Zoe

I came here for brunch on Sunday at 12:30. It wasn’t crowded at all and the service was SO slow. I ordered the buttermilk pancakes (which were cold) and when they came out I had to request syrup be brought as well. Turns out the restaurant had no syrup! Who serves pancakes without syrup?! The waitress didn’t even comp the meal so I ate very dry, cold pancakes. I’d never go back. We also had to remind the waitress three different times to bring us our check because she kept forgetting. Everyone seemed out of it. Don’t recommend going here!

I came here with a group of friends one Saturday night. Zoe’s surpassed my expectations after reading so many mixed reviews on Unilocal.The restaurant is located at Eldridge street on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
The place is relatively small, the tables are quite close to one another. The full bar is right in the center of the restaurant that serves original concoctions and mixes.
We started the dinner with a bottle of Tempernillo flaco from Spain.
I was impressed when the menu was handed to us, the selections are limited but quite enticing choices and very easy to understand.
We started with octopus braised in red wine fingerling potato, olives, chile and fresh marscapone and spicy calamari with marinara sauce to share. Both appetizers were delicious. The ingredients were all fresh.
We shared Crispy Brussels sprouts with cranberry cider and sour crème on the side. I did not realize until today that Brussels sprouts can be both charred and delectable at the same time.
For my main entrée, I chose crispy brined roast hen, butternut squash, sage, roast apricot and dandelion green dressing. It was cooked to perfection and plated nicely.
We selected tiramisu and ice cream sundae for shared dessert.
Since there was a bit of wait for our dishes to come out from the kitchen, they complemented us with glass of wine. We will definitely come back to Zoe sometime soon to try their oxtail pasta bucatini!

Came for Saturday brunch with a friend and got the cute seat by the open window on a nice spring day.
Service was slow and a bit confused. Our meals came before our drinks, and had to be reminded.
Second time here and got the Moroccan eggs again which was just as good if not even better than the first time.
Would recommend and return if in LES.

Zoe’s was okay. I wouldn’t rush back any time soon. I came for dinner with a friend and I ordered oxtail and chicken thigh penne while she ordered the roasted hen dish. Both dishes were blah. The pasta dish was overly sweet with way too many bones in the dish and the hen tasted like it was seasoned with way too much sage. We decided not to order dessert because the dinner left us with literally a bad taste in our mouths.
The three stars is because the coconut dream (non-​alcoholic) drink was great, the ambiance was relaxing and quiet, and the service was great. Also, the fried calamari appetizer was good and fried perfectly.

I don’t know why the bad reviews… because while my review is overdue, it was amazing.
I had a party of 15 here for my boyfriend’s 30^th birthday back in January and Zoe and I were emailing back and forth a month prior to figure out the menu. It came out to around $ 80/​pp including tax + tip, which was amazing, considering we had 2−½ hours of open bar included.
The food was quite nice, although it was a little inconsistent from plate to plate (slightly underdone to perfect to slightly overdone… but again, party of 15 is difficult to be exact when we’re all being served at the same time). Even so, the dishes were creative and delicious all the same. We got a personalized birthday dinner menu, which was a nice touch, since I got everyone to sign the card to commemorate the date.
Service was great as well, a bit slow at first, but again, we were a party of 15, but once they got used to the frequency of our drink orders, I think they kicked it into high gear and were on a roll.
Would definitely come again… and I want to check out their brunch!
THANKS, ZOE! :)

I came here for brunch with a group of 5, because the line at Clinton St. Baking Company was about 3 hours long at 11 am. We had a nice brunch but I wasn’t totally blown away by the food or drinks — I probably wouldn’t come back with so many other brunch spots in the city. Although if I was craving good pancakes, I might make a trip back here. It was a nice alternative to waiting 3 hours though, and a great space to be able to catch up with friends.
The buttermilk blueberry pancakes with lemon curd are some of the best pancakes I’ve had — fluffy, decadent, flavorful, and slightly crispy on the outside. Definitely worth ordering to share with your group. At $ 15, they were a bit pricey for 2 large pancakes, but it’s NY and they were delicious and I’d pay that much again.
I got the egg sandwich with spicy cheese, bacon, harissa, avocado, and tomato on a brioche bun with fries for $ 13. It seems strange that the sandwich and fries is cheaper than 2 pancakes, but I suppose you get what you pay for. I thought the sandwich was a bit on the dry side or the proportion of bread to everything else was too heavy on the bread side.
I got the Maria Mescal Bloody Mary ($ 12) which was certainly smoky and spicy, but didn’t necessarily make the list of «Top Bloody Marys» that I’ve had.
All in all, excellent pancakes, some of the best I’ve ever had, nice ambiance and little wait if you come early. I probably wouldn’t come back here again and again though.

Not sure what the typical wait is but my bf and I got seated right away on a Sunday at 1130am. We ordered the blueberry pancakes with the lemon curd, egg bacon sandwich w/​home fries, fried chicken and biscuits and coconut dream.
Blueberry pancakes — I’m not a huge pancake person because i feel like I’m just eating filler without any substance but these were flatter pancakes (vs the big fluffy ones) which I preferred. The lemon curd was really refreshing and added a light zesty-​ness to it. I’d order it again
Fried chicken biscuit with huge bed of arugula salad — this was actually good and not too heavy. It had a light tangy sweet and sour sauce and I didn’t feel greasy after trying it. The arugula was a good balance to the fried chicken
Egg sandwich with bacon — I wouldn’t order this again, there wasn’t enough inside to call it a sandwich. It was ¾ bun and ¼ actual ingredients. There was some light sauce on the inside of the bun, two 2 centimeter thick slices of avocado (never seen slices so thin), one sunny side up egg, a piece of bacon and a slice of cheese. Not filling at all
Coconut dream — almost like a coconut soda; good but wish there was more to it for $ 5, it was half ice cubes and half actual drink

The Sunday wait is pretty bad even when you make a reservation. The restaurant is very tiny so there wouldn’t be much of a waiting area (you will be standing on the curb) but once you sit down, you’re in for a treat!
I had pancakes, fried chicken and biscuits (don’t judge me) and they all were delicious. A bit pricey but worth the price… I suppose. The pancakes were unique, not thick and fluffy, much thinner, with plenty of berries cooked in. The fried chicken was right on, crispy and moist — however (i know… there’s always a however) they put this strange orange jam on top that I could have done without.
There is this coconut virgin drink that is to die for. It’s thick and creamy and Delicious.
It is a very cute place. The décor is simple and adorable. It relaxes you and makes you feel like you’re momentarily out of the city, or at least in Brooklyn.
*One pet peeve for this restaurant is the size of the water glasses. I mean come ooooon! They’re 3 inches tall and fit barely a mouthful of water. So don’t think you can get away with not buying a beverage here, and expecting to have your thirst quenched by aqua — not happening.

4.5 stars. came here on a 1^st date on a friday night .and yes with a groupon-don’t judge me my date knew what she was getting into when you started talking to me-​and this place was amazing.
Made a reservation for 815, had just 3 tables open, place was packed. Nice décor, cozy ambience – a little too cozy because tables and chairs were so close to each other you had to suck in your stomach to pass. Waitstaff, looked like it was only 2 people, attentive, bar was right in the center.
Groupon included two cocktails, two entrees & two desserts. Only restriction was that any dish with chicken was an extra $ 3, and steak was I think $ 6. I order an app to share because I couldn’t wait – fish taco – came as two big tacos, breaded fish and a sauce made from heaven. Date had the 19^th century drink & I had the Dark & Stormy Rum cocktail. Hers was really good, mine was pretty ok, a little too sour.
Entrees: I got the lamb — portions were just right… the lamb was sooo tender and packed with flavor that another table asked what I was eating. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. My date had the oxtail and chicken – and being from the Caribbean myself – I felt like a Jamaican woman herself was in the back making it. authentic, flavorful and mouthwatering. 2^nd choice as a recommendation.
Dessert was forgettable. I ordered something with warm apples, custard, and vanilla ice cream – it was just ok. My date had some pudding. nothing remarkable.
Bill came up to $ 4O including 2O%gratuity. Not bad. I’m sure this place is expensive without the deal. BEYOND WORTH IT I WILL BE BACK. great 1^st date spot.

Good, but not too memorable. I got the kale nicoise salad. It was ok. My friend’s more traditional dishes seemed better. But nothing shouts out, come back! If you live around the block, it’s worth a visit.
Nice, cozy décor, though.

Very good brunch, great staff, and pretty affordable. Zoe is great for brunch. Unlike other NYC brunch stops, there is little pretentiousness and no pressure to hurry up and get out. The people I was meeting were slightly late and rather than give me a hard time, they sat me at my table and took a drink order. The hot chocolate was flavorful, but a bit cold which was disappointing on a frigid day. At the waiter’s suggestion, I had the fried chicken and biscuit which was delicious. The chicken was a boneless fried chunk on a healthy biscuit with some greens and a tasty marmalade on top. It was divine. Service was great throughout, constantly checking on us and refilling water. The meal was even pretty cheap for the area. Great place for brunch.

Seems like a lot of people go for brunch… they should check it out for dinner as well! Started with the brussel sprouts which were to die for. I got the Dorado — huge portion and delicious, doesnt come with anything. My friend for the pork ribs which were ample in size and also tasty (or so i heard, i dont eat piggies).
gluten free brownie with ice cream, we were skeptical but it was the only dessert they have and we weren’t going to miss out since it was part of our groupon. delicious!
the servers are dolls and the space is nice. Ill be back to check out brunch ;)

Came here for brunch with some friends and had a great time! Surprisingly this place wasn’t crowded which is unfortunate because the food here is def better than some of the places on Essex!
I ordered the buttermilk pancakes with lemon curd — wished it tasted a little more lemony, but delicious on its own. My friend had the shrimp and grits — the grits were sooo divine. Another had the moroccan poached eggs — nice and hearty too, could use a little more seasoning. Coffee was good but not sure I would pay so much for a cup again.
Overall good experience. Will definitely be back for more brunch! =]

Fish tacos and fried chicken with blueberry buttermilk pancake for lunch. Delish.
–1 Star for my beyond watered down OJ.

My friend and I found ourselves here for an early Sunday brunch. Once started with cups of coffee– $ 3 each, and not refillable– I decided to check in for the free cup, only to then be presented with the fine print, and see that it is only applicable with lunch Tuesday through Friday (perhaps it would be appropriate to provide this information up front?)
After a quick review of the menu options, I realized that I wanted to try most of them, and subsequently had to read through them more carefully. I eventually settled on the fried egg, bacon, Pepper Jack cheese, tomato, avocado, and spicy mayo sandwich on grilled Brioche. A glorified Bodega bocadillo, it was accompanied by a side of tasty fries, and quelled my appetite for the day.
By the way, the cups of coffee were worth it!

I really adore this restaurant. I’ve only been here for brunch, but am really keen to try their dinner menu one of these days. Zoe’s food is executed extremely well with beautiful simplicity — everything made with fresh, quality ingredients that really highlights the flavor of each component naturally, as they are.
During my first visit, I had the grilled shrimp & grits and it was delicious! Although the bacon was scant (think cut up pieces, not slices), it packed so much flavor along with the chipotle honey that I didn’t really care. The sunny side up eggs are fantastic mixed in with the grits, and the shrimp was well-​seasoned with exciting grill marks. Jordan S. had the fried chicken & biscuit sandwich, and it also looked good (but I won’t comment on it, as I don’t care for poultry in general).
Then, their corned beef hash was brilliant for their use of root vegetables for the hash, as it provided an interesting alternative. I was able to really taste the sweetness of the yams, carrots, and parsnips — such a tasty, fresh, and colorful interpretation rather than plain potatoes! The corned beef was served in slices on top of the hash, and the soft, tender, well-​seasoned beef melted in my mouth. Lastly, the eggs were served a delightfully medium-​done with a gooey yolk and firm whites, just the way I love my eggs.
From both of my experiences, I was satisfied at the end of both meals without feeling greasy/​weighed down/​food coma, and left thinking about the delicious meal I just devoured. Oh, and their awesome coffee really packs a punch!

A great brunch spot with clean, classy and simple white décor. I felt like for a Saturday at around noon, it was pretty empty and there were far too many waiters on staff for the three of us, but I’m not complaining. The bloody mary’s here are to die for! I ordered the Danish bloody mary, which is made of a Norweigan liquor called aquavit, and strewn with little chunks of fennel and gherkin. Delicious! The only reason I didn’t have more is because they cost $ 12 a pop. For my meal, I had the poached egg shakshouka with haloumi cheese, merguez sausage and eggplant. I also ordered a side of cheese grits. Simple, delicious, and tasty.
A bit pricey but worth the experience. I’d definitely like to come back to try dinner, which I’ve heard good things about.

BEST PANCAKES I’VE EVER HAD… normally i think pancakes in general are pretty underwhelming… BUT the blueberry buttermilk pancakes here are AWESOME!!! they aren’t JUST fluffy but also have this light crispy outer crust that makes them THAT MUCH BETTER… (yes better than Clinton St)
—OFF THE MENU DISH: fried chicken w/​orange rosemary marmalade & one buttermilk pancake (instead of biscuits)… best of both worlds. the fried chicken was moist inside, flavorful, & had a great crust! comes w/​a simple arugula salad
—fried chicken biscuit: the same dish but w/​biscuits, which are nice & crumbly too!
—breakfast sandwich: not bad but the avocado in my sandwich wasn’t even ripe! i’d stick to the heartier pancakes & fried chicken
my ONLY gripe is i wish they would allow substituting french fries for home fries on the egg sandwich entrée. they are the same price!

If you ever have a chance to do Chef Zoe’s four course tasting menu, DO IT!
I ordered the dinner deal for 2 from Gilt City, made a reservation over the phone (they took down all the deal info so I didn’t have to give them anything in person. Super smooth). My dinner was on a Wednesday night, so it wasn’t crazy like brunch. Instead, it was intimate with a nice ambience of mood lighting and indie music in the background.
For a pre-​meal appetizer, they gave its beet-​pickled deviled egg with tuna mayo. I guess this was an introduction to how much Chef Zoe loves to pickle things. Anyway, it was a good mix of flavors. The mayo was sour by itself, but not in the context of the egg.
Next was the first of our four courses. It was a black kale salad with anchovy dressing and a fried poached egg on top. I can’t even begin to think about how you would fry a poached egg (do you poach an egg and then dip it in egg and roll it in breadcrumbs?). But anyway, the salad was a good start. The dressing wasn’t fishy at all, and the egg was nice and runny. Cut it away carefully though, as it may get overexcited and squirt.
The second course was by far the best. It was a lamb rib, and pulled lamb wrapped in onion, and then deep fried. The rib’s meat just fell off the bone and the natural taste of the meat wasn’t overpowered by sauce or spices. Now, the pulled lamb… that’s one I’ve been telling everybody about. It was just such a creative dish. As expected, the pulled lamb was even more tender and smooth than the rib, which made it almost melty. Soooo good. The dish also came with cherry tomatoes pickled in jalapeño juices. Very spicy, but totally delicious. If you’re keeping count, that’s two pickled items.
Third up was the durad (a Mediterranean white fish) with thyme and pickled raisins (that’s #3). Each of us got a whole fish that was grilled very nicely. If you’re into white fish, then you’d probably enjoy it. I’m not too much of a small fish guy (especially ones with a lot of bones), but I thought it was an interesting dish. My friend really liked it though.
To close out the night was a wonderfully overwhelming Baked Alaska. I swear, the pan it came in was the size of my head. It had a baked brownie bottom (super smooth, more like chocolate cake), probably at least an inch and a half of Neapolitan ice cream in the middle, topped with meringue that was then baked so the top layer was caramelized a little, but the ice cream inside was protected. It was delicious but like I said, it was waaaaay too much. Our server told us she’s fever seen any group of two people finish it, so that was some consolation.
All in all, I’ve been trying to come to Zoe for brunch but plans always fall through, so when the chance for dinner (at a discount, no less!) came, I couldn’t help myself. By the end of the meal, my +1 and I were all smiles. Chef Zoe, you have my gratitude and admiration!

I like the food, Zoe! 1pm on a hurricane Sunday and it was full — testament to the spreading word on brunch here.
Two brunches have solidified the FRIED CHICKEN BISCUIT as an excellent choice — yummy crispy skin, juicy meat inside. Orange marmalade gives it a nice sweet kick, and the biscuit is as insanely good as everyone says it is. Nicely done.
EGG SANDWICH is fine, would have been better with more tomato and avocado in it. Tiny shriveled tomato slice and a sliver of avocado — there should be enough to get some in each bite if you’re going to put it in a sandwich.
CORNED BEEF AND EGGS in a skillet — pretty awesome. The roasted veggie hash had a lot of flavor in it, and it came with toast, whole grain mustard and tiny pickles on the side.
Per our usual style we split their pancakes. They were denser and chewier than the pancakes at Clinton Street, and they had crispy edges like they were cooked in a dutch oven (this is according to my friends who were apparently knowledgeable about dutch ovens). There were generous amounts of blueberry in each bite and the lemon sauce drizzled over it was perfect. I loved the lemony blueberry flavor of the pancakes and crispy edges, the somewhat undercooked soft middle. Mmmm. Perfect.
I could do without the attitude ridden hipster waiter who rolled his eyes when I asked to replace a brioche bun with rye toast. My choice buddy! He also became dismissive to my friend after she asked him about the Unilocal coffee deal. Unfair to say service was bad though because the waitress (also hipster, black framed glasses, tattooed) was awesome, super nice and helpful.
They played awesome 80s music that has us shazaming at brunch. And free counter culture coffee with Unilocal check-​in. Yep. Needless to say, I’lll be back.