Zest Sushi and Small Plates

Zest has been on my list to try and I'm so glad I finally got to come for dinner. I made a last-minute reservation for dinner on a Wednesday night and they only had outdoor seating available. I was seated immediately when we got there and they had heaters outside which was really nice. our waitress let us know that everything is served top of style and meant to be shared so we ordered a few items. Between 3 people, we ordered two sushi rolls, edamame, lobster tacos with a ginger salad as a side. and softshell crab BLT. We ordered a lychee limeade cocktail as a drink. my favorite item by far the soft shell crab BLT. It came with 2 soft shell crabs, topped with bacon and lettuce and tomatoes. It was HUGE! Also, the fries (came as a side with the BLT) came out so hot and crispy. It was probably some of the best fries I've had in a long time! I loved this restaurant and it had so many great items to choose from. Also, our waitress was so nice and attentive! I can't wait to come back again

We were so excited to try this restaurant. The atmosphere is upscale and sleek. The marble on Walls is memorizing. We were a greeted immediately and able sit at bar without a wait. There is ample seating in the restaurant, outside and at the bar. Large menu. Sushi is a la carte only no dinner. Book the roles that I tried were heavily sauced but we'll made and flavorful. Sashimi flight was underwhelming and basic Service was good.

Beautiful space with lots of natural light. Can be upper casual vibe but business casual as well. Food was good, it’s a little pricey for what you get (17 for 2 small kabobs) but I’m sure the location is expensive to rent so they gotta make it up somewhere. Lunch service was mediocre as far as attentiveness but she was also the bartender so very busy. She was very nice but menu knowledge lacked a tiny bit (said 4 kabobs per plate but was actually only 2). Sushi was flavorful and mostly balanced. Tasted decently fresh. Would definitely come back again to try the larger menu and other small plates. Recommend larger groups so you can order more small plates and try more things!

Was amazed by the restaurant’s ability to turn many of its options into vegan friendly options. Liz, our waitress really knew her stuff which we appreciated. Rice bowls were excellent as were sushi rolls. And the edamame beans with both oils were incredible! Will absolutely be returning. What a hidden gem for vegetarians and vegans! Nov job for giving us creative options Zest!

We can’t say enough good things about Zest. At this point they feel like family to us. They treat are kids beautifully, especially our most recent waiter (I can’t remember his name but he has white hair) who remembered their orders from last time we were there. Each staff member is so kind and we truly feel spoiled when we are being waited on. Their food is delicious, especially the sushi, which I am hard to please on. Zest is hands-down the best place in Cary, especially for atmosphere and client experience. We love y’all!

Staff and atmosphere are top notch. The sushi was VERY small and mediocre at best for the price. For 20$ per roll I expected more. The menu reads very well but end result was meh. Sorry but just being honest. Maybe larger rolls (even if just more rice) and add some sauces to finish and more positive reviews will come. Best of luck!

The sushi rolls were fantastic and the manager and all the servers were so accommodating. We were dining with 2 little ones and they left us room at our table for the strollers and made sure we had everything we needed. We walked in with no reservation and got seated right away on a Tuesday night. Highly recommend!

I ordered the Tabletop Tenderloin and go to cook it myself at the table! My husband said the sushi was some of the best he has had. Definitely a fun place to check out.

We decided to finally give Zest a try! Love all the outdoor seating. Inside was gorgeous as well. Lots of space. We made reservations online about 2 hrs before they had any reservations available. We got seated early. The hostess was very friendly. Our server was great. Fast, efficient. He took our drink order right away. We had a couple mocktails. Very yummy. ( I forgot to take photos! ) We ordered and food came out as it was ready. First up the fried calamari. Really good! It came with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Then came : Seafood Trident salad : fresh lobster, crab meat, shrimp, avocado, spring mix with a red wine vinaigrette. Hidden dragon roll: tempura shrimp,cucumber, topped with bbq eel, avocado, green onions, and a nice amount of ginger and soy sauce on the side Our mains came out next The CAB Steak Skewers and the Oysters Rockefeller, and the Oysters Imperial. Everything was flavorful and cooked to perfection. Zest is of excellent quality and freshness. So be ready to pay for it. It's some the best service and freshest seafood we've had in a while. Totally worth it for! Be it date night or a special occasion or a nice lunch / dinner exploring all downtown Cary has to offer!

This place was amazing. We sat outside. The cocktails were tasting and the service was excellent. We shared tuna crudo and tuna tartare. Both were excellent. The edamame appetizer was also very good. Highly recommend trying the oysters! The North Carolina ones were our favorite. I would return

Zest has been on my list to try and I'm so glad I finally got to come for dinner. I made a last-minute reservation for dinner on a Wednesday night and they only had outdoor seating available. I was seated immediately when we got there and they had heaters outside which was really nice. our waitress let us know that everything is served top of style and meant to be shared so we ordered a few items. Between 3 people, we ordered two sushi rolls, edamame, lobster tacos with a ginger salad as a side. and softshell crab BLT. We ordered a lychee limeade cocktail as a drink. my favorite item by far the soft shell crab BLT. It came with 2 soft shell crabs, topped with bacon and lettuce and tomatoes. It was HUGE! Also, the fries (came as a side with the BLT) came out so hot and crispy. It was probably some of the best fries I've had in a long time! I loved this restaurant and it had so many great items to choose from. Also, our waitress was so nice and attentive! I can't wait to come back again

My friend and I went on a Tuesday night and we were glad we made reservation reservations because they were pretty busy. They had a special promotion where you could order two of their special rolls for $30. We also got the brussels as an appetizer. Everything was really good. I would say the portion size is on the smaller side, but the quality of the fish was good and the flavors were really well balanced. Service was nice and the food came out pretty fast!

Wonderful experience in this restaurant. The employees are very friendly. They know about their food that they serve. And the food is amazing. Pet friendly I was able to enjoy my dinner and the company with my little baby .

We got into Zest midday with a recommendation from a friend. The bar and bartender, Zack, were great. I had the Cucumber Basil Martini and my husband snagged the Wasabi Margarita. Mine was perfection for a gal that loves Dirty Martinis it was the perfect dinner drink. My husband enjoyed his drink as well. We had to snag a couple appetizers and the calamari was perfection. I'd come again l, tomorrow.

On my way home from the airport, I decided to stop for a bite, arriving around 2:10. The hosted sat me quickly and let me know that the kitchen was closing soon. It's a beautiful spot inside with nice outdoor seating too. My server didn't come over until 3:19 and I had to remind her that the kitchen was closing; she forgot. Hmmmm, inauspicious start. The sushi menu had lots to choose from so I was excited. I picked the Boomer and the garlic butter oysters. The food was good but a little lacking. For example, the boomer features 3 types of fish atop a crab roll. Gorgeous yo look at! However, the fish was cut in irregular shapes that made think they were extras leftover. I'm all for zero-waste. It just didn't feel luxe. Tasted good. The roll was a bit bland. Again amazing presentation for the oysters, which were nice and plump. But not a lot of butter or garlic flavor and completely missing the Parmesan cheese. Halfway through I asked for the check since folks were trying to reset tables. She brought it, said don't rush, then came back 5 minutes later. Hmmm. Im gonna chalk this experience up to it being close to closing, although diners should never feel rushed. One other point, it's bad form to talk about patrons while others are around. I heard my server say she doesn't like serving kids, which made me wonder whether she liked serving me

Overall I would go back here! But would like to try more of the seafood and sushi options since the best dish I had was their salmon poke crunch. We sat outside which made the experience more enjoyable. Server was very attentive as well which sometimes doesn't happen when you sit outside. The portions are on the smaller side, but it's definitely fun to try many dishes in one visit. We made a reservation in advance which I would recommend; they were very busy on Saturday night, especially after 7pm.

I've been to Zest a few times but today was my first time having sushi and it was absolutely amazing.. I had a cucumber salad that was also amazing. It was fresh with a zesty unique taste. For my roll I had the Half Baked (shrimp tempura, cream cheese , avocado, topped with baked crab salad, spicy mayo and sweet soy. Service is always amazing and the ambience is top notch. I'm lucky that I live close..

We really enjoyed our visit -- the food was delicious and the service was super quick (maybe even a little too quick!). I had mentioned it was my daughter's birthday and asked for a small surprise, but sadly nothing happened, which took away a bit of the magic. Still, everything else was great -- especially the tabletop Korean tenderloin! We'll definitely come back for that.

I went to Zest for lunch with 3 of my girlfriends and couldn't have asked for a better experience, all around! It's nestled in adorable downtown Cary, so it was definitely hard to find parking on a buzzing Saturday afternoon, but we got lucky and found a spot right next door. We made a reservation for 1:30, and their kitchen closes at 2:30; they open again at 5:00. We were seated right away. The ambiance is a clean, relaxing and chic one. Our server brought waters and offered drinks; he was incredible. He shared with us how the menu and delivery of dishes work. Basically, when it's done, you receive it, to maintain freshness. It worked perfect for us, it being a small places spot. Thank you, Brian for being so amazing! They have an extensive drink and food menu, which was lovely. Excited to get to the food, so I'll start with everything we shared: Shrimp Cocktail, Oysters Rockefeller, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Crab Rangoons, Beef Steak Skewers, Polynesian Pork Belly, Real Cali Roll, Hidden Dragon Roll, and the Ponzu Philly Roll. We even got a special dessert from wonderful Brian! I was SO impressed with the food, we all were! The Shrimp Cocktail was fresh and the size was perfect for sharing. The Pork Belly was sweet and savory; perfectly tender. The Crab Rangoons were the best I've ever had, hot and served with real crab meat and a delicious dipping sauce. I loved the Oysters, as I typically do, but the best part about them were that the actual oysters were a great size, not just overly stuffed with breading and cheese as they often are. So delicious. The sushi rolls were amazing too. Lastly, the BEEF STEAK SKEWERS! These were so good, so perfectly seasoned and tender. This was probably my favorite dish. Brian was so kind and brought us two desserts to try: flourless chocolate torte and Ube Cheesecake. The torte was like a yummy piece of fudge, and that cheesecake I would hands down order again, even not being a "dessert" person! We had an amazing experience at Zest, and I can't wait to go back. I may or may not have already made another reservation.

Loved the sushi with the spicy tuna on top. Crab Rangoon the best Ive had. Loved the pork belly tacos. Liz was a very helpful and accommodating server. Did not like the chicken lettuce wraps or the lobster tacos. But gave it 5 stars because the other items were so good!

Delicious food! Visited tonight with my family of 6 for my daughter's 23rd birthday. Parking is slightly challenging. Dining area is cozy and cute, but the lightbulb in our chandelier kept flickering. Great place for a date night! Our server, Zach, was outstanding from start to finish! We would return based on his customer service alone. We ordered 6 starters and a total of 10 sushi rolls. The ladies had a couple of cocktails. The food is great! We would order everything all over again, but some of our favorites included, the pork belly, calamari, and the Chatham St roll. The complimentary birthday cheesecake in the end was delicious! After tax and tip the tab totaled $370 for the 6 of us, but well worth it. We will certainly be returning soon!

The sushi here is excellent. Rolls are very unique to what I've seen at most sushi places, but unique in a refreshing and delicious way. Sushi always tastes very fresh and drinks are always visually pleasing and delicious. The ambiance in the restaurant is top notch. Have been here a few times now and will continue to return!

Zest is a new upscale restaurant in Downtown Cary. My husband and I checked it out for lunch and enjoyed it. It was a beer for me and the mint mule (a mocktail) for my husband. For food we split a few of the small plates, the crab wontons, crab cakes, gyoza and tempura veggies. It was all so good but my favorite was the crab wontons.

This was a really great place to have dinner with friends. It was our first time here, so we ordered a lot of different plates and shared everything. We ordered: Shrimp tacos - they were very good! Pork belly tacos - our favorite! Poke Boomer - sushi was just ok Over the Rainbow (sushi) - also just ok Ahi Tuna Sliders - very good! Chicken lettuce wraps - our least favorite Crab wontons - very good! Service was outstanding! Aiden was the best! He gave us great recommendations and had a great welcoming personality. We will definitely be back!!

Food, service, and ambiance 10/10! Noor was the best server. Best lunch spot for sushi!!!

Let me just start with for me it has been pretty hard to find quality sushi! This place is definitely now on my top 3 list. I've been wanting to come here for a while and we finally had the opportunity. Of note SUSHI SPECIAL ON TUESDAY IS 2 FOR $25. Now that we got that out of the way. We made a reso and were seated promptly. I will say we were seated by a door which I didn't think would be an issue, but it was a chillier night so every time they open and closed the door I was hit with a cold breeze. Our waitress Juliette was great. Super knowledgeable about the menu and was great at making suggestions. We ordered a ton of things, I know forsure I enjoyed the Lychee martini but I am def coming back for the espresso martini to try next time. Still on the hunt to find the best in Raleigh. The sushi I had I can only remember 2, but the sensei and the screaming o were FIRE. The flavors were well proportioned and the roll was well made. Didn't fall apart in my chopsticks which is a must. My only gripe, and it's very small, but we like honest opinions right? The small plates that are on the table don't have much of a ridge to them. So when transferring an app on to my plate it slid off and on to the table. Like I said, super small thing, but for me it was important to be said. Overall that alone wouldn't keep me from coming back, I'll just choose not to use the small plates that come with the table.

My husband and I visited on a Friday for lunch and had a fantastic first experience. We ordered oysters, ahi tartare, and four rolls--everything was fresh and delicious. Service was just okay, but the food made up for it. Unfortunately, when we returned the following Friday, it was like visiting a completely different restaurant. We had to send back multiple dirty dishes (forks, side plates, even the soy sauce dishes). The food took an unusually long time, and when it finally arrived, the rolls were warm and looked/tasted noticeably different--even though we ordered the exact same items as the week before. The most concerning issue was discovering peanuts on one of the rolls (the "Screaming O"), hidden in the chili sauce. My husband is severely allergic, and thankfully I caught it before he took a bite. There was no peanut indicator on the menu, and when we called to double-check, the host was unsure and then incorrectly stated they were a nut-free establishment. That's simply not true--and incredibly dangerous. It's really disappointing because our first visit was great, but the inconsistency in quality, cleanliness, and lack of allergen awareness was unacceptable. We won't be returning.

I LOVE ZEST. We normally sit at the bar. A bit of advice, get there when they open at five. Otherwise the bar fills up. I normally get either the lobster tacos which are deliciously filled with lobster meat and very tasty filling. The Korean cheesesteak is AMAZING! The softest steak you'll ever have in a cheesesteak. It's like butter. And the roll is super fresh. The French fries are also delicious. Too delicious lol. Their drinks are fantastic. A nice variety of tasty cocktails. Mango, lychee martinis are really good. And if you're not full yet, try the green tea ice cream. The best!

Pretty good lunch deal that gets you plenty of food for a pretty reasonable price. I've never been a big sushi fan, but I liked this spot. Very clean, modern feel.

So the food was fine. It was just really small portions (which I know it's small plates) but for a lot of money. Which I'm fine with doing if the quality of food is great. But it's just meh.

We were very excited to try Zest and it didn't disappoint! Our order for dinner was very basic, so I definitely want to go back and try some of their more intricate options - the menu was way more vast than I expected. Sitting outside was really nice and we had incredible service. My water was consistently refilled before it ever reached 25% full. I forgot to take a photo of our sushi rolls (tempura shrimp and salmon & cucumber), but everything else was beautifully served and quite tasty.

I ordered the crouching tiger sushi roll. The sushi roll taste very fresh rice was good consistency. We really liked it. We also ordered the shaking beef, tenderloins, and the pork bellly. The pork belly was excellent! Presentation was beautiful and the seasoning and the taste were perfect. The shaking beef tenderloins look great! It was A little too salty so we returned it, and the second plate came out good The Taste was good but as far as presentation goes, they left out the cucumbers and to me if somebody complains about the food being too salty or whatever the reason I would just go the extra mile to make them say wow when the second dish came out. we enjoyed the experience.! We would definitely come back here again!. When somebody returns to dish, this is in my opinion the opportunity for the restaurant to take it a level up in this sense I would say they failed a little bit, not terribly, but they could've gone the extra mile made sure the cucumber was there and the presentation was on point this would've taken my view from a four star to a five star. I will say our waitress, Joyce was exceptional!!!! one other thing I would suggest is the door to the restroom and the employee only door and even the kitchen door I would put soft closed doors so that whenever an employee goes through them or customer, you don't hear that bang. That would be it because the bang takes away from the ambience

I've been to Zest twice. The first time I went, it was when they were just opening. The meal inside the restaurant was TOP NOTCH but the takeout left something to be desired. I let management know of my suboptimal experience, and James went above and beyond to make it right. The second time I went in, everything was perfection. If you are looking for FRESH seafood, fantastic cocktails, innovative dishes, and an evening well spent, look no further! I'll be back for the food AND the service!! Such a great addition to downtown Cary!

My wife and I have been here several times since it opened, and have had a consistently excellent experience. The staff is very friendly, even learning to recognize us when we come in. I usually get their nigiri, and my wife tries the rest of the menu. Some standouts are the hamachi and the tabletop tenderloin. The only dud I've had there so far is the ramen, just didn't have enough flavor.

Woohooo!! Downtown Cary now has a Sushi Restaurant! Some really great dishes on this menu... like Hamachi Jalapeño & a real crab cali roll. They also have oysters & some interesting handhelds & bowls. Soft opening happening tonight & this weekend 8/9/2024. This place is on Chatham Street across from Dom's bagels & near Scratch. It's in a brand new building on the bottom floor. They have tables outside & also a sushi bar. Everything is clean & new. The food was excellent!! Our server Emily was really awesome too. Several others also came by while we ate & checked with us too. Great service here!

Fantastic night at Zest. The family had an abundance of sushi, while I enjoyed the crabmeat. Drinks were on point and the service was excellent!! Will definitely be back {{*.*}}

This is supposed to be the best new restaurant in Cary- i have been here several times and it's always great but........ We went tonight and every single sushi roll fell apart rolled horribly. Bartender was so rude he completely ignored us and every single employee has resting b face. They looked and acted miserable. I don't know what is going on

We ordered the crab wontons, pork belly, and poke boomer roll. Everything was excellent, delivered to the table quickly, and fresh. Our waitress, Sarah, was one of the best waitresses we've ever had the pleasure of sitting with. She was friendly and gave wonderful guidance on the menu and recommendations that did not disappoint. She was knowledgeable and an absolute delight. There were several items on the menu that caught my eye. We will definitely be back, in no small part, thanks to Sarah.

My experience here was nothing less than stellar. I stopped for lunch today while I was in the Cary area. I found parking behind the building and walked in to the beautifully decorated restaurant. The hostess was very friendly and I had the option of dining in ladle or out. I chose inside so I can see the restaurant. The menu hit everything that I would ever want to order. Raw oysters- sushi and and small plates. I chose the scallop crudo and tina tartare. The crudo was unique with an orange flavor which I found delightful. The tartare had such a delicious mark are and I loved the crisps that were served with it. My server was excellent and I would dine here frequently if I lived in the area. I thought the pricing was rather reasonable for an upscale restaurant. Highly recommend.

Service is good - well timed, not intrusive. Food is fantastic. The crab wontons are delicious. Rolls are inventive and tasty.

The inside is very modern and put together but was not impressed by their sushi. The food did come out fast and the service was good but the quality of the sushi was not there unfortunately.

Service was good and ambiance was nice. The food is just not inspiring. The ginger salad was heavy with sesame oil, the calamari was really rubbery, the flight of oysters was good but the chicken teriyaki was definitely underwhelming. The desserts were good (chocolate mochi ice cream and Yuzu cheesecake). I didn't have the sushi and maybe if we go again we will try that and see if it's better.

The sushi was good. The venue is pretty loud. They have a nice big bar with lots of seating.

I would give it 10 Stars if I could! The food, service, and atmosphere is amazing! We went on a Monday, so cocktails were half off. The Lily Pad really stood out among the four we tried. If you like pear, I highly recommend. We got the spicy garlic edamame and ginger salads to start. The edamame had a building heat so if spice isn't your thing I would say try the original or truffle; if you like spice, this is perfect! The ginger salad was super fresh! Great balance of mixed greens, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and a very tasty ginger dressing. Favorite roll of the evening went to Two if By Sea! The tuna melted in our mouths! A close second was Story of the Salmon. It was the pop of the lemon zest that really took it to the next level! Over the Rainbow is a standard rainbow roll, a great litmus test IMO, the fish was super fresh! The flourless torte was spot on. It had a wonderful fudgy quality to it. The strawberry coulis with the homemade whipped cream really balanced out the density of the torte. The dining room was lovely. Very spacious and clean. Our server, Allie, was absolutely fantastic! She was incredibly attentive, made sure we had everything we needed, and was very knowledgeable about the menu. We're both looking forward to returning to try the rest of the menu!

Our sushi was wonderful, and we are pretty particular about sushi. However, our service was extremely slow. Oddly, they brought up my entrée, and did not bring out my husband's. We thought surely it would come within a few minutes, but after 10 minutes, he had to go in looking for it, it came out about 5 to 10 minutes after that. I find it completely awkward to serve one person in a party of two to not serve the other person, they explained it as they wanted the food to be the freshest. Knowing this I would never go to this restaurant on a date unless you want to awkwardly eat in front of your date while they stare at you. All in all, the sushi was good but the experience wasn't.

Liz was a fabulous server! The food is always good but the ambience and service make it even better.

Tried Zest in downtown Cary for dinner--it's a sleek, modern spot with a nice bar and surprisingly good acoustics despite the open ceilings and bustling crowd. We had a mix of specialty rolls, lobster tacos, and handhelds, paired with a couple of cocktails. While the food was just okay (nothing really stood out), the service was attentive, and the overall vibe was solid. Definitely worth checking out if you're curious, but temper your expectations on the food front. Pro tip: make a reservation--it's still riding that new-restaurant buzz!

Service is 5 star and food was incredible. We had the pleasure of having Logan as our server and he is phenomenal. The sushi is fresh and thought out combinations. Looking forward to going back already.

Went to Zest for lunch. My wife ordered the crispy chicken sandwich which was described as a double fried chicken breast. She was served a chicken thigh which she does not eat. When she questioned it she was told that the had changed to a thigh but have not changed the menu.

Service was good overall. We ordered the sushi Tuesday special and asked for it to come out first. It came out after our entrees. The two if by sea roll was incredibly spicy and had far more chili crisp than other photos of it. The top was nearly inedible. Seaweed salad and miso soup was good. Ramen was ok but could have been more flavorful. Soft shell crab blt was ok. It was missing tomatoes and onions but fine. We ordered chocolate mochi ball for dessert but received chocolate torte. It was good. Very rich. Location is good and the restaurant is promising. Food could be better for us to want to return frequently. We would come back for the Gulf oyster happy hour sometime.

Money oriented. Good food and fresh fish however a very rude condescending host and stuck up manager that doesn't have the means to decipher when to be kind either.

Beautiful restaurant but the menu has a way to go. we went for lunch and the ramen and sushi ordered were mediocre at best. bland best described the experience. Our waiter certainly could tell but did not open the opportunity for any feedback or remedy...which makes me think it wasn't a surprise. Curious to see where this place is at in 6 months time.

Everything was fabulous! Service was amazing- our waitress Sarah was so awesome too! All food was so delicious and truly cannot wait to go back!!

Saki Mimosa Sundays! The saki mimosas are so good. If you don't drink alcohol, I recommend a club soda with an orange juice floater :) went on Sunday for some afternoon sushi, which is great because they're open all day and don't close from 2-5pm like a lot of places. I was feeling a bit down and Brooke (the bartender) was so sweet and chatted with me and checked in several times to make sure we were so happy with everything. I got the half baked roll with amazing smoked crab topping I could eat a whole bowl of. 10/10!

As foodies, my husband & I love trying out new restaurants. We were excited to come here & try a new sushi restaurant. On a Friday, it was super busy so we expected a subpar service. We ordered a few sushi from hamachi, scallop crudo, hidden dragon, salmon poke crunch- such a letdown as sushi doesn't taste fresh at all. We had to return even a simple salmon poke as it has an after taste! We ordered a cooked dish- Thai chicken lettuce wrap which was okay. For us, this is not a good sushi place at all. We moved from the Bay Area and it's really a hit or miss finding a really good sushi place here in the Triangle. We have very few favorites- small sushi place in Apex, one in Morrisville & one in Fenton. So far, these are the only places we trust for really fresh & really good sushi. Cooked dishes might be better to try at Zest but sadly not sushi.

Food was very good. Service was great. Glad they could accommodate moving our table outside!

This is my second time at Zest and the food and service were excellent both times! We tried several dishes and drinks, all were fresh, delicious, and beautiful presentation. Our server, Sarah, is amazing! So friendly, warm, knowledgeable, astute, and welcoming! Very clean and beautiful restaurant and I'll be returning many times!