A truly delightful dining experience from beginning to end. The food was nothing short of perfect. I ordered the Chicken Pillard salad, which was beautifully portioned and full of well-balanced, vibrant flavors. The service was equally impressive. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive, consistently checking in and ensuring our glasses were never empty. It made the entire experience feel seamless and thoughtfully cared for. With ample seating both indoors and outdoors, it's the perfect setting for a relaxed and elegant lunch. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to enjoy great food, exceptional service, and a charming atmosphere. read more

I've been meaning to try Zov's for a while, and we finally made it in on a Saturday for lunch, which meant we were ordering from the brunch menu. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was helpful with explaining the menu and offering recommendations. We ordered the dirty fries, breakfast burrito, and short rib hash. The dirty fries were a standout. The name fits, but they weren't as heavy as you might expect. They were flavorful without being overwhelming. The breakfast burrito was similar in that way. Don't expect your typical diner-style burrito because this one has their Mediterranean twist on it. I did wish there had been more bacon, especially since theirs is stellar. The pieces were a bit few and far between. The salsa, unfortunately, left a little to be desired. I also enjoyed the short rib hash, though it wasn't quite what I was expecting. That's on me since I was leaning into my classic diner expectations. While the dish names may sound familiar, Zov's clearly infuses its Mediterranean influence to create a more refined, upscale version. Overall, we had a great experience and I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. read more

See all

Yes a must try! I love a short rib, they have short rib pappardelle and YESS its killer good. Also had lamb chops medium rare and babaganoush, exquisite. They were kind enough to make me an affogato even though it's not even on the menu THANK YOU! Got there just before sunset, sat inside, it was cozy, service was wonderful.. They suggested the lamb chops and I'm glad they did!! read more

See all

The service was great Maury was really helpful and was friendly! The ambiance is nice we love how cozy it is and how open it is... the food was delicious as well we love the dirty fries it is one of our favorite at zov's and the beef kebob was amazing as well!!! We got the trio kebob where you have to choose your own meat and we chose beef and loolah! We love the beef but the loolah wasn't as tasty! The price of the trio kebob was a little bit expensive but it was good for 4 people! We liked the golden lentil soup which was very tasty and the chicken harissa! I wish there was more sauce on the chicken as it tends to be on the dry side, we do love the fingerlings potatoes on it as well!!! I do recommend this restaurant!!! Hope to try more items in their menu!!! read more

See all

Excellent steak and lamb chops .Great & friendly service. Busy ambiance and love the outdoor patio for our pups read more

See all

Food is great but feels a bit overpriced. Servers are nice and attentive. The eggplant fries are yummy. read more

Zovs - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Tucked away in one of Irvine's northern villages, Zov's on Portola is a lovely spot for families, first dates, or just to hang out. Live music on Friday and Saturday adds a great ambiance for those dining on the patio or inside. We always sit at the bar so we get the best of all worlds. Trish, a long time bartender, always provides the friendliest and sassiest service, and makes AMAZING drinks, from Old Fashionds to Spicy Pineapple Margaritas. Some of the starters could easily be mains, such as the salmon tacos or steak tostadas, which NEVER break at the first bite and always hold their texture. The economy has hit this location, as the amount of steak on the tostadas went from a lot to just crumbs, but still yummy with lots of fresh veggie toppings. Highly recommend if you want a mellow evening and great food/service. read more

Zovs - Sitting at the bar, live musician performing - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

First time here. Our server, Whitney, did an amazing job. We got great service. TJ help assisted us with the air conditioning. Thank you TJ and Whitney for outstanding service. The food was absolutely delicious and fresh. There is live music here! Nice touch. Place is beautifully decorated. Everyone who works here, works hard. Thank you Zov's team! The food was a big portion and absolutely delicious. Definitely will come back when I come back to Orange County!! Beautiful service and food! Thank you Zov's team!! read more

See all

I'm shocked after reading the reviews that I don't see more comments about the service. It always has the feeling of being understaffed. I live close by so it's a convenient location, and likely the only reason I continue to go. The food is good - no doubt about that. However, I was there today and didn't even eat. After sitting there for ten minutes with nobody coming by, we just decided to leave. It wasn't going to get any better unfortunately. read more

How did my previous rating go from five stars to one star? Read on. My dining companion ordered the lamb chops special. I've had it before; it's good. I ordered the spiced lamb burger. Her plate came out quickly. When our server finally got around to checking on us, my dining companion had nearly finished her meal, but my order had yet to hit the table. When the server asked "how is everything" or words to that effect, I replied, "I don't have my food," which was self evident by the lack of a plate in front of me. I told the server "if the cooks haven't started making it, I don't want it." When she returned to our table, she said it would take just two minutes to make it. I reiterated, "I don't want it now." To add insult to injury, the server seemed to cop an attitude when I told her "I don't want it now." She was sweet as pie before that. Perhaps she thought I would hammer her on her tip. I didn't, but maybe I should have. Furthermore, not once did I hear an apology. The server should have gotten the manager involved, but she didn't. I didn't want a free desert or whatever. I just wanted the screw up to be acknowledged. We've eaten at Zovs a number of times, but I have no desire to eat there again. read more

10 out of 10 recommend this place for lunch or dinner. After our first meal, I can say they have gained regulars. Everything was amazing. From the outside setting and beautiful ambiance, this was a great lunch date. All the staff was very friendly. We started with the Armenian flatbread that had so much flavor. For our main entree, my fiance had the herb crusted salmon. The flavors we perfect, great healthy meal and the orzo was cooked just right. I had the angel hair pasta. I am still drooling over how great meal was. Have noy had pasta that great in a long time read more

Wonderful sea food pasta dish and lamb kabobs. Terrific flavor! Gluten free options. The best ice tea! Good service, food came fast. Perfect Birthday lunch for my wonderful wife! read more

The food was really good! We got the kebob plate and sea bass. I'm not sure if the food was interesting or amazing enough to justify the price, but it was very good. Portions weren't huge but still filled us up. The live music was lovely- we went on a Friday night. Side note- There seemed to be a small gnat problem unfortunately when we were there. Yvette was our excellent server who took great care of us and made our anniversary very special! The "Ridiculous Sundae" was soooo delicious. Overall I do recommend this place! read more

Zovs - Kebob Two Ways - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Excellent, Service Food 5 Star Quality! Ambiance Inviting Calm...indoor outdoor seating ! Never disappointed.. read more

we were group of 12. Food was simply amazing, and what was even greater, was the customer service and the warm welcoming attitudes of everyone working there!! It totally felt like we were having special dinner at a close friend's house. What a lovely experiance! read more

See all

Have you tried Zov's? What are you waiting for?!? The Irvine location is outstanding and server Kim is a level above your traditional server. Knowledgeable, friendly, and full of positivity, Kim is service forward for her guests and a blessing for Zov's. Food was outstanding and the wine selection is first rate, try a bottle of Bonanza cab with your meal. We dined on Friday night and the patio had a great singer/performer to add to the casual fresco dinning experience. read more

Came here for lunch today, wasn't sure what to expect but definitely was not disappointed. Arrived around 3pm and it was pretty empty, but that gave us a chance to really see the restaurant. Awesome decor, half indoor, half outdoor. Full bar with a few TVs... but elegant, not BWWs looking. Service was good. Pretty standard, but not complaints. We ordered the eggplant fries, Two Kebabs plate, and the breakfast sandwich. Eggplant Fries- awesome, unique app. Served with a chipotle aioli. The kebabs- surprisingly fantastic. I had a feeling when our server asked how we'd like the beef cooked... for a kebab. 1 beef, 1 chicken, came out perfect. The breakfast sandwich with hash browns was simple yet tasty as well. No misses here. Only reason it didn't get 5 stars was that it was a little pricey, but no regrets. read more

See all

This had to be one of the best meals I've ever had at any price. Harissa roast chicken was incredible, perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I've been here before and always liked what I got but this was the best. The service was excellent- although we were there in the middle of the afternoon . read more

Great for steak and similar meat dishes. But drops off the list after removing Eggs Benedict from their breakfast menu, and to which their servers were amazed as were we after decades of enjoying Zov's variety of Benedicts. And while their patrons have aged gracefully over the years, Zov's management has not reciprocated, in having constant turnover of the entire workforce. Leaving Tustin for the City of Orange with it's offering's of breakfast restaurants and back to enjoying our Benedicts. read more

Very disappointed. I had a lunch guest with me so I did not want to make a fuss however, I ordered the Zov's breakfast and the bacon was completely burned and the 2 slices of sour dough were dried up and old. This is very unusual for Zov's Tustin where I enjoyed many excellent meals and I had assumed my first time visit to the Irvine restaurant would be the same. We were there for about 2 hours and I did notice the lack of customers - I guess the message is out on this location. I will not return here - the expense is not worth a second chance. Too bad, I was hoping for something special - especially at the New York prices! read more

Food is incredible!! The lamb burger is always 10/10. We also had the salmon and it was so soft, cooked perfectly, so so yummy. I also had the lavender lemonade which was 10/10. Our server Kimberly was very hospitable and attentive and we had a nice night at Zov's. It was our first time at this location. read more

Zovs - Spiced Lamb Burger - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

You just can never go wrong here. Service is nice and efficient, it is the place to go if you want something quick and healthy, in a calming/clean environment :) The food is good quality as well :) Highly, highly recommend for a good semi-casual spot. This place would be a perfect spot for friends, families, and business. And if you want tea or coffee afterwards, Peet's is next door! read more

Came in on Sunday with a friend for a late lunch/ early dinner (Linner?) Food was fantastic as usual. Fried Eggplant appetizer, Lentil soup and Chop Chop salad. Ashley is an exceptional server. read more

Wonderful food, great service! Wonderful food, great service Wonderful food, great service read more

Love it! I ordered the Truffle Tagliatelle because I'm dramatic and needed something that felt luxurious enough to silence the chaos in my soul. It tasted like therapy with butter and carbs. So friendly, I started trauma-dumping on my waiter by the end. Bless his heart, he just kept refilling my water and nodding. Icon. their Tiramisu should be illegal. It's not a dessert a religious experience layered in espresso and regret. read more

Food is great and music always sets the mood but "Trish" our wonderful bartender always creates a perfect evening.... Much love read more

Zovs - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Took a girlfriend here for her birthday lunch. We were the first ones there when it opened. The service was outstanding. Eliseo took very good care of us. He probably is the best server I've ever had from a restaurant. He explained things and was attentive. Eliseo made the birthday very special. I would give him 10 stars if I could! Regarding the meal, I thought my meatloaf was tough on the outside and dry. The plate may have been hot but definitely not the food. The portion was very small. For these reasons, I had to give it 3 stars. My friend had the lamb chop meal. She said it was good. It is a beautiful restaurant. Great ambiance. I've been to the one in Tustin. I'm not sure if I would come back again. read more

A new year, a new work outing at Zov's. We had very attentive wait staff this time around and everything went smoothly even with our large group of 14. We ordered several appetizers including the Mezze Platter and the Bacon Brussel sprouts. The Brussels were cooked perfectly and they were very tasty! I wasn't really a fan of the Mezze platter, but all my coworkers loved it! I ordered the Angel hair pasta with shrimp and the flavor was okay-- I added a lot of red pepper flakes and black pepper to doctor it up the way I liked it. It's a good portion, I had no trouble finishing it all in one sitting. I also ordered a hot tea and our waiter shared a plethora of choices -- the wild sweet Orange was delicious! The atmosphere was nice, they pushed several tables together to accommodate us and the place seemed very clean and well-kept. All in all, it's still not one of my first choices, but I can leave being satisfied after eating here at least. read more

See all

Zov's is Amazing!!! I come to Zov's in Irvine pretty often, and it's always a wonderful experience. Ashley is super friendly and just makes the whole meal better. My favorite dishes are the Two Way Kabobs and the Moroccan Salmon Salad. Also, their pomegranate martini is so good--definitely worth trying. Great food, chill vibes, and awesome service. This is my favorite local spot. read more

All I can say is that I was completely disappointed with my experience here tonight. I drove a long way to try this place that was recommended and everything that could have possibly gone wrong had happened. I was excited initially looking at all of the food photos on here, but at the end of the day, photos are just photos. Our party was relatively large, but it didn't look too busy this evening. The first waitress had gotten everyone their waters except for mine. Mind you, the second half of our party did not arrive yet, and she still managed to get them all water before even getting me one glass. I didn't get my water until we started ordering our main entrees (and that was 15 minutes in). Normally something like this wouldn't have bothered me, but the events thereafter kept leading to further disappointment. I had ordered the steak frites, medium rare, and I was excited to try it as my colleagues next to me had also ordered the same thing. When I received my dish, I cut through it, and it was completely well done to the point where it was burnt, bitter, and I could barely chew it. I thought maybe that it was just the first piece, but as I continued to cut through it, I realized how overly well done it was. My colleagues' dishes were all medium rare - done correctly. I couldn't even flag down the initial waitress to inform her of this as she disappeared entirely. My colleague had spoken to the manager about this situation and by the time she had gotten a hold of him, everyone else had completed eating. All I ate were fries for dinner. A $40 dinner done completely wrong. It was nice that he offered to remove this off the bill, but the point is that I didn't even get to eat a proper meal. I didn't get the chance to have a new one made or even just get to pick a different dish. So I basically went home hungry and disappointed (which now I have to cook my own little meal). Service was overall a disappointment too. Thank you for giving me the opportunity for this experience tonight, but I won't be coming back here in the near future. read more

Wow! The Mezza platter was amazing - I had to vegetable burger and I loved it. Ashley C. Was great! She made the night go smoothly... Dinner was great because Marry had to pay! read more

If you like fusion Mediterranean, this is a place you should try. Healthy fresh food! Came on a Friday, before transferring to another company so it was a celebration for a group of 6. The food - it's delicious. Items aren't all too pricey. And the food is yummy! Great service too! Ordered the two kabobs. Most expensive item on there. The chicken wasn't omg but it was good. The beef also wasn't omg but it was good. Not as juicy as I wanted even though it was cooked medium. The starter (sampler) was the best item. I would give this place 3 stars but the sampler plate (appetizer) is what made it stand out. All the diff dips, just splendid!! Food was good and service was great. Not the best, but not the worst. Would I go out of my way to eat here ? Most likely not. But it was a good experience ! read more

Zovs - Menu - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

The service was excellent , the outside seating comfortable and the atmosphere relaxing. The tabbouleh excellent , the babaganush tasty, the meatloaf excellent and the beef kabob enjoyable. My dessert was fabulous, the butter soufflé. Will visit again read more

First time here. Everything was outstanding. Servicers were terrific, helpful and friendly. Food was outstanding. We had the Brussels sprouts appetizer and it was wonderful. For dinner we had the meatloaf and the kabobs and both were great. read more

I love Zovs! I've been here for brunch/breakfast and it's my go to for a nice delicious place to eat. Their food is so fresh, and never too heavy. I love their avocado toast, veggie omelet and even the yogurt parfait. It's all delicious! Service is always friendly, and efficient. I never feel rushed or neglected - it's the right amount of attention from staff. I love to sit on the patio on a nice morning, but indoors is just as nice if you prefer it. read more

Its been a long time we wanted to try this place. This restaurant is located in a very quiet shopping center and you can hear their live music on Fridays. We were a party of 13 and finally decided to take everybody there. The very nice thing is that there is no stairs and its very easy for elders to be invited to this location. The red wines selection was very good and our party really enjoyed it. Our server was very friendly and helpful as well. Her name was Jannet! The Mediterranean touch in all dishes were remarkably tasteful. The chop chop salad was very good and If you like seafood the sea-bass dish was very creative with quinoa cake underneath the fish. Order the Mezze Platter for sure if you want to get the full experience! Great place for family gathering, specially on a Friday Night to enjoy the great wine and live music together! read more

See all

Love Zov's Bistro. We eat here all the time and it's always great. Never had a bad meal. The chicken kabobs are seriously the best anywhere. Ashley is the best waitress! Very comfortable seating and just a chill vibe. Always a great experience. read more

I love this place! The consistency of every dish on the menu never lets me down. I know what I am going to get and it will exceed your expectations. The service is phenomenal, always greeted in such a way we feel, we are at home. The waitress always providing you such an incredible service. I can go on and on about Zovs at Irvine Orchard hills. If you are lucky enough to get TJ to greet you and Crystal to wait on you. they will make your day! I ordered the Moroccan Salmon Salad. To say it is Spectacular is an understatement. read more

Zovs - Moroccan Salmon Salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Kim provided stellar above and beyond service; super knowledgeable about dietary restrictions, and the meal Was excellent! Kudos to management for being present and interactive with table guests. Vibe with live music was perfect for date night with my husband! Definitely recommend and will be here again' read more

Love this place! Thanks Trish for all you do here. I appreciate you and come back as often as possible. The food is great! read more

Zovs - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

See all