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JZ Cool Eatery and Wine Bar - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Sandwiches Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Sandwiches, Wine Bars [Edit]
827 Santa Cruz AveMenlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-3665
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
55 reviews for JZ Cool Eatery and Wine Bar
Review Highlights
"1 for all local/organic ingredients."
(in 5 reviews)
"The potato pea cake matched so well with the caramelized..."
(in 3 reviews)
"local, sustainable fresh ingredients."
(in 8 reviews)
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55 reviews in English
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Review from Arnold W.
Menlo Park, CA
4/27/2009 2 photos
UPDATE: New restaurant is here! Ristorante Mataro opened Aug 31, 2009. See our reviews for this new spot.
CLOSED! After ten years JZCool has closed the restaurant. Their catering service CoolEatz is still available.
And such a shame. Our first trip there 2 yrs ago was not so hot but went back for the music and discovered the food was pretty good after all. -
Review from Katelyn M.
Menlo Park, CA
5/22/2008
Came here with a large party of about 10 after work for happy hour and a little celebration. Loved the company...the food...ehh. Had fun picking a wine flight. I really liked one of the cabs...can't remember which now.
Unfortunately, the food just did not deliver. The calamari was overcooked and very, very tough. The portions were tiny and not outstanding. When you serve small portions the food better be damn good! Anyway, I'd come here again with a smaller group (no more than 4 or 5) and get another flight of wine. That's about it. -
Review from Katie F.
Atherton, CA
10/9/2007 1 photo
So they just reopened, so I thought it would be better, but It wasn't really.
They offer a range of sandwiches and salads intended for the businessman's lunch break, but they're a bit pricey. Their turkey/avacado/swiss is good, but at $9, why not just get it at Dragers for $7.50? -
Review from BeBe C.
Palo Alto, CA
2/16/2007
Should be a 3.5-star rating. I love the Slow Food and natural wellness themes, but I agree with one of the posters--why are the sandwiches so tiny and not made-to-order? I like their salad sampler, though the bread accompanying it is of baby portions.
Bonus to dog-owners as there is outdoor seating (= dog-ok).Listed in: Certified Dog-ok Eateries
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Review from Meredith O.
Menlo Park, CA
3/25/2009
Went to grab lunch TOGO. It was much nicer inside then expected.
About everything from salads, sandwiches, and the Lunch specials on seems to be $10. Got a chicken sandwich on the Panini Roll and it was very good. The bread was fresh and the chicken moist, yeah for me!! Also tried a Chinese Chicken Salad and the dressing was very good. The salad was very small.
It was a little pricey for lunch but the whole organic sustainable thing made me feel good about giving JZ a try. -
Review from Dave N.
Corona del Mar, CA
5/26/2007
I drove by this place, then looked it up, then went to eat there... twice.
I really wanted to like it, but both times, was served small-ish sandwiches that weren't particularly exciting.
I hate to feel guilty like this, but if pesticides and bad-for-the-Earth farming make food taste better, I'm all for them.
Reminded me of a more expensive, slower, and not nearly-as-good-food-wise Pluto's... so I think I'll just go there from now on. -
Review from L L.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2008
We were pleasantly fed by our small plates and a few entrees, WHEN our server decided to acknowledge that we were there.
It was apparent that the staff was ready to close up for the day, as no one seemed interested in seating my guest and I when we walked through the front door.
We had three servers throughout the evening because the staff kept leaving during our meal.
I was so happy about the food: the presentation, the ingredients, and the taste. We had the Potato Pea Cake, local grass-fed sausages, pasture-raised chicken lollipops, pasture-raised lamb riblets, niman ranch braised pork and the fish of the day.
If take out were an option, I would suggest it. -
Review from Orville J.
Berkeley, CA
1/8/2007
Once again I review a place from the old hood. I almost feel bad writing this, because I really support the idea behind this place, and I wanted it to work. The idea is local, seasonal, organic served in a deli style cafe. I have to say, they pull the burgers off well, but the rest of their execution leaves a lot to be desired.
The major factor that dropped them to the 2 star level for me was a brunch I had there. Every time I try a new place for brunch I order the same thing, 2 eggs over-medium, toast, home fries, and bacon or sausage. This gives me a nice baseline to compare.
The verdict?
JZ Cool is the only place where I've ever had to send the brunch back. The whites of the eggs were not fully cooked, leaving them kind of slimy and unpleasant. The bacon had black marks on it (I'm assuming from a grill) but otherwise it was raw and not even close to crispy. And the roasted potatoes were ice cold. Major letdown. I asked for my money back and went down the street to Cafe Borrone.
If you're going to eat here, stick to the burgers, but don't expect to get any perks with it. Chips are extra. -
Review from sarah k.
Phoenix, AZ
2/25/2006
American comfort food (think burgers, hot dogs, roasted chicken, meat loaf, sandwiches, salads) made with high quality local organic produce. Kind of like a deli/bistro cafe. You order your food at the counter and they bring it out to you. Great for a casual lunch. Their breakfast items looked really good too. I had a salad with their Niciose-style tuna piled on top. Tasty and healthy.
Sidenote: Gets Bonus Karma Points. This is yet another place that I forgot my purse, which contained 2 mobile phones, a handful of loose cash, and my wallet. A full three days later I went back and the wonderful people at JZ Cool had it stashed in a safe place. Not a single thing or dollar was missing. Thanks guys! -
Review from Travis D.
Palo Alto, CA
11/8/2008
NOTE: This review is for brunch
After some nagging from the GF over the past few days about going to JZ Cool for brunch i finally gave in. We went this morning after a bike ride. We showed up around 10:30 and after walking in i honestly thought they were closed. There was NOBODY there. We walk up to the register to order. After we tell the girl behind the cash register what we want, she just stares at us blankly. She obviously had no idea what was on the menu. Someone came out of the kitchen to help her out because she just couldn't handle what was going on.
We ordered the Chilaquiles, the Niman ranch pork tacos, a side of grits and water to drink.
They brought out the chilaquiles and the tacos a few minutes later. We asked about the water and the grits and were told that they were on the way.
Both dishes tasted really good. I'm kind of a fiend for chilaquiles (i'm from Texas, where they are pretty prominent), and while these were a little atypical (they had green salsa and no tortillas), they were very good.
The pork was a a little bit fatty, but otherwise very good. The potatoes that came with both were fantastic, but i could have gone for just a touch of ketchup. I also appreciated that the portions weren't huge like they tend to be at some brunch places. They weren't tiny, but i didn't feel totally stuffed after i was done.
With only a few bites left of both dishes we still had no water or grits. Since both of our dishes were pretty spicy, our mouths were burning a little bit, so i had to go in and get my own water.
The grits came out like 10 minutes after we finished all of our other food, and after we asked about them 2 or 3 times. To be honest, they were more polenta than grits. They were square like a brownie, obviously having been baked in a pan and then cut into squares. Not only was it a weird way of doing grits, but they just werent very good. They were supposed to be cheesy, but i only tasted gobs of butter. They were also really grainy and undercooked tasting.
The 2 dishes we got (chilaquiles and pork tacos) were very good, but the service was so atrocious that i don't really see us going back for brunch any time soon. The worst part was that we were the only people in the restaurant, so there is absolutely no excuse for our food taking forever and them then forgetting parts of our order. What gives?
I've been wanting to come here for dinner, but now i'm not so sure. -
Review from Durif M.
Foster City, CA
12/3/2008
We went for brunch on a Saturday.
The food was OK, nothing special.
This may be a good place for dinner, as they seemed to have a pretty good selection of wines. -
Review from Mick R.
CA
1/24/2009
I think with some refinement, the food could get really good. Some of the dishes here are very good, others are fair, and from time to time I get something that seems like a strange combination of flavor. I really like the wine flights and a lot of the wines are very tasty, and I have a few pet-favorite dishes. I completely understand the range of reviews here (from piss-poor to good and even excellent), there is enough money being charged where the flaws in execution become a real issue. The live music is a lot of fun, I found the bands to be above average. The Boccalone "Tasty Salted Pig Parts" sausages they have are very good.
I'm usually picky, and might even want to give 3.5 stars, but I do go back here. -
Review from Ingrid P.
Redwood City, CA
1/14/2007
The food was great but the prices are high. My husband and I had burgers and they were really good. I would say that they were some of the best we have had in the Bay Area. The spring greens salad we had was ok. The mix of greens, walnuts, and oranges was good but the dressing was too sweet.
We had lattes to finish our meal and those were well made.
Good experience but the prices need to be scaled back a tad for us to come often. -
Review from Ms. Heights C.
San Francisco, CA
6/19/2007
Update 7/10/07: Uh-oh. I have to take a couple stars away and it pains me. Seriously. I'm not sure what's going on with the remodel, but it doesn't matter anyway. You guys served me (so unfriendly, by the way) the absolute worst $13 Chicken Caesar salad ever. Huh, that extra $4 was for three miniscule morsels of overcooked chicken? No, you did not make me proud when I suggested eating here with my girlfriends. In fact, I was downright embarrassed.
************************************************** *************************
As long as you don't go during peak lunch hours (11:30-12:30), you won't have to wait long at all and the staff behind the counter are very helpful. I've only had the salad sampler, but the portions are good and the prices decent for local, organic, sustainable food. For some weird reason I spent a full month craving their broccoli slaw salad.
Also, for those of you who have kids/stroller in tow, it's a great spot for moms to take kids for lunch. If the kiddos get stir crazy indoors, move outside to the benches.
Do watch out for one of the salads - I forget which - as it had a few black olives and the taste infected the whole freakin' salad. Blech. Not your fault that olives are nasty, JZ Cool, but you didn't mention that in your description of that salad when I asked about it. -
Review from Branden T.
Portland, OR
9/1/2007
FYI: The Cool Cafe has changed from a deli to a restaurant sometime in summer 2007, so the reviews may be confusing. It's a sit down restaurant.
On a Thursday night, we were the only people in this restaurant. The service was very good, and we enjoyed our appetizers, food, and wine. It's an odd mix with healthy servings of tasty meatloaf and petite, cute appetizers, like 2 bite size figs, topped with goat cheese.
One in our party has an early engagement the following day and asked for a sandwich to go from the lunch menu. Although we were the only people in the restaurant, they refused to make anything off the lunch menu--and even called the "head boss", presumably Jesse Cool at home to request it. In the end, the only sandwich we could get was the hamburger--because it was on the dinner menu.
Organic, casual, and surprisingly stuffy. I don't see how this place can support its rent and staff of 6 with 2-4 parties on a weeknight. We spent $75 for dinner, wine, and appetizers for 2. -
Review from brian b.
Menlo Park, CA
12/15/2007
Good concept, flawed execution
The wine bar concept is working for them. All the bottles have the same price: 3 tastes for $12, 1/2 glass for 5, full glass for 9, mix and match. The list is short and sweet - about 15 bottles on a given night.
The food menu is perhaps a little less than you'd hope for, given the price, but pretty darn tasty. The cheese plate is good cheeses, and a very nice chutney accompanying the blue, but with only three little slices of bread we had to call for more (gracefully provided). The sliders are excellent, with their strange biscut-y bun, although I'd prefer more condiment action. The sideline "pea cake" was amusing. The surf and turf special - sliced steak and lobster was decent - the lobster was very flavorful, although the steak could have had more oomph.
An amusing dish that didn't quite work was the lamb ribs - attempted in a slow-cook tangine style. The prep was good, but there was so little meat on the bones that the dish didn't hang together.
Friday night there was a jazz combo. Rather like the food, it was uneven - poor drummer, good keys, one good sax, average bass player. The friday jazz at Cafe Borrone is always far superior - and dinner there is $30.
How much you like this place will depend on your value proposition. For two, we pait about $120 out the door, because we ended up ordering about 6 dishes - is in the league of the higher end places on University Ave. What you're getting is a commitment to local food, what you're giving up is some food quality and a lot of server quality. The amature hour feel was charming.
The owner was there last night, and the place was fairly full. Jessie clearly likes all the attention, and seems like a really nice guy, too nice a guy to fire his jazz combo and get a better one.
I will likely be back from time to time, but greatly prefer iTapas when I'm in the mood for small plates. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Menlo Park, CA
5/6/2008
Went here on a Friday night with our eight-year-old. We're "older" parents so we loved it -- excellent jazz playing just loud enough that we could listen to it or talk under it (if that makes any sense) without bothering our neighbors or being bothered by them. Definitely not a kids restaurant, but ours is well-behaved and willing to try different foods. Reminded me of a little place in Soho ... which is a bit odd for the rolled-up main street in suburban MP.
We all ended up eating the rib dish my son ordered, which was excellent. Also enjoyed the vegetarian/vegetable dishes a lot ... and the desserts (though the three-chocolate dessert was definitely too dark and grown up for an 8YO palate). Plates are small, which is nice, and the flavors are clear.
We've recommended it to all our grown-up (50-to-70-something) friends for a Friday date night (group was called Judicious Jazz, I think) and to friends with kids who are old enough and able to eat out intelligently. We ran into two sets of friends there, bit of a surprise, both eco-conscious and involved with civic affairs ... same folks you see at Cafe Borrone for coffee in the morning, but out for a touch more formality that night. -
Review from Barry W.
Minneapolis, MN
1/25/2009
I think other less enthusiastic posters have nailed it--despite the prices and overblown focus on organics and sustainability, the restaurant fails to impress. The decor seems like a sad attempt to be overly hip. The food had literally no flavor (we ordered a vegetable stew and a pasta/fennel/cheese dish). Both of the dishes we ordered were the 'specials' of the day, so we were pretty surprised to see how un-special they were. The kicker was the band playing in the corner, which was extremely amateurish.
I'd say a bright spot was the chardonnay, for somewhere in the Russian River area. One other thing that was great was the Med Trio appetizer dish, which was actually full of flavor. It's too bad that the rest of the meal was not very memorable. -
Review from Lulu L.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2006
Why do I keep going to JZ Cool? I ask myself every time I go. I guess it's because I love the idea of local/organic/seasonal. The reality is that the food is both expensive AND skimpy, not a combination that wins friends. I coud happily accept that if the food tasted good, but it doesn't. Yes, it's comfort food - there's no expectation of fanciness - but any freshness or vibrancy that you might expect from organic local food is absent.
Today, feeling cheap, I got the grilled cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread. Very lightly toasted - not colored at all - on the outside, with an unidentifiably flavorless, rubbery orange cheese within. No butter, no apparent grilling. It was so dry I could barely choke it down. Don't get me started on the grains of raw millet in the bread; I hate that.
Often I get the veggie lasagne which, being microwaved, is always too hot on the outside, and cold inside. It tastes like any other blase lasagne.
Sometimes I get the eggplant parm sandwich which always looks lonely and stranded on the big piece of ciabatta. It is also microwaved, destroying any of parmigiana's textural charm.
I never get the pre-prepared cold stuff. Today the broccoli looked brutally overcooked, the pasta salad had the distinctive look of dessication around the edges, and the ready-made sandwiches all looked anemic.
Hopefully today's was my last visit. -
Review from Melanie C.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2008
Interesting, fresh combos - sandwiches, salads, soup, etc. Presentation is great, portions are small, flavor is hit or miss.
My "ooey gooey grilled cheese" wasn't ooey or gooey. Plus, I was still hungry afterwards.
+1 for all local/organic ingredients. -
Review from J C.
Washington, DC
2/6/2008
I like the concept of this place (local, seasonal, sustainable), and it's as close as I've come to an SPQR or Coco 500 equivalent on the Peninsula, but the lack of people there on a Saturday night just reminded me that I was in cute but quiet downtown Menlo Park. They offered us a taste of the grilled veggies, which were delicious, but my lamb riblets (small plate) were only so-so, and my pickled beets and wild arugula salad was a little too sour. My friend's fritto misto, however, was excellent, and I would definitely go back for that - forget tempura! A huge serving, with a nice selection of carrots, parsnips (parsnips - I need to incorporate more parsnips into my life), and onions, complemented by their well-seasoned, crisp batter.
Our conversation ranged from Michael Pollan to food PR to ethical eating to ethical eating snobs to corporate takeovers and soil chemistry. Yes, we are *those* people... or are we? -
Review from Melissa L.
Woodside, CA
6/26/2008
We had quite the roller coaster ride of a dining experience at jZ Cool last night. Avid fans of Flea Street Cafe (sister restaurant), we'd had a visit to jZ Cool on the list ever since they converted from a more deli-style atmosphere to the current "Eatery and Wine Bar" incarnation.
We arrived post-rush; the cafe had been dealing with a steady deluge of people all night on account of a street fair event. We were seated promptly at a private, tall table near the window. The atmosphere is comfortable and attractive; tables well-spaced, mellow lighting, warm colors and a long bar for enjoying a drink or meal.
We waited a while for service- it seemed the staff was having a hard time recovering from the earlier crowd. Subsequent service throughout the meal made us a little dizzy- first a mistake, then an apology, then another mistake, another apology, an explanation, a check-in, an explanation, some free food, some forgotten food... yikes. Needless to say, here's the gist of it:
- Fabulous food-- particularly liked the stuffed chicken dish, made to order, and the brown rice side- fluffy with veggies. Brisket also very tender and served with perfectly cooked squash.
- Strong wine selection- lots of local wines, well chosen.
- Crazy yet very well intentioned service- example: they brought a free appetizer as an apology for the wait but it was not the appetizer we ordered (which we never received)
- Staff not ready for the level of business they faced last night. Two people mentioned it was their first night, and you could tell.
We will be returning to jZ Cool sometime soon to test the waters again- but we'll wait a few weeks for the new staff to settle in. -
Review from Dan P.
Menlo Park, CA
8/16/2007
I used to go to JZ Cool on and off before the remodel. One of the best things about it was that you'd get in line, and sort of "eat with your eyes," trying to decide which of the many items in the deli case you wanted. Another nice feature was that you could get in and out of there very quickly by ordering the salad sampler and/or soup: the person who took your order would immediately scoop up your selections onto a plate or into a togo box, you would pay, and be on your way. All of that is now gone, which is sad.
Worse, the service has gone downhill. They decided my order was "for here" even though I said "to go." Ok, no problem-- please put the iced tea I ordered into a to-go cup. After several minutes of confusion, they determined that the cups had all "melted" due to being made from corn-based plastic. They offered me instead a 3" tall paper cup of iced tea with no lid. Which was ridiculous, and wasn't very good. They should have offered me a can or bottle from the drinks case.
Following that, it took another 10-15 minutes for me to get my salad sampler to go. Granted, it was at lunchtime, but how long does it take to dish three scoops of salad into a container? The rating isn't two stars because the salads were, as always, very, very good, although the "chinese chicken salad" curiously had no chicken that I could find. I'll assume that was just bad luck.
Next time I'm really desperate for a good lunch of high quality salads, I'll go back. But I will have to be desperate, because confusion reigns at this place right now. Why did JZ mess with a good thing? -
Review from Jo G.
Redwood City, CA
12/25/2007
I personally don't understand all the poor reviews here. This little hole-in-the-wall was an excellent find when my friend and I stumbled across it just after the re-opening. From the moment we entered the restaurant, we were warmly greeted and paid lots of attention to by an extremely knowledgeable staff. The food was superb! The portions were perfect. The atmosphere was fun, peaceful, and friendly. We stayed for several hours that first time because we loved the energy, and I go back frequently. We really needed a great little wine bar nearby, and we got one.
The only poor experience I have had at JZ, was a few months back when I got stuck with a horrible server who completely ignored me and acted as if she couldn't wait to get out of there - I was very put off, and also surprised. Guess what? That server no longer works for JZ, because the powers that be obviously recognized that the server in question was not working out.
If you want excellent, flavorful food, crafted by people who love food and know what they are doing in the kitchen, then this is the place to go. Wine selection is excellent, and would make anyone perfectly happy. Sometimes I drop in by myself, and sometimes I share JZ Cool with friends - either way, it always hits the spot. To top it all off, they've added JAZZ nights on Thursdays and Fridays. You can't beat it! Cheers, folks! -
Review from Sarah P.
Menlo Park, CA
2/23/2009
I have been to JZ Cool twice now--once for lunch and once for dinner, and both times I was extremely impressed. For dinner in particular, as I was reading through the menu, there were hardly any dishes that didn't sound appetizing to me, and every dish that we tried was really good.
Recently, I went to a restaurant in Chicago that featured the same sort of philosophy re serving sustainable, local, organic food. I hated it. The food was boring and bland. When I went to JZ Cool afterwards, I couldn't help but think that this was what the other restaurant should have been--lots of interesting flavors offered, prepared beautifully. -
Review from chess t.
Redwood City, CA
12/14/2008
I went here when was not so hungry but I think they have best grape juice-Gewüztraminer from http://www.navarrowine...
I am juice crazy person. I drive 35 miles to SJ to get sugar cane juice...so for me it is real good option for my sugar cravings. -
Review from Orie M.
Cupertino, CA
1/14/2009
I tried this place for lunch once, and I thought it was pretty yummy. I had the roast pork sandwich. The ingredients seemed fresh and the portions are "cute" - ie. on the smaller side. The cost is a little pricey for lunch (around $10.00 bucks or a little less for a sandwich and a little side dish that comes with it). The atmosphere is California casual.
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Review from kim n.
11/23/2009
Another nostalgia review for a place that took me too long to get my thoughts down on. Funny thing is I've eaten at and reviewed Mataro, the Italian place that took over the space. I remember on a nice sunny day you could get a decent steak sandwich sit outside and people watch. Guess I'll have to make my way to one of the other Cool Cafe spots now
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Review from Stephanie C.
San Mateo, CA
7/10/2007
I would have given them a four star before.. just cause they had my FAVORITE egg ham and cheese paninin... but then they remodeled and created a wine bar out of it. They GOT RID of the salad bar ad no more freshly made paninis.. :( I still gave it a chance and ordered a classic caesars..they might as well just pour oil and some asaigo cheese together.. it was bleh...and i looked at their wine list for the wine bar and there's barely a selection.. sighi miss the old JZ cool eatery
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Review from Ryan T.
Mountain View, CA
11/2/2007
Not always easy to find an establishment that matches its spoken and written commitment to locally available ingredients with wonderful dishes bursting with fresh flavors. I happened to sample some small bites Halloween evening--2 brochettes of swordfish served over some sort of rice (I want to say risotto, but I don't think that's what it was), potato pea cake over caramelized onions with sour cream, and a silky smooth squash soup. I was a swordfish virgin until that evening, and now will consider swordfish offerings in future dining experiences--the swordfish was perfectly cooked, not dry, and seasoned subtly as to not mask the flavor of the fish. The potato pea cake matched so well with the caramelized onion pairing, had a freshness/moistness unmarred by any oily taste (which could be an issue with various potato dishes). The true masterpiece of that evening on the table was the soup--complex flavors of multiple varieties of locally grown squash seasoned just right.
When I return for a visit, I'll be sure to include dessert. -
Review from veggie T.
Mount Laurel, NJ
8/8/2008
I couldn't tell you how the food is. I went for a brunch this past sunday bc of an ad I saw in the Mercury News about new brunch hours, and to my dismay, when I arrived, they were closed. Not a very good first impression. It was a waste of gas money...
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Review from Melinda D.
Palo Alto, CA
1/16/2006
This is a great spot for a quick and delicious lunch. The butcher-block table that runs the length of the restaurant keeps the atmosphere casual. At lunch, there is an excellent assortment of organic salads (the sampler plate is my favorite...you choose three), sandwiches and soups. Comfort foods are on the menu for dinner (the meatloaf is delicious). They also serve a weekend brunch, which I have never tried.
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Review from Alissa T.
Menlo Park, CA
2/28/2007
Really good lunch place (have not tried it for dinner). I ordered the hamburger, it was good. The beef tasted fresh (not like something that has been sitting in the freezer). Served with chips. My husband ordered a turkey sandwich w/ avocado and it was tasty as well. It is a tad pricey though but I am all for supporting local organic produce!
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Review from Nina H.
Sunnyvale, CA
3/10/2008
i came across jz cool eatery by chance. my friend, christopher wanted "healthy, organic and not overly filling because i have a yoga class and can you pick something between palo alto and redwood city so i won't be late for class?". sillyhead . . . who goes to yoga after dinner? whatever . . .
it was a wednesday night and not terribly busy. it's a pity they're way down on the main santa cruz avenue drag - i wonder if they'd do better if they were somewhere more prominent in menlo park. but there's not much room for prominence in menlo park now, is there?
we'd checked out the menu from their web site ("i can't be late for my yoga class") so had a pretty good idea for what we wanted. i really like their small plates concept and the local, organic, etc. thing they have going on. i also liked the modern industrial design especially the corrugated metal panels . . . reminded me of the outdoor bathrooms in the rural villages back home in malaysia!
we started with the mediterranean trio of babaghanoosh, vegie pate and hummus served with pita. all 3 were pretty good although i liked the babaghanoosh and the vegie pate most. the hummus was okay. i wasn't going to yoga so i ordered the sliders - mini grass-fed beef burgers on (i'm pretty sure it was buttermilk) biscuits served with carmelized onions and chutney. we also got the chicken lollipops which were pretty good with the chipotle sauce. i wanted some vino so we ordered the all chardonnay wine flight (of 3 tastes) which had me drooling over the tom fogarty. fortunately, yogahead only wanted a sip of each so i got to enjoy most of all 3.
all in all, it was pretty good . . . perfect for a quick small meal with a lot of variety and the ability to share. i'll more than likely go back and try some of the other Small plates assuming they stay open . . . only 2 or 3 other tables were occupied while we were there :( -
Review from deb n.
Palo Alto, CA
8/29/2006 4 photos
Went for a to go dinner. Hours are 5-6pm for the dinner with fix prix dinner selections ranging on the blackboard behind the cashier from $10-12. I choose the rosemary, tapenade chicken and my two side choices were mac and cheese and red, sour and sweet cabbage. Everything is in cold cases which are heated up, two pieces of chicken were flavorful with the tapanade, cabbage was still crunchy with the sweet sour. Would have liked cheesier mac and cheese. Want to try the mashed pots and carmelized onions, next time. Also had the plum cobbler, $4.50, excellent sour and sweet, the cobbler was more cakey then crumbly, large portion. Loved parking in the back, just enter the rear door, there is limited street parking.
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Review from Kathleen B.
Portland, OR
1/6/2007
jZ Cool does amazing local, delicious food. They catered our wedding and did a fantastic job. The little cafe on Santa Cruz Ave is also worth a visit; they have great sandwiches and salads.
Listed in: A Lotta Nada
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Review from Christine P.
Berkeley, CA
7/10/2007
I wish I could give JZ Cool more stars. Mainly because they have a great concept, fresh, local organic foods in an easy environment. I ate here today with a friend and noticed they redid the whole restaurant, adding a wine bar and taking out the refrigerated salad bar. It feels more like a restaurant, but it's not. You still have to get your utensils, and I had to ask for napkins. I think they should decide whether to be a full on restaurant or resort to what they were before, but being in the middle doesn't make sense. I had a caesar salad and asparagus soup for lunch which came out to almost $20...fairly pricey considering their lack of service. The salad was ok, not great, but not bad, and the soup came out lukewarm and I had to add alot of salt into it. They should consider going back to their old JZ model.
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Review from Lil S.
Mountain View, CA
7/10/2006
Great place to go for SLOW (Sustainable, Local, Organic, and Wild) food...the Nieman burgers are phenomenal, as are the hot dogs. This place shows that it's possible to serve delicious, quick, healthy food!! Now if only Jesse would open a restaurant in downtown Mountain View (hint hint, nudge nudge)!!
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Review from Donna W.
Palo Alto, CA
5/25/2008
I won't be going back to JZCool. Despite pricey organic food, I was not impressed. The "puree of cauliflower" was watery with some stringy vegetable in it and inedible. I exchanged it for the chicken and veg soup and hoped to have some green veggies in there but it was all carrot and potato. The salads were ok but nothing to get excited about, and then I found a hair in my salad.
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Review from Lynn C.
San Jose, CA
1/9/2008
Pretty neat place! ^_^ I would come back. :) Come for their Wednesday Jazz Nights! ^_^
