Zella's offers upscale comfort food with a touch of elegance

Whether it is raspberry pan chicken or grilled French double-pork chops, Zella’s Restaurant, the newest dining establishment in downtown Hutchinson, has a goal of creating a memorable experience for diners.

Doing business under the general philosophy of “specializing in chef-driven eclectic comfort food in a warm and elegant bistro atmosphere,” Zella’s owners Tiffany Haag and Blake Barnard believe Hutchinson area diners will like what they offer.

Haag and Barnard met while working at separate restaurants in the Twin Cities. Haag and Zella’s executive chef, 21-year-old Joe Foster, worked together. Foster’s fiancee, Jennifer Davis, is Zella’s pastry chef. Foster attended the Art Institute’s chef program.

“Joe had been accepted to an exclusive program in Rhode Island, but turned it down to come here,” Haag said. She and Barnard believe Foster has created a menu with something for everyone’s tastes and see to it that it is served in a memorable manner by attentive, courteous staff.

“What we are really proud to be is a place where people can get chef-driven quality food form a real chef making real things from real ingredients.” Haag said. “It has really come together. I think Joe has really come through for us. Our mission is integrity, and that starts with what you serve.”

Zella’s is named after Tiffany’s maternal grandmother, Rosella Stearns, who died in June 2007. She encouraged her granddaughter to pursue her dream.

Kitchen hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The bar will stay open one hour later. Zella's is closed Monday. For more information, call the restaurant at (320) 587-9463.

For more about Zella’s, read the front page of the Leader’s Oct. 7 print editor.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)