Restaurant Review: Zeeba’s Deli & Cafe'

Colourful trinkets, foodie quotes hung on cream coloured walls, the use of old wood for doors, window frames and tables, and friendly faces behind the display of good-looking home baked goods make stepping into Zeeba’s Deli & Cafe' a comforting experience. Since the café is rather small, you might not be able to find yourself a seat if you visit during busy times such as late afternoon or lunch hour, nonetheless Zeeba’s is well equipped for food and drink takeaways.

What to eat:

Breakfast

If you are visiting Zeeba’s Deli & Cafe' for breakfast we recommend the mixed Maldivian breakfast that comes with a sunny side up, roshi, mas-huni and a kulhimas that’s spot on.

Lunch

As for lunch, the café typically rotates through a weekly menu plan by which two options, usually a rice dish and a pasta dish, are offered everyday of the week except on Fridays. If you want to find what’s available before heading there, you could check their social media pages for updates or you could just give them a ring. Our favourite is their rice bowl. It’s an Asian inspired affair that comes with crispy fresh veggies, sautéed greens, a sunny side up and the option to choose between beef or chicken; we prefer the beef. The rice bowl is usually available on Saturdays and we think it’s the perfect lazy Saturday meal. One more thing, they do prepare a fixed amount of lunches so head there early or call them to reserve you a portion.

Baked goodies

When you step into Zeeba’s you’d be greeted with a display of home-baked goods. These typically include sandwiches, savoury rolls, wraps and an array of sweet treats. We at Lonumedhu have a tendency to like anything with cinnamon, but Zeeba’s Deli & Cafe' does really offer a killer cinnamon roll and we also do recommend the banana bread; it’s soft, moist and has a pleasant hint of cinnamon.

Teatime & Coffee

We rarely think of coffee when we think of Zeeba’s. But we really do insist that you give it a shot as they serve a buzzy nutty cup. Their hot chocolate is quite good as well. Also, if you are heading to Zeeba’s during teatime to enjoy some short eats; do ask for their hot githeyo mirus sauce, it’s seriously hot and yummy.

Wrapping up

Zeeba’s Deli & Cafe' really is a homely and friendly place to grab a quick meal or drink. Considering the deliciousness of the goods available, we think their prices are quite reasonable as well; you can easily have a satisfying meal for less than MVR 70.

Click here to read Lonumedhu's interview with Zeeba Saeed, the owner of the Zeeba's Deli & Cafe'. To read other Restaurant Reviews on Lonumedhu, click here.