Now & Zen — Restaurant in Charlottesville

I ordered a $17 "big roll" at Now and Zen. It came out covered in sriracha, which I can't eat, so I politely asked if they could remake the roll. The server told me no, because that would mean they were "wasting the roll." So I told him the menu description did not include sriracha because if it did, I would have made sure to order the roll without it, and he, very rudely, told me he was positive it did. (I would've asked him to check right then, but the menu said "Japanese spice," so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and assumed they made their own sriracha and called it Japanese spice.) Then, over thirty minutes later, the server comes back, after having checked the menu, and told me that, like I thought, I was correct and the menu did not indicate that the roll was covered in sriracha. Given that I was correct and he argued with me (not to mention the 30 minute delay), he should've come back with a re-made roll. Instead, he tried to bargain with me and offered to bring a different roll that contained the same type of fish but was much smaller and 1/3 of the price. I said no, that I would like the roll I ordered. Then he told me that since I'd already eaten half of it (read: picked at maybe one or two pieces), he would bring me back HALF of a re-made roll. Another thirty minutes later, the half-roll finally came. At this point, the person with whom I went to dinner had been done eating for a while and I wasn't that hungry, so we asked for the check (and ended up giving the half-roll to a homeless person on the nearby Downtown Mall). The bill comes: I was charged $17 for a roll I did not get to eat. Absolutely horrible customer service. Charlottesville residents, do not give your business to this restaurant; Now and Zen,...

Our recent dining experience at Now & Zen offered a delightful mix of dishes, highlighting their strengths with a few areas for potential enhancement. Here’s a closer look:

The Pokebowl was undoubtedly the star of our meal, featuring impeccably fresh ingredients that blended harmoniously to create a truly enjoyable dish. Each component was well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality and flavor.

While the California Maki showcased creativity by using avocado instead of mangoes, it provided a creamy twist that, while enjoyable, missed the usual fruity sweetness we expected. It’s a unique take that might appeal to those looking for a different flavor profile.

The Tempura Roll, while not as standout as the Pokebowl, still offered a decent crunch and flavor. It complemented the meal well, though it didn’t leave as strong of an impression as some of the other dishes.

The Beef Gyudon pleasantly surprised us with its flavorful combination of tender beef and well-seasoned rice. It was a comforting and satisfying choice that showcased the kitchen’s skill in preparing traditional Japanese dishes.

The only disappointment was the Spicy Ramen, which lacked the depth and richness we anticipated. It resembled instant ramen more than a gourmet bowl, missing the mark compared to the other offerings.

Overall, Now & Zen excels in delivering delicious dishes like the Pokebowl and Beef Gyudon, highlighting their ability to create satisfying flavors. With some adjustments to dishes like the California Maki and Spicy Ramen, they could elevate their entire menu to consistently...

First off, it's very tight getting in. People cannot come in while others are leaving, the tables are very close, so much so it's very easy to hear the other tables conversation and easy to tip their drinks over with your butt when leaving. The restaurant itself was dirty. The windowsill had grime and dirt and I noticed many other spots that were in need of cleaning. They never asked if we wanted to order drinks, they just gave us water. We ordered appetizers before our main entries, and well in advance but some came out first while other's came out after our main dishes.... we ordered 2 types of dumplings and those were the appetizers that came out at different times... why? Many of the sauces were horrible and the yakisoba was the worst I've ever had. Additionally the chicken in the yakisoba was very large and clearly needed to be cut. I'm a huge dumpling and gyoza fan and both were not great either. The harumaki was very large and not constructed well, it seemed sloppy and the taste wasnt very good.... sauce was horrible too. This place is definitely a fusion because it doesn't taste like Japanese. Service wise I had to ask two different people for a fork for my mother in law, and that took a long time to accomplish. Taking a break from my complaints, I will say their Salmon Saviche was very good and the dish was elevated, wanted to at least give that a compliment. On leaving I took several mints and noticed some were in the jar without packaging, yuck! Overall I would encourage people to avoid this place, it's definitely not worth the 4.3 stars it was rated when I...