Came here yesterday evening with a friend. I had heard about Zest but did not realize it is a sushi and small plates spot. Zest is located in the heart of downtown Cary. It is a bit of a drive from North Raleigh and parking can be a little difficult to find, but this spot is well worth the hassle. My friend and I were both so excited when we opened the menu - so many delicious sounding cocktails, sushi rolls, and small plates to choose from. For the first round of drinks, my friend got the Mango Sticky Rice and I got the Tokyo Star. Both were very fun and fruity, I felt like my friends was better. It made me want to be on a beach in the sun. Our second round of drinks, we both got mules. They were good but next time I will probably stick to their martini and specialty cocktails. For our meal, we went full girl dinner and ordered a bunch of sushi and small plates. For the rolls, we got Poke Boomer 2.0 and Screaming O. Both were VERY good - fresh and just delicious - but my favorite was Screaming O. Then for the small plates we had crab wontons, ahi tuna sliders, and spinach gyoza. The only bad thing about the crab wontons is that I wish I had at least ten more - it came with 4. The ahi tuna sliders were delicious (3 on the plate), and the spinach gyoza was good. It was absolutely popping on a Monday night. We came in at 5:15 and it slowly filled up. And I can see why. Service was quick, food was delicious, and drinks were amazing. This is definitely a place I will be telling my friends about, and I am eager to go again. All in all, we paid just shy of $150 (minus tip) for our meal. read more

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Grabbed a quick lunch here recently and had a good time. I ate a little bit late (around ~2 PM) so the restaurant wasn't busy, which worked for me :) You can park in one of the many public or paid lots around downtown Cary and then walk here. My server was polite and attentive throughout my meal. I ordered the Screaming "O" roll as well as salmon sashimi and they arrived very quickly. The sashimi tasted fresh and the Screaming "O" roll wasn't bad at all but not the best sushi I've had in the Triangle. Everything was priced reasonably. Overall, not a bad time, and I'd definitely come back here if I was nearby and craving some sushi. read more

I came on Thursday for $1 happy hour oysters. Although we arrived 10 mins before their happy hour ended, they happily seated us at the bar and took our order. We placed an order for 30 oysters and they let us know that their kitchen was backed up so it would take around 15-20 mins for them to come out, which we didn't mind. The restaurant itself is very nice and bright with both indoor and outdoor seating. It was packed when we arrived. Sitting at the bar, I was able to observe that the staff doing a great job in keeping the restaurant in order despite having so many patrons and orders. Our oysters came out on a beautiful silver platter, but as I began eating them, I felt like the oysters were sandy and weren't cleaned well. It could be because they were understaffed and rushing during the shucking process. Most were fine, a few were not. Hopefully this was a one off case. This is also the I expected ordering and eating oysters. I still enjoyed my time. read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Half dozen oysters - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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So much to say about this place. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Positive: Ambiance was nice. My child didn't put her fingers in her ears the whole time we were there. The food came out quickly. When we first made it there, because the wait time was 45 minutes, I asked for some juice for kids which they provided to me without charging me. The front desk representatives and servers seem pretty nice. The food was good, except for the shrimp curry. It tastes like a soup, not rich and not filling. Other than that, I strongly advise the crab cakes for appetizers along with the crab wonton. The sushi were good, but I had better sushi before, if I come back, i ll try something else. There was a young lady that was very helpful and kid to us, I wish I remember her name. Negative: We made it there around 8:10 pm and we were told that it would take 45 minutes to find us a table. I went to check in on the status of our table after 45 minutes and I was told that they didn't have room for us because some people made a reservation and they couldn't let us seat on their tables. I asked for a solution. They suggested setting up a table outside, which we agreed. It took them over 10-15minutes to set things up but I have to admit that the server tried her best to set us up as soon as possible. They seemed very busy that evening. My husband realized that they have over 5 empty tables with a total of 10 seats; supposedly all reserved. They ended up setting a table inside as a big party left. We were 4 adults 2 kids. I even told them I can get a 4 chairs tables because the kids always sit on our laps as they are little. We finally sat inside at 9:35. 1.5 hours after we got there. The people who supposedly made a reservation and for which the tables were reserved never showed up. 6 empty seats behind us. Another set of 2 tables and 8 chairs were available. on the other side; they were occupied when we got there but they left after a while yet it was "reserved" for clients who didn't show up. Overall, the reservation system needs improvement or just don't do reservation at all. If people don't show up within 10-15 minutes of the reserved time, call or notify cancellation. We almost left for firebirds in Morrisville. Our bill was close to $200. I don't think I will be back. read more

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The sushi was amazing and light which I love based on the rolls I got. The chef is super friendly and was also our waiter, so we got extra care in our questions and concerns. Overall, great location too so I will be back! read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

We enjoy small plates and while in Cary we made a point to make a reservation. We started with Hamachi Jalapeño. Service is fast and very attentive. Then we enjoyed the Poke Boomer 2.0. Beautiful atmosphere and delicious food. read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Hamachi Jalapeño - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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I came in on a whim, uber driver told me it was good sushi. I agree. Great sushi & cocktails. Staff was super friendly. read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Yellowtail Nigiri, shrimp tempura roll, oysters rockefeller - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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We went for lunch during the Pimento Cheese Festival and sat outside because the weather was nice and despite it not being full inside it was very loud between the music and acoustics. Saab at DTC Park has a similar issue where we feel like we are screaming above the echoes. The service at Zest was great, but the sushi was honestly on the bland side. I ordered the Poke Boomer, and some of the pieces were stringy, and I can't even remember the roll my husband ordered. It had very little flavor. Not even the soy sauce rescued it. The edamame was good, and my strawberry basil mocktail was delicious. Overall for the price, I'd try something else on the menu if we go back. read more

This roll is ammmmmmaaaaazzzzing! We were visiting Cary, and we came back twice within 24 hours. I loved this place! read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Half Baked Sushi, Edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Zest is a cute spot in Downtown Cary if you're looking for sushi and other small plates. There's a vast amount of indoor and outdoor seating options. Now that it's warm out it was so nice sitting outside while enjoying our meal. I didn't get a picture of the table top tenderloin but it was a nice being able to cook it ourselves and it came out pretty tasty. Enjoyed everything we ordered and our server Sarah was a delight. read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Food is very Americanized version of Japanese cuisine. The sushi and small plates we got were not good. Brussels sprouts weren't fully cooked and sushi had an unpleasant flavor. Server was nice but only checked on us a few times. Will not go back again. read more

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The service was absolutely amazing! Our waitress offered suggestions seeing as though it was our 1st time here. We got oysters, 2 sushi rolls and wings. The wings were so darn tasty! I got the half baked sushi roll and loved it! My husband got yhe crouching tiger roll....of course I snuck a piece of his roll lol....great great and great. We enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant and will definitely return to try more items! read more

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We decided to finally give Zest a try! Love all the outdoor seating. Inside was gorgeous as well. Lots of space. We made reservations online about 2 hrs before they had any reservations available. We got seated early. The hostess was very friendly. Our server was great. Fast, efficient. He took our drink order right away. We had a couple mocktails. Very yummy. ( I forgot to take photos! ) We ordered and food came out as it was ready. First up the fried calamari. Really good! It came with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Then came : Seafood Trident salad : fresh lobster, crab meat, shrimp, avocado, spring mix with a red wine vinaigrette. Hidden dragon roll: tempura shrimp,cucumber, topped with bbq eel, avocado, green onions, and a nice amount of ginger and soy sauce on the side Our mains came out next The CAB Steak Skewers and the Oysters Rockefeller, and the Oysters Imperial. Everything was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Zest is of excellent quality and freshness. So be ready to pay for it. It's some the best service and freshest seafood we've had in a while. Totally worth it for! Be it date night or a special occasion or a nice lunch / dinner exploring all downtown Cary has to offer! read more

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We enjoyed our visit to Zest. We had several items, including the calamari and tempura shrimp roll. Both were excellent. For our entrees, we had the Miso Salmon, which was outstanding, and the tofu curry, which was great too. Kids had a California roll, shrimp tacos and buttered ramen noodles. The shrimp tacos looked amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back and try some other items. read more

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The place is super cute, clean look inside and I love the warmers outside for the colder times. I'll start by saying this isn't true and authentic Asian, definitely lives up to the name fusion. If you want quality Asian flavors, I'd go elsewhere. The food wasn't inedible but it wasn't our favorite. The items like the coco shrimp and the Napa salad were overly dressed and tasted like eating mayo. The mussles were good but I wouldn't call that a green curry? It was very liquidy and more like a chicken broth. The fish quality for nigiri, especially the Toro was a little questionable and cut too thick for nigiri. The lettuce wraps were regular cut chicken, pre assembled on thin lettuce and served hot, so the lettuce was completely wilted and warm. Wouldn't call these lettuce wraps. The more American dishes I would argue were better and what i would only get going forward if I came back because the fries and cheese steak were delicious. The mocktails were also good even though they don't make their own purees and syrups. Again, we ate everything and it wasn't the worst, but it wasn't Asian and it wasn't high quality. Now the service, the service was really great! He was super attentive, honest, kind and not intrusive. Service 10/10, food 4.5/10. read more

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This place was amazing. We sat outside. The cocktails were tasting and the service was excellent. We shared tuna crudo and tuna tartare. Both were excellent. The edamame appetizer was also very good. Highly recommend trying the oysters! The North Carolina ones were our favorite. I would return read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Tuna tartare - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

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Went back to zest to try again after our horrible experience at the bar! Things were so much better from the hostess to the weight. Staff of the food. Absolutely awesome loved it. read more

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On my way home from the airport, I decided to stop for a bite, arriving around 2:10. The hosted sat me quickly and let me know that the kitchen was closing soon. It's a beautiful spot inside with nice outdoor seating too. My server didn't come over until 3:19 and I had to remind her that the kitchen was closing; she forgot. Hmmmm, inauspicious start. The sushi menu had lots to choose from so I was excited. I picked the Boomer and the garlic butter oysters. The food was good but a little lacking. For example, the boomer features 3 types of fish atop a crab roll. Gorgeous yo look at! However, the fish was cut in irregular shapes that made think they were extras leftover. I'm all for zero-waste. It just didn't feel luxe. Tasted good. The roll was a bit bland. Again amazing presentation for the oysters, which were nice and plump. But not a lot of butter or garlic flavor and completely missing the Parmesan cheese. Halfway through I asked for the check since folks were trying to reset tables. She brought it, said don't rush, then came back 5 minutes later. Hmmm. Im gonna chalk this experience up to it being close to closing, although diners should never feel rushed. One other point, it's bad form to talk about patrons while others are around. I heard my server say she doesn't like serving kids, which made me wonder whether she liked serving me read more

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Sat outside for dinner. It Was a nice summer evening so the temp outside was great. It wasn't crowded. Server was nice. We got a sushi dish to split along with a couple of other small plates. All tasty and will visit again sometime. read more

My friend and I went on a Tuesday night and we were glad we made reservation reservations because they were pretty busy. They had a special promotion where you could order two of their special rolls for $30. We also got the brussels as an appetizer. Everything was really good. I would say the portion size is on the smaller side, but the quality of the fish was good and the flavors were really well balanced. Service was nice and the food came out pretty fast! read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Sensei roll and Story of the Salmon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Food was overall good! A large variety on the menu, sushi, entrees, small plates, anyone could find something they like. The space can hold plenty of people, can get a little loud, but nothing excessive. Service was alright, sometimes waiting a while to get the next part of our order in, but it was a busy night. Overall yummy with many options! read more

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We got into Zest midday with a recommendation from a friend. The bar and bartender, Zack, were great. I had the Cucumber Basil Martini and my husband snagged the Wasabi Margarita. Mine was perfection for a gal that loves Dirty Martinis it was the perfect dinner drink. My husband enjoyed his drink as well. We had to snag a couple appetizers and the calamari was perfection. I'd come again l, tomorrow. read more

Zest Sushi And Small Plates - Cucumber Basil Martini - Sushi Bars Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I've been to Zest a few times but today was my first time having sushi and it was absolutely amazing.. I had a cucumber salad that was also amazing. It was fresh with a zesty unique taste. For my roll I had the Half Baked (shrimp tempura, cream cheese , avocado, topped with baked crab salad, spicy mayo and sweet soy. Service is always amazing and the ambience is top notch. I'm lucky that I live close.. read more

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I went to Zest for lunch with 3 of my girlfriends and couldn't have asked for a better experience, all around! It's nestled in adorable downtown Cary, so it was definitely hard to find parking on a buzzing Saturday afternoon, but we got lucky and found a spot right next door. We made a reservation for 1:30, and their kitchen closes at 2:30; they open again at 5:00. We were seated right away. The ambiance is a clean, relaxing and chic one. Our server brought waters and offered drinks; he was incredible. He shared with us how the menu and delivery of dishes work. Basically, when it's done, you receive it, to maintain freshness. It worked perfect for us, it being a small places spot. Thank you, Brian for being so amazing! They have an extensive drink and food menu, which was lovely. Excited to get to the food, so I'll start with everything we shared: Shrimp Cocktail, Oysters Rockefeller, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Crab Rangoons, Beef Steak Skewers, Polynesian Pork Belly, Real Cali Roll, Hidden Dragon Roll, and the Ponzu Philly Roll. We even got a special dessert from wonderful Brian! I was SO impressed with the food, we all were! The Shrimp Cocktail was fresh and the size was perfect for sharing. The Pork Belly was sweet and savory; perfectly tender. The Crab Rangoons were the best I've ever had, hot and served with real crab meat and a delicious dipping sauce. I loved the Oysters, as I typically do, but the best part about them were that the actual oysters were a great size, not just overly stuffed with breading and cheese as they often are. So delicious. The sushi rolls were amazing too. Lastly, the BEEF STEAK SKEWERS! These were so good, so perfectly seasoned and tender. This was probably my favorite dish. Brian was so kind and brought us two desserts to try: flourless chocolate torte and Ube Cheesecake. The torte was like a yummy piece of fudge, and that cheesecake I would hands down order again, even not being a "dessert" person! We had an amazing experience at Zest, and I can't wait to go back. I may or may not have already made another reservation. read more

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Loved it. Went with the girlfriend for date night and had a great time. Food was excellent, good quality all around. Service was excellent!...shout out to our server, Noor! Mgmt was very attentive too to make sure we were very happy. We'll absolutely be back...oysters at the bar for happy hour is always a reason to go too. Only "negative" is that food came out super quickly, so if you're on a more leisurely schedule, take your time ordering and enjoy. read more

Sarah was great server, friendly and very helpful in recommendations. Loved the food. Second time, we will be back for more!!

Delicious food! Visited tonight with my family of 6 for my daughter's 23rd birthday. Parking is slightly challenging. Dining area is cozy and cute, but the lightbulb in our chandelier kept flickering. Great place for a date night! Our server, Zach, was outstanding from start to finish! We would return based on his customer service alone. We ordered 6 starters and a total of 10 sushi rolls. The ladies had a couple of cocktails. The food is great! We would order everything all over again, but some of our favorites included, the pork belly, calamari, and the Chatham St roll. The complimentary birthday cheesecake in the end was delicious! After tax and tip the tab totaled $370 for the 6 of us, but well worth it. We will certainly be returning soon! read more

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Zest has been on my list to try and I'm so glad I finally got to come for dinner. I made a last-minute reservation for dinner on a Wednesday night and they only had outdoor seating available. I was seated immediately when we got there and they had heaters outside which was really nice. our waitress let us know that everything is served top of style and meant to be shared so we ordered a few items. Between 3 people, we ordered two sushi rolls, edamame, lobster tacos with a ginger salad as a side. and softshell crab BLT. We ordered a lychee limeade cocktail as a drink. my favorite item by far the soft shell crab BLT. It came with 2 soft shell crabs, topped with bacon and lettuce and tomatoes. It was HUGE! Also, the fries (came as a side with the BLT) came out so hot and crispy. It was probably some of the best fries I've had in a long time! I loved this restaurant and it had so many great items to choose from. Also, our waitress was so nice and attentive! I can't wait to come back again read more

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Stopped in Zest as a last minute decision while on an outing with a friend for lunch. My friend is a sushi fan, me, not so much. After realizing the extensive menu offered many Asian fusion options and lots of small plates, we decided to give Zest a try. The chicken lettuce wraps were delicious, as well as the crab wontons. My friend enjoyed a bento box and was pleased with everything. The Yuzu cheesecake with mango sauce was a light but refreshing finish to the meal. Loved the bright and modern atmosphere. Will look forward to going back there. Heather was a great server and answered menu questions thoroughly! read more

Zest is a new upscale restaurant in Downtown Cary. My husband and I checked it out for lunch and enjoyed it. It was a beer for me and the mint mule (a mocktail) for my husband. For food we split a few of the small plates, the crab wontons, crab cakes, gyoza and tempura veggies. It was all so good but my favorite was the crab wontons. read more

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Took the wife to Zest Sushi and Small Plates in downtown Cary for Valentine's Day--our first time there. Solid pick. The manager and staff were straight-up welcoming and on point from the jump. Place has a sharp, modern vibe right in the heart of downtown on Chatham Street--bars all around for easy night out vibes. Food crushed it: Spider roll was crispy and packed with flavor. Small plates were killer overall. But the Yuzu crab cakes? Straight fire--loaded with fresh crab and that bright yuzu kick. Absolute must-order. Great spot for sushi and drinks with strong service and prime location. We'll hit it again. 5 stars. read more

Overall I would go back here! But would like to try more of the seafood and sushi options since the best dish I had was their salmon poke crunch. We sat outside which made the experience more enjoyable. Server was very attentive as well which sometimes doesn't happen when you sit outside. The portions are on the smaller side, but it's definitely fun to try many dishes in one visit. We made a reservation in advance which I would recommend; they were very busy on Saturday night, especially after 7pm. read more

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I rarely feel compelled to make reviews, but let me tell ya, this place was amazing! The food was great, but what made it even better was our server Noor. He was so attentive, kind, and very pleasant. He made the night amazing and had the best recommendations! We will definitely be back, just to see him again. My favorite dishes of the night were the salmon carpaccio and tuna tartare. Absolutely amazing! read more

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Wonderful experience in this restaurant. The employees are very friendly. They know about their food that they serve. And the food is amazing. Pet friendly I was able to enjoy my dinner and the company with my little baby . read more

When I say the food is amazing trust me Very creative fresh and great atmosphere yoooo read more

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Lovely. I've been a few different times and each time the food is good, the ambience is lovely, and the service is great. Parking unfortunately is a real pain in this area. Cocktails are very good as well. read more

This was a really great place to have dinner with friends. It was our first time here, so we ordered a lot of different plates and shared everything. We ordered: Shrimp tacos - they were very good! Pork belly tacos - our favorite! Poke Boomer - sushi was just ok Over the Rainbow (sushi) - also just ok Ahi Tuna Sliders - very good! Chicken lettuce wraps - our least favorite Crab wontons - very good! Service was outstanding! Aiden was the best! He gave us great recommendations and had a great welcoming personality. We will definitely be back!! read more

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Let me just start with for me it has been pretty hard to find quality sushi! This place is definitely now on my top 3 list. I've been wanting to come here for a while and we finally had the opportunity. Of note SUSHI SPECIAL ON TUESDAY IS 2 FOR $25. Now that we got that out of the way. We made a reso and were seated promptly. I will say we were seated by a door which I didn't think would be an issue, but it was a chillier night so every time they open and closed the door I was hit with a cold breeze. Our waitress Juliette was great. Super knowledgeable about the menu and was great at making suggestions. We ordered a ton of things, I know forsure I enjoyed the Lychee martini but I am def coming back for the espresso martini to try next time. Still on the hunt to find the best in Raleigh. The sushi I had I can only remember 2, but the sensei and the screaming o were FIRE. The flavors were well proportioned and the roll was well made. Didn't fall apart in my chopsticks which is a must. My only gripe, and it's very small, but we like honest opinions right? The small plates that are on the table don't have much of a ridge to them. So when transferring an app on to my plate it slid off and on to the table. Like I said, super small thing, but for me it was important to be said. Overall that alone wouldn't keep me from coming back, I'll just choose not to use the small plates that come with the table. read more

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The sushi here is excellent. Rolls are very unique to what I've seen at most sushi places, but unique in a refreshing and delicious way. Sushi always tastes very fresh and drinks are always visually pleasing and delicious. The ambiance in the restaurant is top notch. Have been here a few times now and will continue to return! read more

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So the food was fine. It was just really small portions (which I know it's small plates) but for a lot of money. Which I'm fine with doing if the quality of food is great. But it's just meh. read more

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