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  • 0

    Wonderful restaurant, my favorite date place.

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  • 0

    Zambra had one of the most inventive menus I've seen in years. My favorite dishes were 1) blackened baby octopus with pineapple, feta and duck cracklins - this was the most tender octopus I've ever had and the contrast with feta and pineapple was perfect, 2) sesame crusted scallops that were fried to perfection, 3) pork belly with nutella, pickled grapes and green-onion shortbread and 4) braised pork cheek with cream cheese grits, greens, pickled peppers and a cola reduction. Everything was delicious, cooked to perfection and well-seasoned.

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  • 0

    Believe it or not, this was our first tapas restaurant, so this was a bit new. It was recommended to us by the proprietor of our B&B, so we gave it a shot. We had the Tempura Squash and Turnips with a Sangria reduction dipping sauce, and the Grilled Calamari steak as our first course. I then had the shredded beets and leeks, and we both had the fried Trout with spinach on a bed of orzo.

    I am sure I have the descriptions confused, but it is close. The tastes of each dish was a unique combination which was totally new to me. We both liked all of the dishes and though we were surprisingly full, there was little left on the plates.

    We had none of the wines from their extensive wine list, many of which seemed rather expensive, but I have a hard time justifying a bottle of wine over $20 in a store, so I am not a good judge of wines.

    It was an enjoyable dinner and if we are ever back in Asheville, we wouldn't hesitate to come back to Zambra.

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  • 0

    This is still our go-to restaurant in Asheville.  The food is good and they have a nice wine list.  It can be a little loud so don't expect a quiet romantic dinner.  However, you can make an evening of it eating tapas and drinking wine.   I recommed reservations on the weekend since it fills up quickly and the wait can be long.

    In addition to the above, if you like paella (and theirs is very good) you'll have to call ahead. It is not on the menu.  You can call ahead to order it and it will be there when you're ready for the main disch

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  • 0

    This is hands down my favorite place in Asheville, and one of my favorite restaurants in the world. I have been there three times and every time I have loved everything I've tried. I am vegan and they have a plethora of vegan options or items that can be made that way. I love the patatas bravas and they are closest to the patatas bravas I had in Madrid of any place I've tried in the US. My partner and other dining companions are meat/seafood eaters and they also love the food as well. The cocktail list is incredible and they have a great wine selection. The atmosphere is romantic and I've always had fantastic service. Definitely make a stop here when you are in Asheville!

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  • 0

    Zambra has a fun atmosphere and great drinks! My husband and I went while on a weekend getaway in Asheville on a Saturday so they had a live band playing that evening. I ordered a Pimm's Tazo which was AMAZING (cucumber, fresh, easy to drink!) and my husband enjoyedt his Clyde's Cocktail as well. We had the fried quail, which we thought was the tastiest thing we ordered. We ordered the sesame crusted scallops, but agree that we enjoy scallops without the fried breading. The mussels and pork belly were good but not fabulous. Olives were yum! Service was great though- hostess was very nice and the waiter brought us extra bread to dip in the mussel's sauce. Overall, a good experience.

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  • 0

    My impression having entered the restaurant and observed the decor gave me the sinking feeling that my dinner companion and I had made a mistake in our selection of venue for the evening. Certainly it would not be the first time that gushing reviews had failed to predict a good experience. It seemed as though the designer had attempted to create an atmosphere resembling that of a small Spanish town near the ocean, and instead had produced a gaudy Olive Garden whose excessive colors, flimsy construction, and an overall inattention to quality boded poorly for the quality of the food.

    So it was a surprise to me when the first plates, larger than expected, were delivered and tasted. The hot mushroom dish had a nice earthy flavor and a beet salad was not exceptional but done well. The first indication that there was some truly expert cooking going on came with, forgive my poor recollection of the name, a dish of some sort of fried meat and starch mixture rolled into small orbs. Perhaps I would be drawing out this meal for a while, I thought, savoring them. Then, a gnocchi dish was served that was just absolutely fantastic, a lightly creamy interior in a nicely made wine sauce. Pan seared scallops were cooked perfectly, with a beautiful crust of the sort that always seems impossible to recreate at home. What also stood out was the attention given to to the substance on which the scallops sat, a small portion of rice surrounded by several delicious powdery flavorings. A skirt steak dish provided precisely what you want, perfect color inside and great crust. Perhaps aged, I thought. Two deserts were offered and ordered, a flan and a flourless chocolate cake, both excellent but the cake winning out as our favorite.

    This place gets five in my estimation, despite the decor, because of the high quality of the ingredients, expert cooking and great value.

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  • 0

    great food, larger portions than most tapas places serve, so sharing is a good idea.  place is super dark, a bit too dark for our tastes.  Our waiter was extremely friendly and helpful, but the women at the front desk and reception area didn't give us the time of day.. either upon our arrival or at our departure..... a bad first AND last impression.

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  • 0

    One of my top 5 favorite dining experiences since moving to Asheville 5 months ago. I personally love the environment, the food was excellent and we had amazing wine.

    The sesame crusted scallops are what stood out the most to me, but among 4 people we probably ordered 15 different tapas. Loved it all.

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  • 0

    We tried this place during a visit in January to Asheville and loved it.  The atmosphere is unique, cozy and romantic.  The tapas were fun and very flavorful.  The cost can creep up on you as you order individual dishes so this is not a cheap date place.

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  • 0

    So tapas style food is perhaps my favorite way of eating. On a short trip to Asheville the hubs and I tried a few tapas places starting with Zambra and were not disappointed. We went on a Friday night and first sat at the bar for some wine while waiting about 25 minutes for a table. The place was lively and fun, and there was a great band playing.

    The decor was really charming, rustic, Mediterranean, Spanish, and great mood lighting! Great place for date night!

    When we finally sat down we were ready to nosh! We started with the baby octopus grilled with duck cracklings which (to my surprise) was really delicious. Then ordered patatas bravas drilled with a creamy spicy sauce.... They were so good I burned my mouth trying to eat them faster than the hubs!   A must have is the pan rustica which is a nice side to have when you get the mussels so you can sop up all the goodness of the broth! And a best seller on their menu (for good reason) is the pomegranate braised pork spring rolls-- amazing!

    I am giving this place five stars because I would go there again and again whenever I am in Asheville! The prices are spot on (with a few drinks and enough tapas for two we spent about $70). Another good thing is that they keep staple items on the menu and have a new additional menu every night depending on whats in season and the local market. Loved it!!

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  • 0

    I was at Zambra's last night. Although the food was amazing I am never going back to this restaurant. I am extremely allergic to shellfish and did not ordering ANYTHING with shellfish yet I still had a horrible allergic reaction. I was literally vomiting at the table and my waitress just stood there looking at me before she offered me a bucket. She then promptly gave us the check and pushed us out the door. No one even offered me a wet cloth of clean the vomit off myself. I was then forced to wait outside until the ambulance arrived still vomiting and feeling very dizzy.
    Overall I just felt as if this restaurant wanted to just get rid of me rather than help me because of a mistake they made, not me! I am very upset to say the least and I wish they were more careful about cross contamination in their kitchen because shellfish is a pretty common allergy and a lot of people have much worse reactions than I do.

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  • 0

    Tasty, fun, excellent service.

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  • 0

    HUGE tapas menu with lots of choices. Everything we ate was delicious! The space is rather large, and it seems there are a lot of tourists, but we sat next to a local couple.

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  • 0

    Such a unique looking restaurant,  The tapas are unique and all have such great flavors.  You won't be disappointed.

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  • 0

    This is our favorite restaurant in Asheville. I really like the tapas format, as in general I like sampler platters. If you are with your significant other or in a group, plan on sharing everything.

    The food really is great. Wonderful tastes, interesting combinations, and good presentation. The portions are smaller than what you may expect, plan on eating about 3 for a good sized dinner, or 2 if you want light. The decor is really fun (think Barcelona Spain). The staff has always been very pleasant. It is a bit pricey, but it has always been our culinary highlight in the area.

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  • 0

    The food is five stars!  I loved the dishes that the waitress actually remembered we ordered.  Delicious!!  I'm glad she forgot our complete order because we would not have been able to eat it all.  A cool hip sexy Grotto of an restaurant  that has an amazing selection of mezze and tapas plates.  Did I say YUM?!!!   Live music and the historic building feel transported us to some distant land!

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  • 0

    Had dinner here on the first night in Asheville and was amazed! Loved the atmosphere and decor and the food was delicious. The reviews were right - great food at a great price! Would definitely recommend for a nice casual night out!

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  • 0

    I dined at Zambra this past Saturday night, 12/8/12 while on a weekend trip to Asheville. I was very pleased. The atmosphere is very inviting. The service and wait staff were top-notch. The food was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. And the accompanying 4-piece jazz band ensemble provided the perfect backdrop to a wonderful dining experience.

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  • 0

    Went in late and they seated us in the " queens room", very nice and comfortable.  Drinks were strong and very flavorful, with really cool names, like " Jesus built my hot rod".
    Service was very good and the location has a funky bohemian vibe to it.

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  • 0

    Wow! This place was fab! I came here  with my boyfriend and two friends for my birthday dinner after not being able to get a reservation at curate. We were not dissapointed! We started out with the patatas bravas which are fried potatoes with a tomato sauce on top...then in no particular order had the grilled octopus, sauteed mushrooms, duck confit, chimichangas, cheese plate, sauteed chickpeas and a flank steak dish. The standouts were the duck confit and the octopus! Definitely a great place with lots of ambience!

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  • 0

    We went to Zambra during our first visit to Asheville, last year, & loved it so much that we made it our first choice for dinner this year. Having made a reservation, we were seated immediately. The server was attentive at first, but soon focused all of her attention on a large party in the main room. We waited forty-five minutes between being served our soup & salad - two of the four plates we had ordered, & the server checking back in on us. When the server returned with our check, she also brought one of the missing plates & offered to box it for us, but at that point we were more interested in finding a different place to eat. The restaurant did not charge us for the items that we did not receive.

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  • 0

    Great find in Asheville!!!

    Loved the tapas here, and the service was great! The ambiance was really cool, and prices were reasonable.

    Definitely try the pan rustico, patatas bravas, calamari, and gnocchi. Wasn't a huge fan of the sangria because it had a bit too much cinnamon. Definitely a great find, and I can't wait to go back here!

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  • 0

    It's been a while since we've eaten at Zambra, but tonight we enjoyed our dinner very much, and Zambra exceeded my expectations. Everything we tried was interesting, with some creative combinations. Prices were reasonable, and servings were surprisingly large for a tapas restaurant. The atmosphere hasn't changed since we were there -- still dark and cave-like but not uninviting.

    Zambra isn't quite up to Cúrate in terms of atmosphere or food, in my opinion, but it's a reasonable alternative when Cúrate is fully booked, as it often is. We dined here on a Sunday evening, and the restaurant was only about one-third full.

    We started with cocktails, and I loved that Old Overholt rye was just $5.  I can't decide what was the best tapas -- possibly the braised pork spring rolls ($7.50), the trout ($10.50) or the beef heart ($7.50). The only dish I didn't much care for was the terrine ($6).

    Zambra is another of the many Asheville restaurants that for some reason don't serve espresso. The restaurant has good Counter Culture coffee, but I don't understand why a local restaurant serves out-of-town coffee (from Durham, 225 miles away).

    I made reservations through Open Table but, on the negative side, there are zero Open Table points for eating here.

    One small gripe that Zambra has no control over:  Entering the City of Asheville Rankin parking garage from Walnut, the entrance machine was out of tickets, so we couldn't enter. We had to drive around the block and enter on Rankin. Aside from the inconvenience, our Asheville taxpayers are losing money because city employees are too lazy to keep the machine stocked with tickets.

    Dinner for two with a total of four drinks and a glass of wine, and seven tapas, came to $94 before my usual generous tip.  A fair price.

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  • 0

    Wow - from the venue that looks like a cave within an old basement - but done totally cool and fun - they served the most unique and delicious tapas ever.  I have a preference for small plates, but most places have limited menus.  The selections were so numerous and each so unique and well executed that I find it impossible to pick a favorite.  Included in their menu, are several delicious vegetarian and fish options - as well as meaty choices for carnivores.  Almost worth making the special cross country trip to Asheville just to experience it.  I will seek every opportunity to return.

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  • 0

    Where do I even begin with this fabulous outing? It was EXCELLENT. My girlfriends and I were having a weekend getaway to Asheville (my first) and boy was it awesome!!!!!

    We read the Yelp! reviews before going and Josh, the bartender was getting RAVE reviews so my friend asked to meet Josh while we were ordering our dinner. He came over and greeted us and made her a drink filled with her favorites! He was so kind and I honestly can't wait to go back! The drink was excellent (I had a sip) and it was so nice to see the awesome Yelp! reviews come to life right in front of your eyes.

    We ordered several dishes and were pleased with all but one, the octopus dish and they gladly exchanged it. We ordered from the specials that occur nightly as well as the regular menu.  A few recommendations from us include the patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with spicy tomato sauce on top), crispy tofu, pomegranate braised pork spring rolls with
    avocado, mango dipping sauce, sesame crusted scallops with grapefruit, avocado, and fennel. We also ordered the duck special which was oh so tasty.

    The tapas are great to share and the prices were reasonable. On my next trip to Asheville, I will definitely make a reservation here and be sure to make it later in the evening so I could enjoy the live jazz music!

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  • 0

    Asheville has an amazing array of restaurants each one better than the next but you will be hard press to beat this one.

    Tucked away on a side street this dimly lit romantic hideaway, sets a mood from the second you walk in. We sat at the bar and received excellent service and could watch first hand while our complicated cocktails took life at the hands of their talented bar staff.

    The food was simply amazing. Delicate, flavorful well presented and creatively' conceived.

    If you are visiting Asheville and all it's charms you would be remiss to pass up this hidden gem.

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  • 0

    Wow!!! Truly awesome and delicious!!! Shared the gnocchi and the sautéed chickpeas, arugula salad, beef tips with chocolate torte and bread pudding. YUM!!!!

    Great wait staff, very friendly and helpful. Will be a repeat next time in Asheville.

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  • 0

    I'm not wealthy, so I don't come here often. I do what every other funemployed person in Asheville does, which is wait for someone (like a parent) to come for a visit, and I suggest this place. It's a very special treat.
    The other complaints on here about the portions being small are idiotic. This is a tapas place. The portions are supposed to be small. Each plate is crafted and presented in an artistic manner. The menu changes a lot, so I can't really recommend anything specific, but anything with the word "cheek" in it is a very safe bet. I've also been very blown away by the beef heart with beet yogurt (Get it?? Heart beets???), and the baby octopus was just divine. I'm an adventurous eater, so I always just order the strangest things off of the menu. It warms me heart that Asheville can offer a little of the exotic. I can't wait until we get approved for horse meat in this country.

    My only complaints about the place are so overwhelmingly eclipsed by the food that I almost hesitate to mention them, but I will anyway, since this is what this whole thing is all about.

    It's too dark in there, especially considering that the presentation on the food is really important. They hand out these magnifying glasses with flashlights built in for old people or whatever, so they can read the menus. This is ridiculous. It would be a lot more efficient to just turn the damn lights up a bit. I understand it's supposed to be intimate and romantic, but the space it just way too tight for that anyway and even with the lights turned down, you're not fooling anyone. Low light has always been a pet peeve of mine anyway. Even in my house.
    It's also really loud and cramped, so even if you come here on a romantic date, it's gonna end up with both of you shouting. But oh well. Eat and get the hell out, I guess.

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  • 0

    We had my bachelorette dinner here before heading downtown to the bars. Everyone loved it! We were given the big cozy corner which was perfect. All the girls loved the cocktails and it was so much fun sampling everyone's plates. This is a perfect place for a girl's night out.

    The food was great, the only thing I didn't care for was the pork cheeks and duck. That's just a personal preference though, they were both high quality dishes. I also thought the prices were reasonable and the service was great.

    Our server did a great job handling a table of 10+ drunk women. I will definitely be back!

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  • 0

    We only stopped in Zambra for a cocktail, and so that's all I can judge the spot on. Cocktails and ambiance.  Luckily, Zambra's got both in spades. Upon walking into the restaurant (I almost missed the door on my first pass), we were greeted by a happy hostess who told us (when we mentioned we just wanted cocktails) to feel free to find a spot wherever we'd like. Well, the seats at the bar were packed (admittedly, it was a Saturday night during Asheville Beer Week), and we weren't interested in a high table, so we just stood at the end of the bar to check out the menu and wait for someone to leave.  The bartenders were very friendly, and joked with us for a bit as we scanned the list of bevvies for something that caught our eye. We'd heard great things about their Beer Mixology event from Thursday, and were hoping to get our hands on one of those elusive craft beer cocktails.

    As beer cocktails are notoriously tough to make, the bartender on hand mentioned that he could make 2 of the 5 that were listed.  While we were initially disappointed, he mentioned that the two that we were interested in were the ones he could make! Lucky us...  After we ordered, the couple next to us left their seats, offering them to my buddy and I. We happily accepted them and got to enjoy some people watching while waiting for our drinks. We both agreed that this would be the perfect spot for a date night. Candle lighting gave the inside a romantic vibe, and some of the architecture inside looked a little bit like a cave. But... you know... a romantic cave.

    Every dish that passed in front of us looked delicious, but (stuffed from dinner) we only had eyes for booze. After a little bit of a wait (understandable, crowded night and a difficult drink order) our drinks came over.  I ordered the Hopapilla, which featured Hopquilla from New Holland, Frangelico, cinnamon/vanilla simple syrup, white cranberry, Pisgah Pale ale, a slice of lime, and jalapeno.  If the ingredients don't get you, let me just describe the drink as a spicy sweet cinnamony glass of perfection. I didn't know what to expect with this drink, but it exceeded any possible expectations I may have had.  For $8, the price was right, and I was a happy camper.

    We then watched some drama unfold. As one of the employees was goofily putting together a virgin beverage for himself, he knocked over a patron's glass of red wine which landed right on her light pants. The response of the employees was instant, armed with napkins, water, and a broom to clean up. She reacted with lots of rage, almost screaming, and the employee obviously felt terrible, and was extremely apologetic. They comped her meal and her drinks (she and her partner had obviously been drinking and eating for a little while) and, despite her anger, I thought they handled the situation very well.

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  • 0

    Feeling in the mood for something different....maybe Mediterranean...maybe fine dining? Why not try both. Zambras is just that a fine dinning restaurant that specializes in Mediterranean cuisine. When you first walk into the establishment you're greeted by a host as well as the rich and mysterious architectural /Interior design that goes through out the business. From artificial "roof patches" on the ceilings to exposed brick, pipes, air ducts, and even the lack of light( Business is pretty much illuminated by a plethora of table candles). This is totally the type of place you would take your date on if you were in the area and wanted to make a great impression.

    I had the Mountain Trout which was fantastic as well as the Spring Pork Rolls w/ sauce which were earth shattering to my taste buds. I will admit the food is a little bit pricey, and the portions aren't anything to get happy about, but in return you do get a meal that will send your taste buds into a frenzy. In the end it'll be your call quantity over quality or vice versa....for me I might be shifting to the light side  and choose quality.

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  • 0

    A romantic restaurant with amazing decoration and atmosphere. The lights are very week and it gives the restaurant a special vibe. If you are looking for quality over quantity, you have to give this restaurant a try.

    A couple of days ago, EPG students and I decided to eat there. I ordered lamb, and I like the quality. But honestly I didn't get stuffed despite I ordered the full meal. By the way, all the chicken and stuff in this restaurant is hormone free and organic. Therefore, it is a good option for those want eat really healthy.

    Also, a bar is located right in the middle of restaurant. So if you like to get a drink, you are welcomed. And it says you don't need to necessarily come to this place to eat. You can come, drink, and have fun.

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  • 0

    The food quality itself was quite excellent. I ordered grilled tofu which came topped with some of the best hummus I've ever had. I also had chickpeas which were doused in a garlic/herb sauce which was very strong and spicy but quite good. There is no arguing with the quality and presentation of the food.

    However, the price and portions don't go together. Very few people will be able to get close to full for less than $15. The "tapas" might as well be called "teasers" because they are VERY small appetizers. Each tapas generally costs between $5-$9. You're looking at an even pricier dining experience if you drink anything but water.

    All in all, while the food quality was very good, the price just wasn't worth it in my book. I can spend $15-$20 on a high quality dinner elsewhere and actually leave satisfied.

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  • 0

    Party of 16 at 7:30pm here in town on business seeking a great meal. The Hampton Inn where we are staying recommended Zambra and said they serve the best food in Asheville. Tapas is for a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). Not everyone in our party had experienced Tapas previously.

    One of our party had the pan seared mountain trout and another ordered the all-natural grilled boneless lamb rack. I ordered the passion fruit glazed HNG farm port tenderloin with chorizo grilled rice and hibiscus. I also ordered the HNG farm tri tip with bacon , English muffin, drunken goat cheese, crispy poached egg and roasted mushrooms. While all in the party were not in heaven, I sure as heck was. Great meal, good attentive service and while the lighting makes it very hard to read the very small daily menu, we worked through those challenges to have a delicious set of tapas.

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  • 0

    Had a wonderful dinner with at Zambra's on a quiet Sunday evening. This is actually a place I've visited several times on past trips to Asheville, and I was excited to go back as a (short-term) Asheville citizen. As with past visits, I was delighted. The menu is diverse, with numerous enticing and exotic sounding small plates, appetizers and specials: last night, the menu included beef heart, tongue and sweetbreads, among other, more conventional but delicious-sounding fare. I played it fairly safe, ordering a stuffed quail dish that was truly excellent, and fried tofu with hummus that was perfect for sharing with my vegetarian friends.

    We enjoyed a delicious cheese plate (but seriously, why only one piece of bread for a cheese sampler for a table of 3?!) and a great arugula salad. My friend's vegetarian paella was good, but not earth shattering. Call me crazy, but I want my paella loaded with seafood and sausage.

    Finally, the cocktails were nice, but not as good as I wanted them to be. My Old Fashioned was fine, but I've gotten so used to a more traditional approach witha lemon peel and without the muddled orange and maraschino cherries. And the sazerac was just... not quite right. Again, it lacked the traditional presentation I am familiar with and while the flavor was close, it was a bit unbalanced. However, I enjoyed it for what it was.

    All in all, it wasn't an absolutely perfect experience, but the quality of the food and the service were superb and I will definitely be going back here. I could see this being a great date restaurant; however, I've been informed that Zambra's often has live music, and I have to say, that is a turnoff for me. Take note, gentlemen.

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  • 0

    After my experience with overpriced gnocchi today, I am recalling a time when gnocchi made me react in a good way. And that was at Zambra for my birthday two summers ago.

    Did I eat them there? No, I had some other unremarkable dishes, but at the next table sat a family of three. The son, a boy of about 12 who looked like a Little Mario Batali, he was a true foodie in the making.

    Looking at his parents, it seemed bizarre that a lad so eloquent and sophisticated with such red hair issued forth from their loins, but alas he did. He was in culinary heaven and much more eloquent than that bag of wind Jeffrey from Iron Chef. His mother ordered the "ga-no-keys," and her son quickly corrected her to the correct pronunciation with such passion I swear I dropped my olive plucking fork. I could not help but eavesdrop on their conversations for the rest of the meal debating the essences of scallops, etc.

    Little Mario, I hope we cross paths again for it was you who made the night so special. And my hubby too. We went to see Batman! ^..^

    Zambra was AOK. Nice atmosphere. Sangria was OK. Service pretty good. Location prime. Food...

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  • 0

    If restaurants were strictly rated on the quality of their food, then ladies and gentlemen we would have a winner with Zambra. However, because there's a whole lot more to the dining experience, we do NOT have a winner; rather, we have something bordering on the loser line. Bad line to be near...

    The food really is delicious---I have to give them that. The rest of the experience, on the other hand, has been a complete disaster every time we've gone. The service is absurdly slow---not "oh how nice, they're letting us linger" kind of slow, but "we waited 45 minutes for a bottle of wine we ordered we asked for five times" slow. Reservations have been lost. Once, we had a reservation for six people, and they put us side-by-side in a long table---like we were seated at a bar, but facing another table---occupied, naturally, by a couple out on a date. Awkward...

    It's really too bad since the food is so good, but while I can write off one or two mishaps, a whole slew of them at each visit is simple unacceptable.

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  • 0

    I went to Zambra's when visiting Asheville (my hometown) with some of my high school classmates. We were so pleasantly surprised! What a delight! When we lived in Asheville we seemed to be stuck with chain restaurants for the most part (with a few local gems!) and there wasn't much of a tapas offering.

    Dishes on this menu are a bit hit or miss, in my opinion, but I live in NYC and eat tapas every week and have pretty high standards, so that might not be fair.

    Overall the quality and execution is great and the price is right.

    Standout items:

    -Seafood Paella (not tapas, but yumm)
    -Seared local trout
    -Lamb
    -Scallops
    -Prosciutto Dates
    -Sangria (red by the pitcher)
    -baby arugula salad

    Items to Avoid:

    -Vegetarian Paella
    -Grilled shrimp
    -Hanger Steak
    -Marinated Olives
    -Spring Rolls
    -Desserts
    -Bibb Salad

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  • 0

    I recently visited Zambra when I brought my little daughter out for her first date (so cute).  I chose a tapas place since a four and half year old can be pretty finicky and I didn't want to be locked into a $25 plate she wouldn't eat. Zambra fit the bill perfectly.  It was open and interesting with Moorish character throughout.  We got to sit on a bench lined with Morrocan pillows.  What a treat for a little one.  The only negative was the lighting.  Certainly bright and airy may not be appropriate for the ambiance but I shouldn't have to use the candle to read the menu.

    I was impressed with the wine list (don't worry only a Shirley Temple for the youngin).  It was extensive with one side consisting of Iberian selections and the other focusing on New World wines.  I tried a couple during the course of the evening and wasn't disappointed.

    The food on the other hand wasn't as exciting.  The dishes sounded great such as Pomegranate rubbed pork spring rolls, lamb dumplings and coconut albondigas.  Everything tasted good, although a few dishes were over salted, but nothing stood out.  The one standout was the chocolate brownie desert (daughter's choice of course).  The combination of goat cheese and chocolate created a lovingly rich desert at a good portion size to enjoy but not cross over into gluttony.

    I wish I could give Zambra 3.5 stars but I certainly can't justify four. With that said, there are a lot of dishes on the menu and having an extensive Iberian wine list in the middle of the Appalachians will bring me back for another shot.

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