Zov's Bistro & Bakery Cafe

Hummus is pureed chickpeas, tahini, and extra virgin olive oil. Zōv’s version is creamy, like a smooth peanut butter. The lemon flavor is very light, which is a good thing. The fried chickpeas add a crunchy texture and slightly salty flavor.

Baba Ganoush is fire-roasted eggplant, and extra virgin olive oil. The eggplant is fire-roasted to perfection and blended to the perfect creamy consistency. The flavor is well balanced without bitter or sour notes. A hint of smoky flavor is instilled from the fire-roasting process.

Dinner rolls are awesome! Take the time to break open the roll and smell the aroma of the yeasty, fresh baked rolls. The texture is chewy and springy like European country bread.

Blackened Ahi Tuna atop baby spinach, artichokes, asparagus, candied walnuts, and tomato tossed in pomegranate dressing. The ahi is seared to perfection, but a bit of additional salt is needed on the outside to bring the ahi flavor forward. The pomegranate dressing is perfect, not too sweet, and pairs well with the spinach. The asparagus is cooked to a nice crispness, not mushy at all. The candied walnut give it a sweet and savory flavor and crunchy texture.

Lamb Kebob is marinated with lemon and white onion, presented atop jasmine rice pilaf, with your choice of eggplant tagine or cucumber salad (on this visit, cucumber salad was chosen). The lamb is cooked to medium rare (per request) and seasoned to perfection. The lamb flavor is definitely at the forefront of this dish. The jasmine rice pilaf is fantastic – delicate flavor works well with the lamb. The cucumber salad is refreshing with crisp flavors from the Persian cucumbers, mint, and green onion.

Trio of Crème Brulee includes vanilla bean, banana chocolate chip, and seasonal (on this visit, it was Orange Cointreau). The vanilla bean crème brulee had a rich vanilla bean flavor with a creamy, velvety custard texture. The banana chocolate chip crème brulee is a fantastic combination reminiscent of a deluxe banana custard pie with chocolate. The orange Cointreau is more for the cocktail lover. It is creamy but if you’re not connoisseur of fine liqueurs, this may be too bitter for you.