The buzzing restaurant scene at Versova’s sea-facing strip just got another cool boost – Zima has come to this side of town, and has already been embraced with open arms. Visiting on a weeknight, the well-appointed space is humming with the muted tones of diners enjoying the evening. While the carefully curated interiors echo a subtle gold-hued ambience of the Middle-east, the culinary offerings bring home the heady flavours of Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco.
First impressions: Ambience and service
The experience begins the moment you step into the foyer, with an expansive, decorated space doubling as an ideal ‘welfie’ zone, we note. Led to our table by the friendly maître d’, our server takes over, noting our food preferences and suggests our order. I sip on my mocktail, Green Queen– a refreshing concoction of lichi, green apple and kiwi, while my dining companion sticks to a Coke.
A spread that speaks volumes
As we take in the beauty of the space with its high ceilings, beautiful lighting and air of subdued luxury, our food starts to arrive. And a finger-licking feast it is. The Fattouch with its fresh veggies topped with crispy khubz, sumac and pomegranate sauce is tart and refreshing, while our Hummus arrives in an assortment of spicy, basil, and beetroot flavours.
I savour the crispy, light falafel, while my companion tucks into the Special Mix Grill, a platter comprising a delectable selection of grilled meats, served with rice and veggies. The verdict: most satisfying! We decline the vast array of desserts and prefer to sip on traditional warm Turkish tea, prepared at the beautiful coffee bar in the centre of the restaurant.
From Bandra to the Bay – tradition meets novelty
Building upon the success of their Bandra outlet, Zareen Baig and Atiq Kapadia’s Zima Versova indeed celebrates tradition while introducing new and exciting flavours. You will not be disappointed.
