Zoko 822 Spanish Tapas and Gin Bar in Grand Rapids

I really enjoyed my experience here! The drinks were delicious, the servers were friendly, especially the awesome bartender, and the happy hour deals were great. We sat outside in their patio area for tapas and cocktails. The croquetas particularly stood out, as did the Ajo Dulce y Camembert (candied garlic, camembert and crispy sage on baguette). I am looking forward to going back for brunch soon, as well as checking out the food truck!

Went expecting a good meal but were absolutely blown away by u expected food combinations and creativity and adventure in the dishes. Candied garlic? Amazing! The drinks were also delicious. Can’t wait to go back.

Ive been to Zoko 4 times and have never been disappointed. The service is exceptional and the food is, in a word, exciting! The bite-size or small portions let you try things that you may shy away from if it was a full serving. Everything is made with the highest quality of ingredients and incredible execution from an inventive chef. On my last visit, we did the chefs table and it was a great choice. I will return again and again and Im still thinking about that little donut....

It was great! I was expecting a more traditional band drums style live music but instead it was a trendy jazz smooth love music and I absolutely loved it! The food was amazing! The pintxos with the crispy sage leaf, to die for!

This was a very disappointing experience. The atmosphere was fine, and service was fine. The food was not good at all. Way too much salt. And the few other things that weren’t loaded with salt lacked flavor. Empanadas very small, and lacked flavor. The Water was the one thing that was pretty good. I would not waste your time or money going to this restaurant.

I hesitated going in when I saw the outside of the building, but Im glad I went in. We had 6 pinxtos, 4 tapas, and 2 glasses of sangria and we only spent about $60. Everything was really good and well priced for the quality. The food and drinks really are top notch! Our server was great - she didnt hover, but she was there whenever we needed something.

Service was slow even though the restaurant was essentially empty. Bartender spent the majority of their time with their back turned to us, talking to coworkers. We did not get some of the tapas we had ordered and what we did get was cold. Mussels were gritty and chicken meatballs looked undercooked. Disappointing experience. Would not go back.

Liked the atmosphere and service. Interesting choices. Few bites of cheese w/ some (flavorfulolive oil at almost $10. Pimientos were nice. Butchers Steak was 5 slices of well-done meat on some potatoes. Lacking flavor. Arroz w/ Vegetables served in a small dish - not impressive at $18. Overpriced for what is offered.

I ate at Zoko 822 and this place was super!!!! It servers Tapas that were great!!! And it also has a great gin bar!!! I had several gins from Grand Rapids and they were absolutely great!!!!! Our server was tremendous and this place was unbelievable, even though from the outside it looked like a trailer…it was great!!! I would highly recommend this place to anyone coming into Grand Rapids and needing some great food and drinks!!!! Very cool place!!!!!

I have been here on many occasions and can not speak highly enough of this place. The food and atmosphere make you feel like you could be in another city/country. The happy hour is one of the best deals and is all day on Saturday. I have also been with a big group and they were extremely accommodating and everyone loved it. You truly cannot get better food anywhere nearby. Love this place!

Amazing food, top notch gin, and a secluded location make this place a diamond in the rough!! Try the Zoko G+T to fall in love with gin, or choose from one of 80+ gins to pair with a number of fine tonics. Perfect for date night or to hang with a group of friends!

Great drinks, great service. Food was varied but nothing was amazing. Everything seemed like it was missing something. Slat, seasoning, warmth? I dont know. I cant put my finger on it.

Wonderful food, very accommodating to food allergies, friendly staff, and great drink menu (both alcoholic and non (nice coffee bar)).

Zoko had great tapas and they were willing to place everything on peppers instead of bread when I asked. Honestly the tapas were probably the best that I have had because of those peppers. Having asked for the set of ten pintxos I was worried the small bites would not be enough. I was surprised to find that I was quite full after eating all ten. The selection was fantastic and the pairing of each ingredient was spot on. The staff took time to explain the dishes as they arrived on the table. I could tell that they had a real passion for the food they were serving and enjoyed helping their customers. I would go back again and again but next time to try the gin bar.

Good food, and small plates. I much prefer the ambiance of this place over the tapas restaraunt downtown. Id like to come back and try more gins and check out the outdoor bar.

The food was absolutely fantastic. The flavor combinations were surprising and very well thought through. The gin list is extensive and lovely. Overall, an incredible experience!

This is a little bit of a hidden gem. Their food is amazing, tapas and various other small plates and entrees. Very creative menu with something that will appeal to everyone.Incredible Gin selection, with cocktail options ranging from sweet to dry. Great happy hour specials, too.Sitting warm weather they have a great outdoor/garden seating area, with couches and tables, as well as a mix of outdoor games. All of this is supported with an outdoor container bar with beers on tap.

The food here is GREAT! We came to this restaurant for my birthday (no, I do not know if you get a free dessert for your birthday, because I did not mention it!).We started out by getting all ten of the Pintxos, because you can get them all for $15. They are literally one-bite "tapas." Some of them were damn good, and some of them were okay. There was definitely a fair amount of "pickled" items on there, so if you dont like pickled food, definitely do not order the entire plate of 10. Would definitely recommend the Ajo Dulce y Camembert, Atun Conserva, Manzana Marinada from that portion of the menu.After that we ordered a few dishes from the "Tapas" menu - the Patatas Bravas were okay, but about half of the potatoes were not cooked. Some were so raw that you couldnt even cut through them. If you LOVE mushrooms, I would highly recommend the Setas a la Plancha, but it was a TON of food, and I was eating it by myself because my friend doesnt like mushrooms. It was way too much for just me. Lastly, we ordered the Pimientos Shishito which was soooo delicious. I would probably get that again if we go back.There are a ton of things to try, and we didnt get to try the actual full plates, because we were stuffed from what we did order. They also have a small menu of craft cocktails, and a massive list of different Gins. I didnt realize until we got there that they were also a "gin bar".The service there was spectacular - we loved our server, and he was really good with giving us time, personal recommendations, and conversation.

We had a wonderful experience here! Decided to give this place a try for our 3 year anniversary and they went above and beyond for us. When we arrived for our reservation there was a hand written card thanking us for celebrating with them. Not only were their drinks and food to die for, that nice little extra touch made us feel special. As someone who works in the industry I understand the importance of the little things. It made our night even more memberable. Thank you Zoko staff!!!!

We tried a lot. About half of it was good. A couple things were really good. But for $100 2 people should be able to really love what theyre ordering without having to guess at and decipher the menu. Overpriced. Food ranges from gross to delicious. Servers were great

Beautiful food and cocktails with a very friendly staff.

Service was the main wow at this place, I never visited a Tapas restaurant with that excellency on service. Flavors good sangria number one recomendable and everything else good as well. Went for dinner time. Wish they made Paella and tostones.

I have only been here once, for a brunch on Sunday. But it was top notch! The food was amazing. The flavor combinations kept me going back for the same things over and over again, it was a buffet. Not sure if it is every Sunday. Also the atmosphere was super chill for how high end the food is. I didnt feel out of place and the music was chill, but not cooler than me. 10/10 will go back again. Be sure to grab a dope matchbook on the way out to sit on your coffee table next to that candle you never light, it will make your friends think you are even cooler than you already are.

Food was excellent. I went with someone who has spent significant time in Northern Spain and they felt the food reminded them faithfully of their experiences there. We had tappas only, but I have no doubt the rest of the menu is as good.Prices reflect the experience and the quality of the food. Our service was great, with the staff splitting duties to bring out plates as they were ready. They kept the pace acceptable, always something to eat at the table but never overwhelmed with too much at once.

So much fun for lunch!! Tried a bunch of tapas, empanadas, and more! Plus dessert! Absolutely delicious 😋

Wow! Amazing start to finish! Spencer was knowledgeable and took great care of us. Great dining experience! Highly recommend the 5 course family style dinner. Good wine selections as well.

Loved it. Went here for Valentines day dinner with the wife. Definitely recommend. We werent sure about what to order so we both ordered the chef recommends sample of dishes and had more than enough food. Loved the atmosphere, especially for a date night. Very cozy. We will be back, Im sure of that.

Tapas dining with a cool atmosphere. Not terribly expensive considering the quality. Perfectly authentic Spanish flavors.We split five tapas plus dessert, which was enough. Be sure to get the albóndigas and the tortilla española.

Was really looking forward to trying Zoko. The wait staff was friendly and food came out with good timing between portions. But wait staff was extremely slow to help and it wasnt that busy. We enjoyed the live music they were playing. The portion sizes are small so you can try a lot. Between the two of us we spent almost 60 dollars and still had to go get a burger and fries afterward. I like how they used that space, its very nice inside and out. We did not make a reservation but called first to see how busy they were.

We went for brunch and the place was pretty close to empty. The seating was comfortable and spacious. Our service was fast and she was super nice- explained the menu and everything since it was our first visit. I got the empanadas- jamon +cheese, chorizo, and spinach. They were so good! I would come back just for those. So flaky and crispy. We also got the chicken meatballs tapas and they were delicious. Id definitely recommend!

Exciting vibe, delightful menu, lots of gins to pick from, super service.

We cannot wait to go back! After looking at the menu I couldnt pick what I wanted, there was so much to try!! We decided on one of the options which was a 6 course meal! You get 2 plates of pintxos (peen-choswhich are bite sized tapas, then another 2 plates of tapas which are a shareable size, next you share an entree, and then finally share a dessert. We also did the wine pairing with our meal and were highly impressed with the pairing, everything went so well together!! We asked when the menu would change so we could come back and try another amazing array of flavors and textures and it sounds like every 3 months they change things up! We are counting down until we can go back and have another great experience!!

I have visited Zoko 822 in a large group with my family and a smaller group with friends. Both times we have had excellent service from staff that were both friendly and very knowledgeable about the drinks and food. Everything was delicious and we cant wait to go back again!

I was in Grand Rapids for work and found Zoko 822 through Open Table. It was well reviewed and near where I was staying so I decided to give it a try. Man, am I so glad that I did! This place is wonderful and if youre considering it, just do it.When you arrive, dont let the exterior deceive you. What seems plain and simple on the outside is fun, fresh, and energetic on the inside.When you walk in, theres a little marketplace type setup with various and eclectic items to purchase on your way out. If I had been staying in town longer I would have added some things myself. Alas, I was leaving the next day. Either way, I was seated quickly by the pleasant host and had a prime table to view the entire, intimate space. I was in the center of the restaurant to one side sitting on the booth side of a booth and chair table. There were a couple of large parties in for dinner as well as plenty of smaller groups and couples all seeming to be having a great time. The colorful bar, full of an immense amount of gins for their house specialty drink, was in full view as well as the kitchen off to the right where you could get a glimpse of the action there.My server, Rose, was fantastic. She was pleasant, knowledgeable, attentive, and just enjoyable to converse with. Sometimes when I eat out by myself, as I was this night, I find that some servers are just trying to serve me and move on to other tables. Rose took her time to make sure I was well taken care of and she was clearly doing so with other tables as well.Now on to the food. Its excellent! The highlight of the night for me were the Pintxos and I HIGHLY recommend that you order all 10 (for just $15and try each one. So many beautiful, unique, and delicious bites. I enjoyed them all, but my favorites were the Manzana Marinada (apple, jamon, and manchego), the Gazpacho Blanco (chilled almond soup), and the Banderilla (assorted pickled veggies, olives, sport peppers). I then ordered the Albondigas de Pollo (chicken meatballs), Pimientos Shishito (shishito peppers), and the Queso en Aceite (cheese in oil). All three were good, but were outshined by the Pintxos really. I also had a lovely glass of rioja and an extraordinary cup of coffee at the end called Helios Blend (it really was excellent).Zoko 822 is a restaurant worthy of your patronage and I suggest you check it out. Enjoy!

My husband and I came here for the first time yesterday and Im very impressed! The staff was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and the food and drinks were delicious! The atmosphere is fantastic as well.

We had a pleasant meal here. The Tapas format was perfect for our intimate group of 5. We noshed, we talked, we drank. The food is carefully prepared, our service was attentive. A 5 star experience all the way.

Tasty, adventurous small plates with decent portions. Located in an industrial, up-and-coming coming part of the north side of GR. Gin lovers haven.

Definitely a Gin aficionados dream. Everyone at the table enjoyed theirs drinks. The plates were attractive and the food was good. I tried about 6. There were others that sounded delicious. Of my selections, Manazana Marinada was my favorite having great depth in its flavor Torta De La Planca had great texture but it left me feeling like something was missing. The Atun would be my second favorite. I really like tuna :)Great relaxed atmosphere with a large patio for the evening.

We went for restaurant week, looking forward to a good meal. We were blown away, having never been to Zoko before. The food was some of the best Ive had in Grand Rapids and the service was outstanding. The sheer number of gins available on the menu would have been enough to satisfy me, but the quality of experience was beyond what I expected.

We were there during the Grand Rapids restaurant week, and their selection was exceptional. Our waiter made great recommendations on everything else we bought, the rest of the wait staff gave great assistance for delivering the food, and the drinks were awesome.

Looked interesting from the website but the food wasnt up to par. The mussels were very fishy to the point where no one in my party had more than one. The drinks were mediocre but expensive. And frankly, we tried most of the menu but nothing was anything I would classify as "good" and certainly not memorable.

Excellent service! Loved that my kids blended in easily in the modern but upbeat atmosphere Tapas dishes were incredible, my toddler Inhaled your empanada , and the cocktails were fresh and fun. The only thing holding back off the 5 star is the pinxtos, they werent on the same level at the rest of the food, under seasonsed and not quite as balanced. I will be returning to enjoy your brunch menu again!

Dont be put off by the location or building. This is a great place to eat! Staff have been very helpful and knowledgeable. The food has been excellent. Looking forward to going back.

Portions were small and no side for lunch unless you count the bag of chips that you grab from the counter. Not expensive so thats a bonus. Maybe dinner is different. The place looks very nice on the inside and has good parking.

A-MA-ZING!!! Really great food, fun atmosphere. Try the Tom Collins. You wont be disappointed!

Cool atmosphere in a unique location. The food was beautifully presented and fun unique flavor combinations. But, it was VERY pricey, so either leave a little hungry, or plan to spend a lot of money. Just 2 of us spent $70 with one drink each and were very hungry afterward.

Absolutely the hippest place to get to dinner in GR. Unassuming from the outside, but loaded with style on the inside. The food and service were some of the best I have had. So exciting to see a place that could compete in Chicago, but still call Grand Rapids home. Hopefully this is the start of a trend to adavnce the food scene here!

Was very impressed with the food. I will definitely go back to try more of the menu.

I am so excited that there is a restaurant featuring Basque cuisine in GR. It is one of my favorite places to visit. The chef does an amazing job of using great ingredients and using authentic flavors of the region. I love love LOVE gin so their cocktail menu is a hit with me! I couldnt recommend Zoko 822 enough.

Amazing atmosphere and staff! Loved the Zoko G&T drink. For Tapas we enjoyed the Manila Clams and Confit Octopus! Our main entree was the Cazuela De Arroz! Outstanding food with flavors from Spain!