Recommends

Auroa B.

Joined 5 months ago

Granted, I haven't eaten here in awhile, but when I did, it was a hit or miss, as far as service. Foodwise, I only had one bad experience. The waitstaff did not seem to want to be at work. I felt sometimes like I should apologize for being a customer. EVERY single time I visited this place (probably about 15 times), my table's drink orders were wrong. Every. single. time. My father-in-law asked if they served iced coffee and the waitress said "what the??? who drinks iced coffee? Is there really such a thing"? Food has always been great except for one time when I think I went too close to closing as we were served cold, dried out food. I would have preferred they had told us the kitchen was already closed, or in hindsight, I should have sent the meals back and just paid for my drinks. The items for sale in the gift shop are very nice but the prices are absurd. I will definitely return here though, as the food is generally very good.

Doesn't Recommend

strepaniet

Joined 8 years ago

Disappointed! Do not buy gift cards there!. I USED to love this place and loved to shop there. So much so that for a special treat from my husband, I received a $50 gift card. I was so excited to spend it but when I finally was able (4 kids/ 3jobs), I was told it had expired the week before. I thought if I had talked to the manager he would honor it (I was also planning to spend more than $50 in the store). He and the lady at the counter said no way, the money was already accounted for in their budget. I even explained it was for my birthday and my circumstance and it did not matter in the least for them. They have now lost my business and any recommendations

Doesn't Recommend

kirsten958

Joined 3 years ago

Bad Service!. I have always loved both the restaurant and store UNTIL now.... I bought a handful of expensive christmas ornaments which they took off the tree and wrapped for me while I ate in the cafe. My two small girls opened them up to be crushed when the huge ice cream cone 6" ornament had an obvious gaping defective hole in the blown glass which they wrapped up and gave to me. I never would have bought the ornament if I had seen it. Now I am living out of state and I have to mail it back to bet store credit....really? On top of this I had to tell the store clerk four times I did not buy two other ornaments that she kept trying to put in my bag. So they would have given me free ones in the store but not when it is their fault?

Recommends

CamiSullivan

Joined 3 years ago

Highly recommend. My husband and I enjoy eating at Zest. You can ALWAYS count on the food and we have found the wait staff and owner to be very cordial. The surroundings are nice with available shopping afterwards. Really, it's a favorite place for us. We highly recommend it!

Recommends

chase14

Joined 3 years ago

Best Meal in the Triangle and AMAZING shopping. My family and I go to Zest as often as possible! I always have a great meal, the quality of the food and creativity of options are always top notch! I feel like it's a home away from home, as the staff is so out going and remembers your name, favorite item on the menu, it's rare to find that combination these days!

The shop is adorable- I love browsing for any upcoming gift- when I go to a party people always get so excited to see a Zest gift package (they wrap them so cute)- and typically there are quite a few of them!! The selection of merchandise is fantastic- the buyer has quite the eye- as I can find something for myself (which I always do!!!), my girlfriends, husband, co-workers, etc!!!

Recommends

Like2Dine9

Joined 3 years ago

Excellent All Around!. The food is incredible! There is something on the menu for everybody. They have a sanitation score of 100.5 and the waitresses, though busy, give great service. The shop is really cute too and everyone in there is always eager to help. I would definitely recommend to anyone!

Doesn't Recommend

anna4gail

Joined 4 years ago

Owner was rude, walked out. I walked in last night and told the owner (he was the host) that I needed a table for two outside and that my friend was coming in just a minute. He mumbled something and proceeded to seat two other parties. Then I thought he must have misheard me because clearly there were tables available, so I asked politely, "Can you tell me how long the wait is for two people outside"? He glared at me like I was an idiot and said abruptly, "I will seat you when your other party gets here. You can go have a seat over there and wait." I turned around and walked out the door. I won't ever go back there.

Doesn't Recommend

keyringkeys

Joined 4 years ago

Not go back. I not go back to this restaurant. And go to other restaurants. At this restaurant,employees- management and waitresses,salespeople are continually rude to me and people I eat with. There are alot of other restaurants in the Raleigh area. I get better service and cleaner. This restaurant not always clean. The employees not clean it up. And see the dirty place.And the food is better also.

Doesn't Recommend

swissmom

Joined 4 years ago

Rude staff, good food. I took my mom to what should have been a wonderful lunch outing yesterday. This restaurant had been recommend by a close friend. From the moment we walked into the cafe, the staff were rude and aloof. It was our first time there, so we weren't sure of how to be seated as there was no sign and no one was at the hostess stand. When the hostess appeared, she was rude. Our waitress was arrogant. The restaurant and store staff looked as if they were at a wake instead of there to provide customer service. They all looked tired and perhaps should retire. That being said, the food was very good. We each had a very nice salad. The store was very cute but the staff couldn't be bothered with providing any customer service. It's really a shame that such a lovely place is packed with bitter staff.

Doesn't Recommend

dessertfan

Joined 4 years ago

not nice place. some of the employees told me they are leaving.bad management. low wages and the owners are not a nice couple. not get many tips. the atmosphere is not nice.rather go somewhere else.not many benefits.and the merchandise is expensive. rather go to another place to work.