Restaurant Zola

07/27/08

Delicious food, great service!

by maryjatkinson at Citysearch

We tried Restaurant Zola for our anniversary, and quite enjoyed it. The food was eclectic and well-prepared, the wine list had plenty of tasty options, and the service was great. We especially loved the appetizer with the smoked trout, capers, olives, carrots... (can't remember what it was called). The paella was excellent, too. While it's not our absolute favorite restaurant in Nashville, it is very enjoyable!

• Pros: Food, wine, & service
• Cons: N/A

07/07/08

Worst Food and Service in Nashville---HANDS DOWN LOSER

by minakash at Citysearch

We had reservations for 3 couples on a slow Saturday night. The night started off on a bad note when we couldn't get our server to take our drink orders...then as she was going through all the food they were OUT of she said only a couple of Salmon dishes left. When asked if she would go back and ask the chef to save one of the Salmon dishes she refused. Which set the tone for the entire evening...Horrible service...horrible food. One of the fish entrees came out raw while the other food came out cooked but cold. It took almost 3 hours to get through this painful dinner. Zola's has lost 6 customers! I will NEVER return.

• Pros: The dinner finally ended
• Cons: horrible experience.

06/03/08

Exquisite Food, So-So Server

by cray31 at Citysearch

Best food in Nashville. Chef Deb knows her stuff & combinations of herbs, spices, & choice of accompaniments superb. Mixed review due to inattentive server. Greatly disappointed with only one vegetarian entree & like previous reviewers, was told must call ahead ?special requests.? If so, WHY does Zola make a point of playing to the vegetarian aspect of their menu? Luckily, the one vegetarian entree was delicious, & if it had been served hot, rather than room temperature, we would?ve been 100% satisfied. (Not on the chef, but server, who delayed delivery.) Lamb entree too was room temperature, however, flavors are exquisite! Had lamb in Greece & this was even better. Tender, moist, flavorful! Accompanying grilled eggplant sandwich divine. Sides: Sugar peas in butter sauce, spinach w/ parm & grilled zucchini. All excellent, favorite zucchini. Pleasantly surprised at generous portion size?enough for leftovers. Best dish: Fried Casseri Cheese Starter with roasted tomatoes, spinach souffle, & candied lemon peel. Delicious, delightful, & simply the best appetizer we?ve ever encountered. Will return to Zola for the food but ask for a different server. Took 30 minutes to get our drinks. Cosmos were watery & lacked flavor & Sangria tasted like a Mimosa at a cheap brunch. (My friend has a long history of running restaurants & was appalled by the server?s attitude.) Had eaten at Ruby Tuesday?s a week prior & left our server an $18 tip on a $30 total bill?we are not hard to please & always reward good service. Total bill with 2 entrees, appetizer, 3 side dishes, & 3 adult beverages came to just over $93.00 including tax. We opted not to have dessert or coffee. Maitre de was thoughtful, & professional. Overall I am impressed with Zola?s atmosphere & food, just be forewarned that there is at least one server who does not make the grade at this fine establishment. No one should have watery drinks or food that is not hot when served while dining at this level.

• Pros: The food hands down is the best in Nashville for flavor & satisfaction. Exquisite!
• Cons: Not much parking & slow & inattentive service.

05/29/08

do not ready cozy as "cozy"

by auteur at Citysearch

citysearch says cozy i say stuffy. arriving in a t-shirt and jeans (for a casual night out to dinner and a movie) was the first big mistake. when i asked about the vegetarian dishes the waitress suggested in the future i call ahead and give the chef some warning but she'd see what could be done. the same waitress forgot our appetizer all together. the food was delicious though.

• Pros: quiet and calm
• Cons: too stuffy

05/05/08

What a letdown

by drkstaff at Citysearch

My husband, two business friends and associates and I had dinner at Zola Friday. The service was rude; the drinks were not generous, and the wine we had with dinner was bad. The food, while okay, certainly was not worth the price. Our server seemed put out with our questions, and she acted like she would have rather been somewhere else. We all agreed with her - we would have rather dined elsewhere, too. We will not make this mistake again. There are plenty of established fine dining "hot spots" in Nashville and nearby Franklin to avoid this pretentious place.

• Pros: Ending the evening
• Cons: Everything from service to the food

04/08/08

It's been good for a long time and still impresses me.

by Iruvwine at Citysearch

I had the best dinner in town two nights in one week at Zola and was surprised to read about the person below me who had a horrible experience. Whoever you are, give it another shot because always had great food at Zola and have been trying out other food around town and have been disappointed by over-priced menus with less-than-satisfying dishes. Deb's staff is always spot-on!

• Pros: knowledgeable staff and I see the same servers there for a while
• Cons: not that I can think of

03/25/08

Vibrant and creative, this food is a work of art...

by earthshinehz at Citysearch

I have been to great restaurants in D.C., New York, San Fransico, Montreal, and more. Zola was recommended to me by an out-of-town business contact. I went there wearing jeans and a sweater and was treated like a queen. It was a weekday and we had no reservation, but were seated almost immediately. Our server, Matt, had extensive knowledge of the wine list and paired our meal with an excellent Pinot Noir. I had a salad with apples, fresh fennel, and blue cheese... amazing. For dinner I chose the Grouper (not on the menu, special for that day) and was just blown away. The combination of flavors on the plate was inspired and creative (just like the decor). From bread to dessert (both made fresh everyday), my palate was singing praises to the Chef. This place is on my short list of great restaurants, and I have been to a few. I can't wait to go back and will recommend it to everyone I want to impress!!

• Pros: great food, service, atmosphere
• Cons: none

03/21/08

So overrated

by greatfoodiegirl at Citysearch

If I could tell you the server's name, I would - but she never bothered to give it to us. This place is so overrated, I hope they will make some changes. The service was horrible; our waitress had such a rude, sarcastic attitude, that I would be embarrassed for tourists to think everyone in Nashville acted like this. The food was only mediocre at best - but even if it was wonderful, the service ruined it. The young man who refilled our water glasses touched the tip of the pitcher to everyone's glass in the restaurant, so if one person there was sick, we'll all be sick. We were there on a Thursday night; the restaurant at 8:00 was not even filled half-full, yet the service was so slow, rude and horrible, quite frankly. The cocktails were only so-so, and for the price should be much better. Seriously - Zola needs to hire a better staff and actually train them to work in the food industry - otherwise, why spend your money there? Spend your money elsewhere; where the food is better, and the service is such that you actually feel like they want your business.

• Pros: quiet atmosphere
• Cons: service is terrible-ruins a romantic evening out

03/01/08

Very Dated Very Average

by G2jiboo at Citysearch

I could think of at least a dozen other restaurants I would recommend over Zola. This restaurant is incredibly average. I think that at the time it opened, it was one of a few upper scale restaurants in the independent food scene but times have changed. Zola has not. The decor is incredibly dated. It reminds me of a hotel restaurant from 1988. The food, service, and wine list are all good, but nothing mind blowing. The food is fresh, but the presentation (china, garnishes, etc.) are very 10 years ago. Though a solid restaurant that will offer a satisfying meal, I have found Zola to be hands down the most OVER-RATED restaurant in all of Middle TN.

• Pros: fresh ingredients, long wine list, prompt
• Cons: dated ambiance, poor value for price paid

02/23/08

Excellent Romantic Restaurant

by Sdiver35 at Citysearch

What is left to say about this Restaurant? My wife and I have celebrated one of our birthday's here now for two years. The ambiance is excellent, the food is excellent, the bread; (homemade daily) I can't even put words to the bread. I would have to agree with others that parking is pretty bad, but for what you are going to pay for dinner go ahead and splurge for the valet parking and not worry about it. The variety of the menu should suit all tastes, and belive me they are all tasty selections...especially the salads.

They should need to bring the quesadilla back as an appetizer!!

• Pros: Excellent well balanced menu.
• Cons: Parking.