Ugh. Entirely frustrating. I rarely write a review to write a bad one, look at my other reviews, mostly 4 and 5 stars! My husband and I are pretty laid back, low maintenance. It takes a lot to make us mad. To be fair and honest, Zola's has been one of our favorite spots up here, we've been on multiple dates there (~20 minute drive from where we are in Conifer) and we've taken family from out of town there. Just recently we raved about it to friends from Denver and Evergreen! Today's experience was pathetic! We got there about 2pm, after the major lunch rush with our three year old. Server greeted us and took drink orders. All was well. I'd say it took about 15 minutes for my husbands beer to come- the beer was kind of warm. We ordered food the next time she came back- a salad, the hemp/veggie burger and a burger and fries from the kids menu...and we patiently waited. And waited. An hour and a half from when we were seated we still don't have our food! We watched two tables around us who were sat at the same time or 30 to 45 minutes after us eat, pay their bills and leave. The server came to the table about 45 minutes after we ordered and told me that the food was going to be out shortly. My daughter tried to order her hamburger again at that point - gotta love the honesty of a toddler who was hungry but continued to be well behaved! More time passes and I have to ask our server if the food is coming, she said "I'm sorry, I've asked three times and my manager is asking too." Okay. Thanks! My daughter asks again for a medium hamburger and fries! Another 20+ minutes go by and we see food being delivered to the table behind us that for sure sat down 40 minutes after us. We overheard their server apologize and the manager came out to them and gave what seemed like a sincere apology to them. The manager was walking by our table and seemed to stop more as an afterthought, gave the most insincere apology about our food taking so long and walked away- no eye contact and almost made us feel like we did something wrong. Our food finally comes! The salad was warm, definitely not the refreshing greens I was looking forward to and have had before. The rest of the food was decent. I don't recall being served on paper plates in the past, but we've been for dinner so maybe that's their thing? The server was prompt in dropping the bill at least...nothing was comped. It's not really about the money at this point, but the insincere/lack of apology from the manager really got to us and ruined this outing. I was a server for 9 years and in all the restaurants I worked at, if food took that long, I apologized, my manager always came out and apologized, we comped meals or offered a free appetizer/meal on the next visit. It will definitely be difficult to want to come back here. read more

I don't even know how to make the words to explain the awesome experience my family had at this restaurant. We were greeted quickly, Valarie was easily the best server I have ever met in my life. She was upbeat, hilarious and professional & it was clear she was happy and it felt like she was so passionate about what she was doing. The recommendations were great, and the food was even better. The whole staff had such a friendly, laid back vibe and it felt like we were hanging out with friends. They more than accommodated my 1 1/2 year old daughter, they brought her food quickly and first, roared like a dinosaur with her and even gave her a quick tour of the kitchen (not trying to get anybody in trouble, so everybody reading this has to know that it made my daughters night and the staff here are really doing it right!) & our daughter brought us our delicious dessert to go! Help cash out our order with Val and then fell asleep with a full belly and big smile on our way home. So, to wrap things up, yes, the food was killer, super delicious and fairly priced but the experience we got is the kind that sticks for a lifetime. We will absolutely be back over and over again. read more

We had an excellent experience at Zoka's. Our group intended to visit the Buck Snort nearby, but they were closed due to a hard freeze. What a bummer and we had no idea where we would go instead... and then as we were driving we saw Zoka's and decided to stop in. I believe our server's name was Eric (I'm terrible with names so I apologize if that's incorrect) but he was great the entire time. We were seated right away and the place actually became about 5X more busy in the time were there. Now, in response to some other reviews - I can say that the wait was a little long. We enjoyed some beverages during that time and Erie shared with us the story of the restaurant's history, so it was fine on our timeline. I don't think it's a place to go in a hurry... it's the farthest thing from fast food in time and quality. We ordered the green chili fries and crab cakes for appetizers. The fries were excellent but the crab cakes were the BEST any of us had ever had. EVER. So highly recommend them, I can't emphasize this enough. There were 4 of us and we had one order which comes with 2 of them. Had to have another order! Came with a side of cole slaw. Best I've ever had also. Amazing flavor and the use of cranberries was creative and delicious. For meals, one person had a Rueben I think (best she ever had), one had the bowl of green chili (said it was incredible), one had steak and eggs (we were there at lunch time but he said it was the best steak he's ever had with a breakfast entree, cooked to perfection medium rare), and I had a chicken sandwich with bacon and avocado. I can't remember the name of the dish but it was amazing. I had originally asked for purple potato salad but was so in love with the cole slaw I changed my order so that was my size! No desert for us (we were stuffed)... but I can also say the bloody Mary was great. The location was SO beautiful. Can't wait to come back in the summer! They also have some great artwork for sale. We didn't have any negative experiences. I'm sure when it's busy there can be LONG waits.... but the quality we had, I would wait hours. read more

Giving 5 stars because of the NEW bartender! Very attentive to our table in the bar area. New chef is great too, excellent quality food and dining experience! We are regular customers and will continue to be! read more

I really like this place and is one of the few places where I plan activities in the vicinity so that I can eat a lunch or dinner here. Great spot in town and is always busy on the weekends during the summer. Food is really good and some of my favs are the Reuben, ribs, and their purple potato salad. I am on their email distro list and everytime they have had special meal going on I have not been able to make it but each one sounded amazing. Plus it is nearby tons of great places to go rock-climbing, hiking, backpacking, fishing, disc-golfing, or just cruising/sight-seeing. read more

The staff is what I admire at this restaurant Ilsa, Landon, Ashley, and Alex were some of the funniest people I have ever met love them and in the future will come back to visit the staff read more

Really, really delicious. And that's an understatement. I had the Zoka Burger - Kobe beef, cambazola cheese, bacon, and all other sorts of delicious goodness. Seriously good. The fries were great, the purple potato salad was also a great choice. Not proud to admit this, but I wiped my plate clean with a quick finger swipe when nobody was watching. I left full and ready to go back. I live an hour away, but I'll be back. And again and again. The rest of the menu looked tasty, but it'll be tough not to order the burger. Great service, great food, reasonable prices, beautiful location. What's not to love? read more

I live in Pine and this is hands down the best restaurant for miles around. The food is delicious and fresh, they serve beer in chilled glasses. They're dog-crazy in the best possible way. Most of all, I couldn't get over how CLEAN the place was. You know how lots of restaurants have dimmed lights, and they pretend it's for ambience but it's really to hide how shabby and dirty it is inside? That's not Zokas- this place is beautifully lit with sun pouring through the windows and it is completely apparent how well the Owners take care of the place. read more

Love this place! Great views from the dog friendly patio. Lots of good vegan/vegetarian food options. The buffalo cauliflower is to die for! read more

A weekend of roughing it and being dirty leaves you craving a juicy burger. Don't pass up the opportunity to have the Zoka burger made with Kobe beef, carmelized onions, and a cheese I can't remember the name of! It's served on a buttery ciabatta bread and is completed with a creamy, tangy coleslaw. This dish is perfect for sharing since it's rich and plentiful. They even serve it up on individual dishes for you if you're sharing. Always a nice touch. The house salad is a perfect starter with arugula and other greens topped with dried cranberries, goat cheese, almonds, and a raspberry vinaigrette that is fruity but not too sweet. Top off your visit with the Zoka mimosa - a peachy alternative to the traditional mimosa. Head up for a hike and stay for a late, relaxing lunch on the peaceful patio. read more

5 stars for the location and the view, 3 stars for the service, which was frantic yet friendly the day we went, and just a star or two for the food and interior. Man, if they added some solar tubes or skylights, got rid of the sponge painted, early 2000's feeling decor, and opted for something simple and rustic, and updated their food a little bit, we'd be in business for sure. The wrap-around porch with seating is to die for. My hash and eggs were kinda cold and boring. There were weird, squishy, fatty bits in the hash. Ick. You've got the location, you've got a crowd, just tighten it up, and you'll be all good. read more

This place is fabulous! My husband and I recently moved to Colorado from Chicago and I was pretty scared the food wouldn't meet my expectations that I have been use to in Chicago. Luckily we stumbled into Zoka's only 3miles from our new cabin home and absolutely loved it! They change their menu everyday. Last friday we tried the 3 sausages (rabbit w/ rattle snake, spicey jalapeno elk and wild boar) with mashed potatoes! That was my dish and we started off with onion rings with chipotle dip. My husband ordered the pulled pork which he also loved. I am very glad i tried the 3 sausages, I had never tried those types of sausages ever but I did not regret ordering them! I liked it so much i made my husband bring me back tonight. This time we decided to try something new. I tried the grilled duck breast and have to say it was the most delightful duck i have tried. It wasn't chewy or fatty..it almost felt like eating fillet mignon. My husband tried the shrimp udon which was spicy but flavorful. We are going to try to come here every friday and try something new each time. My next pick, wild mushroom ravioli! read more

I had the salmon and Swiss burger with fries. It was a very good meal and I was able to wash it down with an Avery IPA I believe. The barbecue sauce I asked for on the side was what really made it great. I was fortunate to visit this place after hiking cheeseman canyon. I would recommend this place and return myself whenever I'm in the area. They also have beautiful murals that depict the surrounding areas if that's your sort of thing. But I appreciated them as well. read more

Zokas Restaurant & Bar - Salmon Swiss burger with barbecue sauce on the side - New American Near Me - Pine, Colorado

whats there not to like? Great food, great view, and bowl of fresh water for dogs on the deck. I do have to take one star off for slow service. read more

Neighborhood restaurant, quality food, great portions tucked away in a tiny town with great views! We had to get out of the heat and went for a drive in the mountains. We came across Zoka's and the parking lot was packed. Sat on the porch, watched the hummingbirds and sunset, great atmosphere, relaxed and casual. Dog friendly, Food was delicious, prices decent, will absolutely be back! read more

See all

They're dog friendly on the patio, which is awesome. They have a really awesome menu. My boyfriend got the elk Mac N Cheese, which was awesome. If you've never had elk, this is a good way to try it. I had the turkey pot pie, which was also great! The portions are generous, and we all had leftovers. If you're in the area, give Zoka's a try. read more

It's been a while since I've been here, but I remember that it's awesome. I got a cabin with my family in what we thought was the middle of nowhere, and randomly this cool restaurant was a quarter mile from our place. The signature burger (I forget the name, Zoka Burger?) and french fries are great. This place is an oasis of great food located among the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Get a cabin nearby for a night or two and let the good times roll. read more

Zokas Restaurant & Bar - The Zoka Burger - New American Near Me - Pine, Colorado

A great place after a day in the hills :) The cauliflower "hot wings" are absolutely awesome. My hubby gives the zoka burger 3 thumbs up! They have a great salad menu that has home grown veggies on it as well. The staff is really cool :) All around, a hidden gem. Maybe I shouldn't tell anyone about it. ... read more

I love this place. We have never had a bad meal at Zokas! The menu seasonal and has something for everyone (even vegetarians like myself). Portions are good size and always taste fresh. You can tell they put a lot of thought into the dishes they serve. The staff and owners are amazing. Ambiance is top notch. Zokas is by far the best restaurant in the Conifer/Bailey/Pine area. Always look forward to a meal here. read more

After hiking in the nearby Lost Creek Wilderness, we were hungry and even more thirsty for a cold beer. Zoka's was surprisingly good and busy on a Saturday afternoon. Menu was typical upscale pub fare with some notable exceptions including the Kobe beef burgers. Six CO microbrews on tap and an oddly large wine list. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. read more

Zokas Restaurant & Bar - Pulled pork sammie and the CAB burger - New American Near Me - Pine, Colorado

I'd call this 4.5 based on my review criteria (below). I had the grilled chicken sandwich for lunch, and it was everything you want a grilled chicken to be: good bacon, perfectly cooked chicken, excellent toasted ciabatta. Friends had the Reuben and raved (I despise rye bread and sauerkraut, so I'll have to take their word. Also, excellent onion rings and fries. My rating system is based on ***** = want to go back and try something else (or maybe order the same). **** = might go back again if there isn't someplace new to try. *** = would only go back again if friends wanted to go and no place else available. ** = would never go back. * = should be shut down. read more

It is always so interesting to me to read such a wide range of reviews. I think that, since the pandemic, restaurants have been hit hard with staff shortages, people have gotten used to Uber Eats ...nothing is like it used to be. I think also we receive back what we put out ... My husband and I stopped at this restaurant on Saturday on the way back to Denver ...we both agree five-stars. Tim had the fish and chips and said they were some of the best he's had - a light breading is his preference and these fell into that category. I had the best Rueben I've every had ...I substituted onion rings for the fries ...do that, you wont be disappointed - the chipotle mayo is fab! Since we were on our way home from the mountains, we had our dog - the patio was nearly full, we got the last table - nice when the fur-baby is welcomed! I think every restaurant has it's good days and it's bad days - be patient people - we've lost our kindness and need to find it again. We liked our meals so much last week that we're stopping for lunch on our way up the the property this week. ENJOY! read more

This place is beautiful I stop in anytime I drive by I'm from golden and used to live by this place when it was Elk Creek Station. Place is so nice love the fact you can bring your dog and they cater to the dogs!! So nice food is delicious read more

Had dinner here with 12 people the night before a family wedding in Bailey. Our server (Ally?) was fantastic!!! Food was very good - lots of options for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. I was shocked (in a good way) when all of our entrees arrived within two minutes of each other and it seemed that everything was hot out of the oven. Beet salad and buffalo cauliflower were hits, as was the NY steak. Things moved a little slow, but I am pretty sure that was mostly due to our group's ability to make decisions (beer, no wine, no beer... and let's not forget the sample clam chowder that was requested by the New England contingent - to make sure it was up to par - it was!). Worth the drive... beautiful valley. read more

My wife & I were out exploring on Saturday and stopped by Home Brew in Pine Junction for some supplies. Our new buddy, Tim, recommended Zokas for lunch. We drove down CR 126 and tried the place. The friendly wait staff was able to seat us quickly. I envision this joint being really packed during the summer months. Anyway, I ordered fish & chips and my wife ordered the Rueben. My order was pretty good but nuts, I should have ordered the Rueben. I will do so next time indeed. Nice place in a scenic area that you should try. read more

This may be one of the best restaurants you eat at. From the view to the staff and the menu... it's all great. Big fan.

Stopped here on our way back from cutting our tree and starving. We froze as we had to eat outside (not their fault, cause of COVID restrictions, but they need some space heaters as we were in the shade) and our waitress wasn't as attentive as we could wish but she was still good. My Reuben was so enormous and tasty, very very impressive. Fries were really crispy and plump and delicious. Loved their fresh-made ketchup also. My kids all loved their fat and fresh chicken tenders and corn dog, but my daughter's Mac n cheese was flavorless. My husband loved his green Chile and what he thought to be homemade tortillas. His Bloody Mary was tasty, but there was more ice than drink. We all ordered hot drinks either apple cider or hot chocolate and it was way too hot, like halfway through our meals before we could drink it still. So it was a mixed bag. We will be back to support a local business, especially during COVID, and it was more good than bad, but it wasn't perfect. read more

This place is simply unbelievable! What a surprise to find such an outstanding menu out in the middle of nowhere. I wrote in detail on my experience in my blog below, but can tell you here that I had the best triple-cream brie infused Kobe beef burger ever. And the Salsa is pretty tasty too. http://edmahoney.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/ct-cronica-a-twofer/ read more

I had to take away a star tonight......food was still great but staff provided POOR service. My wife ordered one of their famous Bloody Marys and drank about a third of it before she gave up on the clam juice taste. Sent it back & waitress still charged us even gave her grief about it when we questioned her when the bill came. After 3 attempts to get a glass of water it finally came. The other waitress acted like we were putting her out......sorry....so sorry to ask for water for goodness sake. Kurt, Please get some better waitress staff! Brian read more

For the past 4 years I have been going here and let me tell you I have never had a bad experience! I've tried pretty much everything on the menu at this point! My personal favorites are the Ribs which are next level! The Zoka burger is also amazing! I went in two days ago and learned they now serve breakfast! Can't wait to try it! If you live in the conifer evergreen area and have never been its must! If your just trying to escape the Denver heat you won't be disappointed! The views are epic! Always elk and deer runnin around! Beautiful river across the street! And if you make a day trip out of it there are a few hikes such as pine valley ranch l, cathedral spires, and more!!! read more

Zokas Restaurant & Bar - Hangover Hash and Eggs! - New American Near Me - Pine, Colorado

See all

By far the best food we have had since moving to Colorado. My Pesto Trout was divine, and my husband ate his prime rib like a caveman! The service was friendly and attentive, and the view from the parking lot amazing! Five stars! read more

We met some friends at Zoka's for a mid day lunch. The food was very good - we ordered a variety of items and all were great. The only issue I had was overhearing another customer who had been seated out on the porch asking when they would be getting their drink order. The bartender actually said, "Can you see how busy we are? We will get them to you as soon as we can". I was dumbstruck by that rude response and had it been me I would have walked away and gone somewhere else. Service was a bit slow that day but just letting people know they haven't been forgotten is all that is necessary. I'm sure they lost a customer that day. read more

Always the best food and service I could ask for, plus a cozy place with a view! Side note: there is almost always someone here who has a cute dog with them. read more

Blatantly rude & deceitful service. I never leave reviews, but this was so awful. Upon arrival, my husband & I were sat in the gravel parking area lot at a table without shade to wait for a shaded table (1:30 afternoon sun). We were told that we can wait in the sun & be notified as a table opened up. We proceeded to wait 20 minutes while the hostess informed 3 newly arrived couples that shady tables are being prepared for them right away. During this time I asked if I should wait for her to seat me, "you're good." she ensured me as the afternoon sun seared my back. I watched as she told other newcomers to wait a moment for their table. I walked up and announced our intentions for a spot in the shade, where another customer was leaving his table & advised me to take it. As I sat down as one of the new couples walked by looking for the table that hostess said was available. We complained to manager, she defended hostess by letting us know that she is new & she will talk to her. Free round of drinks. Pretty good food. Meh. read more

The place has an unusual smell to it when first walking through the door. Although the food was served in huge portions, I thought the food was aweful. read more

This place is a hidden gem of a restaurant. My folks and I make a effort to stop here every time we're in the area. You won't be disappointed, this isn't fast food but well worth the wait. The pork sandwiches are a must with their stellar brewed coffee! read more

Zokas Restaurant & Bar - Sweet potatoes fries n pulled pork - New American Near Me - Pine, Colorado

What a wonderful stop on our mountain drive Lunch out on the front porch with some excellent food and more than friendly service. The view is awesome and the specialty drinks hit the spot. read more

We've been promising ourselves to stop here all summer long as we drive back from fishing Deckers. Today we stopped for lunch. I had the Zoka burger and my hubbie had the Angus burger. It was a pleasure to have a quality burger that was properly cooked to order! I love my burgers rare, and most places miss the mark and I get medium rare. Not this time! My hubbie's medium rare was perfect as well. The sauteed onions were fabulous, as was the cambozola cheese on our burgers. Onion rings were crisp and hot, served with a dressing/dip that was so yummy on the fries as well that we dumped what was left into our to go container. My hubbie said his sweet potatoe fries were the best he ever had, and I agree. The portions were generous enough that we now have lunch for tomorrow. Our waitress was great, going over the menu and answering our questions. We will be back! read more

The service was fantastic and the food was really good. The French fries were very crispy and fat like a "home frie" which I love. The Korean chicken wings were deep fried with a thick crust then thickly covered in sauce. They are very rich so with 10 per order are better to share. The Zoka Dip sandwich was DELICIOUS with thinly cut prime rib with au jus....YUM. Great indoor and outdoor seating and dogs are welcome. read more

We come out to Colorado every year and Zokas is one of our favorite annual traditions. Unfortunately, our experience this year was different than previous years. Beers were served warm and one of our orders was forgotten about and not ready until almost everyone else was done with their food. Furthermore, it was burnt. The waitress should have accepted the mistake, apologized and comped the meal. Hoping for a better experience next year! read more