Prior to catching a performance at music hall a couple of weeks back, my wife and I joined my brother and his girlfriend for dinner at Zula. I’ve been to Zula a few times before, but just for drinks at the bar. As the hostess showed us to our table, I was amazed at how big the dining space is. I had no idea that there were more than the few tables you can see from the bar.

Eggplant Fries

We started with eggplant fries topped with confectioner sugar ($8.75) and arancini filled with rice along with bits of braised pork and cheese ($10.50 for 3). The eggplant fries were served with an amazing spicy-sour dipping sauce, which mixed well with the sweetness of the fries. The serving size was large and easily enough for our party of four to share.

Arancini

Our server kindly let us know that the arancini was just an order of three and asked if we wanted to add another fried ball to the order so everyone in our party could try them. I’m glad we did as these were very good, though the pork was a little scarce on the inside.

Baby Kale Salad

We also sampled the baby kale salad with radicchio, goat cheese, and walnuts ($9.50). Again this was more than enough for two and probably could serve four. The goat cheese was especially tasty, but nothing else stood out much.

Brussels Sprout Leaves Flat Bread

Finally we ordered the Brussels sprout leaves flat bread with fresh mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, hickory smoked bacon lardons, and extra virgin olive oil ($15). I’m glad we had a small group with us, as again the flat bread was large and my wife and I needed help finishing it off. This was a tasty dish with plenty of toppings on a perfectly cooked crust.

Others in our party sampled the New Orléans mussels as well as the beef carpaccio, which both received high marks. Our service was outstanding and the the flow of food was very well paced throughout our visit. I will definitely return to Zula whether it be for a date night or for a group get together.