Restaurant Zola

As a business traveler, I get to entertain in restaurants all over the US and the world. I recently dined at Zola with some clients from Europe and was once again thrilled by the experience. The superb food, great wine list and warm ambiance rivals anything in Napa, L.A., N.Y. or Paris. A great value too! The staff was well informed, answering my guests' questions regarding dishes from their countries. Manager was wonderfully accommodating as well. Bravo Zola!

Pros: Amazing Food, Super Wine List, Great Staff

Posted 02/19/04

We loved the warm atmosphere and outstanding food. Our waitress was friendly and informed, until she absolutely flipped out that we wanted three checks for our table of four! I apologized for not mentioning it at the beginning of the meal, even though she didn't ask and we were definitely a low maintenance table on what appeared to be a not-so-busy night. What astounded me even more was that not five minutes earlier, we overhead a different waitress having a similar reaction to a table of only two people. It looked like the servers had been trained to react this way. I e-mailed Zola's owner/chef and explained how much I enjoyed the food but was surprised by the server's reaction. I never received a response! I absolutely adored my food, but the anxiety of dealing with a server like that would definitely keep me from visiting Zola again.

Pros: Excellent Food

Posted 01/30/04

My wife and I were given a night out at Zola by friends for our wedding before we were even aware of the restaurant and it reputation. The staff there provided us with one of the most wonderful nights we have ever had dining out.Since they knew our dinner was a wedding gift,they had decorated our table with some heart/cupid confetti and a little "Congratulations" note. The dinner was part of one of their wine tastings and the food was incredible.We have called back to make reservations since then,and the hostess still remembers my wife and I every time.The food and service is beyond words!! Thanks y'all

Pros: Romantic atmosphere, Attentive staff, unique food

Cons: NONE

Posted 10/23/03

My fiance and I decided to celebrate our anniversary at Zola based off reviews from this web site. However, we were shocked at how bad the food was. We sat down at 8:30, did not recieve bread until 9:20 and our food did not get to our table until 9:30. After each taking a bite of our food (I had stuffed soft shell crab and he had tuna), neither of us knew what to say...it was terrible and not edible. Neither of us are picky eaters, but are able to distinguish good and bad food...this was bad. We had to send the food back, which they did comp us for. We were very dissapointed and are going to try a nice dinner next week! (the boundry is great!)

Pros: location

Cons: bad food, price, slow service

Posted 09/29/03

Deb's food is not for the meat an potatos crowd, but if you are a bit adventursome it is for you. There are layers and layers of flavors and textures that make for a world-class dining experience.

Posted 08/20/03

Zola's is my FAVORITE romantic restaurant in all nashville. The food is incredible - almost better than sex! - and the drinks are good. They aren't afraid to experiment and try new flavors - BOLD! I highly recommend this place - you will be delighted, I promise!! :-)

Bon Appetit!

Pros: Fabulous food, Romantic ambiance, Good staff

Cons: Make reservations!!, (Pricey), Can be loud at times

Posted 04/27/03

When one evaluates any situation, I presume we could all be in agreement that the depth of one's perception would quite obviously be characterized by the level of their experience. That said, Debra (and Zola's) is one of the finest chefs (restaurants) in the South and certainly, the best Nashville has had to offer for a long, long time. If you prefer meat & potatoes (as my father and grandfather), I suggest you unwind over at Swett's (or at home where your meatloaf will probably be better).

Pros: Excellent food, Reasonable wine list, Knowledgeable staff

Cons: small parking area, usually crowded, too "cozy"

Posted 04/08/03

My Valentine's Night was really great at Zola. Everything was perfect.. The atmosphere was really romantic, the food was really delicious (we had 4 course menu as the Valentine's Day package ; the provocations, the french laundry salad, the shrimp risotto and porcini grouper entrees, and the dessert were all perfect! ) and the service was wonderful. I recommend this place for those who wants to dine in with the special someone in a romantic but quite expensive way.

Pros: Delicious Food, Romantic Atmospehere, Great service

Cons: Quite Expensive

Posted 04/07/03

Food is above average. Chef is creative but that does not mean necessarily that dishes taste better. Chef has the tendency to over do it with dishes. For example, there is the tendency, with many dishes, to do so much to them to the point that, at the end, you don't know what you just ate. Need better sense of balance. My advise to the chef: focus on taste more that the presentation. Service is average. Ambiance is good. Very pricey for what you get.

Cons: relative price

Posted 03/01/03

We have been at Zola's several times, even walk-in, and never were disappointed in any of our visits. In a very relaxed atmosphere, the food is served with style and creativity, in exactly the right portions, leaving you nothing to desire. The food has a perfect balance of tastes, complemented by a well chosen wine list. For friends, business or a date, always a success!

Pros: ambience, relaxed, creative

Posted 02/02/03

Romantic, clever design, great food! One of the best restaurants I have visited. My wife and I had a really nice meal. Service was good, the decor excellent. We enjoyed it.

Pros: Menu, friendliness, service

Cons: parking

Posted 01/19/03

Quirky combinations are merely attention-getters if the chef doesn't have a solid culinary foundation. Good news! The chef at Zola does. Depth of flavors, creative yet effective saucing, and well considered combinations result in a dining experience equal to that of the best San Francisco has to offer. Combined with warm and engaging service personnel, Restaurant Zola offers that unique combination of excellent cooking, a satisfying dinning experience, and fair prices.

Pros: accomodating staff, interesting menu, fulfilling flavors

Cons: limited seating

Posted 01/02/03

I wanted a good romantic place for a first anniversary dinner, and I found it.
The menu is very impressive due to the creativity of the chef. La carte des vins is very good and the pastry chef makes wonders.
The only drawback is the service: after having delayed the choice of the wine to suit the food, the waitress came after more than 15 minutes to take our order.
But the waiter was conscious of the disturbance since later she offered the enewal of our wines. Nice!

Pros: creative menu, ambiance

Cons: price, service

Posted 12/18/02

Zola's is wonderful! We had some of the best food we have ever had at Zola's. Dinner was creative, the flavors blended tastefully and the presentation was beautiful. We had excellent service and we enjoyed meeting Ernie, Zola's owner. Nashville has an undiscovered jewel!

Pros: Food, Parking, Venue

Posted 11/29/02

The secret is out -- this is far and away the best restaurant in Nashville. Every aspect of the meal -- the bread, appetizers, salads, entrees, deserts and wine are stupendous. I usually order fish, which is consistently amazing. Entrees are eclectic, and I am again and again amazed at the creativity of the chef in how she complements the main dish.

Pros: Quality, Consistency, Value

Posted 11/21/02

Mmmmm. The menu changes frequently into ever more delightful tastiness... My favorite of the month is the Venison. So tender. My sweet wife is always torn between the stuffed trout and the salmon. What keeps us coming back, though is that the service is as incredible as the food. Not the case at our former #1 favorite restaurant which shall remain nameless (OK, you convinced me. I'll tell you... the Bound'ry. After two disasterous dates we swore it off). Our last trip was on our anniversary. They put "happy anniversary" confetti on our table and tucked us away in a quiet little corner to celebrate. Oh... the soup. The wife said to mention the soup. Squash soup is a tantalizing treat. A dollop of yogurt makes it a sweet prelude to dinner. Ask for Erin.

Pros: oh, the food!, service

Posted 11/04/02

Referring to the previous review, I've entertained a number of large parties at ZOLA and the food, service and friendliness has always been great! Many restaurants won't do separate checks for large parties and have both corkage and cake-age fees. Restaurants are in business to sell food, wines and desserts. Do we bring our own popcorn to the movies?

Pros: Great food, Excellent Wine List, Superb Service

Cons: No Sit Down Bar, No Smoking

Posted 10/31/02

The food at Zola's is some of the most amazing I've ever tasted. The complexity and originality of the dishes should be experienced by everyone. Absolutely incredible.

Posted 10/21/02

If so, you've found it at Zola! After being overwhelmed by obnoxious socilaite-types while waiting for our table, we made our way into the dining area for drinks that were 15 min. in the making, an appetizer that arrived shortly thereafter (yay Zola!), a salad 30 min. in, and entrees that arrived promptly at 10:20 in the evening. Did I mention we'd been there since 8:15??? And while the waiter was apologetic and the manager was very consoling about everything, this was an absolutely DISAPPOINTING experience. My significant other was in town, we were expecting to have a great nite together, and Zola, which I had picked based on strong recommendations from friends, was a DISASTER. Wonderful folks working there, but ostentatious self-absorbed clientele, overpriced & overrated food, and just not up to expectations......Terribly, terribly unimpressed.

Pros: Creative Menu, Ambience, Good Eavesdropping

Cons: Long Wait for Food, Obnoxious Clientele, Overrated/Overpriced

Posted 10/20/02

This restaurant is fabulous. Our family all agreed that we had our finest overall dining experience ever at Zola. The food and service were absolutely superb.

Posted 09/24/02

I've Eaten at 4 Restaurant's in Nasheville, I do not live in Nasheville, So im not partial to any Establishment, To get Right to my point I'm "A Pain in the Arse" Customer, i work in a restaurant so i know what i should expect, and Zola Is the only reastaurant i've enjoyed. I highly Recommend that you Send your Son/Daughter there For Prom or anything of that nature, that's When i visited Zola, It was great no one was Pushy, Rushed us, and we got everything we needed. and ate in a timely manner, inorder to be back on time.

J. Bond

Pros: Inexpensive, Great Quality, Eclectic

Cons: Parking, Pricey If On Budget

Posted 09/23/02

With two small children, my husband and I don't have many opportunities for a quiet evening together. When we do, we go to Zola. The food is always superb and a step above the ordinary. If we wanted ordinary food, we'd eat at home!

The staff is most courteous and Chef Deb is supreme!

Posted 09/15/02

Service:
I have never been more impressed with a restaurant in my life. One this past December I was preparing to propose to my " now " fiance. I searched every reputable restaurant in Nashville untill I called Zola. The people at zola were more accomidating than I could have every imagined, and did everything they could to ensure that our dining experience would be a night to remember for the rest of our lives.

Food:
WOW!!!! Amazing. Zola's chef unbeleavable. I had the Fillet, and my fiance had a special dish prepared by the chef, that was even better than my own.

There arent enough stars in the sky to rate this restaurant.

Pros: Service, Food, Accomidations

Posted 08/29/02

At Zola's, I am able to "pause" from the busyness of life to embrace this moment of time in this uncertain period of history, to focus on family and friends and share our lives with each other.

Pros: exquisite, delicious, delightful

Posted 08/28/02

My husband and I live in Miami and visit relatives in Nashville frequently. We ALWAYS go to Zola when we are in town and look forward to it. We have wonderful restaurants in Miami, but Zola tops them all. Chef Debra is incredible--she performs magic with food. Don't miss this great restaurant.

Pros: awesome food, great wines, excellent service

Cons: NONE!

Posted 08/27/02

Great atmosphere, great food and wine, not to mention martini's all at reasonable prices!

Posted 08/26/02

I have been going to Zola for years now, and I rembmer my first meal there and what I ate. I remember almost every visit- how many restaurants can you say that about?

Zola never fails to surpass my expectations. My absolute favorite by far- I would eat there every week if my waistline could afford it.

Posted 08/26/02

My wife's brother took us and his parents out to Zola to eat a few months ago. I was amazed an excited to look at the menu, and was even more blown away by the wine list. The price point is relatively high, but my filet with lobster meat was worth every penny.

Pros: Intimate setting, amazing cuisine

Posted 08/26/02

Not only is Zola's a great Romantic Resturant, it is the resturant that I tell all my business contacts to take their customers to.

People that travel & entertain constantly to conduct business - absolutely want to find a special more private place to have an excellant dinner & meeting in a relaxed atmosphere. Zola's is that place.

I have been delited to find - everyone I have suggested, try Zola's the next time you have a customer - you wish to impress - they return, again & again. More than Ambience, Romantic, or Class - "IT Simply IS"......

Pros: Wonderful Food, Excellant Service, Extraordinary

Cons: I did not find sooner

Posted 08/26/02

Debra Paquette is one of the most innovative & talented chefs you will ever find. The food is wonderful . Rene' the pastry chef creates delicious and unusual desserts. The atmosphere is very romantic and interesting.

D. Stump
Crossville Tn.

Pros: Food, menu, atmosphere

Posted 08/26/02

Experience southern hospitality at its best with a touch of Exotic as only Zola can do. The food, the wine, the experience should be had by all.

Posted 08/26/02

there is no other restaurant in nashville who's menu can even come close to comparing to the creativity that zola's puts into their menu. family owned and operated, HOW CAN YOU EVEN THINK TO TRY TO COMPARE THIS TO A CHAIN RESTAURANT!!!!!

Pros: FRESH INGREDIENTS, GOOD WINE SELECTION, INEXPENSIVE

Posted 08/25/02

Zola is simply fabulous! In a city where ethnicity is harder to find than in others, Zola brings a touch of the exotic. This restaurant would be at home in a larger city Their food is out of this world, creative and interesting. The setting is lovely and the service friendly and prompt. It is a little pricey but not overly for a special occasion.

Posted 08/25/02

Awesome food and atmosphere, great menu selections and reasonable prices. Extensive wine selection that would please many tastes.

Posted 08/04/02

Fabulous dinner with incredible service. Here's the scoop on this wonderful hideaway...
My fiance and I were in different parts of the world on Valentine's Day, so we decided to have a "very late" celebration in Nashville (we live in other parts of the South). Zola not only staged the perfect meal, but decorated our table with tiny heart-shaped sequins and red roses. The food quality and presentation was perfect and the wine list held real surprises.. selections we've never seen outside of California. Overall.. we give this 5 Yum Yums ! :-)

Pros: food quality, presentation, service

Cons: $$$$

Posted 07/31/02

This is one of Nashville only true restaurants! It's about the food, not just filling you up. It has the best Chef in town, one of the best wine lists. Great place to be. It's about the food!!!!

Pros: The best Chef, It's the Food!!!

Cons: Parking

Posted 07/23/02

Hey Ma, this ain't no meat and potatoes restaurant.
Not that Debra doesn't serve meat or potatoes, she does. But Zola's is an eating experience, with layers of flavor on each plate. Attention to detail, subtle flavorings, succulently prepared food to stimulate any palate. We have eaten here many times, even joining Ms Paquette for our New Years feast, and never been disappointed. From the Boundry to the Cakewalk to Zola's, it has been a pleasure dining with you, Debra.

Posted 06/16/02

Congratulations on sweeping the Nashville Scene awards! You, your menu, and your talented chef deserved all the nods you get.

Pros: creative food, knowledgeable servers, great wine list

Cons: small

Posted 06/09/02