Zen of good cooking

A seductive ambience, warm service and absolutely delicious fare Asian eatery, Red Zen, has got a lot of things going or it

Red Zen has a lovely long community table at the centre of the eatery, dotted with large candles and red cutlery. The side tables and the ones overlooking the green pool are just as pretty. The predominant colour is red, from the glasses to the candles and lamps, but its in a soft understated manner that isn't loud at all.


Dim Sum Basket. pics/ Akshata Shetty

We love the fact that the menu is kept simple. This is South-East Asian fare done in its original minimalistic manner. The simplicity is reflected in the bar menu as well which offers soups, appetisers, noodles, main course and rice options. We began with their specialtyu00a0-- a Non-vegetarian Dim Sum Basket (Rs 325, plus taxes).
It contained three chicken and three prawn Dim Sums with accompaniments that we adored.


Phad Phak Kapr

For the mains, we opted for a noodle meal: Khiao Wan Gai (Rs 275 plus taxes). The Chinese glass noodles with chicken chunks in a thin and mild Thai Green Curry were so deliciously flavoured that we even asked for a spoon to slurp up all the curry. The chicken pieces, the vegetables and the noodles truly made a full meal both in quantity, flavour and satisfaction.


Date Spring Rolls

We also tried a Yang Chow Fried Rice (Rs 250) along with a Phad Phak Kapr (Rs 250). The rice was bursting in flavours and had chunks of beef and shavings of duck which was light on the system but high on flavour. It went perfectly with the Asian wok-tossed vegetables spiked with little red chillies and fresh basil.

To our pleasure, the portions were large unlike other high-end restaurants and we had no space left for dessert. Yet, we managed to tuck into the Date Spring Rolls (Rs 195). Served in a martini glass, the three little deep-fried, flaky rolls stuffed with date mousse came on a bed of ice-cream. Yummy!

The service was impeccably polite yet not stuffy. Red Zen could make for a lovely family dinner place, a date spot or just a place to go to when you crave for an above-average Asian meal at average prices.

At Courtyard by Marriott, City Centre, Bund Garden Road.
Call 67248181
Red Zen didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals.