Zoot

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509 Hearn St
Austin, TX 78703

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(512) 477-6535
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Zoot - Austin, TX
Reviews
( 9 )
( 7 )
( 0 )
( 3 )
( 5 )

Best

We got the tasting menus and the meal was very enjoyable. I got the Farmer's Market. The cold potato leek soup was very refreshing; the salad- perfect; the gnocchi amazing. Flavo...

Worst

Having grown up in Houston and lived in Dallas, I have visited many excellent restaurants. We have consistently been disappointed in the restaurant selections here in Austin. So ...

Skip it, head over to Wink instead. 10/4/2009

My husband and I have been to Wink (sister restaurant) several times and thoroughly enjoyed it. So after after hearing many good things about Zoot, decided to try it for my birthday. Our waiter was a bit scatterbrained in several areas-i.e. he knocked over a wine bucket near us, dropped several things (utensils, menu, etc) while serving us, and generally gave us rush feeling. Also, even though it was a nice touch that the menu clearly stated Happy Birthday as we were leaving, he told us Happy Anniversary! At Wink, we have always gotten better service and Mark even knows our name when enter and leave. Also, we thought the food was below avg and definatly not as good as Wink or other restaurants at this price point. They ran out of ""good bread"" and served us the cut up french bread and one of the appetizers (the Sheppard's Pie) was barely edible and not quite as described on the menu...we barely touched it, but our waiter did not even ask. I was sick to my stomach the next day...I hate to say it, but I think it might have even been something Iate here. The last point, even though the restaurant is larger and tables are more space apart, we still found it loud. Cons: loud, food not up to par, poor service more

Friendly service, excellent food 6/26/2008

My husband and I ate at Zoot on a Wednesday evening when it was about half full. It has a peaceful atmosphere, and the tables are arranged with a high enough central division to the room to create a nice feeling of privacy. We had no delays with service, which was friendly and helpful when we had some questions about the choices. Although the wine list is short, it has good quality. We happened to find a couple of favourites of ours, and we liked the option to have several wines by the glass, rather than buy one bottle. We loved the food we ordered- fois gras, scallops to start; a smoked tomato soup which had an amazing aroma, and continued through the whole delightful dish. Our mains of tenderloin, and of snapper were perfectly prepared, and beautifully presented. The ingredients tasted extremely fresh and were prepared in a delicate manner which really worked. Desserts were yummy too. We had a really enjoyable evening at Zoot, and look forward to returning soon. We felt the prices were good value too. more

Zoot delivers 6/9/2008

I recently went to zoot and found the service as well as the food to be excellent. I found the portions to be quite satisfying and actually my wifes lamb could have fed a small family. We actually felt the portions rather big and had no room for dessert. The wine list was a little sparse and we would have preferred to have a better selection. The salads were excellent, my wifes lamb was cooked perfectly and the scallop appetizer was fantastic. The service was knowledgable and friendly, not stuffy. We had a great time and think zoot is a hidden gem. Pros: service, food, easy parking Cons: off the beaten path. I forget its around more

Excellent Food! Average Service 6/4/2008

My husband and I went to ZOOT last evening for our wedding anniversary. As a former server of an upscale restaurant in Washington, DC I am always in tune to the DETAILS of the entire dining experience. When we were seated the hostess/server (yes, she was both- confusing?) didn't have dinner menus printed out so we sat staring at the wine list for what seemed like 5+min. It wouldn't have been an issue to wait for the menus if we had been offered a cocktail right away and were brought some water and rolls but we just sat there empty handed before being brought the menus. Pros: Ambience, Wine, FOOD Cons: Lack of Expeditious Service more

Worst. Service. Ever. 2/5/2008

The atmosphere is great, unfortuntaley, the service is the polar opposite. The staff seems put out if the clientele bothers them for things like more water or asking why the food is taking two hours to come out of the kitchen. When the food did finally come out, it was in a tapas portion. The prices are ridiculous for what you get. The food is good, but not good enough to make me want to return. Not recommended. more

Tiny portions of food for BIG bucks 12/8/2007

I ate at Zoot for my first time last evening. We had reservations for a party of nine and were seated promptly. We had a choice between a la cart dining or a three course meal for $50. I wanted the three course meal but was told that everyone at the table must order it. Not everyone was as hungry as I was, so we ordered entrees. I started with the parsnip soup, which tasted like warm milk. The square rolls they serve were soft and delciious. For an entree, I ordered red snapper and was very disappointed that it took over an hour to get to the table. Once it arrived, it was flavorless and overcooked. I have never returned food and was very embarassed to do so, but my dinner was not edible. The waitress very graciously exchanged my entree, making me think other people have returned this dish as well.. I sat patiently waiting for the manager or chef to come over and ask why I didn't enjoy my meal, but no one ever appraoched me. The 3 ounces of NY strip steak was delicious, although I could have done without the raspberry sauce and undercooked mushroom quiche that accompanied it. Afterwards, I went the unisex bathroom, disgusted to find that the man who used it before me, urinated all over the floor and my shoes were sticky. If you have two bathrooms, please make one for women and the other for men. We finished our three hour meal with coffee and left after spending $110. I left feeling hungry and robbed. If you like spending lots of money on pretentious tiny portions of less than average food, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, I suggest you try a better restaurant because Austin has plently of them. Pros: Romantic atmosphere Cons: Overpriced, tasteless food, unisex bathrooms more

Exceptionally overrated 11/11/2007

After having heard and read many great reviews of this Austin eatery, 6 friends decided to give it a try last night. Having waited 15 minutes for our already reserved table we said no big deal. Can't blame the party before us for the delay. The hostess came out and apologized. However 30 minutes into waiting we went in to inquire and were briskly walked out. 40 minutes into waiting outside we were asked to come in and were seated. more

6 mos 3/27/2006

We got the tasting menus and the meal was very enjoyable. I got the Farmer's Market. The cold potato leek soup was very refreshing; the salad- perfect; the gnocchi amazing. Flavors were blended with the perfect amount of everything. To top it off, the cheese dessert plate is fun when you have someone to share it with. The key-lime tart in a strawberry sauce was just the perfect amount of sweetness. I don't usually like tarts because they are too sweet and heavy, but this was light with a touch of sweetness and very refreshing. And if you're a chocolate lover, get the chocolate cake. You can never go wrong with that. The staff was very amiable and I would go back any time. Pros: selection of food, wait staff, creativity more

A Week Between Visits Feels Like Too Long 9/10/2005

My wife and I recently returned to Zoot after some time away. We're longtime fans of the cozy little restaurant, but this time around we had our best experience yet. Start to finish, dinner was serene. Flavors were perfectly balanced; I'd return just for the flawless tomato soup in a heartbeat, but everything from the plump scallops to the creme caramel knocked our socks off. Each of the waiter's wine pairings complemented the food beautifully. Attentive but never too fussy, the service heightened an already excellent experience. After a week of eating well in Manhattan, we weren't sure what to expect from Zoot. But dinner didn't just exceed our expectations: it rivaled the best meals we had in New York. Our only regret is that we skipped the vegetarian tasting menu (they use organic produce from Boggy Creek, our favorite local farm). But then, that's what return visits are for. Pros: Terrific service, Exceptional food, Stylish, not trendy Cons: Odd bathroom decor, Talkative owner more

Perfect For All 8/26/2005

After reading the previous review, I was a little concerned about dinner plans for a group of five because my friend joining us is a vegetarian. She ordered the Farmers Market tasting menu, (which is all vegetarian), and raved about each of her dishes. Luckily she shared a little and it was evident the ingredients were fresh and carefully selected. My husband really enjoyed the duck and desserts were unbelievable. Our waiter did a wonderful job of pairing wines with our meal. None of us were disappointed with our dining experience. We recently ate at several popular places in New York and Zoots menu and quality of food can compete with them. Everyone in our dinner group left talking about when we will return! Pros: good parking, good service, perfect setting more

Very good, but prepare to open your wallet 6/17/2005

I am not sure why ""vegetarian"" is a word featured in the description of Zoot, because there weren't any vegetarian entrees. As someone who isn't fond of meat, I had a difficult time choosing an entree, so I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to vegetarians. But each of the appetizers, entrees, and desserts, though small, featured an excellent combination of flavors. Although one does not expect enormous portions in an upscale restaurant like this, you can definitely have a classy dinner at other restaurants in town and get much more for your money. Pros: wine list, wait staff, ambience Cons: small portions, no vegetarian entrees more

Stewart Scruggs Does It Again!!! 10/27/2004

I am always impressed with Stewarts incredible ability to create something out of nothing. Zoot is just one more shining example of his talent. It had been some time between our visits to the little house on Hearn, but I was comforted when I saw a lot of familiar faces. Upon our late arrival, we were graciously welcomed and promptly sat, despite how full the restaurant seemed. Throughout our entire experience, the staff remained incredibly attentive to every need, without being obtrusive or haughty. They seemed to be there precisely when we needed something. Putting our trust in the staff, we chose our entrees (based on their recommendations) and asked them to match the wine with each course. We spent 2.5 hours of indulgence and gluttony and loved every minute of it!!! I look forward to doing it again soon!!! Pros: Food!, Service!, Atmosphere! more

FABU! 10/21/2003

I read some of the negative reviews and was really surprised. Austin is not blessed with a lot of truly great restaurants, but I count us lucky to have a restaurant like Zoot. Zoot was great before, but now that its owned by the guys at Wink, it has transcended most of its peers. They have made some obvious improvements in the preparations and menus -- especially the desserts -- and spiced up the decor, but they kept the excellent wine list. There are only a handful of places in town to experience unique and delicious preparations like these -- the word that comes to mind is refined. In my humble opinion, it doesn't get much better, but if deep down you really prefer bigger portions, more traditional meat-&-potatoes style meals and heavy sauces, I would try someplace else. more

excellent evening... 10/20/2003

at Zoot. My wife and I wate there about a month ago. For some reason it took us this long to finally eat at Zoot. We were not dissappointed. The service and atmosphere was professional and welcoming. Despite what I've read, the portions were perfect size. Both of our meals were worth the price. Check it out. more

YUMMM!!! 9/23/2003

I have only been here once, but the service was wonderful, the decor was cool and retro (LOVE the Eames chairs!), and the food was awesome. Perfect portions - you didn't need to roll me out, as so often is the case these days. Can't wait to go back. Pros: Quiet, Delicious, Cool decor more

Marginal at best 9/12/2003

Having grown up in Houston and lived in Dallas, I have visited many excellent restaurants. We have consistently been disappointed in the restaurant selections here in Austin. So when we heard about Zoot being excellent, we gave it a try. It was very disappointing to say the least. The food was OK. The portions were tiny and the price was exhorbitant. Look elsewhere. more

One of the better Austin restaurants 9/4/2003

It's hard to imagine this place is rated at about the same as bland chain restaurants. Disregard the negative review, since I've only had really good experiences the three times I've been to Zoot. They have very quilaity ingredients, really rich and flavorful sauces, and eccentric menu items to choose from. I remember I had tried some vegetarian item and some salmon (i usually am a meat and potatoes guy), and it faired just as well as popular upscale restaurants like Jeffrey's and Hudson's on the Bend. I'm a broke ass recent college graduate, but I don't mind saving up for Zoot.... more

Over 2/14/2003

Overcrowded, too noisy, overpriced. Seems like it's more of a ""place to be seen"" kind of restaurant. more

oh my god i've died and gone to zoot 1/6/2003

for special evening like prom, this place was fabulous. the back room gives a special secluded feeling and the food is delicious. try the duck and the creme bruele and u will be happy! Pros: good parking, nice ambience, helpful service Cons: pricey more

Hmm... 1/4/2003

Quite disappointed with the potions and dessert. In addition, the waitstaff automatically assumed when we gave cash not to bring back change. I have dined around Austin and other parts of the country and have paid less for a better experience; ambience, food and service. more
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Menu for Zoot


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Editorial
  • In Short
    Stewart Scruggs and Mark Paul of Wink bought Zoot in 2003, updating the interior and menu. The converted house has sophisticated decor, including soft lighting, frosted glass and...

  • 11/20/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Tuesday To Sunday From 06:00 PM To 10:00 PM
  • Payments: Diner's Club, Discover, Visa, Master Card, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: General West Austin, West Austin
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