Went expecting a good meal but were absolutely blown away by u expected food combinations and creativity and adventure in the dishes. Candied garlic? Amazing! The drinks were also delicious. Can’t wait to go back.
Boyd B.
I've been here 3 or 4 times to meet friends that like this place. I understand it's tapas, but getting value for my money is important to me, and the portions are just too small to justify the price. Service is excellent though.
Joseph H.
SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: deceiving 5 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 5 What to say? What to say? Well, at first glance it's a container sitting in the industrial part of downtown. You pretty much get a beautifully designed sign and can't be quite sure what youre walking into BUT you can be at ease knowing that you're about to walk into a fantastic rabbit hole of delicious foods and 5 star service. For Chinese New Year we were downtown and decided to give this place a try since city built was a long wait. Zoko also had an hour wait so we decided to give up and just got get drinks at Eastern Kille. Just as we walked into EK we got a text that a reservation had canceled and a table was waiting for us. The host was so nice and really seemed to enjoy his job. Everyone was dressed to impress from the staff to the guests. If you decide to go you will be eating Spanish tapas and specialty cocktails that are created to perfection. From the pintxo list we ordered Gilda, Mojama de salmon, and jamon. They were all amazing and had a true Spanish taste. From the tapas we ordered pimientos shishito and albondigas de pollo. The peppers were heavenly. The melt in your mouth and are extremely flavorful. I ordered the Highway One, a gin cocktail, and it was poured perfectly. Not too much alcohol and not too sweet which is very common when pouring gin. If you've never been to Spain but one day want to go then this is the perfect place to get a feel for what the food will taste like. This is a well hidden gem in the Grand Rapids area and can't wait to go back.
Tracy Haughton
I've been to Zoko 4 times and have never been disappointed. The service is exceptional and the food is, in a word, exciting! The bite-size or small portions let you try things that you may shy away from if it was a full serving. Everything is made with the highest quality of ingredients and incredible execution from an inventive chef. On my last visit, we did the chef's table and it was a great choice. I will return again and again and I'm still thinking about that little donut....
Greydon Perry Koellmann II
Such a fun menu. We ate our way through it over two days and would definitely come back tomorrow!!!!
KatheeL
The first time we went to Zoko was soon after they opened and we loved it. The service was great and the small plates were timed perfectly in bringing food out. It made for a lovely evening. This time, we felt it wasn't as well explained and not timed as well. But it has become much more busy. The food is tasty. Some are very small bites and others come with much more. We finally ordered a couple of large plates to share as well, after 9-10 small plates
Julie Stout
Food was great. We didn't care for the cheese appetizer, but everything else was worth coming back for. Great place to take out of town guests.
Danielle F.
As someone who has spanish family, grew up eating spanish food regularly (sardines and tomato's on bread for breakfast anyone?) and who spent a week in spain this year I can say this is incredibly authentic Spanish food for being in the US. Expect cured meats & seafood, and lots of peppers/olives. We had some pinxtos, I thought the tuna was the best, and then shared the octopus, the albondigas (meatballs) and the shishito peppers. This was generally a light mean between 2 people. In spain none of this would come with the cream sauce it does at Zoko, instead probably mostly more olive oil and salt, but they did a good job of making it more Americanized without destroying the original flavors. The sauce on the Albondigas De Pollo made me scrape the plate it was so good. It's really very reasonably priced for what you get! If you are uncomfortable with true spanish food you'd probably still be able to get a good meal here, there are things like empanadas that most Americans will be more comfortable with, but youd be misSing out on what Zoko really has to offer. If you want a cheese platter go to San chez instead, which is also good but not as good, and doesn't bring me home like Zoko.
We were seated right away which was nice. The restaurant was half full, food came out quick and the noise was not bad, we were able to have a conversation, which was great. Our waitress was nice however it took forever for our cocktails to arrive. I had two drinks and so did my wife, both times we had to ask about the drinks, the waitress was nice and apologized and said the bar was running behind. The food, was so so. The tortilla was pretty much tasteless. After going to other Tapas restaurants and trying Zokoe, unfortunately we will not be back which is upsetting because we were really excited about it.
Rachel Tisdale
It was great! I was expecting a more traditional band drums style live music but instead it was a trendy jazz smooth love music and I absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! The pintxos with the crispy sage leaf, to die for!
The is an undiscovered gem. We were around 11:30 AM and we had the place to ourselves. Our server was delightful and the food was on point
RachelT
It was great! I was expecting a now traditional band style live music but instead it was a trendy jazz smooth love music and I absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! The pintxos with the crispy sage leaf, to die for!
Kim Slagter
great staff, love the environment, super good food!
SueY
Having eaten in the Basque Country in Spain, I can say, “Hallelujah!” Kind of a pity they don't grill fish outdoors like they do in Getaria—-maybe in summer? Have not yet had the 22 oz. chuletón ( there it's the tomahawk steak of a retired dairy cow, and the best beef ever) but I am confident theirs will be good. My husband says, “Why eat anywhere else in Grand Rapids?”
Tami
This was a very disappointing experience. The atmosphere was fine, and service was fine. The food was not good at all. Way too much salt. And the few other things that weren’t loaded with salt lacked flavor. Empanadas very small, and lacked flavor. The Water was the one thing that was pretty good. I would not waste your time or money going to this restaurant.
Went expecting a good meal but were absolutely blown away by u expected food combinations and creativity and adventure in the dishes. Candied garlic? Amazing! The drinks were also delicious. Can’t wait to go back.
I've been here 3 or 4 times to meet friends that like this place. I understand it's tapas, but getting value for my money is important to me, and the portions are just too small to justify the price. Service is excellent though.
SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY: 5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 5 AESTHETICS: deceiving 5 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 5 What to say? What to say? Well, at first glance it's a container sitting in the industrial part of downtown. You pretty much get a beautifully designed sign and can't be quite sure what youre walking into BUT you can be at ease knowing that you're about to walk into a fantastic rabbit hole of delicious foods and 5 star service. For Chinese New Year we were downtown and decided to give this place a try since city built was a long wait. Zoko also had an hour wait so we decided to give up and just got get drinks at Eastern Kille. Just as we walked into EK we got a text that a reservation had canceled and a table was waiting for us. The host was so nice and really seemed to enjoy his job. Everyone was dressed to impress from the staff to the guests. If you decide to go you will be eating Spanish tapas and specialty cocktails that are created to perfection. From the pintxo list we ordered Gilda, Mojama de salmon, and jamon. They were all amazing and had a true Spanish taste. From the tapas we ordered pimientos shishito and albondigas de pollo. The peppers were heavenly. The melt in your mouth and are extremely flavorful. I ordered the Highway One, a gin cocktail, and it was poured perfectly. Not too much alcohol and not too sweet which is very common when pouring gin. If you've never been to Spain but one day want to go then this is the perfect place to get a feel for what the food will taste like. This is a well hidden gem in the Grand Rapids area and can't wait to go back.
I've been to Zoko 4 times and have never been disappointed. The service is exceptional and the food is, in a word, exciting! The bite-size or small portions let you try things that you may shy away from if it was a full serving. Everything is made with the highest quality of ingredients and incredible execution from an inventive chef. On my last visit, we did the chef's table and it was a great choice. I will return again and again and I'm still thinking about that little donut....
Such a fun menu. We ate our way through it over two days and would definitely come back tomorrow!!!!
The first time we went to Zoko was soon after they opened and we loved it. The service was great and the small plates were timed perfectly in bringing food out. It made for a lovely evening. This time, we felt it wasn't as well explained and not timed as well. But it has become much more busy. The food is tasty. Some are very small bites and others come with much more. We finally ordered a couple of large plates to share as well, after 9-10 small plates
Food was great. We didn't care for the cheese appetizer, but everything else was worth coming back for. Great place to take out of town guests.
As someone who has spanish family, grew up eating spanish food regularly (sardines and tomato's on bread for breakfast anyone?) and who spent a week in spain this year I can say this is incredibly authentic Spanish food for being in the US. Expect cured meats & seafood, and lots of peppers/olives. We had some pinxtos, I thought the tuna was the best, and then shared the octopus, the albondigas (meatballs) and the shishito peppers. This was generally a light mean between 2 people. In spain none of this would come with the cream sauce it does at Zoko, instead probably mostly more olive oil and salt, but they did a good job of making it more Americanized without destroying the original flavors. The sauce on the Albondigas De Pollo made me scrape the plate it was so good. It's really very reasonably priced for what you get! If you are uncomfortable with true spanish food you'd probably still be able to get a good meal here, there are things like empanadas that most Americans will be more comfortable with, but youd be misSing out on what Zoko really has to offer. If you want a cheese platter go to San chez instead, which is also good but not as good, and doesn't bring me home like Zoko.
We were seated right away which was nice. The restaurant was half full, food came out quick and the noise was not bad, we were able to have a conversation, which was great. Our waitress was nice however it took forever for our cocktails to arrive. I had two drinks and so did my wife, both times we had to ask about the drinks, the waitress was nice and apologized and said the bar was running behind. The food, was so so. The tortilla was pretty much tasteless. After going to other Tapas restaurants and trying Zokoe, unfortunately we will not be back which is upsetting because we were really excited about it.
It was great! I was expecting a more traditional band drums style live music but instead it was a trendy jazz smooth love music and I absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! The pintxos with the crispy sage leaf, to die for!
Restaurantji Recommends
The is an undiscovered gem. We were around 11:30 AM and we had the place to ourselves. Our server was delightful and the food was on point
It was great! I was expecting a now traditional band style live music but instead it was a trendy jazz smooth love music and I absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! The pintxos with the crispy sage leaf, to die for!
great staff, love the environment, super good food!
Having eaten in the Basque Country in Spain, I can say, “Hallelujah!” Kind of a pity they don't grill fish outdoors like they do in Getaria—-maybe in summer? Have not yet had the 22 oz. chuletón ( there it's the tomahawk steak of a retired dairy cow, and the best beef ever) but I am confident theirs will be good. My husband says, “Why eat anywhere else in Grand Rapids?”
This was a very disappointing experience. The atmosphere was fine, and service was fine. The food was not good at all. Way too much salt. And the few other things that weren’t loaded with salt lacked flavor. Empanadas very small, and lacked flavor. The Water was the one thing that was pretty good. I would not waste your time or money going to this restaurant.