Café Zola

5/26/2007

Zola...this is easily one of the best experiences to be had in Ann Arbor.  I'll get the negatives for this place right out in the open.  It's popular, really popular.  It's expensive, but not break the bank expensive.  A few reviews have commented about the wait there and true to their word, it's atrocious.  So, be wise, and make a reservation.  Now, let me get to the good stuff.

The food at Zola is impeccable.  We've had both brunch and dinner there and perhaps we've always just ordered wisely, but we've always been impressed.  My in-laws even got to eat there and they are total food snobs and really enjoyed it there.  For brunch, they are known for their sweet crepes, but I'm more interested in their savory items.  Their omelets are excellent.  For dinner, my wife got the lamb chops and they were flavorful and tender.  I think they also gave her six bones, which is an extremely large portion.

The service is consistent (once you sit down).  The wait staff is friendly.

The bar area is hopping too.  They make some of the best drinks in town.  Unfortunately, the bar area is quite crowded, but if you are in need of a high quality alcohol beverage and don't mind being smushed in, go here.  I'm a mojito snob and theirs hit the spot.

Eat here, leave a little poorer, but with a bellyful of good food, good drinks, and a smile on your face.

1/27/2016 Updated review

Admittedly we usually come to Zola for brunch. And I can't believe I've never updated my review to reflect how much I've come to love their brunch since I've moved to Ann Arbor. The brunch alone? 5 stars. Waffles, crepes, salmon hash, hot chocolate.....all of it? GOOD!

But what spurred me to update this review was a recent dinner experience I had here. We don't do dinner here much but restaurant week at Cafe Zola? The bomb.

Now, I also usually don't write reviews based on Restaurant Week experiences. I just feel like it's not always indicative of a regular consumer experience. The menu is smaller, the food is likely produced in a conveyor belt style, it's crowded, etc etc. But Zola? They kill it. And they deserve props for that.

The menu for this past RW (Winter 16) was huge. Plenty to choose from. You had your choice of two apps and one entree. This was so much food, you guys. I got the whitefish lyonnaise salad and shepherd's pie for my apps and the steak bearnaise for my entree. My husband did almost the exact thing but swapped the whitefish salad for caprese. Everything was excellent.

A few notes: I usually have low expectations for a caprese salad in any month that isn't August (tomato season) but they managed to find some delicious tomatoes and do a great job with it. The shepherd's pie was perfect on a cold, snowy night and the steak was excellent. It was cooked perfectly (again, a feat during crowded restaurant week) and the potatoes served with it were simple (salt roasted fingerlings with crème fraîche) but so so good!

We also had a couple of cocktails (the Sleeping Beauty was my favorite--Creme de Violette, lemon juice, Prosecco, & simple syrup) and a profiterole for dessert (not part of the RW menu but I aways have to end on sweet) and it was perfect.

As I said, I've been a huge fan of Zola for brunch but RW has won me over for dinner too. If they can pull off such a rushed week so perfectly then I feel confident that a traditional dinner here will be pretty great too. Can't wait for my next visit.

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  Shepherds pie

  Shepherds pie
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  Caprese salad

  Caprese salad
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  Whitefish lyonnaise

  Whitefish lyonnaise
• See all photos from Annette J. for Café Zola

1/25/2016

Rocky but decent start.
I take my 7-month-old daughter for lunch on my day off once a week. We were seated and offered a sling (love when people have these) for her carrier, and were greeted shortly.
It took awhile for her to come back and take our order, but when she did I asked for some bread to keep my daughter occupied, and she was nice enough to include some strawberries as well.
Most of the trouble was when my food came. I was in the mood for steak frites and thought the steak sandwich and frites with special dipping sauces was close enough. When my food came it was just the sandwich, and the server who dropped it off, noticing the puzzled look on my face, asked if my server had informed me their fryer was broken? He then asked me if I would like fruit or a salad instead. I declined because I was in the mood for steak frites. I just asked for a discount so I could go next door afterwards and get some frites.
The sandwich was good and cooked just as I had asked. I work at and restaurant and understand things go wrong, but why didn't all the servers know the fryer was broken, and why didn't the kitchen notice that a sandwich, which normally comes with frites, not notice there was no substitution?
When the manager/ bartender (Stacy I believe) came over she told me she discounted my food, but didn't give me a chance to voice my concerns.
If I had been informed at the start about the fryer, I would have ordered the lobster salad I had also been eyeing, and all would have been well.

1/9/2016

This review is for breakfast/brunch only.

It's good breakfast and brunch. Really. Just for the price I'd expect more exceptional service and offerings. I suppose this is your upscale but traditional breakfast. I also think the label "Turkish" is a bit misleading, just a few items are Turkish inspired from what I can tell.

10/25/2015

A little bit of a wait. The 15m wait was actually 30m but luckily I had company.

I had the nutella banana crepe & it was delish! Whipped cream & ice cream and all. It was bz so service was a little slow. The good food made up for it tho.

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  Nutella banana crepe. Sweet heaven

  Nutella banana crepe. Sweet heaven

2/21/2016

Not only do they have an outstanding brunch, they have a surprisingly awesome happy hour! This is my go-to brunch spot in Ann Arbor. Craft coffee, mimosas, and the best goat cheese & asparagus omelette  out there! Their eggs are so light and fluffy and the bread and potatoes are cooked to perfection and served on the side. Expect a wait for brunch unless you are lucky enough to grab a seat at the bar!

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  Coffee art

  Coffee art

6/16/2015 Updated review

Always a great lunch at this popular A-squared institution.  Sampled a Kobe burger,  a grilled chicken sandwich, and a couple of goat cheese and asparagus omelettes.

I'd highly recommend requesting Zola's special-made ketchup condiment with any sandwich you order. It is zesty, spicy-sweet with just a touch of a tangy BBQ sauce. Outstanding!

The natural brick walls trimmed with some tasteful art adds to the ambience although it can get a bit loud during the busy lunch hour. Solid 4 big ones.

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• See all photos from Al M. for Café Zola

1/1/2016

I don't mind paying good money for good food or drink.  For example, I've paid $200 for a case of exclusive Belgian beer and $190 for a bottle of bourbon before.  However, I do mind paying good money for mediocre food or drink.  I went here with a friend today for breakfast and I had a smoked salmon omelette.  It was a whopping $17.95.  My friend got hot tea and it was $8.75!  $8.75 for a stupid pot of black tea!?  My omelet was good, but not great.  It was only slightly better than an omelet at Big Boy, but twice the price.  

I've been to Europe three times and have travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and I've never spent this much money for breakfast.  Plus, I've probably been to 50 places that serve a better omelet than I had here.  

If I was Mick Jagger and made 50 million dollars a year, I'd still never return to this place.  This place epitomizes the ugly concept of paying more for less.  Regardless of my cash flow, that is a flawed idea.

If you enjoy getting your wallet violated with no bliss in return on your part, Cafe Zola is ready and waiting for you to assume the position.

9/13/2015

This Turkish -French creperie appeared some twenty years ago and it took well with the local population. I wasn't a big crepe fan then, but I did like their omlettes because of the delicate finishing touch: a sprinkling of herbes de Provence. In fact, I plagiarized this touch after I moved away from Ann Arbor.

Today I met an old friend for breakfast and we beat the rush by about 40 minutes by getting sat at 9:15 am on a Sunday. My savory filled crepe contained eggs, ham and Harvarti cheese in a whole wheat wrap. Creme fraiche completed the package, however, I spiced it up with the locally produced Clancy's Fancy hot sauce. Excelsior!

Coffee is good here too and service was polite and professional. As we wound down it was getting crowded and a line spilled out the door.

10/16/2015

I gave this 3 stars because the drinks were 100% 5 star, but in my opinion the food was just so so and the price was $$$$.  

I ordered the salmon hash, I was very excited to try it and in my opinion the salmon was very fishy tasting and over powered the whole dish.  

My husband had the crab cake benedict... NO HOLLANDAISE?!?!? Crazy... anything with benedict in the title should include hollandaise.  

The drinks were absolutely delicious! Kudos to the bartender.  All in all the food was subpar and for a $70 bunch (2 meals and 2 drinks) I will not be back.

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  Crab cake benedict... no hollandaise so this better be good

  Crab cake benedict... no hollandaise so this better be good
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  The Salmon hash .... looks delicious

  The Salmon hash .... looks delicious
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  The Ginger Dragon on the left and the French Ginger on the right, these were both extremely delicios & refreshing!

  The Ginger Dragon on the left and the French Ginger on the right, these were both extremely delicios & refreshing!

1/11/2016

Everytime I visit my little brother in Ann Arbor I have AT LEAST three meals here! The savory crepes are drool worthy, and the brown sugar latte is the best way to start your day. I don't know what I'll do when he graduates from UM.... Come to California Zola!

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  crêpe zola

  crêpe zola

2/13/2016

Omg! They have the best strawberrie banana waffle ever and fresh. This is a reason I love Ann Arbor

9/27/2015

Been here a few times by myself and with friends and family and loved it here every single time.

Bano is wonderfully hospitable and my baby girls love her!

Crepes (not a big fan of them in general) are awesome (I only eat crepes here) and the Zolas specials and Hediyes' specials are a special culinary delight.

My usuals are the Salmon Platter and Turkish Brunch with ZenMaicha and Turkish Coffee to top it all off.
They excel Every time !!!

Looking fwd to many more returns to this wonderful culinary establishment.

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  Ambiance d'outside

  Ambiance d'outside
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  Sencha ... Sencha...Sencha!!!!

  Sencha ... Sencha...Sencha!!!!
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  Ambiance

  Ambiance

7/1/2015

Fantastic brunch spot. I've been to almost all the brunch spots in Ann Arbor and Cafe Zola is a standout. The restaurant is hip, trendy, with a mellow ambiance. A solid place for large and small groups, but it'd be a good idea to make a reservation in advance since they get pretty busy, especially on the weekends.
I've tried several things on their menu-- from their famous crepes to waffles to omelettes to even their Turkish eggs-- and Cafe Zola delivered every time. All the classic brunch items like crepes and waffles come in huge portions, but that doesn't mean Cafe Zola sacrifices on quality. The food is made with superior ingredients and has always been immaculately presented.
Additionally, I really appreciate their diverse menu, in which I was pretty surprised to find Turkish eggs listed. As far as I could tell, they tasted authentic, proving that Cafe Zola can do it all, and do it well.

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  Top left: omelette with side of potatoes, top right: waffles, bottom left: Turkish eggs

  Top left: omelette with side of potatoes, top right: waffles, bottom left: Turkish eggs

8/21/2015

The waffles are absolutely amazing. I go here just for the great waffles with strawberries and bananas. The coffee here is also great!
The service here was great but they are usually extremely busy at brunch time so I would plan accordingly.

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  Such a delicious breakfast!

  Such a delicious breakfast!

6/1/2015

Went to Cafe Zola for my birthday dinner with my girlfriend and loved every minute of it. Food was amazing. Service was ok.

First, we order drinks. Both were well crafted and delicious.

For appetizers, we ordered the Shakshuka and Smoked Salmon Bruschetta. Both were delicious and well presented.

Next we got split a market greens salad. Dressing was great but it was an average salad.

For our entrées I got the flat iron steak with a delicious side of chimichurry. My girlfriend got the salmon which was in a delicious sauce.

The service is the only reason why it did not get 5 stars. The waitress was nice and paced the meal but unless she was serving the meal, she never came around. Didn't fill up the waters unless it was empty when she picked up the dishes. Our empty plates sat on the table for a while until she came back ready to serve our next course.

Cannot wait to go back and try brunch!

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  Smoked Salmon Bruschetta

  Smoked Salmon Bruschetta
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  Shakshuka

  Shakshuka
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  Half Market Greens Salad

  Half Market Greens Salad
• See all photos from Justin P. for Café Zola

1/26/2016

I had breakfast at sola not long ago. All of the food looks pretty high-quality,and I was totally satisfied with the meal I had. However, it was a little on the expensive side and we had to wait a long time to sit down. Additionally the service was pretty slow.

1/16/2016

Came here with my husband and his family.. We had reservations so we didn't have to wait at all. Food was great the only thing that bothers me was the tables so close to each other... You get so stuffed from the bread and appetizer that's you never have room for the main plate!

4/10/2015

Café Zola is typically packed during brunch hours on week-ends and this one was no exception. While it has an extensive dinner menu, I generally come here for brunch and the Bistro location for dinner. I guess I am a creature of habit.

We were debating between this and a neighboring restaurant but felt that it offered more choice. This is one of the places that I introduce to my out-of-town visitors. They tend to appreciate the innovative menu, quality ingredients, congenial ambiance, and character of the building. I like the staff, all of whom seemed to thrive in this chaotic environment.

Inside, it was packed as we waited patiently for our tables, crowding next to diners who themselves were trying to relax and enjoy their meal and time with friends. I took the time to spy on others' meals. Should I have the Kobe burger, the Southwestern omelet, or the frittata? The latter is one of my favorites. In the end, I decided to try the Monte Cristo sandwich with a side of fries - it looked delicious.

Roasted turkey and Havarti cheese are sandwiched between two thick pieces of soft Challah bread, battered and grilled, like stuffed French toast, and served with raspberry preserves. While I am generally not a fan of raspberries, I did like it with the meal. The serving was huge, with enough left for dinner. The fries, as always, were thin, crispy and terrific. Served with mayo and barbecue sauce, I enjoyed the large portion, also with enough left for dinner.

With so many people crammed in the large restaurant, we did have to yell to be heard. This was not unexpected, nor did it dampen our enjoyment of the meal or each other's company.

Our server was friendly and anticipated our needs. I was amazed by how he and his co-workers maneuvered effortlessly among the tightly-spaced tables and waiting crowds.

8/16/2014

Finally- a restaurant in A2 worthy of 5 stars! My fiance is from Ann Arbor and lives very close to here, so we came here for Sunday brunch last weekend. We arrived around 10 AM, so although it was starting to get crowded, we were seated right away. The hostess was pretty curt, but luckily getting seated was our only interaction with her.

We sat inside (outside was totally full, and the outdoor seating is pretty much all two-tops). We started with coffees for the ladies and a spicy bloody mary for the man. The coffee was good and the waiter brought us our own creamers without asking, which I really appreciated. Neither of us take sugar, but we do like cream! My fiance enjoyed his bloody mary, and was pleasantly surprised that he could actually taste the heat.

My fiance got the American breakfast (he was a bit disappointed to see no classic eggs benedict on the menu. With a shellfish allergy, he can't partake of their crab cake version!) His disappointed ended when they brought his eggs, potatoes and sausage to him, though! The sausage was particularly good, as it was much larger and more flavorful than traditional breakfast sausage. His mom ordered the Shakshuka, and she also enjoyed it. It was a bit on the spicy side, but she ate every last bite!

I ordered the Turkish brunch, which was the absolute highlight of the meal. The dish is beautifully composed on a large plate, with two types of cheese, olives, a hard-boiled egg, dolmas, and tomatoes and cucumbers. It comes with an entire basket of delicious, fresh-baked bread, complete with butter and fig jam. The feta cheese was creamy and deliciously briny, and went beautifully with the fig jam. There was an enormous cinnamon roll in the breadbasket, which the fiance devoured as his breakfast dessert.

I strongly recommend Cafe Zola, and hope to return the next time we're in town!

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  Shakshuka.

  Shakshuka.
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  American breakfast with potatoes, breakfast sausage, and eggs over easy.

  American breakfast with potatoes, breakfast sausage, and eggs over easy.
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  Breads to accompany the Turkish brunch, plus fig jam and butter. This is a feast!!

  Breads to accompany the Turkish brunch, plus fig jam and butter. This is a feast!!
• See all photos from Caitlin B. for Café Zola

12/22/2015

Been here several times. Great ambiance, coffee and drinks. Service is good too. Food is meh. Bland and nothing to write home about.