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Categories: American (New), Bars, Seafood
Neighborhood: Penn QuarterGallery Pl-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow)
Metro Center (Red, Blue, Orange)
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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OVERALL: 4.1
DRINKS (Quality): 4
DRINKS (Quantity/Potency): 3.5
AMBIANCE: 4.5
SERVICE: 4.5
VALUE: 4
Went for post-dinner dessert/happy hour & mentioned it was the BF's bday. Uber-friendly staff promptly delivered some ooey-gooey molten chocolate goodness complete with candle on top (on the house!). Tried the Pink Guava Sangria...a bit sweet & couldn't taste any alcohol, but fun 'n fruity. Very classy, modern décor w/a literary touch (Zola=19th century novelist who was embroiled in the "Dreyfus Affair")...nice lounging areas good for groups or romance, take your pick. Overlooks the National Portrait Gallery.
TIP:
-Go for Happy Hour(s)! (see other reviews)
Zola has not one happy hour, but two! The first happy hour runs from 5-7pm. The second happy hour runs from 9-11pm. Happy hour includes $5 select beers (i.e., Stella), $4 glasses of wine (e.g., syrah, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc), $5 signature Zola cocktails, and my favorite... $1.50 sliders (6 different kinds).
Atmosphere is classy, far from any dive or college bar. Music genre is house/dance and a little bit on the loud side. That or I'm just getting old...
The bar is Zola's best attribute by far. It's really attractive and lively. The restaurant is equally attractive but the food and the drink are not on equal footing.
I have been a few times and Zola's has just never jumped out and grabbed me. The setting is great and the service is very good but there's something missing.
I've tried a number of dishes but can't say that any one of them is truly memorable. The mac and cheese is good but I can't see begging for the recipe. I liked the arctic char but would never call it a favorite. The lamb is good but again unmemorable. Overall the food is ok but nothing more.
Again if you want a great bar, put this on your list. However if you want something truly amazing to eat, you may need to grab your coat.
Nice ambiance. Good drinks. Good food. AWESOME service!!
We went to Zola for dinner. There was a slight wait for a table -- only about 10 minutes so we sat down at the bar and had a cocktail. We ordered the "Jade" -- really tastey!!
For dinner, we had the American "Hot Pot," the chicken breast, and the Lobster mac and cheese. The hot pot -- delicious!! Mac n cheese -- delicious!! However, I wouldn't recommend the chicken -- it was dry and flavorless.
But here's why I give Zola such a positive review and would go back again and again. The service was superb!! Our waiter was very knowledgable and polite, but a bit socially awkward. However, the host more than made up for the waiters shortcomings. He checked on us periodically to make sure we were having as pleasent experience. When I told him that the chicken wasn't too great, he offered to have the chef prepare another chicken for us, or allowed us to choose from something else. We got the Cripsy Atlantic Char and it was fantastic!! And when we got the bill, the portion of the meal gone wrong had been comped! Way to win me over! lol
Oh, I can't forget to comment on the bread. You are brought a bread basket that has some rolls and crackers. The crakers are sooooooo good! They have a little kick to them, so be sure you have a glass of water handy!
Love the decor, loved the drinks, and would love to have an event here. Did not get to try the food. From what I understand Zola has been around for a long time.
Date Rating: 6
Pick up Scale: N/A
Strong Suggestion: upscale/casual welcome
I took a date to this restaurant because I've heard great things about this restaurant. The first thing I noticed was that the bar was lively and vibrant with lots of young professionals. It was also separated from the dining area, which helps to minimize the noise. As far as ambience goes, this restaurant was very classy and hip.
The food was a bit disappointing. I had the lamb dish. It was cooked to the right doneness, but it tasted a little bit chewy and there wasn't much flavor in the lamb. I also felt that the sauce, which was sweet, did not complement the lamb. The lamb came with three pieces of ravioli. I was a bit disappointed with the proportion, considering that the dish cost $25. My date had the chicken dish. Even though the chicken was moist and somewhat tender, I also felt that there wasn't much flavor in in the chicken. The chicken dish did not come with any rice or pasta.
Overall, Zola seems like a nice place to grab a drink, but I would probably skip the meal and go somewhere else.
Zola gets a "mmm-mmm" from me. Now that Poste has raised its happy hour prices and the time for the outdoor patio is passing, I think Zola is the best of the classy joints for an after-work cocktail in the area. The summer sangria is sweet, but not too syrupy, with strawberries, watermelon and oranges cut up into it. Four types of wine (cabernet, syrah, chardonnay and pinot grigio) are all tasty and the price is right at $4 until 7pm on weeknights.
The mini-bites are actually not that mini for $1.50 a pop. The lamb slider and pork BBQ sliders are delectable. The Brie and Roma tomato also came on a slider-type bun with avocado mayo. All delicious, but the lamb was my favorite. Kadia was our server and she was so great - polite, cheerful, attentive. Not only an impeccable waitress, but her personality showed through and we talked about how we wanted to make her our friend.
See if you can figure out the door to the bathroom on the first try. Alternatively, get a table by that door and watch the bafflement that ensues.
Zola, I wanted to believe you when you whispered in my ear and said "Damn baby, I'm gonna treat you right. Shhhh, don't worry your pretty little head."
The sad fact is that Zola brought me home to its' place, made me dinner, got me drunk, and left me just enough for bus fare on its' night stand.
Now, I realize during DC Restaurant Week (DRW) that, it's a CRAZY time for restaurants. Places that normally see 150 tables/covers a night will get slammed with over 300, but that's no excuse for crappy food and then charging a small fortune for it.
The decor is, as it has been for a few years now, stunning. Red velvet, brushed aluminum, smoked glass, and big champagne & wine islands dot the restaurant. The waiter even brought my girlfriend a black napkin because she had on a black dress and didn't want her to get white lint on it.
Classy. (At this point, Zola has offered to buy me a fish sandwich and some Courvoisier)
This however is the point at which things fall apart.
After we finally get our drinks, we wait a good 15-20min for appetizers. I got the tuna & avocado appetizer and my girlfriend got the lamb meatball sliders.
I'm going to straight up say the tuna was bullshit. I can't think of any better way to describe it. Bullshit. I could barely find the tuna. In fact, I had to call the waiter over to have him help me find it. To say that there was a piece of tuna on my plate larger than 4 pennies stacked one on top of another would have been generous. The pile of avocado on top was odd to say the least. There were shreds of what looked like corn chips mixed in with avocado and maybe some lettuce or cabbage for filler - and then that was piled on top of the tuna.
I don't know what the hell that was - perhaps their take on nouvelle cuisine, but it was a complete failure.
My girlfriend's sliders on the other hand, were delicious. If I were to go back again, I'd probably order those and drinks - and that's it.
Then came the main course. I had the pastrami sandwich, which was just kinda "meh". Nothing to write home about. The sauteed onions on it were good, but I made the exact same thing at home last night and it sure as hell didn't cost as much.
My girlfriend's dinner on the other hand managed to be a whole lot worse. While not I'm entirely certain, I'm somewhat sure that it was "fresh" pasta with Chef Boy-R-Dee piled on top of it, from 7-11.
There wasn't really much to say about dessert other than my sorbet had obviously been put in a bowl and then put in the freezer, because it had a hard icy shell, and my girlfriend's black forest cake was bland, flavorless, and tasted like it was made from common household objects like year-old Easter candy and kids' breakfast cereal.
Zola, you touched my no-no place and then stole my wallet.
I hate you.
(call me)
3.5 stars.
The first time i went to this place was with a group of 12 girls 2 years go for a bachelorette party dinner. service was great and food was good.
now that i've moved to dc i was looking forward to trying zola again because of my positive experience 2 years ago. i arrived around 9pm w/ 2 friends visiting me from NYC. they had just gotten off the bus and had a lot of bags. to my surprise the dining room was not crowded at ALL.
the hostess sat us at a standalone table of 4 near the entrance and wine table/area of the 2nd room. since SO many booths were empty, i asked if we could be moved to a booth instead of the standalone table since we had so many bags and didn't want them strewn all over the floor.
the hostess, expressionless (maybe w/ a scowl), said nothing and simply walked us to the nearby empty booth 3 ft away. no, "oh of course!" or smile or anything. rude much?
none of the main entrees seemed appetizing us that evening so we decided to order 6 or 7 different starters/sides...yes we turned zola into a tapas restaurant.
porcini mushroom ravioli: you'll get 3 of these. is it supposed to be completely mushy almost liquidy mushroom on the inside?
lamb meatball sliders: comes w/ 3. these were good. although i would've liked the lamb cooked a bit more done, pattie top a lil more charred.
seared sea scallops: 2 scallops and placed beside a "Country ham, and creamed spinach stuffed crepe, saffron aioli". Ok i didn't understand. crepe = flour tortilla? is this supposed to complement the 2 scallops? it makes no sense and doesn't belong. just give me another damn scallop.
Butter Lettuce Salad: this was good...although it was like a wedge and had to be cut up. roasted Marcona almonds, oranges, ancient gouda, sherry syrup
Brussels Sprouts, Shiitake Mushrooms, Parmesan Cheese: this was good, served in a hot skillet
Olive Oil Braised Potatoes w/ Goat Cheese stuffed grape Tomatoes: this was good. fingerling potatos, gotta love them.
Mushroom and Goat Cheese Fonduta: not sure how this was bc they FORGOT to bring it out.
waiter recommended a very nice bottle of sav blanc w/ our meal. he was nice...it was just the hostess who was not nice. and she dampened my dining experience here. food is solid but didn't blow me away. i do love the decor and space of the restaurant though.
I was here for dinner and absolutely loved the ambiance and service... top notch! I started with a really yummy blueberry mojito. Probably the best buy of the evening. For apps, my bf and I shared the lamb sliders and the raw tuna. While the tuna was delicious, the fact that there were only about three bites was a little annoying. The lamb sliders, however, made up for the tuna by being huge and really tasty!
For my entree, I had the cod. I'll preface this by saying I ordered it with no dairy, so I guess its not that surprising it wasn't very tasty. I also tried the corn-fed beef though- which was outstanding. I could probably eat a pint of the spoonbread they served with it!
I ordered the sorbet for dessert. The best part about that was the cookie that came with it! Too icy, tasted like straight from Safeway's freezer section. We also tried the black forest cake (not really a cake) and the key lime cheesecake. The cheesecake definitly won for best dessert.
I really appreciated that the chef made accomodations for my lactose intolerance! All in all, it was a fun, once in while, type dinner.
Enjoyed a pleasant Restaurant Week lunch at Zola yesterday. Maybe it's me, but I still think it's strange that a fine dining restaurant is tied into the Spy Museum, but whatever. As others have said, the selling point of Zola during Restaurant Week is that they have no upcharges and the entire menu is available. We took full advantage of this.
Our table ordered tuna tartar, salmon pastrami and the mushroom ravioli. I'd say the mushroom ravioli was the best of the three. The filling was delightfully rich, and the butter sauce was excellent, perfectly complementing the mushroom. The salmon pastrami was fine, but nothing special. It tasted basically like lox, and nothing like pastrami.
I ordered the beef sirloin and Israeli couscous. The sirloin itself was well cooked and seasoned, although there was really nothing special about it. It sounded more impressive on the menu. The Israeli couscous was mixed with pancetta that gave it a great bacony flavor (everything is better with bacon, right?). The beet syrup was rich, but was not noteworthy. Two people ordered the lobster mac and cheese which was fantastic. The rare lamb sandwich was also excellent.
For dessert, mud pie and key lime cheesecake. Both done well, but neither was mindblowing.
All in all, Zola was a great value, especially for lunch during Restaurant Week. The service was prompt, the manager checked in to see how everything was, and everyone had a great lunch. All this being said, I think of Zola like a Toyota Camry. Very dependable, never disappointing, but also will not make your heart race. This isn't bad, and around Chinatown, it's good to have a dependable option to use as a go to. I am already looking forward to a return visit here for dinner sometime.
I chose Zola for a first date a few weeks ago, perhaps thinking the espionage theme would permit a cloak-and-dagger exit strategy, should things go poorly. They didn't, (her initial reaction: "I love that place!") and Zola proved a great choice.
On entering (around 8 PM), I took note of the bar goers enjoying themselves in the stylish lounge space near the bar. The fun, open area near the bar was all bustling with circles of cheerful patrons. Zola's posh decor exudes coolness, like the popular table in your high school cafeteria.
Had I finally arrived? We were seated in a well-proportioned dining room - just the right among of tables, guests, and decor - with soaring windows offering a nice view. I was of course paying attention to other things.
Like the wine list - lots of great bottles and glasses, and (yay) half bottles! A split of wine is great for dates - nice to see them on the menu - and I found a (somewhat) reasonably priced Chablis the perfect pairing.
The menu offered lots of great choices, and we opted for a few apps and desserts. The lobster macaroni was superb; the desserts, forgettable, but not bad (pumpkin something?) Everything is on the pricey side, but appropriate to the dining experience.
Overall, the only flaw I found with Zola was the service. Our waiter did an OK job, but he dropped our bottle of wine in the process of bringing it to the table, then proceeded to present it all the same. It was fine, but still, just turn around and say you got us a new one. Also, our desserts came out within two minutes of being ordered. I may know better, but it's nice to maintain the illusion that these were painstakingly prepared just for me.
Aside from those minor mishaps, however, the staff were attentive, and went through the ceremony of extra niceties like bringing us black dinner napkins and better wine glasses.
For an impressive atmosphere, menu, and wine list, and the chance to meet international persons of mystery, Zola is a great choice.
I tried Zola on my way to the Spy Museum.
The decor in Zola is tied into the espionage theme with the Spy Museum. The restaurant is sectioned off into nooks and crannies of big mahogany tables and black leather seats. There is a mini oval wine bar in the middle of each section that guests can choose from.
The staff was incredibly attentive and even offered my mother a black napkin (instead of the white on the table) as to avoid getting white lint on her black pants. That's service!
The drink menu was exotic and interesting. Drinks ranged from $8-10. I ordered 'The Cardinal'--a brandy and Cointreau mixture served with dried cherries at the bottom.
The food menu, however, is what only gets Zola 3 stars in my book. There is not much variety. All of the main entrees and sandwiches are SUPER heavy and seem like they're 1000 cals+. I'm talking steak and cheese on a baguette, lobster mac and cheese, tuna carpaccio on foccacia, etc.
They do have a salad option which is pretty nifty. Pick from three different types of greens and choose your meat topper. I went with the grilled romaine and topped with grilled shrimp. Great choice. Although, after grilling my shrimp they split them in half to decorate the bed of salad and for some reason, the shrimp were emitting a heinous odor. They tasted great but smelled like cat food.
I would stick to Zola for evening soirees and cocktail time.
During my last DC trip we took the metro into the city to try out this restaurant connected to the International Spy Museum, although even that association is shrouded in secrecy!
I was pretty excited to go here, based on the yelp reviews and the new menu option the restaurant had: $30 for an appetizer, entree, and dessert. It's called the "Pre-Event" and they're offering it daily now. Considering the prices on the menu, this was a great deal.
We got there a bit before our reservation, so we started in the very cool, 1960s mod bar area. This was great, because they had a standing area set up away from the actual bar area, between the door and the coaches they had set up for people to lounge. I really appreciated this because we didn't know how long we'd really want to stay waiting in the bar and it gets to be a pain standing up and sitting down repeatedly. I asked the bartender what he recommended from their specialty cocktail menu (GREAT looking cocktails by the way...they all looked good and sounded yummy, especially the ones he recommended). So I ended up with a "Passion," a beautiful red cocktail served with champagne in a fun glass rimmed with sugar. Shortly after we got our drinks we moved into the dining area to eat.
We were seated in one of the booths in the first room. One the side wall of the booth there was a window cut out, so you could see the wait staff walk past. One of the many decor items that lent itself to the spy theme.
Appetizer: Porcini Mushroom Ravioli - 3 ravioli pieces filled with mushrooms and topped with a sabayon and some grated parm.
Main Course: Pan Roasted Chicken Breast with awesome fingerling potatoes cut into smaller "coin" shapes
Dessert: the "Pink Lemonade" dessert, a strawberry mousse topped with lemon curd
Somewhere between the appetizer and the main course I ordered a second drink -- I can't remember what it was called (something clever I'm sure!), but it was delicious. A bit too much salt on the rim for my taste, but I suppose if you like salt then it might have been perfect.
Our server was attentive and engaging without being overbearing or annoying and the manager stopped by our table to make sure everything was going well with our evening. Everyone at our table gave the meal (and the restaurant) high marks!
Eating at Zola was such a great experience and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to try this restaurant. If nothing else, I'd recommend stopping by for drinks -- they have a great bar area!
ZOLA. ZO ZO ZO ZOLA. I like you're aroma... you smell like YUM.
Okay I lied, Zola's #1 knock you off your socks item(s) is(are) their drinks. Hands down the best specialty cocktails in DC. I've had them all and have yet to be disappointed. I give them 5 solid stars on their beverage selection alone. Even their mocktails are super glamorous and unique!
For the food, Zola is pretty damn good. I've eaten there on a hand full of occasions and have only been let down once which was from their chicken burger. A little too bland for me. Their goat burgers, however, are to die for and I'm a huge fan of their soups - which they make to order so be prepared to a wait a bit for them to come. They also were super nice when I brought my 3 little nieces there for lunch being very accommodating to children made them get extra kudos in my book
The service here is great (except sometimes the hostess staff can be a bit snotty but who cares about them, anyway) and the decor provides you with an upscale dining experience.
Zola's is a great date spot or a nice place to get your drank on!
I thought Zola was going to be a great place for a date after visiting the Smithsonian. It was, it was just pricey for a struggling college student. The decor was on point and the spy theme really sets a nice mood for a couple. Zola however has a very limited menu and I felt forced to get something I really didn't enjoy at all. I probably won't go back to Zola mainly because of the short menu, paying isn't an issue if the food is great.
First I will say that the decor is very nice, and they have a great bar area. Second, the food...well, if you are a vegetarian that eats fish ie "pescetarian"..then forget it because the seafood that they do serve has a pork addition to it (bacon or ham) If you like Lamb, beef etc then you will enjoy the cuisine. I had a fish dish...cant remember the type of fish, but it had no taste...very bland.
If I go back, it would only be for cocktails.
Being spotted at Zola is not such a bad thing!
I love this neat, sexy, swanky place!
The shadows on the wall give a feelings of somebody watching me secretly, that famous to be called a Spy.
Located right next to one of my favorite museum in town, the Spy Museum.
Red, daring, sexy and classy describes the dining room that definitely satisfy my taste of elegance.
Black and silver at the lounge and bar area along with a groovy music and exotic booze that definitely satisfy my taste of a city life.
I always had a great experience here, the perfect ambiance with a great service and delicious meal that indulge my palette, every moment is a red letter. A moment that become a beautiful memory.
The red letter that has a story.
The story start when the Princess meet the Prince Charming.
When Harry met Sally. Samson and Delilah or something like that.
Classic. I know. But it is fabulous and never gets old.
Once upon the time, one cold Tuesday on winter, even feel colder than the night of Judas betrayal.
The sad Princess had been betrayed by the one she called love that had turned to be backstabber, walk in to the crowded room full of stranger.
The Knight were having a drink at the bar, turned and smile at her.
The conversation smoothly flow between the Princess and the Knight and the agreement was made. A dinner date.
By as bright as a sun color of a fancy car, the Knights take the Princess to this fabulous destination dining place, that pretty much had brighten up her gloomy hearts that night.
Princess favorite starters is seared sea scallops and lamb meatball sliders.
The Princess and the Knights enjoyed their delicious lamb dish from the specials on the menu by the fabulous chef. The Green Hill Farms Lamb Hazelnut and sheep ricotta ravioli, red romaine, sweet shallot puree.
Even though the Princess favorite desserts at all times are Creme Brulee, but whenever she dine at this fabulous dining place, she will never pass on the Chocolate Three Way, the yummy fudgesicle sorbet, Mochachino, whoopee pie. Deliciously wicked!
Every moment red letter the Princess always had in this dazzling place with the right Prince Charming that had melt the cold freezing winter night to be marvelous night for a moondance, had end with his classy continental.
'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
You should care for me!
'S awful nice! 'S paradise!
'S what I love to see!
You've made my life so glamorous
You can't blame me for feeling amorous.
Oh! 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous!
That you should care for me!
Not only is this a very pretty restaurant, nobody does a better job with restaurant week than they do. First of all, the entire menu is open and nothing is surcharged. Any starter, any entree, and your choice of any of the desserts on the menu are yours for the advertised price of Restaurant Week Lunch or Dinner. The service is very attentive and they go out their way to make sure you enjoy your experience and come back. I work next door so we go there even when it is not Restaurant Week, but if you are looking for a place to go to while the promotion is out, definitely get a reservation here, the food is great.
I bet you wish your Zola had vibe like mine.
After the Caps game Monday night the group I was with escaped to Zola, trying to find seats ahead of the wave of Red washing out of the Verizon Center. It was too late for dinner, and the Bar Menu was unimpressive (although one person did order a small serving of fried somthings, and it didn't look half bad). Bottom line: Zola doesn't seem to have great food.
Good thing it doesn't need to.
Zola offers a fully stocked bar, a significant wine list, and some daring drink combinations served in martini or rocks glasses. I went with The Inaugural (the procrastinator deep inside me loves that their menu is 4 months due for a revision) which was a pleasant American Vodka flavored with blueberries. I was very much hoping, after prior experience with microbrewery born blueberry beers, to have full sized blueberries floating around the glass. Unfortunately, Zola goes with the dried fruit variation, and a shocking color inspired more by blue curacao than blue berry.
The atmosphere at Zola really kicks it up a notch. All three unique seating conditions (bar, lounge section, tables) are within earshot of the creative blend of music pumped through the restaurant. The volume is loud enough to enjoy, but doesn't give cause for shouting to be heard (not until the third round, at least). The latin influences in the music gave it a very fun appeal, with some hints of samba and tango peeking through.
Zola struck me as a very chill place. Good to visit with friends who want to have fun and enjoy some conversation. I'd recommend trying it on a Saturday night, and then possibly bumping it earlier in the week's rotation to suit your appetite for a crowd (or management thereof).
The prices at Zola are reasonable which is why I think I would avoid it for restaurant week. I'd rather go somewhere more expensive and get that deal. I enjoy Zola because of its unsung bond with the Spy Museum. The decor is very tasteful and modern while playfully fitting with the theme of the attached museum. On both of my visits there I found the service to be more than adequate. It's the small things for me and I was pleased when they gave me a black napkin in place of my white one since I was wearing black pants. Of course I've lived long enough to learn that quality linen napkins shouldn't lint no matter what color they are. I digress...
The food is good, not overly memorable, but good. I was sad to see between my first trip and second that they S'mores for two dessert had been removed from the menu. It's been some months since I was there so I'd LOVE for someone to tell me it's back... The drinks are also tasty, some very creative, which is always a plus with me. For me, this is one of those places that will always be there for me to go for a nice dinner if I'm not willing to brave something new.
SETTING: Normally Happy Hour times, one weekend mid-day
DECOR:
- Elegant minimalism
- Always great hushed background music with a latin-style drumbeat vibe
- Very comfortable black bar area seating
- Tight quarters so not the best for all conservations
- Hushed-to-jovial sound levels
- Views of Nat. Portrait Gallery's South Facade.
- Clean restrooms
STAFF:
- Friendly and helpful bar staff
DRINKS:
- The Blue Sting and Blue Sting Cooler (NA version) is my "regular" there. (Mojito-esque)
VERDICT:
- Return, and return again.
- Great for: family, friends, girls-night-out, date, one-on-one with a friend, break while museum-going.
I've been here several times, and every time the service and the food have been fantastic. My absolute favorite thing on the menu, and possibly one of my favorite dishes of all time, is the Zola chop salad, which consists of veal sweetbreads, quail egg, Saint Andre cheese, and some sort of really good vinaigrette. I think I could eat that salad every day and not get sick of it. Lamb slider are good, as is the lamb entree. I've tried several other entrees and have never been disappointed. They have a very extensive, reasonably-priced wine list. I hear they also have really good cocktails, but I've never tried any of them, since I always find a wine I want to try there. Service is just the right amount of attentive-our wine glasses and water glasses are never empty, but we barely noticed the waiter though. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants here.
Zola is a great place to go for a nice night out. It is also a nice way to reward to your date who will patiently be sitting through a CAPS game with you after dinner. The food is amazing and the menu is constantly in flux.
I would suggest getting the blue sting as a drink with your dinner. Fitting in with the theme of the spy museum you feel that James Bond might peek out from a corner at any point.
Also make sure you save room for desert, some of the best in DC!
I swear I reviewed this months ago.. but my review seemed to have magically disappeared. Anyways...
PROS
It looks awesome in there. The way its laid out is very appealing and if you get seated near the window its quite beautiful. The staff was very professional and you definitely felt like you were in a 'high class' place hahah. I will say that I was definitely impressed.
The Not So Good
The food could be better.
I tried the lobster mac and cheese and... it was good. But honestly, I don't know what everyone was losing their mind over.
I had barbeque shrimp and polenta but basically it wasn't really that tasty. The shrimp was reasonably good. The polenta basically had no salt in it, but it had salt sprinkled on it... So if you ate it, you got these extremes of eating something that tasted like it needed salt. Then when you ate the side that the salt was sprinkled on, it was extremely salty...
Basically, I just wasn't that impressed. It's not that it was bad, but I just can't rave about it. Especially not for the price. You basically are paying for the location.
**Restaurant Week Review**
What has happened to my beloved restaurant? Why was your veal and lamb so flavorless, why did you pair the lamb with a disgustingly cloying caramelized onion puree, why have you rendered the lobster macaroni and cheese so watery while dousing it with Old Bay and hunks of shell, and why did you decide to blend hunks of gelatinous pear into a chocolate mousse with a marvelous candied chocolate floor? At least your lamb sliders were magnificent. But Zola, you have broken my heart.
I recently infiltrated Zola's retro spy world for a birthday dinner with a few friends. I… Read more »
I'm going to go against the general consensus and say that I didn't find Zola...that...good...
For starts, as I was mulling over the menu, I ordered a Passion, with which I was sorely disappointed as it was (i) far too sweet; (ii) not alcoholic enough; and (iii) came in an absurdly tall, trumpet-shaped glass that looked like something that old people in Hawaiian shirts on an appalling megacruise ship would sip on as they spoon down microwaved pre-cooked frozen food from the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Diners receive a complimentary amuse-bouche, which was not quite interesting enough for me to remember. The crispbreads were unwieldy but delicious.
I have to give the chef credit for being more creative and daring than one usually finds in DC. I had blood orange glazed black cod with gold beets, crisped fennel pollen spaetzle and shaved fennel salad. In terms of flavour combinations, it reminded me of a Heston Blumenthal dish of poached salmon in a liquorice gel with pink grapefruit and roast artichokes (which, quite frankly, was horrendous--if a legion of Fat Duck superstar cooks can't make this dish delicious, I don't see why anyone would want to repeat it...at least Zola's version was edible, though).
It was okay.
The cod was undercooked. The best way to cook fish is, in fact, to barely-cook it, which is something Le Bernardin has perfected but Zola hasn't. Nope, it was undercooked. I found the glaze a little too sweet. The spaetzle was slightly greasy and didn't add much in terms of flavour, although its crispiness was a pleasant textural counterpoint to the fish. The beets were nice--soft, tasty and a very nice colour.
I think I had the bombe...chocolate bombe for dessert, which involved flourless chocolate cake, ganache and ice cream. There's no way you can cock that up.
Also, best bathroom doors ever.
All in all, not somewhere I'd go back to again unless I had to go with someone who really, really wanted to.
Went here for Restaurant week and was very pleased with the food but not the service.
The appetizers are rather large (Lamb burger sliders, mushroom fondue) so if you are with your girl/boyfriend I suggest getting one app and one main dish to share, trust me you will have enough food. The food was presented well and was served at the right pace to keep the evening going and enjoyable.
We had the Lamb and Veal, both were cooked just right and tasted great.
This places looses a star for the following reasons.
1. Server was rude.
2. Wine list while extensive was VERY overpriced.
3. Misspellings on the wine and desert list.
I went here for dinner last weekend, and had a great time! Everything was simply spectacular, from the food to the drinks. We had a bottle of wine that was absolutely wonderful. The most impressive thing was the service. My glass of water was never empty -- and I drink a lot of water. At the same time, it never felt like he was hovering or staring at us or anything like that. I enjoyed the decor, though I thought that the tables were a bit close together. I can't wait to go back!
Located inside the Spy Museum, I recently attended a dinner there catered by Zola's. We were in a room on the 3rd floor. The chicken satays they were passing around were flavorful and so soft. You didn't have to battle with the skewer to get the meat out. Great for networking! You don't have to talk while fighting to eat your food at the same time. haha! Their veggie panini squares were ok.
Salad and bread were standard. Nothing too special or great. Pretty forgettable. Main course was a surf and turf or filet mignon and crab cake. The crab cake was more on the salty side but the filet was good. Dessert was an apple tart that seemed stale. I wasn't too impressed with the food but I was in good company so my night went well.
Celebrated a friend's birthday here this week. Pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. Service was attentive. They did a nice job helping us recognize our friend, bringing a free dessert with a candle, but minus any embarrassing songs.
Blue sting cocktail: mango rum, lime, mint, blueberries--so yummy I drank two.
Sherry-glazed skate: nice, but I found the glaze too sweet.
Gouda fries: were nice, but didn't have the cheese flavor I expected. Lobster mac was tasty.
Apple-quince tart: not bad--I liked the bit of tang, but found the crust too dry. The ginger ice cream with it was great.
I finally had an opportunity to dine at Zola after months and months of "meant to go," and I've gotta say that it really is just okay... for the price point. Don't get me wrong, I love the vibe and the space, and the food was pretty spot on, but I'm paying a pretty serious premium (a sandwich at the bar and a cocktail ran me about thirty big ones!), I'm entitled to expect a bit more, right?
So let me start with my beef. Bartenders... at least the good ones I know... keep track of what's going on at their bar pretty much constantly. That's been my experience from Gordon Biersch to Urbana. Why is it, then, that at an upscale place like Zola, the bartender keeps his back turned to the patrons the majority of the time? Please, I'm not -that- butt-ugly. And I say my pleases and thank-yous.
Beyond that, I did get my food very promptly (which was my only request, since I only had half an hour before having to be somewhere). My salmon burger with shiitake mushrooms was huge! I ate half of it and took the other half with me as a snack for later that evening. It came with a side of asparagus tempura, which was extremely yummy, but those don't keep well - mushy and greasy later. Not fun. Back to the salmon burger: giant patty, perfectly seasoned, on a fluffy bun that held together superbly, and oh-so-juicy. This one's a winner. All of this, I washed down with a Zola martini - it's the first time I've had Van Gogh Vodka, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.
With cool tunes, trendy atmosphere, and a quiet bar scene around 1800, I was able to get in some light reading and catching up on e-mails with my Blackberry. It doesn't seem to be nearly the madhouse that Poste, just across the street, is during the post-work rush.
I'm glad I can check this one off the list. I don't think I'll be returning, unless someone else is footing the bill.
This place gets it done right! I went for Happy Hour; their sangrias were absolutely money. For food, I ordered lamb sliders and carolina pulled pork sliders. The pulled pork sliders were way better than the lamb but it didn't matter because both were good and reasonably priced. Great place, not too quiet or noisy, I'll be going back in the future.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this overpriced tourist trap unless just going for the ambiance and cocktails.
Zola is an extremely attractive space, modern and unique. I'd previously been there muptiple times for cocktails and always enjoyed myself in spite of the exorbiant prices. So I figured it was worth trying for dinner.
My meal at Zola was probably the worst meal I'd had in a long time. I started with a mixed greens salad, which was decent enough. But my entree - slow poached chicken - was completely inedible. Imagine taking a chicken breast, boiling it with absolutely no spices, not even salt & pepper, and then putting in on top of a strange blend of cauliflower and MORE chicken - and this was what I was served.
My friends felt the same about their food. One ordered the butter lettuce salad - we burst out laughing when it arrived because it was a giant hunk of lettuce when just a little bit of dressing sprinkled on top. She also got the cauliflower tart, and said it was decent enough, but somewhat bland - could have used a bit of seasoning. My other friend ordered the fluke and felt the same way.
We were too grossed out to stick around for dessert. Never coming back to eat unless they replace the chef. Absolutely awful - again, avoid at all costs unless just coming for cocktails in the bar area.
I took my mother in law to dinner at Zola during the holiday break. Unfortunately, we did not have a great experience. The place is really nice but I was not a fan of the food.
We ordered the lobster cake appetizer, which came out like a jello cake. We actually sent it back, and I NEVER send anything back. The menu described it as what I thought would be a crab cake like app.
I will return here for drinks but not for dinner.
I went here on a date and since we didn't make reservations we had a 20 minute wait. In the end, we're both very chill and were like let's order at the bar! Same menu & easier access to drinks ;) the service was average, good but not amazing but that could've been b/c we were at the bar. The food was delicious and I'm pretty sure they have their 3 for $30 deal at certain hours of the day which is an amazing deal for a nice restaurant. I would go back there again and will make reservations next time! P.S. Their drinks are pretty awesome! =)
I had been here for drinks before, but never a meal. My coworker suggested we hit it up for restaurant week and I am so glad she did.
First of all the drinks. They have a good bar and people seem to enjoy their mixed drinks, but unlike some restaurants, they have put a little time into their non-alc drinks. The lemonade, iced tea and Zola Arnold Palmer are perfect for a workday lunch (and not a "Mad Men" workday lunch). Don't get me wrong, I love a cocktail, but this is a place that knows their clientele.
For restaurant week, the whole menu was available, however in "smaller portions" according to our waiter. Honestly, I don't know how these could be larger. My smoked trout came with two fillets; my co-worker's burger was so big that he, a large fellow, could only eat; my other co-worker's lobster mac and cheese (by far the most popular dish in the place) was a full pan of the dish straight out of the oven. The food was really quite good, my trout was well smoked and floated delicately above a delicious salad and corn cake.
As for the deserts, the ice cream that accompanied them were better than the pastries themselves. My gingersnap iced cream that accompanied the Apple and Quince Tart had a great bite to it that was rounded out when the sugar sunk in.
My main complain was the soup of the day that started off the meal. It was absurdly salty. Although I do love salty food, it overwhelmed the favor of the tomatoes in the soup. Too bad for an otherwise great meal.
I've been to Zola twice, once for food and once for drinks.
The atmosphere is great -- the design plays off the Spy Museum downstairs, so the fogged glass walls have words relating to security and intelligence written in many different languages. The interior is chic, with what I consider to be soft, seductive lighting.
The first time, I came for food. I got the lamb meatball sliders for my appetizer, which were deliciously seasoned and perfectly sized.
For my main course, I had "Smokey Yogurt Glazed Lamb Loin", described as braised lamb shank, currant and marcona almond stuffed crepe. Also perfect.
Definitely wanted to try the Zola aka: The White Knight, "dedicated to the man who stood up in defense of an accused spy. We bring Van Gogh Vodka, Cointreau, White Cranberries and crushed Limes together to form a more perfect union."
The next time, I came for drinks. Apparently there's always old dudes at the bar hitting on the young women who come, so there's that to look out for.
Zola has a blueberry mango mojito which I must say is crazy good -- the blueberries in it add to an already yummy mojito.
Definitely get a good feeling about the place -- it's not that expensive and is great for dates (not that those two should go together =) ).
The restaurant is very nice and has a very good atmosphere. There isn't a dress code but I feel it should have one. I went with a bunch of friends wearing jeans and sneakers and felt we were under dressed.
The food was there was okay, not great; just okay. The Lobster Mac & Cheese side was good.
I'd come back again for dinner. Seems like it would be a cool place to meet up for some drinks too.
Take your out-of-town visitor HERE.
Why?
It's very DC, but more subtle than, say, Old Ebbit Grille. No paintings of the White House here, yet it's Austin Powers funk-ay spy theme going on is, I would argue, equally "our nation's capital."
Oh, and the modern American food is superb. Every dish I read about, saw, and ate was familiar in the slightest sense, but then completely reworked to give it an extra excitement.
Cannot wait to return.
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Category: Greek
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Category: French
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Penn Quarter
Category: American (New)
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