Zea Rotisserie & Bar is opening 1st Mississippi location this month. Here's where and when

Zea Rotisserie & Bar is set to open its first Mississippi location on Nov. 21  in Ridgeland.

Positioned across from the Ridgeland Visitors Center and in the newest phase of Renaissance at Colony Park, Zea is a polished, casual restaurant known for its rotisserie meats, roasted corn grits and Thai ribs.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant, which features a contemporary design with finishes in stone, tile and dark woods, can accommodate up to 229 customers in both indoor and outdoor areas. The restaurant patio includes a fireplace along with televisions, Wi-Fi and charging ports in the bar. 

Paul Hutson, chief operating officer for Zea, said the restaurant is known for its rotisserie meats, flavor influences from across the globe and great value. 

“One of the things people really enjoy is how customizable the menu is,” he said, noting that any way of eating from low calorie to gluten-free to Keto can be accommodated.

The centerpiece of the menu is rotisserie chicken with choice of four seasonings (house rub, backyard barbecue, garlic-herb, pineapple jalapeno glaze, or sweet chili glaze) and choice of two sides, $15.50-$16.50. Sides include roasted corn grits, roasted potatoes, French fries, sugar snap beans, Thai snap beans, red beans and rice, steamed broccoli, braised cabbage, soup of the day and mashed sweet potatoes (seasonal). Grilled asparagus is available for an additional $5.95

Rotisserie meats, which come with a choice of two sides, include pork roast, $14.95; beef sirloin $16.50; lamb sirloin, $19.95;12-ounce ribeye, $26.25; rotisserie sample (quarter of a chicken, 3 ounces beef, and 3 ounces pork), $21.50 or pick two meats, $17.50; and barbecue chicken and ribs, $29.95 or $18.50.

Listed as favorites on the menu are Twice Cooked Crispy Duck, $25.50; red beans and rice, $14.95; Casablanca Chicken, $15.75; Shrimp Breaux Bridge, $15.95; and Shrimp and Grits, $15.95.

“Fins & Shells” on the menu include Trout Lafitte, $20.50; Pesto Trout, $23.50; Buttermilk Battered Shrimp, $18.95; Balsamic Salmon, $23.50; Southern Fried Catfish, $16.50; and Yellowfin Tuna, $24.95, each of which comes with a choice of two sides.

Small plates (appetizers that can be shared) and a variety of salads and sandwiches are also available at Zea. There’s also a menu for children.

Progressive wine selections, local and craft beer and seasonal hand-crafted cocktails are Zea staples, and so is happy hour.

Barbara Coultas, general manager at the Ridgeland location, describes Zea as upscale but not stuffy. 

“When you come in, there’s a good warm feeling,” said Coultas, a native of Hereford, England, who has a degree in hospitality, tourism and leisure photography. “You can feel the energy in the building.”

Zea works well for many occasions such as a business lunch, a date night, a special celebration and even a large family gathering, Hutson said.

The Ridgeland location will initially be open for dinner only Tuesday through Sunday and will then add Monday dinner. Plans are to eventually add daily lunch hours. 

The Ridgeland location will employ between 75 and 100 staffers. Applications are accepted online at https://tastebudsmgmt.com/careers/ and onsite. “My advice is to do the old-fashioned thing and go to the site,” Hutson said.

Renaissance at Colony Park” checked off all of the boxes” needed for a Zea location, Hutson said, naming a growing number of residences and a large business population in the area and it didn’t hurt that Mississippi has a love for one of its signature items – grits. “We do well in grit-friendly markets,” he said.

Hutson said he’s exploring the possibility of opening a second location in Mississippi on the Gulf Coast. He planned to meet this month with a consultant to explore the Biloxi market.

The idea for Zea was conceived in Hawaii in 1990 when the brand’s founding chefs—Hans Limburg, Greg Reggio and Gary Darling—met on a celebrity-studded catering assignment. The first Zea Rotisserie & Bar opened in Harahan, Louisiana in June 1997. The restaurant has locations in addition to Ridgeland in Louisiana: Metairie, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Covington, Harvey, Harahan, Kenner, New Orleans and Denham Springs.

Under the ownership of Taste Buds Management, the restaurant brands Zea Rotisserie & Bar and Semolina have received industry recognition and the founders were named Restaurateur of the Year by the Louisiana Restaurant Association. They were also finalists in the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Awards sponsored by Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch.

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