Bar Zaika Bazaar in Kensington and Chelsea

I visited here for a quick evening meal with a colleague ahead of a lecture nearby. Service was quick bu unenthusiastic and the food quite acceptable while being unremarkable. The place lacked atmosphere but this may have been due to the time of day

We first had a takeaway breakfast and then grabbed something savory for a nice impromptu brunch. Prices I imagine are London average but quality food. A blueberry muffin, a Christmas roll, a lemon, pistachio and rose cake and a takeaway cappuccino paid for 15.65 pounds. The cute girl went to get the freshly baked roll especially for us. After less than half an hour we sat down and had a savory croissant, a sousage roll, a quiche and a mocha coffee for 21.60 pounds. Very friendly staff, there was almost always a queue but they were super quick

I ordered Chicken 65 and Rogan Josh. Chicken 65 was nice and tasted fresh with curry leaves and a nice chutney. The Rogan Josh was a disappointment. It tasted a little strange, not fresh and with an weird flavor. There was SO much lamb (which tells me they’re trying to get rid of old food?) And there was almost no sauce/gravy. The sauce had a strange flavor like chilli powder was added at the end to make it spicy and give a red colour, and the only other flavor just lamb and meat, like lamb stew. No real balance of flavor or use of whole spices, although I saw a cardamom pod but I couldn’t actually taste it. Seems it was for show Also I think tomato paste was used and not fresh tomatoes because it had a bitter flavor. No taste of ginger or garlic or real depth. Some lamb pieces were tiny and other pieces were huge. I couldn’t even chew most of it because it was dry and tough It was a shame because Rogan Josh is usually such a beautiful dish with so much flavor. I’d rather have less lamb but better quality, and with a nice sauce The rice tasted like microwaved rice. The papad, bread and mint chutney very nice. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong dish with Rogan Josh. I expected way better. Staff friendly and host was nice and welcoming. They acknowledged my complaint about the dry overcooked lamb, and they offered me a *small* discount. I wasn’t really bothered about a few pounds saved. I’d rather have eaten better curry I’d probably not come again

It wasn't chicken balti and not even mild spicy which I requested while ordering the food. It was sweet and sour kind of taste.