ZY Restaurant

Holy (insert your own deity of choice here) this meal was amazing. Thank goodness for Dine O Round.
We went here for dinner because we had often seen them from the street and when they showed up on the dine o round list we figured «Why not». Great googely moogely this was awesome. We had the roasted potato soup and the salad to begin. Although I am not a fan of potato soup I would seriously channel Oliver Twist for this (please sir may I have more). It was by far and away the best potato soup I have ever had. We then went for the pork and the fillet with the brown buttered crab. Finished with the semi sweet chocolate cake and the tres leches desert.
This is everything that is good and wholesome with the world. This meal will rekindle your faith in humanity. Seriously this meal will fill the darkness that was left in your soul after that trip to Camp Kickapoo when you woke up with the 45 year old Grounds Keeper snuggling you naked whispering «Shhhh it’s natural» in your ear.

My fiancé and I ate dinner here for his 29^th birthday this past week, something I’d been planning for about 3 weeks. I’d searched Unilocal for restaurants that were fancier and one that he hadn’t been to before. I settled on ZY, anticipating that he’d be stoked over a place so highly regarded for its wine and cheese menus, having been born and raised in Europe.
This wasn’t exactly the outcome. We arrived on time for our reservation and were surprised that there were so many empty tables, even at a prime time for dinner. My fiancé ordered a glass of merlot (the only merlot that could be ordered by glass only, and not the entire bottle), and tried out the pork. I had a simple salad, as I was saving room for a big dessert surprise I had waiting, back at our home. My salad came out (along with his pork entrée) within 8 – 10 minutes of ordering. His meat was luke-​warm when it came out, and I realized I was going to spend $ 11 on a plate of lettuce plus 3 shavings of a radish. Not great at all.
My fiancé thanked me for a nice meal, but we rushed home after paying the tab & enjoyed his birthday cake + some of our own store-​bought vino.
Bottom line: not worth the price. Good location, however.

I’ve eaten here several times over the last year, brunch and dinner. I’m not going to lie… a couple times Copper Onion was too busy so we headed over to Zy. But you know what? This place has impressed me every time.
Just had their chicken dish, and it was fantastic. The other people in my party had the cod, the salmon, and the halibut — they all raved about theirs.
For brunch, I’ve had their chicken and waffles with bourbon butter (a nice modification to an ubiquitous dish — it really adds something).
Really beautiful setting, though the acoustics make it a little loud. And, the bill always seems to add up. Nevertheless, this place tries hard, and has succeeded every time so far. Great choice for a nice night out.

The Eggs Benny. Oh my.
My husband and I went here for brunch on Sunday. The restaurant is very modern — chic architecture, high glass windows, with an almost art gallery feel inside.
I ordered the Eggs Benny (TRUFFLE HOLLANDAISE) which came with shaved truffle slices on the top. It was delightful. My husband ordered the Three Egg Frittata which was also delicious. We shared a cheese plate, which they served with baguette, herb butter, and red grapes.
Everything was fresh, delicious, and really reasonably priced. The servers were very helpful and attentive. Our waiter even wrote down the cheese we had for us so we could remember them.

Why no one was here for brunch was beyond me? Very nice dining-​room with huge windows and light. We both had the Chicken & Waffles, served with bourbon butter & maple syrup, also a side of perfectly spicy gravy. The only suggestion, I would have preferred my butter/​syrup and the side. My chipotle bloody mary was perfect, not over powerful.
Hey Utahns, please support this restaurant, it’s excellent! I will be back!

If you have a question about your check, expect to receive a 5 minute lecture by an assistant manager with an extremely loud and high-​pitched voice (who is clearly trained by the manager and the owner of the restaurant aka don’t expect to resolve anything with either the manager or the owner; they’ll be annoyed by your complaint). She’ll definitely make your table the center of the attention; everyone will look at your table to see what’s going on.
No wonder there is never a wait line EVEN on the weekends in Zy. If you want to dine in a nice new American restaurant that also provides superb service, visit Copper Onion, which is right across from Zy. Or go to Bambara.

Another superb dinner at ZY Restaurant.
We had an incredible dinner this past Saturday night. The restaurant is located across from the downtown Marriott. It’s a sleek modern space surrounded by massive windows. We used to eat here somewhat regularly when we lived downtown so it was nice to be back.
We eat out often and our move to Salt Lake City from Beverly Hills last Summer was a culinary shock. Even though the restaurant scene in Salt Lake has improved, most of the highly rated SLC restaurants still disappoint… not so with ZY. The service was very good as usual. Susan was our server and she ranks as one of the best in the country as far as we’re concerned… such a delight. She’s the perfect combo of a foodie and sommelier.
Our Dinner:
Buttermilk Fried Oysters — Amazing!
Gnocchi and Fiddleheads — Heavenly!
3-​Cheese Selection — Scrumptious!
True Cod — Out of this World!
Flat Iron Steak — The Best Ever! (I’m eating the leftovers as I write this review!)
3 Desserts — Goat Cheese Cheescake, Chocolate Cake, Bread Pudding (?) — All exceptional.
SLC is lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber.

**This review is for Brunch only**
Let me just start by saying that I went to ZY for brunch the last three Sundays, and just discovered that they’ll be serving brunch on SATURDAYS too! My life is complete.
I knew ZY was around since they opened, but I never felt compelled to try it out. It just looked a little stale and boring from the outside (although I do love the floor to ceiling windows). Maybe it was all the white table cloths and the formally dressed wait staff. But this all changed once a coworker told me they supposedly had a mean chicken and waffle dish for brunch. Chicken and waffles? Count me in!
I went around noon on a Sunday, fell in love, and returned every Sunday since. There is rarely a wait for a table and the restaurant is usually 40−60% full, which is just perfect if you ask me. Just enough activity to make it a fun brunch, but not overcrowded where you’re yelling just to have a nice Sunday conversation. The staff is insanely friendly and accommodating, and definitely not as pretentious the way their uniform makes them look. Not pretentious at all actually. Very down to earth and helpful.
Now, the FOOD. The very first thing I order as soon as I sit down is a bacon bloody mary. That’s right people… BACON. It is to die for. They also have regular and chipotle, but trust me, bacon takes the cake. By now, I don’t even bother looking at the menu. The only two dishes you need to know are chicken and waffles and eggs benny. The chicken is like chicken tenders from heaven. Extremely moist strips of white meat chicken, breaded and fried. Full of flavor, so so moist, and served with awesome gravy on the side. The waffles are made with sweet potatoes so they have a great, subtle sweetness to them. Fully and dense; served with bourbon butter and syrup of course. Lastly the benny. O. M. G. A nice thick English muffin, usually some sort of locally sourced ham or prosciutto, poached egg, and TRUFFLE hollandaise. drooool. My only criticism is that sometimes the poached egg isn’t that great — overcooked or the white has thinned out too much.
Prices are very good as well. around $ 10 for a dish and $ 6 for the bacon bloody mary. Mimosas and I think regular bloody marys are $ 4. I’ve never been here for anything other than brunch so I can’t speak for lunch or dinner, but ZY will continue to be my Sunday brunch spot.

Zy Update: Overall best dining experience I have had in SLC
Complimentary Fritters: Much better this time! I think I just got a bad batch that got cold because I really enjoyed them this time.
Chilaquiles with herb potatoes: I have never had chilaquiles before but I would equate it to almost like brunch nachos. This dish was very balanced in both flavors (Richness (Cheese/​Ranchera Sauce/​Acid Pickled Red Onions) and textures (Chips slightly soft from being cooked down in the ranchera sauce but still had a slight crunch along with the crunch of the pickled red onions)
Chicken and Waffles with fresh fruit: My girlfriend ordered this because she enjoyed it so much when I ordered it. It was just as good as the first time I ordered it.
Cut to the Chase
Great Food: I am always excited to try something new because everything I have had has been amazing
Great Service: Same waitress remembered my drink order and the service was excellent again.

OMG (in a really amazing voice)! I think I found one of my favorite restaurants in SLC and I regret delaying my visit. ZY replaced a couple of really bad restaurants and I was a little skeptical, but at the time I heard great things. I passed up a meal or two there before and now I really am mad I did. When we arrived we were going to valet the car because of the low price of $ 4, but we found a spot right in front (free parking after 8pm).
We were welcomed to the restaurant and our Open Table reservation was accepted of course. We ordered a red and white wine. Unfortunately, they did not have any Spanish reds on the menu (my favorite), but it was a fairly diverse wine list with both glasses and bottles available. We started off with the Creminelli prosciutto, house-​made burrata, roasted pears. It was delicious and the presentation was amazing. I was sad I missed out on the scallops, but I’ll save that for next time. The meat was fresh and the burrata was creamy and soft. For the main course I opted for the tenderloin and my accomplice ordered the duck breast. Despite the packed house, the entrees arrived without us groaning. The main course was simply amazing. The tenderloin was juicy and not too thick. The potatoes and the sauce that the tenderloin was sitting on was simple mouthwatering. The duck breast was boneless and included an interesting sauce that lest the slightest aftertaste that was very unique. Presentation and freshness was amazing on both dishes not to mention the smoking salmon on the table next to us that literally smoked. I would order both dishes again, but I would recommend the tenderloin and my accomplice agrees.
Finally we ended the night with dessert. I got the cheesecake and we also ordered the crème brûlée. The upside-​down goat cheesecake with pears and melted toffee was simply amazing. The cheese was so soft and fluffy. It was a little too soft for my liking, but it was amazing. I’m not a crème brûlée person, but my accomplice said it was one of her favorite crème brûlées.
The service and particularly our server was simply great. The experience was fantastic and I would definitely go back for dinner. Brunch is a food experience at ZY and dinner is the overall experience. Just make sure to save up for dinner because it is pricey, but go ahead and treat yourself. You deserve it… or at least go ahead and keep telling yourself that just to dine at ZY

Kudos ZY. Your food and service match your eye-​catching exterior. I mean how often can you look good on the outside and on the inside. You’re a keeper.
Located on the other side of the street of the Marriott on the ground floor of a commercial building is a glass and steel space that feels like you’re outdoors and yet indoors. Intimate tables for 2 line the windows and larger tables occupy the heart of the restaurant. It’s an airy, yet intimate space and very appropriate for special meals or business dinners.
Glancing through the menu feels like running your eyes through a candy shop. There are too many items that will tickle your fancy. When in doubt, I leave it to the staff to guide my way and in many cases, including this one, I am not led astray. I started with warm bread served with softened butter sitting in olive oil — novel and tasty. Up next were scallop appetizers. Very nice sized scallops — about 4 pieces — served with a wonderful nut paste. Next came the roasted pork. Wow. The portion size is extremely generous so keep that in mind if you plan to squeeze in dessert at the end of the meal. Pork was fork tender and extremely flavorful. Definitely a shining star on its menu.
Everyone on the staff was courteous, helpful, and on target. It was such a pleasure to dine at ZY and I would have no hesitation in going back to ZY on my next trip to SLC. Plus, if you need to burn off a few calories, in the winter, they have a wonderful ice skating rink in the park next to the Marriott. They even have a lovely bonfire next to the rink so you can warm up next to your main squeeze while you enjoy a hot cocoa together.

One of the more pleasant dining experiences I’ve had in a while.
ZY is friendly, fresh, and pretty-​but-​not-​pretentious. The service was excellent, and we enjoyed all of our food with just a few exceptions.
— Three cheese plate: Truffle Tremor, Grotte Caputo, and the Italian fellow … all excellent.
— Beet & smoked trout salad: Good, but a bit disjointed for me. I’d lobby for a separate smoked trout pâté or something rather than sprinkling some trout chunks over beets.
— Big eye crudo: eye & mouth pleasing.
— Mac & cheese: easily one of the better upscale trailer-​chic dishes out there. They don’t do anything stupid to muck it up. Also, it’s LARGE (for sharing).
— Mary’s chicken: really well cooked and tasty. Chicken may seem timid, but ZY’s is worth ordering.
— True cod: beautifully cooked fish in brown butter with mushrooms and pearl couscous. The whole plate could tolerate a bit more seasoning. It starts to run monotone, and that is true for the color (even if that’s the intention, some acid or veg somewhere would enliven what is already a really good dish).
— Mahi mahi: creative in concept, but the least well executed entrée. The fish was slightly overdone and seriously under-​seasoned. There is a reduction (presented in three quarter-​size polka dots) to accompany it, but if you don’t dig your dots you’ll be begging for salt.
— Citrus twice cooked cake: apparently they forgot the citrus both times. Lame.
— Pear & goat cheesecake: light, creamy, tangy awesomeness.
Definitely going back to this restaurant whose name I still can’t pronounce.

I’ve been waiting to review Zy to see if I could find a serious flaw in the food. Nope. Not a single one.
I’ve been here a handful of times and I have loved every single thing I’ve tried. I love how simple their menus are. I don’t need 50 things to choose from. I’d rather have 10 items knowing they’re all incredible. I’ll just mention the big stand out dishes here.
For appetizers, the scallops. Oh the scallops! I have a very obvious love affair with scallops but it’s one of those dishes that is hard to get just right. Most of the time, they are too well done and chewy. I think that’s why I always hated scallops growing up. Turns out, I just never had them done correctly. Zy does it just right with tender scallops served with an almond curry paste and a sweet red wine reduction. Marvelous.
Two of my favorite entrees are the pecan pork and short ribs. The pecan pork is sweet and served with mushrooms and sautéed greens. The short ribs were served over grits and greens and the presentation is killer. The waiter brought it out with a glass lid filled with smoke. When he removed the lid, the smoke wafted out and the aromas had me immediately salivating.
I also love the brunch. Hello chicken and waffles! Don’t forget the lovely breakfast cocktails too.
The only thing I haven’t absolutely loved and adored at Zy is the dessert. That being said, they aren’t awful in any way, shape, or form. Just not my favorite. They’re beautifully presented and would make most mouths happy.
Sure it’s a little on the pricey side for some but it’s well worth it. I wouldn’t go every weekend by any means but if there’s a special occasion (or even a not so special occasion) you bet I’m picking Zy.

At first I felt a little out of place with my attire. I thought it would be more casual and have a large bar, but it’s mostly a fine dinning kind of place. The bar is small and almost non existent but the place is classy and contemporary. It felt more like a place to take a date or visit on a special occasion. Seems like they get a lot of the theatre crowd. It is a tad more on the pricey side so keep that in mind, but it’s worth the price in my book.
The food was outstanding. So flavorful without being overwhelming. From what I read I decided to try the beer brined Mary’s chicken, skillet potatoes with beans & bacon, grain mustard glaze, and I also tried the pecan pork with wild mushrooms & sautéed greens. Both were amazing. If I had to lean towards one more than the other it would be the beer brine chicken. It had just the right amount of everything. (Pics Included)
For drinks I had bottled beer but they also have a variety of wines and whiskeys. The French press coffee was a perfect ending to the meal.
We did get a sort of disco light show the whole night since police pull over everyone unfortunate enough to make that illegal right turn from 2^nd South onto State Street north of the Gallivan. I must have counted around 10 traffic stops next to the restaurant, at least. Seemed like everyone in the restaurant noticed too. It become kind of a past time to count them all.
The service was excellent. Everyone was extremely professional and courteous.
Bravo ZY, bravo.
(Pics Included)

Two visits, a year apart, and I’m ready to dish top honors to Zy.
Let’s start with the food. The menu is pretty simple, contained to one single sheet. A handful of appetizers, a selection of entrees, and various cheese plates. As apps go, you really need to try the scallops. This item is quietly becoming the signature dish at Zy, and it’s with good reason. They’re so hard to get right, and they’re just perfectly done. The almond curry sauce is just the right accompaniment for the tender scallops and even though it’s near entrée price at a lesser restaurant, you should try it at least once.
Moving to entrees, I really like the pecan pork. It jumped out at me both times, and I loved it the first time so much I was tempted to order it again. Alas, I moved on to the short ribs and was glad. The pork is sweet, so if that’s not your thing you may want to select something a tad more savory. The short ribs fit that bill, and are served on a charger-​like dish with a glass lid covering the meal, obscured in delicious smoke. The server then removes the lid and the deeply scented smoke wafts over the table. Quite the show, but there’s the goods to back it up. It’s tender, and the barbecue sauce it’s served with is more like an herbed ketchup that bites just right. We begged the chef for the recipe and he just might give in.
Dessert was terrific. It’s a verbal menu, so be sure to ask your server. Recently I had poached pears with a caramel sauce and a whipped cream/​cheese sauce. So very different, but even with the cream it stayed light enough to enjoy as opposed to so many creamed items that sink like a stone. We also got to try a small accompaniment that came with dessert –a small shot glass with hot apple juice poured over a grilled grape and served with a sprig of fresh rosemary. This was a little piece of genius. Because of the size of the shot glass, you the rosemary sprig stays very near to your nose while you taste the hot juice. That mixture was ambrosia, and I’m totally stealing the idea for my next autumn party.
You get what you pay for, and you may pay a bit more at ZY. It’s not unreasonable in the least – apps from $ 5 – 15 or so, entrees from around twenty to just over thirty for the steak. I didn’t have a cheese plate this year, but last year I loved the small assortment of local and imported. They’re competitively priced.
The ambiance is classy without being pretentious. They’ve added some wood paneling (not the 70’s kind, but actual slats) that makes it just a bit more casual, but I still feel like you probably should put on a button-​up when you come to dine. I don’t know if that vibe changes at brunch (which is, by all reports, pretty darn good) but it’s a great place for a nice dinner. Service is prompt, but ZY is the kind of place where you probably don’t want to rush in and out of. Spend some time with friends and enjoy your meal.
They’ve hit a rhythm and it’s great to see. My suspicion is that without all the splash and panache, they’re going to be one of those restaurants that slowly builds a following and a reputation. What a wonderful addition to SLC and a great place to go for a nice meal.

Went for Sunday brunch and got the fried chicken and waffles. The fried chicken was pretty good, coulda used some more seasoning, the gravy served with it was awesome! The waffles were served with real maple syrup. the waffles themselves were decent but not great, not like to true Belgian waffles. I was already familiar with the Fried chicken and waffles combination from the eponymous sould food restaurant in Los Angeles. Was impressed that coffee was served from a French press brought to the table, the coffee was very good. Orange juice was fresh squeezed (hence the $ 4 a glass price). White tableclothes, very nice waitress, impeccable classy service, very classy place. Menu seemed to have a lot of fresh, organic foods. the coffee was locally roasted. I could tell they make a great effort to use local, fresh ingredients.

We had a lovely Easter brunch here with a group of 5. I had waited to make reservations and by the time I got around to calling around, there was nothing! I googled Easter Brunch in the SLC and came up with ZY. Two in our group said they’d heard good things, so we were in business!
We loved our experience here and I will tell you why:
— The BEST Chilaquiles I’ve ever had, bar none! (although I just noticed they’re no longer on the menu)
— Three at our table got the Eggs Benny and were very very happy!
— Nice Cheese selections!
— $ 4 mimosas (with fresh squeezed oj!) and $ 7 Bacon Marys (see the picture!)
— French press coffee
— Great service!
— Lots of windows and tons of natural light!
No alcohol until 11 am, though! You’ve been warned!
We are dying to go back and try it for dinner!

Well done, Zy!
We had a remarkably delicious dinner here last night. Every aspect of their food, service, and the clean & simple ambience are spectacularly well thought-​out and flawlessly delivered. Due to limited parking along the street, we were pleased that they offer valet parking. It was convenient, reasonably priced, friendly, and quick.
We arrived for a somewhat early dinner, with only a few other parties already dining. The maitre’d staff was warm and welcoming, and we found ourselves seated rapidly, and even had our drinks in record time. During the course of half an hour, the place quickly filled up with a refreshingly diverse crowd. We weren’t technically dressed-​up as we had a casual concert to attend after. We felt absolutely at home, and not at all underdressed.
Although we felt no rush at any point, the service we received from our lovely attendant, Susan, was prompt and spot on. She took every measure throughout the evening to ensure we lacked for nothing, and was positively delightful doing so.
I was so torn with the idea of ordering one of Zy’s specialties; a cheese selection. I’m well beyond an indiscriminate cheese fanatic, and can easily and happily put a lot of it away. But, we decided against it because considering an appetizer course and possibly a dessert, my experience would only successfully consist of either cheese or entrée, but not both. We opted for the entrée approach for this visit.
We began with wine (a lovely Greek Naoussa, Boutari); and, at the wise suggestions of fellow Unilocalers, the scallops appetizer. This is truly a knock-​out starter. The presentation was splendid, and beautifully indicated the delicious and explosive flavors going on here. Highly recommended!
Hubby chose the Pecan Pork with Wild Mushrooms and Sauteed Greens, which he loved. A generous serving, and again a thing of beauty to behold. The pork was so tender it fell apart with a fork. I mentioned to him that we were in no hurry, and he could slow down and enjoy it if he wanted to. Judging from the focused satisfaction on his face, he was pretty set on not slowing down. In fact, I’m not sure he even heard me. I did get a bite of it, via a tricky, «Hey! Look at that!» distraction strategy. It was delicious, and made we want more.
I ordered the Peking-​Style Duck Breast with Scallion Potatoes and Blood Orange Sauce. Fantastic! Expertly cooked, ever-​so slightly pink like duck should be, with a delicious finishing sauce that complimented the meat perfectly. The bed of seared scallions and potatoes on which it sat were just as exquisite.
We were full at this point. And then Susan aptly described their dessert options. They were all relatively standard options, and sounded fine, but none so tempting as to risk being too full… that is, until she explained their dessert special for the evening rendering us helpless against its powers. It was an upside-​down cheesecake comprised of the most delectable goat cheese, with a reconstituted cherry compote, mascarpone cream, and topped with crunchy almond praline. Sweet George Washington, it was the essence of divinity! We shared one, and as much as I simply couldn’t have eaten one by myself, it made me wish I had the chance. Even if they had failed every other aspect of our visit, this alone made it worth it.
With dessert, Susan delivered apres coffee served french-​press style, pressed fresh at the table, which was also fantastic. I love real french press coffee. They don’t just bring you the cup, either. At Zy, you get the entire pot to enjoy at your leisure.
Although a dinner at Zy is by no means inexpensive, the experience definitely justifies the price. It was a full-​scale dining adventure that was fulfilling in a multitude of ways. We look forward to returning to Zy to further explore their impressive offerings. Particularly those items involving cheese.

Well I expected more…
After a gluttonous experience at a competitor, and the reviews I read about Zy, I thought «cool! two great eateries walking distance from my hotel.»
I walked in at about 6:30 Greeted immediately there were a few folks at the cheese bar and a few tables full. Hostess was very nice and sat me right away.
They take your coat, nice touch, and the place is clean. A hard edged modern décor adds cooler feel to the place and the big bold name tags the staff wears, are a bit much.
I ordered the hanger steak with a potato gratin and roasted tomatoes. Presentation was superb. Steak cooked to order, med rare, I just wish I could taste it. A balsamic vinaigrette over powered all the other flavors on the plate. Once I was able to get everything away from the vinegar, the meal was delicious.
I finished off with the cobbler and a pot of French press coffee (nice touch)
All in all, good second choice for dinner when you are in town.

We had the opportunity to dine at Zy during the preview this week and I have to say that I was quite impressed with décor, service and meal. All was exceptional and it I look forward to heading back again and again for lunch and dinner.
We started our dinner at the small bar at the front while waiting for the rest of our party to join us. This is the cheese counter and you can select from a plate of 3 or 5 types of cheese. According to Chef Matt the selection of cheeses will change, but this day we had a fine selection of local cheeses and a great assortment from Italy, Spain and France. Every cheese we tasted were well selected and delicious. If I had one complaint, it was that the Tartufo was a little too Truffly. A bit like the artificial taste of most Truffle oils. That said, I enjoyed it all.
When we moved to our table we selected 4 appetizers to share at our table. The Chorizo Meatballs were a savory hit and the Scallops with Almond Curry and Red Wine reduction were perfectly prepared and an ingenious combination.
Our entrees arrived and we tried the Lamb, Hangar Steak and Halibut. Again, all were expertly prepared, properly seasoned and never over salted like you so often see. Again, I enjoyed every dish.
Since we had four in our party, we sampled all four of the deserts available that evening and the Tres Leches Cake was the hit of table. Properly moist and authentic, it was topped with a spread of dark chocolate and strawberries. Delicious. The Cobbler wasn’t a huge hit, but was good and the Crème Brulee and Mango Pudding with Strawberries were light and delicious.
The great thing about Zy is that it is joining a group of amazing restaurants to recently open in Salt Lake and there is plenty of room for this place. It stands on it’s own and is not a copy of anything else. It is an excellent option that will satisfy a particular craving. I welcome Chef Mathew Lake to the Salt Lake City scene!
Reservations are taken and recommended here. They will be busy, so book them now!