Excellent food and nice decor. I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the noise level does nit make for quiet conversation.
Jennifer
The shift came out and greeted us with each course of our meal. He was very nice, energetic and knowledgeable. The food was amazing and the wine pairings were great.
Andrea
Food was very interesting. Unusual choices. We had shrimp , flatbread, salad all very good, but octopus was dry, served with beans in an unappetizing mix. We love octopus and know it is difficult to get right. It's either undercooked or dry. This was the latter. May be better next time. We would return because of the unusual menu. Service spotty but friendly. They were trainees and didn't come immediately to take orders nor follow up after serving. Hopefully this is temporary. So , this is a good but cautious review. I would suggest you give this restaurant a try.
marc
Very nice place good service. Menu limited a little overpriced. Overall I enjoyed my time there.
Jason
We dined at your restaurant this evening, and while Manny, our server, was excellent, the food was horrific. We want to express our serious dissatisfaction with the quality of the dishes we were served. The feta appetizer was the only decent part of the meal and that's a stretch. However, the large plate of short rib was awful—it tasted very old, bordering on spoiled. The red snapper (if that was even red snapper) was unrecognizable—dry, overcooked, and had a pungent fishy taste. As for the chicken thighs, they were equally unappetizing—old, dry, and unpleasant. The sides accompanying each dish were equally disappointing—overcooked, bland, and completely lacking in flavor. The crispy rice was anything but crispy; it was mushy and unappealing. To top it off, the prices charged for such subpar food were outrageous. After experiencing such poor quality, it's clear why the restaurant was almost empty. Manny read the room by the looks of the food left on our plates, he knew how bad the meal was and kindly offered us free cake, which we declined. We paid the bill and left, but the entire experience was a huge letdown. Given the severity of this issue, we are requesting compensation for the terrible dining experience. What do you plan to do to address this situation and make it right? We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Ali Tahiri
Great Mediterranean restaurant, innovative dishes with a personal touch, great service,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beverly
This was a great summer deal for local residents with drink specials and appetizer specials at a time of year it is tough for restaurants to make things go. We appreciated it and had a great time. We are local theater tkt holders and are downtown all the time... we will return!
Ah David E
I don’t usually write reviews, but this experience at Tzeva truly deserves it.
The lamb I had today was one of the best I’ve had in years — perfectly cooked, tender, and deeply flavorful. Every bite reflected real culinary craftsmanship.
Our server, Tin, was a joy to interact with. She was smiling the entire time and made us feel genuinely welcomed and valued. Her warm presence added so much to the overall experience.
From the food to the atmosphere to the service, everything was exceptional. We’ll definitely be coming back — and bringing friends next time.
Doaa Etyem
We had an unforgettable lunch experience at Tzeva. Everything was absolutely perfect — from the ambiance to the music, and especially the food. The flavors were so beautifully balanced and layered, we truly enjoyed trying to guess each spice and note in every dish. Compliments to the chef for such thoughtful and harmonious flavor combinations — this was a true culinary journey!
A very special thank you to our server Tin, who gave us the best service we’ve had in a long time. She was incredibly sweet, attentive, and made us feel truly welcomed and cared for throughout the entire meal.
The entire experience was peaceful, delicious, and full of beauty. We can’t wait to return!
Kristina Sargent, Esq
If the service is bad, then the food at least needs to be decent. Probably one of the worst meals I’ve had in the past decade. The food was plated as if it was going to taste good, but it did not. It was dry, flavorless and overwhelmingly disappointing. The majority of the staff just hangs out behind the wall, and seem to be annoyed that they have to work. The hostesses were nice and friendly, and the ambiance was nice, but I’ve given this place 2 chances- once for brunch and once for dinner and both were terrible experiences. I love Art Ovation, but this restaurant is not worth even a free meal.
Some restaurants serve food. Tzeva serves something rarer: a feeling.
I walked in carrying the weight of a lost day—one of those heavy, no-good, soul-thinning ones. I must’ve said as much to the radiant woman at the front, because without a moment’s pause, she opened her arms and wrapped me in a long, grounding hug. Just like that, the day tilted back toward the light. I never caught her name (I’m terrible with names), but I won’t forget that moment.
And the warmth didn’t end there. Our waiter, Pietro, was everything you hope for and so rarely get—attuned, honest, no script. He told us what he loved on the menu, and we followed his lead: a bowl of hummus that could’ve been flown in from the Levant, earthy and elegant. My friend had the lamb shank—fall-apart tender. I had the snapper, fresh and perfectly balanced. We shared a bottle of wine, grateful for a meal that felt like an offering, not a transaction.
But Tzeva isn’t just about what’s on the plate.
It’s the hush of the dining room, glowing softly under city light. The way the windows frame the world like a painting. The unexpected thrill of a belly dancer weaving magic between tables. The feeling that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, if only for a night.
And yes, we did think about getting a room—Tzeva sits in the heart of the Art Ovation Hotel, after all. But we floated out instead, full in every sense.
Pam Bournival
The belly dancer began as we were finishing dinner. Interesting but music was too loud for visiting.
HLB
Three of us enjoyed Chummus, Shakshukah and Chicken Liver Paté... A spontaneous tasters menu. To top off, we shared a slice of Turkish tort served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoyed our individual espressos. All the dishes were delicious and the server were excellent. Definitely eating there again. Soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexis Crawford
Went on a Tuesday evening, we were the only people in there. The food was just okay, really needed salt, but the service was impeccable.
Excellent food and nice decor. I would be remiss if I didn't point out that the noise level does nit make for quiet conversation.
The shift came out and greeted us with each course of our meal. He was very nice, energetic and knowledgeable. The food was amazing and the wine pairings were great.
Food was very interesting. Unusual choices. We had shrimp , flatbread, salad all very good, but octopus was dry, served with beans in an unappetizing mix. We love octopus and know it is difficult to get right. It's either undercooked or dry. This was the latter. May be better next time. We would return because of the unusual menu. Service spotty but friendly. They were trainees and didn't come immediately to take orders nor follow up after serving. Hopefully this is temporary. So , this is a good but cautious review. I would suggest you give this restaurant a try.
Very nice place good service. Menu limited a little overpriced. Overall I enjoyed my time there.
We dined at your restaurant this evening, and while Manny, our server, was excellent, the food was horrific. We want to express our serious dissatisfaction with the quality of the dishes we were served. The feta appetizer was the only decent part of the meal and that's a stretch. However, the large plate of short rib was awful—it tasted very old, bordering on spoiled. The red snapper (if that was even red snapper) was unrecognizable—dry, overcooked, and had a pungent fishy taste. As for the chicken thighs, they were equally unappetizing—old, dry, and unpleasant. The sides accompanying each dish were equally disappointing—overcooked, bland, and completely lacking in flavor. The crispy rice was anything but crispy; it was mushy and unappealing. To top it off, the prices charged for such subpar food were outrageous. After experiencing such poor quality, it's clear why the restaurant was almost empty. Manny read the room by the looks of the food left on our plates, he knew how bad the meal was and kindly offered us free cake, which we declined. We paid the bill and left, but the entire experience was a huge letdown. Given the severity of this issue, we are requesting compensation for the terrible dining experience. What do you plan to do to address this situation and make it right? We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Great Mediterranean restaurant, innovative dishes with a personal touch, great service,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was a great summer deal for local residents with drink specials and appetizer specials at a time of year it is tough for restaurants to make things go. We appreciated it and had a great time. We are local theater tkt holders and are downtown all the time... we will return!
I don’t usually write reviews, but this experience at Tzeva truly deserves it.
The lamb I had today was one of the best I’ve had in years — perfectly cooked, tender, and deeply flavorful. Every bite reflected real culinary craftsmanship.
Our server, Tin, was a joy to interact with. She was smiling the entire time and made us feel genuinely welcomed and valued. Her warm presence added so much to the overall experience.
From the food to the atmosphere to the service, everything was exceptional. We’ll definitely be coming back — and bringing friends next time.
We had an unforgettable lunch experience at Tzeva. Everything was absolutely perfect — from the ambiance to the music, and especially the food. The flavors were so beautifully balanced and layered, we truly enjoyed trying to guess each spice and note in every dish. Compliments to the chef for such thoughtful and harmonious flavor combinations — this was a true culinary journey!
A very special thank you to our server Tin, who gave us the best service we’ve had in a long time. She was incredibly sweet, attentive, and made us feel truly welcomed and cared for throughout the entire meal.
The entire experience was peaceful, delicious, and full of beauty. We can’t wait to return!
If the service is bad, then the food at least needs to be decent. Probably one of the worst meals I’ve had in the past decade. The food was plated as if it was going to taste good, but it did not. It was dry, flavorless and overwhelmingly disappointing. The majority of the staff just hangs out behind the wall, and seem to be annoyed that they have to work. The hostesses were nice and friendly, and the ambiance was nice, but I’ve given this place 2 chances- once for brunch and once for dinner and both were terrible experiences. I love Art Ovation, but this restaurant is not worth even a free meal.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent service
Some restaurants serve food. Tzeva serves something rarer: a feeling.
I walked in carrying the weight of a lost day—one of those heavy, no-good, soul-thinning ones. I must’ve said as much to the radiant woman at the front, because without a moment’s pause, she opened her arms and wrapped me in a long, grounding hug. Just like that, the day tilted back toward the light. I never caught her name (I’m terrible with names), but I won’t forget that moment.
And the warmth didn’t end there. Our waiter, Pietro, was everything you hope for and so rarely get—attuned, honest, no script. He told us what he loved on the menu, and we followed his lead: a bowl of hummus that could’ve been flown in from the Levant, earthy and elegant. My friend had the lamb shank—fall-apart tender. I had the snapper, fresh and perfectly balanced. We shared a bottle of wine, grateful for a meal that felt like an offering, not a transaction.
But Tzeva isn’t just about what’s on the plate.
It’s the hush of the dining room, glowing softly under city light. The way the windows frame the world like a painting. The unexpected thrill of a belly dancer weaving magic between tables. The feeling that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, if only for a night.
And yes, we did think about getting a room—Tzeva sits in the heart of the Art Ovation Hotel, after all. But we floated out instead, full in every sense.
The belly dancer began as we were finishing dinner. Interesting but music was too loud for visiting.
Three of us enjoyed Chummus, Shakshukah and Chicken Liver Paté... A spontaneous tasters menu.
To top off, we shared a slice of Turkish tort served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoyed our individual espressos.
All the dishes were delicious and the server were excellent.
Definitely eating there again. Soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went on a Tuesday evening, we were the only people in there. The food was just okay, really needed salt, but the service was impeccable.
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