We really enjoyed our dinner at Zula. There were six of us and we were seated quickly on a Saturday night and service was also relatively quick! We order 3 different kinds of mussels, 2 flatbreads and the salmon special and it was all delicious. It's a fun venue - just across the street from Washington Park and a block away from Vine St./OTR.
Came in here for a glass of wine and sat at the bar and had a wonderful time. Great wine selection. Also enjoy a wonderful dessert. I can't wait to come back here again. The food looks wonderful.
Very unique atmosphere with amazing food. Their chef Zac who does the cold small plates and various other items is hilarious to watch in the kitchen and always produces a top-notch meal. You can't go wrong with the calamari or flat breads.
5-star food, 1-star seating:
Fantastic mussels and selection of broth flavors! The French traditional and Funghi mussels were amazing--and dipping the homemade sourdough bread into the broth-- to die for! The portion of mussels was large (two could fill up on bread and one portion of mussels plus an appetizer) and reasonably priced between $15-18. The restaurant was chic, but still very cozy. If returning, I would request for a non-communal table, but as my husband and I made last minute reservations, we didn't have much choice. We found the communal table to be awkward and crowded, as the seats are too close together and the table is in the middle of the restaurant with brighter lighting than around-- we felt like a spectacle with everyone listening in on our conversation. Overall, the food was fantastic and the experience would have been 100% perfect if we had a private table. We'll be back..if we can get a private table!!
Rarely do I post reviews. This place deserves a solid 5 stars! The food is unbelievably fresh and delicious. The charred calamari was excellent, the kale salad had an awesome dressing and the pot of Mediterranean mussels was delicious. If you lover seafood and lighter fares, this place is a winner. I'll be back often!
Came here for a birthday dinner. Great food, great service!
We had a great experience at this restaurant. Started at the bar with a few wine and beer tastings. The bar staff was knowledgeable about both and offered great recommendations. Sat for our meal in a window seat - had the calamari that was delightful - tender and the right amount of citrus to balance the dish. Tuna small plate feature was great with grapefruit and pea puree. Finished with flatbed that had a nice crust and mix of toppings. Staff was very friendly and overall a great experience and highly recommended.
Cool venue in OTR. Excellent service. The Mussels were soft and delicious. The recommended wine was outstanding. I'll be back for sure
LOVED it. Had mussels and calamari. French fries were great. Bread was incredible. A must go
Great place for mussels in Cincinnati. Give the Thai or Mediterranean broths a try, you won't be disappointed. They also feature a some great cocktails.
I had an absolutely fabulous experience here at Zula. My best friend and I celebrated her birthday here. We called Saturday afternoon and made a reservation for 7:45pm that evening (I recommend making a reservation for sure on the weekend). They were very accommodating and we were given seats at the pizza bar. This was a great seat as we had the opportunity to watch the flatbreads being prepared.
We ordered the plancha mushrooms which were the standout dish of the evening. They were prepared with thick chunks of Applewood smoked bacon, scallons, lime and cilantro. Oh dear God this was so freaking good. We also ordered the eggplant fries. They were crunchy and delicious but the spicy-sour dipping sauce was fantastic!
I ordered a well prepared negroni to drink and she had a glass of cabernet. The service was quick and the drinks were excellent quality. We split the goat cheese Flatbread and mussels. This was her first time trying mussels and they blew us away. They offer many sauces and we chose the Manhattan style. They were prepared in a tomato chowder with smoked bacon, celery, carrots, potatoes and parsley. Yum!!!
I can't wait to return.
The beet salad is fresh and delicious. The mussels have an amazing flavor. Cocktails are really solid. Service is amazing. Such a great experience! We live in Indy and we're already talking about going back!
Atmosphere is fantastic, wine is excellent, and the flatbread is incredible They make the dough from scratch and it rises for two days! Can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu The food quality has been excellent!
I'm very disappointed. I tried to come and dine with a friend and was told by the host, who identified herself as the owner, that she would find a spot for two adults and a stroller. We waited 10 minutes and watched the host seat a walk in table of four ahead of us in the community spot. I asked her if they had a reservation and she said no. I asked her what the wait was for us since she didn't communicate that earlier and she said she didn't want to give up a seat for the baby. My friend was left holding her baby and so embarrassed in front of everyone. We had looked forward to the night out and instead went home with this new mom in tears. I don't know how this place would deal with a special circumstances like a wheelchair or other children. I will not be back to this place and wanted to make sure everyone knew how the owner demonstrates what is important to her- it isn't her patrons, it's the seats she fills and she will skip you if she doesn't see you as desirable.
Exceptional, creative food in a vibrant, social atmosphere. Limited, but nicely curated selection of wine and seasonal dishes that are thoughtful and balanced. Nice, basic cocktail selection as well. Their tartar is one of my favorites in the city, and the mussels are always delicious.
My husband and I usually spend in the ballpark of $100-120 for dinner, with a drink or two each, a starter or two, mains and a shared dessert. The noise level is pretty high, and although it's a large space for OTR, there a lot of tables so it feels snug/cozy. Make reservations if you plan on getting a table, we've been turned away more than once when trying to stop in on a whim.