Zaiqa-e-Lucknow
on M M Road, Frazer Town

Literally translated this means the flavours of Lucknow and that’s exactly what owner Raman Gupta hopes to bring to Bangalore. Located on M.M. Road in Frazer Town, this restaurant is a place not to be missed by all lovers of Biriyani, Kebabs and parathas. The decor is sparse and simple: white and red checked tablecloths and functional seating dominate this place.

The cuisine of Lucknow has its own distinct individuality and identity. The traditional food of Lucknow was highly patronized by the Mughals thus giving it a very royal touch. Although the cuisine of Lucknow is special in its own way, it is also special in a way they are made by expert hands and the way they are presented. This expertise can now be experienced in Bangalore at the hands of Raman Gupta's Zaiqa-e-Lucknow.

The Lucknowi specialty of kababs (kebabs) is what this place prides itself on and that’s what one must try when you visit this place. The Seekh Kabab, made of minced meat with spices and grilled on skewers, is wonderful. The minced meat is tasty and the spices perfectly done. The tandoori chicken is another popular option at this place. The meat has a lovely smoky flavour though it could have been marinated a little more. It could also be slightly spicier. Those looking for something less spicy and unusual could try the murgh malai kabab. The meat is succulent and has a lovely structure. Be warned, that it is not very spicy but have it with a spicy chatni and the taste should even out.

As one might have figured out by now, this place is largely for non vegetarians. If you are a veggie though, there are a few options for you. You could try the harra barra kabab (FYI: this is infinitely more healthier than its meaty versions). This grill of peas, potatoes and spinach is quite tasty. Though once again I wish it were slightly spicier. Veggies could also try the paneer tikka. This marinated cottage cheese grill is good but nothing special.

Their other speciality, besides the kababs, is the ulta tawa ka parantha. This paratha is filled with ghee, saffron, milk and sugar. Needless to say, it is incredibly heavy and rich. One whole paratha and it may fill your tummy. Apparently, the paratha is best eaten with shami kabab. The shami kabab here was incredibly good. The meat was succulent and tender and the spices complemented it perfectly. While, personally I think that the paratha might have tasted better with a normal sabzi than the kabab, the shami kabab is definitely something you must try.

This place has a number of sabzis ranging from the normal fare of butter chicken, paneer butter masala to some exotic meat dishes. In fact, there is a sea food dish here (and I forget it’s name), which requires you to order a day in advance and costs a bomb. The Rada Gosht and Gosht Nihari come highly recommended.

If you still have some space for dessert after all this, then you could try the Shahi Tukda or the Zafrani Phirni. Unfortunately, these are the only two desserts on the menu. The first is a wonderful rich dessert made of almonds, pistachios and lots and lots of ghee. The latter, a lovely Kashmiri rice pudding will serve as the perfect finish to your meal.

Zaiqa-e-Lucknow serves good non-vegetarian food at mid level prices. The next time you feel like getting some kebabs melted in your moth, you may want to check this place out. This place is not recommended for vegetarians though. If you have a sufficient number of vegetarians in your party then this place is definitely not for you.

Cost: A meal for two should cost you between Rs. 400 -500
Cleanliness: Good
Quality: Good
Service: Average
Ambiance: Average
Address: #66, M.M.Road, Frazer Town, Bangalore Landmark: Next to Apollo Clinic(Opp.Sir Hajee Ismail Sait Mosque) Phone: 25484242, 25485050