By far the best meal I've had in a restaurant in a long time!! There's something for every taste it seems..from food to juices to beer and wine. They top that top with friendly, efficient and knowledgeable servers... Thank you Zeal for a wonderful and more than satisfying dining experience!!
(5)
Anna B.
One of the 2 all organic places I know in Boulder and was not disappointed. The food was great (only had some appetizers though) and the drinks were amazing! We sat at the bar and our bartender was super nice. All the servers walking by us were always smiling. Felt very welcomed. They are cheaper than Shine and I think a little better. If you appreciate and eat organic good, give this place a try. Bartender said they are all organic! Will return!
(5)
Sinead D.
Love this place. Went here for dinner - I had build you own bowl and it was amazing. Opted for the coconut curry sauce Smoothies are amazing - we came had one for breakfast the next day. Overall love this place, staff, food both amazing.
(5)
Brenda A.
I am absolutely delighted with the options served at Zeal and the quality of food provided. I love the design of the restaurant. It feels good to be in there. I am not crazy about the staff, there are far friendlier and more charismatic people in other restaurants, however its not bad at all.
(4)
D M.
Two of us visited for lunch yesterday and ordered a couple of different bowl creations. The food is simple, quality, and very tasty. The environment was nice, service was pretty good, and the food on everyone's plate around the restaurant also looked really good. I wish I lived nearby to try more of the menu here. I'll pay extra money for local organic food any day of the week, but some of the items on the menu did seem just a little steep. This is the only improvement area I would note based off a single visit.
(4)
Kadya A.
Came into here expecting some healthy food. The menu looks pretty good ill give them that. The service is horrid - waiter needs to talk 6 times louder and look me in the eyes ( he's too busy putting in orders on his iPad). The food - chicken was under cooked and contained some cartilage.. Bowl was pretty tasteless. Falafel tastes stale as cardboard and the tahini was watery. The shakes aren't bad though
(1)
Lois B.
What a great first time experience!! Great food great service!! Very attentive even though busy, and very efficient. Wonderful experience.
(5)
Ben S.
Yes the other reviews are valid; the service isn't too great. The guy at the front didn't know the menu, and my waitress was pretty slow. I had the lamb- great dish, but attention to detail was lost when I got a spoonful with a piece of bone.. Not cool. Pretty big portion otherwise, and taste was moderate. It's more of a soup than bowl.
(3)
John F.
I went to Zeal for a business lunch meeting, and was incredibly impressed. The "bowls" seemed what to try for my first visit and I had a vegetarian curry version with quinoa. Service was first class, the owner was greeting customers, and the portion was perfect.
(5)
D L.
Delicious, organic, fresh juices! You can get them to-go in a glass jar! Which I think is a lot better than the disposable plastic cups and straws post places use for to-go juices. I've only eaten there twice, once for brunch and once for lunch. It was great both times! Lost of healthy and vegan options. Nice location, outdoor patio, and their high-tech juicer is behind a big window so you can see it in action.
(5)
Bryan M.
3 Stars for food (avg) +1 extra for service (at the bar) and a bold attempt at non-GMO. Although I did enjoy the banh mi I had, I think they may want to re-visit the bread options for this particular style of sandwich. A banh mi is half-defined by the bread... and spelt bread left a little to be desired. I'm sure there's some non-GMO option of a baguette that works better. I'll definitely go back and try some of the bowl combinations, but there's not currently anything on the lunch menu to make me crave coming here.
(4)
Cait M.
On days I work late, I treat myself to The BKT to-go on my way home (that's bacon, kale and tomato). It's the BEST iteration of this sandwich I've ever had! In fact, I haven't tried anything else yet because I can't bring myself to not order it..... it's that good.
(5)
Wendi F.
My friend Erica loves Zeal so she recently asked me to have lunch with her and she would order for me. She knows everyone at Zeal and when I went with her, everyone was very friendly. This was a very different experience than my first 2 visits and Zeal must have handled some of those opening growing pains. The food I had was delicious. The service was great even though the place was packed. In the last couple of months I have noticed that Zeal is always packed. People are loving it and keeping it nice and busy. So the first time and second time I was there it was when they were newly opened. The good news is that this third time was the charm! I would definitely go back.
(4)
Marybeth L.
I really wanted to like this place. BUT it was overpriced and the portions were small. The food wasn't flavorful either. The juices were good, but you can get the same for cheaper at Whole Foods... Overall I felt "meh" about the place, and wanted my $50 back.
(3)
Cindy C.
I keep wanting the service to improve and the food to be great, but it is consistently disappointing. Worst frittata and mixed green salad I've ever had. I have had a good one here before. Sad.
(1)
Alejandro D.
It pains me to give poor reviews to places that want to be awesome but the truth is that its really mixed. First time I had an awesome sandwich, service was fantastic, they let me sample all their juices and I was about ready to give them 5 stars. Good thing I waited... Second time in, we ordered the bowls and two juices. First, the lemongrass pork, while yummy, was a ridiculously small portion. Maybe we should have gotten the hint when they kept suggesting a "grain" side. It was so small, we asked the server to confirm it wasn't a mistake. Sure enough it wasn't and since we didn't want to break the bank we just left hungry. The juices also seemed inconsistent. Tasted fresher the first time. Fix some of these flaws and I'd love to be a fan!
(3)
D E.
Surprise! Surprise! With trepidation I joined a group of people who wanted vegan food for lunch. Understanding that this restaurant was brand new, I didn't have any great expectations for the service, or the menu. I was in Boulder after all... For a lark I started with the juice flight - four signature juices in a variety of colors. Wow! What a surprise - there were four very distinct flavors and sources. Then, being a true carnivore, I ordered the Beef Braise. Whoa! Deliciously seasoned and the tenderest of beef - it melted in my mouth. If this is what healthy foods taste like, I may well convert. As to the prior reviews: I'm sure the slight snags others wrote about will be ironed out, after all, new is new. But please don't change the menu!
(5)
Naruto U.
This place has everything going for it, the food is the highest of quality. The service was very professional yet comfortable and relatable... Reason being that I dined with a snobby friend of sorts and he was rude to our waiter and he still maintained a very real composure and politeness and I really felt he differentiated between us and the snob. Another worker, possibly the manager came up to us to ask how we were doing and we connected with a discussion about GMO food and the quality of their food and was very reassured and felt good about what I was eating with the man's positive attitude and very genuine "zeal" for life so to speak. The flavors themselves are unique and complex, at least the white fish with squash was. Prices aren't ridiculous, it has a lot going for it.
(4)
Cooper S.
Sadly disappointing upon entering the resturaunt. Blonde hostess at front was terribly rude and glared as I walked to meet my party at the bar. I walked back to let her know that we were all here to be seated, she interrupted me to tell me that they "aren't allowed to take reservations." I told her that we had our name in for a table for four people and she blasted back "everyone is still eating." Huh? Seems like there's always teething pains when opening new resturaunts. We ended up sitting at the bar, which is where I am currently writing this review. My father wanted to set his coat on the hook underneath the bar When he did, his hands were somehow covered with an unidentifiable black substance that rubbed off from under the bar. On a brighter note, the smoothies are fantastic, which brings the restaurant up a star for my review. If you are planning to eat at Zeal, I would recommend waiting a couple more weeks for them to stabilize with their staff. Otherwise, prepare to be leniant with various glitches in the system.
(3)
Stevie J.
Let's keep this simple: Zeal is simply my favorite restaurant in the entire US. The Chef combines one of a kind, unique flavors that are superbly prepared, off the charts tasty, the service could not be more accommodating and the owner is a great guy, hands-on, cares about quality control and could not be kinder to his customers or staff. Combine the amazing food with an unmatched ambience and you've got Zeal. Their cornucopia of flavors and healthy choices is unrivaled. If we were living in Boulder, we'd be there every week without fail. Colorado residents, enjoy, you're extremely lucky. Visitor's to Boulder, Zeal is a must try!
(5)
Dhru P.
I don't write reviews for places but I had to for Zeal. My food was fantastic and came out quickly. Some of the reviews here mention poor service, but I didn't have any problem at all. Everyone was friendly and very knowledgeable. Everything I had was great, but the best was the "Build Your Own Bowl." I had the coconut curry sauce and it was fantastic. I also enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup. I'm from Santa Monica where we have a lot of great restaurants in the organic/gluten-free/clean space and this place is my favorite so far. I'll be in Boulder for another week and I'll be sure to go a few more times.
(5)
Samantha C.
We really wanted to like Zeal, but the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were very good, yet without tasty food it's hard to want to go back.
(2)
Casey R.
The food here is delicious and would definitely rate 5 stars - when they are open! I've gone several times and found the restaurant to be closed during regular business hours which is frustrating because I'm not local. Tonight I swung by but was told they would be closing at 6pm because their computer systems were down. The owner was very friendly and apologetic, so I disappointingly went down the block to eat. When I got back to my car at 7:45 I found Zeal absolutely packed! I'm glad they were able to fix their computers and stay open, but think others should have fair warning that their hours can be spotty. Also: they don't serve lunch on the weekends until noon. I didn't see anything on their website or breakfast menu about that, so when I showed up at 11:45 on a Saturday and was told I couldn't get lunch I was a little surprised. They don't convert the kitchen to lunch until noon so, since I had an appointment at 12:30, I had to find another place to eat because I wanted lunch. Again, helpful info to have in advance. However, all the times I've been able to eat here I've had good service and really great food...
(3)
Brian T.
I love Zeal, the food is good and more important I support what they stand for as a non-GMO, local and organic as possible restaurant. Even in Boulder a totally non-GMO restaurant is a rarity. The raw trio balls were awesome.
(5)
Jason F.
Zeal is definitely a new concept. They are trying to bring high quality organic and non GMO ingredients in a moderately priced offering. There are some definite hits on the menu such as the braised beef which is tender and flavorful. Some of the other item portions are a bit on the small side. Overall they are a new restaurant that is working out the kinks in menu and service. I will however say that they are gaining ground fast. Offering a tasty menu for a variety of diet inclinations (vegan, dairy free, etc. . .) and doing so at a reasonable price. PS The chocolate ganache tart is also fantastic!
(4)
Adria E.
I have no idea why Zeal would only have 3 stars? I live about a block away and I have a hard not not eating here at least once a day. I LE there menu. Breakfast lunch AND diner. There juices and smoothies are great, I love a breakfast with rice and veggies AND bacon. Salads are super yummy and I love the Tom yum soup. Come on! Get on board Boulder and send Zeal some Yelp
(5)
Monica C.
This place just opened on Pearl Street and it is way cool! They have a fresh juice bar, and are farm to table. We happened to walk by late one night and walked in to just check out what was happening. Chris immediately welcomed us and showed us around. We got a mini tour of the restaurant. They have a kind of "grocery" section, where you can pick up their bottled juices to go. Or you can sit for a meal, or sit at the bar and try some homemade kombucha, which is what we did. It was delicious!! Chris took us to the back and showed us where they make the kombucha. It was so cool getting to see where the food came from, and having that connection. I'll be updating this review after I eat there; can't wait to go back and explore more!
(5)
Brendan E.
Me and my girlfriend went to lunch expecting a lunch menu, but it's the same ridiculously over priced menu for both dinner and lunch!It was a rainy cool fall day, so we ordered the corn chowder, which turned out to be roasted corn and water, super bland, for seven dollars it could have been seasoned, but we needed salt, I complained and they took it off ! Then we ordered the miso garden bowl and jerk chicken. The miso bowl was super bland and had no discernible miso at all. The jerk chicken had no jerk and a anchovies aioli that was out of place and super fishy! The salad on the side of the sandwich was the best thing we had, great dressing!
(1)
Lara P.
I ordered the blueberry muffin shake, don't normally do something that rich but wanted to try it out. The flavor was great but I'll probably never order a shake with nuts again (to much for me). I was disappointed with the size for the price, I expected a large and received a small. Good atmosphere maybe I'll return for dinner.
(3)
Scott Y.
Zeal continues to prove its zest for healthy and sustainable fare combined with friendly service. I've been three times over the last month and each time I've felt valued as a customer and leave well fed. The fish special was very tasty, beautifully presented, and affordable IMO at $14. On another visit, I combined the Brussels salad with pork and made yummy noises with each bite. This morning, I couldn't finish the Bibimb'fast Bowl at breakfast so I had the second half for lunch--at $11, this is a dish two could share. Definitely looking forward to going back.
(5)
Austin T.
FOUR star menu (a bit bland, no hot peppers). We love the healthy choices in downtown Boulder for breakfast lunch and dinner especially the breakfast bowls.
(4)
Patrick R.
Fabulous, fantasy menu for Boulder, CO. Local, organic, gluten free, paleo and cleanse-friendly offerings. Completely delicious food. Recommend it for anyone even if they aren't "healthy" We had the brussel sprout salad with grilled chicken, roasted vegetable curry, falafel balls appetizer, a few of the fresh cold-pressed juices and the Asher amber on tap. Loved it all. Well done!
(5)
Paulina H.
Food is inconsistent but generally tasty. However, last week I had a horrendous experience. My sister was visiting and I took her there for lunch. We ordered the grilled romaine salad with beets and the chicken lettuce wraps to share. The salad arrived and it was delicious at first until I started tasting grit. My sister soon tasted it as well. I pulled the leaves apart and to my horror discovered GLOBS OF BLACK MUD/COMPOST caked between the leaves at the base of the lettuce half !!! I called the waitress over and she was most apologetic and took it right over to the chef. Shortly after the manager came over to let us know that we would not be charged (really) and that it was not mud but rather black grease from their grill. Was that supposed to make us feel better? Using the excuse that the grill was so filthy that globs of black grease could make their way into the base of the romaine half between the leaves rather than just apologizing for the mess up was poor customer service. We had him rub a sample of the goo between his fingers( which by the way, had dirty finger nails) so that he could feel the grit. He tried to rationalize it by saying it was difficult to wash all the dirt out of the lettuce. We were not talking a little grit these were clods. It was disgusting!!! We left a tip for our waitress and left. We walked next door to Pizzaria Locale for a delicious, clean meal SANS DIRT!
(1)
loren l.
Great healthy place. Green juice and orange (not on menu- OJ, lemon, basil, cantalope) were AWESOME!! Frittata and Sammy were both great! Early bunch is great here.
(5)
Laura D.
This place is totally impressed with itself. Me? Not so much. Bowl of "ferments" was more like raw veggies with some vinegar sprinkled on it. I tried the build your own bowl, which was okay, but something I could have easily whipped up at home with less fanfare and much less pretense. I had some manner of grapefruit and vodka cocktail, which wasn't bad - a kind of salty dog. The short review is that the food was rather mundane, but given fancy names and somewhat exorbitant prices for what was offered.
(3)
Amy O.
HOWWW can Zeal only have 3 stars?!? Offensive. Super cute, clean, light atmosphere inside. The entire staff was very friendly. And for what they offer (gmo-free, gf, etc), the prices were extremely reasonable. I enjoyed a flight of juices from the tap and built my own bowl. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Like F.
I'm glad Zeal has come to town. I'd like to see it be successful. I'm tempted to give them 4 stars (for the Pros) but too many Cons. Pros: - Some of the dishes are quite tasty (create your own bowls, lamb braise), Diavlo sauce) - Great place for someone with food allergies/sensitivities - Decor - Friendly staff who seem to care about what they're doing. Cons: - There's a fine line between moderate portions & downright stinginess. At times, Zeal crosses this line. - Some dishes -- Meh (Grilled Fish -- not so fresh/fishy, not cooked so well). Margaritas are pretty awful. - When it's crowded, it can be quite loud. - Too expensive for portion size -- either knock a couple bucks off your prices or increase portion size.
(3)
M M.
I didn't really expect to like this place, but I gave it a whirl because it is close to work. I got the Bahn Mi wrap in a rice wrap for take out. It took a long time and set me back $14ish. What can I say? It was pretty gross. The wrap itself was kind of soggy and had a creepy texture because the contents of the wrap were quite wet. There was a lot of strong tasting aoli (which didn't taste particularly bahn mi-ish) and quite a lot of something called "cashew cheese", which was an unpleasant and unnecessary addition. Bahn Mi sandwiches don't usually have cheese in them...so why throw in this strange substance? My wrap came with some tired looking greens and icky tasting dressing. I like healthy food, but it doesn't have to taste terrible to be good for you.
(2)
Robert R.
Very sorry to say, horrible value and bland taste. Been twice - tried to give it second shot for breakfast. Got a $9 Acai bowl and paid $1 for blueberries - I am not exaggerating - it was a tablespoon of blueberries. I counted them, lol. 18 of them. The first time, I got the curry bowl w/ organic chicken - was VERY excited on a cold day. Chicken was very weird and lots of dark meat. Too chewy. Few vegetables. $10 I think that was. Small serving. The smoothy was very bland. The gluten free cookie (I love gluten free cookies) was horrible. Like the ones they made in the 80's. Cardboard. Servers I had both times didn't know much about the specifics of the menu. I am not sure why this company doesn't get their act together. I want them to succeed since the H Burger before them left. But I gotta be honest here in hopes changes are made.
(1)
Loan T.
I have been to Zeal twice and I really wanted to like the place. The first time I ordered their Carrot Falafel and something else I did not remember, the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were okay. Second time I came here and had a glass of red juice and a glass of red wine. I did not order food after observing the cleanliness standards of Zeal was low. Their chefs do not wear gloves handling the food. The chefs and the manager were rubbing their nose, pulling their jeans, stroking their beards. I would like to avoid unpleasant finds in their food. Bahn mi sandwich should be spelled Banh mi sandwich? Thank you.
(1)
Julie S.
Really enjoyed this place and loved my meal!! Ordered large size of vegetable rainbow curry with chicken and it was so satisfying, plus a huge portion!! Would highly recommend! Waiter was super friendly and helpful, too!
(4)
Nathaniel N.
Waited 20 minutes just for them to take my order. For the high prices, the food is good but if youre gonna charge that high, at least take my order more promptly. Not coming again.
(2)
Emily S.
The worst. Well the food is good but the prices are literally insane. It is way too much for what it is. Very small smoothies for $10. Would be helpful if they had a happy hour or some sort of deal. By the way everyone in town says this. Too pricy.
(1)
Kelly F.
Excellent allergy-friendly options, fabulous juices, really good appetizers. The stars are for the food and atmosphere. No stars for a juice that costs nine dollars (a bit over-priced, I'd say) and the wait staff is oddly un-friendly.
Good food but terrible service. They were slow and refused to split our check with a table of 9. It also took a long time for them to bring us water, out drink order and even take our order. Beautiful interior...good concept but need to work on customer service, especially when patrons are waiting for service while they see staff joking around with each other.
(2)
Brian D.
Tonight was our second visit to Zeal. First visit was right after they opened. Sad to say, the outcome was the same. Like the first, the service was lacking in so many ways. Took forever to be acknowledged by a server, so we knew what we wanted when we finally ordered. Salad and entree came out together. From there on we were ignored. No offer for another glass of wine, more water, how our food was, desert...nothing. Even getting our check took forever. Other tables were suffering the same fate. I wanted to like this place but two strikes and you are out.
(1)
Ruth M.
So glad to have Zeal in Boulder! It is always a good healthy option. My Favorites are Rainbow Curry and Thai Salad. It's great you can get couliflower rice instead of traditional. I have found it can be hit or miss with what you order and desserts are not so great. Also nice open design for warmer days.
(4)
Charity G.
The food here is amazing! I enjoyed the Carrot Falafel (which they make using leftover pulp from the carrots they juice) and it wasthe best I've ever had. Very flavorful, with a little kick! I also had their red juice and loved it. I can tell that I am going to be a regular here. So excited to have Zeal on Pearl Street!
(5)
Betty J.
New place on Pearl. Super modern and gives a local feel too. I got the Red juice. It was delicious. For $9 it better be. I'm not super into the Boulder vibe, but I liked this place and the owner was very kind. I hope this place does well although it isn't totally my style.
(5)
Mike Q.
Just finished eating their BTK and I have to say that it's a pretty damn fine sandwich... on the inside. Seriously, Zeal, I know that you're trying to be all gluten-free and heart healthy, but the fact that you stuffed some awesome sandwich ingredients in between 2 pieces of cardboard makes me not want to come back. Other than that, the lemon flavored salad dressing was pretty unique and tasty. As far as service goes, I have no comment. I wasn't the one who actually went and got the food.
(3)
GG G.
I give them a for great fresh ingredients but as far as flavors, it could be better. Veggie curry bowl was ok, nothing memorable. Acai bowl was better but so small it was sad. When it come to clean, healthy super foods it think we can be more generous on the portions.
(3)
Kelly P.
Fabulously delicious and healthy! Great ambiance (loved meeting everyone at the community table), great service, owner circulates tables and checks on tables. The avocado on the half shell was amazing, the tamari almonds are completely addicting. The Cobb chicken sandwich was great & Was astonished to learn that the baguette it was served on was gluten free - incredibly good. I stole some of my husband's grilled fish, which was also excellent.
(5)
Josh S.
The food here is consistently good: tasty, and often original, and always healthy. Lots of options for all dietary preferences/needs. I have taken friends from both Santa Monica and New York City and both sets of friends wanted to go back.
(4)
Jami C.
Everyone in Boulder is always boasting about being so over the top healthy. Zeal is the first place I've been to that doesn't just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk. Everything we've ever had there has been nothing short of delicious AND packed with nutrients! I would especially recommend the Bahn Mi Chicken in a chard wrap, the Lemongrass Pork, the Green Juice with whichever doTerra essential oil you waiter recommends and the Raw Cacao Balls for dessert. The owner has always been there making rounds and talking to tables. He is very personable and obviously knows and has a passion for high quality food. Last time I was there, he mentioned potentially serving bullet proof coffee in the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But even without BP coffee - Zeal is the perfect place to go if you're looking for tasty, nutrition dense food!
(5)
Kat S.
The food is decent but I am by no means blown away. They've messed up my order twice out of the four times that I've been there and with each visit, I keep hoping they'll work out their kinks. I think the iPad ordering system leads to orders getting messed up. I know it has only been one month but for the price, I'd rather just go to Leaf. Sorry Zeal. I'll give you another shot in 6 months when you receive more feedback but until then, I won't be back.
(2)
Russ H.
Love it. Fresh, inventive, healthy and tasty.
(5)
Zack S.
Came here looking specifically for a gluten-free dinner in Boulder. Found out they don't mark what's gluten free on the menu... Only because it's easier to mark what few thing DO contain gluten. All allergens are listed and everything is GMO free. The bowls are amazing (I recommend getting chicken and avocado with coconut curry sauce) and big serving sizes too. Don't order a large unless you are ready to take some home! On top of all that, our server was awesome! Definitely make it a point to stop here if you're in Boulder! Only thing that could have made it better is if we made it to happy hour on time (ends at 5:30)!
(5)
Dave Z.
We called up to make sure that some breakfast items we wanted would be available, and were told they would be until noon, and got there a couple of minutes after 11. We were given a lunch menu that didn't have the items we wanted, and were then told they switched over the kitchen at 11. There were 2 other customers in the place, and doubtful any others were coming in any time soon, and the manager made no effort to fix this for us, even after we told her about calling. We left (never to return) and went to Shine a couple of blocks away where we got excellent food.
(1)
Jamie S.
I am absolutely in love with this place!!! Took my best friend,who is gluten free, here for brunch. Can not say enough good things! Unlike the other reviewers we had amazing service. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and had great suggestions! Food was delicious and healthy!! If this place was close to my house I would probably eat here every day!!!
(5)
Sandra S.
NOT VEGAN FRIENDLY! So I heard from some friends that this place had some vegan dishes. First of all, we waited 15 minutes before anyone paid attention to us and then the hostess was snarky and the server was so rude! Then the portions were really small and expensive. I ordered the very bland curry and the greens, and I am positive that I tasted dead animal! This place capitalizes on the vegan market but if you read the first post on their website's blog you will see how they truly feel about vegans. The owner is complaining about vegans and mocking us for being vegan and for being upset that their so called "vegan" Zeal food was in fact not vegan and cooked with meat. They should not state that they have vegan food when they cook their food with meat. I wish I had read their blog and seen the yelp review written by the vegan that they were so rude to before going. VEGANS STAY AWAY! We endure enough discrimination and lack of legitimate choices as it is. After decades of diligence, I actually ingested meat! Please read the reviews that are not currently recommended. They help reinforce the other negative reviews here.
(1)
Lara G.
We love Zeal! It's super important to us that the food is made from high quality grass fed, organic ingredients etc. Everything we have tried has been delicious and generous portions too. My daughter and I LOVE the lamb braise bowl and of course all the desserts. The lemon grass pork bowl is also amazing. Fabulous restaurant and one of only a few that actually inspire us to eat out in Boulder.
(5)
Amy H.
I think Zeal is a wonderful concept. I am not a vegan, but I try to eat in a healthy way, and that what Zeal is all about. I have been twice, and loved it both times. My breakfast was so delicious and simple- scrambled local eggs, steamed greens and sweet potato hash- brilliant colors and perfect seasoning. I ate every bite, and the portions were just right- no food wasted and I left fully satisfied! I also had the juice flight so I could sample all four kinds. They tasted great and the colors were extraordinary, just like the food. I will say that the juice is very expensive- $8 for a glass- my sampler was $7 for four 2 oz shots- and that tends to put me off a bit. However, I know it's good organic non GMO stuff in that glass. You get what you pay for! I went for lunch with my husband, for whom taste is the first and foremost criterion. He absolutely loved his chicken diavolo sandwich that was served with greens on the side. I had a brussels sprout salad that needed more pecans and sweet potatoes- i can only eat so many raw brussels! The flavor was good but again, it needed more of the other ingredients to make it more interesting. I also love the decor and the fact that you can see for yourself how well run the kitchen is.
(5)
Christina E.
I came to Zeal off a recommendation from a yoga instructor at Yoga Loft when I was visiting Boulder on a one-day excursion. I found the food and homemade kombucha OUT OF THIS WORLD! I will be back!
(5)
Brie S.
I adore this place! Cold pressed juices, glutard friendly, vegan and even raw diet friendly. (Did I mention friendly?) so nice to be treated to healthy delicious food and drinks. They cook in front of you, and the food is both delicious and CLEAN. Smoothie are great. Coconut curry awesome. The macro is one of my favorites, and I have yet to get anything I have not enjoyed. It is hard for me not to end up there EVERY day, however, even if it's for the flight of juices for only $7 or a ling or wonderful homemade kombucha! If you have dietary restrictions, you have got to try this restaurant.
(5)
Meghan E.
We went there this past weekend with a group of six people. We had made a reservation but our table was not ready when we got there so they sat us at the bar while we waited and allowed us to order. Once we were moved to our table, we had issues with the service since we were seated in a different section than the original server's section. The manager was on top of it however and agreed to take care of it. He did a great job and was very personable. The food was AMAZING though. We started with the grilled asparagus and then we had our entrees--three make-your-own bowls and three sandwiches. Everything was fresh and delicious! We will definitely be back especially because of the amazing food and the way the manager handled issues in his restaurant!
(4)
Paige L.
I almost feel bad writing this review, but then I remember our experience and it's worth noting. Frankly is just wasn't great and you can visit better places in Boulder. We went because a friend suggested it, knowing I was vegan and my boyfriend and mom are omnivores. My mom got the chicken Cobb which she said was good, but it was just a sandwich and the bread could have been much better. My boyfriend got the chicken diavlo and the sauce was spicy but didn't have much flavor, and the rice and veggies were pretty plain. I got the rainbow veggie curry bowl which was surprisingly small. The bowl was good, not outstanding for the price, and I left feeling like I needed more food and something more salty, which is why we didn't get dessert. On top of that, we kept having to hunt down our waiter, instead of having him visit the table every once in awhile to see if we needed anything. We have been to some new restaurants lately and understand how starting out can cause slow service, steep prices, etc, but at least the food should be something to rave about. But it just wasn't. I wouldn't go back again. As a vegan with meat eating friends and family, there are many more options in boulder.
(2)
Hardy K.
Excited to get a healthy salad on the east end of Pearl st mall, I decided to give Zeal a try. I ordered a salad with chicken for lunch. What I got was a $14 dollar tapa sized salad (the portion was the size of my fist). Was the food good? It was average but for $14 I expected at least a lunch portion. Basically I felt like was mugged. Next time I'll walk across the mall to the Kitchen Next Door if I want a healthy "locally sourced" salad for lunch and it will cost me $10 and I'll feel good about it. Zeal took the zeal out of my lunch mood. Oh, when I took my meal to go back to my office the staff laughed when they saw the portion size. Well at least I lost a pound that day.
(1)
Angela M.
I just learned about Zeal and had to try it since I am always looking for new gluten free restaurants. The curb appeal is great and the ambiance inside is very hip and inviting. The menu was mouthwatering and there were lots of great choices. The downfall for me was the price tag. My curry coconut veggies with grass fed beef was tasty but not any where near $25 worth and I didn't even have a drink. I hope they make it but I need to be really wowed for a $25 lunch to go back.
(3)
Akin P.
One of the best restaurants I've been too. Great service, unique menu, delicious healthy flavorful food. Miso bowl and 9 herb pesto were phenomenal as well as their juices!
(5)
Ginger P.
Most amazing smoothies and juices. Addictive. I had a Build Your Own Bowl. The first was made with cauliflower rice and was watery. The second was with brown rice and was delicious and so healthy. This place is a trailblazer for healthy, organic, local food that is made with love and delicious. Give it a try. It is new.
(4)
Alison R.
Regret! Green juice is sour and gross. Bowl of undercooked veggies was $18 w just one egg on top, flavorless. No onions, garlic, salt. $25 for this?? Blech. Still, the service was kind and cool; they put an additional dollop of pesto on the veggies upon request. The place was sparkly clean. Deserves a star for that. Just, please, guys - being healthy does not have to taste boring or gross, ok? Extreme Virtuous Eating is classic Boulder :)
(2)
indigo s.
I was starting to feel a little under the weather. We stopped in here and the fresh cuisine perked me right up! I loved the cold dill cucumber soup and the Brazilian acai bowl (which is just like they serve it in Brazil). The banh mi wasn't quite as flavorful as my husband hoped and my detox juice had a lot of foam on it that could have been skimmed off. But everything was delicious enough that we will certainly return in the next few days before leaving town.
(4)
Sierra G.
This is a great place to stop in after a workout, study-break, or breakfast with friends. Cold pressed juice, smoothies, acai breakfast bowls and more delicious breakfast options. I got the acai bowl with honey, bananas and zeal granola. It was really good, though next time I'll probably elect for the build your own bowl option because I wanted my bowl to have berries as well. The granola was really good. I'd also like to try their fresh juice flight and hot breakfast items, like the sour dough sweet potato pancakes. The place has lots of open seating, though it is on Pearl, so I recommend trying to stop in during non-peak hours, though the service was fast and accommodating. They also have a wide selection of items "to-go" if your in a hurry.
Being on vacation can be very gluttonous... at least, that's how it is when I go on vacation. So the idea of getting someone thing healthy at Zeal was very appealing. And the food was great. Exactly what we needed after a week of alcohol and cheese and burgers and ice cream. However, the service left a lot to be desired. After not finding a hostess at the host stand, a server told us to "sit anywhere." We did, but no one came to get even our drink order for quite some time. After a while, I got up and found the server who'd told us to sit to let her know we were ready. It still took several minutes for someone to come by, and I overheard another patron complaining about the same issue to the manager as we ate. That being said, it could have just been a fluke - an odd day - and Zeal had a really great menu. I was curious about a lot of items and if we are ever in the area again I'd go back to try more. I also liked that they had a lot of health info and health food products, and even advertised their own cleanse.
(3)
Lynda M.
I appreciate that Boulder offers a lot of healthy options in terms of restaurants, but this place isn't one that I would return to. I think that the prices are way too high for the quality and portions that you receive. I got a large bowl and it was $20. I had paid an extra $6 for beef, and I was probably given a total of 2 ounces only. The bowl arrived with all of the ingredients mixed together which tells me that they're trying to hide the lower portion of protein. I'm sorry, $20? $20 for some cauliflower, vegetables and two bites of beef with some sauce? No thanks. Not to mention the service was extremely slow, and I had to ask for more water and extra glasses for a drink that I was sharing with someone out of a bottle. I'll stick to LEAF. The only reason I'm not giving this establishment one star is because they have gender-neutral bathrooms.
(2)
Danielle E.
We had high hopes for our first restaurant experience in Boulder, and we were not disappointed! One of the people at the house we are staying at recommended the make-your-own bowl, both me and my guy were thinking of getting one. He got one with rice noodles, pesto, avocado, and grilled veggies and it was out of this world. I am super indecisive, so our waitress led me to the kale salad - I added avocado - and the Mother Earth smoothie. She totally nailed it! We were both so satisfied with our meals. Zeal really set the bar high for vegan, gluten-free dining in Boulder. We are excited to return and try new things. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Alicia B.
I like that every time I go in and ask for a ginger-lemon shot, they accommodate my off-menu order. And I like their avocados on the half shell. Fun idea! Their gusto bowl was delicious when I added pork. Can't go wrong with spinach, apricots, hemp seeds, bacon, and pork all mixed together.
(4)
laura j.
I don't know why I gave this place another chance. I did have a good meal here, once, in the 5 times I have been there - the last time being over a year ago. Today my family was hungry and I prefer them to eat 'organic' and healthy. Oh, why didn't we just go to Locale! I want my $80 back. My meal was inedible. I am probably the least picky eater ever. It tasted like the black pepper cap had come off in the bowl. Literally. I told the waiter and he offered to 'get me some more vegetables to water it down'. Ummmm.... Then my husband and I had a nice argument because we had wasted $80 on crap and it was my stupid fault for giving this place another chance. Lame. The juice was good.
(2)
Andrea S.
You (any of you reading this) can make better tasting food at home with the same organic, local ingredients. I ordered the beef braise. The beef was 60% visible inedible gristle. The rest of the dish was barely palatable. I wondered if it was gauche to order meat in this restaurant and perhaps I was being punished for it. My friend ordered the mighty bowl, which came complete with a jagged piece of hard plastic in it. The waitress seemed unconcerned, and my friend had to ask her for a new meal. To top it off, everything was overpriced.
(1)
Tim S.
We stopped in here after a fantastic evening entertaining the kids along the mall, and were pleasantly surprised at 1) the staff's willingness to bend over backwards to accommodate us, and 2) the excellent selection and quality of the drinks we enjoyed. The blackberry lemonade was popular with the kids, and I loved the Avery Hawaiian and the ginger beer. Everyone was sweet to a fault and we are eyeing this spot for our next grownups-only evening out :-)
(4)
Rachel T.
I can only comment on the smoothies which were delicious! I stopped in while on vacation in Boulder because I was looking for a normal/healthy breakfast and not the gross continental breakfast served at my hotel. I was looking on yelp for a smoothie or juice place and saw that this place had a happy hour in the mornings. With the happy hour discount of $2 the smoothies were reasonably priced, but honestly I probably wouldn't have purchased them without the discount.
(4)
Meg K.
Allergy alert! Be SUPER careful here if you have a nut allergy!!! The good news: their outdoor seating was totally lovely, and the space is really cool. I liked all the food we tried. The falafel was great. I really like the pepitas too, but they were a little awkward to eat as finger food. Right as I was mulling how one might serve the pepitas in an easier-to-eat way, I started getting That Tickle in my throat... getting hard to swallow... I'm severely (and specifically) allergic to Brazil nuts, and have been for my entire life. There were no Brazil nuts listed on anything that we ordered, but I found one on my K&DJ salad from cross-contamination in the kitchen. Thank god I didn't actually eat it, but I still had to rush to the hospital. The staff handled it very well, giving me Benadryl and directions to the nearest ER. They also boxed our untouched food for my friends to pick up later in case they wanted to eat it, and gave us half off the bill. I really debated whether or not it was relevant to write a review, since I didn't get to try all the food. What I did try was lovely, and obviously, this is a bizarrely specific situation that few people would worry about. THEN I realized, hey, if someone else had written a Yelp review about a nut allergy, perhaps I would have read it, steered clear of Zeal, and saved myself a seriously stressful afternoon and ER copay! So, Zeal: not entirely your fault. You handled it well after the incident happened. I'm grateful to say this was the first time I've encountered a Brazil nut out in the wild, so I don't have a frame of reference for how other places would have done it differently? But please try to be more careful with cross-contamination in the kitchen for future diners! *** UPDATE, response to Wayde J (owner): I disagree with the victim-blaming tone of the owner's response. When I go to a restaurant and I have no idea what will be on my plate (such as a chef's menu), I tell them about my Brazil nut allergy. But I had no reason to think a Brazil nut would have ended up in my salad here, when it's NOT listed as a menu ingredient. I am allergic to one thing. That one thing was not in the dish I ordered. I didn't read through every single ingredient in every single menu item-- why would I? And since it was an accident that it landed on my plate in the first place, what would have been done differently if I noted my allergy? Is the standard sloppy, and you're careful by request only??? Accidents happen, but your kitchen's haphazard prep is not my fault.
(3)
Scott N.
not a fan. i understand the organic aspect but there was no flavor at all in my dish. i built a bowl with rice noodles, farm egg, and bone broth. i had to add a nice amount of salt to get any flavor. i was not impressed. also service was a bit under-enthusiastic. kinda thought getting charged $1 for a side of hot sauce was pretty lame on a $90 tab. pretty disappointed. not planning on returning.
(2)
Kevin H.
Short and sweet. The service is terrible here. The food was fresh, tasty and healthy. Has a cool atmosphere inside and out with some limited outdoor seating. Not sure I will return until the service improves.
(2)
Alia Z.
This place is Boulderite to the core - from the many gluten free and/or vegan options to the colorful mason jars used for drinking glasses. The food is surprisingly healthy for a restaurant, and tastes pretty good too.
(3)
LIsa D.
Every time we visit Boulder we head straight for Zeal. It's delicious, good for you and makes your body feel great... yummy in all ways. Love it!
(5)
Amanda D.
I really want to love Zeal... I had a lot of anticipation before I came, just by checking out the menu. I wanted to try the cauliflower "rice" and bone broth in "build your own bowl" , kelp noodles and collard green wrapped sandwich. But I was disappointed. Nice to have the idea of cauliflower "rice" was nuance but it was so bland I had to put salt there myself. Bone broth was tasty but when it came out it was luke warm. After I asked them to heat it up the plate, the broth disappeared when it came back! Too bad I was just trying to drink it! Then the collard wraps : not only the portion was so small but it fell apart instantly. My fingers were drenched with the sauce and dressing. Why not wrap it with another round of collard and wrap it tighter? This dish was at least tasty ... just really bad postures I had to have when eating. The wine here starts at $9... really steep for an organic joint especially I don't know where it even comes from. The perks at last: I was happy that they had the Himalayan pink salt when I tried to DIY my food. Service was pretty good and the venue was modern and clean. Still, those don't matter as much when the FOOD is what you need in a restaurant!
(3)
Lauren G.
If you're making an attempt to eat healthy and want more than a salad as your option when you go out to eat.. Zeal is your place. The menu features a ton of locally sourced, plant based dishes as well as plenty of protein options. I think their "build your own bowl" is the one of the best parts of the menu... pick your base (love that cauliflower "rice" is an option), pick your sauce, pick your toppings... or choose from some bowls they've created. The only downside is the price.. I think everything is a few dollars more than it should be. I'm sure this has to do with the quality of their produce and proteins, which I can appreciate, but a large bowl can run you anywhere from $15-$20... Which seems pretty extreme.
(4)
Jake L.
Oh Zeal, I wan't so much to love you. The passion for good, locally grown, organic food that fuels your restaurant has so much potential. Two visits to Zeal have left me with two very different, yet not overly impressive, opinions. First, their sandwiches are pretty good. The Plant Burger is decent--not the best but not the worst. I would give it another try knowing that all of the ingredients are wholesome and natural. The bowls with the thai peanut sauce leave much to be desired. While even the small bowls give you a generous portion for the price (good ingredients cost more), I was very unhappy with that thai peanut sauce, which ruined the dish for me. The other ingredients in the bowl (veggies & tofu) seemed to be very high-quality. I'm sure I would have enjoyed them more with a different sauce pairing. Zeal is not your typical restaurant. They are going for something new and unique here, which I have a lot of respect for. Using high quality ingredients that are locally grown and offering them to consumers at reasonable prices isn't always easy. And even though I haven't been overly impressed by either of my experiences here, I am holding out hope that my bad experience was a unique one. One of these days, when I'm feeling adventurous, I will give Zeal another try. Hopefully my third experience will be the 5-star one I've been hoping for all along.
(3)
Karen S.
I eat here a lot because I work a few blocks away, and I keep going back because I really, really love their Macro Bowl and some of the sauces. I've only eaten in the restaurant a couple times and the service was just fine, but normally I do to-go orders. I must say that the majority of the time, my order is wrong. After 3 or 4 times of walking back to my office and sitting down to eat, only to discover that they forgot the tempeh (even though I was charged for it), forgot the veggies, forgot the sauces, made the wrong bowl, you name it, I finally started double checking my order when I picked it up. Occasionally I show up and the order "didn't go through." But anyway, double checking each time has really helped my overall customer satisfaction. They still get 4 stars because they're always apologetic, and one time when I complained that this had happened repeatedly they gave me a $10 gift card. That, in my opinion, is good customer service. Plus even the "small" size bowl is enormous so I think the price is reasonable.
(4)
Lou P.
I revisited Zeal yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by changes apparently made in the past few weeks. While I couldn't pin point any menu changes, there was a lot to choose from. We were able to be seated right away, despite being quite busy for lunch. Our server was very patient explaining several items on the menu and pointing out some options. I had the Lemongrass Pork Bowl and added some noodles. It made for a satisfying and filling lunch. My associate had a custom bowl, and upon completing his lunch, declared Zeal his favorite restaurant. There is a different attitude here from my previous business. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. If you are interested in delicious food that is healthy and nutritious, you will want to visit.
(4)
Conrad S.
A great healthy eats place but the food doesn't have the umami it should they lack that something something that kicks your taste buds full of flavor. The Baba ghanouj was very bland and boring. The drinks however are really interested. They have one that has kombucha in it and it's the bomb.
(3)
Kate K.
I love their smoothies!! Some of the only non-dairy smoothies I could find in Boulder. Their other food is amazing too, and the atmosphere of the place is wonderful - very clean and minimalistic. For reference, I'm a pretty strictly Paleo eater.
(4)
Sara T.
Slow service, rude waitress, mediocre food, and high prices. It's saving grace is it's good location. I've only gone here twice because it's vegan friendly, but was disappointed with each dish I ordered.
(2)
Nika G.
Boulder has no shortage of healthy food options, and Zeal is definitely a good choice if you're looking for a hearty, but health conscious meal. As with most restaurants around town, the style is industrial/shabby chic with plenty of seating. The menu has something for everyone - though the prices are quite steep. I love that they have fresh juices on tap AND for sale in bottles. The open garage doors made for some good people watching during lunch!
(4)
Jane D.
Ok so I finally tried Zeal, and while I had a pleasant experience, my first run in with the food was less than. I ordered the paleo granola it had a ton of stuff I like so I thought I would try it. They were out of all their milks except coconut. I still tried it, and it was disappointing to find they burned it, and served it with enough coconut milk to dampen it but not make it a bowl of cereal. The waiter was nice enough to ask me if I wanted something else, which was nice he clearly saw I wasn't enjoying the granola. granola is hard to make and to not burn, I'm a regular granola maker, so I understand the difficulty. So I ordered the frittata after taking a bite of my friends. It was nice, but didn't knock my socks off. To finish the meal we ordered an orange cold pressed juice. See we are avid juicers and I hadn't tried the cold press juice everyone talks about. The orange had oranges pineapple apple I think and basil. The waiter told is they are made at one time using the cold press, he pointed to a room to the side of us with a giant stainless steel press. The juice looked orange but it looked different than juice I make at home, it didn't look as thick, with swirling nutrients. The juice tasted fine but wasn't over refreshing and I can't imagine drinking their juice for 30 days, not enough nutrients to keep me alive. Overall for the price of the drink $8, I don't think I will buy cold press again, at least not for the intended vitamins. And I would get better hydration from water. I wonder if it's watered down or if the cold press is a joke. The ambience was nice and open. The kitchen is front and center in the restaurant so you can watch the hipsters flail over your food before they serve it. Not to mention, the manager who interviewed a gal in front of us, shit talked the girl when she left because she wasn't hip enough. She also had to tie back her bus boys hair which was a mess, right in front of the customers and didn't proceed to wash her hands after. I saw her in the kitchen a minute later snacking. If you are going to have an open kitchen then please have your employees follow the guidelines for health and safety. Over all my first experience is a fail, but the waiter was nice and accommodating for changing out my order after the burnt granola. Only 3 stars, for this experience my friends.
(3)
Michelle M.
I was greatly disappointed with our lunch at Zeal. Upon entry the host walked away from us at the door, leaving us there to wait until a server decided to make time to offer us a table in an almost empty restaurant. The same host came by our table a little later to ask if we needed anything. I asked him to please bring my two year old daughter a cup of water and was informed he was already on the way to get it. Then he walked away as we watched him do random scattered tasks throughout the restaurant and my daughter's water never arrived. The food was bland despite ordering dishes with coconut curry and Thai peanut sauce. The vegetables in my 'bowl' tasted off. My two year old daughter was not acknowledged by any server during our meal. she was not given a cup of water or silverware to eat her meal until I asked twice to receive them. Any request we made of our server seemed unreasonable and bothersome. The best thing we ordered was a green juice which tasted like it should yet was, unfortunately, not made fresh to order. The atmosphere is sterile and pretentious. Had the food been wonderful - made with substance, competence or joy - this could easily be forgiven. Cold, detached employees oblivious to the needs of their clientele, lack of heart and soul in the food ... I cannot imagine how this place stays open with so many wonderful, healthful offerings in Boulder.
(1)
Alice K.
Boozy Sunday bar hopping destination 1: Consumed: beverage only, no entrees. When I think Zeal, I think Boulder. Healthy foods with ingredients I sometimes cannot pronounce nor of which I have knowledge. (Jicama in my yellow juice cocktail. Is that pronounced hee-cama, with the spanish "j" or is it jee-cama. jee-CAME-a/ hee-CAME-a? Clearly, I can spend many minutes pondering this before resorting to google.) The thing is, Zeal wouldn't be my #1, go-to restaurant. It's just so... healthy. It's so... rejuvenate-your-mind-cleanse-your-body. In two words: no fries. :( However, yelp gifted me the Boulder Passport, and in my determination to collect all stamps from all vendors, I stepped into Zeal. I wouldn't have been so surprised at the whole no fries thing had I yelped Zeal beforehand, but sometimes, readiness is so overrated. My bogo juice cocktail was the Yellow Juice Cocktail (pineapple, jicama, lemon). It was quite delicious and a refreshing treat on a warm afternoon. My edamame had fancy smoked sea salt and sesame treats - yum, but edamame is yum to begin with. I can't speak for any of the entrees nor desserts. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options if that's what rocks your boat. As for me, I may have to return to try the Grilled Chicken Diavolo. (Dee-A-volo? DEE-a-volo? Die-A-volo?...)
(3)
Justin L.
If you have never had an acai bowl, then Zeal might be a good option. Essentially imagine yogurt with lots of toppings, but instead of yogurt it's an acai mixture. Service was good, food was better than average, but to me it seems a bit overpriced.
(3)
Michelle K.
2 stars...and that's because the food is very GOOD...even though my son's order, as well as mine, was not correct. Decor- very modern and cool! Tables are pretty close together though...not much privacy and I could tell others were also uncomfortable. Service- sub par (at best) I understand a new gal was being trained...but it appeared that the 'trainer' also needed a lot of help...although nice, she made for an awkward experience for us. She really didn't seem too knowledgeable about the menu when I asked about certain items/ingredients/processes of cooking. Perhaps that is why my order came out wrong!? I was so frustrated when my bowl came out with the quinoa instead of the rice noodles, I didn't even send it back. Luckily it was good....but still. Ok, now the big turn off: We obviously had two small children and we were not offered a kid's menu (I was unaware that there is a secret kid's menu not listed on main menu?) or kids cups for water, as seen on other tables that had children. When I pointed this out to the manager walking by (I believe he was) he actually challenged me and had the audacity to say " well it looks like they are doing just fine with the adult cups" Really? Later I asked our server for kid's cups because they kept asking me after seeing the other cups. Trust me, they were happy to have them. Turns out food was good...but because of the orders being incorrect and manager with attitude, we won't be back, even though it was a nice gesture for him to apologize for the mix up as we were exiting. I wanted to love this place and try something new and unique while visiting Boulder, but I feel let down:( Sorry to Zeal for coming in with kids ( who are well mannered btw) we didn't feel welcome from the get-go! I kept my cool in the restaurant, but feel I need to let this be known via yelp. So, on the side column where it states business info for Zeal.....under the category "Good for kids", please promptly change the "yes" to "NO"!
(2)
Liv S.
Got cauliflower rice bowl with shrimp and spicy sauce. Amazing! One of the best bowls I've ever had. But be warned- sauce is very hot! I liked the other vegan/vegetarian options too. The place is also in a cute part of town.
(4)
John W.
We've been looking forward to sharing a meal for my wife's B-Day evening. Unfortunately, we chose ZEAL. It started off with poor service ( Hostess sat us and our waiter didn't show up for 12 minutes ) should've listened to my inner voice and left then.( Arrived @ 7:10 pm ) The best partof our meal was our conversation and the sparkling Orange Juice creation. We ordered Falafel balls appetizer ( dried out ) We attempted to order the shrimp & Tofu appetizer however they were out of the products needed to prepare the dish. My wife ordered the pan seared rainbow trout and I ordered the shrimp scampi. Trout was flavorful , loved the sweet potatoes.The shrimp were cooked perfectly ,however the parpadelle made from sweet potatoes were al dente at best. The place needs another server on a Saturday night ( only two & one hostess ), They all seemed more focused on rolling silverware into napkins than taking care of the tables / clients. We are dissatisfied and for the $$$ spent, doubt we will return. Best regards, John
(2)
Jackie D.
Ugh. Not great on any front. Put in our order, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we asked about its status, only to find out the iPad had lost it and it was never placed. Manager came over to apologize, which we were happy about, only to find out later she had taken a mere $5 off our order for the wait. When our sandwiches came out, the bread was so hard and overly toasted we couldn't even eat them. We ended up scraping the insides out and eating that and then eating the bread separately like a cracker. Come on. For 22 bucks? Really? I just can't deal with another one of these kinds of places: super into itself, super hipster pretentious, but all show and very little behind it. We won't be going back.
(1)
Chanel S.
Zeal is pretty good, most of the time.... However, when I dine out I like consistency and Zeal is not that. Try harder guys! Service is lacking and the food is not worth the dollar amount.
(2)
Ann B.
You have to try their drinks! So fresh, so good. I've only been there for happy hour so I haven't had any entrees (only a few appetizers which I loved), but I really loved their drinks. They make the mixers fresh (I guess daily?) and you can really taste the difference. Very cute place too, and the staff is very friendly!
(5)
Kirby C.
I have eaten here twice. Great concept, bland flavors.
(2)
A L.
I gave Zeal 4-stars because there is major potential at this place. I think some minor tweaks could really make this place great. Let me say that some tweaks are absolutely necessary now that Lyfe Kitchen opened up a mere block away and is basically the same concept, but half the price. I like Zeal because they truly care and the owner, Wayde, is there every day walking around and talking to guests. The intentions of Zeal are spot on and great for Boulder, and well, any community that cares where their food comes from and what they put into their bodies. The atmosphere is also really pleasant as it is beautifully decorated. I have had the plant burger a couple of times and I find that it's dry and not worth the price, but again - has potential with a better sauce and something to give it oomph. The coconut curry bowl is really fantastic and is a lot of food for $13. If you are hungry, get this and make it your own. The smoothie flight for $7 is also a nice way to sample all of their core smoothies as they come in 4 shot glasses (and is definitely picture worthy.) The cons/improvement section: Every single time I have come in for lunch, I have ordered an appetizer and they have come back 5 minutes later telling me "we are out." Mind you, I have been in before 2pm and have ordered something simple like Hummus. Um, if you're running low - go purchase more ingredients or just simply be prepared to have enough for the lunchtime crowd. This is huge misstep. I also just find that some of the dishes are lackluster and not worth the price tag. If a salad is going to be $9, make it a $9 salad - don't give me wedge of romaine with some dressing on it and call it a meal. All of this being said, I really want this place to make it. The location of Zeal seems to have a curse, as no restaurant survives 2 years. This place has SO much potential, they just need to get their prices on par with what they are serving. The bowls and smoothies are fantastic, so build off of that. Have enough ingredients to make every dish throughout the day, and be cognizant that a very similar restaurant is down the street and there needs to be a reason to choose Zeal over it.
(4)
R G.
Something different. I'm in town visiting and my boyfriend took my here because he knows I love quinoa. I made my own bowl with quinoa, chicken, coconut curry and mixed veggies. It was all very tasty. The only thing I didn't like was how raw the veggies were, they were barely cooked. My boyfriend suspected that they cooked them this way on purpose since you lose nutrients in veggies if they are cooked to be softer. Seeing as this was a very healthy oriented joint, I took it as being my bad. I also ordered myself a buttercup milkshake. It was good but a little strange. It was a mixture of cocoa nibs, peanut butter, almond milk and some orange oil...thing. Overall the flavor was excellent but the oil but left a funny feeling in my mouth. Again, I'm going to say my bad. I thought the orange oil was more of flavoring. Not an actual oil. I would come here again. I would advise you ask a lot of questions about the menu if you decide to drop by. Something may not be exactly what you think it is.
(4)
Mike A.
Amazing quality food. Almost completely organic, great creative recipes, tons of options and combinations. Mostly gluten free, dairy free. My go to restaurant in Boulder.
(5)
Pork Chop H.
Really wanted to like this place as I recently embarked on the Paleo diet. For $50, we could have eaten like kings at Brasserie TenTen or many other delicious high-end joints in Boulder (that still are organic and use locally sourced food). Service is very sub-par (glad to see it wasn't just us, and echoed by fellow reviewers): Even though we made eye contact with the hostess and stood a foot away from her (or at least an employee who was seating others) and stood directly behind another party who she was seating, she never came back and no one acknowledged us for a long time. Then we sat forever at our table/counter, waiting to place drink orders. By that time, we were also ready to order our food. By the way, if you just want whiskey itself instead of the whole whiskey sour, it costs the same as the full sour... just a small beef. When we did get our water, it was two empty glasses delivered with a full bottle, which we immediately emptied into our two glasses. So then we had an empty bottle. Weird. We started with the Thai salad, which had nice flavors. A modest portion for $9. The kelp noodles weren't obvious to me, though, and I had forgotten that that was a part of the dish, til I noticed one speck at the end. I ordered the beef massaman which comes with rice (I think $15). Being Paleo/Primal-ish, I do eat white rice, but not brown, and inquired about what kind of rice it was, but they didn't have white rice as an option. So I got rice noodles instead. It was a hearty, flavorful bowl with lots of veggies (turnips were a nice touch), tender beef chunks, and a modest amount of (soggy) rice noodles. Hubs ordered the lemongrass pork which he added rice noodles to (+$2). The bowl was $16 total. The pork was good, but the "pickles and ferments" was just a light smattering of vinegary veggies and the amount of rice noodles was positively anemic (photo to come). For that amount of money, we could've gotten 2+ giant Vietnamese noodle bowls with the same flavors and sh*tloads of veggies/noodles at any Pho restaurant in Broomfield. Finally, because they are consistent, we sat forever, waiting for the bill. I did eventually get some attention when I sat with my credit card in my hand. Summary: Poor/slow service, inconsistent portion sizes for similar priced items, really overpriced for what it is...
(2)
Tenzi A.
This place is legit, organic, gluten-free, what else could a Boulder girl ask for?! Service was excellent, very attentive and personable!
(5)
Danielle E.
We had high hopes for our first restaurant experience in Boulder, and we were not disappointed! One of the people at the house we are staying at recommended the make-your-own bowl, both me and my guy were thinking of getting one. He got one with rice noodles, pesto, avocado, and grilled veggies and it was out of this world. I am super indecisive, so our waitress led me to the kale salad - I added avocado - and the Mother Earth smoothie. She totally nailed it! We were both so satisfied with our meals. Zeal really set the bar high for vegan, gluten-free dining in Boulder. We are excited to return and try new things. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Sierra G.
This is a great place to stop in after a workout, study-break, or breakfast with friends. Cold pressed juice, smoothies, acai breakfast bowls and more delicious breakfast options. I got the acai bowl with honey, bananas and zeal granola. It was really good, though next time I'll probably elect for the build your own bowl option because I wanted my bowl to have berries as well. The granola was really good. I'd also like to try their fresh juice flight and hot breakfast items, like the sour dough sweet potato pancakes. The place has lots of open seating, though it is on Pearl, so I recommend trying to stop in during non-peak hours, though the service was fast and accommodating. They also have a wide selection of items "to-go" if your in a hurry.
Being on vacation can be very gluttonous... at least, that's how it is when I go on vacation. So the idea of getting someone thing healthy at Zeal was very appealing. And the food was great. Exactly what we needed after a week of alcohol and cheese and burgers and ice cream. However, the service left a lot to be desired. After not finding a hostess at the host stand, a server told us to "sit anywhere." We did, but no one came to get even our drink order for quite some time. After a while, I got up and found the server who'd told us to sit to let her know we were ready. It still took several minutes for someone to come by, and I overheard another patron complaining about the same issue to the manager as we ate. That being said, it could have just been a fluke - an odd day - and Zeal had a really great menu. I was curious about a lot of items and if we are ever in the area again I'd go back to try more. I also liked that they had a lot of health info and health food products, and even advertised their own cleanse.
(3)
Lynda M.
I appreciate that Boulder offers a lot of healthy options in terms of restaurants, but this place isn't one that I would return to. I think that the prices are way too high for the quality and portions that you receive. I got a large bowl and it was $20. I had paid an extra $6 for beef, and I was probably given a total of 2 ounces only. The bowl arrived with all of the ingredients mixed together which tells me that they're trying to hide the lower portion of protein. I'm sorry, $20? $20 for some cauliflower, vegetables and two bites of beef with some sauce? No thanks. Not to mention the service was extremely slow, and I had to ask for more water and extra glasses for a drink that I was sharing with someone out of a bottle. I'll stick to LEAF. The only reason I'm not giving this establishment one star is because they have gender-neutral bathrooms.
(2)
Alicia B.
I like that every time I go in and ask for a ginger-lemon shot, they accommodate my off-menu order. And I like their avocados on the half shell. Fun idea! Their gusto bowl was delicious when I added pork. Can't go wrong with spinach, apricots, hemp seeds, bacon, and pork all mixed together.
(5)
laura j.
I don't know why I gave this place another chance. I did have a good meal here, once, in the 5 times I have been there - the last time being over a year ago. Today my family was hungry and I prefer them to eat 'organic' and healthy. Oh, why didn't we just go to Locale! I want my $80 back. My meal was inedible. I am probably the least picky eater ever. It tasted like the black pepper cap had come off in the bowl. Literally. I told the waiter and he offered to 'get me some more vegetables to water it down'. Ummmm.... Then my husband and I had a nice argument because we had wasted $80 on crap and it was my stupid fault for giving this place another chance. Lame. The juice was good.
(2)
Andrea S.
You (any of you reading this) can make better tasting food at home with the same organic, local ingredients. I ordered the beef braise. The beef was 60% visible inedible gristle. The rest of the dish was barely palatable. I wondered if it was gauche to order meat in this restaurant and perhaps I was being punished for it. My friend ordered the mighty bowl, which came complete with a jagged piece of hard plastic in it. The waitress seemed unconcerned, and my friend had to ask her for a new meal. To top it off, everything was overpriced.
(1)
Tim S.
We stopped in here after a fantastic evening entertaining the kids along the mall, and were pleasantly surprised at 1) the staff's willingness to bend over backwards to accommodate us, and 2) the excellent selection and quality of the drinks we enjoyed. The blackberry lemonade was popular with the kids, and I loved the Avery Hawaiian and the ginger beer. Everyone was sweet to a fault and we are eyeing this spot for our next grownups-only evening out :-)
(4)
Rachel T.
I can only comment on the smoothies which were delicious! I stopped in while on vacation in Boulder because I was looking for a normal/healthy breakfast and not the gross continental breakfast served at my hotel. I was looking on yelp for a smoothie or juice place and saw that this place had a happy hour in the mornings. With the happy hour discount of $2 the smoothies were reasonably priced, but honestly I probably wouldn't have purchased them without the discount.
(4)
Liv S.
Got cauliflower rice bowl with shrimp and spicy sauce. Amazing! One of the best bowls I've ever had. But be warned- sauce is very hot! I liked the other vegan/vegetarian options too. The place is also in a cute part of town.
(4)
Meg K.
Allergy alert! Be SUPER careful here if you have a nut allergy!!! The good news: their outdoor seating was totally lovely, and the space is really cool. I liked all the food we tried. The falafel was great. I really like the pepitas too, but they were a little awkward to eat as finger food. Right as I was mulling how one might serve the pepitas in an easier-to-eat way, I started getting That Tickle in my throat... getting hard to swallow... I'm severely (and specifically) allergic to Brazil nuts, and have been for my entire life. There were no Brazil nuts listed on anything that we ordered, but I found one on my K&DJ salad from cross-contamination in the kitchen. Thank god I didn't actually eat it, but I still had to rush to the hospital. The staff handled it very well, giving me Benadryl and directions to the nearest ER. They also boxed our untouched food for my friends to pick up later in case they wanted to eat it, and gave us half off the bill. I really debated whether or not it was relevant to write a review, since I didn't get to try all the food. What I did try was lovely, and obviously, this is a bizarrely specific situation that few people would worry about. THEN I realized, hey, if someone else had written a Yelp review about a nut allergy, perhaps I would have read it, steered clear of Zeal, and saved myself a seriously stressful afternoon and ER copay! So, Zeal: not entirely your fault. You handled it well after the incident happened. I'm grateful to say this was the first time I've encountered a Brazil nut out in the wild, so I don't have a frame of reference for how other places would have done it differently? But please try to be more careful with cross-contamination in the kitchen for future diners! *** UPDATE, response to Wayde J (owner): I disagree with the victim-blaming tone of the owner's response. When I go to a restaurant and I have no idea what will be on my plate (such as a chef's menu), I tell them about my Brazil nut allergy. But I had no reason to think a Brazil nut would have ended up in my salad here, when it's NOT listed as a menu ingredient. I am allergic to one thing. That one thing was not in the dish I ordered. I didn't read through every single ingredient in every single menu item-- why would I? And since it was an accident that it landed on my plate in the first place, what would have been done differently if I noted my allergy? Is the standard sloppy, and you're careful by request only??? Accidents happen, but your kitchen's haphazard prep is not my fault.
(3)
Scott N.
not a fan. i understand the organic aspect but there was no flavor at all in my dish. i built a bowl with rice noodles, farm egg, and bone broth. i had to add a nice amount of salt to get any flavor. i was not impressed. also service was a bit under-enthusiastic. kinda thought getting charged $1 for a side of hot sauce was pretty lame on a $90 tab. pretty disappointed. not planning on returning.
(2)
Kevin H.
Short and sweet. The service is terrible here. The food was fresh, tasty and healthy. Has a cool atmosphere inside and out with some limited outdoor seating. Not sure I will return until the service improves.
(2)
Alia Z.
This place is Boulderite to the core - from the many gluten free and/or vegan options to the colorful mason jars used for drinking glasses. The food is surprisingly healthy for a restaurant, and tastes pretty good too.
(3)
LIsa D.
Every time we visit Boulder we head straight for Zeal. It's delicious, good for you and makes your body feel great... yummy in all ways. Love it!
(5)
Amanda D.
I really want to love Zeal... I had a lot of anticipation before I came, just by checking out the menu. I wanted to try the cauliflower "rice" and bone broth in "build your own bowl" , kelp noodles and collard green wrapped sandwich. But I was disappointed. Nice to have the idea of cauliflower "rice" was nuance but it was so bland I had to put salt there myself. Bone broth was tasty but when it came out it was luke warm. After I asked them to heat it up the plate, the broth disappeared when it came back! Too bad I was just trying to drink it! Then the collard wraps : not only the portion was so small but it fell apart instantly. My fingers were drenched with the sauce and dressing. Why not wrap it with another round of collard and wrap it tighter? This dish was at least tasty ... just really bad postures I had to have when eating. The wine here starts at $9... really steep for an organic joint especially I don't know where it even comes from. The perks at last: I was happy that they had the Himalayan pink salt when I tried to DIY my food. Service was pretty good and the venue was modern and clean. Still, those don't matter as much when the FOOD is what you need in a restaurant!
(3)
Lauren G.
If you're making an attempt to eat healthy and want more than a salad as your option when you go out to eat.. Zeal is your place. The menu features a ton of locally sourced, plant based dishes as well as plenty of protein options. I think their "build your own bowl" is the one of the best parts of the menu... pick your base (love that cauliflower "rice" is an option), pick your sauce, pick your toppings... or choose from some bowls they've created. The only downside is the price.. I think everything is a few dollars more than it should be. I'm sure this has to do with the quality of their produce and proteins, which I can appreciate, but a large bowl can run you anywhere from $15-$20... Which seems pretty extreme.
(4)
Jake L.
Oh Zeal, I wan't so much to love you. The passion for good, locally grown, organic food that fuels your restaurant has so much potential. Two visits to Zeal have left me with two very different, yet not overly impressive, opinions. First, their sandwiches are pretty good. The Plant Burger is decent--not the best but not the worst. I would give it another try knowing that all of the ingredients are wholesome and natural. The bowls with the thai peanut sauce leave much to be desired. While even the small bowls give you a generous portion for the price (good ingredients cost more), I was very unhappy with that thai peanut sauce, which ruined the dish for me. The other ingredients in the bowl (veggies & tofu) seemed to be very high-quality. I'm sure I would have enjoyed them more with a different sauce pairing. Zeal is not your typical restaurant. They are going for something new and unique here, which I have a lot of respect for. Using high quality ingredients that are locally grown and offering them to consumers at reasonable prices isn't always easy. And even though I haven't been overly impressed by either of my experiences here, I am holding out hope that my bad experience was a unique one. One of these days, when I'm feeling adventurous, I will give Zeal another try. Hopefully my third experience will be the 5-star one I've been hoping for all along.
(3)
Karen S.
I eat here a lot because I work a few blocks away, and I keep going back because I really, really love their Macro Bowl and some of the sauces. I've only eaten in the restaurant a couple times and the service was just fine, but normally I do to-go orders. I must say that the majority of the time, my order is wrong. After 3 or 4 times of walking back to my office and sitting down to eat, only to discover that they forgot the tempeh (even though I was charged for it), forgot the veggies, forgot the sauces, made the wrong bowl, you name it, I finally started double checking my order when I picked it up. Occasionally I show up and the order "didn't go through." But anyway, double checking each time has really helped my overall customer satisfaction. They still get 4 stars because they're always apologetic, and one time when I complained that this had happened repeatedly they gave me a $10 gift card. That, in my opinion, is good customer service. Plus even the "small" size bowl is enormous so I think the price is reasonable.
(4)
Lou P.
I revisited Zeal yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by changes apparently made in the past few weeks. While I couldn't pin point any menu changes, there was a lot to choose from. We were able to be seated right away, despite being quite busy for lunch. Our server was very patient explaining several items on the menu and pointing out some options. I had the Lemongrass Pork Bowl and added some noodles. It made for a satisfying and filling lunch. My associate had a custom bowl, and upon completing his lunch, declared Zeal his favorite restaurant. There is a different attitude here from my previous business. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. If you are interested in delicious food that is healthy and nutritious, you will want to visit.
(4)
Conrad S.
A great healthy eats place but the food doesn't have the umami it should they lack that something something that kicks your taste buds full of flavor. The Baba ghanouj was very bland and boring. The drinks however are really interested. They have one that has kombucha in it and it's the bomb.
(3)
Kate K.
I love their smoothies!! Some of the only non-dairy smoothies I could find in Boulder. Their other food is amazing too, and the atmosphere of the place is wonderful - very clean and minimalistic. For reference, I'm a pretty strictly Paleo eater.
(4)
Sara T.
Slow service, rude waitress, mediocre food, and high prices. It's saving grace is it's good location. I've only gone here twice because it's vegan friendly, but was disappointed with each dish I ordered.
(2)
Nika G.
Boulder has no shortage of healthy food options, and Zeal is definitely a good choice if you're looking for a hearty, but health conscious meal. As with most restaurants around town, the style is industrial/shabby chic with plenty of seating. The menu has something for everyone - though the prices are quite steep. I love that they have fresh juices on tap AND for sale in bottles. The open garage doors made for some good people watching during lunch!
(4)
Jane D.
Ok so I finally tried Zeal, and while I had a pleasant experience, my first run in with the food was less than. I ordered the paleo granola it had a ton of stuff I like so I thought I would try it. They were out of all their milks except coconut. I still tried it, and it was disappointing to find they burned it, and served it with enough coconut milk to dampen it but not make it a bowl of cereal. The waiter was nice enough to ask me if I wanted something else, which was nice he clearly saw I wasn't enjoying the granola. granola is hard to make and to not burn, I'm a regular granola maker, so I understand the difficulty. So I ordered the frittata after taking a bite of my friends. It was nice, but didn't knock my socks off. To finish the meal we ordered an orange cold pressed juice. See we are avid juicers and I hadn't tried the cold press juice everyone talks about. The orange had oranges pineapple apple I think and basil. The waiter told is they are made at one time using the cold press, he pointed to a room to the side of us with a giant stainless steel press. The juice looked orange but it looked different than juice I make at home, it didn't look as thick, with swirling nutrients. The juice tasted fine but wasn't over refreshing and I can't imagine drinking their juice for 30 days, not enough nutrients to keep me alive. Overall for the price of the drink $8, I don't think I will buy cold press again, at least not for the intended vitamins. And I would get better hydration from water. I wonder if it's watered down or if the cold press is a joke. The ambience was nice and open. The kitchen is front and center in the restaurant so you can watch the hipsters flail over your food before they serve it. Not to mention, the manager who interviewed a gal in front of us, shit talked the girl when she left because she wasn't hip enough. She also had to tie back her bus boys hair which was a mess, right in front of the customers and didn't proceed to wash her hands after. I saw her in the kitchen a minute later snacking. If you are going to have an open kitchen then please have your employees follow the guidelines for health and safety. Over all my first experience is a fail, but the waiter was nice and accommodating for changing out my order after the burnt granola. Only 3 stars, for this experience my friends.
(3)
Michelle M.
I was greatly disappointed with our lunch at Zeal. Upon entry the host walked away from us at the door, leaving us there to wait until a server decided to make time to offer us a table in an almost empty restaurant. The same host came by our table a little later to ask if we needed anything. I asked him to please bring my two year old daughter a cup of water and was informed he was already on the way to get it. Then he walked away as we watched him do random scattered tasks throughout the restaurant and my daughter's water never arrived. The food was bland despite ordering dishes with coconut curry and Thai peanut sauce. The vegetables in my 'bowl' tasted off. My two year old daughter was not acknowledged by any server during our meal. she was not given a cup of water or silverware to eat her meal until I asked twice to receive them. Any request we made of our server seemed unreasonable and bothersome. The best thing we ordered was a green juice which tasted like it should yet was, unfortunately, not made fresh to order. The atmosphere is sterile and pretentious. Had the food been wonderful - made with substance, competence or joy - this could easily be forgiven. Cold, detached employees oblivious to the needs of their clientele, lack of heart and soul in the food ... I cannot imagine how this place stays open with so many wonderful, healthful offerings in Boulder.
(1)
Alice K.
Boozy Sunday bar hopping destination 1: Consumed: beverage only, no entrees. When I think Zeal, I think Boulder. Healthy foods with ingredients I sometimes cannot pronounce nor of which I have knowledge. (Jicama in my yellow juice cocktail. Is that pronounced hee-cama, with the spanish "j" or is it jee-cama. jee-CAME-a/ hee-CAME-a? Clearly, I can spend many minutes pondering this before resorting to google.) The thing is, Zeal wouldn't be my #1, go-to restaurant. It's just so... healthy. It's so... rejuvenate-your-mind-cleanse-your-body. In two words: no fries. :( However, yelp gifted me the Boulder Passport, and in my determination to collect all stamps from all vendors, I stepped into Zeal. I wouldn't have been so surprised at the whole no fries thing had I yelped Zeal beforehand, but sometimes, readiness is so overrated. My bogo juice cocktail was the Yellow Juice Cocktail (pineapple, jicama, lemon). It was quite delicious and a refreshing treat on a warm afternoon. My edamame had fancy smoked sea salt and sesame treats - yum, but edamame is yum to begin with. I can't speak for any of the entrees nor desserts. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options if that's what rocks your boat. As for me, I may have to return to try the Grilled Chicken Diavolo. (Dee-A-volo? DEE-a-volo? Die-A-volo?...)
(3)
Justin L.
If you have never had an acai bowl, then Zeal might be a good option. Essentially imagine yogurt with lots of toppings, but instead of yogurt it's an acai mixture. Service was good, food was better than average, but to me it seems a bit overpriced.
(3)
Michelle K.
2 stars...and that's because the food is very GOOD...even though my son's order, as well as mine, was not correct. Decor- very modern and cool! Tables are pretty close together though...not much privacy and I could tell others were also uncomfortable. Service- sub par (at best) I understand a new gal was being trained...but it appeared that the 'trainer' also needed a lot of help...although nice, she made for an awkward experience for us. She really didn't seem too knowledgeable about the menu when I asked about certain items/ingredients/processes of cooking. Perhaps that is why my order came out wrong!? I was so frustrated when my bowl came out with the quinoa instead of the rice noodles, I didn't even send it back. Luckily it was good....but still. Ok, now the big turn off: We obviously had two small children and we were not offered a kid's menu (I was unaware that there is a secret kid's menu not listed on main menu?) or kids cups for water, as seen on other tables that had children. When I pointed this out to the manager walking by (I believe he was) he actually challenged me and had the audacity to say " well it looks like they are doing just fine with the adult cups" Really? Later I asked our server for kid's cups because they kept asking me after seeing the other cups. Trust me, they were happy to have them. Turns out food was good...but because of the orders being incorrect and manager with attitude, we won't be back, even though it was a nice gesture for him to apologize for the mix up as we were exiting. I wanted to love this place and try something new and unique while visiting Boulder, but I feel let down:( Sorry to Zeal for coming in with kids ( who are well mannered btw) we didn't feel welcome from the get-go! I kept my cool in the restaurant, but feel I need to let this be known via yelp. So, on the side column where it states business info for Zeal.....under the category "Good for kids", please promptly change the "yes" to "NO"!
(2)
John W.
We've been looking forward to sharing a meal for my wife's B-Day evening. Unfortunately, we chose ZEAL. It started off with poor service ( Hostess sat us and our waiter didn't show up for 12 minutes ) should've listened to my inner voice and left then.( Arrived @ 7:10 pm ) The best partof our meal was our conversation and the sparkling Orange Juice creation. We ordered Falafel balls appetizer ( dried out ) We attempted to order the shrimp & Tofu appetizer however they were out of the products needed to prepare the dish. My wife ordered the pan seared rainbow trout and I ordered the shrimp scampi. Trout was flavorful , loved the sweet potatoes.The shrimp were cooked perfectly ,however the parpadelle made from sweet potatoes were al dente at best. The place needs another server on a Saturday night ( only two & one hostess ), They all seemed more focused on rolling silverware into napkins than taking care of the tables / clients. We are dissatisfied and for the $$$ spent, doubt we will return. Best regards, John
(2)
Jackie D.
Ugh. Not great on any front. Put in our order, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we asked about its status, only to find out the iPad had lost it and it was never placed. Manager came over to apologize, which we were happy about, only to find out later she had taken a mere $5 off our order for the wait. When our sandwiches came out, the bread was so hard and overly toasted we couldn't even eat them. We ended up scraping the insides out and eating that and then eating the bread separately like a cracker. Come on. For 22 bucks? Really? I just can't deal with another one of these kinds of places: super into itself, super hipster pretentious, but all show and very little behind it. We won't be going back.
(1)
Chanel S.
Zeal is pretty good, most of the time.... However, when I dine out I like consistency and Zeal is not that. Try harder guys! Service is lacking and the food is not worth the dollar amount.
(2)
Ann B.
You have to try their drinks! So fresh, so good. I've only been there for happy hour so I haven't had any entrees (only a few appetizers which I loved), but I really loved their drinks. They make the mixers fresh (I guess daily?) and you can really taste the difference. Very cute place too, and the staff is very friendly!
(5)
Kirby C.
I have eaten here twice. Great concept, bland flavors.
(2)
dennis c.
By far the best meal I've had in a restaurant in a long time!! There's something for every taste it seems..from food to juices to beer and wine. They top that top with friendly, efficient and knowledgeable servers... Thank you Zeal for a wonderful and more than satisfying dining experience!!
(5)
Alison R.
Regret! Green juice is sour and gross. Bowl of undercooked veggies was $18 w just one egg on top, flavorless. No onions, garlic, salt. $25 for this?? Blech. Still, the service was kind and cool; they put an additional dollop of pesto on the veggies upon request. The place was sparkly clean. Deserves a star for that. Just, please, guys - being healthy does not have to taste boring or gross, ok? Extreme Virtuous Eating is classic Boulder :)
(2)
A L.
I gave Zeal 4-stars because there is major potential at this place. I think some minor tweaks could really make this place great. Let me say that some tweaks are absolutely necessary now that Lyfe Kitchen opened up a mere block away and is basically the same concept, but half the price. I like Zeal because they truly care and the owner, Wayde, is there every day walking around and talking to guests. The intentions of Zeal are spot on and great for Boulder, and well, any community that cares where their food comes from and what they put into their bodies. The atmosphere is also really pleasant as it is beautifully decorated. I have had the plant burger a couple of times and I find that it's dry and not worth the price, but again - has potential with a better sauce and something to give it oomph. The coconut curry bowl is really fantastic and is a lot of food for $13. If you are hungry, get this and make it your own. The smoothie flight for $7 is also a nice way to sample all of their core smoothies as they come in 4 shot glasses (and is definitely picture worthy.) The cons/improvement section: Every single time I have come in for lunch, I have ordered an appetizer and they have come back 5 minutes later telling me "we are out." Mind you, I have been in before 2pm and have ordered something simple like Hummus. Um, if you're running low - go purchase more ingredients or just simply be prepared to have enough for the lunchtime crowd. This is huge misstep. I also just find that some of the dishes are lackluster and not worth the price tag. If a salad is going to be $9, make it a $9 salad - don't give me wedge of romaine with some dressing on it and call it a meal. All of this being said, I really want this place to make it. The location of Zeal seems to have a curse, as no restaurant survives 2 years. This place has SO much potential, they just need to get their prices on par with what they are serving. The bowls and smoothies are fantastic, so build off of that. Have enough ingredients to make every dish throughout the day, and be cognizant that a very similar restaurant is down the street and there needs to be a reason to choose Zeal over it.
(4)
R G.
Something different. I'm in town visiting and my boyfriend took my here because he knows I love quinoa. I made my own bowl with quinoa, chicken, coconut curry and mixed veggies. It was all very tasty. The only thing I didn't like was how raw the veggies were, they were barely cooked. My boyfriend suspected that they cooked them this way on purpose since you lose nutrients in veggies if they are cooked to be softer. Seeing as this was a very healthy oriented joint, I took it as being my bad. I also ordered myself a buttercup milkshake. It was good but a little strange. It was a mixture of cocoa nibs, peanut butter, almond milk and some orange oil...thing. Overall the flavor was excellent but the oil but left a funny feeling in my mouth. Again, I'm going to say my bad. I thought the orange oil was more of flavoring. Not an actual oil. I would come here again. I would advise you ask a lot of questions about the menu if you decide to drop by. Something may not be exactly what you think it is.
(4)
Mike A.
Amazing quality food. Almost completely organic, great creative recipes, tons of options and combinations. Mostly gluten free, dairy free. My go to restaurant in Boulder.
(5)
Pork Chop H.
Really wanted to like this place as I recently embarked on the Paleo diet. For $50, we could have eaten like kings at Brasserie TenTen or many other delicious high-end joints in Boulder (that still are organic and use locally sourced food). Service is very sub-par (glad to see it wasn't just us, and echoed by fellow reviewers): Even though we made eye contact with the hostess and stood a foot away from her (or at least an employee who was seating others) and stood directly behind another party who she was seating, she never came back and no one acknowledged us for a long time. Then we sat forever at our table/counter, waiting to place drink orders. By that time, we were also ready to order our food. By the way, if you just want whiskey itself instead of the whole whiskey sour, it costs the same as the full sour... just a small beef. When we did get our water, it was two empty glasses delivered with a full bottle, which we immediately emptied into our two glasses. So then we had an empty bottle. Weird. We started with the Thai salad, which had nice flavors. A modest portion for $9. The kelp noodles weren't obvious to me, though, and I had forgotten that that was a part of the dish, til I noticed one speck at the end. I ordered the beef massaman which comes with rice (I think $15). Being Paleo/Primal-ish, I do eat white rice, but not brown, and inquired about what kind of rice it was, but they didn't have white rice as an option. So I got rice noodles instead. It was a hearty, flavorful bowl with lots of veggies (turnips were a nice touch), tender beef chunks, and a modest amount of (soggy) rice noodles. Hubs ordered the lemongrass pork which he added rice noodles to (+$2). The bowl was $16 total. The pork was good, but the "pickles and ferments" was just a light smattering of vinegary veggies and the amount of rice noodles was positively anemic (photo to come). For that amount of money, we could've gotten 2+ giant Vietnamese noodle bowls with the same flavors and sh*tloads of veggies/noodles at any Pho restaurant in Broomfield. Finally, because they are consistent, we sat forever, waiting for the bill. I did eventually get some attention when I sat with my credit card in my hand. Summary: Poor/slow service, inconsistent portion sizes for similar priced items, really overpriced for what it is...
(2)
Tenzi A.
This place is legit, organic, gluten-free, what else could a Boulder girl ask for?! Service was excellent, very attentive and personable!
(5)
James G.
The food used to be great but seems to be sliding downward lately. Called in an order for pick up recently, only to discover THERE'S A 7 PERCENT SURCHARGE for food that is take out. Not cool, Zeal. Not cool. But a great new way of ripping off customers! I'll no longer eat there just on principle. P.S. -- super overpriced for the small portions you get. I have come to discover that what you're paying for at Zeal, is its trendiness. Your money is best spent elsewhere.
I was starting to feel a little under the weather. We stopped in here and the fresh cuisine perked me right up! I loved the cold dill cucumber soup and the Brazilian acai bowl (which is just like they serve it in Brazil). The banh mi wasn't quite as flavorful as my husband hoped and my detox juice had a lot of foam on it that could have been skimmed off. But everything was delicious enough that we will certainly return in the next few days before leaving town.
(4)
Anna B.
One of the 2 all organic places I know in Boulder and was not disappointed. The food was great (only had some appetizers though) and the drinks were amazing! We sat at the bar and our bartender was super nice. All the servers walking by us were always smiling. Felt very welcomed. They are cheaper than Shine and I think a little better. If you appreciate and eat organic good, give this place a try. Bartender said they are all organic! Will return!
(5)
Sinead D.
Love this place. Went here for dinner - I had build you own bowl and it was amazing. Opted for the coconut curry sauce Smoothies are amazing - we came had one for breakfast the next day. Overall love this place, staff, food both amazing.
(5)
Brenda A.
I am absolutely delighted with the options served at Zeal and the quality of food provided. I love the design of the restaurant. It feels good to be in there. I am not crazy about the staff, there are far friendlier and more charismatic people in other restaurants, however its not bad at all.
(4)
D M.
Two of us visited for lunch yesterday and ordered a couple of different bowl creations. The food is simple, quality, and very tasty. The environment was nice, service was pretty good, and the food on everyone's plate around the restaurant also looked really good. I wish I lived nearby to try more of the menu here. I'll pay extra money for local organic food any day of the week, but some of the items on the menu did seem just a little steep. This is the only improvement area I would note based off a single visit.
(4)
Kadya A.
Came into here expecting some healthy food. The menu looks pretty good ill give them that. The service is horrid - waiter needs to talk 6 times louder and look me in the eyes ( he's too busy putting in orders on his iPad). The food - chicken was under cooked and contained some cartilage.. Bowl was pretty tasteless. Falafel tastes stale as cardboard and the tahini was watery. The shakes aren't bad though
(1)
Lois B.
What a great first time experience!! Great food great service!! Very attentive even though busy, and very efficient. Wonderful experience.
(5)
Ben S.
Yes the other reviews are valid; the service isn't too great. The guy at the front didn't know the menu, and my waitress was pretty slow. I had the lamb- great dish, but attention to detail was lost when I got a spoonful with a piece of bone.. Not cool. Pretty big portion otherwise, and taste was moderate. It's more of a soup than bowl.
(3)
John F.
I went to Zeal for a business lunch meeting, and was incredibly impressed. The "bowls" seemed what to try for my first visit and I had a vegetarian curry version with quinoa. Service was first class, the owner was greeting customers, and the portion was perfect.
(5)
D L.
Delicious, organic, fresh juices! You can get them to-go in a glass jar! Which I think is a lot better than the disposable plastic cups and straws post places use for to-go juices. I've only eaten there twice, once for brunch and once for lunch. It was great both times! Lost of healthy and vegan options. Nice location, outdoor patio, and their high-tech juicer is behind a big window so you can see it in action.
(5)
Bryan M.
3 Stars for food (avg) +1 extra for service (at the bar) and a bold attempt at non-GMO. Although I did enjoy the banh mi I had, I think they may want to re-visit the bread options for this particular style of sandwich. A banh mi is half-defined by the bread... and spelt bread left a little to be desired. I'm sure there's some non-GMO option of a baguette that works better. I'll definitely go back and try some of the bowl combinations, but there's not currently anything on the lunch menu to make me crave coming here.
(4)
Cait M.
On days I work late, I treat myself to The BKT to-go on my way home (that's bacon, kale and tomato). It's the BEST iteration of this sandwich I've ever had! In fact, I haven't tried anything else yet because I can't bring myself to not order it..... it's that good.
(5)
Wendi F.
My friend Erica loves Zeal so she recently asked me to have lunch with her and she would order for me. She knows everyone at Zeal and when I went with her, everyone was very friendly. This was a very different experience than my first 2 visits and Zeal must have handled some of those opening growing pains. The food I had was delicious. The service was great even though the place was packed. In the last couple of months I have noticed that Zeal is always packed. People are loving it and keeping it nice and busy. So the first time and second time I was there it was when they were newly opened. The good news is that this third time was the charm! I would definitely go back.
(4)
Marybeth L.
I really wanted to like this place. BUT it was overpriced and the portions were small. The food wasn't flavorful either. The juices were good, but you can get the same for cheaper at Whole Foods... Overall I felt "meh" about the place, and wanted my $50 back.
(3)
Cindy C.
I keep wanting the service to improve and the food to be great, but it is consistently disappointing. Worst frittata and mixed green salad I've ever had. I have had a good one here before. Sad.
(1)
Alejandro D.
It pains me to give poor reviews to places that want to be awesome but the truth is that its really mixed. First time I had an awesome sandwich, service was fantastic, they let me sample all their juices and I was about ready to give them 5 stars. Good thing I waited... Second time in, we ordered the bowls and two juices. First, the lemongrass pork, while yummy, was a ridiculously small portion. Maybe we should have gotten the hint when they kept suggesting a "grain" side. It was so small, we asked the server to confirm it wasn't a mistake. Sure enough it wasn't and since we didn't want to break the bank we just left hungry. The juices also seemed inconsistent. Tasted fresher the first time. Fix some of these flaws and I'd love to be a fan!
(3)
Naruto U.
This place has everything going for it, the food is the highest of quality. The service was very professional yet comfortable and relatable... Reason being that I dined with a snobby friend of sorts and he was rude to our waiter and he still maintained a very real composure and politeness and I really felt he differentiated between us and the snob. Another worker, possibly the manager came up to us to ask how we were doing and we connected with a discussion about GMO food and the quality of their food and was very reassured and felt good about what I was eating with the man's positive attitude and very genuine "zeal" for life so to speak. The flavors themselves are unique and complex, at least the white fish with squash was. Prices aren't ridiculous, it has a lot going for it.
(4)
D E.
Surprise! Surprise! With trepidation I joined a group of people who wanted vegan food for lunch. Understanding that this restaurant was brand new, I didn't have any great expectations for the service, or the menu. I was in Boulder after all... For a lark I started with the juice flight - four signature juices in a variety of colors. Wow! What a surprise - there were four very distinct flavors and sources. Then, being a true carnivore, I ordered the Beef Braise. Whoa! Deliciously seasoned and the tenderest of beef - it melted in my mouth. If this is what healthy foods taste like, I may well convert. As to the prior reviews: I'm sure the slight snags others wrote about will be ironed out, after all, new is new. But please don't change the menu!
(5)
Cooper S.
Sadly disappointing upon entering the resturaunt. Blonde hostess at front was terribly rude and glared as I walked to meet my party at the bar. I walked back to let her know that we were all here to be seated, she interrupted me to tell me that they "aren't allowed to take reservations." I told her that we had our name in for a table for four people and she blasted back "everyone is still eating." Huh? Seems like there's always teething pains when opening new resturaunts. We ended up sitting at the bar, which is where I am currently writing this review. My father wanted to set his coat on the hook underneath the bar When he did, his hands were somehow covered with an unidentifiable black substance that rubbed off from under the bar. On a brighter note, the smoothies are fantastic, which brings the restaurant up a star for my review. If you are planning to eat at Zeal, I would recommend waiting a couple more weeks for them to stabilize with their staff. Otherwise, prepare to be leniant with various glitches in the system.
(3)
Stevie J.
Let's keep this simple: Zeal is simply my favorite restaurant in the entire US. The Chef combines one of a kind, unique flavors that are superbly prepared, off the charts tasty, the service could not be more accommodating and the owner is a great guy, hands-on, cares about quality control and could not be kinder to his customers or staff. Combine the amazing food with an unmatched ambience and you've got Zeal. Their cornucopia of flavors and healthy choices is unrivaled. If we were living in Boulder, we'd be there every week without fail. Colorado residents, enjoy, you're extremely lucky. Visitor's to Boulder, Zeal is a must try!
(5)
Dhru P.
I don't write reviews for places but I had to for Zeal. My food was fantastic and came out quickly. Some of the reviews here mention poor service, but I didn't have any problem at all. Everyone was friendly and very knowledgeable. Everything I had was great, but the best was the "Build Your Own Bowl." I had the coconut curry sauce and it was fantastic. I also enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup. I'm from Santa Monica where we have a lot of great restaurants in the organic/gluten-free/clean space and this place is my favorite so far. I'll be in Boulder for another week and I'll be sure to go a few more times.
(5)
Samantha C.
We really wanted to like Zeal, but the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were very good, yet without tasty food it's hard to want to go back.
(2)
Brian T.
I love Zeal, the food is good and more important I support what they stand for as a non-GMO, local and organic as possible restaurant. Even in Boulder a totally non-GMO restaurant is a rarity. The raw trio balls were awesome.
(5)
Casey R.
The food here is delicious and would definitely rate 5 stars - when they are open! I've gone several times and found the restaurant to be closed during regular business hours which is frustrating because I'm not local. Tonight I swung by but was told they would be closing at 6pm because their computer systems were down. The owner was very friendly and apologetic, so I disappointingly went down the block to eat. When I got back to my car at 7:45 I found Zeal absolutely packed! I'm glad they were able to fix their computers and stay open, but think others should have fair warning that their hours can be spotty. Also: they don't serve lunch on the weekends until noon. I didn't see anything on their website or breakfast menu about that, so when I showed up at 11:45 on a Saturday and was told I couldn't get lunch I was a little surprised. They don't convert the kitchen to lunch until noon so, since I had an appointment at 12:30, I had to find another place to eat because I wanted lunch. Again, helpful info to have in advance. However, all the times I've been able to eat here I've had good service and really great food...
(3)
Jason F.
Zeal is definitely a new concept. They are trying to bring high quality organic and non GMO ingredients in a moderately priced offering. There are some definite hits on the menu such as the braised beef which is tender and flavorful. Some of the other item portions are a bit on the small side. Overall they are a new restaurant that is working out the kinks in menu and service. I will however say that they are gaining ground fast. Offering a tasty menu for a variety of diet inclinations (vegan, dairy free, etc. . .) and doing so at a reasonable price. PS The chocolate ganache tart is also fantastic!
(4)
Adria E.
I have no idea why Zeal would only have 3 stars? I live about a block away and I have a hard not not eating here at least once a day. I LE there menu. Breakfast lunch AND diner. There juices and smoothies are great, I love a breakfast with rice and veggies AND bacon. Salads are super yummy and I love the Tom yum soup. Come on! Get on board Boulder and send Zeal some Yelp
(5)
Monica C.
This place just opened on Pearl Street and it is way cool! They have a fresh juice bar, and are farm to table. We happened to walk by late one night and walked in to just check out what was happening. Chris immediately welcomed us and showed us around. We got a mini tour of the restaurant. They have a kind of "grocery" section, where you can pick up their bottled juices to go. Or you can sit for a meal, or sit at the bar and try some homemade kombucha, which is what we did. It was delicious!! Chris took us to the back and showed us where they make the kombucha. It was so cool getting to see where the food came from, and having that connection. I'll be updating this review after I eat there; can't wait to go back and explore more!
(5)
Brendan E.
Me and my girlfriend went to lunch expecting a lunch menu, but it's the same ridiculously over priced menu for both dinner and lunch!It was a rainy cool fall day, so we ordered the corn chowder, which turned out to be roasted corn and water, super bland, for seven dollars it could have been seasoned, but we needed salt, I complained and they took it off ! Then we ordered the miso garden bowl and jerk chicken. The miso bowl was super bland and had no discernible miso at all. The jerk chicken had no jerk and a anchovies aioli that was out of place and super fishy! The salad on the side of the sandwich was the best thing we had, great dressing!
(1)
Lara P.
I ordered the blueberry muffin shake, don't normally do something that rich but wanted to try it out. The flavor was great but I'll probably never order a shake with nuts again (to much for me). I was disappointed with the size for the price, I expected a large and received a small. Good atmosphere maybe I'll return for dinner.
(3)
Scott Y.
Zeal continues to prove its zest for healthy and sustainable fare combined with friendly service. I've been three times over the last month and each time I've felt valued as a customer and leave well fed. The fish special was very tasty, beautifully presented, and affordable IMO at $14. On another visit, I combined the Brussels salad with pork and made yummy noises with each bite. This morning, I couldn't finish the Bibimb'fast Bowl at breakfast so I had the second half for lunch--at $11, this is a dish two could share. Definitely looking forward to going back.
(5)
Austin T.
FOUR star menu (a bit bland, no hot peppers). We love the healthy choices in downtown Boulder for breakfast lunch and dinner especially the breakfast bowls.
(4)
Patrick R.
Fabulous, fantasy menu for Boulder, CO. Local, organic, gluten free, paleo and cleanse-friendly offerings. Completely delicious food. Recommend it for anyone even if they aren't "healthy" We had the brussel sprout salad with grilled chicken, roasted vegetable curry, falafel balls appetizer, a few of the fresh cold-pressed juices and the Asher amber on tap. Loved it all. Well done!
(5)
Paulina H.
Food is inconsistent but generally tasty. However, last week I had a horrendous experience. My sister was visiting and I took her there for lunch. We ordered the grilled romaine salad with beets and the chicken lettuce wraps to share. The salad arrived and it was delicious at first until I started tasting grit. My sister soon tasted it as well. I pulled the leaves apart and to my horror discovered GLOBS OF BLACK MUD/COMPOST caked between the leaves at the base of the lettuce half !!! I called the waitress over and she was most apologetic and took it right over to the chef. Shortly after the manager came over to let us know that we would not be charged (really) and that it was not mud but rather black grease from their grill. Was that supposed to make us feel better? Using the excuse that the grill was so filthy that globs of black grease could make their way into the base of the romaine half between the leaves rather than just apologizing for the mess up was poor customer service. We had him rub a sample of the goo between his fingers( which by the way, had dirty finger nails) so that he could feel the grit. He tried to rationalize it by saying it was difficult to wash all the dirt out of the lettuce. We were not talking a little grit these were clods. It was disgusting!!! We left a tip for our waitress and left. We walked next door to Pizzaria Locale for a delicious, clean meal SANS DIRT!
(1)
loren l.
Great healthy place. Green juice and orange (not on menu- OJ, lemon, basil, cantalope) were AWESOME!! Frittata and Sammy were both great! Early bunch is great here.
(5)
Laura D.
This place is totally impressed with itself. Me? Not so much. Bowl of "ferments" was more like raw veggies with some vinegar sprinkled on it. I tried the build your own bowl, which was okay, but something I could have easily whipped up at home with less fanfare and much less pretense. I had some manner of grapefruit and vodka cocktail, which wasn't bad - a kind of salty dog. The short review is that the food was rather mundane, but given fancy names and somewhat exorbitant prices for what was offered.
(3)
Amy O.
HOWWW can Zeal only have 3 stars?!? Offensive. Super cute, clean, light atmosphere inside. The entire staff was very friendly. And for what they offer (gmo-free, gf, etc), the prices were extremely reasonable. I enjoyed a flight of juices from the tap and built my own bowl. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Like F.
I'm glad Zeal has come to town. I'd like to see it be successful. I'm tempted to give them 4 stars (for the Pros) but too many Cons. Pros: - Some of the dishes are quite tasty (create your own bowls, lamb braise), Diavlo sauce) - Great place for someone with food allergies/sensitivities - Decor - Friendly staff who seem to care about what they're doing. Cons: - There's a fine line between moderate portions & downright stinginess. At times, Zeal crosses this line. - Some dishes -- Meh (Grilled Fish -- not so fresh/fishy, not cooked so well). Margaritas are pretty awful. - When it's crowded, it can be quite loud. - Too expensive for portion size -- either knock a couple bucks off your prices or increase portion size.
(3)
M M.
I didn't really expect to like this place, but I gave it a whirl because it is close to work. I got the Bahn Mi wrap in a rice wrap for take out. It took a long time and set me back $14ish. What can I say? It was pretty gross. The wrap itself was kind of soggy and had a creepy texture because the contents of the wrap were quite wet. There was a lot of strong tasting aoli (which didn't taste particularly bahn mi-ish) and quite a lot of something called "cashew cheese", which was an unpleasant and unnecessary addition. Bahn Mi sandwiches don't usually have cheese in them...so why throw in this strange substance? My wrap came with some tired looking greens and icky tasting dressing. I like healthy food, but it doesn't have to taste terrible to be good for you.
(2)
Robert R.
Very sorry to say, horrible value and bland taste. Been twice - tried to give it second shot for breakfast. Got a $9 Acai bowl and paid $1 for blueberries - I am not exaggerating - it was a tablespoon of blueberries. I counted them, lol. 18 of them. The first time, I got the curry bowl w/ organic chicken - was VERY excited on a cold day. Chicken was very weird and lots of dark meat. Too chewy. Few vegetables. $10 I think that was. Small serving. The smoothy was very bland. The gluten free cookie (I love gluten free cookies) was horrible. Like the ones they made in the 80's. Cardboard. Servers I had both times didn't know much about the specifics of the menu. I am not sure why this company doesn't get their act together. I want them to succeed since the H Burger before them left. But I gotta be honest here in hopes changes are made.
(1)
Loan T.
I have been to Zeal twice and I really wanted to like the place. The first time I ordered their Carrot Falafel and something else I did not remember, the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were okay. Second time I came here and had a glass of red juice and a glass of red wine. I did not order food after observing the cleanliness standards of Zeal was low. Their chefs do not wear gloves handling the food. The chefs and the manager were rubbing their nose, pulling their jeans, stroking their beards. I would like to avoid unpleasant finds in their food. Bahn mi sandwich should be spelled Banh mi sandwich? Thank you.
(1)
Julie S.
Really enjoyed this place and loved my meal!! Ordered large size of vegetable rainbow curry with chicken and it was so satisfying, plus a huge portion!! Would highly recommend! Waiter was super friendly and helpful, too!
(4)
Nathaniel N.
Waited 20 minutes just for them to take my order. For the high prices, the food is good but if youre gonna charge that high, at least take my order more promptly. Not coming again.
(2)
Emily S.
The worst. Well the food is good but the prices are literally insane. It is way too much for what it is. Very small smoothies for $10. Would be helpful if they had a happy hour or some sort of deal. By the way everyone in town says this. Too pricy.
(1)
Kelly F.
Excellent allergy-friendly options, fabulous juices, really good appetizers. The stars are for the food and atmosphere. No stars for a juice that costs nine dollars (a bit over-priced, I'd say) and the wait staff is oddly un-friendly.
Good food but terrible service. They were slow and refused to split our check with a table of 9. It also took a long time for them to bring us water, out drink order and even take our order. Beautiful interior...good concept but need to work on customer service, especially when patrons are waiting for service while they see staff joking around with each other.
(2)
Brian D.
Tonight was our second visit to Zeal. First visit was right after they opened. Sad to say, the outcome was the same. Like the first, the service was lacking in so many ways. Took forever to be acknowledged by a server, so we knew what we wanted when we finally ordered. Salad and entree came out together. From there on we were ignored. No offer for another glass of wine, more water, how our food was, desert...nothing. Even getting our check took forever. Other tables were suffering the same fate. I wanted to like this place but two strikes and you are out.
(1)
Ruth M.
So glad to have Zeal in Boulder! It is always a good healthy option. My Favorites are Rainbow Curry and Thai Salad. It's great you can get couliflower rice instead of traditional. I have found it can be hit or miss with what you order and desserts are not so great. Also nice open design for warmer days.
(4)
Charity G.
The food here is amazing! I enjoyed the Carrot Falafel (which they make using leftover pulp from the carrots they juice) and it wasthe best I've ever had. Very flavorful, with a little kick! I also had their red juice and loved it. I can tell that I am going to be a regular here. So excited to have Zeal on Pearl Street!
(5)
Betty J.
New place on Pearl. Super modern and gives a local feel too. I got the Red juice. It was delicious. For $9 it better be. I'm not super into the Boulder vibe, but I liked this place and the owner was very kind. I hope this place does well although it isn't totally my style.
(5)
Mike Q.
Just finished eating their BTK and I have to say that it's a pretty damn fine sandwich... on the inside. Seriously, Zeal, I know that you're trying to be all gluten-free and heart healthy, but the fact that you stuffed some awesome sandwich ingredients in between 2 pieces of cardboard makes me not want to come back. Other than that, the lemon flavored salad dressing was pretty unique and tasty. As far as service goes, I have no comment. I wasn't the one who actually went and got the food.
(3)
GG G.
I give them a for great fresh ingredients but as far as flavors, it could be better. Veggie curry bowl was ok, nothing memorable. Acai bowl was better but so small it was sad. When it come to clean, healthy super foods it think we can be more generous on the portions.
(3)
Josh S.
The food here is consistently good: tasty, and often original, and always healthy. Lots of options for all dietary preferences/needs. I have taken friends from both Santa Monica and New York City and both sets of friends wanted to go back.
(4)
Kelly P.
Fabulously delicious and healthy! Great ambiance (loved meeting everyone at the community table), great service, owner circulates tables and checks on tables. The avocado on the half shell was amazing, the tamari almonds are completely addicting. The Cobb chicken sandwich was great & Was astonished to learn that the baguette it was served on was gluten free - incredibly good. I stole some of my husband's grilled fish, which was also excellent.
(5)
Jami C.
Everyone in Boulder is always boasting about being so over the top healthy. Zeal is the first place I've been to that doesn't just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk. Everything we've ever had there has been nothing short of delicious AND packed with nutrients! I would especially recommend the Bahn Mi Chicken in a chard wrap, the Lemongrass Pork, the Green Juice with whichever doTerra essential oil you waiter recommends and the Raw Cacao Balls for dessert. The owner has always been there making rounds and talking to tables. He is very personable and obviously knows and has a passion for high quality food. Last time I was there, he mentioned potentially serving bullet proof coffee in the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But even without BP coffee - Zeal is the perfect place to go if you're looking for tasty, nutrition dense food!
(5)
Kat S.
The food is decent but I am by no means blown away. They've messed up my order twice out of the four times that I've been there and with each visit, I keep hoping they'll work out their kinks. I think the iPad ordering system leads to orders getting messed up. I know it has only been one month but for the price, I'd rather just go to Leaf. Sorry Zeal. I'll give you another shot in 6 months when you receive more feedback but until then, I won't be back.
(2)
Russ H.
Love it. Fresh, inventive, healthy and tasty.
(5)
Zack S.
Came here looking specifically for a gluten-free dinner in Boulder. Found out they don't mark what's gluten free on the menu... Only because it's easier to mark what few thing DO contain gluten. All allergens are listed and everything is GMO free. The bowls are amazing (I recommend getting chicken and avocado with coconut curry sauce) and big serving sizes too. Don't order a large unless you are ready to take some home! On top of all that, our server was awesome! Definitely make it a point to stop here if you're in Boulder! Only thing that could have made it better is if we made it to happy hour on time (ends at 5:30)!
(5)
Dave Z.
We called up to make sure that some breakfast items we wanted would be available, and were told they would be until noon, and got there a couple of minutes after 11. We were given a lunch menu that didn't have the items we wanted, and were then told they switched over the kitchen at 11. There were 2 other customers in the place, and doubtful any others were coming in any time soon, and the manager made no effort to fix this for us, even after we told her about calling. We left (never to return) and went to Shine a couple of blocks away where we got excellent food.
(1)
Jamie S.
I am absolutely in love with this place!!! Took my best friend,who is gluten free, here for brunch. Can not say enough good things! Unlike the other reviewers we had amazing service. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and had great suggestions! Food was delicious and healthy!! If this place was close to my house I would probably eat here every day!!!
(5)
Sandra S.
NOT VEGAN FRIENDLY! So I heard from some friends that this place had some vegan dishes. First of all, we waited 15 minutes before anyone paid attention to us and then the hostess was snarky and the server was so rude! Then the portions were really small and expensive. I ordered the very bland curry and the greens, and I am positive that I tasted dead animal! This place capitalizes on the vegan market but if you read the first post on their website's blog you will see how they truly feel about vegans. The owner is complaining about vegans and mocking us for being vegan and for being upset that their so called "vegan" Zeal food was in fact not vegan and cooked with meat. They should not state that they have vegan food when they cook their food with meat. I wish I had read their blog and seen the yelp review written by the vegan that they were so rude to before going. VEGANS STAY AWAY! We endure enough discrimination and lack of legitimate choices as it is. After decades of diligence, I actually ingested meat! Please read the reviews that are not currently recommended. They help reinforce the other negative reviews here.
(1)
Lara G.
We love Zeal! It's super important to us that the food is made from high quality grass fed, organic ingredients etc. Everything we have tried has been delicious and generous portions too. My daughter and I LOVE the lamb braise bowl and of course all the desserts. The lemon grass pork bowl is also amazing. Fabulous restaurant and one of only a few that actually inspire us to eat out in Boulder.
(5)
Amy H.
I think Zeal is a wonderful concept. I am not a vegan, but I try to eat in a healthy way, and that what Zeal is all about. I have been twice, and loved it both times. My breakfast was so delicious and simple- scrambled local eggs, steamed greens and sweet potato hash- brilliant colors and perfect seasoning. I ate every bite, and the portions were just right- no food wasted and I left fully satisfied! I also had the juice flight so I could sample all four kinds. They tasted great and the colors were extraordinary, just like the food. I will say that the juice is very expensive- $8 for a glass- my sampler was $7 for four 2 oz shots- and that tends to put me off a bit. However, I know it's good organic non GMO stuff in that glass. You get what you pay for! I went for lunch with my husband, for whom taste is the first and foremost criterion. He absolutely loved his chicken diavolo sandwich that was served with greens on the side. I had a brussels sprout salad that needed more pecans and sweet potatoes- i can only eat so many raw brussels! The flavor was good but again, it needed more of the other ingredients to make it more interesting. I also love the decor and the fact that you can see for yourself how well run the kitchen is.
(5)
Christina E.
I came to Zeal off a recommendation from a yoga instructor at Yoga Loft when I was visiting Boulder on a one-day excursion. I found the food and homemade kombucha OUT OF THIS WORLD! I will be back!
(5)
Brie S.
I adore this place! Cold pressed juices, glutard friendly, vegan and even raw diet friendly. (Did I mention friendly?) so nice to be treated to healthy delicious food and drinks. They cook in front of you, and the food is both delicious and CLEAN. Smoothie are great. Coconut curry awesome. The macro is one of my favorites, and I have yet to get anything I have not enjoyed. It is hard for me not to end up there EVERY day, however, even if it's for the flight of juices for only $7 or a ling or wonderful homemade kombucha! If you have dietary restrictions, you have got to try this restaurant.
(5)
Meghan E.
We went there this past weekend with a group of six people. We had made a reservation but our table was not ready when we got there so they sat us at the bar while we waited and allowed us to order. Once we were moved to our table, we had issues with the service since we were seated in a different section than the original server's section. The manager was on top of it however and agreed to take care of it. He did a great job and was very personable. The food was AMAZING though. We started with the grilled asparagus and then we had our entrees--three make-your-own bowls and three sandwiches. Everything was fresh and delicious! We will definitely be back especially because of the amazing food and the way the manager handled issues in his restaurant!
(4)
Paige L.
I almost feel bad writing this review, but then I remember our experience and it's worth noting. Frankly is just wasn't great and you can visit better places in Boulder. We went because a friend suggested it, knowing I was vegan and my boyfriend and mom are omnivores. My mom got the chicken Cobb which she said was good, but it was just a sandwich and the bread could have been much better. My boyfriend got the chicken diavlo and the sauce was spicy but didn't have much flavor, and the rice and veggies were pretty plain. I got the rainbow veggie curry bowl which was surprisingly small. The bowl was good, not outstanding for the price, and I left feeling like I needed more food and something more salty, which is why we didn't get dessert. On top of that, we kept having to hunt down our waiter, instead of having him visit the table every once in awhile to see if we needed anything. We have been to some new restaurants lately and understand how starting out can cause slow service, steep prices, etc, but at least the food should be something to rave about. But it just wasn't. I wouldn't go back again. As a vegan with meat eating friends and family, there are many more options in boulder.
(2)
Hardy K.
Excited to get a healthy salad on the east end of Pearl st mall, I decided to give Zeal a try. I ordered a salad with chicken for lunch. What I got was a $14 dollar tapa sized salad (the portion was the size of my fist). Was the food good? It was average but for $14 I expected at least a lunch portion. Basically I felt like was mugged. Next time I'll walk across the mall to the Kitchen Next Door if I want a healthy "locally sourced" salad for lunch and it will cost me $10 and I'll feel good about it. Zeal took the zeal out of my lunch mood. Oh, when I took my meal to go back to my office the staff laughed when they saw the portion size. Well at least I lost a pound that day.
(1)
Angela M.
I just learned about Zeal and had to try it since I am always looking for new gluten free restaurants. The curb appeal is great and the ambiance inside is very hip and inviting. The menu was mouthwatering and there were lots of great choices. The downfall for me was the price tag. My curry coconut veggies with grass fed beef was tasty but not any where near $25 worth and I didn't even have a drink. I hope they make it but I need to be really wowed for a $25 lunch to go back.
(3)
Akin P.
One of the best restaurants I've been too. Great service, unique menu, delicious healthy flavorful food. Miso bowl and 9 herb pesto were phenomenal as well as their juices!
(5)
Ginger P.
Most amazing smoothies and juices. Addictive. I had a Build Your Own Bowl. The first was made with cauliflower rice and was watery. The second was with brown rice and was delicious and so healthy. This place is a trailblazer for healthy, organic, local food that is made with love and delicious. Give it a try. It is new.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rich F.
Zeal is one of our favorite and most regularly-attended restaurants in Boulder. The differentiator for us is that Zeal really knows how to prepare vegetables in delicious ways. Our favorites are the sautéed greens (when they have them) and the green beans (these aren't always available either). We feel good about eating this food and serving it to our kids, and our kids enjoy it.
(5)dennis c.
By far the best meal I've had in a restaurant in a long time!! There's something for every taste it seems..from food to juices to beer and wine. They top that top with friendly, efficient and knowledgeable servers... Thank you Zeal for a wonderful and more than satisfying dining experience!!
(5)Anna B.
One of the 2 all organic places I know in Boulder and was not disappointed. The food was great (only had some appetizers though) and the drinks were amazing! We sat at the bar and our bartender was super nice. All the servers walking by us were always smiling. Felt very welcomed. They are cheaper than Shine and I think a little better. If you appreciate and eat organic good, give this place a try. Bartender said they are all organic! Will return!
(5)Sinead D.
Love this place. Went here for dinner - I had build you own bowl and it was amazing. Opted for the coconut curry sauce Smoothies are amazing - we came had one for breakfast the next day. Overall love this place, staff, food both amazing.
(5)Brenda A.
I am absolutely delighted with the options served at Zeal and the quality of food provided. I love the design of the restaurant. It feels good to be in there. I am not crazy about the staff, there are far friendlier and more charismatic people in other restaurants, however its not bad at all.
(4)D M.
Two of us visited for lunch yesterday and ordered a couple of different bowl creations. The food is simple, quality, and very tasty. The environment was nice, service was pretty good, and the food on everyone's plate around the restaurant also looked really good. I wish I lived nearby to try more of the menu here. I'll pay extra money for local organic food any day of the week, but some of the items on the menu did seem just a little steep. This is the only improvement area I would note based off a single visit.
(4)Kadya A.
Came into here expecting some healthy food. The menu looks pretty good ill give them that. The service is horrid - waiter needs to talk 6 times louder and look me in the eyes ( he's too busy putting in orders on his iPad). The food - chicken was under cooked and contained some cartilage.. Bowl was pretty tasteless. Falafel tastes stale as cardboard and the tahini was watery. The shakes aren't bad though
(1)Lois B.
What a great first time experience!! Great food great service!! Very attentive even though busy, and very efficient. Wonderful experience.
(5)Ben S.
Yes the other reviews are valid; the service isn't too great. The guy at the front didn't know the menu, and my waitress was pretty slow. I had the lamb- great dish, but attention to detail was lost when I got a spoonful with a piece of bone.. Not cool. Pretty big portion otherwise, and taste was moderate. It's more of a soup than bowl.
(3)John F.
I went to Zeal for a business lunch meeting, and was incredibly impressed. The "bowls" seemed what to try for my first visit and I had a vegetarian curry version with quinoa. Service was first class, the owner was greeting customers, and the portion was perfect.
(5)D L.
Delicious, organic, fresh juices! You can get them to-go in a glass jar! Which I think is a lot better than the disposable plastic cups and straws post places use for to-go juices. I've only eaten there twice, once for brunch and once for lunch. It was great both times! Lost of healthy and vegan options. Nice location, outdoor patio, and their high-tech juicer is behind a big window so you can see it in action.
(5)Bryan M.
3 Stars for food (avg) +1 extra for service (at the bar) and a bold attempt at non-GMO. Although I did enjoy the banh mi I had, I think they may want to re-visit the bread options for this particular style of sandwich. A banh mi is half-defined by the bread... and spelt bread left a little to be desired. I'm sure there's some non-GMO option of a baguette that works better. I'll definitely go back and try some of the bowl combinations, but there's not currently anything on the lunch menu to make me crave coming here.
(4)Cait M.
On days I work late, I treat myself to The BKT to-go on my way home (that's bacon, kale and tomato). It's the BEST iteration of this sandwich I've ever had! In fact, I haven't tried anything else yet because I can't bring myself to not order it..... it's that good.
(5)Wendi F.
My friend Erica loves Zeal so she recently asked me to have lunch with her and she would order for me. She knows everyone at Zeal and when I went with her, everyone was very friendly. This was a very different experience than my first 2 visits and Zeal must have handled some of those opening growing pains. The food I had was delicious. The service was great even though the place was packed. In the last couple of months I have noticed that Zeal is always packed. People are loving it and keeping it nice and busy. So the first time and second time I was there it was when they were newly opened. The good news is that this third time was the charm! I would definitely go back.
(4)Marybeth L.
I really wanted to like this place. BUT it was overpriced and the portions were small. The food wasn't flavorful either. The juices were good, but you can get the same for cheaper at Whole Foods... Overall I felt "meh" about the place, and wanted my $50 back.
(3)Cindy C.
I keep wanting the service to improve and the food to be great, but it is consistently disappointing. Worst frittata and mixed green salad I've ever had. I have had a good one here before. Sad.
(1)Alejandro D.
It pains me to give poor reviews to places that want to be awesome but the truth is that its really mixed. First time I had an awesome sandwich, service was fantastic, they let me sample all their juices and I was about ready to give them 5 stars. Good thing I waited... Second time in, we ordered the bowls and two juices. First, the lemongrass pork, while yummy, was a ridiculously small portion. Maybe we should have gotten the hint when they kept suggesting a "grain" side. It was so small, we asked the server to confirm it wasn't a mistake. Sure enough it wasn't and since we didn't want to break the bank we just left hungry. The juices also seemed inconsistent. Tasted fresher the first time. Fix some of these flaws and I'd love to be a fan!
(3)D E.
Surprise! Surprise! With trepidation I joined a group of people who wanted vegan food for lunch. Understanding that this restaurant was brand new, I didn't have any great expectations for the service, or the menu. I was in Boulder after all... For a lark I started with the juice flight - four signature juices in a variety of colors. Wow! What a surprise - there were four very distinct flavors and sources. Then, being a true carnivore, I ordered the Beef Braise. Whoa! Deliciously seasoned and the tenderest of beef - it melted in my mouth. If this is what healthy foods taste like, I may well convert. As to the prior reviews: I'm sure the slight snags others wrote about will be ironed out, after all, new is new. But please don't change the menu!
(5)Naruto U.
This place has everything going for it, the food is the highest of quality. The service was very professional yet comfortable and relatable... Reason being that I dined with a snobby friend of sorts and he was rude to our waiter and he still maintained a very real composure and politeness and I really felt he differentiated between us and the snob. Another worker, possibly the manager came up to us to ask how we were doing and we connected with a discussion about GMO food and the quality of their food and was very reassured and felt good about what I was eating with the man's positive attitude and very genuine "zeal" for life so to speak. The flavors themselves are unique and complex, at least the white fish with squash was. Prices aren't ridiculous, it has a lot going for it.
(4)Cooper S.
Sadly disappointing upon entering the resturaunt. Blonde hostess at front was terribly rude and glared as I walked to meet my party at the bar. I walked back to let her know that we were all here to be seated, she interrupted me to tell me that they "aren't allowed to take reservations." I told her that we had our name in for a table for four people and she blasted back "everyone is still eating." Huh? Seems like there's always teething pains when opening new resturaunts. We ended up sitting at the bar, which is where I am currently writing this review. My father wanted to set his coat on the hook underneath the bar When he did, his hands were somehow covered with an unidentifiable black substance that rubbed off from under the bar. On a brighter note, the smoothies are fantastic, which brings the restaurant up a star for my review. If you are planning to eat at Zeal, I would recommend waiting a couple more weeks for them to stabilize with their staff. Otherwise, prepare to be leniant with various glitches in the system.
(3)Stevie J.
Let's keep this simple: Zeal is simply my favorite restaurant in the entire US. The Chef combines one of a kind, unique flavors that are superbly prepared, off the charts tasty, the service could not be more accommodating and the owner is a great guy, hands-on, cares about quality control and could not be kinder to his customers or staff. Combine the amazing food with an unmatched ambience and you've got Zeal. Their cornucopia of flavors and healthy choices is unrivaled. If we were living in Boulder, we'd be there every week without fail. Colorado residents, enjoy, you're extremely lucky. Visitor's to Boulder, Zeal is a must try!
(5)Dhru P.
I don't write reviews for places but I had to for Zeal. My food was fantastic and came out quickly. Some of the reviews here mention poor service, but I didn't have any problem at all. Everyone was friendly and very knowledgeable. Everything I had was great, but the best was the "Build Your Own Bowl." I had the coconut curry sauce and it was fantastic. I also enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup. I'm from Santa Monica where we have a lot of great restaurants in the organic/gluten-free/clean space and this place is my favorite so far. I'll be in Boulder for another week and I'll be sure to go a few more times.
(5)Samantha C.
We really wanted to like Zeal, but the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were very good, yet without tasty food it's hard to want to go back.
(2)Casey R.
The food here is delicious and would definitely rate 5 stars - when they are open! I've gone several times and found the restaurant to be closed during regular business hours which is frustrating because I'm not local. Tonight I swung by but was told they would be closing at 6pm because their computer systems were down. The owner was very friendly and apologetic, so I disappointingly went down the block to eat. When I got back to my car at 7:45 I found Zeal absolutely packed! I'm glad they were able to fix their computers and stay open, but think others should have fair warning that their hours can be spotty. Also: they don't serve lunch on the weekends until noon. I didn't see anything on their website or breakfast menu about that, so when I showed up at 11:45 on a Saturday and was told I couldn't get lunch I was a little surprised. They don't convert the kitchen to lunch until noon so, since I had an appointment at 12:30, I had to find another place to eat because I wanted lunch. Again, helpful info to have in advance. However, all the times I've been able to eat here I've had good service and really great food...
(3)Brian T.
I love Zeal, the food is good and more important I support what they stand for as a non-GMO, local and organic as possible restaurant. Even in Boulder a totally non-GMO restaurant is a rarity. The raw trio balls were awesome.
(5)Jason F.
Zeal is definitely a new concept. They are trying to bring high quality organic and non GMO ingredients in a moderately priced offering. There are some definite hits on the menu such as the braised beef which is tender and flavorful. Some of the other item portions are a bit on the small side. Overall they are a new restaurant that is working out the kinks in menu and service. I will however say that they are gaining ground fast. Offering a tasty menu for a variety of diet inclinations (vegan, dairy free, etc. . .) and doing so at a reasonable price. PS The chocolate ganache tart is also fantastic!
(4)Adria E.
I have no idea why Zeal would only have 3 stars? I live about a block away and I have a hard not not eating here at least once a day. I LE there menu. Breakfast lunch AND diner. There juices and smoothies are great, I love a breakfast with rice and veggies AND bacon. Salads are super yummy and I love the Tom yum soup. Come on! Get on board Boulder and send Zeal some Yelp
(5)Monica C.
This place just opened on Pearl Street and it is way cool! They have a fresh juice bar, and are farm to table. We happened to walk by late one night and walked in to just check out what was happening. Chris immediately welcomed us and showed us around. We got a mini tour of the restaurant. They have a kind of "grocery" section, where you can pick up their bottled juices to go. Or you can sit for a meal, or sit at the bar and try some homemade kombucha, which is what we did. It was delicious!! Chris took us to the back and showed us where they make the kombucha. It was so cool getting to see where the food came from, and having that connection. I'll be updating this review after I eat there; can't wait to go back and explore more!
(5)Brendan E.
Me and my girlfriend went to lunch expecting a lunch menu, but it's the same ridiculously over priced menu for both dinner and lunch!It was a rainy cool fall day, so we ordered the corn chowder, which turned out to be roasted corn and water, super bland, for seven dollars it could have been seasoned, but we needed salt, I complained and they took it off ! Then we ordered the miso garden bowl and jerk chicken. The miso bowl was super bland and had no discernible miso at all. The jerk chicken had no jerk and a anchovies aioli that was out of place and super fishy! The salad on the side of the sandwich was the best thing we had, great dressing!
(1)Lara P.
I ordered the blueberry muffin shake, don't normally do something that rich but wanted to try it out. The flavor was great but I'll probably never order a shake with nuts again (to much for me). I was disappointed with the size for the price, I expected a large and received a small. Good atmosphere maybe I'll return for dinner.
(3)Scott Y.
Zeal continues to prove its zest for healthy and sustainable fare combined with friendly service. I've been three times over the last month and each time I've felt valued as a customer and leave well fed. The fish special was very tasty, beautifully presented, and affordable IMO at $14. On another visit, I combined the Brussels salad with pork and made yummy noises with each bite. This morning, I couldn't finish the Bibimb'fast Bowl at breakfast so I had the second half for lunch--at $11, this is a dish two could share. Definitely looking forward to going back.
(5)Austin T.
FOUR star menu (a bit bland, no hot peppers). We love the healthy choices in downtown Boulder for breakfast lunch and dinner especially the breakfast bowls.
(4)Patrick R.
Fabulous, fantasy menu for Boulder, CO. Local, organic, gluten free, paleo and cleanse-friendly offerings. Completely delicious food. Recommend it for anyone even if they aren't "healthy" We had the brussel sprout salad with grilled chicken, roasted vegetable curry, falafel balls appetizer, a few of the fresh cold-pressed juices and the Asher amber on tap. Loved it all. Well done!
(5)Paulina H.
Food is inconsistent but generally tasty. However, last week I had a horrendous experience. My sister was visiting and I took her there for lunch. We ordered the grilled romaine salad with beets and the chicken lettuce wraps to share. The salad arrived and it was delicious at first until I started tasting grit. My sister soon tasted it as well. I pulled the leaves apart and to my horror discovered GLOBS OF BLACK MUD/COMPOST caked between the leaves at the base of the lettuce half !!! I called the waitress over and she was most apologetic and took it right over to the chef. Shortly after the manager came over to let us know that we would not be charged (really) and that it was not mud but rather black grease from their grill. Was that supposed to make us feel better? Using the excuse that the grill was so filthy that globs of black grease could make their way into the base of the romaine half between the leaves rather than just apologizing for the mess up was poor customer service. We had him rub a sample of the goo between his fingers( which by the way, had dirty finger nails) so that he could feel the grit. He tried to rationalize it by saying it was difficult to wash all the dirt out of the lettuce. We were not talking a little grit these were clods. It was disgusting!!! We left a tip for our waitress and left. We walked next door to Pizzaria Locale for a delicious, clean meal SANS DIRT!
(1)loren l.
Great healthy place. Green juice and orange (not on menu- OJ, lemon, basil, cantalope) were AWESOME!! Frittata and Sammy were both great! Early bunch is great here.
(5)Laura D.
This place is totally impressed with itself. Me? Not so much. Bowl of "ferments" was more like raw veggies with some vinegar sprinkled on it. I tried the build your own bowl, which was okay, but something I could have easily whipped up at home with less fanfare and much less pretense. I had some manner of grapefruit and vodka cocktail, which wasn't bad - a kind of salty dog. The short review is that the food was rather mundane, but given fancy names and somewhat exorbitant prices for what was offered.
(3)Amy O.
HOWWW can Zeal only have 3 stars?!? Offensive. Super cute, clean, light atmosphere inside. The entire staff was very friendly. And for what they offer (gmo-free, gf, etc), the prices were extremely reasonable. I enjoyed a flight of juices from the tap and built my own bowl. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Like F.
I'm glad Zeal has come to town. I'd like to see it be successful. I'm tempted to give them 4 stars (for the Pros) but too many Cons. Pros: - Some of the dishes are quite tasty (create your own bowls, lamb braise), Diavlo sauce) - Great place for someone with food allergies/sensitivities - Decor - Friendly staff who seem to care about what they're doing. Cons: - There's a fine line between moderate portions & downright stinginess. At times, Zeal crosses this line. - Some dishes -- Meh (Grilled Fish -- not so fresh/fishy, not cooked so well). Margaritas are pretty awful. - When it's crowded, it can be quite loud. - Too expensive for portion size -- either knock a couple bucks off your prices or increase portion size.
(3)M M.
I didn't really expect to like this place, but I gave it a whirl because it is close to work. I got the Bahn Mi wrap in a rice wrap for take out. It took a long time and set me back $14ish. What can I say? It was pretty gross. The wrap itself was kind of soggy and had a creepy texture because the contents of the wrap were quite wet. There was a lot of strong tasting aoli (which didn't taste particularly bahn mi-ish) and quite a lot of something called "cashew cheese", which was an unpleasant and unnecessary addition. Bahn Mi sandwiches don't usually have cheese in them...so why throw in this strange substance? My wrap came with some tired looking greens and icky tasting dressing. I like healthy food, but it doesn't have to taste terrible to be good for you.
(2)Robert R.
Very sorry to say, horrible value and bland taste. Been twice - tried to give it second shot for breakfast. Got a $9 Acai bowl and paid $1 for blueberries - I am not exaggerating - it was a tablespoon of blueberries. I counted them, lol. 18 of them. The first time, I got the curry bowl w/ organic chicken - was VERY excited on a cold day. Chicken was very weird and lots of dark meat. Too chewy. Few vegetables. $10 I think that was. Small serving. The smoothy was very bland. The gluten free cookie (I love gluten free cookies) was horrible. Like the ones they made in the 80's. Cardboard. Servers I had both times didn't know much about the specifics of the menu. I am not sure why this company doesn't get their act together. I want them to succeed since the H Burger before them left. But I gotta be honest here in hopes changes are made.
(1)Loan T.
I have been to Zeal twice and I really wanted to like the place. The first time I ordered their Carrot Falafel and something else I did not remember, the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were okay. Second time I came here and had a glass of red juice and a glass of red wine. I did not order food after observing the cleanliness standards of Zeal was low. Their chefs do not wear gloves handling the food. The chefs and the manager were rubbing their nose, pulling their jeans, stroking their beards. I would like to avoid unpleasant finds in their food. Bahn mi sandwich should be spelled Banh mi sandwich? Thank you.
(1)Julie S.
Really enjoyed this place and loved my meal!! Ordered large size of vegetable rainbow curry with chicken and it was so satisfying, plus a huge portion!! Would highly recommend! Waiter was super friendly and helpful, too!
(4)Nathaniel N.
Waited 20 minutes just for them to take my order. For the high prices, the food is good but if youre gonna charge that high, at least take my order more promptly. Not coming again.
(2)Emily S.
The worst. Well the food is good but the prices are literally insane. It is way too much for what it is. Very small smoothies for $10. Would be helpful if they had a happy hour or some sort of deal. By the way everyone in town says this. Too pricy.
(1)Kelly F.
Excellent allergy-friendly options, fabulous juices, really good appetizers. The stars are for the food and atmosphere. No stars for a juice that costs nine dollars (a bit over-priced, I'd say) and the wait staff is oddly un-friendly.
(4)Lindsey B.
I wasn't aware of Zeal's existence (we were told it opened a month ago), but we were pulled in by the beautiful decor. You want inspiration for your living space? Zeal is a great place to go with its creative use of palettes, chalkboard paint, and charming DIY-esque bell jar light fixtures. A++ for the décor. However. Décor doesn't mean much if your food isn't fantastic ... and this restaurant seems to have some serious kinks to work out, especially if they're going to be able to afford the rent on Pearl. First of all, let me describe my dining group to you: my mother (a mostly raw vegan), my brother (an 18-year-old carnivore from Kansas), and my boyfriend plus me (omnivores who are up for whatever). In other words: a diverse group when it comes to eating habits and preferences. When we looked at the menu from the window, Zeal seemed to cater to all of us in some capacity. We have had good luck with such group types at both Shine and Leaf in the past, so we had similar expectations with Zeal. So we entered and were, as mentioned above, immediately impressed by the chic feel of the place. Then we looked over the menu, and we all settled on something we could enjoy. My brother ordered the grass-fed burger. The server informed us that they had run out of this burger ... which was strange because it was 5:00 on a Saturday night (who knows, maybe they get hit with massive lunch crowds). He ended up ordering a chicken sandwich with kale. My boyfriend got the cobb sandwich and asked that they put dairy cheese on it, a request they accommodated. As an afterthought, he asked that they leave off the nutritional yeast. "Oh, yeah, don't worry about that," the server said, "We're out of nutritional yeast tonight." No burger and no nutritional yeast? And there was something else they said they were out of, too, though I can't recall right now. I just thought it was strange that they were lacking these significant ingredients at such an early hour on a weekend night. I placed an order for my bahn mi sandwich, and asked what choices of sides I have. "The only side we offer is spring greens," my server informed me. Really? No potatoes? Steamed veggies? Brown rice or quinoa? Nope. My mother ordered last. She got a salad. She asked about their protein choices ... she wanted something like tempeh or beans. The only choices were tofu, bacon, or chicken, all of which she doesn't eat. So ... just spring greens it was. We decided to start with hummus for $8.00. The menu stated that it comes with "gluten-free crackers". I don't know why I assumed they would be unique or house-made but I had this assumption ... probably after dining at places like Leaf, Jill's, The Med, etc. The appetizer came with ten Mary's Gone Crackers crackers, a bit of sliced carrot, a bit of sliced celery, and some jicama. The hummus itself was fresh, not heavy-tasting ... decent. But certainly nothing to write home about. No olives or garnish, any bells or whistles, were included. My suggestion to make this particular appetizer better would to be the inclusion of house-made bread (gluten free, since that's one of the perks of eating here) or house-made crackers. A spring of parsley for garnish and a couple of olives. When we got our food, we were all underwhelmed. As promised, the sandwiches all came with field greens. The field greens were a bit greasy but fine. My sandwich was creative and decent with its mango and cashew cheese plus a hint of sesame oil. I felt bad because my mom sort of poked at her salad until it was all gone ... you could tell she wasn't loving it, and her eating habits were the entire reason we chose to go to Zeal. She also ordered a green juice, but it was evidently lackluster to the ones she makes at home (she didn't expound on why; I'm guessing it was because it didn't have a "kick", like ginger or garlic -- who knows). No one was super full after we left, so a trip was made to the Whole Foods hot bar. I didn't hate this place. I really want to love the food as much as I love the ambiance, and I would totally give it a second chance if it made some changes. Like ... side choices. I "get" that there are a lot of people who love having salad with their sandwiches; I'm just not one of those people. I would have loved soup, some sort of potato, or vegetables to go with the sandwich. It was weird not having a say in the matter. I think that the restaurant also needs to make some adjustments so they can appeal to more people. I mean, I want to be able to take out a vegan and carnivore and have them both love it. I know this can be achieved at many restaurants here because I have done it (my highest success rate is at Shine with this group), and I am confident that with some modifications Zeal can do this as well. I understand that they probably want to keep their menu completely gluten-free, and I think it's do-able to continue to be GF while also maintaining a universal appeal. Maybe in a few months, we'll come back.
(2)Amy T.
Good food but terrible service. They were slow and refused to split our check with a table of 9. It also took a long time for them to bring us water, out drink order and even take our order. Beautiful interior...good concept but need to work on customer service, especially when patrons are waiting for service while they see staff joking around with each other.
(2)Brian D.
Tonight was our second visit to Zeal. First visit was right after they opened. Sad to say, the outcome was the same. Like the first, the service was lacking in so many ways. Took forever to be acknowledged by a server, so we knew what we wanted when we finally ordered. Salad and entree came out together. From there on we were ignored. No offer for another glass of wine, more water, how our food was, desert...nothing. Even getting our check took forever. Other tables were suffering the same fate. I wanted to like this place but two strikes and you are out.
(1)Ruth M.
So glad to have Zeal in Boulder! It is always a good healthy option. My Favorites are Rainbow Curry and Thai Salad. It's great you can get couliflower rice instead of traditional. I have found it can be hit or miss with what you order and desserts are not so great. Also nice open design for warmer days.
(4)Charity G.
The food here is amazing! I enjoyed the Carrot Falafel (which they make using leftover pulp from the carrots they juice) and it wasthe best I've ever had. Very flavorful, with a little kick! I also had their red juice and loved it. I can tell that I am going to be a regular here. So excited to have Zeal on Pearl Street!
(5)Betty J.
New place on Pearl. Super modern and gives a local feel too. I got the Red juice. It was delicious. For $9 it better be. I'm not super into the Boulder vibe, but I liked this place and the owner was very kind. I hope this place does well although it isn't totally my style.
(5)Mike Q.
Just finished eating their BTK and I have to say that it's a pretty damn fine sandwich... on the inside. Seriously, Zeal, I know that you're trying to be all gluten-free and heart healthy, but the fact that you stuffed some awesome sandwich ingredients in between 2 pieces of cardboard makes me not want to come back. Other than that, the lemon flavored salad dressing was pretty unique and tasty. As far as service goes, I have no comment. I wasn't the one who actually went and got the food.
(3)GG G.
I give them a for great fresh ingredients but as far as flavors, it could be better. Veggie curry bowl was ok, nothing memorable. Acai bowl was better but so small it was sad. When it come to clean, healthy super foods it think we can be more generous on the portions.
(3)Kelly P.
Fabulously delicious and healthy! Great ambiance (loved meeting everyone at the community table), great service, owner circulates tables and checks on tables. The avocado on the half shell was amazing, the tamari almonds are completely addicting. The Cobb chicken sandwich was great & Was astonished to learn that the baguette it was served on was gluten free - incredibly good. I stole some of my husband's grilled fish, which was also excellent.
(5)Josh S.
The food here is consistently good: tasty, and often original, and always healthy. Lots of options for all dietary preferences/needs. I have taken friends from both Santa Monica and New York City and both sets of friends wanted to go back.
(4)Jami C.
Everyone in Boulder is always boasting about being so over the top healthy. Zeal is the first place I've been to that doesn't just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk. Everything we've ever had there has been nothing short of delicious AND packed with nutrients! I would especially recommend the Bahn Mi Chicken in a chard wrap, the Lemongrass Pork, the Green Juice with whichever doTerra essential oil you waiter recommends and the Raw Cacao Balls for dessert. The owner has always been there making rounds and talking to tables. He is very personable and obviously knows and has a passion for high quality food. Last time I was there, he mentioned potentially serving bullet proof coffee in the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But even without BP coffee - Zeal is the perfect place to go if you're looking for tasty, nutrition dense food!
(5)Kat S.
The food is decent but I am by no means blown away. They've messed up my order twice out of the four times that I've been there and with each visit, I keep hoping they'll work out their kinks. I think the iPad ordering system leads to orders getting messed up. I know it has only been one month but for the price, I'd rather just go to Leaf. Sorry Zeal. I'll give you another shot in 6 months when you receive more feedback but until then, I won't be back.
(2)Russ H.
Love it. Fresh, inventive, healthy and tasty.
(5)Zack S.
Came here looking specifically for a gluten-free dinner in Boulder. Found out they don't mark what's gluten free on the menu... Only because it's easier to mark what few thing DO contain gluten. All allergens are listed and everything is GMO free. The bowls are amazing (I recommend getting chicken and avocado with coconut curry sauce) and big serving sizes too. Don't order a large unless you are ready to take some home! On top of all that, our server was awesome! Definitely make it a point to stop here if you're in Boulder! Only thing that could have made it better is if we made it to happy hour on time (ends at 5:30)!
(5)Dave Z.
We called up to make sure that some breakfast items we wanted would be available, and were told they would be until noon, and got there a couple of minutes after 11. We were given a lunch menu that didn't have the items we wanted, and were then told they switched over the kitchen at 11. There were 2 other customers in the place, and doubtful any others were coming in any time soon, and the manager made no effort to fix this for us, even after we told her about calling. We left (never to return) and went to Shine a couple of blocks away where we got excellent food.
(1)Jamie S.
I am absolutely in love with this place!!! Took my best friend,who is gluten free, here for brunch. Can not say enough good things! Unlike the other reviewers we had amazing service. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and had great suggestions! Food was delicious and healthy!! If this place was close to my house I would probably eat here every day!!!
(5)Sandra S.
NOT VEGAN FRIENDLY! So I heard from some friends that this place had some vegan dishes. First of all, we waited 15 minutes before anyone paid attention to us and then the hostess was snarky and the server was so rude! Then the portions were really small and expensive. I ordered the very bland curry and the greens, and I am positive that I tasted dead animal! This place capitalizes on the vegan market but if you read the first post on their website's blog you will see how they truly feel about vegans. The owner is complaining about vegans and mocking us for being vegan and for being upset that their so called "vegan" Zeal food was in fact not vegan and cooked with meat. They should not state that they have vegan food when they cook their food with meat. I wish I had read their blog and seen the yelp review written by the vegan that they were so rude to before going. VEGANS STAY AWAY! We endure enough discrimination and lack of legitimate choices as it is. After decades of diligence, I actually ingested meat! Please read the reviews that are not currently recommended. They help reinforce the other negative reviews here.
(1)Lara G.
We love Zeal! It's super important to us that the food is made from high quality grass fed, organic ingredients etc. Everything we have tried has been delicious and generous portions too. My daughter and I LOVE the lamb braise bowl and of course all the desserts. The lemon grass pork bowl is also amazing. Fabulous restaurant and one of only a few that actually inspire us to eat out in Boulder.
(5)Amy H.
I think Zeal is a wonderful concept. I am not a vegan, but I try to eat in a healthy way, and that what Zeal is all about. I have been twice, and loved it both times. My breakfast was so delicious and simple- scrambled local eggs, steamed greens and sweet potato hash- brilliant colors and perfect seasoning. I ate every bite, and the portions were just right- no food wasted and I left fully satisfied! I also had the juice flight so I could sample all four kinds. They tasted great and the colors were extraordinary, just like the food. I will say that the juice is very expensive- $8 for a glass- my sampler was $7 for four 2 oz shots- and that tends to put me off a bit. However, I know it's good organic non GMO stuff in that glass. You get what you pay for! I went for lunch with my husband, for whom taste is the first and foremost criterion. He absolutely loved his chicken diavolo sandwich that was served with greens on the side. I had a brussels sprout salad that needed more pecans and sweet potatoes- i can only eat so many raw brussels! The flavor was good but again, it needed more of the other ingredients to make it more interesting. I also love the decor and the fact that you can see for yourself how well run the kitchen is.
(5)Christina E.
I came to Zeal off a recommendation from a yoga instructor at Yoga Loft when I was visiting Boulder on a one-day excursion. I found the food and homemade kombucha OUT OF THIS WORLD! I will be back!
(5)Brie S.
I adore this place! Cold pressed juices, glutard friendly, vegan and even raw diet friendly. (Did I mention friendly?) so nice to be treated to healthy delicious food and drinks. They cook in front of you, and the food is both delicious and CLEAN. Smoothie are great. Coconut curry awesome. The macro is one of my favorites, and I have yet to get anything I have not enjoyed. It is hard for me not to end up there EVERY day, however, even if it's for the flight of juices for only $7 or a ling or wonderful homemade kombucha! If you have dietary restrictions, you have got to try this restaurant.
(5)Meghan E.
We went there this past weekend with a group of six people. We had made a reservation but our table was not ready when we got there so they sat us at the bar while we waited and allowed us to order. Once we were moved to our table, we had issues with the service since we were seated in a different section than the original server's section. The manager was on top of it however and agreed to take care of it. He did a great job and was very personable. The food was AMAZING though. We started with the grilled asparagus and then we had our entrees--three make-your-own bowls and three sandwiches. Everything was fresh and delicious! We will definitely be back especially because of the amazing food and the way the manager handled issues in his restaurant!
(4)Paige L.
I almost feel bad writing this review, but then I remember our experience and it's worth noting. Frankly is just wasn't great and you can visit better places in Boulder. We went because a friend suggested it, knowing I was vegan and my boyfriend and mom are omnivores. My mom got the chicken Cobb which she said was good, but it was just a sandwich and the bread could have been much better. My boyfriend got the chicken diavlo and the sauce was spicy but didn't have much flavor, and the rice and veggies were pretty plain. I got the rainbow veggie curry bowl which was surprisingly small. The bowl was good, not outstanding for the price, and I left feeling like I needed more food and something more salty, which is why we didn't get dessert. On top of that, we kept having to hunt down our waiter, instead of having him visit the table every once in awhile to see if we needed anything. We have been to some new restaurants lately and understand how starting out can cause slow service, steep prices, etc, but at least the food should be something to rave about. But it just wasn't. I wouldn't go back again. As a vegan with meat eating friends and family, there are many more options in boulder.
(2)Hardy K.
Excited to get a healthy salad on the east end of Pearl st mall, I decided to give Zeal a try. I ordered a salad with chicken for lunch. What I got was a $14 dollar tapa sized salad (the portion was the size of my fist). Was the food good? It was average but for $14 I expected at least a lunch portion. Basically I felt like was mugged. Next time I'll walk across the mall to the Kitchen Next Door if I want a healthy "locally sourced" salad for lunch and it will cost me $10 and I'll feel good about it. Zeal took the zeal out of my lunch mood. Oh, when I took my meal to go back to my office the staff laughed when they saw the portion size. Well at least I lost a pound that day.
(1)Angela M.
I just learned about Zeal and had to try it since I am always looking for new gluten free restaurants. The curb appeal is great and the ambiance inside is very hip and inviting. The menu was mouthwatering and there were lots of great choices. The downfall for me was the price tag. My curry coconut veggies with grass fed beef was tasty but not any where near $25 worth and I didn't even have a drink. I hope they make it but I need to be really wowed for a $25 lunch to go back.
(3)Akin P.
One of the best restaurants I've been too. Great service, unique menu, delicious healthy flavorful food. Miso bowl and 9 herb pesto were phenomenal as well as their juices!
(5)Ginger P.
Most amazing smoothies and juices. Addictive. I had a Build Your Own Bowl. The first was made with cauliflower rice and was watery. The second was with brown rice and was delicious and so healthy. This place is a trailblazer for healthy, organic, local food that is made with love and delicious. Give it a try. It is new.
(4)Alison R.
Regret! Green juice is sour and gross. Bowl of undercooked veggies was $18 w just one egg on top, flavorless. No onions, garlic, salt. $25 for this?? Blech. Still, the service was kind and cool; they put an additional dollop of pesto on the veggies upon request. The place was sparkly clean. Deserves a star for that. Just, please, guys - being healthy does not have to taste boring or gross, ok? Extreme Virtuous Eating is classic Boulder :)
(2)indigo s.
I was starting to feel a little under the weather. We stopped in here and the fresh cuisine perked me right up! I loved the cold dill cucumber soup and the Brazilian acai bowl (which is just like they serve it in Brazil). The banh mi wasn't quite as flavorful as my husband hoped and my detox juice had a lot of foam on it that could have been skimmed off. But everything was delicious enough that we will certainly return in the next few days before leaving town.
(4)Sierra G.
This is a great place to stop in after a workout, study-break, or breakfast with friends. Cold pressed juice, smoothies, acai breakfast bowls and more delicious breakfast options. I got the acai bowl with honey, bananas and zeal granola. It was really good, though next time I'll probably elect for the build your own bowl option because I wanted my bowl to have berries as well. The granola was really good. I'd also like to try their fresh juice flight and hot breakfast items, like the sour dough sweet potato pancakes. The place has lots of open seating, though it is on Pearl, so I recommend trying to stop in during non-peak hours, though the service was fast and accommodating. They also have a wide selection of items "to-go" if your in a hurry.
(4)Amy M.
I've been stalling on this review for some time, however seems my concerns are commonplace here. I have found service here to be quite poor. While the food is ok, I've not had a stand out dish I'd go back for. I did reach out to the owner with my concerns following my last visit. The response I received was very blasé and one of someone who really shouldn't be in the restaurant business, especially a competitive one like Boulder. I was quite put off by his response and, frankly, is the reason I've not returned. He confirmed that he doesn't read the yelp reviews (note: bad idea) and that they "will have some days that are less stellar than others. Way less". (update: email was sent to the owner as per the below comment; i've not confused the restaurant at all). --soooo, that's not acceptable to me if I'm a paying customer ...and especially not ok without some sort of offer to make the situation better by offering a reason to return. In summary: mediocre food. Poor service. Owner doesn't seem vested in creating an amazing restaurant. No need to bother returning with so many other places with stellar service and a "give a you-know-what" attitude.
(2)Lauren B.
Being on vacation can be very gluttonous... at least, that's how it is when I go on vacation. So the idea of getting someone thing healthy at Zeal was very appealing. And the food was great. Exactly what we needed after a week of alcohol and cheese and burgers and ice cream. However, the service left a lot to be desired. After not finding a hostess at the host stand, a server told us to "sit anywhere." We did, but no one came to get even our drink order for quite some time. After a while, I got up and found the server who'd told us to sit to let her know we were ready. It still took several minutes for someone to come by, and I overheard another patron complaining about the same issue to the manager as we ate. That being said, it could have just been a fluke - an odd day - and Zeal had a really great menu. I was curious about a lot of items and if we are ever in the area again I'd go back to try more. I also liked that they had a lot of health info and health food products, and even advertised their own cleanse.
(3)Lynda M.
I appreciate that Boulder offers a lot of healthy options in terms of restaurants, but this place isn't one that I would return to. I think that the prices are way too high for the quality and portions that you receive. I got a large bowl and it was $20. I had paid an extra $6 for beef, and I was probably given a total of 2 ounces only. The bowl arrived with all of the ingredients mixed together which tells me that they're trying to hide the lower portion of protein. I'm sorry, $20? $20 for some cauliflower, vegetables and two bites of beef with some sauce? No thanks. Not to mention the service was extremely slow, and I had to ask for more water and extra glasses for a drink that I was sharing with someone out of a bottle. I'll stick to LEAF. The only reason I'm not giving this establishment one star is because they have gender-neutral bathrooms.
(2)Danielle E.
We had high hopes for our first restaurant experience in Boulder, and we were not disappointed! One of the people at the house we are staying at recommended the make-your-own bowl, both me and my guy were thinking of getting one. He got one with rice noodles, pesto, avocado, and grilled veggies and it was out of this world. I am super indecisive, so our waitress led me to the kale salad - I added avocado - and the Mother Earth smoothie. She totally nailed it! We were both so satisfied with our meals. Zeal really set the bar high for vegan, gluten-free dining in Boulder. We are excited to return and try new things. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Alicia B.
I like that every time I go in and ask for a ginger-lemon shot, they accommodate my off-menu order. And I like their avocados on the half shell. Fun idea! Their gusto bowl was delicious when I added pork. Can't go wrong with spinach, apricots, hemp seeds, bacon, and pork all mixed together.
(4)laura j.
I don't know why I gave this place another chance. I did have a good meal here, once, in the 5 times I have been there - the last time being over a year ago. Today my family was hungry and I prefer them to eat 'organic' and healthy. Oh, why didn't we just go to Locale! I want my $80 back. My meal was inedible. I am probably the least picky eater ever. It tasted like the black pepper cap had come off in the bowl. Literally. I told the waiter and he offered to 'get me some more vegetables to water it down'. Ummmm.... Then my husband and I had a nice argument because we had wasted $80 on crap and it was my stupid fault for giving this place another chance. Lame. The juice was good.
(2)Andrea S.
You (any of you reading this) can make better tasting food at home with the same organic, local ingredients. I ordered the beef braise. The beef was 60% visible inedible gristle. The rest of the dish was barely palatable. I wondered if it was gauche to order meat in this restaurant and perhaps I was being punished for it. My friend ordered the mighty bowl, which came complete with a jagged piece of hard plastic in it. The waitress seemed unconcerned, and my friend had to ask her for a new meal. To top it off, everything was overpriced.
(1)Tim S.
We stopped in here after a fantastic evening entertaining the kids along the mall, and were pleasantly surprised at 1) the staff's willingness to bend over backwards to accommodate us, and 2) the excellent selection and quality of the drinks we enjoyed. The blackberry lemonade was popular with the kids, and I loved the Avery Hawaiian and the ginger beer. Everyone was sweet to a fault and we are eyeing this spot for our next grownups-only evening out :-)
(4)Rachel T.
I can only comment on the smoothies which were delicious! I stopped in while on vacation in Boulder because I was looking for a normal/healthy breakfast and not the gross continental breakfast served at my hotel. I was looking on yelp for a smoothie or juice place and saw that this place had a happy hour in the mornings. With the happy hour discount of $2 the smoothies were reasonably priced, but honestly I probably wouldn't have purchased them without the discount.
(4)Meg K.
Allergy alert! Be SUPER careful here if you have a nut allergy!!! The good news: their outdoor seating was totally lovely, and the space is really cool. I liked all the food we tried. The falafel was great. I really like the pepitas too, but they were a little awkward to eat as finger food. Right as I was mulling how one might serve the pepitas in an easier-to-eat way, I started getting That Tickle in my throat... getting hard to swallow... I'm severely (and specifically) allergic to Brazil nuts, and have been for my entire life. There were no Brazil nuts listed on anything that we ordered, but I found one on my K&DJ salad from cross-contamination in the kitchen. Thank god I didn't actually eat it, but I still had to rush to the hospital. The staff handled it very well, giving me Benadryl and directions to the nearest ER. They also boxed our untouched food for my friends to pick up later in case they wanted to eat it, and gave us half off the bill. I really debated whether or not it was relevant to write a review, since I didn't get to try all the food. What I did try was lovely, and obviously, this is a bizarrely specific situation that few people would worry about. THEN I realized, hey, if someone else had written a Yelp review about a nut allergy, perhaps I would have read it, steered clear of Zeal, and saved myself a seriously stressful afternoon and ER copay! So, Zeal: not entirely your fault. You handled it well after the incident happened. I'm grateful to say this was the first time I've encountered a Brazil nut out in the wild, so I don't have a frame of reference for how other places would have done it differently? But please try to be more careful with cross-contamination in the kitchen for future diners! *** UPDATE, response to Wayde J (owner): I disagree with the victim-blaming tone of the owner's response. When I go to a restaurant and I have no idea what will be on my plate (such as a chef's menu), I tell them about my Brazil nut allergy. But I had no reason to think a Brazil nut would have ended up in my salad here, when it's NOT listed as a menu ingredient. I am allergic to one thing. That one thing was not in the dish I ordered. I didn't read through every single ingredient in every single menu item-- why would I? And since it was an accident that it landed on my plate in the first place, what would have been done differently if I noted my allergy? Is the standard sloppy, and you're careful by request only??? Accidents happen, but your kitchen's haphazard prep is not my fault.
(3)Scott N.
not a fan. i understand the organic aspect but there was no flavor at all in my dish. i built a bowl with rice noodles, farm egg, and bone broth. i had to add a nice amount of salt to get any flavor. i was not impressed. also service was a bit under-enthusiastic. kinda thought getting charged $1 for a side of hot sauce was pretty lame on a $90 tab. pretty disappointed. not planning on returning.
(2)Kevin H.
Short and sweet. The service is terrible here. The food was fresh, tasty and healthy. Has a cool atmosphere inside and out with some limited outdoor seating. Not sure I will return until the service improves.
(2)Alia Z.
This place is Boulderite to the core - from the many gluten free and/or vegan options to the colorful mason jars used for drinking glasses. The food is surprisingly healthy for a restaurant, and tastes pretty good too.
(3)LIsa D.
Every time we visit Boulder we head straight for Zeal. It's delicious, good for you and makes your body feel great... yummy in all ways. Love it!
(5)Amanda D.
I really want to love Zeal... I had a lot of anticipation before I came, just by checking out the menu. I wanted to try the cauliflower "rice" and bone broth in "build your own bowl" , kelp noodles and collard green wrapped sandwich. But I was disappointed. Nice to have the idea of cauliflower "rice" was nuance but it was so bland I had to put salt there myself. Bone broth was tasty but when it came out it was luke warm. After I asked them to heat it up the plate, the broth disappeared when it came back! Too bad I was just trying to drink it! Then the collard wraps : not only the portion was so small but it fell apart instantly. My fingers were drenched with the sauce and dressing. Why not wrap it with another round of collard and wrap it tighter? This dish was at least tasty ... just really bad postures I had to have when eating. The wine here starts at $9... really steep for an organic joint especially I don't know where it even comes from. The perks at last: I was happy that they had the Himalayan pink salt when I tried to DIY my food. Service was pretty good and the venue was modern and clean. Still, those don't matter as much when the FOOD is what you need in a restaurant!
(3)Lauren G.
If you're making an attempt to eat healthy and want more than a salad as your option when you go out to eat.. Zeal is your place. The menu features a ton of locally sourced, plant based dishes as well as plenty of protein options. I think their "build your own bowl" is the one of the best parts of the menu... pick your base (love that cauliflower "rice" is an option), pick your sauce, pick your toppings... or choose from some bowls they've created. The only downside is the price.. I think everything is a few dollars more than it should be. I'm sure this has to do with the quality of their produce and proteins, which I can appreciate, but a large bowl can run you anywhere from $15-$20... Which seems pretty extreme.
(4)Jake L.
Oh Zeal, I wan't so much to love you. The passion for good, locally grown, organic food that fuels your restaurant has so much potential. Two visits to Zeal have left me with two very different, yet not overly impressive, opinions. First, their sandwiches are pretty good. The Plant Burger is decent--not the best but not the worst. I would give it another try knowing that all of the ingredients are wholesome and natural. The bowls with the thai peanut sauce leave much to be desired. While even the small bowls give you a generous portion for the price (good ingredients cost more), I was very unhappy with that thai peanut sauce, which ruined the dish for me. The other ingredients in the bowl (veggies & tofu) seemed to be very high-quality. I'm sure I would have enjoyed them more with a different sauce pairing. Zeal is not your typical restaurant. They are going for something new and unique here, which I have a lot of respect for. Using high quality ingredients that are locally grown and offering them to consumers at reasonable prices isn't always easy. And even though I haven't been overly impressed by either of my experiences here, I am holding out hope that my bad experience was a unique one. One of these days, when I'm feeling adventurous, I will give Zeal another try. Hopefully my third experience will be the 5-star one I've been hoping for all along.
(3)Karen S.
I eat here a lot because I work a few blocks away, and I keep going back because I really, really love their Macro Bowl and some of the sauces. I've only eaten in the restaurant a couple times and the service was just fine, but normally I do to-go orders. I must say that the majority of the time, my order is wrong. After 3 or 4 times of walking back to my office and sitting down to eat, only to discover that they forgot the tempeh (even though I was charged for it), forgot the veggies, forgot the sauces, made the wrong bowl, you name it, I finally started double checking my order when I picked it up. Occasionally I show up and the order "didn't go through." But anyway, double checking each time has really helped my overall customer satisfaction. They still get 4 stars because they're always apologetic, and one time when I complained that this had happened repeatedly they gave me a $10 gift card. That, in my opinion, is good customer service. Plus even the "small" size bowl is enormous so I think the price is reasonable.
(4)Lou P.
I revisited Zeal yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by changes apparently made in the past few weeks. While I couldn't pin point any menu changes, there was a lot to choose from. We were able to be seated right away, despite being quite busy for lunch. Our server was very patient explaining several items on the menu and pointing out some options. I had the Lemongrass Pork Bowl and added some noodles. It made for a satisfying and filling lunch. My associate had a custom bowl, and upon completing his lunch, declared Zeal his favorite restaurant. There is a different attitude here from my previous business. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. If you are interested in delicious food that is healthy and nutritious, you will want to visit.
(4)Conrad S.
A great healthy eats place but the food doesn't have the umami it should they lack that something something that kicks your taste buds full of flavor. The Baba ghanouj was very bland and boring. The drinks however are really interested. They have one that has kombucha in it and it's the bomb.
(3)Kate K.
I love their smoothies!! Some of the only non-dairy smoothies I could find in Boulder. Their other food is amazing too, and the atmosphere of the place is wonderful - very clean and minimalistic. For reference, I'm a pretty strictly Paleo eater.
(4)Sara T.
Slow service, rude waitress, mediocre food, and high prices. It's saving grace is it's good location. I've only gone here twice because it's vegan friendly, but was disappointed with each dish I ordered.
(2)Nika G.
Boulder has no shortage of healthy food options, and Zeal is definitely a good choice if you're looking for a hearty, but health conscious meal. As with most restaurants around town, the style is industrial/shabby chic with plenty of seating. The menu has something for everyone - though the prices are quite steep. I love that they have fresh juices on tap AND for sale in bottles. The open garage doors made for some good people watching during lunch!
(4)Jane D.
Ok so I finally tried Zeal, and while I had a pleasant experience, my first run in with the food was less than. I ordered the paleo granola it had a ton of stuff I like so I thought I would try it. They were out of all their milks except coconut. I still tried it, and it was disappointing to find they burned it, and served it with enough coconut milk to dampen it but not make it a bowl of cereal. The waiter was nice enough to ask me if I wanted something else, which was nice he clearly saw I wasn't enjoying the granola. granola is hard to make and to not burn, I'm a regular granola maker, so I understand the difficulty. So I ordered the frittata after taking a bite of my friends. It was nice, but didn't knock my socks off. To finish the meal we ordered an orange cold pressed juice. See we are avid juicers and I hadn't tried the cold press juice everyone talks about. The orange had oranges pineapple apple I think and basil. The waiter told is they are made at one time using the cold press, he pointed to a room to the side of us with a giant stainless steel press. The juice looked orange but it looked different than juice I make at home, it didn't look as thick, with swirling nutrients. The juice tasted fine but wasn't over refreshing and I can't imagine drinking their juice for 30 days, not enough nutrients to keep me alive. Overall for the price of the drink $8, I don't think I will buy cold press again, at least not for the intended vitamins. And I would get better hydration from water. I wonder if it's watered down or if the cold press is a joke. The ambience was nice and open. The kitchen is front and center in the restaurant so you can watch the hipsters flail over your food before they serve it. Not to mention, the manager who interviewed a gal in front of us, shit talked the girl when she left because she wasn't hip enough. She also had to tie back her bus boys hair which was a mess, right in front of the customers and didn't proceed to wash her hands after. I saw her in the kitchen a minute later snacking. If you are going to have an open kitchen then please have your employees follow the guidelines for health and safety. Over all my first experience is a fail, but the waiter was nice and accommodating for changing out my order after the burnt granola. Only 3 stars, for this experience my friends.
(3)Michelle M.
I was greatly disappointed with our lunch at Zeal. Upon entry the host walked away from us at the door, leaving us there to wait until a server decided to make time to offer us a table in an almost empty restaurant. The same host came by our table a little later to ask if we needed anything. I asked him to please bring my two year old daughter a cup of water and was informed he was already on the way to get it. Then he walked away as we watched him do random scattered tasks throughout the restaurant and my daughter's water never arrived. The food was bland despite ordering dishes with coconut curry and Thai peanut sauce. The vegetables in my 'bowl' tasted off. My two year old daughter was not acknowledged by any server during our meal. she was not given a cup of water or silverware to eat her meal until I asked twice to receive them. Any request we made of our server seemed unreasonable and bothersome. The best thing we ordered was a green juice which tasted like it should yet was, unfortunately, not made fresh to order. The atmosphere is sterile and pretentious. Had the food been wonderful - made with substance, competence or joy - this could easily be forgiven. Cold, detached employees oblivious to the needs of their clientele, lack of heart and soul in the food ... I cannot imagine how this place stays open with so many wonderful, healthful offerings in Boulder.
(1)Alice K.
Boozy Sunday bar hopping destination 1: Consumed: beverage only, no entrees. When I think Zeal, I think Boulder. Healthy foods with ingredients I sometimes cannot pronounce nor of which I have knowledge. (Jicama in my yellow juice cocktail. Is that pronounced hee-cama, with the spanish "j" or is it jee-cama. jee-CAME-a/ hee-CAME-a? Clearly, I can spend many minutes pondering this before resorting to google.) The thing is, Zeal wouldn't be my #1, go-to restaurant. It's just so... healthy. It's so... rejuvenate-your-mind-cleanse-your-body. In two words: no fries. :( However, yelp gifted me the Boulder Passport, and in my determination to collect all stamps from all vendors, I stepped into Zeal. I wouldn't have been so surprised at the whole no fries thing had I yelped Zeal beforehand, but sometimes, readiness is so overrated. My bogo juice cocktail was the Yellow Juice Cocktail (pineapple, jicama, lemon). It was quite delicious and a refreshing treat on a warm afternoon. My edamame had fancy smoked sea salt and sesame treats - yum, but edamame is yum to begin with. I can't speak for any of the entrees nor desserts. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options if that's what rocks your boat. As for me, I may have to return to try the Grilled Chicken Diavolo. (Dee-A-volo? DEE-a-volo? Die-A-volo?...)
(3)Justin L.
If you have never had an acai bowl, then Zeal might be a good option. Essentially imagine yogurt with lots of toppings, but instead of yogurt it's an acai mixture. Service was good, food was better than average, but to me it seems a bit overpriced.
(3)Michelle K.
2 stars...and that's because the food is very GOOD...even though my son's order, as well as mine, was not correct. Decor- very modern and cool! Tables are pretty close together though...not much privacy and I could tell others were also uncomfortable. Service- sub par (at best) I understand a new gal was being trained...but it appeared that the 'trainer' also needed a lot of help...although nice, she made for an awkward experience for us. She really didn't seem too knowledgeable about the menu when I asked about certain items/ingredients/processes of cooking. Perhaps that is why my order came out wrong!? I was so frustrated when my bowl came out with the quinoa instead of the rice noodles, I didn't even send it back. Luckily it was good....but still. Ok, now the big turn off: We obviously had two small children and we were not offered a kid's menu (I was unaware that there is a secret kid's menu not listed on main menu?) or kids cups for water, as seen on other tables that had children. When I pointed this out to the manager walking by (I believe he was) he actually challenged me and had the audacity to say " well it looks like they are doing just fine with the adult cups" Really? Later I asked our server for kid's cups because they kept asking me after seeing the other cups. Trust me, they were happy to have them. Turns out food was good...but because of the orders being incorrect and manager with attitude, we won't be back, even though it was a nice gesture for him to apologize for the mix up as we were exiting. I wanted to love this place and try something new and unique while visiting Boulder, but I feel let down:( Sorry to Zeal for coming in with kids ( who are well mannered btw) we didn't feel welcome from the get-go! I kept my cool in the restaurant, but feel I need to let this be known via yelp. So, on the side column where it states business info for Zeal.....under the category "Good for kids", please promptly change the "yes" to "NO"!
(2)Liv S.
Got cauliflower rice bowl with shrimp and spicy sauce. Amazing! One of the best bowls I've ever had. But be warned- sauce is very hot! I liked the other vegan/vegetarian options too. The place is also in a cute part of town.
(4)John W.
We've been looking forward to sharing a meal for my wife's B-Day evening. Unfortunately, we chose ZEAL. It started off with poor service ( Hostess sat us and our waiter didn't show up for 12 minutes ) should've listened to my inner voice and left then.( Arrived @ 7:10 pm ) The best partof our meal was our conversation and the sparkling Orange Juice creation. We ordered Falafel balls appetizer ( dried out ) We attempted to order the shrimp & Tofu appetizer however they were out of the products needed to prepare the dish. My wife ordered the pan seared rainbow trout and I ordered the shrimp scampi. Trout was flavorful , loved the sweet potatoes.The shrimp were cooked perfectly ,however the parpadelle made from sweet potatoes were al dente at best. The place needs another server on a Saturday night ( only two & one hostess ), They all seemed more focused on rolling silverware into napkins than taking care of the tables / clients. We are dissatisfied and for the $$$ spent, doubt we will return. Best regards, John
(2)Jackie D.
Ugh. Not great on any front. Put in our order, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we asked about its status, only to find out the iPad had lost it and it was never placed. Manager came over to apologize, which we were happy about, only to find out later she had taken a mere $5 off our order for the wait. When our sandwiches came out, the bread was so hard and overly toasted we couldn't even eat them. We ended up scraping the insides out and eating that and then eating the bread separately like a cracker. Come on. For 22 bucks? Really? I just can't deal with another one of these kinds of places: super into itself, super hipster pretentious, but all show and very little behind it. We won't be going back.
(1)Chanel S.
Zeal is pretty good, most of the time.... However, when I dine out I like consistency and Zeal is not that. Try harder guys! Service is lacking and the food is not worth the dollar amount.
(2)Ann B.
You have to try their drinks! So fresh, so good. I've only been there for happy hour so I haven't had any entrees (only a few appetizers which I loved), but I really loved their drinks. They make the mixers fresh (I guess daily?) and you can really taste the difference. Very cute place too, and the staff is very friendly!
(5)Kirby C.
I have eaten here twice. Great concept, bland flavors.
(2)A L.
I gave Zeal 4-stars because there is major potential at this place. I think some minor tweaks could really make this place great. Let me say that some tweaks are absolutely necessary now that Lyfe Kitchen opened up a mere block away and is basically the same concept, but half the price. I like Zeal because they truly care and the owner, Wayde, is there every day walking around and talking to guests. The intentions of Zeal are spot on and great for Boulder, and well, any community that cares where their food comes from and what they put into their bodies. The atmosphere is also really pleasant as it is beautifully decorated. I have had the plant burger a couple of times and I find that it's dry and not worth the price, but again - has potential with a better sauce and something to give it oomph. The coconut curry bowl is really fantastic and is a lot of food for $13. If you are hungry, get this and make it your own. The smoothie flight for $7 is also a nice way to sample all of their core smoothies as they come in 4 shot glasses (and is definitely picture worthy.) The cons/improvement section: Every single time I have come in for lunch, I have ordered an appetizer and they have come back 5 minutes later telling me "we are out." Mind you, I have been in before 2pm and have ordered something simple like Hummus. Um, if you're running low - go purchase more ingredients or just simply be prepared to have enough for the lunchtime crowd. This is huge misstep. I also just find that some of the dishes are lackluster and not worth the price tag. If a salad is going to be $9, make it a $9 salad - don't give me wedge of romaine with some dressing on it and call it a meal. All of this being said, I really want this place to make it. The location of Zeal seems to have a curse, as no restaurant survives 2 years. This place has SO much potential, they just need to get their prices on par with what they are serving. The bowls and smoothies are fantastic, so build off of that. Have enough ingredients to make every dish throughout the day, and be cognizant that a very similar restaurant is down the street and there needs to be a reason to choose Zeal over it.
(4)R G.
Something different. I'm in town visiting and my boyfriend took my here because he knows I love quinoa. I made my own bowl with quinoa, chicken, coconut curry and mixed veggies. It was all very tasty. The only thing I didn't like was how raw the veggies were, they were barely cooked. My boyfriend suspected that they cooked them this way on purpose since you lose nutrients in veggies if they are cooked to be softer. Seeing as this was a very healthy oriented joint, I took it as being my bad. I also ordered myself a buttercup milkshake. It was good but a little strange. It was a mixture of cocoa nibs, peanut butter, almond milk and some orange oil...thing. Overall the flavor was excellent but the oil but left a funny feeling in my mouth. Again, I'm going to say my bad. I thought the orange oil was more of flavoring. Not an actual oil. I would come here again. I would advise you ask a lot of questions about the menu if you decide to drop by. Something may not be exactly what you think it is.
(4)Mike A.
Amazing quality food. Almost completely organic, great creative recipes, tons of options and combinations. Mostly gluten free, dairy free. My go to restaurant in Boulder.
(5)Pork Chop H.
Really wanted to like this place as I recently embarked on the Paleo diet. For $50, we could have eaten like kings at Brasserie TenTen or many other delicious high-end joints in Boulder (that still are organic and use locally sourced food). Service is very sub-par (glad to see it wasn't just us, and echoed by fellow reviewers): Even though we made eye contact with the hostess and stood a foot away from her (or at least an employee who was seating others) and stood directly behind another party who she was seating, she never came back and no one acknowledged us for a long time. Then we sat forever at our table/counter, waiting to place drink orders. By that time, we were also ready to order our food. By the way, if you just want whiskey itself instead of the whole whiskey sour, it costs the same as the full sour... just a small beef. When we did get our water, it was two empty glasses delivered with a full bottle, which we immediately emptied into our two glasses. So then we had an empty bottle. Weird. We started with the Thai salad, which had nice flavors. A modest portion for $9. The kelp noodles weren't obvious to me, though, and I had forgotten that that was a part of the dish, til I noticed one speck at the end. I ordered the beef massaman which comes with rice (I think $15). Being Paleo/Primal-ish, I do eat white rice, but not brown, and inquired about what kind of rice it was, but they didn't have white rice as an option. So I got rice noodles instead. It was a hearty, flavorful bowl with lots of veggies (turnips were a nice touch), tender beef chunks, and a modest amount of (soggy) rice noodles. Hubs ordered the lemongrass pork which he added rice noodles to (+$2). The bowl was $16 total. The pork was good, but the "pickles and ferments" was just a light smattering of vinegary veggies and the amount of rice noodles was positively anemic (photo to come). For that amount of money, we could've gotten 2+ giant Vietnamese noodle bowls with the same flavors and sh*tloads of veggies/noodles at any Pho restaurant in Broomfield. Finally, because they are consistent, we sat forever, waiting for the bill. I did eventually get some attention when I sat with my credit card in my hand. Summary: Poor/slow service, inconsistent portion sizes for similar priced items, really overpriced for what it is...
(2)Tenzi A.
This place is legit, organic, gluten-free, what else could a Boulder girl ask for?! Service was excellent, very attentive and personable!
(5)Danielle E.
We had high hopes for our first restaurant experience in Boulder, and we were not disappointed! One of the people at the house we are staying at recommended the make-your-own bowl, both me and my guy were thinking of getting one. He got one with rice noodles, pesto, avocado, and grilled veggies and it was out of this world. I am super indecisive, so our waitress led me to the kale salad - I added avocado - and the Mother Earth smoothie. She totally nailed it! We were both so satisfied with our meals. Zeal really set the bar high for vegan, gluten-free dining in Boulder. We are excited to return and try new things. I highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)Sierra G.
This is a great place to stop in after a workout, study-break, or breakfast with friends. Cold pressed juice, smoothies, acai breakfast bowls and more delicious breakfast options. I got the acai bowl with honey, bananas and zeal granola. It was really good, though next time I'll probably elect for the build your own bowl option because I wanted my bowl to have berries as well. The granola was really good. I'd also like to try their fresh juice flight and hot breakfast items, like the sour dough sweet potato pancakes. The place has lots of open seating, though it is on Pearl, so I recommend trying to stop in during non-peak hours, though the service was fast and accommodating. They also have a wide selection of items "to-go" if your in a hurry.
(4)Amy M.
I've been stalling on this review for some time, however seems my concerns are commonplace here. I have found service here to be quite poor. While the food is ok, I've not had a stand out dish I'd go back for. I did reach out to the owner with my concerns following my last visit. The response I received was very blasé and one of someone who really shouldn't be in the restaurant business, especially a competitive one like Boulder. I was quite put off by his response and, frankly, is the reason I've not returned. He confirmed that he doesn't read the yelp reviews (note: bad idea) and that they "will have some days that are less stellar than others. Way less". (update: email was sent to the owner as per the below comment; i've not confused the restaurant at all). --soooo, that's not acceptable to me if I'm a paying customer ...and especially not ok without some sort of offer to make the situation better by offering a reason to return. In summary: mediocre food. Poor service. Owner doesn't seem vested in creating an amazing restaurant. No need to bother returning with so many other places with stellar service and a "give a you-know-what" attitude.
(2)Lauren B.
Being on vacation can be very gluttonous... at least, that's how it is when I go on vacation. So the idea of getting someone thing healthy at Zeal was very appealing. And the food was great. Exactly what we needed after a week of alcohol and cheese and burgers and ice cream. However, the service left a lot to be desired. After not finding a hostess at the host stand, a server told us to "sit anywhere." We did, but no one came to get even our drink order for quite some time. After a while, I got up and found the server who'd told us to sit to let her know we were ready. It still took several minutes for someone to come by, and I overheard another patron complaining about the same issue to the manager as we ate. That being said, it could have just been a fluke - an odd day - and Zeal had a really great menu. I was curious about a lot of items and if we are ever in the area again I'd go back to try more. I also liked that they had a lot of health info and health food products, and even advertised their own cleanse.
(3)Lynda M.
I appreciate that Boulder offers a lot of healthy options in terms of restaurants, but this place isn't one that I would return to. I think that the prices are way too high for the quality and portions that you receive. I got a large bowl and it was $20. I had paid an extra $6 for beef, and I was probably given a total of 2 ounces only. The bowl arrived with all of the ingredients mixed together which tells me that they're trying to hide the lower portion of protein. I'm sorry, $20? $20 for some cauliflower, vegetables and two bites of beef with some sauce? No thanks. Not to mention the service was extremely slow, and I had to ask for more water and extra glasses for a drink that I was sharing with someone out of a bottle. I'll stick to LEAF. The only reason I'm not giving this establishment one star is because they have gender-neutral bathrooms.
(2)Alicia B.
I like that every time I go in and ask for a ginger-lemon shot, they accommodate my off-menu order. And I like their avocados on the half shell. Fun idea! Their gusto bowl was delicious when I added pork. Can't go wrong with spinach, apricots, hemp seeds, bacon, and pork all mixed together.
(5)laura j.
I don't know why I gave this place another chance. I did have a good meal here, once, in the 5 times I have been there - the last time being over a year ago. Today my family was hungry and I prefer them to eat 'organic' and healthy. Oh, why didn't we just go to Locale! I want my $80 back. My meal was inedible. I am probably the least picky eater ever. It tasted like the black pepper cap had come off in the bowl. Literally. I told the waiter and he offered to 'get me some more vegetables to water it down'. Ummmm.... Then my husband and I had a nice argument because we had wasted $80 on crap and it was my stupid fault for giving this place another chance. Lame. The juice was good.
(2)Andrea S.
You (any of you reading this) can make better tasting food at home with the same organic, local ingredients. I ordered the beef braise. The beef was 60% visible inedible gristle. The rest of the dish was barely palatable. I wondered if it was gauche to order meat in this restaurant and perhaps I was being punished for it. My friend ordered the mighty bowl, which came complete with a jagged piece of hard plastic in it. The waitress seemed unconcerned, and my friend had to ask her for a new meal. To top it off, everything was overpriced.
(1)Tim S.
We stopped in here after a fantastic evening entertaining the kids along the mall, and were pleasantly surprised at 1) the staff's willingness to bend over backwards to accommodate us, and 2) the excellent selection and quality of the drinks we enjoyed. The blackberry lemonade was popular with the kids, and I loved the Avery Hawaiian and the ginger beer. Everyone was sweet to a fault and we are eyeing this spot for our next grownups-only evening out :-)
(4)Rachel T.
I can only comment on the smoothies which were delicious! I stopped in while on vacation in Boulder because I was looking for a normal/healthy breakfast and not the gross continental breakfast served at my hotel. I was looking on yelp for a smoothie or juice place and saw that this place had a happy hour in the mornings. With the happy hour discount of $2 the smoothies were reasonably priced, but honestly I probably wouldn't have purchased them without the discount.
(4)Liv S.
Got cauliflower rice bowl with shrimp and spicy sauce. Amazing! One of the best bowls I've ever had. But be warned- sauce is very hot! I liked the other vegan/vegetarian options too. The place is also in a cute part of town.
(4)Meg K.
Allergy alert! Be SUPER careful here if you have a nut allergy!!! The good news: their outdoor seating was totally lovely, and the space is really cool. I liked all the food we tried. The falafel was great. I really like the pepitas too, but they were a little awkward to eat as finger food. Right as I was mulling how one might serve the pepitas in an easier-to-eat way, I started getting That Tickle in my throat... getting hard to swallow... I'm severely (and specifically) allergic to Brazil nuts, and have been for my entire life. There were no Brazil nuts listed on anything that we ordered, but I found one on my K&DJ salad from cross-contamination in the kitchen. Thank god I didn't actually eat it, but I still had to rush to the hospital. The staff handled it very well, giving me Benadryl and directions to the nearest ER. They also boxed our untouched food for my friends to pick up later in case they wanted to eat it, and gave us half off the bill. I really debated whether or not it was relevant to write a review, since I didn't get to try all the food. What I did try was lovely, and obviously, this is a bizarrely specific situation that few people would worry about. THEN I realized, hey, if someone else had written a Yelp review about a nut allergy, perhaps I would have read it, steered clear of Zeal, and saved myself a seriously stressful afternoon and ER copay! So, Zeal: not entirely your fault. You handled it well after the incident happened. I'm grateful to say this was the first time I've encountered a Brazil nut out in the wild, so I don't have a frame of reference for how other places would have done it differently? But please try to be more careful with cross-contamination in the kitchen for future diners! *** UPDATE, response to Wayde J (owner): I disagree with the victim-blaming tone of the owner's response. When I go to a restaurant and I have no idea what will be on my plate (such as a chef's menu), I tell them about my Brazil nut allergy. But I had no reason to think a Brazil nut would have ended up in my salad here, when it's NOT listed as a menu ingredient. I am allergic to one thing. That one thing was not in the dish I ordered. I didn't read through every single ingredient in every single menu item-- why would I? And since it was an accident that it landed on my plate in the first place, what would have been done differently if I noted my allergy? Is the standard sloppy, and you're careful by request only??? Accidents happen, but your kitchen's haphazard prep is not my fault.
(3)Scott N.
not a fan. i understand the organic aspect but there was no flavor at all in my dish. i built a bowl with rice noodles, farm egg, and bone broth. i had to add a nice amount of salt to get any flavor. i was not impressed. also service was a bit under-enthusiastic. kinda thought getting charged $1 for a side of hot sauce was pretty lame on a $90 tab. pretty disappointed. not planning on returning.
(2)Kevin H.
Short and sweet. The service is terrible here. The food was fresh, tasty and healthy. Has a cool atmosphere inside and out with some limited outdoor seating. Not sure I will return until the service improves.
(2)Alia Z.
This place is Boulderite to the core - from the many gluten free and/or vegan options to the colorful mason jars used for drinking glasses. The food is surprisingly healthy for a restaurant, and tastes pretty good too.
(3)LIsa D.
Every time we visit Boulder we head straight for Zeal. It's delicious, good for you and makes your body feel great... yummy in all ways. Love it!
(5)Amanda D.
I really want to love Zeal... I had a lot of anticipation before I came, just by checking out the menu. I wanted to try the cauliflower "rice" and bone broth in "build your own bowl" , kelp noodles and collard green wrapped sandwich. But I was disappointed. Nice to have the idea of cauliflower "rice" was nuance but it was so bland I had to put salt there myself. Bone broth was tasty but when it came out it was luke warm. After I asked them to heat it up the plate, the broth disappeared when it came back! Too bad I was just trying to drink it! Then the collard wraps : not only the portion was so small but it fell apart instantly. My fingers were drenched with the sauce and dressing. Why not wrap it with another round of collard and wrap it tighter? This dish was at least tasty ... just really bad postures I had to have when eating. The wine here starts at $9... really steep for an organic joint especially I don't know where it even comes from. The perks at last: I was happy that they had the Himalayan pink salt when I tried to DIY my food. Service was pretty good and the venue was modern and clean. Still, those don't matter as much when the FOOD is what you need in a restaurant!
(3)Lauren G.
If you're making an attempt to eat healthy and want more than a salad as your option when you go out to eat.. Zeal is your place. The menu features a ton of locally sourced, plant based dishes as well as plenty of protein options. I think their "build your own bowl" is the one of the best parts of the menu... pick your base (love that cauliflower "rice" is an option), pick your sauce, pick your toppings... or choose from some bowls they've created. The only downside is the price.. I think everything is a few dollars more than it should be. I'm sure this has to do with the quality of their produce and proteins, which I can appreciate, but a large bowl can run you anywhere from $15-$20... Which seems pretty extreme.
(4)Jake L.
Oh Zeal, I wan't so much to love you. The passion for good, locally grown, organic food that fuels your restaurant has so much potential. Two visits to Zeal have left me with two very different, yet not overly impressive, opinions. First, their sandwiches are pretty good. The Plant Burger is decent--not the best but not the worst. I would give it another try knowing that all of the ingredients are wholesome and natural. The bowls with the thai peanut sauce leave much to be desired. While even the small bowls give you a generous portion for the price (good ingredients cost more), I was very unhappy with that thai peanut sauce, which ruined the dish for me. The other ingredients in the bowl (veggies & tofu) seemed to be very high-quality. I'm sure I would have enjoyed them more with a different sauce pairing. Zeal is not your typical restaurant. They are going for something new and unique here, which I have a lot of respect for. Using high quality ingredients that are locally grown and offering them to consumers at reasonable prices isn't always easy. And even though I haven't been overly impressed by either of my experiences here, I am holding out hope that my bad experience was a unique one. One of these days, when I'm feeling adventurous, I will give Zeal another try. Hopefully my third experience will be the 5-star one I've been hoping for all along.
(3)Karen S.
I eat here a lot because I work a few blocks away, and I keep going back because I really, really love their Macro Bowl and some of the sauces. I've only eaten in the restaurant a couple times and the service was just fine, but normally I do to-go orders. I must say that the majority of the time, my order is wrong. After 3 or 4 times of walking back to my office and sitting down to eat, only to discover that they forgot the tempeh (even though I was charged for it), forgot the veggies, forgot the sauces, made the wrong bowl, you name it, I finally started double checking my order when I picked it up. Occasionally I show up and the order "didn't go through." But anyway, double checking each time has really helped my overall customer satisfaction. They still get 4 stars because they're always apologetic, and one time when I complained that this had happened repeatedly they gave me a $10 gift card. That, in my opinion, is good customer service. Plus even the "small" size bowl is enormous so I think the price is reasonable.
(4)Lou P.
I revisited Zeal yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by changes apparently made in the past few weeks. While I couldn't pin point any menu changes, there was a lot to choose from. We were able to be seated right away, despite being quite busy for lunch. Our server was very patient explaining several items on the menu and pointing out some options. I had the Lemongrass Pork Bowl and added some noodles. It made for a satisfying and filling lunch. My associate had a custom bowl, and upon completing his lunch, declared Zeal his favorite restaurant. There is a different attitude here from my previous business. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. If you are interested in delicious food that is healthy and nutritious, you will want to visit.
(4)Conrad S.
A great healthy eats place but the food doesn't have the umami it should they lack that something something that kicks your taste buds full of flavor. The Baba ghanouj was very bland and boring. The drinks however are really interested. They have one that has kombucha in it and it's the bomb.
(3)Kate K.
I love their smoothies!! Some of the only non-dairy smoothies I could find in Boulder. Their other food is amazing too, and the atmosphere of the place is wonderful - very clean and minimalistic. For reference, I'm a pretty strictly Paleo eater.
(4)Sara T.
Slow service, rude waitress, mediocre food, and high prices. It's saving grace is it's good location. I've only gone here twice because it's vegan friendly, but was disappointed with each dish I ordered.
(2)Nika G.
Boulder has no shortage of healthy food options, and Zeal is definitely a good choice if you're looking for a hearty, but health conscious meal. As with most restaurants around town, the style is industrial/shabby chic with plenty of seating. The menu has something for everyone - though the prices are quite steep. I love that they have fresh juices on tap AND for sale in bottles. The open garage doors made for some good people watching during lunch!
(4)Jane D.
Ok so I finally tried Zeal, and while I had a pleasant experience, my first run in with the food was less than. I ordered the paleo granola it had a ton of stuff I like so I thought I would try it. They were out of all their milks except coconut. I still tried it, and it was disappointing to find they burned it, and served it with enough coconut milk to dampen it but not make it a bowl of cereal. The waiter was nice enough to ask me if I wanted something else, which was nice he clearly saw I wasn't enjoying the granola. granola is hard to make and to not burn, I'm a regular granola maker, so I understand the difficulty. So I ordered the frittata after taking a bite of my friends. It was nice, but didn't knock my socks off. To finish the meal we ordered an orange cold pressed juice. See we are avid juicers and I hadn't tried the cold press juice everyone talks about. The orange had oranges pineapple apple I think and basil. The waiter told is they are made at one time using the cold press, he pointed to a room to the side of us with a giant stainless steel press. The juice looked orange but it looked different than juice I make at home, it didn't look as thick, with swirling nutrients. The juice tasted fine but wasn't over refreshing and I can't imagine drinking their juice for 30 days, not enough nutrients to keep me alive. Overall for the price of the drink $8, I don't think I will buy cold press again, at least not for the intended vitamins. And I would get better hydration from water. I wonder if it's watered down or if the cold press is a joke. The ambience was nice and open. The kitchen is front and center in the restaurant so you can watch the hipsters flail over your food before they serve it. Not to mention, the manager who interviewed a gal in front of us, shit talked the girl when she left because she wasn't hip enough. She also had to tie back her bus boys hair which was a mess, right in front of the customers and didn't proceed to wash her hands after. I saw her in the kitchen a minute later snacking. If you are going to have an open kitchen then please have your employees follow the guidelines for health and safety. Over all my first experience is a fail, but the waiter was nice and accommodating for changing out my order after the burnt granola. Only 3 stars, for this experience my friends.
(3)Michelle M.
I was greatly disappointed with our lunch at Zeal. Upon entry the host walked away from us at the door, leaving us there to wait until a server decided to make time to offer us a table in an almost empty restaurant. The same host came by our table a little later to ask if we needed anything. I asked him to please bring my two year old daughter a cup of water and was informed he was already on the way to get it. Then he walked away as we watched him do random scattered tasks throughout the restaurant and my daughter's water never arrived. The food was bland despite ordering dishes with coconut curry and Thai peanut sauce. The vegetables in my 'bowl' tasted off. My two year old daughter was not acknowledged by any server during our meal. she was not given a cup of water or silverware to eat her meal until I asked twice to receive them. Any request we made of our server seemed unreasonable and bothersome. The best thing we ordered was a green juice which tasted like it should yet was, unfortunately, not made fresh to order. The atmosphere is sterile and pretentious. Had the food been wonderful - made with substance, competence or joy - this could easily be forgiven. Cold, detached employees oblivious to the needs of their clientele, lack of heart and soul in the food ... I cannot imagine how this place stays open with so many wonderful, healthful offerings in Boulder.
(1)Alice K.
Boozy Sunday bar hopping destination 1: Consumed: beverage only, no entrees. When I think Zeal, I think Boulder. Healthy foods with ingredients I sometimes cannot pronounce nor of which I have knowledge. (Jicama in my yellow juice cocktail. Is that pronounced hee-cama, with the spanish "j" or is it jee-cama. jee-CAME-a/ hee-CAME-a? Clearly, I can spend many minutes pondering this before resorting to google.) The thing is, Zeal wouldn't be my #1, go-to restaurant. It's just so... healthy. It's so... rejuvenate-your-mind-cleanse-your-body. In two words: no fries. :( However, yelp gifted me the Boulder Passport, and in my determination to collect all stamps from all vendors, I stepped into Zeal. I wouldn't have been so surprised at the whole no fries thing had I yelped Zeal beforehand, but sometimes, readiness is so overrated. My bogo juice cocktail was the Yellow Juice Cocktail (pineapple, jicama, lemon). It was quite delicious and a refreshing treat on a warm afternoon. My edamame had fancy smoked sea salt and sesame treats - yum, but edamame is yum to begin with. I can't speak for any of the entrees nor desserts. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options if that's what rocks your boat. As for me, I may have to return to try the Grilled Chicken Diavolo. (Dee-A-volo? DEE-a-volo? Die-A-volo?...)
(3)Justin L.
If you have never had an acai bowl, then Zeal might be a good option. Essentially imagine yogurt with lots of toppings, but instead of yogurt it's an acai mixture. Service was good, food was better than average, but to me it seems a bit overpriced.
(3)Michelle K.
2 stars...and that's because the food is very GOOD...even though my son's order, as well as mine, was not correct. Decor- very modern and cool! Tables are pretty close together though...not much privacy and I could tell others were also uncomfortable. Service- sub par (at best) I understand a new gal was being trained...but it appeared that the 'trainer' also needed a lot of help...although nice, she made for an awkward experience for us. She really didn't seem too knowledgeable about the menu when I asked about certain items/ingredients/processes of cooking. Perhaps that is why my order came out wrong!? I was so frustrated when my bowl came out with the quinoa instead of the rice noodles, I didn't even send it back. Luckily it was good....but still. Ok, now the big turn off: We obviously had two small children and we were not offered a kid's menu (I was unaware that there is a secret kid's menu not listed on main menu?) or kids cups for water, as seen on other tables that had children. When I pointed this out to the manager walking by (I believe he was) he actually challenged me and had the audacity to say " well it looks like they are doing just fine with the adult cups" Really? Later I asked our server for kid's cups because they kept asking me after seeing the other cups. Trust me, they were happy to have them. Turns out food was good...but because of the orders being incorrect and manager with attitude, we won't be back, even though it was a nice gesture for him to apologize for the mix up as we were exiting. I wanted to love this place and try something new and unique while visiting Boulder, but I feel let down:( Sorry to Zeal for coming in with kids ( who are well mannered btw) we didn't feel welcome from the get-go! I kept my cool in the restaurant, but feel I need to let this be known via yelp. So, on the side column where it states business info for Zeal.....under the category "Good for kids", please promptly change the "yes" to "NO"!
(2)John W.
We've been looking forward to sharing a meal for my wife's B-Day evening. Unfortunately, we chose ZEAL. It started off with poor service ( Hostess sat us and our waiter didn't show up for 12 minutes ) should've listened to my inner voice and left then.( Arrived @ 7:10 pm ) The best partof our meal was our conversation and the sparkling Orange Juice creation. We ordered Falafel balls appetizer ( dried out ) We attempted to order the shrimp & Tofu appetizer however they were out of the products needed to prepare the dish. My wife ordered the pan seared rainbow trout and I ordered the shrimp scampi. Trout was flavorful , loved the sweet potatoes.The shrimp were cooked perfectly ,however the parpadelle made from sweet potatoes were al dente at best. The place needs another server on a Saturday night ( only two & one hostess ), They all seemed more focused on rolling silverware into napkins than taking care of the tables / clients. We are dissatisfied and for the $$$ spent, doubt we will return. Best regards, John
(2)Jackie D.
Ugh. Not great on any front. Put in our order, after about 20 minutes of waiting, we asked about its status, only to find out the iPad had lost it and it was never placed. Manager came over to apologize, which we were happy about, only to find out later she had taken a mere $5 off our order for the wait. When our sandwiches came out, the bread was so hard and overly toasted we couldn't even eat them. We ended up scraping the insides out and eating that and then eating the bread separately like a cracker. Come on. For 22 bucks? Really? I just can't deal with another one of these kinds of places: super into itself, super hipster pretentious, but all show and very little behind it. We won't be going back.
(1)Chanel S.
Zeal is pretty good, most of the time.... However, when I dine out I like consistency and Zeal is not that. Try harder guys! Service is lacking and the food is not worth the dollar amount.
(2)Ann B.
You have to try their drinks! So fresh, so good. I've only been there for happy hour so I haven't had any entrees (only a few appetizers which I loved), but I really loved their drinks. They make the mixers fresh (I guess daily?) and you can really taste the difference. Very cute place too, and the staff is very friendly!
(5)Kirby C.
I have eaten here twice. Great concept, bland flavors.
(2)dennis c.
By far the best meal I've had in a restaurant in a long time!! There's something for every taste it seems..from food to juices to beer and wine. They top that top with friendly, efficient and knowledgeable servers... Thank you Zeal for a wonderful and more than satisfying dining experience!!
(5)Alison R.
Regret! Green juice is sour and gross. Bowl of undercooked veggies was $18 w just one egg on top, flavorless. No onions, garlic, salt. $25 for this?? Blech. Still, the service was kind and cool; they put an additional dollop of pesto on the veggies upon request. The place was sparkly clean. Deserves a star for that. Just, please, guys - being healthy does not have to taste boring or gross, ok? Extreme Virtuous Eating is classic Boulder :)
(2)A L.
I gave Zeal 4-stars because there is major potential at this place. I think some minor tweaks could really make this place great. Let me say that some tweaks are absolutely necessary now that Lyfe Kitchen opened up a mere block away and is basically the same concept, but half the price. I like Zeal because they truly care and the owner, Wayde, is there every day walking around and talking to guests. The intentions of Zeal are spot on and great for Boulder, and well, any community that cares where their food comes from and what they put into their bodies. The atmosphere is also really pleasant as it is beautifully decorated. I have had the plant burger a couple of times and I find that it's dry and not worth the price, but again - has potential with a better sauce and something to give it oomph. The coconut curry bowl is really fantastic and is a lot of food for $13. If you are hungry, get this and make it your own. The smoothie flight for $7 is also a nice way to sample all of their core smoothies as they come in 4 shot glasses (and is definitely picture worthy.) The cons/improvement section: Every single time I have come in for lunch, I have ordered an appetizer and they have come back 5 minutes later telling me "we are out." Mind you, I have been in before 2pm and have ordered something simple like Hummus. Um, if you're running low - go purchase more ingredients or just simply be prepared to have enough for the lunchtime crowd. This is huge misstep. I also just find that some of the dishes are lackluster and not worth the price tag. If a salad is going to be $9, make it a $9 salad - don't give me wedge of romaine with some dressing on it and call it a meal. All of this being said, I really want this place to make it. The location of Zeal seems to have a curse, as no restaurant survives 2 years. This place has SO much potential, they just need to get their prices on par with what they are serving. The bowls and smoothies are fantastic, so build off of that. Have enough ingredients to make every dish throughout the day, and be cognizant that a very similar restaurant is down the street and there needs to be a reason to choose Zeal over it.
(4)R G.
Something different. I'm in town visiting and my boyfriend took my here because he knows I love quinoa. I made my own bowl with quinoa, chicken, coconut curry and mixed veggies. It was all very tasty. The only thing I didn't like was how raw the veggies were, they were barely cooked. My boyfriend suspected that they cooked them this way on purpose since you lose nutrients in veggies if they are cooked to be softer. Seeing as this was a very healthy oriented joint, I took it as being my bad. I also ordered myself a buttercup milkshake. It was good but a little strange. It was a mixture of cocoa nibs, peanut butter, almond milk and some orange oil...thing. Overall the flavor was excellent but the oil but left a funny feeling in my mouth. Again, I'm going to say my bad. I thought the orange oil was more of flavoring. Not an actual oil. I would come here again. I would advise you ask a lot of questions about the menu if you decide to drop by. Something may not be exactly what you think it is.
(4)Mike A.
Amazing quality food. Almost completely organic, great creative recipes, tons of options and combinations. Mostly gluten free, dairy free. My go to restaurant in Boulder.
(5)Pork Chop H.
Really wanted to like this place as I recently embarked on the Paleo diet. For $50, we could have eaten like kings at Brasserie TenTen or many other delicious high-end joints in Boulder (that still are organic and use locally sourced food). Service is very sub-par (glad to see it wasn't just us, and echoed by fellow reviewers): Even though we made eye contact with the hostess and stood a foot away from her (or at least an employee who was seating others) and stood directly behind another party who she was seating, she never came back and no one acknowledged us for a long time. Then we sat forever at our table/counter, waiting to place drink orders. By that time, we were also ready to order our food. By the way, if you just want whiskey itself instead of the whole whiskey sour, it costs the same as the full sour... just a small beef. When we did get our water, it was two empty glasses delivered with a full bottle, which we immediately emptied into our two glasses. So then we had an empty bottle. Weird. We started with the Thai salad, which had nice flavors. A modest portion for $9. The kelp noodles weren't obvious to me, though, and I had forgotten that that was a part of the dish, til I noticed one speck at the end. I ordered the beef massaman which comes with rice (I think $15). Being Paleo/Primal-ish, I do eat white rice, but not brown, and inquired about what kind of rice it was, but they didn't have white rice as an option. So I got rice noodles instead. It was a hearty, flavorful bowl with lots of veggies (turnips were a nice touch), tender beef chunks, and a modest amount of (soggy) rice noodles. Hubs ordered the lemongrass pork which he added rice noodles to (+$2). The bowl was $16 total. The pork was good, but the "pickles and ferments" was just a light smattering of vinegary veggies and the amount of rice noodles was positively anemic (photo to come). For that amount of money, we could've gotten 2+ giant Vietnamese noodle bowls with the same flavors and sh*tloads of veggies/noodles at any Pho restaurant in Broomfield. Finally, because they are consistent, we sat forever, waiting for the bill. I did eventually get some attention when I sat with my credit card in my hand. Summary: Poor/slow service, inconsistent portion sizes for similar priced items, really overpriced for what it is...
(2)Tenzi A.
This place is legit, organic, gluten-free, what else could a Boulder girl ask for?! Service was excellent, very attentive and personable!
(5)James G.
The food used to be great but seems to be sliding downward lately. Called in an order for pick up recently, only to discover THERE'S A 7 PERCENT SURCHARGE for food that is take out. Not cool, Zeal. Not cool. But a great new way of ripping off customers! I'll no longer eat there just on principle. P.S. -- super overpriced for the small portions you get. I have come to discover that what you're paying for at Zeal, is its trendiness. Your money is best spent elsewhere.
(2)Rich F.
Zeal is one of our favorite and most regularly-attended restaurants in Boulder. The differentiator for us is that Zeal really knows how to prepare vegetables in delicious ways. Our favorites are the sautéed greens (when they have them) and the green beans (these aren't always available either). We feel good about eating this food and serving it to our kids, and our kids enjoy it.
(5)indigo s.
I was starting to feel a little under the weather. We stopped in here and the fresh cuisine perked me right up! I loved the cold dill cucumber soup and the Brazilian acai bowl (which is just like they serve it in Brazil). The banh mi wasn't quite as flavorful as my husband hoped and my detox juice had a lot of foam on it that could have been skimmed off. But everything was delicious enough that we will certainly return in the next few days before leaving town.
(4)Anna B.
One of the 2 all organic places I know in Boulder and was not disappointed. The food was great (only had some appetizers though) and the drinks were amazing! We sat at the bar and our bartender was super nice. All the servers walking by us were always smiling. Felt very welcomed. They are cheaper than Shine and I think a little better. If you appreciate and eat organic good, give this place a try. Bartender said they are all organic! Will return!
(5)Sinead D.
Love this place. Went here for dinner - I had build you own bowl and it was amazing. Opted for the coconut curry sauce Smoothies are amazing - we came had one for breakfast the next day. Overall love this place, staff, food both amazing.
(5)Brenda A.
I am absolutely delighted with the options served at Zeal and the quality of food provided. I love the design of the restaurant. It feels good to be in there. I am not crazy about the staff, there are far friendlier and more charismatic people in other restaurants, however its not bad at all.
(4)D M.
Two of us visited for lunch yesterday and ordered a couple of different bowl creations. The food is simple, quality, and very tasty. The environment was nice, service was pretty good, and the food on everyone's plate around the restaurant also looked really good. I wish I lived nearby to try more of the menu here. I'll pay extra money for local organic food any day of the week, but some of the items on the menu did seem just a little steep. This is the only improvement area I would note based off a single visit.
(4)Kadya A.
Came into here expecting some healthy food. The menu looks pretty good ill give them that. The service is horrid - waiter needs to talk 6 times louder and look me in the eyes ( he's too busy putting in orders on his iPad). The food - chicken was under cooked and contained some cartilage.. Bowl was pretty tasteless. Falafel tastes stale as cardboard and the tahini was watery. The shakes aren't bad though
(1)Lois B.
What a great first time experience!! Great food great service!! Very attentive even though busy, and very efficient. Wonderful experience.
(5)Ben S.
Yes the other reviews are valid; the service isn't too great. The guy at the front didn't know the menu, and my waitress was pretty slow. I had the lamb- great dish, but attention to detail was lost when I got a spoonful with a piece of bone.. Not cool. Pretty big portion otherwise, and taste was moderate. It's more of a soup than bowl.
(3)John F.
I went to Zeal for a business lunch meeting, and was incredibly impressed. The "bowls" seemed what to try for my first visit and I had a vegetarian curry version with quinoa. Service was first class, the owner was greeting customers, and the portion was perfect.
(5)D L.
Delicious, organic, fresh juices! You can get them to-go in a glass jar! Which I think is a lot better than the disposable plastic cups and straws post places use for to-go juices. I've only eaten there twice, once for brunch and once for lunch. It was great both times! Lost of healthy and vegan options. Nice location, outdoor patio, and their high-tech juicer is behind a big window so you can see it in action.
(5)Bryan M.
3 Stars for food (avg) +1 extra for service (at the bar) and a bold attempt at non-GMO. Although I did enjoy the banh mi I had, I think they may want to re-visit the bread options for this particular style of sandwich. A banh mi is half-defined by the bread... and spelt bread left a little to be desired. I'm sure there's some non-GMO option of a baguette that works better. I'll definitely go back and try some of the bowl combinations, but there's not currently anything on the lunch menu to make me crave coming here.
(4)Cait M.
On days I work late, I treat myself to The BKT to-go on my way home (that's bacon, kale and tomato). It's the BEST iteration of this sandwich I've ever had! In fact, I haven't tried anything else yet because I can't bring myself to not order it..... it's that good.
(5)Wendi F.
My friend Erica loves Zeal so she recently asked me to have lunch with her and she would order for me. She knows everyone at Zeal and when I went with her, everyone was very friendly. This was a very different experience than my first 2 visits and Zeal must have handled some of those opening growing pains. The food I had was delicious. The service was great even though the place was packed. In the last couple of months I have noticed that Zeal is always packed. People are loving it and keeping it nice and busy. So the first time and second time I was there it was when they were newly opened. The good news is that this third time was the charm! I would definitely go back.
(4)Marybeth L.
I really wanted to like this place. BUT it was overpriced and the portions were small. The food wasn't flavorful either. The juices were good, but you can get the same for cheaper at Whole Foods... Overall I felt "meh" about the place, and wanted my $50 back.
(3)Cindy C.
I keep wanting the service to improve and the food to be great, but it is consistently disappointing. Worst frittata and mixed green salad I've ever had. I have had a good one here before. Sad.
(1)Alejandro D.
It pains me to give poor reviews to places that want to be awesome but the truth is that its really mixed. First time I had an awesome sandwich, service was fantastic, they let me sample all their juices and I was about ready to give them 5 stars. Good thing I waited... Second time in, we ordered the bowls and two juices. First, the lemongrass pork, while yummy, was a ridiculously small portion. Maybe we should have gotten the hint when they kept suggesting a "grain" side. It was so small, we asked the server to confirm it wasn't a mistake. Sure enough it wasn't and since we didn't want to break the bank we just left hungry. The juices also seemed inconsistent. Tasted fresher the first time. Fix some of these flaws and I'd love to be a fan!
(3)Naruto U.
This place has everything going for it, the food is the highest of quality. The service was very professional yet comfortable and relatable... Reason being that I dined with a snobby friend of sorts and he was rude to our waiter and he still maintained a very real composure and politeness and I really felt he differentiated between us and the snob. Another worker, possibly the manager came up to us to ask how we were doing and we connected with a discussion about GMO food and the quality of their food and was very reassured and felt good about what I was eating with the man's positive attitude and very genuine "zeal" for life so to speak. The flavors themselves are unique and complex, at least the white fish with squash was. Prices aren't ridiculous, it has a lot going for it.
(4)D E.
Surprise! Surprise! With trepidation I joined a group of people who wanted vegan food for lunch. Understanding that this restaurant was brand new, I didn't have any great expectations for the service, or the menu. I was in Boulder after all... For a lark I started with the juice flight - four signature juices in a variety of colors. Wow! What a surprise - there were four very distinct flavors and sources. Then, being a true carnivore, I ordered the Beef Braise. Whoa! Deliciously seasoned and the tenderest of beef - it melted in my mouth. If this is what healthy foods taste like, I may well convert. As to the prior reviews: I'm sure the slight snags others wrote about will be ironed out, after all, new is new. But please don't change the menu!
(5)Cooper S.
Sadly disappointing upon entering the resturaunt. Blonde hostess at front was terribly rude and glared as I walked to meet my party at the bar. I walked back to let her know that we were all here to be seated, she interrupted me to tell me that they "aren't allowed to take reservations." I told her that we had our name in for a table for four people and she blasted back "everyone is still eating." Huh? Seems like there's always teething pains when opening new resturaunts. We ended up sitting at the bar, which is where I am currently writing this review. My father wanted to set his coat on the hook underneath the bar When he did, his hands were somehow covered with an unidentifiable black substance that rubbed off from under the bar. On a brighter note, the smoothies are fantastic, which brings the restaurant up a star for my review. If you are planning to eat at Zeal, I would recommend waiting a couple more weeks for them to stabilize with their staff. Otherwise, prepare to be leniant with various glitches in the system.
(3)Stevie J.
Let's keep this simple: Zeal is simply my favorite restaurant in the entire US. The Chef combines one of a kind, unique flavors that are superbly prepared, off the charts tasty, the service could not be more accommodating and the owner is a great guy, hands-on, cares about quality control and could not be kinder to his customers or staff. Combine the amazing food with an unmatched ambience and you've got Zeal. Their cornucopia of flavors and healthy choices is unrivaled. If we were living in Boulder, we'd be there every week without fail. Colorado residents, enjoy, you're extremely lucky. Visitor's to Boulder, Zeal is a must try!
(5)Dhru P.
I don't write reviews for places but I had to for Zeal. My food was fantastic and came out quickly. Some of the reviews here mention poor service, but I didn't have any problem at all. Everyone was friendly and very knowledgeable. Everything I had was great, but the best was the "Build Your Own Bowl." I had the coconut curry sauce and it was fantastic. I also enjoyed the Tom Kha Soup. I'm from Santa Monica where we have a lot of great restaurants in the organic/gluten-free/clean space and this place is my favorite so far. I'll be in Boulder for another week and I'll be sure to go a few more times.
(5)Samantha C.
We really wanted to like Zeal, but the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were very good, yet without tasty food it's hard to want to go back.
(2)Brian T.
I love Zeal, the food is good and more important I support what they stand for as a non-GMO, local and organic as possible restaurant. Even in Boulder a totally non-GMO restaurant is a rarity. The raw trio balls were awesome.
(5)Casey R.
The food here is delicious and would definitely rate 5 stars - when they are open! I've gone several times and found the restaurant to be closed during regular business hours which is frustrating because I'm not local. Tonight I swung by but was told they would be closing at 6pm because their computer systems were down. The owner was very friendly and apologetic, so I disappointingly went down the block to eat. When I got back to my car at 7:45 I found Zeal absolutely packed! I'm glad they were able to fix their computers and stay open, but think others should have fair warning that their hours can be spotty. Also: they don't serve lunch on the weekends until noon. I didn't see anything on their website or breakfast menu about that, so when I showed up at 11:45 on a Saturday and was told I couldn't get lunch I was a little surprised. They don't convert the kitchen to lunch until noon so, since I had an appointment at 12:30, I had to find another place to eat because I wanted lunch. Again, helpful info to have in advance. However, all the times I've been able to eat here I've had good service and really great food...
(3)Jason F.
Zeal is definitely a new concept. They are trying to bring high quality organic and non GMO ingredients in a moderately priced offering. There are some definite hits on the menu such as the braised beef which is tender and flavorful. Some of the other item portions are a bit on the small side. Overall they are a new restaurant that is working out the kinks in menu and service. I will however say that they are gaining ground fast. Offering a tasty menu for a variety of diet inclinations (vegan, dairy free, etc. . .) and doing so at a reasonable price. PS The chocolate ganache tart is also fantastic!
(4)Adria E.
I have no idea why Zeal would only have 3 stars? I live about a block away and I have a hard not not eating here at least once a day. I LE there menu. Breakfast lunch AND diner. There juices and smoothies are great, I love a breakfast with rice and veggies AND bacon. Salads are super yummy and I love the Tom yum soup. Come on! Get on board Boulder and send Zeal some Yelp
(5)Monica C.
This place just opened on Pearl Street and it is way cool! They have a fresh juice bar, and are farm to table. We happened to walk by late one night and walked in to just check out what was happening. Chris immediately welcomed us and showed us around. We got a mini tour of the restaurant. They have a kind of "grocery" section, where you can pick up their bottled juices to go. Or you can sit for a meal, or sit at the bar and try some homemade kombucha, which is what we did. It was delicious!! Chris took us to the back and showed us where they make the kombucha. It was so cool getting to see where the food came from, and having that connection. I'll be updating this review after I eat there; can't wait to go back and explore more!
(5)Brendan E.
Me and my girlfriend went to lunch expecting a lunch menu, but it's the same ridiculously over priced menu for both dinner and lunch!It was a rainy cool fall day, so we ordered the corn chowder, which turned out to be roasted corn and water, super bland, for seven dollars it could have been seasoned, but we needed salt, I complained and they took it off ! Then we ordered the miso garden bowl and jerk chicken. The miso bowl was super bland and had no discernible miso at all. The jerk chicken had no jerk and a anchovies aioli that was out of place and super fishy! The salad on the side of the sandwich was the best thing we had, great dressing!
(1)Lara P.
I ordered the blueberry muffin shake, don't normally do something that rich but wanted to try it out. The flavor was great but I'll probably never order a shake with nuts again (to much for me). I was disappointed with the size for the price, I expected a large and received a small. Good atmosphere maybe I'll return for dinner.
(3)Scott Y.
Zeal continues to prove its zest for healthy and sustainable fare combined with friendly service. I've been three times over the last month and each time I've felt valued as a customer and leave well fed. The fish special was very tasty, beautifully presented, and affordable IMO at $14. On another visit, I combined the Brussels salad with pork and made yummy noises with each bite. This morning, I couldn't finish the Bibimb'fast Bowl at breakfast so I had the second half for lunch--at $11, this is a dish two could share. Definitely looking forward to going back.
(5)Austin T.
FOUR star menu (a bit bland, no hot peppers). We love the healthy choices in downtown Boulder for breakfast lunch and dinner especially the breakfast bowls.
(4)Patrick R.
Fabulous, fantasy menu for Boulder, CO. Local, organic, gluten free, paleo and cleanse-friendly offerings. Completely delicious food. Recommend it for anyone even if they aren't "healthy" We had the brussel sprout salad with grilled chicken, roasted vegetable curry, falafel balls appetizer, a few of the fresh cold-pressed juices and the Asher amber on tap. Loved it all. Well done!
(5)Paulina H.
Food is inconsistent but generally tasty. However, last week I had a horrendous experience. My sister was visiting and I took her there for lunch. We ordered the grilled romaine salad with beets and the chicken lettuce wraps to share. The salad arrived and it was delicious at first until I started tasting grit. My sister soon tasted it as well. I pulled the leaves apart and to my horror discovered GLOBS OF BLACK MUD/COMPOST caked between the leaves at the base of the lettuce half !!! I called the waitress over and she was most apologetic and took it right over to the chef. Shortly after the manager came over to let us know that we would not be charged (really) and that it was not mud but rather black grease from their grill. Was that supposed to make us feel better? Using the excuse that the grill was so filthy that globs of black grease could make their way into the base of the romaine half between the leaves rather than just apologizing for the mess up was poor customer service. We had him rub a sample of the goo between his fingers( which by the way, had dirty finger nails) so that he could feel the grit. He tried to rationalize it by saying it was difficult to wash all the dirt out of the lettuce. We were not talking a little grit these were clods. It was disgusting!!! We left a tip for our waitress and left. We walked next door to Pizzaria Locale for a delicious, clean meal SANS DIRT!
(1)loren l.
Great healthy place. Green juice and orange (not on menu- OJ, lemon, basil, cantalope) were AWESOME!! Frittata and Sammy were both great! Early bunch is great here.
(5)Laura D.
This place is totally impressed with itself. Me? Not so much. Bowl of "ferments" was more like raw veggies with some vinegar sprinkled on it. I tried the build your own bowl, which was okay, but something I could have easily whipped up at home with less fanfare and much less pretense. I had some manner of grapefruit and vodka cocktail, which wasn't bad - a kind of salty dog. The short review is that the food was rather mundane, but given fancy names and somewhat exorbitant prices for what was offered.
(3)Amy O.
HOWWW can Zeal only have 3 stars?!? Offensive. Super cute, clean, light atmosphere inside. The entire staff was very friendly. And for what they offer (gmo-free, gf, etc), the prices were extremely reasonable. I enjoyed a flight of juices from the tap and built my own bowl. Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Like F.
I'm glad Zeal has come to town. I'd like to see it be successful. I'm tempted to give them 4 stars (for the Pros) but too many Cons. Pros: - Some of the dishes are quite tasty (create your own bowls, lamb braise), Diavlo sauce) - Great place for someone with food allergies/sensitivities - Decor - Friendly staff who seem to care about what they're doing. Cons: - There's a fine line between moderate portions & downright stinginess. At times, Zeal crosses this line. - Some dishes -- Meh (Grilled Fish -- not so fresh/fishy, not cooked so well). Margaritas are pretty awful. - When it's crowded, it can be quite loud. - Too expensive for portion size -- either knock a couple bucks off your prices or increase portion size.
(3)M M.
I didn't really expect to like this place, but I gave it a whirl because it is close to work. I got the Bahn Mi wrap in a rice wrap for take out. It took a long time and set me back $14ish. What can I say? It was pretty gross. The wrap itself was kind of soggy and had a creepy texture because the contents of the wrap were quite wet. There was a lot of strong tasting aoli (which didn't taste particularly bahn mi-ish) and quite a lot of something called "cashew cheese", which was an unpleasant and unnecessary addition. Bahn Mi sandwiches don't usually have cheese in them...so why throw in this strange substance? My wrap came with some tired looking greens and icky tasting dressing. I like healthy food, but it doesn't have to taste terrible to be good for you.
(2)Robert R.
Very sorry to say, horrible value and bland taste. Been twice - tried to give it second shot for breakfast. Got a $9 Acai bowl and paid $1 for blueberries - I am not exaggerating - it was a tablespoon of blueberries. I counted them, lol. 18 of them. The first time, I got the curry bowl w/ organic chicken - was VERY excited on a cold day. Chicken was very weird and lots of dark meat. Too chewy. Few vegetables. $10 I think that was. Small serving. The smoothy was very bland. The gluten free cookie (I love gluten free cookies) was horrible. Like the ones they made in the 80's. Cardboard. Servers I had both times didn't know much about the specifics of the menu. I am not sure why this company doesn't get their act together. I want them to succeed since the H Burger before them left. But I gotta be honest here in hopes changes are made.
(1)Loan T.
I have been to Zeal twice and I really wanted to like the place. The first time I ordered their Carrot Falafel and something else I did not remember, the food was just bland. Juices and ambiance were okay. Second time I came here and had a glass of red juice and a glass of red wine. I did not order food after observing the cleanliness standards of Zeal was low. Their chefs do not wear gloves handling the food. The chefs and the manager were rubbing their nose, pulling their jeans, stroking their beards. I would like to avoid unpleasant finds in their food. Bahn mi sandwich should be spelled Banh mi sandwich? Thank you.
(1)Julie S.
Really enjoyed this place and loved my meal!! Ordered large size of vegetable rainbow curry with chicken and it was so satisfying, plus a huge portion!! Would highly recommend! Waiter was super friendly and helpful, too!
(4)Nathaniel N.
Waited 20 minutes just for them to take my order. For the high prices, the food is good but if youre gonna charge that high, at least take my order more promptly. Not coming again.
(2)Emily S.
The worst. Well the food is good but the prices are literally insane. It is way too much for what it is. Very small smoothies for $10. Would be helpful if they had a happy hour or some sort of deal. By the way everyone in town says this. Too pricy.
(1)Kelly F.
Excellent allergy-friendly options, fabulous juices, really good appetizers. The stars are for the food and atmosphere. No stars for a juice that costs nine dollars (a bit over-priced, I'd say) and the wait staff is oddly un-friendly.
(4)Lindsey B.
I wasn't aware of Zeal's existence (we were told it opened a month ago), but we were pulled in by the beautiful decor. You want inspiration for your living space? Zeal is a great place to go with its creative use of palettes, chalkboard paint, and charming DIY-esque bell jar light fixtures. A++ for the décor. However. Décor doesn't mean much if your food isn't fantastic ... and this restaurant seems to have some serious kinks to work out, especially if they're going to be able to afford the rent on Pearl. First of all, let me describe my dining group to you: my mother (a mostly raw vegan), my brother (an 18-year-old carnivore from Kansas), and my boyfriend plus me (omnivores who are up for whatever). In other words: a diverse group when it comes to eating habits and preferences. When we looked at the menu from the window, Zeal seemed to cater to all of us in some capacity. We have had good luck with such group types at both Shine and Leaf in the past, so we had similar expectations with Zeal. So we entered and were, as mentioned above, immediately impressed by the chic feel of the place. Then we looked over the menu, and we all settled on something we could enjoy. My brother ordered the grass-fed burger. The server informed us that they had run out of this burger ... which was strange because it was 5:00 on a Saturday night (who knows, maybe they get hit with massive lunch crowds). He ended up ordering a chicken sandwich with kale. My boyfriend got the cobb sandwich and asked that they put dairy cheese on it, a request they accommodated. As an afterthought, he asked that they leave off the nutritional yeast. "Oh, yeah, don't worry about that," the server said, "We're out of nutritional yeast tonight." No burger and no nutritional yeast? And there was something else they said they were out of, too, though I can't recall right now. I just thought it was strange that they were lacking these significant ingredients at such an early hour on a weekend night. I placed an order for my bahn mi sandwich, and asked what choices of sides I have. "The only side we offer is spring greens," my server informed me. Really? No potatoes? Steamed veggies? Brown rice or quinoa? Nope. My mother ordered last. She got a salad. She asked about their protein choices ... she wanted something like tempeh or beans. The only choices were tofu, bacon, or chicken, all of which she doesn't eat. So ... just spring greens it was. We decided to start with hummus for $8.00. The menu stated that it comes with "gluten-free crackers". I don't know why I assumed they would be unique or house-made but I had this assumption ... probably after dining at places like Leaf, Jill's, The Med, etc. The appetizer came with ten Mary's Gone Crackers crackers, a bit of sliced carrot, a bit of sliced celery, and some jicama. The hummus itself was fresh, not heavy-tasting ... decent. But certainly nothing to write home about. No olives or garnish, any bells or whistles, were included. My suggestion to make this particular appetizer better would to be the inclusion of house-made bread (gluten free, since that's one of the perks of eating here) or house-made crackers. A spring of parsley for garnish and a couple of olives. When we got our food, we were all underwhelmed. As promised, the sandwiches all came with field greens. The field greens were a bit greasy but fine. My sandwich was creative and decent with its mango and cashew cheese plus a hint of sesame oil. I felt bad because my mom sort of poked at her salad until it was all gone ... you could tell she wasn't loving it, and her eating habits were the entire reason we chose to go to Zeal. She also ordered a green juice, but it was evidently lackluster to the ones she makes at home (she didn't expound on why; I'm guessing it was because it didn't have a "kick", like ginger or garlic -- who knows). No one was super full after we left, so a trip was made to the Whole Foods hot bar. I didn't hate this place. I really want to love the food as much as I love the ambiance, and I would totally give it a second chance if it made some changes. Like ... side choices. I "get" that there are a lot of people who love having salad with their sandwiches; I'm just not one of those people. I would have loved soup, some sort of potato, or vegetables to go with the sandwich. It was weird not having a say in the matter. I think that the restaurant also needs to make some adjustments so they can appeal to more people. I mean, I want to be able to take out a vegan and carnivore and have them both love it. I know this can be achieved at many restaurants here because I have done it (my highest success rate is at Shine with this group), and I am confident that with some modifications Zeal can do this as well. I understand that they probably want to keep their menu completely gluten-free, and I think it's do-able to continue to be GF while also maintaining a universal appeal. Maybe in a few months, we'll come back.
(2)Amy T.
Good food but terrible service. They were slow and refused to split our check with a table of 9. It also took a long time for them to bring us water, out drink order and even take our order. Beautiful interior...good concept but need to work on customer service, especially when patrons are waiting for service while they see staff joking around with each other.
(2)Brian D.
Tonight was our second visit to Zeal. First visit was right after they opened. Sad to say, the outcome was the same. Like the first, the service was lacking in so many ways. Took forever to be acknowledged by a server, so we knew what we wanted when we finally ordered. Salad and entree came out together. From there on we were ignored. No offer for another glass of wine, more water, how our food was, desert...nothing. Even getting our check took forever. Other tables were suffering the same fate. I wanted to like this place but two strikes and you are out.
(1)Ruth M.
So glad to have Zeal in Boulder! It is always a good healthy option. My Favorites are Rainbow Curry and Thai Salad. It's great you can get couliflower rice instead of traditional. I have found it can be hit or miss with what you order and desserts are not so great. Also nice open design for warmer days.
(4)Charity G.
The food here is amazing! I enjoyed the Carrot Falafel (which they make using leftover pulp from the carrots they juice) and it wasthe best I've ever had. Very flavorful, with a little kick! I also had their red juice and loved it. I can tell that I am going to be a regular here. So excited to have Zeal on Pearl Street!
(5)Betty J.
New place on Pearl. Super modern and gives a local feel too. I got the Red juice. It was delicious. For $9 it better be. I'm not super into the Boulder vibe, but I liked this place and the owner was very kind. I hope this place does well although it isn't totally my style.
(5)Mike Q.
Just finished eating their BTK and I have to say that it's a pretty damn fine sandwich... on the inside. Seriously, Zeal, I know that you're trying to be all gluten-free and heart healthy, but the fact that you stuffed some awesome sandwich ingredients in between 2 pieces of cardboard makes me not want to come back. Other than that, the lemon flavored salad dressing was pretty unique and tasty. As far as service goes, I have no comment. I wasn't the one who actually went and got the food.
(3)GG G.
I give them a for great fresh ingredients but as far as flavors, it could be better. Veggie curry bowl was ok, nothing memorable. Acai bowl was better but so small it was sad. When it come to clean, healthy super foods it think we can be more generous on the portions.
(3)Josh S.
The food here is consistently good: tasty, and often original, and always healthy. Lots of options for all dietary preferences/needs. I have taken friends from both Santa Monica and New York City and both sets of friends wanted to go back.
(4)Kelly P.
Fabulously delicious and healthy! Great ambiance (loved meeting everyone at the community table), great service, owner circulates tables and checks on tables. The avocado on the half shell was amazing, the tamari almonds are completely addicting. The Cobb chicken sandwich was great & Was astonished to learn that the baguette it was served on was gluten free - incredibly good. I stole some of my husband's grilled fish, which was also excellent.
(5)Jami C.
Everyone in Boulder is always boasting about being so over the top healthy. Zeal is the first place I've been to that doesn't just talk the talk, they actually walk the walk. Everything we've ever had there has been nothing short of delicious AND packed with nutrients! I would especially recommend the Bahn Mi Chicken in a chard wrap, the Lemongrass Pork, the Green Juice with whichever doTerra essential oil you waiter recommends and the Raw Cacao Balls for dessert. The owner has always been there making rounds and talking to tables. He is very personable and obviously knows and has a passion for high quality food. Last time I was there, he mentioned potentially serving bullet proof coffee in the future! I'm keeping my fingers crossed. But even without BP coffee - Zeal is the perfect place to go if you're looking for tasty, nutrition dense food!
(5)Kat S.
The food is decent but I am by no means blown away. They've messed up my order twice out of the four times that I've been there and with each visit, I keep hoping they'll work out their kinks. I think the iPad ordering system leads to orders getting messed up. I know it has only been one month but for the price, I'd rather just go to Leaf. Sorry Zeal. I'll give you another shot in 6 months when you receive more feedback but until then, I won't be back.
(2)Russ H.
Love it. Fresh, inventive, healthy and tasty.
(5)Zack S.
Came here looking specifically for a gluten-free dinner in Boulder. Found out they don't mark what's gluten free on the menu... Only because it's easier to mark what few thing DO contain gluten. All allergens are listed and everything is GMO free. The bowls are amazing (I recommend getting chicken and avocado with coconut curry sauce) and big serving sizes too. Don't order a large unless you are ready to take some home! On top of all that, our server was awesome! Definitely make it a point to stop here if you're in Boulder! Only thing that could have made it better is if we made it to happy hour on time (ends at 5:30)!
(5)Dave Z.
We called up to make sure that some breakfast items we wanted would be available, and were told they would be until noon, and got there a couple of minutes after 11. We were given a lunch menu that didn't have the items we wanted, and were then told they switched over the kitchen at 11. There were 2 other customers in the place, and doubtful any others were coming in any time soon, and the manager made no effort to fix this for us, even after we told her about calling. We left (never to return) and went to Shine a couple of blocks away where we got excellent food.
(1)Jamie S.
I am absolutely in love with this place!!! Took my best friend,who is gluten free, here for brunch. Can not say enough good things! Unlike the other reviewers we had amazing service. Our waitress was knowledgeable about the menu and had great suggestions! Food was delicious and healthy!! If this place was close to my house I would probably eat here every day!!!
(5)Sandra S.
NOT VEGAN FRIENDLY! So I heard from some friends that this place had some vegan dishes. First of all, we waited 15 minutes before anyone paid attention to us and then the hostess was snarky and the server was so rude! Then the portions were really small and expensive. I ordered the very bland curry and the greens, and I am positive that I tasted dead animal! This place capitalizes on the vegan market but if you read the first post on their website's blog you will see how they truly feel about vegans. The owner is complaining about vegans and mocking us for being vegan and for being upset that their so called "vegan" Zeal food was in fact not vegan and cooked with meat. They should not state that they have vegan food when they cook their food with meat. I wish I had read their blog and seen the yelp review written by the vegan that they were so rude to before going. VEGANS STAY AWAY! We endure enough discrimination and lack of legitimate choices as it is. After decades of diligence, I actually ingested meat! Please read the reviews that are not currently recommended. They help reinforce the other negative reviews here.
(1)Lara G.
We love Zeal! It's super important to us that the food is made from high quality grass fed, organic ingredients etc. Everything we have tried has been delicious and generous portions too. My daughter and I LOVE the lamb braise bowl and of course all the desserts. The lemon grass pork bowl is also amazing. Fabulous restaurant and one of only a few that actually inspire us to eat out in Boulder.
(5)Amy H.
I think Zeal is a wonderful concept. I am not a vegan, but I try to eat in a healthy way, and that what Zeal is all about. I have been twice, and loved it both times. My breakfast was so delicious and simple- scrambled local eggs, steamed greens and sweet potato hash- brilliant colors and perfect seasoning. I ate every bite, and the portions were just right- no food wasted and I left fully satisfied! I also had the juice flight so I could sample all four kinds. They tasted great and the colors were extraordinary, just like the food. I will say that the juice is very expensive- $8 for a glass- my sampler was $7 for four 2 oz shots- and that tends to put me off a bit. However, I know it's good organic non GMO stuff in that glass. You get what you pay for! I went for lunch with my husband, for whom taste is the first and foremost criterion. He absolutely loved his chicken diavolo sandwich that was served with greens on the side. I had a brussels sprout salad that needed more pecans and sweet potatoes- i can only eat so many raw brussels! The flavor was good but again, it needed more of the other ingredients to make it more interesting. I also love the decor and the fact that you can see for yourself how well run the kitchen is.
(5)Christina E.
I came to Zeal off a recommendation from a yoga instructor at Yoga Loft when I was visiting Boulder on a one-day excursion. I found the food and homemade kombucha OUT OF THIS WORLD! I will be back!
(5)Brie S.
I adore this place! Cold pressed juices, glutard friendly, vegan and even raw diet friendly. (Did I mention friendly?) so nice to be treated to healthy delicious food and drinks. They cook in front of you, and the food is both delicious and CLEAN. Smoothie are great. Coconut curry awesome. The macro is one of my favorites, and I have yet to get anything I have not enjoyed. It is hard for me not to end up there EVERY day, however, even if it's for the flight of juices for only $7 or a ling or wonderful homemade kombucha! If you have dietary restrictions, you have got to try this restaurant.
(5)Meghan E.
We went there this past weekend with a group of six people. We had made a reservation but our table was not ready when we got there so they sat us at the bar while we waited and allowed us to order. Once we were moved to our table, we had issues with the service since we were seated in a different section than the original server's section. The manager was on top of it however and agreed to take care of it. He did a great job and was very personable. The food was AMAZING though. We started with the grilled asparagus and then we had our entrees--three make-your-own bowls and three sandwiches. Everything was fresh and delicious! We will definitely be back especially because of the amazing food and the way the manager handled issues in his restaurant!
(4)Paige L.
I almost feel bad writing this review, but then I remember our experience and it's worth noting. Frankly is just wasn't great and you can visit better places in Boulder. We went because a friend suggested it, knowing I was vegan and my boyfriend and mom are omnivores. My mom got the chicken Cobb which she said was good, but it was just a sandwich and the bread could have been much better. My boyfriend got the chicken diavlo and the sauce was spicy but didn't have much flavor, and the rice and veggies were pretty plain. I got the rainbow veggie curry bowl which was surprisingly small. The bowl was good, not outstanding for the price, and I left feeling like I needed more food and something more salty, which is why we didn't get dessert. On top of that, we kept having to hunt down our waiter, instead of having him visit the table every once in awhile to see if we needed anything. We have been to some new restaurants lately and understand how starting out can cause slow service, steep prices, etc, but at least the food should be something to rave about. But it just wasn't. I wouldn't go back again. As a vegan with meat eating friends and family, there are many more options in boulder.
(2)Hardy K.
Excited to get a healthy salad on the east end of Pearl st mall, I decided to give Zeal a try. I ordered a salad with chicken for lunch. What I got was a $14 dollar tapa sized salad (the portion was the size of my fist). Was the food good? It was average but for $14 I expected at least a lunch portion. Basically I felt like was mugged. Next time I'll walk across the mall to the Kitchen Next Door if I want a healthy "locally sourced" salad for lunch and it will cost me $10 and I'll feel good about it. Zeal took the zeal out of my lunch mood. Oh, when I took my meal to go back to my office the staff laughed when they saw the portion size. Well at least I lost a pound that day.
(1)Angela M.
I just learned about Zeal and had to try it since I am always looking for new gluten free restaurants. The curb appeal is great and the ambiance inside is very hip and inviting. The menu was mouthwatering and there were lots of great choices. The downfall for me was the price tag. My curry coconut veggies with grass fed beef was tasty but not any where near $25 worth and I didn't even have a drink. I hope they make it but I need to be really wowed for a $25 lunch to go back.
(3)Akin P.
One of the best restaurants I've been too. Great service, unique menu, delicious healthy flavorful food. Miso bowl and 9 herb pesto were phenomenal as well as their juices!
(5)Ginger P.
Most amazing smoothies and juices. Addictive. I had a Build Your Own Bowl. The first was made with cauliflower rice and was watery. The second was with brown rice and was delicious and so healthy. This place is a trailblazer for healthy, organic, local food that is made with love and delicious. Give it a try. It is new.
(4)