Friday’s lunch plans took us to the recently opened ‘Zahid Bhai Restaurant’ in Khobar’s Olaya district, known for serving a delightful mix of both North and South Indian dishes. Sameer and Salwa had been wanting to try this place, so we decided to join them. The interior is adorned with artwork that reflects the rich heritage of North and South India, enhancing the vibrant atmosphere. There’s ample seating, making it a great spot for groups.

Here’s what we tried:

• Shrimp 65 (SR 57)
  Lightly battered shrimp, tossed in a chef-special sauce with curry leaves. The shrimps were full of flavour, and the curry leaves added a nice touch that elevated the dish. This one is defintely from the south.

• Kebab Platter (SR 79)
  A generous assortment of kebabs, including Murgh Malai Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Delhi Chicken Tikka, Lagaan Chicken Tikka, Jhinga Achari, and Lamb Seekh Kebab. The variety was fantastic, and each kebab had its own unique flavours.

• Murgh Methi Malai (SR 52)
  Chicken cooked in a creamy cashew gravy, mildly flavored with fenugreek. Unfortunately, the methi flavor was barely noticeable, and the dish itself was quite bland. I wouldn’t recommend this one.
  
• Chicken Tikka Masala (SR 48)
  Marinated chicken chunks, chargrilled and simmered in a rich tomato-onion gravy with aromatic spices. The smokey flavour of the chicken was spot on, and the gravy was delicious. This is best paired with plain rice or Garlic Naan.

• Guntur Lamb Curry (SR 63)
  Boneless lamb cubes stewed in a tamarind coconut curry with mild spices. This was my personal favorite—tender mutton chunks swimming in an earthy, thick gravy that was just divine.

• Gulkand Kulfi (SR 34)
  Creamy kulfi enriched with sweet Gulkand, served atop saffron-rose falooda and garnished with pistachios. I didn’t really feel this dish though there was nothing wrong with how the Kulfi tasted.

• Gulab Jamun, Chef’s Special Touches (SR 32)
  Soft, melt-in-your-mouth Gulab Jamun served with millet firni espuma. The combination of the Jamun and firni was heavenly. Definitely worth trying!

Overall, ‘Zahid Bhai Restaurant; offers a nice mix of flavours, and with a few standout dishes like the Guntur Lamb Curry and the Gulab Jamun with firni, it’s worth a visit. However, some dishes, like the Murgh Methi Malai, fell short of expectations.

P.S – To dine upstairs, you will have to take 2 flights of stairs and they don’t have a hand wash area upstairs either.