Stopped in about 1pm after visiting the zoo. Fairly busy for a slow Thursday afternoon. Had a bowl of Jarre chicken and rice soup, which was fairly spicy and delicious. Also a pumpkin spice latte, which was also very good. Light on the pumpkin, which I appreciate, as it can be overdone. Sprinkled with nutmeg. Cute place and friendly service. Outside seating is always a plus. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Jarre chicken and rice soup and pumpkin spice latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A small, local café across the street from the Henry Vilas zoo. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. There's a sandbox with toys for kiddos out on the patio. Inside offers a vibe with upbeat music. It's a great place to stop for lunch, a cold beverage, or a treat after your visit to the zoo. Order and pay at the counter, find a table and your food will be brought to you. The menu offers a variety of options from sandwiches to salads to hot entrées, etc. The service was really friendly and fast when I was there on a fall Saturday at lunchtime. read more

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I don't know why this place isn't packed 24 hours a day seven days a week. Their food is delicious. Their coffee is delicious. The environment is beautiful service is perfect. Is that too expensive even though it's right across from the cute little zoo in town. Inside outside seating so pleased with this place menu is full of fresh stuff so enjoy all of it. read more

Once a year me and my best friend come to Madison for a visit. We always look forward to ZuZu's. Specifically, the pumpkin muffins. Seriously so good. The ambience here is so homey and cute, the music is fun and lively, and the workers are always friendly. I will always be excited for our annual ZuZu visit. read more

Cute spot in the Vilas neighborhood. Excellent Mediterranean food! I came here for lunch and enjoyed the hummus plate which included a salad, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, delicious hummus, and amazing pita bread. The pita bread was served warm and was so good. I thought the salad could use some dressing but overall a great lunch. I was there with my parents who both got the gyros salad that they said was great. It's their go-to order. It's easy, order at the counter style restaurant. The food came out efficiently and the staff was friendly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat out on the patio. They have nice shade covers, flower gardens, etc. It was very pleasant sitting out there. Note, there is no parking lot but lots of street parking available. And bonus, the patio is dog friendly so we had our dogs with us. I will be back! read more

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Too bad this place doesn't get better overall reviews because we had such a great experience!! What a wonderful kid friendly little cafe!! We went yesterday after a fun day at the playground across the street. My veggie pita sandwich was yummy and my son's bowl of soup was delicious. I was impressed by how quickly they got our order out! They had a lovely selection of cakes and cookies at the counter but we were pretty stuffed, so looking forward to next time. The really great thing however is that they had a sandbox and toys in their front patio so if you have kids, you can actually have a conversation with someone while enjoying your coffee or lunch while your kids play!! read more

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My husband and I came here before going to the zoo and it was the perfect quick bite! The inside is very spacious and they have an outside patio! It was nice outside so that's where we decided to sit! We ordered a lamb gyro with their chips. I also got an iced chai and my husband got a beer. The staff was very nice and the food was ready so fast! They brought it to us and we were very pleased with our meal! It tased very fresh and it was a great portion to share! The chips were basic kettle salted chips and they gave a lot so I appreciated that! My chai was tasty but just a little too much milk to chai concentration ratio but I still enjoyed it! I think this place a great place to eat! read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Nothing bad to say about the food, but it didn't pop either. I had their coconut mocha latte (might have been a special) which was pretty good as well. Nice location and vibes, and I like how they have animals as pagers instead of numbers! read more

Great place! Tried Zuzu after leaving the Henry Villas Zoo. We were hungry and looking for a place that was quick and could accommodate various appetites and options. Mostly a Greek//mediterranean vibe. I tried the greek lemon soup - very cost effective at less than $4 and very filling - I couldn't even finish it! One of the kiddos got a gyro sandwich and enjoyed it, and another got a hot dog with very high marks. :) Hubby got a sandwich which he enjoyed. It's very cozy, we sat outside - has a little playground with sand for the kids, and an enjoyable area with curtains outside reminiscing of restaurants in the Middle East. Price is reasonable. Parked on the street. Would recommend. read more

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Good food, pretty fast service and a wide range of options to choose from! Convenient location and the vibe is cute!

Nice place to stop for a quick breakfast before heading to the zoo. Coffee was ok, nothing great. Breakfast gyro was just ok and on the greasy side. Staff was friendly but the outside area could use a little clean up. Great location but nothing to write home about. read more

Very neighborhoody. I only had a beer here. Excellent location, really charming and comfortable, helpful staff. Excellent on a summers day. read more

The best thing this cafe has going for it is the location. It's settled on a pretty neighborhood corner and has a nice outdoor seating area, which is where you'd want to sit considering the inside doesn't appear to have been cleaned in months. Everything in sight is dirty: bathrooms, floors, walls, seats. And I don't mean someone skipped a day of wiping the coffee splash near the garbage bin. Sadly, it seems thoroughly neglected on the cleanliness/aesthetic front, which doesn't instill confidence in other areas. Additionally, there doesn't appear to be any hood ventilation above the grill because it's SO smoky inside that I couldn't stay. They had some good tunes on and I understand it's a good place for families! Overall, it's disappointing staff energy, food is reasonable but totally overshadowed by the lack of pride shown in the actual environment. Restaurants need to be clean. Period. read more

natalie gustafson is the best server and person ever she deserves a raise and the world best gyro i've ever fucking had

I'm still a big fan of ZuZu, but this last trip there got me a little sad. We went on a Thursday night to pick up our food after ordering ahead, and when we got home were kind of sad by the quality. Every time we have eaten at the restaurant it has been great, but this take out experience wasn't as good. When I unwrapped my gyro at home, it seemed to be lacking some of the greens, tomato, and sauce that I've normally had, and I ended up adding some extras to it at home. My husband ordered the African meatballs which he said were good. Overall, gyro deal is still the best in town and the food was pretty good, just not as is usually expected. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Thursday night gyro, lacking some filling ingredients - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Wonderful cafe atmosphere. Its location across from the park and zoo is a perfect setting when sitting outside. The staff was more than friendly. Quick service; we waited less than 5min to get our food. The lamb gyro was really good. The chicken bastilla was sweet and tasty. It is complimented nicely by yellow rice and Greek salad. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Whoa. I'm in Madison for work staying downtown and decided to walk to the zoo on a beautiful fall Sunday. Without realizing, I left without my water bottle or eating lunch. So when I see this little restaurant on the corner of the intersection where the zoo is I decided to pop in. I ordered the Chicken Bastilla and the Raspberry iced tea. The chicken Bastilla absolutely smacked me in the mouth with FLAVOR. I was not expecting that! The white yogurt sauce is incredible. I don't write reviews often, and this one was absolutely well deserved. read more

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I love the food it is so zuzu I loved all the McDonald's don't buy the salad it poisoned me and my family (my dog owns the restaurant)

I had this shit last Friday but that just proves how timeless this spot is. I had a weekly or daily special or whatever of there gyro and shit was insane. U see the bread. I got like some ruffles on the side but I'm not complaining cause the white sauce DUMB and the meat crazy. Also had a black bottom muffin and that shit was crazy good too, real soft, pause. I got a chai to cause that's just like what comes with being at a cafe and it was cool. Nice spice but I thought the chai of the chai was lacking a bit. Also had some of there espresso and it was cool. Shit brightened my day up. God bless read more

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I love Zuzu cafe. It is a hidden gem in madison and always so tasty and fresh. Their Athenian breakfast is delicious, as are their paninis. My partner and I will order a coffee and then walk around Vilas park to Lake Wingra and chat along the way. They also have a band that plays on thursday nights, which is always a blast! read more

I had the gyros salad tasty salad with lamb strips feta and more. A mago margarita that was good. Service was counter and polite. Place was clean and well tended to. Well recommended. Will be back. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Gyros salad - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Wonderful! We've driven by this place many times but today, was the day we made a go of it. What a pleasant surprise and delicious one at that. Inviting environment, appropriate for these times. Wonderfully prepared soups and sandwiches on great bread. Stop in, carry out or eat there! Enjoy Madison . read more

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We stopped in after a trip to the zoo. The landscaping left much to be desired, there were actually weeds stuck in the front door. They had some cookies labeled gluten friendly, and we were told that meant they were mostly gluten-free. since we weren't clear at the wait staff knew what they were talking about, I skipped a cookie, but my husband got a traditional gluten cookie, which he said was very buttery. The 16 oz iced latte with regular milk was mostly ice, and before the ice melted was short on milk and heavy on burnt coffee. The only option for dairy-free milk was soy milk, which was pretty surprising, feels antiquated to only offer soy milk out of coffee shop . Not sure how this place has four stars, but I guess we won't be back for more. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Latte 16oz - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Zuzu is a kinda crunchy neighborhood place next to the zoo. Relatively small, but just fine for lunch! The good: *Very affordable! Two large portion entrees and a big bowl of soup for around $20 *Randomly, they have a bar! And a strangely diverse selection of cocktails! And, most important, a glass of wine for VERY cheap. The bar only has two seats but I was surprised to find one in this coffee shop-style restaurant, with cheap drinks being a bonus *Food was generally pretty good, nothing to fawn over, but large portions. My salad was very fresh and lightly dressed which is a rarity The not so good: *Really family friendly. As in, we were the only people there without kids, and there were kids everywhere. We had to sit in the play zone which I didn't mind, but not the spot on a Saturday for getting a quiet bite All in all it was a convenient, cheap spot to stop for lunch before a zoo visit and I would return... I'm sure if I ever have kids it will be a go-to! read more

We loved it. The food was great. It was prepared quickly. Coffee was excellent. Staff was kind. Lovely and relaxed environment. Great location too. I will go back. read more

I love their rosewater lemonades and grilled paninis. They taste like summer. The atmosphere is bright and colorful, like "Friends" from the 90's. They have a large outdoor area where they sometimes have concerts. read more

Great neighborhood spot. Very cozy. Friendly people. Great muffins, salads, sandwiches, and gyro plates. Beer fridge with good selections. Excellent cocktails. read more

We stopped by on a Saturday in late May. The staff was grumpy, our food was delivered on dirty dishes (not a little caked on food, but straight up dirty), the food was meh. I have had good experiences here in the past, so I don't know what's going on these days but I hope they can recover some of their former glory. read more

We live in the neighborhood and love ZuZu for their breakfast burritos, lunch sandwiches, gyros, and baked goods! A great neighborhood place with some unique selections you can't get elsewhere. read more

After a trip to the zoo, my son and I finally checked out ZuZu Cafe. It is in a great location across from the zoo. The outdoor patio area is perfect to continue an outdoor adventure. There is a large selection of beverages. So, as a parent, if you have had a rough day at the zoo, help yourself to an adult beverage from the cooler. If you are tired - coffee. :) I had a panini, my son had the hot dog kids meal. I did not try the hot dog (it was organic), but my panini was good. It was the Spooner - pesto, mozzarella and tomato. My moz could have been a little more melted for my taste, but overall a good sandwich. There is a play area for kids, which I always appreciate as well. The location, selection, and outdoor seating alone make this a place I will return to in the near future. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Handsomest lunch date around! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cutest restaurant with amazing staff and great food. Super fun to bike to or if you're by the zoo! Love their paninis and sandwiches

This place was awesome!! We stopped by to check it out in the morning. We were pleasantly surprised by Bloody Mary's and breakfast. The outside patio area was very relaxing. We had a great morning experience! read more

Delightful location with lots of promise, but overall, this place fails to deliver. Located near UWMadison and the Madison Zoo, ZuZu is ideally situated. The place has ample outdoor seating and is very kid friendly (sandbox, activities for kids, etc). Even the menu (PBJ's) and signage ("for everyone's Safety park your strollers outside). Let's start with service - this was off the moon rush and I counted 6 employees. 2 were mostly staring, one was taking orders, not sure what the other folks were doing, but service was pretty slow. Food - ordered the Drake (a slice turkey meat sandwich) and the Randall (roast beef). The sauce of mayo/mustard in the Drake was so overdone it was oozing out the sides and overwhelmed the sandwich. The Roast Beef was tasty enough but it was the kind of cured meat that happens to 'stay with you' the rest of the day. All in all, maybe it was just an off day for the staff -- not sure, but not a place to visit twice. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - The Randall - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went here on Saturday to meet up with a friend for a play date with my son. Street parking only, but with it being cold out, the zoo was empty so there was plenty of room to find a spot. The cafe is small and quaint, with a delicious panini called The Monroe. My husband really enjoyed his breakfast sandwich. I was really excited that there was a corner for the kids to play, which is the main reason we chose to meet up at Zuzu. I am a little concerned that the toys are not regularly sanitized, however, as the cafe is pretty filthy. None of the tables were wiped down, there was caked food on the chairs, floor, and high chair, and there were actual piles of dirt on the Lego table. This place has a lot of potential as a great place to bring kids, but I would really like to see it cleaned more thoroughly before bringing my son back. read more

I've been here before, and ZuZu's has a few things going for it: great location across from the zoo, plenty of outdoor seating, and a sandbox for the kiddos to play in. If it were not for those things I'm not sure that I would ever come here. The food/beverages are bad and overpriced. I had one of their specials today: Tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich. the sandwich was OK, the soup was so salty I couldn't stomach more than a few bites. The espresso I ordered with it was cold and watered down (I'm not positive that they don't re-use the grounds in the espresso machine...) Bottom line: if you are visiting the zoo and want a beer/ice cream and a place to sit, ZuZu's is your place. If you want anything more than that go somewhere else. read more

The service wasn't very friendly. The self-serve ice cold water was nice though! I had my two-year-old with me. Judging from the overall look of the place and the crowd they must draw (visitors of the Henry Vilas Zoo from across the street) I thought they'd be child-friendly but it appears to be otherwise. Ice cream was ok. Outside seating was nice. However, next time, I wouldn't make it a priority to stop here after visiting the zoo but I wouldn't mind getting treats from here again if I absolutely have to. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Small cafe with a neighborhood vibe. The menu is simple with 6-7 sandwiches, a few salads, 2-3 soups, and a menu of daily specials. When I bike around Lake Wingra, ZuZu is the perfect place to take a break and fuel up. The food is here is light, affordable, and delicious. Apparently they have jazz on Thursdays so I definitely want to come back for that. read more

ZuZu Cafe & Market - Gyro with chips - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was excited to go to this nice looking cafe for lunch with family. Turned out to be deceiving. They served my vegetarian aunt a BEEF sandwich. Served me a chickpea dish with about 3 chickpeas in it. Food was not appetizing. They messed up our bill and tried to overcharge us. Staff was unfriendly about their multiple mistakes. Although Zuzu Cafe is right in my area, I won't be returning. Too bad. read more

Such a cute little spot! It has really good food and drinks! It's my favorite spot to get a chai latte! Sometimes they have live music which is so fun! I love going to Zuzus! read more

First time there last night (I live on East side) and I was struck by the friendly staff. So often, coffee house staff don't go out of their way to smile. I take no offense but I do notice when the staff DOES smile :-) It was a great first visit and I will be back! read more