Good old Zola. I come here quite a lot because it's in Mainstrauss yet you don't have to worry about bro's in Affliction shirts and hammered females getting in screaming fights. It's small and usually pretty low-key. Sometimes the weekends will have it more packed, but on average it is a smaller crowd of mostly regulars casually drinking and having a good time. They usually have live music typically consisting of acoustic duo/trios. Come in on a night when guys from The Turkeys are there - you won't regret it! They're usually there on Thursdays. They run drink specials and always have cheap PBR's, if you're into that kind of thing (I'm very into that kind of thing). The bartenders are always awesome and friendly, and if you can handle a smoking bar (you'll get over it), then come getcha some good food and drink! read more

Today's word is: Inedible. Say it with me kids! INEDIBLE! Now, let's use it in a sentence! The burger I got at Zola Pub and Grill was INEDIBLE! Yep, that's right. It was so medium that it was raw. Mushy. It may have winked at me. I can't even tell you whether or not it was good because it was inedible. The waitress immediately took it away and tried to get the kitchen to actually cook the damn thing but it was so far gone that I decided to take it home and cook it myself. You know, because I know how to cook a burger (unlike the kitchen staff at Zola's). When I did fully cook it, I noticed that the blackened seasoning is definitely weird. It has a lemony note to it. Not good. But, as other Yelpers have said, their bleu cheese is really tasty. Give it a try...just not on a burger. Aside from that our food was whatever. The onion rings were good but they were just battered and fried rings of onions so not too much to screw up there. My beer, Great Lakes Holy Moses, was decent although I'm totally bummed that they no longer have Turbodog on tap. Unlike some Yelpers, we actually had good service. There was some wine festival happening on Main Strasse so millions of hideously bougie people were swarming the local restaurants, Zola's being one of them. The waitresses handled it with great aplomb. The wait for food was ridiculous but each one of our dishes, when not raw, was served piping hot. Our drinks were always filled and she was more than helpful during the inedible burger fiasco. Actually, I would have totally given Zola's the "Eek! Methinks not" rating but the service from our waitress bumped it up to a "Meh." A very reluctant "Meh" but a "Meh," all the same. read more

Upon first look this place looks like your typical dive bar, but it is so much more. It has quickly become our go-to when we crave a great burger and reasonably priced drinks. Zola's hands down has the best burgers in the area - my particular favorite is the black and blue burger. The kitchen is open late and staff is always quick and very friendly. I highly recommend! read more

If I could give a zero I would. I had a Cobb salad here before during covid and it was great. I returned yesterday to get the salad again, it wasn't the same at all. No egg no blue cheese and the chicken was half the size as it was last time. So I called ahead to let them know it was a little off. I walked in to return the Cobb and immediately was bombarded by the owner saying " you the one returning the salad?" I explained nicely how it was different and he immediately cut me off, and told me I was wrong. I truly think the guy must be on drugs. When I told him I was in the industry and that's not the way to talk to a customer, he said, "where do you work?" I didnt answer immediately and he accused me of lying. I'm not sure if he is on drugs or what but the way he tried to make me look like I so was wrong, was enough to never walk foot in this bar again. Horrible experience and boss man of Zola you should be embarrassed by the way you acted toward a patron. read more

I love a good burger but I was meeting a friend who is vegetarian. Based on the Yelp reviews we decided on Zola because they said the portabella burger was great. I normally go for a burger, lettuce, tomato and pickle but decided to change it up completely. I picked the mo town burger (I think that was the name) bacon, cheddar, onion straws and BBQ sauce. I got my sauce on the side because I order the chips (crunchy saratoga chip), which they make in-house and are amazing, so I could dip. My friend got the portabella and the asian cole slaw. Hopefully she does a review because it looked great. We had an appetizer that was something like southwest stuffed potato, but neither of us were wowed by it. It is an older bar, converted house so naturally that coupled with the smoking option it is a smokey place. In the summer, they have tables on the sidewalk. Wednesdays are their burger special day, which as of this date is a burger, up to 5 toppings and a side for $6. read more

I've been going to Zola's for many years. If your looking for a burger they are one of the best around. I highly recommend the Black and Blue Burger and the staff is amazing and they will make sure they take care of you. read more

I have a love hate relationship with Zola's that I'm hoping to work out in the near future :). I love their burgers, especially the spicy jack (a top 3 burger in the Cincy area!) but hate smelling the smoke while eating and the reaking of it after I leave. It says a lot that I will suffer the smoke just so I can get a spicy jack burger. I have always had great service and especially like sitting at a high top while eating to chat with friends and people watch (always a few interesting characters there). Definitely try their burgers cooked to how you want them, grab a beverage, and if you don't mind the smoke, it is a great place to spend the evening with friends..a "local" bar that is a bit dive-ish but stll fun to hang out in. read more

I go on Thursdays when it is mellow. I have a friend who plays there and it is a good place for a nice drink or food. You wouldn't believe it but their food is delicious! I usually get a burger there or a salad. The ingredients are fresh and tasty without a lot of sauce to hide the produce. The burgers are cooked well, not under or over cooked. The serving size are a little on the big side. I'm all for saving a buck with a friend, sharing the meal and get a small salad will not disappoint the tummy not the pocket book. The bartender there is very nice. He is always there on Thursdays and always have a smile on his face. Likes to keep his bar nice and tidy. The only downfall is that there is smoking but it is a free country. If I don't like it, I can go somewhere else. I'm not a fan of cigarette smoke but I will endure it for good music, beer and food. Oh and they do have tasty wine there. Nothing crazy expensive but not cheap tasting, just right! I like this place, nice and cozy along the strip. read more

I haven't reviewed Zola's yet? Wow. So, this is my favorite bar in Mainstrasse. Does it deserve 5 stars? I don't even care, it's great in so many ways, and since it's my go to spot, it gets the bump. Surprisingly, they do cater to vegetarians here, and have a really tasty portabella burger. That's given that I don't even like portabella burgers generally. Their coleslaw is even vegetarian, another thing I typically dislike, but it was great. They have a respectable selection of alcohol to choose from and their prices are reasonable. The service is always attentive, friendly and attractive. It definitely has a neighborhood bar feel. If you go enough, you'll know everyone by name. It can get a bit loud, but you can still talk to your friends. They have regular local, live music. Their bluegrass night is a lot of fun. Stop in often is my recommendation. read more

Last year Zola's was on the list of bars to visit on Mainstrasse for a friend's 21st birthday outing. It was a great place to drink, listen to live music, and have fun with a large group. The upper floor has a pool table and good seating, which was perfect for a party like ours and is the primary reason we stayed there most of the night! I'd been to Zola's before for burgers, too. They're cooked great and the choice of toppings and specialty burgers is fantastic! Definitely a must-visit spot when around Mainstrasse. read more

What a cool "dive-bar" spot in Mainstrasse! Better than average bar food, VERY friendly bar tenders and a talented cook in the back room make for a pleasurable experience. Stop down on Tuesday night for authentic bluegrass music, though it sometimes is very busy and standing-room only. I'm a fan of their Zola Burger as well as a few others on the menu including the Memphis BBQ burger. Though I'm personally not a big fan of the asian pasta salad, the chili cheese fries are delicious. A small selection of very good beers and moderate prices make for a good time every time I'm at Zola. read more

I enjoy Zola. The atmosphere makes me happy. It's that great Kentucky hometown bar you are looking for. It's relatively inconspicuous and doesn't want to be a flashy bar with trendy things. It's a bar with some pretty good food, and that's what it is. I've mostly come for drinks. The drinks are good, pretty strong, and the place is comfortable. Mostly the band that I have seen here (The Turkeys or one of the guys from the Turkeys or whatever) is good. They play good music that I know, so that always makes me happy. I came for food once and it was pretty good - my chicken tenders were far better than my husband's burger - but the burger was decent, just nothing special. The food is okay, you probably wouldn't come for that. It's just a good bar on Mainstrasse and always a stop for me. read more

The go-to spot for pub grub in Mainstrasse. Great service backs a pretty decent menu! Everyone loves their burgers, and being part time veggie, I have to agree that their Portabella burger is one of the better veggie burgers in the area. Their bleu cheese is also quite fantastic! It can get a bit crammed in here, but an upstairs area and in the summer time patio, this is one of the better bars in Northern Kentucky! read more

I've been to Zola Pub and Grill two times now. The first time was back in November 2010 for a 21st birthday, and today (12.18.11) for lunch. We went because we didn't feel like driving far and because it's in walking distance from my house it was a match made in Mainstrasse! They had a spicy soup that was really tasty, and I ordered a burger. Now, if you like a little pink in your burger, order it medium-well, because the medium is a little on the medium-rare side. The burger otherwise was good, the service is what I've come to expect in Mainstrasse - friendly, quirky, and a little slow. It is of course not smoke-free I.e. it is not an establishment that I usually choose to dine, but during a Bengals game on a Sunday afternoon there was only 1 girl smoking in the entire place so it wasn't terrible. My mother would have referred to it as a dive bar, and she would have been right. Decent food, decent atmosphere, decent place. read more

Burger madness is hard to resist. This place makes it look easy to make a great burger consistently. Probably the best bar food in the city. Great wings, great burgers, great onion rings. In fact the burgers would have won the best burger contest our office had if we hadn't limited to Cincy downtown. Casual atmosphere and laid back service but still attentive. When your downtown lunch options seem stale, pop over to mainstrasse on a Wednesday and get a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings. your stomach will thank you. read more

I LOVE Zola. They have some delicious burgers with a variety of great toppings, as well as lots of sandwich and appetizer options. Their drink prices are super cheap too, and there's usually some sort of happy hour going on. I think on Sundays they have an all-day happy hour with $3 wells or something like that. The wait staff is always very friendly and helpful, and every now and then they have some live music inside the bar. Great place to hang out and get a few drinks and some food! read more

I was truly floored at the quality of the food at Zola. We had the buffalo chicken wrap and Cajun chicken. Dynamite. The fries and house made coleslaw were a wonderful addition. Highly highly recommended read more

After doing a random restaurant search on Yelp we ended up at Zola's for lunch. The inside was just your standard bar/pub with a bar that can seat about 20 people and tables/high-tops for seating while you eat. On Wednesday's there is "Burger-Mania" where you can get a burger with 5 toppings and a side for 6 bucks. Pretty nice deal! The rest of the menu is pretty much your standard bar/pub food (wings/burgers/wraps/salads). Nothing too creative about the food. I ended up getting the Zola burger and fries and a cup of chili and my friend got the grilled grouper with fries. The burger was cooked med rare as requested but really nothing special. Just your standard burger that I think you can get anywhere else. The Grilled Grouper was just the same. Not bad, filling but really nothing special. The highlight was the thick cut fries which a enjoyed. An average outing. The overall cost of the meal was about 17 bucks and the food took about 25-30 minutes to get out after ordering. I would say I would go back as it wasn't bad but in my opinion there are better choices around the area. read more

Awesome food, great service, fun to sit in window or on sidewalk and people watch. Great burgers, but crab cakes and the grouper sandwich (grilled, not fried) are to die for! Kettle chips and hot slaw are best 2 sides to get. And tell Adam and Tory a joke for me! read more

This is probably one of my favorite locations in Covington. My friends and I are here so often that the bartenders know our drink orders without asking. Ummm, does that make us-dare I say-REGULARS?! Yikes! In this place, I'm not sure that's anything to be scared about. The food is pretty darn good and made to order. Don't expect anything fancy-burgers, salads and yummy fried food take up most of the menu. Even though it's not fancy, everything is still delicious! Tuesdays tend to be a little crowded because of The Turkeys. If you don't know who they are, then I suggest you get you butt to Zolas on Tuesday and find out! read more

Sure, this is a good burger. My burger was a medium well even though I ordered it medium rare. Not to complain but there are basically two parts to making a good burger - using good meat and cooking it correctly. The ingredients on the burger were good and I liked my selection. It came with homemade chips, which were also pretty good. The major reason to go here is that on WEDNESDAYS, BURGERS ARE HALF PRICE. So, naturally, that is when I went and would go back. It's not bad, but I probably wouldn't seek it out for a good burger. Bottom Line: I might be back with friends for a half-priced burger on a Wednesday. read more

We went to Zola on a Saturday night and it was crowded, smoky, and loud. I hear that this is not normally the case here and I am totally willing to give it another shot. But our experience here was just OK. We had the chicken finger special which was only $4.50 from 11pm-1am. We tried to sit on the patio, but it was full. Also, the bartender seemed like he hated his life and did not want to be there. The service was fast, but not the friendliest. I wouldn't come running back to this place, but if we were in the area I would consider it. Cheap, fast, and has live music. read more

Portabella burger, no really- a good one!!! Amazing bar, fantastic food and check the schedule cause you don't want to miss the Turkeys weakly playlist live every week. Lunch or dinner, Zola's has an amazing menu. Black and bleu burger and the potabella to name my couple classic dishes served with fresh fries and a great beer cabinet to wash it all down. Since it is south of the great O- Hi-o river, if the smoke hinders your apetite, feel free to snag a seat outside. Plus- it's conveniently on Main Strasse, so hit up a couple other hot spots while your in the hood. read more

Very nice Pub and Grub place on Main Strasse. Went there on a Sunday afternoon, soaked up the sun on the chairs on the sidewalk. Half price appetizers and happy hour beer special on sunday made it a most affordable afternoon hang out. Very average bar with very nice staff. Frank the waiter was very frank about our selections and was very accommodating. read more

I tried Zola's for the first time tonight. I didn't get to dine in, but after going to pick-up our order, I'm somewhat glad I didn't decide to actually go to sit down - the patio was filled, and the inside area was fairly full as well with exception of the spots at the bar (I'm generally not a fan of sitting at the bar and staring forward alcohol during my dining experience). On our first try tonight, we decided to keep it simple and order a couple appetizers and a couple salads. Keeping in mind that we went to Zola's and the general vicinity of Covington for the first time tonight, we initially had troubles finding a spot. The streets were crowded and the parking spots were virtually non-existent. With all the one-way streets, we inevitably found our ways circling the blocks through one-way streets trying to a place to park so we could pick up our order. As we finally found one, I made my way inside and was pleasantly greeting by the gal running what appeared to be the entire front of the house (which was a lot of responsibility if you ask me) and she informed me that they were out of croutons for my Caesar salad. They were also out of Avocado for my wife's chef salads. They only have a small handful of salads to pick from, and the two we ordered just happened to be missing critical components. On one of the salads, we actually ordered extra dressing. I found it hilarious that they found the nerve to actually charge us for the extra dressing but they didn't deem it fit to deduct any from our bill for the two major elements missing from the salads they prepared for us. The wait was also longer than what we were told on the phone. When we called the order in, we were told it would be 20 minutes to pickup, which seemed reasonable, but by the time I actually got my order, it had been 35 minutes. Usually this isn't a bad predicament if you are by yourself and just running home and can grab a cold beverage and wait, but I was waiting inside with my wife and two 5 month old children in the car. Upon arrival to our house, we were both pretty hungry and commenced to dig into our crouton-less and avocado-less salads with the additional salad dressing that we paid for, and I found my salad rather disgusting. The lettuce leaves were wilted. Our car ride home was only 10 minutes at most, so either the lettuce was old and wilted before it was tossed in the Caesar dressing, or the salad had been tossed for quite a while and had been just sitting around for some lucky recipient. My wife's salad, the cobb, was actually decent. I didn't give it a try, but she enjoyed it. The appetizer we selected, the spring rolls, were also just ok, but I would have definitely paired it with another dipping sauce - maybe a sweet chili sauce rather than a spicy horseradish mustard sauce. I don't think I'm going back. Too bad; I was looking for some more variety over in Kenton County. read more

Zola Pub and Grill - Wilted Caesar salad - Burgers Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

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I went here on a Wednesday evening with a good friend. Neither of us had been before, but I'd heard about the burger madness on Wednesday nights. Burger madness is terrific! For $6, we each got a huge burger with 5 toppings. The burger was savory and well-prepared. The toppings were fresh, and I got fries too (fries are always a bonus)! The service was friendly and fast. The entire experience was very enjoyable, and I'll definitely go back. Why not 5 stars? It's a little small, with a hint of smoke in the air. Although not bad for a bar. Parking can be a challenge on Mainstrasse, depending on time of day. Overall, I'd recommend it for burger lovers. Thumbs up! read more

I got the classic burger and fries! Burger was cooked to perfection. Atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Service was A+! And I could finally enjoy a smoke with my dinner!! Awesome!! read more

I go to Zola all the time during the week to eat and have a drink. prices are great and food is always great. Place isnt that fancy. bartenders always super friendly. Sometimes have acoustic music. Burgers are great! crab cakes are great. Ive had pretty much everything on their menu and never have been disappointed. read more

Zola Pub and Grill - Blue grass on Tuesdays - Burgers Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Ate here a few weeks back, and then forgot to write my review. All I can say is great atmosphere, great food, and great service. We came for lunch, so we had no problem parking, but I can imagine it gets pretty crazy at night time ... but our server said there is a parking garage around the corner. We will return!! read more

Unassuming & good. I've heard about Zola's for a while & kept meaning to go on the Burgermania wednesday, but i never had a chance to be in this area on a wednesday & hungry for lunch until today and i'm glad i went. it's a small pub & grill although there was an upstair but i didn't get to check it out. there's not a lot of stuff(a.k.a. bar decor/a.k.a. crap) , a modest bar, just a few TV's, tall & regular tables and the food selection is what you'd expect for a pub/grill. i had the Zola burger & enjoyed it with the "unique" slaw(a.k.a.- asian). they had an interesting collection of other burgers to choose from and maybe in the future if i'm in this part of town on a wedesday and hungry , i hope to try most of them. read more

I liked the vibe of the place - small bar & burger joint with an interesting crowd, the reds on a couple tvs and decent music - but I was pretty unimpressed by the service and food. Service took way too long - we got our drinks right away but then it was probably 15 full minutes before someone came by to take our order. The burger, especially for being so reputable, was very disappointing. I think it was something about their beef I didn't like because everything else (accessories/addons) were very good. I probably won't head back, but if the service improved and you had a taste for their particular beef, you might enjoy it a lot more than I did. read more

First night in Cinci (Monday)I checked out Zola's, ordered a Cajun burger, Tito's and Redbull . Burger was good drink was right, Barmaid(Tracy) was friendly, good enough for me. Only a couple of beers on tap but I'll be back. read more

Zola Pub and Grill - Burgers Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

Small little bar in a cool part of town. The burgers are really good. During the day, there is a free parking lot across the street and behind the first row of buildings. read more

Great Burger Mania Wednesday! Had the Caribbean with fries. Place is packed on Wednesday but worth the wait. Future regular. read more

Zola Pub and Grill - Burgers Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

We did stop #2 on Cincy Burger seek here and we're not disappointed. The Zola Burger was the choice and was perfectly cooked. My wife got the slaw which was excellent and I the fries. Draft beer choices were good and reasonably priced. The only problem was so many people ordered similar dishes that our order was delivered and consumed by the people at the table next to us. Old school bar atmosphere, will be back if in the neighborhood. read more

Zola Pub and Grill - Zola burger and Lift beer on draft. - Burgers Near Me - Covington, Kentucky

My favorite place for a burger and beer on Mainstrasse. Beware that smoking is permitted here - but it's well enough ventilated that, for me, that's really just part of the vibe! read more

I love when we get to go to Zola. The food is amazing and all of the people who work there are so polite. That bleu cheese is to die for.

This is my absolute favorite place on Mainstrasse. I eat and drink here several times a week and I just can't stop going back. The staff all know my name and vice versa. They know what I drink and take real good care of me. The food is freaking awesome as well. You wouldn't think bar food would be so high quality. They have a big selection of fantastic burgers but I urge you to not stop there. Their other menu items are equally delicious. Sandwiches, wings, nachos and.....salads?! Yes, believe it or not this bar has excellent salads, which is something you would never expect. The atmosphere is usually pretty chill with many regulars enjoying themselves. Met many friendly people sitting at the bar. They do have some pretty busy days though. Wednesday is burger mania, one of their burgers with a side for just $6 so that day is pretty popular. Also Thursday nights the guys from The Turkeys play and they pack the house. It is a smoking establishment but they have a filter system that keeps the air circulating pretty good. Overall I would give this place more than 5 stars if I could. I get paid tomorrow and I know exactly where I'm going for a shot, beer, and a bite. I should also mention that I work in a kitchen myself and that I have seen Zola's kitchen. It is always super clean which is something I really appreciate. read more

They messed up our order and refused to fix it. The server was extremely rude on top of that. Do not recommend

Best Burger menu in Cintucky! Unique burgers that are hard to beat with really creative burger specials. Tip: Wednesday is BurgerMania...all burgers only $6. Also, smoking is allowed inside so try to get a table outside because a single smoker pollutes the small dining room. Just wish they would go smoke free. :-( read more