We had a late lunch/early dinner at Zest Sushi & Small Plates in downtown Roswell yesterday. We enjoyed it. I give this restaurant three to four stars. Our friend, who joined us and has lived in Roswell for decades, recommended it. I booked our reservation using Resy. Zest qualifies for the American Express Resy Credit, if you have a qualifying card. This is a casual joint. It's spacious, with a bar, dining room, and outdoor brick sidewalk patio. At 3:30pm on a Saturday, the bar was mostly full, and by the time we left around 5:00pm, the dining room had already gotten decently busy. This place fits in nicely with walkable downtown Roswell. $5 paid parking is available in a surface lot directly across the street from the restaurant. Here's what four of us had: Cocktails * Pretty in Purple ($15) - Empress 1908 Gin, triple sec, cranberry juice, yuzu juice, simple syrup, dehydrated lemon Mocktails * Strawberry Basil Fizz ($7) - fresh lemon juice, strawberry puree, fresh basil, club soda, lemon wedge Sushi - Specialty Rolls * Allyson Roll ($16) - shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, topped with eel, spicy mayo, soy glaze, tempura flakes, masago * Super Crunch Roll ($14) - masago, tempura flakes, spicy mayo, topped with steamed shrimp, soy glaze Oysters * Raw Gulf Oysters (6 for $11) - cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish, mignonette sauce Small Plates Graze * Edamame ($6) with garlic (+$1.50) - steamed soybeans, sea salt * Parmesan Truffle Fries ($7) - wasabi mayo, ketchup Surf * Salmon Poke Crunch ($15) - diced salmon, avocado, yuzu tobiko, spicy mayo, green onions, wonton crisps Turf * Thai Lettuce Wraps ($14) - chopped chicken, water chestnuts, red bell peppers, red onions, sesame seeds, carrot nest, Thai plum sauce * C.A.B. Steak Skewers ($16) - beef tenderloin, grilled red peppers, onions, zest sauce, sesame seeds In general, the food was fresh and tasty. There was not a single bad item. The menu has a good variety of options and my wife and I appreciated the lighter and healthier dishes. I thought the oysters were a decent value. I wouldn't say this is a "proper" sushi or tapas restaurant, but the food is good for what it is, which I'd describe as Americanized casual. Megumi was our server and she took great care of us. The floor was sticky. Zest opened in 2011, so it's stood the test of time. A second location opened in Cary, North Carolina in 2024. read more

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So I just happened to be walking around in the area looking for food and I decided to stop in. I've actually never been here as many times as I've been to this specific district. I was not disappointed at all. Getting here you have to worry about parking because it's not free parking. There are spots and places around but generally speaking you have to either do street, lot, or parking garage parking. The parking garage is a little bit further away so I would not suggest that but there is plenty of parking lot parking. I'm just saying this because you're going to have to walk no matter what happens. There's a lot basically across the street and a lot basically on the block next to it but they are around $5 to $10. I didn't have a reservation but I still went in and got seated immediately. We got a seat in the back of the restaurant where they make and prepare the sushi so that was a good view. It's very nice and very clean there and the service was great. Mario was a server and took really good care of the table. He was definitely a boon and I would have no problem with him waiting on the same table that I was at again! Super cool guy. Diablo roll - So the roll was very good and very tasty. It was a nice sized roll and it had a really good flavor to it. Would I get it again? I would. Ramen - The ramen was good. It had very good presentation and everything like that, the only thing I needed was to add a little razzle dazzle to it. So the ramen itself was savory but it didn't have a punch like I would like. So I just asked them for some chili oil and that took it right where it needed to be. If you don't like spiced then that's not applicable to you LOL. But I like savory and heat and this fixed everything and made it right with the world! I thought this was a really good place and I would love to go again. Actually. They have a couple of other rolls that I would like to try. read more

Zest - Diablo roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

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I love this place! I've had a wide variety of the food and it's always been fresh. I had the nigiri tonight, pro tip, cut it in half, It's so good this way! read more

Zest - Salmon nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

Stopped by Zest on Canton Street and had such a good time. The vibe is chill but still nice enough for date night, and the patio is perfect for people-watching. The tabletop tenderloin is the star here. You cook the thin slices of beef on a hot stone at your table, and the Korean chimichurri + sea salt combo is ridiculously good. I'd come back just for that. We also tried a few other things: the Zest Ramen (light pork broth, great pork belly), the Korean Cheesesteak (bulgogi + cheese = yes), and the Firecracker and Rainbow rolls. Everything was fresh and tasty, and the oysters were super clean. Great service, fun menu, and a little bit of everything whether you want sushi, small plates, or something cozy. Definitely coming back! read more

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Zest is my favorite seafood restaurant to visit in downtown Roswell. The service is always great and the food is even better. I get the firecracker roll and a variety of oysters every visit. I took a few friends here for lunch and they loved everything they had. I highly recommend the cucumber martini and lychee martini (ask for less syrup as sometimes it can be too sweet for my taste). You can't go wrong with any of the appetizers. The spring rolls, calamari, crab cakes, and wings are my fave. Enjoy! read more

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Hubby & I walked in a cold Friday evening hoping to grab a quiet dinner for two. Without a reservation, we were told a 30 minute wait. No problem... we went for a walk down Canton Road to enjoy the people and see other shops. We didn't get very far before we got the text that our table was ready--like in 10 minutes! Nice! The host was very friendly. The diner is beautifully appointed and pretty spacious with two separate dining rooms and a long bar in one of the rooms. The menu had a cool variety of flavors, from truffle fries to sushi/sashimi to seafood towers to tacos. It all looked amazing! We decided on small bites with the parmesan truffle fries, a dragon roll, and the bonsai brussel sprouts (no bacon for me, thank you!). Our server was super friendly and helpful in deciding. She was attentive and professional, and we got all our food in very good time. The food was DELICIOUS! Highly recommend. read more

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Zest is a favorite of mine! The service staff is great, so attentive and helpful with suggestions and or questions you may have! I've requested Megumi as a waitress several times and she is the BEST and most recently, had to pleasure of having Mary as a waitress as well! Both women are fantastic, so personable, and really make your lunch/dinner experience great! The menu is diverse and there's a selection for all and drinks (either mock or cocktails) are very good as well! Will absolutely continue to recommend Zest! read more

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Delicious and fresh seafood. The grilled garlic butter oysters were very tasty. The spicy tuna rolls were fresh and delicious as well. I enjoyed my mocktails too. I can't wait to return. read more

Consistency is so important if a restaurant is going to make it these days. Location, Location, Location is equally important. I think it was early fall the last time we dined at Zest because sitting outside was a little iffy but so worth it. This is in the heart of the trendy Canton Street neighborhood of Roswell and the area is always bustling with the hippest of north Atlanta. Roswell is cool because of the abundance of outdoor seating, and I think Zest has one of the best spots. The staff here is excellent. Our server (Mary I think) made us feel incredibly welcomed. We were well cared for. We will look for her again for sure! We usually have a cocktail and my Margarita was excellent. Just the right amount of tequila, quickly made and delivered. THE FOOD! I love small plates for Lunch. We had the Lettuce wraps which were perfect cups of lettuce that really held up surprisingly. Not sure how they do that but seriously these were perfect and delicious. This was our first time trying the Japanese Avocado dip. You MUST try this! The avocado was simple enough. Perfectly smooth and creamy but there was a fresh ginger flavor that was so unique and refreshing served with sliced yellow squash, sliced cucumber and radishes with crispy wonton strips for some texture. RAVE! I wanted more. The sushi rolls were great and incredibly fresh. They were large and we couldn't finish them. Pro tip, don't park across the street. Try to park on the corner where Go With The Flow used to be. We paid $4 versus $10 directly across the street. This was a memorable lunch experience that will keep us coming back. The stars of the show were the Japanese Avocado dip and our server Mary. GET HERE for both. Consistently GREAT! read more

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We've been to zest a couple of times and have really enjoyed it. The CAB skewers, shishito peppers, and the spider roll are my favorite!! Service has always been great and the overall vibe is perfect- not too fancy but not too casual, and delicious food always. I would love to see some weekly specials to switch things up but overall a great pick for downtown Roswell! read more

Fun and upscale vibe with friendly service and delicious food! The outdoor seating was fun and on the street with lots of other local shops around (felt slightly European). I had the lychee martini, sooooo good and not too sweet, and the seafood Ramen. The broth was out of this world and the seafood tasted fresh. With just the Ramen I was very full! Service was friendly and attentive! Would love to come back and try their sushi and sit inside to enjoy the vibes inside, although if it's a nice day I definitely recommend the outdoor seating. Highly recommend! read more

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First time visiting this restaurant. Have been looking for a really good sushi bar and was not disappointed. Service was outstanding highly recommend asking for ashley as your server!!! Had the oysters rockefeller and scallop crudo as well as salmon/striped bass/scallop/sushi and a spicy tuna roll. All of it was delicious. Will absolutely be back. Oh and the peach mule is 10/10 too! The restaurant has an upscale but chill vibe. Downtown Roswell area overall was also super fun! read more

Zest Sushi and Small Plates is average at best, a far cry from high quality Japanese fare. From a strict culinary perspective, Zest deserves 2 stars, in my opinion. But when you factor in the affordable price tag and amiable service, 3 stars is more like it. Here is what we ate, in order of preference: Kiss of Death Roll (A-): Very flavorful, although not spicy at all Polynesian Pork Belly (B+): Nice seasoning, although we've had much better Mocktail - Mint Mule (B+): Very refreshing Butter Garlic Oysters (B): Decent Tempura Veggie (C+): Too soft, almost soggy Fish & Chips (C-): The fries were very good, but the fish was terrible (insipid, soggy) Tuna Nigiri (D+): I've had better grocery store nigiri Salmon Poke Crunch (D): Just bad poke. No flavor whatsoever Mocktail - Lychee Limeade (D-): Just no flavor, utterly forgettable Gyoza Dumplings (F): The worst gyozas ever. Limp and soggy On the positive side, we only spent $118 for a 3-person meal, before tipping (2 mocktails, water, 7 small plates, 1 larger entrée, no alcohol). We won't be returning to Zest Sushi. read more

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We tried the sushi at Zest. The view is definitely the highlight and sets the tone for the experience. The sushi itself was okay, but the presentation wasn't a 10/10 and didn't quite match the atmosphere of the place. Overall, a decent spot for the view, but the food presentation could be improved. read more

Extremely noisy, to the point where my wife and I could not have a conversation. My Soft Shell Crab was fried in think batter, not the subtle dusting it should have. My wife's lamb shops were way over-salted. All-in-all, not a good experience. We won't be returning. read more

Lovvvved that we were able to walk in (after not having the best experience near by). It was spacious and comfortable. Group of three, sat quickly; staff were kind and immediately greeted us. Our waitress was knowledgeable and made some helpful recommendations. We ordered the bang bang shrimp, Allyson and Kiss of Death roll, chicken wraps and ramen. The Allyson was my favorite roll! Soooooo tasty! The girls said the Ramen and the wraps could have had more flavor. We enjoyed our Martinis, basil cucumber, expresso and can't remember the third, it was pink and sweet; she enjoyed it. read more

Zest - Bang Bang Shrimp - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

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Ambiance is good, service was great but the food is not authentic Japanese. The sushi rolls are overly Americanized, too large and flimsy, not rolled well at all. The Tempura veggies were fried veggies period. They were dark in color (oil was old) and nothing like Tempura. There is a big difference betweenTempura and straight up fried.. The cucumber salad was flavorless except for small amount of crab. read more

Our family loves coming to Zest whether it's a date night or Sunday family lunch! Adam is the best and has been serving us for years. He makes delicious cocktails and always goes the extra mile. Oysters are always fresh, great sushi variety and vibes are 10/10 read more

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Great service. Family friendly place and casual with super good tasting food! Prices are just right! We got the spicy edamame and our toddler loved it! We also got the miso soup and to our surprise he really liked that, too! We got the spicy kiss roll and veggie roll with the wasabi mayo and spicy mayo. The wasabi mayo is very tasty. The charbroiled spinach parm oysters (Rockefeller) were large but portioned right with the spinach and cheese on top. Overall, we had a great time and we cannot wait to come back! read more

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We came here on a busy Saturday night and got a table outside with a very quick wait...service was great and drinks were lovely. We got a ton of small plates and sushi and all of it was fresh and delicious! then, as it does in GA, a major storm came out of nowhere and even though we were under umbrellas they graciously moved us, and all our food and drinks inside. This has been my favorite Cobb County dining experience so far (we just moved here 2 mos ago) but it's a great spot with great food and service. Awesome!!! read more

Zest is a staple if we want fresh sushi that is consistently good. The Allyson roll with eel is my go-to. The Pacific roll will crab salad is tasty too. read more

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This was my second time at Zest and I know I'll be back for more. It got to be a bit loud at times, but honestly the food made up for it. Reservations: They do not take reservations. It is first come, first served. So if you have a large party, this may not be the best place to go but we did have a table of 6 next to us celebrating a birthday. We expected to wait a bit, but we were seated immediately as a party of 2. Parking: They are located in downtown Roswell so there are a few free parking "lots" and street parking, but those spots get snagged pretty quickly. There are also paid lots, usually between $5-$20 depending on what is happening that evening. Food: The food is so good! I couldn't get enough. The crab wontons were my favorite appetizer that we tried. The spinach and artichoke dip was good too. I really loved the volcano roll, but the raw raw roll I couldn't finish my half. I ate one piece and decided it wasn't for me. I didn't like the texture and flavor of the outer ring. But everything else was so good, I wasn't too upset. I finished with the crème brûlée and it was good! Drinks: I had the cucumber watermelon mint mule and my sister had a gin martini. We were both happy with our drink selections! They have an extensive list of options too, so you're bound to find something you like. Vibe: It can get a little noisy, but it wasn't too bad. The staff are kind, and helpful when it comes to recommendations. read more

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Service great ! Food very good. See photos - nice patio must try Half price wine on Wednesday read more

Zest - Dumplings - Roswell roll - oceanic ? - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

I've stopped in zest a couple of times and I had a friend in town from Phoenix and of course the first area I wanted to show her was Canton Street in Roswell. We have lunch at zest and I have previously reviewed how happy I am with their food and so this is my second post and this time with trying different dishes. The only complaint I would have is the seafood salad was on a bed of iceberg lettuce and it would have been great on some mixed greens read more

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Loved our meal here!! My mom and I came here, sat on the patio and shared a few things. It was perfect! We waited a little longer to be able to sit on the patio but it was worth it! Food was fresh and can't wait to come back! We did have to pay for parking about a block away but it was not expensive. read more

Zest - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

Great spot in Roswell downtown! We enjoyed all of our dishes, nice flavor and all very fresh Will definitely visit again! read more

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We have been to zest a handful of times. The food is still good, but not nearly as good as it used to be. We sat outside on the patio, of course, and the service was great. The oysters rockefeller were pretty bad this time around. So much so we said we wouldn't order them again. They had no flavor and there was so much cheese on top that got too cooked so it's all you could taste. Felt like cream, an oyster that got lost, and a cheezit. The gyoza came out cold which was annoying but we dealt with it. The crab wontons were less full than they normally are, but they were still tasty. The mac and cheese was heavenly and the allyson roll was very, very good. We will still return in the future, but I'd be lying if I said we didn't leave a little disappointed. They also removed a lot of the items from the menu we used to love. So that sucked, too. read more

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This spot has great tapa style portions to share so we got a few different items! We tried their oyster flight, which comes with five different oysters from around the country, and four out of the five were good but we ended up sending one back because it had that specific smell that oysters should not have as one can get sick from it. After that we ended up ordering a half a dozen of our favorite from the oyster flight, and our server was very sweet and gave us seven to accommodate for the one we did not eat on the oyster flight. We ordered the lobster crabcake entrée, which comes with a bur blanc sauce and mashed potatoes, and it is hands-down one of the best lobster crabcakes I have ever tried, very thick and full of meat. We ate it all! This is enough for two to share if you are getting a couple other appetizers as well, or if you choose to get this as your meal it will definitely fill you up! We ordered the spiciest sushi roll as well as the plain yellowtail: spicy roll was so great but the yellowtail was VERY plain, that was our only letdown as I did not expect it to be so plain (yellowtail is usually topped with scallion/green onion at least to help bring out flavor but this one was topped with nothing) Their truffle fries are so yummy! Try these for sure! read more

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This is more of an Asian fusion type restaurant with some decent sushi, that sits along Canton Street among the hustle & bustle of downtown Roswell. Surprisingly, this place has a decent amount of inside and outside seating, plus a bar area. Keep in mind parking can be the worst part of your experience here. There is plenty of free parking, if you can find it. Also, this entire dtown area is open container so you can walk around with drinks but this restaurant frowns upon you bringing your drink in from another place. I'm bumping a star bc that's pretty petty. This was my second visit here. Lots of options on food. I wanted a more genuine sushi experience so I ordered miso soup and the ginger salad to start. I wish the miso had tofu but not bad with the scallions & seaweed. The ginger salad could've used more dressing. The roll I ordered, the Roswell Roll, was pretty good. I do wish they had a roll that combined cilantro, jalapeño and spicy salmon or yellowtail. The atmosphere is nice here and our waitress was great. It was a tad bit hot where we sat but, overall, I would recommend. read more

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Delicious late summer dinner. We enjoyed our sushi and soba noodles. Huge menu with lots of options. Large drink menu as well, including several different Mules. Our waiter Mario did a great job and made us feel welcome. Will definitely return! read more

This restaurant is nicely nestled in the middle of the many restaurants on Canton St in Roswell. They have inside and outside seating available. I thought the food here was very good and they had some unique options as well. We started with the Oyster Flight - for $18 you get to sample 5 different types of oysters of the day. We also tried the Pan Asian Baby Back Ribs which we I thought the flavors tasted great. I would recommend this one. The Seared Diver Scallops were also very tasty and another item I would recommend. And lastly, we tried the Allyson Roll sushi which was also very good. The only downside we experienced was the wait time on our server. After getting our drink orders, we didn't see our server again for a very long time. So we had to wait for a while before we could place our order. Overall, I thought the restaurant ambiance was very nice and the food tasted great. Parking can be a little tricky as there is no dedicated parking lot, so you'll have to search around the area for parking spaces. read more

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We had a patio table for dinner. The service was slow but friendly staff. Good rolls.

We went to Zest this past Friday night as we have several times in the past. We loved the place. This time we were seated outside. Another couple waited to be seated under an umbrella as it rained and they were wiping the seats. They Had two people taking care of them. Meanwhile my husband and I had two Waite staff pass by and not say a word!! About 20 minutes went by no help or acknowledgment to us. We stood up and the people who sat down after us had water drinks and an appetizer!!I stopped one of the wait staff and told her I was writing a review and about our experience!! She was clueless!! We have been going there every week!! No more we went down the street to The Tavern, had a wonderful meal and quick service!! Won't be back read more

The food here is so good and really a treat! The tableside tenderloin is amazing and interactive, the ambience is very chic and almost boho. The servers were very personable and kind! read more

Nice restaurant located in downtown Roswell with great ambiance. The menu ranges from tapas style dishes, ramen, sushi and an eclectic selection of drinks. I stared with the mussels and they were absolutely amazing. Fresh, floating on a delicious broth and served with fresh bread. I followed that up with the tuna roll and was not disappointed. Very well made. The service was superb, with Alexis taking the time to walk me through the different menu options and dishing out that southern charm that I've come to love over the years of traveling to GA. She definitely made my first visit to Zest very enjoyable! The range of dishes on Zest's menu is large, so I am looking forward to coming back and switching up to some other options. If you ever find yourself in this area, please be sure to pay them a visit. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Spectacular! The hostess Alexis was engaging and outgoing. Matt, our waiter was attentive and anticipated our every need! The food was divine! we started with the seafood tower, oysters rockefeller and finished with rolls and sashimi! Always an amazing experience! Live that we can take our large party to this Restaurant and feel like we are having a family meal together! read more

I love the food here and service is always good! They are usually busy but you get great food and service on this busy street! read more

Zest - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

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Food was good, but it was so noisy. Maybe a few acoustic sound baffles would help. Talking to my friend was impossible with yelling over everyone else. read more

Food, service, ambiance and drinks beyond amazing. Had the volcano roll, oysters and strawberry basil cooler. read more

Zest - Volcano Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roswell, Georgia

***please read all*** I had a great experience at this restaurant. I'm visiting from out of town and was really in the mood for some good food and a nice drink. To start off, the first time I visited this place, I had the truffle fries and they were AMAZING! I paired it with a Mexican mule and the bartender I believe her name was Olivia was very very kind. The drink was out in a very timely manner and before ordering, I asked what a recommended drink was. She recommended both the Mexican Mule and the Strawberry Basil cooler, but I chose the Mexican mule. Food came out just as quick and the quality of the food really sold my experience there. The overall feel and atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, cozy and pleasant. Highly recommend to anyone visiting or in the area. *** NEGATIVE PART OF THE RESTAURANT*** My only complaint about this place is that there were gnats just flying around and that honestly made my experience here kind of a bit worse. The management needs to look into how gnats are getting into the restaurant. Not only did I come here once, but I came two times and BOTH times, I was being bothered by gnats. read more