Zambar brings flavoursome coastal delights to land-locked Delhi

Think South Indian food beyond dosas and Zambar comes to mind. While the décor here is outstanding, the food is the mainstay and that has been the focus of the team ever since its inception. Fresh and the best quality coastal food in myriad preparation, is what you can hope to enjoy here.

This popular restaurant serves delectable food in an ambience replete with old-world charm reflecting the design, the architecture, the colors and flavours of six southern states namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Goa.

Décor

One look and you can make out the in-depth research that has gone into carefully designing the space using locally used materials. For example, laterite stones have been used for Kerala and Goa section, steel grey granite for Karnataka, floral designed granites for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, and Cadappah stone for Tamil Nadu. The look and feel have been further enhanced by introduction of South Indian archetypical red flooring juxtaposed with colorful printed tiles, quirky light fixtures, bright and colorful window frames again typical of the vernacular architecture down south, and mixing them with the traditional swing chairs & wooden tables with a wooden column base to replicate a traditional Naluketu pillar.

You step in and notice right from the entrance a glass façade meets a traditional wooden door from Tamil Nadu, and that’s how your gastronomic sojourn starts from state to state along the Indian coast with traditional flavours of each region.  You visit Tamil Nadu through the lofty Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, Telangana through the famous Charminar, the architectural wonders of Hampi at Karnataka, the Lepakshi Temple at Nandi, Andhra Pradesh. Zoom into Goa and you see the illustrious Church of Our Lady Immaculate Conception. You visit God’s own country Kerala through the houseboat on the backwaters, and witness a delightful composition of the Kathak dancers.

The entire café is designed in watercolour art and it reflects in all the elements. Be it the sophisticated menu cards, or the bright and colorful coasters, the bill cards, the table mats or the picturesque artworks on the walls, the theme reverberates.

Food

Curated by Head Chef Vetri Murugan, the menu is exhaustive going far beyond the staple offering of sambar, dosa, vada and idli. One can begin the coastal food safari with chickpeas & millet salad, sprouted Lentil Koshimbir Salad and country style chicken soup. Dive into delectable appetizers such as the Malabari Baby Potato, Bombay Vada Pao Sliders, Corn Cheese & Curry Leaf Tikki, Crisp Koliwada Prawns and Kozhi Pathiri. You cannot leave this place without trying ‘Vaza Phoo cutlet’, made with banana flower with chunky tomato and mustard chutney.

Relish a range of delicious curries from diverse regions of Southern India like Pineapple Curry, Onion Garlic Curry, Andhara Fish Curry and Nadan Curry. These main course dishes can be best enjoyed with lemon, tomato and coconut flavoured rice, biryani and flaky Malabar Parotta. One cannot miss trying the appam bar which offers eight types of appams including mutli grain appam and chilli cheese appam. The best combination is appam with Pineapple Curry. ‘Chettinad Veg Korma’ made with hand pounded in-house spices is simply irresistible.

Non-vegetarians can feast on ‘Vetrimurugan Mutton Sukka’ – Boneless Mutton Cubes Tossed with Onion Tomato with Chettinad Spices, named after the Head Chef and his favourite! ‘Tawa fish Reichado’ – made with local Goan spices served with Spiced Onion Salad, ‘Srilankan Kotthu roti’ – Flaky parotta stir fried with Chicken and Egg; ‘Chicken Chettinad’ and ‘Angamaly fish mango curry’ — the famous Kochi Meen Manga are the highlights of the menu.

Pair your meal with refreshing summer drinks such as buttermilk, tender coconut water or a cup of traditional Kaapi.

Kokum Masala made With Kokum Crush, Green Chilly, Fresh Ginger with Various Spices is a must. Any meal is incomplete without desserts. Experience the bliss with sweet churut appam, payasam, coconut jaggery pudding and fresh fruit natural ice cream.

For kids, Zambar has curated a fascinating menu. With dishes named after popular cartoon and superhero characters such as Bruce Lee, Tom & Jerry, Chhota Bheem and Superman, the restaurant has recreated few South Indian delicacies with an interesting twist.

If you are looking for an ideal place to spend some quality time with kids & family, a get together with friends or a corporate lunch, then head to Zambar to enjoy the coastal vibes. Here your  favourite table, comfort dishes and the serving team will make your visit memorable.

Where : Zambar, 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall, Gurugram