Tzeva

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Tzeva, the Mediterranean restaurant at the Sarasota Art Ovation Marriott hotel, and I cannot speak highly enough of my server, Batu. From the moment I sat down, Batu was gracious and attentive, ensuring I had everything I needed for a fantastic dining experience. His recommendations were spot-on! I started with the toasted feta cheese appetizer, which was simply outstanding—crispy, herby and sweet on the outside and perfectly creamy inside. For the main course, Batu suggested the Lamb Shaslik dish that truly showcased the traditional flavors of the Mediterranean, and it did not disappoint. To top it all off, he recommended the baklava for dessert, which was the perfect sweet ending to my meal. Batu's exceptional service, combined with his knowledge of the menu, and friendly demeanor made my dinner memorable. If you find yourself at Tzeva, be sure to ask for Batu; you won't regret it!

We really enjoyed our recent lunch at Tzeva. The food was excellent, very fresh and innovative Mediterranean and Middle Eastern/ Israeli flavors with a lot of choices that are vegetarian as well as vegan. We started with several types of Hummous—the classic, the vegetarian with cauliflower, and the lamb ragu, which was delicious. Next, we tried some small plates including the Toasted Feta with honey and olives, the Shakshuka, and Falafel, they didn’t miss a beat. For entrees, we enjoyed the Grouper Shaslik with a refreshing fennel orange salad, handheld with lamb shank, and a classic burger, a brisket, chick and short rib blend cooked to perfection. I’ve enjoyed breakfast there as well as room service when I’ve stayed in house, the food and service have been consistently good.

Some restaurants serve food. Tzeva serves something rarer: a feeling. I walked in carrying the weight of a lost day—one of those heavy, no-good, soul-thinning ones. I must’ve said as much to the radiant woman at the front, because without a moment’s pause, she opened her arms and wrapped me in a long, grounding hug. Just like that, the day tilted back toward the light. I never caught her name (I’m terrible with names), but I won’t forget that moment. And the warmth didn’t end there. Our waiter, Pietro, was everything you hope for and so rarely get—attuned, honest, no script. He told us what he loved on the menu, and we followed his lead: a bowl of hummus that could’ve been flown in from the Levant, earthy and elegant. My friend had the lamb shank—fall-apart tender. I had the snapper, fresh and perfectly balanced. We shared a bottle of wine, grateful for a meal that felt like an offering, not a transaction. But Tzeva isn’t just about what’s on the plate. It’s the hush of the dining room, glowing softly under city light. The way the windows frame the world like a painting. The unexpected thrill of a belly dancer weaving magic between tables. The feeling that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be, if only for a night. And yes, we did think about getting a room—Tzeva sits in the heart of the Art Ovation Hotel, after all. But we floated out instead, full in every sense.

This restaurant deserves much better reviews! The food here is actually very good. My husband and I ordered the Wagyu Skirt steak and Wagyu Short Ribs. We had roasted Feta for appetizer and black sesame creme brûlée for dessert. All of it was wonderful and my husband is still talking about how good his skirt steak was two days later. A lovely girl put on a belly dancing show as we ate and the manager was very helpful. We will def come back!

I’ve had breakfast and lunch at tzeva a few times now and it’s always consistent and delicious! Highly recommend the French toast for breakfast served with the largest side of fresh cut fruits I’ve ever seen! The falafel for lunch is crispy and herby with a delicious cucumber sauce that’s to die for. Tin did a great job every time we’ve been. So much so that we will continue to ask for her on our visits.

I had a wonderful lunch experience at Tzeva, the restaurant at Art Ovation Hotel! The manager Eddie is an absolute gem, very professional, attentive and kind! Our waiter, Manny, was so helpful and professional, ensuring we enjoyed our time there. The atmosphere of the hotel is so inviting and beautifully done.

I was very happy to hear the news of a new Mediterranean restaurant coming to Sarasota. My wife and I went in last night to try it out and we had an awesome time. Food was super tasty, staff very friendly and professional and the restaurant itself was very beautiful. The falafel, short rib and toasted feta was definitely my favorites. Tzeva you are off to a great start and we can’t wait to get back.

Amazing dinner for two at Tzeva on Saturday evening! We chose a selection of small plates and all our choices were sooooo flavorful. We went with a bottle of the Greek white wine on the menu and it was perfect pairing. Our choices: - Masabacha Hummus - Falafel - Israeli Salad - Lamb Shashlik - Grouper Shashlik Highly recommended!

We greatly enjoyed the food. I had the skirt steak. We tried all the appetizers, lots of fun. Our server, Shaun, was very friendly and helpful. Nice atmosphere and surroundings.

My wife and I had an AMAZING dinner at Tzeva. The food was outstanding, had the sweet potato flatbread, hummus, octopus, and mushroom skewers. As someone who has a gluten allergy, it was refreshing to see so many gluten free options....even gluten free pita bread!!! A wonderful meal, we will ABSOLUTELY be back! Great service, cool atmosphere. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great lunch, interesting and flavorful, each of us 4 got different selections and were deeply satisfied with presentation and choices. Some were vegan and others not. Generous baklava and coffee ice cream to share for dessert. Will definitely be back for more!!

Very elegant hotel setting. We had great vegetarian appetizers as our meal. The fried feta was perfect. Our server was always ready but did not rush us.

I don’t usually write reviews, but this experience at Tzeva truly deserves it. The lamb I had today was one of the best I’ve had in years — perfectly cooked, tender, and deeply flavorful. Every bite reflected real culinary craftsmanship. Our server, Tin, was a joy to interact with. She was smiling the entire time and made us feel genuinely welcomed and valued. Her warm presence added so much to the overall experience. From the food to the atmosphere to the service, everything was exceptional. We’ll definitely be coming back — and bringing friends next time.

We had an unforgettable lunch experience at Tzeva. Everything was absolutely perfect — from the ambiance to the music, and especially the food. The flavors were so beautifully balanced and layered, we truly enjoyed trying to guess each spice and note in every dish. Compliments to the chef for such thoughtful and harmonious flavor combinations — this was a true culinary journey! A very special thank you to our server Tin, who gave us the best service we’ve had in a long time. She was incredibly sweet, attentive, and made us feel truly welcomed and cared for throughout the entire meal. The entire experience was peaceful, delicious, and full of beauty. We can’t wait to return!

Three of us enjoyed Chummus, Shakshukah and Chicken Liver Paté... A spontaneous tasters menu. To top off, we shared a slice of Turkish tort served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoyed our individual espressos. All the dishes were delicious and the server were excellent. Definitely eating there again. Soon.

I have dined at Tzeva twice now and both times have been delicious. My mom and I like sharing a bunch of dishes and trying everything. The fish tacos, chicken hummus and grouper skewers are amazing and I haven’t yet tried something that I don’t like. Service is always great as well, everyone is very friendly. We will absolutely be coming back!

Tzeva is conveniently located inside the Art Ovation Hotel, offering a stylish and welcoming atmosphere. The food was a bit uneven — some dishes stood out, such as the mushroom risotto and toasted feta, which were excellent. However, others fell short of expectations. The sweet potato dish, for example, was fairly ordinary and lacked the creativity one might expect from a restaurant of this caliber. Overall, it was an enjoyable dining experience, but with room for improvement in consistency and execution.

I went here for breakfast, got the eggs benedict and shakshuka. The shakshuka was cooked nicely and was served with warm pita. The benedict left a lot to be desired in terms of flavor and the potatoes were too mushy. The atmosphere was great, nice and quiet with comfortable seating.

Very solid meal Nice presentation - creative menu and lots of energy to make it great Fresh ingredients Hits Atmosphere Creativity Interesting menu Misses On the bland side - needs more spice ! (They don't have real amba, harissa not up to sniff, etc) Servers weren't always on task They have the ability, needs refinement and more flavor in the food

As you walk in, the atmosphere is welcoming and open . The staff is attentive and very friendly. For dinner, we tried several dishes, and everything was fantastic. The wagyu short rib was my favorite. The wait times for our server to come around during the meal was long. Perhaps adding a couple more servers would help, especially since the restaurant was sold out for dinner . I would recommend giving them a try.

Service was slow during a slow meal period. Took too long to get drinks refilled and next food order in. Israeli salad was excellent and the hummus was a huge portion.

Went on a Tuesday evening, we were the only people in there. The food was just okay, really needed salt, but the service was impeccable.

I wanted to give it five stars so bad because I love this kind of food. the service and atmosphere were great but unfortunately this kind of food have to be fresh and prepared correctly.

I came for lunch with my wife and daughter. The atmosphere is quite nice, great natural lighting but not overly bright. The restaurant was practically empty as we came closer to closing time so very quiet as well. Service was attentive, pleasant and very professional. We had the chickpea hummus and an Israeli salad followed by fish tacos, lamb hand wrap and the 3 meat burger. Everything was very good, we probably had the burger a little over cooked but that wasn't the kitchens fault. Portions excellent size and overall an experience which will bring me back again to try a few other things. I kinda feel this is a little hidden gem in downtown Sarasota away from the hustle bustle, tourists and heat. Very cool. I will return. Thanks!

Food was good not great. We got small plates including hummus masabucho, coconut shrimp and sweet potatoes. All were good but not special. The desserts WERE special: a dark sesame seed crème brule and lemon cake with strawberries and cream. Italian espresso was also excellent.

Tzeva is not an Israeli restaurant​. While the name Tzeva is Hebrew, don’t mistake this for an authentic Israeli kitchen. Despite featuring classic regional staples, the menu feels less like a tribute and more like a disorganized raid on Mediterranean pantry staples. The chef attempts to "improve" traditional dishes by aggressively mixing and tossing them into new forms, but the results lack the soul of the originals. It’s the culinary equivalent of a chocolate pizza: flashy, but unnecessary. While my son enjoyed his meal, the "whimsical" sesame crème brûlée was a forced marriage of French technique and Israeli ingredients that simply didn't work. In reality, the Mediterranean isn't one big happy family, and the geopolitical friction of the region is unfortunately mirrored in the clashing flavors on Tzeva's plates. Aside from the food Tzeva is beautiful, comfortable and relaxing place to be with people you love or like to impressed, the service attentive and drinks are well made. I Will be back to explore the rest of the menu on due time.

I ordered steak and eggs and they were cold. There was not much flavor. The staff was very welcoming and nice. I am putting 3 starts only because of the food.

Food did not seem hot or fresh.

The food was good but the service was not that of a fine dining restaurant. Our waitress was not at fault . She was covering too many tables and apologized for the slowness from the kitchen. We dined with you on February 16 th.

Overall was okay. I doubt we will go back, but not something I would recommend or be up for trying again. We called early in the day about reservation questions and the gentlemen who answered made the whole thing confusing, telling is that nothing we saw online was right, only to finally check and realize his mistake, and still not give us clear guidance. Just told us "to show up." Even though they were "completely booked" even though he also said he couldn't see all the availability since he wasn't at the restaurant and his work pad wasn't working properly. So, I just went for it and made online reservations for a time he said they wouldn't be open for. It worked out. When we arrived, the location was really nicely put together. We sat outside and didn't have any issues. We had several servers that rotated through as they were helping one another out, which was not a problem, but we just lost track of what was ordered through whom. And they didn't seem to communicate at first. Our main server was solid and kind. The servers all had different answers for our questions, so we just had to wait to see how things worked out. We did have missing utensils for several courses - no spoons for soups (remedied) and no steak knife (not remedied, as no one came to check). Food was okay. Two of us had the Christmas Experience, which consisted of three courses. We both had the lobster bisque - taste was okay, but both had wished we had more as the serving size was small. I ordered the monk fish - fish was dry, the risotto was a bit overcooked, but had good flavor. My secons guest had the prime rib - no complaints. And we ended with the creme brulee - both were not fully set, reminded me more of a milkshake. My third guest had the fly away shrimp - they thought it was dry and needed some type of sauce.

My girl crew and I went for FRESH FRIDAY, as it was on the street out front. I made reservations for the patio two weeks before party. We rolled up and they were seating walk ins with no table for us. Talk about pissing a girl off. The manager came in for the save and set up an extra table for us. The atmosphere is beautiful, but the food is mediocre. They had a cool belly dancer

Food was not great. Pretty dry and bland. The feta cheese entrée was good.

Firstly, the restaurant is the Hebrew word tzeva but when you call they answer "zeeva" so that wasn't a great sign. The atmosphere very much feels like a hotel lobby (because it is) and the food was okay.

We ate dinner there on NewYears Eve, before our rooftop party at the Westin Hotel. We couldn’t understand our waiter’s English. The salad was good but too watery and our short ribs were overcooked and bone dry. The busboy was dropping plates and silverware. We should have eaten at the Westin’s restaurant. Never again …….

I was very much looking forward to trying a middle eastern restaurant in Florida. I suggested to a group of 7 people to make a reservation on a Friday night. The atmosphere was bland and had no life. I am thinking a different might have gone out of business and this one moved in and used the same decor. Our waiter definitely had no training and had been there three months. He left glasses and dishes all night, our food was served without serving utensils, and he would set the bottom of the tray down right on the table to serve the drinks. He was overwhelmed from lack of training. I had the short ribs. The meat was tender but devoid of flavor. The mashed potatoes were runny and honestly tasted as if boiled in bleach water. My friend had the snapper and it was cold and brittle. My other friend had the lamb kabob and chewed and chewed but it was so tough she could barely swallow. I think this place is a shame and I will not be surprised if it goes out of business quickly. I feel ripped off and cheated by this experience.

I've had much better food from a hole in the wall Mediterranean restaurant. Not worth the price. Had a very difficult time making a reservation. Had to book online and call many times and they were still unsure when we arrived. Service was absolutely terrible. Loud music from the bar next door was obnoxious we could barely talk to each other. I will not return.

The service here is terrible. The only time the server came to our table was when we sat down and to bring us our bill. For a party of two the server automatically added 20% to our bill as a tip. He should be fired. Worst restaurant I've been too in a Marriott hotel -Titanium member. I'll also be passing this on to Marriott.

One star is too much the water was the best part of the meal because I could wash the fugezi chicken down. Might as well go hungry for the night and donate the 350 dollars you would spend there to charity.

This restaurant has so much potential if only they could fix some of the horrible things. They’ve at the front in the morning group before people come to the restaurant his first question is what can I help you with? I don’t know. Let me guess we would like to eat something. Ordered the dish with tomatoes and eggs. We asked for soft eggs they bring raw eggs. It was like water. This is not the first time nor were we the only table that had issues. The food is very hidden and mess depending on who is working in the kitchen. The weight staff and the managers are both very very nice. I wouldn’t come back again that’s for sure.

If the service is bad, then the food at least needs to be decent. Probably one of the worst meals I’ve had in the past decade. The food was plated as if it was going to taste good, but it did not. It was dry, flavorless and overwhelmingly disappointing. The majority of the staff just hangs out behind the wall, and seem to be annoyed that they have to work. The hostesses were nice and friendly, and the ambiance was nice, but I’ve given this place 2 chances- once for brunch and once for dinner and both were terrible experiences. I love Art Ovation, but this restaurant is not worth even a free meal.