Coastal Delights
Restaurant: Zambar
Reviewer: Aalok Wadhwa | 22nd March 2018 | Reviewer Rating (Out of 5) 3.88

Please note: This review was done on an invitation from the restaurant to taste their food, and no bill was presented to the author. While the author assures you of objectivity, the review may be influenced by the personalized attention the author got.

Zambar opened many years ago in South Delhi, and soon after in Gurgaon, at Ambience mall and then a short-lived outpost at Cyberhub. Some time ago, they curtailed the operations in Delhi and Pune and decided to revamp the restaurant at Ambience mall – both interiors and the menu. I am here to check out the new Zambar with one Navaratri restricted Shivendu coming along to check the veg dishes.

The first thing I notice is that it is a smaller restaurant and thankfully they have decided to get rid of the boats in the restaurant, resulting in much cleaner, fuss free interiors. The menu is more playful and now includes Goa and Maharashtra too, along with the southern states. The person feeding us is Remya Mohanan, the demure sous chef of the restaurant.

 

We start the tasting session with a bang. Kaffir lime rasam served with baby appalam or small papadams(Rs 180) is a cross between rasam and tom yum soup, and is delicious. Being from Mumbai, I have my reservations about the next dish Nano Vada Pao(Rs240) because Delhi just can’t get vadapao right, but the dish that arrives has got me curious enough to try it. Here we have micro mini paos with the customary dry red chutney, with a liquid vada (mashed potatoes and cream) along with some crispy besan on the side. While it may not be vadapao, assembling it and then popping it in one’s mouth is surely an interesting process.

 

While kids may love this dish, I don’t warm up to Chettinad fried fish fingers (Rs 520). Not sure how Chettinad this dish is but fish finger wrapped in a cheese slice and rava fried is not a dish that appeals to me.Gunpowder prawns served with creamy yoghurt pachadi (Rs610)is cooked well but too much batter and no crispness in the dish distracts from a dish that could have been good.

 

Buhari Chicken 65 (Rs 395), the iconic fried chicken tossed with curry leaves first made at Buhari hotel at Chennai in 1965,  is made well, and is perfect accompaniment. Chicken Cafreal(Rs440)is a surprisingly good Goa inspired dish of grilled chicken legs, marinated with fresh coriander & fresh mint.

 

Vetrimurugan’s Mutton Sukka(Rs480) is a hot selling dish here. It has a hit of pepper and whole spices and would have been delicious if the pieces had been evenly cooked and had not been so chewy.    

 

In the mains, PuttuandKadalacurry (Rs340) a favourite breakfast dish from Kerala is enjoyable, though the Kadala (black chickpeas) could have less coconut and more gravy.

 

The last dish on the table is a procession of Appam (Rs 75), Egg Appam (Rs100). Flaky Malabar Parotta(Rs75) and Idiappam(String Hoppers; Rs 100) are perfectly made and served with Achamma’s Lamb Curry (Rs540) – meaning grandmother’s recipe from Kerala of mutton simmered in coconut milk and Malabar vegetable stew (Rs 290). 

 

 

Maybe the restaurant could get a better cut of meat so that all pieces cook evenly in its mutton dishes because the mutton curry again has chewy pieces. I am sure choosing the right cuts of meat can resolve the matter of meat not getting cooked uniformly.

 

Zambar provides a good change to the sameness of Delhi food. It is a good place to go when the heart seeks a different food experience.

Ratings (Out of 5)

Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 4.0 | Overall: 4.0

Meal for two: Rs 1400 | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: Yes

Address: 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, DLF Phase 3, Sector 24, Gurgaon, Haryana 122001.Tel: +91 9958564400, 0124 4665639

About the Author
Aalok Wadhwa Aalok Wadhwa
Restaurant Information
Zambar Zambar
3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, DLF Phase 3, Sector 24, Gurgaon
Telephone: +91 9958564400, 0124 4665639 view on a map
Opening Hours: 12 Noon to 11:30 PM
Average Price: Rs. 1400 - 1500