by Robert F.

Excellent Mediterranean cuisine, with a hip, upscale atmosphere. I enjoyed Zaya. It has the feel of a lounge just without the couches. With dark decor, a bar and plenty of tables the space, although loud, is high energy. The food is solid, far better than average, and many plates are meant to be shared which is always great for groups. They ran out of one of their wine choices which I thought was odd, since their wine selection was not stellar. The four of us polished off two bottles. I can't remember the names. One was good, the other was so-so. Service could have been a little more attentive, but all in all Zaya gives you the look and feel of a special night out that is sophisticated and stylish.

by Jay S.

I won't agree or disagree with anyones personall experience at Zaya's, I will only speak to my experience.  I have been here on three occassions now and the food has consistantly been good.  Of course with any menu there are things to avoid, like the frog legs which are novel in concept but very greasy and not as tastefull as they could be.  I enjoy their Hummus and the falafel.  Drinks on Saturday night are $4.00 which is great.  Service has been a bit hit or miss depending on the time of day.  Overall I would say a good restaurant to go to every once and a while but definitely not an every week type restaurant.

by Tracy L.

Service - great. Server answered my questions appropriately with knowledge of dishes. Hostess opened door for us as we entered restaurant.Atmosphere - dimly lit. Nice interior - modern style, trendy.Things I tried on my veggie platter:1. Hummus - pretty good.  No "store bought" taste.2. Labneh - sour cream consistency and appearance with olive oil on top.  Not that good but I've never tried it before.3. Falafel - very good!4. Lentil dish (forgot name) - very good!5. Tomato stew with chickpeas (forgot name) - also very good!6. Pita bread - awesome. Warm, soft, fresh. They serve this with olive oil mixed with some kind of spices.NOTE: I had not tried labneh, lentil dish, tomato stew w/ chickpeas before my visit to Zaya so I don't have anything to compare it to.

by Melinda R.

I really like the look and feel of this restaurant! I'm not the biggest fan of Mediterranean food, but I still really like this place! I've been twice and had delicious food both times.  They have a great list of drinks which are relatively inexpensive!! The service is great and there is complimentary valet parking available if you can't find a place to park on the crowded streets! Overall I really like this place and will probably keep going back!

by Andrew F.

Like moths to a flame. . . I took a bunch of friends here Saturday night for the $1 Ketels.  We had such a good time we stayed until the bar closed around 1:00 AM.  I wound up meeting the owner and the GM - both of whom are cool guys.  Around midnight, Tarek, the owner, announced he was celebrating the restaurant's most successful week with a complimentary champagne toast for everyone there.  Now that's how you say thank you.  If you haven't been yet you are missing out on what is shaping up to be the hottest bar of the summer.  PS - Tried the lamb kabobs and loved them. I was lured here by the promise of $1 Ketel drinks.  From the jump it was clear that this place has…

by Jonathan G.

Carlos C. pretty much hit all the relevant points in this review, including the questionable need for valet parking.  My wife and I went with another couple for a full dinner, including appetizers.  My wife and I both ordered the sea bass, one friend (female) order beef kabobs medium well and her husband ordered lamb medium rare.The server mixed up our friends' cooking requests, and our female friend had to send her entree back for further cooking (her dish did not come back until everyone else was almost finished).  Our male friend somewhat begrudgingly ate his overcooked food.  My wife loved her sea bass.  I liked the outside of the generous portion, but the interior of the portion seemed undercooked.Overall, the food was different, and I would probably return, although it is a schlep to get there for us.  This is one of those places where the food tastes very good for the first two or three bites, but then just does not hold up.  For example, my entree came with a layered potato side dish - it was tasty but too starchy to finish.  The appetizers were good, but very spicy.Our server was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but she tended to disappear after the food came out.The restaurant is also very loud - a group of around 10 sat a few tables away and the sound really carries - at times my wife and I could barely hear each other.I would go back - perhaps not on a Saturday night.  I would not order the same thing, however.

by Deanna J.

Baby's got big grape leaves! These guys were the huge-est that I've come across. Super tasty. I had a sampler platter, so we sampled a bit of everything. Especially yum is the spread they bring out with the pita bread. The only disappointment I had was not enough room to finish it all! The interior is nice, and makes a solid choice for a bite to eat! Plus there's a great patio if the outdoors strike your fancy, too.

by Nicole M.

The food here was great.  The service was not so great...while our server was very friendly, service was slower than molasses going uphill in January.I had dinner at Zaya last night with 2 friends, one of who is Lebanese and knows his food.  He said everything he tasted was good.  I ordered the lamb kabob with the yogurt salad and hummus sides.  The lamb was perfectly cooked (I ordered it med. rare) and it was flavorful.  The yogurt salad was nice and cooling and hummus was great -- very smooth and not too garlicky but nicely flavored.  My friend ordered the Zaya pasta and said it was great but I didn't taste it.  My only complaints other than service being slower than __ [add your own word here], was that the fried eggplant app was not so great and it was VERY loud inside the restaurant.  The eggplant was cold (not sure if it had to do with slow service) and it was greasy.  I know eggplant is difficult but maybe this one should be removed from the menu -- it was grease-soaked.  I do have to say that the tahini dipping sauce that came along with it was really nice though.  My other complaint was the noise -- this was probably one of the loudest dining experiences I've had in a while.  With this being a new building, you would have thought they would have made provisions but apparently not.  It's really loud so don't go if you want to have a great conversation.  You might be better off sitting outside.The wine list is good -- they seem to have quite a few "by the glass" options from all over the world, including Lebanon, which impressed my friend.For desert, we ordered the ashta (custard wrapped in filo dough and then covered in a really nice rose water/orange blossom syrup and then sprinkled with pistachios).  This was amazing and HUGE.  If you order this, be prepared to share because I don't think anyone could finish it on their own.  The custard was really nice and I loved how the filo added a really nice crunchy texture.All in all, Zaya was good but not great.  I will definitely go back at some point because the food deserves it.

by Melissa B.

Zaya turned out to be better than I expected. I've been there twice. Once for dinner with a friend and once with a group of 6 other girls to enjoy the $1 martinis and I must say we really had a great time!At first glance I said to myself "Oh lord, this is going to be one of those places" meaning all fluff no depth but so far I think I'm wrong. The service when I've been there was really pleasant albeit a bit rushed because of the throngs of people coming for the drink special. Our server on girl's night made jokes, was just a really pleasant guy and made us feel welcome which is a feat when you have 7 girls wanting more martinis.The food? So far I've treated Zaya as a tapas place and have just sampled things from the appetizer menu cuz that's how I roll. I like variety so basically that's all I can speak to right now. I will tell you that the stuffed grape leaves are lovely. They are moist and tasty. While the drunken haloumi cheese served on tomato slices had a pleasant bite from the ouzo. The pomegranate tapenade which just comes out automatically when you sit down was really delicious and I've been trying to figure out how to make it myself since I tasted it.Now I must admit the $1 martinis go a long way in making me really like Zaya. You can have a few dirty martinis and a couple of apps and you are satisfied but most importantly you don't get sticker shock when the bill comes. It will be interesting to see if I still like Zaya quite as much when the $1 Kettle One special disappears.

by Melissa G.

Although I'd like to steer clear of the personal attacks going back and forth between Kit F and Nancy, I will substantiate Kit's experience with the food at Zaya.  In Zaya's defense, I overheard that they've only been open for a few weeks and are still working out the kinks... I suppose it has the "potential" to be a great restaurant, but I don't do potential - anymore.We had a reservation, I think our group of 10 really threw the service off.  The first words out of the hostess' mouth was "I hope we have enough menus." Fortunately, we did really well in "sharing" during elementary school and managed.   The staff seemed discombobulated during the entire service. The apps were ok - the spanokopita was mostly pastry with very little spinach.  We ordered hummus as an app and low and behold we got hummus as a side item with our meals - there is only so much hummus one person can eat. Not to mention the other side was rice with whole wheat vermicelli - kind of bland.  I ordered the lamb chops - a little tough. My fiance ordered the rack of lamb.  The rack of lamb was WAY better than the lamb chops. If we ever go back, I'll definitely order the rack. Oh well...in the end, it's all Greek to me.

by Carlos C.

My lovely wife and I walked in last night at 8pm after giving my keys to the valet (why must someone else park our cars in the parking deck adjacent to the restaurant?).  The space is standard upscale-ish chain brown box decor filled with somewhat nervous waitstaff who don't seem to quite yet know what they are doing and are concerned you might notice - at least they seem to care.  There were available tables, but none of them ready for a few minutes (jeez, what a surprise - why yes, I will wait at the bar for 5 minutes and throw some money at you).  As soon as our beverages were poured, our table (very small table at that - was a table for four, but there is no way four people and their food will fit at these tables) was ready.  Taking heed of the previous reviews, we ordered only appetizers.Pita - good, warm and served with standard herbed/spiced olive oil.  The sesame seeds were a welcome bit of nuttiness.Hummus - also good, and with actual tahini - thank you for that.  Rusty crimson sumac sprinkled over the top giving a nice aesthetic, but really no additional flavorTabbouleh - lazy version, roughly (1 demerit) chopped parsley with a smattering of bulgar and a squeeze of lemon.  Diced tomatoes (in March?!?) , tasting of nothing as they were ripened via chemical agent , served over the top.  Falafel - very good, crispy, not oily with a hint of red pepper flake heat.  Side of nutty tahini/yogurt dipping sauce - covered with the same tomato pile as the tabbouleh.Grape leaves - thinly rolled beef (not lamb - cmon people, need me some lamb) and rice with an ample but not overpowering lemon tang - not too shabby - and also available in a vegetarian version.All of the above were between $5 and $8, so wallet impact was certainly tolerable.The service was a bit scattered but very friendly - and included the manager - who was helping out as well.  Not a turn off or anything, and a nice if somewhat generic space to hang out and have a drink and some basic chick pea, sesame and lemon based food.  Will give a 3 for now,  and will certainly come back.  Some kitchen tweaks and service experience might bump it up a bit - but don't see it going much higher, at least in my book.

by Rick G.

Zaya is located in the ground floor of one of the new condo buildings in Inman park.  It's just down the street from The Grape and across the street from Inman Perk Coffee.I love Mediterranean food and have eaten at most of the well known places in Atlanta including Kyma, Mezza, Cafe Lily, and low-key places like Mediterranean Grill, and Olive Bistro.  So, I was definitely anxious to try Zaya, especially since I live nearby.Zaya's interior looks great.  Much better than most Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta.  The dining room is spacious, although the tables for two feel rather small once the dishes start to come out.  This is largely due to the over-sized basket they use for pita bread.  The waitress told us the pita bread is made fresh, on-premise.  For what it's worth, it's probably the best pita bread I've had at any Mediterranean restaurant in Atlanta.  The basket it comes in, however, is just a little too big if you're sitting at a table for two.Zaya has over a dozen appetizers including familiar staples like falafel, hummus, baba ganouj, dolmas, spanakopita, etc.  Most of the appetizers were priced around $7.  Zaya also had several entrees between $15 and $20.  Since it was our first time eating there, my wife and I both opted for the vegetarian platter.  At just $11, it was a fantastic value since it provides a healthy sampling of four appetizers.  UPDATE 3/29/08 - It's just a couple of weeks since my original review and they've already increased the price of the Vegetarian Plate.  It's now $13 instead of $11...Between my wife and I, we had hummus, falafel, dolmas, baba ganouj, labneh, moussaka, mujadara, and tabouleh.  We also ordered a cured salmon appetizer (I forget what it's called), but there was more than enough food on the vegetarian platters alone to fill us up.While everything we ate at Zaya was pretty good, I'd say Mezza (located on Lavista) has better versions of the same dishes.  Zaya definitely wins on ambiance and pita bread, but Mezza's version of falafel, hummus, mujadara, etc tend to be better overall.  Also, a couple of the hot dishes we had at Zaya were served luke warm.  I'm not sure if that was intentional, but after sitting on our plates for a few minutes they were cold.  The cured salmon appetizer that we ordered at Zaya was good (large portion, good quality salmon) but the salmon was a tad salty for my tastes.Since it's so close to my house, I'll definitely go back to Zaya.  That vegetarian platter really is a fantastic value, especially when you consider that we would have had to spend twice as much to get the same variety of food at Mezza.  I'm also looking forward to trying one of the entrees at Zaya.  If/when I do, I'll be sure to update this review.

by Carrie B.

Love grabbing a bite over here after having my hair done across the street. Got it to go today and great at home too. The portions are quite large, especially for the wraps and the fries are these neat matchstick-style with Mediterranean seasonings. Nice, comfortable place and the service has always been helpful and friendly.

by Kit F.

EDIT: BURRRRR....is it SHILLY in here? Let's COUNT how many more ONE POSTERs will shill this place... Nancy has already deleted her 5 star review..or did she just change her name? This place is a joke.Even AJC's Meredith Ford gave it 2 stars..."The menu would do better to just skip the larger dishes and entrees, an area where the kitchen falls short more often than not -- halibut seemed frozen, not fresh, and tasted bland, even when lifted by diced tomatoes. Beef schwarma should be a signature, but the flavor here lacks the snappiness of an old-world marinade."...if the chef is not in the kitchen, one can only wonder why the food sucks. Stop passing off chix nuggets as GWEEK food... not everyone is from upstate GA.OUT.__________________________________________________ _____Atlanta, the city of culinary mediocrity, is finally developing a decent palate with diverse new resto openings. It's one small step for foodies and one giant step for Atlanta.I waited a couple weeks so they could workout some of the Kinks...even though Mediterranean grub has Really Got Me this week. I needed a gyro and shawarma fix like Client #9 needed his trick fix. Zaya is nice looking in a cookie cutter sense with Atlanta's standards...it doesn't really have an unique personality so I hoped the food would standout... Pita Bwead- was nice and fresh w/ the standard issued seasoned herb olive oil. The spicy pomegranate walnut chutney was as spicy as a bag of Skittles...but it had nice texture. Just needed more chili paste.Sambousek "Meat Pies"- a trio of flaky pockets with a well seasoned beef filling. These meat pies would have Baton Bob at...Heeeey!  Fwied Eggplant- sliced thin as paper and seemed fwied in advance. It coulda used a dusting of flour or cornstarch prior to frying b/c they were limp as Eunuchs. Seriously needs reworking. Lahem-Bi-Ajeen- ground beef, lamb, onions and tomatoes baked on pita bwead. It was pretty tasty...they should rename it Pit'za.Mousaka- basically a reduction of a can of Ro*Tel served in a bowl that looked like Mork's Eggship. I'm renaming it to Morksaka. Publix's canned crushed tomatoes had more flavor and complexity.Shawarma- combo of chicken and beef "thinly sliced". I had better Shawarma at Zaxby's. The chicken was whole tenderloins and not even sliced in half. Ditto with the beef...why do they ask how would you like it when it comes out fully cooked anyways? It lacked any of the flavors listed on the menu. It was the 7 minute marinade...they might be infringing on the 8 minute abs' patent. The side of Rice Pilaf was LAFfable. The Hummos would taste better underneath the tire of a Hummer.The service was good. Wine list is so-so, didn't see a Sommelier but there was Some Lame dude in the back stocking wine bots. The food needs work but it's a solid menu if the cooks had some guidance.Mebbe if the guy in the Chef's garb got off his arse and stopped schmoozing with the cougars at the bar the whole night...my Shawarma wouldn't come out looking like a Benihana Hibachi special next time.

by Edward L.

Zaya rules.The owner is a neighbor, and a great family guy. The GM is my next door neighbor and a very cool guy.The food is bar none, excellent. The lunch menu currently has about a 15 entree's for under $10 which means you're eating great and saving money.Mom would be proud.Thursday nights have this amazing Belly dancer; and you can smoke some sort of brick from a huka on your table; totally flying carpet cool.Don't let the "date night" presence fool you; you could show up with your yeahbro and have a stella while watching the game; your just not gonna have wings (for a change); you'll have hummus and gorgeous dames.Trust me.

by Layla G.

Zaya, Zaya, Zaya.  I want to love you, but I just don't.  Decor - cool and inviting.  I'm instantly impressedServer - A very "Lurch-like" (Addams Family) personality.  He creeps up, just stands there.  I can't tell if there is a booger hanging out of my nose or if he is mute.  I chuckle...later it gets annoyingFood - Only had the appetizer plate - we chose hummus, falafel, grape leaves, and spanikopita.  And even though the owner (fun, nice guy!) is middle eastern, its always a tough sell to beat my grandmothers arabic cooking.  Hummus - quite good.  Falafel - dry, very dry.  Spanikopita - very greasy.  Can I dip my falafel in my spanikopita? Grape leaves - okay.Drinks - Ketel one for $1 !!!!!!  Oh, you know you earn a star in my review for that alone!Bottom line - I am not rushing to go back anytime soon (unless they say they are discontinuing the $1 Ketel One drinks by the end of the week) - but I will definitely give it another try,  You should too!PS - I hear they have belly dancers on Thursday nights - dancers and Ketel One for $1 .... oh that sounds like some debauchery in the making! :)

by Jeremy A.

We also decided to check this out due to getting the 15 off coupon at the yelp holiday bash. I had the beef schwarma and I thought it was pretty good. The sides of hummus and tabbouleh were noteworthy and the 4 dollar drinks of ANY liquor they have will get me back in there for sure.

by Laura F.

Ok, I did not go to enjoy the $1 cocktails, since I was with my parents... so this is a review of the regular dining experience. I do admit the $1 offer is enticing though and will probably draw me back to Zaya. This place has a great atmosphere. I was there on a Tuesday evening, which you'd expect to be slow at an upscale place. It was crowded and hopping! It was a little loud, which made conversation difficult, but overall I was really pleasantly surprised by the energy. The food was hit or miss. The hits were big - enjoyed the grape leaves and LOVED the Beef Shawarma (or something like that) I ordered. I'd go back just for that. Also the pita-spread they give you instead of bread and butter was super yummy. Where they missed was on the side dishes. I got tabbouleh, which I have loved other places but hated here. It kind of tasted like a big lump of seasoning with little body. The baba ganoush was another miss. Just not great. My hummus was decent but not mind-blowing. The desserts were very good as well. The service was not great - they were pretty slow, especially with wine refills. Overall this was a really pleasant evening. For a full meal for 5 people, including 4 glasses of wine and desserts all around, our bill was just under $200.

by leigh s.

The bf and I finally ate at Zaya last night. I had heard mixed reviews, and some not so good ones initially when the place opened, but it seems everything has really come together. The food was excellent. The initial dip they bring out with the pita was so yummy. I believe the waiter said it had pomegranate and walnuts in it. I want the recipe. It was kinda like a jam, and sweet and a little tart/tangy as well. Good stuff. I ordered the chicken shwarma plate with baba ganoush  and tabouleh for my sides. One word - superb. I had not one complaint. The bf had the greek salad to start, and the shwarma combo plate with the yogurt salad and the brown rice. Also no complaints. We were both very full and satisfied when we left.Final thoughts: Definitely check this place out.

by Kristine M.

Meh.  The interior is chic, but nothing too unexpected.  They put three people at a two-top table outside, with the third chair blocking the walkway, so our third person was constantly in the way.  There were four-tops open, which made it especially odd.  The hostesses are clearly chosen for their looks, not their common sense.  Otherwise, the service was ok.  Beata was pretty good, everyone else could use a bit more experience/training.My shoarma was just a pile of meat, not a sandwich like it's supposed to be.  And it was lukewarm.  The rice pilaf was good, but it's impossible to mess that up.

by Sarah T.

With the location to my work, you would think I'd be there everyday. However, since they got rid of the $1 Kettle Ones, I can't afford a daily stop. Things you should know.... 1) Since the Kettle One special halted, they have continued to have some sort of drink special. The current wine special: A list of over a dozen different wines for $10 by the bottle or $3 by the glass. I'm a wine lover, so I'm loving the new special. 2) The entrees are just okay. I suggest going during the 1/2 appetizer times during the week: Monday-Thursday 5-7pm, 1/2 ALL appetizers. My husband and I shared 4, plus I had a glass of wine, and our tab was like $22. My favorite two: the meat grape leaves, and the cheese egg roll contraption. 3) They offer valet parking, but during the week there's plenty of street parking. If you don't have the cash on you, grab a street spot. 4) The service I've had there has been pretty spotty. Sometimes excellent, other times just horrible. I've been there over a dozen times now, so it's been so mixed; that I can't pin point an exact overall rating. If you go and have bad service, ask to speak to the Manager/Owner. He's a very nice reasonable man, and I'm sure he'll do or say something that will make you want to come back again...5) On weekends they offer hookahs with different flavored tobacco. I've never done it, but maybe it's your thing. 6) Sleek trendy; to me makes it an every once in a while stop, because of the atmosphere and the food. Both good, but not something I'm craving on a weekly basis. You should try it out though - I totally recommend it. Hope my tips help makes your experience a good one!

by Bee N.

My favorite thing about Zaya was their $1 Ketel One drink special that was offered all summer.  After spending many nights drinking ample Ketel One gimlets and eating 1/2 price off appetizers between 5-7 p.m. Mon-Thurs, I stopped going to Zaya after they discontinued their insanely fabulous drink special.However, to Zaya's credit, I liked the majority of the wait staff, including the super nice bartender, who had to endure impatient, non-tipping $1 Ketel One drinkers (p.s. if you pay $1 for your Ketel, one a 20% tip will not suffice, give the man the money he deserves!).  The food is good, but not my favorite...good mussels, calamari, and hummus...I would definitely come for the 1/2 off apps during the week.  The lamb kabobs are excellent, but not 1/2 off.Zaya also has a cute little patio that is fun for watching the hubbub in Inman Park.  Lots of cute dogs and runners to keep you entertained.  And they have ongoing drink specials--not as good as $1 Ketel one, but who doesn't like a $3 glass of red wine during the Fall?  I would definitely give Zaya a chance...

by Kelly H.

I was excited to try out Zaya since receiving the $15 off coupon at the holiday bash. However, the experience was less than satisfying...It was one of those restaurants that at the time seemed okay, not great, but okay, but the more I thought about it afterwards, it really wasn't good. The atmosphere is very cool and the wine was cheap ($3-$4), but the food was just downright tasteless. I ordered the fruits de mer kabob with hummus and brown rice on the side. The shrimp was the only decent piece of seafood on the stick - the tuna and salmon were overcooked and the scallop was just so-so. I will admit I am a hummus snob, but I personally think the Mediterranean hummus from Trader Joes is 100 times better, and the brown rice was nothing special. My friend ordered a meat dish, and the presentation made it appear that an entire burned up cow was sitting on her plate - very unappetizing to say the least! Needless to say, even though the space is cool, I won't be back to eat the food, maybe for a drink and some pita bread.

by Kyle S.

We had been meaning to go all throughout summer for the ridiculous Ketel One special, but never made it. Turns out, they always have some silly-but-awesome kind of special and that I can totally dig. I think recession specials are currently on the table? So yeah there's all this great Mediterranean that is well described in all the other reviews. I'll focus on the desert. We split the Brownie-something-or-other, name I don't remember because all I remember was it being the equivalent of like a brownie Big Mac. Ice Cream in the center,  swimming in a small sea of white chocolate sauce. Which can be fun if you're sharing with someone who doesn't like white chocolate. Like Big-Mac-Brownie-Jenga or something. By the way, speaking of splitting, I'm always a fan of places that split the food between separate plates for you. Good show, Zaya's.

by Tracy P.

Went there this weekend! During the middle of the Inman Park Festival... My hubby was at Highland Cigars and I was starving so I walked down to Zaya and ordered the lamb, beef, and tomato open faced pita. It was ok once I put some salt on it :-) I wasn't a fan of the balsamic vinaigrette... It would have tasted better with a different sauce in my opinion. The soft pita bread and spread they brought to the table for starters was different but it grew on me after the 3rd bite :-) Will I return? Yes during the week because I really wanted a sandwich and they don't serve them on the weekend.... I'll change my stars after I try one :-)

by Marisa F.

Huge hit! Get the chicken beef combo shawarma  with the yogurt salad and scallop potato sides. Delicious slow cooked meat rubbed with spices that go great with the light zesty cucumber yogurt salad. We also got the scallops with sweet vermouth rub, the baba gnoush, and vegatable falafel. Everything was light and delicious! The restaurant is very nice, but casual. My mom said it reminded her of New York.

by MARY W.

All that and great service too. The staff was warm and very welcoming. The food was very good and a little bit different what I have in my typical Thai, Indian, Mexican, pizza, sushi routine. The Beef Kabobs had great flavor as well as the rice(yes the rice too.) Our appetizers and deserts were equally good; the hummus was especially good and our desert served in a martini glass with some ice cream with cheesecake type concoction was fabulous. Will go again and take more friends. Some people were smoking the hookah pipe it but we could not smell it at all... maybe you can't smell it. Well it was not an issue for us non-smokers and make it feel more authentic.  Staff was great.  Richard the manager and Sarah helped make our evening a great one.Go Go GO.

by WaiLing C.

This place is over priced and my order came out messed up.Their hummus and baba ganoush is really good but for what I paid, I expected so much more.  I ordered the lamb kabob.  I wanted it medium - medium rare.  It came out super well done.. I mean, so cardboard-like I felt like it had been microwaved for 10 minutes.  I paid $20 for a single kabob of 6 cubes of meat and 2 cherry tomatoes.  Although, the flavor was good and I enjoyed it once they got it done right.   My waitress also got my sides wrong and questioned me when I told her it wasn't what I had ordered, even though everyone at my table was saying "umm yeah she did order that.. I heard it."The absolute WORST part of the meal was my friend's "Fruits de Mer" Kabob.  HOW GROSS!  HORRIBLE.   There was a tiny cube of salmon, a tiny cube of tuna, 2 shrimp, and 2 tiny bay scallops.  It was absolutely tasteless and super overcooked.  It was so gross.  The best thing on her plate was the rice pilaf, which was actually pretty good.The spanakopitas were okay.. it's not very easy to mess these up.  We paid $8 for 3 small spanakopitas.I will say this, I really enjoyed their lentil soup.I am never going back, there is definitely better Mediterranean in Atlanta, and I'm glad I had a half-off depot coupon when I went.

by Bobbin W.

When a good friend and I entered Zaya at around 8 on a Friday night, I was shocked and pleased that we didn't have to wait for a table. We were seated at a little table by the fireplace in the back, with a terrific window view of Highland.I began my meal with a glass of one of the cheapest pinot noirs on the menu--it was smooth and sweet! The two of us split some apps:* grape leaves stuffed with ground beef and lamb, as well as rice (YUM)* fried calamari (The cripsy hunks were typical yet delish; I appreciated that the calamari was really salty.)* a Greek salad topped with chicken (The deep-green spinach leaves shone with the delicious dressing, kalamata olives, feta cheese and other Greek toppings bursting with flavor.)The meal also involved complimentary pita bread, along with a cup of a crushed walnut/garlic/pomegranate/olive oil dipping sauce. What a winning melange of flavors!The evening ended with a piece of chocolate cake, filled with steaming chocolate sauce, beautified with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side.Zaya:LOVE. IT.

by Ori K.

To a man from the desert, Zaya is like that sweet first taste of water in well...the desert. Didn't think I'd find this caliber of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food in a fairly accessible location. Came here with a buddy to start off a night out and picked this out of open table's hat (Sorry yelp, I needed to boost my points there). Very pleasantly surprised by how authentic the food was, felt like home to me. You can really judge any place that claims to have this style of food by their hummus alone and they did it perfectly, not too much garlic or lemon. The other appetizers and the kabobs were equally good and a reasonably priced dolcetto rounded it all out. The tapenade dip with the pita was a bit dry would be the only complaint , def. needed a bit more olive oil. Best dish had to be the Drunken Halloumi by far. I'm always a sucker for cheese and really miss getting good grilled Halloumi (yes, you can heat this cheese up and it won't melt, it's the superman of cheeses). Was a little worried since my buddy hates anise and it's cooked with ouzo but the flavor was extremely subtle and he was just as much a fan. Do yourself a favor and finish off the meal right with a hookah, some turkish coffee and dessert. So relaxed and wired at the same time by the end of it all that you're in the perfect mood to still go out long after.

by Maran B.

Terrific specials on drinks, like $3 Van Gogh drinks or $10 bottle of wine and half-price appetizers. (specials change all the time, so ask)I really like the Drunken Halloumi appetizer - seared cheese with a lot of olive oil and garlic involved.Great vegetarian selection on the menu. Humus, baba ghanoush and what is the name of the red stuff they serve with pita when you sit down? It's great.I don't do desserts myself but my daughter and her friends rave about them.I always find the service attentive and friendly.

by Noel S.

Over all, I'm a pretty big fan of Zaya. I live in the neighborhood and I eat there about 2-3 times a month. Location: It's easy to find and parking is a no-brainer with the valet. It's in a great location for a whole nights activities including a short walk to Dad's Garage, and right next to Inman Perk.Atmosphere: A slightly upscale look, yet I never feel like I have to be dressed up to go. Service: The waitstaff is always friendly and knowledgeable with their explanations for those of use not familiar with some mediterranean items.  Several of the waitstaff are even very down to earth and will joke with you which is what I like.  Also, the manager always comes by the table to check on the guests. Food: Fantastic! Well, I haven't tried everything on the menu because I like the Shawarma so much.You can also call ahead for pickup at the bar.

by Frank L.

I'll start with the positives. Good location; the layout, look and feel was great. Gives off the appearance of openness in a relative small space.The downsides. Parking is interesting. Valet is really the only option unless you want to walk a few blocks. The deck is pretty much for valet only. As with most restaurants, service can make or break a place. Service here was slow and it wasn't even crowded. Not sure why, but to turn people off, having sucky service even before tasting the food is not good.Which leads to the food. I think the presentation was nice. I got the beef kabob. The meat varied in taste from bland to over spiced (mostly too much salt). I know this is odd, how can you over season some parts and not get any on others. So after the slow service, the food was barely impressive.Two dinners and 2 glasses of wine, $60+ with tip. Based on the food and the service, that is way overpriced IMO.

by Kyle B.

Over priced Mediterranean street food prepared by a chef from "rural Georgia".

by Sara C.

Eric is my practice partner, for many different things.  Yesterday we practiced drinking Zaya's $3 vodka mixed drinks.  I was very happy about that and the conversation gets so much more interesting with alcohol on the cheap.  Outside of the daily drink deals and half-off appetizers from 5-7 Monday-Thursday, the food was pretty good.  Eric has eaten similar food in Israel and it met his standard.  We both got variations of schwarma, which was pretty tasty and came in fairly large portions.  For sides, the french fries were small and dried up, but the yogurt dip and baba ghanuj were well done.  Plus, the free pita and dip appetizer was awesome.

by katie c.

I come here often to have drinks and appitizers with friends. never had any of the main dishes but i would recommend any of the starters. They have an excellent wine list. No more drink specials tho which is a bummer. Luke the bartender is excellent. It's a great place and i wish more people knew about it cause when I come in most of the time it's not busy.

by Talib K.

I've been told that I have a "bar-girlfriend" here...never heard that phrase before. But once it was explained, it fit perfectly. I usually come here on Fridays when I'm getting back in town. I'm a sucka for the Sweetwater on tap. And every now and then I sample their solid wine selection. Well, lately there has been a woman sitting at the bar every time I go.  I drink, she eats, we laugh, we talk business, we talk pleasure; the convos are always friendly and light-hearted. Well last time I went here, I was informed that I had a "bar-girlfriend."  While confused for a moment, I quickly realized the bartender was right. Unwittingly, I was spoken for every time I sat at the bar. Lol.....I found this amusing. So, if you see me at the bar alone, just assume my "bar-girl" is in the restroom.

by Heather N.

I've been here for lunch a few times, and although the food is mostly good, I always seem to have some problem with the dishes, and I am not a picky eater.I do love the strange dip that comes with the pita, nutty and spicy. I got the kabob combo with lamb and kibbeh.-The baba is good, but I prefer it with more roasty eggplant flavor and less tahini...--The kibbeh was dry on the outside and borderline raw inside, so I had to send it back for more cooking. I like things med rare, but when ground meat looks like flesh, I'm not taking chances. (Live through serious food poisoning, and you won't be so adventurous, believe me.)-The fries looked lovely, skins and all, but they were the same temperature as my napkin.Too bad Persepolis is so far away...

by Julien S.

Excellent food! Excellent Service! Excellent Atmosphere!Took my significant something here for his birthday brunch. I love this place! Can't think of why I haven't been except it's not in my neighborhood. Food:So tasty! They don't serve wraps on Sunday (why not??) so I ordered the Falafel appetizer as my entree. The SS got the chicken swarma with two sides- hummus and fries. My Falafels were so good. All this time I thought i was eating tasty Falafels  - now I know the truth! What I had before was just a shadow of what a truly tasty Falafel should be! They were nice and crunchy on the outside. The inside was fluffy with just a hint of pepper. Yum! They served pita bread with some type of red sauce. It was pretty good. I tried my SS' chicken Shawarma. It was tasty as far as the seasonings go - was a little bit dry though. I tried the hummus and it was so good. Not thick like the superstore kind - but not runny like most authentic hummus. Perfect!Booze:I was driving so no booze for me. This place had some kick-ass  specials though! $15 for pitchers of Van Gogh vodka cocktails - yes pitchers! $3 Van Gogh martinis and wine specials. Will definitely be back when I am not driving to do some cocktailin! Atmosphere:Perfect! We had a table to the side of the patio all by ourselves. The music was barely discernible. I have been to way too many places recently where one has to talk over the music. It was nice to be able to hear one another. Tables were clutter free. Inside is really swanky. Bathrooms were nice. Only fault - for the prices you're charging for your food - what is up with that awful pink soap that can be found at your nearest gas station bath room? Please upgrade! Servers:Walked in hostess immediately sat us wherever we wanted. Server was awesome. Came by got our orders - didn't bug us 'cept to come by and fill up my water. Then magically appeared right when I put the last bite in my mouth to clear away the plates. My date and I joked that she must be watchin us on camera - she was that good! I wanted to take the hummus and one falafel left home. Super bonus points she took the food away and boxed it for me. I love that! Love it love it! Great place I will definitely be back!

by Lucy W.

Good greek salad in a cool asymmetrical white bowl...I crave greek salad from time to time and this one appeases the cravings.  Expensive though for such a small salad.  I'm a little addicted to the warm pita that's brought in a basket to the table, along with some kind of spicy spread.  I also tried a dish called "Airline chicken"- chicken stuffed w/ pancetta and apples, with sides of asparagus and quinoa in a creamy sauce...chicken was perfect but the sauce was a little too salty.  The $4 glass of bubbly cava was a nice compliment to the salty food.  Restaurant has that sleek modern dark wood type of decor that's nice but still laidback and somewhat casual.  Service is just ok...hit or miss sometimes.

by Lucy W.Julien S.Heather N.

Good greek salad in a cool asymmetrical white bowl...I crave greek salad from time to time and this one appeases the cravings.  Expensive though for such a small salad.  I'm a little addicted to the warm pita that's brought in a basket to the table, along with some kind of spicy spread.  I also tried a dish called "Airline chicken"- chicken stuffed w/ pancetta and apples, with sides of asparagus and quinoa in a creamy sauce...chicken was perfect but the sauce was a little too salty.  The $4 glass of bubbly cava was a nice compliment to the salty food.  Restaurant has that sleek modern dark wood type of decor that's nice but still laidback and somewhat casual.  Service is just ok...hit or miss sometimes.Excellent food! Excellent Service! Excellent Atmosphere!Took my significant something here for his birthday brunch. I love this place! Can't think of why I haven't been except it's not in my neighborhood. Food:So tasty! They don't serve wraps on Sunday (why not??) so I ordered the Falafel appetizer as my entree. The SS got the chicken swarma with two sides- hummus and fries. My Falafels were so good. All this time I thought i was eating tasty Falafels  - now I know the truth! What I had before was just a shadow of what a truly tasty Falafel should be! They were nice and crunchy on the outside. The inside was fluffy with just a hint of pepper. Yum! They served pita bread with some type of red sauce. It was pretty good. I tried my SS' chicken Shawarma. It was tasty as far as the seasonings go - was a little bit dry though. I tried the hummus and it was so good. Not thick like the superstore kind - but not runny like most authentic hummus. Perfect!Booze:I was driving so no booze for me. This place had some kick-ass  specials though! $15 for pitchers of Van Gogh vodka cocktails - yes pitchers! $3 Van Gogh martinis and wine specials. Will definitely be back when I am not driving to do some cocktailin! Atmosphere:Perfect! We had a table to the side of the patio all by ourselves. The music was barely discernible. I have been to way too many places recently where one has to talk over the music. It was nice to be able to hear one another. Tables were clutter free. Inside is really swanky. Bathrooms were nice. Only fault - for the prices you're charging for your food - what is up with that awful pink soap that can be found at your nearest gas station bath room? Please upgrade! Servers:Walked in hostess immediately sat us wherever we wanted. Server was awesome. Came by got our orders - didn't bug us 'cept to come by and fill up my water. Then magically appeared right when I put the last bite in my mouth to clear away the plates. My date and I joked that she must be watchin us on camera - she was that good! I wanted to take the hummus and one falafel left home. Super bonus points she took the food away and boxed it for me. I love that! Love it love it! Great place I will definitely be back!I've been here for lunch a few times, and although the food is mostly good, I always seem to have some problem with the dishes, and I am not a picky eater.I do love the strange dip that comes with the pita, nutty and spicy. I got the kabob combo with lamb and kibbeh.-The baba is good, but I prefer it with more roasty eggplant flavor and less tahini...--The kibbeh was dry on the outside and borderline raw inside, so I had to send it back for more cooking. I like things med rare, but when ground meat looks like flesh, I'm not taking chances. (Live through serious food poisoning, and you won't be so adventurous, believe me.)-The fries looked lovely, skins and all, but they were the same temperature as my napkin.Too bad Persepolis is so far away...

by Lucy W.Julien S.Heather N.Talib K.katie c.

Good greek salad in a cool asymmetrical white bowl...I crave greek salad from time to time and this one appeases the cravings.  Expensive though for such a small salad.  I'm a little addicted to the warm pita that's brought in a basket to the table, along with some kind of spicy spread.  I also tried a dish called "Airline chicken"- chicken stuffed w/ pancetta and apples, with sides of asparagus and quinoa in a creamy sauce...chicken was perfect but the sauce was a little too salty.  The $4 glass of bubbly cava was a nice compliment to the salty food.  Restaurant has that sleek modern dark wood type of decor that's nice but still laidback and somewhat casual.  Service is just ok...hit or miss sometimes.Excellent food! Excellent Service! Excellent Atmosphere!Took my significant something here for his birthday brunch. I love this place! Can't think of why I haven't been except it's not in my neighborhood. Food:So tasty! They don't serve wraps on Sunday (why not??) so I ordered the Falafel appetizer as my entree. The SS got the chicken swarma with two sides- hummus and fries. My Falafels were so good. All this time I thought i was eating tasty Falafels  - now I know the truth! What I had before was just a shadow of what a truly tasty Falafel should be! They were nice and crunchy on the outside. The inside was fluffy with just a hint of pepper. Yum! They served pita bread with some type of red sauce. It was pretty good. I tried my SS' chicken Shawarma. It was tasty as far as the seasonings go - was a little bit dry though. I tried the hummus and it was so good. Not thick like the superstore kind - but not runny like most authentic hummus. Perfect!Booze:I was driving so no booze for me. This place had some kick-ass  specials though! $15 for pitchers of Van Gogh vodka cocktails - yes pitchers! $3 Van Gogh martinis and wine specials. Will definitely be back when I am not driving to do some cocktailin! Atmosphere:Perfect! We had a table to the side of the patio all by ourselves. The music was barely discernible. I have been to way too many places recently where one has to talk over the music. It was nice to be able to hear one another. Tables were clutter free. Inside is really swanky. Bathrooms were nice. Only fault - for the prices you're charging for your food - what is up with that awful pink soap that can be found at your nearest gas station bath room? Please upgrade! Servers:Walked in hostess immediately sat us wherever we wanted. Server was awesome. Came by got our orders - didn't bug us 'cept to come by and fill up my water. Then magically appeared right when I put the last bite in my mouth to clear away the plates. My date and I joked that she must be watchin us on camera - she was that good! I wanted to take the hummus and one falafel left home. Super bonus points she took the food away and boxed it for me. I love that! Love it love it! Great place I will definitely be back!I've been here for lunch a few times, and although the food is mostly good, I always seem to have some problem with the dishes, and I am not a picky eater.I do love the strange dip that comes with the pita, nutty and spicy. I got the kabob combo with lamb and kibbeh.-The baba is good, but I prefer it with more roasty eggplant flavor and less tahini...--The kibbeh was dry on the outside and borderline raw inside, so I had to send it back for more cooking. I like things med rare, but when ground meat looks like flesh, I'm not taking chances. (Live through serious food poisoning, and you won't be so adventurous, believe me.)-The fries looked lovely, skins and all, but they were the same temperature as my napkin.Too bad Persepolis is so far away...I've been told that I have a "bar-girlfriend" here...never heard that phrase before. But once it was explained, it fit perfectly. I usually come here on Fridays when I'm getting back in town. I'm a sucka for the Sweetwater on tap. And every now and then I sample their solid wine selection. Well, lately there has been a woman sitting at the bar every time I go.  I drink, she eats, we laugh, we talk business, we talk pleasure; the convos are always friendly and light-hearted. Well last time I went here, I was informed that I had a "bar-girlfriend."  While confused for a moment, I quickly realized the bartender was right. Unwittingly, I was spoken for every time I sat at the bar. Lol.....I found this amusing. So, if you see me at the bar alone, just assume my "bar-girl" is in the restroom.I come here often to have drinks and appitizers with friends. never had any of the main dishes but i would recommend any of the starters. They have an excellent wine list. No more drink specials tho which is a bummer. Luke the bartender is excellent. It's a great place and i wish more people knew about it cause when I come in most of the time it's not busy.