Our Heritage

Our Story

हमारी कहानी

Royal Indian thali

1987

Founded

Born from the Ancient Kitchens of the Mughals

Zaika carries forward a culinary tradition that has delighted royalty for centuries. Our journey began in 1987 when Chef Vikram Rathore inherited secret recipes passed down through seven generations of royal cooks from the courts of Lucknow.

Every dish is a masterpiece — slow-cooked in hand-beaten copper vessels called degs, seasoned with freshly ground spices from our masala room, and finished with saffron threads sourced directly from the valleys of Kashmir.

What started as a 12-seat restaurant in a charming Breach Candy townhouse has grown into one of India's most celebrated fine dining destinations, while never losing sight of the warmth and generosity that defines Indian hospitality.

Chef Vikram Rathore

Chef Vikram Rathore

Executive Chef & Founder

7th generation royal cook, trained at Le Cordon Bleu, returned to preserve India's culinary heritage.

Chef Priya Deshmukh

Chef Priya Deshmukh

Head Pastry Chef

Merging French pastry techniques with Indian flavours to create desserts that tell stories.

Chef Arjun Nair

Chef Arjun Nair

Sous Chef

Master of the tandoor, bringing 20 years of expertise in live-fire cooking to every dish.

37+

Years of Heritage

300+

Spice Recipes

50K+

Guests Annually

7th

Generation Chef

“In every grain of saffron, in every flame of the tandoor, lives the soul of a thousand years of culinary wisdom. We don't just cook food — we preserve a living heritage.”

— Chef Vikram Rathore, Founder