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.
This article was first published in The Pioneer newspaper.
