ZOË Cocktail Bar & Bites — Restaurant in San Francisco

On 12/5/24, I visited the bar with two friends to kick off my birthday celebration. The place was busy and appeared short-staffed, with only two bartenders working and the kitchen looking idle. We sat at the bar near the kitchen window and waited several minutes without being acknowledged. When I tried to get the bartender’s attention, Kianna, the manager, immediately cut me off in a dismissive and condescending tone, saying she was too busy with other customers. She later added, “I’ll be right with you,” likely realizing how rude her initial response had been.

After about five minutes, Kianna asked the other bartender, Paul, to assist us. Paul was polite, professional, and accommodating, reassuring us that since there were no other food orders, our meal would come out quickly. We ordered drinks and food and began enjoying our conversation, appreciating the environment despite the busyness.

As our food started coming out, no one was delivering it to us, even though it was sitting in the kitchen window. We verified with the kitchen staff that the food was ours and decided to grab it ourselves. When we informed Paul, he reassured us it was fine. However, when the empanadas came out, one of my friends, who was nearest to the kitchen window, asked if they were ours and reached to grab them. At that moment, Kianna approached us with an unnecessarily hostile attitude, scolding us for taking our food. Despite our explanation that no one had been serving it to us and that Paul had approved, she remained combative and condescending.

I tried to clarify, asking if the food was ours, but instead of resolving the situation, she asked if we had a tab open and abruptly said she would close it out. I was confused by her hostility but told her to go ahead and close it. She then charged us full price for everything—even though it was happy hour—and added a $25 tip for herself without our consent. When I asked to speak to the manager or owner, she claimed she was the manager and eventually handed me the owner’s contact information in a dismissive and rude manner.

As I was speaking with Paul to gather more information about the owner, Kianna came up to me, got in my face, and physically bumped me, claiming I was in her way. Her behavior was shocking, humiliating, and completely unacceptable, especially as other customers watched in disbelief.

This was an embarrassing and humiliating experience, made worse by the fact that we were the only Black people in the restaurant. Kianna’s behavior made us feel like we were the problem, even though it was clear we were not. It’s hard to ignore the racial undertones of her hostility, especially given how she continually eavesdropped on our private conversations and made inappropriate comments.

Paul, on the other hand, was excellent. His customer service stood out, and he went out of his way to apologize for Kianna’s disrespectful behavior. He explained that this was out of his hands and that he couldn’t do anything because she was his manager, which was evident from how she carried herself.

The behavior I experienced here is unacceptable in any business setting, and I am appalled that the establishment has someone in a managerial position who clearly lacks the professionalism and judgment to handle such responsibilities.

I reached out to the owner, Kevin Velotta, immediately after the incident, leaving a voicemail and calling multiple times (six or seven) on the day of the event and the following day. As of now, I have not received any response from him or the leadership team. This lack of accountability is deeply disappointing.

This experience not only tarnished my celebration but also reflects poorly on the establishment. I hope steps are taken to address this incident and ensure no one else has to endure the same...

We visited on 12/5/24 for happy hour, and unfortunately, our experience with the manager, Kianna, was extremely disappointing. When we were seated, we tried to confirm if food was available since the kitchen appeared empty. Instead of addressing our question professionally, Kianna responded in a condescending tone, saying she was busy. A few minutes later, she informed us that Paul would take care of us.

Paul came over and took our orders, and everything seemed fine at first. However, when our empanadas were ready, we went to grab them from the kitchen since we recognized our order. Kianna immediately yelled at us, claiming she needed to confirm the ticket and ensure the food wasn’t for someone else. After verifying that the empanadas were indeed ours, she continued to escalate the situation. She questioned whether we had an open tab and abruptly informed us she would close it out.

Despite being served during happy hour, we were charged full price for everything except one item. To make matters worse, Kianna tipped herself $25 without our consent. Her behavior grew increasingly hostile, insisting we leave even though we hadn’t finished our meals or drinks. It was also unsettling that, as the only Black patrons there, we felt targeted and uncomfortable. Kianna repeatedly eavesdropped on our private conversation, making unnecessary comments that added to the tension. At one point, she even attempted to bump into one of us when we tried to ask about the club owner.

Overall, her conduct was unprofessional and unacceptable. Kianna’s behavior not only made us feel unwelcome but also suggested underlying bias. It’s clear that she lacks the temperament and skills necessary for a role in customer service, especially...

We had a reservation, but the staff seemed unorganized and unprepared. No one told us we needed to order at the bar after being seated, which made the experience confusing.

The owner appeared attentive, but mostly to guests who seemed like personal friends, which may be what’s keeping this place in business.

We ordered a $60 margarita “fish bowl” with tajin, but the bartender told us they had run out of the large glass bowls. Instead, we were given a pitcher, four glasses, and no tajin on the glass rims, no fun straws either.

I originally ordered a shrimp taco, but the bartender later came back to say they had run out of shrimp, so I switched to a fish taco. It was nice, I enjoyed it. My friend ordered steak tacos, which were eventually delivered by a random bar goer who proudly announced he didn’t even work there. At this point, it felt less like dining out and more like a community potluck—where strangers handle your plate before it arrives. Truly the “DIY restaurant experience” nobody asked for.

Overall, I wasn’t impressed. If you’re considering stopping by, I’d recommend skipping this spot... unless you’re into paying $60 for a pitcher of margaritas and the thrill of wondering which stranger will deliver your tacos next.

(Also, anyone else notice the majority of 5-star reviews come from accounts with 1 review? I'm...