For those of us who are looking at a graduation date that is quickly approaching and wondering how we grew up so fast, there is a new, healthy restaurant right in Snider Plaza that will bring back the kid in you.
ZoÃ’s, located on the corner of Milton and Snider Plaza, has bright orange and lime green umbrellas outside that make this restaurant impossible to miss.
The same orange and lime green colors are used for its chairs and tables inside. The children’s artwork displayed along the walls makes you feel like you are five years old again.
The initial feeling that we both got was that we were on a fun picnic with friends. We didn’t know anyone else at the restaurant, but everyone was smiling and enjoying the kids running around.
It may have been because we went on a Sunday afternoon, that there were a lot of small children there, giggling and enjoying their stress-free youth, while their parents were enjoying healthy meals. There were also a few families getting a quick bite to eat after a soccer game and even some SMU fraternity guys grabbing a healthy lunch to go.
ZoÃ’s Kitchen, modeled after Zoe Cassimus’ real kitchen, promotes a balanced lifestyle of spending time with loved ones over a healthy meal. With “close to the garden ingredients,” ZoÃ’s dishes offer you fresh, delicious meals at reasonable prices.
The family recipes that are used are cooked in ways that are good for you, which means dishes are grilled without excess butter or oil, and are not heavily overpowered with cheeses and other non-healthy items.
If you are into nutrition, the menu groups items into categories such as: lite, zone, heart fresh, protein power and low carb.
Walking up to the register under the cabana-style awning makes you feel like you are ordering your food outside.
You can buy the pasta or potato salad, soup or even the salad dressing pre-packaged for convenience.
We ordered the chicken marinara plate that consisted of sautéed chicken breast topped with a marinara sauce and melted parmesan cheese, served over a bed of orzo pasta. It was a little plain, but tasty nonetheless.
It came with a small ZoÃ’s Greek salad, with a homemade dressing already at the tables for your convenience.
Our other main dish was the gruben sandwich, a grilled turkey sandwich with Swiss cheese and spicy mustard topped with ZoÃ’s slaw on rye bread. The homemade slaw is what makes the sandwich. It was a perfect complement to the sandwich.
We ordered the pasta salad for a side dish which was very fresh and healthy. The sandwich also came with baked potato chips. The meals came out on Styrofoam plates, and the sandwich on a piece of wax paper. It was very simple and easy, which also added to the feeling of being on a picnic.
If you’re feeling under the weather, we were told to try the chicken and orzo soup. It is made every morning with pulled rotisserie chicken, plump orzo, carrots and celery all in a fresh chicken stock.
They have a pretty good kids menu for all of you small portion eaters, as well as ZoÃ’s by the pound, various salads, other hot plates, more sandwiches and soups.
They have great catering for family dinners or for businesses meetings. They also have family meals for up to four people, consisting of either the chicken marinara or the chicken kabobs, again emphasizing family time even when you are too busy to cook. It is a very fun atmosphere and a place that everyone should try.
If you want to escape from the stress of Dallas and of SMU, visit ZoÃ’s and feel like a kid again!
