Zou Zou's surprised us in the best way. Prob a 3/3.5 star but gave a 4! A lively, upscale-casual…read moreMediterranean restaurant in a somewhat unexpected location, but they more than make up for it with atmosphere, energy, and some seriously memorable dishes. Not every plate was a hit, but the standouts were SO good that we'd absolutely return.
We made a 6:30 PM Saturday reservation to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. I'll admit, the location initially threw me off. It has a somewhat corporate feel, tucked between buildings near the Lincoln Tunnel Expressway on Manhattan's West Side. But once you're there, the buzzing patio and lively atmosphere win you over. Great for date night, dinner with friends, business meals, large groups, or a pre-event meal. A wide age range and a crowd that feels like it's hitting on all cylinders.
Bonus points for a thoughtful anniversary card waiting for us when we sat down. Such a sweet touch!
We skipped cocktails after a full afternoon of drinking, but more than made up for it with the food. The menu is designed for sharing.
What we ordered:
* Fattoush salad | 3/5: A creative spin on the classic, topped with pita, thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples, and candied pecans. The apples and especially the pecans overwhelmed the dish for me. I'd love to see more vegetables and fewer sweet toppings. Prefer a traditional fattoush, but this was fine. Need 1/4 the amount of pecans given
* Tuna tartare | 1/5: Unfortunately, the one miss of the evening. The description with cucumber, figs, and cardamom sounded incredible, but the dish fell completely flat. The cucumber purée had an almost gel-like texture, and the tuna didn't taste fresh to us. We sent it back. More acidity, spice, and sumac could help, but the freshness and texture were the bigger issues.
* Octopus carpaccio | 5/5: STUNNING. I usually gravitate toward a cooked octopus tentacle, but this preparation with fennel absolutely won me over. One of my favorite dishes of the night.
* Pita: Thick, soft, and delicious. We went through two baskets! An excellent vehicle for the dips and appetizers, but honestly good enough to enjoy on its own.
* Little gems | 3/5: Served with za'atar crumbs and roasted grapes. The grapes initially threw me off, but the combination worked surprisingly well. A creative salad I really enjoyed, but $19 for some leaves, breadcrumb & grapes is pushing it
* Manti | 5/5: Little wonton-like dumplings stuffed with spiced beef, served over garlicky labneh with oven-dried tomatoes. Absolutely delicious. A must-order for us.
* Crispy latkes | 5/5: Everyone should order these. Perfectly crispy with a lovely thyme finish. An excellent side that deserves its own spotlight.
* Charred broccoli: A very generous portion served with cashew harissa that packed some heat. So tasty that I accidentally ate the entire side myself... oops.
Bottom line: Zou Zou's is worth a visit for the atmosphere alone, and do need to return to have actual entrees. The tuna tartare was a miss, and the fattoush wasn't my favorite, but the octopus carpaccio, manti, latkes, and broccoli more than made up for it. Add in thoughtful service touches and a lively, versatile setting, and we left happy.