Culture Food & Travel Restaurant & bar reviews

Zen Sai in Camden

Zen Sai in Camden | Bar review

Some of the ingredients included in the cocktails would make you rather suspect this is one of those places that calls its barmen mixologists and garnishes everything with dill, for what seems like the sole purpose of bemusing the general public. A drink called Victoria’s Garden arrived, as it to concern our suspicions. The name alone was alarming, sounding for all the world like like a luxury feminine hygiene product, but when we saw basil on the list of ingredients alarm bells began to ring

They stopped the minute the drink hit our lips. A concoction made with the aforementioned basil, gin, mint, cucumber and apple, it tasted of cool summer evenings spent in the shade. As cocktails go, it was superb: a refreshing twist on a Gordon’s gin. A quick word to the mixologist revealed a down to earth philosophy that most bars at this price range could learn from. They focussed on building a core of strong, complementary flavours from high quality ingredients, without the frills. The result is simple, yet stunning.

A mixed bag then, although certainly an improvement on past showings. The reluctance to add serious heat is understandable from a restaurant that is going from anglicised pan Asian food, but a little more bravery with the chili really wouldn’t go amiss. At £4-6 for a side and most mains costing under £10, that slight lack of intensity is all that’s stopping Zen Sai from becoming an unmissable nightspot. As it is, it’ll have to settle for simply being Camden’s hidden gem.

Daniel Masters

Zen Sai is open Tuesday to Friday from 5pm to 2am, and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 2am. For further information visit Zen Sai’s website here.

More in Food & Drinks

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kemble to open New York-style pizzeria, Spring Street Pizza

Food & Travel Desk

Soho’s Nessa launches weekly Salon of the Unruly art nights celebrating local talent

Food & Travel Desk

Ave Mario launches pre-theatre dinner menu in Covent Garden

Food & Travel Desk

Islington’s Little Bat Bar unveils new menu from chef James Cochran

Food & Travel Desk

Cotswolds Distillery launches two-for-one tours to celebrate inaugural English Whisky Week

Food & Travel Desk

Fulham Pier to open Riverside Market this summer

Food & Travel Desk

Mr Fogg’s Pawnbrokers in Soho introduces Topsy Turvy Tea, a cocktail-centric twist on traditional afternoon tea

Food & Travel Desk

Sam’s Restaurants team up with HG Walter for British Beef Week menu

Food & Travel Desk

Murat Kilic to open new restaurant Ara in East London

Food & Travel Desk