Fantastic lunch at Zanzibar

Wow, I went there today on a whim (waiting for panna cotta to set) and it was absolutely delicious. Like I wanted to lick the plate clean delicious. I had smoked pork tenderloin covered in a savory dijon cream sauce with a side of mashed potatoes with roast beef gravy and green beans. The potatoes were mashed with skins on (my favorite) creamy and perfectly seasoned and the beans were crunchy and fresh tossed with a bit of sauteed mushrooms. This place may be a super hip bar at night but they really seem to focus on quality with the food. Good stuff will return highly recommended!

[Robin Garr]

Thanks for the report, Adam. I have to admit that, possibly influenced by youthful recollections of the original Z-bar, I haven't been focusing on the resurrected place as an eats destination. Your report makes me want to head out there soon!

By the way, don't they (in defiance of both history and geography) render it as "ZanzAbar" now?

I agree, they have great soups over there and the chef is pretty inventive. Also had the Germantown Braunschweiger sandwich and I could probably eat that a couple of times a week.

By the way, don't they (in defiance of both history and geography) render it as "ZanzAbar" now?

Ooops! Yes, you are correct!

Their pulled pork barbecue is incredible - I get fierce cravings for it. I love their cheddar macaroni salad as a side, and their super chips are bar food at its best. They are fried jalapeno, artichoke and pickle chips with a doctored up ranch dipping sauce.

I've had lunch here 3 times since they've opened, and each time was fantastic--it's easily the best steam table lunch I've had yet. I was a mild fan of the Brown Bag, but the Zanzabar has taken what was good about the Bag and run with it. Many of the old sandwhiches are still there, but the entrees are the real draw for me. One sure sign that they know what they are doing (and also one thing the Brown Bag couldn't seem to get right): the vegetables actually have flavor. They are never boiled to death and their garlic sauteed spinach is to die for. One minor complaint though: one of my co-workers thought the Brown Bag had the best brats in town, and the Zanzabar doesn't have any at all. That's too bad--but really his problem more than mine.

Wow. I must try this. The food sounds loverly.
And how the heck do they land such stellar music lineups?
Makes me wish I could stay up past 10 pm, but the irony lies in the fact that it doesn't matter how late you go to bed......
Your kid is still up when he's ready.
Good eats kittens!
Nora

After reading everyone's assessment of the food, I had to try lunch today for myself. Everyone was right on! They have a tasty plate lunch off the steam table. They had quite a nice selection to chose from as well. Today's offerings were BBQ Chicken Quarters, Chicken Marsala, Roast Pork Loin with Black Beans and Cilantro Sauce, Grouper, Seafood Cakes, Roast Beef and Gravy, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes and Corn.

I opted for the roast beef open face on white bread, mashers and beans. The food reminded me of how I would prepare food if I was running a cafeteria. Simple food but with nice touches that shows the chef preparing it really cares. For example, the mashed potatoes were made with red skin on potatoes and were seasoned with what I think was sour cream and rosemary. They were the bomb. The green beans were freshly blanched and sauteed with a little white onion so they were perfectly crunchy. Definately not out of a can and cooked to death.
There is also a short menu of sandwiches, salads and apps available if you don't like what's on the steam table but from what I saw, the hot line is the way to go!

I can see this becoming a regular lunch stop for me as I work nearby. The service was friendly and they genuinely seem happy to see you and proud of what they are serving.

A nice cheap lunch with a glass of iced tea came to $8.35.