Zea Rotisserie and Grill
Posted by Seven at 13 Nov 2007, 11:23 AM and is filed under Pensacola,Dining with Kids,Outdoor Dining,Downtown Pensacola,Gregory Street,Restaurant,Dining with Friends,BBQ,Steak,Seafood,Sunday Brunch,Business Lunch 
This is a relatively new chain restaurant for Pensacola, and in general. There is 10 locations across the south United States. In a nutshell, the food is great but the service is lacking. I've eaten here over a half dozen times in the last year (and recently) in a varitey of settings- lunch, dinner, meeting room. Overall this assessment stands true. I ate lunch at Zea Rotisserie and Grill recently with an associate, and we sat for over ten minutes until we were approached for a drink order.
That being said, they have some fantastic stuff on their menu. Their dry rub ribs are absolutely excellent and their salads are delicious. The atmosphere and ecor are clean and warm, with special touches everywhere. If you can get service, it is the perfect location and environment for a business lunch. The tabels are not too close and sound doesn't trave. In addition, Zea offers something that is curiously rare in a beach town like Pensacola- outdoor dining! Its not a big area, but it is protected and you can actually see the bay! Its a hidden treasure. Ask for it.
Zea needs to work on its training and management programs if it is to experience sucessful growth, but it has potential.
Name: Zea Rotisserie and Grill
Location: 605 West Gregory, Pensacola, FL, 32502
Phone: (850) 433-2159
Price: $-$$$
Website: www.zearestaurants.com
That being said, they have some fantastic stuff on their menu. Their dry rub ribs are absolutely excellent and their salads are delicious. The atmosphere and ecor are clean and warm, with special touches everywhere. If you can get service, it is the perfect location and environment for a business lunch. The tabels are not too close and sound doesn't trave. In addition, Zea offers something that is curiously rare in a beach town like Pensacola- outdoor dining! Its not a big area, but it is protected and you can actually see the bay! Its a hidden treasure. Ask for it.
Zea needs to work on its training and management programs if it is to experience sucessful growth, but it has potential.
Name: Zea Rotisserie and Grill
Location: 605 West Gregory, Pensacola, FL, 32502
Phone: (850) 433-2159
Price: $-$$$
Website: www.zearestaurants.com
Thanks for the information about this restaurant. You should check your spelling and use of verbage.
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Gee Don, I hope I pass the teacher's English test.....I'll go ahead and comment on ZEA anyway.
I went to Zea last night with friend's for dinner. We were very lucky to get there before the dinner rush that was expected due to the Sheryl Crow concert in town. I found the hostess to be very gracious and we were seated immediately. Our server, as well, was very friendly and well versed on the menu and attended to our needs perfectly throughout our meal. that being said.....now on to the food.
I could not disagree more on the food quality.
Apps:
Roasted garlic hummus with pita triangles. Hummus bland and runny, little "roasted garlic flavor". Pita was yummy!
Thai Ribs (I believe that's what they were called) Very tender but bland, little seasoning.
Entrees:
Prime Rib was not cooked to order, too well done, chewy.
Rotisserie Lemon-Herb Chicken (I believe it was named), another ho-hum choice. "Boring" seems to be the word of of the evening.
Both of my friend's subbed dinner salads for the "2-sides" offered. Nothing requiring rocket science there, nothing too interesting about the salads, and the house dressing, they said, was uninteresting.
My choice was the 'Seared Tuna". To say I was disappointed is an understatement.
Tough and chewy, "seared"? No. Cooked to order, yes, very rare, but the outside looked microwaved, no color or any hint of a tasty marinade. For the location, I would think they would acquire fresh tuna, rather than a frozen product exported from "somewhere" to the masses. I couldn't eat but 2 bites. My sides were mashed sweet potatoes, ok, but nothing amazing and my snap peas were good.
ALL of our entrees were delivered not hot, not warm, but at room temp. Strange, as they were not yet that busy, the restaurant was only beginning to fill up as our entrees arrived. The butter-sauce on the tuna sitting atop was COLD. Since the tuna was borderline room temp/cool, the butter just sat there. IF the tuna IS purchased locally and cut to order (unlikely), "Chef" needs to learn how to cut and trim tuna steaks. I have never had to try this hard to cut a piece of tuna. And chew, and chew....and chew.
The server was great, our back-waiter friendly and efficient, but we will never return. The 2 reasonably priced Bottles of Red Zin helped ease our pain, and we really didn't want to return EVERYTHING and wait for a 2nd complete re-order.
Unique concept with their menu. A bit heavy on trout selections. What's up with all of the trout?
Too bad, the atmosphere was very nice and cozy and the service fantastic. Maybe they focused on the server training since last fall so the kitchen suffered. Time for an employee meeting and some "Chef" training. I would assume there is no real CHEF on staff.
Sorry ZEA, I gave it a shot. But after dropping almost $200, a waste of time and money.
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