Zoli Restaurant

Unfortunately, this was a disappointment. While a few dishes were perfectly serviceable, most either missed the mark on flavor or felt entirely underwhelming. The littleneck clam dish was an absolute salt bomb, to the point of being nearly inedible. The evening’s soft-shell crab sandwich special was good enough, but ultimately forgettable. My favorite of the meal was the fried whitebait, though even that wasn’t particularly distinctive or exceptional on it’s own. For dessert, we had the parmesan Basque cheesecake, which lacked the plush, custardy texture that makes a Basque cheesecake so satisfying, and the parmesan overwhelmed the balance of the dish rather than enhancing it. It could have been the menu that night and what we ordered, and that it’s only a couple of weeks old, but at a restaurant of this stature there really isn’t much room for “off nights” or poorly executed dishes anywhere. The service, however, was impeccable, and the space itself is undeniably stunning. Part of why this felt like such a letdown is because my expectations were quite high going into the meal, as I’ve been eager to visit since before they even opened. I can appreciate that a newer restaurant may still be finding its footing, but too many elements of the meal felt fundamentally off for me to excuse it as growing pains, especially at a restaurant positioning itself at this level. I’ve seen some criticism aimed at the pricing and portion sizes, but honestly, that’s not really the issue here. Anyone even moderately familiar with fine dining in NYC should understand the pricing structure of a restaurant like this. The real problem is that the quality and execution ultimately don’t justify the cost. I’m rooting for them because the ambition, hospitality, and atmosphere are all there, but unless the menu becomes sustainably improved, I can’t see myself returning or recommending it. In a city with no shortage of high-concept seafood restaurants competing at this tier, the cuisine ultimately has to rise to the occasion, and right now, it doesn’t.

seriously-wow. new amazing neighborhood spot that you don’t want to miss. vibes 10/10. service 10/10. giant fish tanks in the middle of the restaurant 10/10. the menu had something for everyone. the seafood was so fresh and everything was just so beautifully executed. fav was definitely the seafood pasta which was a mussel broth pasta. the wine list was also extensive and they had amazing recommendations for us and even let us do a little sampling when we were being indecisive. we got half of the desserts on the menu and I will be back soon to try the other half

Wow, what an incredible restaurant. The room is absolutely stunning, the food creative and vibrant and warm professional service. Woody who served us at the bar was wonderful, and the sommelier recommended a delicious reasonably priced wine. I will be back!

Excellent meal with incredible service. Grab a drink on the roof before dinner if the weather’s nice!