Zaina

[earthling]

Yeah, the Loop could use more counter ethnic eats, but RM/CP and Xroads/Blvd have plenty of options.

[loftguy]

Any of the Vietnamese options in the River Market/Columbus Park would qualify.

As I came out of a high-falutin-spent-a-gazillion-dollar unsatisfying dining establishment over the weekend, I thought "sure wish I had eaten at Vietnam Cafe....".

[DaveKCMO]

I love Zaina. I hope everyone who bemoans the lack of restaurants open for dinner in the loop eats there frequently.

i prefer table service.

[KCPowercat]

It's fine, pretty good but nothing outstanding. I like the owner, fun personality, from Jordan. The gyro meat isn't lamb based and not cut off a spit (vertical rotisserie) and plain jane pita not served warm, which knocks off a few legit points that would immediately turn off many foodie purists. Like the shawarma combo platter (ask with tabouli instead of lettuce salad, mix in rice), not as good as a couple other Med places in town but doable. Above avg baklava.

they have a spit in the back to the right of the cashier.


I mean it's nothing stunning but it delivers a solid meal.

[Eon Blue]

False alarm, everyone. The reduction in evening hours was temporary for the move. They're going strong until 7:30 in the evenings at their new spot on Grand across from the Ambassador.

[swid]

Pickleman's is going into the old Zaina location at 12th and Walnut

[KCPowercat]

Great news... Added retail along grand with an established restaurant and back filled with what I hear is a pretty good chain....

[taxi]

I thought that was a place that tans hides. That's what we really need downtown.

[DaveKCMO]

crews already in the old zaina space doing work.

[swid]

I'm not nearby during weekdays often enough to say for sure, but it sure looks like work has ground to a halt in turning the old Zaina location into a Picklemans.

(If memory serves me, they had a "opening this summer" banner up when they started the remodeling work...which has since been removed.)

[taxi]

Curious, does anyone go to the new Zaina? I used to go to the old one often but I've only been to the new one once, even though it's closer to me.

[Eon Blue]

Been to the new one quite a few times. The new one is just fine if you liked the old one.

[KCPowercat]

Curious, does anyone go to the new Zaina? I used to go to the old one often but I've only been to the new one once, even though it's closer to me.

Yes...I think it's busier now than it was on Walnut. It took them awhile to be found again.

[KCPowercat]

I'm not nearby during weekdays often enough to say for sure, but it sure looks like work has ground to a halt in turning the old Zaina location into a Picklemans.

(If memory serves me, they had a "opening this summer" banner up when they started the remodeling work...which has since been removed.)

They had not worked on it for awhile from the time they put up the signs....but activity started moving a few weeks ago.

[kboish]

Been to the new one quite a few times. The new one is just fine if you liked the old one.

I agree. New Zaina is same or better than old zaina. nothing special, but good for the lunch rotation. It did take awhile to get it back on my radar because their new location is not memorable from the outside. One of the things i liked best about the previous location was sitting on a corner with big windows and decent ground level activity outside.

I'm not nearby during weekdays often enough to say for sure, but it sure looks like work has ground to a halt in turning the old Zaina location into a Picklemans.

(If memory serves me, they had a "opening this summer" banner up when they started the remodeling work...which has since been removed.)

Yeah, I haven't seen anything that looks like progress at all. part of the advertisement partition blocking out the window has peeled back and it doesn't look like there has been much progress on the interior or any active reno as of about a week ago.