Sweet bistro in a corner position so lots of windows! Beautiful light and a small patio so you can sit outside. Manager friendly, host helpful, server and the server in training- so sweet and helpful and warm. Nice and unique background music - 40's and 50's classics like Frank Senatra, Bing Crosby. The sexy crooners. It added a coziness and elevation to the experience. The food was - knock it out of the park great!! We were two people and might have ordered one dish too many but no worries there, it'll be good lunch the next day. All sauces and dressings are house made. You can tell that everything is done by hand. Thai chicken skewers- the sesame seeds are a cool touch! The sauces were good companions to the flavors but the chicken was slightly overdone. Maybe a skip. Bluecrab cakes - divine! Delicate, texture, crab forward with herbs. An absolute must! Lamb kofta- wow, beautiful spices, tender lamb. The tomato, eggplant chutney was earthy and hearty. The garlic tahini is mild and smooth. The combo with the kofta makes you feel like you're in a Dearborn restaurant. Authentic! Asparagus salad - is a summer special. The asparagus is lightly grilled, fresh beets are sweet and crunchy, hard boiled eggs to perfection- soft and fresh, prosciutto gives a great salty, meaty contrast and delicate vinaigrette. You feel like you're sitting on the beach in France on the ocean. Cowboy Cobb - the twist to a regular Cobb is fun with half an avocado, smoked salmon and another beautiful mint yogurt dressing. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. It changes seasonally so you'll never get bored. read more

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Our dear friends were so kind to treat us to this place but honestly I wish they would have complained because it was a terrible experience. First we get there and the restaurant is not even 5% full but they acted like it was so difficult for us to find a place to sit because we didn't have a reservation. I think we all were thinking maybe we could sit at 1 of the 50 empty tables you have? I have a cows dairy allergy and I asked if the feta was made with sheep or cow? Traditionally it should be sheep. The waiter was kind and said he would ask. He took forever to find out, I literally found the answer before he came back. So the answer is, it is made with sheep! Awesome! By the way I got the Shakshouka. And guess what wasn't in my dish that brought out? Literally after all that. Also it was the worst Shakshouska I have ever had. It should be in bed of tomato sauce...yeah I guess they forgot that too. Honestly the service was slow (mind you they were not very busy), the menus were dirty (our waiter as he ris talking to us literally says oh wow those menus are dirty), it was extremely over priced, my little tiny coffee (please look at the picture it's in the red espresso cup) was like $13. I honestly can not see how this place is in business. The ambience is beautiful but the music was way too loud and its in a very nice shopping center but the food was not good at all. Maybe they had a new cook and didn't know the ingredients so he just messed up all of our food? I don't know because the menu descriptions sound great but the execution was not there. read more

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Zola Bistro is easily one of my favorite restaurants. I live three hours away, and I still find myself thinking about it regularly and looking forward to the next time I can go back. I highly recommend the shrimp scampi and the espresso martini. The scampi sauce is absolutely delicious; rich, flavorful, and perfectly creamy without being too heavy. The flat iron steak is also phenomenal. It's cooked beautifully, tender, and full of flavor. Everything I've tried has been excellent, and the quality of the food keeps me coming back. If you're in the area, Zola Bistro is definitely worth a visit. read more

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Probably my favorite restaurant in the Ann Arbor area. While downtown Zolas has a traditional Ann Arbor feel, the high ceilings and light wood here feel more California. The menu is varied, gradually evolving in interesting ways and accessible. For dinners I'm drawn to the salads (grilled pear with arugula and blue cheese is particularly nice) and the pastas (penne in a rich Chianti sauce is what I'm having today). Breakfast/brunch is also nice, with my favorite plate being the Turkish Brunch ... but the bacon is fabulous too. Friendly staff and both inside and outside seating. read more

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Esthetically pleasing with tons of natural light, woman-owned spot. Located in a shopping center so plenty of parking around. The restaurant was very busy but every team member we encountered was welcoming, kind, and organized. The food was beautiful and we are glad we ventured out to try something new. There just wasn't enough flavor in the food for our liking. While we didn't leave feeling bogged down by a greasy starch filled breakfast, we also didn't leave satisfied. read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants in Ann Arbor. The food is consistently delicious, with a variety of different dishes to choose from. The food is always top quality and fresh. The restaurant is filled with natural light, the help is friendly and attentive without hovering, and the place is always clean and bright. They serve a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. read more

1pm reservation. We were seated quickly. Drinks took10 mins and food much longer. 2 hours later asked if we wanted dessert. Ordered coffee which came right away then 30 mins later we decided to cancel dessert. Right after it came and we said we will take but we told the person dropping it off it was supposed to be off the bill. Wait person came back and said oh you got the dessert. I replied. Well you can still take it off. She said she would adjust the bill. 30 mins later the bill came dessert was on but she took the coffee off. Ok I just want to leave. I noticed a 9 dollar charge for taking the fries off and substituting for a mediocre salad. Never again!! read more

While I've been to Cafe Zola downtown a couple times, this was my first time at Zola Bistro! The space is larger and has a great natural lighting. Love the interior here - feels modern but warm! Zola cafe has a different vibe and I do think the names are reflective! For food, I ordered and tried the Turkish brunch ( man Array of Olives, French Feta, Havarti Cheese, Cucumber, Tomato, Vegatarian Grape Leaf Dolmas, Hard-Boiled Egg. Accompanied by a Pastry, Fresh Bread, Farm Butter, Fig Preserves + Choice of House Coffee or Tea $22) for the first time. It is something I recall seeing at the Cafe location too. It's served cold and it's amazing if you want good value and a variety of things - which is perfect for me! Almost like Turkish charcuterie! I had plenty left over to nosh on the next day as well. The service was great here. I'm the Arbor Hills shopping plaza quite frequently, so I think I'll be going to Bistro over Cafe just out of convenience. Fair warning though: the parking in this plaza can be pretty difficult as it's fairly busy! Try to get earlier on weekends. E.g. a 10am Sunday brunch was perfect. read more

Zola Bistro - The bread board that came with the Turkish brunch! So many varieties!! - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Had an enjoyable time at the bar. Enjoyed a couple of craft cocktails. Sarika, our bartender, was great. The vibe was perfect for a relaxing drink. The menu looked great as well. read more

Zola Bistro - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Zola Bistro is a hidden gem in Michigan! This cozy spot offers a fantastic mix of Mediterranean-inspired dishes and classic American fare, all with a unique twist. The atmosphere is super charming--intimate, with a relaxed vibe that makes it perfect for a night out or a casual dinner with friends. The service is good and it is plus that they have parking! read more

Zola Bistro - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Is it possible to write a review on just a coffee with a near empty establishment? I'll try and let you decide. Made arrangements to meet at Zola so looked the menu up first. I was a little disappointed that it was only a coffee date because the menu made my mouth water. Nonetheless, we arrived around 9:30 in the morning and our appointment was already there with her coffee. I ordered cappuccino and husband got a hot chocolate because he was coffeed-out. With 2 other guests in the place it took about 15 minutes for coffee to arrive. I thought that unusually lengthy but really didn't mind. Only mention it for the review. When the coffee was delivered the first thing I noticed was the waitress asked our guest if she wanted cream for her half empty coffee. (Which told me she didn't offer it to her when she brought the coffee to her and she also did not offer a refill) My cappuccino was not good at all. I ordered a double shot of espresso in it. The coffee tasted like a regular cup of brewed grounds and the steamed milk was such a foamy/airy blob on top I could've eaten it with my spoon. Not a thick creamy froth at all. So, clearly, whoever drew the coffee was a novice. My husband said his chocolate was more like a warm glass of chocolate milk with a canned whipped cream and a bunch of cocoa sprinkled on top. I just feel that when you charge $7.50 for a coffee and you have a choice of 20 different takes on coffee, that everyone that makes coffee should know how. The service was unremarkable, neither good or bad. The ambience was pleasing, open airy and clean. Don't let my review steer you away. I will try Zola again - for lunch next time. The barista might have had the day off. read more

This place was okay for brunch. The interior is adorable and bright which I loved. The food I felt was quite overpriced for the portions and (lack of) flavor. I got the Alan's Mishmash and it was pretty flavorless and was underwhelmed. I have heard great things about this place, so maybe I just need to try something else if I ever go back. The service was okay. I originally order the corned beef hash special and wasn't told they were out of it until nearly 20 minutes after I ordered so that was frustrating. It was hard to keep track of our server because she didn't stay near and didn't ask how everything was. She also forgot to bring out my side dish until I was halfway done with my main meal. Overall I wasn't impressed but not horrible. read more

Zola Bistro - Alans Mishmash - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Delicious food. Big menu. Not inexpensive. I read some of the one star reviews. i had a totally different experience. I would definitely go again and I would recommend it. read more

Food was delicious, hot and nicely presented. Downside: We were at a 2-top with a skinny aisle on each side of the table. So it became highly disruptive after a short while to either - have the behindside of passers by or the waitstaff in my face as they were trying to get through, or - having to stand up and move out of the way when they couldn't get through. It made the dining experience very frustrating when I couldn't simply sit and enjoy the great food. Highly recommend going with at least 3 people or if 2, ask for a table by the windows. read more

Service and food greatly improved since my last visit. Today I was there before the dinner rush :) What I appreciated was the bar server/bartender checking in to ask if I needed anything, saying he had a few duties (cleaning/tiding) to do. Short rib main dish was tender, fall apart with an appropriate amount of sides which were equally delicious. This was comfort food to me after a long day and too tired to go home and cook. Thank you! read more

Zola Bistro - Braised short rib w/ garlic mashed potatoes & sautéed spinach - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Service was incredibly slow to start for a largely empty restaurant. The food itself was okay at best (though the French press coffee certainly held its own). We had two versions of the French toast and the monte cristo, all three seemed to suffer from a lack of flavor, potentially caused by the thickness of the bread. The French toast seemed as if only the immediate outside was blessed by any egg, moisture or flavor and that was truly disappointing. Once we got service, it was friendly and attentive but I'd recommend searching elsewhere for a good brunch. read more

Yeah, 2.8 stars is accurate. Service was so awkward you can tell they don't get paid enough to care. $16 for 6 ounces of cheap sulfate wine. Yeesh. The pizza was soupy and doughy with just very dull ingredients, I've never seen watered down tomato sauce quite like it. Mind you I've never turned down a pizza in my life. I've ate cold day old Pizza before, and it was still better than Zola. I used to love this place and come here all the time with my mom. We're over it now, I give up hope. Sucks so bad I loved that place. read more

Food is great but the prices are high. Service is generally terrible. Servers disappear after putting your food down so if anything is wrong you can't find anyone. It's actually WORSE if the restaurant is slow, go figure. Hard wooden chairs and concrete floor so it's very loud and the chairs scrape horribly when you move them. I go occasionally but always have my fingers crossed. read more

If you're looking to book reservations for graduation, strongly advise booking it in advance. This place has been on my list to try since we had a good experience with Cafe Zola. I was able to score a late time reservation on Open Table. I checked again much closer to the date and scored an earlier reservation. There is a decent amount of parking available. They have outdoor seating as an option if that is what you're looking for in the warmer months. We arrived on time and the first thing all of us noticed was how loud it was. It was tough to have a conversation. Noise seemed to reverberate here. It was an all female wait staff which was kinda cool. Service was excellent. Our meals on the other hand as my kids used the word our commencement speaker used that afternoon was "mid". The dishes were small. I got 2 small lamb chops. Filet mignon wasn't cooked to her order but she said it was ok. Pizza and spaghetti and meatballs were just food. It was Manhattan prices in Ann Arbor. Now that we've tried it, I can cross it off my list. read more

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Came in for brunch. We had the Turkish breakfast and mushroom ravioli. I was a smidge disappointed when the ravioli came out without the pesto but otherwise it was fabulous. A rich and hearty dish. The Turkish breakfast was a great lighter option. We sat at the bar and our bartender was very friendly and accommodating. You could tell he took great pride in making craft cocktails. The tables are a bit close too each other but they do have indoor and outdoor options. read more

Zola Bistro - Turkish breakfast - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Not a large crowd here when we arrived at 7 on a Saturday, which meant we were seated and waited on quickly. We ordered a Fritti Caulflower appetizer, solid breaded cauliflower florets served with a spicy tahini sauce. There were a bit hard...sort of a cross between crudite and fritters. The sauce was quite nice though. My wife ordered the chicken marsala, I got the dorade royale, a whole fried sea bream. The marsala had decent flavor, chicken was tender, though pasta had become a bit dry and stuck together. We were wondering if there had been a timing issue in the kitchen, since twice while we were waiting for the food the server stopped by to tell us it would still be "10-15 minutes" then "5-10 minutes..." Can't say if my bream held up the show, but it couldn't have been cooked better--an ideal balance of tender and flaky. Nothing extraordinary about the flavor though, and the cherry tomato salsa didn't add much. Service was fine. Our server checked in, refilled waters when needed. And kept us filled in on the progress of our entrees. All taken together, an OK evening out. read more

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I'm sad to write this as I have been so many times but today was just a bad experience. Started with the host. He was just rude. Almost like he could care less. Our server was ok but I think overwhelmed. It was lunch time but the restaurant wasn't even 1/4 full. He gave us the specials and we ordered. We ordered the hummus with flat bread and after 15 min we asked about it. Apparently they were out of flatbread and making more. Monday at lunch and no flatbread! Our food came out and part of the order was wrong, the fries were cold too, no biggie but the app of hummus and flatbread came out 10 min after our entrees and the flat bread was completely burned in the middle, like you can't eat it burnt. He came back once to see how we were doing. When I suggested they comp us the hummus he said sorry! I was so disappointed in the service and the food. I wanted to talk to a manager but we were already running late and I did not want to make a scene. Like I said this is a great place. Today not so much! read more

My daughter and I both love going to Zola Bistro. But the amount of money now you have to spend to eat there is crazy. We love the calamari and we've shared it multiple times in the past. She goes today and there are literally 8 pieces in the container for the same price. She talks to the (manager) and she tells my daughter that they measured it out and it normal. We've always been ok paying for calamari we know it's a little expensive but the fact that the lady talked to my daughter like she didn't know what she was talking about is some bull. Never again read more

Service and food is always good but somewhat pricey in general and especially based on the portions. $21 for a Kobe burger including fries - ok but then $5.75 up-charge because I asked for extra lettuce, tomato and onion?! $29 for shrimp scampi. $11 for calamari - actually good price if it was "standard" size to share with 2-4 people but seemed like a single serving size. Price it at $15 and 2.5X the portion. Overall, really good food but price/portions could be better. Maybe it's just my perception of this restaurant, it feels like a step up from Chili's but priced like Capital Grille with smaller portions. read more

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This is a really cool and well designed spot to grab a New Years Eve Brunch with my friend. We started with mock-tails each getting a berry thyme bliss which started off fruity and was a pleasant sugar rush, then as the ice starts to melt it mellows out a bit to give a nice clean finish. We both had NYE parties to go to later on so we decided to split something and went with steak salad medium cooked, mixed the salad together and divided it up on share plates. The greens were crisp and fresh and the steak was really tender and juicy. The dressing was creamy with just the right amount of cheese to complement the steak without overpowering it. It'd recommend this place for a friends meet up or even a casual elegant business gathering. The staff here were all very cool and wished us a Happy New Year when we entered and left. Our server in particular was very fun and upbeat her name was Hadlea B. and we had a great time commenting on outfits and accessories with her while deciding what to get. I appreciated her casual and personal approach and she provided us with everything we needed without checking in every 5minutes. It's this combination of good food, good service and interesting textured aesthetics that makes you want to come back to a place like this and bring your friends. Happy Nee Year Zola Bistro, see you in 2025! read more

Zola Bistro - Berry Thyme Bliss Mocktail - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We liked everything about Zola Bistro. Waitress was excellent. Very attentive and super nice. Food and cocktails were delicious. Definitely recommend the charcuterie board. All of our dishes were very tasty. We also enjoyed the vibe and decor. Great night! read more

Food was excellent. The experience wasn't. First of all, they fit way too many people in a small space. I was at a 2 top and I could touch 7 people from 4 different tables with no effort. My wife would have to stand up to let people through We were seated and ordered drinks. 45 minutes later, we did not have any food Our waitress had 10 tables If they were willing to get rid of maybe 6 tables, everyone would have a better experience Again, food was excellent. Drinks were excellent. Waitress was excellent. The time it took to get food and the layout of being so close to so many tables was intolerable. read more

Horrible experience. Waited 10 min to get acknowledged and served water. Waited another 30 min to get overpriced tiny spaghetti w one meatball ($28) while companion waited for a salad that never came. We gave up and canceled order. Server barely acknowledged our horrible experience. By the way they werent even busy. read more

Zola Bistro is one of the original businesses that opened when the Arbor Hills Shopping Mall debuted in 2013. When I arrived to meet a former co-worker for lunch, there was a long line at the hostess stand. We had no idea when a table would be available as the staff had stepped away and not returned to the stand for a while. There was available seating at the bar so we grabbed the open space and received menus from a bartender. The crowd of customers was due to the weekend brunch which is very popular at this spot. The interior was stylish but felt a bit cramped. Maybe at an off-peak meal time during warmer weather when folks aren't wearing heavy coats, the space will feel more comfortable. I ended up ordering Alan's Mish Mash while my friend got the Mediterranean Chicken Salad. My entree was made up of scrambled eggs, sauteed Polish sausage, scallions, mushrooms, garlic, and potatoes. It was a tasty scramble and very representative of the brunch offerings at this European-style bistro. Pricewise, it was on the expensive side that was reflective of its more upscale ambiance. I gave a 3.5 star rating for our dining experience at Zola Bistro. read more

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Nice ambiance with waves of natural light, service was also good. Food was mixed: crab cakes too fishy, Cesar short on dressing, salmon far too small for the $$. Mushroom ravioli was a highlight and very good. Overall, too pricey for quality and quantity, but if you do go -- mushroom ravioli is excellent. read more

This has to be the favorite restaurant I have been going for over a decade and it's never gotten old the reason I am writing this is my I had asked for my food to be boxed and I got this hand drawn on my box I never got her name but she was taller and had a tattoo on her neck read more

Zola Bistro - French Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

After two bad experiences. Decided Not going here anymore. Very bad service. Zero courteous, rolling eyes. Have to ask everything five times.. won't check on you.. have to flag other waiters to get help. One just said I will let your server know, but never did . Not sure if the issue is with the management keeping the employees unhappy.. or the employees itself. Very bad.. food is secondary.. for a "premium" $$$ restaurant. This is really bad. read more

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We had a really bad experience at Zola Bistro - slowest food delivery. Over an hour to get marginal food that should have taken 15 minutes. The wait staff (only 2) looked so harried and annoyed. The restaurant was not packed - lots of empty tables. Too long a wait for the marginal food that was finally delivered...in stages. Won't go back. read more

Horrible experience there. Had a reservation for at 5:45, restaurant is about 20% full. Appetizers took about 20 minutes and our mains took an hour after that. They brought 2 of the 4 dishes, I ordered the seared Ahi tuna, it was completely overdone, the other entrench had uncooked pasta. The 2 remaining dishes showed up at least 15 minutes after that. Terrible food, terrible service and overpriced! Beware. read more

Kamoira was excellent. Service was on point. The food was very good as well. We will be back. We like the Cafe also!

Food is decent but nothing special. Throwing cream fraiche on top of a crepe is a miss. Coffee was good. Service was very slow. Overall the prices are too high relative to the quality of the food and the experience read more

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Our server was very kind. Service was a little slow because they made the special French Toast with Rhubarb Strawberry compote on accident and had to remake our food. Ambiance was calm as it was a weekday lunch. I would return, the food was yummy and the coffee delish. read more

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I sat outside and it was such a cute little set up. I got a French press of tea and the halloumi salad! The salad was fresh and delicious. The table also got a Dutch baby and a bagel. Both were tasty and exceeded expectations for a place in a fancy strip mall. For brunch this seems like a great place that has something for everyone. The service was attentive without being too in your business. read more

Mediocre and way over priced food. We saw the owner of this restaurant verbally abusing her poor staff and talking crap about guests who were dining in at the time. She is not a nice woman and does not deserve any service or support. I will NOT be returning here to eat, ever!! read more

I'm only rating this low because I want to bring attention to the recipes and that they didn't line up with my taste buds or others with me at the table. I would like to recommend the restaurant dial back on the pepper in its olive oil for the bread. Have it as optional maybe and re-evaluate the fried cauliflower recipe and beef up the seasonings present in the shrimp tacos. I can't rate the calamari we ordered as I didn't taste it. We also sat outside and the sun was not helping lol The waitress was amazingly helpful and nice so thanks @Mackenzie! read more