02/17/08

Excellent food at great price but staff oddities!

by myballerina

I went to Zenith with a bit of trepidation considering some of the reviews I read here with regard to staff members berating customers. I went in smiling and was polite lest I upset them. I liked the funky atmosphere and the menu. All the salads (and I tried a little of all them - some 10 or more) were great, flavorful and all selections were vegan. The entree (tofu lasagne) was generous, came out piping hot and had a rich hearty flavor. The desserts (again there were about 10 selections) were also vegan and quite good. They slice the various cakes thin so you can try multiple kinds. Everything was going well, the host was pleasant, our waitor was too, and then all of a sudden in the middle of our brunch we hear a male voice in the kitchen SCREAMING at someone who he was obviously angry with. The "f-word" was dropped and I had my 14 year old daughter with me so I did not appreciate this. It was rather bizarre. Everyone kind of looked at each other and a couple of waiters came out of the kitchen smirking. There are few really great vegetarian/vegan eateries in Pittsburgh and this is a good one but someone at this restaurant (or perhaps more than one person) seems to have an anger management problem. I would go again, definately, but I would warn my fellow diners that anything could happen!

• Pros: Great food, fast service, pleasant atmosphere
• Cons: Some staff could have temper issues!

05/05/07

Incredible Brunch

by veggiebucco81

I?ve been frequenting the Zenith for nearly two years and continue to be amazed by the ever morphing menu maintaining such a high quality. While certain dishes like the to-fishy are fixtures, every week something new worth trying gets added. The Sunday brunch desserts are the happy ending to the healthy indulgences of the buffet and main courses. The fresh fruit topped pancakes or eggs are always a treat.

As a fine food purveyor, I am accustomed to dropping loads of money eating out, but the pricing bracket along with the unique decor and atmosphere, make the Zenith a great second date destination. The intensity, fervor, and flavor all pick up quite a bit on Sunday during brunch, but typically the casual and relaxed attitude lends itself to a fantastic dining experience.

Meat-eaters will never even know they are limited because of the amount of choices and great number or curiosity peaking dishes available.

05/04/07

An unusual experience, buy the plates you eat from

by nordiclutheran

I'd heard of hipsters referring to Zenith in different circles and finally got there myself. It's unlike any other place I've ever been in; in order to get to the dining room you have to pass through the antique store with all manner of barber chairs and bathtubs and lamps and vintage clothing (and costumes for rent, apparently). Atmospheric does not do the dining area justice; I was informed that if I liked the silverware/plates/table/chairs I was eating from/sitting on I could purchase them to keep. I passed on that but ordered their veggie burger. The bun was fresh and the burger was suprisingly thick. It sure was not meat but it had a flavor and texture all it's own; I could see craving one of these after some brews (too bad this place is not open at bar time). Eventually I'd like to try the brunch as that seems to be their signature meal. As a non-vegitarian I felt welcome and the service was adaquate (it was not too busy when I was there, maybe 2-4 tables full) and I appreciated the pitcher of water left by the waitress. It's pretty cheap for such unusual food in an unusual setting.

• Pros: LOTS of teas, weird menu, atmosphere
• Cons: Non-smoking,