There are no words to describe how deep my love for this place is. Been going here for years. It's honestly one of my favorite restaurants--hands down. I have made the hour drive from Montgomery to Opelika multiple times throughout the years just to eat here after doing some record shopping down the street at 10,000htz. It's sort of a tradition for me. I have never left Zazu disappointed! But, I often leave too full and disappointed in myself. That's on me though. I don't believe in a to-go box or leftovers. This man cleans his plate...even if it hurts. It's probably going to be my downfall one day. But, I digress. I went for my birthday dinner with my best friend a few weeks ago and they were booked up. Which was a little disappointing, and our fault for not booking a reservation ahead of time. There happened to be a food truck festival going on at the time and as tempting as that was we had to stick with Zazu. We opted instead of waiting the two hours for an open table, to just pop a squat at the bar, which turns out was full service, and boy did we have a great time! Tatum, or server, really made my birthday something special by keeping us entertained, and just being super friendly and rad. It was a magical 38th birthday for sure. The menu is full of nothing but good stuff. You cannot go wrong with anything, honestly. And, I hate when people say that. But, in this case it's true. I had to go with my usual beloved Pimento Cheese Burger with the amazing Duck Fries on this visit. My only problem was I could have eaten more of the fries. I'm a fry guy and the portion size could have been bigger. But, it was for the best. I would have eaten myself sick. But, in all seriousness, you have to try the Duck Fries. They are really something to write home about. Just some of the best fries I've ever had. I'm telling you! Plus, the clencher is they served my absolute favorite beer on tap which was Snakehandler from Good People Brewing in Birmingham Alabama. And...they actually serve it in a pint glass which is heaven for me! They don't even do that at the actual brewery! Perfection. What more could one ask for? Just perfection, and I cannot wait for my next visit soon. read more

We made reservations for dinner on Friday night and were promptly seated when we arrived. My friends have previously been here for drinks but not a full meal, so we were all excited to give the full menu a try! We were curious about the fried chicken skin appetizer and envisioned it would be all the things we love when we eat the fried, crispy, and flavorful parts of fried chicken. We were soooo wrong. The batter on the skin was crispy, but the skin itself was stretchy, jiggly, floppy, and completely unseasoned. It was pretty disgusting, to be honest. We took one bite and asked our server to take it back because it was too gross to even look at. I still shudder when I think about it. Also, we noticed there were no chicken dishes in the menu, so where does the chicken skin come from?!? As for our entrees, 2 of us ordered the bistro steak and our other friend had the blackened gulf catch. They both enjoyed their entrees, but I was not as satisfied with the details of my dish. To begin, my mashed potatoes were unevenly seasoned, so I got different flavors in each bite. It was also just too heavily salted. Each mouthful was also full of red potato skin. As for my asparagus, they were not well-trimmed and the bottom of the stalks were too tough and stringy to chew. I ate the parts that I could eat and had to cut/spit out those parts that the kitchen should have already cut off. I will say that my steak was grilled well and I enjoyed the taste of the char! One issue about service here, is that we were not offered any boiled peanuts until we asked for our chicken skins to be taken away. That was really strange because it means that if you pay for appetizers @ Zazu, then you won't get their complimentary (free) appetizer-- which actually tasted yummy! Our overall bill for 3 people ended up being $100+ with tax and tip, and this was after our server took the chicken skin dish off the bill (thank you). That is pretty pricy for somewhat of a mediocre meal with no drinks, so afterwards, because we felt so unfulfilled, we walked to get some ice cream for dessert. I don't think I'll come back for dinner ever again. read more

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Nice setting great bar never Got to eat .though service was completely unorganized between hostess and waitresses so we walked out !

Tried brucnh and sad I did. Very pricey for bland over salted food. The apps are probably the best offerings on Sunday. Maybe the drinks and non bruch meals are good. I never say bacon is bad. I left bacon behind here. It was cold with an interesting color....disappointed. will try dinner there one day read more

Love the atmosphere and rustic decor. Exactly what' a gastropub should look like. We were quickly seated upstairs at this four level establishment and promptly greeted by our waitress. Rustic wood tables with cloth napkins only enhanced the gas wall lanterns behind the bar. The bill of fare exhibits a good offering of both wine and Alabama beers. We ordered the special, blackened triple tail with grilled green beans and substituted grilled okra for the grits. Substituting was welcomed by our friendly waitress. Also ordered the pimento cheese burger with kettle chips. Both entrees arrived momentarily, hot and looking delicious and seasoned perfectly. I highly recommend Zazu. I know I'll be back to this quaint Opelika Downtown District for more gastropub fare. read more

The menu always has the best food. I always get the pop rocks shrimp for the appetizer the sauce is amazing. The service is always great. I like just sitting at the bar to grab a quick lunch. read more

My only complaint is the flatware. It's difficult to hold for arthritic hands. Food is amazing and selection of beverages is great! read more

Local place in the railroad district Opelika, AL. Poutine is excellent and is plenty enough for a meal. Great beer selection and good whiskey selections as well. Try it out....you will not be disappointed read more

We came here for New Years Eve. While everyone enjoyed their meal, the sweet tea fried chicken was the best I've ever had. read more

Zazu - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Ordered ribeye but got a Wal-Mart quality strip steak. Took a herculean effort to cut away the grisly cartilage. Not good at all. read more

Zazu - Looks good wished it was - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Food is always good and service at the bar is friendly. Unique appetizers and dishes. Always stuffed after eating here. Would recommend... Always seem to be out of the brisket... read more

Great food, good mimosas, & great service! The Shrimp & Grits were simply amazing! I'll be back for more! read more

Zazu - Gulf Shrimp & Grits - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

We visited from out of town, and we were so pleasantly surprised at this little gem. Everything was excellent, and the prices are fair. We will definitely return if we're ever back in the area! read more

Attentive service and delicious food. Nice wine list too. Our complaint is over food delivery. Appetizer, salad and entrees all arrived at the same time. So entrees we're cold by the time we got to them. This needs to be fixed if you want higher marks. read more

What a wonderful place. The food is always amazing, atmosphere is casual yet elegant, and the staff gracious... Took my girlfriend fur Valentines Day. The manager (Jeff) hooked us up big time...!! It's was amazing, as usual... read more

Zazu - Lamb over couscous and carrots... - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

The food is so good and fresh and we always have excellent service! I love the atmosphere as well.

Such a cool place!! We sat on the third floor and the atmosphere was perfect for a dinner with family. Highly recommend the blackened catch as well as the pork spring rolls!! I would definitely check it out if you're in the area, no need for reservations on a week day but not sure how crowded on the weekends read more

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Zazu is a wonderful part of historic Downtown Opelika. The rustic scene has quite a charm to it. It's multiple levels that are only accessible by climbing to the third floor by stairs is a little much especially when I'm taking my older family members on a tour to show off downtown Opelika's food scene. As for the food, it offers a wide array of options ranging from pork spring rolls to swordfish and salmon. Most of it is pretty good. I ordered the chicken and waffles and the chicken was a little skeptical but the waffles had great flavor and an awesome crunchy texture. I recommend Zazu despite the three stars. I'd encourage going with their burgers as that will be my choice in the future. read more

Service is non existent. Walked out after 35 mins. It's a real shame because Zazu used to be our favorite place. Each time we try to give it yet another chance, it's even worse than that last visit. This has been going on for well over a year. It's hard to believe they are still in business. read more

Always great. Highly recommend making reservations to avoid a Long wait times. Appetizers, entrees and desserts never disappoint.

The food is delicious. Not only does it taste amazing, but is also visually appealing. We always order the poutine, but have tried several of the other dishes. The servers are attentive, friendly and professional. The ambiance is very romantic. When the weather is nice, enjoying a meal on the 2nd floor patio at sunset can't be beat! read more

Love this as a cute little brunch spot! Mimosas are on point (although not bottomless), and the food is hot and delicious. The ambiance is absolutely beautiful. Wishing that we got a chance to sit on the outdoor balcony, but the inside seating area was just as nice. They do acknowledge social distancing, no I never felt uncomfortable. Masks required, so even better! Will def be going again! read more

Zazu - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

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The food was fantastic! The staff wasn't very friendly in my opinion but it was very good food! Our server was also helping with the bar and she was awful. Fortunately, I never just a restaurant off of a single employee. read more

Quaint restaurant in renovated older building in downtown Opelika. Best pimento cheese I have ever had. Gourmet varied menu ( we enjoyed the duck breast and shrimp and grits.) Creative craft cocktail menu. Our server John was superb read more

They said it was wonderful. It's difficult to get in without a reservation. Good signs, right? We scored the reservation and excitedly took our party of six to dine. Two ordered the brisket, one ordered the pimiento cheese burger, one ordered the Catch of the Day (forgot the other order.) First, the much-heralded brisket. Reportedly slow-cooked forever, it's supposed to be delectable, served with barbecue sauce. It wasn't delectable. It WAS fatty and generally bland. As to the burger (that was me), I know what I'm getting with nice restaurant burgers, but this one was a disappointment. The bun was huge to the point of overpowering any meat taste at all. Neither could I taste any of the pimiento cheese ~ no sharp cheese bite, no anything really. As for the most expensive item on the menu catch of the day? Good news ~ it wasn't overly fishy tasting. Bad news, it didn't have any taste at all. I know fanciness can sometimes mean small portions, but this tiny portion with no sides meant this diner stayed hungry. I don't usually write negative reviews ~ but Zazu? Pretentious and unnecessarily expensive. We gladly pay these prices, but we like taste when we do. Try Irish Bred Pub around the corner ~ YUMMY food, enthusiastic waitstaff, and a great time. read more

My husband and I had our first taste of pork belly at Zazu and it melts in your mouth like bacon butter!! Rob's prefers the shrimp and grits. The steak is my fave and was cooked to perfection and the presentation divine. You will not go wrong with dessert choices: we have tried the fried pound cake and the bread pudding and are unable to pick a favorite as they are equally delicious! Thank you Shannon and Lynsey Graham!! read more

This place is a great date night location. It is slightly pricey but well worth it. There beverage selections is Absolutely phenomenal. This my go to for a fancy date. I usually get the catch that is extremely appetizing. Should have took a picture of the food but crushed it too quickly. read more

Zazu - Upstairs bar and seating area - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Great food server was nice but we were snubbed by host at entrance. If you don't have a reservation you will be treated like dirt. Apparently if you don't have a reservation you are not good enough for this restaurant! Won't go back! read more

A treat!! Do not miss Zazu Gastropub When visiting the Auburn/Opelika area. The food is absolutely delicious. It is fresh, and our service was perfect. I love the ambience especially the lighting fixtures when you walk in in the evening. It sets the stage for a beautiful relaxing meal. We finished our dinner with the bread pudding. I highly recommend Zazu. My daughter will graduate from Auburn in May, and I'm a little sad that our restaurant trips focused solely in the Auburn area. Venture out if you're visiting the campus and take in Opelika. It is worth the drive which is not that long, 15 minutes or so. Plus the bonus will be, you can eat at Zazu's!! If you're looking for more fun after your meal, check out the rock 'n' roll pinball club around the corner read more

The redfish was better than I could ever have imagined. We had a bottle of Pinot Grigio we were familiar with. Yellow rice and fresh green beans made the meal perfect. But then we had dessert. A chocolate caramel thing that was out of this world. What could be better? The service and the atmosphere. J.W. Warren read more

Best burger in town. Have to try the Poutine as well. Great service and wonderful experience every time I go.

The restaurant itself is just beautiful. Dark, but romantic in a very hip way. Opelika is so great for those moments you need to escape from the college party vibe of downtown Auburn. You have several options of places to sit here since the restaurant has I think 3 different floors plus some balcony seating. The food itself is good ole pub grub but the dinner menu is a bit more sophisticated. We came at a strange time, right at 4:30pm so the restaurant was about to shift from the lunch menu to the dinner menu. As an appetizer we ordered the poutine and I appreciated that it actually had cheese curds in it, not just melted mozzarella. The timing of our arrival allowed me to order a Cuban while my husband ordered the trout entree. Both were perfectly cooked and our server was really kind. Definitely a place worth checking out. read more

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Great service, great ambiance, great burgers!! Highly recommend this place! Such fresh and delicious food!

After bouncing around Auburn, Zazu seems to have finally found a [beautiful] home in downtown Opelika. I was struck how charming the space is, in a historical building, like a gastropub you'd find in a hipster-laden neighborhood of a major metropolitan area. Our group was seated on the main floor, but there was a downstairs, upstairs, and even an upstairs outside. Our server Patty (sp?) was very professional, knowledgeable, and welcoming. I ordered the pineapple mojito ($8.50). I wasn't an immediate convert to the cocktail but it did grow on me. By the end of the meal, I'd made sure all the last milliliters were sipped up. Mint and pineapple might not be my favorite combo, but I could deal, evidently. The list of beers on tap is pretty impressive too. Patty brought us a bowl of complimentary boiled peanuts. How pleasantly surprising. They came with a bit of heat as it turns out. We shared the gulf crab claws appetizer ($14) which made me think of little tiny crabby popsicles. You can't go wrong with butter, garlic, and local tomatoes on your shellfish. For my main, I ended up ordering the sweet tea chicken and cornbread ($19) even though the pimento cheeseburger was quite tempting. Someone else got the pimento cheeseburger, and it earned high marks. The low country shrimp and grits did too. The menu copy describes my dish as follows: "sweet tea brined fried chicken, chipotle honey glaze, house hot sauce, oakview farms sweet cornbread." I was concerned about the hot sauce, but it actually comes on the side, and I found that the bird didn't even need the hotness; the breading and the chipotle honey were just fine on their own. Yum! Big portion too: you get a breast, thigh, and drumstick. The meat was incredibly juicy, and the breading wasn't thin but wasn't too thick either. The cornbread wedge (looks like cake) while sweet, is really tasty, made with local cornmeal. I was assured by my friend that Oakview Farms was top notch stuff; I looked them up, and they're a granary out of Wetumpka, AL. Sadly, I was too stuffed for dessert. But in case you're wondering, the options were grilled poundcake, bread pudding, and crème brûlée. Notes: The women's restroom on the main level is pretty cool, with the wine box walls and the waterfall-like faucet (not sure what that style is called). And since it's downtown Opelika, you'll have to street park, but I've never had an issue finding a space. Zazu is on OpenTable so you can make a reservation there. And in case you're wondering, I don't think the name has anything to do with The Lion King, but who knows. Hope to make more return visits to Zazu in 2017! read more

Zazu - Complimentary boiled peanuts - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

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This place checks all the boxes. Ambiance it great. They put in the effort to reuse and maintain original construction and added soft lighting with rustic fixtures to make the place feel warm. The food is delicious! I recommend their breakfast enchilada for brunch or the poutine for an add with the pork chop and potatoes for dinner And of course their service is top notch! Friendly attentive staff will make you feel right at home. Definitely my favorite place to eat in Opelika! read more

Once again we enjoyed a wonderful dinner here, this time on the very top floor of the restaurant. Next time we will request that top outdoor dining on a pretty evening. This time the duck breast with salad and a side of grits got the yummy vote. Thank you, Zazu, for another delicious meal. read more

Great place to eat. We ordered poutine and it was barely warm. The seating was less than desirable. They put us on the second level next to a railing with hardly any room. The waitress kept coming by and hitting both people with her hoody she had wrapped around her waist numerous times. Our entrees were delicious and came out quickly. read more

This is my new favorite spot near Auburn. The entire experience is worth the money. Pros: Great service from the bartender Brook. If you are not sure of your cocktail, Brook ask you a number of questions and makes something custom to your taste. 1st Visit: The food was fresh, seasoned very well, and prepared timely. We enjoyed the Poutine, Shrimp, Pork Spring Rolls, and Cocktails. 2nd Visit: Wonderful cocktails, Poutine, Wood Grilled Pork Loin, and Sweet Corn Hush Puppies. Both visit were spectacular. They earned my five stars. We can't wait to go again. read more

Went here for my birthday dinner and received great service! The food was just as great as the service. Will be dining again. read more

Zazu - Gastropubs Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

MERCY THIS PLACE IS GOOD. Try the salad. Try the salmon. Try the pimento burger. Go for the gold and get the desert- you won't be disappointed. Locally owned, locally operated- this is a restaurant to eat at and frequent. (It will accommodate diets- including keto) read more