Zooroona Restaurant

Absolutely fantastic and delicious food!! The flavor is out of this world. The atmosphere is incredible. I love the booths with the couches. It was super easy to call and make a reservation. Staff were really nice. Definitely a must if you’re in Kalamazoo!

I aboslutely love this place! One of my favorites! Always get great service, amazing food, and wonderful flavor! The staff is knowledgeable and friendly and doesnt mind answering questions, or listening to make recommendations. I came in for my birthday tonight and they even put a candle in my dessert, baklawa cheesecake, which is amazing! I have nothing but amazing things to say!! Server was superb!! Med street fries! Are a must try!!! I went for the lamb medley over hummus! Always a favorite... family had other various recommended dishes, Salmon Kabob, Chicken Biryani, and everything had such amazing flavor! 🩷

Everything was fantastic, my only complaint is having not visited sooner. Highly recommend the baklawa cheese cake, mediterranean street fries, chili fry, and chicken shawarma wrap. All of the staff was wonderful and we loved the atmosphere, very cozy… hoping to come back and take advantage of one of the big corner booths with a larger group.

My husband and I’s first time coming here and definitely not our last! The Mixed grill was top tier and the lentil soup was delicious! I’m picky about lentil soup but this one was great. The servers and the owner were all so kind. The host was extremely sweet and the restaurant itself felt like a true middle eastern restaurant. We were given Zeit and Zaatar right when we sat down which was lovely. The baklava was so tasty and fresh!

Excellent quality food and service. Portions are large and flavor is 10/10. I got the Marsala Chai Tea, a side of Hummus and the Mediterranean Street Fries.

Generous portions, flavorful combos, the mocktails are as delicious and refreshing as the cocktails The food gets to you quickly! If it's your 1st time there, ask the staff for recommendations We can't wait to go back & try more of the menu! And try a cozy, reclined seating

The food was amazing definitely a Mediterranean feel walking in all the way to the food and desserts. Everyone was very friendly and helpful with any questions we had. The drinks are strong and yummy

Tried the Turkish coffee and really enjoyed it — well prepared, balanced, and served traditionally. The space has a relaxed character and the experience overall felt thoughtful and unhurried.

The wonderful service was perfect and the food amazingly delicious. This was our first time there. We were not disappointed! Jim & Sharron H

My previous visit was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. This time, however, was AWFUL. The appetizer sample was fantastic, but they brought it with one of our entrees. I sent the entree back. They brought it back out when everyone else's entree arrived It was, of course, cold. Both servers we had admittedly were new, but anyone who has EVER eaten a meal knows.... I'm done.

Love the food! We had a large party over the weekend for my birthday and we all enjoyed our lunch. The appetizer sampler was my favorite paired with a great bottle of wine! The lamb shank and street fries were a table favorite. I wish this place was closer to home but worth the hour drive for good Mediterranean food!!

They discontinued thier famous kunafa. The chicken shawarma is not as good as before.

The food speaks for itself. It's beautifully plated and voluminous. We wanted a bit of everything, so we ordered their meat appetizer combo along with their combo plate of two different shwarmas (beef and chicken). The roasted veggies were such a nice touch and delicious, too! Everything tasted so fresh! Service was top-notch! The ladies were very accommodating and kind. When you walk in, you are immediately transported to an exotic destination. Bathrooms were very clean, too. I wasn't going to get any dessert...but I went ahead and got their rice pudding. SO GOOD! We will be back!

We were passing through the area and found this restaurant. Since we're in a rush, the restaurant staff hurried to serve 4 of us in less than 10 minutes. The food was outstanding; Swarma, Kabob, salmon etc were delicious. Wonderful service by gracious team members!

Zooroona (under new ownership) was underwhelming last night, but has potential. To start the pita, oil and Za'atar and then hummus were perfect. I ordered the El dar salad and it was just as described- lots of great flavors. My husband ordered the chicken Shawarma entree and loved it. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma wrap that was to include: chicken, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle and garlic sauce and paired with Za'atar fries. My wrap didn't not have pickles or garlic sauce and had very little flavor. My za'atar fries came without za'atar. I would have spoke up about it, but no one came to ask us about our food. I want to give this place (under new ownership) another chance but they have to be more consistent.

Great place to stop for Mediterranean food! The decor is so pretty, a lot more impressed than I expected to be for a sit down place of this price bracket, multiple options for seating. Something that also stuck out was our waiter walking through the menu with us, giving some pointers on favorites and where to find whatever might sound good to us. Overall upset that I've held out on going to this place for so long, but I'm glad I finally made the choice to give it a try!

I walk in and am mesmerized by the ambiance! The low lighting, the romantic back corner tables with drawn curtains for privacy, and the comfortable tones on the walls and even the ceiling made me feel at ease with all the real and fake plants! There were real tulips on the table which was a nice hint of life as we sat down. While waiting for the food a bowl of oil, seasonings, and pita bread was brought to the table. We ordered the House Tray Party Platter and I was delighted with the appetizer that came with it we chose Baba Ghannouj! I was doing a happy dance the entire time. I got a side plate of Tabbouleh and it was acidic, salty, and flavorful! Falafel was my least favorite, Beef Borek was moist and flavorful, Dolmeh and Chicken Kafta Kabob were good Beef & Lamb Kafta Kabob had a good flavor to them. The Beef Shawermah and Chicken Shawermah were a little dry. I think they cooked for a bit too long but I know the beef would have been good if a bit more rare. The rice was delicious with the flavor and the raisins are a wonderful touch! There were plenty of leftovers for 3 more meals! I was very pleased, and I brought my 80-year-old grandma who now likes Mediterranean food! Thank you for the great service and the lovely setting

The ambiance of this place transports you somewhere far away from its unassuming storefront. Tons of Moroccan lanterns , comfortable seating, and amazing flavors. Everything is cooked wonderfully, and the plating is as great as the taste. So much flavor in even the simplest dishes, far from bland. Servings are generous.

I pass by Kalamazoo on the drive from Chicago to Detroit, and this place is such a delightful find for lunch! They have easy, free parking, which is always nice. The ambiance is lovely! Beautiful decoration, with nice, low-volume Middle Eastern music playing in the background to set the mood. The staff was very friendly. Everything looked delicious, but we decided to go with Baba Ghanouj and two entrees: the Spiced Beef and Fig and the Lebanese Lamb over Hummus. The portions are big, which is perfect for sharing. Baba Ghanouj was excellent! It has a smoky flavor, is creamy, and has some crushed walnuts as toppings, which boosts the texture. Perfect to enjoy with their flatbread. The Spiced Beef and Fig was exquisite. It was very fragrant and flavorful, and the meat was succulent. The figs added such a nice pop of sweetness and contrasting texture to the dish. It was just beautiful. The Lebanese lamb was perfectly seasoned and tender, and the hummus was very creamy. Again, it gave a nice balance of texture. A bit of acidity may elevate the dish even further. For dessert, we ordered the date cake. It was served warm and very moist. It was such a delicious lunch, and I would highly recommend it!

Food was wonderful. Service was the worst! The Waitress didn't even know the food menu or drink. I ordered a glass of wine that was on menu. She didn't understand or was knowledgeable on the drink menu said they don't have that wine. Few minutes later I received the glass of wine. My husband ordered a margarita she asked if he wanted alcohol in it! The drink took over 20 minutes to make because she had no clue and the excuse was I had to find the drink recipe. It was sloppy and not something that should have been served. We added Baba Ganoush to our house platter which is what we always had done she up charged up and acted like she did us a favor without telling us. Needless to say the used to be our favorite spot! Not anymore staff isn't trained. a person came in for a takeout prefer and stood at the desk for over 20 minutes before anyone asked him if he needed help. We were the only ones in the restaurant at the time. It's too bad this place doesn't train staff. Don't waste your time.. we spent 100.00 on really bad service!

I reserved an early lunch spot at Zooroona on a Sunday. There's plenty of parking in surrounding strip mall in front and behind the restaurant. We walked into a beautiful, welcoming space that smelled of rich Mediterranean spices with modern and classic seating options. Beverage options are wonderfully varied. Alcoholic options are available too. I enjoyed a visually beautiful, if a bit too sweet, pomegranate Mojito Mocktail (see photo) along with warm pita, spices and olive oil. I tried a bowl of Lentil Soup - thinner than I'm used too elsewhere, but satisfyingly flavorful. My companion raved about the delicious Jordanian Street Fries - highly recommended! Our salads were good. I ordered mine Fattouch with chicken shwarma. The fowl pieces were hot and wonderfully spiced. My companion's Falafel was and crispy fresh and warm. I'd love to give Zooroona full points, except for its short-staffing that resulted in very long wait times between being seated, offered water, ordering, receiving pita, beverages, and dealing with an apparent order mix up with others that resulted in an otherwise very simple meal taking nearly 90 minutes to complete. Customers who entered well after us, left before us after full meal service. No effort was made on the part of the gentleman who greeted and seated us to acknowledge the error in any meaningful way. He took our orders, and presented us the bill but perhaps could have offered a complimentary dessert or removed an item from the bill when we shared that no dessert would be possible because we were still hours from our destination. Good food, long wait was our experience.

Had dinner here with my two sons who are in their 20s, food was really good, service was excellent and the hummus was the best we've ever had! They are still talking about it. Will definitely come back.

This place is great, really authentic. The baba ganuge was awesome. The atmosphere was great Turkish coffee and chai tea yummy

Ladies from my church took me here prior to me getting married for a bachelorette night out. It was a wonderful evening with martinis and delicious Mediterranean/middle eastern food. They had falafel, kababs, rice, grapeleaves, etc. they also had a belly dancer on stage who invited us to dance as well. It was a fun night filled with much laughter. I'll never forget it!

Never a bad meal. This place always has amazing flavors and a beautiful environment. If you like a little spice, order the "street fries". You will not be disappointed.

I went for a dinner with few friends, the food was incredible delicious, the service was exceptional and the prices are very reasonable.

Such a lovely place-dining outside on the garden patio. I tried the Brussels sprouts for an appetizer, and had the Veggie Cauliflower and Eggplant, served with a side of rice. I also tried the delightfully refreshing Limonana, a non alcoholic drink made with fresh mint. The flavors of my meal, gentle yet bright, warmed me from the inside out. I felt as if , rather than a parking area to my right, I might look up and see the Mediterranean. Truly a lovely experience. My server, Hillary was kind and beyond helpful.

Very good food! Love everything I've had from this place and the inside is beautiful!

Food was amazing. Stellar service. Beautiful ambiance. Will be sure to return anytime I'm in Kalamazoo.

The food and service were both excellent. Amazing, fresh ingredients. You sure don't leave hungry.

Excited to try this before a concert. We made reservations a few hours before (the website allowed it) but it was Mother's Day so it was understandably busy and our reservation had not been looked at. People walking in after us also with reservations were turned away. We were seated at 7pm and no one was seated after that. Even though there were empty tables. The smells were amazing. The service was slow so we ordered everything right away. Some (not all) appetizers arrived but we had no silverware, no bread. So that was sent for. After quite a long time with appetizers, we were asked if we wanted the bill. But we had 3 entrees and an additional appetizer we were still waiting for. By this time over an hour had gone by. It was at this point, the manager informed us that the kitchen was down two staff members. Had he told us this earlier, we could have gone elsewhere so that we could get to the concert on time. He offered a 50% discount. They were out of one dish so that was reordered and we received the rest of our food very quickly. By this time, there were only about 10 tables seated in the restaurant. In the end, we only received at 20% discount but we needed to go. The vegetarian sampler and the bread dipping spices were very good. Everything else was just fine. If you go on a high traffic day, I'd suggest you ask about the staffing level and make sure you have no where to be.

Liked the food and good service but knocked off a star because of their "promo". We got sent a $25 promo for the restaurant. Not a single thing on the promo said anything about minimum amounts. When we paid we were told it had to be a minimum of $100 in sales. Technically, they cannot do that and add an undisclosed restriction. We didn't push it, paid and left. But we won't be influenced by any promo in the future and will remember that this happened. Sad note after a good meal, good server and a cool place

I love the entire experience of this restaurant. The ambiance is enchanting, the service excellent, and the food is the icing on the cake. My biggest issue is there are so many things I want to try and so little time. During my last visit I ordered Aleppo Brussels Sprouts, a combo platter of Shrimp Kebab and Chop Chicken as well as the Date cake. The appetizer was delish, combo was ok - I probably wouldn't order shrimp again because there are so many other flavors to enjoy. The chop chicken was basic but exactly what I was looking for b/c I was sharing with my kiddo. The date cake was moist and and delicious, recommend! Thanks Zooroona!

I've been a fan for a long time and when it comes to dinner and a belly dancing show, it's even cooler! The food is predictable but fantastic in every way and I'm also a big fan of the atmosphere. From the salad, to the soup, to every entree I've tried; I'd eat here anytime! Just give me a reason.

The restaurant is so incredibly beautiful, I was shocked when I walked in. Beautiful lanterns hanging from the ceiling, private rooms with curtains, fresh plants everywhere. The waitresses we had were both very sweet and made me feel comfortable. We got drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts, and literally everything we ordered was incredible. The main quality of the food is very complex flavors, and it's not too spicy. I'm surprised this place isn't more popular.

We had takeout for dinner this evening, it is now top of our favorite lists. My husband got the chicken shawarma, I ate his veggies which were incredible. Along with that I got lentil soup & the Veggie rice. Both were vegan which is hard to find in the area. Some of the best food we've had in a while. Absolutely recommend

Visiting town and searched for a quick lunch place- I was not looking for a fried up, pub-style lunch. Zooroona popped up, fitted in an unassuming strip mall. We ordered the dolma (grape leaves), tabbouleh salad, hummus with beef shwarma, mango lassie, and limonada. Servers were kind and attentive, food was quick and fresh (nothing soggy), flavors were great. Overall, good fresh mediterranean food at a great price.

Excellent food; atmosphere a little exotic and fun. Service is typically very good. Prices are fair for the great food.

Ordered a chicken and shrimp dish, both were so unbearably overcooked I could not finish. Others at my table were also not satisfied with their food. The only reason for 2 stars instead of 1 star was the interior design was very nice, and the staff was very friendly.

Great food nice atmosphere just wish they took care of leftovers like box them up like saffron does that is only difference

VERY impressed with Zooroona. Being from New York and having spent a lot of time in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean, I know my cuisine. Who knew this spot in the middle of Kalamazoo makes some awesome food?! Well done! I came for a private event that had a buffet which was great because I got to sample a bunch of food, and EVERYTHING was good. Huge shoutout to the rice pudding dessert because it was amazing. Inside is beautiful and the decor is really cool, staff is great too!

My friend brought me here for my bday dinner. The atmosphere was really fun and inviting and really went with the Mediterranean vibe. We sat on the patio which was so cute with vines and decorations. The music and smells of the spices made us feel like we were really there. We were both extremely excited, however once we got the food we were slightly disappointed. Everything else was on point except for the actually food. It lacked the flavor we were expecting with Mediterranean food and all the smells in the air. It definitely wasn't bad but wasn't great. Overall still a nice experience.

Was here a couple of times many years ago. Now I'm back in Kalamazoo and this is THE BEST (if not only) lace for GOOD Middle Eastern food.

This was one of our favorite places to go for dinner on special occasions and otherwise. However, our last experience was really bad at this place. The drink was too strong, and the falafels were under cooked.

The outside is deceiving. As you walk in you are enveloped by an incredible Mediterranean atmosphere. This was the BEST Mediterranean food I have had- the hummus was INCREDIBLE! Our server was knowledgeable and helpful when we ordered and I would strongly recommend the sampler - try as much as you can! We will definitely be making the 90 minute drive just for this restaurant soon!

LOVE the food here! Dishes we've ordered have had really good flavor. The service has been pleasant as well. They've got a lunch menu which gives you a very decent portion and good selection to choose from. Dinner has happy hour which is half off apps. They've got a garlic sauce that is great that comes with your lunch and some dinner plates. The decor when you step in makes you feel you're in another country! They really went all out in transforming the environment for you. There is outdoor seating as well which is great when weather permits. Definitely recommend this place!

Just had my first date night out, now that I'm fully vaccinated, and Zooroona was a great choice! I live nearby and had passed it many times (and by passed I mean purchased treats from Tiffany's in the same plaza) but never been inside. The ambiance is charming and has a Mediterranean vibe without being overdone. I wished I'd gotten there in time to dine on the patio area but the booth we got was cozy. The service was leisurely (I got the feeling that our service was slower because of the holiday weekend) which gave us more time to take in the atmosphere and eat warm pita. Staff kept apologizing but I barely noticed how much time had passed because we were having a lovely time. I'm a Detroiter who has taken advantage of the many Mediterranean options there so I really mean it when I say that the food was awesome- I especially liked the hummus and the chicken kofta. We did the tapas option so that we could try a lot of different items because it was just too hard to choose. My wife really liked the fried cauliflower and beef and chicken kofta. We both agreed that the baba ghanouj was quite enjoyable- high praise since neither one of us usually likes it much. Tip for summer: they have hibiscus iced tea and it pairs great with ... everything on the menu. I didn't see it listed anywhere but when I asked about mocktail-type options the server recommended it.

So glad I stumbled upon this gem! Great atmosphere, friendly staff and AMAZING Food! My compliments to the chef, as that was the best lamb shank I have ever had. I will definitely be back to try more of their menu.

Once again my daughter and I had a lunch together at Zooroona. We arrived right at open and enjoyed some conversation and I had a bottle of beer. I wanted to try a few new items this time as I usually go with a good old standby. I chose Chicken Briyani and Mediterranean soup. I had read it was spicy which sounded good to me!! Our server was really good and knew her food well. We both ordered and got our meal quickly! Both were plated really nicely as in the past. It looks both attractive and colorful. The food was spectacular!! Flavorful, unique and flavorful!! The Mediterranean soup was perfect! Not at all spicy, full of harissa flavor and super flavorful! The Briyani and the yogurt sauce was perfect complimented each other. The Cauliflower was charred and had a delightful light cream sauce!! Plenty of food, but I was hungry and I finished the entire plate. My daughter said her food was excellent as usual! In fact everything I've had here is great!!

The food, drink, and ambience were fantastic. We ordered the mango lassi, lemonana, Chicken Fesenjoon and Lebanese Lamb Medley. My favorite place to eat in Kalamazoo hands down. I cannot believe I haven't been here sooner!

I dream about the lentil soup here. I no longer have family that live in Kalamazoo but i when I came back for the first time in 6 years, I made sure that this place was on the to die list. The Aleppo Brussels are perfectly crispy and so delicious. The Persian batata was also a favorite of our groups- I didn't find it to be too spicy and I have a low tolerance. Would also recommend the hummus plate! Also the wait staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. 10/10 service every time! I also want to say that we had some under cooked chicken on a kebab plate and didn't say anything to the sever. All of us had worked in the food industry and understand it happens sometimes. And it was less than half of the chicken in the dish. ANYWAY. After they took away our dishes a manager came up to us and said that she noticed we hadn't touched some of this dish, she investigated it, discovered the undercooked chicken, and came out to let us know how sorry they were and that it would be comped on our bill. THAT is incredible customer service. This team really goes above and beyond to serve their customers. If you are in Kalamazoo, you must visit!!

This was our first time eating out since covid and it did not disappoint! The salmon plum stew and vegetable biryani were both delicious entrees, but the best part was the falafel appetizer. So good! Our waitress was very good and the experience felt very Covid safe, especially since we were the only ones on the patio. Also love that they have GF labels on the menu!

Upscale middle eastern restaurant. Dot. Be fooled by the strip mall location. Space and staff are welcoming. Nice fountain in center of the room. Lighting has improved since the last time I came here. Highly recommend the party meals for a table of 4 or more. Hummus, kafta, mixed shawarma, falafel, pickled turnips, rice, mmmm good. Everything was delicious and flavors were spot on. There is a nice selection of non alcoholic beverages like strawberry basil lemonade, which was fantastic and refreshing. Splitting the check was no problem, which is appreciated. I've had my card info stolen by a server at a different restaurant once before, so I like the option for QR code contactless check out. Nice to not have my credit card taken out of sight to settle up.

Had a great meal last evening here. Started with Fattoush and Spicy Moroccan Soup. We liked them both. I wish we'd ordered 2 soups because it was so good that I wanted my own. Spicy but not hot, just tons of flavor. Bill had the beef shawermah and I had the beef and lamb kafta kabob. The meats were tender and flavorful. The rice also had a lot of flavor. Haven't been here in a long time but next time I'll go for the belly dancing. Shelby, Marissa and Tom all were attentive and contributed to the excellent experience.

YUM! First time trying Zooroona and I loved it! We got the hummus and two chicken entrees. The first was Chili Fry which had chicken, potatoes, peppers and onions. So tasty! The other was a mix of chicken, eggplant and cauliflower. Both were SO GOOD

Beef and fig continues to be the superlative entree, but lamb medley over hummus...we are not ordering again. The al dar salad is our steady favorite. The delivery has been early twice now!

Had a wonderful date night dinner here. We went on a Saturday night that was not very busy and they hooked us up with one of the special little cabana type rooms (there's a name for them but I forget), it's a literal step up from the restaurant floor with a low table and benches, pillows, and a curtain. Very romantic. The decor overall is really lovely. We got the Zooroona Tapas which was 10 hot and cold smaller portions, which is chef's choice but includes many of the basics like hummus, baba gannouj, chicken and beef shawarma, and chicken and beef kofta. I loved everything especially the olives and picked turnips, and my husband loved the cauliflower. Lots of great flavors. We also got some iced hibiscus tea which was tasty and refreshing. This is a great place for trying new dishes and sharing. I totally recommend getting one of the shareable platters, it's a very generous amount of food and you get to sample their best stuff. Our server was great, friendly and able to answer questions. Very vegetarian friendly menu, too. We will definitely come back.