Breakfast Menu "Irie Zulu" Wauwatosa
Warm, homey hub serving seasonal, homemade African & Jamaican meals, plus beer & wine, in snug digs.
Irie Zulu, 7237 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
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Overall I'm happy that this place exists and seems to be doing well:) But I wanted to like it more than I did. The owner was there making sure that she thanked everyone that was dining, maybe because a photographer with a magazine was there, maybe because she does it every day...either way, that was nice. However, the food was underwhelming we got one of each of the appetizers so we could try a lot of stuff...2 of the 5 dishes we tried were flavorless. Totally surprised as the African and Jamaican food I tried are usually super flavorful. We didn't pick the right things obviously as there were some tasty bites in what we got (sausage was amazing!!). Waitress wasn't very helpful and didn't know much about anything we ordered...likely the cause of our ordering blunder. Entries are $20 a person or so, apps $10. Worth a try, but once was good enough for me. Oh and no Jerk chicken entree? It may be cliche but what gives🤤
I enjoyed dinner here a great deal, the food was good and plentiful and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The service was very friendly but a bit slow and the up sell on extra sides and apps was a bit hard. Portions are huge, next time I go in I'll be sharing! Price point was higher than expected but for well made, hard to find cuisine like this I'm happy to return.
Great food and excellent service. Our waiter brought us ginger and hibiscus juice to try. I had the Maffe which is a peanut butter chicken stew, hubby had the West African Beef Suya. Our friends had the jerk chicken, which they said was as good as they have had in Jamaica. We also had East African Style Stuffed Pastries, and Irie Zulu Beignet Fritters Du Jour. Everything was delicious! The guys had some tasty African beer, and we topped off our dinner with rum cake. A delightful and cozy atmosphere. One of the owners came out and chatted with us. We will be back!
Dining at Irie Zulu was one of the most pleasant culinary experiences that I have enjoyed in a long, long, time. I ordered the Seafood Pepper Soup w/pastries. It came with table spoon size chunks of fresh catch fish, seasoned to perfection and sweet pastry balls for a palate refresher! For my entrée I ordered the West African Beef Suya/Chichinga. The meat was seasoned with exotic spices that I honestly couldn’t tell you what the blend was. I ordered mine spicy and my taste buds fought each other for the right to try to identify the wonderful exotic spices. The seasoning was not the type that burns your mouth, but the top of my head felt prickly (a good thing). The meat was so tender it could literally be cut with a butter knife. I washed it down with a great brew of Tusker Beer. My life’s sextant to the stars, ordered the Maffe Vegan. A plate of fresh assortment of fresh veggies cooked and blended to perfection. I could go on about the wonderful staff…but best you try it yourself. Word of advice go there before 5:00 on weekends because the restaurant will fill up fast. I literally look forward to my next visit to sample more of their unique African/Jamaican delights.
Irie Zulu is a hidden gem in the middle of Wauwatosa. Delicious food with amazing flavors and the nicest owner I've ever encountered at a restaurant. Make sure if you check the menu ahead of time so you which flavors you'll be getting. They alternate between African food on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Jamaican food on Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays they offer a hodge podge. We went with a larger group for a friend's birthday on a weeknight and the service was great. Keep in mind that everything takes a little longer (even if it's just a party of two) because the kitchen is smaller and the food is from scratch. Make sure you have time for a long leisurely dinner. The servers are happy to provide suggestions and let you know what their favorites are. The owner, Yollande, was there when we were eating and stopped and spoke to us for almost 20 minutes. She told us all about her background and her inspiration for opening the restaurant. You can tell she has a passion for this place. The food itself was good and the spicy items were particularly spicy for someone like me who doesn't do much spice. The table did get a little crowded with all the dishes and I wish the items had been picked up a bit more frequently. The only other downside for me was that it was priceier than what I was expecting. Now that I know what I'm walking into, I can be better prepared. I thoroughly enjoy Irie Zulu and would happily go back with any friends who are feeling adventurous. It may not be for everyone, but if you like Jamaican or African food, or just new things, definitely go check it out!
Only ended up going here because another restaurant nearby closed early. Best mistake ever! I had the Jamaican curry chicken and it was amazing. Highly recommended!
Yum. I had the vegan spinch stew and it was very tasty. The staff was also warm and welcoming. Would recommend!
My wife and I were looking for something different. Not fancy, but good. The reviews brought us here, and we are already planning how to introduce this place to more friends. It is not fancy, but very comfortable. And the food and service is terrific. We met two of the owner's family; they are both charming. But we understand the owner was preparing our dinner, which was the highlight. It seems different nights focus on different regional cuisine. And Saturday, the night we went, is a best of the best: African and Jamaican. We tried more than we would normally eat just because it all sounded so good and interesting. We were NOT disappointed. The hand pies and the African entrees were very good and I highly recommend them. But I'm glad we saved room for the rum cake with lemon cardamom ice cream was delicious. We will be back. Thank you Irie Zulu.