor of it’s food court when it opened !
It used to create ripple effect when you put your foot on it…. probably they removed it later.
I’ m a big foodie. I like this thing. I was wondering if there can be a way I could gift a dinner for my parents 25th anniversary. The idea is to keep it exclusive and give a memory they can cherish for life. Do let me know of any such gift idea.