Zou Zou’s is one of very few reasons you should go out of your way to go to Hudson Yards. There, I said it. And I mean it. The restaurant is open every day, for lunch and dinner (not to be taken for granted in this city), has great cocktails, and of course, incredible food. Sure, the interior looks like the design of a boutique hotel that’s trying too hard to be vibey. But it manages, in spite it all, to not be a scene, and to have substance that lives up to the hype.
The menu skews Middle Eastern drawing inspiration from a breadth of culinary traditions, with contemporary takes on classics from fattoush to borek to manti and a whole host of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean breads. Everything is presented beautifully, plated with finesse that makes it even more delightful to dig in.
Is it the best meal in the city? No, and it doesn’t try to be. But is it one you will constantly want to come back to? Yes, and you absolutely should.
Address | 385 9th Ave Suite 85, New York |
Website | http://www.zouzousnyc.com/ |
Yelp | https://www.yelp.com/biz/zou-zou-s-new-york-3 |
@zouzousnyc | |
Hours | 11:30-2:30 for lunch, 5-11pm for dinner, every day |
Price | $$$ – expect to spend $80-100 a person with a drink |
Aesthetic | electic and modern, reminiscent of a vegas hotel restaurant (but what else would you expect from hudson yards?) |
Go here for: an indulgent meal with excellent presentation
Order this: start with dips (and bread over crudité always), fattoush, the duck borek, jeweled rice for a side, and save room for the kataifi cheesecake for dessert
Amount of time to spend: 1 hour for lunch, probably 2 hours for dinner, it’s the kind of meal you want to savor, and also order dessert, and maybe just sit with some drinks for a bit
When to come: whenever you find yourself in Midtown West or Hudson Yards and want a good meal. Lunch tends to be easier than dinner if you don’t have a reservation, or come later in the evening for walk ins
Getting here: easily accessible from the Hudson Yards-24th Street 7, or from Penn Station (ACE)
Other things to note: Reservations available via OpenTable. You can try to get a seat at the bar for walk ins though.
Last visited: December 2022
Last updated: February 2023