I was unimpressed with my first visit to Zooroona. I went at lunch time with two clients. It was not terribly busy but the service was very slow--we all commented on it. And every order was incorrect. I had ordered a hummus and tabbouleh wrap but was served a falafel wrap. Both my clients ordered wraps but were served entrees (and charged for entrees). We contemplated telling the server and asking him to fix it but decided we had already waited long enough and didn't want to wait any longer. On the positive side, the decor is quite nice and this may be the only Middle Eastern restaurant in Kalamazoo with a full bar, real silverware, and cloth napkins.
(2)
Susan C.
We checked this place out with no expectations, and walked out blown away. My husband and I love the place! I am a PICKY eater and I loved my meal, a wrap. My husband is more adventurous and selected a few things he hadn't had before and was really impressed. Our infant son dined with us and it was very kid friendly. The wait staff made a big fuss over him, which is always nice as a parent. I don't know why I didn't know about this place prior to this summer! The only down side was no liquor license.
(4)
Adam S.
This is the only middle-eastern restaurant in Kalamazoo, as far as I am aware... The food is quite excellent, and their version of babaganoush (chunky, not pureed), is amazing. They have meal samplers for specific numbers of guests, and these are quite delicious. Their smoothies are exotic and particularly flavorful, but a bit on the expensive side. Their pita bread leaves a bit to be desired... I'd give it a 3 out of 10 as far as pita goes. They say they'll be baking their own in the near future. As soon as that happens, they'll have 5 stars from me. Good pita will make all of their dishes that much better.
(4)
Tabitha C.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place! I have never been to a restaurant as many times as I have this place! I want to give a big THANK YOU to the entire staff!! I have always loved the food and service. Keep up the great work!!
(5)
Kathryn D.
One of my favorite Middle Eastern places by far! The food is fantastic, but the portions are pretty large for dinner, so if you aren't super hungry, plan on splitting a dish or taking lots of leftovers home! I came here on the weekend and there was a free belly-dancing show which was a great touch. If you're in the mood for authentic, delicious food and atmosphere, this is your joint.
(5)
Julie K.
As a vegetarian, I'm always looking for good Middle Eastern food. Without a doubt this was one of the best vegetarian platters I have ever had! The falafel was moist and delicious. The baba gannouah was also exceptional!
(5)
K L.
Great little place for me (vegetarian) and my husband (vegan)!! Couldn't have asked for a better experience. The soups are to die for!
(5)
Traveling M.
I came here with my wife for dinner. we waited at least 7 minutes until we were seated. We had to call for server many times. After long wait, we got the lamb shank other dish that I think was chicken curry. The shank came covered with a dark and very swee
(1)
S H.
Great resturant, food was amazing. I you are looking for Lebanese food in kalamazoo I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Angelina T.
I went here for dinner with two others and we shared the family plate, which offers a little bit of everything. If you don't know what you want or just want to try a little of everything, this is definitely the way to go. The sauces were delicious and we left feeling satisfied. Even though we were three people, we ordered the "2-3" people size dish and had enough leftovers for to bring home a nice lunch for one person the next day. The service was great -- my only complaint is it took a while to get drink refills. Next time I go, it'll be on belly dancing night :)
(4)
Andrea J.
I've been to Zooroona three or four times since they opened. the restaurant is absolutely beautiful with attention given to details. They have a nice selection of dishes, everything I've had there tastes magnificent, they have a wonderful selection of exotic teas, and the presentation of their Turkish coffee is beautiful. It's the only Middle Eastern restaurant in the area with a liquor license. Prices are very reasonable as well. This is the place to go to relax over a long, delicious meal. so, why not five stars? the service. it's terrible. so bad that a 5 star rating got knocked down to 3 stars. I've been for dinner, I've been for lunch, I've been when the restaurant was busy, I've been when it's slow. It doesn't matter what's going on, the waitstaff is completely inattentive and disorganized, it's difficult to even get your water glasses refilled. It's too bad, you'll see the owner and a few other employees lounging at the bar, while the waitstaff seems to be pulling their hair out.
(3)
Rodger W.
Excellent middle eastern in an upscale environment. Owned by the family that owns Tiffany's, its a nice surprise in somewhat rural town. A great place for folks visiting Kalamazoo College that are used to eating at places better than a Waffle House.
(4)
Cullen S.
Had lunch there yesterday. Interior is very nice attractive, and the staff was professional and polite. Had two entrees and two appetizers split up between two people and it was a LOT of food - especially since the entrees come with a soup or salad. The food was generally quite tasty, but especially the appetizers. Excellent falafel and some sort of fried potato thing. I had the one vegetarian entree on the menu, a cold eggplant and rice dish. It was tasty, but in the future I will probably just order two or three appetizers for myself. The only weak areas were the soup and salad, we had one of each and they were just fairly band and boring. Pricing was very reasonable, especially on the lunch menu. Will definitely return.
(4)
Laura R.
Fantastic for catering. Somewhat expensive, but the food is terrific and the delivery/setup service is flawless. We ordered an all vegan/vegetarian meal for 30 and the chef not only did the standard dishes really well, but got creative on a couple that were also great.
(5)
Jay S.
Went there with lots of hope as lots of good reviews on yelp. Saturday night went right after belly dancing was over. Service was fast but food was cold . I didn't really care for platters we ordered , no taste . Also lighting should be less bright .Beer prices are good not expensive . I was thinking this to be upscale but its ok
(1)
Candice E.
Kinda dry chicken. The spicy dish was bland and the lady who took my takeout order seemed inconvenienced by my presence. Cool atmosphere though! Update: We went back and got a sampler platter and the food was much better than our first take out experience and the service was excellent. It was cozy and there was live music. Great place to take out of town guests!
(4)
Amber L.
Very, very cool interior decor. There are even a few places to sit on cushions around an ornate table. The food is quite excellent, and I saw several unfamiliar items on the menu. The service ranged from excellent to so-so on my two visits. Once the chef even came out, asked us how our meal was, and talked about the food with us. Many (but not all) of the staff there are quite enthusiastic about the restaurant and the food they serve there.
(5)
S O.
This place is was a welcome discovery a few years back. Consistently tasty, well-seasoned middle eastern fare, served by some of the friendliest, most helpful servers I've ever come across. I also love the fact that the owners are on premises almost all the times we've been there. They're real sweethearts. Zooroona is on our very, very short list of restaurants we make sure to bring out-of-town visitors to. Our only complaint: they're closed Mondays! How dare they! Seriously tho, a meal here is a genuine treat. Bravo!
(4)
Chuck N.
The food was excellent. My wife and I ordered a mazza sampler. They were super busy. I don't think they had really planned to be that swamped and you could tell it was getting the staff a bit frazzled. To their credit, whatever stress they were feeling was not transferred to the customers. Our waitress was very nice, she made a substitution for us, brought some of the mazzas out while others cooked to make sure we had something to nibble on, and even went back and asked the chef if he had any advice for me on making falafel. Their falafel was great. It had the nice smoky cumin flavor as well as a brightness from fresh parsley, but the real surprise and treat was that it was slightly sweet. Apart from the food and service, the set up inside is really cool. They've got some really great multi-colored glass light casings hanging from the ceiling that my wife raved about all night. There is also a fake tree that is incorporated throughout the dining area that we thought was fun. Our only complaint was the wait, they really didn't have any space set up for people awaiting a table, but hey it was worth it, the food and the service made up for the 45 minutes we waited for a table.
(4)
Jason M.
If you want the best togo food you have ever had, this is the place! We order from here all of the time and rarely are we dissappointed with our dinners. My wife orders the salmon kabob usually and raves about it! She loves middle eastern food that is tasty and healthy and Zooroona hits the mark here for sure, other middle eastern restaraunts that I won't name here, have dishes that are too saucy and heavy for her taste. I love the shish tawook, and the garlic sauce they serve with their dishes is so addictive that I wish they would sell it by the gallon. The humus with pita bread is a must and so are the falafal(sp) and baclava(sp). The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because we have had a few times where the service has been off a bit. We have also ate at the restaraunt before and have only had bad service a few times, every time, the food keeps us coming back. I seriously think that once they button up some of the minor service issues at Zooroona, this place will shine like the gem that it already is!
(4)
Lydia R.
Three stars might be generous considering my experience. I have eaten here 3 times and cannot say I had a single positive experience. The second time we were given a free pot of tea because we had to wait for a solid 15 minutes before the server even approached our table. That visit, our water glasses were not even filled. The food was good but for the price, the wait, and the inexperienced surly staff, I would just stick to Shwarma King - which is definitely 5 stars and my Middle Eastern restaurant of choice.
(3)
Jeff L.
I have to say, I went to this restaurant on a very slow day for lunch and the service was absolutely horrific. There were two servers for a total of four tables, and both servers were struggling. The appetizers and soup were excellent, and I was really looking forward to my entree, but it was awful. I am a vegetarian, and the dish that I ordered was disgusting. All of the other guests ordered meat dishes and said that their food was very good. I won't go back. It is too bad, because I love middle eastern food, and the restaurant is very beautiful on the inside. I can forgive bad service if the food is good, but what I was served should have never left the kitchen...
(1)
ivy l.
Amazing! And just what we havve been looking for. My husband grew up in Arabia so we love the Middle Eastern Cuisine. Having just moved here from the huge metro of Kansas City, we didn't expect to be impressed by any eatery in Kalamazoo- this place proved us wrong. The staff- amazing, wonderful ,so kind to our kids. The ambiance - perfect for a special night out together or with friends. The food- the closest thing my globe trotting hubby has found to his beloved food of Saudi. Good hummous- tastes just like when I make it from my "authentic" recipe from abroad. Even our 4 kids loved it! Delightful! A whole experience to talk about for weeks!
5 star food, service and atmosphere - fantastic all around! Walked in and met with a warm welcome. Beautiful restaurant with various comfortable seating options - including low tables with pillows to sit on the floor. I asked Lara to give me a suggestion from the top 3 Aklaat dishes and her choice was spot on. I had the Chicken Kafta Kabob - ground chicken with a combo of spices and an unbelievable garlic sauce on the side. My side was the lentil soup which had a great curry taste - I could have been content with just this soup. My husband had the Salmon Kabobs, with or without the spicy yogurt sauce it was delicious. Side salad was fresh with cucumber, tomato and cheese that was similar to feta (also had almond slivers but I didn't try them since I have a slight allergy). Mom had the Chicken Cream Chops. All I can say is I am glad I tried it. Usually not a lightly fried food fan but this was such great flavor - also had the garlic sauce but really didn't need it. The owner came out after we finished and talked to Mom about how the neighborhood had changed over the last 30 years (they also own Tiffany wine and spirits). Everyone working was so pleasant. We will certainly be back next time we are in town.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Always wanting to try something different, I decided to go here for dinner. My waitress was great. She was very helpful and nice. The food is excellent.I would definitely go here again and would recommend this restaraunt to anyone.
(5)
W N.
The service was OK, and the flavors of the foods was good. But every meat we had was crazy dried out. Overcooked to the max.
(2)
humza a.
horrible service. i have gone to this restaurant a few times over the past year since i am a fan of Mediterranean Food, however the last 2 visits have been horrible. we ordered a platter that said it would feed 2-3 people. this is a platter i have gotten before. they not only trimmed down the portions where 2 people have to fight for 1 Kibbeh (how does that make sense), but they also did not tell us the decreased the portions which they admitted they did. secondly after not being able to feed my guests and explaining to them the situation, they did absolutely nothing to offer their sympathies. i went again after that incident, bc the food is good. this time with more guests. they said the wait was 35 minutes. we decided to wait. after an hour, they finally started to get our table together, when there were many tables available. after waiting almost 30 min longer than expected, we saw the table they had prepared which was horribly done for me and my 5 guests. after asking the rest of our guests whether it was ok to sit in this area, we went back to the manager to be seated, and instead the manager said we took too long for our decision and gave the table to someone else. i wont even give zooroona another star for the food because me and my guests were so disrespected, on numerous occasions that i would not even dignify their food.
(1)
Jason M.
Zooroona is a brand new restaurant run by the owners of Tiffany's Wine and Spirits, in the same plaza. For not knowing a lot about Middle Eastern food, our server, Alyssa, was eager to set us straight. We first enjoyed some exotic smoothies which were quite refreshing and then moved on to some appetizers and the main course. Not knowing what to pick off the menu, we jumped at the $35 sampler plate. It's designed for 2-3 people but worked fine for our party of five coupled with some soups and salads. The highlight, perhaps, was the home-made hummus, served with pita bread. The food was authentic, the server and staff superbly nice and accomidating, and the music very fitting and fun to listen to. The place was near packed for being such a new restaurant, and I hope it does quite well. Will definitely return. There's no alcohol yet, but they say they're working on it. Oh, by the way, the hummus, Turkish coffee (extra-strong if you haven't had any), pita bread, and other items are available at Tiffany's to take home.
(5)
Fred P.
I used to live in midtown manhattan and eat out frequently where there were at least 5 ethnic restaurants every square mile struggling to get your business. I needed a restaurant for my wife's birthday and chose Zooroona because French and italian are overplayed and we like AUTHENTIC ethnic food. Zooroona is the best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant I've ever been to. Portion sizes are great and there was live music playing with our meal. We started with the Turkish pizza which was delicious and the accompanying homemade harissa was not unnoticed. The taste was well balanced but in my opinion, the harissa should have been much much hotter but was probably made milder to not alienate clientele who are more sensitive to heat. My wife had the Lamb medley served over hummus. My wife was happy that the lamb was not game-y tasting at all. She ordered the Al-dar zalata as the starter salad and that was delicious. She did not finish it all and we brought the rest home where it was still delicious the next day cold. Myself, I ordered the moroccan kafta tagine to be made extra extra spicy; it was delicious, the accompanying couscous was both tender and fragrant. I ordered the Fattoush salad to try and honestly preferred my wife's Al-Dar Zalata. We weren't hungry for dessert but forced ourselves anyway...I had just merely mentioned in passing to our waitress that it was my wife's bday when we first got there and we got complimentary baklava. That's attention to detail. Since baklava is normally made with honey and my wife is difficult per her own words "I only like raw honey", she hesitantly took a bite and instantly lit up saying, "it's fucking delicious." I had the rice pudding which was delicious and spiced wonderfully. For all that food described plus a turkish pot of coffee (1 pot =4 small cups of coffee) which was delicious came out to a little over $50. I will definitely come back when I'm in the mood for mediterranean/middle eastern; I'm currently eyeing to try the spiced beef with figs stew I could live without seeing my favorite kebob type, tikka, on the menu since there are a lot of styles of kebobs but the only thing that I wish Zooroona had that I didn't see on the menu was a tagine possibly involving merguez which would be delicious. I could literally inhale Merguez but it's IMPOSSIBLE to find around here and when you do, it's americanized to the point that it's not spicy anymore. I'm suffering from such Merguez withdrawal, I'm thinking of making it at home; "mirqaz kibda bi'l-liyya" (2:1 mutton to fat plus harissa, tabil [algerian/tunisian spice blend], and salt) to be specific UPDATE: I decided to add more information to be more helpful...With every meal, there's complimentary pita bread that's accompanied by olive oil and za'atar (Arabic herb and spice mix) which is wonderful here mind you. The trick is to take some pita, dip it in olive oil and then in the za'atar. Chukran, zoorona. Salam.
(5)
Brandi A.
We love Zooroona and travel a fair distance on occasion because the food is quite delicious. We think the menu is fabulous; very authentic, which is always hard to come by, and the atmosphere is always quite pleasant. We always grab a cushion and have a great time.
(5)
C W.
Very pleasant surprise. The spicy potatoes, turkish tea, and prices will have me back in no time. Excellent.
(5)
Tiffany S.
Amazing food! Great service! Cozy, yet vibrant atmosphere! Every dish I've tried is very good.
(5)
Christine B.
Excellent lunch buffet for $12.99 on Sundays from noon to 14:30. I ate here with my daughter when returning her to WMU after Thanksgiving. We were planning on eating at an Indian restaurant in the same strip, but it was closed. The buffet was well-stocked and clean with salad, pita, hummus, baba ganoush, garlic paste, falafel, one lamb, two chicken, one beef, two vegetarian dishes, lentil soup, rice pudding and baklava. I love a nice, smoky baba ganoush, and this one was great, no overpowering flavors, silky texture. We both loved the falafel with garlic paste, and the vegetarian dishes as well. One contained potatoes with feta; the other was perhaps a deconstructed moussaka. The atmosphere of this restaurant is lovely. It has a nice bar with a good wine list. They serve on gorgeous plates, too. We'll definitely go back.
(5)
Meredith S.
Just AWESOME flavor! Definitely try this place!!! We had the beet and feta dip, kafta kebob, and some kind of shrimp dish (spicy). All of it was phenomenal and the flavor a were distinct. They mixed well together. I definitely recommend the things we tried. The service was great. When I pulled into the parking lot I was a little iffy but when I entered the restaurant I felt much more at ease. The decor is tasteful and relaxing. The shrimp dish could've been spicier (I can't have a lot of spice and it was not spicy enough for me). Overall, this is definitely going down as one of my favorite places. At least three regulars came in while I was there so it looks like it's frequented often.
(5)
Siddharth A.
Update your restaurant timing on your website at least. I drove all the way here to find out they have changed the timing. The waitress asked me to check the updated timing on the website! Well I don't think she had checked it herself. The menu, yelp and even their website shows the restaurant is open from noon to 9:00 pm on Sundays and the waitress said they are closed from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm on Sundays !
(1)
Ed R.
My 12 year old daughter really enjoys Zooroona and asked to go here for dinner. Always happy to say 'yes' to this particular request. We split everything and still wound up taking quite a bit of food home. Turkish pizza, fattoush, and Lebanese lamb ... sooooooo good! I don't know how well these recipes conform to traditional expectations so I can't speak to that, but I can tell you, I've never had one dish here that I did not enjoy, and dinner on this night was particularly delicious.
(5)
C S.
One of the greatest places in Kalamazoo. This place is phenomenal. Amazing food, drinks, service and prices! All around excellent!
(5)
Zach G.
Great Food! We often go to the buffet on sunday for lunch, which is FANTASTIC. The hummus and baba ganoush is the best I have ever had. Service is pretty good, they are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend it!
(4)
AJ B.
What a hidden gem! Hands down the best experience I've had at a restaurant in a long time. I came in at sort of an odd time, about 4pm, and there wasn't anyone else in the restaurant. I thought maybe this wouldn't be well-received, but it was completely the opposite. The owner happily welcomed me in and I had a seat at the bar. I ordered the Hummus as an appetizer and the Sultan Shawermah Wrap for my meal. It came out very quickly and it was all very, very good. Also, for $16, this was a ton of food! I'm what my mom would call a "growing boy" and after eating a little over half of my food (I got the rest in a box to-go), I was full for the rest of the day. The service was absolutely incredible. The owner waited on me himself. He was friendly, he didn't charge me for my drink, and he gave me extra pita bread to take home with the hummus without me even asking for it! And to top it all off, when he gave me the bill, he penned an "X" on the tip line and said, "don't tip me, you came in and that's enough for me." I was amazed and I told him I would certainly be coming back. Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Value: 9/10 The bottom line: Superb service combined with a great atmosphere and fantastic, authentic food at a reasonable price. What more can you ask for?
(5)
Todd W.
Amazing Mediterranean. Veggie appetizer platter was super tasty, service was very good and they had microbrews on tap. I've eaten a ton of Mediterranean food and this is one of the best I've had. Make sure to try the beet and feta dip!
(5)
Faye L.
I don't come here nearly enough, because the boy doesn't enjoy Mediterranean food as much as I do. This place is a gem. Everything I've had (and I try to order something different every time) has been fantastic, with the exception of the Beef Borek appetizer, which was dry and bland. Zooroona makes a killer baba ghannouj, and their hummus with meat is on point as well. Their garlic-yoghurt sauce is killer, and their shawarma has always been tender and delicious whenever I have ordered it. The falafel is awesome as well, and I literally have dreamt about their kibbeh before. Kafta kabob, shish tawook and chicken biryani are all very tasty. The salads are fresh, crisp, and the dressing is excellent. Great selection of vegetarian entrees as well. I'm hungry now. Maybe I'll have Zooroona for dinner today.
(4)
Linda S.
My husband I went here last night for dinner. Both of us really enjoyed it. He had the Lamb Shank and I had the Shrimp. Both were outstanding. Soup or salad come with the dinners. We each had a salad which were very good. I have read the reviews that have complained about the service but ours was perfect. The servers even buss each other's tables to insure outstanding service. Even the owner checks each table asking how everything is going. This will be a place we will bring our out of town family and friends for sure. Who would think you could find such a gem in a strip mall?!!
(4)
Ken H.
Zooroona has the best Middle Eastern cuisine in the area! The food always seems so fresh and perfectly seasoned. I especially like the Chicken Shawermah dinner. The Al Dar Salad is one of my favorite salads in town. This past weekend, I tried the Sunday brunch buffet. There was a good selection of dips, entrees and desserts. There were lamb, chicken, beef and vegetarian selections. I thought this was a great way to sample the different foods Zooroona has to offer. It does seem that when I go for dinner, it always takes longer than I expect it to. I don't know if this is because the kitchen is slow or if the dishes are being cooked to order. Just know that dinner may take a little longer than you would expect at most restaurants.
(5)
Anthony H.
I love Arabic food, especially when it's authentic. The Babaghanoush had a rich smoked flavor and the shish kefta was bbq'd over an open flame. (Although it was too much beef and not enough lamb.) Unfortunately, for all the good, there was as much that left me flat. The taboollee was far too lemony and the lentil soup was a purreed yellow lentil with limited flavor. I thought the whole thing could be saved when they had canaffee (cheese and shredded wheat dessert with a light syrup served warm) and although it was authentic, it was at least four days old. C'est la vie.
(3)
Kelly H.
I would love to eat here more often! Our server quickly brought us the pita, olive oil and zataar and let us know appetizers were half off for another 15 minutes, so my friend and I started off with the Baba Ghannouj which was terrific (as always!). I had the Al Dar salad and was very pleased, though my friend got the lentil soup which we have enjoyed before and it was a bit watery. I had a combo for dinner - Shish Tawook (terrifically soft chicken kebob) and Chicken Cream Chops (seemed more like a chicken schnitzel?) with their amazing rice and roasted veggies. I was glad I didn't get my 'usual'. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Lacey U.
O EM GEE BABA GHANOUJ!!!! Probably the best I've ever had. So smooth and It's drizzled with fresh nutty olive oil and served with hot pitas and dried herbs on the side. The interior is very modern and quite pleasing to the eye - very unassuming for the strip mall it's located in. Dark wood, bright colors, hanging lanterns, and floor pillows make this place very cozy and relaxing. The potato bites (don't remember the name) served with tahini sauce were a bit on the too spicy side for my palate. I can handle some heat, but they were a bit too far out of my ballpark. We also ordered the jalapeno falafal wrap and a large salad. The wrap came with a lentil soup that was forgotten - but not a big deal because we were so delighted and full of everything else. It was no problem to order it to go. Service was great as well.
(4)
Lauren A.
Just outstanding middle eastern cuisine. And they be Ben have belly dancers. And some of the best tea ever.
(5)
Peter Z.
Zooroona is a good choice if you're in the mood for Middle Eastern food, and you're looking for someplace a little fancier, where you can have drinks with dinner. They have a nicely varied menu -- good options for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Their babaghannouj is the best I've ever had. The Zooroona wrap (spicy felafel, babaghannouj, hommous) is a real winner, too. They also have some interesting dishes that make them stand out from the crowd, like a couple of Moroccan-inspired plates. There are cheaper options for equal quality Middle Eastern food in town, and for me personally it's usually not worth it to pay the premium for ambiance (unless I've got someone to impress).
(4)
Julene A.
I hate to leave such a bad review, but please note that this review is for the Sunday lunch buffet not the dinner menu. After seeing the movie The Hundred Foot Journey I was very eager to try Indian / Middle Eastern cuisine since I love bold, spicy flavors. However, everything I tried at the buffet fell horribly short of anything I would consider bold or spicy, or even tasty. The rice was very bland, as was pretty much everything I tried. The labels were missing from most of the dishes so I have no idea what I was eating. Each time we went up to the buffet there was no more than one or two pieces of naan in the bread basket. They had wonderful looking hummus there but no naan to put it on, which I found rather disappointing. In spite of the rave reviews for their regular menu I doubt very much that we will be back. After all, why would they serve delicious flavorful food for dinner and such bland fare for the buffet? I can't imagine that we'll experience anything better for dinner. In my husband's words, the food was "blah blah blah".
(2)
Fe T.
I am a huge fan of Mediterranean cuisine and Zooroona has seriously good food. It's on the pricier side, but the portion is great, and you always get complimentary pitas. You all should try their tea as well. Get the tea pot and share!
(5)
Comebackshane F.
Oh my! Seriously. The spinach potato curry soup is amazing - the flavors are calming and comforting and exciting at the same time. Delicious as the service. Friendly atmosphere and courteous and relaxing. I am a fan. The sultan plate for lunch is a great deal and not too heavy for a midday "feast." I look forward to coming back for lunch - and for the Middle Eastern "experience" on a Saturday night sometime soon.
(5)
The D.
Very good. Best in kalamazoo. The Malbec wines were great with our food and the garlic sauce was great. Not the best lentil soup but everything else was great. Little pricy but a great date night. Try traditional seating for more fun.
(5)
Patrick B.
While coming back to Kalamazoo to visit friends and family for the weekend, our friends took us to Zooroona for dinner. I'm very glad they recommended this place, the food, the atmosphere and the people were wonderful. The highlight of the evening was Emad Ibrahm playing the violin. He was great and even stopped by our table to say hi and thank us for coming in. For dinner, we started with hummous and dolmeh, both were very good. I had the Moroccan Veggie Tagine. It had an excellent flavor and very filling. You could really taste the honey, but it wasn't as spicy as I was expecting, or had hoped. I would get it again though, after I try a few other dishes. My girlfriend had the Vegetable Biryani and also thought it was very good. I'm sure we will be back here next time we are in Kalamazoo.
(5)
Teal S.
totally amazing. i came back to my home town for a wedding, and this was the ONLY mediteranean place i could find, and it did not let me down. i figured b/c it was not in a major metropolitan area it would suck, but it was as good and if not better than the up scale med restaurants i eat at in SF, NY, and LA. every time i come home to visit mom, i take her here. its delicious! well done, kzoo
(5)
Boon K.
There lunch portions are huge and there is so much variety. I really like the lentil soup, and the sice of rice. Very nice wait staff but I was a little disappointment with my beef sharwama as it was super dry for me that I just didnt eat much of it. The favors were good but it was just really tough, I have my friend chicken sharwama with the garlic sauce and that is what I would order next time.
(3)
Jeff B.
While so many of their dishes are amazing, don't forget to order the Al Dar salad with tawook chicken. Amazing. When they have the lamb harira soup, you must try it. Another favorite is the chicken chili fry. This has become our "go to" restaurant in the area. They have never disappointed and the servers are very attentive.
(5)
Tash K.
My second visit here and just like the first I was not disappointed. I ordered the veggie combo plate this time, which comes with falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghannouj, and dolmeh. The food was served beautifully! Service was also great. Can't wait to come back.
(4)
Lisa D.
My go to place in Kalamazoo for middle-eastern cuisine. The AlDar salad with tawook chicken is my favorite. I like the Moroccan infused favors at this establishment. Also be sure to try the Harraira soup if it's available!
(5)
Bullwinkle J.
Ambiance/Decor: 5/5 This place is beautiful. There are tons of unique lamps hanging from the ceiling and big cut-out trees where the branches spread across the interior. Very neat. Kitchen: 4/5 Our food was good. The flavors were light and not over-salted which is always a plus. Standard middle eastern fare but overall a good value for the cost. Service: 3/5 Big issue here was the hostess/owner. She sat us quickly and proceeded to ignore us entirely for a period of over ten minutes. No water, no contacting a server to help us - nothing. She just sat there talking to someone else the whole time. It was really quite silly and we were thinking of walking out when our server arrived (I think they were switching shifts). She was very sweet and attentive.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sandra C.
I was unimpressed with my first visit to Zooroona. I went at lunch time with two clients. It was not terribly busy but the service was very slow--we all commented on it. And every order was incorrect. I had ordered a hummus and tabbouleh wrap but was served a falafel wrap. Both my clients ordered wraps but were served entrees (and charged for entrees). We contemplated telling the server and asking him to fix it but decided we had already waited long enough and didn't want to wait any longer. On the positive side, the decor is quite nice and this may be the only Middle Eastern restaurant in Kalamazoo with a full bar, real silverware, and cloth napkins.
(2)Susan C.
We checked this place out with no expectations, and walked out blown away. My husband and I love the place! I am a PICKY eater and I loved my meal, a wrap. My husband is more adventurous and selected a few things he hadn't had before and was really impressed. Our infant son dined with us and it was very kid friendly. The wait staff made a big fuss over him, which is always nice as a parent. I don't know why I didn't know about this place prior to this summer! The only down side was no liquor license.
(4)Adam S.
This is the only middle-eastern restaurant in Kalamazoo, as far as I am aware... The food is quite excellent, and their version of babaganoush (chunky, not pureed), is amazing. They have meal samplers for specific numbers of guests, and these are quite delicious. Their smoothies are exotic and particularly flavorful, but a bit on the expensive side. Their pita bread leaves a bit to be desired... I'd give it a 3 out of 10 as far as pita goes. They say they'll be baking their own in the near future. As soon as that happens, they'll have 5 stars from me. Good pita will make all of their dishes that much better.
(4)Tabitha C.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place! I have never been to a restaurant as many times as I have this place! I want to give a big THANK YOU to the entire staff!! I have always loved the food and service. Keep up the great work!!
(5)Kathryn D.
One of my favorite Middle Eastern places by far! The food is fantastic, but the portions are pretty large for dinner, so if you aren't super hungry, plan on splitting a dish or taking lots of leftovers home! I came here on the weekend and there was a free belly-dancing show which was a great touch. If you're in the mood for authentic, delicious food and atmosphere, this is your joint.
(5)Julie K.
As a vegetarian, I'm always looking for good Middle Eastern food. Without a doubt this was one of the best vegetarian platters I have ever had! The falafel was moist and delicious. The baba gannouah was also exceptional!
(5)K L.
Great little place for me (vegetarian) and my husband (vegan)!! Couldn't have asked for a better experience. The soups are to die for!
(5)Traveling M.
I came here with my wife for dinner. we waited at least 7 minutes until we were seated. We had to call for server many times. After long wait, we got the lamb shank other dish that I think was chicken curry. The shank came covered with a dark and very swee
(1)S H.
Great resturant, food was amazing. I you are looking for Lebanese food in kalamazoo I highly recommend checking this place out.
(4)Angelina T.
I went here for dinner with two others and we shared the family plate, which offers a little bit of everything. If you don't know what you want or just want to try a little of everything, this is definitely the way to go. The sauces were delicious and we left feeling satisfied. Even though we were three people, we ordered the "2-3" people size dish and had enough leftovers for to bring home a nice lunch for one person the next day. The service was great -- my only complaint is it took a while to get drink refills. Next time I go, it'll be on belly dancing night :)
(4)Andrea J.
I've been to Zooroona three or four times since they opened. the restaurant is absolutely beautiful with attention given to details. They have a nice selection of dishes, everything I've had there tastes magnificent, they have a wonderful selection of exotic teas, and the presentation of their Turkish coffee is beautiful. It's the only Middle Eastern restaurant in the area with a liquor license. Prices are very reasonable as well. This is the place to go to relax over a long, delicious meal. so, why not five stars? the service. it's terrible. so bad that a 5 star rating got knocked down to 3 stars. I've been for dinner, I've been for lunch, I've been when the restaurant was busy, I've been when it's slow. It doesn't matter what's going on, the waitstaff is completely inattentive and disorganized, it's difficult to even get your water glasses refilled. It's too bad, you'll see the owner and a few other employees lounging at the bar, while the waitstaff seems to be pulling their hair out.
(3)Rodger W.
Excellent middle eastern in an upscale environment. Owned by the family that owns Tiffany's, its a nice surprise in somewhat rural town. A great place for folks visiting Kalamazoo College that are used to eating at places better than a Waffle House.
(4)Cullen S.
Had lunch there yesterday. Interior is very nice attractive, and the staff was professional and polite. Had two entrees and two appetizers split up between two people and it was a LOT of food - especially since the entrees come with a soup or salad. The food was generally quite tasty, but especially the appetizers. Excellent falafel and some sort of fried potato thing. I had the one vegetarian entree on the menu, a cold eggplant and rice dish. It was tasty, but in the future I will probably just order two or three appetizers for myself. The only weak areas were the soup and salad, we had one of each and they were just fairly band and boring. Pricing was very reasonable, especially on the lunch menu. Will definitely return.
(4)Laura R.
Fantastic for catering. Somewhat expensive, but the food is terrific and the delivery/setup service is flawless. We ordered an all vegan/vegetarian meal for 30 and the chef not only did the standard dishes really well, but got creative on a couple that were also great.
(5)Jay S.
Went there with lots of hope as lots of good reviews on yelp. Saturday night went right after belly dancing was over. Service was fast but food was cold . I didn't really care for platters we ordered , no taste . Also lighting should be less bright .Beer prices are good not expensive . I was thinking this to be upscale but its ok
(1)Candice E.
Kinda dry chicken. The spicy dish was bland and the lady who took my takeout order seemed inconvenienced by my presence. Cool atmosphere though! Update: We went back and got a sampler platter and the food was much better than our first take out experience and the service was excellent. It was cozy and there was live music. Great place to take out of town guests!
(4)Amber L.
Very, very cool interior decor. There are even a few places to sit on cushions around an ornate table. The food is quite excellent, and I saw several unfamiliar items on the menu. The service ranged from excellent to so-so on my two visits. Once the chef even came out, asked us how our meal was, and talked about the food with us. Many (but not all) of the staff there are quite enthusiastic about the restaurant and the food they serve there.
(5)S O.
This place is was a welcome discovery a few years back. Consistently tasty, well-seasoned middle eastern fare, served by some of the friendliest, most helpful servers I've ever come across. I also love the fact that the owners are on premises almost all the times we've been there. They're real sweethearts. Zooroona is on our very, very short list of restaurants we make sure to bring out-of-town visitors to. Our only complaint: they're closed Mondays! How dare they! Seriously tho, a meal here is a genuine treat. Bravo!
(4)Chuck N.
The food was excellent. My wife and I ordered a mazza sampler. They were super busy. I don't think they had really planned to be that swamped and you could tell it was getting the staff a bit frazzled. To their credit, whatever stress they were feeling was not transferred to the customers. Our waitress was very nice, she made a substitution for us, brought some of the mazzas out while others cooked to make sure we had something to nibble on, and even went back and asked the chef if he had any advice for me on making falafel. Their falafel was great. It had the nice smoky cumin flavor as well as a brightness from fresh parsley, but the real surprise and treat was that it was slightly sweet. Apart from the food and service, the set up inside is really cool. They've got some really great multi-colored glass light casings hanging from the ceiling that my wife raved about all night. There is also a fake tree that is incorporated throughout the dining area that we thought was fun. Our only complaint was the wait, they really didn't have any space set up for people awaiting a table, but hey it was worth it, the food and the service made up for the 45 minutes we waited for a table.
(4)Jason M.
If you want the best togo food you have ever had, this is the place! We order from here all of the time and rarely are we dissappointed with our dinners. My wife orders the salmon kabob usually and raves about it! She loves middle eastern food that is tasty and healthy and Zooroona hits the mark here for sure, other middle eastern restaraunts that I won't name here, have dishes that are too saucy and heavy for her taste. I love the shish tawook, and the garlic sauce they serve with their dishes is so addictive that I wish they would sell it by the gallon. The humus with pita bread is a must and so are the falafal(sp) and baclava(sp). The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because we have had a few times where the service has been off a bit. We have also ate at the restaraunt before and have only had bad service a few times, every time, the food keeps us coming back. I seriously think that once they button up some of the minor service issues at Zooroona, this place will shine like the gem that it already is!
(4)Lydia R.
Three stars might be generous considering my experience. I have eaten here 3 times and cannot say I had a single positive experience. The second time we were given a free pot of tea because we had to wait for a solid 15 minutes before the server even approached our table. That visit, our water glasses were not even filled. The food was good but for the price, the wait, and the inexperienced surly staff, I would just stick to Shwarma King - which is definitely 5 stars and my Middle Eastern restaurant of choice.
(3)Jeff L.
I have to say, I went to this restaurant on a very slow day for lunch and the service was absolutely horrific. There were two servers for a total of four tables, and both servers were struggling. The appetizers and soup were excellent, and I was really looking forward to my entree, but it was awful. I am a vegetarian, and the dish that I ordered was disgusting. All of the other guests ordered meat dishes and said that their food was very good. I won't go back. It is too bad, because I love middle eastern food, and the restaurant is very beautiful on the inside. I can forgive bad service if the food is good, but what I was served should have never left the kitchen...
(1)ivy l.
Amazing! And just what we havve been looking for. My husband grew up in Arabia so we love the Middle Eastern Cuisine. Having just moved here from the huge metro of Kansas City, we didn't expect to be impressed by any eatery in Kalamazoo- this place proved us wrong. The staff- amazing, wonderful ,so kind to our kids. The ambiance - perfect for a special night out together or with friends. The food- the closest thing my globe trotting hubby has found to his beloved food of Saudi. Good hummous- tastes just like when I make it from my "authentic" recipe from abroad. Even our 4 kids loved it! Delightful! A whole experience to talk about for weeks!
(5)M B.
I made two visits to this restaurant and both times I was not impressed by the service I received. We waited more than 10 minutes for the waiter to take our drink orders after being seated. They had many waiters running around without clear direction or result. In general, I am a patient person but I felt the need to get the hostess's attention who pointed me to the owner/manager. He was very apologetic and we got our drinks and desserts. The Iraqi tea was good and so was the baklava. The rice pudding was excellent. The second time I went for lunch. The service was still suspect, the food was decent though over priced. The décor is nice, but I never really felt comfortable sitting there. Something was missing. I won't be going back for a while until I hear the service has improved.
(2)Leslie L.
5 star food, service and atmosphere - fantastic all around! Walked in and met with a warm welcome. Beautiful restaurant with various comfortable seating options - including low tables with pillows to sit on the floor. I asked Lara to give me a suggestion from the top 3 Aklaat dishes and her choice was spot on. I had the Chicken Kafta Kabob - ground chicken with a combo of spices and an unbelievable garlic sauce on the side. My side was the lentil soup which had a great curry taste - I could have been content with just this soup. My husband had the Salmon Kabobs, with or without the spicy yogurt sauce it was delicious. Side salad was fresh with cucumber, tomato and cheese that was similar to feta (also had almond slivers but I didn't try them since I have a slight allergy). Mom had the Chicken Cream Chops. All I can say is I am glad I tried it. Usually not a lightly fried food fan but this was such great flavor - also had the garlic sauce but really didn't need it. The owner came out after we finished and talked to Mom about how the neighborhood had changed over the last 30 years (they also own Tiffany wine and spirits). Everyone working was so pleasant. We will certainly be back next time we are in town.
(5)Stephanie C.
Always wanting to try something different, I decided to go here for dinner. My waitress was great. She was very helpful and nice. The food is excellent.I would definitely go here again and would recommend this restaraunt to anyone.
(5)W N.
The service was OK, and the flavors of the foods was good. But every meat we had was crazy dried out. Overcooked to the max.
(2)humza a.
horrible service. i have gone to this restaurant a few times over the past year since i am a fan of Mediterranean Food, however the last 2 visits have been horrible. we ordered a platter that said it would feed 2-3 people. this is a platter i have gotten before. they not only trimmed down the portions where 2 people have to fight for 1 Kibbeh (how does that make sense), but they also did not tell us the decreased the portions which they admitted they did. secondly after not being able to feed my guests and explaining to them the situation, they did absolutely nothing to offer their sympathies. i went again after that incident, bc the food is good. this time with more guests. they said the wait was 35 minutes. we decided to wait. after an hour, they finally started to get our table together, when there were many tables available. after waiting almost 30 min longer than expected, we saw the table they had prepared which was horribly done for me and my 5 guests. after asking the rest of our guests whether it was ok to sit in this area, we went back to the manager to be seated, and instead the manager said we took too long for our decision and gave the table to someone else. i wont even give zooroona another star for the food because me and my guests were so disrespected, on numerous occasions that i would not even dignify their food.
(1)Jason M.
Zooroona is a brand new restaurant run by the owners of Tiffany's Wine and Spirits, in the same plaza. For not knowing a lot about Middle Eastern food, our server, Alyssa, was eager to set us straight. We first enjoyed some exotic smoothies which were quite refreshing and then moved on to some appetizers and the main course. Not knowing what to pick off the menu, we jumped at the $35 sampler plate. It's designed for 2-3 people but worked fine for our party of five coupled with some soups and salads. The highlight, perhaps, was the home-made hummus, served with pita bread. The food was authentic, the server and staff superbly nice and accomidating, and the music very fitting and fun to listen to. The place was near packed for being such a new restaurant, and I hope it does quite well. Will definitely return. There's no alcohol yet, but they say they're working on it. Oh, by the way, the hummus, Turkish coffee (extra-strong if you haven't had any), pita bread, and other items are available at Tiffany's to take home.
(5)Fred P.
I used to live in midtown manhattan and eat out frequently where there were at least 5 ethnic restaurants every square mile struggling to get your business. I needed a restaurant for my wife's birthday and chose Zooroona because French and italian are overplayed and we like AUTHENTIC ethnic food. Zooroona is the best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant I've ever been to. Portion sizes are great and there was live music playing with our meal. We started with the Turkish pizza which was delicious and the accompanying homemade harissa was not unnoticed. The taste was well balanced but in my opinion, the harissa should have been much much hotter but was probably made milder to not alienate clientele who are more sensitive to heat. My wife had the Lamb medley served over hummus. My wife was happy that the lamb was not game-y tasting at all. She ordered the Al-dar zalata as the starter salad and that was delicious. She did not finish it all and we brought the rest home where it was still delicious the next day cold. Myself, I ordered the moroccan kafta tagine to be made extra extra spicy; it was delicious, the accompanying couscous was both tender and fragrant. I ordered the Fattoush salad to try and honestly preferred my wife's Al-Dar Zalata. We weren't hungry for dessert but forced ourselves anyway...I had just merely mentioned in passing to our waitress that it was my wife's bday when we first got there and we got complimentary baklava. That's attention to detail. Since baklava is normally made with honey and my wife is difficult per her own words "I only like raw honey", she hesitantly took a bite and instantly lit up saying, "it's fucking delicious." I had the rice pudding which was delicious and spiced wonderfully. For all that food described plus a turkish pot of coffee (1 pot =4 small cups of coffee) which was delicious came out to a little over $50. I will definitely come back when I'm in the mood for mediterranean/middle eastern; I'm currently eyeing to try the spiced beef with figs stew I could live without seeing my favorite kebob type, tikka, on the menu since there are a lot of styles of kebobs but the only thing that I wish Zooroona had that I didn't see on the menu was a tagine possibly involving merguez which would be delicious. I could literally inhale Merguez but it's IMPOSSIBLE to find around here and when you do, it's americanized to the point that it's not spicy anymore. I'm suffering from such Merguez withdrawal, I'm thinking of making it at home; "mirqaz kibda bi'l-liyya" (2:1 mutton to fat plus harissa, tabil [algerian/tunisian spice blend], and salt) to be specific UPDATE: I decided to add more information to be more helpful...With every meal, there's complimentary pita bread that's accompanied by olive oil and za'atar (Arabic herb and spice mix) which is wonderful here mind you. The trick is to take some pita, dip it in olive oil and then in the za'atar. Chukran, zoorona. Salam.
(5)Brandi A.
We love Zooroona and travel a fair distance on occasion because the food is quite delicious. We think the menu is fabulous; very authentic, which is always hard to come by, and the atmosphere is always quite pleasant. We always grab a cushion and have a great time.
(5)C W.
Very pleasant surprise. The spicy potatoes, turkish tea, and prices will have me back in no time. Excellent.
(5)Tiffany S.
Amazing food! Great service! Cozy, yet vibrant atmosphere! Every dish I've tried is very good.
(5)Christine B.
Excellent lunch buffet for $12.99 on Sundays from noon to 14:30. I ate here with my daughter when returning her to WMU after Thanksgiving. We were planning on eating at an Indian restaurant in the same strip, but it was closed. The buffet was well-stocked and clean with salad, pita, hummus, baba ganoush, garlic paste, falafel, one lamb, two chicken, one beef, two vegetarian dishes, lentil soup, rice pudding and baklava. I love a nice, smoky baba ganoush, and this one was great, no overpowering flavors, silky texture. We both loved the falafel with garlic paste, and the vegetarian dishes as well. One contained potatoes with feta; the other was perhaps a deconstructed moussaka. The atmosphere of this restaurant is lovely. It has a nice bar with a good wine list. They serve on gorgeous plates, too. We'll definitely go back.
(5)Meredith S.
Just AWESOME flavor! Definitely try this place!!! We had the beet and feta dip, kafta kebob, and some kind of shrimp dish (spicy). All of it was phenomenal and the flavor a were distinct. They mixed well together. I definitely recommend the things we tried. The service was great. When I pulled into the parking lot I was a little iffy but when I entered the restaurant I felt much more at ease. The decor is tasteful and relaxing. The shrimp dish could've been spicier (I can't have a lot of spice and it was not spicy enough for me). Overall, this is definitely going down as one of my favorite places. At least three regulars came in while I was there so it looks like it's frequented often.
(5)Siddharth A.
Update your restaurant timing on your website at least. I drove all the way here to find out they have changed the timing. The waitress asked me to check the updated timing on the website! Well I don't think she had checked it herself. The menu, yelp and even their website shows the restaurant is open from noon to 9:00 pm on Sundays and the waitress said they are closed from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm on Sundays !
(1)Ed R.
My 12 year old daughter really enjoys Zooroona and asked to go here for dinner. Always happy to say 'yes' to this particular request. We split everything and still wound up taking quite a bit of food home. Turkish pizza, fattoush, and Lebanese lamb ... sooooooo good! I don't know how well these recipes conform to traditional expectations so I can't speak to that, but I can tell you, I've never had one dish here that I did not enjoy, and dinner on this night was particularly delicious.
(5)C S.
One of the greatest places in Kalamazoo. This place is phenomenal. Amazing food, drinks, service and prices! All around excellent!
(5)Zach G.
Great Food! We often go to the buffet on sunday for lunch, which is FANTASTIC. The hummus and baba ganoush is the best I have ever had. Service is pretty good, they are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend it!
(4)AJ B.
What a hidden gem! Hands down the best experience I've had at a restaurant in a long time. I came in at sort of an odd time, about 4pm, and there wasn't anyone else in the restaurant. I thought maybe this wouldn't be well-received, but it was completely the opposite. The owner happily welcomed me in and I had a seat at the bar. I ordered the Hummus as an appetizer and the Sultan Shawermah Wrap for my meal. It came out very quickly and it was all very, very good. Also, for $16, this was a ton of food! I'm what my mom would call a "growing boy" and after eating a little over half of my food (I got the rest in a box to-go), I was full for the rest of the day. The service was absolutely incredible. The owner waited on me himself. He was friendly, he didn't charge me for my drink, and he gave me extra pita bread to take home with the hummus without me even asking for it! And to top it all off, when he gave me the bill, he penned an "X" on the tip line and said, "don't tip me, you came in and that's enough for me." I was amazed and I told him I would certainly be coming back. Food: 9/10 Service: 10/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Value: 9/10 The bottom line: Superb service combined with a great atmosphere and fantastic, authentic food at a reasonable price. What more can you ask for?
(5)Todd W.
Amazing Mediterranean. Veggie appetizer platter was super tasty, service was very good and they had microbrews on tap. I've eaten a ton of Mediterranean food and this is one of the best I've had. Make sure to try the beet and feta dip!
(5)Faye L.
I don't come here nearly enough, because the boy doesn't enjoy Mediterranean food as much as I do. This place is a gem. Everything I've had (and I try to order something different every time) has been fantastic, with the exception of the Beef Borek appetizer, which was dry and bland. Zooroona makes a killer baba ghannouj, and their hummus with meat is on point as well. Their garlic-yoghurt sauce is killer, and their shawarma has always been tender and delicious whenever I have ordered it. The falafel is awesome as well, and I literally have dreamt about their kibbeh before. Kafta kabob, shish tawook and chicken biryani are all very tasty. The salads are fresh, crisp, and the dressing is excellent. Great selection of vegetarian entrees as well. I'm hungry now. Maybe I'll have Zooroona for dinner today.
(4)Linda S.
My husband I went here last night for dinner. Both of us really enjoyed it. He had the Lamb Shank and I had the Shrimp. Both were outstanding. Soup or salad come with the dinners. We each had a salad which were very good. I have read the reviews that have complained about the service but ours was perfect. The servers even buss each other's tables to insure outstanding service. Even the owner checks each table asking how everything is going. This will be a place we will bring our out of town family and friends for sure. Who would think you could find such a gem in a strip mall?!!
(4)Ken H.
Zooroona has the best Middle Eastern cuisine in the area! The food always seems so fresh and perfectly seasoned. I especially like the Chicken Shawermah dinner. The Al Dar Salad is one of my favorite salads in town. This past weekend, I tried the Sunday brunch buffet. There was a good selection of dips, entrees and desserts. There were lamb, chicken, beef and vegetarian selections. I thought this was a great way to sample the different foods Zooroona has to offer. It does seem that when I go for dinner, it always takes longer than I expect it to. I don't know if this is because the kitchen is slow or if the dishes are being cooked to order. Just know that dinner may take a little longer than you would expect at most restaurants.
(5)Anthony H.
I love Arabic food, especially when it's authentic. The Babaghanoush had a rich smoked flavor and the shish kefta was bbq'd over an open flame. (Although it was too much beef and not enough lamb.) Unfortunately, for all the good, there was as much that left me flat. The taboollee was far too lemony and the lentil soup was a purreed yellow lentil with limited flavor. I thought the whole thing could be saved when they had canaffee (cheese and shredded wheat dessert with a light syrup served warm) and although it was authentic, it was at least four days old. C'est la vie.
(3)Kelly H.
I would love to eat here more often! Our server quickly brought us the pita, olive oil and zataar and let us know appetizers were half off for another 15 minutes, so my friend and I started off with the Baba Ghannouj which was terrific (as always!). I had the Al Dar salad and was very pleased, though my friend got the lentil soup which we have enjoyed before and it was a bit watery. I had a combo for dinner - Shish Tawook (terrifically soft chicken kebob) and Chicken Cream Chops (seemed more like a chicken schnitzel?) with their amazing rice and roasted veggies. I was glad I didn't get my 'usual'. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Lacey U.
O EM GEE BABA GHANOUJ!!!! Probably the best I've ever had. So smooth and It's drizzled with fresh nutty olive oil and served with hot pitas and dried herbs on the side. The interior is very modern and quite pleasing to the eye - very unassuming for the strip mall it's located in. Dark wood, bright colors, hanging lanterns, and floor pillows make this place very cozy and relaxing. The potato bites (don't remember the name) served with tahini sauce were a bit on the too spicy side for my palate. I can handle some heat, but they were a bit too far out of my ballpark. We also ordered the jalapeno falafal wrap and a large salad. The wrap came with a lentil soup that was forgotten - but not a big deal because we were so delighted and full of everything else. It was no problem to order it to go. Service was great as well.
(4)Lauren A.
Just outstanding middle eastern cuisine. And they be Ben have belly dancers. And some of the best tea ever.
(5)Peter Z.
Zooroona is a good choice if you're in the mood for Middle Eastern food, and you're looking for someplace a little fancier, where you can have drinks with dinner. They have a nicely varied menu -- good options for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores. Their babaghannouj is the best I've ever had. The Zooroona wrap (spicy felafel, babaghannouj, hommous) is a real winner, too. They also have some interesting dishes that make them stand out from the crowd, like a couple of Moroccan-inspired plates. There are cheaper options for equal quality Middle Eastern food in town, and for me personally it's usually not worth it to pay the premium for ambiance (unless I've got someone to impress).
(4)Julene A.
I hate to leave such a bad review, but please note that this review is for the Sunday lunch buffet not the dinner menu. After seeing the movie The Hundred Foot Journey I was very eager to try Indian / Middle Eastern cuisine since I love bold, spicy flavors. However, everything I tried at the buffet fell horribly short of anything I would consider bold or spicy, or even tasty. The rice was very bland, as was pretty much everything I tried. The labels were missing from most of the dishes so I have no idea what I was eating. Each time we went up to the buffet there was no more than one or two pieces of naan in the bread basket. They had wonderful looking hummus there but no naan to put it on, which I found rather disappointing. In spite of the rave reviews for their regular menu I doubt very much that we will be back. After all, why would they serve delicious flavorful food for dinner and such bland fare for the buffet? I can't imagine that we'll experience anything better for dinner. In my husband's words, the food was "blah blah blah".
(2)Fe T.
I am a huge fan of Mediterranean cuisine and Zooroona has seriously good food. It's on the pricier side, but the portion is great, and you always get complimentary pitas. You all should try their tea as well. Get the tea pot and share!
(5)Comebackshane F.
Oh my! Seriously. The spinach potato curry soup is amazing - the flavors are calming and comforting and exciting at the same time. Delicious as the service. Friendly atmosphere and courteous and relaxing. I am a fan. The sultan plate for lunch is a great deal and not too heavy for a midday "feast." I look forward to coming back for lunch - and for the Middle Eastern "experience" on a Saturday night sometime soon.
(5)The D.
Very good. Best in kalamazoo. The Malbec wines were great with our food and the garlic sauce was great. Not the best lentil soup but everything else was great. Little pricy but a great date night. Try traditional seating for more fun.
(5)Patrick B.
While coming back to Kalamazoo to visit friends and family for the weekend, our friends took us to Zooroona for dinner. I'm very glad they recommended this place, the food, the atmosphere and the people were wonderful. The highlight of the evening was Emad Ibrahm playing the violin. He was great and even stopped by our table to say hi and thank us for coming in. For dinner, we started with hummous and dolmeh, both were very good. I had the Moroccan Veggie Tagine. It had an excellent flavor and very filling. You could really taste the honey, but it wasn't as spicy as I was expecting, or had hoped. I would get it again though, after I try a few other dishes. My girlfriend had the Vegetable Biryani and also thought it was very good. I'm sure we will be back here next time we are in Kalamazoo.
(5)Teal S.
totally amazing. i came back to my home town for a wedding, and this was the ONLY mediteranean place i could find, and it did not let me down. i figured b/c it was not in a major metropolitan area it would suck, but it was as good and if not better than the up scale med restaurants i eat at in SF, NY, and LA. every time i come home to visit mom, i take her here. its delicious! well done, kzoo
(5)Boon K.
There lunch portions are huge and there is so much variety. I really like the lentil soup, and the sice of rice. Very nice wait staff but I was a little disappointment with my beef sharwama as it was super dry for me that I just didnt eat much of it. The favors were good but it was just really tough, I have my friend chicken sharwama with the garlic sauce and that is what I would order next time.
(3)Jeff B.
While so many of their dishes are amazing, don't forget to order the Al Dar salad with tawook chicken. Amazing. When they have the lamb harira soup, you must try it. Another favorite is the chicken chili fry. This has become our "go to" restaurant in the area. They have never disappointed and the servers are very attentive.
(5)Tash K.
My second visit here and just like the first I was not disappointed. I ordered the veggie combo plate this time, which comes with falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghannouj, and dolmeh. The food was served beautifully! Service was also great. Can't wait to come back.
(4)Lisa D.
My go to place in Kalamazoo for middle-eastern cuisine. The AlDar salad with tawook chicken is my favorite. I like the Moroccan infused favors at this establishment. Also be sure to try the Harraira soup if it's available!
(5)Bullwinkle J.
Ambiance/Decor: 5/5 This place is beautiful. There are tons of unique lamps hanging from the ceiling and big cut-out trees where the branches spread across the interior. Very neat. Kitchen: 4/5 Our food was good. The flavors were light and not over-salted which is always a plus. Standard middle eastern fare but overall a good value for the cost. Service: 3/5 Big issue here was the hostess/owner. She sat us quickly and proceeded to ignore us entirely for a period of over ten minutes. No water, no contacting a server to help us - nothing. She just sat there talking to someone else the whole time. It was really quite silly and we were thinking of walking out when our server arrived (I think they were switching shifts). She was very sweet and attentive.
(3)