Green Zebra Review

As promised I went to the Green Zebra last night. We arrived at 7:20 for a 7:30 reservation and were seated immediately (there is not really an area to have a cocktail beforehand).

The menus is organized into three sections by course and our waitress (who was excellent) suggested we each get three dishes and that the course groupings were merely a suggestion and anything goes.

We had a bottle of a lively Australian Riesling which went well with all the coarses. The wine list hovers around $40-$45 a bottle with a few under $40 and a few more above $50. My date tried their "speciality" martini, which was basically a cosmopolitan with white cranberry juice. She liked it, but I don't care for foo-foo drinks, so I didn't try it.

Our meal started with an amuse bouche (popcorn, peanuts, pickled ginger and edamame). This seemed unnecessary and I didn't try anything in it twice.

Our food:

1. Avocado Panna Cotta (from the first course grouping) - this was my favorite and the lady liked it too. Very smooth with a white foam (salty) and cherry tomato garnish. Everyone seemed to have one of these at their table. My favorite of the night.
2. Heirloom Onion Soup (from the second course grouping) - this was my date's favorite. Very smooth (again) and good onion flavor. Sometimes I feel that this flavor is overwhelmed by the stock, but this was not the case here. It was a very delicate balance and very delicious (although the soups are harder to share)
3. Curried Eggplant Potstickers (from the second course grouping) - I thought these were so-so and my date agreed. The curried eggplant had a good flavor but the wonton wrappers were a bit overcooked and the result was a gummy dumpling. The ginger foam (it seems foam is mandatory anytime there is a "tasting" menu) added little to the dish.
4. Maytag Bleu Cheese Souffle (from the second course grouping) - our waitress recommended this if we like "big, stinky cheese". We do and were a bit surprised at the mildness of the flavor. I liked this considerably more than my date, who thought it was too eggy. I liked the overall flavor of it and the textural contrast that the baked-in walnuts provided.
5. Chicken breast (I forget the specific name-from the third course grouping) - very good. The chicken itself was moist and finished with a nice citrusy flavor. It was garnished with the skin (very crispy and sweetened somewhat) and perfectly cooked fingerling potatoes. I expect simple dishes like this to be well prepared and this one did not disappoint.
6. Onion and morel tart (it was actually a gremolatti? from the third course grouping) - I'm disappointed this morning because I was debating between this and the ginger dumplings and went with this (I didn't see the post about the ginger dumplings until this morning). I love mushrooms, especially morels and was excited to see this plated with big chunks of morels (it is essentially an onion and mushroom mix between a biscuit). Much to my chagrin, this should have been listed on the menu as "Salt lick with mushrooms" because all I tasted was salt. My date agreed. This was really the only dish I would not want to eat again.

The courses were brought out in twos and paced leisurely, so that both the food and company could be savored.

For dessert I had a glass of Port and a sheep's cheese laced with cinnamon that I heartily recommend (the name slips my mind). My date was too full.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience a lot. Price was about what I expected (our tab was $170 with tax/tip for 6 courses, a cheese plate, a bottle of wine, two martinis, and a glass of port). The space itself is a little tight and it started to get loud as we were leaving around 9:30 (a good sign for a restaurant on Tuesday night I imagine). In posts I'd read, people said being full was a problem. I think we ordered just the right amount and we were both pleasantly satiated at meal's end.

I had a great meal at Green Zebra with my wife on our anniversary and I am happy that this mostly excellent restaurant has opened in my neighborhood.

However, I am offended that they charge 9 dollars for a french press of intelligencia coffee. I skipped coffee and desert in protest

I-Block wrote:However, I am offended that they charge 9 dollars for a french press of intelligencia coffee. I skipped coffee and desert in protest

I had a wonderful meal at Green Zebra tonight. They do serve regular drip coffee in addition to their french press choices. it is a tad misleading that the french press options are listed on the menu by themselves. It implies that it is the only option. I just asked the waiter if decaf drip was available.

Considering that the French press can serve three people a coffee serving equivalent to what you would normally get when ordering drip coffee at a restaurant, I find the French press to be a good deal. The quality is better and the cup to serving price of $3 is reasonable. Even for 2, $4.50 isn't too egregious considering a strawberry frappacino - or some other coffeless, abominable dessert concoction - at starbucks will run about as much.

rien

Two friends and I went last week and I never need to go there again. The flavor of everything we had was good, but we ordered what seemed to be alot of plates and yet were still hungry afterwards. Not only that, but almost everything we had was accompanied by foam (or what we began to call spittle after seeing it for the 4th or 5th time). I know that foamed sauces are in right now, but does everything need to come that way? Our waitress was also bizarrely enthusiastic--she shrieked and clapped her hands whenever we ordered anything she recommended. It was truly unsettling. Maybe we just had a bad night there, but in spite of all the good things I've heard about Green Zebra, it is "off the list" for me.