Zanzi restaurant derives its name from the Japanese word Zanzi which means happiness and energy. The restaurant lives up to its name — spreading happiness and energy, writes Pawan Soni

I asked Aishwarya, the owner of Zanzi by Dramz at Mehrauli, for the meaning of the word 'Zanzi'. She smilingly replied that it means 'unique'. Zanzi by Dramz offers a unique take on a Japanese restaurant. The interior features a deliberately tattered and distressed look on the walls, portraits of English emperors, large chandeliers, loung-ish sofas that may be a bit uncomfortable, and camera-style lamps, setting it apart from other Japanese restaurants I have visited.

On the food front, there are some distinctive elements as well. For example, we were served an amuse-bouche that included Kaiso (sea weed) Tofu, Tsukemono (Pickled veggies), and Udon Noodles. While the individual ingredients were tasty, as a dish, it did not make a lasting impression on me, especially as an amuse-bouche where serving carbs at the beginning of the meal is usually avoided.

The sushi we tried was decent, with a notable pungency in the wasabi. However, I expected the pizza to be the wafer-thin style with veggies or fish sliced similarly. Unfortunately, it was a regular pizza.

The poke bowl, a mix of carbs and proteins with sticky rice, meats of your choice, and veggies, was quite tasty. I opted for the fish poke bowl with river sole, which was another 'unique' combination for a Japanese restaurant. In my opinion, salmon or tuna would have been a better fit.

We ended the meal with delicious pastries, though they did not have a Japanese connection either.

While Japan is known for its processes, quality of ingredients, and attention to detail, Zanzi by Dramz still lacks the finesse in its efforts.

— Author is a food critic and founder of the Big F Awards