While hosting family visiting from New Jersey, we spent part of the afternoon enjoying an activity along the river in downtown Lansing. About halfway through, everyone started getting hungry, so I asked my sister-in-law to pick a restaurant in Old Town that looked appealing. She chose Zoobie's because she thought she had seen it featured on a Food Network show, and the menu looked diverse enough that everyone in our group would find something they liked. Being from New Jersey, my sister-in-law firmly believes there is no good pizza outside of New Jersey or New York. Well, Zoobie's proved that great pizza can be found anywhere. I ordered the pear pizza without the meat, and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors worked perfectly together, and I never felt like I was missing anything by skipping the meat. My sisters each ordered different pizzas and thoroughly enjoyed them, while my nephew had a burger that disappeared quickly, which is always a good sign. My wife ordered the bruschetta and spoke so highly of it that I had to try some myself. She was right, it was delightful. Another pleasant surprise was the atmosphere. The restaurant was quite busy, with a full bar and a group celebrating some kind of event, yet the noise level remained very manageable. As someone who is sensitive to loud environments, that can make or break a dining experience, and Zoobie's got it right. For context, we visited on a weekday around 2:00 PM, so that certainly may have contributed to the comfortable atmosphere. Still, every aspect of our visit exceeded expectations. Great food, attentive service, a welcoming environment, and perhaps most impressively, pizza that won over a skeptic from New Jersey. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Old Town Lansing. read more

Fun lunch spot with friends! Got the trust us pizza in veggie form and it did not disappoint. The garlic aioli was so good and I do love a surprise. Please get the popcorn here too- absolutely delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Great spot to watch MSU sports and enjoy some quality bar food with a drink in hand. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Trust Us Veggie Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

How could a person forget about Zoobie's?!?! Not sure how but we did and it feels so good to be reunited! Much respect to Zoobie's for being an OG Lansing staple in an adorable building in an amazing side of town! North Lansing wouldn't be the same without Zoobie's! Team members encountered were lovely, high-spirited, and funny! When we were missing a couple of minor things in our order, our waitress remedied the issue right away, no questions asked. We were surprised to find a large and comfy patio out back so the four of us sat out back and ordered the goat cheese salad, bruschetta, wings and truffle fries. Each item was delicious and reminded us why Zoobie's must be regularly visited! read more

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Love their pizza they're deviled eggs are divine! Great service love the old style bar please never update!

This place has great food and service but is a little strange. 20$+ pizzas, cloth napkins, expensive high quality food, but the menus stick together, they have severally broken and sticky tables. The floors are caked with decades old dirt in the cracks of the old wooden flooring. This place is strange but food was very good. It's a beautiful and dirty neighborhood gem. read more

Their pizza is delicious and the price per pizza is awesome! I loved their NA beer selection and the atmosphere. Our waitress was super friendly and made my sisters 21st birthday even better than it already was. I love this place and it has become a staple for me and my friends and family. read more

Great place, unique, actually super nice! Polite great bar tinder amazing food! I love the atmosphere! Definitely kinda busy on a Wednesday early afternoon! for good reason! read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Delicious Italian grinder - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

Came to Zoobie's a couple pals while I was visiting town and I had a great time! Their patio is perfect for outdoor seating in the warm weather. Our server was friendly and the food was good. I loved the cheesy garlic bread. The pizza was generous with toppings, which I also appreciated. I ordered a glass of wine which came with a HEFTY pour. All in all, a great Midwest experience ;) read more

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Made a stop over at the capital while driving from Grand Rapids to Detroit. The area is a little on the sketchy side, even in the afternoon, yet inside the place is lively. Got two seats at the bar and was greeted immediately to get an order. Opted for a local draft IPA ($6.76) as well as sharing the Three Cheese Garlic Bread ($11.44). Beer is a delicious and strong hoppy ale with lots of malt. The food is enormous, essentially half a pizza. A large doughy offering with all sorts of melted cheese and some vinaigrette on top. Tasted great and went even better with some more beers. Bartenders here are super friendly, while the crowd is overall chill. Would definitely come back if ever in the city again. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Three cheese garlic bread - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

Looked good on Yelp, but very disappointing. The bartender was helpful in picking beer, however she was hustling taking care of the many servers with craft cocktail orders (which take a lot of time). I ordered the cheese dip with chorizo. I expected a little more than what we received. 15 - 20 minutes a plate was served with cold chips, cold dry chorizo crumbled over warm canned queso dip. The microwave must have been busy. Not sure how the ratings got so high???? It's a miss for me. Sorry. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Great Wallpaper! Love to see them both when they were new! - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

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Zoobies outside patio is out in the back & very large & upbeat. They have a good variety of yummy shareables to choose from.

I stop by Zoobie's every time I'm in Lansing for Hilltop Yoga. It's just a few blocks away from the studio and the perfect place to grab a pizza or better yet, to have drinks with friends after class, in full yoga attire. I have such positive associations and an affection for Zoobie's since it was my part of my introduction to the Old Town Lansing area . The vibe is friendly and casual - your neighborhood tavern. I've eaten at the bar and also while seated at the tables. They have a serve-yourself popcorn machine in the back and the nicest wait staff and bar tenders. Local Michigan brews are on tap, like from Founders or Brewery Vivant. The most recent time I was here, it was to grab food between 2 workshops and my friend and I wanted to grab something light (along the lines of salad). They have vegetarian-friendly options and an amaaazing fried goat cheese salad. Tart balsamic vinaigrette paired with fried goat cheese balls. We also ordered the black bean hummus and between the two of us, these 2 items were the perfect amount to share. I haven't even started on their pizza yet. Order their "Trust Us" pizza, which is wood-fired next door at Cosmos. Their pizza was highly recommended by our Lansing friends. Staff will pick the toppings for you after asking if you have any dietary restrictions and you trust them to make a pizza that you'll like. And you most definitely will. It pairs perfectly with a local beer on tap. It's hard NOT to love this place. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Fried goat cheese salad - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

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Stopped into Zoobie's for one cocktail. Seemed like a cool atmosphere - a mix between old timey/dive and modern, but couldn't imagine being there late night Friday or Saturday, as it was already quite loud for a Saturday early afternoon. The cocktails were delicious and reasonably priced, and the food smelled great. Can't wait to stop in again. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Spiced pear mule is delicious - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

This is a great place to go when eating with a group. Order a bunch of appetizers and a variety of pizzas and everyone will enjoy sharing an assortment of good stuff! There are many unique pizzas to try, so it's best to share and try a few! I have never come across a restaurant that offers a "trust us" option. If you're adventurous, trust the kitchen to prepare something for you and the server will tell you what it is when they put it on your table. They are not doing this to gross you out or anything - they really are creating something that most people wouldn't think to put together -- they offer the "trust us" for pizza, donut holes, and a mixed drink! read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Popcorn, spiced pear drink, long beach - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

Checked out this place again and it did not disappoint. I was a bit worried because they didn't have the buffalo cauliflower dip(which they should totally bring back by the way) but the pineapple prosciutto pizza was really good. I'm not even typically a fan of pineapple on pizza but with the banana peppers it had a nice kick. The duck fries were good and the sauce they came with was a bit spicy so that was really good. The Louisiana shrimp dip was good as well...very creamy. Almost like a shrimp chowder soup that u eat with crostini. read more

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Brought friends from out of town here for their birthday. As we were leaving, the waiter flipped us off as he said "have a good night". It was so odd. Really disappointed in the service. read more

I absolutely adore Zoobies. If your taste buds surpass the corporate taste of pizza, places like Zoobies are a good place to taste away. My first time here I had to try on of their pizza pies that had a sunny side egg on it because why not? It intrigued me. And it was delicious. The next time we got one of their originals and the third time getting pie, they had an option ("trust us"), where you let them concoct something for you as a surprise and when I did, they still didn't let me down. They have what looks like two separate sides, more of a bar side and another side which is more for sitting down with a larger group and let me say, this place can get busy. They have a decent amount of parking, good beer, and even good appetizers. Every staff member encountered here has been nice and the atmosphere of it all is kind of different from your modern pizzeria. I am not even going to describe it to you, and you should just go and enjoy it yourself. Good food and good people and if you haven't tried it and are hesitant take this as a sign to jump out your comfort zone, you don't have to try it once! read more

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Food was good but the service was horrible and they charge you a 3% fee to use a CC which seems ridiculous in 2022. I probably wouldn't have minded if the service was good but getting an extra charge while also getting crappy service doesn't sit right with me. read more

Still one of our favorite restaurants in Lansing. We love the casual atmosphere and tavern feel. The pizza is our favorite and always try the "Trust Us" pizza and never disappointed. Love the cocktails and also try the "Trust Us" cocktails. We really love to meet friends here for a nice evening out. read more

The service was incredibly, Kayla and Sonia were wonderful. The drinks were decently priced and Michigan made. Absolutely love the 100+ year old wall paper behind the bar as well. read more

Love this place! food and atmosphere is so comfy and fun! we love the mystery pizza and the apps! The Moscow mules are my favorite in Lansing! Staff are always so nice! read more

Good beer, great cocktails. You also get a chance to order food through The Cosmos, which serves pizza and food. The tavern and pizzeria are connected in one building. You can enjoy both at once. I highly recommend ordering the "trust us" pizza. It does not disappoint if you aren't a picky eater. read more

I have been here a hanful of times and have never been let down by the food or the beer selection. The patio is pretty good on a nice not too hot summer day. read more

Confession; the only reason I went to Zoobie's tavern is because my favorite BBQ place happened to be closed and I liked what I saw in other Yelp reviews about this place, but boy am I glad I did! The outside was unassuming; once I arrived I questioned my judgement but decided to trust those Yelpers who had gone before. The duck fat fries were deliciously crunchy and the ketchup unique (maybe containing some chili sauce and brown sugar?). I ordered the mystery "Trust" pizza, allowing staff to surprise me with their unique, daily creation and was not disappointed. The balance of the ingredients was perfect and the crust was just how I like it. I also ordered a "Rye not Two" (a drink with rye whiskey, cynar, sweet vermouth and bitters) and must say the bartender understands his craft! Great experience, I may have to come back here and bring friends, even if my favorite BBQ place IS open! read more

I've been here many times for their delicious food. I've always had quick, friendly service. I haven't food a pizza I didn't like. I recommend the fried goat cheese salad. If you're near, do yourself a favor and check it out. read more

Fun fun fun! Had a great date night over the past weekend enjoying bbq pizza and the bruschetta. Go for the donut holes post meal! You won't regret it read more

I love this place!! It has an old dive bar charm with a great rotating beer selection. The pizza is amazing!! I almost always go with the Trust Us and it's never let me down. read more

Yummy drinks and Food It does get loud with lot of people in this place. But over all it's pretty cool place in Lansing. read more

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I was disappointed with myself that I didn't write a review of Zoobie's sooner (I swear I did, maybe it got lost in Hillary Clinton's emails). My wife and I have been regular customers since they opened and the experience has always been outstanding. They serve craft beers, so if you're looking for Natty Light, find a ghetto party store and buy a case for $5. This is great beer, outstanding cocktails, and a very nice wine selection. They also have crack popcorn (drizzled with truffle oil) and some small plates that change seasonally. They serve wood-fired artisan pizza from their pizzeria, Cosmos, that's connected to the building and it's one of the best pizzas you'll ever have. These aren't your standard pepperoni pizzas, but they include toppings like shrimp, chorizo, spinach, sweet potatoes, artichokes, etc. And, like their appetizers, they change the pizza menu seasonally. Zoobie's has a great patio area in the summer (obviously not in the winter, duh, it's Michigan) with a full bar and service and seating for probably 75 people. It can get a little crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, but not so much so that it's uncomfortable. Even when it's crowded, it's not a college-bar crowd of frat guys doing keg stands (not that there's anything wrong with that... I've been known to do a keg stand every once in a while), but more of a neighborhood feel with couples, groups of friends, blue collar workers, white collar suits, and maybe even a guy dressed up as a smurf. I feel comfortable going there on my Harley in a leather jacket, with my wife on date night, or in a suit and tie after work for happy hour. read more

We were looking for a place just like this. Having recently moved from Milwaukee to Lansing, we understood that we would not be in for a similar bar scene. We had done our best to acclimate to Lansing's offerings but we still yearned for something that would remind us of our beloved previous home. Enter Zoobies. We initially came across Zoobies through Yelp and Google searches and it seemed that it could be a place we would enjoy. And it is. On a bit of a whim, we decided that we finally had to go to Zoobies. We ordered cocktails (a Pickletini and a rye drink) and the truffle popcorn. The cocktails were great and carefully made. The popcorn, though simple in concept and preparation, was quite delicious and thankfully a healthy serving. The atmosphere and general decor very much fit the feel and look of some of our favorite locations across the lake and made for a very comfortable ambiance. We plan to be back many times. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - The Apples & Oranges. - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

I would go back just for the "Trust Us" drinks. The bartender was phenomenal! Oh, and truffle oil popcorn!!

This used to be my favorite Lansing bar. It had great beers, had a chatty diverse clientele, it was a little pricey but not bad. All in, in all the tight, standing room only beer venue delivered a warm friendly atmosphere. And with great truffle-oil popcorn to munch on after dinner to boot. The problem here was really that they tried to fix something that wasn't broken. Zoobies was a pricey(ish) bar that was busy Thursday through Sunday, with no food overhead. When they renovated the bar for the second time they gutted all the charachter right out of it. The bar is less personable, people eating dinner aren't people chatting with their neighbors. That and the Pizza sucks. They increased their beer prices to pay for the ill-begotten renovation and the narrow but comfortable backyard is now a clusterf--k of seating. Zoobies offered a delicate milieu of hipsterdom, craft beer bar, and townie bar. And that balance simply did not survive it's reinvention as poorly executed hipster pizza establishment. It's gone so far off the deep end that the last time I wandered in they actually had a DJ blaring country music from the corner... It might be busy... people might rave about it (people have bad taste)... but the fact of the matter is that unless it radically improves its foray into over-salted pizza's it won't reclaim its position in Lansing's finally developing beer-bar marketplace. read more

We stopped by after work last evening on a Wednesday. We'd been just one time before in summer outside when our son provided music. Hadn't been inside, and we liked the atmosphere: very tavern, with cool rustic "decor." The place was almost full, and very lively when we arrived, and we were lucky to get a table (at 5:30). Husband got a bloody mary (his fave), even though it was happy hour and he could have gotten a beer. I got a cabernet for $6, which isn't the cheapest happy hour price (at SanSu they're $3), but I noticed that all their drinks are on the pricey side. We ordered "Trust Us" pizza, tomato bruschetta, and rock shrimp. The bruschetta and shrimp came first, and we thought we might have ordered too much food. Nice big servings, a real bargain ($7 and $11). Two bruschettas apiece, and enough shrimp to satisfy while sharing. The shrimp had a smooth, crispy crunch while being perfectly cooked on the inside. The sweet, spicy sauce had just the right amount of heat. Absolutely fabulous. The bruschetta was the best I've had, and I'd like to learn how to make it. The combo of pesto, brie, and balsamic was just delicious. The pizza was good, with yummy cheese, slices of apple (or pear?), spinach, red peppers, red onion, and andouille sausage. Next time I think I'll order one from the menu. We almost finished the pizza, even though we were getting full. The crust is very good. Our waitress was sweet, fun, efficient, and a reason we will go back. read more

I was happy to be in Lansing for a week on business so I could finally give some Lansing/East Lansing dining establishments a shot. I must say, the photos for the beverages on Zoobie's Yelp page are what sold me on going - they made my mouth water! It sort of led to this expectation of what kind of bartender would be there...a cross between some sort of steam punk/ late 19th century hipster meets a bearded -and- tatted Michigangster. I was totally wrong. Not that it's a good or bad thing, but it was kind of funny to me because the place is much more a neighborhood type establishment - the bartenders/service in general was top notch: super friendly and attentive, and down to earth. Thanks for keeping my prejudice in check! I can't say so much about the clientele, except that the vibe wasn't particularly friendly when I attempted to chat with my neighbors. I took the drink menu that was sitting on the bar next to me, and the man to my right (who nursed his whatever beer for an hour) snatched it from me like I committed some sort of mortal sin. Weird, right? Sharing is caring, dude. I think this place is perfectly suited for a small group of friends/family. Anyway. I ordered a Moscow mule, and the Bosc Pear pizza, which has the bosc pears, old world bleu cheese, pancetta, and arugula. I took my first bite of the pizza, and I confirmed that I loved it because it reminded me of my hometown favorite pizza place, The Luggage Room. Nice sweet/savory balances all together. The pizza arrived quickly, and the flavors were well-matched. I was grateful that my Lyft driver let me eat the rest of my pizza on the way back to my hotel :D The Moscow Mule was okay. I have to say that I wasn't too impressed with it - and I think it's because of the ginger beer they use. It was kind of boring. Sometimes, ginger beer tastes too sweet, or old and flat (i.e. Jamaica's Finest). I like a crisp ginger beer that's not too sweet, nicely spiced, and with a fresh ginger flavor (e.g. Q, The Ginger People, or Fever Tree). Anyhow, bottom line - if you're doing the copper cup, you gotta go all out! I ended my night with a pint of Oddside's Bean Flicker Ale...my fav! Overall, a good meal. I am torn wondering if $14 for my 12" pizza was too much - that's how much a comparable pizza in LA costs, so I'm gonna leave it at that. However, I would definitely check out Zoobie's and/or The Cosmos again. read more

Zoobie's Old Town Tavern - Bosc Pear pizza. - Pizza Near Me - Lansing, Michigan

Great pizzas. Wonderful cocktails. Outdoor patio is great for summertime. We recommend the duck fat fries, any pizza, and the fried goat cheese salad read more

Nice little local dive. We didn't eat but hear the pizza is great! We will be back to try it!

Food is great! However, when you use the QR code at your table it brings up the happy hour specials that are good till 6pm. We ordered beers thinking it was happy hour. However when we got our bill there was no discount. We questioned the server and she talked to the manager. They claim they are not doing any happy hour specials. Aren't these QR codes set up after covid? This is false advertising. We have visited Zoobies on 2 other occasions and received the happy hour discount. I guess it all depends on which manager is in charge that day. read more

Well....its new. And its great that a new business has come and reopened this old vacant building...that being said I felt the decor needs to warm up some...be more relaxing and cozy. Dim the lights and enhance the character and charm a bit...perhaps they already have this in mind?! But we enjoyed the good service and drinks and will be back to support their efforts. read more

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I came to zoobies/the cosmos's for lunch based on raving recommendations. I attended with my service animal and promptly was asked to leave while the man was shaking his finger in my face and told me to show my documents. I wanted to confirm the laws in Michigan before stating he was incorrect but once I reentered the facility the man tried to pet my animal and touch her vest. There were no tables available so unfortunately I cannot speak to their food but unprofessional and illegal actions weren't called for. After speaking with the manager a couple of weeks later he offered me a gift card and said he would mail that to me it has been a month and I still have no gift card or a response read more

Zoobie's has a good selection of drinks options with creative cocktails and the prices seem pretty decent (to be fair, I'm from out of town and these prices were a breath of fresh air compared to what I'm used to, but I don't know the average prices locally). I drank the "trust us" which I really liked the concept of- you select which type of liquor you prefer to drink and the bartender makes you a drink of their choice; it's not a completely blind choice but at the same time has a surprise element. The food options were tasty too! We had the fried pita with dip and another appetizer (I can't remember which) but all four of us loved the pita + dip and I remember liking the other app as well. The service was very attentive but at times our server felt a bit pushy on selling more. He asked us if we wanted shots while we were ordering our drinks, which I've never had a server ask before. He also asked us multiple times if we wanted more drinks: before we'd even finished our first drinks, once we'd finished them, and then again after we ordered another round but stated that was our last order and were ready for the check. TLDR: Good choice in the area, hip vibe, tasty food (pita appetizer!), not super impressive if you come from an area with an abundance of great food options, but pushy server took away from the experience. read more