ZoT

I had dinner here with two friends, sharing the mussels and tasting the kangaroo. The beer selection was crazy, requiring a good fifteen minute stare at the menu to figure out what was best suited to go with what.
Sadly, the place is now closed. So no Lion tasting anytime soon!

I debated between giving this place 4 or 5 stars. Here’s my reasoning…
Pros–
Interesting menu variety
EVERYTHING was cooked/​prepared perfect
Excellent beer selection
Our server was on point
Cons…
A bit pricey
They were out of some items
Odd set-​up in the restaurant
Bathrooms
And why ZoT deserves 5 stars. I think that for excellent food I can ignore all of my con’s, (afterall, it wasn’t that pricey). We went with a group of 10, and the restaurant was very accommodating. We started with a selection of beers, all recommended and described perfectly by our server. Our server (wish I remembered his name) was on point all night. He didn’t give us any BS or yuppiness (is that even a word?!) — just excellent recommendations, or a simple «I don’t know, but let me ask the chef,» if he didn’t. I’ve spent 15 years in the restaurant business, and I’m rarely impressed– I was impressed.
Our group started with 5 different types of mussels. Their mussel selection alone would bring me back to this place. The Bruxelles, Snob, Red Devil, & Tarragon were excellent. With each course, we were recommended another great beer selection for pairing. I had attempted to order the ostrich, which they were out of, and then the kangaroo, which they were out of also, and then settled on the bison, which was prepared perfectly.
The bathrooms only have a curtain covering the stall, and on both trips to the bathroom, I was surprised by some guy accidentally walking in on me. Let’s chalk it up to this place being «eclectic»!
It is pricey, (but not that pricey), but I think overall its worth it for really good food, prepared really well. I also appreciate that they don’t try to fancy up this place. Everything is straightforward, no BS, and delicious.
An added plus. The bartender sent over a round of drinks, including one for our server. My husband and I had just gotten engaged, 2 couples were just married, and another were on their first night out together/​alone after having a baby. Overall, nothing disappointed, and it was an excellent night out.

Went here on the recommendation of a friend who said the beer list is killer. While the place is marketed as a belgian restaurant don’t let that discourage you if you’re unfamiliar with the cuisine. They have plenty of non belgian items such as a delicious bison burger. The layout of the place is kinda strange.
When you first walk in, you walk into an empty front of the house, there is no host stand, an empty bar, and some spare tables to lounge around. At first, I wasn’t quite sure what the deal was. If you walk back into the main dining area you’ll see the bar to the right. As I mentioned previously, this place has a huge beer list. The list was recently updated and they carry over 150 beers from all over the world, not just Belgium.
For food I ordered a kilo of Provencal mussels, overall they were so so. The mussels themselves were quite small but still pleasant enough. They came with frites (fries) which were real good.
The saving grace was probably the bison burger my girlfriend got. The flavors were real good and I wish I had ordered it myself.
I’d probably return back here for the beer alone, the food is just a bonus.

In a recent visit to Zot, the place was pretty quiet on a Wednesday around 9pm for dinner.
Our waitress was nice and attentive. Good solid service, made sure we had what we needed (except when we wanted salt). The onion soup was in desperate need of some salt, which was difficult to fathom as a regular connoisseur of a soup covered with gooey cheese…
The french fries were great. Crispy on the outside with some softness still left on the inside. My boyfriend enjoyed the bison, but was disappointed they were out of ostrich. Overall, we had a positive experience and enjoyed dinner at a cozy table in the back corner.

Monday night all you can eat mussels and a good selection of Belgium brews won me over. Though, I could barely finish one kilo of mussels, so «all you can eat» was a waste for me.
Food that that we tried tasted great and wasn’t ridiculously overpriced.
Our server was A+ and the bartender gave us some great beer suggestions.
I am coming back for sure.

Went to ZoT for the first time a few days ago.
Great atmosphere, great service (the bartender was knowledgeable and helpful and the waiting staff was very good).
The food was good and not too expansive.
Beer selection is definitely good.
Overall, a great place to grab a bite and have a few beers, especially if you like good beer.

I’m not even sure if this place is still open but in the event it is, stay away. We went to the upstairs bar on a Saturday night, lured in by the «late night happy hour.»
The place was dead, and the techno was blasting. The beer list was good, but the bartender played dumb when we asked about what was on special. My favorite part of Zot though, was the couple having sex to the techno on the couch. Classy place. If it weren’t for the dart-​boards we would have just left before beers.

So this virgin Unilocaler attended her first UYE here on Thursday, and what an experience. The bar selection was phenom, even my very undeveloped beer palate could appreciate the light Belgian that Chuck set my ignorant self up with. The people, of course, were great, and the service was as decent as you get with a party of 20+. A very satisfying evening.
The menu seems to be inspired by an episode of Survivorman. I’m quite the unapologetic carnivore, but I’ve come to realize that there are some organisms that the universe does not intend for me to eat. Crickets are the newest addition to that list. I appreciated the fried-​ness, as I’m sure the naturally crunchy texture would have freaked me out otherwise. This way, I only had the pungent taste to grapple with. Next time, I’ll pass.
However, I would have happily forced down the other half of my cricket to earn an extra helping of kangaroo. Nicely seared, medium rare, with morels and fiddleheads. This is a new meat for me, and I was pleased to find that it was not terribly gamey. Highly recommended.
So between the group of complete strangers, beer I cant pronounce and wacky dishes, it was an adventure! I’d love to return the next time I’m feeling daring. After all, I have yet to taste skunk, komodo dragon or giant squid.

I wish I could give a separate review for the bartender (his name is escaping me), because I would give him five stars for his amazing service, great memory and the ability to keep it together while singlehandedly serving the entire restaurant and bar area.
Alas, this review is based on my entire ZoT experience, which was closer to a 2.5 but I’m rounding up. Our very large party was somewhat urged into a $ 35 tasting menu, with no one really knowing what exactly that entailed. I insisted on being a pain in the ass and requested a separate check so I could order my mussels and frites and steer clear of Jiminy Cricket.
I ordered the Bruxelles mussels, which I had read about in LaBan’s review. I was underwhelmed and expected a lot more flavor. I tried one of the mussels from the tasting menu and liked their spiciness a lot more.
The frites were seasoned well but I would have preferred something crispier… ZoT’s variety had the consistency of limp noodles. The blue cheese dipping sauce I ordered on the side was great, though.
When the communal bill arrived at the table, shock and awe transpired over the total cost of dinner and drinks. I was thankful to remain out of the loop.
ZoT didn’t leave me with any warm and fuzzies, other than the amazing service by the aforementioned bartender. The Unilocalers I kept company with, however, were pretty awesome. Five stars to McThrill for organizing such a well attended soirée!

Originally, I was simply going to post a link to Michelle (cupcake) C here because her review was spot on. That, however, would be cheating you out of the inner workings of my own warped mind.
I cant really give this place a bad review. Most of my problems with it stem from fussy eating habits and city-​phobia. I too, came here for McThrills UYE event. I hate coming into the city, and there are only a handful of people I do it for. McThrill is one of them. There was also the draw of meeting many Unilocalers, who I feel close to, but have never met. As well as the Unilocalers who Ive met and enjoy being around. What Im trying to say is, the location didnt matter.
Im not an adventurous eater, so ZOT really isnt a place for me. I got roped into the tatsing menu, and after being offered rattlesnake and cricket, I realized I would be in trouble. Ive often entertained the idea of signing up for Survivor. The main thing hampering that dream, is the possibility of being in an eating challenge. I couldnt do it. And since there was no winning immunity for my tribe, I passed.
I did however try the mushroom soup (not bad but tasted like what i imagine the forrest floor tastes like.) I also was talked into trying the Kangaroo. It was beeflike but the only satisfaction I got from it was being able to say I did it. There were fries. Glorious, simple fries. (i hope! I didnt ask!). Also the german dunkle beer I got was fantastic. Verdict is however, that I wouldnt come here to eat.
I liked the area and would agree its a fine place for drinks. I agree that our server/​bartender was awesome. We were over 20 strong and his attitude never dampened, even when we constantly switched seats and blocked him from the wine area. (why is the wine area out with the tables?)
Basically, I spent over $ 40 for a great bottle of beer, a few fries and a chunk of Kangaroo. Add to that the $ 40 parking ticket I got (Did I mention I hate the city?) and a seat at something out of Pankot Palace and you have one expensive night. But you know what? It was worth it. I met some great people, saw some old friends (new/​old and old/​old), and really enjoyed myself. Well Done McThrill!

Mmmm, beer…
This bar has probably the most tremendously awesome selection of beers in Philly. Plus it’s pretty easy to pick the type you want because the menu sorts out the differently types nicely. Also, the waiters and bartenders are very helpful with suggesting good choices. We also had some appetizers, very tasty. Not exactly inexpensive, but the beers are so strong that 2 or 3 is all you need.
The décor is very chill, mostly soft music playing. Last time I went, Amelie was on the TVs, so that was a bit different. Great place to go if you’re with a small group and want to chill with a great beer.

Ding, Ding, Ding! Round two at Zot, and I was back with a vengeance.
After leaving satisfied by appetizers and beer after my last visit, all that was left to do was eat kangaroo. I made sure to arrive early with friends, and we were ushered right to the bar where the mega-​server from last time happily greeted us and proceeded to remind me of everything I ordered and talked about during my last visit, right down to the Arrogant Bastard. (Her name is GINA, and she is still as amazing a server/​bartender/​kangaroo aficionado as before. Without a doubt, my vote for the best server in the City of Brotherly Love.)
After wowing me with her memory, Gina took my group’s order and got right to making beer recommendations, describing each down to the scent. She didn’t lead us astray at all, and she was even polite when my slightly-​intoxicated amigo sort of kind of maybe fell off his stool.
I got my kangaroo, and I ordered it in a red wine sauce with Belgian Brussels sprouts on the side. Now, I’m an atheist by practice, but upon sinking my teeth into the first morsel of kangaroo meat on my plate, I saw God, Allah, and Buddha, all at once, all dining with me. The surprising flavor of the naturally lean meat sent my taste buds into uproar, and the sprouts with bacon on the side were an excellent compliment.
In all, this ranks as one of the best meals I’ve had since I started working in the city in September. I will be back, but I don’t feel the need to review anything else about Zot. It is simply amazing to me. The concept is defined while not overwhelming or forced, the food is handled brilliantly, and we all know how I feel about the service. Please, for the love of all that is holy, eat at Zot. NOW!
On a side note, on my way out the door, Gina treated my group to a trial of Zot’s homemade bacon vodka. Any bacon lovers out there should be at least slightly intrigued by that. Give it a go!

Had to sit at the bar with my girlfriend so we weren’t necessarily expecting top of the line service BUT the bartenders turned out to be of great help when choosing our beers and our meals.
This wasnt our first time so we didnt get mussels (which are –mostly– great) so I decided to try the Sweet Breads with which the bartender recommended the Beurre Maitre D’ and my girlfriend opted for the Bison Steak with Archiduc Sauce (Creamy Mushrooms) (my recommendation).
For appetizers, I got the special which was Oysters with American Caviar and Vinegar and knowing the chef had served Foie Gras before (at the Flintstones Dinner — other review to come), my girlfriend had me ask the bartender if there was some in the kitchen. And so she ended up eating a beautiful piece of seared foie gras with a Cherry Brandy Sauce.
The Foie was great, the oysters tasted fresh but I had had better.
The Bison was surprisingly lean but juicy at the same time.
My Sweet Breads were just right and I will look for them at other restaurants.
For dessert, we had a mix of Berries with Fresh Whipped Cream and Gran Marnier. Certainly had a kick to it at the end.
It was nice to discover another side to ZoT and we were certainly not disappointed. Will be back for the Flintstones Dinner.

You know that you don’t get out enough when two friends come out for a Philadelphia visit from Pittsburgh, Pa. and they do their research and take you to all sorts of places off the beaten path. That is exactly how I discovered Zot last night. My good friend Kelly, with her mad planning skills and stacks of Google maps, looked into Zot because she is a lover of mussels. I am very picky when it comes to mussels and have only eaten mussels that I have really enjoyed twice in my life. Well, make that three times now.
Kelly and I split 2 kilos of ZoT’s Bangkok mussels, which are mussels boiled in a scrumptious broth of lemongrass, cilantro, and ginger. It was heavenly! Not to mention that two kilos of mussels are a whole ridiculous mess of mussels. ZoT serves the mussels in the same pot that they were boiled in, and you can use the lid to dispose of the mussel shells.
ZoT has 50 different mussel n’ sauce combinations. The combos range from the pretty safe Mushroom Crème mussels, which are mussels boiled in a sauce of button mushrooms and cream, to the more adventurous combinations like the Chocolat mussels, which are mussels boiled in a sauce of Callebout chocolate and beer.
The beer menu at ZoT is also quite extensive and impressive, specializing in mostly Belgiun beers. Keeping with the Belgiun theme, they also serve friets, Belgium’s answer to French fries. They are the same thing, really, but the word «friets» makes them more fun to order.
The atmosphere in ZoT is very chill and laid back, with dim lighting, candles, and great music. I am normally not one for the hoity-​toity Old City/​Center City eateries and I like to stick to my brew pubs, but ZoT offers everything that I look for in a place. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to try something unique, new, and fun.

I went here for a girls’ night out, so we could have drinks and appetizers, sometime last summer. I had heard it was one of my friend’s favorite places, but I also read somewhere that it wasn’t good, and they kept a dog running around the kitchen.
We arrived, and it was kinda empty in the front. No room at the bar, which leads me to believe the drinks were good. There was a weird Flintstone’s dinner going on in the back room, which was completely packed, and the entire waitstaff was devoted to those customers only. We got, basically, no attention, even though we wanted to order their high-​priced cocktails and appetizers, and there were about 10 of us. I can’t remember the food very well, which leads me to believe it was nothing special. There was no sign of any dog that night. The other strange thing was a co-​ed bathroom with 2 stalls, which had curtains instead of doors! This was too weird for me. I felt very uncomfortable.
Eh. There are too many places I would like to try, so I won’t be back.

I’m beyond happy that I finally made it down here because McThrill might just have a new favorite bar. I’ve been a fan of Monk’s and Eulogy forever. But I haven’t been a fan of how overcrowded they’ve been getting, and of how that overcrowding has been pretty much affecting the service and quality. So when I found out that there was another bar/​restaurant that dished out a lot of the same offerings that didn’t get as crowded I was curious. When I heard that it hooked up things like an all you can eat mussels night and a late night happy hour that curiosity grew. And then when I found out that my Friends at Gain Mind bought a crazy trance party here every 3^rd Friday, well I think your seeing the trend. So I finally had to check it out and it definitely delivered.
The late night happy hour was incredible, and the selection was a beer snobs dream. Great bartending too! I knew that I wanted a Belgian blond that I haven’t had before, and the bartender was right on with Grimbergen being amazing. In the end I had 6 beers that I haven’t had before and they were all a strong and fruity blur. Can’t comment on the food yet, but the exposed brick, good music on ITunes, and Foosball tables made the ambiance of this place a winner.
Holy Crap was the Gaian Mind party sick! Colored wings crashed into me as jellyfish swam through the rainbow air. And suddenly everything was illuminated! that pretty much just sums up the scenery that unfolded before me. there was one room that provided a frenzy of music and dancing, and another that was a little more down tempo so people could dance, talk, and hula hoop as they desired. They had a cash bar that provided good beers for $ 5 (and lager for less if you weren’t as adventurous) and well drinks. The bartender was somewhat frazzled, but since it was a pulse-​pounding trance party I can’t really blame her. I have no idea what else goes on upstairs but after this I definitely intend to find out.
Overall Zot has a lot of my favorite things under one roof. And that’s what makes it pretty damn amazing.

Wow. The kangaroo is absolutely phenomenal. It really is like steak, only better. Way better.

For me, definately the best Belgian bar in Philadelphia. The beer selection is fantastic, the bartender Chuck is extremely knowledgable about beer and can recommend something for everyone no matter your taste. The atmosphere is chill and comfortable and the space is open with a cavelike setting. The upstairs bar has all american craft beers– different from anything you’d see at a standard bar, and once a month Gaian Mind Philadelphia (
) transforms the upstairs space for a night of drinking and dancing to groovy psychedelic music.
Last night was my first time ordering off of the standard dinner menu and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I ordered the seafood of the day, which happened to be black sea bass which was pan seared, my boyfriend ordered the shrimp along with our choice of sauces (there must have been about 15 different ones to choose from). I had the spinach and garlic, he had the garlic and herb, with a side of asparagus. The fish was delicious and well prepared. For dessert we enjoyed a liqueur berry cup– delicious fresh fruit. For beer we had Abbaye D’Aulne Blonde des Peres– a tasty blonde ale… perfect with our dinner.
I’m already a regular at this bar for reverse happy hour, now i’ll totally be back for dinner as well.

Zot, first and foremost, has an incredible beer selection. It is a Belgian bar and there are at least 2 8×11 pages of beers listed from the motherland as well as tons of beers from plenty of other countries.
The menu is heavily weighted towards mussels, there being around 30 ways to order them (you can order a half, whole, or two kilo (s) – great for sharing). There are a few alternatives, one worth mentioning is their Kangaroo. My friend ordered it and said it was like steak only better. Much much better. All entrees come with a healthy portion of Belgian frites. Delish!
The downstairs is dark and candle lit – good for romantic dates or fancy dinners. Upstairs has a bathroom theme which is kind of fun and innovative – the taps empty into a claw foot tub and there is a free standing sink with toothbrushes sitting there for decoration. There are couches and tables to sit at. Bands play upstairs and there is table service (same menu as downstairs). Both floors have foosball!
One warning – this is not a place to take a vegetarian to eat. There are no vegetarian entrees on the menu. But if you have vegetarian friends who like to drink great beer and eat frites then, by all means, take them! If you are looking for a similar place that is more vegetarian friendly I would recommend Monk’s.

Zot is awesome! Way better than Monks or Eulogy. So much more room to move, dine and dance upstairs when they are having a party.
On a Friday night go see John Schenk play some tunes upstairs, while you enjoy a great beer and delicious food. Look for Gaian Mind and others on Saturday nights.
Lots of great beer and mussel choices, and a very adventurous menu. The décor is gorgeous with exposed brick walls. You can play foosball, watch sports on the many quality tv’s. The owner is super cool too.
They have tons of really great specials. Check out the reverse happy hour every Tuesday through Sunday night from 10 – 12 with half price draughts, and their Saturday and Sunday hangover brunch was very tasty with $ 3 yummy Bloody Mary’s and a very scrumptious mushroom and potato fritatta.
People really need to give this place a chance, it is still fairly new and they are working out some of the kinks (so bare with them)! :) It is a great place to go with a group of friends. You must check out the super cool bathroom bar upstairs.