Zio's Restaurant

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

I booked Zios for an intimate birthday dinner for 6 friends. This place is hard to fault, all the food we tried was amazing, with the highlights being the duck plate and the seafood platter. The food is so fresh and is cooked to perfection. The service was perfect, and the owner Jacob is so friendly and accommodating to our needs. We will definitely recommend this restaurant to others and can't wait to return to try the other dishes.

Oct 30, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Sydneysiders looking for a good meal closeby on a weeknight. What a great find.
The signature 'trio of duck' was excellent, along with the scallops, foie gras, the perfectly tender and juicy lamb. Service was attentive but felt like a wisp.

A delightful little fire blazing on a cool weeknight in a fairly full restaurant, superb. We'll definitely visit again.

Sep 15, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Have been there twice for lunch only. $25 for a main meal, dessert and glass of wine. I was very pleased with the meal on both occasions. On the first occasion I had the seafood gnocchi and strawberry creme brulee. It was very strange as I normally steer clear of gnocchi, not usually a fan of it. This was so delicious I raved about it for weeks. Three of us had the creme brulee and a couple of people did comment that it was too runny but still enjoyed it. I thought it was lovely.

The second time I ordered the roast duck with rice and walnut cake with espresso ice-cream. Both were delicious, I was really pleased. The staff have been lovely on both occasions. Definitely recommend it.

Aug 10, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

I've been wanting to go to this place for ages to try the trio of duck. If there is duck or pork belly on a menu it is always a must for me. I think I had the worse seat in the house, right near the stairs but someone has to get it I guess. But overall I think it is a nice cosy environnment a little noisy but not too bad.

Service was good, all the staff were attentive and willing to share advice on meals. Our waitress was very casual and not uptight at all, which you seem to find too often these days. I found it refreshing talking to a waitress who didn't think she was a class above the customer.

As far as the food was concerned I felt a little let down. The duck was good, but the breast lacked seasoning and the orange sauce lacked enough flavour and was put on very sparingly. The leg was cooked well but the cabbage that it was served on was a bit bland. And to top it of the warm duck salad only had one piece of duck about the size of a twenty cent coin. I did like the flavour of the salad but when a duck salad has more lup choung (chinese sausage) than duck (4 pieces to 1 piece) something is a miss.

My dinner companion had the seafood food platter which again missed the mark with several items, but I must say the oysters were the best I've had in ages. The desserts were good without being great, the cake a bit dry and the poached pears were a bit underdone. I did enjoy the meal but it wasn't as good as the prices suggest it should be. Luckily I used the entertainment book card.

May 30, 2011 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

Wonderful, intimate atmosphere, excellent, friendly service that is attentive without being pushy, helpful staff, wonderful food and excellent wine list. This place is hard to fault, and for a special person or occasion, you could not go wrong. If I was being Really picky I would say it is not cheap, but then again, you get what you pay for. Highly recommended.

Apr 30, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

I wonder how other people would fair if they got their business or livelihood rated on the internet, everytime someone didn't like their clothes or look. I dine at Zios once a week, I live and work in east Melbourne. Its the type of place that when you go in, the owners and staff make you feel like you're at home they are very attentive but never pushy. The food is always great and always fresh.

They have a great wine list and great house wines. Yacob the owner is always helpful and never ever rude as I did read. Early in the week sometimes is quiet but I like it like that.

Feb 20, 2011 

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  3     

Beautiful decor/cosy ambience let down by lacklustre service and poor value- for- money food. If the dining experience lives up to expectations & all those glowing reviews, we wouldn't be the only diners (2 of us) there from 6-8pm on a weekday evening.

Feb 10, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

What a great little restaurant, cosy, friendly and great food. I had read some of the reviews and decided to give Zios a go. Great choice, I had the trio of duck and my wife had the seafood plate quite large servings and the tastes were amazing. We shared the tasting pate for dessert as the all looked so good, yum! Great beer and wine list although you can byo. Zios well done we will certainly will be return customers.

Nov 04, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  8     

We recently had my husband's 50th birthday at Zio's. The menu was put together with Jacob who was incredibly helpful and accommodating in every way. The function was a success, with our guests complimenting the lovely food and the generous serves. Every dish was faultless and the service attentive. I was so pleased because as a host I felt that every thing went perfectly. Thank you Zio's for a charming evening.

Nov 02, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

Nice atmosphere, food is great. Seafood degustation was excellent but I didn't understand the blend of flavours, especially the soft-shell crab with a honey-cardamon flavour. The chocolate souffle is the best I've had, just remember to book the souffle in advanced.

Aug 31, 2010