About Us

Z Grille is anything but typical.

The vivid aesthetic and unmistakable vibe of the restaurant is as much a celebration of the intensity and passion of its owners, Zack and Jenny, as it is a reflection of the lifestyle represented on the walls. An eye-popping fusion of polyurethane, grind rails and plywood transitions, this DTSP landmark pays homage to the anti-conformity attitude and rebellious creativity that ignited an era of skateboarding legends, while saving the spotlight for the true hero: the food.

Like the sport it reveres, Z Grille’s menu is a product of persistent trial and experimentation, resulting in small, but delightful variations in taste, texture and spice. Chef Zack’s culinary process is creative and improvisational—more like artistic performance—rather than what he disparagingly calls “production line” cooking. This is art … and the plate is the terrain he skates like no other.

“Cooking always came easy to me, but it was also a way to express myself. Having been raised in Southern California, and drawn to the freedom and counterculture aesthetic of the skateboarding lifestyle, there was always a sense of blazing out a new trail—not chained to convention or the expectations of others—or what constituted the ‘accepted’ path. I followed my gut, fed my instincts and found out I brought something to the table that couldn’t be duplicated out of any book.” — Zack

“While I never set out to become a pioneer in the restaurant business, I’m thrilled that Z Grille has given me a platform to do just that. By virtue of my background in the beauty and fashion arenas, I knew that the aesthetics around the plate were just as important as what we served on it. Today, I find great satisfaction in remaining true to both the quality of the food and the dining experience. Now, in our second downtown location, I’m proud we’ve made Z Grille a cornerstone in this thriving DTSP restaurant community.” — Jenny