Zaika Restaurant & Bar brings the rich and aromatic flavours of India to 81 Cleghorn Street in Redwoodtown, Blenheim. The menu is built on the classics of Indian cooking — mouthwatering curries, exquisite biryanis and tantalising tandoori creations — crafted by skilled chefs using the finest ingredients, and spanning everything from comforting favourites to bold new tastes. The team describes their food as traditional Indian cuisine with modern flair, served with the warmth and hospitality of Indian culture.
Beyond the dining room, Zaika caters for occasions with a private function room — a dedicated space for celebrations, gatherings and exclusive events — and offers online ordering for enjoying their dishes at home. Reservations can be made online or by phone on 03 972 3852.
Hours run across two sittings Tuesday to Sunday (11am to 2pm, then 4:30pm to 9pm), with dinner-only service on Monday from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. The restaurant is upfront about being busy every day, so they advise getting in touch before arriving so they can guarantee your seat.
On Cleghorn Street in Redwoodtown, a short drive from the centre of Blenheim, Zaika Restaurant & Bar serves the kind of food people make plans around: rich, aromatic Indian cooking, from slow-simmered curries to fragrant biryanis and tandoori plates. It is a neighbourhood restaurant and bar with a clear sense of purpose — bringing the true taste of India to Marlborough, one generous plate at a time.
The team sums up the promise simply: discover the rich and aromatic flavours of India in every dish. The cooking sits where traditional Indian cuisine meets modern flair, and the kitchen's work is deliberate — skilled chefs crafting each dish with the finest ingredients for what they describe as an authentic and memorable dining experience.
The welcome matters as much as the food. Zaika talks about the warmth and hospitality of Indian culture as part of the experience: dinner as something to be savoured rather than rushed, whether you are settling in for a long evening or dropping by for a favourite curry. As the name suggests, it runs as both restaurant and bar, so the table is set for a proper night out.
Zaika's menu is built on the great pillars of Indian cooking. Curries are the heart of it — mouthwatering dishes that run from gentle and comforting to bold, with the breadth to satisfy a first-timer and a regular's tried-and-true order alike. Biryanis bring the fragrance: exquisite, aromatic rice dishes the kitchen counts among its highlights.
Then there are the tantalising tandoori creations, where marinade and high heat do their particular magic. The menu stretches further still, because the aim, as the team puts it, is something for everyone: every palate, every mood, from a comforting classic to a bold new favourite.
Zaika keeps a gallery on its website, so a quick scroll gives you a feel for the room and the plates before you book. And if you like to know what you're ordering in advance, the full current menu is published on the site — worth a browse whether you're planning a feast or just deciding between two curries.
Zaika is set up for occasions as well as weeknight dinners. The restaurant has a private function room — a dedicated space for celebrations, gatherings and exclusive events, where your group gets privacy and a tailored experience. Birthdays, work dos, family milestones: reservations can be made online, and the team will help you shape the evening.
Prefer Zaika at home? Online ordering covers that too. The menu is available through the restaurant's ordering site, so curries, biryanis and tandoori dishes travel just as well to your own table.
Zaika keeps split service hours, so it pays to plan. From Tuesday to Sunday the kitchen serves two sessions — lunch from 11am to 2pm, then dinner from 4:30pm to 9pm. Monday is dinner only, from 4:30pm to 8:30pm.
One thing the restaurant is refreshingly upfront about: it is busy, every day of the week. Their standing advice is to let them know before arriving so they can guarantee your seat — a quick call on 03 972 3852 or an online reservation will sort it.
You'll find Zaika at 81 Cleghorn Street, Redwoodtown, Blenheim 7201. Questions, function enquiries and feedback can go to [email protected], or simply order online and let the flavours do the talking.