The Story of Zouk
This is what we aim to offer our guests every time they dine at Zouk or order food from the restaurant, book a cooking class experience or use our catering services. We believe sharing great food is one of the best ways to spend time with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and even new acquaintances
So much joy can be found whilst devouring a delicious dish of food. All our cuisine is made with that special Zouk blend of authenticity, passion and love. We like to start with the origins of a dish that excites us and then put a little Zouk twist on it to make it outstanding.
‘the best of style and the best of taste’.
In our always on society lives today are busy and hectic. It’s hard to find time to relax and enjoy these simple pleasures. We wanted to create a space for our customers to escape the hustle and bustle. To step into an atmosphere with a holiday vibe. Where the aromas of great food and the luxurious surroundings transport you to a happier place. That’s why Zouk is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We like to think of our doors as always open, well from 12 noon to midnight anyway. We serve food, drinks and shisha all day long and we are always ready to welcome our guests at a time that suits them.
This year we’ve expanded our much-loved tiffin lunch menu and launched a new pre-theatre dining menu. This means we can keep offering extra value to our customers as much as possible. We also have a range of offers to support some of the communities that mean a lot to us such as the NHS, the Manchester Student community and those who work in the hospitality sector. You can read all about these promotions and our latest offers on our blog or subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll send our latest news directly to your inbox. If you are signing up for the first time you’ll also get a voucher for 20 off during your next visit to Zouk.
Our Timeline
Brothers Tayub and Mudassar first dreamed up Zouk back in 2005. They had just returned from a family holiday and decided to go out for dinner to reflect on their trip. When they couldn’t agree on a restaurant, they realised nothing quite had the variety they wanted. Curries from Lahore, delicious desserts, charcoal cooked meats from the Punjab, fruity shisha and desi chai and their recently discovered new favourite, aromatic Goan fish curry.
November - Zouk Bradford opens on Leeds Road
Zouk’s first iteration is brought to life with a unique theatre-style kitchen and a varied menu, including steaks and seafood.
Tayub Amjad
Co-founder and CEO, Tayub uses his background in accounting and business acumen to lead the business and keep the brand thriving.
Mudassar Amjad
Co-founder and Creative Director, Mudassar is the eye of the business. Challenging the teams to keep striving for excellence in everything they do. Mudassar is also a huge fan of travel, sport and discovering new cultures.
Zouk wins Best World Restaurant at the Yorkshire Evening Post Nightlife Awards
“Opening as a tea bar and grill run by two brothers, Zouk was immediately appealing with its clean, bright modern lines and rich, scrumptious Lahori dishes. Delivering on the basics as well as the main courses, its combination of fantastic food and funky, friendly atmosphere make a million red-flock wallpapered curry houses seem outdated. It’s well worth the trip out from the city centre to get a taste of Zouk’s spicy goodies.”
February - Zouk Manchester opens its doors for the first time on Chester Street
A new location brings new guests and new inspiration. Despite the challenges operating a restaurant in Manchester city centre brings, Tayub still has the same passion for creating new adventures for customers and his team.
Zouk Cooking School launches in Manchester
People enjoy Zouk food so much, we’re often asked about how it’s cooked. Ever keen to share our passion for the very best in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, we set up our Cookery School, where curry lovers can come along and learn a thing or two from our expert chefs.
Each course only takes half a day and teaches you to prepare and cook two starters, two main courses, a rice side dish and either a naan or roti bread. Give us a little notice and we can even include a personal favourite on the day! With vegetarian classes now available, our Cookery School is growing in popularity, attracting students from around the country.
Zouk Manchester opens its outdoor dining terrace serving shisha, food and drink al fresco
Owner Tayub Amjad describes why we just cant get enough of dining outdoors even in Manchester! ‘The allure of dining and relaxing outside doesn’t disappear in the cooler months. As Brits we love to be outside so we’ve made sure the terrace feels as cosy and vibrant in the autumn and winter seasons as it does in the height of summer. Once you to step in the lights and flowers transport you to a space with an enchanting quality to it. Leaving you free relax and shrug off the stresses of the week with some great food and drink.’
The space is really relaxed and friendly and we’ve tried to design it as a little tranquil oasis in the heart of Manchester, our flower wall changing with the seasons. Inside our restaurant has a thriving atmosphere with the buzz of the theatre kitchen and the hustle and bustle of service, while outside the space is a bit more chilled, with a holiday vibe.
The full à la carte menu is available outside, as well as all our drinks and a wide range of shisha flavours to try!
Zouk wins Best Restaurant at the Manchester Tourism Awards
Not bad for a city with over 800 restaurants to its name!
Zouk wins Healthy Curry Provider at the English Curry Awards
Guests from all over England attended the glamorous event, with Zouk claiming the Healthy Curry Provider Award, presented by Saffron Events UK.
Zouk Manchester wins Best in Britain Award - 'Best in Northwest'
The BIBAs focus on excellence in the Indian restaurant sector, and unlike some other awards are not judged purely on customer votes. The winners are chosen by a group of expert judges, chaired by Peter Grove, the founder of National Curry Week.
Zouk Indian Halal Sunday Roast launches
Each Sunday, Zouk Manchester prepares a whole host of special halal Sunday roast dishes. It’s tricky to find a good roast dinner that is suitable for a halal diet, but Zouk is here to satisfy those cravings!
The Zouk chefs believe the secret to a great roast is all in the marinade. Zouk uses a special Saji marinade which originates from Balochistan. There are two stages to the marinade. The first stage is use to tenderise the meat. The second marinade uses tikka paste and a range of other spices to infuse the meat with flavour.
Zouk announce support of RMCH charity
A yearlong programme of fundraising events begins with an abseil off the 19-storey Wyatt Hilton hotel in central Manchester. Brothers Tayub and Mudassar both braved the drop, along with their brother-in-law Perri, and floor manager Sylvester.
Explore Further
Failure is a word
Unknown to me