Elle N.

Review of Lemon Tree Grocer

Here's the paradox of Zest (the restaurant affilia...

Here's the paradox of Zest (the restaurant affiliated with Lemon Tree). The food is spectacular. The service is atrocious. I've undergone selective amnesia up to this point with Zest: I kept going back hoping the service would eventually shape up. Unfortunately it never has.

Zest has some identity problems. It can't figure out if it wants to be a fun little eatery (location, atmosphere) or an upscale/hip restaurant (menu, prices). Based on higher prices (you can get similar menu items elsewhere in downtown Downers Grove that's as good or better, for a lower price) and crappier service, I've finally given up and determined that I won't go back. It's a shame. The food is very good.

The service, however, is ridiculously terrible. It doesn't matter what day it is or how busy it is. It's universally bad, between taking forever to get drinks or an order in, to never being able to get waitstaff back to your table after you get your food.