Cafe Zola in Ann Arbor-The Most Budget-Friendly Brunch

Cafe Zola | Ann Arbor Brunch Letdown – Mediocre Food, Rude Service, Not Worth It I was craving French toast bad, but my go-to spot had a huge line—so I randomly picked Cafe Zola. Big mistake. The food was “meh” at best, service was terrible, and it’s way overpriced. I won’t be coming back, and I can’t recommend it unless you’re desperate for a brunch seat 😤. 🤦‍♀️ Service: Slow, Rude, & Unapologetic Let’s start with the worst part: the service. Everything took forever—getting water, placing our order, waiting for food—we sat around for over 30 minutes just for our meals. And when there was a problem? It got worse: We ordered a burger, and the bun was burnt black (inedible!). We asked for a new one, and the waiter slammed the replacement on our table like we’d annoyed him. No apology, no “sorry about that”—just a bad attitude. Total mood killer. 🥞 French Toast: Big Portion, Big Disappointment I was so excited for French toast, but it fell flat—hard. No Size Option: The portion is massive (you can’t order half or full), so I ended up wasting most of it. By the middle, I was stuffed and grossed out by how heavy it was. Soggy & Too Sweet: The only topping is strawberries, plus a ton of strawberry sauce slathered underneath. The sauce made the toast’s surface wet and mushy—just looking at it killed my appetite. I only like French toast with fresh fruit (no syrupy mess!), so this was a no-go for me. 🍔 Beef Burger: Dry, Forgettable The burger was “okay,” but nothing to write home about. The patty was dry and lacked juice—chewy, not juicy like a good burger should be. And even after getting a new bun (thanks to the rude waiter), it still felt like a lazy, thrown-together meal. 🦐 Shrimp & Salad: $18 for 3 Shrimp? Total Rip-Off This was the biggest joke of the meal. I ordered it thinking it’d be a hearty sautéed shrimp salad—nope. What showed up? 3 regular, salty shrimp, plus a handful of “grass” (aka a tiny side salad). For $18? That’s highway robbery. I felt scammed. 📝 The Only “Pro”: A Varied Menu To be fair, their menu is pretty big—they have more than just brunch (entrees, pastas, etc.). But when the core brunch dishes are this bad, why would I try anything else? 💰 Final Verdict: Overpriced & Undercooked At ~$30+ per person, it’s 1.5x more expensive than other Ann Arbor brunch spots—for way worse food. There are so many better substitutes (seriously, even a diner would be better). Save your money, skip the line at your favorite spot, or pick another cafe—just don’t go to Cafe Zola. #UniversityOfMichiganAnnArbor #AnnArbor #Brunch #AnnArborFood #AnnArborEats