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Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Cafe Zola is my favorite restaurant on campus! It has a great breakfast selection which is pricey relative to broken egg, angelos, and etc but the portions are huge and you probably won't be able to finish the omelet by yourself.
For dinner they have a good wine selection and I love getting tuna there. The tuna burger also is a pretty good choice if you have a younger party there since it comes with thin fries and is less expensive. For the other meals make sure you ask about what exactly they are serving since one of my friends ordered a meal that sounded like there was tomatoes in it..but it came out with some meat in the middle of an entire tomato dish. I've had the whole fish there a few times and its always cooked pretty well. The steak is standard...not a big fan of the chicken (entire chicken) dish.
The crepes are huge and you definitely want to share with someone while the rest of the desserts are basically normal portions. The coffee drinks are great and a wonderful way to end your meal.
great for any occasion.
for brunch: the best free bread i've had ANYwhere. it's from zingerman's, but somehow, it tastes better when you're sitting at cafe zola. i swear. there's a difference. i love the open-faced omelets. you can see exactly what you're eating, and that makes it even more delicious. waffles with strawberry butter!
for dinner: no specific recommendations, but it's good all around. great place for a date -- nice but not TOO nice, so it's affordable without being cheap.
Mmmmm.... giant waffles!
Ok, ok, I know Zola serves things other than waffles and crepes (see Dharma's review), but those are the items that first got me hooked on this place, and those are the reasons why I return.
One of these days I'll branch out and get a salad. Today I *tried* to order a sandwich, but they were out of the ingredients. But hey, I think that was just fate urging me to stick with what I know.
And I know I love big, fluffy waffles with tasty spiced fruit. I also know I can't ever finish a whole portion (the same rule is generally true for the crepes).
A new summer favorite: Turkish lemonade -- with a twist of lime and fresh mint, it's even more refreshing than my regular summer standby.
It's worth noting that they don't always take reservations, but will do a brunch reservation for a party of 6 or more.
Stopped by here for dinner in downtown Ann Arbor and was quite pleased. The menu did not have your regular run of simple American foods. There was somewhat of a european influence, and it gave me somewhat of a reminder of Buenos Aires.
Fresh sesame bread with olives were put on the table the minute we sat down. Very mediterranean and just my style. the restaurant was dark and we had a seat right by the window. There was a lively bar, so at midnight the place still felt awake. I really liked the ambiance and atmosphere.
I ordered the Shrimp Buta, although it was a little pricey for five pieces of shrimp, they were large, fresh and cooked very well. Add the tomato sauce, feta cheese, kalamuta (spelled wrong) olives in a caserole plate, and i had a great dinner. Not too much food, but felt just right.
I've heard their brunch/lunch is much better, and I will definitely be giving it a second try.
This is for you ANGELA!!
Wow! What a little gem of a place. We drove out on Parents Weekend unknowingly and arrived without reservations. Before we were turned away the lovely staff made arrangements (with a time limit) so that we could enjoy a fantastic dinner with good friends. I had the sea bass on special with cous cous and honey covered carrots. My husband had a steak dish. Both unique, delicious, and equally good. The owner came by to greet our friends (who are regulars of sorts) and we had just a most enjoyable evening. What I liked about Cafe Zola is the mix of sophistication and casualness. Anyone could walk in and feel comfortable, because honestly...its about the food.
Would give it 4 stars for breakfast but only 2-3 for dinner, partially because of the service. My salmon burger was great, though I received it after everyone else in my party had finished their 'meh' entrees.
What a wonderful way to spend a morning. Cafe Zola started out by making crepes, so it's no surprise that they are delectable. I ordered a smoked salmon crepe which was incredibley flavorful, yet light enough for me to still feel energized for the day. The french press coffee didn't hurt either.
Pets seem to be very welcome with outdoor seating and the servers even bring out little bowls of iced water for them! Parking may be a little bit of an obstacle, but it will be worth the walk if you have to go a few block to find a spot.
I really love their chimichurri hanger steak and the fries! I've also had the ravioli and the tuna, both equally good. Definitely get a martini, they give you the small shaker to refill your glass. Probably get around 2.5 martinis out of it. They had a lemon tart one weekend that was amazing, but we usually get the chambord cheesecake. Love sitting outside during the summer, great people watching.
Not really a fan of the espresso though, it turns out rather syrupy.
I love Cafe Zola. I've been here a bunch of times and have never had bad food. I have had not-so-great service, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Things like not having water refilled for about an hour, stuff like that. I love all of their omelets and that they have Zingerman's bread for toast, and their amazing (though pricey) coffee. On my birthday, they gave me a free banana Nutella crepe, and I could have died happy right then. One time, I was there for brunch with my boy, and the owner, Hediye, liked a song that was playing, so she got up on the bar and started dancing with her staff. That sealed the deal as one of my fave restaurants.
I ended up back here the other day with my laptop in tow. I was told that the only real way to plug in was to sit at the bar (fine by me) and have the servers would have to plug me in behind the bar (not really fine by me- awkward). They were kind enough to do so, but I kind of figured that Cafe Zola is not the type of place to go and get work done. For some reason, this disappointmented me as I think it totally has that vibe- at least during the day.
I decided to get the chicken sandwich rather than my usual crepe. Totally not a good idea! The sandwich bread was IMPOSSIBLE to cut through! I ended up eating the chicken breast on its own and munching on the bread as needed. I'm not sure how anyone could eat that thing! I also really dislike bread that makes my gums bleed, but that is just me.
I'd still go back to Zola, but I'd stick to the breakfast entrees and not think about flying solo to get work done. Sad face, Zola.
I love Zola for three particular reasons:
1. Tomato, mozzarella and basil crepe- so simple and…
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Andrea B. recommends making Cafe Zola a serendipitous part of a weekday afternoon....this is precisely what SK and I did, and it worked maaaaaaarvelously.
From the outside it looked a bit crowded--lots of people milling around, though it turned out some of them were just walking down the sidewalk (out of our way, pedestrians! We are hungry!). We perused the menu briefly and ducked inside--and found no wait for a party of two! It must be said, however, that the table was veery tiny, veeery right inside the door, and veeery close to the party of two next to us. Like, in moments of comfortable silence at our table, we we were basically audience to the conversation at theirs.
The. Food. Was. Ridiculous. SK had the Southwest omelet with sausage--sour cream, some kind of cheese (?), and a green chili sauce that he really liked. He proclaimed the omelets "sturdy," which he meant as a compliment--they were also sufficiently fluffy.
Though tempted by all the mushroomy delights (next time?), I wanted to have something really different (at least for me) and went with the Frittata Zola: an open-face omelet with carmelized onions, sweet potato cubes, goat cheese, and fluffy challah croutons.
Oh. So. Good. The flavors, which had me curious but wary, blended in strange and magical ways. Another reviewer has said that she found the sweet potatoes inedibly undercooked. Mine were cooked all the way through--no crunchiness--but still very firm and bright. For the first few bites I feared that they'd be raw (and this was before I read the other review) but I grew to trust the frittata and soon relaxed.
It really hit me as I was chewing my last bite that there was basically nothing "on" any of the ingredients. Egg. Onions. Sweet Potatoes. Goat cheese. An absolute minimum of sauces and spices--which made me respect the frittata all the more.
On the other end of the secret herbs and spices spectrum were the roasted rosemary potatoes (which come with the three-egg omelets--v. generous portions!). Every time I turned to my taters, the first bite was unbelievable. By bite three, though, I'd be getting thirsty--they were a tad on the salty side, but still delicious and cooked perfectly. SK and I were wary of the cool, crunchy centers and mushy outsides common with such large chunks of potato. No such thing! Wonderful, consistent texture.
At other tables we saw fries served in what looked like a milkshake cup (the metal kind), martinis served tableside from little shakers, and French press coffees and teas. My own coffee refill was delivered by our very nice, not aloof server (though she did disappear right when we wanted our bill) in a cute little glass carafe.
It was pricier than we usually look for in a breakfast, but not unreasonable for the quantity and quality you get. This was one of the best brunches I've ever had. My only complaint is the coffee--$3.50 for regular brewed coffee? I mean, I know it's fair trade and organic and "free refills" (that's not assumed?), but still. Had I known the price ahead of time (I tend to order coffee as I sit down, not after perusing the menu) I would have gone with a cappuccino or similar--they were less than fifty cents more.
Momometer: my mom would LOVE this place. If she ever comes to visit on her own or with a girlfriend, we're going. I didn't try the famous Turkish Brunch because I don't really do olives (or hard-boiled eggs for that matter). But she does both, and more, and would love it.
Popometer: Sadly, this place would be totally wasted on my dad. He is a pancakes, sausage links, and maple syrup man and despite the famed waffles, I think he would find this place an expensive way to miss the point of brunch. Not to mention that it is REALLY LOUD AND CLANGY INSIDE AND YOU HAVE TO TALK LIKE THIS! He wouldn't be able to hear a damn thing, and would be annoyed by that as well. The experience would be redeemable for him if we sat outside, maybe, but I still wouldn't invest in a Zola brunch for dad.
More frittata for me.
So, Cafe Zola. Hmmm. I have never been here for anything but the breakfast, so I can't comment on the evening meal. However, it is exactly because I have been here for breakfast that I have never returned for dinner.
Starting with the positive, you simply cannot knock the food. The food is, simply put, fabulous. Omeletes, frittata, crepes (both sweet and savory), waffles are all, well, fabulous. From here things go quickly down hill.
Every time I've been here the service is atrocious. Really, really bad. I have never once felt rushed. I have, however, almost always felt ignored. Good luck getting your water refilled.
This brings me to another point. The coffee. I thoroughly enjoy coffee, especially coffee that has been well prepared in a French Press. Zola is one of the few places that I can think of that serves coffee this way (maybe the only one now that I really think about it). But, quite honestly they would do themselves and their patrons a favor if they never served coffee like this again. More mess than it's worth. Each time I've been I order coffee for the table in a French Press (you'd think that I'd remember that this is not a great idea, but I never do) and each time I am sorely disappointed.
In closing, go for the food and don't worry about what you spend on the food because you'll really save on the tip.
Cafe Zola is THE place for brunch/lunch in Ann Arbor. The omelets are big enough for two, and they're happy to give a second place. Soups are always good, and most of the sandwiches, are, too. GREAT fries!
They put white table cloths on the tables around 3pm, and the prices go up, and the pricey entrees come out. It's good for dinner, though a tad pricey for every day.
There are some special events, like New Years Eve, when they put together a special menu. Expensive, but not bad for a special night out.
I have a hard time believing the review that dissed the ower. She's wonderful.
Cafe Zola gets very packed during Sunday brunch. Can't blame them but it gets very loud and sometimes you feel a bit rushed as the people waiting for a table stare you down. Luckily, that is the only downside. The food is VERY good. I love the freshness of their fruits and veggies. Their specials are always especially yummy. If it wasn't so loud, I'd go much more often.
BEST BRUNCH IN ANN ARBOR...can I get a "wOOt wOOt"...
I have to say, and I really do not mean to seem cliche, (no, I will not break into song) that Cafe Zola has the best brunch in town. Order the Turkish brunch and you will never be disappointed; that IS their specialty. That brunch is my sweet escape. It's almost like a mini-spa moment in a brunch. Add a mimosa to drink and that tops it off.
THE CHEAP SEATS
I had to give Zola 4 stars due to the somewhat crowded & very busy atmosphere and the mistakes that seem to happen on our orders when we go there. Certainly, any mistakes are minor and get fixed, but it seems to be a theme.
Worst thing that ever happened was when we were sat behind the curtain thing, next to the bar, when you walk in the door. Horrible!
There should not be seating there, it's wretched. I will never sit there again and I know how much it messes up a restaurant to ask for another seat, but that's their own fault. Note to Zola, get rid of those "cheap seats" and extend the bar around the corner instead. Or, just stick to 1 more widow table there.
SNOOTY GATEKEEPERS BE DAMNED
Ignore any icy hostesses, as most of them are snooty, but you get the occasional nice one. Who cares, she is just giving you a seat, the end. Ignore her snoot and move on.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
They have an extensive brunch and breakfast menu that will please just about everyone, so don't be shy that it seems to be known for Turkish brunch. They've got regular omlettes and other things to please. I am just biased since I loooooove the Turkish brunch.
AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE
I think Zola is best a spur-of-the-moment choice. If you drive or walk by and see it has a short lull in the amount of people, run in then. I know, it sounds crazy, but that will avoid you missing out on a great brunch. Go on a whim at an odd time and you'll enjoy it more. Go for the latest brunch you can do on a weekday (if you can) and enjoy it instead of hating it for the crowds.
OVERALL
Turkish brunch + mimosa = very happy. :)
If this review were solely about the vibe, I would give it one star. This place represents nearly everything I despise about Ann Arbor: semi-rude waitstaff; yuppie/professor-heavy clientele; high prices; pretentiousness dripping from the very brick of the walls.
HOWEVER. The crepes are damn good. The smoothies are yum. They know how to cook an egg. The coffee makes me forgive them every time. Sigh. I'm such a fucking pushover.
My Zola love mainly spins on the "brunch" axis, but I have enjoyed a dinner there lately, so let me divide this review into two parts.
1. **Brunch**
The coffee is always dark and strong. The frittatas and omelettes bursting, the crepes perfect (at least mine always seem to be), the potatoes crisp and herbaceous. I never leave this place hungry. In fact, you could share a dish and still come away stuffed to the gills.
One of my favorite things to do in warm weather Ann Arbor is to enjoy a right Zola brunch outside with friends. Keep the coffee pouring!
2. **Dinner**
Honestly, first time I had dinner here I was less than impressed with my three "jumbo" scallops and bowl full of artfully mixed baby greens. However, this was after Zola first began serving dinner. I came here a few weeks ago with a large group and it was pretty marvelous. My meat was rare (yes I asked for it like that) and the fries coated with lots of parmesan. Next time I go I may order the paper-wrapped fish, which looked awesome and not too well done. You have to enjoy eating fish off the bone, otherwise don't bother.
They have nice mixed drink offerings and a good wine menu. Excellent espresso martini!
Not sure most people know that Zola was at first a cafe' that offered lunch and brunch items before they expanded into dinners. In the Zola brunch vs. dinner deathmatch, brunch is the winna!
ONE IMPORTANT THING: if you make a reservation, make sure that you confirm it before showing up to the restaurant, and get the name of the server you confirmed with. There's a tendency to be a tad unorganized when it comes to reservations.
Cafe Zola is one of my go-to brunch locations, especially on Sundays, when you can find free parking downtown. While some of my friends love the crepes, I tend to stick with the omelettes or the waffles. The coffee has always been good, either french press or regular drip. The herb butter with the toast is amazing. While there is often a wait during prime brunch times, the interior is nice and the service reasonable once seated. It's a bit on the expensive side, but nothing terrible. More seating would be nice, but everything is arranged as optimally as possible given everything there. While I wouldn't go there every weekend, I have been known to go several times in quick succession, if only to have both a savory and sweet brunch there.
I've only been there once for dinner, which was a while ago. They messed up my order (my chicken was never put in) but they ended us giving us free food and drinks. It wouldn't be a first choice to go to for dinner again, but I wouldn't refuse if that's where people wanted to go.
Had brunch there last week...
Food was great and atmoshere is very chill... expect a line on sunday...
i had the crepes... they are great but not exactly filling for the hungry ones... didnt try the cocktails but they look interesting...
wouldnt mind coming here every sunday if i live in ann arbor
Whenever I visit Zola's, I wonder why I didn't return sooner, as they have such a unique menu, and their wait staff are always so personable.
I just had their half pot, ginger ginseng herbal non-caffeinated fresh
brew tea. Whew that's a lot of adjectives! Together with my Savory vegetarian swiss crepe, it was a complete and unique (and tasty) meal.
My friend's salmon burger didn't look too bad either. I've never had a
bad meal or poor service here. Although I usually love their dessert crepes, I passed on these today.
Wonderful Brunch Place in the area!
On every sunday, the place is packed with people. It gives you the kind of vibe that you are looking for in a Sunday morning so that you can start the day early! (not staying in bed until 2-ish as what I usually do)
I went there twice, one on the Vday with my gal frds, one with my frd visiting Ann Arbor. I had a good time in both occasions. Food was really good and they made the food feel a little bit less oily than what they really were. I don't know how they do that but I don't feel guilty finishing the whole breakfast dish. Probably it's because it doesn't have a large portion as what Angelo's has to offer.
Anyway, good for group hangouts.
I rarely eat out in Ann Arbor, and I'm glad I got to try Cafe Zola. The high point is the food. Interesting menu, with a lot of delicious combinations and ideas. I ordered Heidi's Breakfast, which was a glorified bagel sandwich with eggs, shredded sweet potatoes, chives, asparagus, cheese and more. It was extremely tasty.
The atmosphere is nice, kind of bustling, and crowded but not uncomfortable. The food and speciality beverages are expensive. I'm not sure where they get their ingredients, but for what they charge I expect that they are local and fresh as hell. I'm tempted to say it's overpriced.
The service was on the slow side and the servers were kind of aloof.
I decided to eat here after reading all of the great reviews.
When we arrived it was crowded, but that's usually a good sign. The food was only ok. I had the crepes and they were mediocre at best. I don't really understand why people are always so impressed with crepes, they're not that hard to make so they should always be great. I would visit again and try the waffles (they looked really, at least the lady in the table next to us was thoroughly enjoying her's).
Staff was fast and friendly.
I had an amazing breakfast here while visiting from out-of-town. The service was excellent and the food was fantastic. I'm here in Ann Arbor for a few days and I'll definitely go back at least one more time.
'Zola is the place to go for brunch in Ann Arbor. It's a rather loud, boisterous interior (so if you're hard-of-hearing it can be trying) but the service is good and the breakfast/brunch food is a nice treat. I've had most of their omlettes (the southwest is delish...get it with Chorizo and spoon on a bit of sourcream...yum), sandwiches, and crepes over the years since they've opened, and never had a bad meal (see caveat at end of brunch review). I occasionally get the Turkish Brunch special: plate of grape-leaves, cheeses, olives, tomato, cucumber, and a basket of breads, sweet roll with butter and preserves (also comes with coffee or tea.) It's fun to make wee sandwiches on buttered bread using the tomato, cukes, and cheeses.
Moms and Auntys love being taken to Zola...or so I hear :O)
Caveat: I've dined at Zola for dinner 3 times...each time it was quite inedible, the pastas were particularly vile (esp. the wild mushroom pasta): sticky/heavy sauces, overdone pasta, salty and bland at the same time. lambchops were overdone, also tasted mentholated due to too much mint. The appetizers (antipasto plate especially) and drinks were good, but the entrees were blah + expensive.
I have a good friend from Brooklyn who loves to come to Cafe Zola when she's in town. So I tend to drop by Zola a few times a year.
I think that this place is extremely overpriced and the snooty waitstaff is down right silly. Yes, the food is fantastic but it's not worth the wait, the obnoxiously apathetic staff, nor the expensive coffee that's well -- not *that* great.
Great restaurant, a must! I went here for my first date and went back again after our 1-year anniversary. The food, ambiance, service, and menu is alllll wonderful!
I have been here twice for dinner and the dishes we had are amazing and of top quality. My favorite thing about Cafe Zola is the unique twist they put on dishes that you do not see too much at other conservative restaurants in Michigan. From the capers in the bread spread (no plain butter here!) to the coconut-cilantro rice, it is all neat to taste and experience. I would recommend the Ahi Tuna and the Chimichurri Tango. They are delicious to say the least. I also tried a Salmon-Stuffed Ravioli which wasn't that great, there are definitely better alternatives.
A must-try! I plan on trying this place out for breakfast/brunch soon
Yummy yummy in my tummy. Yes, Cafe Zola is a slightly expensive, but the food is well worth the price. I'm generally not one to purchase drinks at restaurants since more often than not they're very overpriced, so I have no qualms there.
Well, non-alcohlic drinks that is...anyhow, I have been to Zola a few times and each time myself and my lunch counterparts were very pleasantly surprised. I generally go with the crepes and have never been disappointed. In the summer I love to sit outside, although one particular day it was quite windy and the charm was slightly diminished, but we still enjoyed it.
Overall, not the type of place I'd frequent since I'm a cheap-o, but a great place to go for some delicious brunch when you feel like treating yourself.
Came here one wintery day to meet up with Lisa N. for lunch! They could have had a larger winter rug by the front door. It was awfuly slippery! Everyone tracking snow in. But besides that. About the food!
I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich with saffron mayo. The chicken was very moist and flavorful! I'd order it again. The bread was a little touch to chew. I think the roof of my mouth bled a little. Eh. oh well. Lisa N. ordered Zola crepe. Which looked good. And fried. Yum! I LOVE the dipping sauces! She also oredered a waffle and grilled cheese.
We ended our 'light' (haha! yeah- right) lunch with their lemon poppyseed cake. That was SOOO good. Just like moms! I'm not quite sure if they had ordered it from Zingerman's. I'll have to ask next time I go.
4 stars...
Yes, it's delicious.
Worth the wait to get seated, the slow staff and the likelihood of being surrounded by the who's who of Ann Arbor pretension and wannabe hipsters?
Sometimes.
Cafe Zola is one of the best and most consistent restaurants in Ann Arbor. If I could afford it, I would host a mimosa brunch here for everyone I know each and every Sunday, and then life itself as we know it would surely appear to be as fulfilling and enjoyable as those delicious little fruit filled crepes.
Ooh la la, c'est marveilleux!
Food was alright but "market price" for a glass of orange juice ended up being $6.50. Outrageous to charge that without any indication, either on the menu or from the waitress. And as for the waffle--thin and floppy. At 11 dollars, no thank you.
NEVER returning here.
I've eaten here a few times and have generally had pretty positive experiences here. On average, it's probably 3.5 stars.
Today was a bit of an exception and hopefully not a harbinger of things to come in terms of future dining experiences. The service was a bit uncoordinated -- I had to ask for ketchup, a pepper shaker (we had 2 salt shakers), more water, a different type of toast (after not being asked this initially) -- and left the restaurant wishing the server had refilled my glass one final time. The worst affront was that my seemingly lovely Omelette Zola (with carmelized onions, goat cheese, and sweet potato chunks) was riddled with undercooked sweet potato pieces. I was only able to find a few pieces that were somewhat amenable to chewing. The side of potatoes, on the other hand, were somewhat overcooked and sort of lackluster.
All in all, I do like this place typically, but today seemed to be off. Do I find their food phenomenal? Not really, especially for the price. But for Ann Arbor, I suppose it's pretty decent.
I do love going here, but I have to keep my rating at 3 stars because if they had any competition in Ann Arbor, I wouldn't go as much. It has a nice urban vibe inside with exposed brick and an often lively atmosphere. The service ranges from very friendly to being ignored. On weekend mornings for brunch there is often a wait and the wait staff rush you from your table. One time, they even took away our waters before the check had come back for us to sign. I understand wanting to turn a table, but come on.
The food is good- in my opinion brunch and lunch are better than dinner. My favorites are the Autumn Omelet and the Turkish Eggs. Very creative and always very tasty.
A good place to go. I was apprehensive at first when I saw how crowded it was but we did have reservations and I had heard good things about Cafe Zola. I tried the argentine style steak with chimichurri with potatoes and it was tasty. I ordered it medium rare and it was done to my satisfaction. The chimichurri sauce on the side is really good and goes very well with the steak. I thought the servers were nice. Everybody in our party left the restaurant content.
I think Zola has a great dinner menu, though they are known for breakfast. Many interesting dishes that meld styles from around the world. Really like the Shrimp Batu! They also serve an appetizer with Tracklement's smoked salmon (the best and a local favorite)!
I worked there for several months before starting graduate school, so I know the menu pretty well. They have a great wine selection and wonderful cocktails. Be prepared to pay top dollar for them though!
The interior is attractive--I like the exposed brick look, though sound tends to bounce off the walls making it a bit echoey when there is a crowd.
I love this place!! Awesome brunch place...I especially recommend the omelets. Portions are large and scrumptious. Coffee drinks are wonderful, as are the steamers. Wonderful variety of food. Even though it's a popular joint, service is relatively quick.
Cafe Zola serves great food, a little on the pricey side, but worth the extra dollars for what you get.
Kobe burger with fries was delicious. Good meat and grilled perfectly. I also loved the stilton salad and the crab cakes. They came with a bread basket and herb butter that made me very happy--delicious whole grain bread and another bread with sesame seeds in the crust. The Salmon burger did not agree with me, and this was a small personal tragedy, because I love fish and was looking forward to it. I should have read the menu more closely--and then had them hold the ginger. I don't like the mouth-burning taste of raw ginger. It ruined this dish for me.
I like how they take care of all the little details at Cafe Zola. The presentation is above par for Ann Arbor. And most dishes incorporate an uncannny combination of flavors and textures that can't be accidental.
The dinner menu is short and a little pricey. Only about 15 options for the main course, although there are daily specials. The prices are slightly higher than other downtown restaurants, despite the casual decor. Expect to pay $20 to $30 per plate for dinnner, although you can go cheaper with the hamburger or pasta.
(I'm being tough because I love you, Cafe Zola. Just make sure you stay on my list of favorites.)
Brunch/lunch is delicious. The omelettes, smoothies and sandwiches are all excellent. Most importantly, the menu is huge!
Dinner is less impressive. Everything looks so good when it is described on the menu, but much of the food is bland or just a little off. The mushroom pasta is bland and the lemon sauce on the lemon tagliatelle tastes like lemon yogurt (and not in a good way). There are some gems, though - the fries are terrific, as is the bread and the salmon burger. Worth a try, I think, but not worth coming back to very often.
I like Zola. I've been here 3 times; brunch, meal and drinks.
I prefer this place for drinks and crepes, than for a good meal.
My husband found one of his fav's beers here: Pirate! and I had one my favorite cocktails: Bellini!
Service and ambiance are okay, is not a lounge.....is a pretty not fancy restaurant/cafe.
Ann Arbor, MI
Category: Japanese
Ann Arbor, MI
Category: French
Ann Arbor, MI
Category: Seafood
Ann Arbor, MI
Category: Diners
Ann Arbor, MI
Category: Vegetarian
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