MIDDLE EAST OPENS FIRST NEW RESTAURANT IN 12 YEARS 'Z RANT' @ZuZuBar, @MidEastClub #foodie

PRESS CONTACT:

Jayson Zeeman

(248) 464 9599

therantzuzu@live.com

zuzubar.com/zrant

THE MIDDLE EAST OPENS THEIR FIRST NEW RESTAURANT IN 12 YEARS Z RANT @ ZUZU

A Decadent Alternative to the Everyday Brunch and Sandwich Bar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

After transforming Central Square for the last 40 years, The Middle East is again bringing you something unexpected …

Here is how it started: 

Get a bunch of people together who have worked in the food industry for a collective 100 years in every area, have them articulate their views on how a restaurant should be, and then, months later, you have Z Rant. The philosophy of the restaurant is “Tell us what you think and we will listen.” The owners and the staff meet daily to review the customer comments because Z Rant belongs to the community as much as it does to the people who work there. All the clean plates is constant proof that Z Rant is listening.

MISSION STATEMENT:

“The name of the shop is derived from a 3am rant about how a restaurant should be – from the food to the mutual companionship that should exist between the staff, the customer, and the community. This eatery represents who we are, what we like to eat, and how we like to play. When you come here, you are amongst the best of unexpected friends - we represent humor, kindness, sardonic wit, charm, comfort and, best of all, a passionate need to receive consistent adulation for our menu. Delicious, sometimes pretentious, always fresh: baked, butchered, shaved, roasted, toasted, grilled, fried, sauteed, spread, sliced, diced, dried, smoked, cracked, caramelized, whipped, braised, brined, marinated…Effort in every bite. Accept no substitutions…we don’t…”

With an affordable brunch and sandwich bar that would rival any of the best restaurants in Greater Boston, Z Rant has already built a following of foodies and food lovers. The staff roasts and slices and pulls all their deli meats in house - every ingredient is fresh with nothing processed or frozen. Everything one sees on Z Rant’s difficult and imaginative menu is 100 percent handmade. 

In keeping with The Middle East’s endeavors to tie their traditional Middle Eastern restaurants and cuisine to their iconic rock clubs, Z Rant will be their pop culture and pop music contingent in every way possible. In particular, a weekly Saturday Disco/Funk brunch with famed Boston DJ’s Leah McFly and James Cerne.  

Partnering with Joseph & Nabil Sater of the Middle East for this project is award-winning Boston chef and personality Hunter Jae as well as General Manager Jayson Zeeman with his extensive background in producing events for the world’s top chefs. 

When you think of Z Rant, think of a dedicated employees up at midnight, staring at ovens, slow roasting meat and slicing the freshest of ingredients, bartenders juicing roasted roma tomatoes to make you the best homemade Bloody Mary mix you will ever have, and DJ’s creating playlists to compliment the entire experience.

BASIC INFO: 

474 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

(617) 864-3278

WEBSITES:

zuzubar.com/zrant

Search for ‘Z Rant’ on Facebook and Yelp *pending

HOURS:

10am to 3pm 7 days a week

Expanded Brunch menu Saturday & Sunday

PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Street and Parking Lot

Right off Central Square Red Line T & Bus #s 1, 47, 70, 4, 83, 91

PAYMENT OPTIONS & SERVICES:

Cash and All Major Credit Cards

Reservations, Walk ins, Group Events, Take Out, Delivery, Catering, Waiter Service, Outdoor Seating

MENU:

THE SANDWICHES:

Add any lunch side for $1.99

A#1 Duck, Duck Chicken $12.99
slow-roasted duck / chicken liver & fig pate / mushroom ragout / arugula / grapefruit vinaigrette

B#2 Porkage In A Pear Tree $12.99
slow roasted pork tenderloin / fresh pear / bleu cheese neufchatel spread / 
juicy dried cranberries / arugula / basil cashew pesto

C#3 Lil’ Bo Peep $11.99
Roasted lamb / arugula / black pepper / brown sugar grilled pear / sprouts / pistachio-mint aioli

D#4 Swill ‘N Swine $8.99
Magner’s Cider, Harpoon UFO, cilantro braised pork shoulder / chili flakes / muenster cheese / chorizo-apple chutney

E#5 Roast Beast $9.99
horseradish-roasted beef / whipped garlic / sprouts / cheddar / bleu cheese neufchatel spread

F#6 The Middle East $9.99
grilled eggplant / tabbouleh / spinach / feta / pistachio / Moroccan olives / hummus

G#7 Soylent Green $9.99
panko-fried green tomatoes / fresh mozzarella / arugula / marinated portabello mushroom / basil cashew pesto

H#8 Lox of Love $10.99
smoked salmon / raw red onion / capers / roasted roma tomantos / sprouts / bleu cheese neufchatel spread

I#9 Raise the Stakes $11.99
grilled flank steak / mushroom onion ragout / brie / arugula

J#10 B.A.R.T. $7.99
applewood-smoked bacon / swiss / roasted roma tomato / arugula & spinach / saffron aioli

K#11 Edible Lactose Gold $8.99
cheddar / muenster / swiss / arugula / roasted roma tomato / dijon aioli 

L#12 The Concession $8.99
tabbouleh-roasted chicken / fresh arugula / smashed avocado / roasted roma tomatos / sprouts / grapefruit vinaigrette

THE SIDES
fried green tomatoes ($3.99) / cous cous salad ($3.49) / pita chips ($1.99) / Riley’s potato chips ($1.99) / soup o’ the day (sm $3.99, lg $4.49) / spinach & arugula salad ($3.99) / fresh fruit ($3.99)

DESSERT
Ever changing gourmet ice creams and sorbets $3.99

SPECIALTY COCKTAILS $9.00
Chamaretto Fizz
Chambord / amaretto / champagne 

Faux-lini
Stoli peach / grenadine / pomegranate molasses / fresh oj

Sage Haven
sage-infused Knob Creek / lime / mangoo puree / soda splash

Espresso Yourself
Van Gogh espresso vodka / kahlua / coconut rum / espresso / coconut milk / Molly’s irish cream

Piñarita
jalapeño infused tequilla / triple sec / passion fruit liquor / lime juice / lemon juice / simple syrup / pineapple juice 

Agent Orange
gin / Campari / sweet vermouth / grapefruit juice

Sunday Bloody Sunday
vodka / spicy homemade roma roasted tomato bloody mary mix

DAILY BRUNCH
Add any brunch side for $2.49

SCRAMBLES
Your choice of egg, tofu, or egg whites
All scrambles come with the choice of home fries or wheatberry toast
Put it on a wrap for $1 (recommened)

Iron Fist $8.99
tabbouleh / tomato / white onion / fava beans

The Mediterranean $9.99
grilled eggplant / tabbouleh / spinach / feta / morrocan olives

Go Green! $10.99
basil-marinated portobella / fried green tomatoes / fresh mozzarella / basil cashew pesto

Hella Cheesy $8.99
cheddar / muenster / swiss / arugula / roasted roma tomatoes

SIGNATURE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
The Hangover $7.99
sunny side up egg / applewood-smoked bacon / avocado smash / cheddar

The California $8.99
chive neufchatel / cucumber / tomato / avocado smash / sprouts

HEART-BAKED GOODS
How We Cassa’roll $7.99
cinnamon french toast casserole / brown sugar crumble / applewood-smoked bacon maple syrup

Pie There $8.99
flaky puff pastry / eggs / spinach / arugula / muenster

DAILY BRUNCH SIDES
Fresh pastries (price varies), coffee (sm $1.99, lg $2.49), espresso ($2.70), fresh juices (sm. $2.99, lg $3.99)

Sweet potato latkas ($3.49) / kiss my cheesy grits ($2.49) / applewood-smoked bacon ($2.99) /
kafta sausage ($3.49) / veggie sausage ($3.99) /spinach & arugula salad ($3.99) / home fries ($3.99) / fresh fruit (3.99)

WEEKEND BRUNCH
Available Only Saturday & Sunday

BENNIES
Served with choice of home fries or spinach & arugula salad (add on brunch sides $2.49)

The Kathy Bates $11.99
2 crispy oat waffles / fried green tomatoes / poached eggs / hollandaise / avocado smash

Smokey Bones $12.99
2 sweet potato latkas / roma tomatoes / poached eggs / smoked salmon / hollandaise / capers

Sour New Yorker $13.99
2 grilled crustinis / roasted roma tomatoes / flank steak / poached eggs / hollandaise / caramelized shallots

Keep Santa Cruz Weird $8.99
2 wheatberry toast rounds / veggie sausage / roma tomato / crispy tofu / hollandaise / sprouts

MAKE WAFFLES NOT WAR
Peace Oat $7.99
crispy oat waffles with choice of apple cashew butter, maple whipped cream, or fresh maple syrup.

Its Thyme For Lemon $8.49
lemon & thyme waffles / fresh blueberries / maple whipped cream

Cheddar? I Hardly Know Her! $8.49
savory cheddar waffles / jalapeño cheddar cream / fresh lime
Add roasted chicken, crispy tofu or sautéed veggies for $1.99

I Scream, You Scream… $12.99
sweet cinnamon waffle / fresh banana / choco hazelnut ice cream / whipped cream

Full Bar Available!

LUNCH SIDES:

fried green tomatoes ($3.99) / cous cous salad ($3.49) / pita chips ($1.99) / Riley’s potato chips ($1.99) / soup o’ the day (sm $3.99, lg $4.49) / spinach & arugula salad ($3.99) / fresh fruit ($3.99)

DESSERT: Ever changing gourmet ice creams and sorbets $3.99