Restaurant Zola

I had the best dinner in town two nights in one week at Zola and was surprised to read about the person below me who had a horrible experience. Whoever you are, give it another shot because always had great food at Zola and have been trying out other food around town and have been disappointed by over-priced menus with less-than-satisfying dishes. Deb's staff is always spot-on! Pros: knowledgeable staff and I see the same servers there for a while Cons: not that I can think of more

I have been to great restaurants in D.C., New York, San Fransico, Montreal, and more. Zola was recommended to me by an out-of-town business contact. I went there wearing jeans and a sweater and was treated like a queen. It was a weekday and we had no reservation, but were seated almost immediately. Our server, Matt, had extensive knowledge of the wine list and paired our meal with an excellent Pinot Noir. I had a salad with apples, fresh fennel, and blue cheese... amazing. For dinner I chose the Grouper (not on the menu, special for that day) and was just blown away. The combination of flavors on the plate was inspired and creative (just like the decor). From bread to dessert (both made fresh everyday), my palate was singing praises to the Chef. This place is on my short list of great restaurants, and I have been to a few. I can't wait to go back and will recommend it to everyone I want to impress!! Pros: great food, service, atmosphere more

If I could tell you the server's name, I would - but she never bothered to give it to us. This place is so overrated, I hope they will make some changes. The service was horrible; our waitress had such a rude, sarcastic attitude, that I would be embarrassed for tourists to think everyone in Nashville acted like this. The food was only mediocre at best - but even if it was wonderful, the service ruined it. The young man who refilled our water glasses touched the tip of the pitcher to everyone's glass in the restaurant, so if one person there was sick, we'll all be sick. We were there on a Thursday night; the restaurant at 8:00 was not even filled half-full, yet the service was so slow, rude and horrible, quite frankly. The cocktails were only so-so, and for the price should be much better. Seriously - Zola needs to hire a better staff and actually train them to work in the food industry - otherwise, why spend your money there? Spend your money elsewhere; where the food is better, and the service is such that you actually feel like they want your business. Pros: quiet atmosphere Cons: service is terrible-ruins a romantic evening out more

Had a good time, the food was good, the service was good, decor was nice. Will go back. more

Had a good time, the food was good, the service was good, decor was nice. Will go back. more

Had a good time, the food was good, the service was good, decor was nice. Will go back. more

I could think of at least a dozen other restaurants I would recommend over Zola. This restaurant is incredibly average. I think that at the time it opened, it was one of a few upper scale restaurants in the independent food scene but times have changed. Zola has not. The decor is incredibly dated. It reminds me of a hotel restaurant from 1988. The food, service, and wine list are all good, but nothing mind blowing. The food is fresh, but the presentation (china, garnishes, etc.) are very 10 years ago. Though a solid restaurant that will offer a satisfying meal, I have found Zola to be hands down the most OVER-RATED restaurant in all of Middle TN. Pros: fresh ingredients, long wine list, prompt Cons: dated ambiance, poor value for price paid more

What is left to say about this Restaurant? My wife and I have celebrated one of our birthday's here now for two years. The ambiance is excellent, the food is excellent, the bread; (homemade daily) I can't even put words to the bread. I would have to agree with others that parking is pretty bad, but for what you are going to pay for dinner go ahead and splurge for the valet parking and not worry about it. The variety of the menu should suit all tastes, and belive me they are all tasty selections...especially the salads.\r \r They should need to bring the quesadilla back as an appetizer!! \r \r Pros: Excellent well balanced menu. Cons: Parking. more

Period.\r \r I am a professional diner and there is no better. \r \r Great food.\r \r Great Service. \r \r Great job Deb! Girl rocks!\r \r Pros: unique food Cons: Amiee more

We absolutely loved dining at Zola and we cannot wait to go back! Haven't been this excited about a new restaurant in a long time. I had the Vegetable Tower with Shrimp and my husband had the Pork Tenderloin with some amazing zucchini. The bread was great, service was wonderful too. We have already recommended Zola to friends! The ambience was very romantic, even the bathroom was cute with menus from all over the world posted on the wall! This really is our fave new restaurant in Nashville! Pros: Ambience, Host was very friendly, Server recommended what he actually liked not the most expensive dish more

Food was expensive and not all that special. Drinks, appetizers, and dinner for 2 people was close to $90, which could be spent elsewhere for half that. Albeit the bread was fresh and wait staff was courteous. The decor was very mediterranean, but I did not get that in the food. Cons: difficult to find parking more

this is probably the another one of the worst restaurants on west end this true slow service ugly waitresses/waiters food was horribl and disgusting nolas is waaaaaaaayyyyyyy better than zolas ill never come back thats a fact!\r Pros: nothing Cons: everything more

I went to Zola with my family yesterday for my birthday dinner. Our group of five was easily accommodated, and as we'd mentioned when making the reservation that it was a special occasion, there was a flower and confetti on our table. Our waiter was knowledgable and made an excellent Shiraz recommendation. The complimentary cheddar chili bread was scrumptious...I could have eaten an entire loaf. The mango crab salad was quite delicious...the bacon added a great flavor and the accompanying chips were tasty. The venison entree was both beautiful and flavorful, though I would have preferred more of the blackberry sauce as well as a whole blackberry or two (like the Watermark serves). The sweet potato fries were cooked perfectly and were an excellent side dish. For dessert I chose the blueberry bread pudding and it was absolutely ambrosial. I've always been a fan of bread pudding, though not so keen on blueberries, but from the first bite I felt like I had some amazing secret to share as I passed the dessert around the table. I only get one chance a year to really step out and spend extra money on a special dinner, and Zola was absolutely worth it. Pros: All the food Cons: Leisurely service might bother some people (I had no problem because I prefer the European style of dining, i.e. at my leisure) more

Great decor...OTT service...our waiter told us everything was he favorite which was not unasked for but somewhat ridiculous. I had the venison, which was exceptional, but the accompanying squash was over seasoned with cumin. Actually, everyones entrees smelled of cumin...perhaps it was on sale somewhere. Apps and desserts were underwhelming as was the dining experience. Pros: the decor, the cappucino Cons: wait staff more

My boyfriend and I were very excited to try this restaurant, since we had read such good reviews and from the awards the restaurant and chef have won. But we were greatly disappointed by the experience. We had reservations for 8pm but didn't get seated until close to 8:30pm, then it took another half an hour to get our dinner orders taken. An hour and a half after we arrived we finally got our meals. I had ordered the pistachio salmon, which was competely raw in the middle, and although the server was apologetic and took it back to the kitchen, it was still undercooked when she brought it back to me. By then I had lost my appetite. My boyfriend's pork chops were pretty good, however. After 2 hrs of waiting and then a disappointing entree, my boyfriend and I just wanted to leave. I don't know if they were just having a bad night, but I could not recommend this restaurant. more

Continues to be a solid performer. My wife and have gone to Zola many times since '99 and we continue to enjoy the ambiance and distinctive taste combinations. We went on Monday, July 9, 2007 on a week long tour of the finer eating establishments in Nashville. On a Monday night, the pace was full at 8PM so we had to wait for about 15 minutes and without reservations. The service was quick and impeccable and the quality of food what we expected. I would not rate it as high as I once would have but that maybe because we have been there a number of times but the appetizer and salad were wonderfully put together and our entrees an artful masterpiece. On the appetizer, we ordered the mezza platter which is large enough for 4 people to share or could easily be a light entree for someone ? the combination of grilled eggplant, humus and olive tapenade was great and the cheese ? wow. Our salad was a typical tomato, summer salad and the tomatoes may have been slightly past their best day but the cheese and fresh herbs made up for the softer texture. On entree?s, my wife had the salmon and which it was well prepared and flavors galore she was not as excited about it. I had the venison which couple with the reduction and cooked to a perfect temperature, was great. The overall combination of venison, some kind of berry reduction and sweet potato fries was a taste delight. \r Overall, wonderful service and great food ? we?ll be back.\r Pros: Ambiance, service and value Cons: parking can be tight more

My husband and I LOVE restaurants that are not chain restaurants. (i.e. we tend to eat in alot!) On special occasions, we venture out of our cozy kitchen and into someone else's kitchen. Our experience at Zola makes us want to belly up to her counter, bathe in her rich aromas, and watch the wonders that Zola is known for. With the seasonally changing menu, the adventurous combination of spices, and the warmth and no fuss atmosphere, makes Zola a Nashville gem. Thank you for giving us some uniqueness in a commercially saturated world. Pros: Chef Owned, Changing Menu, Food more

Dinner at Zola was my last meal in Nashville -- I chose it for my graduation dinner and was so sad to never have have tried it before! The service was wonderful, the entrees inventive and tasty, the atmosphere fabulous. We had a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious, creative, fun meal. more

My husband and I were looking for a romantic fine dining restaurant and Zola's was highly recommended. We found the atmosphere very nice, although slightly loud for our dining experience. Our dinners were outstanding and the suggested wine, complimented the meal perfectly. We felt the chef did a tremendous job. The problem we experienced, was that our waitress referred to the chef as ""she"" at least 2-3 times per sentence throughout the entire meal. Never did the waitress refer to her as ""chef"" or ""the chef"" (ie ""the chef has prepared... she accompanies..."" ) This we could deal with, as we have always had the waitstaff refer to the chef as ""chef"" then followed by he or she. At first we did not understand why this was happening, until we read the menu and noticed that the owner/chef is a female. This is wonderful, however, we really don't understand why this needed to be continually stressed to us to the point of spoiling the meal. We have enjoyed many fine dining restaurants throughout the US and Canada and been lucky to have wonderful meals prepared by both male and female chefs. The important thing is the food and the experience. I would hope that any chef would want their customers to enjoy and remember the food and the restaurant, not the gender of the person who prepared it. It is through hard work and perseverance that any chef can open a successful restaurant. Unfortunately, as the meal continued, as wonderful as it was, both my husband and I became extremely uncomfortable. In our opinion. a romantic dinner is not the place for a political statement regarding the gender of the chef. Instead of remembering the outstanding meal and wine we experienced at Zola's, we remember the extreme discomfort of having a waitperson who could not let the food speak for the chef's ability, but rather wanted the gender of the chef to alter our views. more

I've been to Zola twice, once during my six-year vegetarian stint, and once after I became a meat-eater again. I disagree with the person below who said there were no vegetarian options- I had plenty to choose from as a veggie. However, the non-vegetarian options are far superior, as they are at most fine restaurants. I also noticed that most of the negative reviews come from people who came in groups larger than a couple or two - it is a small place, and it is definitely best suited to groups of two or four - it's not really a group dining type of place. But for one or two couples, it's just amazing - the drinks, the food, the service, everything. I I highly recommend the crab and fried green tomato stacks, which were melt-in-your-mouth, and the brisket mole, which was one of the most delicious things I've ever tried. Bon appetit - you won't be disappointed! Pros: Amazing food, romantic ambience, great service more