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ZuZu!
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Nightlife Bars Middle Eastern, Music Venues, Bars [Edit]
474 Massachusetts AveCambridge, MA 02139
Neighborhood: Central Square
(617) 864-3278
- Nearest Transit:
-
Brookline St @ Green St (47)
Green St @ Pearl St (47, 64, 70, 70A)
Massachusetts Ave @ Sidney St (1, CT1)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
191 reviews for ZuZu!
Review Highlights
"Soul-le-lu-jah is a fun, unpretentous good time."
(in 17 reviews)
"The whipped garlic was too intense and i love garlic."
(in 17 reviews)
"I always have soo much funnn dancing here."
(in 47 reviews)
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191 reviews in English
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Review from Madeline N.
Cambridge, MA
12/4/2011
After walking by a long list of tweens (waiting for a "Justin Bieber" like concert according to my waiter) I was happy to see that there was no line for brunch at Zuzu.
It was Madonna Brunch (despite the fact that we were listening to non-Madonna songs as well) and both of us indulged in fancy eggs benedict. Meatloaf, poached eggs, bacon, arugala/spinach salad for me and pulled pork, bleu cheese, poached eggs, baguette, and homefries for him. The side of sweet potato latkes was also a win!
Total damage, $20 a piece. Not the best brunch of my life but high points for creativity on the benedict and an unrushed atmosphere with friendly service. -
Review from Daphna R.
Tucson, AZ
10/16/2011
I came here on a date for some late night coffee.
The service was right on, the coffee was so-so and the random musician in the window was amazing!
I love the vibe and I love spending time here before shows the Middle East! -
Review from Sarah E.
9/11/2011
Very good Mediterranean. Very helpful in recommending entree, apps and drinks.
Disappointed that wait staff moved us because DJ arrived early to 'setup'.
The place quickly turned a into night club and we quickly made an exit. -
Review from S. M. S.
Boston, MA
12/11/2011
A dumpy restaurant that stinks like a dirty bar and is best enjoyed by college-age kids on a Saturday night.
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Review from David C.
8/16/2011
My boyfriend and I went to ZuZu a while back and had a great meal. I love to eat with my hands, and forks were definitely not necessary that night as we used our endless basket of pita to feed ourselves. We split two pupu platters, the vegetarian and the Zuzu, because how can you go wrong with a pupu platter (or two)? Everything was good, but the meat options tended to outshine the veggies. If your a fan of dip, then I highly recommend the vegetarian platter, as it comes with an assortment the likes of which I have never seen (including some whipped garlic that is out of this world). We also ordered the sumac rock shrimp for an appetizer (it came with the entrees, but whatevs) which was delicious.
Overall, I think Zuzu is pretty good for the price, but they really drop the ball on dessert. I got the chocolate baklava sundae and it was one of the blandest, most uninspired desserts I have ever had (and this is coming from the guy who used to smuggle baklava home from the dining hall when they made it at school). I would have been much better off simply sticking with the pupu (tee hee).
3.5 Stars -
Review from Mathias G.
Allston, MA
5/22/2011
Good God. Harold Camping, you were right. I experienced Rapture on May 21st, and it was Zuzu's Soulelujah dance night.
I haven't had that much fun on a Saturday night in a long time. This in some ways might be an incomplete review since I only got one beer and did little else but cut a rug. All I can say is that it was crowded in a good way, the energy was extremely positive, the music was GREAT, and I left drenched in sweat with a smile on my face. I don't know how I went four years of college without having been there before. I'm graduating tomorrow, and i can happily say that I could not have found a better way to end my college career in Boston than by gettin down tat 474 Mass Ave.
Zuzu, I will return to you next Saturday to reclaim my soul, which I proudly left on your dance floor. -
Review from Kristen H.
Cambridge, MA
4/22/2011
The sweet lil dance gem of the MidEast complex, Zuzu is where it's at if you are in Central and looking for a party without the Top 40 insanity that can take over Boston.
The nights have affordable covers and are completely diverse. Monday is a free live rock show around 10 with barside poster coloring (!) earlier in the evening. Tuesdays (BONA|FIDE), Fridays (Solid!), and Saturdays (Soul-le-lu-jah) will get you moving with everything from funk, dance, house, or soul plus all the lovely audio bits in between. Other highlights include bi-weekly Sunday movie nights and a monthly rap/hip hop Thursday.
Granted, it's a small space and on the popular nights the dance floor can get pretty comfy. But we're all there to escape the drama, so just go with the flow and lift those hands in the air (fun and on some evenings, neccessary).
Keep an eye out for their Mass Ave. patio seating to open up on warm days. Nothing like some falafel and a 'gansett to go with your Central Square people watching. -
Review from Taylor S.
Boston, MA
5/8/2011
Soul-le-lu-jah!!
Dancing? Soul music? ...mixed dranks?
--It's the best version of 'crowded.'
--It's a cover worth paying.
--It's music that doesn't make you wanna poke out your own eyeballs and feed them to Miley Cyrus.
Basically. Get yo' dance on and prepare for the best Saturday night everrrrrrrrrrrrr. -
Review from Thana T.
Boston, MA
4/5/2011
Holy hot pants, how have I failed to write a review for this place, yet?!
I am absolutely 100% in lust with Zuzu. I don't want no long term thing, Zu, but I will be all over you in the wee hours of Friday morning. About twice a month, in fact. Coincidentally, whenever my favourite DJ is playing. I'll get all dressed up, with a little touch of 'hipster' (when in Rome, you know..) and get a little saucy with you on the dance floor. And maybe also a little sauced ('gansett, what up).
Granted, I don't know much about you in your daily life. But, as I said, I'm just trying to have fun on a Friday night with you. Friends with dancing benefits? I'm down.Listed in: Dress Up and Get Down
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Review from Shendi X.
Boston, MA
10/9/2011
I unabashedly feasted on brilliantly-made lamb shank while taking in a nostalgia-inducing (NYC) West Village bohemia interior - pleasantly shocked at how wonderful the food was to my palate, and pleased at the fantastic and attentive service. And: purple is an excellent choice of wall color - it must be said.
-
Review from Humberto A.
Boston, MA
3/2/2011
Its Friday or saturday night in Cambridge-Boston. Maybe you're hang-over, depressed, broke or simply sick of bad hip-hop, second-hand club mixes or the summer top songs.. The thing is, you need a boost, but really don't want to have to dress up or spend a lot of money. All you want is to dance in a place where music is king.
That place is ZuZu. Soul, Funk, an occasional pop-rock song, the music is the most consistent I've seen in the Great Boston area! It's fresh and simple, and people super friendly too!
The place isn't super big, quite on the contrary, so try to be there before 11h30 or you might have to wait over 30minutes!
$5 at the door!
An absolute favorite. -
Review from Monique S.
Somerville, MA
11/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
I LOVED this place! It was so much fun. I went on a Friday night. The cover is ten dollars. The drinks start at a five dollar beer and go up from there. The jalapeno margarita is potent and will clear your sinuses.
The crowd was a welcomed relief and something I hadn't seen thus far in my Boston journey. Everyone was so friendly and having a great time. We all danced with each other, dancing the night away.
The staff was very friendly, and the bartender with the fro was so quick and on it. I really appreciated that.
Definitely a fun place to enjoy a Friday night!Listed in: Where I like to Boogie!
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Review from Sallie S.
Boston, MA
11/2/2010
I've only been to Zuzu's for Soulelujah, so that is what I'm basing my review on.
Constantly voted one of the top dance nights in the city, Soulelujah is a great place to let loose for a mere $5 cover charge. It gets packed quick, which is great, but note that this is a verrrry small place. Here's my advice... I suggest wearing clothes you don't really care about or that aren't dry-clean only, because they will definitely get sweaty and booze-covered by the end of the night. Also, don't wear too many clothes, since it gets effing hot on that dance floor. And don't wear sandals if you plan on dancing because your feet will definitely get stepped on. Oh, and if you're on the shorter side, don't be surprised by the constant beer showers from other party-goers showing off their dance moves.
One of the greatest (and funniest) parts of this place is the hand sanitizer station on the wall next door (in the Middle East "Upstairs") - I recommend rubbing it all over your body before you leave. Did I mention this place is small and gets packed? And the sweat and beer? Etc.? Definitely take a shower when you get home! :p
Oh, and you'll have a super kicka$$ time if you let yourself go a little crazy and don't take yourself too seriously. :) -
Review from Pat G.
Boston, MA
4/26/2011
Get there early because there will be a line on the weekend. A line that can expect great music, cheap drinks and a dance floor full of people having a good time.
It can be crowded in there, but I always found the people here to be very chill, not like Faneuil Hall where one bumped elbow could unleash a steroid-induced fury. So if you really want to cut loose and rest assured that you won't hear the same old thing, there's no place better in Boston. -
Review from Dessa R.
2/15/2011
Dancing at Zuzu- a time-honored Cambridge tradition. I'll concede that the line is annoyingly long on Friday and Saturday nights, and moves with the fluidity of molasses. I admit that they pack out their dance space to the point of virtually zero range of personal motion. But you know what?
So. worth. it.
For a measly five spot, I can shake it like I do when no one is looking to some universally-appealing tunes with a wide mix of anyone and everyone from every major social scene in Boston. Hippies and hipsters and ravers and indies and woo-girls come together for a merry buffet of all things dancey. The DJs totally know how to work the crowd.
Coat check? Nah. Everyone just tosses their gear on the couches in a massive mountain of goose down, wool, and Gortex. The drinks are stiff, the tunes are good, and the crowd is friendly. And no one is going to look twice at your purple pumas (except maybe with justifiable admiration)! Leave the expensive Blahniks at home, but you can pretty much rock whatever you want.
And I'll say it again-- FOR FIVE BUCKS.
A guaranteed good time, every time. -
Review from Benjamin K.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/10/2011
NOTE: I'm only commenting on ZuZu's Saturday night Soul-le-lejah:
1) It is WAY too crowded. The space is tiny and it fills up by 10, and then it is a mosh pit. There is no dancing to be had, just bouncing around and getting smacked in the face by drunks who think they know how to swing dance.
2) The DJ is not a DJ. He simply plays one soul song after the other, with terrible pauses between. While the individual songs are great, paying any amount of money for a dance night whose DJ cannot even transition from one song to the next, (let alone actually DJ) is not.
3) Despite points 1 and 2 above, I have enjoyed myself over the years at soul-le-lejuah. Probably because I got there early and was drunk. But, after this past Saturday, I will never go again unless the owner offers my friends and I, and all the people who were waiting in line past 11pm, a private evening of drinks, appetizers, and music by a real DJ. Why? Because at 11:30, after my friends had been waiting in line for close to an hour, the doorman let in the editor of the Dig and his group of 15-20 friends, ahead of everyone.
Come on ZuZu - I thought highschool was over. -
Review from Amanda G.
8/19/2011
This is for Tuesday Lesbian dance night. BEST dancing ever. The DJ rocks and knows how to work with the crowd with a mix of old 80s/90s and current pop. I love going here as a straight girl - no creepy men around. Although wouldn't you know the older straight male in there asked me to dance guessing correctly I played on his side. The girls are fun, the beer is cheap, and it gets hot in there (climate wise). I have gone with my best guy friend here and danced the night away. By far, my fave dance night around. It's just tough to wake up for work on wed morn...
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Review from Andrzrej K.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I still am not sure which place I was actually in, this was the first place to come up with the check-in proximity evaluation device.
So I asked the girls next to me, and they didnt know- all they said was there was an "upstairs", which was "back there" and a "downstairs" which was "out there" and also a "next door" which was "over there"...
so Im still clueless, but they did inform me that the band on the rather regular def flatscreen above me was not the band playing the music becuase "we are from Weymouth and thats where they are from" - I still dont know whom they were referring to .
p.s.
I think I saw Aesop Rock here 6 or 7 years ago somewhere in this abashment. It was Loud. -
Review from Michelle C.
Brookline, MA
2/6/2011
Soul-le-lu-jah. It's a damn fine way to spend Saturday nights and they consistently have DJ's that know what's up.
A huge issue is that the party doesn't start until 11 and we all know how the T operates. And since I will be drinking heavily to cope with the extreme claustrophobia that is no doubt induced by the whole at-capacity thing that ZuZu! is constantly dealing with, I definitely am relying on public transport.
Alas, worth the trip out if I can win a couch to crash on. ALSO, this bar is often filled with attractive people. So put that in the 'pro' column. -
Review from Kate S.
Bolton, MA
2/2/2011
This is a drinks-only review.
The drinks are very good. Not WOW!!! But very good. Also, they are generous with the alcohol.
The staff is attractive and nice, but not extremely friendly.
It's a small bar, so go early to get a seat! -
Review from Ethan F.
Allston, MA
1/10/2011
Ok time...if you can get in. But honestly, not worth the wait.
Over the years I've realized just how little the staff at this place care about their guests. If you want to dance there are better places in Boston/Cambridge that actually care and ultimately have a more positive atmosphere.
Check out the Cantab Lounge instead. Live bands, everyone knows each other and cheaper beer :-) -
Review from Colleen F.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I work here, I play here. Never get tired of it, because there's always something new. Drive-in movie nights, soul night, local bands, gay/straight/everything in between night, incredible drinks (ask TD for a 'sunburst'), and a really welcoming atmosphere. There is one rule at ZuZu -- the awesome rule. Just be awesome, rad, etc, and you'll have a great time.
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Review from Rebecca K.
Middlesex, MA
7/27/2010
Not sure what my review can add to the 150 other reviews, but why not?
Came here tonight with a friend when we were wandering around Central looking for somewhere new to try. We definitely hit the lull between dinner and dancing (arrived ~9:30, left ~11, just enough time for one drink and catching up.) Didn't order food. I got a mojito (delish!) and she got a beer.
We got to crash on the couch (yay couches! definitely a plus) and drink our drinks. And apparently, we got in before they started charging a cover, which is always exciting.
Not the most exciting night, but ZuZu definitely hit the spot for what we were looking for. Maybe I'll come back at a more happening time or for food. We'll see... -
Review from jordan n.
Cambridge, MA
8/9/2011
I actually did not realize they had food but man was it a nice surprise. Order up a storm of Mediterranean small plates the kabobs and fetta and tomato salad were great. Cool staff in a hip spot! Very affordable as well
J -
Review from Hana T.
Boston, MA
10/15/2007 ROTD 8/30/2008
I lost my falafel cherry here. It was bad. Bad bad experience.
Late weekday afternoon, no one is around much.
Oh! A quicky lunch?
Wrong!
Falafel- good, hot, and tasty?
Nope!
Falafel- long, dark, weird, and dry?
Yes!
A music venue- ZuZu is cool
But they're such a PITA- no, not the bad pita bread in my bad falafel sandwich
A PAIN IN THA ASS for a quick lunch
ZuZu? BooBoo! -
Review from Orly M.
Somerville, MA
10/7/2009
So I had a friend who kept trying to get me to come out to ZuZu(!!!?) and I kept resisting because I associated it with mediocre Middle Eastern food and smelly hipsters. And making out with smelly hipsters. And stale Joseph's pita bread in plastic baggies.
Friday night at ZuZu!!!!!! was a good time though -- the music was good, the crowd was sketchy. I met a guy with the same birthday as me who also had freckles -- OMG SOULMATES -- wait no, he was 5 years younger than me and half my size. But he was awesome. Also awesome was the old asian man who proclaimed his love to me and may have possibly proposed (it was loud in there). If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.
I'll be back.Listed in: Drunken Adventures
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Review from Kat V.
2/5/2010
DISCLAIMER: Not review of the food but of the cocktails, setup and staff dealing with a large group.
If you would have asked me what I was going to give ZuZu before my toes crossed the threshold, I would have been aiming high to say I was going to walk out with 3 stars...I am now eating my words, and happily.
I planned a Thirsty Thursday event for ZuZu. I knew the place was small, but I did not know how small (I think the sign on the wall had capacity of less than 65). I knew they opened at 5pm, which made it difficult for me to catch someone at a good time to give them a heads-up about our group coming in. So, I'll admit it, I was fearing the worst, but based on the reviews of my fellow Yelpers I forged ahead. Man, I have to listed to you guys more often!!
Yes - there is a distinct scent to the place based primarily on the menu and adjacent/partner business (The Middle East) which I am not a fan of, but I knew that going in and it is/was worth getting over.
HUGE shout out to Lisa, the MOD and John (?), the bartender. We had a group of almost 30 people at one point and both Lisa and John were awesome! Lisa did everything she could to accommodate our party and went above and beyond! She even checked back throughout the evening to see how we were doing...amazing! John did not even get annoyed with us when we inundated him with adult bevie requests.
As the DJ was setting up (NO COVER - FREE LIVE DJ on Thursday's..just a lil FF...) the place started to fill up and made for great people watching. Once the music started, the Yelp crew got is swerve on on the dance floor. The night could not have gone any better!
The venue, the cocktails, the music, the staff - all 5 stars.
Now to just go back and try the food....Listed in: Thirsty Thursday Hot Spots
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Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2007 1 photo
A fantastic place for a chill meal - delicious Mediterranean food, casual but interesting ambiance and interesting people. We started with a mezze platter, complete with a mini-fire pit, great presentation. It consisted of grilled lamb, a myriad of savory dips and sauces (yummmm garlic and eggplant), chicken egg-roll like things, spinach dumplings, dolmas and other yummy munchies. The salmon entree was a so-so, I'd stick to the other meats, but came with crunchy haricot verts and a light yogurt sauce. They serve a decent selection of wine and beer as well.
The staff was hipster cool, barkeep had an afro. Extra points for picking it out proper. Hawt. I like this place a lot, laid back not snobby or trying to hard. Overall, I'm so glad I live five minutes away. I can picture myself becoming a regular here.Listed in: Get In My Belly, Cambridge Gems, Music to My Ears, Late Night Eats
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Review from Tony K.
Somerville, MA
11/18/2010
The ZuZu PuPu is awesome!
I came here drunkenly after a wine tasting at Central Bottle looking for a kebab or something. My date and I ended up splitting the pu pu platter and it was exactly what we needed! All the typical middle easter spreads (including whipped garlic! dang that is powerful!), grape leaves, kebabs, and more! The presentation is elaborate, bordering on unnecessary, but it was fun considering the unruly state we were in :)
I will definitely return for a full meal and update. -
Review from L D.
Montclair, NJ
1/25/2007
I know it's terribly confusing but let's clarify here:
Middle East Upstairs = small music venue behind the bar restaurant
Middle East Downstairs = large music venue underneath another bar restaurant (below Middle East Corner, if you want to be completely specific)
ZuZu = small restaurant that sometimes has live music INSIDE the restaurant
So. This review is for ZuZu, the small middle eastern restaurant that is sandwiched between Middle East Upstairs and Middle East Corner. Everyone understand?
ZuZu has delicious food but, like everyone has mentioned, the service can be terrible. They sometimes bring over the waitresses from the Middle East Upstairs restaurant and when that happens, look out; the women act as surly in the nice restaurant as they do in the crappy one. But the food, as I said, is delicious and totally worth it. I highly recommend the ZuZu Platter to split between friends (the whipped garlic can be had at all sides of the Middle East and is deadly; don't plan to make out with anyone or even speak for at least two days). I looooove their version of the Cuban sandwich but I recently heard it was removed from the menu. I also heard you can still order it if you're nice.
Saturday nights kick ass when the Soul-le-lu-jah DJs spin dirty soul and the restaurant packs ass-to-ass with booty shaking awesomeness. Good luck getting a drink; the bartenders are notoriously slow.
Prices are average for the neighborhood. All sides of the Middle East are easily accesible by red line and #1 bus plus there's plenty of parking around Central Square. -
Review from Erica S.
Media, PA
5/4/2008
Dance! I mean really, really get down. Shake your tush, swing your hips, jump and bend, throw your hands in the air. Do whatever feels right and Zuzu will make you feel right at home. Freedom!
Zuzu is particularly special because it attracts such an eclectic crowd. This isn't just hipsters or club kids or white yuppie types. Here you'll find everyone from all walks of life, with one thing in common-- they came to get DOWN.
Fridays, enjoy a hot mix of hip hop, funk, club hits, old school, soul, reggae... whatever the DJ is feeling. Saturdays, hit up one of the best dance nights in all of Greater Boston, Soul-le-lu-jah, Zuzu's Soul Night. Rock out to James Brown, Etta James, and Stevie Wonder in an atmosphere conducive to dancing however the hell you want, so long as you're having fun. Grab a beer or a nice strong drink and let loose.
A quick word to the wise: Even in the winter, LAYER, and then prepare to strip them off. If you're not a hot, sweaty mess after an hour at Zuzu, either you caught them on an off night, or you're doing it all wrong.Listed in: I came to get down!
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Review from Sasha R.
Dartmouth, MA
9/26/2007
How do you satisfy three indecisive girls at once...
1) Be close to the next venue
2) Be reasonably inexpensive
3) Have high multiple small snack/low large entree potential
4) Allow loud conversation and laughing
5) Have no wait to sit down
All requirements met by Zuzu.
Red walls and bar stools, glass front cabinets - and! Pay attention! Pictures of wolves (that's right) adorning the walls - made for a laid back atmosphere. Additionally, I rather enjoy watching hipsters stewing in their own juices. Last night, for example, there was an abnormally high scruffy beard per capita ratio, which I filed in my sociological observations drawer.
The lamb Kebabs were tender and tasty, but if you get them, don't even think of trying the "yogurt" sauce, unless you like ground up raw garlic. Baba Ghannoush mmm good! But missing the roasted flavor I generally like. Also, superfluous use of curry powder made the otherwise perfectly chopped and dressed fattoush unnecessarily spicy.
Service was a litle slow, maybe, but then, we were itching to get our trivia on. In actuality, we were in and out in under an hour.
Whaddup Middle East. Thanks for Zuzu. -
Review from Colleen Y.
Cambridge, MA
1/11/2009
I am annoyed by exclamation points. But I guess I can let Zuzu! off this time. A great prof of mine once told me, pretend like you have 1 exclamation point to use for the rest of your life...and use it wisely.
I can't hate on Zuzu! though, I would wait in line for hours if that is what it took to get into Soul le lu jah. Straight motown, funk, fun. Last night I waited for 45 minutes, in the snow and heels and it was so worth it. I can't remember ever visiting a place with people enjoying each other so much, and I mean enjoying each other haha.
It definitely is not a 'nice to meet you' kind of place...which can be refreshing. But I wouldn't go there with less than 3 people because you will get bored of just dancing with the same person all night.
The second key ingredient is the bar. They don't pack the place (love that) so you can actually get from one side of the room to the other in less than 5 minutes. Its a pain to go out and end up navigating through the crowd all night. The bartender was such a pretty lady, stunning really. She poured amazing shots that were more like the drinks most bars pour. Plus, after a drunken night of buying red stripe and kamikazes my tab was pretty reasonable.
I left my jacket, gloves, hat, purse, you name it, on a jukebox all night; Zuzu! (slash Cambridge) has that community feel and my friends and I were totally comfortable leaving our stuff so we could focus on dancing. The only thing that was annoying is the bathroom situation, it is a bit of an issue but that's per the norm.
In hindsight I kind of wish I hadn't written this review. I don't really want anyone else to go to Zuzu! ;). But I have to give them their due for making my night rock. So, thank you Zuzu! and see you soon. -
Review from darcy d.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
3/29/2006
Zuzu is one of the best night spots i've found in my 6 years in Boston. It's right next to the Middle East and it seems to be a good size for a restaurant, but as a night spot it can get packed... and that's not a bad thing! The best part about Zuzu is Soul-eh-lu-jah, where they have DJs that spin funk & soul music ON VINYL (not on those fake cd turntables that some DJs like to use now). When i went the place was packed and the music was awesome-- they were playing mostly songs i wouldn't ever discover on my own, not your run of the mill stuff... really original... literally the origin of music today from the 50s 60s & 70s. So obviously because of this type of music's uniqueness it's a 'hip' scene. Don't let that scare you; it's not full of annoying hipsters and it's not like Middlesex Lounge after 11 (full of frat boys and meatheads). It had a totally ecclectic mix of people.
Also, you have the option to eat there while it's still a restaurant, then stay for the music and dancing once the food stops being served at 10. -
Review from Devon M.
5/17/2008
So while I am old, and generally don't go out to clubs much, I do enjoy coming here for good eats, a great space to hang out, decent drinks, and good music. We've only split one thing here: the ZuZu Platter, or the Vegetarian platter. Why? It's delicious. The ZuZu platter consists of grape leaves, spinach dumplings, empanadas, brik, kibbeh mishi, kabobs, hummus baba ganooj, harissa & whipped garlic, all on a big, tiered display. It's pretty reasonably priced at $23 to split between two or three folks.
Also, this is generally a nice place to chill before seeing a show (as long as it's not packed, of course) before shows at The Middle East or TT's. And musically, the last time I was in, they were playing some Led Zeppelin and some Velvet Underground. Most excellent. -
Review from Deepa C.
Somerville, MA
9/26/2007
After Sasha, Tarah and I gchatted for HOURS (seriously) about where to eat in Central, we landed on Zuzu's. Good choice ladies!
I liked:
The decor - love the lighting and the atmosphere it supplies. For some reason, the layout reminded me of Brown and Brew at Tufts (well spaced out but still cozy).
The bartender's hair. Awesome.
The crowd - if there is a "Cambridge flavor" Zuzu's has it in spades. Very hip.
The food - SO good. Our babaganush had these great feta undertones. My spinach feta thingies had a subtle lemon flavor to it. My falafel was very good (albeit a big over friend, but still delicious) and Sasha's salad was tasty (I think I am getting that next time). Everyone enjoyed the spiced pita as well.
The service. Our food was a little slow to come out (maybe it felt like that bc I was starving, not sure) but after that, not one problem. Glasses were filled, jokes were made, cards were split, change was made.
There really wasn't much to complain about. The menu is kind of limited, but I don't really see that as a problem. Maybe if you were a vegetarian, you could only get a few dishes, but I tried some of those dishes and they are really good.
I will be back for the salad and the tangines! -
Review from Lindley E.
Chicago, IL
8/25/2009
Maybe I'm a bad person for finding ZuZu! merely mediocre. I could care less about the dancing. I'm here for the food, and in ZuZu!'s case, I should have sent a proxy.
The grub is palatable but average - given ZuZu! is part of the Middle East empire, and the ME's food is also pretty mediocre, there's really no surprise there. We had the Vegetarian Pupu platter and while it offered a fun mix of treats, there was nothing in the mix that made me want to come back for more. Everything was average. Which is a pity, because if you are going to get down and dirty with the spreads and fried goodies, they better be mind blowing. And my mind wasn't.
I have no idea what ZuZu! is like during dance nights because we came here for a quick bite before an opening and got the hell out before the disco began. But I do like the intimate setting, the draft beers, and the friendly but spotty service. I would expect no less of the hipster staff. -
Review from Sarah G.
Somerville, MA
4/17/2007
SOUL-LEH-LU-JAH!!! Line was long, so we left and came back. Andy Warhol's doppelganger at the door wouldn't let us in because the place was too packed, so we commenced dancing our asses off on the sidewalk. He opened the door and let us in, crediting our antics for our admission. I take no credit though. It is impossible not to move to that music.
You WILL dance. My bf does not dance, ever, to the point where we've had fights and doubts about whether our relationship could survive his flat-footed stubbornness (or my disco fever, whatever) but he did not stop moving for 3 hours straight. The line is worth it. See you on Saturday.Listed in: Central Square...
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Review from Sarah R.
Somerville, MA
9/17/2007
Last Friday was my first non-dining experience at Zuzu, and I daresay that it saved the night.
I came here for Kabir H's birthday shenanigans, where we started out at Middlesex. Boooooo. We were doomed to spend the evening in minimalist hell, surrounded by asshats. And then someone had the brilliant idea to move the party over to Zuzu. Props to that person. I'd kiss you if I could!
Way to bring it, Zuzu. The evening that followed was ass-shakingly awesome. The DJ had the skills to pay the bills. Everyone in our party was sweaty and having a blast. There were no asshats to be found here. The doors were open to the night air. All was good. Also good: the fact that I didn't dine and have the whipped garlic before getting my groove on. Garlic breath in close quarters: big no-no. -
Review from Sally F.
Brookline, MA
1/19/2010
I came in here with a friend before reviewing a show at The Middle East to grab a quick drink. It was really crowded in here and people were waiting for tables. I was immediately drawn to the warmth and decor of the place; it managed to be both welcoming and quirky, without seeming like it was trying too hard to be "hipster chic."
Lisa, the manager (? Owner?), welcomed my friend and I in like we were out of town friends in for a visit. She was so nice and friendly and went out of her way to find us a spot at the bar (she did!). While we were waiting, I asked her (in my usual fashion) if anything was gluten-free, just for future reference. She said the kebabs certainly are and that any of the dips could be served with tortilla chips instead of pita bread. Score! Whether or not the chips are fried in-house and therefore contaminate by any gluten-ous foods fried in the same oil, I couldn't say, but I would certainly check before ordering. She said other things on the menu probably were, but as I wasn't planning on eating there that night, it seemed obnoxious to go over each item.
Once seated at the bar, I ordered a glass of champagne--hey, every day in Sally world is celebration-worthy!--and turns out they didn't have any available, but the really nice (and adorable in a cute little dress!) bartender gave me a single glass of one that they only sell by bottle. Wohoo! Thanks for breaking the rules, cute bartender chick! She was really nice, I didn't get her name, but she managed to be really friendly without disrupting the conversation between my friend and I...the sign of a really great bartender.
I'll be back for kebabs! Bonus points for being connected to a venue I spend half my life inside!Listed in: Gluten-Free Friendly
