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Restaurant Zoë
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Canadian (New), Bars [Edit]
1318 E Union St(between 13th Ave & 14th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98122
Neighbourhood: Central District
(206) 256-2060
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
442 reviews for Restaurant Zoë
Review Highlights
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"Then, we had a complimentary amuse bouche with chick pea." In 29 reviews -
"The pork belly confit and tongue are indescribable." In 10 reviews -
"The whole hog was my favorite." In 23 reviews
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442 reviews in English
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Review from Ingrid D.
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
And then... We had desert.
Just when we tasted the chocolate orb and the Meyer lemon tart, we knew Zoe did deserve 5 stars indeed. Super friendly staff... Amazing dinner from start to finish. Just perfect.
I highly recommend it.
(but for a perfect night, avoid the steak tartare ;-) ) -
Review from Annie L.
5/7/2012
Ahhh! Was a fan, still a fan.
I knew Zoe before she joined her fellow ex-Belltown restaurant siblings on Capitol Hill. And really happy to know she hasn't lost herr touch--believe it or not, she has gotten better.
From fries with the most addicting aioli to manila clams in wine, I enjoyed every minute and every bite. Their menu changes, but if you ever see pappardelle, it is a MUST. And they have oyster with a refreshing citrus concoction that I will exclusively return for.Listed in: the all-star list!!
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Review from Stephen W.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2012
I went into the restaurant RIGHT after it opened (within days) because I was excited to try it out. They have a fairly large restaurant, and at the time, a handful of customers.
The hostess was really bitchy! She (in a very condescending tone) asked if I had a reservation... Well, no, you just opened, it's 8:30 on a Tuesday evening and you've got 50 open tables... why would I make a reservation?
She informed me that it would be a 30-45 minute wait for one of the empty, not reserved tables. Fortunately for shitty planners like myself, there were two seats at the bar. Thank Jesus they had open seating for me!
The bartender made this experience a lot better. He wasn't an ass hole, was super nice and the food was good. Overall, a good experience, but they really should fire that chick at the door.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 5/3/2012
Stephen, Thanks for you feed back on your experience. We've… More » -
Review from Joyce J.
Updated - 4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here for the first time last Sunday since Zoe moved to this location. My opinion of this restaurant improved significantly since my last visit. My previous impression of this restaurant was that the bread was awesome, the gnudi was heavenly, and everything else went downhill after the appetizer. Well, the bread was still awesome, the gnudi still great, and the dishes after the starters were awesome this time.
The complimentary amuse bouche of chilled asparagus soup with creme fraiche was delightful. It came in a little espresso mug and the freshness of asparagus carried through as you drank it. The airy and smooth texture of the soup broadened one's imagination for how asparagus can be prepared without losing its true flavors.The baby beet salad with grades and arugula had every component of an awesome salad. It did not quite make the top five of my salad list but it was close and was very enjoyable.
My friend and I split a duck confit entree that was the special of the day. The duck was served over quinoa and some sort of green. The skin on the confit was browned perfectly. The dish was simple but very nicely done.
The highlight of the meal was definitely the dessert! The vanilla panna cotta with apricot caviar and roasted strawberries easily placed in my top five panna cotta ever. The panna cotta was placed between speculaas and didn't look like how I would have picture it. But I was surprised by the complexity of the flavors, the mixing of textures, and how well all of the flavors and textures went together. If I had ordered another one after eating it, I probably would have enjoyed second one just as much because the panna cotta was THAT good.
The service at this place was also very welcoming. Even though our waitress had to apologize twice (once for the special gnocchi running out and the second time for the salad we ordered running out) she was very attentive and did not rush us. Overall it was a very pleasant meal.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/8/2010
The gnudi were amazing! They were heavenly. Because of it, the entrees and the desserts didn't… Read more »
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Review from Hila B.
Central District, Seattle, WA
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wanted to check this place out because it has so many great reviews and it's close to my house, but as great as my expectations were, so was my disappointment, especially from the food!! Will not go there again.
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Review from Jamie J.
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I dined here the other night, and what a lovely surprise. I have been wanting to stop in for a while, but the prior location was just out of the way for me. The new location is on capitol hill, right across the street from Skillet Diner. The new space is amazing - it's sort of country-casual but also really up-scale.
If you would like, you can dine in a separate room specifically for parties. Also, there is apparently a room in the distillery, behind the restaurant, the is available for both sitting parties and standing parties. It's supposed to be a prime space, FYI.
On to the food -
It was great! I ordered the burger, which had this sweet meets smokey taste, which was very unique. This burger can compete with the Quinn burger, if you ask me. It came with a side of fries that are paired with an herbed aioli. Yummy. The menu is actually fairly short, and limited for vegetarians and vegans. For people who like gamey dishes, this is your spot!
I really enjoyed everything about this place. The food, service, wine, ambiance, and the location are all worth a visit. They are still new in the area, so service is a bit slow... but, be patient!
Nom nom nom... hope to be back soon. -
Review from Michele B.
Seattle, WA
3/30/2012
Something was lost in the move from Belltown to Capitol Hill. The food went from stellar to just ok and the service went downhill.
I appreciated smaller-size portions and non-aggressive use of salt, but there was nothing particularly riveting about the halibut entree I ordered (served with a touch of english peas and quinoa). Dessert in the form of bour-bons was probably the highlight for me.
On the service: it felt like they were already in the weeds at 7pm; it felt like our server was actively trying not to take our order despite stopping by to appear engaged. Drinks didn't come out at the same time, and our 1st courses made it to the table before all of us had our first beverage. These weren't even cocktails, just glasses of beer and wine.
Hopefully they will get their act together, because the restaurant is beautiful and the food used to be way above average.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 4/7/2012
Thank you Michele for your review. As you probably know, we… More » -
Review from Will C.
3/12/2012
Zoe has a lot of things going for it, and makes a great spot to take a date. The interior is surprisingly large, but each room has a distinct ambiance that works. One downside is that the plates are on the small side.
My experience at Zoe was another one of those typical is-it-3-stars-or-4 meals. The food overall was of high quality, but it was uneven at times, which really detracts from the meal when the portion sizes are so small.
Both appetizers we tried were fantastic. The emmer farro was different (I can't remember ordering something like this at a restaurant before) but really good. The grain's crunchiness paired so well with the green apple bits. The gnudi was also really great, and the lamb sausage had a juicy flavor. Even as an appetizer, though, the gnudi was too small of a plate. There were four (!) gnudi and two equally-sized balls of sausage.
The entrees were pretty good but nowhere near as good as the small plates. We had a slow-cooked pork tenderloin, which was a special, and the burger. The beef itself in the burger was fantastic. I could tell because the muenster and mushrooms added little flavor at all. It was still a good burger, because the quality of the meat was so high, but I'm not sure Zoe's particular presentation really did anything. The pork was a big disappointment. Yet again, it was a tiny dish, but even setting that aside, the pork was almost flavorless. I wouldn't say it was a bad dish because it simply left no impression.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 3/12/2012
Will, thank you for your review. I appreciate the… More » -
Review from Lily S.
Updated - 3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
One more time!
I still love you, Zoe. And even more so now that you've moved to Capitol Hill.
Thank you for always serving me gnudi that melts in my mouth. You are the shit!
Love,
Lily.
PS - I'd like to dive into a tub of the celery root soup and drink my way out of it. Is that weird?
PPS - Jules & Sarah, best wait staff EVAR. Also, PLEASE BRING ME A CHOCOLATE ORB. That is all.Listed in: Top Restaurants
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/17/2010
Oh Zoe.
I just need to reiterate...
Each time we've been here we've never had a bad meal. Ever.
Case… Read more »
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Review from Bev L.
Kent, WA
3/11/2012
We never had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant Zoe when it was in Belltown, but since we're huge fans of Quinn's and Uneeda Burger, we had to check it out.
The decor is rustic, yet sophisticated. Warm and inviting yet not too "homey." Our server was also attentive and engaging.
I tried not to fill up on their wonderful fococcia bread but it kept reappearing on my plate! We started out with the ricotta gnudi and lamb sausage which was light and delectable. Our mains were the burger and the sous vide pork tenderloin. I do loves me a good burger and this was definitely a good burger. I had a couple of bites of the pork and it was also wonderful- extremely tender.
So many things to try on the menu, I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Desiree H.
Seattle, WA
4/9/2012
The Zoe of Belltown was hands down one of my favorite places to dine. I loved the bread, loved sharing the apps, and usually both my boyfriend and I would order the wild boar pasta.
I am very happy to see that the bread, and the wild boar pasta are still on the menu. The space has the same feel, open and comfortable. I like that this space is more segregated and in a nicer location.
My only problem is that service was a bit delayed on our second course, but the server apologized. I really enjoyed the attentiveness and attention paid to detail.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 4/22/2012
Desiree, Thank you for your review. Clearly I need to… More » -
Review from Emily H.
Seattle, WA
4/8/2012
I have been waiting for Restaurant Zoe since it moved to Belltown.
My boyfriend and I came there for dinner. We ordered the Braised Boar Ravioli, Gnudi and Seared Duck. We also had their cranberry orange something beverage.
Food was delicious. Would recommend every dish.
This review only receives 4 stars because it took 40 minutes for us to receive our food. After the first 20 minutes of our wait our waitress came and said that the food was taking longer due to the fact that we ordered the duck to be cooked "medium".
She never apologized and didn't acknowledge us again until our food came out, essentially she blamed our preference on causing or food to take forever to come out.
Where's the customer service? No offer to comp our non-alcoholic beverages or anything.
Didn't bother order dessert this time, might have taken another 30 min to come out.
When she brought us the check it took another 15 minutes for her to bring back our card.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 4/22/2012
Emily, Thank you for your review. Unfortunately your… More » -
Review from Amber G.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2012
First, let me just say that I rarely give a 5-star review, but if they gave half stars on Yelp, I would give the new Zoe a solid 4 1/2.
I loved Zoe in the Belltown location the three occasions I dined there before they moved, but I may actually prefer the more casual atmosphere in the new Capitol Hill location (its proximity to my place is an added bonus). What really struck me most about my experience at the new Zoe was the exceptional service, not that the food wasn't amazing.
My partner and I try to adhere to a paleo diet as much as possible (no grains, no legumes, minimal dairy), even when we dine out, which can be a challenge. I don't really like to ask for substitutions or alterations to menu items in establishments like Zoe, because I appreciate the importance of each component to a dish's overall conception. However, as I was asking our waiter about the ingredients in certain dishes to determine what we could eat, I was delighted when he told me that the chef would be more than happy to prepare any protein on the menu to my specific dietary needs if we didn't find anything suitable (which we did, in spades, but it was nice to have that option).
I love fine dining, but one of the downsides is that so often chefs can be somewhat immovable when it comes to accommodating people with dietary restrictions. It was truly refreshing and welcoming to be met with this sort of reaction rather than the polite shame and the "no substitutions" shrug I have received elsewhere. For this reason alone I would keep Zoe at the top of my list of places to eat out on those rare occasions I do. That the food is delicious and well executed (and it really, really is) is almost second to the exceptional service. -
Review from Vanessa A.
Seattle, WA
2/21/2012
This place is pretty new so I will be coming back to give then another try because while the food was excellent, it took forever to make its way out to our table. We were going on 2 hrs 20 min when our dessert (a scoop of ice cream that took 15 min) finally arrived. Dishes came out haphazardly sometimes a couple at a time and then nothing for 25 or 30 min.
Most memorable thing was the steak tartare but it was all delicious. Cocktails great too
A bit chilly in the extension part of the building where we were seated so bring a sweater if it's a cold night. -
Review from B. J.
2/17/2012 6 photos
NEW LOCATION! (Moved from downtown to Capitol Hill - just opened last week!)
AMBIENCE - A
SERVICE- A+ (Johnathan and staff were superb and friendly!)
FOOD - A
PRICE - A (worth the experience!)
Visited on 12/17/12 - we were walking around the neighborhood and discovered that
Zoe moved to Capitol Hill! YEA! They may have moved but they bought all the expertise and deliciousness up on the hill!
Swanky cool, clean rustic feel... however, seating on the bench against the wall is a little odd as you sit lower than your fellow diners sitting in chairs across from you. If you're having a meeting - sit in the chairs! You'll be sitting high and mighty!
All staff from hosting to wait staff made us feel welcome. Jonathan our server was very knowledgeable of the whole menu - describing every dish made my saliva juices start running and wanting me to try everything on the menu.
We were given a several amuse bouche throughout the meal and the continuous servings of homemade bread with chunks of salt sprinkles made you hungry for more as you dipped it into their pre-made emulsified olive oil, balsamic, anchovy, (don't remember the rest of ingredients) dip.
We shared the steak tartare/ mixed salad/ dungeness crab soup / pork tenderloin / and macaroon. - all unique "foodie" presentation and delish!
If you're a foodie and love the care of flavors and presentation - this is your place!
I'm a fan ! Great food, service, and ambience!
WELCOME TO THE HILL, ZOE! -
Review from Claire O.
2/19/2012
Had to try Restaurant Zoe as soon as possible after eagerly anticipating the Capital Hill move for months.
Overall, I'd say Restaurant Zoe was good before, but has improved on almost every dimension since moving. The space is a little more rustic vs the clean modernism of before - open kitchen, pans hanging, lots of wood - and nice views out on Union street and the garden which I really hope will contain seating in summer. It's still modern, just a bit more welcoming.
Food was good but not oustanding. We enjoyed the fries and lamb shortribs for starter. The lamb was awesome, and I enjoyed the black pepper aioli with the fries but the fries themselves could have done with being more crispy. For main course we had the salmon and a duck special with a side of brussel sprouts. The mains were delicious, but the accompaniments (polenta with the duck and quinoa with the salmon) were meh - the portioning was also a little off with an overly high meat ratio. The brussel sprouts were delish. The lemon tart for dessert was small, light and perfectly flavoured - the ideal dessert. Overall, I thought the food was better than in the previous location (new chef apparently).
Wine and drinks lists were both good, service was truly exemplary. More than worth a trip. -
Review from Jeremy H.
Seattle, WA
3/16/2012
The new space is definitely a step up for Restaurant Zoe; the atmosphere is gorgeous. The night we went we had a great server: attentive without hovering, knowledgeable of the menu and specials, and let us eat at a nice leisurely pace.
The cocktail menu here is 5 stars--mine was so good I had to have another! As for the food, Zoe has "downscaled" their menu (and prices) so it seems more New American with a French twist than straight up French, but it works. I had the pork tenderloin, which was slightly too rare for my taste, but the mostarda made up for that, and the roasted brussel sprouts were a star of the dish instead of an afterthought. One of my dining companions had a celery root soup that was also extremely delicious. I gotta say that while I enjoyed my food, I missed the fois gras. Portions are small, but the food was rich, so that was ok.
The new Restaurant Zoe is a great addition to my neighborhood, and I'm sure I'll be there often. -
Review from Amikam R.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 5/14/2012
Restaurant Zoë used to be in a cramped space in Belltown and now it's in nicer digs on Capitol Hill. There is an inner room, with a bar and a view of the kitchen and a larger space that has skylights and outdoor ambiance.
We were four for dinner on a Saturday. The place was far from full when we came but filled up more later. After doing the common restaurant trick of trying to seat us at the worst table available we got a better table in the inner room. The place was very noisy.
The menu is not too long but the wine list is. The marinated beet salad was very good as was the chilled asparagus soup.The salmon was moist and very nice, its accompaniments. - especially the very hard bacon bits - less so. The gnudi were good. The desserts looked very interesting but only one was tasted- the caramels which were good.
The service was knowledgeable and very good.
Overall: good food at reasonable prices and very professional service.
So, why the three stars - the food is good but not great. It's comparable to a dozen other places within two miles of Zoë.
My original review was very enthusiastic and was followed by many visits to the old venue. I was so impressed that when they moved I invested as a "founding diner". I hope to be more moved next time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/24/2008
Restaurant Zoe is in the Belltown area of Seattle which is getting trendier by the day. It's in a… Read more »
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Review from Adrienne N.
Chicago, IL
4/26/2012
The interior decor of this place is fantastic. Soft lighting and rustic colors, which I really like. We heard the rain coming down on the tin roof, which was a nice touch.
The food was delicious, though some of it was a bit salty. The portion sizes were small, but because it's fancy we expected that. We got a salad, large plate (the Sturgeon), cheese and side to share. I'm gluten free and don't eat a lot of meat, so there wasn't a ton to eat for me. The side fingerling potatoes were super delicious, and the asparagus salad was amazing. After making my way through the sharing the seemingly small meal, I was actually pretty content and topped off my meal with another glass of vino, but the boys had to order a burger to feel satisfied.
They keep your table full of delicious home-made bread, and the service is prompt and attentive. They may be too attentive, but otherwise very good. -
Review from N N.
Mercer Island, WA
5/9/2012
Different but still great. We really enjoyed our total experience there. We were expecting the white table cloth vbistro of Belltown days but were pleasantly suprised. They definitely made this Zoe to fit the new economy so options run from small eats to high end food (if there is such a thing). Service was great.
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Review from Kimanh M.
Seattle, WA
2/18/2012 8 photos
Visited the new location on Capitol Hill and enjoyed everything about the newly designed space, warm, friendly staff and super skilled kitchen staff, producing one beautiful and savory dish after another.
I was pleasantly surprised by the snail croquettes! Delicious, rich escargot flavors breaded in a lightly fried croquette, yum!
Also enjoyed the emmer farro, which was cooked perfectly.
Then I experienced some of the best brussel sprouts I've ever had, which were served with the pork tenderloin plate. Seriously, these brussel sprouts were so smooth and velvety... I'm hooked!
The manila clams had a little too much salt for my taste, but everything else was seasoned perfectly.
Definitely looking forward to visiting Zoe again soon. Can't wait to see what else their chefs are capable of! -
Review from Andy H.
Federal Way, WA
2/22/2012
The restaurant is situated in wonderful location on Capitol Hill with a beautifully designed space. The interior has the feel of a Norwegian summer house lots of whitewashed and rusticated wood with a great urban oasis garden greeting you before you enter. Very friendly, personable, and attentive host and wait staff.
They have an incredibly wonderful and eclectic menu with affordable prices. There were several little extra surprises included throughout the meal. The portion sizes are smaller than average American portions, more European sized so be aware if you are extremely hungry and order more than just one thing.
I had one of their specialty cocktails called Stormy Weather. I don't remember what was in it but I choose it merely on name alone but it was tasty.
Bread is tasty and fresh. For appetizers I enjoyed with a group the Oysters on a half shell, Popovers, and Pork rinds that I found really unique.
For my entre selections I choose one of the small plate selections Emmer Farro, very tasty and hearty accompanied with the Celery root soup with Crab. Flavors are very delicate so if you're expecting really bold flavors you might try something different on the menu.
Desert we had family style and shared. Bour Bons, Lemon Tartlet, and Salted Carmel Macaroons these were more like just a taste and to be honest I could have probably ate 3 of them by myself. So if you're looking for a more substantial desert, go with the Chocolate Orb or the Panna Cotta
Only downsides were that the service was slower than expected and be aware that if you choose sparkling water over still water there is a 4 dollar charge per carafe. This was proably listed on the menue but I didnt notice.
I will be back. -
Review from Anthony P.
Seattle, WA
4/11/2012
The food was just as I had hoped it would be. The new space is very pretty and more casual feeling than the old, more neighborhood-y, which makes me think I will go more often because it didn't feel like a big production. The service was good but a little quirky, which I guess is kind of the norm in the Seattle fine dining scene.
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Review from sue m.
Berkeley, CA
4/5/2012
Hip and fun spot with creative food that works oh so well. We had a wonderful dinner at Zoe. It would have rated 4 stars if we had not ordered the braised short ribs, but thankfully, we did. Yikes, they were scary good! A dish for future culinary fantasies. And the ribs were served on a bed of nettle oatmeal. I may be clueless about this but I have never known or even considered using oatmeal for anything beyond breakfast. Silly me!
I'd go back in a heartbeat. -
Review from A J.
Redmond, WA
4/30/2012
I agree with Michele B, something was lost in the move from Belltown to Capitol Hill. Previously it was one of our go to places for special dinners and taking out of town visitors. We were excited to see their new location but after having dinner, we longed for the old Restaurant Zoe.The portions and prices are smaller but the food seemed to suffer for it. I ordered the gnudi & salmon and thought both were pretty small, even though the salmon was still over $30. I tried my date's boar bologonese which was really good - highlight of the meal. He thought his salmon was just ok. While it was nice that our bill was less than it usually was at old Zoe, I don't think I will be back soon. Contrary to previous reviews I found the service to be really good. However they were spot on about how loud the restaurant can be, I had a hard time hearing my date across the table.
Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 5/2/2012
A.J. Thank you for your feed back....I wanted the… More » -
Review from Sonali R.
Seattle, WA
3/12/2012
We made reservations at Zoe for a sunday night and had a wonderful experience.
Our waiter was excellent: he was very knowledgeable about the food and about food science in general, it seemed (he relayed some interesting facts about trichinosis to one of our guests who had a question of pork rarity). He also made excellent recommendation on drinks.
They have someone who very regularly fills up our plate with freshly made foccacia bread, which was a great delight.
The food was wonderful. I had the salmon, which was poached, texture was interesting but it tasted very fresh and light. My husband had the chicken and he enjoyed it as well. Both are large plates. It is definitely the case if you are looking for a large meal, these large plates will not suffice. However, to be honest, I hate getting too much food, and I think the quantities are what one ought to get. The price to quantity ratio can be a little out of place from typical experiences-- however I must say that the price to quality ratio (where quality encompasses quality of food and service) is just perfect.
We ended our night with a cheese plate: an excellent array of french cheese with a dinner cocktail. -
Review from Mydao H.
Best burger I've had in my life!
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Review from Danny T.
6/16/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I definitely wanted to try a nice restaurant while I was visiting Seattle and Restaurant Zoë popped up on multiple lists.
My girlfriend and I were starving, but we wanted to save our stomachs for Restaurant Zoë because it had gotten great reviews but wasn't open for lunch the first day that we arrived. So a couple days later I placed an open table reservation for 5pm when it opened and we walked there after a little bit of sightseeing.
We walked right in. It wasn't too crowded seeing that it just opened for the day; so there wasn't really a need for a reservation. The hostess sat us at our table and we took a second to take everything in. The place was very nicely decorated and had a nice sophisticated feel to it. The table setting consists of a small candle and a little dish with salt to garnish your food.
Our waiter came by to take our order and was nothing but helpful. My girlfriend let him know that I'm lactose intolerant and he let me know all the items on the menu with dairy in it. Between our orders, the waiter brought out this bread for us and some samples from the kitchen. My ladyfriend got a cream soup and I got some sorbet. It was a nice treat and prepped us for our meal. The waiters there were super attentive. There was never a moment where I didn't have any bread or a full glass of water.
We like to eat family style because we get more of a variety and there's more portion control. So we ended up getting the pork shoulder and the spicy wild boar bolognese. The pork should came out really tender with a salty flavor. Combined with the radish and spinach, the flavor was great. My girlfriend taught it was a bit plain but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The wild boar bolognese was out of this world! The waiter even made sure that the shaved parmesan was on the side for me too. It consisted of arugula pappardelle pasta in a creamy wild boar sauce. If I weren't so busy with the pork shoulder I would have scarfed that whole plate down!
To end the night, we did decide to grab some dessert. I'm a sucker for twists on childhood classics; so we got the PB and J. It was spectacular! It came with a cream puff like pastry filled with honey vanilla ice cream with strawberry preserves and a peanut butter sauce. I tried my best to get everything together at once to get the full effect. I couldn't get enough of it! -
Review from James L.
Seattle, WA
2/20/2012
After the chef/owner stated that he thought my first review was malicious, I took it down, and decided to visit Zoe again [that initial assessment is included below]. It's been about two weeks since our first visit. This time we went on a Thursday. We got a table in the "patio" section which I actually found quite nice (there are giant windows looking out onto the hill). The good news: Our server (named Jonathan) was great. It's hard to fault him for the problems we had with the meal.
There were some hiccups in service--for some reason, it was extremely slow (we got our appetizers about an *hour* after sitting down). It took 30 minutes for oysters to come out (in the mean time, other people were offered bread, but we were not). The oysters came out without a spoon for the mignonette (eventually we got a regular sized table spoon for putting mignonette over tiny oysters). Because of all this, and a few other problems (like delivering food to our table, then taking it away realizing it was a mistake), they offered to voluntarily comp the oysters (and they seemed to be offering to comp things for the tables around us as well). I should note that none of the service mistakes were committed by Jonathan, but instead by a person whom I refer to as the "floor manager" here and below.
The main problem was the food. First, I like small, sweeter oysters. But in our half-dozen oysters (for $15), there were two that were so tiny it was very difficult to taste them at all. Next, the lamb gnudi was straight-up excellent. I hoped that this was a good omen for the rest of the meal. Then came the foie gras torchon... man was this a horrible misstep. The little medallions were swimming in honey--a lot of honey. You could barely make out the taste of foie. (I took a picture as evidence, but I don't know how to post it with my review.) This is a $19 course, and I would much rather have just had brioche and canned foie because at least it would have tasted savory.
After that, there was a decent celery root soup (I thought it was too sweet, but my girlfriend really liked it). And then a vastly underseasoned $29 salmon dish. Listen, if you can't put salt on food, then give me a little dish of salt. I'll do it. I don't usually list prices with my reviews, but I keep thinking "don't judge too harshly, this is the new lower tier Zoe" and then saying to myself, well a f*ing $29 entree should at least be flavorful.
I'm not wasting any more time on this review. If you want something similar, but actually good and consistent, either wait 6 months for them to hopefully get their act together, or go to Sitka & Spruce or Terra Plata.
Previous review of Zoe:
We finally decided to try their new location on the hill. The space is beautiful, super high ceilings, lots of wood, exposed kitchen. The staff was pretty dismal on this night, at least the hostess, our waitress, and the floor manager. Maybe it's because we came in around 9:45pm, and they were already exhausted. But the place was half-empty, and they were pretty inattentive, to the point where it took me 10 minutes to get the wine list back half-way into our meal. The floor manager looked and acted like a clown, walking around doing nothing, with his chest puffed out. The hostess couldn't manage a smile. The busgirl looked like she'd rather be cutting herself.
The food was only decent. The abalone special was really good (though at $30). The foie gras was served on a giant piece of grilled bread that was literally 3 times the size of the foie. It was also accompanied by cloyingly sweet out-of-balance candied orange. The compressed radish salad was covered in soggy/wiry pig ears. They were actually mildly painful to eat and failed to provide the crunch for which they were intended. The king salmon was cooked perfectly, but really bland. It came with unseasoned fennel that amplified the blandness. The one highlight was the quinoa which seemed excellently seasoned, but putting everything together didn't help because there was a lot more salmon than quinoa.
A positive feature was the wine-by-the-glass list, which seemed deftly chosen. I always wonder what it means when the design of a restaurant, the menu, and the wine list are in top form, but then the execution sucks. There are plenty of other great places to eat; this won't become a regular dinner spot for us.
Please try harder dear restaurant who just moved to a new location and is presumably trying to attract loyal clientele.Comment from scott s. of Restaurant Zoë 3/13/2012
Dear James, Amended review: I appreciate and respect your… More » -
Review from Mike N.
Brooklyn, NY
6/29/2011
Quiet but lively, formal without fuss, Restaurant Zoe was the perfect venue for a special occasion (we celebrated my fiancée's law school graduation). Derek, the general manager flawlessly coordinated the floral delivery as my fiancée and I live in NYC, but celebrated her graduation in Seattle. Way to go, Derek!
The service was impeccable and the food absolutely delicious. EVERY detail was attended to, from accommodating food allergies to serving up delightful entremets. We especially appreciated the range of options, including refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails and a choice of small or large plates. Our entire party enjoyed the drinks, food and atmosphere; everyone left happy and satisfied. Ben, our server, surpassed our expectations in his explanations of offerings.
The biggest hits of the evening were the duck and the peanut ice cream (spiced with chili, it packed quite a kick!). We will definitely be back for our next celebration! -
Review from Mike B.
Seattle, WA
4/3/2012
Wonderful addition to this part of Capitol Hill. The restaurants in the immediate area lack inspiration and this place makes all the difference. Great food and great service at a reasonable price. Get the roasted chicken. It's da bomb
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Review from Cynthia L.
Seattle, WA
4/30/2011
This is a great date spot. The service is spot on and the atmosphere is really intimate.
I've also dragged a couple of my friends out to the bar here to get together before heading out. Not such a great idea. The drinks are good, but the bar does get cramped and we were definitely an obstacle for restaurant go-ers to use the restroom.
Food wise- everything was really delicious. Try the gnudi if you love pasta! -
Review from Nina H.
4/18/2011
I was super excited to come here for Restaurant Week and I made reservations in advance. I had no idea that the better restaurants filled up SO quickly!
Anyway, I had been wanting to check out this restaurant for awhile now because I had read great reviews and I always pass by it when I'm in Belltown. It's definitely a hip and trendy restaurant with kind of a rustic feel. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was nice. I wasn't on a date and it was nice because it was crowded and loud enough to make it seem like a good spot for a friendly dinner.
I ordered the cauliflower soup, Alaskan true cod and the espresso panna cotta for dessert. The cod was definitely very tasty but my friend got the pork shoulder and I was immediately jealous after a bite. The cod tasted great but it felt a little too sweet for me as well as the soup. I'm a huge salty foods fan so I was more interested in the rich meaty taste of the pork shoulder.
I always forget how full I get from restaurant week meals... they really are filling and you feel like you're eating so fast because the dishes come right after the other. Anyway, my dessert was pretty tasty too, the espresso taste was very strong and overall, I had a great time at Restaurant Zoe.
The most memorable points of the night were the service and pork shoulder.Listed in: Boozy Belltown, I'm all about the deals!
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Review from Eric A.
5/18/2011
I have always been wanting to try this place and finally had a chance to eat dinner here last night.
It was really a 4.5 experience for me because there were a few hiccups, but I would rather reward a restaurant for doing as much as they did.
Pretty good wine list - lots of Italian stuff. We ended up selecting a pretty good one for a reasonable price.
Started off with gnocchi, which were good, but I'm not necessarily a huge fan so I can't judge. Then the pea risotto which was very, very good. The artichoke soup sample in between was absolutely PHENOMENAL. I wish I had ordered a cup/bowl of it, but it was so damn rich. The pork shoulder had good flavor but was a little dry and really pedestrian to be frank. But then came the prawns - HOLY CRAP.
Didn't manage dessert but there looked to be some good ones for sure.
All in all, a really decadent meal and one I enjoyed very much! -
Review from Lee A.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/2/2011
Although I had praised the food at Zoe my first visit, I also noted that the service was slightly, well, condescending. I chalked it up to a bad night on the part of our waiter [hey, I've worked in the restaurant biz - anyone can have a bad night] and gave them four stars anyway. But I was kind of amazed and awed to discover that this is a restaurant that aims higher. Both the manager and the owner wrote me separately, apologized, and then assured me that if we returned, we'd have a better experience. All true, friends. It was pretty nigh perfect the second time around.
Zoe is the kind of place that foodies really appreciate, but your less than foodie [uh, me] can also get behind. I love the small plates [the spaghetti squash was so delicious, my friend took it home with HER leftovers], the fantastic dipping sauce for the homemade bread, and the tiny tidbits that arrive during the meal at the chef's discretion. The flavors are distinctive but never overwhelming. It's unpretentiously upscale, if that makes sense.
The Hapa Boy is already plotting our return trip. ;)Listed in: Sophisticated? Moi?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2010
More like a 3.5, but what the hell, I'll round up, because this is a restaurant where the chef knows… Read more »
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Review from Becky N.
Olympia, WA
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe I've waited this long to try Restaurant Zoe. This place knocked my socks off. It reminded me of the dining experience I had when I at the The Girl and the Goat in Chicago except much more casual. The dishes were unique and surprising in a good way. Everything we had was absolutely delicious, but my favorites were the Farro salad, Roasted Beet salad with soft cow's milk cheese, Celery root soup with crab, and their wild boar bolognese. Their Gnocci with braised short ribs wrapped in cabbage was good, but did not compare to the rest of the dishes. Their abalone was also good, but not worth the $29 for two silver dollar sized pieces. The service was great and the dishes came two at a time at the perfect pace. The bread they served was delicious with their olive oil and vinegar concoction. Their was even a person assigned to make sure everyone's bread plate was never empty. My only complaint about this place is that it was extremely loud and had to repeat ourselves throughout the night. All in all the food is fantastic and would definitely dine here again just for the farro salad alone!
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Review from Crystal B.
Honolulu, HI
Updated - 6/6/2011
I just wanted to note that I was contacted by the general manager regarding my previous review. It is clear that they care about their guests and want everyone's experience to be up to par. I felt like our first experience there was the exception rather than the rule, and the fact that the management cares enough to talk to me about my experience confirms that for me.
I will be returning to Zoe when I'm in Seattle again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/21/2011
This is going to be a weird review, because it's going to sound pretty negative for the 3 stars I'm… Read more »
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Review from Rebecca N.
Hayward, CA
6/15/2011
So when I first walked into Zoe, I felt totes out of place. The significant other and I had just spend literally 12 hours around Seattle, exploring and running around. I had my 6 dollar slip on grandma rite-aid shoes (they're comfortable, okay?) and I just felt a little uncomfortable. I mean, granted, I go to the restaurants here in SF sometimes looking like a hot mess but that's okay, because I dunno, I guess they feel more like small neighborhood gems and so they seem more intimate, but I digress.
Anyway, I usually only review if somewhere is really, really, terrible, or really awesome. Restaurant Zoe was SO awesome.
I started off with a drink called the "Spring Flowers" and it was super refreshing. The boyfriend got the roasted asparagus salad, and I got the baby carrot salad. He really liked his. The asparagus had a wonderful grilled flavor. At first, I thought my salad was a little under seasoned, but after schmering it around in the creme fraiche, it was perfect. The carrots were so vegetal and delicious.
He had a small plate, which was the new york strip. The strip was sous-vide. I had the duck, which was a a pretty big portion. It was paired with strawberries, hazelnuts, and escarole. (I think. I don't think it was chard) It was good, the combo of the duck and the strawberries worked really well. The hazelnuts gave a really good texture, and the nuttiness worked with the savory duck. The duck though, tasted straight up like steak. I mean, I'm not complaining, and I know it was duck, but it had such beef-y qualities.
We also shared the chocolate textures dessert, which was the highlight of the meal. The irish cream ice cream was HELLA good. So good, that I had to use that word.
So I was originally going to give this place a four. Our server at first seemed a little distant, (I don't need people to kiss my ass but I like personal and friendly) but he warmed up and was really nice. There are three reasons why this place gets five stars.
1. Unexpected mini tasting courses. We had some kind cod on some kind of crisp, a cauliflower soup, and also an apricot candy
2. Our server gave us some dessert wine to go with our chocolate, free of charge! what!
3. The guy who seemed to be in charge of the restaurant tonight came over and had a plate of the PB & J profiteroles and told us that, they had made an extra order, and even though we already paid, the profiteroles "needed a home".
The night just kept getting better and better, and I fell in love with this place.
See you the next time I'm up Seattle! (You too, Salumi.) -
Review from Shirin S.
Seattle, WA
3/3/2011
OMGYUM.
Wow. This was the ultimate sensory experience for my tastebuds. They rejoiced over the surprisingly light dungeness crab salad. The bibb lettuce with compressed apples, organic beets, and creamy blue cheese dressing was to die for. I love me some beets! We also sampled the sonoma artisan duck breast with sunchokes, kumquats, spinach, and meyer lemon. Also a wonderful dish.
The REAL standout of this meal, the dish that makes my mouth water on mere thought, is the potato gnocchi made with the most delicious truffles, pear onions, and mushrooms I have ever had the honor of tasting. Probably one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. Ever.
I'm really glad I didn't have to pay my part of this meal as it is pricey. But so incredibly worth it. I will definitely be taking my friends and out of town guests here to impress. -
Review from Jade N.
Lynnwood, WA
Took mommy out for a birthday dinner and it was a very nice evening. The space is trendy, the service warm and the food good.
We ordered one of each: salad, pasta, small course, large course, desert. The kitchen sent out an amuse bouche, soup and home made candy so it was an impromptu tasting menu.
-Avoid the simple green salad. When they say simple they mean it- you get 3 leaves of lettuce..and that's it.
-The beef short rib had too much horseradish so you really couldn't taste much else.
-The Louisiana spot prawns came with a creamy bar of semolina gnocchi which was yummy
-The boar bolognese was really good, definitely recommended.Listed in: Tasting Menus
