Zebaa adds its presence to GK II’s M Block market with a slightly confused mess of a menu that produces very tasty fare. Shana Maria Verghis dips into a luscious assortment that ranges from oozy chocolate souffles to green, summery couscous
One new trend as far as dining experiences go, is merging the fine-dine concept, with a lounge or cafe. So you get your day time fix and night time moonshine to boot. Zebaa in GK II’s M Block is latest to join the club.
Nestled at the extreme end (away from the entrance) of the row which includes a supermarket, bank, chocolate shop and the original Diva restaurant, it is just settling in. Having opened about three months ago.
There is a fine-dine area on the ground floor, a lounge on the first and a terrace area that’s been covered over.
Its been labelled the Cabana and the roof is apparently removable.
The life of most joints in this mart is just a couple of months longer than some insects, flora and fauna.
It remains to be seen which way this place’s cookie crumbles.
Come to think of it, they probably know already, because Zebaa also includes a bakery where they make their own pastries and breads.
I was talking about space earlier. Yeah, the one you enter on the ground has a glass front. And I preferred its decor to the lounge upstairs where they plonked us. It’s got those uncomfortable sofas that are such a fixture with lounges. I can’t stick them.
But I guess they serve the purpose.
As is the case with this kind of operation, they have different kitchens. I think they mentioned three. This obviously indicates a more elaborate operation system. There’s a bar and sheeshas are provided.
Apparently there is some confusion about whether hookahs are banned in Delhi or not. So some places have them. The menu at the lounge is a lot of finger foods plus burgers, pizzas and a couple of main courses. My orders were from this menu, plus some fine dining dishes from below.
Beginning with a Virgin Mojito, (of which we had two), we took off with the first order of Jalapeno Cheese Wrappers. Normally one would have thought this order was skinflint, though tasty. The wrappers were tiny, crispy amuse bouches that were meant to tease you. However, they were insufficient if you were in a group and wanted to order a round across the table. But I wasn’t particularly ravenous — though I still managed to sail through a lot, all considered!
For a change they didn’t screw up my drinks, as has being happening recently during other reviews. The lemon-mint cooler with crushed ice did the trick.
And taking the heat into reckoning, I was careful to order a salad.
This turned out to be a brilliant choice (if I may say so). It was a couscous salad with parsley, lemon juice, zuccini and spring onion. I might dish it up at home. This after all is my ulterior motive — I’m really out to raise the bar on my personal kitchen standards, instead of writing a cook booking, begin a cookery show and so on. I have this theory that if your palate taste extends into other areas like the arts, and also simple living. Because your tongue learns to separate the rubbish from the stuff you really need.
The main course was a crepe that technically was not one. Crepes are thin. This was a thick pancake filled with cheese. It was heavy while I expected something lighter. There wasn’t anything else wrong with the taste though. And then I had a marvellous chocolate souffle, which again was really a hotpot, but who cares. It oozed a river of chocolate when your spoon bit through the crust. So yes I can say that I was content. You can’t go wrong with chocolate!