Zoya

We caught Zoya just before they closed down before the Tool show at the BIll Graham Civic. Would never have known about this place if not for Unilocal.After going into the first floor of the place we thought that it was the whole restaurant and thought wow, 5 tables, connected to a motel. What a quirky joint! After few minutes however, we were led to the upstairs and was sat with a great view of the Civic Center area.
Had the ahi tartar, hanger steak oscar and short ribs. Super tasty all around with nice creative flair to the cooking. I also loved the in house made ginger ale. Both husband and wife are super friendly and we wish we had discovered the place earlier. Best of luck to them on their future endeavors and hopefully they do one day reopen Zoya in a new locale. 4.5 stars.

As good as it gets. Zoya turned out to be a great surprise and what you expect from a local restaurant. You must have an open mind regarding the space; it is semi-​attached to a Days Inn. Once you pass through the curtains, you feel really content to be in such a cozy and welcoming environment.
The food is fantastic. The service is impeccable. Every dish we had was excellent. We had several bottles of wine (group of 8) and they had a great Spanish wine that complemented their red-​meat selections. Rumors that they are moving? I hope they stay in Hayes Valley.

we went for dinner right before the opera, which is a quick 2 block walk, btw. my initial reaction was — it’s in a flippin’ DAYS INN, RUN AWAY RUNAWAYYYY.
setting — the first ‘floor’ is the kitchen and 5 bar tables. the second ‘floor’ is up some astroturf stairs, round the bend next to Room 200, and thru a curtain, into… aaaah. little cute space with 6 tables. given that it’s a converted stairwell, I’d say they did a stand up job of making you feel like you’re actually in a restaurant, and not, say, in a motel.
service — endearing. I mean, slow, but really, with a such a sweet smile, how can you be pissy? and is it their fault that the Lone Ranger Chef downstairs is responsible for making all the food in the place? we were still out well on time for curtain, so who cares.
food — yee HA! against my better judgment I had the tune poke (why oh why is it on every menu?), and it was spicy and salty and oh so good, and the best part is that I got to have the whole thing to myself since husband refuses to eat raw fish. husband had the goat cheese salad which were 3 enormous herbed goat cheese balls breaded and fried, and placed lovingly on croutons on salad. who even needs the stinkin’ salad? I had the kurobuta pork loin with mustard sauce which was like BUTTAH, but unfortunately not as pork-​y as one might hope. husband had the lamb loin chops which were rare (altho requested medium rare, but that means more for me!) and wonderfully lamb-​y. we did not do dessert as a) we were stuffed on the fab bread and butter and b) I was starting not to fit into my fancy dress.
really cute place. if you can get over the whole days’ inn thing, which I have to admit I couldn’t entirely.

SUCH a cute place, and the service was amazing! Our waiter, Jason, was very sweet, and even covered our dessert. We got a free light bulb too because of Lights Out SF. Because of Lights Out, the entire restaurant was candlelit. The other waitress was very kind too. It’s definitely a great date spot! Only thing that was annoying was the loud drunk girl at another table. The space is so small that her voice carried through the entire restaurant… but I guess that’s beyond their control!
It is weird that it’s connected to Day’s Inn, but they made the space very cozy so you def. don’t feel like you’re in part of Day’s Inn. I’ll def. be back. I enjoyed the Tuna Poke, Mozarella/​Tomato, and the Asparagus/​Proscuitto appetizer. Braised beef was yummy too. Oooh, and don’t forget the bananas foster… great dining experience! :)

Funky.
Hallucinogen mushroom funky.
Days Inn and out.
What the hell does Zoya mean?
Was that astroturf lining the stairway?
Small.
So very small.
You can fit 10 adults or 20 leprechauns in the dining room.
Some might call it cozy…
Poke poke poke my eye out, or just the tuna.
Braised beef stick to yer ribs.
Lamb karate chop.
Bananas foster child.
Zoya later, alligator!

Extremely rude! My wife and I had a reservation at 9pm — we got there a few minutes after 9:15 because the parking lot next door was full and we had to drive around.
The person at Zoya was quite rude about us missing the «15 minute cutoff». Needless to say, we won’t be going there. It reminds me of the soup nazi — no Zoya for you!!!

Do not miss this place! The super-​nova of the Hayes Valley. Simply marvelous.
The food is excellent, and that is an understatement. Personal service with a super friendly smile. Generous, warm and gracious host. You can tell the chef takes food seriously. He displays his culinary talent on your plate, and oh-​so delightfully on your taste buds.
In a city with so many over-​hyped «in-​spots», this one certainly competes with any, and out-​shines most. Zoya puts a new spin on the old saying: «You cant please all of the people, all of the time — unless you are eating at Zoya».
A genuine SF «local» spot. Don’t let this one slip away.
Sorry to hear but they closed as of ²⁄₀₈. Im happy to be able to say «I was there». Sigh.

Last year, I promised that I would update my 4-​star review of Zoya if, upon return visits, I found anything that would get them a fifth star.
In going over my old review, I realized that not only was it a dull play-​by-​play of the food, but there was nothing in it that conveys just how wonderful a place Zoya really is, or its role in the neighborhood.
Hayes Valley is a neighborhood of extremes: You can either spend $ 5 for a rock of crack, or $ 500 for a pair of sneakers. You can put up with the snotty attitudes of some guys selling coffee out of a garage, or you can be ignored in a sea of brunchers at a lousy chain. You can get a 40 oz. malt liquor at the corner store, or sit down to Osetra caviar and Dom Perignon with the well-​heeled.
Zoya is a coup, in that it is a successful, independent, and thoroughly enjoyable restaurant being run by only two people. John and Tracey do everything here, and it’s hard to fathom how they get so much done without missing a beat. Perhaps they have the strength of a dozen people. Perhaps they’re superhuman. Perhaps they have an army of invisible gnomes scurrying around the floor serving food, topping off water, slicing bread, and bussing tables. At any rate, however they do it, the quality of the food does not suffer.
And the food is of utmost quality. Decadent without pretentiousness (Hello, braised short ribs over mash!), flavorful without bludgeoning the tastebuds (Mmm… Ahi poke with just enough spice!), elegant without post-​modern austerity (Hanger Oscar NOT served in a silly little tower!) — the dishes served up here strike that delicate balance between fine dining and «comfort» food that’s perfect whether you’re wanting a relaxed break from cooking for yourself or orchestrating a romantic night of seduction.
In fact, this sort of balance permeates everything about the restaurant.
The service is attentive and friendly, but not overly doting or lackadaisical. The music is recognizable and enjoyable, but subdued and classy. The wine list is short and very reasonably priced, but doesn’t come across as cheap, pairing well with the foods. You can order one of every course, and still walk out just full enough, and without too large a dent in your wallet.
That’s what makes Zoya a real gem in Hayes Valley. It’s with a formula of simplicity, elegance, and approachability that it has made itself a dining destination for the hoity-​toity pre-​opera/​symphony crowd, as well as a casual hangout for neighborhood regulars. It maintains grass roots integrity but still caters to the masses… six tables at a time.
Like its location at the end of a motel, it’s quirky, peculiar, and wholly unexpected. Yes, it’s small. No, there isn’t much of a view. But all the space or location in the world can’t match up with a true, unique labor of love, and that’s what Zoya is. In spite of a tiny space… In spite of an odd location… In spite of a skeleton crew… John and Tracey successfully show off their love of food, drink and people.
It’s almost enough to make me proud of my neighborhood.
–
Update 30AUG07: Apparently, there ARE some invisible gnomes helping John and Tracey. Actually, they’re visible humans who come in on the busier nights. But the service is still monumental, I say.

Eating at Zoya is like having a dinner party at home. Only the food is gorgeous and the wine list excellent and someone else serves the food with impeccable grace and the neighbors don’t complain.
I went here one Saturday for my birthday with a party of eight. Everyone at Zoya was accommodating and lovely. We were a bit loud for such a small place but as we had the last reservation of the night everyone else at the place was gone before us. The staff made us feel like it was okay to enjoy ourselves and never made us feel like they wanted us to leave.
As most of the reviewers have mentioned, the food is wonderfully crave-​able. Every person in our party cleaned their plates. I didn’t try anyone else’s food as I refused to share my own, it was so good. But I’d like reiterate that it was the staff and atmosphere that really made our evening. I truly enjoyed the cozy feeling of being in someone’s dinning room while you wait for them to bring out the most delicious food you can imagine. I feel like they treated us as real guests and not just customers.

I was initially a bit scared of the location, but like many places in the city, not everyone can have the hottest space.
But like many places, not everyone serves awesome food. John does.
I arrived to find only 4 patrons, chef John, and the server Rosa. My dining companions had not arrived, so chef John and I talked for a few minutes and he let me try wine before I bought a bottle ! Big plus… all wines are by the glass, too… so easy to try before you buy.
We had the Poke, the Walnut crusted warm goat cheese (THIS WAS AMAZING), the Chicken, the Duck, and the Salmon. Everything was fresh, one strange thing though… the greens were all blanched with all entrees except the Duck. I assume this is for presentation.
Everything tasted and felt like you had your own personal chef (which you do, since only 2 – 3 people work here!).
My only issue is was the timing, it was a teensy bit slow, and there were only 5 patrons total including us. What would happen if they were full? The food was worth time, just plan accordingly !

I chose this restaurant randomly and was very impressed considering it was a shot in the dark. I enjoyed everything ordered —
Poke: the chef took this dish & made it into his own. there was a little twist to it and was deliciously spicy.
Walnut Crusted Warm Goat Cheese Salad w/​Fuji Apples, Red Onions, Walnuts, Mixed Greens and Red Wine Mustard Vinaigrette: unique salad and I love cheese. Definitely consider ordering.
Hanger Oscar — Roasted Hanger Steak, Crab, Hollandaise on a bed of Asparagus: SOOO GOOD, a definite must order! I would come back just to order this entrée.
I really want to try the Banana Foster but I was too full.
The small dining area is romantic, love the multitude windows, and the cozy room shape.

I had high hopes for Zoya, but perhaps my expectations were a little inflated. Anyways it sure had the makings for a remarkable experience…
First off, it’s hidden in an ugly Day’s Inn and while that is weird, I think it’s a nice twist. Of course you’re going to tell all your friends how you went to a hot sexy restaurant in the Days Inn!
The let down was the food. While not bad by any means, the dishes I tried did not perk up my taste buds. I started with the salmon app and the ingredients just did not sing together. It ended up tasting mostly like salmon in olive oil, which was unremarkable. The lamb chops were better, but again the only real flavor that came through was the well cooked lamb. So while that’s okay, it reminded me of a meal that I might be able to prepare myself.
The dining room is very small, which lends to easy listening in on everyone’s personal conversations. Which is not to say that I wanted to learn about someone’s divorce on my right or dating troubles on my left. It’s simply that the sound was so well projected, it was hard to focus on my own dining experience.
So my conclusion? The restaurant is unique (due to it’s unusual layout and location) and that is what is probably driving the excitement, but compared to it’s peers in San Francisco I wasn’t very impressed.

After the rave reviews I had to try it. I left impressed.
The Days Inn location was weird: bar downstairs, dining room up «next to the rooms». It’s different. I half expected to be dining in one of the rooms. But, who cares? We enjoyed it.
The round, 6 table dining room had nice décor and the waiter was good: nothing too note worthy however.
The food was excellent. I sampled the soup, the arugula salad and the asparagus appetizers and enjoyed all three. They were well presented and were so tasty we cleared them in short order. I would have tried the poke ( Unilocal favorite it seems), except my guests weren’t into it. So, another reason for me to return and hey, now you know other choices are good too.
I had the short ribs as my entrée (like many others it seems) and what can I say?, it was wonderful. It wasn’t 5 pounds of blah, nor super sophisticated eye candy. Just good, comfort food.
The wine and desserts we had were good, even though I was full by the end. The coffee was even satisfying. Once again, not necessarily the best I’ve ever had, but really good.
It looses a star because: 1. The view left me wishing it were better. 2. The waiter could have been a bit more sophisticated. 3. The entrees could use a little more eye candy. 4. No simple syrup for my guests ice tea. boo hiss. :)

To say that Zoya is cozy and out of the way is putting it mildly. Though in Hayes Valley, Zoya occupies an intimate, quiet, oddly shaped, two floor slice of the Days Inn on Grove St. kinda near Citizen Cake; the backside of Hayes Valley. An apt film title to describe the size would have to be «Honey I Shrunk the Restaurant.» To be fair though, Zoya makes the most of it, creating an intimate setting that allows diners to do two things one rarely can do in an SF restaurant: 1. fully enjoy a meal without being rushed 2. converse with dinner companion without having to use a bullhorn.
Highlights: Fantastic selection of wine, Leffe Blond on tap, Poke w/​Wonton Crisps is a great start, Lamb is tender if you like that sorta thing, the hangar steak w/​Dungeness crab is amazing, Cherries Jubilee w/​Scharffen Berger Chocolate & Tahitian Vanilla Gelato or Rice Pudding w/​Blackberries for dessert is not to be missed. Downside: Vegetarians will find very little to eat here, it’s all about the meat.
1.5 Unilocalstars for character and service. John and Tracey are the perfect hosts, with Tracey pointing the crew in the right direction with every choice including the wine. She wears the hat of Maitre’d, waitstaff and Sommelier expertly while John’s doing culinary chemistry in the kitchen. At the end of the night we were so, so pleased with the experience that we sent John a beverage of his choice. What would that be? The dude likes his Soju.
3.5 food
1.5 service and ambiance

Loved it. Our waitress /​wife of the chef owner was very polite and fun to chat with all the while taking care of 3 other tables. We were never wanting of anything. It is a little weird to have this kind of dining inside a Best Western. We were seated upstairs in an inviting small intimate room.
For appetizers we had the arugula salad and tuna poke. The salad was refreshing and the tuna was fresh with a little lingering kick on super thin chips… great combination.
For our mains we had the halibut and lamp chops, again both were very yummie and flavorful.
All of this was washed down with a David Bruce Pinot Noir.
I would definitely go here again.

Here’s what we had:
1. Kumamoto oysters: tiny, yet full of flavor — served with a vinegar sauce. I don’t usually eat oysters, but these were a little sweet and a perfect amount.
2. Spicy Poke with Wonton Crisps: I don’t know how they make that sauce, but I LOVE it. Simply the best poke I ever had anywhere, including Hawaii.
3. Braised Short Ribs: Very hearty and delicious! They were cooked perfectly and tender and the mashed potatoes tasted so good with the sauce.
4. Cherries Jubilee with Tahitian Vanilla Gelato: Probably one of my favorite desserts now! It didn’t taste like cognac at all and the cherries were cooked perfectly to where they still were firm and burst with juice. SO GOOD. I’m come here just for this…
I’d give the service an A+ since they were genuinely nice and very attentive. I can’t wait to come here again!

I have an idea, said the guy who owns Zoya’s, that my restaurant will have floorspace in the shape of a stop sign, have no more than 2.5 tables and 10 chairs and share a wall and an astro-​turf staircase with a crappy, run-​down, motel-​moonlighting as a hotel. And thus, Zoya’s was born.
A groups of friends and myself made a reservation 2 weeks in advance — notable considering I’m the type of person who might pack for a 4 week vacation to Europe in 15 minutes, hungover, while a friend is honking in the driveway because were already late and Dulles airport is still 2.5 hours north. Just kidding.
But let’s get on topic, the food was great. The short ribs rocked. The Ahi Tuna something-​something was out of this world — and I typically don’t even eat seafood unless preceded by a bottle of Tequila.
The service was friendly. And the desserts were good. This place is probably ideal for a date — but I’m not quite sure it’s fit for a group of 8. Isn’t that funny, that rhymed. Accidentally, I do that from time to time.
Ok. Just make a reservation tonight. Let me know how you liked the Ahi in a month.

This is a lovely little place, with two small semi-​circle rooms and from the one item I tried very good food. I came for lunch and had the warm goat cheese salad. It had three medallions of nut crusted goat cheese on crostinis and spinach. I’d read good things about it on Unilocal and it lived up to the expectations. It came with a side of pinchable sea salt and pepper, which was a very nice touch since the sea salt added a lot to the salad and cheese for me and may not appeal to everyone if it was just added on.
The waitress (part of the husband and wife founding team according to other reviews) was very enjoyable to talk to and gave me an umbrella when it started raining after I mentioned forgetting mine. All and all, a very nice experience.

I had heard some many good things about Zoya but for some reason only got around to trying it out last night. If you read through these other reviews, you get a sense of the place: cozy, almost too intimate, located next to the Day’s Inn. Yes, it’s all that, but you’re really there for the food, aren’t you?
Without a doubt, the poke with wonton chips was my favorite starter. It’s a generous amount of tuna, spiced with just the right bite. The caesar salad was also crisp and fresh, a worthy choice on a dinner standard. I’d also recommend the kale with pancetta, either as a starter or perhaps side dish. While the menu is small, there is definitely enough to return for…
For an entrée, my money was on the braised short ribs, and that proved to be a fantastic choice. Served in a red wine vinegar reduction, with mashed potatoes, well it was modern comfort food done right.
The drinks menu is limited to wine, beer and soju cocktails but the husband and wife owners make do and have offer up some great selections. For example, I started with a Cranberry Zing soju cocktail and then moved onto a luscious glass of white wine cuvee.
4 reasons I’ll be returning: 1) I didn’t get to try the Banana’s Foster (too full!) 2) or the Hanger Oscar, described as «medium rare roasted hanger steak, dungeness crab, hollandaise and asparagus» 3) Chef John and 4) Waitress Tracey — this husband and wife team love what they are doing and their friendliness is contagious.

Zoya will go on my «Yelp sent me here» list if I ever make one. I’m very glad that I went, so thank you, Unilocal,for the recommendation!
I had lunch at Zoya. Everyone should go at least once, just to experience the set-​up (which has been described in other reviews) and the warmth of the people who run the restaurant. During lunch, I was told that the Day’s Inn on the property served for years as a prime venue for trysts associated with City Hall. The astroturf on the stairs between the bar/​kitchen area and the dining room is much more garish than the reviews led me to believe.
The food is very good, if unremarkable. I had a soup to start and then a dish of polenta with chicken-​based sausages. These are dishes that all of us could find elsewhere, and many of us could make ourselves. Still, they were perfectly executed. The caesar salad and the hangar steak (with fries and greens) at our table looked fine.
The wine list is short and timid. If I were in charge, I’d try to find a few wines that are less widely known. The list is fairly priced. We had the «7 Deadly Zins,» which is listed at $ 35/​bottle; it sells for $ 14.99 at BevMo. My espresso (made from Illy Caffe coffee) was thin. We would have been better off at the BlueBottle kiosk, which we visited before lunch but didn’t have time to return to after our meal was over.