17/03/2024: For all of you interested in sticking to the urban core of Dublin, don’t. If you want great food, reasonably priced, excellently flavored, and prepared/served by friendly staff, you need to go to this restaurant.
I hate going to an international city and just sticking to the tourist routes. It is dull. It ends up being a reiteration of what you found when you found it in a lot of other places. Indian Zaika isn’t that sort of place.
First off, the communication in advance of arriving was fast and friendly. Vikal and the rest of the staff responded to our group request for a reservation quickly. They were courteous when we had to adjust our reservation. I always felt as if I was dealing with a restaurant that cared about winning business from me and my guests. More to the point: my communication was with people who seemed pleased that my group was coming to their restaurant.
The restaurant itself is nicely, if sparingly, appointed. When we arrived, there was no one else there aside from a table of four. That said, this restaurant seems to derive most of its business from take-away. So, establishing a footprint as a business for people to come to eat strikes me as a major win for them. Is it a hot spot in a desired location? No. It is next to a few other local businesses and a lot of local housing. It is nowhere near downtown. You come here because it is recommended.
And you are rewarded by coming here to eat. The service was great. The prices were reasonable. Who cares, though. Is the food up to par? The food was up to par! From starters to dessert, there were a range of flavors and spice levels. I have sampled Indian food all over the United States, in Belgium, in Spain, and a host of other places. Indian Zaika knows how to prepare food, well-portioned, and with nuanced flavors that hit low, medium, and high spice/heat points, as well as sweet and savory. In the States, we suffer from ‘safe’ Indian food that is designed for American palettes. Not here. Dubliners are lucky to have this place for in or out of house dinners!
As we finished our meal, I think it was the owner (and chef?) who came out and asked us if we enjoyed the meal. The answer was YES! Americans are known for having lazy taste buds and simple appetites. That was not our group. And Indian Zaika was a welcomed change from what we get in the States and what we were eating in Ireland.
Thank you. When we return, you are one of the first places on our list.
09/03/2024: Absolutely fantastic food quality, best Indian food I've had in a long time. Friendly staff and chef and for the price you are getting good portions. Highly recommended!
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