Category: Definitely worth a stop, possibly worth a drive.
Summary: Low-key atmosphere belies very flavorful food. An intriguing combination of Southern cafeteria and Indian home cooking.
Zyka is very low-key. It's tucked next to a child care center; as I drove up, I couldn't even see it from the road. Inside is similarly low-key, more like a BBQ joint. You order at the counter and wait for your tray to come.
I have heard quite a few good things about this place. But I had been expecting a sit-down restaurant and after seeing the place I didn't have high expectations. The food, however, was very flavorful. Both the samoas and my eggplant dish displayed some very complex flavors. Both were definitely hot with a slow burn that grows on you. But that's not all---there were lots of spices lurking underneath. The eggplant was also a grab bag of sensory experiences. Red pepper husks were sprinkled throughout, making the oil used to cook the eggplant red. The eggplants were cooked whole, leaving not just the skins, but also some eggplant bones. The stems of the eggplant were quaint and I'm sure that cooking the eggplants whole adds to the dish's flavor.
And to top it off, Zyka is a bargain. This is definitely a great place for a quick, good meal.
