It's been just three weeks and Madurai is already so excited about the awesome range of Arabian preparations at Zaitoon. Why? "Because it is downright delicious" -- all those I have asked randomly say so.
The day I went, it seemed to be packed with families and friends who love to eat and party. Not a polite thing to do, but I did scan the tables laid out on the second and third floor and found each of them filled with dishes that looked like art and of course the happy smiling faces surrounding them.
The menu is an eclectic mix of falafel and shawarma, charcoal barbequed, tandoori and grilled meats and fish, salads, soups, bread and hummus and much more.
With over 350 items listed in the menu, confusion is normal. Several customers have apparently become regulars in order to try out different dishes on each visit, I am told.
I bank on the Group Executive Chef Sanjay Katti's recommendations. What follows is a long wait.
"We prepare everything fresh, customised as per your choice and order," Vimesh Viswanath, the quality control in-charge explains why the serving time is 17 minutes minimum. As I take in the aura of different spices and condiments, Vimesh briefs me why the brand Zaitoon (it is the Arabic word for olive) -- with seven restaurants in Chennai and one in IIT Madras and three in Bengaluru -- stands out and why the 12th outlet in Madurai will tick.
"We had lot of customers from Madurai eating at our Chennai branches and they always complained about the lack of speciality food in their city. Since the place is known for its strong meat eating population, we thought of launching here," Vimesh says, adding that the first branch serving speciality Arabic food was opened in Adyar in 2009.
Ever since the group has grown adding to its reputation and priding on its Arabic cuisine serving seven types of barbeque and introducing tawa kebabs. The best part is they are willing to customise the taste and spices depending on the requirement of their customers. "When a family spanning generations comes to us, there may be an aged person who wants bland food, or an ailing person on dietary restrictions or a child wanting something more crispy or someone preferring real spicy food, we choose not to disappoint anyone," says Vimesh.
My platter finally arrives and from the look of it I know the wait was worth it. The name itself -- "Mashakkal Haas" arouses my curiosity. And it is so wholesome with four types of kuboos (bread in Arabic) including pita bread and of course the basic hummus and garlic sauce, which are exceptionally tasty. The big non-veg platter dazzles with the rich comfort food of long basmati rice in saffron and creamy chicken along with uniquely fried chicken, mutton, prawns, basa and seer fish -- all done with different combos and levels of Arabian spices. The decoration is complete with salad, smileys and french fries. A family of four will be more than comfortable with the portion and all for Rs.800.
The menu is crowded with dajaj (chicken), Laham (mutton), Rubian (prawn) and samak (fish) recipes and different types of shawarmas and Arabian sizzlers that spoil you for choice. Go for the Pinka Dajaj sizzler which is medium spiced chicken sizzler with palak (spinach) and celery. At Rs.350, it will satisfy you to the hilt.
The vegetarians should not miss the Falafel roll stuffed with stir fried broccoli and American corn and floating in hummus. The chef also recommends the Arabian rice with no spice but a combo of three-flavoured rice and choice of your meat or vegetables with chilli, tomato and coriander sauce as accompaniment.
The portions are very filling but still you must try out their desserts that are overloaded with dry fruits, nuts, creams and fresh seasonal fruits.
Open from noon to midnight daily, the ground floor has just the reception and takeaway counter and the first floor has non-seating juice corner. With a capacity of 140 seats, 90 staffers continuously run up and down in the four-floored eat out at Anna Nagar to welcome and treat you in a friendly manner. You may end up feeling sinful about your indulgence but never will you regret the eating experience here.
Full goat biriyani
Zaitoon Madurai has opened as a multi-cuisine restaurant with the usual Chinese and North Indian fare too. They also offer free home delivery. Since Madurai has a strong biriyani eating population, one of their special party orders is already rocking the taste buds. It is the full goat dum biriyani where the traditional spices, ingredients and the cooking method have become a part of the new and innovative gastronomical delight.
