Zyka, Indian Restaurant, Furness Ave, Formby

Feb 15 2008 by Jane Gallagher, Liverpool Daily Post

Jane Gallagher samples a fine taste of India at the Zyka, Formby

THANKS to the wonders of culinary science, I have been transported from France to Greece to Italy and now to India.

A contemporary India, that is.

It is a sad fact of the restaurant business that there is a fast turnover of business, and this particular location does not buck that trend.

The restaurant is tucked away on the first floor of a shopping arcade behind the main shopping area in Formby, which may be one reason for the venue’s lack of success.

But I had heard good reports of this latest venture and was eager to try it out.

In fact, one of my neighbours was so impressed, she crossed the road to tell me how good her meal had been.

And word of mouth is very often the best kind of recommendation.

But she was on good ground. If I had to choose a favourite cuisine, Indian would be right up there.

And I am not alone; my friends, Joy and Andrew, share a passion for Indian food.

Both Joy and myself are non meat- eaters, while Andrew is a vegan and an Indian restaurant is one of the few places which allows for a choice.

The only other problem we had was trying to co-ordinate our diaries. Eventually, we agreed on a date that we could all make and luckily for me (who likes a busy atmosphere when I eat) it was a Friday evening.

The restaurant was already half-full when we entered at 9pm and, unlike the Indian restaurants of my youth, the atmosphere was very sedate.

Our fellow diners were made up of mainly couples and small groups. There was even a single diner, which attracted more than his fair share of my penchant for people watching.

An activity that usually fills the gaps between courses.

It was a cold evening outside but I felt instantly warmed by the colourful decor, the atmospheric music and the hint of warming spices in the air.

We were given the welcome of old friends and shown quickly to our table. A bottle of house red was quickly sent to our table while we made our choices.

And there were choices a-plenty. Even for the vegan amongst our midst. Predictably, we went for the Chutney Tray (£1.00) with Poppadoms (50p each).

A zingy mango chutney, home-made mint yogurt sauce and mixed finely chopped salad staved off the hunger pangs and prepared us for the meal ahead.

My husband chose a Chicken Tikka starter (£2.65). A diced marinated chicken served with salad was swiftly devoured whilst Joy and I shared an Onion Bhaji (£2.45). Two bhajis, nicely spiced with a fresh taste was just enough to prepare our palates for the meal ahead.

The main course provided a challenge in that the choice was endless.