Zest

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• What are these?

• Average price 2 courses:
   £4.95 (set lunch)
   £15 (evening meal)
• House wine: £9.95 per bottle

• High point: Plenty of innovative dishes
• Low point: Curries can be a little on the salty side
• Food served: Mon-Sun noon-2pm, 5.30-11.30pm
• Delivery: Free; minimum order £15
• Open since: 2000
• Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least 25% of menu), Childrens portions, Childrens high chairs, Take away, Pre-theatre menu

The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 is now in the shops.

This review is from the 2007 edition.

As one of a phalanx of new Indian restaurants aiming to take a fresh approach to the traditional curry, Zest's central location on the fringe of St Andrew Square attracts a wide-ranging clientele, from students out for dinner on Dad to the odd city type and passing tourist. Indeed, the two window tables are great for watching Edinburgh life bustle by. Inside, bright spotlights, a neon sign and lashings of chrome and birch are all present, offset by the cute rows of gingham-topped spice jars jauntily displayed in the window. The menu reflects this modern/traditional mix with the old favourites of korma and massala alongside more innovative dishes regularly conjured up by owner Ashdaar Ali. The starter of salmon tikka is a delight, with tender fish and delicately-spicy tandoori sauce calmed by a cooling salad, while the starfish-shaped chana purée (puffed bread with chickpeas) has a real coriander zing. For mains, the chicken amer murgh (chicken cooked with mango pulp) is fruity, light and yoghurty, but, for a more feisty finish, try the saag gosht, a combination of garlic and fresh spinach with tender lamb.