These off-the-cuff venues gotta get their act together.There isn't a place online to "review" the "Reds Motel" music venue itself (which is part of Zen West); so I will post it HERE:It wasn't "the fault of the venue" entirely; but the headlining act bailed & the 3 opening acts were "bickering for position" after the headliner (Kurt Deimer) totally BAILED 15 hours prior to showtime (to play in another state) & the 6pm to 10:30pm show was pushed back to 9:30pm??My son didn't want to "mill around" for 3 hours & deal with the place; so we left.There are FEW venues between Baltimore & Harrisburg that allow persons under 18 in; so I messaged DIRECTLY WITH KURT (no b.s.) & said I was getting tix; & that my 13y/o son & I were gonna be there. Saw his band open for Yngwie a year earlier & his band was stellar???THIS: No Show?The other 3 bands were playing the "primmadonna" game, made unfounded demands, some couldn't perform more than 5 songs & the "main opener" wasn't going on as scheduled...& playing "rock-star" as if they are arena-playing supetstars. One member of one of the bands asked me: "you not sticking around, play-boy?" when he asked me if I was staying.??The staff at Zen West was entirely unorganized?Most of them just kinda looked detatched...& didn't have the experience to deal with poor booking practices & rock-star mentalities??Thanks, guys (sarcastically)???I'm out $40...that even the "ticket agency" won't REFUND ME (although I paid the insurance on-top of the $40...which is $30 for 2 tix & $10 processing fees/taxes).Yeah...fix your venue...& FAST?
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1
Lynn Harrington
Good food, great margaritas, awesome live bands!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guacamole, Tamales
Christopher Hill
Sensational!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jake “Radar” Lecroy
Wrap-around bar and a handful of tables but as busy as it was we had no problem getting a table. Smartly organized having a small concert venue in the next room and one line to order drinks so people aren't shouting their orders over the shoulders of bar patrons. There's also a big TV so you can watch the band from inside the restaurant. Saw Powerman 5000 there and it was amazing! Was surprised to see so many seniors at the bar smashing food while a heavy metal concert was going on in the next room but the way it's set up it's not really loud in the dining/bar section.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Garrett B.
The show that Powerman 5000 put on while we were there was INCREDIBLE!!! The venue was so intimate, I felt like I was part of the band! The people were all super chill, drinks were reasonable and servers were so chill & polite.
Michael James
Went to see my son's band, really a great atmosphere loved the bands.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura Abell
I’m a regular here at this yummy neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Super delicious food- we got enchiladas, fish tacos, and queso. And as a native Texan, I especially love their salsa! Unfortunately the service was terrible. In a party of two, my friend received her dinner about 20 minutes earlier than my food was delivered. She was finished by the time my tacos arrived! Our waitress just said “the kitchen doesn’t speak any English, so there wasn’t anything I could do about it”. Then took forever to get our bill. I love Zen West and will continue to eat here, but I haven’t ever had service like this before. Disappointing
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
Jada Carr
THIS IS FOR CLANDESTINOThis local speakeasy has quickly moved its way to the top of my list.I love the ease of parking, safe neighborhood, and spacious speakeasy space.Always great service by bar manager Charlie, fantastic food and beverage menu and options.My favs so far are the grilled wings and chicken tortilla soup.The drinks are pretty awesome, and Charlie the Great can alter beverages to your preference if you prefer.This is an overall mezcal bar, but they have other libations as well.My fav is John Updike's Old Fashioned. My son ordered and loved the Strawberry Gin & Tonic.This establishment is a great conversation starter, and I look forward to returning asap.
Great local venue with an excellent Mexican restaurant attached. Charlie in the speakeasy makes the best old fashioned in the world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Dell
What an awesome experience. The atmosphere was perfect the food looked phenomenal I want to go back to try some wings they looked mouth watering, Chard perfectly, plated and glazed to sticky heaven! I was there for a concert which also didn't let me down I HIGHLY RECOMMEND This BEAUTIFUL Establishment. The building is well preserved and full of nostalgia! Owner is one amazing person! Thank you for the experience last night!!! ??
Edward Zarkowski
We haven't been to Zen West in ages! But, we had a great experience overall on a recent visit. We arrived on a Friday evening and were lucky to be seated at a table right away. I don't think I ever saw anyone having to wait for a table that night. We ordered a couple of margs, an app and entrees. The app was the only disappointment/unusual thing. I have never seen nachos presented this way at a restaurant. While very tasty, they looked like what I made as a teen in the oven at my parent's house. Odd. But tasty.The drinks were good, and had a decent pour. I got the spicy margarita and it lived up to its name! My kiddo got the crab and shrimp quesadilla, which was very good. My hubs got the Ahi Tuna Tacos which he said were very good and I got the Carnitas Burrito, also very good! Maybe the sides could have been a bit larger, it was a small amount of rice and a lot of lettuce.I am sure we will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Russell Davis
Food was tasty as hell and came out fast. Great margs great happy hour and Charlie was so nice and hospitable. Love the tunes. Will be back.
These off-the-cuff venues gotta get their act together.There isn't a place online to "review" the "Reds Motel" music venue itself (which is part of Zen West); so I will post it HERE:It wasn't "the fault of the venue" entirely; but the headlining act bailed & the 3 opening acts were "bickering for position" after the headliner (Kurt Deimer) totally BAILED 15 hours prior to showtime (to play in another state) & the 6pm to 10:30pm show was pushed back to 9:30pm??My son didn't want to "mill around" for 3 hours & deal with the place; so we left.There are FEW venues between Baltimore & Harrisburg that allow persons under 18 in; so I messaged DIRECTLY WITH KURT (no b.s.) & said I was getting tix; & that my 13y/o son & I were gonna be there. Saw his band open for Yngwie a year earlier & his band was stellar???THIS: No Show?The other 3 bands were playing the "primmadonna" game, made unfounded demands, some couldn't perform more than 5 songs & the "main opener" wasn't going on as scheduled...& playing "rock-star" as if they are arena-playing supetstars. One member of one of the bands asked me: "you not sticking around, play-boy?" when he asked me if I was staying.??The staff at Zen West was entirely unorganized?Most of them just kinda looked detatched...& didn't have the experience to deal with poor booking practices & rock-star mentalities??Thanks, guys (sarcastically)???I'm out $40...that even the "ticket agency" won't REFUND ME (although I paid the insurance on-top of the $40...which is $30 for 2 tix & $10 processing fees/taxes).Yeah...fix your venue...& FAST?
Atmosphere: 2
Service: 1
Good food, great margaritas, awesome live bands!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Guacamole, Tamales
Sensational!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wrap-around bar and a handful of tables but as busy as it was we had no problem getting a table. Smartly organized having a small concert venue in the next room and one line to order drinks so people aren't shouting their orders over the shoulders of bar patrons. There's also a big TV so you can watch the band from inside the restaurant. Saw Powerman 5000 there and it was amazing! Was surprised to see so many seniors at the bar smashing food while a heavy metal concert was going on in the next room but the way it's set up it's not really loud in the dining/bar section.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
The show that Powerman 5000 put on while we were there was INCREDIBLE!!! The venue was so intimate, I felt like I was part of the band! The people were all super chill, drinks were reasonable and servers were so chill & polite.
Went to see my son's band, really a great atmosphere loved the bands.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’m a regular here at this yummy neighborhood Mexican restaurant. Super delicious food- we got enchiladas, fish tacos, and queso. And as a native Texan, I especially love their salsa! Unfortunately the service was terrible. In a party of two, my friend received her dinner about 20 minutes earlier than my food was delivered. She was finished by the time my tacos arrived! Our waitress just said “the kitchen doesn’t speak any English, so there wasn’t anything I could do about it”. Then took forever to get our bill. I love Zen West and will continue to eat here, but I haven’t ever had service like this before. Disappointing
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 2
THIS IS FOR CLANDESTINOThis local speakeasy has quickly moved its way to the top of my list.I love the ease of parking, safe neighborhood, and spacious speakeasy space.Always great service by bar manager Charlie, fantastic food and beverage menu and options.My favs so far are the grilled wings and chicken tortilla soup.The drinks are pretty awesome, and Charlie the Great can alter beverages to your preference if you prefer.This is an overall mezcal bar, but they have other libations as well.My fav is John Updike's Old Fashioned. My son ordered and loved the Strawberry Gin & Tonic.This establishment is a great conversation starter, and I look forward to returning asap.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
hidden
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wings, Guacamole
Love it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Good vibes ✨ ?
Great local venue with an excellent Mexican restaurant attached. Charlie in the speakeasy makes the best old fashioned in the world.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What an awesome experience. The atmosphere was perfect the food looked phenomenal I want to go back to try some wings they looked mouth watering, Chard perfectly, plated and glazed to sticky heaven! I was there for a concert which also didn't let me down I HIGHLY RECOMMEND This BEAUTIFUL Establishment. The building is well preserved and full of nostalgia! Owner is one amazing person! Thank you for the experience last night!!! ??
We haven't been to Zen West in ages! But, we had a great experience overall on a recent visit. We arrived on a Friday evening and were lucky to be seated at a table right away. I don't think I ever saw anyone having to wait for a table that night. We ordered a couple of margs, an app and entrees. The app was the only disappointment/unusual thing. I have never seen nachos presented this way at a restaurant. While very tasty, they looked like what I made as a teen in the oven at my parent's house. Odd. But tasty.The drinks were good, and had a decent pour. I got the spicy margarita and it lived up to its name! My kiddo got the crab and shrimp quesadilla, which was very good. My hubs got the Ahi Tuna Tacos which he said were very good and I got the Carnitas Burrito, also very good! Maybe the sides could have been a bit larger, it was a small amount of rice and a lot of lettuce.I am sure we will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was tasty as hell and came out fast. Great margs great happy hour and Charlie was so nice and hospitable. Love the tunes. Will be back.