Zemi East Coast Cafe — Restaurant in Barbados

Zemi is beyond an exceptional experience and truly a gem.

This was my second time attending Zemi, and as we walked in we were promptly greeted, offered menus and introduced to the specials of the day.

We had travelled with our dog, so we requested to have our food as take out so that we could eat on the benches overlooking the sea. The staff was very accommodating and made valuable suggestions on menu options.

Amongst us we had the “Railroad” burger (which was actually ‘homemade’) and this was paired with the macaroni pie. The flavours of the burger were tantalising! Although the burger was well done, it was still extremely tender and moist. The macaroni pie was very tasty and enjoyed by the entire family. One highlight of the pie was that it was not greasy and heavy.

We also had the Bathsheba salad. As a family who loves fruits and vegetables and makes salad often, Zemi’s Bathsheba Salad was superb! Every single item listed on the menu- the sorrel vinaigrette, arugula, sweet potatoes and cherry tomatoes (just to name a few), were present in the salad. The mahi mahi, which we added to the salad was well seasoned and prepared outstandingly.

The breadfruit crisps were a light refreshing addition and the grilled vegetables were made to perfection.

In addition to the fantastic food, one of our favourite highlights was the lemonade; it was light and tangy and refreshing. One can taste that it was made with freshly squeezed limes and lots of love.

The wait time for food is not rushed, but neither is it exhaustive. We appreciate this quality immensely as it ensures that the standard of food at Zemi is consistently amazing and unmatched.

The customer service at Zemi also has to be acknowledged. The staff checks in to ensure you are doing well and you are periodically updated on the status of your meal. Moreover, we received our meals packed and bagged so professionally, that I was actually impressed by this small gesture.

Zemi is a really well rounded establishment nestled in Hillcrest. One can simply enjoy a refreshing lemonade, a cocktail, a coffee, a side of fries, or something as intricate as octopus, when available as a special. The quality of true Bajan food, the ambience and atmosphere, the staff (because a business is nothing without it’s people), the soft mellow music in the background- all create an amazing experience that will help Zemi to grow and be here for a long time.

If you are looking for good food, good vibes and good views, Zemi is it!

P. S. We did not get a chance to photograph the food as we were too anxious to...

Someone mentioned this place to me just by the way and I decided to try it out. I was not disappointed in any way.

SERVICE: Impeccable. Shout out to Kyle and all the other serving crew, they are knowledgeable, helpful and gracious. A member of our party was not comfortable with our seating position, after a tiny wait we were reseated in a different area, and it was just as nice.

FOOD: The difficulty here, is that is that every single dish was delicious, the food was absolutely fantastic. The sours [local fruit juices mixed with select alcohol] were great, so were the non-alcoholic options of tamarind, passion fruit and lemonade. Another hit at our table was the passion fruit hot sauce, we inquired about buying a bottle of it, but Kyle said it was not yet on sale. Another hit was the Coconut encrusted Barracuda, the Octopus, and the fishcakes were crunchy and delectable, the pork was lovely, and the chicken was succulent and tasty. Desserts were equally as appetising; we chose Passion fruit cheesecake and Brownies with ice cream. I was hoping they had an additional ice cream flavour instead of Vanilla or a Sorbet option.

ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant is a covered, elevated decking with an expansive view of the East Coast shoreline and the Bathsheba Soup Bowl [surfing/surfers beach]. The breeze is nice and cooling, even though it is hot outside the sea breeze kept us comfortable. There are additional seats on the grassy area around the decking, so you are not rushed to leave, if you want to just sit on the benches there and watch the Atlantic Ocean, you have that option. At this time of the year, you might see a whale or two offshore, which someone in our party swore they caught a glimpse of one surfacing.

Menu prices are average for the Casual dining experience. You can expect to pay approx. BBD$100/US$62/CAD$85 /€58 per adult person VAT inclusive, this can fluctuate depending on your menu choices and how much you order. To put the cost in perspective, it is from starters to desert with alcohol/non-alcoholic drinks. Tips are separate from the bill.

I highly recommend Zemi for your casual lunch outing, I am not sure if they have take-out options, nor if they have an allergy policy, but this is something you can find out by calling. Additionally, I do not think that reservations are mandatory but if the party is more than two it might be best to reserve your seats, which can be done via email; they respond quickly. I had a wonderful time at the restaurant and will...

Wow..searching for words to do justice to Zemi! Visiting from Maui and having heard great things, the new Zemi Cafe exceeded our high expectations. Firstly, we love the drive along the pristine rugged East Coast; palms swaying, majestic rock formations jutting up from the foamy sea past the famous "Soup Bowl" surf break, up the hill to the breezy Zemi cafe on the hill. From the warm greeting of the young highly capable staff to the picturesque Atlantic azure backdrop, our lunch adventure flowed flawlessly. They get very busy so we beat the lunch rush by arriving at 11:30am. The entire menu appealed to us, it was difficult to choose! We went with Tent Bay Ceviche served with homemade cassava and breadfruit chips, Tuna Poke and then were blown away by the Barracuda over mash with curry sauce special. Hope it's on the menu next time. Can't wait to try the mocha brownie and guava cheesecake which I hear is also outrageous. We hope to share Zemi's unique and fantastic taste, views & vibes with friends and family for years to come. Big...