Restaurant Zola

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

09/02/07

Nothing special

by foody1977 at Citysearch

Food was expensive and not all that special. Drinks, appetizers, and dinner for 2 people was close to $90, which could be spent elsewhere for half that. Albeit the bread was fresh and wait staff was courteous. The decor was very mediterranean, but I did not get that in the food.

• Cons: difficult to find parking

07/26/07

Just average

by ebdukes at Citysearch

Great decor...OTT service...our waiter told us everything was he favorite which was not unasked for but somewhat ridiculous. I had the venison, which was exceptional, but the accompanying squash was over seasoned with cumin. Actually, everyones entrees smelled of cumin...perhaps it was on sale somewhere. Apps and desserts were underwhelming as was the dining experience.

• Pros: the decor, the cappucino
• Cons: wait staff

04/19/07

Politically Overcorrect

by e_deby at Citysearch

My husband and I were looking for a romantic fine dining restaurant and Zola's was highly recommended. We found the atmosphere very nice, although slightly loud for our dining experience. Our dinners were outstanding and the suggested wine, complimented the meal perfectly. We felt the chef did a tremendous job. The problem we experienced, was that our waitress referred to the chef as "she" at least 2-3 times per sentence throughout the entire meal. Never did the waitress refer to her as "chef" or "the chef" (ie "the chef has prepared... she accompanies..." ) This we could deal with, as we have always had the waitstaff refer to the chef as "chef" then followed by he or she. At first we did not understand why this was happening, until we read the menu and noticed that the owner/chef is a female. This is wonderful, however, we really don't understand why this needed to be continually stressed to us to the point of spoiling the meal. We have enjoyed many fine dining restaurants throughout the US and Canada and been lucky to have wonderful meals prepared by both male and female chefs. The important thing is the food and the experience. I would hope that any chef would want their customers to enjoy and remember the food and the restaurant, not the gender of the person who prepared it. It is through hard work and perseverance that any chef can open a successful restaurant. Unfortunately, as the meal continued, as wonderful as it was, both my husband and I became extremely uncomfortable. In our opinion. a romantic dinner is not the place for a political statement regarding the gender of the chef. Instead of remembering the outstanding meal and wine we experienced at Zola's, we remember the extreme discomfort of having a waitperson who could not let the food speak for the chef's ability, but rather wanted the gender of the chef to alter our views.

03/02/03

satisfying but pricey for what it is

by tp1010 at Citysearch

Food is above average. Chef is creative but that does not mean necessarily that dishes taste better. Chef has the tendency to over do it with dishes. For example, there is the tendency, with many dishes, to do so much to them to the point that, at the end, you don't know what you just ate. Need better sense of balance. My advise to the chef: focus on taste more that the presentation. Service is average. Ambiance is good. Very pricey for what you get.

• Cons: relative price

10/21/02

Looking for the definition of OVERRATED?

by bracs at Citysearch

If so, you've found it at Zola! After being overwhelmed by obnoxious socilaite-types while waiting for our table, we made our way into the dining area for drinks that were 15 min. in the making, an appetizer that arrived shortly thereafter (yay Zola!), a salad 30 min. in, and entrees that arrived promptly at 10:20 in the evening. Did I mention we'd been there since 8:15??? And while the waiter was apologetic and the manager was very consoling about everything, this was an absolutely DISAPPOINTING experience. My significant other was in town, we were expecting to have a great nite together, and Zola, which I had picked based on strong recommendations from friends, was a DISASTER. Wonderful folks working there, but ostentatious self-absorbed clientele, overpriced & overrated food, and just not up to expectations......Terribly, terribly unimpressed.

• Pros: Creative Menu, Ambience, Good Eavesdropping
• Cons: Long Wait for Food, Obnoxious Clientele, Overrated/Overpriced