Zeke’s Kitchen & Bar Brings Haitian Flavor to Smyrna

What the public feedback says

Zeke’s Kitchen & Bar holds a Google rating of 4.6 from 1048 reviews, and the supplied diner feedback points to a dependable combination of Haitian cooking, cocktails and a stylish but relaxed dining room. Reviewers describe the space as cute, well designed, cool and low-key. The restaurant appears equally suited to a quick lunch, date night or small birthday celebration.

The strongest theme is seasoning. Diners repeatedly praise food that arrives flavorful and properly cooked, with particular enthusiasm for tender griot, jerk chicken and the djon djon bowl. Even reviewers familiar with Caribbean food describe the cooking favorably. Based on these accounts, Zeke’s offers an approachable introduction to Haitian dishes without flattening their distinctive spice and character.

Start with the djon djon bowl

The djon djon bowl is the clearest consensus order. Reviewers describe its black rice as deeply tasty, with a noticeable kick, and mention both griot and jerk chicken as worthwhile protein additions. Shrimp is also suggested in the feedback, though jerk chicken appears more than once and makes the stronger recurring recommendation.

Other dishes receive enthusiastic individual praise. Fried snapper was described as perfectly fried, while griot stood out for tenderness and seasoning. Haitian spaghetti, pan-seared salmon, yucca, plantain nachos and Haitian patties also appear across the reviews, but not often enough in this sample to carry the same weight as the djon djon bowl.

Dessert has a clearer favorite. Rum cake with ice cream earns praise from multiple diners and looks like the best-supported way to finish the meal. It also fits the celebratory mood that several reviews associate with the restaurant.

Cocktails strengthen the experience

The bar is not an afterthought. Reviewers call the cocktails very good, with rum punch drawing especially warm feedback. A coconut mojito and Remedi Doules are also praised in one review. Together, those comments make Zeke’s more compelling for a date or evening meal than a food-only stop might be.

Service is generally characterized as friendly, informative and easygoing. Staff members receive credit for maintaining a good attitude even when the dining room appears understaffed. That personal service helps balance the occasional operational issue noted in the feedback.

What to know before going

Availability and pacing are the main cautions. One diner reported that conch fritters were unavailable indefinitely, so that item should not be treated as a guaranteed order. Another encountered only one server during a birthday visit, which led to delays despite the server’s apologetic and positive approach. A lunch review also described the restaurant as slow.

Those issues do not overshadow the food in the supplied reviews, but diners on a strict schedule may want to allow extra time. Overall, the public feedback presents Zeke’s as a mid-range Smyrna restaurant with standout Haitian black rice, well-seasoned proteins, enjoyable cocktails and a relaxed setting that works particularly well for dates and casual celebrations.