4. Restaurants

Restaurant Zoë

1318 E Union St, Seattle, WA, 98122
  • (206) 256-2060
  • Store is closed

Restaurant Zoë Menu

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  • Deanna G.

    I was in town for the first time in November to meet up with a guy I had started dating. He ended up being a dud, why did I have to fly all the way to Seattle to figure that out? But I took myself to Zoe for the November promotion. I had a lovely meal - the ricotta gnudi to start, the red meat (I forget which cut) with mushrooms and onions and mashed potatoes,and apple crisp for dessert. I felt comfortable dining by myself at the banquette, and everyone was kind and attentive. It was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. I appreciate Restaurant Zoe for giving me a wonderful night during an otherwise disastrous trip to Seattle.

    (5)

  • Shari d.

    This has to be my new favorite restaurant in Seattle. Couldn't believe the flavors, freshness, and artistic approach to my meal last night. It was the last day of Dinning around Seattle and we made it into Restaurant Zoe @ 9pm for dinner for two. Appetizers: Celery Root & Apple Soup Fresh Ricotta Gnudi Entrees: Celeriac Risotto Painted Hills Beef Short Rib Dessert Carrot Cake Pineapple Sorbet We made it a point to order different things to ensure we got the most our of our dining experience. The celery & apple soup was surprising...savory from the celery and sweet from the apple. Balanced with a light drizzle of cream to give it a little richness was a perfect way to start the evening. The ricotta gnudi were the perfect portion and the cheese paired perfectly with the balsamic onion puree. Imagine the inside of a cheese ravioli without the pasta...simmered in water resulting in a cheese skin on the outside holding in the creamy slightly melted ricotta on the inside. The short rib was perfectly cooked with a robust flavor. Paired with the red beets to add an earthiness and horseradish to give it a little bite. The risotto was perfectly cooked...toothsome yet creamy with a hint of lemon. Carrot cake smelled wonderful and was moist and delicate. Pineapple sorbet was refreshing and the perfect end to a perfect meal. The only criticism that I have is the entryway. It had an odd velvet curtain that reminded me of being in the shower because of its shape. It was also quite humorous to see people struggling to find their way out after eating their meals. I would say 3 our of 5 had issues getting out. All in all a perfect meal at a perfect price. I am coming back soon and trying more of their dishes.

    (5)

  • Anne N.

    3.5 stars. I caught a glimpse of the sun setting before stepping into the restaurant for an early dinner. The place felt really cozy and it was the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine or two... We started out with an amuse-bouche. Salmon tartare. The fresh dill gave the bite-size treat a nice fresh flavor but I found the bread way too hard to eat. I ordered the Duck Breast. Mostly because it had BACON in it. Wrong move. I found the dish to be overwhelmingly salty (although the prunes in the lentils did help counter that a tiny bit). The duck was great but a bit on the rare side. (think: seared tuna). My friend on the other hand, ordered the Pacific cod. Served with a creamy clam veloute, mussels, and fennel potatoes. The fish was absolutely DIVINE. Cooked to perfection. Spot on. *Standing ovation* As a side dish, we ordered the herb risotto. Now...I've watched enough episodes of Hell's Kitchen to know what it SHOULD look like and what it SHOULDN'T look like. And unfortunately, Zoe fell into the latter category. If Chef Gordon Ramsay was there, he would probably say something along the line of ... "You Donkey! Does this rice look cooked to you? DOES IT???" All spoken with a sexy Scottish accent of course. Anyhow, the risotto had some great flavors to it, but it was unfortunately undercooked. The rice couldn't hold onto the sauce and they eventually separated. What a shame.

    (3)

  • Flo T.

    By far the best meal and service we had while on our Pacific Northwest trip! For starters, hubby and I had the Shaved Green Asparagus salad and the Fresh Ricotta Gnudi. We picked the gnudi based on all the yelpers reviews. My husband enjoyed, but I actually ended up liking the asparagus better. The salad was fresh, crisp, clean and very tasty. For our main dishes we had the Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese and the Painted Hills Beef Short Rib. Absolutely loved both dishes! The bolognese was very flavorful and rich. The short rib was cooked to perfection where if you stick it with a fork the meat just falls right off. And finally, my fav part of meals dessert! The waiter recommended the chocolate brownie ice cream bar. If you're a chocolate fan you will definitely enjoy thing. The chocolate ice cream was covered in a hard chocolate cover shell wasn't really sweet, but very creamy and there was a fudge brownie bottom to it that was the sugary part. The salty caramel that was drizzled around it made a nice contrast. I think we would have tried one of the other desserts instead. Nicely done, but maybe it was just not our thing. The waiter was super friendly and nice and asked if we would like a replacement dessert since we didn't fully enjoy the one we had. We will definitely be going back if we're ever in Seattle again!

    (5)

  • Alissa K.

    Meeeeh. The scene: I liked the space; small but open, classy beige-ish color scheme, and the tables were close to each other... but not so close that you're bumping elbows. Older crowd, tasteful electronic music. The food: Apparently Zoe's policy is to torture as many (baby) animals as possible -- foie gras, veal sweatbread, lambshanks... egads. As an ex-vegetarian, I still have a hard time with certain food items, and this menu was a minefield of liberal guilt. I ordered the scallops, which were drenched in some kind of honey mustard/shellfish sauce. It was... kinda weird, but not bad. The apple salad was good, wine selections were also good (Tempranillo by the glass -- yum). Dessert selection was unexciting. The service: Ok, but I dislike it when waiters try to be your BFF. Yes, a little banter is fine, but I don't want to know your likes, dislikes, and ultimate life goals. A description of the wine is quite enough, thanks. I wouldn't go back, but I don't sorely regret going once.

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    This is not a fair rating because the friends I dined with enjoyed their meals tremendously. However, I felt the best thing I ate was the bread served. I ordered the pea vine risotto which seemed underdone. I really wish I had ordered the wild boar pasta as my husband did. It was fantastic! For a side, I savored the sauteed greens; yum! Our drinks were tasty and strong if not a bit on the pricey side for drinks. For dessert, the pb & j profiteroles won out significantly over the apricot torte I ordered which was gross. I didnt' want to eat it and I was sad that it was the last thing to eat at the end of my night. Friend had the lavendar panna cotta and ate it all up so I assume he enjoyed it. I also ordered just a side of the earl grey ice cream and it tasted exactly as I had hoped - not too cloying with just a hint of vanilla. Our service was fantastic although I could have personally done without the fancy napkin twirling business. And there were times when I was deep in conversation with my tablemate only to have a (nicely manicured) hand reach over to fill my water. Too much for me. Overall, I was happy to take my foodie out-of -own guests with me as a first time dining experience at Zoe. Once is enough for me.

    (3)

  • Gavin N.

    After reading such positive reviews about Restaurant Zoe on Yelp and seeing it in the 25 for 25, definitely had to try it out. Visited Restaurant Zoe on a Thursday night 3/22/07. It was a 5 minute struggle to find free street parking (most lots in Belltown are $10 for the evening...even on weekdays?!?), but I won't hold that against Zoe as Belltown usually sucks for parking. As we arrive, the hostess was very friendly and seated us quite quickly as a nice table near the window. The atmosphere was definitely unique as it had a feeling of a fine dining restaurant yet hipster at the same time (lots of black and piercings). My girlfriend and I liked it a lot because you could be dressy, yet casual if you wanted to as well. *bonus points* - what's this..no salt shaker, but rather a dish of kosher salt...nice!!! Oh and slightly chilled water w/out ice..I love water served this way, just goes down much smoother. Pricing for normal entrees and wine seemed reasonable, actually very fair given the quality. Entrees ran around $22-28 each, appetizers $8-12, desserts I believe were $7-9. So very fair for pricing. Now onto the food. The rabbit pate although not on the 25for25 menu, I decided I must try it out. It was DELICIOUS (if Pate is your thing). From the 25for25 menu, my gf had the potato leek soup (which IMO was quite bland and too thin), but the gnudi has everyone has raved about was awesome. Very rich in flavor for cheese nuts like myself. My Crispy skin chicken over mashed potatoes was delicious as well, I like how it was carved airplane style. The true standout was my gf's Prime Steak Coulet, sauce, beef cut, and cooked to perfection at medium rare...oh man it melted in your mouth. As for the desserts we had the chocolate peppermint Pot De Creme and I had another chocolate concoction. I just remember them being plated very well, and were definitely good for any chocolate lover (such as my gf). *bonus points* - items on 25 for 25 were items on actual menu. Service - Our server was very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. He actually took time to explain how everything was made, what was in it, and made some great cocktail recommendations. The Manhattan...was smooth and strong...for you bourbon lovers definitely try one..I was buzzing halfway through my meal...or at least Asian Red Faced. The only down-side of the service was I felt things took an awe fully long time to get to us. Two couples sat down after we were done w/our first appetizer, and yet they somehow got their desserts before we did (and we were eating around similar paces). So that was the only down-side. Overall - I can see why Restaurant Zoe gets so many good reviews, and why it's the number 1 reserved restaurant on opentable. It's just wonderful overall, the quality, quantity, service, etc. Loved it all! I will definitely find myself at restaurant Zoe again..especially for that Steak Coulet and Manhattan..As my girlfriend would say "Yum! Yum! Yum!" ~G p.s. What's this no salt and pepper shaker..instead a dish of salt and a pepper mill....KUDOS!!!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth A.

    Had another fabulous meal here a couple weeks back with the fantastic Keri as our server!!! Everything here is wonderful and this time, we got a little adventurous with our choices including lamb heart over kidney and kidney beans (not even kidding and it was very good!) and little delish balls of pasta filled with fresh ricotta! You really can't go wrong here as everything is good and the ambiance is great! Can't wait to go back again soon!

    (5)

  • Daryll H.

    Sometimes I miss the days where I wasn't eating out at nice places very often. The awesomeness a good restaurant, like this one, was that much more potent when the rest of the field was, say, Subway, In n Out, California Pizza Kitchen, etc. Zoe is really good, though I wouldn't call it amazing in the grand scheme of things. We did beets and mushrooms apps, scallops and steelhead main. Sadly chose an awful bottle of wine, but that was my fault. Tables were a bit too close together to qualify as romantic, but whatever. The coat storage situation here makes no sense. You walk in, and the first thing you notice are coats. Everywhere. All over the walls, pillars, whatever, coats. Then you go to the restroom, coat overflow space. While it's cool that they don't want to do some sort of snob coat check thing, the coats-everywhere situation is hilarious and ridiculous.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    Remember when you turned 25? That quarter century mark was a big deal, so what better place to treat a friend for that "entree" into true adulthood. I'd heard a lot of great things about Restaurant Zoe, so thought it was time to check it out on this special occasion, and treat my friend. Everything looked fabulous! Wonderful presentations. But... with one exception, the food felt uninspired somehow. The potato soup was a bit gritty, and not incredibly flavorful. The octopus appetizer was strange, with a meaty texture, but surrounded by a kind of charred crust -- not burned, but it was a bit strange. The oxtail was delicious, but it's hard to do a bad oxtail. The pork loin entree was good, and melded well with the vegetables and sauce surrounding it, but it lacked a certain inspiration -- kind of a standard dish around Seattle right now, too. I felt like I've had it before, ya know? The one real standout was the scallops (there's a photo of them here). With the bacon and vegetables in the middle, the sauce, and the 5 scallops spread like a star around the plate -- they were perfection in our mouths. The pineapple sorbet was exactly what you'd expect pineapple sorbet to taste like. Good, but nothing special. Kudos to the staff for remembering to put a birthday candle on top. But what about the "clap your hands, sing a song and dance" routine? Actually, I'm really glad they skipped that part. We ordered a bottle of champagne that I can't remember the name of because it was ok, but forgettable. And at $80 for the bottle, I would skip it next time and stick to glasses of wine. Our service was pretty good, the waiter was polite, and knowledgable. But he lacked a certain spark or excitement about the food. Overall, we did enjoy ourselves, and it was a treat, but I think I was expecting something more from Restaurant Zoe. I'll pick another place for next year's 26th birthday -- and maybe then I'll get the song and dance -- ha!

    (3)

  • Anthony P.

    The food was just as I had hoped it would be. The new space is very pretty and more casual feeling than the old, more neighborhood-y, which makes me think I will go more often because it didn't feel like a big production. The service was good but a little quirky, which I guess is kind of the norm in the Seattle fine dining scene.

    (5)

  • Z Z.

    I've walked by this place every day now for almost five years. From the sidewalk, looking in, it always seemed a bit cold to me. Stuffy, even. But I always heard great things about Zoe, and since my daughter shares the same name, I always had it on my list of must tries. I had to think of where I wanted to go most of all for my birthday dinner this year. After asking a few of my most-trusted foodie friends, I picked Zoe. Inside, the atmosphere is anything but cold. Boyfriend and I sat at a perfect table right at the window looking over 2nd Ave. Candles, Christmas lights, soft and warm colors fill the cozy room, and the music was good. It felt like a dinner party at a best friends house. Our server was super nice and easy going. He never rushed us or made us feel ignored. He seemed like the kind of guy who would fix your faucet and water your plants for you when you're away in Guam for 3 weeks. I ordered the Stormy Weather to drink, and it was seriously one of the best cocktails I've had in my life. It was like an ice cold, super fresh slice of key lime pie. The bread came quickly and often, and was a yummy rosemary semolina situation. We ordered the pork belly starter, which was flavorful and rich. For our entrees, I had the scallops and boyfriend had something that he wouldn't share (it was that good). In between plates they brought out little treats from the kitchen. A shot of soup, a little taste of this, a little taste of that. Being the free sample geek that I am, this totally won me over. We finished dinner with some sort of extreme chocolate trio topped with a birthday candle. The whole experience, from atmosphere to service to food was top notch, and made for one of the best birthday dinners I can remember.

    (5)

  • Evan M.

    Everything about Zoë is delicious, just don't order too much because it'll fill you up. The atmosphere is open and breazy with tons of light. The food is good from the starters (foie gras w/ cherries, tuna w/ cucumber and broth) which filled us up to the entrees which pushed us over the edge (short ribs w/ watercress, fennel salad and wild boar bolognese). I also like that they give little plates here and there between courses to keep you happy. Also, the cocktails are really good and unique. I had the Wolfhound a little lychee and rum number.

    (5)

  • Crystal B.

    I just wanted to note that I was contacted by the general manager regarding my previous review. It is clear that they care about their guests and want everyone's experience to be up to par. I felt like our first experience there was the exception rather than the rule, and the fact that the management cares enough to talk to me about my experience confirms that for me. I will be returning to Zoe when I'm in Seattle again.

    (5)

  • Sophia M.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that my favourite gnudi are back on the menu! Tender, creamy, delicious gnudi in beet with orange peel marmalade and tarragon sauce. *gulp* As a gnudi freak, I officially state that these gnudi are the best gnudi out off all the gnudi creations by the genius Chef. Also, my favourite drink La Pommette is back on the menu. Not that I cared much when it was gone, the bartender still made it; but I, feeling suddenly altruistic, want to hint to the newcomers that this is what you should get. And, if you're feeling indecisive about the main dish - get the steelhead on the bed of pear salad. All of the above guarantees sending your taste buds on a short, but memorable trip to heaven.

    (5)

  • Kathleen H.

    Wow. I expected Zoe to be really good, and it was above and beyond. The food, the service, the entire experience was fantastic. Reading the menu alone is appetizing. Then our knowledgeable, attentive waiter provided even more descriptive details on some key dishes. They have small plates as well as full entrees so you can mix it up and get some variety if you share. (Don't fill up on bread!) We had the spicy octopus (amazing texture and spice!), refreshing tuna tartare, and the incredibly tender lamb shoulder. The atmosphere is lively but laid back; so you can drink, order and eat at your own desired pace. Bring your good friends, your foodie colleagues, your conversations... this is a good place to catch up, enjoy food and leave with a satisfied smile on your face.

    (5)

  • Matthew M.

    Went here with a group of 5 and we had a great time! The only thing I can suggest is that the entree portion size be upped a little bit. I had the braised beef which was boneless ribs. It was really good but had kind of a lot of fat in it; apparently that is normal? I'm not sure but it was tasty nonetheless. The little treats in between bread/apps/entree were fun and cool. I wasn't a big fan of the "soup" thing but everyone else liked it. The service was fast and our drinks were never empty. Try not to fill up the bread before your meal because some guy was coming around making sure we always had bread on our plate before the meal, it got to the point where we had to say "no" to more bread :)

    (4)

  • Heesun K.

    Restaurant Zoe was great. However, Celery Risotto as an appetizer did not work out for us. It was undercooked. It was too hard to chew and the sauce was too bland. For entrees, we had Columbia River steelhead and Martinez Ranch lamb loin. Steelhead was delicious - juicy, melting in your mouth. Lam loin was just too rawwww. I asked for Medium? or Medium well and only the ends were pink but middle part was just bloody. The meat was tender but i was surprised to get that. I'm the person that usually doesn't ask to cook it again..so i just had to suck it up. Also potato that came out with the dish didn't go too well with crazy-rare meat..Chef brought out some cool things to try (which sadly i don't remember)..and i actually thought they were better than the food i ordered. so sad... Nice atmosphere, great service. The food was just alright

    (3)

  • Angie B.

    Just had a lovely dinner here last night. We ordered all small plates and shared them, which was a really fun way to try multiple things. Everything was great, but the only thing I'd run back for again and again was the gnudi.

    (5)

  • Natalie W.

    Great place to have a classy yet casual late night dessert. The dessert list is seasonal and extends beyond just cake, ice cream, and brulee. My pear trio was amazing. The portions are on the tasting side, but this did not diminish my love of the menu item. Others in our party loved their dishes as well.

    (4)

  • Tommy K.

    If I could, I'd probably give ZOE three and half instead of five stars. I have no complaints about the food -- in fact, it was for the most part quite good; however, I just didn't think it stood out amongst the crowd. There are a lot of restaurants in the Belltown/QA/Downtown area doing this regional Pacific NW cuisine and they're all fine but with a few exceptions (like Poppy) they also feel a bit interchangeable. I will say that my duck dish was pretty darn fantastic and my dining mates enjoyed their dishes. The gnudi, on the other hand, was something of a disappointment. After reading all the raves on Yelp, I was expecting a fluffy piece of pasta heaven and instead all I got a nice little bite of something inoffensive. The tongue was good although I thought the seasoning was a bit heavy (as well as the short rib). The service was about average. It was a busy Friday night so I expect a little bit of a slow down but the time it took to get drinks seemed a bit too long.

    (3)

  • Paul D.

    Excellent in every way.

    (5)

  • AR R.

    My husband and I were dying to try this restaurant because Quinn's and Uneeda burger are 2 of our favorite spots in the city. The restaurant ambiance is perfect and signature cocktails were very tasty. We may return just for a beautiful place to sip great drinks. From there, our experience declined rapidly. We ordered a salad, a few small plates, the boar bolognaise, and the short ribs, all highly recommended by the waitstaff. Most of the food was WAY too salty, and I tend to enjoy salty foods. The wild boar and arugula pasta was mediocre at best. The spare rib dish lacked cohesion and fell flat. All of this may have been overlooked if the price point was lower. The food was way overpriced for the quality. We will certainly return to the Staples's other restaurants that really have perfected pub fare, but will probably not return to Restaurant Zoe.

    (2)

  • Tyrone D.

    Went here with the bf for Valentines day And every course was exceptional! We recommend checking out this gem! Great service and food. I had the scallops and he had the lamb. You can't go wrong.

    (5)

  • Frances M.

    Very very good. Started with calling for a last minute request for table, then being greeted by name when we walked in. Water appeared right away - then we were met by a wonderful server. She balanced friendliness with professionalism. I won't go on about the food - since my palate may not be your taste. I will say that all five of our dishes - 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and a dessert were very good. We had a lovely Sancerre, and after dinner drinks. Even though we were the last diners of the evening, we were not rushed out, another plus for good service. Yes, its pricey - but absolutely worth the money - strongly recommended.

    (4)

  • Jon E.

    I firmly consider Zoe to be the best restaurant in Seattle. The chef here takes a lot of risks with new ingredients and new techniques, but executes phenomenally. We had a baby asparagus appetizer once with a lemon egg foam, and it was like nothing I'd had before. I was really happy to try it. My girlfriend is vegetarian, and she's very happy to take another appetizer as a main meal, so Zoe adapts and serves it like a main meal. But for me, I like meat for my main dish, and Zoe has absolutely delectable meats served with inventive sauces and vegetable pairings. One thing I really appreciate about Zoe is the service and their ability to pair wines with meals within our price range ($25-40/bottle). Once we were having a slightly heavier meal, I believe I was having lamb and my girlfriend was having a winter squash risotto, and our waiter paired us with a French red, not a Pinot, but very light with a wonderful earthy terroir that played with the earthiness of my girlfriend's squash but had a complexity to it where it could still stand up to the lamb. Unbelievable. Last time, we had a Spanish albarino white that was much more refined that any albarino I'd had before, and went excellently with both our meals. When choosing wines, our waiter had excellent knowledge of different options that would work, their heaviness, complexity, and terroir, so it made choosing an educational and very enjoyable experience. I recommend Zoe to any guests that are coming to town, to any friends having a special occasion (anniversaries are perfect!), and I personally try to go there twice a year (as my budget permits :)).

    (5)

  • D C.

    Mmmmm, I've meant to come here for quite some time - way back when their bartender gave a class on how to make a few kick ass drinks (key to mojitos and margaritas: make your own lime sour mix, it freezes well). We were going to try Spur, but they seemed a little overwhelmed, so we walked a short block up to Restaurant Zoe and sat at the bar. I had a drink called Ruby My Dear - excellent - cranberry orange puree with sparkling wine and an orange twist. We split an apple based soup which was excellent, and could have had four servings of their bread with olive oil + herb drizzle. For dinner, I had the wild boar bolognese, and as other reviews ahve mentioned - it is worth trying. Hubby had the steelhead, which was a little undercooked for his liking, but the hazelnut / orange / garlic garnish was very good. Overall, an excellent dinner, with excellent service. Not inexpensive (dinner for two with drinks ~$75 before tip), but you get a great meal for the price.

    (4)

  • Tiger G.

    First of all, menus don't need to have a ton of selection. I see a number of people complaining about this point, and really a large menu usually scares me away. Having worked in kitchens for years I know that the larger the menu, the harder it is for the kitchen to execute it well. Anyway, went there recently for an anniversary. My partner and I came here ready to do some seriously excessive work. We're not the kind of people who go to a place like this for a course or two. We were immediately rolled as restaurant people because of our order, which was truly over the top. I started with a non-alcoholic drink known as a minty lime press. Sadly health problems have made it so I rarely drink more than a glass of wine these days, but honestly I didn't miss the booze with this choice. I also knew that anything that would calm my stomach and lull it into a false sense of security before I thoroughly abused it would be a good idea. Delicious. I drank three of them. My partner, feeling old fashioned, ordered a Manhatten. It's an old school drink, yet it was done perfectly. (I had a sip) I was quite impressed with the artistry behind it. I began with a celeriac risotto, or celery root for the unfamiliar. It included Meyer lemon sections that melted in the mouth, a welcome contrast to the firm celery root. It was perfect. I still think about it weeks later. My partner had the octupus, and I found it to be tender and spiced well, not spiced so that it overpowered the meat itself. It is so hard to do tender octupus, but they did it. For the next appetizers (I told you we go over the top) big eye tuna tartare and beef tongue. Now, my love of the nasty bits borders on evangelical. Livers, hearts, brains, skin, ears...I want it! This was not a disappointment. It was quite like very tender pot roast. My partner's tuna was quite tender, but I thought perhaps it was a little TOO tender and could have used just a touch more firmness. For appetizer number three, I had the sweetbread roulade and he had the fall game terine. He still talks about that terine. The sweetbreads were quite creamy, well executed. We had two main courses each. The lamb was perfectly done. I thought my scallops were beautifully cooked, but a minor quibble: I think there was far too much bacon in the included dressing, especially since it contained chaterelle mushrooms, which I adore. They are also delicate in flavor, though, and they were lost in the MOUNDS of bacon. However it was well cooked; it was more about my personal taste than anything. (As unpopular as this might make me, I am not a big fan of bacon) My partner's roasted chicken with brussel sprouts was aggressively flavored, but I didn't find it off putting. Rather I found it interesting. I felt that it woke me up. The short rib he had for his second main? well, he still waxes poetic about it. I could see from across the table that all the hyping I had done about the place wasn't mere hype after all; everything he ate made him roll his eyes in pure pleasure. The waitress was also quite helpful about wine pairings, which is good because I am a total rube when it comes to such things.Service, in fact, is always wonderful. I realize that they give you the illusion of remembering you because of software like OpenTable, but I am just as happy with the fantasy of being "known." Little palate cleansers and tastes were also much appreciated. My desert was Meyer lemon crepes with basil sauce and lemon ice cream. Each lemon component was inarguably lemon, yet managed to come across in a different way. The crepes were pure, subtle comfort, while the ice cream was bright yet satisfyingly creamy. I know basil sauce with lemon is trendy these days, but I think it is one of those trends that is based in true goodness. The partner in crime had the fuji apple tart, which he loved since he adores apple pie. A slice of something humble, yet elevated. I still love this place. I keep worrying that they will let me down one day and the spell will be broken, but they never do. I love the decor, too.

    (5)

  • Blue L.

    Zoe is a fun restaurant in a fun part of town (Belltown) with a great menu. I ordered a cheesy (in a good way) mushroom risotto and savored every last bite. The bread with sea salt was so tasty! I ended with a chocolate crepe. Every bite of that was a pleasure, too. The wine list is pricey, but we ordered the cheapest pinot noir on the wine list. It was fine - not the best pinot noir I've ever had, but it served its purpose.

    (5)

  • Tim B.

    This has become our favorite Seattle restaurant. For some reason it feels like home. It's the perfect expression of what Seattle cuisine is/should-be: Unpretentious, honest authentic ingredients which draw from multi-cultural inspiration, and simple with a touch of refinement.

    (5)

  • Raquel D.

    This place has the case of being almost awesome, but tiny details keep it from being full-blown can't-live-without. There was nothing bad about the place... just off. The atmosphere was okay. Warm and relaxed. I ordered a regrade manhattan, my husband a martini with a twist. His drink was perfect, mine was almost too sweet. Lay off the vermouth, people! Our server was very nice, but he liked to RAMBLE. The worst part is I'd get bored of nodding politely through his rambles, space out, and completely miss what he was trying to tell me. Wine? Ramble ramble ramble. Specials? RAMBLE RAMBLE RAMBLE. He was really sweet, though. The little amuse bouche and the tiny cups of soup tastes were cute and delish. For an appetizer we ordered the veal sweetbreads. They were... wow! Almost the best thing we had all night. We both ordered the baby lettuce salad and found the dressing a little... interesting. Not bad, but not great either. For an entree, I ordered the lamb loin, and my husband got the pork chop. I enjoyed mine: it was sweet and yet savory, and cooked a perfect medium rare. My husbands was just okay. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, but the pork chop just wasn't to either of our likings. It was too sweet, without much of anything else going on. Dessert was the best part of the night. I'm not usually one for chocolate, but we ordered their special Valrhona chocolate sampler, and my shoes almost flew off across the room as my toes curled and uncurled and purred. Absolutely a can't-miss sensation for the tongue and brain. Would I eat here again? For the sweetbreads and the desserts? Yes. But everything else was kinda just okay, and expensive at that. I'd maybe come in for an app and a drink before a movie or something.

    (3)

  • A. F.

    Every bite was a carefully crafted work of art. Be ready to pay, it's priced as such.

    (4)

  • Masanori T.

    I'm going to go ahead and give Zoe a 4 star because the overall experience was very good; good atmosphere/ambience, good service, pretty good food. Went out for a Friday dinner with 3 others, and had a great time, but looks like a good place for a date too. Pros: Creativity shows in what's offered at this restaurant. I'd definitely want to come back and try different dishes with seasonal ingredients. Solid cooking. I had a pork dish for main, and it was very nicely prepared (sous vide). I had dinner with 3 other people, so we got 3 different desserts & they were all delicious! Cons: Menu was not very extensive i.e. not as much variety. The appetizers I tried - risotto with herbs & octopus (roasted, I think) were both both mediocre.

    (4)

  • Brooks R.

    I don't understand all the hype about this restaurant. I found the menu to be very limited and lacking in choices. I had the tofu and my husband had the hamburger. Can't say it was anything special and probably won't go back again even though the meal was pleasant.

    (3)

  • Mark F.

    We had a bad experience, which appears atypical based on other reviews. Service was the problem. We ordered drinks as soon as we sat down. 20 minutes later they arrived (very tasty!). I kept an open mind, but things just didn't improve. This was my first visit, I'm open to giving them another shot, and will update afterwards.

    (2)

  • Amikam R.

    Restaurant Zoë used to be in a cramped space in Belltown and now it's in nicer digs on Capitol Hill. There is an inner room, with a bar and a view of the kitchen and a larger space that has skylights and outdoor ambiance. We were four for dinner on a Saturday. The place was far from full when we came but filled up more later. After doing the common restaurant trick of trying to seat us at the worst table available we got a better table in the inner room. The place was very noisy. The menu is not too long but the wine list is. The marinated beet salad was very good as was the chilled asparagus soup.The salmon was moist and very nice, its accompaniments. - especially the very hard bacon bits - less so. The gnudi were good. The desserts looked very interesting but only one was tasted- the caramels which were good. The service was knowledgeable and very good. Overall: good food at reasonable prices and very professional service. So, why the three stars - the food is good but not great. It's comparable to a dozen other places within two miles of Zoë. My original review was very enthusiastic and was followed by many visits to the old venue. I was so impressed that when they moved I invested as a "founding diner". I hope to be more moved next time.

    (3)

  • Bill D.

    The hostess and waiter were both lovely, though I felt so sorry for the waiter, who really seemed like quite a down to earth guy, having to recite all that pretentious food preparation crap. The only thing on the menu fairly priced was the beer - $5 pints which you see anywhere around town, even the area gay bars. But beyond that, the prices are, though sadly common, just not worth it for either the quality or the amount of food you get. The burger, requested medium, came back an easy medium rare, almost rare. The center was still cold. The glop served atop it looked like cat puke but happily didn't taste quite so bad as that. The fries were decent. The burger itself, at 17.50, looked more like a slider than a full-up burger. My friends had large plates, both very fussily presented but sadly not very delicious. Wine by the glass was the as to be expected $10 +/glass. Corkage fee $20. The bread served before the meal tasted like one of the wonderbread-like offerings you can get from even some of the better local artisanal bakeries. The ambience is oh so very hip, pleasant, not too noisy, even when full, which it was by the time we were mid-way through dinner. The more experience I have in eateries around the world, the more apt I am to just roll my eyes at these places. The degree of phoniness is almost unbearable.

    (2)

  • Laura K.

    I was there last October and had a great dinner. My favorite things were the gnudi and their manhattans. I don't even drink manhattans but they put something special in there that makes them irresistible. My only complaint is that they serve their pate country style which is chunkier than I prefer. Make a reservation because this place is small.

    (4)

  • KK B.

    amazing salads - mushrooms w quinoa, endive salad, dungeness crab salad... fantastic fish dishes - steelhead was sooo good but sometimes they don't have it. cod was yummy too. good meat dishes - i tried short rib dish and it was good, but not great. wild boar bolognese was delicious tho. and... fantastic wine list!!! this place is currently my favorite place in seattle to take our out-of-town guests for a great pacific northwest cuisine.

    (5)

  • Marilyn T.

    The setting totally reminds me of my favorite little South End finds from Boston. We came here for our final group dinner in Seattle. The space isn't huge, but it can accommodate a large party well, and it's not so quiet that we felt like we disturbing other patrons. We started out with an amuse bouche of tuna and fresh tomato on crostini - good hearty texture and balance of tart and savory. We also had a butternut squash puree soup in a cute espresso cup - with just a bit of sea salt from the table, it was really smooth. The focaccia is also really good with the olive oil, balsamic, and sea salt. For starters, I had the crab salad, which was nice, fresh lump meat crab (a lot of claw meat still whole), lightly dressed, over mache and on top of a brioche crouton. The citrus sauce had a slight hint of honey and was really light, so it complemented the dish well. I opted out of the accompanying melon that the dish usually comes with. For my entree, I got the full size portion of the risotto. It had lots of hearty lobster and trumpet mushrooms, a generous portion of sharp cheese, and the rice was not mushy for once. I enjoyed it a lot. I also tried the paparadelle with pork bolognese, which was fresh - I love the texture of fresh pasta. The veal was a bit fatty (the waiter had warned us beforehand), and it's mostly breast. It's tender, but it didn't blow me away. The accompanying root vegetables were sweet and not overpowered by the sauce, but they weren't spectacular. Other dishes ordered at the table included the short rib, salmon, and cod. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dishes, but I think the portions may have been a bit small for the guys. There are lots of super reasonable bottles of wine for around $30, including a crisp and fruity French Viognier, perfect with seafood, and a very light Pinot Noir - almost translucent, very smooth. The server definitely knew the menu well, and water was refilled quickly. The whole atmosphere is very unpretentious. We decided to skip out on dessert, but there was a nice chocolate brownie bite that perfectly satisfied my sweets craving (on the house). Overall, great for a group of 10. Nothing super spectacular and unique on the menu, but I enjoyed the experience

    (4)

  • Noel J.

    Some friends and I came to eat here before seeing Tony Bourdain and Mario Batali at the Paramount. Earlier in the week we were discussing where we wanted to dine before the show, and somewhat on a whim I randomly chose Restaurant Zoe. Service was great. Adam, the bartender, kept us entertained while we waited for the rest of our party to show up. I recommend the Private Danzka - very good on a hot day. A lot of reviews are mentioning the ricotta gnudi, and I must concur, it's really very good. For dinner I had the braised beef short rib (always a favorite) and it was wonderful. Perfectly done - very tender, but not liquefied. I look forward to coming back!

    (4)

  • Jody N.

    I went to Zoe during the Dine Around Seattle promotional period. I had a delicious risotto and was very impressed with the service...the waiter made sure to record my food allergies into their system so if I ever come back they will be "ready" for me...now that is service! I love the ambiance with a space that glows out onto the streets of Beltown. The place was packed on a weekday, but the wait wasn't too long. I hope to make a visit back there sometime soon.

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants. Other than being the place where I have gone with close friends or significant others, I love the food, service and atmosphere at Zoe. The last few times I went I had the whole hog(which was pig/boar prepared in a way that I can't describe but was delicious), lamb loin(this was a bit of a miss as the flavor wasn't really there) and the diver scallops(perfectly cooked). In addition to the main entrees, the kitchen will send out small bites or random things they construct(last time was a gazpacho and a small oyster shooter thingy). BUT THE BREAD. I think it comes from the Columbia bakery; wherever it comes from, I have to restrain myself from going to the main table in the center of the restaurant and serving myself. Overall a great restaurant and a Belltown gem away from the main 1st ave strip and all the bustle. Go with a significant other or a few good friends, order a bottle of wine and have a great time. Now to walk by and ask the hostess where the bread comes from...

    (5)

  • Audrey L.

    Zoe did not wow me, but it didn't completely disappoint me either. The menu looked fantastic, and in truth, it was all pretty good. One thing I wasn't crazy about, though, was that everything tended toward the overly sweet. I started with the ricotta gnudi appetizer, and it was almost like a dessert it was so sweet and decadent. I moved on to the celeraic risotto, which was flavorful and rich, but a bit cheesy and sweet for me. By the time I got to dessert, the pineapple upside-down cake was literally more sweetness than I could bear - syrupy sweet. The whole meal was incredibly rich, and did not sit well with m stomach at all, even though I enjoyed eating most of it. On the upside, the never-ending bread with olive oil and sea salt was delicious, the nonalcoholic drink I ordered was refreshing and yummy, and the portions were more than generous. Overall, not bad, but not great.

    (3)

  • Sarah B.

    My boyfriend and I came here for the Restaurant Week special menu and had a delicious meal with wonderful service. He had the butternut squash soup to start and I had the gnudi (which I always have when I come her). His soup was smooth with a hint of sweetness and a wonderful bright orange color that sang of fall. The delicate gnudi sat in a nice beet sauce and were so creamy and delicious. We both had the poached Steelhead and you should to! It was perfectly cooked, sitting on a bed of chanterelles, cooked hearty greens, butternut squash and a bit of lentil puree at the bottom. The salmon was so tender and delicate and with the delicious chanterelles it was a nice combination of flavors. For dessert he had the lemon cake and I had the salted caramel chocolate bar. The lemon dessert was so delicate with nice light cake and delicious berry sauce on the plate. The chocolate bar is like a slice of solid ganache and just melts in your mouth with the hint of curry and salt. Both were fantastic. For the price you really can't beat it. Sometime you question how good a meal is going to be when it has to fit in the confines of the promotional menu. Zoe doesn't scrimp and makes sure that the meal still represents their chefs and staff with high quality and delicious food, well executed and cared for. Thank you for a delicious meal. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Sergio L Y.

    Don't get me wrong. I would give a 3 and half stars if I could. Service definitely deserved 5 STARS. Our server Chris was simply perfect. You can't get anyone better than Chris. He was attentive, informative, funny, witty, helpful and professional. Restaurant Zoe is fortunate to have Chris has an employee. Food is definitely a 3 stars quality. We were more impressed with the appetizers than entree. We had beef tongue, which was the best dish of the night. It was moist, tender and perfectly seasoned. The entrees were not bad, but they were not great either. The scallop was good, the lamb loin was a bit on the tough side, and the hog we definitely under seasoned and dry. I would go back just to give them a second chance. After all, we all need a second chance.

    (3)

  • Keiko G.

    Amazing. I came with my chef brother and my foodie family. Best restaurant we've been to in Seattle. Maybe we caught them on a really good day? Service, food, everything was amazing. The amuse-bouche (sp?) was this amazing cauliflower and truffle oil puree on a piece of biscotti or something (I think). It was perfect. So was the manhattan, margarita, and the pommette (as far as cocktails go). Appetizers: 1. Spicy Charred Octopus- excellent 2. Sweetbreads- AMAZING. order the sweetbreads, or you be a fool! 3. foie gras- simply fantastic. i love foie gras dishes that are sweet and (i think) grilled or sauteed... anyway, it reminded me of france. it was so good. 4. gnuddi- great (but didn't fit quite as well with the rest of the menu) 5. citrus salad- ok. i mean it's a citrus salad. Entrees: (it's funny. overall the presentation of the entrees were just overwhelmingly brown. really good, though) 1. Steelhead- the best of the entrees, hands down. AMAZING. 2. scallops- 2nd. delicious, though. 3. lamb- it's a delicious protein, cooked perfectly. #3. 4. pork chop- #4. just not AS good as the others.. 5. steak- the sides were too mushy. meat was pretty good though. Dessert: 1. tarte tatin- SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD. rosemary ice cream? kill me now. Best dessert we had. You should definitely get this one. 2. vanilla frozen yogurt and cranberry sorbet- together tasted like cheesecake. tasted really fantastic. 3. chocolate dessert- bo-ring.

    (5)

  • Loralee V.

    A Conntemporary comfortable Urban Bistro with wide windows beckons from the heart of Belltown. We experienced fresh, complex flavors and combinations of food that resulted in delicious yet simple, American style food. The amos bouch was crostini with golden Beets with cinnamon, fine herbs and whipped Goat Cheese. The intermezzo soup was a tasty Cauliflower with curry oil and the artichoke and green garlic salad was made divine with arugula and a soft boiled hen egg. The Louisiana spot prawns served with creamy grits, English peas & bacon jus were nothing short of exquisite! The English pea risotto with mascarpone, pine nuts, & lemon were also excellent. Although we ordered the pork shoulder it never came (weren't charged for it though)... I am sure it would have been just as good as everything else... For desert, the Chocolate in textures was decadent! -A flourless cake, malted mousse, Irish mocha ice cream, & cinnamon orange cigar. Following all of this, the pate de Fruit - consisted of apricot with warmed orange water solidified and molded into a sort of candied fruit square. -All in all, an extraordinary culinary experience.

    (4)

  • Ricky B.

    My girlfriend and I went to Restaurant Zoe recently to give it a try. It seemed like out of all the Dine Around Seattle restaurants listed, it was highest rated. That said, we didn't even partake in the Dine Around Seattle offering because I had bought a bottle of wine and brought it with us to the restaurant and they would either wave their cork fee ($20) or give us the Dine Around Seattle deal. I went into this dining experience with high hopes but was somewhat disappointed. The service was great, the food certainly wasn't bad but I felt that the duck I ordered was... nothing special compared to anything I'd had elsewhere at similar caliber restaurants. Perhaps it was just the dish I had. Like I said, the food was NOT bad. I just wasn't wow'ed by it as I'd expected. To give an example of a restaurant that continues to impress me, I'd say Stone House in Redmond is a hidden treasure. It seems to get less foot traffic than most restaurants in Seattle proper, but it's got quality and creativity above and beyond that of many of the Westside restaurants.

    (4)

  • Eva G.

    *dusting off my Yelp profile* I guess it took this restaurant to get me to come back with a review. 'Twas my friend's birthday dinner..and we should have just turned around when I picked him up, couldn't find a parking spot in the City of No Parking and then each darn meter was broke and then we get there..15 mins late and we're early. D. was nice enough to inform them that we'd be 5 instead of the 6 he'd reserved for. Two tables making up 6 settings was quickly changed to a four table to accompany 5 *scratches head* Non bon! - Waiter would look away while we wanted to order anything..I ordered my friends drink and someone else ordered mine..it was just weird. - We apologized over and over that in the end, it turned out to be 4 of us as the 5th girl was a no-show..If I could give that person a review I would..despite ever meeting her but she caused my friend D some unneeded aggravation and I don't tolerate that. - Food was out of this world though..and I'd rename the restaurant Pistachio, as unbeknownst to me, every dish I had, had it. Me like. I wouldn't say I'm a fan, because I wasn't too happy with the waiters attitude especially after we said mea culpa 100 times.

    (3)

  • Jason C.

    Bistros are fast becoming my favorite dining genre, even surpassing the small, cramped, health hazardous Chinese food shrines that I have loved my whole life. This clean and fresh Bistro is a fine choice for fine-casual dining. From summer shorts to expensive suits, and everything in between, everyone feels comfortable here. The establishment is not gaudy and pretentious at all. The white drapery at the entrance initially made me think "oh great, is this like suppose to be heaven?" Happily the closest encounter I had with divinity was with the food (rather than the décor). Both the Alaskan Halibut and the Braised Short Rib had a light coating of rock salt which really jump started the flavors. The highlight for me was the ricotta gnudi. It was my first time having such a dish and it was wondrous. When hearing it described, I thought it to be just a warmed up and breaded string cheese. Fortunately Chef Scott Staples is not at all as gastro-retarded as I am. It's been a long time since I've given 5 stars but this place deserves them all.

    (5)

  • Kristen F.

    It's not often that I have the opportunity to indulge in one of Seattle's restaurants that I would qualify as "a foody's wet dream." When one of these rare instances presents itself, I like to take it all in, noting how the setting feels, the helpfulness and experience that my waiter/waitress offers, and, of course, the food: the textures, the aromas, the flavors, the subtleties, the presentation. These sorts of restaurants fall into a special category all their own, and they deserve appreciation for every detail that they put into providing an experience instead of just a meal. After swishing my way through the large curtains that surround the entrance so that they may keep cold air out, my date and I were greeted by warm colors, soft light, large, lovely windows, and candle light. The setting was ideal for a date in Seattle - I would feel out of place in anything less than a nice pair of jeans and heels, but it avoided being ostentatious. And the staff only added to the pleasantness of my experience. Our waiter was delightful and knowledgeable, courteous and respectful of any dietary restrictions or preferences, and provided detailed, helpful answers to any questions that we posed. His expertise was especially impressive at the end of the night, as he explained to us the difference between brandy and cognac, recommending an excellent cognac to close our meal. And our meal...my, oh my. We started with salads. My bibb salad was dressed in the perfect volume of the bleu cheese dressing, and the beets were delicious. My date ordered the marinated chickpea salad, which I am assured, was quite good as well. I chose the chicken breast (over potatoes, chicken confit, savoy cabbage, chicken nage) as my entree. It sounds simple, but I was blown away. It was delicately savory and the chicken breast itself was perfectly flavorful and juicier than any chicken breast I'd ever tasted. My date ordered the large portion of the winter squash risotto. I did not get a chance to try it, but from his reaction ("I really, really like this place. I mean, really!"), and based on the fact that there wasn't much remaining for me to try, I'd wager that he was impressed. I was most enthralled with samples sent from the kitchen between meals. After our salad course, our waiter brought a chickpea salad in mint yogurt over tostini (interesting, but not something I'd specifically order), and the star of the night took the form of a butternut squash soup topped with creme fraiche, served in itty-bitty tea cups. Oh. My. God. Foodgasm. It was rich and creamy and the perfect marriage of sweet and savory, and it has been haunting my best dreams since. Throughout the meal, I nursed one of the better Maker's Mark Old Fashioneds I've had in Seattle (even though it wasn't on the cocktail menu), which is, in my mind, an unofficial test of a quality bar. Zoe's bartender gets an A+. I need to write more reviews to prove that i don't dish out a 5-star rating to just any restaurant. From start to finish, Zoe provided gourmet excellence minus the pompous elitism that one might expect with such delicious food. Try it. Trust me on this.

    (5)

  • Jefferson B.

    I'll keep this short and simple. if you're in town visiting or on business, as I was, make sure this is on your stop for dinner. I won't go into details (you can read more reviews of all the dishes here), but I'll share the dishes I had, and add a note on desert. For an app, a cold terrine of game, garnished with fruity olives. Having been preceded by an amuse bouche of truffled bean paste on toast, I was loving this place. Dinner. Boar bolognese and homemade large noodle pasta, with dried red chili. The spice was more intense than I had anticipated, a fantastic and wonderful surprise. Especially with the Syncline Pinot Noir. Which is fun to have opened as it has a wonderful souvenir of the dinner: a glass cork. Dessert. Perhaps the best dessert I've had in years. Crepes with lemon curd, meyer lemon ice cream and basil syrup. Warm and cold, herbaceous and zesty, sweet and tart, it had the most incredible, and simple, balance of flavors I've tasted in a long time. An incredible finish to the spiced pasta. Service was knowledgeable, although missing on occasion. Don't sit near the door as the host stand seemed to be a distracting collecting point for the staff. Seattle needs valet parking.

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    My staff and i went there for a post holiday party, ordered a bunch of small plates and have to say lamb belly and tounge were the best dishes by far! i love them, but really any varietal meat i will eat! The duck with kale, lentils was well cooked and also very tasty! Dessert, well of course i left room, the brown butter cake, nice and warm, oozzing in butter and just great as well!

    (4)

  • Michelle I.

    Based on some previous reviews and the restaurant menu, I decided this would be a perfect place to have a romantic dinner during our honeymoon. The restaurant is located among other local eateries and bars along a beautiful tree-lined street. When my husband and I walked in, we were immediately greeted by a friendly host and were seated within a dim and nicely decorated interior. Our server (wished I remembered his name--he worked on 4/24/09 around 9pm) was very knowledgeable of the menu items, and he was friendly and energetic. He's definitely someone who should be one of the judges on The Iron Chef show! On to the food... The server highly recommended the Wild Boar Bolognese with arugula pappardelle. I was hesitant at first, especially since wild boars are hideous creatures. Anyway, I felt like being on the wild side myself, so I ordered it. OMG, it was very flavorful with the right amount of spice in the sauce. The meat had a slight gamey taste to it which complemented the sauce. Each bite went well with the fresh pasta. We also enjoyed the beef tongue dish to our surprise. The meat was so soft and tender that it felt like biting into a small cloud of cotton candy. The slightly crispy pork belly was a delight as well. It came with a drizzle of sweet fruity sauce and dried fruit. I'd have to say that this restaurant currently tops my list! A++.

    (5)

  • David G.

    The dungeness crab and melon appetizer was phenomenal! The halibut main course had a vegetable side that included grapefruit slices. It gave the side a nice citrus tang. The black berry cobbler with chocolate ice cream was a nice way to finish off the meal. You should use the menu on the website as more of a guideline to the type of dishes served. The crab and halibut dishes are not listed on the current menu. This is definitely on the list of restaurants I need to go back to when in the Seattle area.

    (5)

  • Kimberley D.

    I wanted to love Zoe, but I just didn't. Our server was friendly and great. Apparently he also programmed a lot of the music that they play which includes a lot of Thievery Corporation-esque downtempo electronic music but with more obscure artists. It thrilled my boyfriend and he spent a lot of time trainspotting & musicdorkingout. I liked the ambiance in general. I'd always walked by and thought it'd be uncomfortably fancy inside but it was Northwest-comfortable, with high ceilings and modern design. However, the food didn't thrill me. I don't eat meat, so maybe if I was rocking foie gras or pork belly or beef tongue or something I would've felt differently. It definitely wasn't *bad* and it was artfully plated, but it didn't make me want to run out and drop another $21-28 on an entree again either. It seemed like comfort food... a place where you could take your family or your boss and not have them say "Eeew, what's [insert interesting thing here]? I just want a hamburger." My boyfriend loved it, though, and I wasn't about to spoil his joy. Guess I'm in the minority on this one.

    (3)

  • Monroe A.

    The best part of dining at Restaurant Zoe was watching a gaggle of earnest activists protest the chef's serving of foie gras. The plucky do-gooders held up scathing signs towards the windows and played presumably disturbing images of geese and ducks being force fed on their laptops. (I wasn't close enough to see the details, but I assume they were gruesome). And they have a point. Viciously jamming corn down the throats of birds is ridiculous. There's really no excuse for that. Nor is there an excuse for serving it. Sadly, the joykill owners brought the show to an end by wrapping brown paper across the storefront window, blocking the view. It's too bad, the huge windows are the one part of this space that aren't ruined by the aimless, eclectic design that immediately dates this room to the dark year of 2003. The place is, frankly, a mangled aesthetic nightmare, marred by a staggering lack of creativity, complete with cheesy blown glass light fixtures and iron work that wouldn't be out of place in a fern bar. Hopefully, the food won't be so uninspired .... When they're not torturing geese and bankrolling the veil industry, it's all about the pig at Restaurant Zoe. (Ugh). A little variety on the menu would have been quite welcome. What a painful cliche that everything tastes better with pork. They even put pork sauce on their one fish dish, which is unforgivable considering that their menu is dominated by four-legged beasts. It would be helpful to give people who don't want pig, veal or beef an unadulterated alternative. A little originality would go a long way with their ill-conceived and uneven menu. Meanwhile, I'm shocked at the praise for the gnudi. Dry and sickly sweet, it was essentially inedible. We left half of it on the plate. The pear salad - again with the ham - was adequate, although the pears were somewhat bland. The steelhead with rissotto was actually rather tasty (even without the bacon vinaigrette) and highly recommended. Meanwhile, the service was excellent. Our waitress was the one consistent bright spot. All in all, though, I doubt I'd go back. There are a so many great restaurants in the big city and Zoe has a lot of catching up to do before it can even be called one of the good ones.

    (2)

  • Jim I.

    One of the best meals we've had in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Mike J.

    Absolutely my most favorite restaurant in Seattle and a place, for me to go for celebration meals. I love the decor. Love the atmosphere. Love the food. I think the service is top notch. We went last Saturday to celebrate my girlfriend's 30th birthday and was definitely underwhelmed with the service (which I used to rave about). She had the braised short ribs which could have been the most delicious piece of meat I have ever had. My "Whole Hog" left a lot to be desired as it was a little greasy and just not as tasty as I had hoped it would be. Our starters were very tasty but we were a little confused and befuddled w/ the Marscapone Souffle Crepe. Oh well. With that said, Zoe still remains my favorite spot in Seattle, will recommend it to others and will probably go back.

    (5)

  • Kath U.

    We'd been wanting to try Restaurant Zoe for quite some time so we made a reservation for a Friday night. They were busy but we were greeted and given a very nice table. The atmosphere is nice and I think a great date place. For me I rate a restaurant first on taste & second on service followed by ambiance. I always go in with an open mind & desire to try something new. We started with a classic campari aperitif which was made very well. We ordered a bottle of the 05 Pago de los Capellanes Tinto Crianza which is a very nice Tempranillo from Spain. The wine list here is very nice and you can tell that they really tried to match the wine list to the dishes they serve. For appetizers we chose the Marinated Chickpea & the Red Crimson Pears. Both were just okay. The Chickpea had this egg based sauce that was under seasoned. No wow factor here with this dish. It was okay.The pears were good and we actually loved the long pepper vinaigrette served with this dish. Not wowed here either though. Entrees ordered were the Sonoma artisan duck breast and the Winter squash risotto. The risotto was very good. Of course I love Fontina cheese & I thought that the rice was cooked perfectly. However, the candied walnuts did not compliment the dish that well. I absolutely love the sweet with the savory but this was off the mark & the slight bitterness of the walnuts took away from the delicate lovely fresh squash. A touch of a nice dried fruit would of been nice in this dish for the sweetness in my opinion or a different nut. Duck was good but it was missing something. I expected it to have a fresher quality with the meyer lemon. This dish fell short of being fantastic. The service though was exceptional even though they were busy. I would go back here again to try more things for sure. All in all a very nice dining experience.

    (4)

  • Darcy H.

    The food is OK, the location is very good. The married owners are a split: one is nice, one is less nice. The setting is OK. The bottom line is that dining here is fine, but no big. After many visits, that's the skinny on Rest Zoë.

    (2)

  • Keriche C.

    This is how you do customer service! After a less than perfect experience my first time at Zoe, I gave it a second chance. The staff was amazing. The food was outstanding. I would not have changed anything about my dining experience this time. My companion had the thundering hooves braised beef and I had the crispy skin chicken breast. Both were cooked perfectly. We had the chocolate Neapolitan for dessert and it was so amazing! Zoe was good the first time but giving it a second chance was the best decision I made all week!

    (5)

  • Gail C.

    I stand corrected, mostly. My husband and I gave Restaurant Zoe another try this weekend after the manager contacted me with a heartfelt apology for the less than professional service we experienced the first time around (our waitress seemed great during the ordering process but later flipped out). It's no surprise that we enjoyed excellent service this time around; after all, they knew we were coming. But after two evenings sitting in the restaurant observing other tables and our own experience with two servers, I'm going to hazard a pseudo-educated guess that the restaurant's service is usually pretty darn good and our first wait person's rudeness and condescension was an anomaly. Now for the food: I originally found the fare a bit hit or miss. This time two of my dishes, the game hen with roasted cauliflower and a bacon-raisin compote and the parsnip-apple soup, won five stars in my book, which is extremely difficult to do. They were both sublime. Totally flawless. My husband said the same thing about the gnocchi (and of course he still fondly remembers the wild boar bolognese and the duck from last time). Honestly, the quinoa-beet salad was also perfectly executed, it just didn't have the tongue enrapturing quality of the other dishes. The risotto I complained about in the first version of this review no longer graces the menu (though I'll still warn folks that the cod with spaghetti squash, cranberry, and pistachio tasted amazing at first but turned out to be too heavy and salty to enjoy the whole dish). Our other plates, the short rib and the pork shoulder get three and four stars respectively (the dressing was too heavy on the greens accompanying the short rib, and the initially crispy slab of potato under the meat quickly got soggy and heavy, morphing into essentially undercooked baked potato, but the short rib itself rocked my mouth). My husband loved the 37% goat cheese cake, but there wasn't much to be had dessert-wise for those that require gluten-free fare (I didn't think the ice cream or sorbet I tried was anything special). After our second go, I'll revise my summary to say the food is all pretty much a hit, just some dishes are home runs while others only win a base or two. For those on a gluten-free diet, I highly recommend Zoe. They don't have a separate gluten-free menu or any markings on the existing menu to indicate gluten-free dishes, but there's quite a bit to choose from as conceived and the kitchen's good at altering dishes without ruining their concept/flavor profile. All in all, Zoe is one of the best high-end restaurants for celiacs and the gluten intolerant that I've found in Seattle. If you can't eat gluten and you're also pregnant, Zoe is your best bet (Anchovies and Olives is extremely tasty and just as good at avoiding gluten, but the menu's pretty dependent on undercooked food and they don't have Zoe's fabulous and fairly priced virgin cocktails). With a few tweaks, Zoe could be a serious contender for best high-end restaurant in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Ede S.

    I did my Yelp research before booking this restaurant 2 states away. The service was superb... the food was great (I highly recommend the peking duck)... and the atmosphere was nice. Good for a date place or just a nice evening out with friends. I'm not a big fan of the mixed drinks though... but the melt in your mouth duck made up for it.

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    I recently visited Zoe and had a wonderful experience. Getting a table early in the evening was not difficult and the ricotta gnudi practically melted in my mouth. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Brian S.

    So what's the fuss all about? Is it OK? Yes. Is it wonderful? No. Does it deserve all these 4-5 ratings? Absolutely if value and delicious food take a back seat to an "in" place. If I hadn't ordered lamb, I wouldn't have known the salty pink meat I was served was indeed lamb. It was tasteless. Whatt there was of veggies were lukewarm. My wife loved the Oregon black cod but considering it was about 5 oz served on a bed of non-descript greens for $30, it was more appropriate as an appy than a main course. Felt rushed because our total bill for 2 was only going to be about $120-turn those tables right boys? The best part of the dinner was the martinis and the wine-never a good sign if you call yourself a restaurant rather than a bar. Why was this place packed? I have no idea other than everyone is reading the reviews here that are obviously being left by people who think "in" is more important than value.

    (2)

  • Marina M.

    This is a good place for a late-night cocktail with a couple girlfriends or a romantic early-in-the-relationship dinner date. I met a friend here to catch up over dessert. We shared the strawberry crepe which, as a crepe lover, was disappointing because it was a mere quarter of a crepe slice with an itty bitty dollop of cream. (I understand that the more upscale the restaurant, the smaller the dessert portions, but Restaurant Zoe is only upscale enough to justify removing half the crepe.) Then we split the vanilla pot de creme with pecan fudge brownies and I forgot all about the measly crepe. This was heaven in a (decent-sized!) bowl. (Don't contaminate the om-nom with the brownie - eat them separately.) You. Must. Order. This. Now. While the cocktail menu looked lengthy, we didn't end up drinking that night, so I can't speak to the drinks or the non-dessert food. Our server was always at-the-ready and my water glass never dipped very far before someone popped by the top it off. (I was particularly thirsty that night, so this was no easy task - noted and appreciated.)

    (4)

  • Bony K.

    The food perhaps one of the best places comparable to The Market or Whisknladle if you're from San Diego. Perfect blend of modern and rustic for certain dishes. For appetizers we had the sweetbreads, perfectly executed in tenderness and flavor. For salad we shared their asparagus salad which had a nice dressing. Interesting enough the oil and vinegar that perhaps they make themselves was quite unique and tasty with the earthiness of herbs. All our entrees were great and we finished off our plates. I had the rabbit, so tender, with vegetables and sauces that balanced the meat out in tune. Others had the short ribs and bolognese which were all good. For desserts we shared was so good, I don't recall which ones we had. Will definitely return here if I'm ever back in Seattle.

    (5)

  • James L.

    I have given the new Zoe a few more chances and they have worked out most of the kinks. The service staff, especially, has seen a major upgrade. And on our last visit, the food was exceptional. I take back the things I said before. They were true then, but appear to no longer apply.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    After 13 months in Seattle, I finally went to RZ and took advantage of the Dine Around special. The service was awesome, like all the reviewers mentioned. You turn to look around and your water is refilled and there's more bread to snack on. Their bread was so fresh and tasty. I wonder if they make it in house or get it from a local bakery. My friend and I definitely ate more bread than we care to mention. Here's what I ate: Ricotta Gnudi, Brown Butter Balsamic Beet Sauce, Orange Reduction, Tarragon: Tasty but very small. I think had 5 ricotta balls about the size of those round balls of butter. It immediately reminded me of cheesecake bites. Okanogan Steelhead, Black lentils, Chestnuts, Oyster Mushrooms: So so good! I wish I could cook steelhead as well as they do here. The lentils, chestnuts and mushrooms definitely completed out the dish. Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Coconut Crème Anglaise: I normally don't eat pineapple desserts but this one was pretty good. If you love pineapple you must try this. Had a great experience at Restaurant Zoe and this is one restaurant that met my high expectations. For a Tuesday night the place was packed. The service here definitely makes this place above the rest.

    (4)

  • Fatty A.

    This place has lots of potential. The food looks good but most of the dishes needed salt. This is probably one of the nicer places to eat in Seattle. The best thing here is the boar ragu. The shimp and grits were nasty. No flavor and small fried pieces of shrimp. No bueno.

    (3)

  • E T.

    A perfect blend of good food, beautiful ambiance, and good service. The vegetables were really fresh. I cannot believe how absolutely delicious a grilled apricot could be (accompanied the pork belly appetizer). The sauteed ramps were interesting- would not order them again- just not my thing. Hubby had the spicy wild boar parpadelle. I was making fun of the fact that every "new American" restaurant across the country was making a version of this dish. Zoe's rendition did not disapoint. Little mouth numbingly spicier than I expected, but the handmade pasta was perfectly tender. I am so glad we found this gem of a place.

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    I am the W Insider at the W Seattle hotel, and for over 6 years (OMG, my whole life!) I've held Zoe close to my heart. Scott Staples is a genius as far as I'm concerned when it comes to restaurants. I have sent quite a few thousand parties to Zoe over the years and have only had ONE complaint. Not a bad track record, eh? The Hudson Valley Foie Gras is sincerely heaven, as are the East Coast Sea Scallops. I'm hungry! I must admit, I am quite sad to see Tom Knowles leave, as I feel that he was an integral part of the overall experience, but Derek Murrah is bound to keep Zoe in my Seattle Short List. Bottom line: Go There! a.s.

    (5)

  • H N.

    I came here for Dine Around Seattle (March 2010) with two friends. We ordered Me: --Manhattan --fresh ricotta gnudi balsamic red onion puree, truffle salt, parmesan --painted hills beef short rib red beet fourchette, pine nuts, parsley, horseradish --meyer lemon panna cotta almond shortbread --coffee Friend 1: --Manhattan --ricotta gnudi --celeriac risotto meyer lemon, parmesan, shaved celery --nib brownie sundae vanilla malt ice cream Friend 2: --Negroni with St. Germain substituted for sweet vermouth --organic baby lettuces sherry vinaigrette --alaskan sea scallops roasted cauliflower, gremolata, beurre fondue, watercress (substituted for cod. they ran out.) --Pineapple Sorbet Our conclusion was that everything we ordered, from drinks to food, was AWESOME. I think all of us were a bit skeptical about restaurant before we ordered (Belltown prejudice, sorry!), but the stuff they sent out completely won us over. We started with a round of drinks, and all of us were impressed. I ordered a Manhattan because my friend had ordered one and I tried it and liked it. It's totally good here. Our other friend, who is a tough cookie because she is a bartender, liked her substituted Negroni as well. Then the food... WOW! My gnudi was excellent - cheesy, fluffy, textured, a little burst of broth/flavor inside, not all one solid chunk like gnocchi. That's the difference. The gnudi portion looked a little small, so I was a bit worried about the entree (we'd heard that some restaurants shrink the portions for Dine Around Seattle) but there was no reason to worry. The entrees were definitely full-sized. Also, my friend's salad was a rather large salad, so that was good. I also truly loved the short rib dish. Normally, I order fish and skip meat. But with the cod gone and my dislike for scallops which replaced it, I went with the short rib. The meat was melty, juicy, and flavorful, with just the right amount of seasoning/garnish to accent the meat itself without being overly saucey. The mound of beets that the short rib sat upon were also delicious. But the beets threw the dish off a bit for me - they were saltier than I prefer, and after a few bites I was salted-out (the meat itself did not have this problem, thankfully.) Also, I kept looking down and expecting/wanting them to be cranberry sauce. I love the flavor profile of tart cranberry relish with meat. This is still my favorite meat dish that I've had in Seattle so far (the other being the goat at Lola, but that was heavier). Anyway I definitely like beets, including these specific beets, so this is not exactly a complaint so much as an observation. Above, I mentioned my "dislike of scallops." Zoe proved me wrong. I tasted my friend's entree, and they were DELICIOUS! They were browned crispy on the top and bottom, and I think that's what made me like the preparation. Our other friend's risotto was also delicious. I think he was worried that it wouldn't be filling enough, but this was creamy, cheesy, you could taste the celeriac, and... yummmm. I could have eaten all of these meals and been extremely happy. We all tried each other's desserts and it was another YUMMM OMG YOURS IS SO GOOD party. The panna cotta was silky and fruity, and I loved the shortbread garnish. My coffee was a fine example of coffee and went well with the panna cotta. The brownie sundae was excellent. I don't know what kind of chocolate they are using, but it's very flavorful, and not overly sweet!! Perfect!! The pineapple sorbet - also refreshing and flavorful. If Zoe is trying to use Dine Around Seattle to build up customers for the next year, they did a great job! I think we will all be back soon!

    (5)

  • candace m.

    Holy freaking heaven. This restaurant was truly an amazing experience, if you have the cash. I took two friends for their wedding anniversary, and we spent about $300 for 4 people. We had a reservation, but were asked to wait...which we did at the bar with the "pomme" cocktail - which was just delicious (and i am a hard A drinker, nothing really fruity or sugary for me - and this was the best of both worlds). We still waited because then I got picky and wanted a table by the window. Then we ordered the signature martini - and for some reason, a lot of people can really fuck up a martini - our bartender was fabulously talented and still charming even though he was busy. So then we were still waiting (remember, of my own accord!), and the manager felt so bad that we waited all that time that he brought us two appetizers on the house. Yes, one was the gnudi....oh my sweet jesus. I had never tasted anything like that. The other was the big eye tuna tartare - which was also very amazing. We then started with the butternut squash soup - i would skip this. It was good, but nothing special - and the beet and wild mushroom salad, which was strangely spectacular. We moved to a bottle of wine, everything is good there, even the really affordable stuff. We then ordered entrees: Venison and Risotto, (good but not amazing) Scallops (very good, but awfully rich) Wild Boar Pasta (very good) Lamb (oh so amazingly wonderful) We then got two desserts, a flowerless chocolate cake and a bread pudding - both were good but easily forgettable. Dessert menu is why only 4 stars, but man...this is an amazing restaurant. you won't be upset.

    (4)

  • Tony L.

    Yelp, you let me down! I really didn't see what was so great about t he place, the prices were high, the service was both a touch frigid and a little too lax, and the menu options were certainly short of spectacular. "For our specials tonight, we're serving a seared hamachi [slight pause] that's yellow-tail, a fish..." Bitch, I know what hamachi is! Do I not look Asian to you?? Theatrics aside, the fare didn't do it for me. The only thing really memorable was the price. I know we had the east coast scallops...I had a fish dish....I'm pretty sure we had desert, but now I can't even remember. With entrees close to 30 bucks, Zoe could have left a positive, more lasting impression. I have no problem throwing down a lotta dough for a good meal, but I do for a mediocre one. And the hamachi, like everything else we had, it was just alright.

    (3)

  • Patricia F.

    Maybe I was there on an off night, but if this is the best food in Seattle, I'm sticking with San Francisco. At the waiter's recommendation I had the scallops on fava beans. The texture of the scallops was a little too firm, and the beet/saltpork/scallop flavor -- while fine -- wasn't something I'd have again. Similarly, my dining companion had the lamb, which she thought was "fine" but nothing special. I'm happy to pay serious money for really good food, but this was serious money for just-OK food.

    (3)

  • Sarah K.

    I visited Seattle last weekend with a friend and we chose this restaurant based on Yelp reviews and we loved it. Restaurant Zoe had great service and yummy food. I had the halibut and then the ice cream bar for dessert and both were delicious. The sea salt caramel that comes with the ice cream bar was so good that I wished I could have picked up the bowl and licked the last bits of it out.

    (5)

  • Geoffrey B.

    Last Friday, I thought to take my mom to Restaurant Zoe in Belltown. To be honest, I've stumbled by this restaurant (both sober and drunk) over 100 times, but could never find the right occasion to go for a bite. It turns out, you don't need an excuse to eat here, it's just that good. We walked in without a reservation and were seated within 30 seconds. From the moment we sat down and every second after, I was fascinated with how all the waiters, servers, hosts, bussers and bartenders appeared to work as a single, well-oiled machine; equivalent to a German engineered BMW, where each part has been hand selected for maximum efficiency and exhilarating speeds. I studied the menu like a game of chess, attempting to maximize my pleasures while minimizing my stomach intake. One waiter served us 3 slices of bread each and placed a shallow plate between us, filled with an emulsion of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a tasty red sauce. Another person brought water while yet another offered us advice on some tasty dishes. It appeared that each server would assume a different role depending on what was needed and who was occupied but our waiter stayed the same throughout the meal. At the same time, I noticed the host had moved from his podium to also tend the bar. It seemed no table was without a waiter for more than 15 seconds, not in the overbearing sense but more as a sense of comfort. The Alaska sea scallop carpaccio and a second appetizer that escapes me were followed by several two amuse bouche and finally our main course: Sonoma Artisan Duck Breast and the Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese. The tasty duck was moist and soft, and sliced to bite size pieces, but the bolognese blew my mind. I can honestly say this was the best bolognese I have ever tried. Arugula pappardelle, chili flakes and parmesan was all that was required of this dish. The extra wide fettuccine-like egg pasta infused with arugula was so tasty, you could have probably eaten it with olive oil alone. The wild boar was cooked just right, complementing the delicious pappardelle. I don't know if I would have been able to tell if it was boar and not beef, but there was the perfect amount of ground meat flavored with the chili flakes and tomato sauce. The combination of tomato sauce, spicy wild boar, pappardelle and parmesan makes this my favorite pasta bolognese I have ever eaten. I can't wait to come back and eat it again.

    (5)

  • Robert T.

    We had a late reservation, they waited for us, our waiter Ben was gracious and very knowledgable. The food was fantastic. Best restaurant I have been to in Seattle. Coming from NYC, needing a great restaurant to celebrate my friend's birthday, restaurant Zoe was the perfect choice! Big Thumbs Up!

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    My previous review contained a complaint about the professionalism of some of the staff. I'm removing the comment because the GM actually took the time to email me here on Yelp and apologize for the situation. Way to go for customer service!

    (4)

  • AxeMe A.

    A no-brainer.

    (5)

  • Ryan D.

    Went for the 3-for-30, and like the last place I went (Veil), this is another great deal. Our server was Nathan, and he was awesome as others have said. I started with a mixed drink - pommette - interesting, not sweet, though it did say "dry" in the description so I wasn't expecting it to be. It was a pleasant start though. For my appetizer I got the gnudi, and wow, that was awesome! Buttery cheese balls with the perfect blend of sweet and savory. For the entree I got beef brisket. It was good but so rich! I felt kind of sick by the end of it. Finally for dessert - meyer lemon pot de creme. It was pretty good - a layer of whipped cream followed by pudding followed by custard. the flavor was really light and pleasant but ultimately pretty boring. A somewhat disappointing end. With the check came some tea-cakes that were really good, and similar to ones my mom makes, so that was nice. They lost the 5th star at dessert, but still a great dining experience altogether.

    (4)

  • Aileen S.

    My visiting cousin from SF did her homework and chose this place for dinner.The beef, scallop, and fish dishes were pretty good, but the veggies that came along with it were pretty rich with butter. Imagine butter with a side of food. The butter was killing it. The desserts were a different story! We tried the Lavender and Banana-Fudge ice cream + Brown Butter Cake (something like that) = YUM! Great Combo! The cake had tasty little crunchy crumbs and a sweet sauce painted across the plate. One comment though... The Lavender ice cream had a little too much mint. If your curious to know how that could be a bad thing, try licking a bar of Lavender-Mint soap. The pairing of banana-fudge balanced out the flavor. I'm a nut when it comes to ice cream. In the end, if you know a great place for dinner - GREAT! Go there. The come here for dessert!

    (3)

  • Mobius S.

    Lovely environment with friendly, attentive (too attentive?) service and pretty good, but not amazing, food. I wouldn't drop a fortune here, but it's a good spot for a small meal...

    (3)

  • Vivian L.

    Just had dinner here tonight with a friend. Service was prompt and friendly -- and we really had a good time. Between the two of us, we ordered a pork confit with soft scrambled eggs to start, braised short rib and wild boar bolognese on pappardelle as our mains, and a mocha chip chocolate ice cream cake and a mascarpone souffle crepe with strawberries as dessert. So why only 4 stars? Don't get me wrong, the food was excellent in quality and flavour -- BUT did anyone notice that it's *summer* right now? And all of those things on the menu were super rich and heavy (minus the last dessert) and thus probably inappropriate this time of year? (We couldn't finish either of the mains.) Perhaps we caused this bias by picking the "heavy hitters" on the menu, but there's something to be said for choosing to put them there in the first place, right? And as another reference point, their halibut dish was served with pork belly. Yes, really. Sounds awesome, but again, it's summer! If they were better about serving seasonally appropriate flavours and foods, I would probably give them 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Jon R.

    Went into Zoe after having it recommended by multiple unrelated people. The service was impeccable. Prior to the meal, bread and a mixture of Olive Oil, balsamic vinegar and spices were provided for dipping. The mix is like crack for bread. I wish I had written down the ingredients so I could make some sort of effort to recreate it. The GF had the the Copper River Salmon and it was the best Salmon I've ever tasted. Perfectly cooked in a simplistic manner as to not overwhelm the flavor of the Salmon. The skin was blackaneed and crispy. So damn good. I was instantly jealous I hadn't ordered it. Fortunately she shared a good portion of it! I had the local Washington Lamb. It was excellent but I had ordered medium to medium well and the center appeared raw. A bit undercooked for my tastes. Overall though an excellent experience and I would recommend Zoe's to everyone I know. I guess that it is why it was recommended to us by multiple people.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    After a year of living in San Francisco, I've tried one "new American" restaurant after another, only to become increasingly disappointed and jaded. I don't really get it; the menu is always kind of the same, with the same basic ingredients, and I've generally been really underwhelmed by this type of cuisine. It took a trip to Seattle to really understand what new American cuisine should taste like. I was simply blown away by Restaurant Zoe. Appetizers: Sweetbreads and Celeriac Risotto. Entrees: Scallops and Lamb. The risotto was just good, but the sweetbreads, scallops and lamb dishes were all bursting with flavor. Each of those dishes was thoughtfully composed, and every ingredient added to the dish; the chef shows a real understanding of using sweet ingredients (like yams and raisins) to really enhance savory dishes. Each bite was like a freaking flavor explosion in my mouth. The service was great, but I think the waiter thought I was a bit weird because I kept raving about how good the food was. I have to say that the portions are quite generous; each of us ordered an app and an entree and we were both stuffed before the entree came out. I was forcing down the entree because it was so stinking awesome, but there really wasn't any space left in my stomach. I was so full I felt like I was dying for the next two hours. If you're dining as a couple, could probably just order one app (get the sweetbreads!) and share. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

    (5)

  • William A.

    Unfortunately I waited too long to review this after eating there a few weeks ago and my combo of ADHD and mid life Alzheimers mean I forgot half the details. We loved the place. Its simple, casually sophisticated, comfortable. Service was amazing, as were most of the small plates we shared. NOT a cheap experience, but worth it, especially to make an impression. I know people rave about the 'sweetbreads'...I am not squeemish, and eat/try almost anything....but come on peoples......BRAINS!?! I took a bit, that was all I cared for. Angie was happy to polish off the rest, must be an Ivy League thing. :p Great addition to the Seattle scene.

    (4)

  • Verlee G.

    My husband and I made reservations here for our first night in Seattle last week. The servers/hostess were all very nice, and listened to our requests that we made on Open Table, so we were pleased with that. Decor was simple and clean, and we felt very comfortable right away. We started with drinks -- and my hubby's Sapphire and Tonic was completely flat. *minus a star for not getting the alcohol right... We started with the Beef Tongue, which was delicious. Slightly crispy on the outside, tender insider. Yum. I actually liked this better than my entree!! My husband ordered the Alaskan Ling Cod (Pomme fourchette, Swiss chard, bacon, brown butter lemon vinaigrette) and he really enjoyed how fresh and well prepared the dish was. And you gotta love the bacon! I ordered the Braised Beef Short Rib (brown butter pomme puree, forme d'ambert, pistachios, mache), and it was just OK for me. I've had much tender beef short ribs than this entree. I still finished it though -- but it's probably something I wouldn't order again. Portion size is perfect -- you still have room for dessert! For dessert, we ended up getting the Summer Mint Custard with Chocolate Cookie Sandwiches. I really liked the custard, I thought it was the perfect amount of mint that didn't seem too artificial, but my husband was just OK with the dish. It was a refreshing way to end the meal. If we're ever in Seattle again, we probably would come back to try it again..!

    (4)

  • Colleen P.

    The service was impeccable. They have a very nice selection of wine and great small plate options. Unfortunately the food was WAY over salted, and that's saying a lot because I'm a huge salt fan. The Chocolate Textures dessert was really interesting. The chocolate/Orange cigar was especially tasty and satisfied my ever present molten chocolate craving.

    (3)

  • Jake D.

    Zoe continues to be one of the most consistent and excellent restaurants in Seattle. Food, staff, owner, all make for a great experience. I have eaten here many times over the years, and the quality continues to impress. The only tip I would make is to avoid it during the 25 for 25 deal. That simply swamps the place, and they really have huge crowds. Go on a week night, a little earlier or a little later to really get a great experience.

    (5)

  • J F.

    Absolutely pleased from start to finish! The decor is fun, clean and swanky. We made reservations, which I recommend but we were warmly greeted and immediately shown to our table. The server was knowledgeable and friendly and made the dining experience fun. Our server brought by a sample of a cold vegetable soup that was pretty tasty and cracker with shredded rabbit meat that wasn't too bad for Thumper! I ordered the bolognese- it was the best yet. Freshly prepared wide noodles with a hearty wild boar sauce- delish! My BF ordered the Beef short rib, it was so tender the meat fell off the bone and the flavor was finger lickin' good! I would highly recommend this place for a fun and romantic night!

    (5)

  • Marina H.

    I am at loss here...I can't find proper adjectives to describe the bursting experiences of my taste buds after a dinner at Zoe's. Impeccable service. Creative menu. Artistic representation. Don't leave without trying their specialty beverages (non-alcoholic ones are equally good!) and if you still have room left for dessert, you are my hero, let me know how it was!

    (5)

  • Jon P.

    Took my wife for her birthday dinner this past Sunday evening. Overall we were very impressed with our experience. The ambiance of the establishment and the friendliness of all staff (they get bonus points for the candle in my wife's dessert and all the "compliments of the chef" treats they brought out during the course of the evening) were both excellent. And the food too was great. We much enjoyed the appetizer of fresh ricotta gnudi (the tomatoes were excellent) and loved my wife's dessert -- cherry caramel sundae. Mine (the rhubarb brown butter cake) was fair, but not as stand-out as hers (my mistake for picking it after the description of our waiter). Our entrees of the wild boar bolognese and the Alaskan Lingcod were both excellent. The added fact that there is no corkage fee on Sundays was also a big bonus in my book. Overall this was a great dining experience in very stress-free environs. The only off-putting thing we did observe was that sitting at our window-side table that 2nd and Blanchard seems to be a hub for many strolling homeless folks. Only reason I mention this is because you feel like a schmuck sitting and thoroughly enjoying your very expensive dinner while homeless folks are strolling by and observing your privileged gluttony.

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    I thought this place had some really interesting items that were pretty damn delicious. Service was truly great as well. I wouldn't be crazy enough to say the bread was the best part...but it was effing awesome. And they constantly ask you if you want more. If you are like me, and generally eat more than a normal portion, this is an easy way to appease your appetite.

    (4)

  • Tina P.

    This place does it just right. Attentive service, good food, and fantastic drinks. I had the gnudi as an appetizer and then risotto for the main course. Both were fresh and delicious. I also had a non-alcoholic cocktail, which was surprisingly good. I didn't miss the alcohol at all! I am glad this was part of restaurant week last November because I had never intended to stop by before. Now that I have had a taste of it... I need to come back for more :).

    (4)

  • Michael E.

    It gets five because I won, and I won big. I was out with a party of five and I got the best entree. Maybe my co-diners will read this and disagree but it's true, I got the lamb that was perfectly cooked and slices and severed oh so perfectly. This is by no means to say that the rest of the food wasn't wonderful, but oh my that lamb was good. Maybe one of the more notable entrees I've enjoyed in most recent memory. One of my fellow diner's was kind enough to bring a great bottle of red and it was fantastic. The corkage fee is $15 on a regular night and free on Sunday's to keep that in your pocket. Everything else is fantastic. It's maybe my favorite restaurant that isn't Mistral in Belltown. And always get the nod if I need to snap off a quick recommendation to a friend.

    (5)

  • A J.

    I agree with Michele B, something was lost in the move from Belltown to Capitol Hill. Previously it was one of our go to places for special dinners and taking out of town visitors. We were excited to see their new location but after having dinner, we longed for the old Restaurant Zoe.The portions and prices are smaller but the food seemed to suffer for it. I ordered the gnudi & salmon and thought both were pretty small, even though the salmon was still over $30. I tried my date's boar bologonese which was really good - highlight of the meal. He thought his salmon was just ok. While it was nice that our bill was less than it usually was at old Zoe, I don't think I will be back soon. Contrary to previous reviews I found the service to be really good. However they were spot on about how loud the restaurant can be, I had a hard time hearing my date across the table.

    (3)

  • Sarah H.

    This place is simply amazing. - Very quaint restaurant, tastefully furnished with comfortable chairs (that's a must) - Incredibly fresh food sourced from local farms. Wild fish, organic meats - all tthe best Pacific Northwest has to offer. - Great wine list and the staff is knowledgable and friendly. We tried a tasty Washington Pinot and it complimented the meal perfectly. - AMAZING desserts - again all from locally sourced ingredients. Next time I'm in Seattle, I'll definitely be back. I've tried many restaurants there and this is definitely the best. Go there if you want to impress a date or a client, you can't go wrong.

    (5)

  • YumYum Y.

    i just learned that my friend wrote the general manager of our experience mentioned below. the manager quickly got in touch with him. he apologized and offered that he come back with his wife for a meal with wine pairings on the house. kudos to setting things right zoe.

    (4)

  • Daniel D.

    This restaurant is excellent. Nice wine menu, octopus that takes like chicken (rather than rubber), and short rib so delicious that you wish it wasn't so filling. Terrific environment, though I imagine it can get pretty busy on weekends. I would definitely recommend this place for dinner.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    I did one of the recent Taste of Seattle here and was blown away not only by the restaurant but the taste that was packed into the short rib. Amazing. Now Im not a fan of the gnudi. I find it to be a overly sweet strange textured food. Its worth a try, I didn't care for it but my dining partner loved it. The Panna Cotte was light as air and perfect finish for a nice dinner.

    (4)

  • Anthony B.

    One of my favorite restaurants, embodies the essence of what Seattle offers and a favorite date spot as well for me. The menu is amazing, the wine is amazing and the ambiance is perfect.

    (5)

  • Bernadette E.

    so yeah... there really isn't much else to say because 90+ reviews already said it!!! oh... except i guess i won't go there with timmy next time : ( the end ps- thank you tommy for taking me! he makes me happy : )

    (5)

  • Gilad B.

    Ive been here a few times now and it is always great. Good food, great staff, nice place. The one thing Ill say is I have never gotten out of there for less than $100 per person but from time to time its worth the treat.

    (4)

  • Julie P.

    I love this place so much that I took my best friend to experience what I had been bragging about so much. We ordered the clam appetizer, waygu burger & frites, black cod on a bed of chanterelles, and bacon brussel sprouts. Our server was so awesome to divide the burger and frites onto inidividual plates because he knew we were sharing everything. The mocktails & cocktails were also very delicious. Zoe fails to disappoint me and I love their rotating-in season menu.

    (5)

  • Heidi M.

    My first time here was wonderful! Great atmosphere for a date night with a creative menu and excellent happy hour deals. My eggplant was chock full-o-flavor and devoid of the fatty bitterness that often accompanies cooked eggplant. My partner found the dishes too savory for his taste, but he loved the happy hour almond snacks!

    (4)

  • Allyson M.

    I've been here 3 times with my boyfriend, and every time the food, drinks and service have all been great! The decor is also cozy but still nice. We were there last night and started at the bar...I got the Primrose (gin) cocktail, which was delicious and the bartender was very friendly and welcoming. When we sat at our table, we got the beef tartar (yum) and shigoku oysters which were a special that night and a little pricy but worth it - so fresh... by the time we got our entrees I was already getting full but had the albacore tuna which was cooked perfectly with interesting seasoning. Overall it is a little expensive but worth it and a great place for a date night or just when you want to treat yourself!

    (5)

  • Una B.

    My sister selected this place as a celebratory restaurant after her Nursing pinning ceremony. For the most part, it delivered as expected for a more expensive/nicer place. There were however, some glaring short comings. Our initial server was great. She was conversational and informative without being overbearing. I actually like that the menu is condensed. I didn't feel overwhelmed with choices and also felt I could satisfy my desires to try little bits of a lot of things with their small plates options. I picked the mussels and the wild boar bolognese . Small plates are definitely small, it's not likely that more than 2 people could share a plate and get a satisfying taste. 2 small plates for my dinner was about perfect though. The Mussels were delish and perfectly cooked. The pappardelle nicely complemented by the bolognese. My sister's small dish choices (steak tartare and eee, I don't recall the other) left her happy and full as well. And then the not so good... My brother ordered the Wagyu beef burger rare and even the server commented that it was 'good beef' and could be done so. What he got was a medium well burger. On the other hand, my mom's flat iron steak we ordered medium well. I would like to emphasize that this steak came from the kitchen sliced. Her last 2 slices that she got to were cooked no more than rare. How does the kitchen slice her meat and NOT notice that it was so undercooked from order? Boyfriend's burger was cooked the way he liked it and my dad's steak was fine as well. No complaints from either. We didn't see our server after the food was dropped off (by runners) again. The hostess presented our check and took payment. For the price of our meal I was a little disappointed that not everyone's food or our service was not consistent.

    (3)

  • April L.

    First went here on a restaurant week deal and then I couldn't stop coming back. This was back in 2010-2011, but my memories are fond. Of course the wild boar Bolognese was delicious, but I also vividly recall a spring risotto. It was green, not too heavy, but dense with flavor. They serve delicious bread prior to the meal. I'm terrible with managing my consumption f carbs and the service remembered us for how much bread we liked to eat. Embarrassing. But delicious. I can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Meghan G.

    Always have an excellent meal here! Limited options, but they do every one of them to perfection and the menu changes seasonally, which makes it easy to go back frequently. The wine menu is great too. Atmosphere is intimate and a great date spot.

    (5)

  • Candi K.

    Came here for Restaurant Week/ friend's b-day dinner and it was great! I've been here before for normal dinner service and restaurant week but wanted to come back because my experience was great. We had a table of 9 and even though service was a little slow, the food was so good. They had a ricotta gnudi (just read it w/o the g and you got it right) and it was pillowy dumplings made of cheese which was good. Reminds me of gnocchi. for the 2nd course I got the chicken confit and wow was that good, so moist and flavorful, I could eat another plate right now if it was in front of me. Had a piece of my friend's pork belly and its fatty goodness. now dessert, most of us got the apple bread pudding and that was good, loved the caramel sauce. the coconut panna cotta is also good and refreshing. They brought out a candle on the birthday girl's dessert which was great. I would come back for sure.

    (4)

  • Annie T.

    I was excited to try Restaurant Zoe for SRW because I've heard so many good things about them, and for the most part, I was really impressed with the atmosphere and the food, though the service could improve a bit. 2 of us ordered off the SRW menu while I decided to try their Paparadelle and burger instead. The wild boar paparadelle small plate was absolutely amazing and I almost with I got a full size order instead. The pasta was cooked al dente and I basically licked the sauce clean. My burger had some issues however, because I had ordered it medium and it came out totally rare. It was dripping in blood and fully red inside. I had to send it back to the kitchen, but I was surprised how they handled it. Because I had taken 2 bites out of the burger already, they basically just tossed the same patty back on the grill and cooked it more and shaved off some of the same bun/veggie/cheese and handed it back to me. I didn't mind too much because it was a big burger, but I felt like the correct way was not to be so stingy and just give me a new burger, or at least new buns... At the end of the meal, they gave me some apple caramel candies as "apologies from the chef" regarding the incident, which is pretty darn weak of an apology in my eye. The items on the SRW was mostly excellent. The salad and Gnudi were great appetizers and the chicken dish was really unique. The halibut was a bit fish in taste so I questioned it's freshness. The sorbet dessert was really sweet but still well made. SRW Restaurant Zoe is one place that has me hooked and a fan.

    (4)

  • L Y.

    Been here before for appys. Came this time for restaurant week. Awesome food. Busy weekday. We had an attentive server who went above and beyond. We had ordered the set menu plus the "fries". When I mentioned that we didn't get the fries he offered to get the, but we said we were actually fine without them as we were full. He insisted that he do something and comped us each wine/sherry pairings with our desserts! Love that kind of commitment to happy dining!

    (5)

  • Min Y.

    My one of favorite Romantic dinner places in Seattle since 2007. Had 2015 Valentine's dinner with my husband yesterday. Very satisfied with ambiance, food, and service!

    (5)

  • Ashley S.

    This is a very pretty restaurant. The staff are friendly and the bartender knew exactly what he was doing. We came here for post dinner drinks and cheese. The cheese was yummy (I mean, when do I complain about cheese? Never, that's when.) The drinks were great. There are many, many bottles behind the bar, and I picked one (pepper vodka!) and the bartender made a drink with that. It was spicyyyy, nothing like I'd ever had before. When I come back to Seattle, I'll definitely be coming here for dinner. We sat at the bar, but I'm pretty positive you want reservations if you're coming for dinner.

    (4)

  • Dave C.

    We came here for an anniversary and decided to try the three course meal. This was such an amazing experience. The environment and the service was great and the food was absolutely amazing. It is a little on the spendy side but totally worth it. I will definately be coming here again.

    (5)

  • Ann M.

    Came here for an anniversary dinner. While it was alright, there was nothing stand out about it....like I don't even remember what we ordered.

    (3)

  • Rachel H.

    Birthday Par-TAY at Zoe's! When you enjoy food as much as I do, birthday presents are nice, but experiences are always better. First off, we really enjoyed the service experience at Zoe. One of our better service experiences in Seattle. Polished, friendly, professional. We started w/lamb sweetbreads, served tucked right into a bed of chopped fava beans and pistachio with a pea shoots and microgreens pillow. This was such a decadent, rich starter that I almost curled up and went to bed myself. We had a couple of entrees to pair with that. One got the Zoe burger, which is about the best and most rare burger you can hope to get in Seattle. Thank you heavens! Unfortunately, this was someone else's order, because I didn't want to go to a place like Zoe and get the burger when someone else was picking up the tab (big mistake!) I had a medium rare steak dish that was served with crisped green beans, greens, friend potatoes, and gorgonzola and while I really enjoyed the flavors in what turned out to be a fantastic meaty version of the hearty salad nicoise, the burger had me jealous after the first bite. Def a near perfect burger, cooked medium roar! (Please forgive me, veggie friends. A perfect burger is my weakness.) Enjoyable wines by the glass, although stick with their bigger reds and steer away from their Sangiovese, which tastes like a glass of raisins, at least to me. Great atmosphere, decor and space. Beautiful lighting elements and entryway. Perfect spot to impress the 'rents or to fete a loved one.

    (4)

  • Chandini S.

    Came here on a whim to celebrate a new job, and wow, this did not disappoint. We had the tasting menu, and it was fabulous. Every bite felt so special and luscious. Everything on each place felt like it had a purpose and played its part well. We shared the wine tasting, and it was ok. We noted that one of the wines didn't work well, and we were given an extra dessert wine that was absolutely divine. I love when a restaurant makes things right. The tasting menu was surprisingly well-priced for what it was (five courses). We would definitely come back again and do the tasting menu again.

    (5)

  • Katrina L.

    Hmmm...maybe I've been eating a lot of new-American type restaurants but restaurant Zoe did not wow me. The dishes were good but nothing worth raving about compared to other NA restaurants in Seattle like Sitka and Staple and fancy. The drinks were pretty standard. The service was really friendly and attentive, however. Solid 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - It's been a couple years since I've been here (and they were in a different location last time), but the food ended up being great, and the service just as good. I haven't been disappointed! I took a friend out for his birthday, and we ordered: Steak Tartare ($12.00, grilled scallion, cornichons, fingerling chips) - We got this to share, and it was good! I'd definitely order this again... my stomach is growling just thinking about it. Mmm! The steak tartare was sitting on frisée. Marinaded Baby Beets ($10.00, goats milk yogurt, candied ginger, pistachios) - My friend got this for his appetizer; he loved it. I had a couple bites. Though the beets were slightly overcooked, the flavour was good. There was frisée in this salad. Foie Gras ($23.00) - it was perfectly and lightly seared. So buttery on the inside. I wished it came with a bit more of the croutons. There was a bit of frisée in this dish. Daily Duck ($34.00 x2) - We both couldn't resist and ordered this duck breast. It was seared then baked, and there was a really nice balsamic sauce that went along with it. This dish had frisée on the side. Perfect. Panna Cotta ($8.00) - The panna cotta was a bit weird to eat the way they layered it on the crisp. It was a bit more gelatinous than I prefer it to be, but the flavour was there. By far, I prefer the panna cotta at Spinasse when they have it there. Scoop of Ice Cream ($4.00) - The receipt says vanilla bean ice cream, but we ordered the ice cream that went with another dessert item... I don't remember it because it's not memorable; didn't go with the panna cotta anyways. Thankfully I just looked at my uploaded photos... it was ginger honey ice cream. Still don't remember the experience of eating it. All the food was good, but everything also had frisée in it. I could go for a frisée-free meal soon. Our table service was fantastic. Along with the fresh sparkling water ($4.00), our bill came to $129.00 + 12.25 tax + 25.00 tip = $166.25 for the two of us.

    (5)

  • Isy E.

    I'm confused. This food costs a lot of money. But I wouldn't be able to fill up, even if I ordered TWO entrees. Sorry, but no. The only thing worth ordering here is the burger, and I don't like beef, so I always just watch in envy as my friend chows down on a filling meal. I will admit that the food is good, but not good enough for me to spend over $50 to not be hungry anymore. Small plates, fine, but the entrees are what I would consider small plates. I admit I limit myself to seafood and vegetarian options, but honestly, I expect lots of veggie on my plate when I spend this kind of money. They don't even need to be fancy. I would come back for the cocktails, and the bartender on the nights I came was a total sweetheart. But for dinner, hell naw. It's rare that I'm perplexed and upset just because I looked at my food.

    (2)

  • Paul S.

    I rarely if ever give 5. Ambience, check Service, check Food, hit it (maybe a better vanilla ice cream, my nitpick) Will come back.

    (5)

  • Nicole O.

    Dinner here was almost great. The drinks were nice, but a tad too sweet and weak. We got gnocchi, shaved beef tongue, wild boar pasta, and tumeric glazed lamb with lentils. There were too many lentils with the lamb, and the beef tongue dish was almost flavorless, but the macadamia short bread cookie-accompanied coffee creme brulee we had for dessert and the soft and salty bread made up for it. We sat outside and it was a wonderful night.

    (4)

  • Beatrice L.

    was here for nye i've been meaning to try this place and i'm glad that I did. They had a prix fix menu for nye. To start, had their salad ( normal vinegrett salad). For my entree, had their gnocchi - it was tasty but kinda too chewy/floury? but the. sauce was amazing. For dessert, had the chocolate cake w some kind of coffee mousse. Melted in my mouth, but so small!! ive heard the boar bolognese is to die for.

    (3)

  • Sam B.

    Must hit this place! Oysters, clams with sausage, baby beat salad! Great vino, great food! Well prepared, fun and tasty! This is the place you want to hit after work, relax let Mary order for you and unwind! You will not go wrong! Fun unique selections.

    (5)

  • Natalie B.

    I brought my fiance here for his bday dinner and the food here is spectacular!!! It is full of rich flavors and excellent quality. I recommend this place to everyone who ever came across it wether online or driving by. If you like steak then get their steak meal and you will not regret it. Its a lil on the pricey side but its well worth it. Also love the location area. Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Cameron O.

    Ate here during restaurant week. We had the ricotta gnudi and the asparagus soup to start, pork tenderloin and the arctic char for our mains, and finished with the dark chocolate torte and the hazelnut cake. I loved the gnudi. I could taste the garlic but it wasn't overpowering by any means. The pork was good on its own, but went really well with the carrot salad and brussel sprouts. The torte was delicious and I am not usually a fan of dark chocolate. There was a lot of it though. It could have been 1/2 the size and I still would have been happy. I only had a few bites of the other dishes but they were all good as well. The soup was interesting but I probably would not want a whole bowl of it, the fish had a nice salty crust, and the hazelnut cake was delicious. A bite of it here and there helped offset the richness of my torte. Service was great. The waiter noted they cook their pork with a little pink left in the middle, which I thought was nice to check if I wanted it cooked that way. The only negative is that for some reason it took about 30 min after ordering until we were served our apps, which seemed odd since we were eating rather late and it was not that busy.

    (5)

  • D.j. B.

    I enjoyed dining at Restaurant Zoe. I did a search online for "first date restaurant" and Restaurant Zoe was at the top of the list. I took a risk going to a brand new restaurant on a first date and I was not disappointed. The atmosphere was romantic and relaxing. I don't think I have ever had dinner by candlelight, so I was in for a treat. My date and I enjoyed the delicious food. Don't forget to order the hush-puppies! We hope to come back soon!

    (5)

  • Shelli M.

    Despite the restaurant having more than 1/2 of their dining room empty I was refused a table or even the option of *waiting* for a table. The reason? "In an hour we'll be full with reservations." I decided to walk to a restaurant across the street and was seated immediately.

    (1)

  • Megan s.

    Incredible food, even better service. Love this place!

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    It's been a while since we've visited restaurant Zoe but MAN was it good. Nice bartenders and servers too.

    (5)

  • Dana R.

    Love the space ... casual, comfortable yet upscale. We sat in the fully enclosed patio, which was quite warm on very cold night. We started with the steak tartare, which is creamy and fresh. It could have used just a touch of acidity and a bit more of the yummy white balsamic gelees with sprinkled espelette. The thinly sliced cornichons were a nice touch and the home-made thin potato chips were a winning substitute for crostini. My husband loved the seared Hudson Valley foie gras with huckleberry compote and toasted brioche. My mixed green salad was perfectly dressed with a well-balanced sherry vinaigrette. I asked for them to hold the hazelnuts and beets and they added dried apricots, pomegranate seeds, and pepitas. Fantastic salad -- they should put that combination on the menu! My seared diver scallops with brown lentils, preserved kumquats, and celery root entree was fabulously fresh and not overly rich. I asked to have the dish prepared with olive oil instead of butter and I think that made a big difference since scallops are so rich in the first place. I would order this dish again and again ... and, it's healthy with OO. The lentils are poached in chicken stock and mirepoix and then tamarind is added to give them a pleasantly (and slightly) sour/spicy flavor. The scallops were perfectly seared. My husband's spicy wild boar bolognese sauce was a bit unbalanced -- too much rosemary. Perfectly cooked pasta ... nice, steady heat progression though. Arugula pasta was fine ... cooked well, but didn't taste any different than plain pappardelle. They brought us some lovely blue cheese and aged goat cheese since it took a bit too long (for the kitchen apparently as we didn't say anything) between our apps and entrees. Our dessert was quite good. My husband enjoyed the crema catalana with linzer macaron. My caramels (4 to an order) were outstanding -- cooked a bit longer than the caramel in Fran's (which I love). The service was attentive. Our server was very knowledgeable about the wine and food. We will definitely be back ...

    (4)

  • Aaron B.

    Restaurant week brought us here and the food was outstanding, each course better than the next. The gnudi and bolognese appetizers were great, and the chocolate pot de creme was really delicious. Definitely worth the price. Make sure you have the server present the food to you so you appreciate what goes into each dish.

    (5)

  • Mark Y.

    meh... A-OK as yelp says. I came here before they moved, old management or whatever.. and it was a beautiful experience.. almost fine dining feeling, and just fantastic service and excellent food Now the food is a bit unimaginative .. the service was just 'ok'. we had 8 adults, 1 baby. we brought a birthday cake. WITHOUT asking us, they cut it into 10 pieces. 1 each, 1 for baby and 1 in a to go box. They then charged us for 10 cake serving fees. Huh? 1. we had 8 adults.. we don't want a serviing for the baby.. or a take away.. 2. how did they get to 10? they charged the phantom to go box for service? 3. we don't even want it cut. it was a cake from Vancouver canada that day and we wanted to show the birthday person the cake. they didn't even ask us After several conversations.. they took off the cake service fee. but left a sour note in my mouth.. That episode aside, the food was average, the prices quite above average.. and that doesn't usually add up for me.

    (3)

  • Huy T.

    Excellent ambiance. The food was surprising cheap for a three money star restaurant. You have to try the pork belly and gnudi. The skinny steak was pretty bland and not nearly as delicious as it looked. Overall, I had a great time eating here!

    (4)

  • Kay N.

    This place has a great atmosphere - truly a Seattle restaurant. It is intimate and a place to bring a date. I had the mix green salad (has A LOT of cheese) and wild boar bolognese pasta. The dishes were good, but not great. I wish there was more sauce on the pasta. The service was excellent - very attentive and friendly.

    (3)

  • Neha M.

    Went there for a mini-celebration for a weeknight. It's very easy to find and there is street parking around it. It's right across from skillet. For a week night, it was fairly crowded - couples, friends, business folks. The good: - Amazing mussels, really, healthy and flavorful - Great desserts - we had pear gingerbread cake and saffron crème brulee - mindblowing - Everything else we ordered was amazing as well - Price - we ordered 4 small plates, 2 desserts, wine etc and it was still $100 for 2 of us - more than reasonable, given the quality of the food - Just right portion sizes - Great wine selection The bad: - Service was horrible!!! just plain horrible. The waitress didn't know anything - she had to go ask 2 times when I asked her what is on the tasting menu and I still don't think she gave me the right information - The burger took at least 20 min to come, the waitress didn't ever come by even once to let us know/ apologize abt the delay - Eventually the manager came and apologized and said he would take the burger off the bill, but in the end, the waitress didn't take that off (she took off another smaller/ cheaper thing off) , I didn't want to argue

    (4)

  • Sterling C.

    While showing around guests from out of town we decided to return to Restaurant Zoe on our whirlwind tour of restaurants. This place was the highlight among so many excellent places. Bolognese Risotto Scallop The winner was the pork belly. Don't miss it.

    (5)

  • arlene j.

    I really wanted to have a good experience at Restaurant Zoe, especially after reading the reviews from fellow diners. But alas, this is a restaurant to which we will not plan to return. The occasion was special - a celebration of my daughter's marriage a week ago in NYC. The hostess was accommodating by email, although I found it odd that she initially suggested menu items that were from an old menu, so we had to start over when I thought we were near final selections. After working with her on a selection of courses, our guests had a limited menu without prices before them. That was a nice touch. It is really the service that struck us as wanting. When I went to the restaurant the night before to bring some bottles of hard cider, I thought I detected a hint of impatience from the manager for intruding on whatever was his task at hand when I asked him for the hostess, with whom we had a pre-arranged bottle drop-off planned. What a way to make a guest feel unwanted. On the day of the celebration dinner, the table for 12 was nicely set up. Unfortunately, I had to ask twice for the window shades to be drawn because the setting sun was shining in our faces so some of us couldn't read the menu. The second time I asked, the hostess seemed harried that she had to leave her post to take care of it, since it hadn't been done by anyone else. What a way to make a guest feel bad for asking. Our waiter was not attentive, not that we needed a lot of attention. Just remove the finished plates from the appetizer service without having to ask after they sat in front of us for what seemed like a long time. Open the second bottle of wine without needing to be ask. Offer coffee or tea with dessert. Bring the check when it was clear that we were ready to leave (guests were standing up), rather than having to ask the hostess for the check. What may have solved some of the issues is having more staff to attend to guests. Employees there were certainly working hard, but when you're stretched thin, it's hard to offer good service. The food? My pork belly tasted like typical bacon, my sister's halibut was a tad over-cooked, my son's lamb was salty. Fortunately, I didn't hear complaints from any other guest - I hope that's because they were just having a good time celebrating a wedding!

    (2)

  • Jinny Y.

    Focaccia bread w/olive oil, balsamic, shallot, and thyme mix Amuse - Shigoku oyster with pomegranate molasses sauce. Very fresh, the pomegranate seeds were a good touch. 1 - Steak tartar w/scallion puree, pickle, fingerling potato chips, with a Pyrenees french wine jelly cube. The tartar was a little too chunky for my liking (looked like ground chuck, I like it ground thinner), But it tastes good. The wine jelly cubes were a great pairing with the tartar. 2 - Veal sweetbread w/quinoa beignets, Vanilla parsnip purée, and quince paste. The vanilla parsnip purée was great, the quinoa beignets were less textured and flavorful than I imagined. The quince paste was very flavorful. Almost too flavorful. 3 - Petrale sole wrapped in basil leaves w/an heirloom potato salad and salsa verde. The sole wrapped in basil was an interesting take on it. Not my fave 4 - Sous vided Lamb shoulder with a pomegranate glaze, roasted delicata squash and squash purée on the side, walnut pomegranate garnish on top. My favorite dish of the night. It was a great combination, the lamb was soft. The glaze flavorful. 5 - Peanut butter salted caramel s'mores. So good! Very sweet though, we all ordered coffee to balance the sweetness. French press coffee 6 - mint chocolate truffle

    (4)

  • Cody C.

    First of all let me start by saying that I am in the Restaurant industry and I know the upscale part of the biz fairly well. With that being said Restaurant Zoe was fantastic. I like to judge from three categories when eating out, 1) Service 2) Food 3) Atmosphere. 1) The service was amazing. Our server was friendly, cordial, and very knowledgeable. It was my wife's birthday which I informed them about (which by the way if when you eat out if you do not inform the staff about a special occasion they cannot read your mind) and they did some special things! 2 half glasses of amazing old world wine to taste that our server/somm paired with our dishes, and two amazing lightly salted chocolates made in house by their amazing pastry chef. 2) The food... ohhhh the food. First of all my chef recommended we try as much as we could when we visited Zoe so we had big expectations and boy did they deliver. I had the butternut squash soup and my wife had the Gnudi which is their "thing" apparently and both were out of this world. So bomb!!!! The soup had so much depth and complexity, I was in heaven. Then the entrée. I had the pork tenderloin and my wife had the rockfish. Both were divine and perfectly balanced flavor wise. The dessert might have been my favorite, or the soup... or the pork. haha. THE DESSERT!!! Omg.. melt in your mouth (because its sorbet..haha) coconut sorbet with coconut crunchies of some sort and dark chocolate flakes. The wife had the chocolate torte which was amazing. 3)The vibe was perfect. I live right up the street so I love looking out the windows and seeing the neighborhood I spend every day in. So wonderful and friendly, light but classy, not too dark with lots of little candles lightly the place up. I was a little hot temperature wise but my wife wasn't so maybe it was just me. Thats my only complaint. haha. WONDERFUL! Highly recommended. I have never written a review this long ever so take that as a sign. These guys are doing it right and I will 100% be back. **Side not to people who say the portions are small** - The goal for a restaurant like this is not to feed you and fatten you up like BJ's or Cheesecake factory! They are trying to take you on an adventure via your taste buds and amazing service. So my recommendation is not to pick places like this if you want to get full and have cheap food. I think that goes without saying for a nice restaurant but I read so many reviews for nice places where people complain about the portions. haha. Funny people. Cheers

    (5)

  • Bjorn F.

    The first thing you notice about Zoe is how tasteful everything feels. The decor and atmosphere is so well thought out and effortlessly executed that you already get a sense of high quality before you put any food in your mouth. It's not exactly a young or hip joint but I feel like that's kind of refreshing in this neighborhood. I've tried a few dishes at Zoe and it's all been wonderful, particularly all the duck variations on offer (the chef has regular duck specials, always something different). I just wish everything were a tad less expensive so I could afford to go more often!

    (4)

  • Melissa V.

    I was really disappointed with my meal. A friend and I decided to come here and do the Dine Around Seattle menu before heading to the Paramount for a show. The service was great. We had a very attentive server and staff, no complaints there.(This is why they get 3 stars and not 2) The food left something to be desired for me. My appetizer was fine. I ordered the gnudi, it was tasty, but nothing special. I ordered the pork shoulder entree and that's where it all started going sideways. I've eaten a lot of pork in my day and this was just not good. It was topped with white beans, which were just okay, and marinated in some type of root beer concotion. I'm willing to say that this might just be a personal taste issue and nothing more. Dessert was the warm cornmeal cake and I found it to be very dry and lacking in flavor. I don't know what else to say. Maybe it was the fact that the portion sizes are super tiny. My piece of pork was half the size of my palm! I've eaten at other restaurants participating in the Dine Around Seattle event and none of the other places had such small portions. It just didn't add up to me. There's nothing worse than leaving a pricy restaurant and still being hungry. Although my friend did love their Primrose cocktail, we both agreed we won't be returning.

    (3)

  • Jeff B.

    Was decent, but not someplace I'd go again for a romantic dinner. Fine for small groups. FOOD: 3.5. We had several small plates. - Duck Leg Confit. 3.0. Taste was quite good. Texture ok, but meat did not fall off the bone. - Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese. 4.5. Almost a Wow. Touch of paprika gave it a nice spicy bite. - Gnudi with oyster mushrooms. 4.0. Excellent. - Artic Char. 3.5. Fish itself was very good. Pear in the beets that accompanied it were a bit too sweet for us. - Steak Tartare. 3.0. - Brussel Sprouts. 3.0. - Crème Brulee. 4.0 My dinner partner enjoyed the Lemoncello drink with the crème brulee. Bread very good. SERVICE: 3.0. Only complaint is that the person who cleared our plates took away the remainder of my partner's bread without first asking. AMBIENCE: 3.0. We sat at a corner table in what looked like a relatively new addition. Very loud.

    (3)

  • Duncan H.

    I don't want to rave on too much so I'll keep it short and sweet. Incredible food, incredible service, great vibe, great drinks. Will definitely come back here again.

    (5)

  • Nobody M.

    Cool environment, commendably competent wait-staff, disappointing flavors. Gaspacho was refreshing, but a little on the 'bright' side (think heirloom tomato-flavored zots). Waygu burger: bun was stale (no excuse for that) and the pesto aioli was as un-complimentary to the Waygu patty as you could get without using chemical distraction. The fries: inexcusable. Clearly they'd been out of the fryer before the burger was even on the grill. A soggy and salt-less disappointment. Many restaurants can be ruined by bad execution, which is unfortunate, but completely preventable.

    (2)

  • Rossana Y.

    Hooray for Seattle Restaurant Week! After hearing how Restaurant Zoe closed in Belltown, I was curious to try this place out after it opened in Capitol Hill. The restaurant itself is lovely. It has a trendy atmosphere with a rustic feel that reminded me of Black Bottle. One thing that bothered me a bit was that the tables were placed closer than how I would prefer so it can get a little loud. I noticed myself having to keep asking my friend to repeat what he was saying during our conversations. We decided to pair our courses with a Pinot red wine. For starters, I had the brussel sprouts which were pretty good and my friend had the salad. The brussel sprouts had a lot of flavor but I thought the salad was just ok. Next, I had the salmon which was cooked medium rare. I wasn't sure how that would turn out but it was actually very delicious! The flavors of the sides and sauces complemented the fish pretty well. My friend's pork belly was also tasty and I liked how it was crispy on the outside. For dessert, I had the Ménage a Poire which was like some sort of a pear parfait. I loved how it was so light and the pear inside it was so refreshing. Final verdict: Really good food but the portions were WAY smaller than what I expected. It was a good experience for my first time but I wouldn't come here again on a regular day. I would recommend this place for taking someone on a date, and even more fitting if you are not feeling extremely hungry.

    (4)

  • Arry Y.

    LOVE the new location in Capital HIll - that's our hood! :) My dear hunny and I did a date night here a couple months ago and we were quite impressed. Reminds me, we must go back (I think their menu changes up regularly): -- Fig and prosciutto (who doesn't just LOVE figs) -- Brussels sprouts (YUM!) -- Some sort of short rib dish (was ammmaaazzzing, had to steal a bite) -- Some other salad -- Spicy wild boar bolognese (quite delicious) They are definitely heavy on the land animals on their menu - so if you love meat, they seem to do a great job. For the seafood-iatarians and vegetable lovers, there are a few delicious options (not many). I'm not a strict vegan (stealing bites here and there), and the non-meat parts of and whole plates were very well done. The service was wonderful too - very attentive service. We drank a bottle of wine, too!!

    (4)

  • Jen H.

    The first couple of times we came to Restaurant Zoe was during restaurant week. We thought the food was great both times and more recently we went back for a regular menu experience. We ordered the baby mixed greens with marcona almond (nothing special), the wild boar bolognese pappardele (certainly the best dish of the night), the duck (not bad but we've had better elsewhere), and the blueberry crisp (pretty delicious). The place is really cute, especially during summer time. The main waitress who got the orders was really good. The one that took the dishes away, on the other hand... a little smile once in a while would not hurt. Luckily, she was not the one presenting the evening specials because nothing would have sounded appealing!

    (4)

  • Joe O.

    Not sure how you go from 5-star review to 2-star but this place did just that, not an easy feat, considering I rarely give 5-stars and Restaurant Zoe (albeit in the Belltown location) was one of the few in Seattle. Let me start by saying there was much anticipation in getting to the new spot, partly because we loved our first experience so much but mostly because it moved about 15 minutes closer to where we live. Regardless, the space is very nice - open ceilings, exposed wood beams, a kitchen you can see right into (vogue these days, I realize) and well spaced tables. It's bigger than I expected, but still smaller than the old space and a bit quieter. Personally, I don't mind the ambient noise a crowded restaurant emits and considering this was Friday night at 8:30, I found it odd that it was only half full. Ambiance and decor aside, I can honestly say that I was more than disappointed with the menu. While having 8-12 appetizers is great, even with an appealing oyster selection, at a restaurant of this caliber, I expect more than 4 entrees (5 including the specials). Wine selection was nice, decently priced, the steal of the evening being the '09 Chevalier de Lascombes - paired well with my sturgeon even though the latter was battered and a bit too salty. A few things I recall distinctly was the duck confit being well prepared but the accoutrements overcooked; the butter lettuce salad being very good, with just the right amount of dressing and a nice lemon zest; the mussels being the highlight of the evening and the gnudi bland. My entree of the Columbia River sturgeon was lacking sides and just too salty - the fish itself is salty enough, caking it with a salty batter is overkill. Not sure if it was the move, a conscious change in the menu or a combination of the two, but something at Zoe was just not right. I should have guessed as much on a Friday night when there wasn't a line out the door (as there usually was at their old location - on weekdays) and the place was half full. As locals and frequent patrons of restaurants on Capitol Hill, we expect and deserve more. Get it together and perhaps we'll give you another shot.

    (2)

  • Jenn H.

    4.5 stars A large group of us came to Zoe one night, at the recommendation of one of my foodie coworkers. I'm so glad we came here! First off, the service was amazing. One of my friends is allergic to gluten, and they were *so* accommodating. Every one of the little tasting dishes they gave us, they remembered to bring an appropriate one out for her; they gave great food and wine suggestions; and they handled our large group so well. On to the food! I got - "Ruby, my dear" (the mimosa-like drink), which was very tasty (and pretty!), - the english pea risotto (absolutely delicious, perfect consistency--and mmmm pine nuts!), - the pork shoulder (tender, juicy, and just falling off...well there was no bone, but that's the texture) - Had a taste of the short ribs, and felt sorry that I didn't have more room in my stomach. Then found more room in my stomach, and helped myself to... - dessert, an apricot trifle that was divine (mostly because i was obsessed with the pistachios in it...the apricots themselves were a little sour). Then, I finished it all off with... - some delicious french-pressed coffee (well actually, I like my own french-pressed coffee better, but it was a perfect end to the meal) Why 4 instead of 5, then? This really isn't good value--it's kind of pricey, for not very much food. I would hesitate to go back, if only because I don't have this kind of money. And for its price, I think the venue could be jazzed up a teensy bit more (I could see Zoe getting really loud) One negative about the food--stay away from the asparagus salad. it's literally a salad, with one stalk of asparagus, cut in half. ...what's sad is that I'm not exaggerating. Pictures coming soon :)

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    Took my wife here for Valentines Day. The special of the night was a seared foie gras with a huckleberry reduction. I could've had a few more orders of these. We also started the dinner with an order of the mussels, which was deliciously flavored. The wife ordered the chicken fried tofu, thinking it was chicken & fried tofu. Instead it was a vegetarian patty. It was surprisingly delicious, with the exception of the mushroom bouillon. It was on the salty side. I had the painted hills burger, but felt like something was missing from the burger.

    (3)

  • Dean L.

    Place: nice. Service: exquisite. Food: overpriced. My wife and I were seated immediately, and had water and bread without much delay. The focaccia with olive oil/vinegar/thyme was tasty. We were given an amuse bouche of crostini with anchovy paste, a tiny green, and some white paste. Salty and yummy--not fishy in the slightest. We ordered 3 small plates: the scallops; the boar bolognese; and the gnudi. We had a rockin' cabernet with it. The scallops were great, but not exceptional. One was very slightly undercooked. I compare all scallops to those we had at Crush, which were the best dish of any kind I've ever had outside of NY City, so I'd say they about hit the mark on them. The gnudi with shredded duck was was okay. Tasty, but sort of heavy, and all the same texture. My wife thought maybe rolling them in crushed nuts or some other kind of shards would add a crunch/crisp factor, and I agree. The bolognese was the best of the three dishes, but had the same texture issue, we thought. Add parmesan crostini maybe? Really, it was a delicious deconstructed lasagna. I wouldn't have known the boar wasn't pork. We shared two desserts since it was my wife's b-day: macarons and coffee-creme brulee. The chocolate sandwich macarons were great, but how good can a cookie be that isn't right out of the oven? It was nice that the chef brought it out with a candle, as it was my lady's b-day. She preferred that dessert, but I preferred the brulee. She thought it should have been lighter/airier, and she's probably correct, as I am a relative philistine. Both desserts were satisfying. She also had a french press. So, I nitpick. But when the bill is $65 (not including wine or tip), one gets to nitpick. We decided on 3 stars instead of 4 because though we understand why someone might go there to eat, we would choose to try one of the many places we haven't been yet, or eat at Barrio or Tango very near Zoe, or Ocho in Ballard. The food at all three of those places is bolder, sometimes surprising, and less expensive.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Had an outstanding experience at Zoe, easily a fav spot. Fresh ricotta gnudi winter squash-verjus puree, hazelnuts, tarragon - gnudi (top-seller) was outstanding - a must-try even for those who typically don't care for ricotta. Delicate, not overwhelming, perfectly hand-formed. Wild steelhead was luscious and fresh. Desserts are a work of art, thoughtfully constructed - cranberry-quince linzer tart was delicious and beautifully presented. Zoe strikes that rare balance of sleek yet unpretentious. Each of the 4 staff that stopped by during my visit provided pristine service - gracious, attentive, unobtrusive. Patrons were eclectic, interesting, definitely has a vibe. Loved the layout - bar is slightly elevated with an intermediate seating area, main dining area is broken into a few seating areas that each seem to have a vibe of its own. A number of different seating arrangements accommodate for flexible party sizes. Highly recommend all around, thrilled to discover Zoe.

    (4)

  • Yeelin T.

    This new location has a nice neighborhood vibe to it. The last location was prettier inside, but it seemed more pretentious. Anyways, I came here with my fiance for restaurant week. This is my first time since their move from Belltown. For appetizers, we both got the gnudi since it was the most memorable thing from our last visit. For entrees, I got the halibut and he got the pork belly dish. The halibut was just ok (nothing great about it), but the pork belly was well-seasoned and delicious. I got the cardamom carrot cake for dessert while my fiance go the rhubarb pistachio trifle. There's no doubt here - get the triffle. It's really really good and has now become the second most memorable item on the menu for me (after the gnudi)! The cake is quite good too, but it's a little heavy and not very dessert-y for my liking.

    (4)

  • B J.

    NEW LOCATION! (Moved from downtown to Capitol Hill - just opened last week!) AMBIENCE - A SERVICE- A+ (Johnathan and staff were superb and friendly!) FOOD - A PRICE - A (worth the experience!) Visited on 12/17/12 - we were walking around the neighborhood and discovered that Zoe moved to Capitol Hill! YEA! They may have moved but they bought all the expertise and deliciousness up on the hill! Swanky cool, clean rustic feel... however, seating on the bench against the wall is a little odd as you sit lower than your fellow diners sitting in chairs across from you. If you're having a meeting - sit in the chairs! You'll be sitting high and mighty! All staff from hosting to wait staff made us feel welcome. Jonathan our server was very knowledgeable of the whole menu - describing every dish made my saliva juices start running and wanting me to try everything on the menu. We were given a several amuse bouche throughout the meal and the continuous servings of homemade bread with chunks of salt sprinkles made you hungry for more as you dipped it into their pre-made emulsified olive oil, balsamic, anchovy, (don't remember the rest of ingredients) dip. We shared the steak tartare/ mixed salad/ dungeness crab soup / pork tenderloin / and macaroon. - all unique "foodie" presentation and delish! If you're a foodie and love the care of flavors and presentation - this is your place! I'm a fan ! Great food, service, and ambience! WELCOME TO THE HILL, ZOE!

    (5)

  • Helen D.

    I've never understood the hype with Restaurant Zoe. The menu is not inventive, nor impressive. And the food was only "meh", for a decently pricey venue. Reason for 1 star: I came here with a group of 8, and while the decor was very pretty, there was a hair in my friend's entree. When she informed the waiter, he brought her the entree, re-made. There was a second, different hair. Disgusting. Not one, but two hairs? Yuck. In a city with such great food options, why would you ever go to Restaurant Zoe?

    (1)

  • Vanessa A.

    This place is pretty new so I will be coming back to give then another try because while the food was excellent, it took forever to make its way out to our table. We were going on 2 hrs 20 min when our dessert (a scoop of ice cream that took 15 min) finally arrived. Dishes came out haphazardly sometimes a couple at a time and then nothing for 25 or 30 min. Most memorable thing was the steak tartare but it was all delicious. Cocktails great too A bit chilly in the extension part of the building where we were seated so bring a sweater if it's a cold night.

    (3)

  • Vivienne P.

    I had such a universally delightful evening here! We were able to snag a reservation on the day of our dinner, though at 10 in the morning there were only two slots remaining. At 7:15, we showed up for our dinner and got settled in with their small, yet interesting and diverse menu. The waitstaff were attentive, but put no pressure at all on us when we took a while to decide even on our cocktails, let alone our food. I got the mint "joolep," which was the perfect blend of mint and sweet. I love juleps, and this delivered. For an appetizer, we shared the roasted chickpeas. Those were interesting--they are still in the pod, like edamame, and you have to suck the chickpea out. Most of the flavor from the roasting is in the pod, so you have to lick/suck the flavor off, which meant a lot of the really good flavor--it's roasted with jalapeños!--got lost. I love a bit of spicy kick, so I quartered the round of jalapeño that was in the dish as garnish and ate that with a few of my chickpeas and found that the additional spice was exactly what it needed. These were good, and it was fun to eat the chickpea in such a unique way, but they could have benefited from more flavor. For dinner, I had the chicken-fried tofu. It was pressed really well, so the texture of the tofu was good and there was no hint of wateriness. The breading was very flavorful, but not too thick and heavy. I really loved it. It was served with some greens and quinoa that paired beautifully to really bring a kick of flavor into the game. It was also the perfect amount of food. I ended the meal exactly as full as I like to be, and not uncomfortable. The table favorite was the pork, which was reportedly excellent. The duck was also popular. The steak was the one that got the least love. At dessert, the caramel torte was the favorite. They normally have a sorbet, which I would have had, but their sorbet for the day had dairy in it, so I passed on the dessert and got a cocktail instead (the "Ruby my Dear"), which was desserty enough and didn't push me past the full point. Again, the staff was wonderful throughout the entire evening. The restaurant is beautiful and tasteful. I think this would make a great date spot, though we brought parents and it was great for that as well. If I am ever back in Seattle, I will definitely be back here!

    (4)

  • Carleen P.

    This place is getting a well deserved 5 stars from me. I had an upset stomach and had to leave shortly after ordering the duck leg confit. That duck leg confit was the best duck I have ever had, even when I had to heat it up in the microwave the next day. How do they do that?!! It should have been dry. It wasn't! Those aren't chefs, those are magicians. And chefs. Make sure you make reservations here because you'll need it. The restaurant is perfect for a romantic date spot. Low lighting, candles at the table. I cannot wait to go back and try all of the food that I saw. And get the duck to go, since I know it'll still be great the next day.

    (5)

  • Bobbie S.

    The pop up brunch was a great idea! My boyfriend and I enjoyed the churros, the funnel cakes with pork belly (thanks, Rosie!), baked eggs, and scrambled eggs with duck. It was all delicious, the baked eggs just a bit too done. The plates are small, but the food is rich and filling. We sat outside on a beautiful sunny Sunday, service was superb. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant!

    (4)

  • Mydao H.

    Best burger I've had in my life!

    (5)

  • Wendy G.

    Such an amazing dining experience here, had high expectations after reading all the amazing reviews but this place totally lived up to them. My friend and I were visiting Seattle for the weekend and we chose this place for our first dinner. We loved it. Service was impeccable, very attentive, friendly, and our server was so knowledgeable. The space itself was so cozy, I love that you can see into the kitchen, and all the jars by the bar were interesting to look at. For food we ordered family style, some of my faves: 1. Wild boar bolognese - probably my favorite of the night. Flavor was amazing, just the right amount of parmesan on top. Should have gotten the entree size. 2. Scallops - the scallops were so tender and so well flavored. Also, they were huge! Wasn't a big fan of the lentils on the bottom, some of them seemed a bit undercooked. 3. Steak tartare - my friends loved this dish and said it was their fave. To me, it was a little under-seasoned. Did like the potato chips on the side though. Great location too super close to bars and lounges, after dinner we walked around the area exploring all the interesting bars.

    (4)

  • Lilly L.

    We sat the tables near the bar and had wonderful service! The bread that was brought out was ok but the oil and vinegar to dip them in was oh so lovely. I could just slurp that up alone - big fan of balsamic vinegar. I originally found this place searching for foie gras but when we got there it was not anywhere on the menu. Our waiter said hold that thought while he checked in with the kitchen. Turns out they did have some on hand and will make me a plate. I was presented with a delectable slice with a brown sauce and red cherries. A bit hi on price- $24 for a small plate. Worth it since I hear they are banning this stuff in CA! Tasted my first knudi here and it was just heavenly rich with a hint of lemon freshness. the braised duck neck did not contribute much to the dish because there was so little of it - maybe that was the basis for the sauce these knudis were sitting in. Also had the tamarind lamb ribs and large plate of king salmon. Nothing disctinct to rave about in these last 2 dishes. This restaurant was open and had a great lively atmosphere to have wine and share a variety of small plates with friends. will definitely come back when I am back in town!

    (5)

  • Kyoni R.

    10 of us came here for SRW. And we all had a fabulous time. Shawn recommended the wild boar bollenaise and the table licked the plate clean. The SRW food was fantastic... the company was better. Service was attentive. We had a joyous time of 3 hours . We will return here for a full dinner !

    (4)

  • Pi C.

    What is my perfect pasta dish? ... thin fresh papardelle ... balanced-in-flavor succulent bolognese sauce ... with the kick of chili flakes to jazz it up Yes, this very PERFECT dish is at Restaurant Zoe! It's called Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese. Yup, not the typical minced beef/pork bolognese for the worthy price of 12 bucks. Great friendly and fast service. They carry liquor from the local distillery Oola next door - making awesome cocktails! Other dishes haven't disappointed. Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of going back just order two or three of the Bolognese. And, eat them all. Myself.

    (5)

  • Erika H.

    Everything was perfect top to bottom. That was the happiest I've been eating out in the last few dozen excursions. Our server Jonathan was really attentive and knowledgeable. He reminded me of that waitress on Portlandia who had the portfolio of info on the free range chicken - could of answered any question we asked about the menu very thoroughly. We ate on the all seasons patio. It has a tin roof and is a great place to sit and enjoy the Seattle rain. The whole restaurant was chicly decorated but unpretentious. Reminds me of my favorite Bay Area spot, Wood Tavern. The cocktails were all fabulous. I had a rum drink and something with a dry cider. There weren't many signature cocktails, but they did a good job on the ones they had. They start you out with an amuse bouche. Always a nice touch. Their focaccia bread was really good. I don't normally double down on bread but I definitely did here. The ricotta gnudi was delicious. The wild boar bolognese was also delicious but came really close to being too salty. Our petrale sole main plate was good but not overly memorable. The small plates really shine here. We were able to linger and chat without being hustled out since the restaurant was winding down. It was a lovely evening.

    (5)

  • Elizabethe A.

    This restaurant has been on my "To Try" list for quite some time and really should have been addressed sooner. Finally having an occasion to go to a fancy restaurant, I find myself at Zoe. My first course was already decided, I had to try the legendary Gnudi that everyone has raved about. As the waiter described it was basically a ricotta cheese dumpling and was as good if not better than that sounds. It was served with dates and a few pearl onions in a savory sauce that I would have licked off the bottom of the bowl. I got to try both the pork belly as well as the lamb shoulder which were both excellent. The pork belly was served with a mustardy slaw, if you will, that complimented the dish well. The lamb was served with a pomegranate sauce and with roasted squash. A great hearty fall entree. Lastly for dessert I had the menage a poire, which was a trio of pear panna cotta, poached pear, and something else pear I don't remember. It was very pear-y as you can probably imagine. Probably on a bit of a heavier side for panna cotta, and very generously portioned, but I can't very well fault them for that! Overall Restaurant Zoe proved to me that they can construct a very solid dish and not a bad cocktail either as I tried "the color of her dress was orange" or a similar phrase with the words "dress" and "orange". Anyway it was a sparkling wine cocktail with apricot preserves and a brandied cherry. My advice is not to wait for a special occasion and just find any excuse to try Restaurant Zoe if you haven't already!

    (4)

  • Cheryl F.

    I'm sorry to say that this was nothing remarkable. I think our server tried to make everything go nicely for us but the food was boring. We were a party of six and no one felt that anything we had was especially interesting. Granted we were tough customers in that all of us have more than a superficial interest in the culinary arts, but still, we're not so hard to impress, really. I'm glad I tried it but I am unlikely to remember it or return.

    (2)

  • Rolly W.

    !#!@$!@

    (5)

  • Diana L.

    Me: I think I just saw Mario Battali walk in! No wait, that's not who it was...who's that annoying guy from Louisiana that kicks it up a notch? BF: I have no idea what you're talking about. Me: Who really gives a fuck about him anyway, if it were Tom Colicchio or something - I would shit my pants. Emeril - that's his fucking name. Lagasse, Lasagne...whatever. Nobody cares. BF: Have I told you about my new line of subterranean beach wear? Me: Holy shit. There's Tom Colicchio just a sittin' with BAM! now. We have to go home. I just shit my pants. BF: I also have an revolutionary line of adult sanitary supplies you might be interested in. The story of how I realized Top Chef was in Seattle. For your enjoyments. Food and service were AMAZING - read the other kazillion reviews for details there.

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    The above comment says it all: Woohoo! As good as it gets! The food, is fantastic, the burger is simply the best one I've ever had. What makes this place magical is the staff: Johnny, Raquel, Derek, Anis, Ryan...et al are fabulous. What a great spot with fantastic energy!

    (5)

  • Krishnaja G.

    I'll start with the serious upgrade in service and quality this place has gotten along with the relocation. I am not sure if I know exactly what changed along with the change in the restaurant location , but the food, service and ambience all are way better now. The wine selection was amazing and very well curated to pair with the food. We started with some amazon truffle scallops which were some of the best scallop preparations I have ever had. Every bite was very well done and all the dishes were spectacular. Save it for a good occasion as it will be a meal worth noting

    (4)

  • Poko S.

    Great service! Cocktails are delicious! Amazing wine list! Atmosphere, romantic for date night, but too dark to enjoy the food. I could not see the plate. Food, ok, my pork belly was chewy. If you have small menu, I wish each dish is more strong.

    (3)

  • Sean W.

    I heard good things about Zoe and that they were owners of Quinn's so we were excited to try, but hell no! We were a party of four, three of us had the flat iron steak ($32. each), one the pork. The steaks were rubbery and tasteless, barely warm, they were not served on hot plates. The pork was a big yawn and also not hot. The beet salad was the only good dish here. Zoe was such a disappointment, our worst meal of four days in Seattle.

    (1)

  • Andrew H.

    One of the best all-around restaurants I have seen in Seattle. The food was around Art of the Table quality but here there is more elbow room and ambiance. We split about 8 dishes. Everything was solid except a too-salty champagne vinaigrette.

    (5)

  • Patrick D.

    Great food. I liked it better than Marjorie (which is in the same price range + style) down the street. The only complaint I have - and this seems to be a trend at many restaurants of this kind on the hill - is that the tables are spaced pretty close together. You don't have much privacy and can be easily distracted by the conversation of the people next to you. But like I said, the food was excellent and unique. I'd definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Danny T.

    I definitely wanted to try a nice restaurant while I was visiting Seattle and Restaurant Zoë popped up on multiple lists. My girlfriend and I were starving, but we wanted to save our stomachs for Restaurant Zoë because it had gotten great reviews but wasn't open for lunch the first day that we arrived. So a couple days later I placed an open table reservation for 5pm when it opened and we walked there after a little bit of sightseeing. We walked right in. It wasn't too crowded seeing that it just opened for the day; so there wasn't really a need for a reservation. The hostess sat us at our table and we took a second to take everything in. The place was very nicely decorated and had a nice sophisticated feel to it. The table setting consists of a small candle and a little dish with salt to garnish your food. Our waiter came by to take our order and was nothing but helpful. My girlfriend let him know that I'm lactose intolerant and he let me know all the items on the menu with dairy in it. Between our orders, the waiter brought out this bread for us and some samples from the kitchen. My ladyfriend got a cream soup and I got some sorbet. It was a nice treat and prepped us for our meal. The waiters there were super attentive. There was never a moment where I didn't have any bread or a full glass of water. We like to eat family style because we get more of a variety and there's more portion control. So we ended up getting the pork shoulder and the spicy wild boar bolognese. The pork should came out really tender with a salty flavor. Combined with the radish and spinach, the flavor was great. My girlfriend taught it was a bit plain but I enjoyed it quite a bit. The wild boar bolognese was out of this world! The waiter even made sure that the shaved parmesan was on the side for me too. It consisted of arugula pappardelle pasta in a creamy wild boar sauce. If I weren't so busy with the pork shoulder I would have scarfed that whole plate down! To end the night, we did decide to grab some dessert. I'm a sucker for twists on childhood classics; so we got the PB and J. It was spectacular! It came with a cream puff like pastry filled with honey vanilla ice cream with strawberry preserves and a peanut butter sauce. I tried my best to get everything together at once to get the full effect. I couldn't get enough of it!

    (5)

  • Brianna B.

    I visited Restaurant Zoe this past November with my family for my birthday. I was pleasantly surprised as we walked up to the restaurant. There was a rustic yet city feel to the exterior. The inside was a beautiful as well and had very high ceilings. Okay, enough with the architecture and design of the building, let's get down to the nitty gritty. The food was awesome! I recently went vegan prior to going to this restaurant and I did cheat a little bit while eating here because the items on the menu are so unique that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it. The mussels were so perfectly cooked. The crostini was to die for. I probably could have just ate that all night.I also had a soup and salad in which I can't remember the names but they are perfection. The dressing was not too heavy and compliment the vegetables really well. The soup I had was some type of pumpkin soup and it rocked my world! I'd definitely recommend this restaurant as it offers a very unique blend of ingredients. Not your typical Capitol Hill restaurant, which is awesome!

    (4)

  • Nina H.

    I was super excited to come here for Restaurant Week and I made reservations in advance. I had no idea that the better restaurants filled up SO quickly! Anyway, I had been wanting to check out this restaurant for awhile now because I had read great reviews and I always pass by it when I'm in Belltown. It's definitely a hip and trendy restaurant with kind of a rustic feel. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere was nice. I wasn't on a date and it was nice because it was crowded and loud enough to make it seem like a good spot for a friendly dinner. I ordered the cauliflower soup, Alaskan true cod and the espresso panna cotta for dessert. The cod was definitely very tasty but my friend got the pork shoulder and I was immediately jealous after a bite. The cod tasted great but it felt a little too sweet for me as well as the soup. I'm a huge salty foods fan so I was more interested in the rich meaty taste of the pork shoulder. I always forget how full I get from restaurant week meals... they really are filling and you feel like you're eating so fast because the dishes come right after the other. Anyway, my dessert was pretty tasty too, the espresso taste was very strong and overall, I had a great time at Restaurant Zoe. The most memorable points of the night were the service and pork shoulder.

    (4)

  • Jeff D.

    Kudos to waitress Karen who exponentially enhanced a meal that was already a really scrumptious dining experience; if you're able to request Karen as your server, I would highly recommend you do so--she's incredibly knowledgeable about wine pairings and the overall menu, and she will not steer you wrong. Ate here with two Seattle-ites (only one of whom had been to Zoe before). We ordered a series of small plates between us. One of the three of us is gluten-intolerant, but she found it easy to get plenty of goodness. If I'd known how incredibly Karen's suggestions played out in advance, I'd have asked her to plan my meal from the start, but selecting on my own, I started with a delicious field greens salad, followed with the mussels in a wine verjus (this was my least favorite dish, actually, I wasn't wild about either the sauce or the enormous mussels; I prefer them smaller and thought these just came across as jus sponges, rather than flavorful bites in their own right), and concluded with the ricotta gnudi (at Karen's recommendation) that was DA BOMB! Mind-blowing little things. Scrumptious. Because 2 of us had ordered 3 courses, and our gluten-free gal had ordered only 2 courses, Karen struggled with the kitchen to balance out what got served when. Their solution was to treat us to the Duck of the Day, which on this day was a roasted duck leg that just fell off the bone under the crispy, divine skin. This was truly the greatest course of all (we shared it greedily) and Karen had recommended it to us from the start. When I closed it out with the ricotta gnudi, I'd asked Karen to wine pair it and she chose a dynamite chardonnay that enhanced everything. 4 solid stars without Karen and the treat from the kitchen; 5+ stars for the combo. This is eating well and enjoying the meal from every angle. Hearts and Flowers to Restaurant Zoe!! (when Karen's on duty ;-)

    (5)

  • Kellen L.

    This place was fantastic! The service was spectacular, he was very helpful with the wine selection and the food choices. We had the mushroom risotto and the black cod, both of which we would happily order again. We had a later reservation, but it was still a great atmosphere! I would and most likely will return

    (5)

  • Etta H.

    FINALLY made my way over to Zoe. I've been anxious to visit since they reopened on Cap Hill. Decided my birthday would be the perfect occasion... Right away I was impressed with the interior. The designer for these restaurants deserves a serious double high-five. We were seated in the very cool patio-ish area and ordered some cocktails and oysters right away. Was a little sad to see the very small menu, but there was definitely enough for me and my hunky date to find something tempting. I ordered the cod (special), he the steak and we shared the steak tartare. The food was all great - my martini hit the spot and the prices were spot on... *but* I'll admit that it isn't on the top of my list for places to hit up next time I'm craving a night out. There wasn't anything that reached out and grabbed me in such a way that would tear me away from my other beloved Seattle haunts... but they'll get my money anyway as I continue to gorge myself at Quinn's.

    (4)

  • Kenna T.

    Had the opportunity to go here for my 33rd birthday. Wait staff was kind and informative. Oysters were impeccable. We shared the burger and gnocchi both were exceptional and cooked to perfection. They also have half bottles of wine so I got a chance to try two local wines which was fun.

    (5)

  • Chi M.

    Another classy restaurant in Capitol Hill. The food is delicious. We've eaten here twice. I would eat here again, but there are so many restaurants in the Hill to choose from. The menu is seasonal, so you'll never try the same thing twice. We had the brisket and fois gras croquettes and braised short ribs during the first visit. They were both well prepared and flavorful. They have a nice French wine list too.

    (4)

  • Keith C.

    Great sauteed sole with potatoes and shallots. started with a mixed green salad, killer focaccia bread (with pre mixed balsamic and olive oil!). Love the new location. entrees will set you back $20-$30 bucks. Everything my boyfriend & I had tasted fresh, seasoned just so and super tasty. Our server was amazing. Very attentive (without being annoying) and super helpful (I'm lactose intolerant but LOVE food and she was very helpful at guiding me through my options). We'll be back! Go, eat and enjoy!

    (4)

  • Dennis O.

    Service was outstanding. Personable, attentive and not pretentious. We had to be done by a certain time in order to make a performance on time. Service was prompt and attentive to this constraint without feeling rushed. Even better was the food. We had oysters, papparadelli, an angus beef burger... all excellent! We will be back. A new parking facility a half block away made access easy.... unusual for Capital Hill!

    (5)

  • Kimanh M.

    Visited the new location on Capitol Hill and enjoyed everything about the newly designed space, warm, friendly staff and super skilled kitchen staff, producing one beautiful and savory dish after another. I was pleasantly surprised by the snail croquettes! Delicious, rich escargot flavors breaded in a lightly fried croquette, yum! Also enjoyed the emmer farro, which was cooked perfectly. Then I experienced some of the best brussel sprouts I've ever had, which were served with the pork tenderloin plate. Seriously, these brussel sprouts were so smooth and velvety... I'm hooked! The manila clams had a little too much salt for my taste, but everything else was seasoned perfectly. Definitely looking forward to visiting Zoe again soon. Can't wait to see what else their chefs are capable of!

    (5)

  • DD C.

    was there during the Seattle Restaurant Week, and was very amazed with the portion and the quality of the food!!!! The salmon was cooked perfect with the amount of seasoning!!!! The decor is very beautiful, dim lighting with retro hardwares... very romantic!!!! I will definitely go back again to try their other dishes!!!!

    (5)

  • Alison A.

    I have been to Restaurant Zoe twice now and have really enjoyed it. The reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because my visits weren't consistent. My first visit we had absolutely fantastic service and the food was really good, but not the best meal I've ever had. The second visit our service was so-so but the food was great. My first visit I had the duck special, which was prepared very well, but just didn't stand out. We also had the popovers, which were not on the menu the second time. The popovers were very good, but not great. The ambiance is very lovely but it does get extremely loud in the main part of the restaurant. It is much smaller than I expected!

    (4)

  • Tiffany M.

    Decisions, decisions...we finally decided to share so we could try as many items as possible. Started with the roasted chickpeas while we were trying to narrow down our selections followed by oysters on the half shell. Both were very good. First plate: steak tartare, OMG. We each ordered a salad - the little gems and the mixed baby lettuces. MBL was the better of the two. Next the ricotta gnudi then the wild boar Bolognese. The gnudi was superb and the Bolognese is as good as I've had in Italy. The service was very well paced and kudos to Chef Sherrill.

    (5)

  • Sin-Yaw W.

    Tuesday is not a bad night to visit. We arrived 6:15 and went directly to the table. The menu was paltry, about 5 to 6 appetizers, small plates, and entree choices. It show-cased exotic things that make you wonder where are the safe choices. The waiter recommended Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon. It was fruity as promised and full bodied too. The heirloom tomato salad is on top of a couscous bedding and perfectly dressed: light, flavorful, and hook you for the next bites until the plate was completely clean. The pork belly, ordered just for the curiosity, was so good. There is a hint of duck. The pork fat was melting yet not heavy. The portion appears to be modest, but I was full. The meal was so good that we had to order dessert: the chocolate Napoleon. Dark chocolate wafers in between crunchy layers, sided with a scoop of ice cream. The French press coffee met the Seattle standard as well. It is definitely not a cheap restaurant, certainly unique and memorable.

    (5)

  • Derrick V.

    Excellent food, excellent service, excellent cocktails, and excellent value equals 5 stars. We had a very delicious meal, choosing mainly all the really rich items from the small plates section of the menu, with one entree. We really indulged. The server appropriately had our dishes come out two at a time so it was a very nice well paced meal that included a complimentary amuse and an intermezzo. We started with their famed fresh ricotta gnudi. Tasty cheese filled pasta, it came with orange marmalade, red beet emulsion, and tarragon. The sauce was on the sweet so I wasn't too fond of it. I'm more of a savory type of guy though. This came out with the beef tongue, served with braised savoy cabbage, bacon lardons, dates, winter savory. The beef tongue was perfectly tender and beefy, and I loved the interplay with the acid from the braised savoy cabbage. Next came the Karobuta pork belly confit, served with caramelized endive puree, candied apricots and toasted pistachios. I'm a fan of crispy pork belly (cooked twice), so this one reminded me of a simple Chinese style prep. Still the pork belly was beautifully cooked, very tender and rich. This came out with the seared Hudson Valley foie gras, which was perfectly cooked and luscious. It was served with candied pineapples and pistachios which helped cut the richness and added a welcome nuttiness to the dish. The next course featured the veal sweetbread roulade, which is one of the main reasons I chose this place to eat. I hadn't had sweetbreads since my first revelatory experience, and this dish was delicious, just as good if not better than the first time. Sweetbreads at their best are nice and crispy on the outside, lending them to a texture likened to a chicken nugget. This prep was perfect and served with jerusalem artichokes, bitter greens, hazelnuts and pickled ramps. This came out with the lone entree we ordered, braised beef short rib served with red beet fourchette, pickled watermelon radish, fresh horeradish, and watercress. The beef was perfectly braised, with an evident sauce reduction, pairing well with the red beets. I need to reiterate that the cocktails were absolutely delicious, some of the best mixed cocktails I've ever had. I had the La Pommette, a French 75 with apples: calvados shaken with lemon, topped off with a dry normandy cidre. This drink had a perfect subtle acidity, that was so refreshing to drink. It went down almost too fast. Next I had the Regrade Manhattan, featuring Maker's Mark Bourbon, Vya sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, and Griottes cherries. A very nicely made Manhattan. For 3, we paid about $60 each with tip so it was a great deal for all the tasty food and drinks. We loved the chef's food so much we had another dinner at his casual gastro pub, Quinn's on Capitol Hill, an equally mind blowing meal.

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    I went for restaurant week, and I'm not sure I could afford it otherwise except for special occasions. Great selection of whiskeys, although it took a bit of time for them to bring our drinks. Atmosphere was a little more barn-like than I had expected, but that didn't bother me (although the heating system isn't great so it's always either too hot or too cold). Food: The pork belly was the highlight - it cut like butter, wasn't greasy or heavy, but full of flavor. The fries were not amazing, but this isn't a place I would normally go to for fries (they just came with the burger). The desserts were also underwhelming. Overall, go for the drinks and food specialties, and make reservations.

    (4)

  • Guy N.

    I brought my girlfriend back here for dinner tonight, and the first thing we had was the Clear Conscience drink. After all my ranting & raving about this beverage since I ate here last month, she agreed with me. It really is a fantastic drink. We continued on to order the spicy wild boar bolognese & the winter squash risotto. The bolognese really stood out, and is fully deserving of all the accolades it's gotten from other reviewers. This fantastic starter, with it's soft wide green noodles and smooth bolognese sauce, should really be promoted to an entrée. In fact, serving it with a side of the risotto would be a perfect match. We then ordered the whole hog & the thundering hooves braised beef for our entrées. The whole hog is basically a fried rectangular patty of pulled-pork meat. The beans, kale, apricots & pork jus that it's served with makes it a tasty dish. The beef on the other hand was a disappointment. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either, and for $36 it should've been. The beef had a good soft texture, but must've been braised so much that the flavor leeched out of it. I would not order this dish. Finally, we ordered dessert, something I didn't get a chance to do last month. We went with the chocolate hazelnut mousse & the apple pecan torte. Both were quite good, though the torte wasn't much more than a glorified version of McDonald's baked apple pie. I am demoting Restaurant Zoë to 4-stars but am still a big fan and plan on going back again. ==================================================­==== I recently had dinner at Restaurant Zoë with a friend from out of town. Since this was the highest-rated place on Yelp where we were in Belltown, we decided to drop in. We started off with a couple of appetizers: - fresh ricotta gnudi with winter squash-verjus puree, hazelnuts, & tarragon - terrine of foie gras special with tomatoes & huckleberry jam Though tasty, I wasn't as impressed with the gnudi as everyone else who reviewed it. The foie gras was very good, but what made it really delicious was the accompanying huckleberry jam. For our entrées, we ordered: - chicken breast with potatoes, bacon lardon, parsley pistou, & whole grain mustard jus - sturgeon with pumpkin puree, brussel sprouts, pancetta, hazelnuts, & apples Both dishes were excellent, and I was particularly impressed with how juicy the chicken breast was. We had no room left for dessert, which I regret because of all the rave reviews I read about their dessert menu. But here's where I'm going to surprise some of you. The star of the night (BY FAR) was one of their non-alcoholic beverages which I couldn't get enough of - the "clear conscience". I'm not sure I've ever had a more refreshing & satisfying drink in my life than this concoction. It's description doesn't sound particularly appealing "non-alcoholic and slightly savory: fresh citrus, cucumber & soda, shaken and served up", but I am here to tell you it's absolutely fantastic. I ordered three of them, then went home looked up the recipe and bought the ingredients to make one myself. If you start off your experience at Restaurant Zoë with one of these peculiarly delicious drinks, your taste buds will love you.

    (4)

  • Peter D.

    This may be the best discovery I made in 2012. Not huge, quaint and just damn comfortable. BTW I was served the best pumpkin soup in my life here. Period. I am going to kidnap the chef and drive around Seattle blasting ABBA til he gives up the recipe! In all seriousness this is a place that you must try. We went as a large group of 12. Service was attentive, portions normal for non fat people and the flavors great. I had the burger and fries as did nearly every man at the table. I guess grilled meat just calls to all our inner animalistic desires. To say the least delicious. Like really fucking delicious. The way a burger should be which if you notice in many of my fail reviews is sadly not a common thing. They somehow forgot to make mine which is how I got that awesome soup on the house which was my most unexpected and happy discovery of the night. This is a place that I will come back to again and again. Parking sucks but then it is Capitol Hill and parking always sucks there. Go!!!!!

    (5)

  • Harley P.

    The interior, the service, and the atmosphere were very good. 5 stars. But the plates weren't really that special. We ordered chicken tofu, Boar Bolognese, Cod, and a chocolate cake dessert. and honestly only the dessert was like super super 5 star. other plates....we had some feeling of "western chef tries to mimic Asian style but not quite there". With that we decided to give it 4 stars only if compared to Quinns or Dahlia Lounge

    (4)

  • Danna L.

    Had heard so many amazing things about this place that I must admit I was a little disappointed. The food was ok. The atmosphere is cute but def did not make the list for places I would frequent

    (3)

  • Richard H.

    I had the foie gras special here one time about a year ago. What a great experience. The waiter did a fantastic job pairing my meal with a bottle of wine.

    (4)

  • Don A.

    Best service in a restaurant on Capitol Hill. The maitre d' deserves his own separate tips. Food does not disappoint. A steady on your list of Seattle spots to dine. Very helpful, almost necessary to have reservations.

    (4)

  • Jade N.

    Took mommy out for a birthday dinner and it was a very nice evening. The space is trendy, the service warm and the food good. We ordered one of each: salad, pasta, small course, large course, desert. The kitchen sent out an amuse bouche, soup and home made candy so it was an impromptu tasting menu. -Avoid the simple green salad. When they say simple they mean it- you get 3 leaves of lettuce..and that's it. -The beef short rib had too much horseradish so you really couldn't taste much else. -The Louisiana spot prawns came with a creamy bar of semolina gnocchi which was yummy -The boar bolognese was really good, definitely recommended.

    (3)

  • M N.

    Great food and service. We especially loved their desserts!

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    I am so happy that I listened to a co-worker and hit up Zoe. Owned by the same folks as Quinn's, which I've enjoyed several times in Capitol Hill, this was way more than I had expected - really good. I sat at the bar, as the single diner, and was brought an amuse bouche in the form of a garlic and anchovy puree on house made crostini. I almost didn't eat it, since I'm not a garlic guy, but it was mild garlic to the point of being almost missing, and the anchovy was good. Nice little start. From there, it was golden beet risotto. I ordered this after having read risotto, and somehow ignored the beet part. I'm not a big beet guy - the iron in them makes them taste too much like blood to me, as gross as that sounds, but this was also very very good. The beets were mild, risotto very well cooked, tender but with slight tooth, and some caramelized pecans added good texture contrast. Shaved apple was a bit mealy and maybe not super apple tasting, but maybe that's the season. Before my entree came another nice surprise - some apple parsnip soup with a drizzle of honey. Thick and rich, another bonus I didn't expect. My entree, the duck breast with sunchokes, kumquats, and spinach was awesome. The duck had a great seared crust, still rare in the middle, and the tart citrus with the spinach and sunchoke puree made for an excellent combo. Some of the better duck I think I've had - the first I can remember with this level of crust/sear on it. I finished it off with dessert, which I wouldn't normally order, but the d'anjou pear sorbet was too much to pass up. light and refreshing, but with the grainy texture I love in pears, I'm glad I made that choice. Finally, an apricot lime jelly came with the check to top it all off. My service was at the bar, very helpful and friendly, and considering the quality of food and extra items, my meal + tip cost in the $50s is a steal. I would make this a sure return if I was entertaining or if I go back to the area with friends. A really strong 4 stars - probably a 4.75 if you want to nit pick.

    (4)

  • Lisa E. L.

    Not a fan of their soups, it almost felt like eating frostings, way too sweet and creamy. Desserts were good.

    (3)

  • Jamie J.

    I dined here the other night, and what a lovely surprise. I have been wanting to stop in for a while, but the prior location was just out of the way for me. The new location is on capitol hill, right across the street from Skillet Diner. The new space is amazing - it's sort of country-casual but also really up-scale. If you would like, you can dine in a separate room specifically for parties. Also, there is apparently a room in the distillery, behind the restaurant, the is available for both sitting parties and standing parties. It's supposed to be a prime space, FYI. On to the food - It was great! I ordered the burger, which had this sweet meets smokey taste, which was very unique. This burger can compete with the Quinn burger, if you ask me. It came with a side of fries that are paired with an herbed aioli. Yummy. The menu is actually fairly short, and limited for vegetarians and vegans. For people who like gamey dishes, this is your spot! I really enjoyed everything about this place. The food, service, wine, ambiance, and the location are all worth a visit. They are still new in the area, so service is a bit slow... but, be patient! Nom nom nom... hope to be back soon.

    (4)

  • Jim P.

    I was on Capitol Hill to watch my wife graduate from esthetics's school and used my mobile app to find a place for a celebratory dinner. Restaurant Zoe popped up and we walked there. They actually seated us right away (even without reservations) and seated us near the bar. After a few minutes one of the runners (bussers?) told us our server would be with us in a few minutes and took some cocktail orders. Someone later came around with some bread and dipping oil which was very good. Our server finally came around and mentioned the daily features and we ordered. Froie Gras, duck, nectarine salad with panchetta, and New York steak. Everything was delicious! The only bummer was we had ordered another cocktail and beers and they were forever to bring them. I finally flagged our server (because I think she forgot them) and she finally brought them. After we finished our entrees she brought a desert menu and left. At first we weren't going to order anything but my wife and daughter have a sweet tooth and wanted to try something. We waited, and waited, and waited. Finally we thought twice and decided to pass and asked for the check because we wanted to get home before my next birthday. Great food, great cocktails, but for an upscale establishment I could use better service.

    (4)

  • Alexi A.

    Initially upon eating a Zoe I was thinking 3 or 4 stars but then I ate in other fine dining establishments on the west coast and realized Zoe isn't anywhere near their level. Go back for small pasta plate and dessert. Skip the rest, not worth the $$$. Food- 2.5 Stars. Bolognese and chessey pasta balls were amazing. Desserts were phenomenal. Short ribs were overcooked, almost to the point of dry (how is that even possible?). Strip Sous Vide was kind of nasty, not attractive and not a tasty steak experience which is a shameful way to treat that nice of a grass fed cut of beef. Salads were heavily over dressed, not good. Vichyssoise in between courses was way too salty, almost inedible. Menu was pretentious, didn't describe dishes well, for example strip was souvieed but but described as such. Lamb heart didn't even say it was served cold on menu, server had to warn us, seriously? Drinks- 3 Stars Drinks were fine, wine list lacked reasonable alternatives. Atmosphere- 4 Stars Nice inside, good service apropro for that level of rest. Service- 2 Stars Waiter was snotty and kinda a jerk but hostess was awesome.

    (2)

  • Ferdinand H.

    Went with a group of colleagues to visit Restaurant Zoe and was pleased with their ambiance, amiability, the neighbourhood chic decor. The stated intent of the menu style is to encourage a tapas like approach to ordering - share many zesty flavours to maximize one's appreciation of the panoply of spices and selections. While we didn't really end up doing that, we did share appetizers which were flavourful and pleasing enough. Zoe does live up to its reputation.

    (4)

  • Ninette C.

    I'm a little torn on Restaurant Zoe. I came here for a birthday party. I guess my friend knew one of the staff members here because they left him some flowers and the waitress expressed friend's extreme regret for not being able to be around while we dined. I had heard really good things about this place, but had never been because I always found the menu underwhelming. I think it works if you're a meat-eater, but not a pescatarian like me. They brought out the bread with the olive oil, sea salt mixture. I don't know exactly what that bread was and it looked overworked, but it was delicious. Next was the amuse bouche which was a creamy cauliflower soup with curry oil. This was ok, but how am I supposed to get it out of that cup when the soup barely moves?! Ugh. I ordered the english pea risotto mascarpone, pine nuts, lemon. My pescatarian friend and I both remarked that there weren't many choices so risotto it was for both of us. Other dishes our friends ordered included: -spicy wild boar bolognese arugula pappardelle, chili flakes, shaved parmesan -madd hatcher chicken breast bacon-raisin compote, garlic scapes, spring onion, vanilla oil -louisiana spot prawns creamy grits, english peas, bacon jus -sonoma artisan duck breast° strawberries, escarole, hazelnuts -herb risotto (side dish) The menu is a little odd. Most of the plate ARE small plates, but the pasta is not advertised as such. They tell you at the table, but I couldn't find anything else I wanted anyway (there were seafood dishes but none of them sounded good enough for me to want to order it) so my fellow pescatarian friend and I decided we would just eat more when we got home. Oh, so about those small plates: they're not really tapa sized, but they're not small plate prices either. I think the best bet is to just share a bunch of plates with everyone and expect to pay more than alot of other similarly-style restaurants. I've seen better small plates places though (for example, check out Sitka and Spruce). My risotto was good. It was very lemon-y and on the other hand, not very pea-y. They also brought us a complimentary cheese dish for my friend's birthday. I thought this was a cool touch as opposed to the usual cake. Unfortunately, only the Gorgonzola cheese was very good. The blue cheese and ...other cheese I forgot were not that great. I wasn't a huge fan of that toast-esque bread and the kumquat compote was good. However, I think everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal more than I did. The service was top-notch. Everyone there was great, kept telling my friend happy birthday, addressed him by his name and were always happy to take pictures for us. Someone even took our picture after our meal and helped us get a great backdrop. When we left, they made sure to say goodbye. The ambiance of this restaurant is nice enough. Typical Belltown-ambiance. I'm really torn what to rate this restaurant. Food: 3.5 stars. Ambiance: 4 stars. Service: 5 stars. Food weighs higher, but I'll go ahead and give it 4 stars-ish...maybe the other things average out...kind of? I probably wouldn't go back because there wasn't much for me to eat (oh yeah, the menu online isn't totally updated), but maybe this place is just meant for carnivores...

    (3)

  • Annie L.

    Ahhh! Was a fan, still a fan. I knew Zoe before she joined her fellow ex-Belltown restaurant siblings on Capitol Hill. And really happy to know she hasn't lost herr touch--believe it or not, she has gotten better. From fries with the most addicting aioli to manila clams in wine, I enjoyed every minute and every bite. Their menu changes, but if you ever see pappardelle, it is a MUST. And they have oyster with a refreshing citrus concoction that I will exclusively return for.

    (5)

  • Conrad C.

    Zoe has a lot of things going for it, and makes a great spot to take a date. The interior is surprisingly large, but each room has a distinct ambiance that works. One downside is that the plates are on the small side. My experience at Zoe was another one of those typical is-it-3-stars-or-4 meals. The food overall was of high quality, but it was uneven at times, which really detracts from the meal when the portion sizes are so small. Both appetizers we tried were fantastic. The emmer farro was different (I can't remember ordering something like this at a restaurant before) but really good. The grain's crunchiness paired so well with the green apple bits. The gnudi was also really great, and the lamb sausage had a juicy flavor. Even as an appetizer, though, the gnudi was too small of a plate. There were four (!) gnudi and two equally-sized balls of sausage. The entrees were pretty good but nowhere near as good as the small plates. We had a slow-cooked pork tenderloin, which was a special, and the burger. The beef itself in the burger was fantastic. I could tell because the muenster and mushrooms added little flavor at all. It was still a good burger, because the quality of the meat was so high, but I'm not sure Zoe's particular presentation really did anything. The pork was a big disappointment. Yet again, it was a tiny dish, but even setting that aside, the pork was almost flavorless. I wouldn't say it was a bad dish because it simply left no impression.

    (3)

  • Mona N.

    Dipping sauce for the bread set the tone (olive oil, balsamic, salt, pepper and red wine vinegar -- perhaps some thinly sliced shallot?) Epitome of what makes PNW fare so fantastic: light, delicate with flavors bursting from the fresh ingredients. Try one of everything on the menu -- everything works. Everything.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    Zoe came as a suggestion from a couple of friends who make this their regular spot when they're back in town. It's also a regular for their parents who live in the area. Knowing this I had to check it out. I would consider this one of the hip places in town and they always seem to be busy as we'd walked by a few times before actually dining. I guess some of the popularity is stemmed from the great food for really good prices. The Specials menu from Sun -Thurs is $25 for three courses. That's hard to beat. Some of the items had: -confit lamb heart horseradish cream, miners lettuce, preserved meyer lemon -dungeness crab brioche crouton, green asparagus, scallion -fresh ricotta gnudi artichoke relish, lemon oil, fennel pollen -veal sweetbreads° sautéed greens, chickpeas, apricots -spicy wild boar bolognese arugula pappardelle, chili flakes, shaved parmesan -spring risotto mascarpone, sorrel, lemon zest, pine nuts The portions are surprisingly hearty and the food was decently rich to boot. No one left hungry here. Service is expecdient and extremely friendly, while the ambiance is fairly bustling until close. They also have excellent cocktails and a good bar program though too bad they're not open later as it would be a good place to just get a drink and hang out. 4.5 stars

    (4)

  • Bridget K.

    This was seriously the best restaurant my boyfriend and I ate at during our one week trip to Seattle! You know what a great first sign of a good meal is? Warm, fresh foccacia with a balsamic and olive oil emulsion. I was completely blown away by the wild boar bolognese hot app--why doesn't this come in entree form? The pasta is made fresh in house and what give it that vibrant green color you ask? Arugula juice...need i say more? O yeah, and for all you carnivores, there's nothing more beastly than eating wild boar in a darling little restaurant, right? We also had the beef tongue hot app, which my boyfriend LOVED because he's a huge fan of big, bold, flavors. I found it to be a little bit salty, but the polenta was to die for! For entrees I had the duck breast and my boyfriend had the whole hog. AMAZING. I have to be honest, I was hesitant about trying the duck because the last time I had duck breast at (a rather fancy french) restaurant it was dry...like "wtf I didn't know you could f* up duck" dry. But not at Zoe, it was moist, had the most flavorful crispy skin, and the duck was a perfect, succulent, med rare. As for the whole hog, I'm not sure how they do this but it came out as a pulled pork meatloaf/ rillette that was incredibly crispy and textured on the outside, and very naturally flavorful (with a hint of rosemary) on the inside. The portions are GENEROUS. I regrettably did not save enough room for dessert. I know, I know, I'm disappointed in myself too... For two apps, two entrees, and 4 glasses of wine, the bill came out to be just a little over $150--SERIOUSLY?...Excuse me, but did someone calculate this wrong? What a steal. Seriously, if you're visiting Seattle just for a few days and have no idea where to eat, but want to make every meal count--Zoe is a restaurant you should definitely go to!

    (5)

  • Sol G.

    love love love. unpretentious fine dining with loads of delicious details. The food is great, the drinks are great, and the wine list is great!

    (5)

  • Anthony L.

    Restaurant Zoe. I want so much to like you! You have such beautiful decor, understated elegance. You have great waitresses that are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful! Your overall dining experience is more than acceptable. But alas, your food is forgettable. I had the Spicy wild boar which would have been fine on a sandwich but just underperformed as dinner dish. The duck breast on the other hand was quite delicious, but was an appetizer serving. The braised beef was another boring dish that had so much potential! I'm sorry Zoe, as much as I appreciate your decor, the free bread, and the top notch service, i just can't recommend this place for the price you charge! I tried...i really did.

    (2)

  • Clint W.

    Came here for the March dinner specials with a friend. We were both after the short ribs and it did not disappoint. Loved the rosemary in the bread too. It was melt in your mouth. Ginormous portions and I really could have skipped dessert. Staff was excellent and did their best not to interrupt. Only drawback to Zoe's is the noise level. When it's packed, it's a little distracting. Some folks were seated quite close to one another and that must have made it even more difficult. Still, this is one of my faves.

    (5)

  • Truth T.

    The Truth About Zoe I can only guess that the copious praise and 4 star reviews about this place are based on the previous Belltown location - which I had never been to. Gave The new place a total of 4 tries. Here is the Truth based on my experiences: My friends and I had heard about the opening after watching the SLOW construction from across the street visiting Skillet. The space had been empty for several years, and we were excited something was opening there, and excited about Zoe based on what we had heard and read. Wanting to be first to try it, we called about a month before opening, in hopes to get a table for Valentine's Day (2012). Right off the bat, the receptionist was snooty and aloof, enforcing a sense of exclusivity. She snidely advised they were already booked solid for Valentine's Day (somehow). To say she sounded unsure or confused about the date which was a month in advance -is the very least. So, I asked for a call back from a manager in case of schedule changes or a cancellation, she even inserted; "excuse me, but who are you?" I simply left my full name and number and, not surprisingly, I never heard back. Strike one; complete. On another attempt several months later, I wanted to simply check out the bar for a quick cocktail. I was greeted at the door by a snooty maitre d' who advised me there was no availability at the bar, and there was a wait. Really? a wait for a bar? This isn't New York. I panned over to see there was an empty seat at the bar and it didn't appear too busy for a quick drink, and nowhere near capacity. I was in casual clothes (but not shabby at all) compared to the people inside. As I was turning back from looking at the bar, and I caught her looking me up and down judging my appearance. All that was missing was a second lady to materialize telling Julia Roberts, "It's VERY expensive." It was ridiculous. I returned two more times Months late for two small private business dinners with colleagues. Each time It was mid-week, and not busy at all. The service was very attentive with napkin placement, crumb catchers and all. The cocktails and wines were overpriced but, fabulous. The cheese plate appetizer - was good! The menu, and main courses however, teetered between obscure trendy and lack-luster at best. It was amazing how long we pined over a very small menu selection trying to find something we actually wanted to eat. No steak? No Chicken? Of the half-dozen (or so) dinner items, you could, however, find quail, duck, pheasant ( or was it Ostrich, I can't quite recall)... and an equally sort of wild gamey alternatives to beef. The protein options were unsavory and portions were very small. The rest of the meal(s) were filled with some variant of carbohydrates. As another reviewer also stated, the best item, by far, was the burger. One expensive burger, with some weird marmalade over the top that didn't exactly help it out. How sad is it to say that at this snooty, pretentious, overly hyped, "fancy" restaurant, - the best Item is the burger? This place makes me laugh. I am giving this place two stars - ONLY because the bar service, cocktails (once you're allowed access to it), and night ambiance is nice even if overpriced. While I'm dishing out the Truth, another important point worth mentioning: it is hard to spot this place. The sleek inside is somewhat obscured by a bizarre and useless outside courtyard. it looks like a cross between a small city park extension of the bus stop, and a private family owned pet cemetery. What also doesn't help is that there is no visible signage that says, "Zoe" or, "Restaurant." Instead, high above the space and off the corner is an oval sign that makes ZERO sense. It appears: "r (cock) z." I can't fathom what they were thinking, or how anyone is supposed to translate that into, "Zoe" -or make the connection that there is a restaurant there. It's about as stupid and pointless as the pretentious restaurant itself.

    (2)

  • Desiree H.

    The Zoe of Belltown was hands down one of my favorite places to dine. I loved the bread, loved sharing the apps, and usually both my boyfriend and I would order the wild boar pasta. I am very happy to see that the bread, and the wild boar pasta are still on the menu. The space has the same feel, open and comfortable. I like that this space is more segregated and in a nicer location. My only problem is that service was a bit delayed on our second course, but the server apologized. I really enjoyed the attentiveness and attention paid to detail.

    (3)

  • Eric C.

    Great restaurant. Descent food. great service

    (5)

  • Carrie H.

    Tasty food but most dishes I've had at Zoe's are too salty.

    (4)

  • Opal D.

    One of my top 10 favourite restaurants in Seattle. Great food, great service. Sophisticated and understated decor. They bring tastes from the kitchen out, which I adore. I have never had a bad meal at Zoë! This is in Belltown so you can circle trying to find a spot on the street or use a paylot. Verdict: Highly Recommended.

    (5)

  • Andrew L.

    First time in the new location but just as great as I remember it from when I used to live in the city. If only it had been in the neighborhood when I was... The food was very solid, I only wish the spicy bolognese was actually spicy (it was very very very subtle). Service was impeccable and I really enjoyed being able to bring a special lady to one of my old favorites.

    (4)

  • Bev L.

    We never had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant Zoe when it was in Belltown, but since we're huge fans of Quinn's and Uneeda Burger, we had to check it out. The decor is rustic, yet sophisticated. Warm and inviting yet not too "homey." Our server was also attentive and engaging. I tried not to fill up on their wonderful fococcia bread but it kept reappearing on my plate! We started out with the ricotta gnudi and lamb sausage which was light and delectable. Our mains were the burger and the sous vide pork tenderloin. I do loves me a good burger and this was definitely a good burger. I had a couple of bites of the pork and it was also wonderful- extremely tender. So many things to try on the menu, I can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Adrienne N.

    The interior decor of this place is fantastic. Soft lighting and rustic colors, which I really like. We heard the rain coming down on the tin roof, which was a nice touch. The food was delicious, though some of it was a bit salty. The portion sizes were small, but because it's fancy we expected that. We got a salad, large plate (the Sturgeon), cheese and side to share. I'm gluten free and don't eat a lot of meat, so there wasn't a ton to eat for me. The side fingerling potatoes were super delicious, and the asparagus salad was amazing. After making my way through the sharing the seemingly small meal, I was actually pretty content and topped off my meal with another glass of vino, but the boys had to order a burger to feel satisfied. They keep your table full of delicious home-made bread, and the service is prompt and attentive. They may be too attentive, but otherwise very good.

    (4)

  • Ingrid D.

    And then... We had desert. Just when we tasted the chocolate orb and the Meyer lemon tart, we knew Zoe did deserve 5 stars indeed. Super friendly staff... Amazing dinner from start to finish. Just perfect. I highly recommend it. (but for a perfect night, avoid the steak tartare ;-) )

    (5)

  • Ben W.

    Delicious! Foie Gras dish was awesome! Atmosphere was cool. Great Spot. Great Service

    (5)

  • Kimberly B.

    Wow... just, wow. Came here on a foodie night out with my roommate and my boyfriend, and we were all blown away. The absolute best thing that I can say about Zoe is that the pairings are spot on. Trust in the pairings within the dishes. Don't just try portions of dishes you order... they are all paired perfectly. We made a reservation and were seated on the beautiful, somewhat outdoor patio - perfect temperatures, gorgeous ambiance, and spot-on service (a wonderful find in this typically sub-par service city). Bread with tasty balsamic arrived immediately, as did our drinks - the Boola for me (gin from next door!), and beers for my companions. The entire menu looked good - it was difficult to pick, so we decided to splurge and split a bunch of small plates and one entree. Here's the breakdown: -Nectarine and proscuitto salad with Marcona almonds: perfect. Absolutely perfect. I cannot emphasize enough well everything pulled together. -Heirloom tomato gazpacho with avocado and grapes: gorgeous color, clean and earthy taste. Again, all of the elements came together beautifully. -Shaved beef tongue with lovage and more incredible pairings. Yum. Yum, yum. -Mussels with jalapeno and mint: perfectly fresh, and the broth - oh, the broth!! -Beef tartare with fingerling potato chips and these INSANE dessert wine gelatin squares. Seriously. The biggest surprise of the night were these little gelatin squares, and they made the dish absolutely perfect. - Then our entree - the "daily duck," which was a Muscovy duck breast, seared with fresh summer veggies and some type of basil sauce. Absolutely delicious. We then took it overboard and opted for desserts - vanilla & chocolate macaroons (the best I've ever had), vanilla panna cotta with apricot caviar (had to be some sort of chai in here - regardless, it made me want to stand up and applaud), and salt & pepper caramels (the perfect finale). I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. From start to finish, this was a perfect meal - one of the best I've had in Seattle. I'll absolutely be back, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone as a prime example of how phenomenal Seattle dining can be.

    (5)

  • Todd T.

    The service is phenomenal here, before I even mention the amazing food! The waiters are quick to provide water, condiments for bread and fresh napkins & plates quickly. The atmosphere is a great choice for a romantic date or a quiet evening. The dishes are pricey but well worth it - well presented and each distinctive. To echo others' comments - the bread was exceptional. And the roast duck confit and bolognese were both very memorable - I would know: I'm writing high praise for those dishes a year and a half after eating there and can still recall their great impression.

    (5)

  • Claire O.

    Had to try Restaurant Zoe as soon as possible after eagerly anticipating the Capital Hill move for months. Overall, I'd say Restaurant Zoe was good before, but has improved on almost every dimension since moving. The space is a little more rustic vs the clean modernism of before - open kitchen, pans hanging, lots of wood - and nice views out on Union street and the garden which I really hope will contain seating in summer. It's still modern, just a bit more welcoming. Food was good but not oustanding. We enjoyed the fries and lamb shortribs for starter. The lamb was awesome, and I enjoyed the black pepper aioli with the fries but the fries themselves could have done with being more crispy. For main course we had the salmon and a duck special with a side of brussel sprouts. The mains were delicious, but the accompaniments (polenta with the duck and quinoa with the salmon) were meh - the portioning was also a little off with an overly high meat ratio. The brussel sprouts were delish. The lemon tart for dessert was small, light and perfectly flavoured - the ideal dessert. Overall, I thought the food was better than in the previous location (new chef apparently). Wine and drinks lists were both good, service was truly exemplary. More than worth a trip.

    (4)

  • Debbie M.

    The food here is mostly good. It has some problems. The soups are too sweet and the drinks were a bit weak. There were also some other picky issues for me such as the mussels were tough and soaked up all their sauce. . The rest of the food is pretty decent though. The atmosphere lacked the coziness I expected. It was a little cold and loud. That paired with the food mishaps are why it gets three stars. I will give it another chance and hope that I have a better experience next time.

    (3)

  • Spencer W.

    I haven't had a burger experience like I had a Zoe since I was a child. Truly perfect. Also, the oyster hour is a great deal- especially given the quality.

    (5)

  • Emily H.

    I have been waiting for Restaurant Zoe since it moved to Belltown. My boyfriend and I came there for dinner. We ordered the Braised Boar Ravioli, Gnudi and Seared Duck. We also had their cranberry orange something beverage. Food was delicious. Would recommend every dish. This review only receives 4 stars because it took 40 minutes for us to receive our food. After the first 20 minutes of our wait our waitress came and said that the food was taking longer due to the fact that we ordered the duck to be cooked "medium". She never apologized and didn't acknowledge us again until our food came out, essentially she blamed our preference on causing or food to take forever to come out. Where's the customer service? No offer to comp our non-alcoholic beverages or anything. Didn't bother order dessert this time, might have taken another 30 min to come out. When she brought us the check it took another 15 minutes for her to bring back our card.

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    I went into the restaurant RIGHT after it opened (within days) because I was excited to try it out. They have a fairly large restaurant, and at the time, a handful of customers. The hostess was really bitchy! She (in a very condescending tone) asked if I had a reservation... Well, no, you just opened, it's 8:30 on a Tuesday evening and you've got 50 open tables... why would I make a reservation? She informed me that it would be a 30-45 minute wait for one of the empty, not reserved tables. Fortunately for shitty planners like myself, there were two seats at the bar. Thank Jesus they had open seating for me! The bartender made this experience a lot better. He wasn't an ass hole, was super nice and the food was good. Overall, a good experience, but they really should fire that chick at the door.

    (3)

  • Jennifer B.

    A nice restaurant in Belltown and a good place to bring a date. It is expensive, the food is good, and the staff are nice. I had the dungeness crab salad and it was just okay. The sonoma artisan duck breast was yummy and juicy. I also tried the washington steelhead and the whole hog. The whole hog was my favorite. They had a large wine selection that I liked.

    (4)

  • Jeremy H.

    The new space is definitely a step up for Restaurant Zoe; the atmosphere is gorgeous. The night we went we had a great server: attentive without hovering, knowledgeable of the menu and specials, and let us eat at a nice leisurely pace. The cocktail menu here is 5 stars--mine was so good I had to have another! As for the food, Zoe has "downscaled" their menu (and prices) so it seems more New American with a French twist than straight up French, but it works. I had the pork tenderloin, which was slightly too rare for my taste, but the mostarda made up for that, and the roasted brussel sprouts were a star of the dish instead of an afterthought. One of my dining companions had a celery root soup that was also extremely delicious. I gotta say that while I enjoyed my food, I missed the fois gras. Portions are small, but the food was rich, so that was ok. The new Restaurant Zoe is a great addition to my neighborhood, and I'm sure I'll be there often.

    (4)

  • Jeanne Z.

    I agree with the other reviewer who mentioned that the food is not very filling. Usually when I go to a very expensive restaurant with small portions, the flavor is rich and fills me up. But not this time. And this is a petite 90 lb female talking. However, the food is delicious. My boyfriend got the steak tartare and I got the pork belly. Both were prepared with great care and tasted excellent. My boyfriend ordered an Old Fashioned (a drink he always orders at restaurants and bars), and said it was one of the best Old Fashioned he's ever had. For dessert, we both ordered the dark chocolate and orange creme brulee, which tasted divine. The staff was really friendly and I liked the decor of the restaurant which gave a rustic, French countryside ambiance.

    (3)

  • Teresa T.

    This was my second time coming to Restaurant Zoe for Restaurant Week. Previously I had went for an early dinner but this time I came for a 6:30 reservations and I feel that nighttime is where Zoe's atmosphere really shines. The place had great warm lighting and the noise level was just enough. Not too loud but you could tell people were enjoying their company. The menu was incredibly similar to the menu I ate last time, so that was a bit disappointing but for a 3 course meal for $25, I shouldn't complain too much. For drinks I got a Ruby, my dear that was a cranberry-orange mimosa with a very delcious "sunken jewel" that was a brandy soaked cherry. First course was a Ricotta Gnudi with Beet puree, which was on the menu before. Gnudis are similar to a gnocchi and Zoe's were prepared very well. They were incredibly soft and had just the right amount of ricotta. The beet puree wasn't as earthy as I would have liked to offset such a light thing as gnudi. Previously here I had a very well executed chicken breast that was incredibly moist but simple and allowed the chicken to shine. My friends had the chicken breast and although it was as moist as I remember, perhaps I built it up too much since this time around the vote was that it was a bit too salty. I opted for a parsnip risotto and it was an okay dish. The risotto was a bit too toothsome some bites and overall it was a very rich dish for the portion given. I appreciated the fried parsnip on top and the pear slices to help balance things. I ended with a cheese plate that was delicious. My palate was already dying down after the creamy risotto so I found it harder than normal to enjoy the cheese plate I ordered. The plate consisted of two local cheese: one grape leaf wrapped bleu and another one that was much milder in comparison. Obviously I loved the stinky cheese and liked the raisin medley and toast slices that came along. Overall, Restaurant Zoe may have been better the first time when I had not expectations for the place but I would still recommend it for a nice evening when you just want good food, nothing too fancy but still special.

    (3)

  • McCall H.

    Had an amazing experience at Restaurant Zoe for dinner! The food was unique and delicious, the service was incredible, and the atmosphere could not have been more perfectly intimate. Great for a romantic date or a casual dinner with friends. Yummy drinks, too! Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Adriana C.

    A friend had recommended this restaurant and it was near our Seattle hotel, so my partner and I decided to check it out. OH. MY. GOD. This place is fantastic. Yelp should increase the number of stars that we can give this restaurant. To 1000000. We definitely recommend their modern and creative version of Steak Tartare. So flavorful and perfectly paired with fingerling chips! We also ordered delicious pork chops and duck. As a New Yorker, I have to admit I'm biased against restaurants outside of NYC. Plus, on Yelp we found so many restaurants with 4 or more stars, we figured that Seattle had the opposite bias. Restaurant Zoë was a fantastic dining experience. Definitely tops our list of things to do the next time we're in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Steve V.

    I came here for Restaurant Week dinner with my wife. Food: For appetizers, I tried the gnudi which were restaurant-made ricotta balls with beets - small portion but heavy enough to be filling. My wife had a salad with mushrooms. For main course, there were 4 options. I enjoyed the gnocchi which was tasty. Other options included pork belly and cod. For dessert, we had a chocolate torte (probably the best of everything we tried) and pomegranate-cranberry sorbet with poached pears. Drinks: plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, but a little pricey. Generally $11 or more per drink. Ambiance: really nice, rustic-feel. Plenty of seating. Nice bar. Service: great waitress. Very friendly. Water glasses always filled. Parking can be a challenge in the area. Great place to try out for restaurant week. They also have a happy hour with oysters.

    (4)

  • Food F.

    Newly opened on Capital Hill and isn't without issues or compliments. Servers need knowledge and the bartender couldn't make the same drink twice the same way. Positives: the food was excellent and once the newness wears off, this is going to one of the best places for a food experience. Update: have been several times and our original issues are still hanging. 9/11/12

    (3)

  • Diana H.

    Went for the first time last night - fantastic experience! Everything was incredible. We couldn't decide what to order, so ended up choosing a bunch of small plates. Started off with the chickpeas, then moved on to the mixed baby lettuce salad (and, they were nice enough to split that onto two plates for us!) and the tartare, then had the gnudi and the wild boar bolognese. The steak tartare was phenomenal, by far among the best that I've ever had. We finished the night with a cheese plate. Dessert menu looked great, but I was way too full! Shoutout to our server Kris - he is so much fun! Really made the evening extra enjoyable for us.

    (5)

  • April D.

    Came up to Seattle with a friend to eat our hearts out, and we certainly did here. I loved the vibe from the start. It's classy and casual at the same time. We had a reservation on a Friday at 5:30pm, but it was hardly busy. The crowd started to roll in 30 minutes later. We were seated at a nice spot near the window, and it all just came together perfectly. Here's what was shared... Beet salad with candied ginger and pistachios - A beautiful combo. Definitely something to take into your mouth slowly and enjoy. No inhaling this one. Lamb ribs with lentils, celery, and a tamarind glaze - Good ribs and good glaze. And I like lentils, so that worked out well. Steak tartare with parsley salad, olive gelee, and fingerling chips - one of my favorites here. Just a bit of that tartare on a chip is soo tasty. "The Daily Duck" - it was a duck breast sitting on top of a brown sauce with cherries and carrots, and risotto. I'm not a big risotto fan, but I heavily enjoyed the duck, and the sauce. And the staff gets extra points in my book, because they split the one order we shared into two cute little personal grill pans. And the serving amount that we each got, seemed very generous. Vanilla panna cotta with strawberries with beaded pineapples sitting on a phyllo square - We paired it with their recommended dessert wine. And it was just right. It wasn't too sweet. It was just the perfect end to our pretty close to perfect dining experience. Also can't forget the complimentary amuse bouche and foccacia bread. Hollaaa.

    (5)

  • Felicia C.

    We were really looking for ward to the pork belly but alas it was not on that night's menu. However, everything we did end up ordering tasted fantastic so it's a great place to get out of your culinary comfort zone and try something new. The reason why I didn't give it 5 stars, is the quail was a undercooked so I spend the rest of hte night in the bathroom. It did cross my mind but I trusted that chefs know what you can and cannot serve rare. Poultry is not one of those meats. 12/9/12 UPDATE: After speaking with the gracious management at Zoe's, I learned that it was typical for poultry to be seared, however it can effect you depending on your body's sensitivity. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Celeste T.

    I had a very nice evening sitting in the portion of the dining room that has something of an outdoor feel, perhaps because it looks like it is a shed roof (it's a technical term, not a measure of quality of construction btw) covering the old parking lot? That being said, it's light and airy while the sun is up, and appropriately dim after the sun goes down, thanks to a lovely sunroof section on the roof. I had a tasty beverage to start, from their cocktail menu. The la pommette, it was dry, light, slightly bitter, and very delicious. It doesn't overwhelm the food, either. We also had food, lots of food: steak tartare, frites, ricotta gnudi, broccoli with anchovies, mussels, and the delightful foccacia bread served with herbed balsalmic viniagrette. Favorites from that list were the broccoli, frites, and mussels. The bread IS like crack, as one other reviewer commented. I finished off with a whiskey ginger and a plate of cheese - nice selection of a rich blue, a hard sheep's milk cheese, and then one other that I forgot.

    (4)

  • Aly M.

    We went here for an anniversary dinner. The menu was very different from what they had posted online, which meant that the meals I was interested in trying were no longer available. I ordered something else instead, but I wasn't really that interested in it in the first place, so it was only okay. My husband was also not very impressed with his food. We had been looking forward to going here for awhile, so I guess our expectations were too high. The service was also a bit awkward. They ended up giving us a free dessert for our anniversary, which was really nice. The dessert ended up being our favorite part! If I was to go back, it would only be for dessert.

    (2)

  • Rich T.

    Wow. Foie gras is terrific! Amazing with the peach tart and Sauterne. I would never have imagined that these flavors would work so well together. I'm so glad Zoe moved from Belltown to Capitol HIll. Duck confit is supposed to be a small plate, but it was quite a lot to share. A terrific blend of traditional french added to a wonderful ginger jus. Loved it. Wild boar bolonaise on arugula. Wow!

    (5)

  • Joop V.

    4.5 stars. This is one of the restaurants I have been wanting to try for a long time. They seemed busy Friday night, so I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time, especially during weekend, if you don't want to be disappointed/turned away. I initially made a reservation at 6pm and had to call to try to move to 7pm last minute. However, because they were busy, I was informed the next appointment time that they would be able to take our party of 3 in would be at 8:45pm! We decided to show up last min at 7pm anyways in case anyone didn't show up...and, as our luck had it, we were able to snatch a table in a bar area for our party last minute! The menu rotates on a frequent basis, with alcoholic drinks from~ $6-10, appetizers from~ $8-$15 and main courses ranging from ~$18-$35. We were there for a dinner on 8/23 (and the menu we had was last updated 8/8...so you can never guess what's going to be there the time you go eat. I had a stone fruit soda for drink and a duck leg for dinner..it was yummmm!! Savored every bite of it..Our panna cotta dessert was also great. It was not overwhelmingly sweet..and had a very creative twist to it (there was a mix of filo and basil scented as part of our dessert, too. I also loved the bread they served on the side with vinegar...it tasted so good I finished 2 small plates of bread too.. (or maybe I was just that hungry!). Our table had 3 drinks, 3 entrees and shared one dessert and the bill came to ~$125, excluding tips. Not bad..even though it's a tad expensive..but for the service and food we got...we didn't mind at all. Overall, I wouldn't mind going there again at all. The service was great, the ambiance was classy, yet casual enough for a great conversation with group of friends or date nights. Seems like it would be a bit difficult to find street parking around the area though...but hey..the food/service there are definitely worth a try!

    (4)

  • Oksana K.

    I really do not get what the hype is all about. My fiancé and I came here for a romantic dinner once - the food is overpriced and has no flavor. We ordered a pork chop dish and chicken and I could probably make better food at home. We spent over 100$ without drinks and the food was less than mediocre. Save your money , seriously. This place sucks.

    (2)

  • Alexander Bromley Clark D.

    My girlfriend and I hunted this warm, stylish bistro down on a recent visit to Seattle because I read about their oyster happy hour on Yelp. Everything about our experience at Zoë was outstanding. First, we ordered sixteen Shigoku oysters, and not only were these rare deep-shelled bivalves amazing, our server also threw in two extra oysters on the house. Second, Zoë has both a great wine and beer list. I find that many restaurants tend to favour one beverage over the other, and it seems like places that serve oysters are wine biased, but Zoë has great crafts on tap too. Third, our server was amazing. He was attentive, very polite, and quick to refill our plates with Zoë's delectable complimentary focaccia when they began to look bare. I want to explore the Capitol Hill area more thoroughly on my next visit, and I will be sure to drop by Zoë during my wanderings.

    (5)

  • Myriam G.

    I just realized while writing a review for another place that I have not written one for Zoë. For shame! I have been here many times and it is one of my absolute favorite places in Seattle. Although I still miss their old place in Belltown, their new location on Capitol Hill is larger, airier and somehow seems fresher. What has not changed, however, is the quality of the food and the service. This is a restaurant which not only takes its food preparation and artistry seriously; it also takes its customers seriously. It's like we have an understanding: I'm coming to eat, I want my food meticulously prepared and beautifully presented, I want it all to be made from the best ingredients you can get your hands on, I want it in a reasonably-sized portion, with a wonderful selection of beverages to choose from to accompany it, and I'm happy to pay for all of this if I'm getting what I asked for. They get me, they really do. The Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese, although it's now in the "small plates" category, is still available as an entrée, thank god. Love it. The hours it likely took to bring the combination of flavors to this sauce is all worth it once it's ladled onto the fresh pappardelle. Melt in your mouth? Not just. It smolders in your mouth the way George Clooney smolders at his women. The duck confit, the squid and any fish they've got on the menu--I also recommend these and guarantee you won't be disappointed. Same with the sides and desserts. Atmosphere is lovely, for romantic date nights or with a small group of friends. The waitstaff are seasoned pros; they make sure you have everything you need without being intrusive or pesky. You can enjoy a languorous, two-hour dinner and leave feeling ridiculously spoiled and sated. Treat yourself and experience Zoë.

    (5)

  • Gypsy M.

    There seems to be a theme emerging in certain restaurants in Seattle. That is, serving unbelievably small portions of food for unbelievably high prices. we went to Zoe on Friday night, and ordered the halibut as a main course - for $35. This is a high price for any entree in Seattle. The piece of halibut they brought me would not have satisfied a four year old child. I cook seafood a lot, and I know how much halibut costs. But it's not made out of platinum, for Christ's sakes! I really felt ripped off, and we won't be going back to Zoe. As another reviewer said, if you can't get filled up by your meal, why bother going to the restaurant?

    (2)

  • Bryan P.

    Fantastic meal for a Sunday night where we thought we'd try something new. Sat in the bar and had FANTASTIC service. Food was perfect. Hate yelp but just wanted to leave a positive review when you actually have a positive experience (which must people have everywhere). Yelp tends to be a artery for the passive aggressive, or wannabe restaurant critics...we just had a great meal.

    (5)

  • John L.

    Speaking from only a single meal, Zoë was our favorite Seattle NA (New American) joint, heads and tails beyond Matt's in the Market IMHO. Rare is the spot where the entrees trump the starters but ours were fantastic, even if we cheated a little bit by ordering a double order of the boar bolognese (one of the pastas on their appetizers list). The "whole hog" main was stellar and perfectly rooted by the lentils underneath. Service at Zoë was a bit too casual and pacing rushed for a slow night (maybe a Seattle thing?). Wine list interesting but not dynamic. We had a couple of cocktails as well and they were good not great.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Absolutely the worst front end service in seattle. These people have absolutely no concern for new clients, they put on airs and lack the professionalism that exists with other restaurateurs in the area. We had a 6 person reservation on an occasion that meant a lot to my friends, so I chose this spot knowing full well their reputation - yes good for some crazy reason. When we arrived ON TIME = They not only gave away our table but asked if we "CONFIRMED" the reservation. Who the fuck asks for a confirmation of a reservation????? It was an out and out lie,Im sure a VIP got our table so they sent us down the street talking to ourselves. Zoe you suck. I boycott you and all your affiliate spots as well - you are aristocratic, shitty little busy owners that deserve to go out of business.

    (1)

  • Paige V.

    I knew the food would be impressive because our friend is the head chef, but I never expect service to be that great anywhere. It was beyond anything I've ever experienced, and all of the wait staff helped each other out to create a super dynamic service team. It was truly a spectacle. Awesome experience, glad to see this Seattle spot doing so well : ) Go, Luke!

    (5)

  • Amy B.

    I went on a weeknight with a friend and we did all the works to try out as much as possible. Even with that, our food was not that memorable. Arctic char was served warm (as they specifically said it is supposed to be) but was very lacking in flavor. We also tried the bolognese and I just didn't find it very special for the same reason as the char. The one thing I did enjoy was our dessert, some sort of rhubarb layered dessert with candied ginger? RZ is overall a very nice place to dine with a clean, open space and great service. If I come back it most likely won't be for the food.

    (3)

  • Leona T.

    I went because the good reviews, posted pictures and the menus unique dishes. Be aware the picture and post that were from 3 years ago. They are totally misleading. The portions are barely a quarter size of that and the price is higher. I asked for bottle water and they charged me $4 for filtered water in a recycled bottle, that should've been free, it's just filtered tap water! Most other restaurants I go to their water is filtered and thy do not charge for that. We were the only person eating there at the time. It was a Thursday night at 6pm. A few good things I liked about the place was the ambience, the service was good and the raw oysters were exceptional. They also have a happy hour from 5-6pm for half off oysters. All other food was whatever and I wouldn't recommend, not would I go back for. I will post my pictures so you can see what the potions are like now. The cod is almost a quarter of the size then the post from Jennifer L. 3 years ago and the crispy pork has 2 small pieces! Not 6 like the old posts.

    (1)

  • Dmitry M.

    Delicious food, great atmosphere, and the best service you will find on Cap Hill. Bonus: Mon - Thursday Zoe holds oyster happy hour. If you are a seafood fan, make sure to check it out.

    (5)

  • Kyle H.

    Do it!...Casual, yet refined. We loved the petite filet. Great food, service, & cocktails.

    (5)

  • Joyce J.

    I came here for the first time last Sunday since Zoe moved to this location. My opinion of this restaurant improved significantly since my last visit. My previous impression of this restaurant was that the bread was awesome, the gnudi was heavenly, and everything else went downhill after the appetizer. Well, the bread was still awesome, the gnudi still great, and the dishes after the starters were awesome this time. The complimentary amuse bouche of chilled asparagus soup with creme fraiche was delightful. It came in a little espresso mug and the freshness of asparagus carried through as you drank it. The airy and smooth texture of the soup broadened one's imagination for how asparagus can be prepared without losing its true flavors.The baby beet salad with grades and arugula had every component of an awesome salad. It did not quite make the top five of my salad list but it was close and was very enjoyable. My friend and I split a duck confit entree that was the special of the day. The duck was served over quinoa and some sort of green. The skin on the confit was browned perfectly. The dish was simple but very nicely done. The highlight of the meal was definitely the dessert! The vanilla panna cotta with apricot caviar and roasted strawberries easily placed in my top five panna cotta ever. The panna cotta was placed between speculaas and didn't look like how I would have picture it. But I was surprised by the complexity of the flavors, the mixing of textures, and how well all of the flavors and textures went together. If I had ordered another one after eating it, I probably would have enjoyed second one just as much because the panna cotta was THAT good. The service at this place was also very welcoming. Even though our waitress had to apologize twice (once for the special gnocchi running out and the second time for the salad we ordered running out) she was very attentive and did not rush us. Overall it was a very pleasant meal.

    (5)

  • Paula S.

    Really enjoyed our experience here. sad to hear they will be moving to Cap Hill!! The staff were all amazing, great drinks, spot on service and fabulous food. I asked the server to pick a wine to go with each course I ordered and she hit it out of the park. We'll have to check out the new space as well!

    (5)

  • Bryant I.

    Fantastic! Fantastic service, food and atmosphere!! I started with the heirloom tomatoes on a bed on quinoa - tasty! Then I had the pork, pulled, and breaded served with greens. Amazing. Did I mention the 2 amuse-bouches? Salmon mousse on toast and a peach nectarine soup Now pair this meal with tasty cocktails and a good glass of Pinot Amazing. I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Ana W.

    Fantastic service and great food. Had the nectarine and proscuitto salad. Perfect. Salmon and figs was good..,salmon was a bit salty tho. Also had the bolognese (best I've ever had) and the gnudi... Worth trying.

    (5)

  • Peggy S.

    I need to somehow hack Yelp so I can give this restaurant an 8-star out of 5. Great ambiance, lovely large windows facing the streets of Belltown, and I just love the energy in this restaurant! Upon seated, my drink order was quickly taken, and my awesome waiter, Tom, asked me if I had any food allergies. That's rare - most restaurants don't ask, but probably because they don't surprise you with things you didn't order! Rosemary focaccia was quickly brought to me, along with their dipping sauce. I must point out, the fun thing about dining here is that they give a short introduction of what is being served to you, including the ingredients of the dip, and the lovely amuse bouche! Yes, I was very amused by the amuse bouche, and that's when I could hardly wait for my wonderful meal to begin! I ordered two small plates: spicy wild boar bolognese and thundering hooves beef tongue, and they were both so, so delicious! The spicy wild boar bolognese had great texture! The wild boar is pretty muscular, not like those mushy, domestic meat. I loved the herbs and spices they put into the dish, and the pasta is cooked to perfection! It was smooth & al dente, so it retains that bounciness when you bite into it. After I devoured my bolognese, I was served with a mid-course soup, which also came with an introduction - corn soup with extra virgin olive oil. I loved the creaminess and the sweetness of the corn, and I loved the surprise :) The beef tongue was also very good, though slightly saltier than I am used to, but went very well with the rosemary semolina gnocchi. The beef tongue was very tender, and it came with some ultra fresh greens, pearl onions, and chanterelles mushrooms. Lastly, I ordered the sorbet, which apparently was made by Tom! It was very peachy and palate-cleansing, a perfect ending to my meal! Everyone at the restaurant was very friendly, helpful, and energetic. I loved this restaurant and I would definitely return when I come back to Seattle!

    (5)

  • Melissa N.

    Great atmosphere! I really liked my experience at RZ. We were sitting by the window so it wasn't as dim as other restaurants. The waiter was really nice and kept checking in on us to make sure we were doing fine. First of all, their bread is super good. It had some specs of salt to add to the flavor and dipping it with the oil was delicious. I ate quite a bit and filled up. Bad mistake! They were really nice and gave a complimentary taste of an onion based soup. I've never had a cold soup before, so this one was my first. Interesting after taste and the cream was a little rich. I ordered the steak tartare and it came with chips. It was a great tasty combination that had a good crunch. I also had the salad. My friend ordered the cheese and sausages and oh my goodness! That was ridiculously good. The cheese literally melted in your mouth and tasted like a piece of heaven. Dessert was definitely the best part. Everyone ordered the panna cotta except me. I got the lemon creme brulee. The strawberry topping with the panna cotta really made it even better, without it, it was pretty rich. I really enjoyed my creme brulee. The custard was light and had a hint of lemon and smokiness from the burnt sugar. They rotate their menu quite often so there are always new things popping up. Love!

    (4)

  • Y L.

    My wife and I went back here for Valentine's Day, and it was as good as before. They didn't do the "special V-Day menu" thing (which tends to be over-priced for mediocre food), but did add a "romantic cocktails" list. I had a couple of those -- the second one, which was a sage margarita, was particularly refreshing. Once again, they really like to vary the vegetables in their dishes, particularly in their salads and appetizers. In just our salad course alone, we got a bit of salsify, mache, black trumpet mushrooms, and quinoa. The appetizer, which we split, was ricotta gnudi, over a balsamic, red-onion reduction, with a slight hint of truffles. We devoured it. My wife had the pasta bolognese, and I had the seared scallops. The pasta bolognese went particularly well with my sage maragarita. As for the seared scallops, it reminded me of why people like scallops -- it had a great crust and, more importantly, a nice scallopy-shrimpy flavor, with a sweet finish -- and the butter fondue sauce complement it perfectly. It's been a very long time since I had scallops done as well as that. In between, we had a couple of courses of amuses bouches again -- this time a little crostini of pate and plum chutney, and later an espresso cut of warm squash soup, topped with olive oil. It's worth going, and is particularly good as a place to take a date who loves good food.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    When the dessert menus made their way around, we all passed, though I did partake in a cup of decaf coffee which of course couldn't be a simple drip coffee at a place like Restaurant Zoe...it was a wonderful French press. We wrapped up our conversation and finally headed out after a good 3 hours. The night itself was a great time; wonderful food, excellent company, and a great venue. We couldn't have asked for anything else, especially from a place that ended up being our fall back option. For the full review and delicious pictures, check out: deckonfood.com/?p=1724

    (4)

  • Lexi H.

    My boyfriend and I came here during restaurant week. Restaurant Zoe was awesome. The gnudi, steelhead, and caramel chocolate bars were the best! I like this never-ending bread refill thing. Wait, I love it. While my bf and I gratefully devoured most things, he was pretty disappointed in the bibb lettuce, because it was literally a pile of leaves and vinaigrette. But that might be someone's thing. The atmosphere was pretty, modern, and low-key, yet nice enough so that you feel as though you've had a classy night out. The service was attentive and fast. Indeed, our waitress could've slowed down a bit, she spoke veryyy quickly! Oh, and I took my bf here for our belated anniversary dinner and some of the female servers took the time to come over and say I looked pretty. That was quite unexpected, I couldn't stop smiling (hell, if this is a genius ploy to increase tips - mission accomplished).

    (5)

  • Emily M.

    Our last night in Seattle, my boyfriend and I decided to go to restaurant Zoe as a romantic date, because of how highly it was rated on yelp, and how different the menu looked. I guess we were pretty disappointed. We got three small plates, and I know they're small plates, but we weren't even close to full when we left that restaurant. We did the same thing at pink door and left completely full. As for price, we paid way too much to not be that full. We're very nice people so we tried to justify it because obviously the quality of the food was great, but it just doesn't seem at all worth it in hindsight. We wish we had just gone to pink door again.

    (2)

  • Susy W.

    First off - the bread and the balsamic vinaigrette is wonderful, and free-flowing. Now that I have that out of the way... Armed with the la pomette drink and a glass of wine, I was ready to experience zoe. I got the fresh ricotta gnudi as an appetizer, it was served with an orange marmalade. I did like the sweet-saltiness from the dish, but my friends were not very fond of the sweetness. I also got a taste of the seared foie gras. I haven't quite tasted enough foie gras in my life, but I can say it was delicious. I had a hard time deciding on the entree - but went with braised beef short ribs because of the raves here, and because of my irrational love for beets. That meat was sooo tender... I can attempt to describe it to you, but I think it'd be best for you to go out and experience it for yourself. We also got the "chocolate dessert" which consisted of (from the website's menu): chocolate espresso pot de creme, four layer chocolate cake, chocolate sandwich. I can't really comment on this as I was stuffed and you really can't go wrong with chocolate. Overall, I really liked the bistro concept of this restaurant - very different from what I had expected. Portions are reasonable if you do more than an entree for the meal. In between the dishes, we had random amuse bouche/nibbles that were complimentary. Service was also really good. A must-try for those who really want to try Northwest cuisine with a twist of European.

    (5)

  • Nita M.

    Restaurant Zoe serves really yummy local & seasonal food. The food isn't dressed up too much and features fresh ingredients prepared really well. We had: - Gnudi: My goodness this is good. The ricotta balls are slightly firm on the outside and creamily soft on the inside. They make the ricotta fresh in house so the actual cheese flavor is so much better than any ricotta I've bought from the grocery store. My boyfriend and I tried to make this ourselves at home a few weeks back & ours didn't even come close to Zoe's gnudi. This dish is a must! - Vegetable medley: Our very helpful waiter offered an off-the-menu option for me after learning I was vegetarian. I was rather pleased that he actually said 'oh we can do something else so you're not stuck with risotto' in a very risotto-dismissive way, because it seems like all nice restaurants stick the vegetarian with risotto and I am sick of it. My medley was sooo good - really fresh, the vegetables were perfectly cooked, an amazing mix of firm & soft textures, and the heavily sauteed veggies were balanced out by a refreshing bed of dressed arugula on top. I would be happy eating this dish over & over. - Whole hog: My boyfriend ordered this. It was served over many of the same vegetables that were in my medley so I at least know that was good. The protein portion looked incredibly small but my boyfriend was full. - Oh Ruby cocktail: Yumm! A great variation of a mimosa with an alcohol-soaked fruit jewel at the bottom. The restaurant itself is small to medium sized & can get quite loud. My boyfriend & I went on a Saturday night around 8 pm and service was really slow but helpful when needed. Restaurant Zoe is a good place for date night or catching up with girlfriends over many Oh Ruby champagne cocktails.

    (4)

  • Alexander J.

    It sounded amazing: A special dish, all different parts of pig slow cooked and reconstituted into a sort of grilled crab cake, but with pork. Sadly, reality did not live up to imagination and the pig patty tasted more like bread than pork. At least the pickled veggies were good. The salads were humongous, maybe a little over-dressed. The rhubarb clafouti's fruit to batter ratio weighed much too heavily in favor of batter (and ice cream). The best part of the meal was the non-alcoholic "savory" drink, whose name I can't remember. Refreshing and quite different. Service was excellent but I don't really include service as part of a restaurant rating. For me, good food overrules bad service but not the other way around.

    (3)

  • Ben Y.

    Went here with a lady friend last night. We had not made a reservation, but the nice young lady at the front managed to find us seats at the bar. I had the burger and a side of broccoli she had the steak, mine was a good burger, had better but not many, fries were fresh and crisp and they came with sauce, it was great to not have to ask for a condiment to dip them in. Her steak was done perfectly and the biggest highlight of the meal was the bean salad that came with it, if I could have just ordered a huge bowl of it I would have been in food heaven for a while. I like the new space and will happily recommend Zoe to people looking for a great semi romantic meal.

    (4)

  • Robert K.

    My wife and I went to Restaurant Zoe over Seattle restaurant week with a lot of anticipation. We live only a few blocks away and were hoping to find a nice place to go for dinner in the neighborhood. The place was packed for restaurant week and we saw a few ragged edges on the service (we watched the table across from us be served bread three times while it took about 20 minutes to serve us, and the wait between main course and dessert was a bit too long). However, our bigger disappointment was in the food. The appetizers were okay (my wife had baby lettuce salad and I had the gnudi), but the main courses were not really up to par. I had the Coho salmon which was over cooked and served on rather greasy escarole and walnuts. My wife had the painted hills burger which was okay but the fries were over salted and the aioli was bland. The chocolate torte was quite good (my wife loved the caramelized hazelnuts).

    (2)

  • Ryan s.

    This is my partners favorite restaurant and when I had a co worker in town he suggested this place. The 3 of us had reservations at 830 on a Thursday. When we got there we were promptly seated, the waiter came over and was very professional and engaging. We decided on getting 5 small plates, the waiter suggested the order to bring them out. We then asked his suggestion for a wine, he went to 3 wines and explained each of them very well. We settled on his recommendation. The food and wine. The first two plates were the duck foie gras and a pear and procuitto salad. They were great. The foie gras tasted like thanksgiving in every bite. The next 3 plates were the Louisiana prawn, the fresh halibut and the blood sausage, The Prawns were good, the halibut melted in your mouth, and the blood sausage was ehh. The meal was an experience and the wine went well with it all!!

    (5)

  • Heather G.

    I've just been here once, but enjoyed my experience! The Clear Conscience drink is delicious and refreshing!

    (4)

  • Billy D.

    Went here for our anniversary dinner and booked it through Open Table. We got there early and they promptly seated us. The decor of the restaurant is nice and the immediate neighborhood isn't bad. Our waitperson was pleasant and was fine with our slow pace. He never disappeared for long periods and knowledgeably answered all our questions. We had a few small plates and they were all tasty. The gnudi was a standout amongst them. I had the duck confit which was great. A manager brought by an amuse-bouche of garbanzos that had a great texture and they even gave us these small little gelatin-like treats when we turned down the dessert menu (because we were stuffed). It was an overall great experience and I look forward to coming back for the next special occasion.

    (5)

  • David S.

    We stopped by at about 6pm on Friday night with out a reservation, they were very polite and told us that they didn't have a table but we could sit in the bar. I hate sitting in the bar but it's not their fault that I didn't make a reservation. I think they sensed that they were losing me they offered us a table right behind the hosts stand which I was much happier with. Our server was great, I ordered an aperitif (Ricard) for the first time and didn't really know what I was doing and she explained what to do and how I could have it with out being degrading (which can happen with some servers). We order the foie gras terrine to start, it was very good. I had the short rib with beets and my boyfriend had the scallops and they were both very good. And for the desert we shared a carrot cake; also very good. What I really loved was that they brought you an amuse bouche between very course. So all in all, Great service, Great food, Great experience.

    (5)

  • Anna F.

    Wow! Coming here and knowing nothing about the restaurant made me love this place even more! A couple of friends and I (who are all in culinary school) decided we were going to treat ourselves to a nice night out. Right off the bat I could tell this place was awesome when they brought out the amuse bouche of bread with salmon mousse and tomatoes! We ordered 3 courses, each with a different cocktail and everything was amazing! The beef tongue with lentils was surreal, soft and beautiful, with the lentils totally enhancing it. The sage margarita made me want to poop in my pants it was so delicious. This wonderful meal was topped off with a meyer lemon pot de creme and cheese plate (complimentary!) all washed down with a delicious pear brandy. It is really pricey, but the service, ambiance, and food is worth every penny. If you enjoy a wonderful meal a definite must in Seattle

    (5)

  • Kate T.

    The food was fine here. Pretty standard new American dishes and flavors. The greens were by far the best thing on the table. I would have given this 4 stars but we did have a bit of a creepy "hover over your shoulder and stare you down" type of waitress.

    (3)

  • Sean O.

    I recently moved to Seattle from Los Angeles and was looking for a new favorite restaurant, and I'm pretty certain I've found it. Zoe had everything I wanted. A great menu that was not only delicious but well priced. Well priced signature drinks. (some of which are served using the distillery next door) Wonderful atmosphere. And quick, delightful service. I'll be coming back many times to try out the entire menu!

    (5)

  • Darryl H.

    After recently moving to Seattle from New York, this is one of the first restaurants I wanted to try since the reviews here are so favorable. I had a great meal - was not quite as blown away as I expected but it was a very solid meal for a reasonable price. The bread they serve is excellent, and the various extras were served between courses (one was a "shot" of cauliflower soup, the others I forget. Had the Quinoa/Beet salad to start, which was excellent. I followed that up with the cod dish and an off-menu desert, a layered apricot dish. The main was pretty good and the desert was great. The service was outstanding! Also, they have a great cocktail list and a few nice selections of bottled beer, like Ellie's Brown Ale.

    (4)

  • Tom F.

    Simply put this place is amazing. It is world-class nouveau-bistro fare that you would expect to be in Paris, not in the Pike-Pine corridor. I highly recommend sharing several dishes as a romantic dinner option (or if you're in the mood, they have a little-known tasting menu available). We shared the foie gras, the ricotta gnudi, the duck, and the chocolate orb desert, all of which were excellent choices! In addition, our server was both knowledgable and polite.

    (5)

  • Myheartsinparis D.

    Was hoping for a lot better after reading reviews. My cod was dry & my boyfriends beef was dry & my friends green salad was dinosaur food. My drink was pretty good though. So pretty good drink & bread for $$$! The service was C average as well, vibe could have been a lot better. Wouldn't really recommend or go back no.

    (2)

  • Lawrence L.

    1)Make sure you make reservation in advance! 2)One of my favorite restaurant in Seattle. 3)Menu is simple yet the flavor is blasting. 4)My recommendation: Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese with a glass of CAB. 5)Their wine list is by far one of the best in SEATTLE. 6)Full bar service but small....

    (5)

  • Katie W.

    My last meal in scintillating Seattle. It was at Restaurant Zoe. I was not disappointed. The decor is mod, the feel is a little stuffy. Something gave me the impression that they were trying just a little too hard, but I didn't mind. If you're gonna keep brining me fresh foccacia and kick-ass Manhattan's, go ahead Honey! We started with drinks. I got a fabulous Manhattan. So fabulous in fact, I got 2. They use special bitters and top it with 3 kleine kirsch. Yum! Next was straight to dinner. I got the scallops atop lentils. Boring? Not on your life. The sauce they were sitting in was a vibrant yellow, lovely flavor of smooth citrus-y greatness. It was simple, not huge portions - but done to perfection. Just like it seemed in all of Seattle, the staff was wonderful and the food matched completely.

    (4)

  • Lissa M.

    Food, ambiance, etc, I like it all. Zoe has over 200 reviews and my raves won't add much. BUT here's what's most important at the moment: They can make a virgin mojito that makes me forget that I'm pregnant. Seriously, until the bill came I thought they forgot to leave out the rum. They make other good alcohol-free drinks, too: best in town. I realize this information is useful to a very small percentage of Yelpers; but for those who need it? It's essential.

    (5)

  • Bill T.

    We made our reservations through Open Table and the restaurant called to confirm just before noon that day. We showed up just in time for our reservation, but one of our party had to go back to his car to get something. Even though it's a nice place, people were dressed up and others were in shorts or t-shirts. This is Seattle in the summer after all. Our server was on it and ordered me a delicious merlot when I was non-specific, taking my cue that I would rather be talking and enjoying my company than choosing. We ordered green bean salad, corn risotto, braised morels, ricotta gnudi, and the foie gras to start off. The first three were delicious, but the foie gras seemed undercooked. The chef was sure that it wasn't, but he made us another just the same. I'm not sure if they cooked the second one a little more because of my questioning of the first one, or if the second was just done correctly, but either way, when it came out the second time, it looked right, and tasted great. My compliments to the restaurant for handling our pickiness extremely well, and thank you for the apertif while we waited. For entrees two of us had halibut, my wife had the sockeye salmon, and another just had the organic baby lettuce salad. Again, all were delicious. The restaurant is open and not quiet in any way, but I had the feeling that our boisterous conversation was a little much for some of the couples trying to have an intimate dinner. On the other hand, there were other people in the restaurant enjoying themselves, so maybe we just sat next to some stodgy people. Overall, the restaurant is worth the trip and I can see it being a regular stop, especially if you want a good meal before a night in Belltown.

    (4)

  • Robert V.

    Where is the original Zoe? This is a poor imitator! Impossible menu, poor service and a dreary limited menu of unsatisfying plates. Given it several tries but no more

    (1)

  • saul c.

    I still have to have a meal at zoe that I don't love. And I hope I never will! You know when mostly everything is great but somethings are just ok? Not at Zoe. Everything is at least very good. From there to fantastic! If you haven't been move your ass tonight. you could get into an accident, offered a great job in Cabul, loose your palate... don't take the chance. Go there now!!

    (5)

  • Yee Gan O.

    Restaurant Zoe was obviously a popular place. Although I was dining relatively early for me at 6pm, the restaurant filled up quickly. Service was fast and efficient and my server was very knowledgeable about the menu and able to answer my questions. I would describe the menu as a 'grown up' menu with strong bold flavours and some more unusual ingredients such as the sweetbreads. It was nice to receive an amuse bouche from the kitchen to whet the appetite. I started with the sweetbread and chicken mousse roulade. The sweetbread had been fried with a lovely crunchy coating and was well offset by the chicken mousse. A masterful dish. For the entree, the server had explained that for the 'whole hog', the dish changed every few days as they prepared different parts of the pig in different ways. I couldn't resist and was rewarded with a dish of tender broken down pork, almost like a confit - very deep and unctuous flavour. My dessert of lavender panna cota was lovely but perhaps an illustration that less is more sometimes. The accompanying crispy fillo and strong ice cream made it a bit difficult to pick out the delicate lavender flavour. A nice restaurant with some 'grown up food'.

    (4)

  • Stan F.

    Egads, no parking! I'm surprised that a restuanrt of this caliber doesn't offer valet service. No markdown for this because it is still Belltown. Bummer for us. We were celebrating our anniversary and we have always wanted to try Restaurant Zoe. Once we finally made it there, they surprised us with champagne for two to celbrate our anniversary. This was a very nice surprise and highlight.. 5 stars out of 5 for this. Then, we had a complimentary amuse bouche with chick pea. It was good but very small. 4 out of 5 stars for this. We got our complimentary bread or focaccia. I thought that this was pathetic. Simple white mooshy bread and a side plate with the most amount of balsamic that I have ever seen served at a restaurant for dipping. 1 out of 5 stars for this I got my crab salad. I wasn't impressed. I was thinking either lumps of crab or a crab claw and instead it was more like a few tablespoons of deviled crab meat. Just not that impressive for the price. 2 stars out of 5 for this. My wife got her gnudi. What is this? I guess you would describe ti as a ricotta cheese gnocchi. I tried it and disn't think it was that special. However, my wife thoroughly enjoyed them. I yield to her because she's the Italian and I'm celebrating my anniversary. So, 5 stars out of 5 for this. Then we got a complimentary butternut squash amuse bouche topped with creme fraiche. 5 stars out of 5. My brussel sprouts arrived. Wow, what a disappointment. I'm a real brussel sprout kind of guy so I surprised myself by not wanting to finish them. they were extremently boring and had way too much grease. It felt like I was forcing myself to not leave behind a plate of them. It felt like the chef doesn't like brussel sprouts. 1 out of 5 for this. I got my wild steelhead. It reminded me of chicken cooked under a brick. The skin was crispy good and the fish was delicious. 5 stars out of 5 for this. The grain, emmer wheat I believe, it was served over had a nice bite to it. I really enjoyed this whole dish! My wife ordered the popular spicy wild boar bolagnese. I got a taste of this and was surprised to find how spicy it really was. It was kind of addictive. The wide pasta was cooked just right, al dente. 5 stars out of 5 for this. We shared a pot de creme. I thought that it was chocolate at first and then realized that it was chocolate mint. I'm usually not a big fan of anything with mint, but this was nice. 5 stars out of 5 for this. The service was excellent at first up to the point where we ordered our meals and then we were looking around for our server for either water or our check or for someone to take our credit card. My final thought about this restaurant was both good and not quite as good. I thought that the experience felt like a luxurious restaurant, especially with the amuse bouches. The cost was not too bad for a fine restaurant, however, I've had better meals for about the same price elsewhere. Albeit, the other places didn't give us the complimentary champagne and the amuse bouches. Hope this helps.

    (4)

  • Aaron I.

    I had no idea where Okanagan is, so i decided to try the Okanagan Steelhead. I assumed it was a local area where this steelhead was from. So its the area from the Columbia river to the Snake river, duh!!! And where the f**k is that for us ignorant Californians, British Columbia!!!!!! This steelhead salmon was simply marvelous. Rarely do you find the skin featured on the top, if you like the skin.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Had a melt-in-your-mouth and delicious poached steelhead salmon fillet on pile of tender seasonal veggies. A large group (14) of us hit them for a late Saturday night (10pm!) dinner after a Yes! Magazine reception 06/06/2010. We called for reservations about 45 minutes ahead and they arranged us at two large table groupings. Nice selection of non-alcohol drinks as well as long wine list. No draft beers but a couple local bottles. Because of a slight delay due to our large group, they brought us all sample treat of tasty asparagus soup. Service was professional, attentive, and personable. Warnings: 1.) By the time you add in a salad or appetizer, drink, and main, you're talking $$$. 2.) This place is best for those who are on a meat-based regime. Veggie selections are limited. This shaves one star off my rating.

    (4)

  • Tabata K.

    Went there on a Tuesday night with my husband. The house was packed and it really felt understaffed. We waited a while for our water, finished our 2 first courses before our wine arrived etc. The food though, was fabulous. Gnudi is to die for. Proteins were cooked to perfection and I must bring up the peach and nectarine tart with sweet corn ice cream... Flavor explosion. Its a pricey restaurant and I felt a little like the servers should not be wearing jeans (black pants instead?) and that the busser should not be wearing a see through shirt! Unprofessional to say the least!

    (4)

  • Amy M.

    Not only was Zoe great, it was in a neighborhood we might not have seen had we skipped it. Capitol Hill (named after Denver's Capitol Hill, though Seattle is obviously not the capital!) is a charming great area to walk around and check out the many bars and little spots for coffee and desserts and whatever! Zoe was creative in a practical, fresh way that most of what we ordered was terrific. The halibut was cooked to perfection - nothing slimy so cooked through but not at all dry and so tasty in its simplicity. Wish I could do that at home! I subbed the asparagus for the English pea salad and it was perfect. My husband had the flat iron steak and said it was just ok. I'm not adjusting my rating cause flat iron steak is a meat that is not that memorable anyway... just don't order it if you want special. We enjoyed 2 desserts (!). The chocolate caramel tart and the apricot cobbler - YUM!!! If it weren't that Seattle had so many great restaurants and food options - I'd return anytime! Service was great too.

    (5)

  • J K.

    It's everything I expect out of a fancy, Seattle-modern, fine dining, Belltown restaurant: top notch service, good creative food, limited menu, lots of wine, tasteful atmosphere, $50 person, etc.

    (4)

  • Yoshi S.

    The serving staff was friendly. The food was good but I felt the entree menu was somewhat limited.

    (3)

  • Pink P.

    Amazing food, amazing service. I hope to go back many more times.

    (5)

  • Vicki L.

    dinner tonight here was nothing short of spectacular. after going through 4 different restaurant choices, i finally decided on restaurant zoe for date night with my boyfriend. despite having early reservations at 5PM, the ambience was still romantic, even though the sun was still high in the sky. our server Derek was fantastic and offered great details on some of the more vague menu items. our meal consisted of the baby organic salad, pumpkin risotto, a dish called "the whole hog," an order of the scallops, and a side of brussel sprouts. as starters, the salad and risotto were both generously portioned and delicious. our server also periodically brought over little mini "bonus" treats including a tasty amuse bouche, a pumpkin soup intermezzo, and two mini biscotti (after we paid the tab). the scallops are simply perfect. the top and bottom are seared just enough to offer a slight firmness, but the scallop itself is soft (not chewy), and melts in your mouth. their dessert menu looks equally decadent, although the both of us were way too full to consider ordering anything else. until further notice, this is my new favourite "special occasion" restaurant, and i'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Jordan B.

    Good food, but where this place really shines is the service. The wait staff is incredibly prompt without being overbearing and knowledgeable without being condescending. Portions are small, but still flavorful and satisfying. The red crimson pear salad was my favorite of the items we sampled. A bonus, they have multiple non-alcoholic cocktails. I am allergic to alcohol and it was nice to have a drink that made me feel like a grown up. The Clear Conscience was delicious. Another bonus, I stumbled in my too-tall heels when the hostess was putting on my coat and she didn't even laugh at me.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    My bf took me here for our date night while we were visiting Seattle back in Oct of '09. This restaurant is such a cute place, dim lighting, awesome food, and great service. I loved how they had extra small dishes for us to try through out our meals. We were able to have a tasting of their soup which was a nice surprise. I ordered the fish while my bf ordered their homemade pasta. Everything was really good and you could tell the chef spend alot of time plating. We also had their chocolate crepe for dessert which was really good. When they handed us the check, they also handed some sweet pastry bites. Everything was amazing here!

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    This was everything it was cracked up to be! Excellent food, amazing service, and a wonderful vibe. We will most definitely return when we are in the area.

    (5)

  • BreAna H.

    The food was good and the service was okay but we waited even though we had a reservation and ended up being there for almost three hours. Normally, we linger but this was not our doing. However, waiting doesn't equal bad in my opinion (thus the four stars) - here is my foodie group's full review wp.me/p2usga-c .

    (4)

  • Sasa F.

    How should I describe my exerience at Restaurant Zoe? I can only think of "okay". The place (ambiance/decor) is fine. Though, I thought they have very slippery floor (almost slip & fall twice...or it could be my high heel sandals that's causing the problem). Anyways, the food. It was salty!! That about sums up everything. Well, service is excellent. So, when our server stopped by to check up on my friends and I, I didn't have the heart to tell him that it was really salty. Dear waiter: Sorry I lied. The food is not fine, it was the saltiest meal I ever had in my entire life!! Perhaps I should have sent it back. Afterall, it did cost me $26.50, but I manage to finished it. This is what my friends and I ordered: East Coast Sea Scallops, Crispy Skin Chicken, Braised Beef Short Rib, and Beet & Wild Mushroom Salad (this dish is safe, ok, but safe). My friend kept saying how salty his scallop was. God knows my short rib is the saltiest entree of them all! There was something on the house that was decently good (too bad I don't remember the name, but it's in the pix I uploaded). Overall, the experience was good, but food can be better. Pro: Great service. Cons: Food

    (3)

  • Steve f.

    Zoë is my all time fave. They got me at the Bombay Cooler. This is where I go on my birthday. Nuff said.

    (5)

  • Grace L.

    My boyfriend offered me the chance to go somewhere special for my birthday dinner, and after much research and review-reading (on Yelp, of course!) I chose Zoe as our destination. The space was both smaller and a bit louder than I'd expected, but tastefully decorated. The service was excellent -- our servers were just this side of overly-attentive (don't eat both silces of bread off your plate or you'll get more almost immediately!) but we never wanted for anything during our meal, my water glass was always full (difficult to do, I'm a fish) and they even wiped the bread crumbs from the table between courses. We started with the gnudi, which came with a pureed beet sauce. They were tender and light and the sauce was delicious without being too earthy. For my entree, I chose the crispy-skin chicken breast and my boyfriend had the wild boar bolognese. Both were very good, but lacked a certain adventurousness that we had expected -- he commented that using wild boar in his dish did not really add anything to it that beef wouldn't have. The wine that was recommended (an Italian red; I'm sorry, I don't remember the name) was a good compliment to both the boar and the chicken. For dessert, I had meyer lemon pot de creme, and he had a pear bread pudding with caramel sauce and cranberries. The shortbread that came with mine were not sweet at all, to offset the sweetness of the pot de creme-- a nice touch, and they were properly crumbly and tender, but the black pepper in the cookies was a little off-putting to me. His bread pudding was warm, creamy and caramelly and absolutely delicious, and I'm sorry I only stole a small spoonful of it. ;) The check came with two small pistachio tea cookies that also had black pepper in them; again, an affectation I'm rather unsure of. I would eat at Zoe again, though likely only during the Dine Around Seattle promotions, as it's out of my normal price range otherwise.

    (4)

  • l p.

    Food is as good as ever, but this is definitely *not* the same beautiful Zoe that we knew and loved in Belltown. It's noisier, chillier in personality. It's still very nice, but definitely no coziness. Do you know what I mean when I say it's "very Capitol Hill?" Think mid-30s, hip, trendy. We found the waitstaff to be very helpful and knowledgeable about wine, beers, etc. A pleasant, delicious meal. Not sure whether I'll go back though. Given the options in the neighborhood, I'll probably select Marjorie next time. Probably.

    (4)

  • Morgan P.

    Every aspect of my meal here was a delight. They easily accommodated our party of 12 (2 more than expected) and provided friendly and attentive service. I had the wolfhound cocktail to drink (who knew a greyhound could also be delicious with tequila?). For my meal, I had two small plates, per the waitress's recommendation - the boar bolognese and the strip steak. Both were brilliant. The pasta was possibly the best meat sauce I've had, and the steak was cooked a perfect medium rare. Didn't get dessert because no one else wanted it, but everything was really great. Next time I'm in town, I'd go back.

    (5)

  • Phil C.

    My wife and I heard about Zoe from a couple at another of our favorite restaurants (Divine up on Roosevelt). They spoke very highly of it, and they're weren't kidding - it's sometimes fantastic. we've eaten there a few times now. The first time, we had the ricotta gnudi appetizer, the beef short ribs and a pork dish called "The Whole Hog", followed by a dessert called "Thyme for Peaches". Everything was spectacular. Zoe's is one of those rare restaurants where everything you put in your mouth elicits a reflex reaction in which you automatically close your eyes, hold the food in your mouth, and just moan at the sheer pleasure of the flavors. The peach tart came with "olive oil gelato", which initially had me wondering whether this was yet another example of some pretentious yuppie restaurant throwing together things that didn't work. I mean, ice cream made from olive oil?? But the combination of the gelato and the peach tart was unbelievably good, especially paired with a Pacific Rim late-harvest riesling. Service was wonderful and very friendly. Zoe's is a little loud, though not unbearably so; and if you go after 830 pm on a weekday it calms down quite a bit. All in all, we were both initially very impressed with this place: it can definitely be a beacon of creativity and good taste in Seattle. But I have found it's rather variable... always good, but not always outstanding.

    (4)

  • Cynthia C.

    Only came here for drinks. Cozy environment. Friends raved about this place. I'd love to try the food one of these days.

    (4)

  • Judy P.

    I really liked this restaurant. The food and drinks were great. It has a great vibe and ambience to it. Staff was friendly. Will come back if I ever visit Seattle again.

    (4)

  • laura m.

    By far one of the best meals I've ever had!!! Do yourself a favor and eat at Restaurant Zoe. If you're looking for elegant, EXCELLENT food, eat here. It is a bit upscale, but definitely worth it! The atmosphere was great, and the wait staff was knowledgeable about the menu--they knew every plate by heart, and exactly how each was prepared. Their menu was one of the most creative I've seen. We started off with ricotta gnudi. WOW. Unique, flavorful, and the cheese was made in-house. We also had the sliced asparagus salad which had a great mixture of flavors with the lemon vinaigrette and fennel. The chef then sent two complimentary courses of amuse-bouche that were both superb. Very nice touch. Finally, the main course. The boar Bolognese is one of their signature dishes, and now I know why. Furthermore, their salmon was absolutely DELICIOUS. BEST ON THE MENU. The salmon was served on rhubarb puree, with sweet onions and fava beans--truly unique flavors that melted in my mouth. Desserts were amazing, as well. If you're a 'foody' and are looking for a delicious, memorable meal, this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Tony S.

    Update time! I dined at Zoe last night (5/13/08) and it was perfect once again. The sweetbread dish that I hated so much has been replaced (I'd like to think in no small part due to my review) and I took on advice that I had ignored the best dish on the menu. Amusingly it is also the cheapest, but the wild boar pappardelle is the sort of dish you will be telling your grandchildren about. Words cannot describe how the simple flavours of pasta, cheese, boar and sauce come together and create nirvana for your pallette. And read on for my previous review... Oh Scott, this cuts me deep. Zoe is and remains my favourite restaurant in Seattle but it is clear that the excellence that was well on the way to bringing you a Michelin star has suffered as your attention is obviously focused on Quinn's. My meal at Zoe was still very good but I've had *so* much better here. My starter was a promising sounding sweetbread roulade stuffed with a mousse of chicken and it was completely overpowered by a strong lemon gremolata that just cut through any of the flavours like an antiseptic ointment at the clap clinic. The starter was ultimately redeemed by the quality of the main course, a perfectly cooked pork chop. The perfectly seared exterior giving way to a medium rare flesh served atop some creamy decadent polenta and tangy, sweet roasted figs. The dish was great, each ingredient stood out on its own but the dish again was missing the pizazz that first sold me on Zoe. I know that Scott Staples has been focused in on his new venture and the food at Zoe is all too telling. That magic touch that lifted this place from good to great seems conspicuous in its absence. That said I want to end my review on a high point and that was the brown butter cake. Served with a cinnamon ice cream, cranberry coulis and poached pear it is representative of Zoe on a good day. I was going to make this a three star review, but this dessert tipped me to 4 but only just. So maybe it was an off day, the service was great, our waiter Derek was smart and witty and unobtrusive. It still remains one of the great gems in the Seattle dining scene.

    (5)

  • Lainie L.

    Very rarely there is that perfect storm of a gorgeous fall night, beloved company, a rock star staff, wonderful wine and cocktails and luscious food. When all those elements come together it makes for a perfect evening. My sweetheart and I were on our final days of our vacation together. We were relaxed and happy. Eager for a nice night on the town. We found movie star parking, were right on time for our reservation and got seated at a four top. My sweetheart has a thing about being seated at a deuce - he always feels crowded and so he was supremely happy. You start out with some of their fresh foccacia and a balsamic/olive oil dipping situation. .. the foccacia was good but I have to admit that I was kind of like "uh-oh. . .that's SO 1990's" in my head. Then we got an amuse bouche of goat cheese with a sun-dried tomato relish on tiny crostini. Again "uh-oh - the 1990's called and they want their appetizer back." Yes, leave it to me to criticize something I got fo' free! That's just how I roll. So, I was kind of having small reservations - wondering if we had made a mistake. As I sipped my incredibly perfect Pimm's Cup, which by the way I ended up having three of (I was not driving and I was on vacation - yay!) all those reservations melted away once I glanced at the menu. Perfectly seasonal, local and so many gorgeous things that I couldn't decide. This is what we had: Small Plates: Big Eye Tuna Sashimi white melon, brioche, orange reduction, mache & garlic chips AMAZING - lots of fresh tuna and while the elements sound sort of clunky, they turn into a perfect bite when gathered all together on a fork. Fresh Ricotta Gnudi Tomato Marmalade, corn citrus cream, tarragon gnudi are like gnocchi but with cheese as the binder as opposed to potato - and like gnocchi they can be leaden if not made correctly - the gnudi here were pillow soft and delicious - it was so good that I wanted another order - but I practiced restraint. Lobster Mushroom Risotto corn juice, Parmesan & fines herbs this was a very simple dish that spoke volumes about leaving ingredients alone and letting them shine. . the lobster mushrooms were the star here and they coaxed all the wonderful flavor and textures out of them. Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit roasted peaches, parsley puree, endive Pork belly is currently the "it" girl on menus throughout the country right now. I have had some great and not so great preparations of it but this one, is by far the best I have EVER had. Amazing. Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit roasted peaches, parsley puree, endive SO GOOD WE HAD IT TWICE! F*ck restraint. Duck & Foie Gras Mosaic Terrine grain mustard, marinated olives and sea salt This was basically a country style pate - rough texture, rich in duck flavor. Very delicious. Foie Gras Torchon Black mission figs, port syrup, pistachio-orange brittle & toasted brioche This was an extremely generous portion of foie gras - it was perfectly cooked and delicious. The only misstep on this dish was the brittle which overpowered the whole dish. Once it was pushed aside, this dish was perfect. Burrata with wild arugula on Crostini This was a special for the evening. Unbelievably fresh burrata dressed simply with superb olive oil, salt and pepper. The peppery arugula offset the richness of the cheese perfectly. I love burrata and this was one of the best ways I've eaten it. Big Plates: (p.s. - by the time these were on the way, I was done. Done I tell you!) Sweetheart had: Roasted Colorado Lamb Loin potato gnocchi, roasted cauliflower, golden raisins, nicoise olives, preserved lemons I had: Wild Boar Bolognese Arugula pappardelle, chili flakes Honey loved the lamb. Perfectly cooked and tender. Again, one of those dishes where the elements come together to make a perfect bite. I was full. I was spent. I was going to have them just box up my pasta. That is until I took a bite. This was an deceptively simple looking dish that completely took me by surprise. The bolognese was perfect. Balanced, rich and unctuous. The housemade pappardelle was absolutely delicious - the peppery bite of the arugula punched up the porky deliciousness of the wild boar and it was incredible. Simple but incredible. The wine list has many wonderful wines by the glass which is perfect for me since my sweetheart does not drink . . the server paired a perfect red that had enough depth to go perfectly with my pasta. of course, we had dessert - I am always doing R & D and even though I thought I might pop, I have a strong work ethic so I carried on. . .the desserts were good. .. my favorites were the pot de creme and the little star cookies on the chocolate hazelnut torte - I love stars! Ice creams are housemade and well prepared. All in all, a perfect ending to a perfect meal on a perfect evening with a perfect date with a perfect server (Derek is THE BEST!).

    (4)

  • Haakon L.

    Went to Zoe for a romantic dinner with my girlfriend. It was actually last minute, but we were able to get a table right away, and they were participating in a 3 course meal for 30$ deal, which was great. I was skeptical at 1st because I don't believe in spending a lot to eat out, but I was sold after I had my 1st course, which was a delicious soup that might have been the best I ever had. The main course was mouth watering as well, I wish I remembered what the names of the courses were? The dessert that I was looking forward to the most, was actually, my least favorite in the end, even though it was good.

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    I had the cauliflower soup which was great and the lamb which was very good. The lamb was incredibly over salted and I didn't card for the potatoes it was served with. However, the quality of the food is definitely excellent but I wasn't blown away by this meal to give it 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Abe F.

    We did the 'Dine Around Seattle' thing here with some friends. To a person, we were all amazed with the experience. We expected good, but got outstanding, and here's why: You first notice a great ambience walking through the door. It's one room, and it's hip. You can see part of the kitchen, which I like, and the tables are just nicely spaced so it seems busy but not crowded. I'm a low talker, but conversation was easy. Every aspect of the food was on the money. Starting with the bread and olive oil vinaigrette for dipping to the final bite of dessert, we were completely impressed. My entree was beef short ribs, slow-cooked for 4 hours in wine and stock. Interestingly, the meat itself was only decent on first bite, but combined with everything else on the plate - I now understand that cliche 'symphony in my mouth.' It was gone too soon. It raised my level of eating. I stole bites of the steelhead and crispy chicken, and I aspire to cook like that. The ricotta gnudi appetizer has our collective recommendation. Dessert was no let down. We were all left satisfied, but not busting at the seams. Going to throw in a plug for our waiter, too. He should teach waiting. Knowledgeable, attentive, but not intrusive. Overall service was great. Our water glasses were always full and our bread supply was constantly replenished. In a word, spectacular. I hate overstating, so I assure you, I'm not.

    (5)

  • Jon W.

    I went to Zoe for the Dine Around Seattle 30/30 and didn't end up ordering anything on the 30/30 menu. Hey, I didn't choose the restaurant. Luckily Zoe had some tasty looking appetizers and I made a meal of appetizers. I started with the charred spicy octopus. It was just slightly spicy and the octopus was reasonably tender. I enjoyed it, but it's not the best octopus I've ever had and I'm not sure I would order it again unless I was really craving octopus (which I was). For my main course, I had the pork belly confit and the veal sweetbread roulade. The pork belly was wonderfully fatty and flavorfull. The sweet, sticky candied apricots offered a nice contrast to the fatty richness of the pork belly. The sweetbreads were, for me, the highlight of the night. Zoe reinforced for me that sweetbreads are in my top 5 favorite ingredients. The only thing I found odd about Zoe is the seating... We sat at a table with benches on one side and chairs on the other. The benches were noticeably lower than the chairs and so we felt like our dining partners were towering over us.

    (4)

  • ginny r.

    Fantastic Flavors, Sensational Service... My second trip to Zoe did not disappoint. The Dine Around Seattle menu is as good as it gets. My husband loved the gnudis so much he ordered a second plate. But the service here is unsurpassed. We were treated so well by all, from our hosts to our server (you rock, Crasta!) to other service staff, and we had a perfect evening out with friends. As I looked out the window onto 2nd Avenue I felt like I could be anywhere. The floor to ceiling windows framed the spring blooming trees and the bustling foot traffic in Belltown. We will absolutely return. Thank you, Zoe staff, one and all.

    (5)

  • Eat M.

    I use to be a regular. But ever since they opened Quinns it seems that they raised the prices and offered less. Smaller dishes, less quality, and a lot less personal service. Don't think I'll be going there anymore. Too bad. It WAS a good restaurant.

    (2)

  • Nicole F.

    This was my favorite restaurant in Seattle!! I loved everything about it. The simple decor was refreshing and we had the nicest waiter ever. He was so helpful. Our table shared a couple appetizers: fresh ricotta gnudi & the chanterelles. Entrees included the braised beef shortrib, wild boar bolognese, and the whole hog. We also shared a side of herb risotto. Everything was tasty and delicious. My favorite was the short rib followed closely by the bolognese. The short rib was as tender as it gets and the pasta had a nice amount of red pepper flakes which gave it a nice kick. We also enjoyed some heavenly deserts: mint creme brulee, assorted sorbet, and the best peach tart ever. If I'm ever in Seattle again I know where I'm headed.

    (5)

  • Walter E.

    Best dining experience for me in Seattle hands down. Better foie gras than in France!!! Excellent everything. The dungeoness crab salad was fantastic.

    (5)

  • Paul V.

    My partner and I have been going to Restaurant Zoe since it's early days and have yet to have an even so-so meal! We love it. We actually refer to Zoe as our favorite restaurant. So much so that we have recently committed to going more often and every other time we go we intend to bring friends to have them experience what we do. The food has always been exceptional. The gnudi is a must each time we visit. The service is impeccable and we always feel welcome. Great atmosphere, nice bar and the menu is always full of surprises as well as a nice variety of fare. If there's something new on the menu that we don't understand we get educated without pretense. How much do you love that?

    (5)

  • Clayton B.

    This is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in my entire life. I know this may seem like a large statement but I can guarantee anyone that attends this establishment can agree. This was a magical night between myself and my spouse that went down the avenues of an octopus in watermelon vinaigrette paired perfectly with a Borolo wine. The service was tentative while not being over bearing; nothing was rushed but at our own pace. The food was prepared amazingly and while the floor was full it seemed like we were the only guests. I recommend this place for an intimate dinner for those who prefer good food, paired with good wines, at a fair price.

    (5)

  • Sheetal S.

    I dined at Zoe's bar on a business trip and it was quintessential Seattle fare. I asked for a vegetarian taster of a couple dishes and the Chef made it a memorable experience. I rarely dine alone, but what an experience. The bartender matched each dish with a great wine. The greens were cooked perfectly with hints of garlic and the special ragout of vegetables served with pasta were excellent. Worth visiting for those that want a quiet meal.

    (5)

  • David K.

    Dinner at Zoe is exceptional. They have great flavors that are bold and straightforward, with exciting combinations, and solid preparations. The atmosphere warm and relaxed, upscale yet subdued. Service was friendly and knowledgeable. dungeness cannelloni with chanterrelles - succulent sweet crab inside a rolled sheet of pasta with savory intense sweet mushroom broth. Vibrant flavors and great ingredients. 5/5 Hog Croustillant with Roasted Apricots, Endive, Tomato Confit, Shaved Onion - A fried "pulled pork cake" on top of a bold salad. This was a very tasty dish with powerful flavors. It had everything, spicy, sweet, savory, crunchy, moist, fresh. I would only complain that there was too much spices and flavors that overpowered the pork. Still, a daring dish that was well cooked and had lots to offer. 4/5. Wild salmon with corn, tomato, and pork belly hash - Perfectly cooked beautiful salmon, with crispy skin and sweet flesh. The sweetness of the corn and richness of the pork fat complimented it beautifully. The broth was fragrant, rich, bright, and savory, and brought forward the essence of the fish. This was almost French Laundry good. 5/5 Blueberry crepe with thyme panna cotta: Each element in itself was good but nothing special, but combined they worked very well together. Thyme adds a lemony savoriness to the blueberries, and the crepe brings it together. A surprising, refreshing dessert. 4/5

    (5)

  • Winona R.

    If you wanted to compare a restaurant to a full-body orgasm, this would be the one to live up to that comparison. Everything about Zoe was great. The atmostphere was comfortable and classy, both fun for a night out with friends or great for a dinner with family. The service was impeccable, from the time we walked in the door until the moment we left, when the host helped me into my coat. Our server definitely knew a lot about food and was very familiar with the menu. Hearing his descriptions made us even hungrier that we had been to begin with. As we perused the menu, we munched on delicious focaccia bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Everything on the menu looked great, so we just picked a few entrees that sounded especially good, and then proceeded to be blown away. The wild boar bolognese? amazing! The peking duck? phenomenal! The "whole hog"? exceptionally delicious! Other things we had were the pear salad, the pear and parsnip soup, the duck & foie gras mosaic terrine, and the brown butter cake. EVERYTHING was delicious and we had a bottle of delicous pinot noir to go with our meal whose name escapes me but was from oregon. We never had to look for our server to ask for anything, because he was seemingly always nearby, but not hovering obnoxiously. I can't wait to go back to Restaurant Zoe.

    (5)

  • Jean K.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Scott Staples goes weekly on his motorcycle to get a sucking pig from his supplier, and the fact that he respects natural ingredients makes me love this place even more. The pork dish (though the menu rotates the ingredients are usually the same) is always incredible, as are the scallops. I even managed to get my unadventurous friend to try sweetbreads and love it. Who knew? They have a list of specialty drinks that are totally worth trying. Quite yum all around.

    (5)

  • Maeve C.

    Before trying Zoe, I'd read the menu and written it off for having a meat/fish-only entree list, and to be honest was feeling a bit down about Seattle restaurants in general . . . but with some nudging from out of town guests, I gave it a try and I'm so glad I did . . . Everything was delicious and beautifully presented! While waiting for our table we orderd 3 of their signature cocktails, all very yummy, and when we were seated we were given an amuse bouche. Which had something meaty in it so, I explained that I didn't eat meat so he told us to give him a minute and returned with a special vegetarian amuse bouche just for me! We shared a few appetizers - the tomatoe gnudi, chanterelle mushrooms, and a tomato salad, and while I'd recommend all of them, the gnudi are unbelievably tasty. Then, we moved on to entrees - my friends had the salmon and boar bolongese, and I had the larger (entree sized) portion of the risotto - at that time with fava beans. To be honest, I wasn't the excited about fava beans, but it was well balanced with the right amount of creamy risotto and slightly crunchy freshness from the beans. And unlike most outings with girls where everyone pretends they don't want dessert, we all wanted our own order! I had the profiterolles, which was the perfect end to the meal. I'll admit, they actually brought me the wrong dessert - besides this small error (small because I would have been happy with anything, and was seriously contemplating what they did bring out, so I saw it more as fate than an actual mistake) the service was exquisite. None of us could actualy finish, for some reason when I'm reading a menu that well conceived I tend to think I can eat about 4 times as much as I should, so I went home with a tummy ache, but was still very very happy. So, a few months later, I suggested it to my Seattle hating BF and we decided to try it out for a romantic dinner. This time we were seatted immediately (with reservations) I ordered a cocktail and nibbled on the vegetarian amuse bouche - a white bean spread on crostini, our waiter helped us choose a lovely wine, and I tried to restrain myself in my desire to try everything - I settled on the gnudi, which again was delicious, not quite as good as the summer gnudi, but still a lovely starter. And then, since it's the only vegetarian 'entree', I had the risotto - this time with beets. It was amazing! Seriously, I read beet risotto and questioned it a little, but the beets were intese and sweet, in 3 different preparations - juiced, roasted, and shaved. So good! And again, our waiter was attentive and fun. Zoe feels at once very mature and playful- its a great choice for out of towners or a romantic evening out. Or just any time you want great food and excellent service. And despite their menu's organization, it's actually Vegetarian friendly. All around, a great choice, and my favorite in Seattle!

    (5)

  • Christina P.

    I love this place and I wish I could marry it and have it's babies. Or I could settle and take my soon to be husband there more often. I love their bolognese and their service can't be beat. It's pricey, but definitely worth it. I hope they never close.

    (5)

  • Rose S.

    How did I not know about this place sooner!? A friend invited me here for restaurant week, and I was soooo pleasantly surprised! We started with the spicy wild boar bolognese (arugula pappardelle, chili flakes, shaved parmesan), which was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Then, the fresh ricotta gnudi (red onion agrodolce, watercress). Absolutely delicious. Then, the quinoa and beet salad (basil puree, pecans, pecorino, harissa). Yum. For dinner I had the gold beet risotto (chevre, candied walnuts, shaved apple). Simply divine! My friend has a gluten allergy, and they happily tended to her needs without a fuss, and her food was equally delicious. For dessert I tried the 37% goat cheesecake (huckleberry-balsamic compote, almond florentine), which, just like every thing else, blew my mind. So rich, so good. I love any cocktails that include elderflower, so I naturally had to try the "spring flowers" (belvedere vodka, st. germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon sour, shaken and topped with la spinetta moscato d'asti). If I was more of a pain in the ass, I'd go around trying to order that everywhere. The service was phenomenal, and it was a truly wonderful experience. I will absolutely be back, and am so glad I discovered Restaurant Zoe :).

    (5)

  • Judy C.

    What a fantastic experience. We went here before a concert and were wowed by the food and service. Restaurant Zoe has an open airy feeling with high ceilings and warm decor. It is just the perfect size and a great place to dine if you want a more intimate and lower noise level for relaxation. We were greeted warmly by the staff and although the restaurant was nearly full it had a nice quiet feel to it. We started off with drinks. I had the private danzka (they were so good and refreshing I had to have 2) and my husband had a perfect martini. You can easily tell the bartender takes great pride and perfection in his drinks! For appetizers, we started off with the small serving of Asparagus Risotto which was out of this world. Fresh shaved asparagus was placed on top of the Risotto and it was just like eating fresh asparagus out of the garden. The risotto was nice and light and left me wanting more. We sampled a number of appetizer items including the pork belly confit , veal sweetbread roulade and a lovely asparagus soup sampler. All were incredibly delicious and the asparagus soup was perfect for cleansing the palate for our entree's. For our entree's we had the roasted halibut which was light and perfectly prepared and the wild boar bolognese which was spicy (I love spicy) and left us wanting more. The food although light feeling is very rich so I admit we were unable to order dessert even though I would have loved to try the Apricot cobbler. We will have to save that for next time. Our server Crasta was wonderful. She has a very nice style of taking care of you without being noticed and was very attentive. I love that she noticed immediately that my husband and I like to sample each plate together and so she would bring a set of plates each time. Another simple but great compliment (since I am originally from the east coast) was that the silver ware was replaced each time a dish came. Simple things that make a dining experience wonderful. The server and staff's attention to details makes this dining experience a relaxing delight. We will definitely be back and would also recommend the bar for a great place to have drinks with appetizers or dessert.

    (5)

  • Kyle B.

    Um...amazing, much? I loved my experience at Zoe. What I remember most (and understand I was a little drunk) is a very heated conversation about politics amongst my dinner companions and that the service staff had understood that we shouldn't be bothered to order until the conversation concluded. Flawless service. Flawless meal. Had the Whole Hog. Best thing ever. Seriously. I do remember it being a little loud in there, but I were there with republicans. They talk loud. I could have just been our table.

    (5)

  • Sandra R.

    Some of my favorite people in the world work here, and they have fun doing it. If you are looking for a romantic, sensational meal and overall dining experience Restaurant Zoe is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Natala M.

    This is my favorite restaurant in seattle. It's my go to when guests are in town and I want to go somewhere special, or for a good date with the boy. The service is AWESOME. there are a few classics on the menu that i often indulge in: sliced asparagus salad. I'm not sure how they do it but they thin slice the asparagus length wise so that it's about a mm thin. they then mix it up in some lemon dressing and it is amazing. My go to dinner is the wild boar paperdelle pasta. omg the most amazing marinara/wild boar sauce ever. the deserts are all great, so i don't have a favorite. this restaurant is truly a seattle classic.

    (5)

  • Tina P.

    My husband had been here a few years ago and raved about it. This was my first time and the food was not as good as I expected. I had the potato gnocchi which was good, but the sturgeon wasn't as flavorful as I was hoping. My husband ordered the sweet breads and cod which were both deep fried but were not listed that way on the menu so that was disappointing. We shared the foie gras which we were hoping would be seared but was instead pretty much like a hunk of pate you could buy at the grocery store; to be fair they didn't say it was seared so we should not have assumed it would be. The bread and cocktails were tasty. The hostess was very nice, and the bus boy was very on top of things-and he was nice. Our server was just ok, not very friendly but polite. I would be willing to try it again but not my 1st choice.

    (3)

  • Neva C.

    Tied for my favorite restaurant in Seattle (alongside Lark). I've eaten here 5 or 6 times over the course of 5 years, and it is always an exceptional experience. Attentive service; great wine list; nice atmosphere; and most importantly, great food.

    (5)

  • john c.

    We were really hoping for more after reading the reviews. While the service was terrific, the food, specifically the meat, was disappointing. My pork was very over-brined and dry, and I nearly couldn't finish it. My father in laws ribs were also dry, and my wife's steak came from different cuts of meat. The vegis were some of the best Ive had; Id give them 5 star! Spot on! However, at $200 for a party of four, and smaller plate sizes, I expect more . Ive gotten better meat from a taco stand. Sunday nights Im guessing are leftovers. Bummer... I was hoping for a return trip.

    (2)

  • dannydan d.

    Good wine list, attentive waiter, and yummy food. I had the pork and it was delicious. The cod was amazing. The hog was good, but I think the orange/apricot was wayyyy too sweet. Dessert selection was nice. I had the chocolate cake ice cream and it was goodies.

    (4)

  • Dave L.

    The wild boar bolognese is amazing. The foie gras was a bit of a disappointment - I'm used to it being a savory vs. a sweet dish - but the ravioli special of the night more than made up for it, filled with short rib shavings and foie gras.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    It's always best to go to dinner with people who like, or at least don't mind, sharing food. Especially when they order cornmeal crusted skate wing and you don't. What were you thinking? It's your new favorite seafood - sort of a cross between cod and catfish. Of course, your kurobota pork belly confit is also outstanding - nice and rich with those apricots - and even though it's a "small plate" it's nearly as large as a regular entree. And because they brought halibut to the table instead of the dish someone actually ordered, they let you keep the halibut and everyone eats off that plate. The baby lettuces salad is also fantastic - the greens are so fresh, the white anchovies salty and satisfying and the hard boiled egg is actually soft boiled, just the way you would have ordered it if you had thought of it. And you really don't have room for it, but you order the chocolate hazelnut torte with 3 spoons because it sounds good - it is - and you just can't resist and if everyone is eating it you won't look so gluttonous. So enough of the pretentious third person - the food at Restaurant Zoe is just as good as I've ever heard or read. The service is outstanding, our waiter was my favorite waiter EVER. Friendly, efficient, funny, engaging and knowledgeable about the food. They were very concerned about the mix-up with the dinner order, the floor manager/owner/chef/whoever he was came to apologize and they comped the dessert as well. It wasn't my order, but I wouldn't have minded with touches like that. The place was full and loud, but I had no trouble hearing anyone at the table and I like the space with the large windows looking out over 2nd Ave. I tried hard to come up with adjectives other than "outstanding" just to prove that I understand the basics of good written English, but that word keeps popping into my head every time I think about Zoe. English be damned, grammar be damned - this place IS outstanding.

    (5)

  • Andrew B.

    The food is amazing and, I always dine at the bar, were the bartender expertly operates and represents the style and class of the place very well. The liquor selection is deep and the great menu rotates, something that I love in places I frequent. The atmosphere is mature, not necessarily in age but in experience, and I do mean that to compliment the patrons. This place is a little gem in belltown.

    (4)

  • Pickle b.

    Had a lovely birthday dinner here. Staff is attentive and unassuming. I like the 'free' tasty bites from the kitchen, they definitely add to the experience of a nice dinner out. Be ready to shell out the dough!

    (5)

  • Juhwi K.

    bf and i stumbled into this place just for grabbing drinks and appetizers and it was great. bartender made awesome drinks and appetizers was amazing and besides food, drinks we ordered, they gave us for sample of duck liver with cracker (forgot what it called its not fuagra) anyway, price isn't so cheap but you are in belltown and for the belltown price, it's not outrageous

    (5)

  • Blake D.

    I ended up going here for the Seattle 30 for $30 and wasn't too impressed. The portions were small, even for fine dining, and some of my food was overcooked (vegetables). My martini and the service did help to make up for everything though...

    (3)

  • Jonathan G.

    Dinner was delicious! Had the wild boar Bolognese and tuna tartar

    (4)

  • Louise M.

    We walked into zoe on a rainy Friday night and were seated without a reservation - at 7:30 ! by the wonderful host. then we were treated to the best service available in Seattle. Hands down, one of the finest meals I have had in the last year. Fresh mozzarella - an appetizer special that night was absolutely amazing. The food was perfect, everything was wonderful. Restaurant Zoe is one place that always delivers the best.

    (5)

  • Bob L.

    I go out to eat a lot for business, and this place has the best vibe in town. Noise but but noisy, owner or host comes to the table to check on you every time but doesnt linger, and the food is fantastic. Sometimes the kitchen can get slammed during a 7pm reservation so just stay cool and allow more time...it is worth it.

    (5)

  • Avalon Z.

    Wonderful and informed service that performs at the top of what is available in Seattle (granted, service standards in Seattle are worse than in most other places I've lived in). The food is always delicious and inventive and its great list of cocktails, especially the sage margarita, please me every time that I visit.

    (5)

  • James R.

    one of the best restaurants in seattle

    (4)

  • amanda g.

    Zoe is fantastic. Fresh and inventive. Bright and clean design without being cold. Good service. Definitely loud, but absolutely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Nicole B.

    Very very good. I had the brussel sprouts to start. Super rich, and I didn't even know brussel sprouts good be rich! Spicy Wild Board Parpadelle was excellent. I then had to get dessert. Menage a poivre or pear three ways. Excellent. Would highly recommend.

    (4)

  • Aaron R.

    Nice little place. Tom the manager recognized me from the phone conversation we had the afternoon I made the reservation, which is necessary, and then treated me like i was an old friend. The wait-staff is professional and likable as was the food. Professional and Likable. The clientele was somewhat snooty but at those prices that can't be helped.

    (4)

  • Melinda C.

    I frequently fall victim to overinflated expectations, and Zoe is one casualty. The whole hog special (roasted / pulled pork) was good but not life-changing. I will say, though, that my burrata appetizer was amazing, and my dessert was heavenly. The wine was terrific as well. Service, of course, was spot on. Overall, still an evening well spent chatting with friends.

    (3)

  • Leonard H.

    I sent my folks here for there anniversary. It was after there Living Social deal so things were a little hectic for the poor lady. But she did an awesome job and the food was incredible.

    (5)

  • Christine B.

    Went with a large group. Delicious calamari appetizer. Melt-in-your mouth scallop entree. Glad I didn't pass up dessert. Wine list was extensive and tasty. Service was kind of slow, but the fact I was in a large group probably explains it. Would definitely visit this spot again.

    (4)

  • Becca C.

    I love Zoe. I can't afford to go often, but when I do go, I am rarely disappointed. The staff has always been amazingly helpful, hilarious, and extremely attractive and that can make or break the meal sometimes. I went there for a girl's night out and although I'm not a 'girls night out' type of gal normally, I felt really good eating at Zoe. Good food and great service is required, but helping people feel good about themselves is not usually part of the customer service. At Zoe it seems to be. The exotic drinks are really good too...

    (5)

  • ben h.

    so yah...this place was fantastic. definitely upscale dining, but still reasonably affordable. we had a great place here. the service was a bit slow at first, but our server warmed up nicely and made some excellent recommendations as the night progressed. the fois gras...freakin candy in my mouth. we also grabbed the octopus appetizer which was fantastic as well. our waiter recommended a fantastic wine.. my scallop entree was excellent and perfectly cooked. our waiter also recommended a tasty cheese for dessert. great meal all the way around. this place felt like a slightly more pricey restaurant than it turned out to be. that's why it gets 5 starts. all entrees are priced in the $20's. quite reasonable for the quality of the food and service. i'll be back!

    (5)

  • eve l.

    the food was delicious and prices very affordable for the quality. the best part of our meal (besides my roast boar bolognese and pistachio cherry tart) was the service. our waiter kicked ass! so, i booked our reservation through open table and noted that it was my bf's bday. they were on top of that and brought our dessert out with a cadle. also, the owner/manager (not sure who...), as well as our waiter, came by to wish him happy birthday. now that's good service :)

    (5)

  • Michelle W.

    My husband and my favorite restaurant of all time. I have fantasies about the Burata and Arugula salad (which is not always on the menu).

    (5)

  • Kimberly S.

    Nice light food. Beautiful room. Pricey. Not drawn back.

    (3)

  • Mingalaba C.

    Excellent service - great food - good drinks. Will definitely return for more.

    (4)

  • Tim M.

    Awesome! Had an excelent meal with a pleasant staff. Great personalized touch. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Ash M.

    I'd heard so much about this restaurant and was very excited to finally go here. I was a bit apprehensive that it wouldn't live up to all the hype. The summary: The food was awesome. Appertizer: We had the gnudi. It was sooo good. I've never had gnudi before, so this was something new for me and I loved the subtle flavors as well as the texture. Entrees: We had the Lamb loin and the Braised beef short rib. The braised beef was our favorite. It was delicious. The lamb was really tasty too. Dessert: We tried the cheesecake. The dessert was average - othing t owrite home about. Service was good and friendly. Since it was Sunday (free corkage night), we took our own bottle of wine. The waiter didn't seem to know about the free corkage and billed us for it - when we mentioned it he immediately took care of it.

    (4)

  • Dylan V.

    Restaurant Zoe is an eclectic little restaurant on a corner in Belltown that's hiding a truly excellent menu behind the curtains draping the entry. The food is particularly well spiced and uses prime ingredients. The thing that's impressed me the most about Zoe is the knowledge of the menu and dishes the wait staff has, as well as how personal they present it. (I'm always impressed to here, "MY specials today are....", not sure why) In addition, every time I've eaten here I'd asked for pairing reccomendations with the dishes I'm having and have had them be spot on every time. That is a rarity. The wine list is also excellent here and changes on a regular basis. In addition, for you wine lovers, Sunday there is no corkage fee here, so bring a great bottle from your own collection! Monday is half-price on some bottles of wine as well, although I have not tried this night out personally.

    (5)

  • Jen K.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Always a good bet to take out of town guests - they are never disappointed. Definitely get a reservation - unless there is room at the bar, you will be waiting a very long time. The decor is stunningly simplistic, the waitstaff attentive, the food superbly prepared and presented, and it all spins together into an amazing experience, every time.

    (5)

  • Stuart Y.

    good atmosphere, great food. i really enjoyed myself here. not a ton of menu selection if that matters to you, but i felt that the food was pretty quality--i had a lamb entree. what really put this place over the top was the service. i have yet to find a waitress/waiter in seattle that knew what they were doing on the level that the girl here did. really solidified the whole experience

    (5)

  • elle b.

    A superlative dining experience, Zoe rates as one of the most enjoyable meals I've had in Seattle. My meal here was a joy through and through -- from the suprisingly complex lentil amuse all the way to the gratis truffle at the end. Not to mention the stuff we actually ordered (crab salad, spicy grilled octopus, summer corn risotto, halibut)! Top-notch ingredients, rich flavors, masterful preparations. Yes, it's spendy, but oh-so-worth the splurge. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    Had dinner at Zoe for during the 25 for 25 dining deal. Over the years, I have been less and less satisfied with what restaurants put on their menu for this event...either the portions are really small or menu selections are something that I normally wouldn't pay $25 for. Zoe was different! Our waiter was super nice and gave us the low down on some of the menu offerings that the kitchen was running low on...so we had a chance of getting them if we were interested. The entrees seemed to be their normal entree size and my pan seared chicken breasts was fantastic as was the gnudi! Everyone else at the table seemed very pleased with their meal as well. I will definitely go back regardless of it being the 25 for 25 or not.

    (4)

  • milton c.

    I'd give 3,5 for Zoe. I've only been there once. Went there last week and had their vegetarian options. The gnudi was by far the most delicious and interesting one. The risotto was good, not swimming in sauce, not to dry but maybe should have been brought to the table right after being ready, not sure if that was the case. Still good and nicely done. Being a vegetarian I do feel that the spring risotto was a bit out of context with everything else. I did get to try all of them since there were 3 of us and each ordered an option. No other dish was as good as the gnudi, that was just great, inventive and tasteful. Desserts were alright, should have gone for the cheese combination though. Overall, I really liked my dinner there and hope to try some other things they have to offer to be fair.

    (3)

  • L M.

    Loved the food. Great wild boar option and beef tongue appetizer. Definitely would recommend for those interested in the choice of spices and flavor to the pallete

    (4)

  • Alex H.

    I went there last night to try its 3-courses dinner for $30. The overall impression is a ok. I had the celery and apple soup, roaster veal and mango upside-down cake. The soup was good, but it was not as spectacular as the gnudi my friend ordered. The veal was good, but I liked the taste of vegetables more than the meat in that dish. The veal didn't stand out. The cake was too rough and hard, so I would not recommend it.

    (3)

  • cynthia b.

    I visit Zoe about once or twice a year, driving in from the Eastside just for the occasion. The food is great - but its the excellent service and atmosphere that keep this restaurant on my list of favorites. Last night, service was super-attentive. I recognize some of the waitstaff so some must be long-timers. They are true professionals. The bread is a wonderful start and we had to plead for no more (it is january after all so our dieting new year's resolution hasn't faded - yet.) We started with the gnudi which was melt in your mouth. A few small surprises came in between our ordered food. The soup for sipping was memorable. As a soup maker myself, I always appreciate a good soup that someone has spent time to create. We each had a salad - mine was the beet salad with various colors of beets. I love fresh beets having grown up thinking they only came from a can. What a moment in my life when I discovered the fresh versions! Heaven! For main course, My husband had the pacific cod and I ordered the steelhead. Its one of the few things on the menu that i haven't tried. After a brief argument with my husband on whether it was a salmon or a trout, the waitstaff diplomatically kept peace at our table by saying it has been considered both. She expanded a bit - and I was impressed that she was ready with the answer! It was delightful to learn about the sordid history of this fish. I did enjoy it. The to-die for part though was beyond the fish itself. Rather - it came on a bed of morels. Yummy! We did not order dessert (new years resolution) although my husband topped off the evening with a coffee. Two bite size brownies graciously found their way to our table anyway. I could taste the cocoa and they were the perfect tiny size of sweetness. While savoring the morsel, i briefly contemplated quitting my corporate job and becoming a pastry chef. This was a very good night and excellent dinner prior to our show at the Paramount. Parking near Restaurant Zoe was surprisingly close in a lot off of First. Looking forward to our next visit!

    (5)

  • susie h.

    Perfect cocktail. Delicious crab salad. Tangy and sweet persimmon salad with thin slices of amazing cheese. Lip-smacking-good celeriac risotto (get the small plate). Half-bottle of nice wine (it was a school night). Duck breast to die for; sweet, salty, fragrant with anise and Chinese five-spice. Dessert, a pear tart tartin with rosemary ice cream, was the only misstep. (The crust was gummy and the rosemary flavor overpowered the pear.) But there was candle light. Miles Davis. A rock star waiter. This is the perfect restaurant. You want to go to there.

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    We love eating here. The food and service are amazing!

    (5)

  • Julian d.

    Zoe is a foodie's delight, hands down. The staff is professional and skilled, pleasant and helpful without being intrusive or insincere. They have no sommelier , but the bartender was extremely informative and had some great suggestions for regional NW wines to accompany our dinner, allowing us to taste each and not just take his word for it. For dinner, my girlfriend and I had a heavenly amuse of truffle infused white bean en croute, and braised kurobuta pork belly for an appetizer. For entrees, I opted for the braised lamb shoulder with potoato gnocci while she had the halibut. The food was impeccable. When I come back, (probably this weekend) I'm going to come back not only for the excellent food, but for the skilled and elite kitchen staff that made my last visit to zoe unique for fine dining in seattle. Unpretentious, unassuming. JUST GOOD FOOD.

    (5)

  • Kelly H.

    restaurant zoe is delicious!!! what makes food taste better is the people! and Tom... well, he's is the best! i place to sit is the bar, unless your on a date of course, but the bar is where it's happening! but let me get into the food.... yummy!! drool drool! we had the seared foie... and if you are big fan of foie like me, then you'll love it! they pair it up with a tart nectarine and it goes so well with the foie... it was very complementary to each other! also had the beef tongue and the sweet bread... both good, but not as good as the foie!!! =d we had the scallops as the entree... and it was drooling good! the bacon hash is to die for! if you like bacon...then you'll love this! the flavor of the bacon explodes in your mouth and you know... bacon and scallops are so good together!! i def would come back as much as possible!!!!

    (4)

  • Kristin S.

    Ack another fancy pinky-in-the-air type place. I'm a BIG fan of their bread which if you demand is brought to you in copious quantities. Eat a lot of it- you're paying for it! They don't have tons of veggie options but I suppose that is to be expected of such a high-flutin' establishment. This place strikes me as sort of quintessentially Seattle w/lots of fresh fish options etc. I also enjoyed our wine.

    (3)

  • J J.

    I love Zoe. This is one of the few places I take my family and friends for special days or out of town visits. The food is delicious. You really can't go wrong with the food. Service is top notch and the ambience is absolutely fabulous. Great for date nights.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    Absolutely wonderful! As someone who spent many years in the hospitality industry including Manhattan I give this place 5 stars. The service was on par and the wild board pappardelle was the best pasta I have ever had. I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Teresa H.

    Truly stellar. Best value ever for restaurant week, I will be going back again and again (had been at old location years ago). Obviously more special occasion pricing. The ambience is just awesome- kind of rustic, yet urban. Just plain cozy. The food is beyond exceptional (I can see why the front cover of Seattle Magazine's 'Best New Restaurants' issue - they won for best 'upgraded location'). First course were brussel sprouts with a gnocci 'gnudi' which was insane. The main dish- salmon- was exceptional. Then the dessert was flat-out artistic- the chocolate hazelnut tarte. You really can't go wrong here. Oh and I love the focaccia bread they bring around and serve you (with the herbed oil). So good. Hands down a Seattle top choice.

    (5)

  • Farrah T.

    The food is good but they should really make their portions a bit bigger or be prepared to order the entire menu to be full, which is pretty much what we did. I would only recommend this place to people that eat like pigeons. Another thing was the food took a really long time. We were sat at 7:30pm and didn't leave til 10ish. So be prepared to be dining for a long time.

    (2)

  • Jason R.

    Oh zoe, how I love your new location, now you're within my reach. Went to zoe for my wife's birthday party. Zoe sat 12 people easily. We ordered off the standard menu which ranged from burgers to short rib. I remember the bone marrow tasting especially flavorful. Service was awesome and the ambiance was perfect. Couldn't think of a better was to spend time with my lovely wife and our friends.

    (5)

  • Tim G.

    Oh My Lord, best tasting menu in Seattle. Easily. Careful with the wine pairings though, they're not serving half glasses. Plan to walk home or take a cab or invite a Mormon.

    (5)

  • Kyle M.

    Top notch food and service. One thing that separates good restaurants from great ones is their bread. I kid you not with this. If they refill bread quickly and give it to you warm with softened butter, the rest of the meal is guaranteed to be great. I absolutely hate cold bread and rock hard butter. How the hell am I supposed to eat that? If they don't give butter, then they have to give good olive oil. This was the case at Zoe. Their focaccia was good and their refilling rate was fast. We had duck breast, "the whole hog" which is a pork croquette, braised beef, and sturgeon. All were phenomenal. I was set on the pork before arriving and realizing it was a giant croquette was a letdown. However, I stuck with my choice and it ended up great. The service there was very friendly as well.

    (5)

  • Aliyia P.

    Was our first dinner while visiting seattle the food was good! the drinks were nice and strong the the waitstaff knowledgeable about the entire menu...

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    First, let me just say that I rarely give a 5-star review, but if they gave half stars on Yelp, I would give the new Zoe a solid 4 1/2. I loved Zoe in the Belltown location the three occasions I dined there before they moved, but I may actually prefer the more casual atmosphere in the new Capitol Hill location (its proximity to my place is an added bonus). What really struck me most about my experience at the new Zoe was the exceptional service, not that the food wasn't amazing. My partner and I try to adhere to a paleo diet as much as possible (no grains, no legumes, minimal dairy), even when we dine out, which can be a challenge. I don't really like to ask for substitutions or alterations to menu items in establishments like Zoe, because I appreciate the importance of each component to a dish's overall conception. However, as I was asking our waiter about the ingredients in certain dishes to determine what we could eat, I was delighted when he told me that the chef would be more than happy to prepare any protein on the menu to my specific dietary needs if we didn't find anything suitable (which we did, in spades, but it was nice to have that option). I love fine dining, but one of the downsides is that so often chefs can be somewhat immovable when it comes to accommodating people with dietary restrictions. It was truly refreshing and welcoming to be met with this sort of reaction rather than the polite shame and the "no substitutions" shrug I have received elsewhere. For this reason alone I would keep Zoe at the top of my list of places to eat out on those rare occasions I do. That the food is delicious and well executed (and it really, really is) is almost second to the exceptional service.

    (4)

  • C A.

    Have not been to Zoe's since their move from Belltown. So, the family and I decided to try it out. Overall, it was the wonderful Zoe that I remember experiencing back then. We had their pork chop, chicken, and steak dishes and all were wonderful and nicely prepared. The desserts were excellent. Bottom line, they have maintained the quality of their food and service, maybe even better now. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • SN S.

    As it sits roughly half-way between our homes, I took The Mom here for Mother's Day-- though I expected a mixed result from her. (She professes to want to try new foods, but isn't willing to ask questions of the servers or accept advice from her son.) Service was professional & attentive without being overly so. The Mom had the Smoked Chicken, and i had the Beef Tartare. Both had solid execution and a nice balance of flavors, but neither really wowed me. However, there are still a number of other interesting sounding items on the menu that I look forward to trying. It does seem silly that this area is listed as Central District, as everyone who lives in/around it believes its part of Capitol Hill. But that's a minor thing. :-)

    (4)

  • Hannah L.

    Naked, drizzled in orange sauce with a beet reduction....Does it get any more perfect than this? Than ricotta gnudi, anyway....Gnudi is naked gnocchi, meaning pillowy sweet fresh ricotta without the potato starch shell, left to sit on its own long enough to form its own tender barely-there crust. Several little rounds of this decadent treat, every mouthful a delicate explosion of subtle textures and rich, bright flavors on the palate. One of the nicest things I've ever done for anyone was to order this for the man, and only take a tiny half-bite leaving the rest for him to savor. It was all I could do to restrain myself.... And then temptation and perfection reappeared for dessert, in the guise of a peanut butter brownie covered in gold-flecked banana ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce. Again, I ordered it for him. Again, I savored two tiny bites, the salty sweetness such a perfect culinary pairing. Again, I cursed myself for being so generous. Now you know, if I take you to Restaurant Zoe, and bite my lip while I watch you indulge in such perfect little plates, that can only be my way of saying you are special enough for me to keep my appetite in check. This once, anyway....

    (4)

  • Marilynn L.

    I thought the arugula papperdelle with spicy lamb bolognese was excellent and everything else great but somehow left feeling like I wouldn't go back. It wasn't exceptional. The burger is the best value on the menu but it's a bit too sweet and mushy for me (onion marmalade). The steak tartar was simple. The cocktails were good but the desserts were uninspired. Nothing bad about this place but nothing unique either.

    (3)

  • Len S.

    Restaurant Zoe I bow down to you for making our trip to Seattle for my girlfriend's birthday a bloody brilliant gastronomic success. Folks the hype is real! The gnudi is that good. No, it's better than that, its in the realm of purely experiential phenomena that no amount of pontification can really illuminate, simply go and try it. The ambiance is charming and although sat next to two loud mouth annoying curs that were probably in sales and discussed their golf clubs like some not too subtle metaphor for their homo-phobic attraction for each other, we hardly noticed them. What we did notice was the duck and the lamb and both were excellent. The selection of vegetables served with them, well we couldn't get enough of them. The desert was a perfect but difficult to stomach end note to a fine meal only because we were stuffed. And as cocktails... viva la house mixology. FINALLY! A place that walks the walk an talks the talks. Really fine stuff all around after rounds of disappointing alchemy around town. The last and very significant part of our experience was Keri, she was a delight to dine "with" attentive, cheery without being too saccharine, charming and ensured that we were never waiting for a glass of water, bread or any other accoutrement. If this review reaches you, mili grazi for making our night so wonderfully memorable. Whenever we return to Seattle we'll be sure to book another evening or two at this fantastic restaurant. I've no doubt it'll be as good the next time around as it was that time because every dish is executed with a thoughtful attention to detail and excellence from what we could tell.

    (5)

  • Linda D.

    Excellent food beautifully prepared and presented. Innovative combinations of ingredients and everything of the highest quality. Great friendly service.

    (5)

  • Dea A.

    Love the new building, very open and nice. Had a great meal of Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese. Normally a small plate, they offered to make it an entree sized meal. Loved every bite of it.

    (5)

  • Cynthia L.

    This is a great date spot. The service is spot on and the atmosphere is really intimate. I've also dragged a couple of my friends out to the bar here to get together before heading out. Not such a great idea. The drinks are good, but the bar does get cramped and we were definitely an obstacle for restaurant go-ers to use the restroom. Food wise- everything was really delicious. Try the gnudi if you love pasta!

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    Phenomenal menu and service. Just try it out.

    (5)

  • Jose F.

    My 2nd time at Zoe . Amazing food from the simple green salad to the pork belly(a must!) steak was amazing. A very nice wine list. Service was exceptional. Thank you Jen!!!

    (4)

  • Mike N.

    Quiet but lively, formal without fuss, Restaurant Zoe was the perfect venue for a special occasion (we celebrated my fiancée's law school graduation). Derek, the general manager flawlessly coordinated the floral delivery as my fiancée and I live in NYC, but celebrated her graduation in Seattle. Way to go, Derek! The service was impeccable and the food absolutely delicious. EVERY detail was attended to, from accommodating food allergies to serving up delightful entremets. We especially appreciated the range of options, including refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails and a choice of small or large plates. Our entire party enjoyed the drinks, food and atmosphere; everyone left happy and satisfied. Ben, our server, surpassed our expectations in his explanations of offerings. The biggest hits of the evening were the duck and the peanut ice cream (spiced with chili, it packed quite a kick!). We will definitely be back for our next celebration!

    (5)

  • Tina jo o.

    I want to give Zoe 5--but i just don't dole out fives. But its a 4.9. This restaurant seems to purvey what the locals want. The Pan-pacific tradition here, isn't the trite sense of attempting to serve up fresh locally sourced food--they deliver! Local farms provide much of the produce (loved that fresh Mixed Baby Lettuces Pecorino, Hazelnuts, Baby Chioggia Beets) yet they aren't shy to let you know that their fruits and veggies, "often come from local farms." A must to try is the oasted Chestnut Soup Pumpernickel, Bacon Maple Creme Fraiche. One cant imagine how tasty, creamy, and textured this soup is. A friend's grandmother-- a Seattlite (I live in another state) recommended the Spicy Wild Boar Bolognese. I could not possibly put away all that food--so my daughter ordered it. I negotiated a couple of bites. The Spicy Boar was Bolognese was a welcome change to a typical ground beef Bolognese. In fact I don't think can have Bolognese again unless its wild boar from this wildy good purveyor of fresh food.(Our server was excellent, and acoustics good for intimate conversation).

    (4)

  • Lee A.

    Although I had praised the food at Zoe my first visit, I also noted that the service was slightly, well, condescending. I chalked it up to a bad night on the part of our waiter [hey, I've worked in the restaurant biz - anyone can have a bad night] and gave them four stars anyway. But I was kind of amazed and awed to discover that this is a restaurant that aims higher. Both the manager and the owner wrote me separately, apologized, and then assured me that if we returned, we'd have a better experience. All true, friends. It was pretty nigh perfect the second time around. Zoe is the kind of place that foodies really appreciate, but your less than foodie [uh, me] can also get behind. I love the small plates [the spaghetti squash was so delicious, my friend took it home with HER leftovers], the fantastic dipping sauce for the homemade bread, and the tiny tidbits that arrive during the meal at the chef's discretion. The flavors are distinctive but never overwhelming. It's unpretentiously upscale, if that makes sense. The Hapa Boy is already plotting our return trip. ;)

    (5)

  • Shirin S.

    OMGYUM. Wow. This was the ultimate sensory experience for my tastebuds. They rejoiced over the surprisingly light dungeness crab salad. The bibb lettuce with compressed apples, organic beets, and creamy blue cheese dressing was to die for. I love me some beets! We also sampled the sonoma artisan duck breast with sunchokes, kumquats, spinach, and meyer lemon. Also a wonderful dish. The REAL standout of this meal, the dish that makes my mouth water on mere thought, is the potato gnocchi made with the most delicious truffles, pear onions, and mushrooms I have ever had the honor of tasting. Probably one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. Ever. I'm really glad I didn't have to pay my part of this meal as it is pricey. But so incredibly worth it. I will definitely be taking my friends and out of town guests here to impress.

    (5)

  • Lexy W.

    Some of the food was terrific and some (our expensive entrees) were OK. Service was knowledgeable though the time between salad and dinner was looooooong. Wine list was long and interesting. The room is lovely. But there was a bit of sticker shock when the bill came. There are so many good restaurants in Seattle at that price point that I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. Though they were plenty busy so clearly others like it a lot.

    (3)

  • Eric A.

    I have always been wanting to try this place and finally had a chance to eat dinner here last night. It was really a 4.5 experience for me because there were a few hiccups, but I would rather reward a restaurant for doing as much as they did. Pretty good wine list - lots of Italian stuff. We ended up selecting a pretty good one for a reasonable price. Started off with gnocchi, which were good, but I'm not necessarily a huge fan so I can't judge. Then the pea risotto which was very, very good. The artichoke soup sample in between was absolutely PHENOMENAL. I wish I had ordered a cup/bowl of it, but it was so damn rich. The pork shoulder had good flavor but was a little dry and really pedestrian to be frank. But then came the prawns - HOLY CRAP. Didn't manage dessert but there looked to be some good ones for sure. All in all, a really decadent meal and one I enjoyed very much!

    (5)

  • Joe A.

    I celebrated my bday dinner here yesterday and it was wonderful. The food such as the green baby salad with baby beets was so fresh and yummy. Coming from NYC, we really think the Northwest has such better food, so fresh and all about showing off the ingredients.

    (4)

  • Traci M.

    Just had dinner here tonight for the first time and loved every single bit! Food and service were both excellent, and my boyfriend and I kept saying that we couldn't wait to come back. Pumpkin soup, gnudi, braised pork belly, salmon...all of it was amazing, and they have definitely set the bar high in my book. This is one of those Seattle restaurant staples that I'll be sure all of my out of town guests visit at least once while here. Service was attentive and efficient, but also personable. I really enjoyed and appreciated the server's suggestions. Thank you!

    (5)

  • Katrina H.

    Nice ambiance, good food with good price. Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • A. B.

    Zoe was 3.5 stars for me - nice ambience & very good service but food was spotty. there were a couple things that were great but the rest of was AOK. Not what i expect from a place like Zoe's. Also it was an expensive meal by Seattle standards so another reason i expect stellar execution. I had been to the old Zoe's several years ago & had had a similar experience so i guess no going back for me :)

    (3)

  • Delilah B.

    Excellent! If I could give this an extra half star I would. Service was awesome. How we described it was... "it seems to flow" meaning, the service flowed at a nice steady pace. Not over bearing but just enough to make sure your needs are met and you are comfortable. The restaurant itself has a comfortable feel to it and the decor is simple and not too distracting. The restaurant was more than half filled & we were there on a Wednesday night. The noise level was still low enough to have a quiet conversation. The food was delicious. Red Crimson Pear Salad - not over dressed and it had a mixture of saltiness from the prosciutto, sweetness from the fresh pears and an added sprinkle of yum from the pistachios. Pork Shoulder: - Was absolutely delicious! The pork was cooked perfectly and the mixture of beans, apricot and kale, although didn't sound right at first, it made for a hearty flavorful meal. Alaskan Cod: - the Cod was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The only complaint is the spaghetti squash had a little too much sauce on it but other than that the combination of ingredients went well together. I'd recommend this place to anyone local or visiting.

    (4)

  • Andy H.

    The restaurant is situated in wonderful location on Capitol Hill with a beautifully designed space. The interior has the feel of a Norwegian summer house lots of whitewashed and rusticated wood with a great urban oasis garden greeting you before you enter. Very friendly, personable, and attentive host and wait staff. They have an incredibly wonderful and eclectic menu with affordable prices. There were several little extra surprises included throughout the meal. The portion sizes are smaller than average American portions, more European sized so be aware if you are extremely hungry and order more than just one thing. I had one of their specialty cocktails called Stormy Weather. I don't remember what was in it but I choose it merely on name alone but it was tasty. Bread is tasty and fresh. For appetizers I enjoyed with a group the Oysters on a half shell, Popovers, and Pork rinds that I found really unique. For my entre selections I choose one of the small plate selections Emmer Farro, very tasty and hearty accompanied with the Celery root soup with Crab. Flavors are very delicate so if you're expecting really bold flavors you might try something different on the menu. Desert we had family style and shared. Bour Bons, Lemon Tartlet, and Salted Carmel Macaroons these were more like just a taste and to be honest I could have probably ate 3 of them by myself. So if you're looking for a more substantial desert, go with the Chocolate Orb or the Panna Cotta Only downsides were that the service was slower than expected and be aware that if you choose sparkling water over still water there is a 4 dollar charge per carafe. This was proably listed on the menue but I didnt notice. I will be back.

    (3)

  • Dylan H.

    I've been here twice now, once with my girlfriend, and once with my family. Both times were enjoyable experiences. The food is delicious, the ambiance is nice, and the service is attentive and helpful. Both times our group was given complimentary dishes (typically sample portions of the soup of the night) in order to enhance our experience. It is a bit pricey, especially for drinks, but given everything, I believe you get what you pay for. If you are looking to save a bit of money, I would recommend ordering a number of their smaller dishes and trying everything. The food is very rich and filling, and I have yet to leave the place hungry. I will definitely be there again soon!

    (4)

  • A C.

    Pretentious, overpriced and under-vibed. The first time I went to this place, I had come from the office and wasn't as dressed up as I might generally be for dinner. But I certainly never look slovenly. The hostess literally looked me up and down, didn't ask me anything, and said, "We have no tables." I swear it was like a scene out of a bad 80's movie about snobbery and social status. The next time (I only returned because my friend wanted to), we got OK service, OK food (and I mean seriously Meh, I can't even remember what I ate) and left as soon as we finished our tiny portioned entrees. For the record, I've eaten at great restaurants in several countries & US cities, and I used to run a couple. I think there's a lot to be said for good atmosphere, great food, and people who don't give a s*@t whether or not you're wearing Prada. If you want a great night out, try Black Bottle, Art of the Table or Elemental. Skip Zoe.

    (2)

  • Mackenzie F.

    Restaurant Zoe blows my mind. Every time. I've eaten the ricotta gnudi probably 10 times and each time it graces my tongue with its presence, angels come down and sing around me. Each course, each plate is carefully prepared to the standards of Greek Gods. The dishes are playful and interesting and innovative. The chef uses what's local and fresh and it shows. The creativity and the variance of the dishes make the chef a force to be reckoned with. The food isn't the only reason I keep going back. The service is fabulous, the bartenders can make a great cocktail to pair with the food, the wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Restaurant Zoe is one of my top restaurants in Seattle, and yes, maybe even one of my top restaurants in this country.

    (5)

  • Brooke C.

    I wanted to write a review to thank the manager for walking two blocks in the rain to help me with parking. It was amazingly nice of him and the staff follows suit. We had wonderful service all around and the food was delicious. One of my nicest meals in Seattle ever!

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    Simple, fresh seasonal plates designed to blow your tastebuds away. Tastes like there's a secret in every sauce. And love. And art. The staff all care about what you are putting in your body and are well versed in every menu item. Have several small plates each and share. Go with friends. This is an intimate, warm venue. They now offer parking a block away. I will go back often.

    (5)

  • Denise S.

    Had heard lots about this place from locals, so on my recent trip to Seattle, decided to try this place for dinner on a weeknight. I made a reservation on OpenTable, although we probably didn't need to (we arrived at 6pm and most of the restaurant was empty). Service was impeccable. Our server thought of everything. She noticed we were dressed up and asked if we had a show to get to (which we did) and what time we'd like to be out by. She also asked about food allergies and if we had a preference for the timing of the dishes (we ordered a few small plates). She also was helpful in suggesting a cocktail for me. I went with the Pimm's cup, which was light and fruity. She did ask me to show ID, but everyone says I should just take that as a compliment! As for the food - beautiful flavors and beautiful presentation. The baby carrot, arugula, and prosciutto salad was simple and a perfect summer starter. But the gnocchi with pearl onions, meyer lemon (love these!), and asparagas was the favourite of the small dishes. Dessert was also impressive. The rhubarb tart was tangy and sweet, but the earl gray ice cream was an unexpected and delicious compliment. I ate at a lot of places during my 5 day visit to Seattle. This meal was definitely the most memorable.

    (5)

  • R. C.

    We are massive fans of Quinns and make it a point to get there at least once a month when possible. So we were very excited to visit Zoe which folks at Quinn's had described to us as their "more upscale older sister." We had a very, very nice time--great decor and very good food. Its hard for us to not compare it to Quinn's, though, in which case we found the food itself a bit underwhelming. Perhaps its due to the crowd, which was definitely a bit older and more sedate. The food was interesting and very enjoyable but not very exciting in terms of flavor, options and combinations. The drinks and desserts were amazing and I can't say enough about how great the service was. We'd give it 3 1/2 stars if we could. We'll be back though, since a place of this quality deserves multiple attempts. If we are more enthused after that we'll update the review.

    (3)

  • Ernie K.

    One of the best restaurant in Seattle!!!! Do I need to say more? Haha. Came here once after my co-workers recommended this place and this place truly deserve a 5-star rating out of all the restaurants I have been to. I highly highly highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Dana L.

    Unfortunately this was not a great experience! The service was weak and the food was underwhelming. I'm hoping it was just an off night.

    (1)

  • Jordan S.

    The food and service were generally great, with the possible exception of the salad. The cheese on top (manchego?) was so salty that it overpowered everything else. The duck leg confit was nicely crisped on the outside but still tender and flavorful. The house-made arugula pasta is unique and quite tasty with the wild boar bolognese. I'm marking them down, however, as I feel that, for the amount of food we got, it was extravagantly priced. We split a salad, one small plate, one large plate, and a relatively cheap bottle of wine. Our bill was still over $150 before tip. I think the price range needs to be adjusted up to $$$$.

    (3)

  • Corinna K.

    Restaurant Week 2: The Foodening: The Legend of Scott Staples It was a dark (true) and stormy (not true) night when the 43 deposited my person downtown. I staggered down the street, the wind and wolves (no wind, just a couple wolves) howling on all sides. My purpose? To find Restaurant Zoe, a mythical land of delight I'd heard about from an extremely classy friend in Portland. Suddenly, it appeared out of the gloom! (Just roll with me on this.) It shone with the promise of warmth and food and friends but mostly food. I quickened my pace, stomach rumbling as I went through the doors and through the curtains and into the elegantly appointed dining room. I fell into a chair and promptly ordered a fancy cocktail. The Best Server Ever (TBSE) brought out La Pommette, a Calvados/cider/lemon twist concoction that restored life to my feeble frame. And then the true meaning of my journey: delicious things to nom, delivered by TBSE. Ricotta gnudi, creamy little nuggets enveloped in a beet sauce and topped with fried sage. I've always found beets to be vile, but this sauce was tart and rich and a pleasure to eat. Poached steelhead with chard, chanterelles, and winter squash. The fish was good but the supporting cast was better. The earthy/sweet combination and the textural variety made my tongue a willing captive. The cheese plate, a roquefort and some variety of Spanish cheese, both excellent and ably attended by crostini and a honey/date/almond/golden raisin mixture. The meal was ended, my journey concluded (except for the part where I had to go home, but that part is boring). My faith in the general goodness of people - especially that of Scott Staples, his kitchen staff, and TBSE - was repaid. Thank you, classy Portland friend and Restaurant Week, for proving that some legends are true.

    (4)

  • Megan B.

    What a treat! We started by sharing the mussels. The sauce was amazing. We were sure to scoop up a bit with each bite. No shame --when the mussels were gone, our spoons came out. Next up, I had the chestnut soup. The bowl was placed in front of me with pumpernickel croutons, creme fraich, and fried sage. The server then poured the smooth soup over and like magic the creme fraich floated to the top perfectly. It was worthy of having the bowl licked --thankfully my mom taught me not to do that. I'll certainly have it again. Finally, I had the duck confit. Oh duck fat, how lovely you taste. The meat was tender & well seasoned . . . and the skin --well, it was perfectly crispy. Our server was very nice. Perfectly attentive. He knew his stuff, was polite and allowed us to chat away. I did, however, fine one of the food runners to be a bit odd. She just had an uncomfortable body language about her. I also wanted another employee to put her very long fluffy hair UP! I will happily return -- if only parking was easier on Capitol Hill.

    (5)

  • Ryan S.

    Literally everything we ordered was a hit. Someone's sweating the details here, behind the bar and in the kitchen, and to good effect. Excellent mixed drinks, perfectly cooked meats, outstanding appetizers, nice ambiance, and an overall thoughtful menu. Our waitress was a tad tone deaf and a little overbearing, but we got what we needed in the end. Great stuff.

    (4)

  • Rebecca N.

    So when I first walked into Zoe, I felt totes out of place. The significant other and I had just spend literally 12 hours around Seattle, exploring and running around. I had my 6 dollar slip on grandma rite-aid shoes (they're comfortable, okay?) and I just felt a little uncomfortable. I mean, granted, I go to the restaurants here in SF sometimes looking like a hot mess but that's okay, because I dunno, I guess they feel more like small neighborhood gems and so they seem more intimate, but I digress. Anyway, I usually only review if somewhere is really, really, terrible, or really awesome. Restaurant Zoe was SO awesome. I started off with a drink called the "Spring Flowers" and it was super refreshing. The boyfriend got the roasted asparagus salad, and I got the baby carrot salad. He really liked his. The asparagus had a wonderful grilled flavor. At first, I thought my salad was a little under seasoned, but after schmering it around in the creme fraiche, it was perfect. The carrots were so vegetal and delicious. He had a small plate, which was the new york strip. The strip was sous-vide. I had the duck, which was a a pretty big portion. It was paired with strawberries, hazelnuts, and escarole. (I think. I don't think it was chard) It was good, the combo of the duck and the strawberries worked really well. The hazelnuts gave a really good texture, and the nuttiness worked with the savory duck. The duck though, tasted straight up like steak. I mean, I'm not complaining, and I know it was duck, but it had such beef-y qualities. We also shared the chocolate textures dessert, which was the highlight of the meal. The irish cream ice cream was HELLA good. So good, that I had to use that word. So I was originally going to give this place a four. Our server at first seemed a little distant, (I don't need people to kiss my ass but I like personal and friendly) but he warmed up and was really nice. There are three reasons why this place gets five stars. 1. Unexpected mini tasting courses. We had some kind cod on some kind of crisp, a cauliflower soup, and also an apricot candy 2. Our server gave us some dessert wine to go with our chocolate, free of charge! what! 3. The guy who seemed to be in charge of the restaurant tonight came over and had a plate of the PB & J profiteroles and told us that, they had made an extra order, and even though we already paid, the profiteroles "needed a home". The night just kept getting better and better, and I fell in love with this place. See you the next time I'm up Seattle! (You too, Salumi.)

    (5)

  • Jean Y.

    Been here three times for dinner. Each experience has been great - friendly wait staff or bartenders, complimentary bites from the kitchen between courses. I haven't liked every single thing I've tried here (didn't like the spicy charred octopus or pork belly confit), but I don't regret trying them. The flavors are generally pretty interesting, and the quality of ingredients is high. If you like fruity cocktails, try the Ruby My Dear! It's delicious. I also enjoyed the ricotta gnudi and the beef short rib. This complimentary sample of butternut squash soup with truffle oil from the kitchen was also amazing! The interior is nicely decorated. Dim lighting. Great for a date or just for hanging out in smaller groups. The window seats offer a nice view and frame Belltown's unromantic streets rather nicely. There are only two bathrooms, but the staff will let females use the male's restroom too! If you're on a budget, wait for Dine Around Seattle or one of NWSource's restaurant promotion months. The prix fixe menu contains several items that are on the regular menu, and a meal at Zoe for $30 (before tax and tip) is a great deal.

    (4)

  • Keenan B.

    Zoë 101. We came sauntering in, defeated by the pouring rain, and prayed for a table for two, maybe three if the storm let up long enough for a taxi to make it into town. We sat by the window. Our breath heavy from the cold and thick with the scent of leathery bourbon. In walked Brianna, whose humour warmed our spirits more than whiskey ever could. And that's no small feat. Brianna had this way about her that was as foreign as it was what you could only hope to expect, given her reputation. See, around here she's known as Brianna, but the boys call her Brie. She started off by asking us what we would like to drink, and after much debate, we decided to stray from bourbon and go for something lighter: wine. "We do, yes, but it was corked way too early, so it's off the table. Forget I said anything. I recommend the chardonnay if you're after something more along those lines. That, and it's something ridiculous like 24 bucks for a half bottle." We commented on how her frugality was much appreciated. She retorted. Her humour and honesty were as dry as what she had recommended. And it was perfect. We quickly grew to trust Brie-- Brianna, as we exchanged punchy one-liners and unexpected retorts. So much so, in fact, that we let her decide on what it was we wanted to eat; not what we thought we would want. Through her pursed, scarlet lips she whispered, "bolognese, braised beef, ravioli." "What about for salads?" "Beet." "That must how her lips are so red when she's too cheap to afford lipstick." The food arrived just as our third walked in the door. And we, now three, agreed: everything was delicious, full-flavoured, rich, but not too rich. Just enough. It had been almost two hours since our last sip of whiskey, and several more since our last of coffee. We needed a cocktail. My friend went for a more traditional Irish coffee and our friend had another "stone cold martini", whereas I chose to leave my decision to Brie. With nothing to go on aside from "coffee, whiskey, bitter, different," she exclaimed that the bartender had just received a shipment of bitters that he's been looking to play around with, and that the most notable was the bitters flavoured of dark chocolate. My mouth whet with saliva; my interest had been piqued. After watching Brie and the bartender exchange laughter, scowls, glares, and head shakes-- from the bar, it emerged. The Flatliner, he called it. While its components are still relatively unknown to me, what I can tell you is that--while sweeter than I might have likes--it was beyond my wildest dreams. So, too, was the espresso pot de crème. Oh, Brie, you, like that meal, make my heart pound. And the rest is recent history. Yours, Declan Murdoch

    (5)

  • JacnDan P.

    Everything about Zoe is wonderful. The service is the best in the city, the food is of the highest quality, the portions aren't too big, yeah- the price is up there, but it's worth it. We ordered 2 glasses of wine, 2 small plates, 2 cocktails and a fish dish and it came to about $100. The gnudi was my favorite.. it could almost be a desert. The fish was extremely tender and the sashimi grade tuna was perfect. A great spot!!!

    (5)

  • Johnny W.

    And here I am again, breaking up the monotony of high reviews for Zoe. Came here for my (first) birthday dinner this year with a good buddy of mine, and ordered a private danzka and sage magarita for drinks, lamb loin and boar bolognese for entrees, and raspberry pot de creme for dessert. And while we didn't order this ourselves, one of the waiters came by and asked us if we wanted the seared tuna appetizer that another table had mistakenly ordered - and of course, who would say no to that :) The drinks were great, the seared tuna was awesome (the softness of the raw tuna against the crunch of the side seared with sesame seeds was a neat contrast), and the lamb loin was good. Unfortunately, the boar bolognese tasted an awful lot like Hamburger Helper. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Hamburger Helper, but it's not the kind of dish one expects at this sort of restaurant. And neither of us were fans of the tomato cantaloupe soup. Dessert was pretty good as well, the rich smooth creme pairing well with the chocolate chip cookies (more like brownies, though I wish they'd been as soft). Atmosphere was nice, service was great, no wait with the reservation we made, and prices were as expected for a place like this. Giving Zoe 3.5 stars because, while the food is good, I'm not convinced it's worth the price.

    (3)

  • Paisley S.

    They brought me my food and forgot about me. I would have ordered another glass of wine, but could not get anyone's attention. I probably could have left without paying and no one would have noticed. However, when I brought all of this to the hostess's attention the situation was handled with class.

    (2)

  • M Y.

    Zoe has been good to me since my very first visit at the 2nd Ave location. Their menu items change constantly so I can't and won't comment on a specific item but I can not remember a dining experience that I would rate below 4 stars. It has also become one of my go-to date spots ;) My favorite Scott Staples restaurant. Definitely need to make reservations!

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    On the plus side, great space, very good service, beautiful presentations and the best Manhattan of my life (their Renegade Manhattan). Very interesting menu. So why just 3 stars? Tiny portions. Beautiful, tiny portions. Our featured pork shoulder dish really should have been a "small plate" option, and yo chef - seasonings would be nice on this beautiful food (like, maybe, salt). Gnudi (flourless gnocchi supplanted with cheese) was yummy, but there were only 4 or 5 of the precious morsels on the plate. Zoe is a great show and very comfortable place for a meal, but don't go if you're really hungry.

    (3)

  • Won M.

    There is a lot of hype around this place BUT Zoe is one of those places that backs up the hype and more. Took my wife to Zoe for her birthday and we were extremely happy with Zoe. Amazingly delicate and well thought out flavors. More than anything, I love the atmosphere at Zoe's. Food is extremely high end but you never feel that way from the people who work at Zoe. Laid back and very kind servers totally change the feel of this place. I usually recommend Zoe to Seattle visitors because the food is phenomenal and atmosphere is one of a kind.

    (5)

  • Philip S.

    Oh restaurant zoe- how could let me down so. Ok so this used to be one of my wife and I's favorite places to go when it was in Belltown. Food was always spectacular, drinks were good, and so was the service. But, since they've moved to Captiol Hill, which we were excited about because it would be closer to our home, its lost some of its luster. Food is still fantastic but, service not so much. I want to give a higher review, really I do but, the last time we were there we waited nearly an hour and a half to get seated when we were told that we would be seated in about 30 minutes or less. I'm fully aware that it can be hard for a joint to absolutely predict how long the wait might be, but this was so far off there projections that it was painful. The real issue here is this, had we known the wait would be so long we simply would have gone somewhere else but, every time I checked in the staff would say "soon, soon, I promise." By the time we got seated we were so starved and irritated that no matter how good the food, the damage was done. To make matters worse we'd brought out of town guests here, raving about it before our arrival. All that said, the clincher here is they did very little to make up for the timing mishap. We were offered a free desert, which was nice, but for the mishap you'd expect a fine restaurant to try and do more for "regulars"- which we pretty much were. In contrast when something similar happened to us at Lola we got the whole meal free. When you go out as much as we do you know good service and not so good service and we really expected more from Zoe.

    (1)

  • Caitlin O.

    Great service and food! Loved the amobaince as well.

    (5)

  • John K.

    Came here for Seattle Restaurant Week and I would consider this my "Ina C." type of restaurant. Fantastic decor, excellent service, excellent food, but for me, I'm not sure if I would agree with the price. But you do get what you pay for though. Out of the restaurant week menu, the one dish that stood out was their butternut squash soup. It tasted so nutty, hearty, meaty, and was the perfect balance of spices and cream. I wanted to just lick off every single drop from the bowl. But alas, this is one place where they change their menu all the time, so I don't think they will be offering it again...

    (4)

  • Joseph M.

    Was not blown away as I walked in the door, and there was a disconcerting fishy smell, but after we sat down we got great service, and the food was solid. The highlight was the mushroom gnocchi. As for entrees, we got the "Whole Hog", a kind of pulled-pork thing that was tasty and imaginative; the braised beef, which was rich and tender, but it seemed someone had maybe burned the sauce because it had a charred taste that was a little too much after a few bites; and the steelhead, which was just a nice piece of fish, but nothing remarkable.

    (4)

  • Minh V.

    A great place for a date or dinner. The fact that it has foie gras and sweet breads makes me a regular when I come to Seattle. The menu is very diverse and the drinks are great as well. The staff and owner are always kind and attentive to your needs.

    (4)

  • Amanda R.

    My husband, in-laws, and I went to Zoe for the first time last night to celebrate my husband's birthday. We all loved it! We arrived about 15 minutes early and they were able to seat us right away. Ambience was nice, but the food was really the star of the evening! To start, we were all given their yummy focaccia-style bread (which I understand is homemade?) with olive oil/vinegar. It was delicious, and I loved the salt on top! My husband ordered a sage margarita, which was very potent but also very delicious and not too sweet. My mother-in-law and I both had the virgin house-made orange-cranberry sodas. Tasty, though I think I'd go with one of the alcoholic cocktails next time! Next, the chef sent out an amuse bouche of quinoa and bacon bits on a spoon. Yum! Then my in-laws split a bibb salad and ricotta gnudi, and my husband and I split a baby carrot salad and ricotti gnudi. I'm glad we didn't try to share one order of gnudi between the four of us. They're very rich, but there are only about 6-7 per order. I'd say the plate is only meant to be shared by two people, maybe three at the most, but you definitely have to try it!! Before our entrees arrived, the chef sent out another treat -- a very creamy pear and parsnip soup served in espresso cups. We all agreed we could have each eaten an entire bowl of that!! It was one of my favorite parts of the entire meal. I ordered the duck for my entree, and it was absolutely delicious. It was served medium rare with sunchokes (both pureed and diced), spinach, and kumquats. The flavors were amazing both individually and combined and there was something both innovative and classic about the dish. My father-in-law ordered the cod, which he really enjoyed as well. I tried his spaghetti squash and it was really creamy and decadent. My husband is a risotto fiend, so we shared a side order of herb risotto and he really enjoyed it. Risotto isn't my favorite, but it was very creamy and tasty (I'm noticing a theme here...) Even though we were all stuffed by this point, we split 2 goat cheese cheesecakes between the 4 of us for dessert. (My husband's and mine came with a candle and a birthday wish from the manager.) They were a perfect size and were sweet with a hint of savory. Just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite, the chef sent out some sort of ginger-pear-jelly bite things with our check. They were good, but I would have preferred to leave with that cheesecake lingering on my tongue! My only complaint about the entire evening was that it took about 15 minutes to get our check after the meal, then another 15 minutes to run our card. The place was pretty busy by then, but after such attentive, well-paced service all night, it was strange to wait around so long after we had finished eating. Anyway, we'd go back in a heartbeat! It was definitely the best dining experience I've had in Seattle!!

    (5)

  • Tina W.

    One of my favorites in Seattle. This place is teetotaler friendly. I like all of the dishes I've tasted here. Zoe's Wild Boar Bolognese is a must-order.

    (5)

  • Nilo M.

    Talk about good food. This was the little gem that we came across while in Seattle. The service was impeccable and the dishes were tasty and refined. We setup a reservation about a month in advance because we were going on a Saturday night, prime time. The restaurant is on a corner and is very dim lit. Upon checking in we were seated withn five minutes. The breads here were great, I like to start my judging by the bread and the butters that come out. We chose our starters, mains and desserts and we were off and running. I ordered a lobster bisque to start and a halibut dish for my main. Both were excellent. I think my GF ordered a beet salad and another fish dish, and both were great too. I think the service stood out the most. Our drinks were never empty and plates were quickly whisked away after finishing the course. The apple fritters with ice cream were the best dessert I have had in a while. They melted in your mouth and the slight creaminess of the homemade ice cream just complimented the fritter perfectly. I would definitely go back here if I ever visit Seattle again.

    (5)

  • Nerick M.

    This is one exceptional restaurant/ gourmet bistro. The service is extremely friendly, the food is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is very comfortable, well-decorated, and romantic. I was able to try the ricotta gnudi and the thundering hooves braised beef. Wow, those plates are just packed with flavor. The cooks at Zoe do a great job of really using the right ingredients, which are fresh and local. I recommend going during happy hour and sampling a bunch of the small plates to get a taste of everything. This is the perfect place if you're just looking to grab a small bite and especially a great place to take a date!

    (5)

  • Jackson R.

    Foie gras with riesling syrup? This is my manna from heaven. Course after course, I was pleased. Lamb heart salad piqued my curiosity, and surprised me with its welcoming flavor and texture. Chicken is a pretty unadventurous order for me, but a more perfectly cooked bird I can't recall eating. The bread is pillowy and heart-warming. The service is attentive and heartfelt, especially the napkin-twirling when you get up from the table. I happen to like service tricks from the 1950s, OK? Wine choices were plentiful. We chose a Northern Rhone syrah that was flexible with our food and a great value. Our dinner was the right price for the service, food, and ambience that we enjoyed. I think it was around 200 for the four of us to enjoy a perfect night out.

    (5)

  • Gabriela S.

    While visiting Seattle for the 4th of July Holiday after doing my research on Yelp and being a huge of duck Foie Gras I red wonderful things about this place. So made reservations the first night. The atmosphere was nice, waitress polite and bread delicious. Though disappointed when we did not find Foei Gras on the menu and jokingly mentioned it to the staff she went to ask the chef. Living in SoCal where they just banned Foei Gras we were really hoping to find some in more free WA. Well turns out that the Chef used to live in the Bay Area CA and would love to prepare some for us as he feels the ban is about as silly as we do. It was absolutely out of this world- and we were so appreciative of him going out of his way on a busy evening to make his client happy. So thank you very much- actions like these show me how passionate the Chef is about his profession and food and I hope that his business thrives in years to come.

    (5)

  • Mairead R.

    Casual, yet chic. Ever-present staff, without being annoying. And great food. We were seated immediately without reservations on a Tuesday around 7:00. Within minutes our server welcomed us with warm rosemary bread and some beautifully designed menus. Halibut was pan fried with a delicate crust. Served on top of a generous helping of English pea fourchette, which filled the basin of the plate with a bright green mash of creamed peas. It was sweet, brimming with spring flavor. The halibut was nested on a bed of thinly sliced onion soubise with bright chunks of tart rhubarb. A perfect entrée for this season. Though I wouldn't make this at home, it was a challenging presentation. Exactly what I'd expect from Zoe's reputation. The spicy wild boar Bolognese, which is a year-round staple, was amazing. Thin ribbons of pappardelle, cooked just al dente. The sauce was silky. Though you could just see tiny flecks of chopped carrot, sage, and chili, it was luxuriously smooth. We split the carrot cake, I liked it and my dining companion did not. A smattering of toasted pecans and a splash of sweet carrot tea as the garnish. The cake was a fluffy affair that dovetailed perfectly into the cream cheese frosting. The frosting was an oval scoop on top of the cake, which meant I could control frosting to cake ratio. And I ate the leftover pecans with my fingers when finished. Wished I could have licked the sweet carrot tea off the plate too. PS. They serve amuse bouches before the main course (tonights was a crostini with thinly sliced rabbit and chopped herbs) and a tiny sweet at the end (lavendar macaron with almond flour base).

    (5)

  • Beth O.

    I had the pleasure of being taken to Restaurant Zoe for a slightly-delayed Valentine's Day dinner, and I think my boyfriend deserves some serious kudos for finding this place for us! After delicious drinks (the Ruby My Dear for me, the Manhattan Regrade for him), we had the wild boar bolognese and mushroom/pearl onion/truffle oil gnocchi (one of the best things I've ever tasted) for starters, and then he had the cod and me the chicken. Now, cod and chicken both can be hit or miss, since they are both so dependent on preparation method, seasoning, and side dishes - and these were both a win. I normally despise all types of seafood (yes, born and raised in Seattle, I know I'm an oddity), but the cod was actually tolerable to me, which is unheard of. We skipped dessert in favour of something more nostalgic to us (bubble tea in the International District), but will definitely be back another time to try some of the delicious options on the dessert menu!

    (5)

  • Hila B.

    I wanted to check this place out because it has so many great reviews and it's close to my house, but as great as my expectations were, so was my disappointment, especially from the food!! Will not go there again.

    (2)

  • Jenny J.

    #1 Décor: 3* Quaint local feel. Good for friends and foodies. Didn't feel romantic as it was pretty bright in the restaurant. Host and Waiter Service: 2* Very friendly and helpful and would be a 4* But the big big issue I had was that i ordered a number of starters to share and the timing on the plating was just bad. Did not run smoothly. When they remove the first 2 dishes, the next 2 should come right away. It takes 5 min and I think that is too long. Same thing when the second set of starters were removed and the entree arrived. On to the food....... Bread Test: 5* Excellent 5 pieces of bread with salt and pepper topped. Comes with a balsalmic/oil dip that was a great compliment to the bread. Appetizers: Had: 2* Bibb Salad - with compressed apples in blue cheese dressing. Didn't do it for me. Lettuce leaves were too leafy and apples were tasteless as well as the dressing Shuda Had: Red Crimson pears salad Starters: Had: 4* WInter Squash Risotto - squash chips and candied walnuts were delish 4* thundering hooves beef tongue semolina gnocchi, kale, pearl onions - Melt in your mouth goodness 5* spicy wild boar bolognese arugula pappardelle, chili flakes, shaved parmesan- LEGENDARYYYYYY Shuda Had: I shuda had every small plate instead of getting an entree... Entrees: Had: 3* sturgeon°with pumpkin puree, brussel sprouts, pancetta, hazelnuts, apples - the fish was good. Didn't enjoy the brussel sprouts. Not a big fan. I think it was just okay because the starters were incredible. Shuda Had: More small plates instead of an entree.... Dessert: Had: 2* Pumpkin Spiced Napolean - eh.. it was ok... Shuda Had: one of the homemade sorbet or ice creams. Drinks: Had: A Washington State Reisling of some kind. Tasty but wrong choice as the thundering hooves and wild boar were flavorful and required a nice red like a Merlot or Zin. Bathroom: Didn't go After Dinner Things To Do: Walk to Pike Place... Grab coffee at first Starbucks but I think they close at like 8pm. Overall: 4* as the small plates are to die for and will go back just to have 2 orders of the wild boar bolognese

    (4)

  • Julian R.

    Excellent. Great good, excellent service, knowledgable staff, relaxed atmosphere, fun drinks, overall a fantastic experience. We'll be back!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    Gosh, I really really liked this restaurant. I found it through the Dine Around Seattle website. My sis picked this restaurant after I sent her a link to Dine Around Seattle. I am SO GLAD she did! The space is modern yet warm and inviting. You can tell that it's the same owners as Quinn's. The open space, the great wood floors...and all the windows! I love it. The service...from hostesses to our waitress, was very warm and down-to-earth. We even got a call the day before our reservation b/c I had made the reservation through OpenTable and had written a note saying we wanted to participate in Dine Around Seattle. They only do that Sun-Thurs so she called to let me know. How nice! So we were able to reschedule our reservation for Sunday instead of Saturday. The food...DELICIOUS! And the perfect amount! From the Dine Around Seattle menu I tried the ricotta gnudi (little cheese balls), pork, and peanut butter sundae with banana ice cream. How decadent does that sound?! It was so goooood! Sis tried salad, crispy chicken, and lemon panna cotta. Bro-in-law got the gnudi, beef, and pineapple sorbet. EVERYTHING was ridiculously delicious. My favorite was the crispy chicken. Perfectly crispy but not at all greasy. I can't wait to come back here...

    (5)

  • Jenni C.

    Delicious food, good drinks, great atmosphere. This was a great place to celebrate my anniversary - the ambiance was light and clean, yet just romantic enough. The service was excellent, and the meal was a very good. The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is that for the price, I would have liked my vegatable dishes to have a little more za-za-zou. I also found the risotto on the al dente side, however, I enjoyed it very much. The protein was to DIE for - melt in your mouth salmon and short rib. The drink I ordered, I can't recall the name, just that it had elderflower and lemon in it, was the best cocktail I've ever had (or very close). The dessert was good, but not the highlight of the meal by any means. I would definitely go again, just on the right occasion to be worth shelling out the $$$. If your looking for a nice drink before or after, check out Bathtub Gin & Co around the corner!

    (4)

  • Rodolfo C.

    The best dessert served in Seattle - the best. I don't utter bombastic and dogmatic statements often, but while UFO's and Rush Limbaugh's views on the President's nationality and religious affiliation might be up for debate, this is not: Zoë serves the best desserts (pl.) in Seattle. And while I'm making outlandish remarks, here's a good rule of thumb you can go by: any restaurant with an umlaut-ed character in it's name is bound to be good, trust me on that one. In any case, get yourself, and anyone who's day you want to make to Zoë. And don't bother with dinner, it will only go down in history as 'that thing you had before dessert' which burned a whole in your pocket. So take my advice and go straight for the dessert, choose your favorite, and hit that thing like there's no tomorrow - it literally might not be there tomorrow as they rotate the dessert menu every month or so. I would know, I recently missed my favorite July chocolate mousse by 1 day.. ONE day, and it would've been mine.. Desserts are currently priced at $9. Also, get french press coffee served at the table to go with it - perfect..

    (4)

  • Edward C.

    I really wanted to like this place better, but it let me down in a couple of key areas. I started off with a salad that was competent. Prosciutto, figs, and other yummy things. Good, but not that memorable. The gnudi was quite tasty. It's something that I'd definitely recommend sharing, since it's a little much to eat it on your own. The beef tongue was also decent, but everything on the plate seemed to be drowned in some generic sauce that made everything taste the same. It didn't really seem that sophisticated. But the real letdown of the meal was the foie gras. It's tragic when foie gras isn't delicious and delectable, and that was the biggest problem that I had with Zoe. Something on the plate was too carmelized so it got stuck in your teeth, and the plate in general was too sweet, and there was just something not quite right with the foie gras. I love foie gras, but I was just so disappointed with it here. Anyway, disappointing foie gras + relatively high prices = not some place I'd want to go again, even if the gnudi was good. I guess my expectations were just set too high for this place, and the food just did not deliver.

    (2)

  • Stacie K.

    We chose this place because the noodle was booked and we wanted fancy dinning for our 9th anniversary. What drew me to it was that I am pregnant and not all dishes seem appetizing to me right now. No matter the chef. I can't eat chicken at all. Ansd I love chicken. Anywho. So it was a bit hard to find as there is a largish tree blocking the front. Parking is also a bit of fun as there is only on street parking. But it is totally worth the trouble. A super friendly hostess immediately sat us despite being 5 minutes late for our reservation. We had a nice table in what I assume was a sunroom at one time. The windows were all open, and the lighting was very intimate. It was EPIC. They served us fresh water that wasn't from a tap, and delicious bread with an oil for dipping. I was having trouble deciding what to order as it all sounded yummy. I went for my favorite protein and ordered the duck entree. The food took a while, but it is all fresh made, so I didn't mind. My husband ordered the steak. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked to a perfect mid rare temp. It melted in your mouth. My duck was also properly prepared at mid rare. Thinly sliced and DELICIOUS. It came with a red quinoa and warm spring mix salad with white nectarine puree. I know right! EPIC food. Proportions were spot on. Leaving me satisfied, but with enough room for dessert without complaint. I ordered the blueberry lemon fool. So good. Lemon curd with fresh blueberries in a type of custard. The boy had a limoncello. We will be going there again, and prolly not just for an occasion.

    (5)

  • Just Y.

    (4.5 Stars) I was preparing myself for a letdown the second one of the floor staff served slices of focaccia (cold, and had a dried-out side) and poured some brown goop onto a saucer (a balsamic emulsification, but not a visually attractive result - tasked OK, but still). That was the last questionable incident. Two small plates, two entrées, two deserts. Vegetables so fresh you would think they have someone running down to Pikes Market for every order. Meat that melted like butter and fish that was perfectly moist. Deserts (all made in-house) that didn't go over the top and were all good pairings with the main menu. All the dishes, gorgeously plated, looked deceptively simple but revealed subtle flavors and layers that made us really slow down to take our time. The entire floor staff worked as team; all were very friendly, knowledgeable of the menu, and efficient. An extra bonus point to our waitress who spotted a preparation mistake from the bar and had it fixed before it reached our table (it isn't like you can't see everything from everywhere here). Bread refilled on your plate before you know you need it, drinks never left empty, each course brought out with excellent timing, plates removed at that just-right time, table wiped between dinner and dessert - really just excellent service. My hat off to the entire staff: One of the best meals and dining experiences we've had in quite a while.

    (5)

  • Yann R.

    I can't wait for Zoe to open up again. Awesome food and great cocktails. I love the French fusion style cuisine, with a level of subtlety and quality rarely met. Now I wish their new place allows for a quieter dinning experience. Concrete and steel really does not make it easy.

    (5)

  • Steph C.

    After a long day of binge eating, Michael K. and I came to Restaurant Zoë at around 9:30 PM for a final meal of small plates and dessert. In spite of our stretched-out and protesting stomachs, we had a truly delicious and enjoyable third dinner. Zoë was a chic little place with sleek minimal decor and an air of cool romance. The feel was casual, and the full windows lent a sense of openness to the space. The service was friendly and attentive without being stuffy. We were immediately served some nice, soft, thick-sliced bread and an amuse bouche of salmon tartare with cucumber and creme fraiche on crunchy toasts. All boded well, and the rest of our meal did not disappoint. We ordered the veal sweetbreads and the Martinez Ranch lamb belly for our savory part of the meal. Though these were technically small plates, they were large enough to serve as reasonable entrees for normal humans. More importantly, they tasted superb. The veal sweetbreads came with swiss chard, sunchokes, hazelnuts, and pickled pearl onions, a combination that was completely harmonious and interesting. This was my first time trying sweetbreads and Zoë's preparation blew me away. The texture was creamy yet firm and the breading was sheer, letting the succulence of the meat shine through. I've since made it a point to order sweetbreads when I see them on a menu, and am thankful to Zoë for showing me how delicious they can be. The accompaniments were fantastic as well. The creamed swiss chard and the toasty hazelnuts were especially wonderful counterpoints to the sweetbreads. The lamb belly was equally good, served with fennel puree, turnips, tarragon, and candied kumquats. The lamb was gorgeous, cut in thick strips with healthy layers of fat and crispy skin on each piece. The meat dazzled on its own, but the sides really took the dish to a new level. The sweetness of the fennel, the tart of the kumquats, the earthy turnips - there was a lot going on, but it was all thought-out with not an ingredient out of place. Both of our dishes felt masterfully composed, with all components complementing each other and buttressing the proteins, and without any one flavor hogging the spotlight. We rounded out the night with two desserts, which were on the whole less impressive than the savory dishes. We ordered the crimson pear tart tatin and the Meyer lemon pot de crème. The pear tart was a nice combination of tart and sweet, served with rosemary ice cream and a pear-moscato reduction. A thin pear chip rested on top, and diced pear underneath the tart. I was disappointed that the rosemary ice cream tasted mostly like vanilla, but otherwise, this was a great, if not memorable, dessert. The lemon pot de crème, on the other hand, was funky. It had a taste that I had only encountered in savory steamed egg custards in various Asian restaurants, a little bit stinky and protein-forward. I imagine there was egg in the pot de crème, and perhaps this was allowed to take the rest of the dessert hostage. The black and white sesame cookies that came on the side, at least, were pretty good. The prices of the small plates were pretty decent considering their size and quality, and if you're not particularly hungry, you can get out of this place for under $20 a head. The desserts offered less value at $9 a plate, and considering that they were significantly weaker than the savory dishes, I'd skip them if I were to come back. That said, the lamb belly and the sweetbreads were singularly awesome, and if the rest of the menu boasts a similar level of execution, I'd be interested in eating it all.

    (4)

  • Scott A.

    WOW! This place *really* is simply fantastic! Like so many reviewers before me, I found Restaurant Zoë to be outstanding. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't perfect but a really sweet find and for this level of food very reasonably priced as well! If you find yourself in Seattle I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to most. The crowd Tuesday night was an interestingly diverse mix of 30-to-60 year olds - a sophisticated group; dark brimmed glasses, tweed sweaters, and the like... I wouldn't be surprised if a few had a copy of the Economist on hand for worldly discussion possibly in French as half the tables around me were speaking this language. Wine and martinis would by far be the drink of choice and the trendy modern conservative decor along with the modern jazz being played throughout complimented the crowd well creating an overall laid back, warm, and fun environment. Service was topnotch and both the reservation host and my server were a wealth of fabulous recommendations for food not only here but around Seattle. So if you get a person named Keri as your server do let her steer you around the menu as she did a great job for me! This all aside, the food at Restaurant Zoë is what really takes this place a step above. Most of the dishes are fairly traditionally based but flared with a remarkably complex yet perfectly blended set of other ingredients and accents to put a new twist on what otherwise might be considered a standard offering. For example, the pre-dinner bread was a carefully chosen herb bread to go perfectly with an olive oil based "house" oil that had been premixed with the standard balsamic vinegar and several other ingredients I couldn't quite pull out. Keri described them along with the sophisticated and difficult method used to prepare the oil but without writing it down I find it impossible to recant here. I can tell you the result was absolutely fantastic! Among a number of other dishes sampled, I had the following: Duck Terrine - Absolute heaven and truly outstanding!!! I'm not sure this dish could have been done better and comes with a mini side-salad that blends to perfection with the Duck Terrine. If you're wondering what Duck Terrine is think of finely minced meatloaf that is compressed and served at room temperature or possible just slightly chilled (because they didn't allow it to warm enough). It's not unlike pate but less finely ground. If you like duck and this special is being served it's the one must have item I ordered. Scallops - excellent and served in a light cream sauce that didn't overpower the delicate scallop flavor which so many places make the mistake of doing. These were a bit more seared than usual but I thought the effect worked and made the dish a bit more unique. Unlike the duck terrine however, the accompanying side garnishment didn't add much if at all to the over flavor of the dish. Alaskan Halibut - I ordered this in my seemly impossible quest for good fish in Seattle. The Alaskan halibut was super fresh but was unfortunately overcooked! It wasn't bad enough to send back and the genius of the overall dish still present; but the never ending search for unbelievable seafood in Seattle continues... Accompanying the Halibut was an English pea fourchette once again putting a more unique spin an a dish you would find on many restaurant's menus. House Ice Cream - made "in house" and a great way to lighten a heavy meal consisting of two entrées. Very good. My only reservation in recommending Restaurant Zoë would be to those looking for a younger crowd or more of a lounge club in-crowd feel as Restaurant Zoë is neither of these though I was told a younger crowd comes on the weekend. That said if you're looking for a unique experience and some great food at very reasonable prices in Seattle this place so far has been hard to beat.

    (5)

  • Tim O.

    I wish I could have focused on the professional service, the nice wine selection, the great salad/starter and the cozy interior with a wall of windows. Unfortunately, the smell from my entree was burning my nostrils. I kid you not. They were out of the Great Lakes char (wasn't delivered that day), so I had to go with the only other seafood dish on the menu that I could eat - seared big eye tuna. Fine, I love tuna. Not only was the tuna quite fatty and chewy, but the anchovy/olive/pickled peppers was pungent. Overwhelming , to say the least. And I actually like all of those ingredients, normally. Zoe has a great space and I'll go back for a starter drink for the evening since they are well-mixed and the bartender was great, but don't think I'll be returning for dinner any time soon. 'Tis a shame.

    (3)

  • Lauren M.

    Wonderful food and service. The only negative would be their signage outside. The sign for Cafe Zoe is very hard to see and the main signage outside the restaurant is a Rooster with C & Z . This is a very busy area and parking can be difficult. However, once we were there, we really enjoyed the food and Cafe Zoe's ambiance.

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    By far the best meal I've ever had. Great atmosphere, fun location, and great service. Spendy but def the place to go for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • Laura P.

    You know when you take a mouthful of something edible and your eyes roll to the back of your head (I'm talking food & wine here people!)?? That's what it is like to dine at Zoe. They had me rollin' at the wine and perfect rosemary bread, all the way through to the butterscotch pot de creme with a chocolate wafer & white chocolate Chantilly. The chocolate wafer was just so that if they served it at communion, I'd be going back to church on a regular basis. And this was just dessert. I really should mention what we had for first plates & entrees before I sign off- me: ricotta gnudi with fried sage and brown butter sauce (you'll want to lick the plate clean despite it being too salty. That's OK- it's the truffle salt that is casting the spell), hub: chanterelle salad. His entree was the beet risotto. I don't like beets. That is, I didn't like beets until now. Mandolin thin candy-stripe beets on top of a risotto with feta & beet juice- ay ya!!! Now I've seen the errors of my ways. My entree as local braised pork with lentils and braised mustard greens with beets. A total fall dish. We also got a side of the Brussels sprouts with lardons in a grainy mustard sauce. Zoe rawks! Nathan (our friendly server) rawks x2! He knows how to sell and pair his wine (he promises that if you don't like it, he'll buy it for you and drink it himself). update: 12/28/07 I'm relieved to find that I still love Zoe even if we didn't get to sit in Nathan's section. I had called ahead to get a table in his section and was told that it wouldn't be a problem. When we got there, however, we were told that it would be a long while to get him. We didn't wait since we weren't going to inconvenience others in our party. The food was still top notch and the wine was paired correctly.

    (5)

  • Jessica S.

    Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. The food is quality. Great date place!

    (4)

  • Leah L.

    I have been to the old location in Belltown, so I was excited to try to the new spot. The food was great-- I especially recommend the wild boar parpadelle pasta and the graham cracker macroons for dessert. Service, however, was quite slow, and they didn't seem that busy. We were there for about 3.5 hours-- granted, with 5 people and multiple courses, but we waited quite a long time in between, and were often flagging anyone who worked there down for another drink. My friend even went in before they opened to ask them to set up a table with a bottle of champagne for our reservation (we were celebrating a special event), and they didn't have it set up for us or our table ready when we arrived for our reservation on time.

    (3)

  • Boyd M.

    I really enjoyed this place. We just went here before a night at the Triple Door and, I have to say, this was a quality choice. Thanks to all the reviewers that helped me pick this place. The staff works really well as a team. Service was seamless and solid. They kept the water full and shared some great bites while we waited for the food. Really enjoyed the bread and could not get enough of it. The place is very understated for Seattle. Simple clean look. Nice that it is not all swank or over the top. They seem to let the food do the talking and it sings! We had steelhead, baby greens and risotto. All were done very well and had great flavors. We finished with a lemon crepe. Very nice. The Sage Margarita and Stormy Weather drinks were excellent. The SW came with a blown out umbrella... nice touch! Anyone who like good food and service this is the place. Nice place to just kick back, eat, drink and have some good conversation. We were not rushed and everything about dinner just flowed nicely. My hats off the the team at Zoe! Thanks for a great night.

    (4)

  • Halley M.

    Over-rated. Steak was over cooked, and the frites that came with it were nothing special. The dessert was especially disappointing and not as good as truck stop food: Black forest chocolate cake had a chocolate cookie crust, a faux raspberry and whip cream filling. Very artificial tasting, no chocolate. Bread was a nothing-special focaccia, not unlike what you see at chain restaurants.

    (3)

  • serena l.

    MMMMMM. My bf and I were in town from San Francisco, and came to Zoe per a quick Yelp search on top restaurants as well as a recommendation from the bf's friend. Such a great choice. I had the 3 course $30 special. I started off with a fantastic, extremely fruit-forward glass of Merlot. My gnudi app had a nice, cheesy flavor to it, and I liked that small portion size - it left room for my braised short rib as the main. Now, the meat was delicious...but I actually liked the bed of red beet fourchette and watercress salad even more. I was afraid of the description at first (pickled watermelon radish and freshly shaven horseradish), but the flavors were very mild, and complemented the dish quite well. For dessert, we had an amazing pumpkin pie ice cream with candied pumpkin seeds. What a great, early start to Thanksgiving! It could've been a little creamier, but the flavor was nothing I've ever had in an ice cream...so, no complaints here. The space is very cool - the restaurant is very San Francisco in its decor, menu selection and quality of food. My one complaint would be noise levels - on a Monday night, the place was packed and definitely buzzing with conversation. I guess that's a good thing though too...!

    (5)

  • Megan B.

    My husband took me here for my birthday last week. I have been debating how many stars to give this place since then... My husband had made reservations on open table and mentioned that it was my birthday, so when we arrived, the hostess said she had a "special table" waiting for us, she was just waiting for it to be cleared- and invited us to a drink at the bar. We had already had our share of columbos earlier at Hazlewood, so we figured why not go for some more Lillet? We each had a BDX martini- grey goose with lillet and orange twist (9 bucks a pop!) . MEH. I like lillet by itself better (or with fernet branca and limoncello). Soon after our drinks were in our hot semi-drunk little hands, we were informed that our table was ready. I was excited that the kitchen brings each table an amuse-bouche, something I've never had the pleasure to receive at a restaurant. This evening it was toasts topped with a goat cheese mousse and an olive pepperonata. Very tasty, indeed. Looking at the menu was overwhelming. So many tantalizing options! We decided to get 2 appetizers- the kurobuta pork belly confit and the veal sweetbread & chicken mousse roulade. Both amazing! The roulade was perfectly seared- there was the most savory-licious crust on the exterior. The pork belly confit was good, but was 2 small pieces of pork perched atop a roasted peach, delicious, but very pricey for relatively inexpensive pork belly. At this point our mediocre martinis were empty and we decided to order a split of a willamette valley pinot noir, since we felt it would go well with both of our entrees. I had the most amazing and perfectly prepared Halibut I have ever had. Seriously orgasmically good. There was bacon and a sweet carrot puree- I really don't know- It was just so perfect. Mark had "the whole hog" shreddy delicious roasted pork served on a huge"semolina gnocchi" (which was more like a big potato-semolina patty) and roasted golden beets. His entree was quite delicious, too, but paled in comparison to my amazing halibut. So for dessert, we were informed that the 2 chocolate desserts were out, which was fine with me- I'm more of a fruit dessert person- chocolate should be left alone or to the real masters, y'know? We ordered the lavender citrus panna cotta, and 2 glasses of some dessert wine which I can't remember (this is quite a few drinks into the evening, mind you). Wine was delicious. The panna cotta was too, but was topped with a very tart citrus sorbet that masked the flavor of the panna cotta completely. It was an awful pairing of flavors, really. They did however, write on our plate "happy birthday" in chocolate and placed a candle there, which was a great touch. This place has awesome, creative food, a great location, and great service. We had to knock it down a star, though, due to the bad cocktail and blunderous dessert. Plus it's Super-spendy. watch out!

    (4)

  • Karen Y.

    This is a great place. I have been here several times and not had a bad meal yet. The place is small but seats a surprising amount of people. Minimal noise even when busy. Beautiful fresh look about the place with reasonable service (not five star but definately four star) Great drinks to do try the Sage Margarita and the Regrade Manhattan - they are a little strong but worth the experiment. Food wise - portions are good because the main courses are heavy. The Berkshire Prok Chop is tender, the Chicken is juicy and the beef and lamb dishes were also a big hit with my friends. Last time the boys had the pulled pork and raved about it. Do try the polenta and the savoy cabbage with bacon it is small but very scrummy. I do hope you try this place out it is worth an evening out!

    (5)

  • Sean T.

    Great services. The food is good but doesn't warrant for the price.

    (3)

  • Katie H.

    I will forever kick myself for not eating a meal at Zoe when I had the chance. Before I moved to Seatle I bought "best places Seattle" and circled Zoe as one of the first restaurants I wanted to try. Well since it took me forever to find a job, that didn't happen for a while and I kind of forgot about it. Then I decided to move back to the Midwest and all my money was going to the move. Finally one night my husband and I stopped in for a drink and dessert. Service was great, wine was reasonably priced and the mini chocolate dessert sampler was fantastic. I looked around the restaurant at all the happy people who had practically licked their plates clean, inhaled the armona of deliciousness that permeated the whole place, and drooled over every plate that went by. Do not make the same mistake as me. Go here and eat a meal. Go now, before time passes by. Get the hangar steak, and think of me.

    (5)

  • Amiee L.

    I was really excited to eat here after reading the reviews on Yelp but once I got there and sat down...I discovered that I didn't love the food as much as I thought I would. Maybe I was too hyped up? The Tuna Tartar was my favorite...it was done perfectly and I would go back for it. I also had the lamb and it was :ok: nothing that I had to go back for. The service was not very good either - our waitress took forever to come to the table and a few time I had to flag down other people to get some help. Hopefully they were just having an off night....

    (3)

  • Keenan C.

    Zoe has not disappointed on any of my 4 visits so far. While the meals are unbelievable, this place is all about the nasty bits. The Sweetbreads are amazing and the waiters consistently make excellent wine pairings for each part of your meal. The price is quite reasonable considering the quality of ingredients and care that goes into each meal. The cooks in my opinion are some of the best in Seattle.

    (5)

  • K R.

    We've only been here a few months, but we've been on a mission to find food that compares with the bites in San Francisco and well, this is the best we have found to date. They have a great wine list and small savory plates. The one distinct advantage over San Francisco was the lack of a wait. No reservation needed, no real crowd and you don't have to shout to be heard. Its just a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy some good food.

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    Each course was thoughtful and inspired. Restaurant Zoe should be on the absolute must list for any foodie passing through Seattle and on the regular rotation for locals who can expect a memorable experience every time. Whatever the seasonal risotto is, order it. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Stefan G.

    Would give Zoe a 4.5 if possible. The Atmosphere: Zoe is a nicely decorated, romantic, clean, and upscale looking place. Perfect for a romantic dinner and quiet enough to have a conversation with friends -- But not so fancy that you can't dress casual. The Staff: Extremely attentive wait staff, never in the way, but always available. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the dishes (they should be, there aren't many dishes) and even about the raw ingredients (able to tell me about the variety of spinach I was eating, and how it was delivered, prepared, etc). The Food: Baby Organic Lettuce Salad: A simple lettuce/arugula salad with a dressing that seemed to be a combination of a fresh mayonnaise and a sherry vinaigrette. Simple, but tasty. Would give it a 3.5/5. Wild Boar Bolognese: Fantastic. It's a rather simple dish, and admittedly a bit reminiscent of hamburger helper -- but it sure is amazingly flavorful at Zoe -- Absolutely perfect I'd say. This is served over a wide spinach noodle. Would be a 5/5. Also inexpensive ($18) I also tasted the lamb dish - It's served rather rare, over fingerling potatoes, olives, and with a raw egg yolk. I found the lamb rather lacking in any flavor, but was told that when paired with the egg/olive/etc it was quite good. The chef also sent out a few other items, a celery soup and a pate crustini of sorts. Both very good. Finally, I'll add, the bread served with dinner, and specifically the quality balsamic and oil for dipping, was among the best you'll have. Drinks: Tried the Regrade Manhattan and a glass of cab. This version of a manhattan just tasted like an ordinary manhattan, however the use of a nice cherry served like an olive was nice. The wine list isn't amazing, and somewhat lacking in terms of number of wines offered by the glass (generally one or two of each varietal).

    (4)

  • Jamie B.

    So delicious. Mouth watering. And they even asked if there were food allergies at the table. Friendly waiters. Amazing.

    (5)

  • Haru K.

    Stopped in for an early dinner after the Seahawks game yesterday. At 5:45pm on a Sunday, the place was pretty empty, so we stole a nice corner window table, but by 7pm when we left, it was packed. We were lured in by the menu posted in the window - green bean salad with blue cheese and radish sprouts, seared foie gras with roasted peach (one of best foie gras I've ever had) to name a couple. Both lived up to our expectations. My partner's entree, grilled cod on a corn puree, was delicious, but the kurobuta pork rib appetizer that I decided to have as my entree didn't taste right so I ended up turning it back. They offered to bring something else, but since I was getting full they just removed it from the bill. We enjoyed a half bottle of a pinot from Oregon. We would have stayed for dessert, but had to catch a flight. I'd like to come back again and try some other dishes. Great service and nice location with easy parking nearby.

    (4)

  • Alexei N.

    This is my favourite restaurant in Seattle. Everything deserves the highest marks. The manager, who remembers your name. The food is to rave about. Never oversalted! Awesome espresso. Now, last but not least - the Siren - unbelievably good jalopeno martini.

    (5)

  • Kat N.

    Had a BEAUTIFUL meal at Zoe's during my quick weekend getaway in Seattle. They change the menu often and my party and I were lucky to be able to try their crispy chicken breast which is absolutely the best chix breast we've ever had!!!!! The chicken breast is poached in duck fat and then the skin is seared on high heat at the end. Oh god, the duck fat keeps the chicken moist and tender but it doesn't taste oily at all. The other great dishes we had were the peking duck breast and the braised beef short rib - both delicious but the chix breast was the star! The ling cod was so-so. A bit on the bland side compared to the other 3 dishes we had. The ricotta gnudi and pork belly confit appetizers are great too! Must try the gnudi. And panna cotta for dessert. Yummmm! Panna Cotta is my favorite dessert!

    (5)

  • Jackie C.

    Based on the fabulous Yelp reviews, my husband and I decided to celebrate our 16th anniversary at Restaurant Zoe. We had to make early dinner reservations since they booked up weeks in advance for a Friday night seating, but I was OK with that. When I made the reservation, I told them it was our anniversary. We arrived at 6:15 and were promptly greeted by the host who wished us Happy Anniversary and then led us to our table. Our waiter came up shortly after we arrived and also wished us Happy Anniversary. I was impressed that the word had made it from the reservation book to the waiter. My husband looked at the wine list and ordered a nice bottle of wine, which the waiter tried to talk him out of. That was a bit weird but since we'd tasted it before we knew we'd like it so we held firm. After our wine was poured, the host reappeared with a brushetta/celebratory appetizer. I don't know if everyone who dines gets the hummus brushetta, but I was impressed and it was really yummy. We ordered gnudi for a starter, which was so good that I wished I could have gotten a full portion for my meal - outstanding little fried-dumpling dish is a must try. Our food was good, but I felt like the menu tried just a bit too hard to be unique. I ordered cod, which was nice and my husband tried the lamb, which he liked. The waiter was superb in knowing when to give the two love-birds privacy and still be attentive. We decided against dessert, since we're old and soft around the middle. The host made a final appearance with two small tarts on a plate with a lit candle to again wish us Happy Anniversary. How cute is that! The total bill was a bit expensive for the amount we consumed, but the high touch, make-you-feel-special feeling was well worth it. I'd highly recommend the place to anyone looking for a special night out. PS - we also noticed that people dressed up at this place! We didn't see jeans and fleece (not that there's anything wrong with that), but the patrons were dressed for a nice night out in a chic city. What a nice thing to see.

    (4)

  • Hailey V.

    Although I am anti-Valentine's Day, I are pregnant with my first child. Assuming this was our V-Day last dinner out, my husband and I ventured to Restaurant Zoe. We were running late, so we called and the hostess was so nice. What I loved...let me count the ways. Non-alcoholic mocktail menu. Sweetbreads and the best creamed spinach ever. Gnudi. Excellent pork (though the polenta could have had more punch). Chocolate sampler dessert. What I could have done without: Trying to find Belltown parking...but the food was worth it.

    (5)

  • Diane B.

    My husband took me here at the recommendation of a friend for my birthday. As we don't live in Seattle, we were happy for the recommendation and not disappointed! The food was fantastic, the wines delicious, the service beyond compare. Of special note that, as it was raining and it can be difficult to get a cab there, our waitress told us that the restaurant was having difficulty getting through to a cab company for us and was apologetic and said it may be a few more minutes. I noticed a cab driving by and turning the corner of the restaurant. I said there's one, and she, Sarah our waitress, took off at a dead run out of the restaurant and hailed the cab down for us... Half way down the block. Now THAT is service! If you want a great meal with attention to detail at every step, this is the place!

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Zoe impresses with great drinks, friendly staff, and well-executed dishes. My mom suggested we go, and I brought my French boyfriend along. We enjoyed our "La Pommette" drinks (this mixed drink that only needs a dollop of Crme frache to make it the official drink of Normandy, France) and the fresh mozzarella appetizer. The waiter forgot one drink, and brought three spoons with duck and beet confit (I'd already mentioned I was vegetarian to the waiter--my boyfriend had two spoons.) The menu lacked a vegetarian main course, while there were several vegetarian options on sides or as appetizers, there wasn't anything to really sustain a vegetarian. I got a side of sweet potatoes mixed with lentils (a side dish) and couldn't shake the feeling that there was chicken stock in it. (I'd asked for it without.) The waiter recommended another option, the risotto, but this is often pre-made by chefs with chicken stock. Never mind that the dish is the often used dish to offer vegetarians at high-end restaurants--it gets boring. I've had "southern" risotto, "cheesy" risotto, the ever-popular mushroom risotto, "french-style" risotto, etc. It's warmed over rice/pasta with cheese on a plate, and no matter how delicate the flavor, it's always going to be boring, until it coagulates on my plate and can be shaped into food-art. When we received a email sign up card, I signed up, and commented that it'd be nice to have a vegetarian item on the menu. A staff member explained that they had veggie items on the menu, that they could make a plate on request, that the risotto was great, etc. He was friendly and we joked around, but... When my family goes out to enjoy a nice meal together and celebrate, it's a perfect evening when each of us can equally enjoy our meals. It'd be nice if they could make one small effort to provide patrons (and their guests) a vegetarian option.

    (4)

  • Diana R.

    Good, but not amazing. The waitstaff was great and super helpful, the ambiance really nice, but the food seemed only average to me.

    (3)

  • Nina N.

    Restaurant zoe's is the epitome of what pacific northwest cooking is suppose to taste like, and I highly recommend making reservations to dine there. I've pretty much tried everything here a while back for their 3 for 30(even though I ordered more on top of the 3 for 30), and when I came back to visit home my girlfriend insisted we dine here again .. I must admit, I am a sucker for pork belly anything, and their pork belly here is to die for, and their fish is delicious as well, so I had to say yes to zoe's... AGAIN.. AMAZING!! go go go for a nice dinner with close friends, or family. It's quite lovely :)

    (5)

  • Becky N.

    I can't believe I've waited this long to try Restaurant Zoe. This place knocked my socks off. It reminded me of the dining experience I had when I at the The Girl and the Goat in Chicago except much more casual. The dishes were unique and surprising in a good way. Everything we had was absolutely delicious, but my favorites were the Farro salad, Roasted Beet salad with soft cow's milk cheese, Celery root soup with crab, and their wild boar bolognese. Their Gnocci with braised short ribs wrapped in cabbage was good, but did not compare to the rest of the dishes. Their abalone was also good, but not worth the $29 for two silver dollar sized pieces. The service was great and the dishes came two at a time at the perfect pace. The bread they served was delicious with their olive oil and vinegar concoction. Their was even a person assigned to make sure everyone's bread plate was never empty. My only complaint about this place is that it was extremely loud and had to repeat ourselves throughout the night. All in all the food is fantastic and would definitely dine here again just for the farro salad alone!

    (5)

  • Graham T.

    We went for 30 for 30 on now through end of November. Had a truly amazing meal. All of the selected dishes were off their regular menu and were the same portion size. The Ricotta Gnudi (gnocchi) was buttery and smooth with a acidic kick from the balsamic reduction. The mousse de fois gras was to die for, not 'livery'. The hog with apples reminded me of porkchops and applesauce dressed to the nines. While the short ribs with beets was reminiscent of the best borscht. Service was impeccable and friendly (even with a tale of 6 eating off the prix-fix menu) and you can get a great glass of wine for $8. Make reservations and if you have to cancel make sure to do it more then 24 hrs out otherwise there is a nominal charge to your credit card. Best meal in months, thanks to all at Restaurant Zoe!

    (5)

  • Jessica N.

    I'm not a foodie, but I couldn't help but notice the terrific blend of flavors at Zoe. The best food I've eating in a looong time. Hands down. I definitely recommend all to try this place if you haven't already. My scallop entree was fabulous and the pork belly confit was delicious as well. Try it if it's still on the menu. The packed crowd says it all.

    (5)

  • N K.

    5 Star all the way. The maitre D makes you feel like you are as important as a celeb. Class all the way. Then there is the food....Ahh the amazing talents of Chef Scott Staples. If he wasn't already married. ;) My favorite server, Nathan is so knowledgeable with each dish, he aways suggest the best wine paring. I never tell him, he tells me what I'm drinking. (only because that's what I prefer of course) I would eat out here 7 nights a week if I could. The menu has a great variety and change with the season. There is always something amazing and surprising to choose from. Ive lost count of how many times Ive been there but I'll never forget how amazing it is. Until next time...

    (5)

  • Jon K.

    This place is the BOMB! The gnudi is so delicious. It just melts in your mouth. The pork belly is also quite tasty. You can't go wrong. This service is superb. The desserts divine. Make sure you have reservations. They do turn people away.

    (5)

  • C W.

    Visiting from LA and had made reservations based on reviews from Yelpers. Got a crappy table by the bathroom...ugh..even after making reservations a month in advance. Hmmm But.. anyways.. service was pretty good after it got started. Dinner was pretty interesting - complex flavors that at first were a little bit of a shock but really grew on you. but the best part was the Cheesecake - it was absolutely amazing - it was a savory cheesecake made from goat cheese - ohhh so good If I lived in this area I would be back!

    (4)

  • Ms. Heights C.

    Edamame and bar cocktails weren't cutting it for dinner. It was almost 10pm and after a hectic afternoon of traveling, my stomach was growling. Enter Zoe, a recommendation from the W Hotel concierge. Zoe sits on a cute downtown Seattle corner with picturesque windowside tables and one of the best servers I have ever had. He knew the menu well, made impressive food and wine suggestions. We had some salad greens, the green asparagus risotto, and the lentil/mushroom/bacon side dish, plus an entree that I can't really remember (usually the entrees don't stick out in my mind anyway). We were some of the last people there and never felt rushed or pressured in any way. Plus, there are people walking around that are quite amusing to watch if you're near the window. Cozy, romantic spot! Zoe is quite a gem. Amazing food with attention to detail, good wine, and impressive service - without the snobbery that usually accompanies these places. Zoe perfectly represents what I expect when I think fine dining in the Northwest. Rushing out of our hotel late Sunday morning, I'm embarrassed to say my BF and I scarfed down our Zoe leftovers from Friday night... still good! The bacon in those lentils constitutes breakfast, right?

    (5)

  • Vanessa T.

    The service we received nearly doubles the value of this rating. While the food was all delicious, it was the exceptional service that we received that made it extra special.

    (4)

  • Trevin C.

    I really want to love this place since every else and their dog (and possibly mother) seems to love it. However, after eating here 3 times, I'm still underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but it's just not "great" and doesn't warrant the 4 or 5 star rating in my opinion. Service is excellent, but I don't really expect anything less since that should be status quo for a restaurant in this price point.

    (3)

  • Coco C.

    We went here for a special anniversary dinner while in town for a wedding. The mister found it after a few recommendations (he was out here for an internship a few years ago) and sadly, since our lives revolve around Yelp, reading the Yelp reviews. We were not disappointed at all. Every course was terrific, starting with actual tasty, non-Shirley Temple virgin cocktails (I'm carrying a fetus, yo), and ending with some sort of peach crumble with apricot sherbert and crusty-crispy sweet stuff. I also had a tomato bread salad and rock fish swimming in a deeeelish olive oil/butter sauce. Everything was absolute cooking perfection. My only caveat: Just like Neelima said, people in Seattle have a weird way of "dressing up" for fancy/trendy restaurants - i.e., they don't. The mister and I were the snappiest dressers there, even compared to the servers and hostess.

    (5)

  • Annie P.

    I ate here with a friend during Restaurant Week. Service was WONDERFUL, the gnudi was excellent and the desserts were incredible. We weren't crazy about the main dishes (steelhead and crispy chicken), thus I'm giving it four instead of five stars. I would recommend Restaurant Zoe for the desserts alone! They are worth the trip!

    (4)

  • Bertrand R.

    Everything was so good. Their bread and oil dip they give you to begin is to die for. Service was amazing also.

    (5)

  • Louis D.

    Hard to know where to start .. PERFECT SERVICE. AMAZING FOOD GREAT SPACE This is the place for a food adventure. I would definitely suggest getting off the safe path and trying the "other cuts" of meat here .... The pork belly confit and tongue are indescribable.

    (5)

  • Tonya N.

    Restaurant zoe is one of if not the overall best restaurant in the city. Has it all top notch service, excellent food/drinks and great ambiance. I've been here a few times and it consistently delivers. Great place to take guests to. Im always amazed by the incredibly tentative staff. HIGHLY recommend! Way to go :)

    (5)

  • Mary B.

    I have wanted to go to Zoe for ages, and made it a priority to go here for their $30 prix fixe menu in November. Overall, I was satisfied with the meal, but I didn't fall in love as I had hoped. The ambiance is warm, with high ceilings, yet an intimate feel. Our server was fantastic: friendly, warm and attentive. I had a specialty champagne cocktail, and could have sucked down about 5 of them. Yum! They have a decent wine list, and we ended up getting a lovely bottle. I have to say, though, that I was a little disappointed with the meal. It was good, I guess I had just hoped for more. i just felt like there wasn't much flavor complexity, and I found most things I tried were a bit one dimensional. I heard the gnudi was great, but I didn't try it. Maybe next time...

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    We are foodies for sure ...eat out almost every night. We agree the food was good, but for the same or better price you can get so many better meals in our fair city. The food is simple and local, but the flavors are not that extraordinary. There are so many local, real food plces in Seattle that we believe are better. Crow or Betty or Etta's or others are superior.

    (3)

  • Yuri Y.

    Awesome food. Great drinks. Bartender recommended off-the-menu dish with rabbit meat, hom-emade pasta and chanterelle mushrooms. Loved it! Please note that the interior is somewhat bare, but it's probably part of the image. 100! YUM!

    (5)

  • Koriann B.

    I've been to Zoe twice now. I went there first when I was being introduced to food from a foodie point of view. At that time, I wasn't really impressed because I didn't know what to be impressed by. The food seemed too complicated. Now that I have a better appreciation for food, I got a chance to eat the food and appreciate the flavors in all their complexity. And they were delicious. We went and took part in the 30 for 30 promotion. There were four of us, so we got to try the three appetizers. The soup was yummy; a little lacking in pepper though. The gnudi, however, was fantastic. The salad was rather plain and I wasn't very impressed with the dressing. As to the entrees? The brisket was the clear winner. It was tender, juicy, and very flavorful. The risotto was delicious, creamy but not overly so. The celery was tender and not overly stringy. The chicken was a little dry and a little plain, but the sauce it came with was VERY yummy. The rockfish was alright. Nothing too amazing about it. For the desserts we were less diversified with three of us getting the cheese plate and the other getting the flourless chocolate cake. The cheese was wonderful. A nice blue that wasn't too sharp and another that I don't remember the name of, but it was French I think and creamy. And the cake? To die for. Absolutely fabulous. Go to Zoe and appreciate the wonderful flavors and the nice atmosphere. The waiters are very attentive and accommodating. It's a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • alexis o.

    Frankly, I was surprised to see so many 5 star reviews on Yelp before trying out Restaurant Zoe for myself. I'd never seen a restaurant with such consistently high marks and great (and thorough!) comments. I was skeptical. But damn, I've got to say that this restaurant was absolutely worthy of the 5-star rating. Every course was an absolute mouth orgy. Even the wine recommendation our server made was superb, which only added to the feast. Seriously, if you're looking for a fine dining experience (and I do mean experience) then look no further than Restaurant Zoe. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it...

    (5)

  • Elvis R.

    Zoe made me feel... what is it?... that word people use when they think they're insides are all smiley and radiant? Begins with an H. Ends in pee. Whatever it is, it sounds made up. But that's how I felt nonetheless. Both hosts were extremely gracious and actually involved in going around to the tables to make sure everyone had water, bread and that the food was great; which it was. And they chipped in to bus tables. And, even though we arrived about a half hour before our reservations they still welcomed and seated us without the sort of I'm-doing-you-a-favour frippery you get elsewhere. They were simply welcoming and gracious, and even though they were fairly busy, at ease. Which immediately made you feel comfortable. Our waiter was similarly gracious. The only person putting a bit of sulk on was the guy whose job it was to run 'round putting bread on people's plates and filling water glasses. Not surprisingly, he didn't seem like he wanted to be doing his job. But everyone else did. That's the thing. At least when we were there, it seemed as though Zoe'd managed to do what good restaurants should always strive to do but can rarely pull off... hire those one in a thousand people who seem to want to work there, whose great gift is to be made, themselves, genuinely ha... whatever that word is.... by pleasing others -- by honestly wanting to create a comfortable, cheery, smiley good time for other people. It was there in the service and the food -- little gratis Chef's tasties came out throughout the night. Everyone got some so it's not as if you were special, but it nevertheless made you feel a bit. As if you were at a friend's house sipping cocktails (Zoe's were perfectly balanced) and they came out with a little bite of something they thought you might enjoy. And they replaced the silverware between dishes. We had three small plates -- ricotta gnudi, the arms of a long lost lover; east coast sea scallops, dangle-foot dancing at age 5 with your blissfully drunk granddad; and celeriac risotto, the pleasant surprise of being awarded a small bit of cash from a class action lawsuit you never knew you were even a part of. The small plates on the surface seemed, well, small. But were so good (though the risotto was a triffle too lemony and didn't quite pull off the culinary masterfulness of the other dishes) that it almost made you forget, and imbued you with that odd feeling of regretting and being annoyed that there wasn't another bite left while savouring and smiling over the taste that lingered. Having you say to yourself under your breath... damn you Zoe.

    (4)

  • Charene M.

    I went there during restaurant week. The service was wonderful but the food was mediocre. I know that it was restaurant week and very busy but that is the time when you know the quality of the restaurant. If they can't handle busy, it's not worth the reservation.

    (3)

  • Jules R.

    I can't comment on the food but the libations are divine. I love it when there is a fancy-pants menu for drinks, and this menu is just that. Their variation on the Pimm's Cup was yummy and the Sage Margarita was also quite good. The bartender was delicious as well and very knowledgeable and helpful in deciding which drinks to try. I will say this about the food. It looked fabulous. I watched a steak walk by and just about grabbed it for myself. But then that would have looked a little desperate, wouldn't it? I will be returning, next time for the food AND the drinks.

    (5)

  • Neelima D.

    This place was said to be 'fancy,' so I got a bit nervous about dressing for this place on a Thursday night. It must be more casual in Seattle than in SF because there were definitely diners in there wearing jeans and a t-shirt (clean). We did make reservations and it seemed to be worth it as there was quite a wait in the front. My girlfriend and I were early for our reservation so we sat at the bar. I had the 'Private Danzka' (10$) which was good, but nothing to write home to mom about. It was a good way to start the night, though. We were seated next to the kitchen for dinner- this is a bit of a buzz-kill for me most times, but the GREAT service that we received through the evening had me forgetting that I felt an 'irk' coming on at any point in the night. Wine: Gascongne Blanc - very light, fruity, and with a hint of pine (which my friend could taste, but I could not). It's very good if you were to have the meal that I had. Recommended. We were first brought out the Amuse Bouche, a light cracker with a duck pate. Unfortunately, because I'm a 'pescatarian' and my friend isn't into 'duck pate,' the waiter quickly removed it and offered to bring us something else. This was simply so nice of the waiter and he nor the chef had any attitude about this. Instead, they brought us a tomato marmalade with olives. It was a very tasty bite! I had the gnudi because of the raves I had seen on yelp and it definitely worth the raves. This is something you'd want to share with someone. Not because it was large, but just because it was rich and by the time you got to the fourth one, the flavor would start to bore a bit. I went with the special on the menu which was a cornmeal crusted skate with fingerling potatoes. It was so well prepared! The crunch of the cornmeal crust and the butteriness of the medium skate was perfect. For dessert: Blueberry tart with a ginger ice cream. I'm not big on crust so I pulled it away, though it was good. The tart was huge so I would have shared this with someone. My friend had profiteroles which she thought was good, but was raving about the lemon curd that it was drizzled in. She wished it had come drenched in lemon curd. The meal ended with and amuse bouche of shortbread with a white chocolate ganashe. They must make this a full dessert on the menu. It was delicious and would have been unbelievable at the end of a autumn meal! This would be a good place to go for a second date. or a dinner with a girlfriend to talk about the ongoings of your last few months. You don't want to waste away a great, long dinner with someone you can't talk to. You don't have to dress nice, but dress clean. It's going to cost you a pretty penny. $140 for the two of us.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Quite frankly, one of my better dining experiences in recent memory. The food was excellent (their cuts of meat are top notch and they do a great job seasoning and preparing it as well) and the service was quite good even though the restaurant was absolutely slammed. As far as the ambiance is concerned Zoe really does a good job of being warm and open without being over bearingly loud as you are packed in pretty tight, but you don't feel like people are yelling in your ear either. Definitely recommend it. Personally, I must admit as much as I like Crush, I think I might like this place better.... call me a traitor, but I think I may have just found my new favorite restaurant in Seattle. As a separate note I really have to give a strong two thumbs up endorsement for the Sage Margarita - yes i know it sounds like an odd combination, but its a really smooth and refreshing drink that should be tried and in an odd twist I must admit the second one always seems to taste much better than the first one. who knew =P

    (5)

  • Kevin T.

    I love all the Yelpers' reviews but I discovered a tendency that top-rated restaurants some times are overrated, which is unfortunately the case for Zoe, though if having the option I would give a 3.5 stars. We dropped by for Restaurant Week $25 set dinner, while I completely enjoyed myself, the food is nothing to write home about. It's a very nice neighborhood joint but I won't be tempted to drive to Belltown just for it. Appetizer: I just don't get all the ravings about the gnudi? They are just five small cheese balls. The flavor is on the light airy side, which works better for me than big cheddar-ish taste.... but they are still just cheese balls if you get what I mean. =) Don't expect anything that takes your breath away. Entree: I liked my chicken breast better than the steelhead. The chicken is juicy and tender, the sauce with bacon bits and onion works great with the meat. Steelhead has less flavors and I am not a big fan of this fish, preferring either "true" trout or salmon. Dessert: again, solid and nice. The expresso cream in a cup is the most impressive with a nice layered structure, with dense cream on top. Overall I might be willing to give it a 4 star if our waiter is competent on recommending a good wine. He picked a not very cheap but completely ordinary bottle of white for me (you can get the same tasting wine in Safeway for $10), and the wine is too acidic even though I told him I want a creamy & smooth one.

    (3)

  • M B.

    Wonderful addition to this part of Capitol Hill. The restaurants in the immediate area lack inspiration and this place makes all the difference. Great food and great service at a reasonable price. Get the roasted chicken. It's da bomb

    (5)

  • J S.

    Fresh seafood and mushrooms, two of the must tastes when visiting Seattle, Zoe, the "it" restaurant beloved by local foodies, delivered excellent results by using freshest local ingredients and simple cooking techiniques. In addition to foods, the service team, from hostess, bartender to the wait staffs, everyone was courteous, professional and knowledgeable of current evening's offerings, and the wine list offers choices of WA, OR, CA wines and some international selections, both by the bottle and single glass. Now the food, the marinated porcini is the perfect starter, juicy, meaty and with the right acidity from the marinade, the pork belly is a nice combo of crispy skin and tender, fatty meat, with a touch of sweetness, the foie gras tourchon is made in house, not the smoothest I have tasted but it's genuine, for main entree, the roasted halibut came with a beautiful presentation, perfectly roasted and it melted in the mouth. The desserts looked delicious, I want some for breakfast. I would return here again.

    (4)

  • Me H.

    I was able to finally try Zoe's last night and took part in the 25 for $25. My girlfriend and I arrived right after work with out reservations and were seated right away at a nice window table in the bar area. We both took seats facing outside so we could people watch while catching up on each others lives. We decided on a bottle of wine, a nice full body peppery zinfandel from Northern California to enjoy, I now we should have gone with a recommended Washington wine but I wanted to try this one. I started with the fresh ricotta gnudi which was served on top of a brown butter balsamic vinaigrette with crispy sage as the garnish. I had high hopes for the gnudi but wasn't sure what I expected. I will be honest I found the gnudi to be a bit too salty for my taste my friend felt the same as well. The texture was nice, the brown butter balsamic vinaigrette and the crispy sage was fun but the gnudi themselves was a bit too salty for me. For my entree I went with the pan roasted pork tenderloin which was served on top of wilted spinach with curried barley and fig mostarda. The pork was cooked perfectly and the had a Moroccan curry flavor to it that was wonderful. The curried barley and spinach went nicely with the pork the flavor were delightful. The fig mostarda and the spinach barley did not go well together in my mouth on the other hand the fig and pork together were excellent so if I ate my food in the correct order all was good. For dessert I had the warm chocolate tart with mint ice cream and it was to die for. I love chocolate and mint and the combination of the two are one of my all time favorites. My friend had the chocolate Chambord pot de creme and we ended up sharing the desserts both were amazing but I think I like the chocolate tart better. The highlight of the evening were are seats, we looked right outside on Second Ave and there was a parking spot right there that numerous cars would pull in, park, than read the 'no parking sign' and leave. As soon as that car would leave there would be a new car on deck waiting to pull in to steal the rock star parking in front of Zoe's. After my second glass of wine this because very amusing to me and my girlfriend and the more wine we drank the funnier it got, for the two plus hours we sat there cars kept coming and going it made from some great entertainment that's for sure. Last but not least the service, the service was excellent our server was perfect in every way. She gave us time when we needed it, if our wine glass was getting low she's sneak in and refill our glass so we didn't have too and the same goes for our water glasses she never interrupted up to do it she just snuck around the table and did it with out interrupting our flow of conversation. The food came out in perfect timing and we never sat waiting for anything. After our desserts we still had some wine left and sat there watching more people come and go from the parking spot and talking our sever never once rushed us or made us feel like we were taking up prime real estate in her area. Over all it was a great experience I'll be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Jenny B.

    Finally, the one restaurant I visited in Seattle where it lived up to its hype. The portions were good, the food prepared well. I had brussel sprouts with bacon, and that was super tasty, and I didn't even eat the bacon. Easy way to down veggies. Main course was duck. 5 slabs of duck breast on top of duck confit, some apple cubes, some other garnishes. The plate was hearty and filling. The dessert was somewhat disappointing. I ordered the brown butter cake, and wanted to finally try a dessert that tasted like brown butter. Instead, it was like a dry pound cake. It wasn't bad, but not what I expected, and not too special. Oh, and the bread was warm and soft, and it came with a sweet vinegrette mix. Service was good, and I actually turned down free dessert. The waiter was concerned that I didn't like my dessert and was going to leave hungry, so he offered me a choice of another dessert. But I didn't feel like eating anymore...I can't believe I turned down free food! But I would definitely come back when I'm in the mood for good food.

    (4)

  • Sam V.

    They have yummy cocktails, good service, and atmosphere. We had the risotto, duck and pork, all of which were delightful.

    (4)

  • Alan H.

    I ate here for the first time last night. Overall the food, service, and atmosphere were great. The restaurant has these huge floor to ceiling windows which is stunning, and with 30 foot ceilings to match, it makes for a big space. The kitchen is located in the corner, semi open (just enough so you can see the heads of the chefs and her the clatter). I would describe the atmosphere as metro chic or urban sophisticated. Dark colors, corner city location, foo foo drinks, unpretentious food and service, high prices. All these things make the experience what it is. I ordered one of there specialty drinks which was fantastic. There menu had many great choices all priced between $19-30. Apps where $6-15. The food was great, solid flavors, and you could tell that everything was made not only from scratch, but that it was prepared by a knowledgeable staff. The dessert was ok. I had some kind of coconut napoleon. It was a coconut custard layered between thin chocolate sheets. It was served with hot chocolate. The custard was good and it had a great coconut flavor. The whole napoleon was topped with sauteed pineapple. The hot chocolate was good, but it was pretty plain. It would have been cool to see it served with mini marshmallows or with a bit if rum laced whip cream. I think I had better hot chocolate at Starbucks.

    (4)

  • Christine D.

    My go-to restaurant for when I have business associates in town. It's classy and elegant with undeniably good service. Definitely a good ol' standby when I'm a little unsure of my associate's tastes. Last visit I had the scallops and peas. Dish was fantastic.

    (5)

  • John J.

    Perhaps the best food I've ate in Seattle, Restaurant Zoe's service is just as good. I first visited Zoe for the "25 for $25" special and thought the food was amazing. A few months later, I decided it would be fun to go again -- this time to celebrate a special occasion. When I made my reservation online, I noted that it would be my girlfriend's birthday. We received two special items from the kitchen without ordering them -- delicious complements from the staff. The bread was served with a powerful balsamic vingar/olive oil mix served with some tasty herbs. The food we actually did order was perfectly cooked with a practiced balance of powerful and subtle flavors. The dessert was equally delicious. The dessert chef spelled out "Happy Birthday" in chocolate on the birthday girl's plate. She was thrilled with the experience and I was impressed by the staff's willingness to make the night special. The bar served strong but smooth cocktails. The setting of Restaurant Zoe is social -- with plenty of conversation all around and many tables occupied by groups. While classy, a 21-year-old in a dress shirt shouldn't feel uncomfortable -- nor should a retiree feel as if something is a little too trendy. The setting, staff, and -- more importantly -- the food at Restaurant Zoe all live up to the price.

    (5)

  • CC S.

    Excellent restaurant to impress your out-of-town business visitors but casual enough to have all parties be comfortable enough to get to know each other. I had the East Coast Sea Scallops as the entree, butterscotch creme brulee. My martini was called Stormy Weather. Two thumbs up and hats off to this place.

    (5)

  • Chandler H.

    The wife and I made a trip downtown to make up for our anniversary celebration which was can celled by the Herb Farm. Zoe did not disappoint! We arrived rather early so we started off with a few cocktails. The wife drank whiskey sours, and I had the private danzka. Both were great and did the trick. For dinner we had the braised beef brisket and lamb loin. Both were fantastic! Another reviewer mentioned their lamb was dry. This was not the case for me. It was very tender, moist, and the accompanying puree was delicious. Our side dishes were the butternut squash soup and ricotta gnudi. Both looked gorgeous. The gnudi was perfect, and the soup was great once a little salt and pepper were added. We had a great night, which was aided by the staff. Our waitress was full of recommendations, and the rest of the team kept our glasses and bread plates full.

    (5)

  • Kiran C.

    After many recommendations from friends, I decided to go to Zoe for a special dinner. The service is impecable and the food is extremely well executed. I enjoyed my appetizer (goat cheese balls) and dessert (chocolate molten cake) more than the main course (pork dish) but everything was excellent. The atmosphere is sleak and simple. I enjoyed dinner here and hope to drop in again soon.

    (4)

  • Peter L.

    Scott Staples has been bringing some serious cuisine since his days at the Third Floor Fish Cafe, and at Zoe, the food, decor, and decor bring a sophisticated urban dining experience. The seasonal menu often reflects what is best about Northwest cuisine. My favorite starters include hamachi and cucumbers. The grilled spicy octopus is one of the most flavorful renditions of this mollusk around. Scallops are a must have, and there is usually a seared version on the menu. Had a fillet here, which was well-marbled and paired wonderfully with a rich sauce. And for dessert, who would have thunk that peanut butter and bacon could go so well together? Add in a cool open space with high ceilings and windows and an extensive wine list, it doesn't get much better than this in Belltown.

    (5)

  • L Eldub W.

    So you are browsing around on Yelp and you come across Restaurant Zoe. The reviews are all fabulous, which immediately makes you suspicious. "Is it really that good," you think. The answer is yes. It really is. Restaurant Zoe captures everything that is good about dining in Seattle. The crowd is a mix of business people in suits, couples dressed for a night out, and groups in shorts and t-shirts, but everyone is getting the same excellent, friendly service. The dining room is cozy, but not so cozy that you become intimately involved in the conversations of everyone around you. The wine list is great, with something nice for every budget. They have half-bottles, which is great if your next stop is the Opera (a full bottle means nap time for me). The food is great. Some of my favorite in the city. Oh, and the gnudi is good, but really people, expand your horizons. There are other fabulous items on the appetizers menu. Oh, and save room to have, or split a dessert. Yummy.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Had a nice meal here a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoyed the chef trying some non-standard things. Some worked, others did not. However, overall, it was a great meal.

    (4)

  • Mary H.

    Great atmosphere in the heart of Belltown. Loved the seared Foie Gras! Staff was fun and friendly. Will definitely be going back.

    (5)

  • Jamie B.

    Great food. I like that they buy locally grown produce. They do have that velvet curtain that is a little hard to get through but I'm guessing it helps the cold air from getting in so I'm not complaining. The only problem I have ever had there was the chatty bartender. I'm not sure the guy works there anymore because it was last year that this happened. I was on a date and he wouldn't stop talking. There's friendly banter but this guy made me go next door so I could chat with the lady friend I was trying to entertain.

    (5)

  • Michael Z.

    While in Seattle this past weekend, we dined at Zoe with our friends from Mercer Island. And what a fantastic experience it was. It seems like the high end restaurant biz is better in Seattle than Portland, because the place was packed. Despite that we were seated at exactly our reservation time. The service was impeccable, and the food was eclectic and delicious. The Star Pear salad was one of the best salads I've eaten in a long time. All four of us had a great meal, and when we return to Seattle Restaurant Zoe will be on the itinerary

    (5)

  • Rachel E.

    I celebrated my 30th birthday with three family members at Restaurant Zoe on a recent Saturday evening at 8:00pm. We were seated immediately upon arrival and greeted by our friendly waiter within several seconds. Wine was served within 5 min of ordering the bottle. Order was taken as soon as we were all settled on our menu decisions. ...What I am getting at is that this place is almost TOO efficient!!! There is nothing to complain about service wise. The food was also pretty delicious. Our party ordered the Whole Hog, Sea Scallops, Peking Duck Breast, and I had the Rockfish in a Meyer Lemon Sauce. Everyone cleaned up their plates. We ordered two delicious desserts: roasted peach and chocolate pot du creme. The roasted peach is a medley of various peach flavors and interesting complimentary textures, served on a rectangular dish. The pot du creme is a more traditional dessert - great whipped creme. Our waiter was very understanding about our dollar limitation on the bottle of wine we would order. He directed us happily to a bottle right in our range. Thank you. The atmosphere was bustling, but not too crowded with people milling around waiting to be sat. Most people only come with reservations on weekends, I guess. The only difficulty with the space is that it is a bit loud; if your table has more than four people, it would be challenging to hear each other.

    (5)

  • Robin R.

    My boy and I loved our dinner at Zoe during a weekend trip to Seattle. The food was uber tasty and portion sizes outstanding. The cocktails were perfect, topped only by the great recommendations regarding the many local wines on the menu. But what really wowed us at Zoe was our server (outstanding) and the great bistro atmosphere. i love great food but don't always want full-on fine dining approach -- I want to have fun. And Zoe was great food and great fun.

    (5)

  • Law P.

    Well damn, can't really say anything else other than I loved this place and a big thank you to Garret A. for taking me here. His review was right on the money and detailed as hell, I am not even about to try to top it or be redundant in mine. It was quite a surprise that I we walked a few blocks from where we parked and ended up in front of Zoe. I had been dying to eat here since even before I came to Seattle, it did not disappoint at all. I didn't think we were going to any fine establishment like this so I was rockin sneakers, jeans, and a big screen print tee! But, Garret reminded me that this was Seattle and it wouldn't matter, it didn't and I was comfortable amongst the good-looking and well-dressed folks that were seated. Such a simple but elegant restaurant with fantastic service and food. I hadn't eaten anywhere in Seattle prior to this that had such a complete sense of freshness and quality. They really do take advantage of what the PNW has to offer in terms of the pieces that make up their masterpieces on a dish. The caneloni was one of the best blends of simplicity and richness that I've ever tasted. I could've eaten 3 of those things. The gnudi, which I had heard so much about in reviews on yelp and elsewhere was like a gnocchi mixed with a marshmallow, that texture was not something I had experienced from the realm of the savory before, I adored it, however wished that there were more of those little heavenly morsels. It left me wanting for more of them after Garret and I each had our share. My veal perfectly cooked and texture and taste mixed perfectly with the earthiness of the gold and red beets. Mmmm, my mouth waters reliving that dish right now.....as I eat from my bag of Cheez-its. It was so lovely celebrating my 30th birthday here and I'm sure it will be around to celebrate my 40th.

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    Terrific meal. The poached steelhead is as good as other reviews say it is. We also had the special appetizer: gnocchi with braised short rib and baby kale. It was totally awesome. My wife's wild boar bolognese was also really good. Recommended.

    (5)

  • Judy L.

    One word - gnudi! Oh my god. I love gnudi. And not just b/c it rhymes with my name, although that adds an inexplicable charm to the food. It was ridiculously good and decadent in that ricotta cheese and olive oil way. It's been about 3 weeks since I've been there... but all I can remember is the Gnudi. Gnudi, gnudi, gnudi. Everything else was good -- great service, good food, and they kept my water glass full.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    Fantastic waitstaff. They are all very enthusiastic and friendly. The foccacia bread is excellent, as well as the oil and vinegar the have. (check it out, the dipping sauce is extra thick) I started with the tuna tartare. Not bad. I had the halibut for my main course. The fish itself was good, but the sides were only ok. My friend ordered the scallops, and he agreed that they were "nothing special." Overall I was satisfied with my meal, but I was also expensing it. If I was paying myself, I would have been deeply disappointed at the taste of food for the price. Definitely would like to go back and give it another shot. Seems like most people love this place.

    (3)

  • Andy K.

    Dine Around Seattle '08 edition! 7pm reservation on a Sunday night and spent 20 minutes in the bar before the table was ready. This isn't bad in itself but there was a group of clearly drunk Seahawks fans in the tiny bar area and it resulted in more bodily contact than your average rock concert. I'm not sure which of them felt like Zoe would be a good idea. So the wait felt a little long but it resulted in a tasty amuse bouche of quinoa and beets that did nicely to sooth our not-actually-ruffled feathers. Once seated the server did a nice job of describing the various options in detail without coming off as pretentious or assuming. He was also quite familiar with the wine list and had no trouble working through some options with us. For the first course I went with the ricotta gnuidi and it was the perfect choice. 6 or 7 little gnuidi in a pool of rich, buttery sauce that was perfect to mop up with bread. The fried sage leaves add a wonderful flavor, although their texture doesn't add much to the silkiness of the dish. I was able to try my companion's foie pate and that was similarly delicious; silky smooth and with a nice white-wine note. The serving of pate was surprisingly large and probably more than anyone would want to eat in one go. Plan on splitting it with someone and get two different apps. For my main I went with the whole-hog. I hate to describe it as the pork equivalent of fish sticks (because that sounds nasty) but I mean it in the best way possible! They take braised pork, shred it, mix it with other ingredients, mould it into patties and pan-fry it for a crispy exterior. It's really unexpected but wonderful; particularly when combined with a bite of the caramelized apple and endive. The only art of the dish I did not care for was the salad of, I believe, pistachio, parsley, and celeriac. It had a peppery bitterness that did not add anything to the rest of the dish. I tried a bite of the butternut squash risotto as well. Risotto rarely surprises me and this was no exception. I imagine any risotto lover with enjoy it (and I appreciate the nice chew of how the rice was cooked) but it lacked presentation; the risotto was left to flow across the plate it came on with no garnish to distract from the uniformity. For dessert I went with the pumpkin-pie sundae. This was the one failing of the meal. While not bad it wasn't particularly good. It did not have a pronounced pumpkin flavor and the ice cream itself had the icy texture of ice cream that has thawed and reset too many times. My companion's maple panna cotta was far superior with a very strong maple flavor and silky-smooth texture. All in all it was a very good meal, both in flavor and the innovation it displayed. While there were a couple of hitches the quality of most of the dishes more than made up for them. (Oh, and the heavy curtain across the door? That has to go. It felt like I had wandered into a closet)

    (4)

  • A T.

    4.5*. Very delicious restaurant with excellent service. Our party of five shared 6 appetizers and 2 entrees. I had the "Clear Conscience" from the non-alcoholic menu which was very good! (at first I thought cucumber in my drink would be kind of weird but it gives a nice light flavor). Gnudi - we ordered this based on the rave reviews from Yelp. Consensus at the table was that it was only ok. What we like about gnocchi is the chewyness which is completely absent from the Gnudi. The flavoring was "eh". Good to try once, probably wouldn't get it again. To be honest, I've never had beef tongue western-style. I've only had it asian style where it's sliced thinly and grilled or put into hot pot and it has a slightly chewier texture. If I hadn't known we had ordered beef tongue, I wouldn't have guessed that's what it was at all - would just have thought it was some sort of braised beef. That said, it was pretty tasty but not as good as our other appetizers. The pork belly, scallop appetizer and beet salad were the table's favorites. They were all perfectly done and flavors meshed perfectly -- highly recommended. Wild boar papperadelle entree was very delicious. It had an amazingly creamy texture to it. If you eat meat, I would highly recommend it. The steelhead was good, but the accompanying shallots overpowered the flavor of the fish somewhat. We initially wanted to order a side of herb risotto, but our waiter suggested we instead try the appetizer size of the asparagus risotto. It was amazingly light for risotto and also quite delicious and much better option than the herb risotto. Would definitely want to go back at some point and try some of the other dishes. I'm getting hungry just thinking about all the yummy things we had there!

    (4)

  • Melissa E.

    Wow. This place met and exceeded all of our expectations. Coming from the Bay Area, we take our food and drink pretty seriously. Since the mister also works in the kitchen, we can be pretty critical of a restaurant's performance, both front and back of the house. Zoe did not disappoint anywhere. Every dish was spot on and the service was impeccable. We wish we visited Seattle more often so that we could eat here more often!

    (5)

  • Matt W.

    If you have never been - it's a must eat at Seattle Restaurant. Have the gnudi - it's amazing! I wouldn't eat here without a reservation - it's always packed and kind of a hassle if you don't have a reservation. I give this place a 5 Star Rating. It's a great place. I have been to ZOE quite a few times.

    (5)

  • David R.

    Amazing. Adventurous (in all the right meanings of the word), full-flavored, complex and delicate at the same time. A completely top drawer experince at a very reasonable price. Superb service, everything just right. One of the best dinners I've ever eaten.

    (5)

  • Julie H.

    If you're feeling adventurous, try the beef tongue appetizer! It is unbelievably tender with bold flavors. Good for sharing or even as an entree. It was my favorite dish all night. The gnudi is also great- similar to gnocchi except with a ricotta cheese center. There were only six little balls so definitely more of an appetizer. I LOVE gnocchi so I loved this. Had the roasted steelhead for my entree. My husband ate the braised short ribs. The skin on my salmon was nice and crispy and the fish remained moist. I didn't like that it sat on a bed of lentils or what tasted like lentils because I don't really dig lentils. The short ribs were well seasoned and cooked perfectly. I love both fish and beef but the win goes to the beef short ribs because I liked the overall dish. I dined during the 3 for $30 deal so dessert options were limited. I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5 only because dessert (meyer lemon panna cotta and pineapple upside down cake) was so-so. Going back? YES. Memorable enough that I could recall in detail everything I ate. Will try the sweetbreads next time!

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    Great service and incredible food. The halibut was $30, but it was so good and totally worth it!

    (5)

  • Bermyd R.

    We (4) just had an incredible dinner. Every bite of food was fabulous!. They were running late so 3 people came to apologize repeatedly! They also brought us: a nibble in the bar; a 1st. course; a cheese course at no charge! The menu changes daily depending on what's fresh! who knew that peas could taste good! We had: duck; halibut; boar. We left nothing! Even their between course asparagus soup w/ creme fresh was delicious. We can't wait to go back. Thank you for a wonderful evening.

    (5)

  • Mary G.

    I went to this place on a sunday night. Reservation is recommended. We were seated promptly and the waiter was very friendly. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing and clean. I had the pork chop and my friend had the scallops. Both were very delicious! The kitchen also gave out some free samples to try, which was a plus! For dessert, I had the banana mousse which was also tasty. Although this place is a bit on the pricey side, I'd recommend it for special occasions.

    (4)

  • Herman C.

    Went here for the first time with a friend from out-of-town. Food and service was very good but did not blow me away - maybe people's Yelp recs set me up for disappointment. Nonetheless, we tried the infamous gnudi, and then scallops and tuna for main entrees. Like I said, good but not great. Would expect more from the price. It's got a good vibe, professional hipster clientele and sophisticated decor. Location is great - excellent starting point and access to Belltown's hot spots.

    (4)

  • Fred J.

    Zoe is *way* overrated ! We ate: * String bean salad (sorry, can't find a description), $10.50 * Marinated porcini, celeriac puree, shaved parmesan, marinated celery heart, pine nuts $14 * Painted hills beef short rib, roasted potato, blue cheese, pine nuts, pickled fennel, watercress $26.50 * Washington lamb loin - artichoke puree, tomato confit, potatos, oyster mushrooms, spring onions $29 The food was uninspired and relatively flavorless. Just not happening! And the beef and lamb weren't $30-entree quality. Perhaps this NW cuisine is just too boring for me -- I prefer Mediterranean if I have to eat "fancy" food. They had a nice lemonade. Dig this description (keep in mind, they're talking about lemonade): * Clear Conscience. Non-alcoholic and slightly savory fresh tangerine, cucumber, lemon verbena, lime and soda shaken and served up. $4 The description is more imaginative than the food! I guess if you're going to charge $4 for a small martini glass of lemonade with no refills, you've got to have imagination! The waitress was trying a little too hard, and she did forget to put in a side order of greens, but all-in-all she was fine. Unfortunately, the high point of dinner was the focaccia bread, which was good and was refilled many times (hurray!). And they didn't charge for olive oil -- unlike Spinasse (I haven't forgotten that yet, apparently. Italians charging for olive oil is like Dick's Burgers charging for ketchup). Speaking of extra charges, Zoe added $1 to split a salad and $3 to split an entree. And, no, the waitress didn't tell us in advance, and it wasn't written on the menu. Apparently I'm on a crusade against hidden extra charges!

    (1)

  • Leon C.

    Northwest cuisine adheres to a philosophy of simplicity. A fresh piece of salmon needs a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of salt and pepper ,and it's done. It just doesn't need anything more. There are those who dare to challenge this philosophy. Though it is far more difficult to achieve, riskier to prepare, and even harder to deliver consistently, there can be culinary genius in complexity. Restaurant Zoe is the incontrovertible proof. Take a bite of the rockfish. There are too many flavors to describe yet somehow they all work together. You might think (as I did), that you have to pile just the right number of mushrooms, evenly distribute an exact proportion of the sauce, and arrange just so much fish on your fork for each bite. But somehow, each bite is a little different, tastes different, and yet all the flavors play together harmoniously without fail. The menu has moments of sheer perfection, a few meanderings into just plain "very good", and is completely devoid of mistakes. It can be a little crowded with the tables perhaps just a tad too close together. But I suspect that once you bite into the food, you won't even notice the rest of the room or the unobtrusive service. Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Rayy W.

    Scrumptious! Went in for dinner without a reservation and were amazingly sat right away by very friendly hosts. On that note all of the servers and bussers (or whatever we are calling them these days) were very nice and polite and efficient. Every time our bread plates were empty more bread was put on them with in seconds, so much so I finally had to ask them to stop! (which is fine by me!) The food was amazing. I started with (PS. it was 25 4 25) the ricotta gnudi which was the perfect melty yummy texture and combined with the candied(?) sage an earthy cheesy delight! For dinner I had the Prime Beef Coulet which was a perfect (see PERFECT) medium rare and the sauce was well suited to the dish. It also came with mashed potatoes and cooked spinach that I could actually eat! seriously the spinach was yummy! (I never thought i would say that) It had some bacon and nuts or something that made it incredibly edible! For dessert I had the warm chocolate tart with peppermint ice cream (which was the real reason I ordered it) and the ice cream was great while the tart to chocolate for me, but like I said I was after the ice cream, the little cookie was good too! The ambience was great, the decor was very understated but I felt comfortably warm the entire time (and I only had one Ruby, My Dear, their take on mimosa) and well the floor plan was crowded I didn't feel like we were sitting at anyone elses's table. The only downside to the evening was a bit of lag in the service of the food and they do not put ice in their water glasses. ( I don't get it) When the check is presented they bring you little macaroons which is a nice touch as opposed to mints. They also have minty toothpicks which is a huge plus for me because I love them. On a final note of service: my friend left her purse beneath the table and the host actually chased us down and brought it to her!

    (5)

  • Tristan D.

    Realized that we didn't have anywhere to go before an 8pm show at 6, and on a long shot we called to see if Restaurant Zoe could sneak us in. The host was super friendly and accomodating and even snuck two tables together so we could seat 7 - pleasantly great service for Belltown. Once we got there, we did dinner in what was probably record time (even for us) - again, once we told the waitress she made sure we got out on time. Beyond that, the food was overall good, with hints of excellent. Highlights: the Sage Margarita was amazing; we almost didn't order it because it was $10, but that would have been a mistake. The lamb was also wonderful, perfectly prepared. Beyond that, the veal was tasty but very heavy on the cream base, and felt really heavy - go hungry if you want this. Beyond that, the place was nicely set up - I love any place w/ big windows. Overall, I was impressed enough to be willing to give them a second, less rushed, chance. Felt like the kind of place one could end up a regular of.

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    One of the best meals I have had in 15 years. Alaskan halibut with english pea fourchette, onion soubise and rhubarb was absolutely sublime. A home-made (the bartender "sunlights?" as an ice-cream maker) berry sorbet that was so fresh and sweet... As a pesca-locavore, this was perfect. Just go.

    (5)

  • Lizzy G.

    Amazing. My boyfriend and I made reservations for our anniversary they really went out of there way to make it special. When we arrived and told them our names, the manager and hostess wished us a happy anniversary. They had saved us a wonderful table in the upper level, net to a window, and against a wall so it felt private and cozy. We started with cocktails which were well made. For the meal, my boyfriend decided to go with three of the small plate options spread out over the meal, order of their choosing. He couldn't decide. He had beef tongue, lamb heart and one other dish. (as a vegetarian, I try to forget sometimes) He really enjoys trying dishes unique to a place whenever he can. He said the tongue was the best he's ever had. However they treat the meat, it made it more tender then he ever believed tongue could be. The bed of cabbage it was served on had to much of a bite for him, too much vinegar, but the meat was amazing. He liked the lamb heart too, and it was a much larger portion than he ever expected. After two dishes he was worried that he went about the meal all wrong. The third dish was a stretch for him to finish. He did it though, every bite. It was washed down nicely with a well picked Cote du Rhone. I had the beet salad. It was amazing. I don't think the blue cheese crumbles qualified as crumbles. They were like boulders! The salad was more like an entree than a starter. The beets were perfect and plentiful. It was ridiculously delicious. I was worried my entree choice should have been a small plate and not a full plate when I finished though. For the entree I had the celeriac risotto. I was so excited for this dish and it was a little bit of a let down. I was really excited about the meyer lemon/celery combo but the lemon was raw in the dish and a little too potent for me. There were also cubes of something in the dish. I'm not sure what it was. It was similar to jimica in texture and had no real taste. The texture was perfect for the dish , to give it something special and memorable, but there was just to much, proportionally, in the dish. (I noticed the table next to us did the same with the risotto, but when to town on the scallops.)I was already full so it wasn't the worst situation. I brought it home, heated it up the next day, and it was the most decadent and delicious leftovers ever! So cheesy, creamy and once the lemon cooked down a little, too addictive. Yum. Of course we ordered dessert! While we waited for dessert, the waitress brought us port, on the house and a house cheese plate, also on the house, for our anniversary. It blew me away how accommodating and generous they were. They filled us to the absolute brim with food! Once dessert came, we didn't know what to do. The pear tart was delicious as was the pineapple ginger sorbet. Nothing out of the world, but really really yummy. I love the little touches this restaurant presents. That making it such a wonderful dining treat to experience a longer meal with multiple courses. The amuse bouche of foie gras with plum (which I had to skip, but heard was twice as nice for the boyfriend). The second round amuse with cream of mushroom (house made) soup in a little demitasse. The addition of port to the meal before dessert. To me it's not quite destination dining, but it comes as close as I've experienced in Seattle to-date. Our waitress was perfect, sweet, attentive but not over-present. The staff was always conscious of their tables, our water never went below half full and the bread plates were never empty. It was wonderful. A perfect anniversary meal. We were even wished a fond farewell and another happy anniversary by the manager. Zoe really knows what there doing from making reservations, to confirming them, to arrival, and finally from the start of the meal to finish. Wonderful service made the food that much tastier. Well done Zoe!

    (5)

  • Louise P.

    I love this restaurant. I haven't had a bad meal here yet. I went here for my birthday and had a great time. The waitstaff are knowledgeable and friendly. They had this folded mozzerella over arugula and basil appetizer. It was fantastic. The textures and flavors complimented each other phenomenally. I had the sashimi tuna entree, but thought it had a bit too many olives--which overpowered the delicate tuna. But other than that, it was a great entree. My friend had the scallops--it was great. Not overcooked and had a sauce that complimented it perfectly. We had this interesting dessert--not sure I would get it again, but it is weirdly good. A peanut butter thing on a crust with bacon. Yes, bacon. If you think about it you can actually taste the bacon. But somehow, it was weirdly good. One of those dishes you keep eating because it confuses your tastebuds so much you can't stop.

    (4)

  • Leaf W.

    Went there on a date on Saturday. Dinner after seeing "Grand Torinno" I laughed becuase i couldn't read the menu. FANCY. I had to ask what stuff meant, and everything sounded so meat with meat with more meaty meat that i ordered a salad. And i eat meat. it was great...my date ordered a meat dish which i had a bite of and it was nice. Very tender. so was my salad. The staff were all very VERY nice to me and they kept bringing over bites to try, and samples.and the coffee was the kind of coffee that you drink at dinner when you don't want to get to hyper or drink any more wine. Nice lighting, a place to hang my coat-the only complaint i really have is that i guess they HAD valet parking, but they don't anymore. So my date kept circling, and talking about valet, and i almost got us both locked out of his truck as a result! So...No Valet parking anymore, and you know what Belltown is like!

    (3)

  • Silvia A.

    Before our dinner at Restaurant Zoe, I was heard saying the following to my coworkers: "I don't understand why people go into fits of ecstasy when talking about food. I mean, I like good food as much as the next person, but I've never wanted to marry a meal or anything." After dinner at Zoe, I announced, "The white bean paste and truffle oil crostini was so amazing. It just explodes in your mouth. It's like a religious experience. It haunts my dreams." On a side note, Zoe has always struck me as surprisingly unpretentious. In fact, the staff and the atmosphere are very pleasant, and not the least bit stuffy. No one wanted to place my napkin in my lap which is a relief because overly deferential service has always made me feel profoundly uncomfortable. Yes, I'm paying to eat here, but please don't act like you're not fit to lick my boots; that's embarrassing for everyone involved AND my boyfriend will probably slug you if you try. Anyway, the bread service came often but wasn't intrusive, the bartenders were experts at suggesting cocktails in addition to wine, and the waiters really seemed to care that we enjoyed our food. And the sage margarita was amazing.

    (5)

  • Rick L.

    I DON'T GIVE OUT 5*'s damnit!!! but there is no 4.5 and well..it's better than 4...what's a foo to doo!? I am usually too verbose, so here it is in a nutshell..."look at me...I'm in a nutshell (make mime hands like actually being INSIDE a nutshell) " this place has a great vibe, casual yet hip, and most importantly, the food is excellent. my favorite of the 25 for 25, and could become a favorite overall, BRAVO!

    (5)

  • Xxxxx X.

    Service, Decor, a phone call to me! What an experience. This was our first meal in Seattle, and we were so happy to go! We started with the garden greens and I got the Wild boar bolognese arugula papperdelle and my friend got the Sauteed Sea Scallops with winter squash, smoked bacon, oyster mushrooms and black lentils. Both entrees were so delicious! We were so happy to have amazing service, the water glasses were always promptly refilled, and our bottle of red wine was so delicious! Our Herb Risotto side was a bit salty, I think it wasn't mixed or seasoned uniformly, that was the only average item we encountered. Definitely a perfect place to go back to again! I'll keep this in mind on my next visit in Seattle!

    (4)

  • Janet T.

    My AOL rep brought me and my entire team here for dinner...and at first I was really excited to try this restaurant out since I've heard great reviews. The restaurant set up & reserved 4 huge tables in the corner of the restaurant for us..free drinks, free food...boy it doesn't get better than that..The menu selection was really small and there weren't very many dishes that stood out to me..but honestly the food was just mediocre. I think the only thing I like at the restaurant was my champaign with orange drink that the bartender made for me. The food is French/American which tickled my curiosity...in any case, I'm not sure if I'd go back for another meal..overall the food was just OK.

    (3)

  • Emma A.

    Oh Restaurant Zoe, you did not disappoint! I'd been meaning to go to the Capitol Hill location since it opened, always having loved the restaurant in Belltown. We found the space a little more casual and inviting than the prior with a nice semi-outdoors seating area that was lovely on the May night we visited. The amuse bouche was a delicious little cup of a cold nettle soup that we both slurped up. The appetizers were good if not 100% noteworthy. Their foccacia was excellent- warm and seasoned and light- but most importantly my piece of halibut was absolutely to die for. Flaky but still firm enough to feel substantial, it had a light brown crustiness on the outside that was just perfect. I inhaled it and very grudgingly shared bites with my husband. We had the carrot cake for dessert, the sweetness and density of which was offset by a generous dollop of creme fraiche on the side. Yum. We will most definitely be back here.

    (5)

  • David N.

    Food to die for. They change the menu all the time so I don't know what to recommend. It was my wife's birthday so I asked for some over the top chocolate oriented dessert. They brought out ice cream and a banana with a candle. The waiter just tossed it on the table. The ice cream was amazingly good - best we'd had in years. The atmosphere leaves much to be desired but the food makes up for it.

    (4)

  • Jamie T.

    OMG! Simply amazing! Oh Zoe, I love your scallops, your wine selection, your scallops, your service, your scallops...... The cutest little spot on the edge of Belltown! On my recent visit I tried the duck breast, again, AMAZING! I love Zoe, and Zoe loves me!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    It's been a couple of years since I came here and boy am I glad I went back last night! The gnudi was delicious as usual. The adult alcohol free drinks were great - love the Clear Conscious! The risotto was an interesting combination that really hit the spot. The boyf was very impressed with his large serving of wild boar bolognese. As always, the service was great (even though we rolled up in tennis shoes and t-shirts and even a hoodie). My bread plate was never empty. The water glass was never less than 1/2 full. Will make sure it doesn't take so long to get back here next time!

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    WOW, this is one of the best meals I've had in a long time, wow. Hubby and I went to check out the 3-for-30 deal, which is a GREAT value at this place. I got a sage margarita- really really good. He got some drink I can't remember the name of. It was kinda weird. We both started with the Ricotta Gnudi, with brown butter-beet emulsion. And yes, like everyone else has already stated, it was WOW. Amazing, amazing stuff, I'm glad we both got it, the portions are tiny, and this isn't something I would willingly share with anyone anyway, ha! My entree was amazing. Roasted pork loin, with polenta, bacon lardon, figs, and pickled cabbage. The flavors and textures of everything on the plate, I can't even explain it, just WOW. One of the best dishes I have ever had, anywhere. Moaning the whole time, hehe. AWESOME. Hubby got the braised beef brisket, with fingerlings and pickled red onion. I only took one bite (I was waaaaay too into my own food to care what he had, ha), but yum, it was great. I was going crazy at this point, thinking this was the best dining experience EVER... when dessert came. This was the only thing to fall short the whole night. I had the pear bread pudding with cranberries. Okay, I'll admit I'm not a huge bread pudding type of person, but the last time I had it (at Eva) it was FANTASTIC. But this was just 'meh'. The pears and bread and cranberries, the flavors were nice. But it was just a bunch of mush. No texture. I was disappointed. Really wishing I had gone with the chocolate dessert. After such a freaking amazing dinner, I was expecting a really yummy dessert. Hubby got the Meyer Lemon Pot de Creme. He seemed to like it, but I didn't care for that one either. Sad!! I love dessert. And these were both just "okay". Sad. I'll say this- service here was phenomenal. We had Nathan as our server, and he is everything that everyone says he is. Fantastic. So if dessert hadn't been such a disappointment, I would have given this place 5 stars for sure. It didn't help that we just ate at Veil last week and had some of the best desserts EVER. So this was fun- 2 of the best restaurants EVER in a week. For comparison's sake: Starters: Zoe is better than Veil Entrees: Zoe is equal to Veil Desserts: Veil is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than Zoe So if you don't care about dessert, I'd probably go to Zoe. For all around, Veil is my pick. I loves me some dessert!!

    (4)

  • Felipe L.

    Everything was great, except the food flavor. We had three dishes and they all tasted exactly the same and it was a wired flavor that left my wife with a bad after taste (she had to get some tea at home to remove it)...looks like the chef found a combination with squab, olive oil and somethign else that he just had to shove into every dish without any contrasts. Too bad, the place is perfect in every other way, and the meat was cooked perfectly. I also suggest you avoid the the pork belly appetizer, it was in the borderline of delicius and you want to puke because its pure fat.... we coudnt finish it and we love bacon and derivates....

    (1)

  • Capt k.

    I have been a loyal patron for years and I stopped going to Zoe about a year ago after they served me a piece of fat that they called pork belly. I decided to go back again because there were signs of the restaurant is coming back. I have to say what a disappointment! The baby lettuces salad is just OK. The short rib is fork tender but has no beefy taste. It seems like they over braised the short rib and all the flavor are gone. The gingerbread cake has a hard shell on it and the texture is off. Chef Scott is at the restaurant tonight as the owner/host. To be honest, I rather see him at the kitchen cooking to make sure the food come out correctly. One major plus is the service is A++ as usual and the wine is always good. For this visit, I gave 4 stars for the service and one star for the food. That averages to 2.5 star.

    (2)

  • Garret A.

    This place is 5 stars there is no doubt. The flavors and preparations are awesome. Our meal rolled out like this. Wine and Cocktails Basalmic and Foccacia for the Table: Awesome presentation, really well put together mixture of oil and basalmic with sea salt. The foccacia was awesome. Salmon Tar Tar Amuse Bouche: Awesome pallet cleanser which include sashimi style salmon and cream fraiche. Would have liked it as an appetizer. Nudi, and Dungeness Caneloni: Nudi is a wonderful texture dumpling that sort of melts in your mouth, was glad to have tried it but the dungeoness plate was really where it was at. Came with a mushroom reduction type of sauce that really hit the spot. Coliflower Almond Soup: Served Chilled, another great pallet cleaner, very clean and fresh, the candied fruits and almonds were a nice touch. Beef Shortrib for me Veal for my guest: My beef shortrib was as tender as meat can get, and not overly stringy. It was dripping with moisture and wonderful to eat. I enjoyed it and the accompanying blue cheese salad a great deal. My guest loved his veal and the presentation was one of the most strikingly vibrant veggie presentations I have ever seen. Golden Beets, Red Beets, Artichokes, Onions and Carrot Puree. Closest thing to art I have seen on a plate. No Dessert Service was great, prices were good. My only reservation comes from the fact that I am a 6'4 tall guy with a BIG appetite. Therefore, although I enjoy the flavors of fine dining a great deal, but I never leave these places feeling full. The portion sizes were small (for me), but not small for this genre of establishment. It will keep me from raving on and on about the place though because there is an equivalence between my overall sense of satisfaction and being "full." Full I was not, but happy with my meal I was. Great gem for Seattle, top 10 culinary experience for sure.

    (5)

  • Garret J.

    Another successful dinner at Restaurant Zoe. Among other things, we shared a winter squash risotto, profiteroles, and an apple tart. I have been to Zoe many, many times and am always happy with the experience (and I am one picky bastard). The service tonight was good, as always - nice timing - not rushed, and not ignored. I had the sturgeon with brussel sprouts - great dish! My wife had the braised beef and it almost made me wish I'd ordered that, but good sturgeon is such a treat. Already thinking of when I will go back next. One of the consistently good Seattle restaurants.

    (4)

  • Daniel T.

    I've said out loud before, "If we're going to spend the money, we might as well go to Zoë." In my opinion, this is among the finest restaurants in Seattle. You can spend a lot more and get less. Restaurants like Lark or Emmer and Rye have a similar price point, and just don't hit their mark as well. Many restaurants have a creative flair, and you appreciate it, but fe execute as consistently as Zoë. If you come here, you're going to have a good dinner. I have my favorites: - The (Toasted) Sage Margarita (how did no one think of this before?) - The gnudi (creamy little gnocchi made out of ricotta cheese instead of potato) - The wild boar bolognese (the best plate of pasta in this town, holy crap seriously) - Scallops (that's how you do it) The decor is elegant without being stuffy, and the service is generally top-notch. As in: graceful and professional. If it gets much better than this without insane Herbfarm or Le Gourmand prices, then I'd really like a recommendation. Oh, it's basically Italian.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    We had a wonderful meal. The beef tongue gnocchi was unbelievable, but none of the other dishes blew us away. Great wine list -- seriously good, with a deep half bottle selection which I love. And excellent wine service, which you don't see that often. Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

    (4)

  • ryan r.

    For my birthday dinner, I was brought to Zoe. This is my girlfriends favorite restaurant so I had high expectations. We tried a variety of large and small plates, all of which were fantastic. Want to know what I had? Fine then! Black Cod served over Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Gnudi (don't go to Zoe without trying these) D2 Delille Bottle. They were accomodating to our schedule, kept the drinks coming, and even brought out a sample of salmon tartar that was a nice surprise. try to get sat in Erin's section. She was a delightful waitress.

    (5)

  • Sonali R.

    We made reservations at Zoe for a sunday night and had a wonderful experience. Our waiter was excellent: he was very knowledgeable about the food and about food science in general, it seemed (he relayed some interesting facts about trichinosis to one of our guests who had a question of pork rarity). He also made excellent recommendation on drinks. They have someone who very regularly fills up our plate with freshly made foccacia bread, which was a great delight. The food was wonderful. I had the salmon, which was poached, texture was interesting but it tasted very fresh and light. My husband had the chicken and he enjoyed it as well. Both are large plates. It is definitely the case if you are looking for a large meal, these large plates will not suffice. However, to be honest, I hate getting too much food, and I think the quantities are what one ought to get. The price to quantity ratio can be a little out of place from typical experiences-- however I must say that the price to quality ratio (where quality encompasses quality of food and service) is just perfect. We ended our night with a cheese plate: an excellent array of french cheese with a dinner cocktail.

    (4)

  • Adam T.

    Went on a Wednesday evening shortly after they opened. The hostess asked if we had a reservation...kind of awkward considering there was--literally--no one besides the staff there. But we got a great table by the front windows, so I was good. Started with a surprise amuse bouche of some kind of tiny thing on a cracker...which in all honestly, had hardly any flavor. All I really remember was that it supposedly had peach in it and I remember I didn't taste peach at all. Next had a salad with some kind of creamy black pepper dressing and shaved parmesan, a risotto appetizer with parsnips, apples, pears and I think some kind of mustard--both were awesome first courses. Split the crispy-skinned chicken with sauteed vegetables for the main and got two sides--sauteed greens and fingerling potatoes. The greens were a little too bitter for my taste, but everything else was amazing--especially the chicken's crispy skin. yum-o. Checked out the dessert menu, but nothing really jumped out at me, so skipped and had gelato later...which I realized later was a huge mistake because I would've much rather had an innovative dessert over ordinary gelato. But the restaurant gave us another freebie at the end--these little gummy fruit cubes that tasted like fresh orange. Overall--great meal, great service, would definitely go back!

    (4)

  • W. R.

    One of those places we seem to go back to over and over. Great vibe, decor, service. We've never eaten in the dining area, love sitting at the bar and talking to the great bar staff!

    (4)

  • Lori M.

    So delicious! I underestimated the size of the dishes (for some reason I thought they would be tiny). My husband and I ordered two appetizers: the coriander seared tuna and the fois gras. I was stuffed after the appetizers! Admittedly, the fois gras is really rich and it came in a huge slab (like a slice of pate). I think one appetizer between us would have been perfect. They also brought three surprise mini courses between our orders. That's always a fun surprise. I loved the wild boar pappardelle. My beluga lentil salad was amazing and quite rich. Loved the chantarelles in that salad too! Their drinks are really tasty (even their non-alcoholic drinks; try the Clear Conscience for a fresh, clean tasting drink). The bartender was super great, and was happy to help us figure out some drinks to make with some new liquor we brought home.

    (5)

  • Yvonne C.

    Zoe's used to be one of my favorite restaurants but the last few times I've gone, it's just been "ok". Don't think I'll be going back anytime soon. Last year, they had this cauliflower that went with their braised short ribs and the cauliflower made the dish! If you ever see it on the menu, order it! Problem is I haven't seen it in a while. Dishes I like - Gnudi - small plate, rich flavor. Highly recommend this! - Beef short ribs - always a good choice, tender beef, good flavor Dishes I didn't care so much for - Steelhead with lentils - I've had much better fish in town. This is just kinda bland and blah, nothing special - Lamb belly - Maybe I didn't know what to expect, but maybe got two half bites of meat out of this one, the rest was fat - Chocolate pot de creme - was more like chocolate pudding + gelatin out of a box rather than a pot de creme. I love chocolate and only had maybe 1/4 of this. Enough said Service here has always been good, but the food is just really hit or miss these days.

    (3)

  • Michelle B.

    Not only is it fun to ask your waiter for gnudi, it tastes really good too! Definitely choose the gnudi as your appetizer of choice at Zoe. The salad is plain jane and nothing to write home about. I gave trout another shot here and while it was definitely better than the previous piece I had, I came to the conclusion that I'm not a trout kinda gal. The steak was tasty but served almost raw, order your meat up one from what you would usually order it. My medium rare came out raw, and so did the tables next to me. The entrees are sit atop their accompaniments which make them look deceptively small, but don't be fooled, these are very filling portions. The lavender panna cotta was super rich and came with a delicious rhubarb compote that makes you realize that Spring really is finally here. The dense chocolate cake was, as advertised, dense, we couldn't even finish it. One thing I would recommend shying away from at Zoe is the cocktails, there aren't really mixologists on staff, and despite their fancy signature drink menu, the resulting cocktails aren't that exciting. Stick to their excellent wine list instead and enjoy your Northwest fusion dinner. *snickers under breath* Gnudi...

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    Came here last night for my birthday. I had only previously been once before and proclaimed it my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I was very impressed by the whole experience. I'm sure the other reviews cover the positives so I'll do top 10 reasons/small details/reason to come here to keep it short and impactful: 10) 3 for $30 9) Slyly added ice to everyone's water glasses upon request 8) Prices aren't in the stratosphere 7) Very knowledgeable waitstaff 6) Great atmosphere 5) Very accomodating of special requests 4) No nickel & diming 3) Rich taste without overdoing it 2) Desserts to die for and the number one reason to come to Restaurant Zoe: Gnudi

    (5)

  • sue m.

    Hip and fun spot with creative food that works oh so well. We had a wonderful dinner at Zoe. It would have rated 4 stars if we had not ordered the braised short ribs, but thankfully, we did. Yikes, they were scary good! A dish for future culinary fantasies. And the ribs were served on a bed of nettle oatmeal. I may be clueless about this but I have never known or even considered using oatmeal for anything beyond breakfast. Silly me! I'd go back in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • The Next Time O.

    This is probably my favorite seattle restraurant. Food and service are both excellent. Organic baby lettuce salad, alaskan halibut, hog cruistillant, and spicy wild boar bolognese all excellent. Very nice wine collection as well. The Next Time: Organic lettuce salad with either halibut or bolognese.

    (5)

  • Shannon R.

    My husband and I ate at restaurant zoë last night and have to agree with what everyone is saying. From the moment we arrived, everything was perfectly executed. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and the team work was unmatched. The food was amazing. Everything beautifully presented and perfectly prepared. The kitchen sends out little goodies as the night wears on to keep your taste buds excited and ready for the next dish. We also tried the spring flowers martini. Whet my appetite, I'm coming back for more.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Okay, read all the awesome reviews of this place. Going to Seattle on vacation. In my head I am thinking I have to be crazy not to go to this restaurant. First mistake. My expectations are high. So before heading out on vacation I call about 5 days in advance for a Tuesday night reservation for dinner. My wife and I are very excited about going there. Zoe was going to be the restaurant that we have our one time "get dressed up a little bit" fancy dinner. Again expectations are high. Tuesday roles around. Second day in Seattle. We get a call earlier in the day confirming our reservation. No restaurant has done that before. How cool is that? Again expectations are high. The evening roles around and it's time to go to the restaurant. We take a cab because the place is a far distance away from our hotel. We get there and it's a nice looking restaurant in the corner. Again expectations are high. When we go inside, we go through a curtain to be greeted by the nicest hostess. She walks us through the restaurant which is real busy for a Tuesday night. She seats us near a nice table by the window. Everything is great to this point. Now comes the start of my expectations crashing to Earth. We wait for our server to come and wait and wait a little more. He finally arrives and then he asks if we wanted to order some drinks. My wife orders a drink on the menu and I try to order a Malibu rum and cranberry juice. He says they don't have Malibu rum just what they have on the menu then walks away. You think he would of recommended something to me instead of give me attitude. So moments later he gives my wife's drink but doesn't ask what I would like to drink and again walks away. By now my expectations didn't just hit the Earth. It's six feet under. As I watch the guy hover around every table in the place except ours I am very displeased. My wife observing that I want to kill someone suggests we just pay for her drink and leave. My wife is a smart woman and knows her man very well. So I tell the server when he finally arrives that I want our check. The server has a look of disbelief and the hostess comes over next to see what the problem is. I have to say I would of rated this place one star if she wasn't there. She was the only bright spot in Zoe. She apologized to us and comped our drink. She even tried to get another server to help us but the damage had already been done. When you come here have low expectations because from my experience here my expectations were definitely not met. It went from a special time out on the town to why did we even bother?

    (2)

  • Nikki M.

    Great food. Nice warm atmosphere. Hot waiters. Cheese plate. Wine selection. hearts. When the amuse bouche is delightful you know you are in for a treat.

    (5)

  • Denea Y.

    I'm still on the fence about Restaurant Zoe. I dined there for its 30 for $30 prix fixe, 3-course dinner. The fresh Ricotta Gnudi tasted like little cheese pillows from heaven, and are worth going back for. As for the Crispy Skin Chicken Breast (served with a date-caper puree, cauliflower, marcona almonds, and chicken jus) and the Pear Bread Pudding, they just didn't excite me like the first course. Aside from the food, the service was spot on and the atmosphere was romantic, but not stuffy. Review in review: Food: 3 stars Service: 5 stars Atmosphere: 4 stars

    (3)

  • Eric K.

    Note: This is for the old location with the old menu. I haven't been to the new location. I came here again last Tuesday to verify my dine around Seattle experience last month. For the second time I had a great dinner here. I had the gnudi, small plate risotto, halibut, and brownie sundae. One thing that was a bit off compared to the first experience is that the place wasn't as packed. In fact it was pretty dead. But that is expected on a weekday night after a restaurant does 3 for $30 for a month. We were able to get a nice table next to the window though. I wouldn't say the service was quite as great as my first visit but our server was definitely very good at her job and knowledgeable. I ordered the halibut even though I tend to not typically enjoy halibut. I don't have anything against it I just haven't had a great halibut dinner before. It was definitely a great preparation for halibut but it didn't have as much of a wow for me as all the other things I tried on this visit or my first. I was also pleased that the gnudi and risotto while being different than the dine around Seattle versions were still very, very good. I'm going to stand by my five star rating for Zoe and will be recommending it to a lot of people. More visits will determine if they can keep their five star rating (I require consistent high quality meals to keep a nice restaurant at five stars).

    (5)

  • Suzanne M.

    Four stars because I made a reservation, yet they sat us by the door. It was January (sorry this is late) and it was cold, even though they have a velvet curtain trying to block the wind. I personally think that if you make a res, you should get a better table than a walk in. We went before a show at Moore, so it was in the 6ish range and it was not very crowded, but by the time we left, it was pretty packed. The bar area looked like a really fun place to mix and mingle while eating dinner. All of our salads were a bit boring, but everyone had a divine entree. The boys got something called the "whole hog" or the like, where it was a spit roasted pig then cut up and baked. Portions aren't huge, but enough.

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    I sat at the bar for the Restaurant week three course Prix Fix. Had the Riccota Gnudi, Lamb and the Cheese plate. The Gnudi was a revelation. I haven't had them prior so I can't comparatively judge them but they were delicious. The Lamb was wonderful, braised and served with steamed vegetables. The meat was fatty and rich but the sauce allowed it to seem somewhat light. That sauce was so delightful it resulted in me asking for extra bread. My bartender, Tom, pulled it all together for me. Kept light conversation going and allowed me to sample my glass of bourbon & wine before committing to a full pour. Good Service, Good Food, Good Environment. I'll be going back for the Heart Confit Salad. Maybe you can win friends with Salad.

    (4)

  • Veronica W.

    Delicious but not totally worth the money.

    (3)

  • Dee Y.

    My sweet friend, Bonnie suggested this place when we're looking for dinner. She did her homework well when I was at my conference. She said that this place was in Dine Seattle and had the pre fix meal... SWEET.... So, after running around in the rain coming back from the space needle and gotten my socks wet, we decided to walk here. We came here on a Monday night. The girl in the front asked if we had reservation. We didn't. She asked if we're okay to eat at the bar... HHmm.. I guess so after eyeing at least 5 empty tables in the dining area.... So, we sat down at the bar, and ordered the 3 for $30 meal. My friend had the salad + steelhead + ginger molasses cake. I had the gnudi, whole hog, and the pineapple sorbet. Let me tell you about gnudi. It was soooo good. I had no idea such thing existed. Our bartender described them as warm cheeseballs soaked with orange marmalade and beet emulsion. The whole hog was good too, but I couldn't get over the gnudi.... ha ha... My friend's steelhead was really good. She let me have a bite. The skin was crispy and yummy. Our bartender, Lucas, was very knowledgeable about the food and wine. He was also very friendly and chatty. He was just awesome. I would definitely come here again. As we were leaving, we saw all the tables that were empty earlier has been filled. On a Monday night!! I guess you DO need a reservation here...

    (4)

  • Amy E.

    We were so pleased to go to the 'new' location and find that they had not lost their touch. We had a great meal - every dish was great and the service was wonderful. Really like their wine list as well! Love the new space. It has that sophisticated feel but is somehow warmer. Can't wait to go back and add it back to our must go tos . .

    (5)

  • David R.

    Restaurant Zoe proved mediocre at best. I had the scallops and found them lacking--not much flavor, unoriginal plating, and paired with a subpar sauce. Wine list was decent but the cocktails were atrocious. (Really I've never had a drink quite so deficient.) On the other hand, the service was generally friendly and helpful, about what you would expect for the price range. I wouldn't recommend Restaurant Zoe but if someone you know is dead-set on going it's not an awful place to tag along to, if I could, I'd go 2.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Retired B.

    Delicious food, great service. Not a uptight snobby kind of place either. I shared about 8 apps and main plates with friends and they were all delicious! The dessert menu was kind of limited, but we chose something that did satisfy our sweet tooth. I definitely think this is one of the best restaurants in Seattle.

    (5)

  • W C.

    Really, really yummy meal. Visiting from DC and had dinner on 8/21. Highlights included the gnudi, sauteed morels, and wild boar bolognese. Creative combinations throughout the meal, good wine list, and competent service. Decor is more on the comfortable side.

    (5)

  • Susie G.

    Truly excellent food. It is expensive but not overpriced for the quality. The service is great - not overly formal or too casual. Absolutely excellent spot for a romantic special date.

    (5)

  • Jeremy W.

    Fabulous!!! I took my girlfriend here for a special occasion. We had a reservation but still had to wait over 30 minutes at the bar. The staff never let me forget that I'd get the next table. It is not a big place, so I was understanding, but still wondering how this experience was going to turn out. Once seated, we were given complimentary entrees, and pumpkin-like soup shooters. The menu was creative but everything was amazing. I highly recommend the veal sweet bread roulade (side note: I had no idea what sweet bread was until I was describing to someone how wonderful it was!) My girlfriend had the roasted steelhead, and I the wild boar bolognese. Both were exceptional. Then, when offering to bring desert menus, the server told us we had to try their 4 layer chocolate espresso cake. We said that it sounded good, but we wanted to see the menu. The server brought the desert free of charge along with the menus. There aren't a lot of restaurants that I walk away from so satisfied after dropping $150 plus on dinner for 2 (with wine). This place had amazing food, was generous with the handouts, and had exceptional service, so I'm saving up for a return trip!

    (5)

  • Lani A.

    I hit Zoe's often during the Dine in Seattle promotions, and have always been pleased. It's a beautiful space - the dining room is elegant, warm and open, with floor to ceiling windows and a lovely mirrored bar in the corner. Scott Staples doesn't disappoint as a chef or a host - he's often found talking to guests about the meal or greeting patrons at the door. And the food is really good - hangar steak, butterscotch pots de creme, roasted chicken and pork tenderloin are all good here. Very good choice for a first date where you have to impress, or an anniversary dinner.

    (5)

  • Amy K.

    given that i was at zoe with such a large group, i think we tried nearly every dish on the menu, and they were all great. the gnudi and the pork belly appetizers were among my favorites. deinitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

    (4)

  • Maren H.

    Girls night on Cap Hill sounded like a good time to check out Restaurant Zoe. We tried the tar tar which was very good, the Tofu entree which was interesting and had a great set of flavors. The wine was excellent as well. The patio is also super cute and a cozy place to share dinner. It is a great choice, the food didn't blow me away but it was all very good.

    (4)

  • William M.

    Went to Zoe's on 4/4/11, a Monday night, not your typical dinner out night. I was in town for a conference and convinced 3 of my colleagues to join me. Dinner was at 6:30 and the place, while not packed, was not empty either. Just a nice comfortable amount of patronage. A good sign, so I thought, particularly on a wet dreary Seattle evening. But then, when isn't it wet and dreary in Seattle? Umbrellas stowed, we were seated promptly and even asked if the table selected for us was acceptable (it was). Water arrived quickly along with bread and oil and balsamic dipping sauce. Wait, did I say bread? That doesn't do it justice as this was some of the best focaccia we've ever had. Drink orders were next which arrived promptly as we perused the menu. Appetizers, small plates, entrees, so many options. Our waiter (Justin) was very patient in explaining the choices. We all decided on either app/small or small/small combos. Garden salad, gnocchi, beef loin, and sturgeon were my colleagues choices. They loved them all. I was intrigued by the wild boar bolognese pasta but I'd never tried sweetbreads and was feeling adventurous. I thought maybe the sweetbreads first, then the spicy pasta, but Justin convinced me otherwise. He was right! The wild boar pasta had just the right amount of heat to get the taste buds ready for the sweetbreads. The sweetbreads were firm, nicely breaded, good texture and delicate flavor. The white bean, mushroom reduction with it also very good, but overwhelmed the sweetbreads if eaten together on the same fork. I'm very glad I had the courage to try sweetbreads (thank you Justin) and given this experience, can't wait to try them again. Desert was caramel ice cream over an apple tart I'm told was very good (I'm not a desert eater but there was none left). As we left, I mentioned to the hostess that I'd found them off the internet. She remarked that "Yelp has been good for us". So, fellow yelper's, not only do we read these reviews, but the restaurants do too. About my score, 4 out of 5. That's all about how Yelp does this. 5 is "good as it gets". Well, in 40ish years, I've been to 2 places better, so I think Yelp needs to add a 6th star, "Ultimate experiences". Then I would give this place it's fifth star.

    (4)

  • Chira V.

    exceptional for a date. uniquely gourmet.

    (5)

  • John H.

    Very good restaurant, although saying it's the best in the city would be a big stretch. Great for seafood lovers, and the desert menu is nice. Works as a good date spot if El Gaucho or Del Ray aren't your style

    (4)

  • Sonia C.

    I took a friend here for a birthday celebration and the food is simply divine. An impressive assortment of pate and fantastic wines. Small plates are little plates of heaven. Pricey for seattle, but its definitely worth it for the quality.

    (5)

  • Pieter A.

    great place. great food. cool very attentive staff. saturday nights are crazy there. can't say it is one of my favorites but i have been twice and would definately go back!

    (4)

  • judy n.

    a solid favorite in seattle. it has the neighborhood bistro feel but with some really high end food for not exorbitant prices. the servers are also the most knowledgeable & enthusiastic i've come across. i've never been disappointed.

    (5)

  • ameer r.

    original tastes and a great atmosphere. waitress seemed generally happy and to generally care about giving us a good experience. went into great length about the difference between the beef and lamb dishes they had. but alas- I spent $110 with tip on dinner for two and an hour later when there were guys walking around belltown selling $5 pizzas, I had to have one. Perhaps this is just me, but when I spend $29 on a beef dish, I expect more than 5-6 ounces of actual beef, no matter how good it is. I don't care if there's a great tasting slice (you couldn't give me two slices?) of potato under the beef. I don't care if there's a really interesting salad next to the beef. I don't care if the ambiance is nice and the waittress if friendly. $29 plates should mean you don't need to grab a big mac after the meal.

    (2)

  • Sarah Jane L.

    I tell all New Yorkers to eat here. Actually, I tell everyone to eat here, especially if they have an expense account and want to invite me along. I'll order the tuna tartare appetizer (you know, vertical stack of cucumber, wasabi, and very fine sashimi), the risotto (pears? Gorgonzola?), the frighteningly fresh Mozzarella, and maybe a whole fish, like the Branzino stuffed with beans. Maybe I'll have a cocktail involving cucumbers or brandied cherries. I've never saved room for dessert, but nor have I sent back the lavender chocolate that adorns the bill...

    (5)

  • Jenn S.

    This is by far my favorite restaurant in Seattle. From the excellent service when entering, to the last piece of dessert on the menu, everything was beyond amazing (And I cannot fathom why anyone would think otherwise about this place). The first time that I went, the chef made me and my guest a "special" for that evening - the scallop terine (excuse my spelling). From the first bite, I was in love. Now, whenever I go back, I pray that this is another special. (I think that this would even be my "last wish" dish). Suffice it to say, I have not had it again, but the amazingness of it has never left me. And I pine for it. However, all the other dishes that I have got from there have been just as divine. The cauliflower: Amazing. The clams: So flavorful. The sturgeon: Ooooh my goodness. The Chicken Fried Tofu: I cry that I could not make anything this good at home. Now, moving onto the desserts: I am not one to like desserts that much. I don't have a sweet tooth and I tend to lean more towards ice cream when asked to decide what I want in the sweet-department. However, I could not get over how good ALL the desserts on the menu tasted. Nothing was overly sweet, but felt very light and decadent. Lychee semifreddo with pink lemonade granita was the most awesome thing I ever tasted. I wish I could have ordered two without looking like a complete lush. The pastry chef there is just so creative and talented. I can't wait to go back. Zoe...I love you. Can't wait until we meet again.

    (5)

  • Denise W.

    I really like the atmosphere and the decor. One thing you have to note is that depending where you sit the wifi doesn't work. I tried in multiple places it kept on saying bad password. Service is great. The waitress was really friendly. Food wise this is where it docked stars the most. Maybe my expectation is too high. I ordered a braise short rib and it doesn't taste or look like short ribs. Plus I wasn't expecting my braised short rib with black pepper on the side of the what looks like two piece of steak meat. The server did say that was the braised short rib so I am pretty sure it's the correct dish. I also ordered a beef tartare to start. The portion is huge. That was good beef tartare but not great. But some how it's chopped up and not like how Vancouver served it looking like paste or sliced carpaccio. So it kind of reminded me of ground beef. Well I know it's not ground beef so I am fine eating it. Plus I have to do the mixing myself. I am not complaining about the extra work. It's added mess to it. Would I come again?. Well this really depends. If my friends wants to go then I will go but I won't suggest coming here out of the blue. I mean I would come if I am in the hood.

    (3)

  • Robert V.

    When I travel, I try not to return to the same place too often. Zoe Restaurant drew me back to sample their Short Rib after having Salmon the first time Good decision. Smallish portions. Big, organic, local flavor.

    (4)

  • Emily K.

    I have been dying to try this place! Our group decided to dine out on the patio and it is just so cute and rustic feeling I loveeeeed it! Went in on a Monday and surprise! Our bottle of wine was half off! We later shared the wild boar bolognese, beef tartare, and the king salmon. Let me tell you, the bolognese was everything!!! The pappardelle was perfectly cooked, and the meat sauce was equal parts gamey, spicy, and just full of flavor! I am bringing my boyfriend back specifically so he can try this dish! The beef tartare was good, I loved the fermented garlic aioli! Sounds kind of gross but it gave the dish a little extra salt and added a depth of flavor. The port gelee was a nice touch, gives off a powerful sweetness and a different textural element. Over all both really great dishes! The salmon was good but my least favorite of the three. I liked that they kept the skin on and it had a really nice crisp to it but other than that the salmon wasn't too memorable. Fantastic experience! Can't wait to go back to try the gnudi and foie gras next!

    (4)

  • Elina K.

    This place is adorable!!!! Got to sit outside for a friend's birthday dinner and had such a lovely experience. Pretty decor both inside and outside of the restaurant, but the outside was definitely a good decision with the stringed lights and everything! Here's a breakdown of what I had: 1. Wild boar bolognese- straight crack. Served with these thick green pasta noodles (?) and the meat sauce had amazing flavor to it. Paired nicely with the my glass of red! 2. Beef tartar- my first time trying tartar but I gotta say, I'm now a fan! 3. Crispy skin salmon- might've been slightly overcooked. But I LOVED the crispy skin! I'm normally grossed out by fish skin but I was eating this stuff up like it was my job. Also loved all the sautéed veggies it was served with- especially the onions! Food was a win, servers were nice and timely, and beautiful interior. I'll definitely be coming back someday!

    (4)

  • Ally-Marie B.

    This a great spot on the hill if your looking for good food and away from the hustle and bustle of broadway. Price: for what we ordered, the quality of the sides and entrees matched. Compared to other places on the hill, this place is slightly more inexpensive. Our bill was about $80: 2 cocktails, 2 sides and 2 entrees. Fair. Food: **Pork Shoulder (entree): incredibly tender & juicy, it paired nicely with the white beans that sat under it. It was a good size to share between us. **Beet Risotto (entree): such a beautiful plate!!! It was cooked exactly as it should and I loved the subtle taste of the beet. **Pom Frites (side): a must have if your in the mood for munchies. Not greasy and tasted good with the ranch-ish sauce that came with it. **Cauliflower (side): I wasn't expecting the cranberries to work well on this dish, but they totally did! The cauliflower was roasted and had a nice bite and everything was topped with a generous helping of parmesan slices. We were very impressed with the food and were too full to have dessert. Also, the focaccia bread is a nice touch from the usual bland bread that other places give before the meal. Drinks: my man had the Manhattan and was extremely happy he made that decision. I had the gin based drink with saint Germain and peach liqueur.....not too sweet and just bitter enough. (Spacing on the exact drink names) Service: Linda was fab! She seemed to be a veteran here and was super knowledgeable about the menu and specials. She was kind and smiling at every turn, even when we couldn't hear each other sometimes (blame saturday night busyness). The only call out and reason for the one star deduction: it took a while for my drink to come and once she delivered my man's drink, she scurried off before asking if we were ready to order. In any case, we will definitely be returning to try the Oyster HH and desserts.

    (4)

  • DaBears M.

    Delicious food! Wild boar bolognese hands down my favorite dish. However every dish we ordered was terrific including desserts.

    (4)

  • Celia S.

    Excellent service and great food. We had the tasting menu as a group of 4 with wine pairings. Each course was delicious, even to those whose least favorite foods were in the dishes - to me a sign of a well thought out and prepared dish. The wines were good and went well with the dishes. The service was excellent, the courses came at a nice pace, enough time for a breather between courses but not too much time to leave us wondering where the next course was.

    (5)

  • Adam B. J.

    My wife, two co-workers, and I dined at Restaurant Zoe after a long day at a conference. We picked the place thanks to Yelp. It was nice to go to an area of Seattle we hadn't been, and we were lucky enough to get a great table outside. The service was exquisite, and our server had no problem answering any question asked. We started with cheeses, wine, and whiskeys. Three of us had the King Salmon entree which was delicious. My wife had the half roasted chicken, which she described as inedible. The skin was chewy, and she said had the consistency of being under cooked. I wasn't aware of her dissatisfaction until we got back to our hotel, or I would have addressed it then. Those who had desert enjoyed it. We had a hefty bill with two bottles of local wine. I'd recommend it, but say stay away from the chicken entree.

    (4)

  • Kevin L.

    Dear Restaurant Zoe staff, I'm an understanding guy. I think it's OK to vent your feelings. Your job is tough. Some patrons are difficult. Back in your office, it's fine to talk some shit and roll your eyes when your customer is being a pain in the ass. When a pregnant woman requests that you cook her meat a bit more, in order to FOLLOW DOCTOR's ORDERS, and YOU PUSH BACK, Miss "Thank-You-Kindly," you are officially yelpable. But when YOUR CUSTOMER IS TEN FEET AWAY, and CAN SEE YOU TALKING SHIT ABOUT HIS WIFE, you done fucked up. Chubby Emo chef, you're now yelpable. I'm sad to have to write this review. Zoe was one of our first romantic spots in Seattle, and we've raved about it to out-of-towners. But tonight was tough. When my wife politely asked to have her rare steak taken to medium, the passive-aggressive back-and-forth about the definition of "medium" was both uncalled for and inaccurate (I make her steak at 135F, you served us 120F, 125F tops). Chef Chubby Emo, had the place been slammed, I'd empathise with your frustration over the extra task. But with over half the tables empty, it was shockingly poor form for you to bitch about my wife's simple request, ten feet in front of me. Miss "Thank You Kindly," you were a fine server until we asked for just a bit more heat on the beef. Had you resumed being cordial to us the rest of the night, I'd have taken a breath and let this go. But talking shit, and then avoiding and ignoring my wife and me for the rest of the meal was classless. Kindly and Chubby, tribute to your coworkers for picking up the slack, attending to us when you no longer felt like doing your job. Tribute to your competition, who have treated my pregnant wife's specific needs for food safety with proactive discussion and respect.

    (1)

  • Dawne L.

    Our friends took us here for dinner sans kids. Love the cozy bar and dining ambiance of this Capitol Hill establishment! Add to that, friendly service and a delicious meal -- this is definitely a great date night pick! We just missed their Oyster Happy Hour (boo!), but no worries, they had a great selection of apps and sides. Our favorites were the spicy wild boar bolognese and caramelized brussel sprouts -- so good we ordered another one! For the entrees, the hubby was very satisfied with his Braised Pork Belly with caramelized apple and peas. Although he was quite jealous of my entree, the Braised Painted Hills Beef Shortribs -- so soft and tender, perfectly seasoned and topped with pomegranate glaze. For a non-meat alternative, my friend also enjoyed her pan seared salmon along with her steamed mussels appetizer. They also offer a great selection of Washington wine, which you can order in half-bottles. Don't let the casual ambiance fool you, it's a special dinner kinda place (and a little pricey too). Overall, a wonderful experience and highly recommended!

    (4)

  • Susan S.

    We were very impressed with this restaurant. We sat outside on a gorgeous Seattle night. The waiter was fantastic and the food was really tasty. A lot of my friends recommended it so we tried it and were happy we did. Try it!

    (4)

  • Alex H.

    Been here for over an hour and a half ago and still haven't eaten a bite. I wasn't allowed to sit at a table even though there 10+ open seats, ordered a drink 20 minutes ago that still isn't here, and dinner was ordered 45 minutes ago with no hint of its arrival. DO NOT "EAT" HERE

    (1)

  • Oliver D.

    Incredible food, extraordinary menu and first rate service. We took visitors here and Zoe did us proud - a wonderful 3 course meal, great service and a lovely outside space. My wife had the best chicken she's ever had, and my short ribs were phenomenal. Throughly recommended.

    (5)

  • Vivienne L.

    Here for SRW and had such a wonderful experience. The server was on point from welcoming to explaining the daily special to the menu. Well trained busser who prepares room for dining by clothing tables and setting decorations, condiments, candles, napkins, service plates, and utensils. Regularly check up with constantly refilling water. Super attentive! Food : Appetizer - Mixed Green Salad- Radish, Almonds, Pecorino, Fig Vinegar, Cucumbers, Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette 4/5 - Anderson Ranch Braised Lamb Leg- Couscous, Cashews, Picholine Olives & Date Jus 5/5 Entrees - Pan Roasted Chicken Breast- Parsnip Puree, Parsnip & Potato Salad, Horseradish, Creme Fraiche, Pickled Rhubabr, Wilted Spinach, Chicken Jus . So the chicken breast was juicy and tender but I wish it has a little more purée. 4/5 - Fresh Ricotta & Stilton Gnudi- Walnut Pesto, Pickled Pears, Arugula 5/5 Dessert Chocolate Pot De Creme- Cherry Compote, Vanilla Chantilly, Cherry Bark, Shortbread 5/5 ( BOMB.COM) Almond Cake- Rhubarb, Honey Mascarpone, Brown Butter Streus 4/5

    (4)

  • Brett C.

    Try to get here every time I'm in Seattle. Best Alaskan black code I've ever had. Completely unpretentious decor and service, and yet wonderful aesthetics and perfectly attentive servers.

    (5)

  • Gisselle L.

    Came here for the dine around Seattle menu- overall experience 3.5/3.75 Fennel Bisque- really tasty Gnudi- wasn't my husband or my cup of tea Pork Shoulder- really juicy and tasted great but I am not a fan of beans so I didn't enjoy the side Sumac Chicken Breast- delicious, worth trying Dessert is where they fell short Meyer Lemon Semifreddo- it was ok not great but not bad Warm Cornmeal Cake- wasn't a fan of this at all- the cornmeal taste was way too dominant Would I go again?!? probably not unless I am in the neighborhood and a friend really wanted to go

    (3)

  • Jason C.

    I think it's a solid 4-star restaurant offering great "new" American eats. I ordered the braised LanRoc Pork Shoulder which was cooked perfectly and really quite delicious. I also tried the Sumac Roasted Chicken Breast which I also highly recommend if you're in the mood for chicken.. My favorite part of the meal, dessert, was definitely the highlight. My favorite was the Chocolate Pot De Creme (you have to order this if you like chocolate).

    (4)

  • Andres C.

    I went with my husband to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. Very good service. It was pouring outside and I guess because of the rain and because it was a weekday it was almost empty. I liked that. Nice food.

    (4)

  • Eva C.

    I came in not for the food but for the dessert and I'm not ashamed to admit it! I came here for their raspberry hibiscus sorbet because my friend had been hyping about it for weeks! We actually did a bit of a run around since they first told us it was no longer being served, but then called in again just to double check and TA DA, it was still available! We sat on their outdoor patio, which is absolutely beautiful. It is surrounded by beautiful flowers and you feel like you're in this lovely little secret garden. Service was fantastic. They were very quick and efficient with taking our order. The manager even came to apologize for the run around and gave us a free sorbet. I was tingling with excitement when my sorbet came out. It is one of the most beautiful desserts I have ever seen. It has 2 scoops of sorbets, with two dried slices of pineapple on it, white chocolate pearls that tasted more like rice crispies, red peppercorn jello, and candied lime. So many different flavor combinations. We were a bit skeptical on eating the peppercorn jello but it actually brought out the flavor in the sorbet. I would even dare to say that it amplified the flavors in the dessert. The pineapple tasted like a fruit roll up candy, same texture and everything. This is the perfect summer time dessert and I'm so happy we were able to get it.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    Add Restaurant Zoë to my list of favorites. The service made me feel like the man of the evening as I dined at the bar. The GM Derek was acting as bartender as well as busing other tables and running food. He still had time to converse with me and make me feel like I was a regular there! I came for one reason this time - MACARONI MONDAY. They announced through Facebook that they were starting to do a mac 'n cheese meal on Monday nights and given that I'm obsessed with the stuff I had to check it out. I started with a Moscow Mule, because...Monday. The Cock 'n Bull ginger beer used in this rendition I feel is much better than the local favorite from Rachel Marshall simply because RGB has entirely too much lime juice and can overpower a drink. What could easily be shared between two people was shamelessly devoured by yours truly. The mac 'n cheese is served in a cast iron skillet with Beecher's flagship white cheddar, elbow macaroni, is dusted with bread crumbs, and garnished with parsley. You can get it three ways - straight up, with spinach, or with smoked chicken. Since I can't eat a meal without meat I opted for the smoked chicken and wasn't disappointed. It was plentiful in the dish and had just the right amount of smoke. The mac 'n cheese could've stood alone, but as an added bonus you get three sides - mustard greens with golden raisins, house pickled vegetables with an herbed goat cheese to cut the acidity, and skillet cornbread with blackberry jam. The house pickled vegetables were definitely the highlight of the accompaniments!

    (5)

  • Andrew M.

    Beautiful restaurant, great location, awful food. I had the steak tartare, the wild boar Bolognese, the broccolini, the halibut, and the almond cake. The steak tartare was good, no real complaints there. Both the Bolognese and the broccolini were some of the saltiest dishes I've had in my entire life. Nearly inedible. The halibut itself was massively overcooked - not a bit of moisture left. And the sids served with it were again incredibly salty. The desert, the almond cake, was completely uninspired and bland. With all of the great restaurants in Seattle, I don't know why anyone would go here. Save yourself and go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Paul V.

    Solid. Really solid. I had a great time at Restaurant Zoe and I would most assuredly go back. The ambiance is very nice.The high ceilings with the low hanging lights makes the room feel really big. They maximize the space without cramming tables in to the point that you feel like your neighbors are sitting on top of you. I also really like that you can have a conversation without having to yell at your dining companion because the music and conversation were at a very reasonable volume. It's not quiet to the point of being intimate/romantic, but the staff clearly isn't trying to deafen you with music . I think this would be an excellent first date kind of spot. The food is very good too. We tried the mussels and the beef tartare to start. I didn't love the taro chips as a conduit to eat the beef tartare, but the dish was enjoyable nonetheless. The mussels had a tasty Spanish/Mediterranean flare to it because of the paprika (the dish name was Mediterranean Mussels, after all). I would definitely recommend both of these small plates. I ordered the chicken confit for dinner. It tasted like Thanksgiving. That mushroom bread pudding is like the best stuffing you've ever had. The pomegranate was a nice tangy touch as well. We split the spiced gingerbread for dessert. I probably wouldn't recommend that. Their freezer was out on Saturday night, so they weren't able to provide the ginger ice cream with it (be aware that apparently that is a common occurrence on weekends due to high strain on the appliance). The whipped cream tasted like it had some ginger infused in it, but it basically ended up tasting like plastic. The service is good. I never found myself asking "where the heck is our server??" but it was also a clearly a more leisurely pace of service. I think if they wanted to get more people in and out, they probably could speed up service a little bit, but I definitely enjoyed the laid back feel of it. It's a little spendy (especially if you eat and drink like I do), but it's worth it. The ingredients are high quality and it's certainly an enjoyable experience. Next time I'd like to make a point to try all the small plates and/or the burger.

    (4)

  • Matt J.

    Restaurant Zoë used to be one of my Seattle favorites, but ever since moving to Capitol Hill the restaurant has steadily declined. Tonight was probably my final visit. The oysters were good, and the herbs de Provence mignonette was interesting. The service was "off", which happens. However, the food was mediocre at best. The flavors were oddly paired, the vegetables were not properly cooked, and the dessert didn't seem fresh (e.g., ice crystals in the ice cream). Zoë used to be a solid choice, but unfortunately my last couple experiences here have been disappointing.

    (2)

  • Kelsey H.

    Great date spot. Great service and atmosphere. Our waiter was amazing and attentive. I had the Albacore Tuna and my date had the chicken, both great. We also shared the Pineapple dessert which was also yummy. Good wine as well!

    (5)

  • James D.

    Went here for Valentine's Day and it was such a wonderful experience. The 3 course dinner special was dee-lish. The first course tortellini was so, so good. I went in worried it would be more fancy than filling, but it was equal parts fancy AND filling - perfect sized portions. Bonus points for serving pallet cleansers between courses, it made for a really nice surprise. Go eat here!

    (5)

  • Ashley T.

    I brought my parents to Restaurant Zoe on Easter, and we had such an amazing experience in a fairly empty restaurant. I highly recommend coming during their "Oyster Hour," which is essentially their happy hour that offers substantial discounts on small plates. We started with a couple small plates, and the waiter was extremely helpful in explaining the more unique ingredients and cooking styles on the menu. The roasted cauliflower seemed relatively simple, but the cauliflower was elevated with raisins, capers, and a cream sauce all combined in a cute skillet that kept the slight crunch on the outside of the cauliflower. The ricotta gnudi is also a specialty of theirs, and it also came with two pieces of lamb sausage. The gnudi itself was creamy without being heavy, and the lamb sausage offered a welcome saltiness to the dish. We also had the manila clams, which was served in a clam and lamb broth with a toasted baguette. I typically do not like the taste of lamb, but the subtle flavoring paired well with the fat, juicy clams. For large plates, I ordered the braised artichoke risotto. I was a little skeptical at first, having tasted overly creamy risotto at other restaurants. The risotto rice was the perfect al dente, and the sauce was not creamy at all, allowing me to really savor the raisins and sunchokes mixed throughout. My mom had the arctic char with bacon and asparagus ragout, which featured a perfectly cooked piece of fish on top of an extremely fresh tasting ragout. I particularly loved the crispiness of the skin, which offered a great complement to the flakiness of the meat. My dad had the pork tenderloin, which was a special of the day. The meat was some of the best cooked pork I've ever had, the perfect medium rare with an herby crust on the outside. We couldn't finish the meal without sampling any dessert, so we went with the rhubarb tartlet and the hazelnut cake. The rhubarb tartlet was the right size after a surprisingly filling meal. The buttery crust was filled with a slightly sweet rhubarb, then drizzled with pine nut streusel. The streusel was one of my favorite components of the dish, adding an extra crunch and sweetness amidst the melty rhubarb. The hazelnut cake was also a relatively light dessert option, with apricot cream layers between the cake that was deeply infused with hazelnut flavor. The restaurant also gave complimentary lemon tea cookies to finish the entire meal! Everything about my meal at Restaurant Zoe speaks to what makes a dining experience enjoyable. From seasonal and fresh ingredients to the surprising but pleasant pairing of flavors, the food is truly some of the best that I've had in the Seattle area.

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    Damn good food but the price and portions price themselves out of casual dining and into special occasion dining, a category that it decidedly doesn't belong in. Fill up on the delicious focaccia because the portions here are small, really small.The Restaurant Week menu was a tasty walk through their menu but with what I hope were seriously decreased portion sizes. We also split the Sausage Stuffed Calamari appetizer which were a fun idea but in practice were nothing more than fishy flavored sausages. The wonderful staff, great drinks, and beautiful setting really raise the bar for other restaurants in the area and I will be back simply to enjoy some summer patio time.

    (4)

  • Jade L.

    Seattle Restaurant Week Review! I came here with a group of friends for restaurant week. Service was great, especially considering we were a large group. I started with the mixed greens salad, which was delicious, but a fairly standard salad. I tried by my friends ricotta gnudi, which is kind of like a gnocci, but filled with cheese. I kinda wish I got this one because it was richly delicious. Who doesn't like cheese dumplings?? For my entree, I got the pork belly. This was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Pork belly is always a risk, but I think I got pretty lucky because my pork belly was nicely proportioned between the meat and the fat. I really enjoyed their corn mole as well. It paired well with the pork belly. For dessert, I got the caramel apple bread pudding, which was soooo good. I'm a huge fan of bread pudding and this did not disappoint. I also tried the coconut panna cotta, which was deliciously refreshing. I would definitely recommend Restaurant Zoe!

    (4)

  • Donald L.

    Good food, no argument there. We've eaten here maybe a dozen times. Our experience recently is representative of what this restaurant is becoming. Our waiter was a perky and over-familiar fellow, though that is in every restaurant now. We went in early...5:30-ish, yeah we're old. Two (weak) cocktails, two salads and two aps. Hundred bucks. We call our liquor so it's normal. At 1 hour and 1 hour and 15 minutes, our apps hadn't shown up. We tried twice to get our waiter, but he was too busy chatting with a table to look around the room. We tried to flag down the "manager" who was in an animated conversation with a co-worker. He made eye contact and turn his back on us. When I finally got our waiter, he came over and carried on and on about the kitchen, and then went back to his table conversation before finally going to the kitchen. Our dishes came, and we had to eat in a hurry. 1.5 hours is enough for 2 drinks, salad and an app. This entitled little children running the restaurant should be fired.

    (2)

  • Shelby J.

    I had a green apple cous cous here a long time ago, and it was absolutely delish. The cous cous was an Israeli style, with the large pearl like texture. That combined with the apples and tartness of the sauce was such a great combination. The atmosphere was relaxed and modern. I loved the whole vibe of this restaurant and can't wait to have another visit.

    (4)

  • David F.

    Ask to sit in the coop. The atmosphere adds to the relaxed formal dining feel. Very good staff, perfect execution on the food and drinks, but not over done.

    (5)

  • Allison R.

    I really want to give this place 5 stars. The first time I dined here was circa 2005 when it was still located in Belltown. Memories of a delicious and romantic meal come back to me. I recently went back excited to have another special dinner with my boyfriend only be to disappointed. The interior is cool but was empty...on a Saturday at 7:00 pm? The food was mediocre and portions were small. My steak was good but the side was too salty. Not to mention tiny. My boyfriend was not wild about his dish either - just okay. I'd give this place 2 stars but the bread was amazing! I'd go back and just order that next time.

    (3)

  • Cassandra A.

    I made dinner reservations here for my husbands birthday. The meal was a hit and they were discreet but not over the top about it being his birthday. Food was delicious. The portions are smaller but very delicious and well presented.

    (5)

  • G B.

    Never has the gap between aspiration and execution been wider. Sure, there were redeeming qualities: sitting outside on a perfect mid-Summer evening, the lovely seasonal mushrooms, even the section of cheeses, and the unfazed, amused waiter who kept comping us to make up for the dispiriting fare. Many items and wines were not available but given that those that were available were less than transcendent, I am not sure which was the greater problem. Stay away from the beef tartare, the half chicken, the flat-iron steak, the salmon, and if you are still hungry after that, have dessert down the street, pretty much anywhere else.

    (2)

  • Peiqi W.

    We went there for Valentine's dinner. It's 65 per person. The food is amazing and the service is good as well. Definitely had a great dinner there on Valentine's Day.

    (5)

  • Melissa F.

    My husband and I took my parents here for my mom's birthday tonight. We all did the tasting menu. It was out of this world. Insane. My just did a tasting menu in NYC at a super fancy multi Michelin star place and can easily say I preferred this meal. The food was awesome. We started with an oyster amuse bouche, then had a green salad (which sounds not exciting but really was actually a highlight), moved to a rabbit terrine that my husband, a foodie from France, said was one of the best he had ever had, then had a seared tuna course, a sumac-rubbed chicken, a sorbet palate cleanser, four different desserts for our party and a final parting mignardise. All for an incredibly affordable price. Oh yeah, wine? The sommelier picked two awesome bottles for us that were HALF PRICE because it was Monday! The service was personal, not overbearing. I felt like we were taken care of and definitely not rushed. It was a truly special meal and a great welcome to Seattle. We will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Nico D.

    It was 65 F with a breeze yesterday evening, which was pleasant when in the sun. But they decided this was cause for all windows to be open and have the fans on. So we froze our butts inside the entire evening. Service was cold and inattentive. Our male server was much more interested in interacting with female servers than in us. Excellent beef tartar with (very salty) chips. Gnudi were pretty bland and boring. The "King" Salmon must be in reference to the price of the dish: $35 for a small piece of salmon (nothing special), a dry felafel, and a little green and a schmear of some purée. Very very expensive and just OK. If it had been $27, I wouldn't be upset. But for a NYC entree price in Seattle, I say it'd better be mind blowing, and it really wasn't. Dessert was an apricot clafouti. Again, it sounded great, but was just OK (bland). This restaurant really lacked any wow factor for us. We won't be back.

    (2)

  • Asuka S.

    Real friendly staff, well everyone around SEATTLE in sooo friendly, coming out of NYC...Great place to eat, Fresh and creative foods. I'm starting to like seattle. See you again soon, heading back to NYC....

    (4)

  • Nicole O.

    Yummy! I started with a glass of red, the Malbec was better than the Cab. It also seemed, a half bottle was not more economical than by the glass - just a little note to self. I also had a couple oysters (1 of each kind). All were delicious (but I prefer them served on ice instead I rock salt). Onto the starters, wild boar pasta, beef tartare, and risotto gnudi were all amazing!! For main we shared the risotto and the chicken - both were very tastey (modest portions for large plates), but not quite as mid-blowing as the starters. Finished it off with the gingerbread dessert topped with poached pears and ginger ice cream - interesting, very good interesting!

    (4)

  • Erin R.

    Wow. How have I not been here before???!!!!! A friend suggested we try out Restaurant Zoe for Seattle Restaurant week - and I'm so glad he did! The drinks were superb - As someone that does not drink alcohol, I greatly appreciate when restaurants offer unique non-alcoholic options. It was even served in a martini glass and made me feel like for once I wasn't forced to order off the kids menu. My friend greatly enjoyed his mixed drink and said it paired well with his entree just like the waiter recommended. We both had the gnudi which were like little pillows of ricotta amazingness. For entrees I had the chicken which the waiter explained was a 12 hour process of a dry brine and than being cooked with duck fat. It was absolutely heavenly! My friend had the beer battered fish and practically licked his plate! Our desserts were also superb and I highly recommend the panna cotta - I don't even like panna cotta normally b/c of a personal texture thing, but this one won me over. I'm now a huge fan! Top notch experience - the service was amazing, the food was excellent and I will definitely be back. Thank you Restaurant Zoe!!!

    (5)

  • Alanna M.

    This restaurant used to be located in Belltown many moons ago but has since moved to a new home on Capital Hill. Loving the new location and space. We had a fabulous dinner from start to finish. Nice bottle of Spanish wine, mussels were delish, farro amazing and stand-up macaroons with a drizzle of chocolate and mini chocolate beads for dessert. Great presentation on all of the dishes and fantastic balance in flavor as well. Looking forward to another experience. Love the ambiance. The whole experience was lovely and that's exactly what I look for when dining at restaurants such as these.

    (4)

  • Lily S.

    One more time! I still love you, Zoe. And even more so now that you've moved to Capitol Hill. Thank you for always serving me gnudi that melts in my mouth. You are the shit! Love, Lily. PS - I'd like to dive into a tub of the celery root soup and drink my way out of it. Is that weird? PPS - Jules & Sarah, best wait staff EVAR. Also, PLEASE BRING ME A CHOCOLATE ORB. That is all.

    (5)

  • Gerry M.

    We walked by Restaurant Zoë the other day, and decided it looked so good that we'd have our fifth wedding anniversary dinner there. And how glad we are that we did! We booked an early reservations for last night, because we had to be home by 8:30 to relieve our nanny. When we arrived around 5pm we were the first patrons there. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a wonderful, spacious, airy interior, and the most lovely deck you can imagine. While pretty much right in the heart of Capitol Hill, we felt transported to a garden in the south of France. We were seated immediately, with our choice of tables. We took a fourstop, even though there were only two of us, because we wanted to sit next to each other rather than across from each other. No problem, they granted our wish right away. Our server, Tim, manifested himself right away, explained the menu, made some good cocktail suggestions, then reappeared a short time later with our two martinis. So far, a good start to what turned out to be a great evening. Always attentive but never overly insistent on moving us along, Tim came back when the time was right to discuss dinner. We ended ordering one five course tasting menu, with a number of items off the "oyster hour" (their version of happy hour) menu to accompany each course (Tim's suggestion). Tim decided on the food pairings for us, and we also had wine pairings that were simply sublime. The food itself was incredibly delicious - portions were perfect, not too small but not overflowing the plates. From pommes frites with house-made aioli, to the best steak tartare we've ever had (served with house-made potato chips, no less!), to a beautiful gnocchi-like bundle of ricotta surrounded by a fluffy coat of semolina - and many more courses too numerous to detail. On top of the wonderful atmosphere, food, and wine, the service was perfect. Our plates were cleared at appropriate intervals, but we never felt rushed. New silverware for each course, with each staff member quite knowledgeable in explaining each course, and why the wine paired with it. And no one ever asked us, "are you still working on that?" For a perfectly romantic evening in a beautiful, semi-casual settings, with amazing food and wonderful service, look no further than Restaurant Zoë.

    (5)

  • Maria P.

    This is the third time I have felt the need to write a review, because the staff and dining experience at Resturant Zoe blew me away. It started with the hostess producing exceptionally good service by calling to confirm as well as arranging a very special menu for my anniversary. Our waiter, Tim, was friendly, engaging and knew the resturant and it's menu items impeccably well. Later, having ordered a six course Chef tasting menu, the general manager even took the time to deliver some of our dishes and discribe our food, which was very impressive considering it was a Saturday night. Overall, being from San Francisco, I can proudly say that resturant Zoe will be well worth a trip back to Seattle!

    (5)

  • Lenny Z.

    Anni and I enjoyed a wonderful evening last night. Rob served us at the bar and provided great service! Food was awesome.

    (5)

  • Sonia C.

    Came here for a belated Valentine's dinner. We wanted to order the tasting menu, but couldn't as we had a late reservation and the meal takes 2 hours. We asked the waitress for recommendations and went with a few of her selections including: - gnudi as an appetizer: this was very cheesy and quite soft. I wish it had a firmer texture, but I found the citrus-y sauce very tasty and helped cut the heaviness of the dish - homemade pappardelle in a spicy boar ragu: very delicious though portion was a bit small - pork chop: this was ok. It was a good pork chop but it was just a pork chop too. - chocolate torte: very rich with crumbly graham cracker crust. I thought it was too sweet and dense. - lemon macaron: filled with lemon semifreddo. I loved this but I love giant macarons. Would come here again.

    (4)

  • Jake R.

    Great food and great service! Came here with some friends during "restaurant week" for the 3 course $28 dollar deal. What a deal it was too! You might think they would skimp on the food or service since we weren't paying full price but that was definitely not the case. We were served plenty of food and the service was some of the best I've ever had. First the food. They had 3 courses and you could pick from 3 or 4 options for each course. I opted for some pretty safe food, salad, burger and sorbet. The food was great, especially the juicy burger and you couldn't beat the price. It was a great first impression so I'll definitely be back next time I'm in that area or looking for a nice place to take a date.

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    The menu changes all the time. It's a good and bad thing.. So if you're expecting something specific from the pictures people post, it may be better to call ahead to see if they still have that item on the menu.... But all in all, it's a good restaurant. They kept our waters filled up even when they were half full. Ordered the wild boar bolognese, beef tartare, clams and cauliflower. This was a very satisfying portion for two.

    (3)

  • Casey B.

    Very good food where you can try a little or try a lot. My father and I went on a Friday evening and got a table right away. It was filled with classy dressed people out on dates or a group of friends. There is a nice rustic modern feel to the decor. We were seated in the greenhouse area. They have a mix of small and large plates and since my father was visiting, we decided to go with some small plates to try a lot of different things. We went with the olives, tartare and wild boar. All three were very good, cooked extremely well and presented very nicely. The food is a little on the higher end price for the quantity you get, but it tastes great and for two people, is just enough food on a small plate to share. The service was great and very attentive. They refilled bread without even asking which was nice. Something I wasn't very impressed with was our server didn't know much about the wines we were interested in. At $50 a bottle and up, I would have hoped she could have asked someone else in the restaurant for a description. We decided on a malbec and once the wine opened up, it was great. Unique and tasty food. You wont find big chicken or steak dinners here. Much more refined, unique dishes with elegant presentation.

    (4)

  • Christina D.

    The Food here brought music to my ears...11 months after our visit we still can't stop thinking about and talking about the Fresh Ricotta Gnudi. ***Memorable*** *Worth the trip *Great Food & Wine *Attention to detail *Elegant Ambiance but not frou frou (I wore jeans & a nice top) *Highly recommend: Fresh Ricotta Gnudi, Wild boar bolognese Not a food expert but I think Gnudi should be classified as its own food group :) We couldn't quite describe how good it was and what we were experiencing. Silence is required when experiencing this dish. It melted like butter in your mouth but it had a slight crisp to it, the flavors were just divine. We loved it so much that we ordered more.

    (4)

  • Molly T.

    one of my TOP FAV restos in seattle/belltown. Everything here is very good. My fav dish is the SWEET BREAD!! Their cocktails are very tasty too...excellent customer service....and their homemade dipping sauce(balsamic and olive oil) is AMAZING....! I heard they may move or remodel the place...Please let them know to keep their location in Belltown and remodel there!! Hate for it to move when it is central in downtown seattle where all the office workers are at. *****PLEASE ZOE MANAGEMENT....DONT MOVE AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN SEATTLE IF ARE THINKING ABOUT IT....PERFECT LOCATION FOR CITY PEOPLE LIKE ME. JUST REMODEL!

    (5)

  • Erik L.

    Food was well balanced in flavors and textures. The ambiance was great. The staff was attentive and visited the table at the right moment. I would recommend the lamb heart and wild boar dishes. The wine list has several great local finds such as O'Shea Scarborough. I would recommend this place for a romantic night out.

    (4)

  • elsa f.

    This was a great little restaurant for a pre-Benaroya Hall show meal. We found parking around the corner at 10 minutes to 6, and figured anyone that may ticket us for not paying for 10 minutes worth of parking must be a really sorry human being. Well we didn't pay the quarter and did not get a ticket. :) It was a cold, windy, and rainy evening. I was wearing a dress under my coat, and most men would have no idea what it's like to have January Seattle wind on bare legs. We opened the door and made our way through the velvet curtain (which fends diners from the cold, I guess). The drinks (Ruby, My Dear and Minty Lime Press) and appetizers were lovely. The Fresh Ricotta Gnudi was definitely worth it. I wish we ordered another. I had the East Coast Scallops. They were okay. My beau's Washington Lamb Loin was definitely better. I can't remember the name of the dessert, but, goodness, I wanted more! Our waitress was knowledgeable and helpful. She explained what the dessert was since we zeroed in on the one dessert item that sounded the most exotic. It reminded me of a cross between flan and creme brule, but this had blood orange syrup drizzled on it with two cute little cookies. Like the previous reviewers, they did come around the dining room to sample out other items from the menu. I was tempted to order the soup. I think it had yellow squash with a hint of ginger. *mmm* We took a chance on Restaurant Zoe for our anniversary, and it turned out to be very pleasant. The windy assault was worth it.

    (4)

  • James C.

    After a few tasty cocktails at Bathtub Gin and a recommendation from the bartender, we ended up at Zoe for dinner. We sat the bar to avoid the wait for a table and were served very nicely by the bartender. We even made a new friend from Virginia. After starting with a bottle of wine, we ordered a tasty appetizer I believed called gnudi. Basically floured, boiled ricotta cheese and a tapenade but great texture and flavor. The main course was a nice size. My crispy chicken was perfectly cooked on a bed of spinach and soaked croutons. My GF had the steelhead on arugula. Both great choices! And we split a side of risotto. It was a perfect dinner and a compliment to the cocktails we had earlier. Definitely no room for dessert. But they gave us a couple of Russian tea cookies anyway. And the bill for all of this was very reasonable. Definitely worth a visit. Definitely worth going.

    (4)

  • Michael D.

    Ok, strap in for this one. Zoe is better than Dahlia by leaps and bounds. Here is my meal because it's important you read some details about this Salad Dungeoness Crab Salad - apple puree, watercress, shaved apple, croutons. Just a great start to the meal. Fresh, light, sweet, and made me think of the time I had crabs in Maryland.. wait.. um.. Apps Braised beef tongue - napa cabbage, walnuts, dijon mustard. It made me want to makeout with a cow. The meat just fell apart. Think short rib, but better...I now know that is possible. Veal sweetbreads - swiss chard, sunchokes, hazelnuts, pickled pearl onions. Again, amazing. Not the best sweetbreads I've ever had, but that's like saying "That wasn't the best victoria secret model I've ever been with" Entree Columbia river steelhead - pear-onion puree, bloomsdale spinach, warm bacon vinaigrette. Best steelhead I've ever had hands-down. Crispy skin, spinach bed..and did I mention the bacon? Yes, bacon. Ba-con. Nuff said. In all seriousness, the service, the ambiance, the food, it's the complete package. I can't say enough about this place except that I'm going back. If they delivered 2500 miles away I'd order it tonight.

    (4)

  • Mengyu Z.

    Been to Zoe twice. Everything is well cooked and served but I don't think any of them are excellent. Good place to grab friends for casual dinner

    (4)

  • Elaine J.

    This place is cool if you're into 'new' American food. Personally, I'm a divey type girl but thi splace had a pretty cool ambiance and great reviews so I wantd to try it out. The bologense was great. And silly me, up until I recieved my order of steak tartare and had to google it, did I not know that it's always prepared raw. The staff were so sweet as to take care of it for me and replaced it with a delocious cheeseburger with caramelized onion marmalade. It was hard for me to find something on the menu that I'd like but that's just a preference of mine. The things that I did try were great.

    (3)

  • Ivy T.

    The goat cheese panna cotta and hazelnut cake are a must

    (4)

  • Mina M.

    We visited Restaurant Zoë for the first time last night and ordered from the Restaurant Week menu. From the moment we walked in, the service was outstanding! We arrived 20 minutes early for our reservation and the manager (?) wasn't annoyed at all. He was friendly and a sweet hostess seated us right away. Our server, Jason, arrived at the table within a minute! Water and bread were immediately served and he even agreed to have a drink made for me not currently on the menu, that a friend had recommended. The food was some of the best we've had in Seattle. We started with the salad and gnudi, both ordered the chicken, and finished with the bread pudding and chocolate pudding. Everything was cooked perfectly and I savored every last bite! They have really nailed the ambiance as well - I didn't feel like I was Capitol Hill at all. But I am compelled to leave a review because again, the staff really made this such a wonderful experience. I have always felt that Restaurant Week service can be hit or miss because some servers dread it, but Jason was great. We will most definitely be back to Restaurant Zoë for non restaurant weeks!

    (5)

  • Kinda Invisible S.

    One small snag with one of our guests not being served when we were but the server went WAY out of his way to make up for it. Meanwhile, we hit happy hour during the last few minutes so ordered as much as we could before time ran out before we checked out the entrees. Beautiful food, great atmosphere, and a place we will definitely visit again. Wagyu beef burger gets an A+ (the fries are spectacular!), the NY strip was on the fatty side and a bit disappointing, and the rhubarb tart w/basil ice cream is a must-try.

    (4)

  • Yisell D.

    This place gets 3 starts for its great ambiance, service and drinks. After reading so many good reviews i was very excited to try this place. I'm not sure if we were not lucky with our selections but neither my husband or I were impressed with our dish. We also thought the menu was very limited but given the good drinks and service we still had a great time. I will probably go back and give it a second chance!

    (3)

  • Jay B.

    We loved Restaurant Zoe! The wife and I came in for our 1-year anniversary dinner and really fell in love with the place, not only because of the food, but because of the service and the way we were treated; the way customers should be treated. Had the roast duck confit special and the wife, the braised steak. Also tried the snail croquettes, which were awesome, and the cold asparagus soup. The chef's special amouse bouches(sp?) were excellent also. I can't quite remember what we had for dessert, I think i had ice cream tho. Oh yeah, wife had the chocolate orb; amazing! If you're visiting town and renting a vehicle, there is only street parking, but you can park at the academy nearby also, if there is a spot. Otherwise, I'd take local transpo into the area, it's only a couple miles from Downtown. I didn't realize that the sun set so late in Seattle when we came in early May, so our 6:30 dinner reservation wasn't quite the romantic, candle-lit evening, I had imagined in my mind's eye, but it was an awesome awesome dinner nonetheless. Probably could've set our reservations 8PM or even later, but again, that's just a side-note. Thanks again to the staff for making our night such a memorable one :)

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:3

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Restaurant Zoë

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