Everything about the meal was excellent (the service, the wine, and all the dishes except one) the sea bass. I expected Chilean Sea Bass, it was not. It was a deep fried filet of some fish and was overcooked. it didn't taste fresh. the other dishes we had were fine. I would ask what kind of fish before ordering it agai. read more

I have lived in San Clemente for 23 years and, up until today, have never referred a restaurant. Everything about Zov's is 5 star!!! The food was outstanding, the environment was peaceful and inviting and the noise level was such that we could actually visit. We will be going back again and again!!! read more

we just ate lunch at Zovs for our first time-- our waiter, Micah Mullen, was wonderfu! very attentive and friendly. food was excellent and we for sure will return. read more

I was very excited for Zov's to finally open in San Clemente. I've eaten at the one in Newport a number of years back but haven't been sent so I was very happy to see it coming to San Clemente. I think they did a fantastic job with the restaurant.... it's absolutely stunning on the interiors! Each time I have been, I have not had to wait. I was greeted quickly and once I got sat the waiter greeted us and took our drink order. The drinks are delicious! For food we started with the calamari, which is not your traditional calamari appetizer. This one is steamed and has a sauce on it. It also comes with a few slices of crostini to dip into the sauce. Unfortunately, I did not take photos of the rest of our meal, but we ended up splitting the hamburger and french fries. For my friend and I the appetizer and splitting the burger was plenty of food. read more

Meh . Invited some friends on a Saturday night - the place is packed / very lively. I like their ambience and vibe. Ordered the Mezze for sharing - that was delicious. I ordered the garlic shrimp; $33 for six shrimps, some plain rice and veggies . That's simply too expensive for an average main dish. read more

As a huge fan of Mediterranean food, I wanted to love this place more, but the kitchen missed the mark on a few key areas. The staff are incredibly friendly and the ambience is great, which is why I'll likely give them another chance. However, the prices are exceptionally high for the quality served. The kabobs were significantly overcooked, practically well-done and there needs to be a much clearer distinction made between their Kofta and standard beef kabob. While the flatbread didn't taste or feel house-made, the fish was absolutely amazing. Overall, the execution felt like it came from a basic line cook rather than a chef, but the welcoming team and atmosphere salvage the experience. read more

Zovs is a beautiful restaurant with an upstairs and downstairs. The service is excellent. The menus are robust and not a single dish disappointed. I wish I had saved room for dessert. I like that the different locations have different menus. Overall great experience and will be back! read more

Zov's - Steak - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

Zov's is a welcome addition to the San Clemente dining scene. The vibe is warm and energetic, decor manages to feel modern and vintage all at once, and the front desk is accommodating. Our server Tawnya (sp)? was funny, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and attentive. Our table of five shared the Mezze plate and we would have been happy and full if the meal ended there, it was so good and plentiful. For entrees we ordered the pistachio crusted sea bass, salmon salad and Harissa Chicken; all three earned raves from the group. Too full for dessert we happily took doggie bags home and look forward to return visit soon. read more

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Wow! We had an extraordinary dining experience. Abtin, took such great care of us. This newly opened location is perfection. It's sexy. It's open light and bright. The problem is... once you get here you don't wanna leave. We enjoyed so many different delicious dishes from the kebabs to the lentil soups. The beet salad was one of my favorites so fresh and so flavorful. The meatloaf with fresh vegetables and a mushroom glaze, delicious. We cannot wait to come back and enjoy some of the other delicious dishes on the menu. The music was spot on. And the manager came by to make sure everything was to our liking. We love that..... read more

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This was such a good meal. Came down to San Clemente for a Sunday Funday and Zov's did not disappoint. We got a salad and kebabs, the portions were huge and enough for us to split and share. Naya was an excellent server, super insightful on the menu making lots of suggestions- all were excellent. The space was beautiful and bright, a great get away from the heat outside. Gorgeous, think we might make this our regular spot! read more

Zov's - Menu 7/13/2026 - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

I've been waiting forever for this restaurant to open up and they finally have and it's so pretty inside! The bartender is super cute and his name is TJ. I'm ordering shrimp and chicken kebabs to go. It's very lively and beautifully lit and they did a great job with the build out. Welcome to the neighborhood! They have a great wine list and they have beer and cider as well! I'm excited about the famous golden lentil soup! The kebabs are amazing! I love my shrimp kebab and it's better to get three versus one! I highly recommend coming here and checking it out! read more

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Ok. Let me start this review by saying that we Love Zov's and have been going, primarily to the original 17th location for more than 20 years. We have met Zov and her husband, have taken cooking classes, and have their cookbooks. With that as a backdrop, let's explore their newest location in San Clemente. Four of us went for a late lunch and were seated promptly. Our waiter came over and greeted us and we placed drink orders. The drinks took a long time to come, and that's when we started to notice that it seemed our waiter was waiting on ALL the tables. We saw other employees standing around talking, presumably the manager(?), but our waiter running around doing all the work. He couldn't do an adequate job with that many customers. Finally, we ordered food, which took even longer to arrive. That's when we realized we weren't at the Zov's we know and love. One in our party ordered the Chop Chop salad. This was always a favorite of ours and usually full of flavor. Our party said it was way under dressed and bland. We ordered more dressing. What came was devoid of the usual Pinot noir syrup drizzle which was the flavor that put the salad over the top. None, zip, zilch, nada. Very disappointing. Next was the Harissa Roasted Chicken. Our party reported that it was bland. No flavor at all. Again very disappointing. Next the Balsamic Chicken Club. This sandwich is one of my wife's favorites. Here it was just ok. The chicken was overcooked. She ordered a side salad with it and said it was terrible. It was overdressed with "mushy" tomato's. Finally to my all time favorite salads at the 17th St. location, the Moroccan Salmon Salad. Here in San Clemente, it is an absolute "don't order". Terrible. I should have sent it back (but was so hungry at this point did eat almost anything). The best part was the salad which was good. Nicely dressed and fresh. The M'JADARAH was aweful. It tasted like it had been cooked, recooked, and cooked again. It was crunchy from the over cooking and as a result the flavor was lost. The salmon was the smallest salmon filet I've ever seen and again was over cooked. I'm being tough here as I hope Zov and Gary Karamardian who started this fabulous restaurant are watching. You are not well known in San Clemente and this IS NOT the impression you want for your foray into that area. I hope you can step in and bring the San Clemente location up to the quality of service and food of your original in Tustin! read more

This review is for the bar and cocktails only, as I have not yet dined at Zov's. The bar is very nice, with a beautiful marble countertop and plush upholstered barstools. Bartenders are friendly and can whip up a great craft cocktail, the Mango Martini is delicious. The restaurant decor is contemporary and attractive as well. read more

Zov's - Mango Martini - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I went to Zov's in San Clemente last week to enjoy dinner at the bar and watch the soccer game. Archie was our bartender. His service was extraordinary! He's extremely attentive and kind. He assured that we were satisfied with our dinner and if we were in need of more drinks a few times, but without being annoying. I had the lentil soup and chicken salad. Both were delicious. Thanks again for the great service and food. I will be back! read more

Today was there first Friday open. Arrived at dinner time and was quickly seated. Ambiance was very nice. Two large tv"s behind the bar to catch a game if that's your thing. Our waiter was Dustin who was great. He took a few minutes to go over the food and drink menu and answer any questions we had. We ordered Hummus and a trio plate with shrimp, chicken and steak. Flavor was great. Had Banana chocolate chip bread pudding. Probably the best I have ever eaten. Grady assisted out waiter. He had the best personality and made sure we had everything we needed. read more

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We tried Zov's San Clemente tonight and it did not disappoint! Super service, great food & drinks. We started with the mezza plate which was perfect for sharing, enjoyed the beet salad & 3 Kabob entree. The restaurant is beautiful but VERY busy and loud clearly because it's a popular place to eat. We made a reservation but had to wait an extra 20 minutes for our table to turn. Not a big deal because there are tons of cute shops on Del Mar street to step into before dining. Be sure to make a reservation in advance and plan extra time for parking especially in the summer because Del Mar street is a happening place! Not your typical SC vibe (my opinion) lots of people were dressed for dinner we did not see a lot of shorts & T-shirts but did see lots of dresses, aloha shirts, scarves & a few up-dos!! read more

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This place is relatively new. The service is excellent and the food is very good. We had the greek salad which was definitely shareable,. We also got the lamb lollipops-a tad under seasoned but still tasty and the lamb burger which came with good fries. The place is a tad pricey but a nice choice. Be aware, I would definitely Not consider zov's to be dog friendly! Best to leave the pooch at home. I would definitely return but sans the pup! read more

This is our first time at the new location here in San Clemente. But I've been to the Newport Coast and Tustin locations many years ago. Excited for this new addition in town. It was easy to get an evening reservation mid week. Beautiful dining room but a little chilly overall. I highly recommend bringing a sweater or a jacket because the air conditioning just blast you. We opted to start with the red pepper feta dip that came with pita. We also ordered the Moroccan flatbread. I think that's what it's called and then for the mains we had the kebab plate one of each - beef and shrimp. We also ordered the eggplants fries. Service was very friendly and professional. She helped guide us through the menu. Was concerned about any allergies and special occasions. Overall, the food tasted pretty good however most components were excessively salty. I also thought the shrimp was slightly undercooked. One of the standouts happens to be the rice. I actually wanted to order a side of rice. There was a good but basic tomato, cucumber and onion salad that accompanied the kebabs. That's pretty standard for Mediterranean cooking. Nothing stood out as extraordinary. The beef was very tender and flavorful on the kebab. The Moroccan flatbread had a lot of spice within the meat, but then was tweaked with over powering citrus flavor. The biggest disappointment however, was the butter cake. It comes in a ramekin. It was kind of small and not worth the value and definitely did not taste very good. We probably would not order this again. Overall, a decent experience. read more

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Such mixed feelings. The place was designed to maximize seating to its detriment. On a Monday it was a full house and you need to yell at the person next to you. It was ridiculously loud and until it started to empty out we all felt tense. Until this is worked out, I will not go back. My ears are still ringing. But the lightning is beautiful at night. The mezze was surprisingly good, except the olives which were apparently marinated in salt. The mains were good (not exceptional), except one came without sauce and the tomato cucumber salad had one slice of cucumber on one plate and mostly cucumber on another. Panne cotta was delicious. Server was very pleasant but too busy to take orders timely. read more

Me and my bf first time here and the food tasted great. We shared the appetizer sampler and really enjoyed everything. We also ordered the steak dish that came with chimichurri sauce which wasn't too bad. Service was good but was hard to hear because of how loud it was inside. Parking was also hard to find but not too bad. Def check them out. read more

Zov's - Sampler - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

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I always have a great experience here when Zack and TJ! I highly recommend the Golden lentil soup, the cheese cheeseburger is amazing and so is the shrimp pasta. Secondly, the atmosphere is very positive, clean and updated in a great location of San Clemente where I can walk from home. Lastly the bloody Mary's with Tito vodka are also excellent. read more

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So all around great experience beautiful open clean beachy vibe. Menu options a little for everyone from Seafood pasta, meatloaf, kebabs, skirt steak price point fair. Service good noise level medium. plenty of booth seating for larger parties. Upbeat waitresses/waiters eager to please. Sea bass was prepared perfectly. Beef kebabs (Luna) I was told way too salty from 3 in my part that ordered them. The pistachio sea bass was noted to be great. My skirt steak was perfectly tender and potatoes were plentiful. The Lamb burger was good. The one thing is I was surprised to see no hummus with pita served with the kebabs only rice with cucumber/tomato. The appetizer plate had great assortment of flavorful hummus, olives, red pepper cheese etc this was a favorite. read more

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Outstanding Sunday Brunch! Pancakes and steak kabobs were delicious. We will certainly be returning! read more

Zov's - Lemon Pancakes - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

This is a delightful restaurant with delicious Mediterranean food. Interior is beautifully designed and the patio is wonderful to be when not too chilly. We decided on a shareable lunch. The Mezze Platter was incredibly good and large enough for three people. A sampling of humus, lebni, tabouli, babaganoush, muhammara, olives, cheese, tomato-cucumber salad and much more! It was very satisfying! We also went for the Lula Kebob which was tasty, just a bit tough on the ground beef but otherwise it was a delicious dish. I loved the rice that came with it. Zov's Famous Golden Lentil Soup was excellent. Knowing lentils are healthy and a good choice. Our server was present making sure we were happily enjoying our meal. It's definitely a restaurant to go back to. read more

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Stopped in on a Thursday and it was packed--which is always a good sign. The interior is really nice, and the servers were attentive and friendly. I ordered a raspberry martini, a Maker's & 7, short rib sliders, and a flatbread appetizer...everything was delicious. Definitely a great spot if you're looking for a lively atmosphere with good food and drinks read more

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From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by Morgan and Jess and immediately felt welcomed. We really like the rattan decor. Our server, Tanya, made the experience memorable. She gave amazing recommendations and helped us pick the perfect dishes to share family-style so we could try a little of everything. We started with the brioche French toast and dirty fries as appetizers, and the dirty fries were an absolute 10/10!! The mushroom gravy was SO good and honestly one of the highlights of the meal. For our mains, we ordered the steak and eggs, short rib hash, and lula kebob. Our favorite was definitely the steak and eggs, it was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Everything we tried was delicious, and the overall service made the experience even better. Can't wait to come back and try the dinner menu next! read more

Zov's - Dirty Fries - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Great place to spend great evening with family and friends We celebrate birthday with friends and the personal was very pleasant and professional I would like to mention Tania she did our dinner the best read more

Zov's - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

Hot and new in San Clemente! Mediterranean cuisine with novelty dishes. Their mezzo platter is a must try for sharing. Great flavors, awesome service, beautiful ambiance! Add to your list to try this place, highly recommended! read more

So glad to have tried this restaurant! It's fairly new, but they really brought their A-game with the food, service, and the overall atmosphere. I went here for date night shared an app the eggplant fries (yum), we had the Grilled Skirt Steak and Pistachio Roasted Seabass and for desert had the ridiculous Sundae. I'm looking forward to come back to try their brunch items soon read more

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The long wait is finally over!!! It was worth the wait for sure!!! The restaurant itself is beautiful just a little bit loud but that is because it just opened and a lot of people are all so excited! The bar is amazing! The tables and booth are amazing very comfy! The service was amazing! They always come and check on us even though there was a lot of people! And of course the food, we had our usual! The dirty fries which always has been our favorite, the golden lentil soup was amazing no one can beat that soup! Avocado toast my kids loved it! And the Breakfast burrito instead of the sour creme I have ask the labneh they also have a great selection of cocktails and I get to try their Peach Sangria which was refreshing! I am so happy that they finally open after 10years of battling with the city I am also glad that they didn't hike up too much on their prices! Hoping that they will have great happy hours in the future to compete with other restaurants around! I highly recommend it for people like us that loves mediterranean food! read more

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Horrible service AND we were seated at the bar! Not a single person asked if we wanted a drink! We actually wanted food and drinks. Their loss! The Tustin location is amazing; food and service. Drive there every few months to meet friends. Sadly, with this service, you will struggle in SC! read more

I am a fan! The service is great, location is beautiful, and the food is so so so good. I came here with my significant other during the soft opening and we had a wonderful experience. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. I really enjoyed the cucumbers mint cooler, it was so refreshing and tasty. Pistachio roasted sea bass was yummy! We also had the angel hair pasta, bread pudding, and warm butter cake... read more

Zov's - Cucumber Mint Cooler - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! The food was great, service was amazing, and the ambiance was so fun. A little pricey but great food! read more

Zov's - Humus YUM - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Wow. Tried this place for the first time. I was pleasantly surprised by everything. Ambience was so cool. Cocktails, mango martini, freakin fabulous. We had the herb crusted salmon, Brussel sprouts, trio kabob (shrimp and file mignon), and for dessert butter cake, all delicious. The servers were so nice. Our party had flowers from the fair and one of the servers/owners offered to place them in the fridgerator which was so thoughtful. We can't wait to come back!!! read more

Zov's has multiple locations in OC with San Clemente being their newest. I came here for a nice Sunday dinner and make sure to have reservations, because it was packed. The restaurant is gorgeous and decor is on point. It is on the louder side just a heads up. Zov's serves a lot of Americanized dishes with a Mediterranean flare. My table shared the mezze platter, kofta, short rib sliders, kebab trio, and butter cake. The mezze platter was great and I loved all of the dips it came with, but my favorite was the lebni (a greek yogurt base). The kofta was also a solid appetizer which is seasoned ground beef and came with a garlic toum sauce. Short rib sliders were also tasty. We chose the chicken, beef, and shrimp trio kebab. The beef was definitely the best meat of the three and the chicken was over charred. Ended dinner with the warm butter cake and omg it was like eating a stick of melted butter. Super sweet and buttery if you're into that. I honestly thought the food was alright, nothing I would be craving over, but the ambience is lovely. Service was also great. It's good but not great. read more

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Service: had Tawnya as our server. Attentive, charming and geared perfectly to ensure your experience is top notch. Didn't disappoint. Other support staff just as good. On point. 100%. Food: high quality ingredients. Had chicken kabobs w/Mediterranean salad. Very flavorful. Greek salad with salmon: again, quality ingredients. Flavorful. Ice tea on point. Had eggplant fries. The eggplant flavor is lost in the fry, but totally edible, and light. Berry panacotta: good flavor, texture a bit dense, but again: good. Menu: Mediterranean themed, plenty of options, workable if allergies. Good news is you get the right hints of what you came for, flavor wise. Sumac, lemony acidic notes, etc. would recommend the following: big chunks of tomato and cucumber in salads should be more like a traditional Shirazi salad (chopped finer), maybe some parsley, mint and sumac added. The hints of Mediterranean flavors could be accentuated a bit more, a bit more "zing". Maybe think of an adding side options of traditional tahini, garlic, and hot sauces. Lastly, a fermented/pickled vegetable (pink turnips, etc) side dish would bring all the authentic flavors full circle. One more: if pita goes into a salad, they need to be really, really crisp chips to hold their texture. A little crunch in a salad goes a long g way. I'd go back for the service and high quality ingredients, as they are now. No doubt. read more

Overall, the food was great. My only disappointment was that our appetizer came out at the same time as our protein entrée, which made the meal feel a bit rushed. The dips are served with tabbouleh, but I was surprised to see it was only about a spoonful. The pita bread that came with the dips was just okay, but the pita served underneath the protein was absolutely amazing and definitely the highlight. read more

Zov's - Appetizer dips - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

Bummer, because the food here is fresh and delicious--but unfortunately, it is not a safe place for anyone with a food allergy or celiac disease. My husband has celiac disease, and we informed our waitress multiple times. Despite that, our shared appetizer arrived with wheat sprinkled on top. Thankfully, he hadn't eaten any before we noticed. Then his entrée arrived, kabobs with rice. After he had eaten three spoonfuls, the waitress came back and said, "Oh wait, that rice has pasta mixed into it." We were shocked. For someone with celiac disease, this isn't a minor mistake,it can mean hours of illness. What made the experience even more disappointing was the response. The waitress seemed annoyed, as though saying "sorry" should have been enough after exposing him to gluten. Management didn't come over until I specifically asked to speak with them. They seemed uncertain how to handle the situation and initially only offered to remove the entrée from the bill. When I pointed out that the contaminated shared appetizer also needed to be removed, they appeared frustrated. Everyone makes mistakes, but if a restaurant is going to serve guests with food allergies or celiac disease, the staff needs proper training and clear procedures to prevent cross-contamination and ingredient errors. Sadly, we can't risk eating here again, no matter how good the food is. read more

Food is absolutely top-tier. I have come in here plenty of times with my mom now since they've opened the restaurants vibe is very fun. They're always busy. Drinks are amazing. Will be back soon. read more

Zov's - Beet salad - Mediterranean Near Me - San Clemente, California

Top notch service and really excellent Mediterranean food in a lovely (but loud) setting. The kebabs are juicy, savory and delicious, the mezze platter is divine, and the tomato cucumber salad is heavenly. A very welcome addition to the food scene in San Clemente! read more