Beyond a rough exterior, Zodiac feels exactly as its name implies: astrological.
Whimsical murals adorn the walls and ceiling, a globe hangs from a chandelier in the center of the room, seafoam green seats are paired with bright red tables, vintage-esque artwork is interspersed with black and white photographs, and a giant wizard statue presides over the room. It feels like Paper Moon's and Ixia's less popular sibling.
On a crowded night, conversation buzzes across the soaring ceilings, lights are dimmed and an angelic ambiance takes over.
The hip vibe of this eclectic space continues in the menu, from its sleek metallic lettering to the assortment of cosmopolitan food. Zodiac emphasizes individualism, so you can feel cool eating a hamburger or classy eating brie, which is exactly what we did. Since we know we're poor (hey, it's called "Your Broke" for a reason, right?), we went with two $10 dishes: the brie appetizer and standard burger fare.
The waitstaff is certainly attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the place. My waiter expounded on Zodiac's history, saying the building is supposedly haunted by a gentleman ghost who likes to sit in the restaurant's booths, and that it was -- at one time -- a speakeasy. The owner of Zodiac also owns Club Charles, next door. Zodiac has the more diner-friendly atmosphere, but you can always go one door down for drinks after dinner.
Prepping our food and drink, the waiter continued to make small talk, drawing drink glasses from an exposed bar on one wall of the restaurant. If the history lesson wasn't enough, the visual peculiarities of Zodiac could have kept us totally preoccupied while we waited for our food. Look for kitschy details like the top hat and gloves in the floor tiles and minutiae in the wall murals. Or discover the meanings behind key symbols throughout the menu: Saturn for veggie choices, an asterisk for vegan or an airplane for "in a hurry" orders.
Dish: If you're eating on a budget, Zodiac doesn't offer much. The hamburger was classic, no better or worse than what you can get at any decent burger joint. Paired with Boardwalk-style fries, it made for a decent meal. The brie, while a smaller dish, was certainly more interesting from an olfactory perspective; paired with bread, fruit compote and nuts, it tasted great.
Damage: The brie plate and hamburger were approximately $10 each.
Decision: Zodiac is one of those unique places that inspires a double take. You might go in skeptical or even just curious, but ultimately you'll return as a repeat customer. Though it can get pricey, you can certainly dress up or down your dining experience. But it's the atmosphere that totally makes the food.
Whimsical murals adorn the walls and ceiling, a globe hangs from a chandelier in the center of the room, seafoam green seats are paired with bright red tables, vintage-esque artwork is interspersed with black and white photographs, and a giant wizard statue presides over the room. It feels like Paper Moon's and Ixia's less popular sibling.
The hip vibe of this eclectic space continues in the menu, from its sleek metallic lettering to the assortment of cosmopolitan food. Zodiac emphasizes individualism, so you can feel cool eating a hamburger or classy eating brie, which is exactly what we did. Since we know we're poor (hey, it's called "Your Broke" for a reason, right?), we went with two $10 dishes: the brie appetizer and standard burger fare.
The waitstaff is certainly attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the place. My waiter expounded on Zodiac's history, saying the building is supposedly haunted by a gentleman ghost who likes to sit in the restaurant's booths, and that it was -- at one time -- a speakeasy. The owner of Zodiac also owns Club Charles, next door. Zodiac has the more diner-friendly atmosphere, but you can always go one door down for drinks after dinner.
Prepping our food and drink, the waiter continued to make small talk, drawing drink glasses from an exposed bar on one wall of the restaurant. If the history lesson wasn't enough, the visual peculiarities of Zodiac could have kept us totally preoccupied while we waited for our food. Look for kitschy details like the top hat and gloves in the floor tiles and minutiae in the wall murals. Or discover the meanings behind key symbols throughout the menu: Saturn for veggie choices, an asterisk for vegan or an airplane for "in a hurry" orders.
Dish: If you're eating on a budget, Zodiac doesn't offer much. The hamburger was classic, no better or worse than what you can get at any decent burger joint. Paired with Boardwalk-style fries, it made for a decent meal. The brie, while a smaller dish, was certainly more interesting from an olfactory perspective; paired with bread, fruit compote and nuts, it tasted great.
Damage: The brie plate and hamburger were approximately $10 each.
Decision: Zodiac is one of those unique places that inspires a double take. You might go in skeptical or even just curious, but ultimately you'll return as a repeat customer. Though it can get pricey, you can certainly dress up or down your dining experience. But it's the atmosphere that totally makes the food.
