Gave it two tries recently. The first was a slow Sunday afternoon with probably one of the worst waiters I've ever had. Food was good but the surly waiter put a damper on the experience. At the last Alive After 5 we tried again. Once more, terrible service. Food was merely adequate. I think that's it for Zest for us.
(2)
Melissa R.
I have eaten here many times now and have never had anything but excellent service and food. The new Pearl Oyster bar is a nice addition. The chilled seafood sampler really hit the spot on the first warm day of the year too. Sushi rolls are always great and I love the selection of tapas. Initially it seemed like the menu was set up for failure with so many varied options, but they've proven they can execute on all of them well time and again!
(5)
Miranda R.
This restaurant took me from never wanting to try sushi to loving it and any time I try sushi in other restaurants it never comes close to Zest. Canton is such a busy street. Good luck parking. And good luck getting a table right away. If memory serves, there is always a wait! The dynamite, oceanic, and gorilla rolls were our favorites. I especially liked that not every roll was jam packed with cucumber. These 3 most definitely are not. If there was a place like this in Birmingham, AL I'd be there weekly! Get thee to Zest.
(5)
Aaron L.
This is my second time going. Both times I ordered sushi. Fresh and tasty one of my favorite sushi places OTP. I also orders the oysters from next doors. They was also really good.
(4)
Dorina C.
They have the best octopus and lentil dish. Very fulfilling and yummy! Great atmosphere and has a nice patio down town Roswell!
(4)
George M.
Excellent food and atmosphere! Great service and pricing!
(5)
CHAD H.
Sweet place. Great oysters and brews and sushi. We were in town and stopped by for dinner. It was great..everything about it was great. Very nice.
(5)
Danielle R.
I've been to this place several times and usually it's because I've intended to go somewhere else, but since Canton Street is usually PACKED most places have very lengthy waits. However, the last few trips to downtown Roswell there was a lot of open tables at Zest. This usually makes me leery of places, however each time at Zest I had a great customer service experience and a great meal. Their drinks are nice and stiff and I love that you can order brown rice with your sushi rolls in lieu of white rice. It's a nice mix of tapas and sushi to accommodate different palettes or tastes. I will be returning to Zest again soon!
(4)
Norbert C.
I've been to Zest at least 5 times in the last year but they opened up the wall and now you can order from Pearl too! I just ordered the PEI mussels tapas and they are fantastic! Large mussels and the sauce... Are you kidding me!! As they say down in the south " you'll want to smack yo mamma!" Perfect pairing - dirty Vodka infused martini. Perfected by the awesome bartenders here at Zest!
(5)
Brian B.
Been here a few times and honestly not sure where all the great reviews come from. The ambiance is ok however all 3 times I've been here the food was lousy. This place is also pretty pricey for what you get. I'm no cheap ass, trust me I don't might shelling out for a good meal but for the service and quality of food you get here I think Zest is way overrated. If you want good sushi, hit up Nagoya! Fraction of the price, and twice as nice!
(2)
Tia M.
First of all, I loved the atmosphere here. The service was great, the area super cute and the restaurant good for a date or a gathering of friends. Most importantly, the food was amazing! Everything we ate was delicious. The Oysters, the coconut soup (personal favorite), spinach & artichoke dip, the rib tacos (boyfriends favorite), chicken curry was full of flavor (so good), and the sushi was fresh and delicious! Everything was just so perfect. We sat at the bar so my boyfriend can watch the game, and John gave us such great service. Definitely going to be going back regularly.
(5)
Sarah H.
Really enjoyed having dinner at this restaurant. The atmosphere is really fun and modern. The service was very fast even for our large group of about 10. The server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we need. One thing that makes this place really nice in my opinion is even though it's a sushi restaurant they have lots of small plate options for those of us who don't love sushi. From quesadillas to burgers to lamb they have it all! I went with the lamb lollipops that which came with mashed potatoes. Both things had excellent flavor and the lamb was very tender. The small plate servings are definitely smaller than a standard serving but really the amount of food was perfect. I left full but not stuffed. A girl in my group for Mac and cheese and it looked divine! This portion was large and it came out in a cast iron skillet. I would definitely try this next time I go Definitely a great restaurant to check out!!!
(5)
Raymond G.
1st the good: The fish taco's and the shrimp were pretty good. The prices were reasonable. The atmosphere and decor was very nice. Inside was just as inviting as was the outside. Now, the not so good. The waitress seemed disinterested, almost like she wanted to go home. Not very friendly. She left a bad taste for the night.
(3)
Amy G.
I came here with my boyfriend on our getaway to Atlanta and we were very impressed with this place. The restaurant itself has a lovely ambience at the outdoor seating. We did not have to wait long to be seated outside which was great. We ordered grilled oysters, and 4 sushi rolls. The oysters were one of the best I've ever had. It was so delicious that I did not want to share it with m boyfriend. Sushi was very fresh and also absolutely delicious. Drinks tasted good and were strong enough to give us a nice buzz. I highly recommend others to come here to experience the great food.
(5)
J D.
One of the best restaurants in Roswell and located in the heart of Canton street. They have a large outdoor seating area and really good tapas and sushi. Its personally our favorite sushi place in Roswell.
(5)
Warren H.
Really enjoyed the sushi here. New to town and very excited to find an excellent sushi spot. Martini was delicious too. I had various nigiri and the red dragon roll.
(5)
Lea C.
Really enjoying the expanded space at Zest! The mussels are fantastic (white wine sauce), seafood salad (vinaigrette) - large portion so three of us split it and there was still some leftover. Love to come here for Tapas too. hubby had the Seafood stew and loved it except for the squid (lol). Friends had Zest Sushi and said it was fantastic. We each had two glasses of wine, total about $90 for all. Service was excellent, a bit loud as the place was hopping, but we will be back regularly. Their lettuce wraps are pretty good too :)
(5)
Rise H.
This was my worst dining experience yet! The grilled oysters had oysters the size of a pea with cheese you couldn't even scrape off! The ahi poki was flavorless , where were the ingredients stated on the menu? And 15 minutes after a beer was ordered and we were leaving, it was delivered! A total waste of money!
(1)
Leigh M.
Food is great. However tonight I had the WORST service I've ever had possibly anywhere. I was taking my 13 year old daughter out for a "girls night" to chat and eat sushi since that's her favorite. First of all a server told us to sit outside so we sat down. Then the owner came out and told us that we couldn't sit there bc people were waiting. So we got up. Then we waited. No one talked to us. I asked if someone was going to seat us. Finally they did. Then we sat and sat and sat. FIFTEEN minutes later after asking WHO our waiter was our waitress came to our table. To her credit she offered to pay for my first drink. However it was another FIFTEEN MINUTES before it got there. We ordered everything then bc we figured if we didn't it would be another 30mins before we got it...and we were right. In the end we got there at 7:30 and left at 9:30. Three tables around us turned before we ever got our food. It was TERRIBLE. However, a good lesson for my daughter on what is unacceptable. I usually tip at least 20%. Or like last night at the Waffle House I tipped $20 on a $13 bill because that waitress blew this one out of the water. I tipped 5% and almost think that was too much considering my bill was $83 and my service was as sub par as you can get. Won't be going back. I can get the same quality sushi in about 10 different places in Atlanta.
(1)
David R.
Zest different concept from NOCA, but same owner. I recently dined at NOCA again and walked to Zest. I ordered the braised beef short rib and handmade mini Kobe burgers. Both were great! The short rib is served over potato au gratin and topped with mushrooms and fried onions. The mini burgers are served with cheese, tomato, red onion and a "fire and ice pickle". A cocktail available at NOCA is here also; the Moscow Mule. It was my first time having it! $9 for the drink, but it is good and served in a copper mug! I like sushi, but chose tapas for this visit; I will be back again. This place is smaller than NOCA and due to the location, parking could be a challenge on busy nights.
(5)
Gerri P.
We came here for a late lunch. Lunch prices are good until 4pm. We sat outside & Bento boxes. I enjoyed my chicken teriyaki & tempura. My husband had salmon teriyaki & enjoyed his. We had good service & the Bento Box was a good portion for lunch & I took some home. Great value! The only negative was for me the ginger salad dressing had too much ginger for my taste.
(4)
Jenniver S.
I had the Canton roll and the pork spring rolls. The spring rolls were amazing. The Canton roll was good but could have been better.
(4)
ester k.
their food is good but nothing special. you can get the same food for less somewhere else. I just thought they were overpriced for what it was and how much you got. good sushi if you don't care about price though!
(3)
Keith W.
Hands down the worst sushi I have ever had. HORRIFIC! the bartender Eve was awesome. And had she not been so amazing, I would have addressed my concerns to management. Lesson learned. I might drink there again, but never order sushi again. Disgusting!! If u do brave the sushi, don't get the Allyson roll. HORRIBLE!!
(1)
Paul W.
I visit Zest quite often. I have never been disappointed. The food is always great. I actually really like the menu. The wine selection is excellent. The manager is always very pleasant. The only thing that was a little bit of a let down was the waitress,Victoria. She was nice, but didn't seem to be enjoying her job. It looked like she didn't want to be there and couldn't wait to give me the check. Very minor complaint, but still. I will definitely be back.
Don't complain about your food here or Ron, the owner, will still bill for 50% of the cost once he's trashed what you sent back to the kitchen. He is very defensive in his approach to customer service....except he has ZERO customer service. He basically told me that because most of his customers liked the Spider Roll that it's hard to believe I didn't like it. He claimed I ate 50% of the roll except that the size of the rolls were so large I had to cut it up with a knife and eat them. Good luck staying in business buddy.
(1)
Allyson R.
This place is surprisingly good. They have fruit infused vodka and rum that are strong but very tasty. The ahi tuna sliders are a great way to start the meal. I had the Allyson roll and it was very good! My friends shared several rolls and the portions were large and tasty. The rolls are decently priced and we ate at the bar and there wasn't a wait. Awesome!
(5)
Justin H.
Went in for lunch and was impressed by the service from the bartender, Billy. He was very attentive and kind. Food was very delicious esp the lamp chops. The spider rolls were excellent as well. I would definitely go back and try some other rolls.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
Great atmosphere, food and service. We sat outside and enjoyed people watching and chatting with friends. Roswell's walking district is super cute. Excellent coffee shop next door too!
(4)
Russ A.
Went to Zest a week ago on a Friday night. It was packed so we sat outside under the heated vents. The service was very good even though they were 100% packed. The food was excellent, several rolls and the Lobster tail appetizer along with the calamari. My friend who is not a fan of sushi actually liked the rolls here. The lobster tail was better than anywhere else I've had it. Seriously try it! I will definitely be back here in the future.
(5)
Richard F.
The GF and I went to Zest for a date night. It was great for us because I'm a foodie that will eat a lot of different things but my GF isn't as adventurous as I am. The mix of sushi and tapas allowed us to have several different things. The day we went was a really nice spring day so every place on Canton Street was packed and Zest was no different. We got to Zest around 7:45 and had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table. I got us a few drinks and we sat outside and enjoyed the weather. The staff was working to turn the table but wasn't being obtrusive or pushy with customers. Once we got our table our server was over quickly even though they had a packed house. I ordered my first round of sushi and my GF ordered a few tapas. The food was really good. The steak and grits and tuna sliders were wonderful. The first round of sushi that I had was good. After finishing those I ordered another round of sushi, my dessert, and my GF ordered a chocolate cake for dessert. I enjoyed the second round of sushi more than the first round. All of the flavors just worked better together. The only issue that I had was that while the service was good it was a little disjointed. When we ordered our first round of food my sushi came out very quickly but it took a while for the tapas to come out. Then when I ordered my second round of sushi and my GF got dessert her dessert came out several minutes before my sushi. It's a small complaint but I like for all of the food to hit the table at the same time. They did have a full house when this happened so I can let it slide. Over all we were very happy with our time at Zest and we will be back. The food was good, the drinks were good, and the staff was friendly and inviting.
(4)
Mari B.
As an experienced, Japanese/Asian food lover, I can say that the Food is not bad per se, but not even close to anything special. Service is average. Drinks are average. Food is average. Prices are high for what you get. Then again, it is on Canton st in downtown Roswell, so I guess you pay for the location. Just overrated in my opinion.
(2)
Jason D.
Honestly, I was not impressed. The sushi was good and the salads were tasty. We tried the lettuce wraps, shrimp & grits, ahi tuner sliders and the hummus and they were all lacking in flavor. I probably won't come back unfortunately. It is a shame...atmosphere was great but the service was lacking as well.
(1)
Shardul R.
Meal and service was good. Manager's reaction to a complaint was absolutely unacceptable considering the fact that he was also drinking and dealing with customers. Very unfortunate situation. Would still recommend for food and overall service.
(3)
Trevor W.
The most diverse restaurant on Canton Street, and in a tie for my favorite place to dine. Also great for that group of eclectic people that can never agree on what they want for dinner. Zest is a tapas and sushi bar (though they order it the other way) and an amazing one at that. Their small plates are heaven with plenty of custom creations nightly that really entice the palate. Like the packed Canton Street area, this is a shotgun style establishment with a few tables out front, bar down the side, and small tables along the other. Draws a very strong business and well worth the wait. Wayyyyy too many scrumptious items to simply list, I rather encourage you to try the place. Great wine and alcohol menus as well that pair very well with the cuisine. Truly an upscale, standout of a restaurant and one of the best on the Canton strip. They know they are a restaurant foremost and take it seriously, unlike some of the other places that tend to be bars masquerading as restaurants.
(5)
Jenny P.
The Allyson roll was incredible. Best sushi roll. Best combo of flavors. And the fish tacos were oddly delicious too!
(5)
Ana F.
Good food, good environment a really good service. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something light and good to eat.
(5)
Steve H.
I don't know if I'm growing ever-more curmudgeonly as I progress in years, but I'm waxing discontent with sushi as a meal. I'll stipulate to the point that it is "food," but could debate tirelessly that sushi isn't the basis of a real meal. That being said, the sushi here is fine. Wonderfully presented and prepared, and not horribly priced, as some places do these days. We had a Dragon Roll, a couple of White Tuna nigiri...ignoring the controversy about the veracity about the "white tuna" nomenclature, both were edible. The shining star of our visit was a chalkboard special-of-the-day/night, Albacore Tataki ($13 for 5 pieces). It was previously-seared (cold, in other words) ahi, served with a delicious sauce on thinly-sliced lemon. The texture was akin to buttery filet mignon and the flavors were outstanding. The worst part of the experience? The Pork Skewers. WTF? Three pieces of pork tenderloin per skewer, the meat looked like sausage. Tasteless, cold, and bereft of any indication of how it was cooked. No grill marks, no browning, no nothing. "Skewers" evokes mental images of fire-seared meat. Hell, pan-frying would get some Maillard reaction happening and develop some flavor. These damned things were loaded with heaps of fail. The ginger-pear dipping sauce _would_ have been good, if the meat had possessed any flavor of its own. Bustling atmosphere, a healthy din--yet not such a cacophony that we couldn't talk to each other, and a single, uni-sex bathroom that was curiously vacant every time that I had to pee. If the food had been better, the joint could be four stars, but I can't envision it ever deserving five. Modest beer list, pretty good selection of wine. Valet parking directly across the street was quick and relatively painless at $3. During warmer times of the year, the outside seating would be a great vantage point for people watching.
(3)
Taryn S.
We absolutely love this place... We go several times a week and sit on the patio for a couple of hours since the weather has been cooling down the past couple months. The sushi and tapas are both fabulous - pretty much everything we have tried is excellent. Love their pineapple tequila. So good. The staff are all so friendly and sweet - love them. Very Highly recommend for some good people watching, food and drinks. Yum
(5)
John S.
Re-visit. Had 2 sushi rolls and the seafood skewer. The seafood skewer was pan-fried, greasy and not really good. The sushi rolls didn't really meet expectations. The service is still good. Going to have to drop this a notch or two.
(2)
faith w.
So, Friday night staying in Sandy Springs craving something and somewhere different than Buckhead. Roswell, what a hidden gem and this place, great service, awesome food and great open air view of outside festivities. We ordered salmon chips and dumplings for appetizer, great taste and awesome presentation. Then onto sushi, can't remember names but again a perfect meal with a cold Kirin. Will do again, beware of parking gets a little tight.
(4)
Ryan K.
Worst sushi place I have been to in Atlanta! The food was not fresh and the service was terrible! I couldn't even get a refill of water.I agree with a previous review.Go to Nagoya.The food and service is so much better there!
(1)
Ashley A.
Waiter Justin had a really bad attitude, we asked to speak to the manager... He just asked if we want to change our waiter, did not even apologize. The sushi was not that great, our wine glass was stained, our table was wet all over... But our second waitress was a sweet lady. Overall, not a good experience, he kinda ruined our buzz. Note to manager: for future reference you should probably show that you care a little more. Will not return, will eat sushi at my usual spot, Umi in buckhead.
(1)
Chad H.
WOW! Walking down Canton St in Roswell and looking for a bite..Zest is the place! Portions are perfect for sharing so taste many things. The Roswell Roll hits the spot! Staff is friendly and helpful and this is a place to return to again and again and work through the huge selections.
(4)
Yusra S.
Loved the sushi, service, and drinks! We ordered some items from the Tapas menu and really enjoyed the shrimp tempura. The sushi was great and came out very quickly. Will definitely be back :)
(4)
Earl H.
Great little neighborhood place. Lots of small plates so you can mix and match various appetizers and get as much or as little as you want. The newly expanded menu includes a ton of shellfish options that are new.
(5)
Mike P.
Perfect, trendy spot to eat lunch, dinner, on a date, double date outside or inside or at the bar or alone!! Obviously there is nothing better than eating outside on a nice night. Everything was prepared fresh, hot and delicious! The Grilled calamari-fantastic!! No need to ever eat them fried again! But then again anything grilled in a butter,wine, garlic, lemon sauce will taste good. Even an old dirty shoe!. Bang Bang shrimp very well prepared and yummy but still Bonefish Grill has everyone beat when it comes to Bang Bang Shrimp. Sushi rolls (Allyson roll and Super Crunch) were big, flavorful and as good as they could be. I look forward to eating at this place again and again
(4)
James W.
Very satisfying meal and service but nothing mind blowing. Sushi was very good, though. Would return. Nice location right on Canton so is nice to sit outside and watch the world go by.
(4)
Tony B.
Ate there for the first time - everything was very good and Nicole was incredibly sweet .
(5)
Kathy H.
Sashimi salad is mediocre at best, and not a good value (of the 5 pieces of thinly sliced *sashimi* TWO were imposters - shrimp and krab)...service efficient enough but cool - no warm fuzzies here - entirely forgivable if the food is outstanding...but unfortunately it's not.
(2)
Theja R.
LOVE the food here! We are regulars for a reason. It is the best sushi around. The tapas menu is lovely and the staff are friendly and helpful. Can't wait for my next trip!
(5)
Sue J.
Recently moved to the area and was searching for a new local sushi place, I could eat sushi everyday. Small dining area, tables are very close together but the good is great! Our waiter helped me choose a great wine with what I ordered and the food was ready very fast for being a busy night. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone who like great sushi and fast service.
(4)
Margaret C.
My husband and I absolutely love to go out to eat and order lots of small plates to share. This restaurant is perfect for that with a group of friends. We have dined here numerous times with friends and honestly always enjoyed what we ordered. The crab and cream cheese wontons are one of our favorites. I found the scallop tostadas difficult to eat, so while yummy we haven't ordered them again. The bang bang shrimp and calamari are great for group sharing. We have ordered so many rolls here I can't begin to pick a favorite. The only negatives are 1- they do not take reservations on the weekend 2- The one time we went just the 2 of us I felt like the food came out way too fast and it wasn't the fun relaxing experience it is with a group. Overall a great choice on Canton.
(4)
Scott P.
I may be a half star under on my opinion here, but you know the drill on that. The sushi is well done, and some good options, including the typical 'zesty festy roll' type names - original design rolls with thier own creative names. It sounds zippy and creative. I like that. The rolls are well put together, tight, fresh. Two major beefs... no wait this is a sushi place. Ok, two things I find fishy about the place. First, is the portions, Zest, you are a sushi restaraunt, you either need to have your items in a bite, or mutliple bites done by chop sticks or fingers, without falling to pieces all over the table. Secondly, your pricing is wayyyy over rated. 10 and 12+$ for an appetizer? Come on.... If you are going to charge 13,14+$ for some of your rolls they better be the best I've ever had. .... and I've had better. On the bright side, they will have me back the next time I want to eat sushi on an outdoor patio, I think they pretty much have the market cornered on that one. Oh wait, 'rolled up'.
(3)
Steve R.
We've eaten at Zest multiple times; we've always enjoyed the sushi. However, this latest episode of management INCOMPETENCE was the last straw. On a previous visit, when our food was just awful, we were told "everyone else liked it", ergo it must be your problem. This was our first clue that the management at Zest harbored Neanderthal customer service tactics. We should have heeded this "warning". Last night we were seated promptly, it wasn't too busy. As soon as the servers (veteran and trainee) introduced themselves we ordered a glass of wine, salad, and sushi (we have visited often enough to know what we want without the aid of a menu). The wine came, then the salad. And en we waited, and waited, and waited. The waitress (trainee) came by 45 minutes later and mentioned that "lots of people had ordered sushi and they were backed up". Interestingly, the table next to us, that had been seated 30 minutes after we ordered, received their sushi order right after we were told of the "back up". When I inquired about this inconsistency in the restaurant's story, the "veteran" server who was training the new girl showed little interest in our plight. 75 minutes after we ordered, our sushi arrived. During this wait we were offered NOTHING. We ate, and the "veteran" server brought a "complimentary" dessert; then the check. I asked for a manager and she came over and said there was "nothing" she was authorized to do, other than deduct 10% ($6!). Period. Zest is a PERFECT example of a POORLY run restaurant caught up in the frenzy of a suddenly very popular local (Historic Roswell). They will pay the price as the competition grows. The food is good, we don't blame servers, they are the product of management's poor attitude and lack of training. Our advice? If you're a gambler, go to this place, the food can be good. But if you EVER have ANY type issue, DO NOT COUNT ON MANAGEMENT TO BE OF ANY HELP WHATSOEVER.
(1)
Becky R.
Excellent sushi and tapas in the heart of historic Roswell. I typically go for their sushi, which is always fresh and delicious. Craftily handmade rolls - my favorite is the Oceanic, but I've had so many of the others! However, if you aren't in the mood for sushi, don't overlook this restaurant - the tapas are fantastic as well! Give the braised beef short rib, quesadillas, scallops and edamame hummus a short - or start off with one to share with the table!
(5)
Peter Y.
This narrow, overly crowded, loud and did I mention narrow, restaurant is perfect for small dishes and good drinks. This is a tapas/sushi restaurant which sounds weird but it works. The tapas were excellent and varied from lamb lollipops to pot stickers. Excellent all the way around. The sushi was good though I did notice the maki rolls seemed to be smaller than elsewhere. You'll need more than one roll if you want to get full. The quality of the food though was tops. We really enjoyed this cozy tapas bar. It was lively and fun. They had infused drinks that we didn't get a chance to try, but that will be next time. Service was good and I just can't find a complaint. Great choice for a non-traditional meal or before you go to a show.
(5)
Savannah D.
I've been to Zest at least a dozen times. It's right up the street from me! I cannot tell you how amazing this place is. I cannot recall having ONE bad thing here! Every food item I have tried has been amazing. It's all cooked perfectly, tastes wonderful, and is served fairly quickly. I love how if you order more than one thing, they bring out the first order, and then as soon as you're done with that one, you see the next one coming! Small tables, but there's always room because of the quick cleanup and awesome service. I've had a bunch of different servers, and every single one of them has been great! Friendly, talkative, informational, and they really know how to sell you on items you may not normally order. Normally I order the same exact things, but recently they've been getting me to try all different dishes! Zest is one of my favorite resturants! They are expanding into the store next to them, so more and more people can enjoy this great place! GO TO ZEST TONIGHT!!
(5)
Kelly O.
LOVE this spot. We will definitely be going back a lot in the future. When visiting my friend in the area, we always go to new restaurants each time. She said that this one had just opened and of course I love me some sushi so we stopped in. They have a great outdoor patio for seating but we went inside. GREAT attentive, knowledgeable service and quite a large menu of both Tapas, Sushi and cocktails. I had sashimi-- felt the pricing was very competitive. And I ordered a killer spicy tuna roll-- it had a funny name and dangit I cannot remember but everything was great. I ordered a Jalapeno Blood Mary-- I can't say it was very spicy but it was good. We are definitely fans and definitely will be back a lot!
(5)
D T.
They take reservations... But not on Friday or Saturday nights. You know, the two nights when you'd need to make a reservation.
(3)
Chloe E.
I have really only had sushi here but have been very pleased. It sounds strange but the rice is really good. Sticky and keeps all the contents together. It would get five stars but the value is just not there and the service is good but not super friendly. We are in Roswell people...not midtown. You can smile. BUT my water was never, ever empty. It is a very good addition to downtown Roswell.
(4)
Julie L.
They may be advertised as tapas (small plates), but I ordered two for myself and couldn't quite finish both - they don't skimp on the portions like many tapas places do. The short ribs were stellar - piping hot, and full of melt-in-your-mouth, mushroom-y goodness. The au gratin potatoes underneath didn't exactly hurt my feelings either. :) I also had the dragon roll, which was fresh and a good size (no puny 5-piece-width-of-a-magic-marker sushi rolls here!). Things to note: this is a small place and parking can be tricky around here, so come at off peak times or be prepared to wait.
(4)
Lindsay O.
Very nice location. Quick service. And the yummy role was amazing!!!!! With the option to sit or outside it makes for great people watching! Will be back again for that yummy role!!
(4)
Andrew P.
My date and I went on a Monday night. The atmosphere was relaxed and very inviting of conversation. The menu is impressive. We both had sushi. It was very good...especially to be as reasonably priced as it was. Id definitely go again.
(4)
Tina O.
Went there last night for the first time and now I wish I'd discovered it long ago. Cute place, good service and very good food. I had three different kinds of sushi - all were fresh and tasty. The other two diners both had shrimp and grits which they liked alot - and a healthy size portion for a tapas order. Many other things looked really good and the place was quite crowded - partly because it was a lovely evening weather wise. Highly recommended.
(4)
Tiffany E.
I'll admit, I'm not a big sushi fan. Over time, I have developed a taste for it, and like many others, I only like to eat GOOD sushi. Zest, while not the best, is pretty darn good. I'd totally go back. They have many rolls to choose from, some basic, some special. Drinks are good. I'd say this is a good spot for a meal at any time of day. You may have trouble finding parking close by at busier times, but it's worth the walk I had the Lazy Afternoon specialty drink, Gyoza Dumplings, Soba Roll, and a couple of others. My memory isn't working. Sorry. But the sushi was so good! It was just enough if not a little bit too much food, but I'd go again. Good service, quick seating.
(4)
Kristy Piglet P.
This is one of my favs. The sushi is always fresh. I'm a big fan of the Zest roll, it is pure zen wrapped in cucumber. The restaurant is very small & can get crowded on the weekends. It reminds me of restaurants in NYC, which I love. They do not take reservations on the weekends but we've never had to wait very long at all. The service is always great.
(4)
David D.
Im surprised this place was as good as it was, I love sushi and seafood, this place captures the flavor and the ambiance makes everything fun. A million times better than Ru-sans and small sushi restaurants.
(4)
Tammi D.
I'm sitting at Zest right now...and am very happy with it. I've been here several times, and think their sashimi is pretty good. The rolls are decent. The service today was excellent! The sashimi cuts were nicely sized. And they make a good pineapple martini. Outdoor seating is always a plus :). I'm a fan!
(4)
Jin M.
Excellent food, & here's why- Braised Beef Short Rib: Oh so tender, oh so tasty. Perfectly seasoned, soft meat that are pulled right off without barely touching it. Lamb Lollipops: Mmmmmm, do you like lamb? Lamb here is as good as it gets. Sushi: We only ordered the rolls, and they were a-mazing. It was fresh & wonderful. Annnnd, You have the option of sitting outside on warm/cool days on the patio. Perfect for your first date.
(5)
Philip K.
After being disappointed by so many sushi restaurants in the greater Atlanta area, Zest was a great find. They have a good selection of speciality rolls, and great atmosphere. The service was another story...our server was a strange and seemed to be looking down his nose at us the whole time. Sorry fella, you need to move to a bigger city, or get with the program!
(4)
Rob W.
How we love this place! Go for the Delish Dynomite roll, great bev selection, warm atmosphere. Staff is very friendly. They even have great ribs for the non-sushi lovers.
(5)
Lauren P.
Friday night date for me and hubby Kevin P. We ventured OTP to historic Roswell to check out Zest sushi. We are always looking for new sushi joints and were willing to drive the extra miles up 400. We strolled in around 9 p.m. I'd called the day before to try and get a reservation but Zest does not take reservations on Friday or Saturday night because (as the man on the phone told me) "our place is so tiny if we took reservations we'd lose a lot of seating." He wasn't kidding. At 9-ish on a Friday night this place was packed! Conveniently there was a table for two open in the front window of Zest. The tiny L-shaped restaurant only had room for a few dozen people but they must have been close to 100 guests. After a few minutes of waiting for menus (you couldn't blame the servers as the crowds were hard to navigate) we ordered drinks and appetizers. I was pleased with the cocktail menu though I chose a nice glass of Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay. Kevin was also content with his 20 oz. Sapporo. Our appetizers arrived promptly. Kevin had the miso soup which he said was the best he's ever had! That's a bold statement coming from a man who has eaten at almost every sushi place in Atlanta plus a few in Japan. I had the edemame which were perfectly cooked and lightly salted. The sushi came at a good pace. Zest also serves tapas and it appears their kitchen has mastered the art of timing the courses for their tables. We had the Kiss of Death roll first. Tasty and it hit the spot. Our sushi and sashimi platter followed. By the time our meal wrapped around 10 p.m. the crowd had dissipated. Being that far OTP the older diners probably had to get home early so the babysitter could stop running her meter. If we go back to Zest again on a Friday or Saturday, we'll most likely go after 9:30 when the waitstaff can breathe again. Zest was a good place to try but I'm not sure the food is worth our extra drive time. We've got Bishoku right down the road from our house...but that's for another Friday date night.
(3)
Angela M.
Not bad, not great either. A solid 2.5 stars, rounded up because Yelp doesn't let you have that perfectly middle ground. Meeting a friend for lunch on a beautiful sunny spring Friday turned out to be more of a hassle than either of us expected. With the beautiful weather, there was no parking to be found in downtown Roswell, even pay parking. I ended up at the Wells Fargo at Magnolia and Mimosa and just hoped that they wouldn't notice or ticket...so that probably had me off to a bad start anyway. I'd researched the menu online, saw that everything was a little pricey, and hoped that they'd have a lunch menu or lunch specials. They do not. My friend was already seated at a two person table, right at the front where the banquette ends (which is weird, btw, that the banquette ends and so the last 2 tables at the front have chairs on both sides, even the one against the wall). She'd ordered the edamame, a small bowl at $5. Perfectly average edamame. I was very hungry, which meant I wanted more food than my frugal self wanted to pay for. I was advised that the small plates are in fact quite small, so even ordering the sliders instead of the sushi wouldn't do the trick. I ended up with the sashimi salad at $11 - mixed greens tossed in yuzu vinaigrette with shrimp, tuna, red snapper, and salmon (and crabstick, but I asked them to leave that off), and the gyoza (pork) at $6. Yes, I signed myself up for $17 worth of food at lunch...eek. The food came pretty quickly, but when the salad was presented, it appeared to only have the shrimp. I flagged down our waiter (just 2 guys for the whole restaurant who seemed quite busy) to ask whether I missed the fine print where it said "one of the following" or something like that. He explained that the fish was cut into smaller pieces and mixed in with the salad. He said that everyone asks that, but that he wasn't going to tell the sushi chef, lest it upset him. Well let me tell you, sir, that you really should either a) tell the sushi chef, particularly since having it chopped so fine in the salad implies that you're hiding subpar fish, particularly since the vinaigrette covers pretty much all the flavor, or b) warn the patrons who order it so that they don't keep asking you where the heck the fish is. Otherwise, reduce the price, since just doesn't seem like an $11 salad, even though I can recognize that they use decently high-quality ingredients. In going with the apparent theme, the gyoza was average - good but nothing memorable. The place itself is cramped. There were several times when the waiter was tending to the table next to us that I was afraid I was going to be bumped in the face by his hip or his hand. And the 2 guys working the lunch crowd seemed very busy. They did have us fed and out in under an hour, but that should be easy with sushi and quick cooking food. Zest is cute enough, and if you're on the square and really want sushi, the food is good enough. But there's better sushi to be had for less money just a little bit up Hwy 9. I doubt that I'll be back. #Yelp365 - 78/365
(3)
John A.
A good friend took me to Zest on Friday. The place was packed; however, Nicole was courteous and ensured that we were seated in a reasonable timeframe. The food was excellent! We had the Smoked Salmon Chips, Gyoza and a couple of sushi rolls. The Gyoza was cooked to perfection. I really appreciated the effort they put into both boiling and then pan frying the dumplings. The flavor profile was smooth and rich. The Smoked Salmon Chips were delightful. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere and will be returning soon.
(5)
Sunira M.
My mother and I were just strolling on Canton street when we noticed Zest's new sign. I'm a sucker for trying new places and tapas sounded really good for an afternoon snack so we went in and were seated promptly. We were the only two people in there. The water was very friendly and served us quickly. We ordered a caterpilar roll and the beef tacos. OMG the tacos were delicious! They certainly didn't skimp on the juicy shreds of beef (not ground, people!) and were quite filling. The sushi was delivered looking awesome and it tasted even better than it looked. We also ordered tea and they brought out Revolution Tea, one of my favorite brands, which really tipped the meal from good to awesome. The final touch was the creme brulee and it was so good. It's just the right amount for two people and quite delicious. Overall, we walked out of there satiated and happy, not overfull and stuffed, which is what I prefer. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Randolph W.
Nice place. Ordered the miso soup and sushi (spider roll, Roswell roll, spicy tuna roll). Excellent soup and sushi. Ordered Kirin Light...love that beer. Waiter was good. Sat outside, sun in our face at first, but it got better during the night.
(4)
Matthew D.
Came with a friend during the week and the place was packed when we entered, which is always a good sign. We were able to snag a seat at the very end of the restaurant right outside of kitchen. The layout had the feel of a Chicago style shotgun apartment, complete with a galley kitchen. We spilt the dynamite roll and spider roll; the braised short rib and the bang bang shrimp. I ordered two Dirty martinis, they were dusty not dirty, even though I asked the second one to be dirtier. It was a fun atmosphere, very lively and the dishes came quick. We did feel rushed at the end, to the point of me asking if the place was closing (it wasn't, it was open for another 1 1/2 hours). The restaurant had plenty of seats, no was waiting, but they made us feel like it was time to go. I think unintentionally, but it hurt the overall experience. They were very accomdating otherwise, but I never like being made to feel that way, a little miss. I would go back, I love the street and although it won't make any top ten lists for overall food, it was fun and decent. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere, the dynamite roll and the fact I didn't have to pay (thanks Dea) The Bad: Felt a little rushed at the end, the Dirty Martini was never more than dusty, not a ton of dishes with that Wow Factor that Sushi places can have. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Bob Dylan. It can be electric, but it is better raw.
(3)
L M.
Unfortunately was not able to eat here because as soon as we walked in we were rudely informed that they do not have highchairs... basically saying they do not welcome children. We went across the street to SALT and had a FABULOUS dinner both the food and waitstaff was great.
(1)
Laurie B.
Absolutely delicious. Parmesan fries, lobster sushi, unagi. You name it, absolutely delicious!
(5)
Jennifer P.
Delicious! This review only concerns the sushi...I might try the tapas next time, though. And there will certainly be a next time. Went on a Sunday night (just got back, actually) and the restaurant was mildly busy, which was great because there was no wait but you also didn't feel awkward about being the only person hanging around. We were seated immediately (actually we got to pick our seats, which is nice) and promptly given menus. Thankfully, we weren't rushed into making a decision, because there are a quite a lot of delicious-sounding options to choose from. Our waiter was friendly without being overbearing. I got the Rock and Roll (eel & avocado) and Shrimp Tempura (just what it sounds like) rolls. I've had better shrimp tempura, but only at one place that no longer exists, and this was a close second. There was not a long wait for the food, either. Yay! The whole meal was truly delightful. The portion sizes were perfect: large enough that I felt full, but light enough that I didn't feel overly full and tired. A really good balance. I don't know enough about sushi, aside from how much I like it, to explain what made the meal so good, but the taste just blended together really well. Prices were reasonable ($9 per roll, and those were the less expensive options); I've had cheaper, but the quality of the food and atmosphere of the restaurant made this semi-splurge feel like an excellent decision. I will definitely return to Zest to satisfy any and all sushi cravings in the future. It was just a fun, casual outing with good food and friendly staff.
(5)
Krud D.
2 topics here to write about.. But first let me just say that the food was very good. Now.. down to biz! 1... The tapas are not real tapas like in Spain. You would never get a steak as a tapa in Spain. And they certainly would not be $12.00. Tapas are usually 1.00-3.00 Euro if not free. Tapas are supposed to come with a glass of wine or beer. You are supposed to get 3,4,5,6 of them.. Which would break the bank at this place. And NO ONE shares tapas in Spain. 2. The sushi was VERY good.. VERY! only drawback... We had 6 rolls between the 3 of us and we were still super hungry. We actually went to another resturant down the street to get some more to eat. I just wish the sushi rolls were a bit bigger. I would definately go back..
(3)
Suz I.
Had the sushi here and it was absolutely delicious! Some of the best I've encountered. Great specialty rolls to choose from, and a great atmosphere. Nice patio seating out in the front in charming historic Roswell.
(5)
Sophia J.
One of my new fave spots. Love the Rainbow Roll, WOW. Friendly, full bar, very fresh Sushi.
(4)
C C.
Great place for sushi!! Our new favorite sushi place. Not cheap but I think it is appropriately priced for the quality. I have only eat lunch and the sushi but I have really enjoyed all the rolls so far. Good wait staff also.
(5)
Craig G.
"Topless bar?!?!" my wife asked in shock. You have to understand with my puritan roots that I wouldn't so much as darken the door of a Hooters. Once I clarified the spelling, she was still confused on the concept of a "tapas bar." So I used the sushi bar concept as a metaphor for the similarity in "eating" style. Consequently I've always seen the similarities between the two cuisines, so it was exciting to see the work progressing on this new establishment which brings the two concepts together. After a sufficient delay to allow them to work out their opening-day kinks, we stopped by to give them a try. Would we lean to the tapas or go with the sushi? Could the two hemispheres be mixed safely? Well, yes they can! There was no guardian at the door so we headed toward the back and seated ourselves. We were quickly greeted and after our waitress took our drink orders, we shifted to the next table as the one we'd picked had a horrible wobble. The friendly waitress didn't seem to notice and we started off by ordering the Edamame Hummus and a Ginger Salad. The "spicy" wonton chips weren't, but they still complimented the hummus which was delicious - possibly the best item we ordered. Susie's salad started delicious, but they'd been stingy with the dressing and the tiny dab was only on top of the pretty dish. Once she got past the top layer it was just giant leaves of spring greens. This could be an excellent dish if there was more dressing and if they broke down the greens to fit an average mouth. Next we had the Calamari and Gyoza. The tender and tasty calamari were served with a microscopic drop of a greenish mayonnaise-like sauce and an normal sized sweet chili dipping sauce. Both sauces were good, but it left me wondering if the other sauce had been an accidental drip onto the plate or just some kind of artistic statement. The gyoza was the typical pan seared dumplings and standard dipping sauce, but perfectly executed and full of flavor. Last we had the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and then the Rock 'n Roll and the Dancing Eel roll. We both love unagi and wanted to compare these eel-based rolls. The Dancing Eel took a minor lead due to the addition of crab. But you won't go wrong with either. The shrimp tapas, however was a bit disappointing as the bacon was flavorless. While it didn't ruin the dish, it certainly didn't bring anything to the party in the texture or flavor departments. It's certainly an okay dish, but not up to my expectations. It was served on a "slaw" with a very subtle flavoring. I think it was meant to compliment the dipping sauce, but with so little flavor in the shrimp, I left most of it untouched. The sauce came in two parts: a sweet teriyaki sauce (almost a BBQ sauce), and a spicy chili sauce. It is served so you can dip in either or mix a bit of both together. The sauces hid the failings of the shrimp and elevated them to the level of edible. Unless they get an overhaul, I'd pass on them, however. (Side note: strangely their sushi menu lacked squid and octopus, while sea urchin was offered). The atmosphere of this restaurant leans heavily to the bar side. The long, narrow room is dominated on one side by a bar and its TV's. This makes for an unfriendly echo chamber, and concrete floors and abundance of hard surfaces makes for an acoustically harsh environment. We also had the misfortune of sitting next to the speaker providing background music, and I think it was mounted too low (nearly ear level). Minimalistic seating runs along the wall opposite the bar and there are also a small number of tables outside on the crowded sidewalk. Since each tapas/sushi item is artistically presented on it's own pretty plate, the tiny tables are quickly overwhelmed. The staff attempts to compensate by taking away the unused plates quickly, but can accidentally remove a dish before you've finished it. So the timing of your orders becomes an onus, complicated by the fact that kitchen dishes come out much faster than sushi dishes. Overall the food was enjoyable and the price is fair for this quality, which minimizes the shortcomings. The location is also conveniently located in the historic district and I'm sure we'll be back. They're working hard to be an upscale dining option, and I'm confident they'll sand off the rough edges soon enough.
(4)
Lindze M.
A friend of mine is friends with the chef, so we went in a group of 7 to experience all the finest offerings of Zest. He said he would "take care of us" and just brought us a chef's selection of his best. I didn't taste a single thing that wasn't top-notch and amazing. I wish I could list every item I ate, but the dishes were just brought to us in droves, so we didn't always get the names. I ate a Yellowtail sashimi dish with jalapenos that was amazing. we had a large platter with assorted sashimi: red snapper, tuna, yellowtail, and something else, along with the Roswell roll and the Oceanic roll. We also had a cucumber & crab salad, a sashimi salad, a soba roll (?), dragon roll, a baked cod dish, and 3 other rolls I didn't catch the name of. every bite of fish was tender, fresh and just melted in my mouth. I am a pretty big sushi snob, and I couldn't believe a place in Roswell had better sushi than I'd had in ages, including most places in Duluth and Buford Hwy. Service was fairly good, although one of the waitresses lost one of my $20 bills when I paid, and tried to convince me I owed her more. I refused, knowing what I gave her, and she finally found it in the kitchen, where she dropped it. The only reason I give this place 4, not 5 stars, was because of that, and because the definition of the chef 'taking care of us' was apparently to order us the most expensive items on the menu (including 2 items that came after we expressly asked them to STOP bringing us food) and charging us full price for them. Our bill was $400! Not sure how thats being 'taken care of"....lol My friend was mortified, since she thought he meant he was hooking her up, since they were friends, but alas! Although we were not thrilled with each shelling out around $70 for the meal, it really was worth it. the food WAS amazing, and sushi is expensive everywhere. Might as well get the best out of it! for those getting a less decadent meal, expect around $3 a piece for nigiri sushi ($6 an order, for 2) and $8 for 4 pcs of sashimi. Fancy sushi rolls are around $10-15. Tapas range from around $6-15, same with appetizers.
(4)
Jaimi A.
I was here once for dinner. I had a sushi roll and it was good, but pricey compared to equal quality food available in other places. A second time a friend and I tried to stop by at lunch but were disappointed to find out they didn't have a high chair for my daughter. While I can understand not wanting to encourage children, downtown Roswell is a walking are where lots of different groups of people mingle. Not respecting the fact that cool people have kids too was a big turn off for me. I will not return. **As of summer 2013 I hear they have gotten a few high chairs. Bravo!**
(2)
Greg C.
Went for lunch, Asian salad was terrible, wife ordered soft shell crab sandwich, crab had no flavor or seasoning. I ordered two sushi rolls, my wife was finished eating her meal before I received my rolls when only for tables filled in the whole restaurant. Sushi rolls were of the same quality that you can get from Publix seafood counter. Save your money, too many other choices in Roswell...
(1)
Sta t.
I love sushi and this establishment did not disappoint. I usually feel like I'm paying too much for what I get at most sushi places, and this one is no different. I love the location and the food was good. The wasabi hummus was different and tasty. Drop the price about $2 per roll and I'd be back more often.
(3)
Darryl W.
For those nights when you're not ready for a big meal, or for those of us who like a little bit of everything, Zest is a great place. Their whole menu is sushi and tapas. The sushi, well, it's good, but nothing really separates it from other good sushi restaurants. To me, the tapas is why I like Zest. The tapas menu is mostly asian inspired, and whether you're eating satay, calamari, spring rolls, wontons, or dumplings, they all have interesting dipping sauces. And for you "meat and taters" people, the Grilled Steak w/ Grit Cake was delicious. Or you might go for the Braised Beef Shortrib w/ Potato Au Gratin. For a decadent splurge, try the mac and cheese. I don't know what they do to it, but it's a far cry from Kraft! Also, for those of you that like your boat drinks, they have a full menu of martinis and specialty drinks. The margaritas are made with pineapple infused tequila and the mojitos and made with lemon grass infused rum. The mango mojito is awesome! For the grape lover, they have many interesting wines by the glass. Also, a decent beer selection and sake. The location is great, being right on Canton Street in Roswell. The only downside is the size. It's not very big and on some nights you can have a wait. At least there's plenty to do on Canton Street while you're waiting. It can get a little loud, so if you want a quiet dinner out, this is not for you. For bringing friends and meeting new people, it's great. I've been here several times now and it will continue to be a stop of mine. The owner, Ron, is very friendly accommodating. I believe he is also opening up a new restaurant up Canton Street at the old Indigo location.
(4)
Kathy C.
Frustrating experience as we really liked this place, but now we may never go back. We waited over 45 minutes for Sushi, which we understood was running behind. This really didn't make sense though, as the restaurant is small & has 2 sushi chefs. This is the same as Atlantic Seafood, twice the size and busier. The server told us at 30 mins that they were running behind, but we had already heard another server tell the table next to us. We would have continued to be patient, but we saw people around us get served, although they came in after us. One couple arrived 20 mins after us, ordered, ate, paid & left before we got our sushi. The food is very good, which makes this whole thing frustrating. We spent $130 (2 of us), and if they had just bought a glass of wine or an appetizer for us, I wouldn't be writing this. The owner walked by over 10 times, but did nothing. The server apologized, but told us "I have no control over the sushi line". It's a shame as a $12 glass of wine would have saved a couple that on average spends $100 there, but now we may never go back.
(2)
Valrie M.
Went there last night. Sat outside with a friend. Very good service. Had the fried calamari, and the pulled pork spring roll. Calamari was good, but the Spring Roll was excellent!. Someone next to us didn't care for their dish, the waitress apologized and soon brought them another dish. Will be back!
(4)
Greg C.
Interesting fusion, but both the sushi and the tapas are just okay, especially given the price.
(3)
Peter W.
Overall: Delightful and delicious right in the middle of The Canton Road Strip Never crowded the times I went and fast service of tasty and interesting food makes me glad I live so close. The good: The food is amazing and interesting. Normal well-made Sushi-esque appetizers like tempura and gyoza are met by delightful tapas like lamb lollipops and beef short ribs. Sushi is wonderful and amazing, as good as I have had when I was traveling to California for business which paid for my meals (so you know I was trying some of the best stuff out there). Servers are numerous, prompt, courteous, and attentive... and the bartender packs a punch into each cocktail. Seating is capacious favoring the inside where I prefer, with a long bar paralleled by a long bench peppered with tables that can be combined easily for larger groups. Thus I can't imagine a problem ducking in by myself, with a friend, or with several friends. Be warned: The price is comparable with every other sushi place around, but the tapas, dessert, and drink menu sing their siren song and can easily ruin plans for a budget-conscious night out. There are great lunch combos that stave off this phenomenon, but at dinner there is perilous temptation. That being said, I have never regretted what I've ordered or what I paid for it. During peak times the patio seating fills up and may cause a bit of a wait for those who simply cannot sit inside, I've never had to wait for seating inside but I acknowledge that more people might find it and grow to love it as I have and make me be patient.
(5)
William K.
The tuna tartare and yellowtail jalapeño are über yummy. I have also enjoyed the gyoza, spider roll, volcano roll, rock and roll and today, fish tacos. Good service, good vibe, clean interior.
(4)
John D.
Zest is a cool concept. Great tapas and good sushi. My wife, our two girls and I went there on a whim and while there got "trapped" by heavy rain and lightning. Since we decided to wait out the rain, we ran through the menu twice. My only gripe is that the Sushi is pricy for the quantity, but the quality was good and the tapas selection was broad. The place is small, but it makes for a warm atmosphere, and great people watching. You'll also find yourselves engaged in conversation with guests on either side of your table.
(4)
Shaina K.
I LOVE ZEST...it is one of my faves. My obsession is the bang bang shrimp....it's definitely bangin and not too spicy which is great!!! I loveee the steak quesadillas there too!!! Every time I get to go my day is made. I am always looking for new people to take because I know they will LOVE it AND that means I get to go again!!! :)
(5)
Nathan W.
I went here with co-workers for lunch. 3 of us shared the tapas. We each ordered 3 items to share. Most of it was tasty. We however where not impressed with the spring rolls. They were burnt and tasted bad. We informed our server that they were not good and decided we did not want them. At that time he informed us that he could not take them off the x check per the owners policy. I have never been in a place where they would not take an item off the check if you did not like it or even offer to bring you something else. I could understand if we wanted to send back several items but it was 1 out of 9. For that reason I will not go back.
(2)
Helmut B.
Great concept - both sushi and tapas are outstanding. For quite a while I never veered from the sushi menu which can have nice daily specials. The sushi is fresh and expertly prepared. Several visists ago I tried two of the Tapas - one shrimp and one beef. They were fantastic! A bit larger then tapas I am used to. The bar staff is very engaging and fast even when the place is crowded. It is a smallish venue and can go from empty to a waiting line in a "flash mob" 30 minutes or so. Nice, diverse and sometimes offbeat crowd can be entertaining - a great place for a first date - surroundings make great small talk fodder. Located on Canton Street in Old Roswell. Go, you will find something to like.
(4)
Ellen M.
Lunch today! Great menu of drinks, wine, cocktails and great hot tea! The ginger salad was very fresh with lots of carrots on top. Our sushi rolls were all fresh and very tasty. The Roswell Roll was our favorites, but the Super Crunch, Sakura Roll, Rainbow Roll were all great. The service is swift and friendly. Love that downtown Roswell has a sushi bar now!
(5)
natalie b.
I came here with a group of 9 to celebrate my sister's 16 birthday. It was a busy Friday night, but the staff was accommodating nonetheless. The menu, a combination of tapas of sushi, is a bit of an odd mix, but it ensures that anyone in yr party will be able to find something to eat. That said, no one in our party of 9 was disappointed with anything they had to eat. The only suggestion I would make is that they offer a couple more vegetarian options. And believe me, you want to drink a Lazy Sunday. So very good.
(4)
Alex V.
Great Place!
(5)
Amy V.
The newest addition to Canton Street of Roswell. I went with a group of friends after seeing a play at the Georgia Ensemble Theater. It was pretty late (late for the burbs on a Wednesday) and we were looking for a snack and a drink. Most of the other places appeared to be closing up, but Zest was open until 10. They were very accommodating, even though I am sure they were hoping to close soon. We tried the edamame hummus and it was super good. Served with wanton triangles it was the perfect blend of flavors. That and a decent glass of wine made for a fine ending to our evening.
(4)
Stricky T.
On a saturday evening we breezed into Zest with the promise of a great meal........it was a bit of tight squeeze but we managed to have great meal. We chose to sample the few small plates.........the Kobe meatballs.........meaty, cheesy and juicy.......the parmesan truffle fries were spectacularly crisp........, followed closely by the Dynoomite roll..........an explosion of flav..............a promise to return.......surely
(4)
Kristen M.
Delicious, fresh sushi (and then some) in an adorable downtown Roswell location. Will definitely be back. Have recommended it to a friend who went with a large group and they all loved it, as well.
(5)
M F.
I usually get small plates. Hubby gets sushi. Small place but food and service are good. The price is very fair considering the location.
(4)
Mike H.
Absolutely terrific food. We had the lamb lollipops, short rib tacos, pulled pork spring rolls and the fried calamari. Went great with a Stella while people watching on the sidewalk on a sunny Monday afternoon. HIGHLY recommended. Not the cheapest in the area, but in my opinion, far and away the best in old Roswell. Just do it!!!
(5)
Matt B.
Intended on trying the Salt Factory. At 7pm there was a 45 min. wait, so we changed our minds. Went to Zest and had a great dinner. The owner was very outgoing, helpful, and funny. We sat at the bar and had some of the best shrimp & grits I've ever had. I'll be back, and this will be part of my Roswell rotation.
(4)
Jason B.
Spectacular Service from Grace and exceptional food. The Roswell Roll and Kobe Meatballs are insane!! Everything we ate was good. Great wine list... WOW! Love this place in the heart of downtown Roswell! The atmosphere is energetic. We had a fun date night but don't recommend it for an intimate dinner! Patio seating on Canton Street is also available.
(4)
Doug B.
Really great place! The service was perfect and the food was very tasty. Everyone in our group was pleased. This is a great place to take people when you want a wee bit of trendy, but you also want something for the non adventurous.
(5)
Mark S.
I've been here 4x as of tonight and had a great time every-time. Bartenders are fast and attentive and the food is right on. Crowd is interesting for Canton street. They make it easy to order the sushi, I don't have to fill out a bowling score sheet or anything, I want to eat not solve a riddle. It can be crowded on the weekends, but don't come starving, have a few drinks and enjoy the scenery, good, bad and even the ugly.
(4)
Ju ju T.
A favoirite spot of mine in historic Roswell. The owner, Ron is so fun and always happy to see us! I feel welcome here. The sushi is always the BEST...Very fresh and delicious. Beautiful resturant, but when it gets crowded, it becomes difficult to make your way back to the one restroom that they have. That is the only negative about this place, otherwise, I highly recommend you pop in and say hi to Ron! Get the rainbow roll or the chef's special. Also, they make the most beautiful Ginger salad!
(4)
Gabriel S.
I ordered the zest roll (a specialty roll) and the salmon roll (a basic roll). The zest roll was pretty good. I would probably order it again. I couldn't believe how small the salmon roll was. Only 6 pieces and they were tiny. Very disappointing. I may go back, but I wouldn't go out of my way to.
(3)
Caroline T.
I was out with a friend from college this past Saturday evening and we had originally planned on eating at Salt. However, there was an hour wait and there was no room to get a drink at the bar. We saw Zest across the street and decided to go there since it was not overly crowded (pretty atypical for a downtown Roswell restaurant at 8pm on Saturday) and we were both starving. Needless to say we were both very impressed! Here is the rundown: -Drinks: My friend and I are both dirty martini snobs and were so blown away, we had two. The bleu cheese stuffed olives probably helped. -Tapas: Crab/Cream Cheese Wontons were just like Crab Rangoons from your local Chinese delivery but the sauce they served it with made all the difference. We also had the Pulled Pork Spring Rolls which I would recommend to everyone who goes there. The seasoned pork and turnip greens were more than delicious! -Sushi: Try the Roswell and Sakura Rolls. They are specialty rolls so they are a little bit more price wise, but well worth it when compared to the traditional sushi. Bottom line: Wonderful service, delicious drinks and mouth-watering tapas and sushi!
(5)
Andy J.
Great sushi. Great atmosphere. Great service. This was our second visit and everything has been first rate each time. Perfect addition to our favorite neighborhood dining destination.
(5)
Dand Lee S.
I was really surprised by this place. The sushi was excellent and the menu was innovative and had quite the selection. I highly suggest the edamame hummus. They do baked rolls as well as anyone. The interior is great and the atmosphere relaxed and friendly. The customer service was great. My only complaint was the bad pop-soft- rock music, but I usually complain about the soundtrack anywhere I go. I'll definitely be going back at least a few times :D
(5)
Stephanie F.
The food was great a little expensive for sushi. The tapas were great and everything was so fresh and flavorful! It gets crowded so make sure you get there early!
(4)
Doug C.
Super new tapas/sushi restaurant on Canton Street. Fantastic food - fantastic service. I'm a huge fan.
(5)
Samantha B.
fabulous!!!
(4)
bethany h.
Roswell is becoming a well rounded place to eat with Zest! The food was delish and very reasonably priced. My group had a variety of sushi, and everyone was thrilled with portion size and how fresh the food tasted. The fried rice was especially delish, and the drinks were inventive and well priced.
(4)
Lauren L.
There is something for everyone! I love Sushi but I have been with friends who don't and they still rave about this place! I highly recommend the dumplings to those picky eater friends you may take...they will keep them happy as you enjoy your ridiculously delicious Sushi!! I crave it all the time!!
(5)
Lisa L.
Finally a sushi place in historic roswell on Canton street. Good sushi! Didn't try the tapas but will on the next go round. I was able to sit outside w/my dog which is always a plus. I started with the cucumber salad. A little pricer than most sushi place but still good. I followed this up with the Yummy roll (fried). Very good. All in all it was $23 w/glass of wine. Not too bad!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Michele G.
Gave it two tries recently. The first was a slow Sunday afternoon with probably one of the worst waiters I've ever had. Food was good but the surly waiter put a damper on the experience. At the last Alive After 5 we tried again. Once more, terrible service. Food was merely adequate. I think that's it for Zest for us.
(2)Melissa R.
I have eaten here many times now and have never had anything but excellent service and food. The new Pearl Oyster bar is a nice addition. The chilled seafood sampler really hit the spot on the first warm day of the year too. Sushi rolls are always great and I love the selection of tapas. Initially it seemed like the menu was set up for failure with so many varied options, but they've proven they can execute on all of them well time and again!
(5)Miranda R.
This restaurant took me from never wanting to try sushi to loving it and any time I try sushi in other restaurants it never comes close to Zest. Canton is such a busy street. Good luck parking. And good luck getting a table right away. If memory serves, there is always a wait! The dynamite, oceanic, and gorilla rolls were our favorites. I especially liked that not every roll was jam packed with cucumber. These 3 most definitely are not. If there was a place like this in Birmingham, AL I'd be there weekly! Get thee to Zest.
(5)Aaron L.
This is my second time going. Both times I ordered sushi. Fresh and tasty one of my favorite sushi places OTP. I also orders the oysters from next doors. They was also really good.
(4)Dorina C.
They have the best octopus and lentil dish. Very fulfilling and yummy! Great atmosphere and has a nice patio down town Roswell!
(4)George M.
Excellent food and atmosphere! Great service and pricing!
(5)CHAD H.
Sweet place. Great oysters and brews and sushi. We were in town and stopped by for dinner. It was great..everything about it was great. Very nice.
(5)Danielle R.
I've been to this place several times and usually it's because I've intended to go somewhere else, but since Canton Street is usually PACKED most places have very lengthy waits. However, the last few trips to downtown Roswell there was a lot of open tables at Zest. This usually makes me leery of places, however each time at Zest I had a great customer service experience and a great meal. Their drinks are nice and stiff and I love that you can order brown rice with your sushi rolls in lieu of white rice. It's a nice mix of tapas and sushi to accommodate different palettes or tastes. I will be returning to Zest again soon!
(4)Norbert C.
I've been to Zest at least 5 times in the last year but they opened up the wall and now you can order from Pearl too! I just ordered the PEI mussels tapas and they are fantastic! Large mussels and the sauce... Are you kidding me!! As they say down in the south " you'll want to smack yo mamma!" Perfect pairing - dirty Vodka infused martini. Perfected by the awesome bartenders here at Zest!
(5)Brian B.
Been here a few times and honestly not sure where all the great reviews come from. The ambiance is ok however all 3 times I've been here the food was lousy. This place is also pretty pricey for what you get. I'm no cheap ass, trust me I don't might shelling out for a good meal but for the service and quality of food you get here I think Zest is way overrated. If you want good sushi, hit up Nagoya! Fraction of the price, and twice as nice!
(2)Tia M.
First of all, I loved the atmosphere here. The service was great, the area super cute and the restaurant good for a date or a gathering of friends. Most importantly, the food was amazing! Everything we ate was delicious. The Oysters, the coconut soup (personal favorite), spinach & artichoke dip, the rib tacos (boyfriends favorite), chicken curry was full of flavor (so good), and the sushi was fresh and delicious! Everything was just so perfect. We sat at the bar so my boyfriend can watch the game, and John gave us such great service. Definitely going to be going back regularly.
(5)Sarah H.
Really enjoyed having dinner at this restaurant. The atmosphere is really fun and modern. The service was very fast even for our large group of about 10. The server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we need. One thing that makes this place really nice in my opinion is even though it's a sushi restaurant they have lots of small plate options for those of us who don't love sushi. From quesadillas to burgers to lamb they have it all! I went with the lamb lollipops that which came with mashed potatoes. Both things had excellent flavor and the lamb was very tender. The small plate servings are definitely smaller than a standard serving but really the amount of food was perfect. I left full but not stuffed. A girl in my group for Mac and cheese and it looked divine! This portion was large and it came out in a cast iron skillet. I would definitely try this next time I go Definitely a great restaurant to check out!!!
(5)Raymond G.
1st the good: The fish taco's and the shrimp were pretty good. The prices were reasonable. The atmosphere and decor was very nice. Inside was just as inviting as was the outside. Now, the not so good. The waitress seemed disinterested, almost like she wanted to go home. Not very friendly. She left a bad taste for the night.
(3)Amy G.
I came here with my boyfriend on our getaway to Atlanta and we were very impressed with this place. The restaurant itself has a lovely ambience at the outdoor seating. We did not have to wait long to be seated outside which was great. We ordered grilled oysters, and 4 sushi rolls. The oysters were one of the best I've ever had. It was so delicious that I did not want to share it with m boyfriend. Sushi was very fresh and also absolutely delicious. Drinks tasted good and were strong enough to give us a nice buzz. I highly recommend others to come here to experience the great food.
(5)J D.
One of the best restaurants in Roswell and located in the heart of Canton street. They have a large outdoor seating area and really good tapas and sushi. Its personally our favorite sushi place in Roswell.
(5)Warren H.
Really enjoyed the sushi here. New to town and very excited to find an excellent sushi spot. Martini was delicious too. I had various nigiri and the red dragon roll.
(5)Lea C.
Really enjoying the expanded space at Zest! The mussels are fantastic (white wine sauce), seafood salad (vinaigrette) - large portion so three of us split it and there was still some leftover. Love to come here for Tapas too. hubby had the Seafood stew and loved it except for the squid (lol). Friends had Zest Sushi and said it was fantastic. We each had two glasses of wine, total about $90 for all. Service was excellent, a bit loud as the place was hopping, but we will be back regularly. Their lettuce wraps are pretty good too :)
(5)Rise H.
This was my worst dining experience yet! The grilled oysters had oysters the size of a pea with cheese you couldn't even scrape off! The ahi poki was flavorless , where were the ingredients stated on the menu? And 15 minutes after a beer was ordered and we were leaving, it was delivered! A total waste of money!
(1)Leigh M.
Food is great. However tonight I had the WORST service I've ever had possibly anywhere. I was taking my 13 year old daughter out for a "girls night" to chat and eat sushi since that's her favorite. First of all a server told us to sit outside so we sat down. Then the owner came out and told us that we couldn't sit there bc people were waiting. So we got up. Then we waited. No one talked to us. I asked if someone was going to seat us. Finally they did. Then we sat and sat and sat. FIFTEEN minutes later after asking WHO our waiter was our waitress came to our table. To her credit she offered to pay for my first drink. However it was another FIFTEEN MINUTES before it got there. We ordered everything then bc we figured if we didn't it would be another 30mins before we got it...and we were right. In the end we got there at 7:30 and left at 9:30. Three tables around us turned before we ever got our food. It was TERRIBLE. However, a good lesson for my daughter on what is unacceptable. I usually tip at least 20%. Or like last night at the Waffle House I tipped $20 on a $13 bill because that waitress blew this one out of the water. I tipped 5% and almost think that was too much considering my bill was $83 and my service was as sub par as you can get. Won't be going back. I can get the same quality sushi in about 10 different places in Atlanta.
(1)David R.
Zest different concept from NOCA, but same owner. I recently dined at NOCA again and walked to Zest. I ordered the braised beef short rib and handmade mini Kobe burgers. Both were great! The short rib is served over potato au gratin and topped with mushrooms and fried onions. The mini burgers are served with cheese, tomato, red onion and a "fire and ice pickle". A cocktail available at NOCA is here also; the Moscow Mule. It was my first time having it! $9 for the drink, but it is good and served in a copper mug! I like sushi, but chose tapas for this visit; I will be back again. This place is smaller than NOCA and due to the location, parking could be a challenge on busy nights.
(5)Gerri P.
We came here for a late lunch. Lunch prices are good until 4pm. We sat outside & Bento boxes. I enjoyed my chicken teriyaki & tempura. My husband had salmon teriyaki & enjoyed his. We had good service & the Bento Box was a good portion for lunch & I took some home. Great value! The only negative was for me the ginger salad dressing had too much ginger for my taste.
(4)Jenniver S.
I had the Canton roll and the pork spring rolls. The spring rolls were amazing. The Canton roll was good but could have been better.
(4)ester k.
their food is good but nothing special. you can get the same food for less somewhere else. I just thought they were overpriced for what it was and how much you got. good sushi if you don't care about price though!
(3)Keith W.
Hands down the worst sushi I have ever had. HORRIFIC! the bartender Eve was awesome. And had she not been so amazing, I would have addressed my concerns to management. Lesson learned. I might drink there again, but never order sushi again. Disgusting!! If u do brave the sushi, don't get the Allyson roll. HORRIBLE!!
(1)Paul W.
I visit Zest quite often. I have never been disappointed. The food is always great. I actually really like the menu. The wine selection is excellent. The manager is always very pleasant. The only thing that was a little bit of a let down was the waitress,Victoria. She was nice, but didn't seem to be enjoying her job. It looked like she didn't want to be there and couldn't wait to give me the check. Very minor complaint, but still. I will definitely be back.
(4)Anita L.
The food was very good, although a bit uninspired. The small plates were not authentic Spanish tapas; they were appetizers or smaller portions of entrées, but they were generally well prepared. The beef short rib tapas was very good, but it was basically a smaller portion of an entrée. It was a bit pricey at $15. The pow pow shrimp were very good but, again, nothing you've never had before. Oysters Rockefeller were good, but you couldn't taste the oyster beneath all the spinach and cheese. Short rib tacos were somewhat bland, only meat and cabbage -my dinner companions and I agreed it was missing something. The charred octopus on lentils was good-the octopus was simply prepared and the cooked lentils underneath were good. The best dish we had-the mussels. The broth was excellent, and we really enjoyed it. Our server, Don, was excellent. He knew the menu and the food very well, and he busted his butt to be a good server. As other reviewers have said, the prices are a bit high for tapas, but they are fairly large portions for "tapas."
(4)Johnna S.
Don't complain about your food here or Ron, the owner, will still bill for 50% of the cost once he's trashed what you sent back to the kitchen. He is very defensive in his approach to customer service....except he has ZERO customer service. He basically told me that because most of his customers liked the Spider Roll that it's hard to believe I didn't like it. He claimed I ate 50% of the roll except that the size of the rolls were so large I had to cut it up with a knife and eat them. Good luck staying in business buddy.
(1)Allyson R.
This place is surprisingly good. They have fruit infused vodka and rum that are strong but very tasty. The ahi tuna sliders are a great way to start the meal. I had the Allyson roll and it was very good! My friends shared several rolls and the portions were large and tasty. The rolls are decently priced and we ate at the bar and there wasn't a wait. Awesome!
(5)Justin H.
Went in for lunch and was impressed by the service from the bartender, Billy. He was very attentive and kind. Food was very delicious esp the lamp chops. The spider rolls were excellent as well. I would definitely go back and try some other rolls.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Great atmosphere, food and service. We sat outside and enjoyed people watching and chatting with friends. Roswell's walking district is super cute. Excellent coffee shop next door too!
(4)Russ A.
Went to Zest a week ago on a Friday night. It was packed so we sat outside under the heated vents. The service was very good even though they were 100% packed. The food was excellent, several rolls and the Lobster tail appetizer along with the calamari. My friend who is not a fan of sushi actually liked the rolls here. The lobster tail was better than anywhere else I've had it. Seriously try it! I will definitely be back here in the future.
(5)Richard F.
The GF and I went to Zest for a date night. It was great for us because I'm a foodie that will eat a lot of different things but my GF isn't as adventurous as I am. The mix of sushi and tapas allowed us to have several different things. The day we went was a really nice spring day so every place on Canton Street was packed and Zest was no different. We got to Zest around 7:45 and had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table. I got us a few drinks and we sat outside and enjoyed the weather. The staff was working to turn the table but wasn't being obtrusive or pushy with customers. Once we got our table our server was over quickly even though they had a packed house. I ordered my first round of sushi and my GF ordered a few tapas. The food was really good. The steak and grits and tuna sliders were wonderful. The first round of sushi that I had was good. After finishing those I ordered another round of sushi, my dessert, and my GF ordered a chocolate cake for dessert. I enjoyed the second round of sushi more than the first round. All of the flavors just worked better together. The only issue that I had was that while the service was good it was a little disjointed. When we ordered our first round of food my sushi came out very quickly but it took a while for the tapas to come out. Then when I ordered my second round of sushi and my GF got dessert her dessert came out several minutes before my sushi. It's a small complaint but I like for all of the food to hit the table at the same time. They did have a full house when this happened so I can let it slide. Over all we were very happy with our time at Zest and we will be back. The food was good, the drinks were good, and the staff was friendly and inviting.
(4)Mari B.
As an experienced, Japanese/Asian food lover, I can say that the Food is not bad per se, but not even close to anything special. Service is average. Drinks are average. Food is average. Prices are high for what you get. Then again, it is on Canton st in downtown Roswell, so I guess you pay for the location. Just overrated in my opinion.
(2)Jason D.
Honestly, I was not impressed. The sushi was good and the salads were tasty. We tried the lettuce wraps, shrimp & grits, ahi tuner sliders and the hummus and they were all lacking in flavor. I probably won't come back unfortunately. It is a shame...atmosphere was great but the service was lacking as well.
(1)Shardul R.
Meal and service was good. Manager's reaction to a complaint was absolutely unacceptable considering the fact that he was also drinking and dealing with customers. Very unfortunate situation. Would still recommend for food and overall service.
(3)Trevor W.
The most diverse restaurant on Canton Street, and in a tie for my favorite place to dine. Also great for that group of eclectic people that can never agree on what they want for dinner. Zest is a tapas and sushi bar (though they order it the other way) and an amazing one at that. Their small plates are heaven with plenty of custom creations nightly that really entice the palate. Like the packed Canton Street area, this is a shotgun style establishment with a few tables out front, bar down the side, and small tables along the other. Draws a very strong business and well worth the wait. Wayyyyy too many scrumptious items to simply list, I rather encourage you to try the place. Great wine and alcohol menus as well that pair very well with the cuisine. Truly an upscale, standout of a restaurant and one of the best on the Canton strip. They know they are a restaurant foremost and take it seriously, unlike some of the other places that tend to be bars masquerading as restaurants.
(5)Jenny P.
The Allyson roll was incredible. Best sushi roll. Best combo of flavors. And the fish tacos were oddly delicious too!
(5)Ana F.
Good food, good environment a really good service. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for something light and good to eat.
(5)Steve H.
I don't know if I'm growing ever-more curmudgeonly as I progress in years, but I'm waxing discontent with sushi as a meal. I'll stipulate to the point that it is "food," but could debate tirelessly that sushi isn't the basis of a real meal. That being said, the sushi here is fine. Wonderfully presented and prepared, and not horribly priced, as some places do these days. We had a Dragon Roll, a couple of White Tuna nigiri...ignoring the controversy about the veracity about the "white tuna" nomenclature, both were edible. The shining star of our visit was a chalkboard special-of-the-day/night, Albacore Tataki ($13 for 5 pieces). It was previously-seared (cold, in other words) ahi, served with a delicious sauce on thinly-sliced lemon. The texture was akin to buttery filet mignon and the flavors were outstanding. The worst part of the experience? The Pork Skewers. WTF? Three pieces of pork tenderloin per skewer, the meat looked like sausage. Tasteless, cold, and bereft of any indication of how it was cooked. No grill marks, no browning, no nothing. "Skewers" evokes mental images of fire-seared meat. Hell, pan-frying would get some Maillard reaction happening and develop some flavor. These damned things were loaded with heaps of fail. The ginger-pear dipping sauce _would_ have been good, if the meat had possessed any flavor of its own. Bustling atmosphere, a healthy din--yet not such a cacophony that we couldn't talk to each other, and a single, uni-sex bathroom that was curiously vacant every time that I had to pee. If the food had been better, the joint could be four stars, but I can't envision it ever deserving five. Modest beer list, pretty good selection of wine. Valet parking directly across the street was quick and relatively painless at $3. During warmer times of the year, the outside seating would be a great vantage point for people watching.
(3)Taryn S.
We absolutely love this place... We go several times a week and sit on the patio for a couple of hours since the weather has been cooling down the past couple months. The sushi and tapas are both fabulous - pretty much everything we have tried is excellent. Love their pineapple tequila. So good. The staff are all so friendly and sweet - love them. Very Highly recommend for some good people watching, food and drinks. Yum
(5)John S.
Re-visit. Had 2 sushi rolls and the seafood skewer. The seafood skewer was pan-fried, greasy and not really good. The sushi rolls didn't really meet expectations. The service is still good. Going to have to drop this a notch or two.
(2)faith w.
So, Friday night staying in Sandy Springs craving something and somewhere different than Buckhead. Roswell, what a hidden gem and this place, great service, awesome food and great open air view of outside festivities. We ordered salmon chips and dumplings for appetizer, great taste and awesome presentation. Then onto sushi, can't remember names but again a perfect meal with a cold Kirin. Will do again, beware of parking gets a little tight.
(4)Ryan K.
Worst sushi place I have been to in Atlanta! The food was not fresh and the service was terrible! I couldn't even get a refill of water.I agree with a previous review.Go to Nagoya.The food and service is so much better there!
(1)Ashley A.
Waiter Justin had a really bad attitude, we asked to speak to the manager... He just asked if we want to change our waiter, did not even apologize. The sushi was not that great, our wine glass was stained, our table was wet all over... But our second waitress was a sweet lady. Overall, not a good experience, he kinda ruined our buzz. Note to manager: for future reference you should probably show that you care a little more. Will not return, will eat sushi at my usual spot, Umi in buckhead.
(1)Chad H.
WOW! Walking down Canton St in Roswell and looking for a bite..Zest is the place! Portions are perfect for sharing so taste many things. The Roswell Roll hits the spot! Staff is friendly and helpful and this is a place to return to again and again and work through the huge selections.
(4)Yusra S.
Loved the sushi, service, and drinks! We ordered some items from the Tapas menu and really enjoyed the shrimp tempura. The sushi was great and came out very quickly. Will definitely be back :)
(4)Earl H.
Great little neighborhood place. Lots of small plates so you can mix and match various appetizers and get as much or as little as you want. The newly expanded menu includes a ton of shellfish options that are new.
(5)Mike P.
Perfect, trendy spot to eat lunch, dinner, on a date, double date outside or inside or at the bar or alone!! Obviously there is nothing better than eating outside on a nice night. Everything was prepared fresh, hot and delicious! The Grilled calamari-fantastic!! No need to ever eat them fried again! But then again anything grilled in a butter,wine, garlic, lemon sauce will taste good. Even an old dirty shoe!. Bang Bang shrimp very well prepared and yummy but still Bonefish Grill has everyone beat when it comes to Bang Bang Shrimp. Sushi rolls (Allyson roll and Super Crunch) were big, flavorful and as good as they could be. I look forward to eating at this place again and again
(4)James W.
Very satisfying meal and service but nothing mind blowing. Sushi was very good, though. Would return. Nice location right on Canton so is nice to sit outside and watch the world go by.
(4)Tony B.
Ate there for the first time - everything was very good and Nicole was incredibly sweet .
(5)Kathy H.
Sashimi salad is mediocre at best, and not a good value (of the 5 pieces of thinly sliced *sashimi* TWO were imposters - shrimp and krab)...service efficient enough but cool - no warm fuzzies here - entirely forgivable if the food is outstanding...but unfortunately it's not.
(2)Theja R.
LOVE the food here! We are regulars for a reason. It is the best sushi around. The tapas menu is lovely and the staff are friendly and helpful. Can't wait for my next trip!
(5)Sue J.
Recently moved to the area and was searching for a new local sushi place, I could eat sushi everyday. Small dining area, tables are very close together but the good is great! Our waiter helped me choose a great wine with what I ordered and the food was ready very fast for being a busy night. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone who like great sushi and fast service.
(4)Margaret C.
My husband and I absolutely love to go out to eat and order lots of small plates to share. This restaurant is perfect for that with a group of friends. We have dined here numerous times with friends and honestly always enjoyed what we ordered. The crab and cream cheese wontons are one of our favorites. I found the scallop tostadas difficult to eat, so while yummy we haven't ordered them again. The bang bang shrimp and calamari are great for group sharing. We have ordered so many rolls here I can't begin to pick a favorite. The only negatives are 1- they do not take reservations on the weekend 2- The one time we went just the 2 of us I felt like the food came out way too fast and it wasn't the fun relaxing experience it is with a group. Overall a great choice on Canton.
(4)Scott P.
I may be a half star under on my opinion here, but you know the drill on that. The sushi is well done, and some good options, including the typical 'zesty festy roll' type names - original design rolls with thier own creative names. It sounds zippy and creative. I like that. The rolls are well put together, tight, fresh. Two major beefs... no wait this is a sushi place. Ok, two things I find fishy about the place. First, is the portions, Zest, you are a sushi restaraunt, you either need to have your items in a bite, or mutliple bites done by chop sticks or fingers, without falling to pieces all over the table. Secondly, your pricing is wayyyy over rated. 10 and 12+$ for an appetizer? Come on.... If you are going to charge 13,14+$ for some of your rolls they better be the best I've ever had. .... and I've had better. On the bright side, they will have me back the next time I want to eat sushi on an outdoor patio, I think they pretty much have the market cornered on that one. Oh wait, 'rolled up'.
(3)Steve R.
We've eaten at Zest multiple times; we've always enjoyed the sushi. However, this latest episode of management INCOMPETENCE was the last straw. On a previous visit, when our food was just awful, we were told "everyone else liked it", ergo it must be your problem. This was our first clue that the management at Zest harbored Neanderthal customer service tactics. We should have heeded this "warning". Last night we were seated promptly, it wasn't too busy. As soon as the servers (veteran and trainee) introduced themselves we ordered a glass of wine, salad, and sushi (we have visited often enough to know what we want without the aid of a menu). The wine came, then the salad. And en we waited, and waited, and waited. The waitress (trainee) came by 45 minutes later and mentioned that "lots of people had ordered sushi and they were backed up". Interestingly, the table next to us, that had been seated 30 minutes after we ordered, received their sushi order right after we were told of the "back up". When I inquired about this inconsistency in the restaurant's story, the "veteran" server who was training the new girl showed little interest in our plight. 75 minutes after we ordered, our sushi arrived. During this wait we were offered NOTHING. We ate, and the "veteran" server brought a "complimentary" dessert; then the check. I asked for a manager and she came over and said there was "nothing" she was authorized to do, other than deduct 10% ($6!). Period. Zest is a PERFECT example of a POORLY run restaurant caught up in the frenzy of a suddenly very popular local (Historic Roswell). They will pay the price as the competition grows. The food is good, we don't blame servers, they are the product of management's poor attitude and lack of training. Our advice? If you're a gambler, go to this place, the food can be good. But if you EVER have ANY type issue, DO NOT COUNT ON MANAGEMENT TO BE OF ANY HELP WHATSOEVER.
(1)Becky R.
Excellent sushi and tapas in the heart of historic Roswell. I typically go for their sushi, which is always fresh and delicious. Craftily handmade rolls - my favorite is the Oceanic, but I've had so many of the others! However, if you aren't in the mood for sushi, don't overlook this restaurant - the tapas are fantastic as well! Give the braised beef short rib, quesadillas, scallops and edamame hummus a short - or start off with one to share with the table!
(5)Peter Y.
This narrow, overly crowded, loud and did I mention narrow, restaurant is perfect for small dishes and good drinks. This is a tapas/sushi restaurant which sounds weird but it works. The tapas were excellent and varied from lamb lollipops to pot stickers. Excellent all the way around. The sushi was good though I did notice the maki rolls seemed to be smaller than elsewhere. You'll need more than one roll if you want to get full. The quality of the food though was tops. We really enjoyed this cozy tapas bar. It was lively and fun. They had infused drinks that we didn't get a chance to try, but that will be next time. Service was good and I just can't find a complaint. Great choice for a non-traditional meal or before you go to a show.
(5)Savannah D.
I've been to Zest at least a dozen times. It's right up the street from me! I cannot tell you how amazing this place is. I cannot recall having ONE bad thing here! Every food item I have tried has been amazing. It's all cooked perfectly, tastes wonderful, and is served fairly quickly. I love how if you order more than one thing, they bring out the first order, and then as soon as you're done with that one, you see the next one coming! Small tables, but there's always room because of the quick cleanup and awesome service. I've had a bunch of different servers, and every single one of them has been great! Friendly, talkative, informational, and they really know how to sell you on items you may not normally order. Normally I order the same exact things, but recently they've been getting me to try all different dishes! Zest is one of my favorite resturants! They are expanding into the store next to them, so more and more people can enjoy this great place! GO TO ZEST TONIGHT!!
(5)Kelly O.
LOVE this spot. We will definitely be going back a lot in the future. When visiting my friend in the area, we always go to new restaurants each time. She said that this one had just opened and of course I love me some sushi so we stopped in. They have a great outdoor patio for seating but we went inside. GREAT attentive, knowledgeable service and quite a large menu of both Tapas, Sushi and cocktails. I had sashimi-- felt the pricing was very competitive. And I ordered a killer spicy tuna roll-- it had a funny name and dangit I cannot remember but everything was great. I ordered a Jalapeno Blood Mary-- I can't say it was very spicy but it was good. We are definitely fans and definitely will be back a lot!
(5)D T.
They take reservations... But not on Friday or Saturday nights. You know, the two nights when you'd need to make a reservation.
(3)Chloe E.
I have really only had sushi here but have been very pleased. It sounds strange but the rice is really good. Sticky and keeps all the contents together. It would get five stars but the value is just not there and the service is good but not super friendly. We are in Roswell people...not midtown. You can smile. BUT my water was never, ever empty. It is a very good addition to downtown Roswell.
(4)Julie L.
They may be advertised as tapas (small plates), but I ordered two for myself and couldn't quite finish both - they don't skimp on the portions like many tapas places do. The short ribs were stellar - piping hot, and full of melt-in-your-mouth, mushroom-y goodness. The au gratin potatoes underneath didn't exactly hurt my feelings either. :) I also had the dragon roll, which was fresh and a good size (no puny 5-piece-width-of-a-magic-marker sushi rolls here!). Things to note: this is a small place and parking can be tricky around here, so come at off peak times or be prepared to wait.
(4)Lindsay O.
Very nice location. Quick service. And the yummy role was amazing!!!!! With the option to sit or outside it makes for great people watching! Will be back again for that yummy role!!
(4)Andrew P.
My date and I went on a Monday night. The atmosphere was relaxed and very inviting of conversation. The menu is impressive. We both had sushi. It was very good...especially to be as reasonably priced as it was. Id definitely go again.
(4)Tina O.
Went there last night for the first time and now I wish I'd discovered it long ago. Cute place, good service and very good food. I had three different kinds of sushi - all were fresh and tasty. The other two diners both had shrimp and grits which they liked alot - and a healthy size portion for a tapas order. Many other things looked really good and the place was quite crowded - partly because it was a lovely evening weather wise. Highly recommended.
(4)Tiffany E.
I'll admit, I'm not a big sushi fan. Over time, I have developed a taste for it, and like many others, I only like to eat GOOD sushi. Zest, while not the best, is pretty darn good. I'd totally go back. They have many rolls to choose from, some basic, some special. Drinks are good. I'd say this is a good spot for a meal at any time of day. You may have trouble finding parking close by at busier times, but it's worth the walk I had the Lazy Afternoon specialty drink, Gyoza Dumplings, Soba Roll, and a couple of others. My memory isn't working. Sorry. But the sushi was so good! It was just enough if not a little bit too much food, but I'd go again. Good service, quick seating.
(4)Kristy Piglet P.
This is one of my favs. The sushi is always fresh. I'm a big fan of the Zest roll, it is pure zen wrapped in cucumber. The restaurant is very small & can get crowded on the weekends. It reminds me of restaurants in NYC, which I love. They do not take reservations on the weekends but we've never had to wait very long at all. The service is always great.
(4)David D.
Im surprised this place was as good as it was, I love sushi and seafood, this place captures the flavor and the ambiance makes everything fun. A million times better than Ru-sans and small sushi restaurants.
(4)Tammi D.
I'm sitting at Zest right now...and am very happy with it. I've been here several times, and think their sashimi is pretty good. The rolls are decent. The service today was excellent! The sashimi cuts were nicely sized. And they make a good pineapple martini. Outdoor seating is always a plus :). I'm a fan!
(4)Jin M.
Excellent food, & here's why- Braised Beef Short Rib: Oh so tender, oh so tasty. Perfectly seasoned, soft meat that are pulled right off without barely touching it. Lamb Lollipops: Mmmmmm, do you like lamb? Lamb here is as good as it gets. Sushi: We only ordered the rolls, and they were a-mazing. It was fresh & wonderful. Annnnd, You have the option of sitting outside on warm/cool days on the patio. Perfect for your first date.
(5)Philip K.
After being disappointed by so many sushi restaurants in the greater Atlanta area, Zest was a great find. They have a good selection of speciality rolls, and great atmosphere. The service was another story...our server was a strange and seemed to be looking down his nose at us the whole time. Sorry fella, you need to move to a bigger city, or get with the program!
(4)Rob W.
How we love this place! Go for the Delish Dynomite roll, great bev selection, warm atmosphere. Staff is very friendly. They even have great ribs for the non-sushi lovers.
(5)Lauren P.
Friday night date for me and hubby Kevin P. We ventured OTP to historic Roswell to check out Zest sushi. We are always looking for new sushi joints and were willing to drive the extra miles up 400. We strolled in around 9 p.m. I'd called the day before to try and get a reservation but Zest does not take reservations on Friday or Saturday night because (as the man on the phone told me) "our place is so tiny if we took reservations we'd lose a lot of seating." He wasn't kidding. At 9-ish on a Friday night this place was packed! Conveniently there was a table for two open in the front window of Zest. The tiny L-shaped restaurant only had room for a few dozen people but they must have been close to 100 guests. After a few minutes of waiting for menus (you couldn't blame the servers as the crowds were hard to navigate) we ordered drinks and appetizers. I was pleased with the cocktail menu though I chose a nice glass of Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay. Kevin was also content with his 20 oz. Sapporo. Our appetizers arrived promptly. Kevin had the miso soup which he said was the best he's ever had! That's a bold statement coming from a man who has eaten at almost every sushi place in Atlanta plus a few in Japan. I had the edemame which were perfectly cooked and lightly salted. The sushi came at a good pace. Zest also serves tapas and it appears their kitchen has mastered the art of timing the courses for their tables. We had the Kiss of Death roll first. Tasty and it hit the spot. Our sushi and sashimi platter followed. By the time our meal wrapped around 10 p.m. the crowd had dissipated. Being that far OTP the older diners probably had to get home early so the babysitter could stop running her meter. If we go back to Zest again on a Friday or Saturday, we'll most likely go after 9:30 when the waitstaff can breathe again. Zest was a good place to try but I'm not sure the food is worth our extra drive time. We've got Bishoku right down the road from our house...but that's for another Friday date night.
(3)Angela M.
Not bad, not great either. A solid 2.5 stars, rounded up because Yelp doesn't let you have that perfectly middle ground. Meeting a friend for lunch on a beautiful sunny spring Friday turned out to be more of a hassle than either of us expected. With the beautiful weather, there was no parking to be found in downtown Roswell, even pay parking. I ended up at the Wells Fargo at Magnolia and Mimosa and just hoped that they wouldn't notice or ticket...so that probably had me off to a bad start anyway. I'd researched the menu online, saw that everything was a little pricey, and hoped that they'd have a lunch menu or lunch specials. They do not. My friend was already seated at a two person table, right at the front where the banquette ends (which is weird, btw, that the banquette ends and so the last 2 tables at the front have chairs on both sides, even the one against the wall). She'd ordered the edamame, a small bowl at $5. Perfectly average edamame. I was very hungry, which meant I wanted more food than my frugal self wanted to pay for. I was advised that the small plates are in fact quite small, so even ordering the sliders instead of the sushi wouldn't do the trick. I ended up with the sashimi salad at $11 - mixed greens tossed in yuzu vinaigrette with shrimp, tuna, red snapper, and salmon (and crabstick, but I asked them to leave that off), and the gyoza (pork) at $6. Yes, I signed myself up for $17 worth of food at lunch...eek. The food came pretty quickly, but when the salad was presented, it appeared to only have the shrimp. I flagged down our waiter (just 2 guys for the whole restaurant who seemed quite busy) to ask whether I missed the fine print where it said "one of the following" or something like that. He explained that the fish was cut into smaller pieces and mixed in with the salad. He said that everyone asks that, but that he wasn't going to tell the sushi chef, lest it upset him. Well let me tell you, sir, that you really should either a) tell the sushi chef, particularly since having it chopped so fine in the salad implies that you're hiding subpar fish, particularly since the vinaigrette covers pretty much all the flavor, or b) warn the patrons who order it so that they don't keep asking you where the heck the fish is. Otherwise, reduce the price, since just doesn't seem like an $11 salad, even though I can recognize that they use decently high-quality ingredients. In going with the apparent theme, the gyoza was average - good but nothing memorable. The place itself is cramped. There were several times when the waiter was tending to the table next to us that I was afraid I was going to be bumped in the face by his hip or his hand. And the 2 guys working the lunch crowd seemed very busy. They did have us fed and out in under an hour, but that should be easy with sushi and quick cooking food. Zest is cute enough, and if you're on the square and really want sushi, the food is good enough. But there's better sushi to be had for less money just a little bit up Hwy 9. I doubt that I'll be back. #Yelp365 - 78/365
(3)John A.
A good friend took me to Zest on Friday. The place was packed; however, Nicole was courteous and ensured that we were seated in a reasonable timeframe. The food was excellent! We had the Smoked Salmon Chips, Gyoza and a couple of sushi rolls. The Gyoza was cooked to perfection. I really appreciated the effort they put into both boiling and then pan frying the dumplings. The flavor profile was smooth and rich. The Smoked Salmon Chips were delightful. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere and will be returning soon.
(5)Sunira M.
My mother and I were just strolling on Canton street when we noticed Zest's new sign. I'm a sucker for trying new places and tapas sounded really good for an afternoon snack so we went in and were seated promptly. We were the only two people in there. The water was very friendly and served us quickly. We ordered a caterpilar roll and the beef tacos. OMG the tacos were delicious! They certainly didn't skimp on the juicy shreds of beef (not ground, people!) and were quite filling. The sushi was delivered looking awesome and it tasted even better than it looked. We also ordered tea and they brought out Revolution Tea, one of my favorite brands, which really tipped the meal from good to awesome. The final touch was the creme brulee and it was so good. It's just the right amount for two people and quite delicious. Overall, we walked out of there satiated and happy, not overfull and stuffed, which is what I prefer. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Randolph W.
Nice place. Ordered the miso soup and sushi (spider roll, Roswell roll, spicy tuna roll). Excellent soup and sushi. Ordered Kirin Light...love that beer. Waiter was good. Sat outside, sun in our face at first, but it got better during the night.
(4)Matthew D.
Came with a friend during the week and the place was packed when we entered, which is always a good sign. We were able to snag a seat at the very end of the restaurant right outside of kitchen. The layout had the feel of a Chicago style shotgun apartment, complete with a galley kitchen. We spilt the dynamite roll and spider roll; the braised short rib and the bang bang shrimp. I ordered two Dirty martinis, they were dusty not dirty, even though I asked the second one to be dirtier. It was a fun atmosphere, very lively and the dishes came quick. We did feel rushed at the end, to the point of me asking if the place was closing (it wasn't, it was open for another 1 1/2 hours). The restaurant had plenty of seats, no was waiting, but they made us feel like it was time to go. I think unintentionally, but it hurt the overall experience. They were very accomdating otherwise, but I never like being made to feel that way, a little miss. I would go back, I love the street and although it won't make any top ten lists for overall food, it was fun and decent. To Recap: The Good: The atmosphere, the dynamite roll and the fact I didn't have to pay (thanks Dea) The Bad: Felt a little rushed at the end, the Dirty Martini was never more than dusty, not a ton of dishes with that Wow Factor that Sushi places can have. The Band This Restaurant Most Resembles: Bob Dylan. It can be electric, but it is better raw.
(3)L M.
Unfortunately was not able to eat here because as soon as we walked in we were rudely informed that they do not have highchairs... basically saying they do not welcome children. We went across the street to SALT and had a FABULOUS dinner both the food and waitstaff was great.
(1)Laurie B.
Absolutely delicious. Parmesan fries, lobster sushi, unagi. You name it, absolutely delicious!
(5)Jennifer P.
Delicious! This review only concerns the sushi...I might try the tapas next time, though. And there will certainly be a next time. Went on a Sunday night (just got back, actually) and the restaurant was mildly busy, which was great because there was no wait but you also didn't feel awkward about being the only person hanging around. We were seated immediately (actually we got to pick our seats, which is nice) and promptly given menus. Thankfully, we weren't rushed into making a decision, because there are a quite a lot of delicious-sounding options to choose from. Our waiter was friendly without being overbearing. I got the Rock and Roll (eel & avocado) and Shrimp Tempura (just what it sounds like) rolls. I've had better shrimp tempura, but only at one place that no longer exists, and this was a close second. There was not a long wait for the food, either. Yay! The whole meal was truly delightful. The portion sizes were perfect: large enough that I felt full, but light enough that I didn't feel overly full and tired. A really good balance. I don't know enough about sushi, aside from how much I like it, to explain what made the meal so good, but the taste just blended together really well. Prices were reasonable ($9 per roll, and those were the less expensive options); I've had cheaper, but the quality of the food and atmosphere of the restaurant made this semi-splurge feel like an excellent decision. I will definitely return to Zest to satisfy any and all sushi cravings in the future. It was just a fun, casual outing with good food and friendly staff.
(5)Krud D.
2 topics here to write about.. But first let me just say that the food was very good. Now.. down to biz! 1... The tapas are not real tapas like in Spain. You would never get a steak as a tapa in Spain. And they certainly would not be $12.00. Tapas are usually 1.00-3.00 Euro if not free. Tapas are supposed to come with a glass of wine or beer. You are supposed to get 3,4,5,6 of them.. Which would break the bank at this place. And NO ONE shares tapas in Spain. 2. The sushi was VERY good.. VERY! only drawback... We had 6 rolls between the 3 of us and we were still super hungry. We actually went to another resturant down the street to get some more to eat. I just wish the sushi rolls were a bit bigger. I would definately go back..
(3)Suz I.
Had the sushi here and it was absolutely delicious! Some of the best I've encountered. Great specialty rolls to choose from, and a great atmosphere. Nice patio seating out in the front in charming historic Roswell.
(5)Sophia J.
One of my new fave spots. Love the Rainbow Roll, WOW. Friendly, full bar, very fresh Sushi.
(4)C C.
Great place for sushi!! Our new favorite sushi place. Not cheap but I think it is appropriately priced for the quality. I have only eat lunch and the sushi but I have really enjoyed all the rolls so far. Good wait staff also.
(5)Craig G.
"Topless bar?!?!" my wife asked in shock. You have to understand with my puritan roots that I wouldn't so much as darken the door of a Hooters. Once I clarified the spelling, she was still confused on the concept of a "tapas bar." So I used the sushi bar concept as a metaphor for the similarity in "eating" style. Consequently I've always seen the similarities between the two cuisines, so it was exciting to see the work progressing on this new establishment which brings the two concepts together. After a sufficient delay to allow them to work out their opening-day kinks, we stopped by to give them a try. Would we lean to the tapas or go with the sushi? Could the two hemispheres be mixed safely? Well, yes they can! There was no guardian at the door so we headed toward the back and seated ourselves. We were quickly greeted and after our waitress took our drink orders, we shifted to the next table as the one we'd picked had a horrible wobble. The friendly waitress didn't seem to notice and we started off by ordering the Edamame Hummus and a Ginger Salad. The "spicy" wonton chips weren't, but they still complimented the hummus which was delicious - possibly the best item we ordered. Susie's salad started delicious, but they'd been stingy with the dressing and the tiny dab was only on top of the pretty dish. Once she got past the top layer it was just giant leaves of spring greens. This could be an excellent dish if there was more dressing and if they broke down the greens to fit an average mouth. Next we had the Calamari and Gyoza. The tender and tasty calamari were served with a microscopic drop of a greenish mayonnaise-like sauce and an normal sized sweet chili dipping sauce. Both sauces were good, but it left me wondering if the other sauce had been an accidental drip onto the plate or just some kind of artistic statement. The gyoza was the typical pan seared dumplings and standard dipping sauce, but perfectly executed and full of flavor. Last we had the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and then the Rock 'n Roll and the Dancing Eel roll. We both love unagi and wanted to compare these eel-based rolls. The Dancing Eel took a minor lead due to the addition of crab. But you won't go wrong with either. The shrimp tapas, however was a bit disappointing as the bacon was flavorless. While it didn't ruin the dish, it certainly didn't bring anything to the party in the texture or flavor departments. It's certainly an okay dish, but not up to my expectations. It was served on a "slaw" with a very subtle flavoring. I think it was meant to compliment the dipping sauce, but with so little flavor in the shrimp, I left most of it untouched. The sauce came in two parts: a sweet teriyaki sauce (almost a BBQ sauce), and a spicy chili sauce. It is served so you can dip in either or mix a bit of both together. The sauces hid the failings of the shrimp and elevated them to the level of edible. Unless they get an overhaul, I'd pass on them, however. (Side note: strangely their sushi menu lacked squid and octopus, while sea urchin was offered). The atmosphere of this restaurant leans heavily to the bar side. The long, narrow room is dominated on one side by a bar and its TV's. This makes for an unfriendly echo chamber, and concrete floors and abundance of hard surfaces makes for an acoustically harsh environment. We also had the misfortune of sitting next to the speaker providing background music, and I think it was mounted too low (nearly ear level). Minimalistic seating runs along the wall opposite the bar and there are also a small number of tables outside on the crowded sidewalk. Since each tapas/sushi item is artistically presented on it's own pretty plate, the tiny tables are quickly overwhelmed. The staff attempts to compensate by taking away the unused plates quickly, but can accidentally remove a dish before you've finished it. So the timing of your orders becomes an onus, complicated by the fact that kitchen dishes come out much faster than sushi dishes. Overall the food was enjoyable and the price is fair for this quality, which minimizes the shortcomings. The location is also conveniently located in the historic district and I'm sure we'll be back. They're working hard to be an upscale dining option, and I'm confident they'll sand off the rough edges soon enough.
(4)Lindze M.
A friend of mine is friends with the chef, so we went in a group of 7 to experience all the finest offerings of Zest. He said he would "take care of us" and just brought us a chef's selection of his best. I didn't taste a single thing that wasn't top-notch and amazing. I wish I could list every item I ate, but the dishes were just brought to us in droves, so we didn't always get the names. I ate a Yellowtail sashimi dish with jalapenos that was amazing. we had a large platter with assorted sashimi: red snapper, tuna, yellowtail, and something else, along with the Roswell roll and the Oceanic roll. We also had a cucumber & crab salad, a sashimi salad, a soba roll (?), dragon roll, a baked cod dish, and 3 other rolls I didn't catch the name of. every bite of fish was tender, fresh and just melted in my mouth. I am a pretty big sushi snob, and I couldn't believe a place in Roswell had better sushi than I'd had in ages, including most places in Duluth and Buford Hwy. Service was fairly good, although one of the waitresses lost one of my $20 bills when I paid, and tried to convince me I owed her more. I refused, knowing what I gave her, and she finally found it in the kitchen, where she dropped it. The only reason I give this place 4, not 5 stars, was because of that, and because the definition of the chef 'taking care of us' was apparently to order us the most expensive items on the menu (including 2 items that came after we expressly asked them to STOP bringing us food) and charging us full price for them. Our bill was $400! Not sure how thats being 'taken care of"....lol My friend was mortified, since she thought he meant he was hooking her up, since they were friends, but alas! Although we were not thrilled with each shelling out around $70 for the meal, it really was worth it. the food WAS amazing, and sushi is expensive everywhere. Might as well get the best out of it! for those getting a less decadent meal, expect around $3 a piece for nigiri sushi ($6 an order, for 2) and $8 for 4 pcs of sashimi. Fancy sushi rolls are around $10-15. Tapas range from around $6-15, same with appetizers.
(4)Jaimi A.
I was here once for dinner. I had a sushi roll and it was good, but pricey compared to equal quality food available in other places. A second time a friend and I tried to stop by at lunch but were disappointed to find out they didn't have a high chair for my daughter. While I can understand not wanting to encourage children, downtown Roswell is a walking are where lots of different groups of people mingle. Not respecting the fact that cool people have kids too was a big turn off for me. I will not return. **As of summer 2013 I hear they have gotten a few high chairs. Bravo!**
(2)Greg C.
Went for lunch, Asian salad was terrible, wife ordered soft shell crab sandwich, crab had no flavor or seasoning. I ordered two sushi rolls, my wife was finished eating her meal before I received my rolls when only for tables filled in the whole restaurant. Sushi rolls were of the same quality that you can get from Publix seafood counter. Save your money, too many other choices in Roswell...
(1)Sta t.
I love sushi and this establishment did not disappoint. I usually feel like I'm paying too much for what I get at most sushi places, and this one is no different. I love the location and the food was good. The wasabi hummus was different and tasty. Drop the price about $2 per roll and I'd be back more often.
(3)Darryl W.
For those nights when you're not ready for a big meal, or for those of us who like a little bit of everything, Zest is a great place. Their whole menu is sushi and tapas. The sushi, well, it's good, but nothing really separates it from other good sushi restaurants. To me, the tapas is why I like Zest. The tapas menu is mostly asian inspired, and whether you're eating satay, calamari, spring rolls, wontons, or dumplings, they all have interesting dipping sauces. And for you "meat and taters" people, the Grilled Steak w/ Grit Cake was delicious. Or you might go for the Braised Beef Shortrib w/ Potato Au Gratin. For a decadent splurge, try the mac and cheese. I don't know what they do to it, but it's a far cry from Kraft! Also, for those of you that like your boat drinks, they have a full menu of martinis and specialty drinks. The margaritas are made with pineapple infused tequila and the mojitos and made with lemon grass infused rum. The mango mojito is awesome! For the grape lover, they have many interesting wines by the glass. Also, a decent beer selection and sake. The location is great, being right on Canton Street in Roswell. The only downside is the size. It's not very big and on some nights you can have a wait. At least there's plenty to do on Canton Street while you're waiting. It can get a little loud, so if you want a quiet dinner out, this is not for you. For bringing friends and meeting new people, it's great. I've been here several times now and it will continue to be a stop of mine. The owner, Ron, is very friendly accommodating. I believe he is also opening up a new restaurant up Canton Street at the old Indigo location.
(4)Kathy C.
Frustrating experience as we really liked this place, but now we may never go back. We waited over 45 minutes for Sushi, which we understood was running behind. This really didn't make sense though, as the restaurant is small & has 2 sushi chefs. This is the same as Atlantic Seafood, twice the size and busier. The server told us at 30 mins that they were running behind, but we had already heard another server tell the table next to us. We would have continued to be patient, but we saw people around us get served, although they came in after us. One couple arrived 20 mins after us, ordered, ate, paid & left before we got our sushi. The food is very good, which makes this whole thing frustrating. We spent $130 (2 of us), and if they had just bought a glass of wine or an appetizer for us, I wouldn't be writing this. The owner walked by over 10 times, but did nothing. The server apologized, but told us "I have no control over the sushi line". It's a shame as a $12 glass of wine would have saved a couple that on average spends $100 there, but now we may never go back.
(2)Valrie M.
Went there last night. Sat outside with a friend. Very good service. Had the fried calamari, and the pulled pork spring roll. Calamari was good, but the Spring Roll was excellent!. Someone next to us didn't care for their dish, the waitress apologized and soon brought them another dish. Will be back!
(4)Greg C.
Interesting fusion, but both the sushi and the tapas are just okay, especially given the price.
(3)Peter W.
Overall: Delightful and delicious right in the middle of The Canton Road Strip Never crowded the times I went and fast service of tasty and interesting food makes me glad I live so close. The good: The food is amazing and interesting. Normal well-made Sushi-esque appetizers like tempura and gyoza are met by delightful tapas like lamb lollipops and beef short ribs. Sushi is wonderful and amazing, as good as I have had when I was traveling to California for business which paid for my meals (so you know I was trying some of the best stuff out there). Servers are numerous, prompt, courteous, and attentive... and the bartender packs a punch into each cocktail. Seating is capacious favoring the inside where I prefer, with a long bar paralleled by a long bench peppered with tables that can be combined easily for larger groups. Thus I can't imagine a problem ducking in by myself, with a friend, or with several friends. Be warned: The price is comparable with every other sushi place around, but the tapas, dessert, and drink menu sing their siren song and can easily ruin plans for a budget-conscious night out. There are great lunch combos that stave off this phenomenon, but at dinner there is perilous temptation. That being said, I have never regretted what I've ordered or what I paid for it. During peak times the patio seating fills up and may cause a bit of a wait for those who simply cannot sit inside, I've never had to wait for seating inside but I acknowledge that more people might find it and grow to love it as I have and make me be patient.
(5)William K.
The tuna tartare and yellowtail jalapeño are über yummy. I have also enjoyed the gyoza, spider roll, volcano roll, rock and roll and today, fish tacos. Good service, good vibe, clean interior.
(4)John D.
Zest is a cool concept. Great tapas and good sushi. My wife, our two girls and I went there on a whim and while there got "trapped" by heavy rain and lightning. Since we decided to wait out the rain, we ran through the menu twice. My only gripe is that the Sushi is pricy for the quantity, but the quality was good and the tapas selection was broad. The place is small, but it makes for a warm atmosphere, and great people watching. You'll also find yourselves engaged in conversation with guests on either side of your table.
(4)Shaina K.
I LOVE ZEST...it is one of my faves. My obsession is the bang bang shrimp....it's definitely bangin and not too spicy which is great!!! I loveee the steak quesadillas there too!!! Every time I get to go my day is made. I am always looking for new people to take because I know they will LOVE it AND that means I get to go again!!! :)
(5)Nathan W.
I went here with co-workers for lunch. 3 of us shared the tapas. We each ordered 3 items to share. Most of it was tasty. We however where not impressed with the spring rolls. They were burnt and tasted bad. We informed our server that they were not good and decided we did not want them. At that time he informed us that he could not take them off the x check per the owners policy. I have never been in a place where they would not take an item off the check if you did not like it or even offer to bring you something else. I could understand if we wanted to send back several items but it was 1 out of 9. For that reason I will not go back.
(2)Helmut B.
Great concept - both sushi and tapas are outstanding. For quite a while I never veered from the sushi menu which can have nice daily specials. The sushi is fresh and expertly prepared. Several visists ago I tried two of the Tapas - one shrimp and one beef. They were fantastic! A bit larger then tapas I am used to. The bar staff is very engaging and fast even when the place is crowded. It is a smallish venue and can go from empty to a waiting line in a "flash mob" 30 minutes or so. Nice, diverse and sometimes offbeat crowd can be entertaining - a great place for a first date - surroundings make great small talk fodder. Located on Canton Street in Old Roswell. Go, you will find something to like.
(4)Ellen M.
Lunch today! Great menu of drinks, wine, cocktails and great hot tea! The ginger salad was very fresh with lots of carrots on top. Our sushi rolls were all fresh and very tasty. The Roswell Roll was our favorites, but the Super Crunch, Sakura Roll, Rainbow Roll were all great. The service is swift and friendly. Love that downtown Roswell has a sushi bar now!
(5)natalie b.
I came here with a group of 9 to celebrate my sister's 16 birthday. It was a busy Friday night, but the staff was accommodating nonetheless. The menu, a combination of tapas of sushi, is a bit of an odd mix, but it ensures that anyone in yr party will be able to find something to eat. That said, no one in our party of 9 was disappointed with anything they had to eat. The only suggestion I would make is that they offer a couple more vegetarian options. And believe me, you want to drink a Lazy Sunday. So very good.
(4)Alex V.
Great Place!
(5)Amy V.
The newest addition to Canton Street of Roswell. I went with a group of friends after seeing a play at the Georgia Ensemble Theater. It was pretty late (late for the burbs on a Wednesday) and we were looking for a snack and a drink. Most of the other places appeared to be closing up, but Zest was open until 10. They were very accommodating, even though I am sure they were hoping to close soon. We tried the edamame hummus and it was super good. Served with wanton triangles it was the perfect blend of flavors. That and a decent glass of wine made for a fine ending to our evening.
(4)Stricky T.
On a saturday evening we breezed into Zest with the promise of a great meal........it was a bit of tight squeeze but we managed to have great meal. We chose to sample the few small plates.........the Kobe meatballs.........meaty, cheesy and juicy.......the parmesan truffle fries were spectacularly crisp........, followed closely by the Dynoomite roll..........an explosion of flav..............a promise to return.......surely
(4)Kristen M.
Delicious, fresh sushi (and then some) in an adorable downtown Roswell location. Will definitely be back. Have recommended it to a friend who went with a large group and they all loved it, as well.
(5)M F.
I usually get small plates. Hubby gets sushi. Small place but food and service are good. The price is very fair considering the location.
(4)Mike H.
Absolutely terrific food. We had the lamb lollipops, short rib tacos, pulled pork spring rolls and the fried calamari. Went great with a Stella while people watching on the sidewalk on a sunny Monday afternoon. HIGHLY recommended. Not the cheapest in the area, but in my opinion, far and away the best in old Roswell. Just do it!!!
(5)Matt B.
Intended on trying the Salt Factory. At 7pm there was a 45 min. wait, so we changed our minds. Went to Zest and had a great dinner. The owner was very outgoing, helpful, and funny. We sat at the bar and had some of the best shrimp & grits I've ever had. I'll be back, and this will be part of my Roswell rotation.
(4)Jason B.
Spectacular Service from Grace and exceptional food. The Roswell Roll and Kobe Meatballs are insane!! Everything we ate was good. Great wine list... WOW! Love this place in the heart of downtown Roswell! The atmosphere is energetic. We had a fun date night but don't recommend it for an intimate dinner! Patio seating on Canton Street is also available.
(4)Doug B.
Really great place! The service was perfect and the food was very tasty. Everyone in our group was pleased. This is a great place to take people when you want a wee bit of trendy, but you also want something for the non adventurous.
(5)Mark S.
I've been here 4x as of tonight and had a great time every-time. Bartenders are fast and attentive and the food is right on. Crowd is interesting for Canton street. They make it easy to order the sushi, I don't have to fill out a bowling score sheet or anything, I want to eat not solve a riddle. It can be crowded on the weekends, but don't come starving, have a few drinks and enjoy the scenery, good, bad and even the ugly.
(4)Ju ju T.
A favoirite spot of mine in historic Roswell. The owner, Ron is so fun and always happy to see us! I feel welcome here. The sushi is always the BEST...Very fresh and delicious. Beautiful resturant, but when it gets crowded, it becomes difficult to make your way back to the one restroom that they have. That is the only negative about this place, otherwise, I highly recommend you pop in and say hi to Ron! Get the rainbow roll or the chef's special. Also, they make the most beautiful Ginger salad!
(4)Gabriel S.
I ordered the zest roll (a specialty roll) and the salmon roll (a basic roll). The zest roll was pretty good. I would probably order it again. I couldn't believe how small the salmon roll was. Only 6 pieces and they were tiny. Very disappointing. I may go back, but I wouldn't go out of my way to.
(3)Caroline T.
I was out with a friend from college this past Saturday evening and we had originally planned on eating at Salt. However, there was an hour wait and there was no room to get a drink at the bar. We saw Zest across the street and decided to go there since it was not overly crowded (pretty atypical for a downtown Roswell restaurant at 8pm on Saturday) and we were both starving. Needless to say we were both very impressed! Here is the rundown: -Drinks: My friend and I are both dirty martini snobs and were so blown away, we had two. The bleu cheese stuffed olives probably helped. -Tapas: Crab/Cream Cheese Wontons were just like Crab Rangoons from your local Chinese delivery but the sauce they served it with made all the difference. We also had the Pulled Pork Spring Rolls which I would recommend to everyone who goes there. The seasoned pork and turnip greens were more than delicious! -Sushi: Try the Roswell and Sakura Rolls. They are specialty rolls so they are a little bit more price wise, but well worth it when compared to the traditional sushi. Bottom line: Wonderful service, delicious drinks and mouth-watering tapas and sushi!
(5)Andy J.
Great sushi. Great atmosphere. Great service. This was our second visit and everything has been first rate each time. Perfect addition to our favorite neighborhood dining destination.
(5)Dand Lee S.
I was really surprised by this place. The sushi was excellent and the menu was innovative and had quite the selection. I highly suggest the edamame hummus. They do baked rolls as well as anyone. The interior is great and the atmosphere relaxed and friendly. The customer service was great. My only complaint was the bad pop-soft- rock music, but I usually complain about the soundtrack anywhere I go. I'll definitely be going back at least a few times :D
(5)Stephanie F.
The food was great a little expensive for sushi. The tapas were great and everything was so fresh and flavorful! It gets crowded so make sure you get there early!
(4)Doug C.
Super new tapas/sushi restaurant on Canton Street. Fantastic food - fantastic service. I'm a huge fan.
(5)Samantha B.
fabulous!!!
(4)bethany h.
Roswell is becoming a well rounded place to eat with Zest! The food was delish and very reasonably priced. My group had a variety of sushi, and everyone was thrilled with portion size and how fresh the food tasted. The fried rice was especially delish, and the drinks were inventive and well priced.
(4)Lauren L.
There is something for everyone! I love Sushi but I have been with friends who don't and they still rave about this place! I highly recommend the dumplings to those picky eater friends you may take...they will keep them happy as you enjoy your ridiculously delicious Sushi!! I crave it all the time!!
(5)Lisa L.
Finally a sushi place in historic roswell on Canton street. Good sushi! Didn't try the tapas but will on the next go round. I was able to sit outside w/my dog which is always a plus. I started with the cucumber salad. A little pricer than most sushi place but still good. I followed this up with the Yummy roll (fried). Very good. All in all it was $23 w/glass of wine. Not too bad!
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