ZOMG, Zuzul Coastal Cuisine on a pretty day is like taking a bath in a Calgon commercial. Please, take me away.
This parking lot-forward patio is almost like the beach if you squint hard enough, but the ceiling fans and cross-breeze on these 75-degree days make me feel like I’m on an island in Greece or maybe some Costa Rican shoreline … and the home goods store “At Home” is the ocean.
OK, maybe that’s a stretch.
And so are these pants after I had a “because it’s a beautiful day” lunch at a place I usually find too fancy for the average Friday fun-day lunch.
This ultra-posh patio, with tables adorned with white tablecloths and cold water in fancy cobalt blue glasses, is tucked among the other restaurants and shops in the Whole Foods parking lot. Here, the level of service is incredible, from the hostess standing outside who leads you to your table all the way to the server who whisks your plate away and comes back with it in a neat brown bag.
There was no way I was going to be able to finish this Wagyu burger and pile of fries, which was surprisingly well priced for the atmosphere and quality of ingredients. Everything is elevated, layered with sweet caramelized onions, avocado and spring mix on a bougie grilled bun. This checks all of the boxes of an elevated burger.
with mushroom gravy.
The fries were the kind I always wished I could make at home. Not greasy. Not floppy. Crisp, tan skin on. Still hot. I could see the salt stuck to them.
This wasn’t even my plate.
My real plate was the crispy fried chicken. It is served in a bowl of luxurious, creamy potatoes and covered in mushroom gravy, which takes away a lot of the crisp, but it doesn’t take away from the joy of this one-bite wonder of a flavor combination.
I already had it in my head that I would be trying their “internet foodie group-famous” white chocolate raspberry bread pudding, but there was no more room in my belly, so I asked for it to go.
They don’t just slap a random-shaped square of it into a clamshell and send you on your way. Our waiter packed each piece of the dessert, including the creamy butter topping, raspberry compote and house-made whipped cream. Since they bake each one in its own little circle, they come out perfectly sized and were easy to make fancy at home after heating it up in the oven for a bit. They even gave it to me in a paper gift bag as if they were giving me a present. It felt like my birthday.
It did not last until the next day, I assure you. The compote was plentiful and even got added to my homemade pancakes the next morning.
I am not rich, but eating at Zuzul for lunch makes me feel like I might be. It’s not just about the food. It’s the ambiance, the way the staff caters to your every need, the striving for perfection in everything they do. It’s a refreshing escape from Youree Drive and a must-try.
Zu-won’t regret it.
Zuzul Coastal Cuisine is located at 1370 E. 70th St., Suite 1100.
This article was originall published in the June 2026 issue of Three 18 Insider magazine.
