Comments on: Zaiya Opens Cafe Zest in Midtown East, With Full Restaurant Coming Soon

By: Cafe Zest NO MORE

Cafe Zest NO MORE — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:24:46 +0000

I think Cafe Zest changed owners recently. I don’t think they’re owned by Cafe Zaiya people anymore.

The new management is NOT GOOD.

I no longer see the friendly Japanses cashiers. There are MUCH LESS food selection. Hot soups don’t exist anymore.

Now, there is a mean-looking middle-aged Japanese woman at the cashier. I don’t like her at all, she’s rude to non-Japanese people. I ordered noodle soup on Feb 24, the kitchen service was extremely slow. What they CALL noodle SOUP hardly contain soup at all.

I almost went into Cafe Zest on Feb 27, but as I was about to open the entrance door, I saw the same middle-aged Japanese cashier. I just walked right out. And then I went to another Japanese place down the block for lunch.

By: Harry Podder and the Big Apple » Blog Archive » Midtown East Lunch Report

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:25:51 +0000

[...] I didn’t take any picture as today was still their grand opening days and it was packed and the line was ridiculous. So borrowed some from Midtown Lunch. [...]

By: HungryM

HungryM — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:43:03 +0000

I work half a block from here, so joy of joys, the food is good! Here’s what I’ve tried so far:
Chicken curry — chicken cutlet over rice, served with curry on the side. The curry is one of the best, because it had shredded chicken in it! You can eat just the curry spooned over the rice! (about 6 bucks)
The spicy chicken sandwich – chicken cutlet inside their brioche-like roll, with really spicy mayo – yum and a steal at $4.25. Equally good is the fish sandwich, with fish filet instead of the chicken.
The nonuca (sp?) salad which comes with lettuce, corn, cucumber, panko crumbs and japanese noodles (large opaque thick, square shape if you cut a cross section) plus a miso based salad dressing
The sesame cookies are yummy, the choc chip cookies overbaked, the an doughnut good but the bean paste filling tasted a little sour. I find that the entries/sandwiches are well priced, but the cookies are overpriced. You can usually snag a table in the back for a quick bite, or even better, snag a stool in the bar area up front where it is cooler (back room has a glass roof, too hot at noontime sometimes). THank you Zach for this find!

By: SpiceJar

SpiceJar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:38:45 +0000

Walked over at 12 today, and man – the line was horrendous. For the usual folk who have just an hour lunch, it’s def’ not going to work out. We thought the 12pm lunch would be less crowded as 1pm is the more favored lunch slot – but we thought wrong. Apparently, Zaiya fans have all heard about Zest already. The line outside the door was about 70 deep at 12:15ish. There goes my plan for stocking up on ITO teas! (a blogger off another site stating even the bottled beverages were 50% off yesterday!)

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:14:23 +0000

I waited on line for a while today, but that’s definetly excusable because of the 50% sale because of the grand openning. Very clean and nice atmosphere. They have a good selection of nice drinks with low calories( mostly Ito-En stuff but they had an interesting Lychee Soda I didn’t try). I had the $8 salmon bento box. The salmon was good and so was the rice with what i believe was a bit of jasmine spice, but the potato was bland and the salad totally tasteless. Good food for the 50% sale but I would not pay full price on a regular day. I’m sure the original Cafe Zaiya is better but I have not had the opportunity to go there considering the distance from me as well as the wait I have heard about. The place is worth a try.

By: JustNancy

JustNancy — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:15:37 +0000

@Crackhead: No competition. Cafe Zest in a heartbeat. Oms/B is tiny, always packed, their selection seems to run out quickly AND it’s all rice-based treats. At Zaiya, and hopefully at Zest, there’s a ton more variety. Can’t wait to check it out.

By: Cafe Zaiya to Open Real Restaurant; Williamsburger on its Way | nyc-delivery.com

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:01:08 +0000

[...] restaurant called Nonoca, by August. (For now you can try some of Nonoca’s meals to go at Zest.) [Midtown Lunch] Williamsburg: Williamsburger should be open on South 2nd Street and Wythe Avenue in two weeks’ [...]

By: Crackhead

Crackhead — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:03:16 +0000

The problem, of course, is that this is close to Oms/B. Now there are two destination Japanese joints over there… Oh! To choose!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:04:45 +0000

I just came from there. It’s good because they have the “drink bar” you find at the kinokuniya branch- iced soy coffee without going to starbucks, woot! It can’t possibly compare to the wonder that is Zaiya on 41st, but it’s still worth the trip.

By: mish

mish — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:16:56 +0000

yessssssss! that is right around the corner from me!!! thank ye east side gods.