Restaurant review: Masala Zone
25 Parkway, NW1 7PG – map
(other branches also located in London)
Overall experience: **** (out of 5)
Service: **** (out of 5):
Food: **** (out of 5)
Atmosphere: *** (out of 5)
Review by: Alexa Williamson
Good Indian food in a modern setting
If you’re looking for Indian food, in a modern setting, with good service, good flavours, little grease, reasonable prices and an innovative menu, then look no further than the Masala Zone chain.
Going there recently on a Friday night at about 10.30pm, we were seated quickly by pleasant staff – who weren’t worried about rushing to get home – and were kindly advised of the day’s specials and given recommendations on what thalis* to order. While I decided on a vegetarian thali with millet chapatis, my dinner companion went for a regular one and we were each charged about £8.50 for our meal.
Some of the interesting dishes from the menu include:
Starters
* Dahl puri (£3.30) - hollow biscuits filled with chickpeas mash and splashed with yoghurt and chutney
* Gol guppa (£3.30) - lentil and tamarind stuffed whole wheat biscuits
* Chana dabalroti (£3.30) - tangy chickpea curry, lotus root with hunks of toasted bread
Mains
* Undhiyo and lentil khichdi (£5.85) - a classic gujarati dish – a mix of sweet potato, raw banana, baby aubergine, snow peas, purple yam and val dal cooked with greens.
* Masala burgers (£5.00-5.85) - lamb, chicken and veggie – served at lunch only
* Malabar seafood bowl (£6.70) - combining prawns, calamari, fish kofta and egg noodles in a richly curried soup
* Chilli veggie garlic noodles (£5.85) - including pak choi, beansprouts, peppers, garlic & chillies, with wholewheat udon noodles
Some of the interesting dishes from the menu include:
Starters
* Dahl puri (£3.30) - hollow biscuits filled with chickpeas mash and splashed with yoghurt and chutney
* Gol guppa (£3.30) - lentil and tamarind stuffed whole wheat biscuits
* Chana dabalroti (£3.30) - tangy chickpea curry, lotus root with hunks of toasted bread
Mains
* Undhiyo and lentil khichdi (£5.85) - a classic gujarati dish – a mix of sweet potato, raw banana, baby aubergine, snow peas, purple yam and val dal cooked with greens.
* Masala burgers (£5.00-5.85) - lamb, chicken and veggie – served at lunch only
* Malabar seafood bowl (£6.70) - combining prawns, calamari, fish kofta and egg noodles in a richly curried soup
* Chilli veggie garlic noodles (£5.85) - including pak choi, beansprouts, peppers, garlic & chillies, with wholewheat udon noodles
* a selection of starters, mains and vegetables brought on a platter
