I was drawn to this place by the unique blend of Mediterranean and Caribbean menu, and I was not disappointed. I appreciated how much this place leans into both cultures from decor showcases both cultures to their balanced menu featuring dishes from both. There is ample seating at this place and dont let the construction outside deter you because they are open. We ordered the cheese manakish to start, and this might have been my favorite dish. Balanced with two types of cheese with a light airy texture to it kept it from feeling too dense. The pita its on is crunchy and thin, and theres a drizzle of sauce, likely some form of pesto, that cuts the flavor making it a truly enjoyable dish. We also ordered the chicken kebabs and roasted jerk chicken. The kebabs were a great portion with tender chicken, some greens, and grains. I personally could have used more tzakai, but thats a personal preference. Overall though, the meal did not feel heavy and I left feeling full but not overtly stuffed which I was happy with. My husband's jerk chicken was a sizable dish. The chicken was tender and fell right off the bone, and the pilaf had a nice flavor to it. Overall we really enjoyed our meals. The service can take some time, but its a super small staff so just be patient. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Cheese manakish - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

My favorites were the appetizers. We got a mezze plate, which I'd recommend if you're coming with a group. There were lamb, chicken, and kibbeh kabobs, tzatziki with cucumbers, salad, and mushroom rice. The mushroom rice had a great flavor and a crispness that was like that delicious part of the rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan. There was a trio of hummus- lentil, beet, and standard, with fresh pita to scoop it up. Great- my favorites were actually the lentil and the beet. The plantain appetizer had a beautiful presentation, on the charred plantain skin. The plantains had crisp kind of caramelized edges. The pikliz on top was tasty and had a kick. My partner and dad liked the griot- a crunchy pork that reminded them of chicharron. The entrees were not my favorite, but the rest of the party enjoyed them. I think the move is to get the mezze platters and appetizers. Almost forgot! The basque cheesecake is quite unique- with a passion fruit sauce to die for. read more

See all

The food is good in general, but $42 for the lamb shank and $15 for the key lime pie is a little over priced consider the location it is at. The cocktail is $18, and $20 if double shot. This price range is more close to the city price range. The lamb shank is flavorful, the salad that comes with it is fresh and the dressing is on the sour side, which is appetizing. The conch fritter came out hot and the batter is nice and not greasy. The ambiance is ok, with some jazz music playing in the background. The service is also ok, not extra friendly nor attentive; everyone was just doing their job. read more

See all

Had a lovely experience at Nzuko. This was my first time there. The food was fantastic. We got the Mediterranean mezze platter. Everything was so flavorful but not overpowering. The kebabs were tender and delicious. The three hummus flavors and warm pita were a pleasant surprise. Service was friendly and quick. The manager checked on us a couple of times. There was construction going on in the building so the whole building is covered by scaffolding, but there was no active construction when we came in for lunch. It was very quiet. They have parking spaces in the lot, which is convenient. My only complaint was that it was cold inside the restaurant. It warned us slightly but not enough. I don't know if it has anything to do with the construction, but I would bring a sweater or light jacket just in case you run cold. Would definitely come back and try the other dishes. read more

Better check by calling - says they are open and drove over and closed! Tuesday at 12:20 pm

Nzuko is truly a hidden gem and deserves to be outed! They have been open for about 2.5 years. I would never have stumbled onto this restaurant, if not for my Yelp search for restaurants in the area. It's located in a very residential neighborhood, but easy to get to. Nzuko serves Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine. They even have a small parking lot right outside. Recommended! Well worth exploring! The service, hospitality and food quality is top notched! You can tell Nzuko cares about fresh, clean ingredients. The food presentation is just lovely and the flavors are innovative. While the exterior of the restaurant is unnoticeable, the interior is absolutely beautiful! Their attention to detail is impeccable; down to their glass wear. Great atmosphere and vibe! This is the menu shared by 3ppl (eating family style is the way to go): --- Chicken Wings ($12.00/5pcs): Nzukodry rub, mitmita yogurt, black vinegar. These wings were boldly seasoned. Very unique flavors for me, as I've never tasted anything like these wings. Very good; albeit they could have used a dipping sauce, as they were dry. --- Meze Board-From the Caribbean ($36.00): This Meze Board consisted of Plantains, Akara, Conch Fritters, French Fries, Griot, & Pikliz. - Akara Conch Fritters; Akara is made from cowpeas or beans (black-eyed peas) by the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Benin and Togo. It is found throughout West African, Caribbean, and Brazilian cuisines. These Fritters were so tasty and just perfect. Eat them while they're hot! They came on top of Tzatziki sauce, which complimented the fritters well. -Griot & Pikliz; a traditional Haitian dish of marinated, deep-fried pork shoulder that's considered the country's national dish. The pork is served with Pikliz, a spicy pickled vegetable slaw. The pork had good flavors but a little too well done for my tastes. The Pikliz was great; tangy pickled slaw (no mayo). --- Meze Board-From the Mediterranean ($38): Lamb, kofta and chicken kebabs, mushroom rice, tzatziki, fall greens, hummus trio. - Kebabs: The lamb & kofta kebabs were very tasty; albeit a little too well done for my tastes. Surprisingly, the chicken kebab was the best of the trio, and still maintained its moistness. - Salad with Tzatziki: refreshing and delicious. - Mushroom Rice: I really liked this flavorful rice but some in my party thought the rice was too hard. - Hummus Trio: chickpeas, sweet potato & red beets; served with pita. This was outstanding. Each type of hummus was distinctive and delicious. Note that you can order this dish as an appetizer, if you don't want to order the Meze Board. We were too full to order dessert but they have delicious dessert options on their menu! All in all, a great find and a great meal. If the meats in our dishes weren't so well-done, this could easily have been a 5 Star review. I would definitely return to try other menu items on my next trip to MA! read more

See all

Talented chef but there are some inconsistencies especially with the service. The service isn't rude but lacks attention to detail. If you go with the right set of expectations, you will likely find this charming and quirky with some great dishes. The drinks are good when done correctly but some of the more inexperienced staff appear to mix up the proportions which can throw off the balance. Not an inexpensive restaurant but I like supporting a place that is not another corporate chain. The chef clearly cares and does her best within the constraints she has to work under. read more

Staff was very friendly. Food was great and the atmosphere was very peaceful. Would recommend!

Nzuko is a hidden gem! The food is nothing short of amazing. Admittedly, I had no idea of what kind of food to expect, but I was surprised and appreciated the culinary journey. We literally tried everything on the menu...including the specials for the day...and everything was delicious!!! I took my leadership team here for dinner. They were able to accommodate the large without issue and provide great service. The family who runs the business are awesome people! The restaurant seems off the beaten path to me but I'm not familiar with the area; however, it's worth the trek. I highly recommend Nzuko! Definitely check it out! read more

Excellent but pricey food, wonderful drinks and appetizers Haitian Nigerian, wait staff very friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. Over head music added to wonderful ambiance. I highly recommend going there for a fantastic meal! read more

Food and cocktails were just delicious! Service was great. The hummus appetizer is out of this world. They give you a trio of 3 - plain, beetroot and Sweet potato which was my favorite! The jerk chicken and mushroom pilaf were the other MVPs of our lunch. The gin hibiscus cocktail was also fabulous! read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Hummus trio - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

See all

Beautiful neighborhood spot with a creative twist of Caribbean and Mediterranean dishes. As other reviews have noted, the chef/owner really cares about what he's putting out to customers and the service is exceptional. We ordered three appetizers to try: the conch fritters, the trio of hummus, and the grape leaves. According to the chef, the fritters are their specialty - my husband loved them with the accompanying sauce (and it's hard to go wrong with something battered and deep fried). They'd pair well with some beer. My favorite was the super fluffy pita bread with the beet hummus, which was a beautiful shade and had some sweet beet flavor. The pumpkin hummus was a tad too sweet for me. Rave reviews for the braised lamb shank and jerk chicken. The entrees are pretty massive and very reasonable at the price point. I wasn't super hungry so opted for the fattoush, which came with grilled, crispy pita. The dressing for the salad was very tart; a touch less acidic and it would've been perfect. Next time, I'd get the kabobs or the lamb shank, enough food for two meals. They also have mezze boards to share a bit of everything if you're coming as a group. There's a small parking lot in front; we snagged the very last spot. Reservations are recommended for weekend dinners, the place filled up quickly. read more

See all

Oh man, their jerk chicken is so good but so expensive. It's $29... you do get a decent amount, but that price is still kind of up there. The chicken was tender and wonderfully marinated. The spices were so aromatic, but the spiciness level wasn't too overbearing. The rice was amazing. I have to go back and try more, but my wallet can't handle it. Definitely a great place to go for special occasions. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Jerk chicken - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Went for Mother's Day. Great food, and very friendly staff. Very good Mediterranean menu. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Great drinks!! - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Everything about this restaurant is wonderful: food,service,ambience. None of us could even name a favorite dish--EVERYTHING was superb. We had about a dozen dishes so we sampled a lot of their cuisine. I've eaten here several times, and each time I return the food is even better than I remembered it. Total yum! read more

TLDR: yummy slightly upscale spot. Spot has its own parking lot for easy access. Food was quite good and service was attentive. Portions were fairly large and appropriate for the price we paid. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Awesome gem in Watertown. Very new, bright and clean space. The restaurant sits at the bottom of a large condo development. Lots of natural lighting and big windows. The inside is modern and warm. Wait staff is awesome. Very attentive. The mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors is divine. Love the pita and tzatziki. The Mediterranean platter was huge. Three kebab, one chicken, one steak and one lamb. Also came with salad, 3 hummus spreads, rice and pita. So good. Appetizers to try... the conch fritters are their specialty. Also the spicy falafel was delicious and had just enough bite. This place is great. Please do come here and bring your friends. This is a place that I'm hoping has great success. We don't have alot of these types of modern, fusion eateries in the area. You can tell the chef is passionate about the food. Every thing here is fresh and made with care. I highly recommend you visit. Parking is easy. There's a small lot next the building and then just beyond that a much larger lot. read more

See all

Superstar local eatery that specializes in Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine. The jerk chicken was extremely flavorful (but not oversalted) - a nice spice mix sauce with some tender drumstick with thigh combination. It's quite a meaty dish; the cook on the chicken was a tad over for my tastes but overall the meat was tender. The accompanying vegetables and the tumeric rice pilaf served as excellent complementary dishes. The Fattoush salad dish was quite nice too. A bit too much oil for my taste on the salad, but it was fresh and leafy. I would have preferred a bit more beets than what was provided. The pita disk was crispy and a good accompaniment to the salad. The meze plate of kabobs (lamb, chicken, and kofta) was delicious. The meats were done tenderly (the kofta was a bit tough but the lamb and chicken were nicely grilled and tender inside). The rice pilaf especially had a neat texture, infused with a mushroom flavor. A side salad accompanied the dish. Excited to have tried this place, and excited to return! read more

Nzuko is my FAVORITE! We live for griot and the hummus, jerked chicken, falafel, plantains, actually it's everything here is on the top tier of favorites for all three generations of my family!!! read more

This restaurant was so good, I hope more people learn about it! Our server was great and made really great recommendations. The falafels were some of the best I've ever had. They were big and well made. So good. The hummus platter was also amazing and some of the best hummus I've had - I only wish the servings of all 3 were bigger. I had the lamb shank, and it was amazing! My friend who got the jerk chicken liked it, and I tasted it, it was pretty good. The Mediterranean/ Haitian mash up is such a novel idea. The place was decorated well, and I will definitely be back with more people. read more

See all

Such an amazing experience! The owner was lovely and all the food was delicious. The drinks were also amazing! 10/10 experience!

We had a lovely late lunch at Nzuko, The setting is bright and modern. We had the entire place to ourselves. We had the mezze dinner and conch fritters to experience the Med/Caribbean influence. Service was friendly and attentive. Food arrived in a timely manner.. We loved the grilled chicken and hummus. The beetroot and sweet potato spreads were also very nice. Plating is artful. The grilled bread complimented the meal. The star was the tasty rice. WOW, so good. My daughter enjoyed her lamb. The conch fritters were a bit pale and sat on a bed of lovely sauce but the garlic factor was a bit intense. Overall, it was a nice experience. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Amazing food and welcoming staff and setting! Beautifully decorated, clean and comfortable.

We had to wait over an hour for food and were charged prior to services being rendered. So we couldn't leave. We were offered a prefixed menu with limited choices and even through the menu said we could order off menu for an extra charge, we were told we could not. The meal came to $222 with tax and tip. I paid $222 for rice in a bell pepper and some ribs that took forever to come and tasted average. This place was awful and I regret going here. read more

Good food and drinks. We love supporting a local business. Heads up: It was quite chilly inside on a Feb eve so bring a sweater.

I had a business meeting at this restaurant and was blown away by absolutely every morsel of food that I devoured. The cheese cake is never frozen--it is as homemade as the non-traditional but to-live-for macaroni and cheese. The person with me had chicken wings with a beautiful salad with onions and tomatoes, which were home-grown by the owner. I can't wait to bring others back to this gem. Finally, what I enjoyed most was seeing people from so many different cultures dining separately--yet together because of conversational exchanges. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Home-made cheese cake with in a passion fruit sauce. - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Portions are large (and priced accordingly) and yet you will want to eat every bit! 5 large spicy falafel patties with tahini dressing, fattoush as a salad with a crispy bread on the side to add as desired, jerk chicken spicy but not "hotter" than usual - just more intensely jerk! Plantains are crispy but also come with a few small pieces of chicken on the side (warning for vegetarians). Service was super friendly but slow (understaffed?). Not noisy and easy to converse. We'll be back. read more

This was the worst service I have ever experienced. There were only two tables in the restaurant the entire night and it still took an hour to get a drink and put in our order. Two tables! The server did not know anything about the menu and gave us all the wrong information on our dishes. The lamb was hard as a brick. I couldn't cut it with the knife and just left it. They never brought the appetizers we ordered and still had them on the bill. The food was OK, but I would never go back for such awful service. Not worth a two hour 45 minute dinner that literally took that long just to order and get. Again, only two tables, including ours, the whole night! Just the worst. Hard pass. read more

Delicious Caribbean-Mediterranean Fusion! Nzuko is a hidden gem in Watertown! We visited on a quiet Friday night and were blown away by the flavorful fusion dishes. The plantains with Haitian griot and pikliz were a standout--crispy, spicy, and tangy . We also loved the Mediterranean meze plate and tender stewed lamb shank . Dessert didn't disappoint either: the rum cake and key lime pie were both excellent . Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

EVERYTHING here was delicious. You cannot go wrong with any menu choice. Personally I had the Meze board (Mediterranean). The portions are very generous- expect leftovers. The presentation of the entree was also excellent. I have rarely seen a restaurant have so many options that are just perfect! Well done. read more

See all

The staff is very friendly and attentive, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the food is excellent. Definitely give it a try!

This. Place. Is. Fire. Truly. Idk what you are doing if you aren't going to Nzuko on the regular for your date night. This mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine is simply the best. We started our meal with the Taste of the Caribbean and omg y'll. The PORK with plantains and relish!? To die for! The pork was so so well done it fell apart in your mouth. No pick of our main which was the Kofta kebab. the meat was juice, the rice perfectly done and the salad, just the perfect green addition. We loved having two distinctive flavors to enjoy. Finally for dessert we had the key lime pie. Now. I love key lime pie but this, this is something else. Not too tart but instead rich and creamy without weighing you down. Finally, the chef let us preview a dessert coming onto the menu tomorrow...a basque cheesecake with passion fruit curd. Passion fruit is my favorite fruit and let me say this dessert was the best cheesecake I've ever had. Light, clearly made moments ago and full of such flavor. Each dish was so well made, so well flavored and created with love and care. The team was so good with my allergies and I loved every moment of this meal. read more

See all

Falafel was very dry and lacking in flavor. The dips were ok bot the portion size for them was small. Chicken kabob was dry . Liked the food on the 1st visit but not the 2nd time. Would not go back. read more

Food was excellent, service was pretty disappointing. Nobody came to take our order for a long while until we flagged them down. They forgot our appetizer order so brought it after the meal. We had to ask four times for water. I think they need more wait staff. read more

Tasty, great food. Haven't had a bad meal. Jerk Chicken, lamb kebab, conch fritters, hummus plate ... everything is delicious. Huge portions. Fun cocktails too. read more

Nzuko is an delicious, hidden, must-visit gem in Watertown. My friend and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. We were lucky to be able to walk-in and grab a table. There is limited parking but we were also lucky to get a spot right in front. My friend and I started our dinner off with a couple of cocktails: 10,000 Bet and Cucumber Drop. Both drinks were great though the 10,000 Bet was our favorite of the two. We ordered 3 appetizers: falafels, hummus, and chicken wings. The falafels were crispy, well-made and delicious. The only downsides to this dish was that I wish there was more tahini sauce and that the dish came with pita. The chicken wings were cooked perfectly and delicious. The hummus, which we thought was the best dish of the night, was amazing. There are 3 different types of hummus: red lentil, chickpea, and beet. Each hummus was unique and flavorful. We were really full after the 3 appetizer orders that we decided to share one main dish: chicken kebabs. The chicken kebabs came out on 2 skewers on a bed of seasoned orzo with tzatziki dipping sauce. The chicken was cooked very well; the pieces were tender and juicy. My only comment would be that I wish there was a bit more spice to the chicken and some more tzatziki sauce for dipping. Overall, my friend and I really enjoyed our dinner at Nzuko. Would love to come back and try some of the other items on the menus such as the conch fritters or the jerk chicken. read more

See all

I stopped by here earlier today by myself for dinner. It was getting to be late whenever I checked Yelp for dinner places nearby. Nzuko ended up being one of the top results and I was intrigued by the carribean and meditteranean fusion that they had going on and so I headed on over. Entering the restaurant was a bit weird as the door was locked but a nice gentlemen opened it up for me and took me in. Originally they were going to give me a table for 1 but the bar was open and so I chose to sit there instead. The inside of Nzuko is bright with light hardwood flooring and a white stone bar. Behind the bar is fun tiling which makes you think of water and then they also have a neon pink sign with their name on the wall which is visible to both the street and the dining room. After looking over the menu I decided to have the conch fritters as my Meze and the Jerk Chicken as my Main. For my appetizer I was also looking at the hummus and almost picked it before realizing I can get that anywhere. In any case the conch fritters came with braised peppers and tzatziki while the jerk chicken came with taro root purée, eschabeche pickles, crispy garlic and jerk bordelais. I was told I could substitute rice for the Taro root purée but I was interested in how it would taste in comparison to poi. My fritters came out first and I have to admit that I really enjoyed them. They were crispy on the outside and soft on the interior with a nice backend heat. The more that I ate the spicier it become which I was absolutely loving. That also meant that I could use the tzatziki as a cooling agent which I assume was the intent. Overall it was a nicely composed dish even if I couldn't actually tell that I was eating conch. As I was about 3/4 of the way through my fritters, the jerk chicken came out and it was easily the most beautifully plated jerk chicken I had even seen. I first tasted the taro purée just in case the chicken itself blew out my palate and I found it to be nice and somewhat creamy, with a somewhat similar flavor flavor that I was used to with poi. As for the chicken I didn't think it was too spicy at first but much like the fritters, the more I ate of it the more backend heat I got. The flavor of it was nice too and I kept on going back in for more. I actually thought that portion size was going to be a problem here with the single big chicken leg only. However I think that the taro ended up filling me up as by the end I was full and satisfied. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. I really enjoyed my meal and thought that it was one of the best that I have had recently. read more

Nzuko Restaurant - Conch Fritters - Caribbean Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

See all

Great food and a very friendly service. I highly recommend the Caribbean meze plater.

Delicous, fresh, healthy food! Wow!! Every single thing was homemade and delicous! I had the best salmon I've ever had. And the hummus plate (including a pink colored hummus that was hummus with beets) was fantastic. And what a gorgeous atmostphere! read more

Highly undertrained and nicely smiling waiter, very basic caribbean food options. A lot of deep fried items. Some dishes came out dry and not very chewy or appetizing. In combination with high prices this place is not a good value at all for me. read more