Zely & Ritz

Ridiculously tiny, not so tasty, expensive portions and owners that don't care to respond to feedback make this place not worth it. I really wanted to like this place for using local and seasonal ingredients, but it failed big time. My biggest gripe with them is their portion sizes. I don't eat a ton of food. I am often satisfied, even thankful, for smaller portions. But even if this were a tapas place, the portions were too small to share. After their three course First Friday special, I left so hungry that we ended up going out to dinner again immediately after at a neighboring restaurant. Aside from the atrociously small portions sizes, the food wasn't really that tasty, it was really expensive, and when I filled out a feedback form they didn't bother to respond. If you want to support the local food economy near Downtown Raleigh, go someplace less pretentious like ""The Market."" They have smaller local portions too, but they aren't as pricey, their food is better, and they're less indifferent. Ridiculously tiny, not so tasty, expensive portions and owners that don't care to respond to feedback make this place not worth it. I really wanted to like this place for using local and seasonal ingredients, but it failed big time. My biggest gripe with them is their portion sizes. I don't eat a ton of food. I am often satisfied, even thankful, for smaller portions. But even if this were a tapas place, the portions were too small to share. After their three course First Friday special, I left so hungry that we ended up going out to dinner again immediately after at a neighboring restaurant. Aside from the atrociously small portions sizes, the food wasn't really that tasty, it was really expensive, and when I filled out a feedback form they didn't bother to respond. If you want to support the local food economy near Downtown Raleigh, go someplace less pretentious like ""The Market."" They have smaller local portions too, but they aren't as pricey, their food is better, and they're less indifferent. Update May 31, 2012: Bumping them up one more star. I contacted them again a month or two later to let them know I was further displeased that they did not acknowledge/respond to my original feedback. They responded this time, apologized, and offered to refund the meals. more

We all had high hopes for Zely and Ritz, but it was just disappointing. Let?s start with the fact that it is expensive. So when I spend nearly $300 for dinner for 4, particularly in Raleigh, I expect to be wowed. Without giving a blow by blow, (and much of it blew) the food was adequate at best. The sides were decent, but at $9 a pop they should be. If they are going to charge that kind of money, what?s coming out of the kitchen should be so much better. Perhaps we caught them on a bad night, but if you are going to charge that much for small portions, you better not have an off night. Instead go to Poole?s Diner or Bloomsbury Bistro or go to El Rodeo ten times. Zely?s the Pitz. I'm only sorry we didn't read the recent reviews before going there. more

WOW Where do I start? Have you ever looked at your check after a meal and felt totally ripped off? Well here you will. The portion sizes are very small. The food is very bland. The service is oh so slow...I can't see how they only have like 10 tables. I will keep this short - just save your money and go somewhere else. more

This place is a HUGE disappointment! My wife and I went there last weekend. The portions are so small that we went out and ate again at another place after this meal. (we are not large people) We ordered a starter and two entrees. The server does bring bread out before the meal but it consists of 2 very small slices. The service was very slow and the place was not even busy. Don't even get me started on the prices. $19.95 for a small piece of fish without any sides. $10 bucks for a tiny crab cake on pieces of watermelon. We have lived in Raleigh for several years and eat out all the time. There are several fantastic places in Raleigh to eat at- this is not one of them. Pros: None Cons: Price, Portions, Staff more

What a major disappointment! My husband and I usually enjoy frequenting places that tout organic/fresh ingredients, so it was such a shame eating here. The menu had minimal offerings and what we did order was poorly prepared. We went there with one other person, all of us ordered different appetizers and entr?es and none of those would make us return. The seasonings and texture of the dishes were uninteresting and odd. A simple pasta dish shouldn't have lumpy sauce/saut?. Also, it's a very small establishment so seating is a bit cramped. They do have an extensive wine list so perhaps that would make it worth coming here (not a wine person so I am not sure). Our waitress was very nice and attentive. However, we have had much better organic food in other restaurants. You're better off going elsewhere for good organic food. Pros: Um, I guess the wine list Cons: Ugh, everything...except the waitstaff more

I love the farm to table concept and really want to support it but this place is unbearable. We were one of two tables being served in the whole place; other than the owners drinking at the bar where the entire staff was crowded around. We were constantly having to stare the server down to get attention. The pickled vegetables were unbearably salty. The risotto was overcooked, like it had been cooked hours ago and held at temperature. The fish entree was awful. It consisted of a small overcooked filet and completely bland sauce. The only item I enjoyed was the salad. The server didn't ask how the meal was, she knew. It was utter disappointment being excited about a farm to table concept and the being completely let down. Especially when the bill was just under $100 for 2 people. Pros: want support the concept Cons: bad food bad service more

Though a few dishes were OK (e.g., Tar Tar with passion fruit sauce, and Risotto with asparagus) the portion was VERY small compared to how much I needed to pay. I also tried Cobia (fish), and it was way TOO expensive. For dissert, I tried coffee cr?me brulee and savarin, and both didn't taste good at all. I was very disappointed. It?s not worth paying more for their tapas dishes. Cons: Overpiced, Dishes not so good more

one of the worst experiences ever, and didn't get enough food while spending over $50. we went to Sushi Blues after. This place is horrible. Cons: Too small of proportions more

Walking down Glenwood, biding time till Monday Night Football, decided to check this place out. Menu looked good, winelist looked better. Staff was very friendly and quick. Pros: Friendly Staff, Excellent Wine List Cons: Very tempted to stay all night! more

I can't believe some of the reviews for this place! To be quite honest I am pretty outraged. My husband and I have eaten here several times and not once have been we been disappointed. The wait staff is very friendly, one young gentleman even told us about visiting the local farms where some of the restaurant's ingredients are grown. The portions are of good size unless (as some reviewers must want!) you are expecting your food to come with a supersize option. They are filling but not to the point where you are going to need wheelbarrow when you leave. This restaurant is not advertised as a buffet. We are both vegetarian so I cannot comment on their meat selection, but as I have already said I have never felt cheated or disappointed by the food we were served. The combination of flavors used is surprising and delicious. The gnocchi is by far my favorite. Pair it with their risotto and wow, delicious! A great environment to have a romantic dinner or small gathering. Pros: Food is amazing, quick service, friendly staff. more

Would you like a little food with your salt? Brilliant ideas for dishes all overly salted. They replaced our original entrees and brought out more dishes equally over-salted. To apologize they sent us three ok desserts. They owner/chef was sincere in trying to please us. Horrible service. Waited 30 minutes for 2 inch long slices of bread. Pros: Free martini was straight gin Cons: Too salty and pricy more

We stumbled upon this place by accidend on Saturday night and boy were we glad. Tiny and quiet with a sleek but quirky decor. Pros: Great Food Great Service Cons: Expensive more

Overpriced and small portions! The only saving grace is the special on wines on Monday night. The wait staff was rude and insulting. I would not recommend the unusual dishes or the restaurant to anyone. We did not like our meals and paid over $100 for our dinner. Too bad. Cons: expensive, small portions, strange food, rude staff more

THIS IS NOT A TAPAS BAR!! There are no tapas on the menu and I don't think our server even knew what a ""tapa"" was. Services was marginal, slow, uninformed and forgetful. Food was not even Spanish and was uninspiring. We went to this restaurant for a special birthday dinner with a small group and called ahead to have a special dessert. No one at the restaurant remembered and no effort was made to make the dinner special, even after our server was told we were out for a special birthday dinner. Would not go back. The owners/chef needs to learn what tapas are and stop misrepresenting their restaurant. Cons: Food, Service, Parking more

While the food here is a bit pricey, the quality is usually worth the price. The food here is almost always fantastic (to the point of being perfect). On the rare occasion that something falls a little short, the customer service provided by the Agasis is unparalleled. I've never experienced better. If they offer the Rosemary Pine-nut Tart as the desert special, GET IT! It's the best thing I've ever eaten (and I'm typically a chocoholic). Pros: Beautiful food, amazing customer service, good for special occasions more

I'm not sure what Bauer 72 is talking about!!!!! They need to speak up and move tables if they were not happy with their seating arrangements at Z & R !!! Pros: tapas style plates, extensive wine list, romantic, fabulous staff, price Cons: only wish it was closer to our home so we could eat there every day! more

I have never written a restaurant review before but I am compelled to do so after my horrible experience at Z & R last weekend. There were 6 of us who went to celebrate my best friend?s birthday. We were seated at the end of a very large table that had two other parties eating at it as well. This threw us off a bit because we were not told about the seating? but that ended up being the least of our troubles. We waited for 25 minutes on someone to even acknowledge our presence. Once we ordered our drinks it took another 20 minutes to get them? 45 minutes to get our first drinks!!! The waitress was very rude and acted as if the restaurant was packed. It looked like there were at least 4 waitresses working but the place is so small? so our waitress had us and 2 other small parties. At one point she broke a wine glass and looked mad at us as if it was our fault. The menu is very disappointing and needs some help. The portions are tiny and while some of my friends enjoyed parts of their dinner, mine was all wrong. I think the whole organic tapas idea is great but Z & R has completely missed the note. I don?t have any idea how they are still in business? it?s mind-blowing. The prices are too high as well. I don?t mind spending money on a good dinner, especially with it being organic, but this was definitely not worth it considering every time I looked to the kitchen they were putting food in and out of the microwave. I recommend Z & R if you like to pay too much for less than mediocre food with small portions and enjoy 3 hour dinners in small, hot (temperature) restaurants. Pros: Wine Cons: Poor environment, bad service, overpriced, disappointing food more

I had to try it when I found out they use only organic ingredients, and most of the vegetables come from a local organic farm. I found the food not to be overly complicated, the ingredients are the star, and everything was perfectly seasoned. I wouldn't call it a Tapas restaurant, sure they have a few different small ""bites"" plates, but the menu also consists of several starters, entrees, sides and desserts. The prix fixe is the best deal if you plan on a full meal. Choices are very varied as well, I found Mediterranean dishes on the menu such as hummus alongside Southern greens. This restaurant now ranks up with Enoteca Vin as my 2 favorite downtown spots. more

I love this place. The services is fabulous, organic dishes are wonderful and they always have thoughtful and decent wine choices. Pros: The whole package; good food, service and atmosphere! I love that they grow many of their own veggies and fruits and that they are organic. Cons: parking is always a challenge on Glenwood. I wish this restaurant was in a different location more

Sure the food is good. Organic is definitely the way to go. The dishes really aren't tapas. Tapas are great little dishes from Spain. Zely and Ritz is not Spanish so the tapas aren't authentic. A more accurate description would be ""little plates"". Representing themselves as serving tapas is misleading. No complaints other than I was looking forward to Spanish food. Pros: good food Cons: not tapas more