Zaika — Restaurant in London

This restaurant illegally discriminated against me by violating multiple Equality Act 2010 laws.

I have an assistance dog. As a courtesy to the restaurant, I noted this on my reservation. The reservations manager called me and asked me invasive questions about my dog and disability. In the UK under the Equality Act of 2010, businesses are legally only allowed to ask 2 questions: 1. Is this an assistance dog trained to perform tasks to mitigate a disability? and 2. Which tasks is the dog trained to perform? The rep kept asking me if it was an emotional support animal, and I said no, it's a medical alert dog and an assistance dog. I even literally said "this dog is trained in tasks to perform a disability". She kept trying to ask me questions about what my disability is. That is highly illegal. She then explained that she had to ask me because people try to fake their assistance dogs. I told her that wasn't my problem. At a high end restaurant, I expect to not be interrogated about my medical history.

I then called back and asked for the restaurant manager. She at first didn't want to, but then she put him on the line. I calmly explained what happened, and he justified her behavior, saying that they have had fake assistance dog in the pasts. I got increasingly agitated, explaining over and over again that her questions broke the law and that it is not my problem if they have had fake assistance dogs before. I said that if they could not accommodate me without discriminating against me, I would cancel my reservation. He then told me to cancel my reservation! That was 100% illegal.

Because he crossed the line into illegally denying me entry, I told him I would be coming anyway, and that if they refused me entry I would sue them. He told me I could come if I was "normal and nice" but not if I was "rude", interrupting me and speaking over me constantly. I told him thinking I'm rude is irrelevant, because they are the ones breaking the law. I asked for an apology and for him to train his staff, and he said no and that I could not come unless I was "nice" and stopped being "overwhelmed and hysterical". What man calls a woman that in 2023? That was the final straw, I would not let this misogynist take any more of my business. I hung up (quite rudely, after they broke so many laws) and they canceled the reservation.

I have reported their illegal discrimination and overall ableism and sexism to OpenTable. I had been visiting this restaurant for years but will now never return.

The manager may respond to this post complaining about my decorum. Zaika, you illegally discriminated against me and hurled misogynistic slurs against me. Your tone policing of me was ugly. If you had known your legal obligations and trained your staff properly, or if you had corrected the situation once I had brought it to you attention, you would still have a happy customer visiting your restaurant tonight. Your mindset belongs in the 1950s. Shame...

So far the best Indian restaurant I have ever been to in London - everything was perfect and I could not have thought of any improvements to add in my review except keep going as you are.

I booked Zaika to celebrate my boyfriend's 28th birthday and it was our first time visiting this charming restaurant. Opposite Kensington Palace gardens, the restaurant is situated on High Street Ken and inside feels very airy and old English decor style. It felt very intimate sitting in this restaurant - tables were well spaced out. The menu is very good - we ordered many starters, sides and curries to share as part of the birthday banquet. We ordered the Paneer Tikka starter which was absolutely divine - you could tell the paneer was homemade as it melted in your mouth, the sweetness of the apricot and the presentation on the plate. The Afghani Chicken tikka was very interesting and full of flavour - tender pieces of meat with this amazing green sauce.

Our waiters were one of the most nicest waiters who served us - very kind , humble not arrogant like the folks at Kutir in Sloane Square. We felt as if our business was wanted and the team were knowledgeable and warm. I ordered the slow cooked butter chicken and it was the best curry I've ever had in my life. Spice was just right and the meat was succulent and tender, the sauce was perfect something I would not be able to recreate at home unfortunately. The spicy bombay potatoes had a great kick and were a very nice accompaniment to the curry. Lamb shank was very tender with the meat effortlessly coming off the bone and the dahl was rich and warming. I would highly recommend this Indian restaurant to anyone who is looking to go somewhere special and it will remain as one of my favourite restaurants I have...

I went there with my friends on Sunday evening 26th August, at beginning we just ordered some drinks and sat on the bar area, then we just ordered some scallops to try cause we were not that hungry,at the same time we asked the staff if we can have a table cause we saw there was one available right behind us, later the manager on duty came to tell us that because we didn’t make any reservations in advance, so there was not any table available but if there is a cancellation he will let us know which we totally understand and appreciate a lot, about 30 minutes later, me and my friends we were thinking of ordering more dishes cause we found the scallops was pretty tasty, before we made any order we asked the manager again if there is any cancellation cause the table behind us is still not occupied, he replied the same which we still understood, not long there came two customers sat right next to us in the bar area and ordered two drinks, they talked for a while and ordered some food and asked the same question as we did before, soon the manager brought them to the same table which was not occupied for a long time right behind us, so we got a bit angry and asked the manager why they can get the table without any reservation either, and we were waiting for a long time and they just came for a very short time, but the manager simply replied I will get you a table if you order more dishes. Unbelievable that you go to a looks nice restaurant in a good location, the manager refused you a table just because you ordered less dishes than other customers!

At the end the manager found us a table after we said we would order more dishes. The experiences was not a...