Zaks: Bangalore's slice of Arabia

Chinese food is passé, Italian cuisine is facing a midlife crisis. Currently, the focus is on the Middle East and epicureans the world over are warming up to the gastronomic delights of a cuisine so rich and varied that it is hard to believe that it comes from one of the most resource-scarce regions of the world. Loosely termed as Arabian cuisine, its dishes carry a heavy influence of countries as diverse as India and Lebanon and remind us of the trade relations of the Arabs.

If words like Hummus, Falafel, Baba Ghanoush ring a bell, one can say that you have indeed come of age. However, whether or not you are able to tell your Shawarma from your Samak Mishwi, it’s about time you stepped out from the known gourmet territory and became a wee bit adventurous. Forego the pan-Asian dinner this evening and stretch your gastronomic map further west: try authentic Arabian cuisine. And tantalising your taste buds with the oh-so-familiar-yet-distinct taste is Zaks, one of the eateries in the city that serves Arab food.

Owned by Jameela and Zakey and tucked away in the basement of Concord Plaza on the busy Coles Road, Zaks is strictly a no-frills restaurant and focuses on serving good food. As is wont, most of the dishes are cooked in olive oil and some of the ingredients are imported.

Zaks offers an array of dishes to choose from that includes dips, salads, appetisers, rice items, barbeques, rotis and desserts —each with its unique taste and flavour. You also have the option of trying out the flavoured hookah, as you await your order.

Begin your meal here with the Shawarma Roll and Hummus, the quintessential Arab dip. However, if you are watching calories, choose salads like Fatoosh Hummus or the Zaks special instead. The main course tempts you with flavourful Kabsa Laham (mutton biriyani), a delightful creation of succulent mutton pieces on a bed of rice; or the Basmati rice with mutton, garnished with keema. You could also try the Salona Samak (fish in gravy) and the Samak Mishwi (grilled fish) with rice or bread .

That is not all. You can actually choose to dine like a king with a roasted lamb Raan or a grilled stuffed sheep. Needless to say, for these you have to place your order in advance. Arabian food is primarily meat based, hence vegetarians will have restricted options.

If after all these you still haven’t had your fill, climb up the flight of stairs to the ground floor where you will find the Egyptian Bakery (global village did we say?) selling such delicacies as Basbusa and Baklawa.

So celebrate universal brotherhood over some heart-warming cuisine. Believe me, you’ll never regret it.