Written by If you have been watching Downtown Middleton take shape, here is your next one to keep an eye on: Zunzibar.
It is not open yet — so no, this is not a full taste-test review. But the menu is live, and it already tells us a lot about what kind of spot this wants to be: coastal, social, seafood-heavy, cocktail-friendly, and way more fun than a safe copy-paste bar menu.
And honestly? That is exactly what downtown needs.
🌴 First Impression: This Menu Has Personality
A lot of new places open with the same boring formula: burger, wings, maybe a flatbread, call it a day.
Zunzibar at least looks like it wants to come in hotter than that.
- East Coast Oysters
- Tuna Ceviche
- Smoked Mahi Dip
- Peri-Peri Wings
- Grilled Shrimp Nachos
- Tuna Poke Bowl
- Body Ode Bowl
- Lobster Roll
- Fire Island blackened mahi sandwich
- Snow Crab
- Key Lime Eclair and Coconut Cotta
That is a very specific lane.
Not steakhouse. Not sports bar slop. Not “we have something for everyone” in the boring way.
More like: let’s get seafood, cocktails, and a table full of stuff to split.
🔥 Start Here
- Peri-Peri Wings — if these hit, they could become the thing people talk about first.
- Smoked Mahi Dip — feels like one of those sleeper menu items people keep re-ordering.
- Tuna Ceviche — most interesting starter on the board.
- Grilled Shrimp Nachos — big “gone in five minutes” energy.
🐟 The Seafood Is the Real Story
This is where Zunzibar separates itself.
- oysters
- ceviche
- mahi
- lobster roll
- shrimp
- crab
- poke
If the kitchen executes, that alone makes this one of the more interesting restaurant openings in the area.
Because right now the real question is not whether Middleton has places to eat.
It is whether Middleton is getting places with an actual identity.
Zunzibar at least looks like it has one.
🥪 Handhelds That Could Win People Over Fast
- Fire Island — peri-peri blackened mahi, mango slaw, chipotle aioli on French bread.
- Lobster Roll — obvious splurge pick.
- Conquistador — chicken, provolone, parmesan, house sauce, drizzle dressing, Zapp’s chips on French bread.
- Godfather — chicken + boerewors sausage with a lot going on in the best way.
- Corsica Wrap — curry chicken salad, Dank! sauce, arugula, tomato.
The Fire Island feels like the one that could become the early cult favorite.
🍹 This Looks Built for Hangout Energy
Public descriptions around the brand and existing locations lean hard into:
- coastal cuisine
- curated cocktails
- casual / trendy vibe
- happy hour
- live music / DJ energy
That matters.
Some restaurants are built to eat at. Some are built to meet at.
This one looks like it wants to be the second kind.
That is how you get a place people talk about.
👀 What We’re Most Curious About
1. Are the wings actually great?
Peri-Peri, Limón Pepper, and Peach Chutney is a strong start.
2. Is the seafood legit or just menu decoration?
A seafood-heavy menu sounds great. It has to land.
3. Does the vibe feel fun or forced?
There is a big difference between energetic and annoying. If they nail the atmosphere, this place could be packed.
📣 What Other Public Signals Suggest
Since the Middleton location is not open yet, the cleanest outside signal is from existing locations.
- the Savannah Zunzibar Yelp page currently shows 154 reviews
- that listing leans into loud, casual, trendy, DJ, live music, and happy hour specials
- a public Tripadvisor search snippet shows the Savannah location rated 4.6/5 with 28 reviews
That does not guarantee the Middleton location will be great.
Different staff. Different opening. Different kitchen.
But it does suggest this is not some random concept showing up with zero track record.
🏆 The Early Order Cheat Sheet
- First timer? → Peri-Peri Wings + Fire Island + a cocktail
- Seafood person? → Tuna Ceviche + Smoked Mahi Dip + Lobster Roll
- Sharing with friends? → Shrimp Nachos + Wings + Oysters
- Trying to be healthy-ish? → Body Ode Bowl or Tuna Poke Bowl
- Just there for the vibes? → Oysters, drinks, and let the table get out of hand
Final Take
Best-case scenario?
Zunzibar becomes one of Downtown Middleton’s first true “let’s go there” spots.
Not just a place to grab food. A place to start the night, meet friends, order too much, and argue about what should have been the first appetizer.
The menu has enough personality to make that possible.
Now it just has to open strong.
👇 What are you ordering first?
- Peri-Peri Wings
- Tuna Ceviche
- Smoked Mahi Dip
- Fire Island
- Lobster Roll
- Oysters + cocktails
- Or are you waiting to see if the hype is real?