Zola + BarZola

585 Bryant St, Palo Alto
(650) 521-0651

Recent Reviews

Sabareesh Iyer

Came here for a date night on a Saturday and the atmosphere didn't disappoint. The cocktails were great, the food wasn't quite as good as I'd hoped for, but pretty good nonetheless.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Cheeks Bourguignon, Roasted Bone Marrow

Andrew Abraham

Nice vibe with friendly service and quality food.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ximena Joshi

Is a small bar and restaurant, I like the style. We didn't like the change of our server after she took our order.Also we didn't like one server open the door and was very cold outside and all the cold was coming inside the restaurant. When my husband went to ask her if she can please close the door explaining her we were feeling cold, instead of apologizing, she just look at my husband very challenging and sirious because we interrupt her conversation with the other server and she just unswer very fast ok ok even when was no reason to remain the door open with her feet.The price we pay didn't match with the quality of service we received.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

Michael Dvorkin

Truly a lovely cozy bistro with amazing food and small but quality selection of wines. Wine pairings are pretty spot on.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lucy S. Hailey

Visited on a Saturday evening,without a reservation and it was understandably busy. We couldn't be seated for dinner so we opted for the bar but it was full (I know why!) So we walked around a bit had dinner elsewhere and returned about 1 hour later. Though it seemed to get busier, two seats at the bar freed up and we jumped in. It was totally worth the wait. The drinks were great! You can taste the craftsmanship in every drink. I'd definitely return, and this time with a dinner reservation.As a bonus, there was a live DJ and he was playing some good Spanish jams! (I was pleasantly surprised!). Can't wait to come back for another date night here.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Ryan Castle

Our BarZola experience was exceptional. On arrival there was no seats available but the team let us stand at the corner of the bar, waiting for something to become available. We had such great service from all of the bar staff and the owner, Guillaume.The cocktails rival any that I've experienced from the best bars around the world. ? Thanks Valentina.The atmosphere was fantastic, great energy and good vibes.It was obvious that a great workplace culture has been created. Every staff member interaction was excellent and they all looked like they were loving being at work.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Ricotta Gnocchi, Steak Frites

qishun w

Great place for dinner. Went there for birthday and received free drink and dessert. Rib eye was delicious.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Steak

April Zheng

Whether you're in the mood for a classic cocktail or a full course meal, they've got you covered. Great place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Santanu Bhowmick

First time yesterday for a casual date night. Reservation was a bit hard to secure, but once booked, we were followed up on multiple times to know our ETA. When we arrived on a busy Saturday night, we were whisked back immediately to our desired corner window table.We knew what we wanted beforehand and was happy the items were not “sold out” (happened more times than you think it’s possible).For appetizer, we split the Black Truffle Soup in two, and it was a good thing we did it since the amount was just right, more so as we planned to have the Dry Aged Ribeye as the entree.The ribeye (we both had it medium rare) was one of the very best I’ve had in recent times (and I’ve been to quite a few expensive restaurants in SF over the last 6 months) - it was flavorful, juicy and well marbled, perfectly complemented by the Bordelaise sauce.I will definitely come back here again, just for the Ribeye!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Andy Fraser

Great spot. Tasty late snacks. Killer service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

ayush kalani

Ideally, 3.5/5Zola + BarZola boasts a charming atmosphere and impressive menu, but be prepared to settle in for the long haul. While the wait was longer than ideal, the food itself was largely satisfying.The restaurant was busy on a weekday when we got there, so we were seated outside. Thankfully, they had heaters to keep us warm while we dined.Food:The cote de porc (pork chop) with porcini rub, pommes puree, and caramelized onions was delicious. The pork was perfectly cooked, juicy on the inside, and with a satisfyingly crisp exterior. The mashed potatoes (pommes puree) were very creamy and had a smooth, velvety texture. It complimented the pork chop really well.The hanger steak was tender and flavorful, seasoned well, and cooked to a perfect medium-rare.The beef cheek bourguignon was Slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, but the sauce didn't quite hit the spot. Overall, this dish was okay.Ambiance:The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The dimmed lighting and comfortable seating created a perfect setting for a relaxed evening.Service:The slow service significantly impacted the experience. Our wait time between drinks and our main course was quite long, which unfortunately detracted from the overall flow of the meal.Overall, Zola + BarZola offers delicious food and a lovely atmosphere. If you're looking for a leisurely luxurious dining experience and don't mind waiting a bit between courses, then Zola + BarZola could be a good option. However, if you're short on time or prioritize fast service, you might want to consider another restaurant.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3

RRP1

We enjoyed our meal at Zola's. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable & pleasant and the sommelier had great suggestions for selecting wine to accompany the meal. The food itself was quite good and the wine pairings excellent. Finally Zola themselves as a restaurant showed graciousness and institutional memory by recalling hitches from a previous dining experience and providing an excellent sparkling wine to open our meal as a gesture of appreciation for our continued patronage. The food is good, the staff is competent and attentive, and the attitude is gracious. What is not to like? Recommended.

Travis

A truly memorable night. I was celebrating my birthday with a good friend and from the moment I entered, I was treated with the utmost sincerity. It felt as if the night was (selfishly) all about me. From a lovely birthday pin, to a celebratory drink at the conclusion of our meal, the staff went above and beyond. I can't wait to go back!

angeld

We went here for my birthday and the service was great. The drinks (cocktails) were also pretty good. However, the food we had some issues with - afterwards. I was violently sick until 4am (starting about 30 mins after leaving), and my husband felt queasy also. We had the following (all starters/small plates): - goat cheese (the best item) - bone marrow - oysters - meatballs - cheese plate - bread service - smoked rib eye Out of those the smoked rib eye is the only one we could think of that could have made us sick (as it's almost raw). It was also the last item we had. Unfortunately the after-dinner experience ruined the evening for us - otherwise it would have been an enjoyable night.

Ali Khaledi Nasab

We went there for valentine dinner on Feb 14, 2024.They had a fixed menu so for a dinner for 2 people with 2 non-alcoholic drinks we pad $323, that is more than Nobu the Michelin star restaurant.The food was extremely disappointing; the soup was served in an espresso cup, and all the dishes were unsatisfactory, leaving us hungry. The service was bad, for instance the waiter kept dropping the bill before we had finished and repeatedly insisting he wasn't rushing us. Also the fixed menu has no vegetarian option!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The quality of the food was poor; the mashed potatoes were mostly butter, the beef was overcooked, the menu options were few, and the portions were small. While I might have overlooked these issues for a $50 meal, paying $323 made it utterly unacceptable.The management needs be ashamed and stop this scam. I definitely won't visit again and would recommend others to avoid going there as well.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

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