Is it the call of desert or we just found a common thread that links us to Middle-east? The use of spices in their cuisine and their earthiness have somehow touched a corner of our hearts. May be that is why we have been a bystander to the introduction of various Middle Eastern restaurants. Their individuality separates them from one another. Zerzura at Clarion, Qutab differentiates itself from all the other holdings. The place is class apart in itself thriving on traditional Middle Eastern cuisine presenting them in elegant presentation.

The food looks so fetching and inviting with burst of colours and lovely tagine. The start of the meal or mezze as we know it is a display of fish skewers, kibbeh, sheefa, roasted quails, falafel and spicy vegetables tapas. The warmth of the spices hits you immediately preparing your tongue for more joys to come. List of kebabs are never ending. The Iranian jujeh kebabs, kebab tabei and chelo kebabs are as authentic as it gets. The chef is extremely talented and preserves the genuineness of the eastern fare. This is the only restaurant in the city to serve delicious Iranian soup ash e reshteh. The tagines offered as main course covers Iranian, Turkish, Lebanese and North Africa. Tagines of fish and spiced kefta with helping of cous cous is spiced and fragrant through and through. The whiff of aroma as the lid of tagine is removed seduce the taste buds. Smells of lime, olives, tomato, chilli, fills the room earning you curious glances of your fellow diners. To enjoy the middle eastern theme fully choose to sit in the outdoor area beneath the stars and among the flickering golden glow of the lanterns. You will find yourself seeping more and more in the magical night. To try out more eastern delicacies a Turkish pastry topped with spinach and feta or a rice containing braised eggplant with tomatoes name imam biyaldi is much loved.

Figs and honey is food of gods but here they are offered to us mortals too in zerzura’s dessert section. Date and fig gratin, baklava with pistachio ice cream, greek honey cake and classic chocolate cream pie gives the menu a round up opulent finish. If you have a huge sugar buff then order zerzura dessert sampler. Go ahead and indulge yourself. The courtyard cabanas are designed to make you stay for as long as you want so take advantage and let the evening go on for as long as possible. The date will cost you under twenty-one hundred so go home happy.