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Name: ZaZa’s Trattoria
Address: 5 S 1st St, Saint Charles, IL, 60174
Telephone: (630) 443-9304
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.62

ZaZa’s Trattoria

5 S 1st St, Saint Charles, IL, 60174

(630) 443-9304
Store is closed

ZaZa’s Trattoria Menu

Antipasti

Calamari Fritti Or Griglia

Mussels Spicy Tomato Sauce

Bruchetta Romano

Bruchetta Spinaci

Formaggio Di Capra Al Forno

Carpaccio Al Avocado

Carciofo Bianco

Vongole Al Forno

Portabella Alla Griglia

Sausage Alla Zaza
Insalate

Caesar Salad

Asparagus Salad

Insalata Caprese

Insalata Alla Zaza

Insalata Di Capra

Roasted Peppers
Entrees

Pesce Bianco Alla Spinaci

Trout Al Gamberoni

Pollo Arrosto Al Rosmarino

Petto Di Pollo Babossa

Petto Di Pollo Limone

Salsiccia Con Peppers
Steaks & Chops

Twin Filet Mignon

8oz. Filet Mignon

14 Oz. New York Strip

Pork Chop Maderia

Lamb Chops Oreganto

Veal Sassi
Pasta

Capellini Pomodoro

Penne Abruzzese

Conchiglia Alla Sun-dried

Linguini Broccoli E Scampi

Tortellini Alla Panna

Penne Mio Modo

Rigatoni Sura Sunta

Linguini Arlecchino
Pizza

Quattro Stagioni

Quattro Formaggio

Margherita Pizza
Sides

Fire Roasted Spinach

Grilled Fresh Asparagus

Garlic Mash Potatoes

Side Of Pasta

Sauteed Wild Mushrooms

Healthy Meal suggestions for ZaZa’s Trattoria

Antipasti

Calamari Fritti Or Griglia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels Spicy Tomato Sauce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruchetta Romano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruchetta Spinaci [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Formaggio Di Capra Al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carpaccio Al Avocado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Carciofo Bianco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vongole Al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Portabella Alla Griglia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sausage Alla Zaza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Insalate

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagus Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Alla Zaza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Capra [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Entrees

Pesce Bianco Alla Spinaci [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trout Al Gamberoni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Arrosto Al Rosmarino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Petto Di Pollo Babossa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Petto Di Pollo Limone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salsiccia Con Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Steaks & Chops

Twin Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

8oz. Filet Mignon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

14 Oz. New York Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chop Maderia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lamb Chops Oreganto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veal Sassi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Capellini Pomodoro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne Abruzzese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Conchiglia Alla Sun-dried [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Broccoli E Scampi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortellini Alla Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Penne Mio Modo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatoni Sura Sunta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Arlecchino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza

Quattro Stagioni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Quattro Formaggio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margherita Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Fire Roasted Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Fresh Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Mash Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Pasta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sauteed Wild Mushrooms [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Saint Charles for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 3795 E Main St )

Arby’s ( 1534 E Main St )

Subway ( 40W222 Lafox Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Saint Charles for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s ( 3795 E Main St )

Arby’s ( 1534 E Main St )

Subway ( 40W222 Lafox Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

James B.

ZaZa's Trattoria is a beautiful thing. Bring your appetite though. Portions are huge and the food spectacular. The martini? The word prodigious comes to mind. I had a mussels in red sauce appetizer and the dinner salad with a house dressing. Even at that I could not finish it. The wait staff were responsive and fun. If you're a traveler, as I am, this is worth driving out of the way (actually the whole city of St. Charles is worth the drive). If you are local and want a great experience this is one place you'll want to hit.
(5)
Allison A.

No gluten free menu here. I went here with my family for a dinner. My mil really wanted Italian so we ended up here. When sitting down, I asked if they had a gf menu. I was told no but ' we can make anything gluten free'. Um, okay... A little direction would have been nice but I'll figure it out myself. In the meanwhile, the fam ordered some appetizers and indulged. The waiter came back to take our order. I decided to go with a chicken with potatoes and asked 'is this safe?' Waiter- 'safe?' Me- yes, safe, gluten free? Him- yes I make it gluten free for you. Well the chicken came out and looked deep fried. Cross contamination much? I ate it anyway and it was delicious. My family all loved their meals as well. Needless to say, my meal went down just as easy as it came up a few hours later. I highly doubt what I ate was gluten free. I'm lucky that I just have celiac and not an allergy. In today's day and age I'm surprised at the lack of communication or options for safe eating. I much rather eat at a place like Cooper's hawk where they even bring me gluten free bread to munch on. I won't be back because I had no fun being sick after my meal.
(2)
Tish D.

Dined here a few times and service so inconsistent. Our last experience was horrible. Had a party of 14 which included 9 teenage girls. Our server had an attitude from the very beginning when we asked for separate checks. Then he spilled most of our wine on the table instead of in the glasses. He also failed to tell us that they ran out of pizza! 3 of us ordered pizza and had to wait another half hour to eat while rest of party got their food. Having said that, food was good and has always been consistently good.
(3)
Jennifer S.

While trying to choose a restaurant, we checked out Za Za's reviews and someone mentioned moaning in delight over the food (or something to that effect). This became the joke of the evening and was particularly appropriate when other diners were actually moaning! Maybe this should be their new tag line: Food so good, you'll actually moan. Or we liked our server's comment of: Sauce so good, it would taste good on your shoes. She was right... So once our initial dinner choice had an hour and a half wait, we called Za Za's and made a reservation for a short while later. Parking wasn't as bad a expected, so we did take a quick walk from a free lot, but nothing too crazy. Upon entering you need to push the front door open. Don't pull like this crazy girl did and then felt like a bozo after standing in the cold pulling on a door that would never open that way. There are stairs to get inside, so this was not handicapped friendly. I'm sure there's other options, but I didn't notice them. Plus, it's a little cramped inside, but once we were seated, we had plenty of elbow room. My husband even commented on liking how deep the tables were so we weren't all on top of each other. I tried Sex in a Hammock. Yes, at the dinner table! It was perfect! And I would do it over and over again. Plus, THIS DRINK was so smooth and fruity that I could have easily had more than my fair share. I'm not much of a drinker, so instead I had one and I was quite satisfied. Let's talk about the bread course. That's right. I called it a course. The basket of piping hot crusty bread arrived with a small bowl of tomato sauce. We thought it was marinara. Oh no...this is a unique combination of tomatoes, seasoning and other deliciousness. It's room temperature and it's supposed to be served that way. Eat it right on the bread or combine it with the olive oil and cheese to start your meal off right. This was a definite hit! The appetizer menu had options of all varieties. From meatballs to baked artichoke to calamari to bruschetta to muscles and beyond. We had a hard time choosing...but ended up with a table favorite of the meatballs and had the chef add an extra one to the three piece portion. The meatballs were large, seasoned just right, fork tender and a must-have for our next visit. For the entrees, I really wanted to try their potatoes so I asked to swap out my side. Instead, I got both as a little present. Works for me as both were wonderful!!! The limone sauce on both the chicken and the fish was definitely THAT good! The homemade sausage was phenomenal! The pasta was cooked al dente. I loved our server! I don't know her name, but she was awesome and definitely added to the old school charm that Za Za's should boast. This may sound odd, but she took the drink orders from the ladies at the table first and asked the gentlemen immediately after. Dinners were served ladies first. Everything arrived quickly, but with a slight courtesy to the ladies. She made a little small talk, but kept it to the appropriate level and didn't take over our dinner chatting. I felt extra special and it wasn't even my birthday! We had such a good time that we were already planning our next dinner here before we left!
(5)
Christina M.

Food was excellent, I would order the white fish again and again. Service was good sort of European, not as much attention as Americans are used too. Is noisy atmosphere not a romantic hot spot.
(5)
Kim K.

My first visit to this restaurant. Our visit was one of the initial stops on our 13 person bachelorette evening. The staff was extremely accommodating and our reservations were handled seamlessly. We tasted a variety of appetizers and dishes from steak, seafood and pasta. The wine selection was sufficient and reasonably priced. Our server "Chris" was very attentive and a pleasure to interact with. Our meals were received within a reasonable time after our order was placed and everything was cooked to order. If you haven't had the pleasure of dining here I recommend that you do.
(5)
Tom D.

Ok - I'm not sure I enjoyed the staff here or not - they were hot and cold! The food was pretty darn good though. However, it was a bit on the dark side and they didn't really ask you if you needed anything - though most really good places know what one needs without even asking. The prices were decent and suitably within our company policy, but there were a few items I thought were high priced. They didn't have a good selection of teas or sodas, but the amount of food you received was perfect. Parking is about the same no matter where you go around here - place itself was small - clean and I'd certainly return - it just didn't rise to my 5 star rating!
(4)
Steve W.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant. I do like sitting in the old part better. the area before the build out a while back. The Salmon and the roasted spinach is my fav. Great date place too!
(5)
Jon A.

Was part of a group of 19. The service was excellent and she had the right amount of sassy humor to make it fun. I had the sausage which were a bit on the over cooked side and the pasta on the side was not as hot as I would have liked but did not stop me from eating it all. People raved about the pork chops and the New York steak. It is a good restaurant with a unique menu with exceptional service but just missed a bit on my meal
(3)
Lizzy P.

The entrance is a side door which funnels you directly through a mise en place which is odd and unwelcoming. Our waiter was brash and stuffy. Wine selection so so but the food was good. Pass on the pizzas but try the carpaccio.
(3)
Punisher J.

Ok this guy has some good food. Try the penne abruzzeza the whitefish and the half chicken. Goat cheese and the artichoke also. Not a bad spot outside either in the spring and fall. Too hot in the summer. And there's some tight tables inside so sit somewhere where you don't get an elbow to the face.
(4)
Scott R.

Made dining reservation 48-hours ahead for a party of five to dine on Thursday 08/28 at 6:00PM. When arriving (on-time) the hostess by-passed all the opened tables in the dining area and proceeded to the bar side. The hostess selected a table by the front window overlooking Main Street and the bar. Not only was this location incredibly loud but we also had to deal with obnoxiously loud guys drinking their Merlot and throwing out F-bombs at each other like they were still on the back nice of a country club. The entire experience of was that of cognitive dissonance.
(2)
S R.

The Bruchetta spinaci was a half a pound of blanched spinach on a sliced baguette- not what you could consider a "culinary journey through Italy." How you can make an average Margherita pizza and call yourself a trattoria, I don't know. The pizza was the size of a personal pan, thicker at the base, had thick slices of tomato with some mozzarella added on for garnish. Occasionally, there were some lumps of shredded basil somewhere in there. Drop the pretense, and head down the street to Pomodoro E Mozzarella and try their rendition of the Margherita. The cheese ravioli (I'm not referring to it in Italian because that would be criminal), were six pieces and cost 20 dollars with tax. Last I checked a trattoria prided honest food for an honest price. We waited about 40 minutes for these two dishes and spent about 50 in-God-we-trusts on the experience. After a long day at work, if you want to experience an alleyway mugging in Italy, go here and order "Italian." Good Blue Moon Belgian White!
(2)
Frank Z.

We had good food and good service at Za Za's tonight. It was our first time dining there, but it won't be our last. Try the carrot cake. It's amazing!
(4)
Nancy B.

Snotty staff; count your change. A group of 14 of us dined at ZaZa's today and I can say without a doubt that this establishment will never get one penny of my money ever again. Once everyone in our party arrived it was a good 20 minutes before our server showed up to take our orders. When she did, she stood at one end of the table and just stared impatiently at whoever was next to order. No "and what would you like today?" or anything even remotely polite. She just stared. My dish came about 5 minutes before anyone else so it was either eat in front of everyone or watch my food cool. The friend next to me had the wrong order served to her and had to summon the server, who conveniently vanished. Our food came sporadically. So did our server, whose idea of table service was to say "Everything OK here?" as she raced past our table. If anything hadn't been ok she'd have been oblivious to it. Since our food arrived ad hoc, some of us finished before others but that didn't stop the staff from removing plates, glasses, and silverware from people who were still eating. If they weren't actually holding a fork and knife, it was snatched up. When we asked our server for separate checks, her snarky attitude raised to fever pitch. I have never been spoken to so rudely by a restaurant server in my life. She told us that if we expected separate checks we should have made that clear when the reservation was made and that we'd have been told then that separate checks isn't their policy. She outright refused to redo the bill so we told her to summon her manager. Which was pointless because this manager arrived with an attitude that was as far from "serving the customer" as she could get without shooting us. Sporting her 80s throwback rock-star wannabee shag, this manager approached us poised to deal with a nuisance, reiterating that separate checks was not their policy. Ms. Snarky Server stood behind her sneering. Well Snarky Pants must have sensed our "skip the tip" thoughts because she proceeded to ring us all up with separate checks. I paid in cash and my change due was $4.97. She brought me my receipt and four singles. Hello? I guess coins are too beneath her to handle? Well I hope she enjoys her 97-cent tip. I don't have time to waste on restaurants with "we make it difficult for our customers" policy. No thanks and arrivederci ZaZa's.
(1)
Holly H.

Fabulous food, horrible service. Really can't say anything else.. I would rather have okay food and great service than go back to that place.
(1)
Lauri C.

Seriously, their Whitefish is something to write home to mom about. So.Good. We also had the goat cheese and marinara app to start dinner off, and we were not disappointed. My husband and I went there again recently (NYE) on a whim and were pleasantly surprised that they were able to still give us a reservation and squeeze us in even though we decided last minute to eat there. They were, inevitably, swamped. Par for the course with any fine dining restaurant on NYE. Granted, the services could have been a little less rushed, but given the day and how full the dining room was, we really can't complain. I was a server for years, so I understand the in's and out's and what all goes into a NYE rush. Even though they were busy, our server was attentive and our wine glasses never sat empty. Overall, Za Za's still ranks at the top of our list of 'Great Effing Restaurants' :)
(5)
Nicole S.

Was given a gift certificate here for my birthday. Wanted to like it but after making a reservation and standing for a very long time before being acknowledged - then being abruptly seated.. my first impression was not good - Food , service and ambience were MEH.. I LOVE Italian food but this was not up to par. Husband was less than satisfied with the pizza - My dinner was better - not great .. felt rushed and server was hit or miss - haven't been back and don't plan to. Better places for the price.
(2)
Chandler M.

The food was amazing. I have been coming here for a very long time since its close to home and the food is great. It's very hard to get reservations on weekends and they don't honor them most of the time. I had a reservation last night for 7 and sat down 30 minutes later. But I understand since it was graduation night. Other than that the service is fast, waiter was friendly. The whitefish is to die for! Yum!
(5)
Jon P.

ZaZa's Trattoria is located in the perfect spot right by the river in downtown Saint Charles. It is always busy and rightfully so as far as I'm concerned. This place is not you modern, hipster Italian cuisine. It is old school, classic and hardcore traditional Italian. The food is prepared excellently and comes out an appropriate amount of time. The service staff is very knowledgeable. I feel that most of them have worked there for years and years. The wine list is very well put together, which is something I see less and less lately. I would highly recommend the artichoke appetizer (A++) Very little chance of being disappointed at ZaZa's!!! Give it a try!!
(4)
jim v.

Probably the fourth time we've eaten here, great restaurant! Love the location, especially if you can snag a patio seat. Never had a bad meal here, tonight was a small pizza that was fantastic. Perfect crust, toppings and sauce. Just a delightful place for a meal in downtown St. Charles.
(4)
Megan C.

My boyfriend took me here for dinner not too long ago and it was fantastic. I got a seafood linguini that was phenomenal. The staff is super sweet and constantly asking if you need anything. The ambiance is so romantic, it's gorgeous. Definitely would recommend for a nice, quiet, romantic date.
(5)
Steve H.

We have eaten at Zaza's multiple times over the past ten years or so and overall find it a solid choice. Food is generally good and their menu is varied enough that you have lots of choice including daily specials. Service is good. The ambience is only ok depending on where you are seated. At peak hours it can be very noisy with the tables packed pretty tight. Price is pretty reasonable. I debated between three and four stars. Just the food is more like four stars but the ambience took it down to three.
(3)
Calab N.

I love italian food, so I am a very hard critic for this kind of food. I feel this this place has a decent environment for the family and the food is just ok. It's very average. The bread has a nice texture and flavor, but the pasta is loaded with garlic and I absolutely despise that. It is almost not edible to me. The service is average, and I don't know if I will be going back unless I feel like giving it another chance, which might be possible in the future
(2)
Bill B.

Terrible service. Hateful attitude. Server and manager.
(2)
Paul G.

While in St Charles we were looking for a light dinner and we saw ZaZa. We had no reservation but they found us a table. Unfortunately it was in a noisy place and after appealing to hostess we secured a good table. The food and service was excellent. Unfortunately there were many tables that are not in a good location. I would highly recommend this place as long as you get a good table away from the kitchen and the noise.
(4)
K M.

I've been here 3 times, and every time, it has gotten worse. Our last visit was on my birthday. I ordered the pork chops with mushrooms and roasted potatoes. The pork was tough and bland, and the mushrooms smelled like dirty socks. The potatoes we so-so at best. My wife didn't like her roasted chicken dish either. When the server asked how the food was, I responded with "the potatoes were edible". Her jaw dropped. She asked if there was anything she could do, like get the manager, but I'm not one to try to weasel out of paying for dinner. The only reason I'm giving it 2 stars is because the service was pretty good.
(2)
Howard L.

Great location and great food....got our seat within 2 minutes (no reservation) but the whole place was packed. Food are excellent and even our kids were all having a good time, will go back again...probably will try the Addison location which is closer.
(4)
Lucas C.

This is one of the greatest restaurants I've ever been to. Pasta is always delicious. Menu changes often depending on seasons and what's fresh. THIS PLACE IS WAAAAYYYYY BETTER THAN FRANCESCAS! Beats it 5 stars to 1 star! Food- Dinner starts with bread and homemade marinara for dipping which is the best I've had anywhere. Any pasta with vodka sauce will be undoubtedly delicious. They should put the linguine with vodka sauce, shrimp, and scallops on the menu forever instead of an occasional special. I've had lemon chicken and chicken Parmesan here and both have been tender, juicy, and excellent. Service- always great
(5)
Cal A.

I'm shocked this is not a solid 5 stars. The food and staff are the best around. The mussels, oh the mussels......probably the best thing on the menu. Thick and hearty with a thick and hearty sauce. I've had several items on the menu and all have been perfect. The carpaccio reminds me of the stuff grandma used to make back in Milan. The wine selection is good with some low cost offerings that will please. The rating on this restaurant and some of the reviews give me the impression yelp is for whiners who don't know Italian from McDonalds.
(5)
Andrew B.

Properly cooked pasta, however the sauce seemed a little watered down. Filet and sausage was excellent. Beautifully decorated and a nice place for a small quiet meal or for large groups
(3)
Annie V.

Went to dinner Friday night at prime time. We were seated near the kitchen. I am not complaining, in fact, we were happy we were able to get in without a reservation, however if YOU are looking for a quiet romantic slow dinner, this is not the place. It was lively, noisy and seemed to be of a very frantic pace. That being said, that's good, cause the food for the most part very good and we enjoyed our meal. The bread and dipping sauce was excellent. We also ordered fish dishes that were cooked to perfection. Yum We used to get a pork chop here that was one of the most memorable dinners of my life. Sadly, I did not see pork on the menu anymore... The creme brulee was a disappointment. It is my favorite dessert and this one was not exceptional... would not order again. It was too heavy and not flavorful enough. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. The hostess on the other hand, although being friendly was EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATELY dressed. Her outfit was skimpy, way to short and the boots were over the top sexy. She was too young to be dressed like that. It made me uncomfortable to watch some of the men watching her. It was not dignified.
(4)
Allison R.

I've been here several times, most recently last weekend with my family over Fourth of July weekend. Amazing dinner!! We were all starving and started off with their baked goat cheese, bruschetta romano, and baked artichoke. They also offer fresh baked French bread with a house-made red sauce, butter, oil, and fresh grated Parmesan. Wow. I could've filled up on this alone - actually I halfway did. It was a tough call (the pastas were calling to me), but I went with their whitefish. It is in a lemon butter sauce topped with capers and comes with a side of their roasted spinach. So delicious!! Everyone else was very happy with their meals. We couldn't resist and shared dessert - carrot cake, chocolate ganache cake, and cannolis. Wow. I was beyond full by the time we left. Our service was excellent. Corissa was our server, and she was very attentive throughout the meal. She made several great recommendations, including a summer-y drink the bartender had on special with rum and fruit juices. The busser was also on top of water refills and clearing plates. One of the managers also came over to check how our meal was. All in all, wonderful dining experience. I always love going to ZaZa's. I look forward to returning the next time I am in town!
(5)
Kay B.

This was my first visit to this restaurant and my first impression was not a good one. When we first came in there was no one at the host stand so we were left waiting to be seated and we soon learned why. While we waited we could hear someone on the other side of the wall talking and swearing very loudly. This went on for a few minutes while we stood there waiting. It turned out to be the host! He eventually came around the wall to seat us. And all I could think was how his disgusting language completely ruined the ambiance of such a lovely restaurant. Now, I'm not saying I never swear, but it felt inappropriate at the time from a representative of the restaurant and kinda ruined the image of the restaurant for us. The food was decent. I felt like the bruschetta was lacking flavor. It was just toast with some diced tomato and lumps of mozzarella on it, nothing special about it. My dish which was chicken breasts with a caper sauce and pasta was very good. My friends dish which was chicken filled tortellini seemed to be lacking something as well. It had all the components to make up a good dish, but the sauce was kinda bland. Our waiter seemed okay, if not a bit condescending at times, he also only offered to refill our drinks once and then he never offered again. I can see what most people who have reviewed are saying about the staff. They do seem very hit and miss, but I would also say the food is as well. I do like the area the restaurant is in and next time I'm around there I'll probably try some of the other places. Zsa Zsa's wasn't terrible but I think it's one of those places that once you try it you don't have to go back. It's sort of one and done for me.
(2)
Ed S.

Never taking reservations kinda makes this a fun and always packed spot. Get a drink at the bar and wait. If you don't like it loud and packed then don't come here. Been a customer for years and the service is great: experienced & professional servers, attentive bussers. Food is plentiful and very tasty! I've had fish dishes as well as the pasta meals and always leave full.
(5)
Stephanie M.

This restaurant used to be my favorite restaurant ! We dined here regularly and was so in tune with their menu and service I can manage the place. I usually order the whitefish, however this time it was seared so much around the edges that their was hardly any fish left to eat. Frankly, I wasn't gonna complain since I had never had a bad experience here. The disappointment came when my husband got the filet and lobster tail. It came overcooked and looked like a 5 oz filet vs. the 9 oz that the server told us. My husband wasn't going to say anything either until he realized the cost of this entree. (It was on special and the cost was not on the menu). When we got the bill, that item was 57.95. Pretty hefty for a tiny size lobster tail and an overcooked filet that was not a 9 ounce like stated. We told the server and she apologized. She took it to a manager and she argued saying it was a 9 ounce steak. My husband just said,"we won't be back". I decided to call back to speak to the owner to let him know that I was very disappointed about the overall experience. This made the matter even worse!!! When I explained to him the quality of the food he said, the filet is 8 ounce not a 9 ounce and lobster and beef is very expensive. I understand however for that kind of money, it should be decadent, Like a Morton's, or Flemmings . He actually was so rude and said" what are you bored?" Calling and complaining?". He said, I don't need customers like you". I could not believe the response from him. No empathy what so ever. He even swore at me saying I never get any complaints and why didn't you send it back? I was Shocked! The conversation went on with him not even offering a discount or free appetizer for next time. A true restaurant professional would have done something to please us for this awful experience. I will never recommend this restaurant to anyone. After reading current reviews, I would agree that the food came out in different times with us too. They do not cater to the family. When I asked for smaller portions for my kids, the server said, " they are too old for the small menu". She didn't even ask for their age. How would she know??. Prior experiences the server would cater to us so a full meal doesn't need to be ordered. Both 13 yr olds left with 2 full containers of penne pasta where it was not necessary. They are not looking out for your best interest anymore. Pretty sad, since this was my to go place. No worries, there are plenty of restaurants that have better service and decadent food.
(1)
Jen G.

Wow! HORRIBLE service! Went with my family of four for Friday night dinner. Sat down for dinner at 7:00, and our dinner was not served until 8:15 and check not delivered until 9:00. Server apologized that the kitchen was just crazy...offered us a free dessert at end for how long we had to wait, but at this point we were fearful it would take at least another 30 minutes to get dessert. Besides, we're really not dessert people anyway. She brought us our check and hadn't taken anything off of it, when we questioned that, she asked if we wanted to speak to the manager. At this point, my children especially just needed to leave! No, we don't want to talk to the manager. She says she will talk to manager and comes back and tells us they took A glass of wine off the bill. Between my husband and I, we only had three glasses, I only ordered one to keep our family meal costs under control. Had I known it was going to be a 2 hour dinner, I would have ordered another glass of wine. Too bad this left us with a really bad experience and no satisfaction from the lack of effort to make it right. Lost opportunity Zaza's.
(1)
Brittany S.

Snotty staff who argue with customers! My husband and I had gone here a number of times in the restaurant and had had a waitress a couple of times who was snotty and seemed inconvenienced by my food allergies and asking her to check menu items with the chef. After I knew what menu item I could have I ordered it the next time we came to save hassle for our inconvenienced waitress. Then one night we decided to order take out. We live about 20 minutes from the restaurant so we called our order in ahead of time. I ordered chicken Alfredo. When we picked up our food and came home I opened my dish to find only pasta and no chicken! The receipt showed they charged me $17 for a box of pasta! We called to explain, expecting them to apologize and fix our order. Nope. Instead the person passed the phone around to two other people who all proceeded to argue with me telling me I told them the wrong order. They refused to fix my order unless I paid another $23 for the entire dish AND drive 20 minutes to repay and pick it up. Ridiculous! Luckily my husband was kind enough to whip up a chicken breast for me but by that time his dish and my box of pasta was cold. This is supposed to be a nicer restaurant. Customer service is a joke here! They will never get a dime of my money again!
(1)
Joe D.

Crappiest margarita pizza I ever had :-(. The doe was to heavy, took forever to get!
(1)
Kate H.

My family and I have been going here since I was little, and the quality has been top notch my whole life. Wonderful service, atmosphere, and can always count on delicious food.
(5)
Patricia A.

First time we went to ZaZa's for a weekday lunch to celebrate the birthday of my elderly aunt who is visiting from Italy and really wanted to sample a local Italian restaurant here. Having read the reviews, I knew our options were limited to Francesca's and ZaZa's. I didn't expect much to begin with but I was still mildly optimistic that we were going to have an okay meal. I was aiming for a three, hopefully four-star experience. Unfortunately, we were very underwhelmed. Overpriced mediocre food, with a very limited boring selection of American-Italian appetizers, pastas, and entrees. On top of that, they were not even nicely prepared. We spent $170 for a party of four, with two shared appetizers, four entrees, four glasses of wine, four desserts, and two espressos. This would have been okay for decent food but what we had was really uninspiring. The bread in the basket they brought to the table was warm and inviting but the fly that circled our (indoor) table and that landed on the bread 3-4 times pretty much killed our appetite. Mkay, so we were on to a good start. We ordered the goat cheese and a sausage with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke appetizers. The tomato sauce that went with the goat cheese was overpowering and a little salty; otherwise okay-ish but nothing to rave about. The sausage appetizer had a vinegraitte sauce that was overly vinegary. It would have been a nice recipe, otherwise, but again, badly prepared with the vinegar taste overpowering the rest. For the main entrees, my aunt and mom wanted a white fish with capers and spinach dish. They claimed it was okay but nothing special. My husband ordered one of the specials of the day, a fillet mignon with potatoes. It was again, okay-ish but he said he definitely had better. I ordered a roast chicken, thinking you can't go wrong with it. It looked nice but the chicken was charred and bitter, the sauce was weirdly sweet and didn't go well with the dish, the potatoes were blah and overall it was very disappointing. The wines were good but then we are not big wine drinkers so I can't claim to be able to tell them apart. Still, at least we enjoyed them. For dessert we had the tartuffo and the creme brulee. They were the best of our meal but the tartuffo was served too frozen, making my aunt exclaim (I approximate the translation) "this must be a specially-prepared, dense gelato because it's very different from the fluffy, creamy one we have at home." The guy who seated us was very nice and friendly, and the waitress tried to do a good job. Still, I was put off that I asked for cream to be served with our coffee and the espressos were brought to the table without any sugar, let alone the cream that I requested. The served however the coffee with a rind of lemon on the side. It's little things like this that I find particularly annoying in restaurants that try to be fancy and end up being merely pretentious. Anyway, we had to flag the waitress and remind her that, you know, we'd like some sugar... I was willing to leave a 3-star review, but the fly and the spacey waitress changed my mind. Equally unpleasant was that they packed the leftovers for both the appetizers and the entrees, and each time they brought the plastic bag and dropped it on the table right in front of me, while we were waiting for our next dish. My aunt and mom who actually finished their meals had their plates removed literally just as they were swallowing their last bites -- I was very put off by such 'efficiency.' We left a generous tip (out of habit) and smiled politely the whole time but.... meh.
(2)
Ben U.

I've been going here since it opened. Never had a bad meal. My favs are the whitefish and their homemade sausage and peppers. Loud atmosphere but very cozy as well.
(4)
Mick B.

We dropped in for a late night bite at La ZaZa's recently. We were seated amazingly quick on their new patio (will someone kindly change the business information?) and I felt it was a good experience other than that the space was (literally) crawling with large spiders which seemed bent on getting on/into our clothes and meal. Not sure what the solution is since they are so close to the Fox River- but if you are allergic to spiders, please beware. I felt they offered a good wine and beverage selection. Our salad was tasty and fresh, just the right size for sharing. The pizza we ordered was slightly above average- but nothing special really. Our server was very good and we appreciated her not being too intrusive when it was obvious we wanted some romantic time to ourselves.
(3)
Sofia D.

This place is great. Start out with a glass of wine or do it like me: devour the contents of your bread basket (with marinara sauce for dipping, of course) while you skim through the menu and then end up stuffed by the time your meal comes. Some would say the lighting makes this place romantic, however I think it's more of a trick to hide the pasta sauce covering my face. Try the sausage penne dish. It's a little spicy and big enough to share (although I never do).
(4)
Jim P.

Went on a Friday night without a reservation. Hostess seated us immediately - great. We were in the basement, which is small, low-ceilinged and cozy. The busser was prompt with a basket of warm bread and water. Then we waited. And waited. More water. More waiting. Still hadn't seen a server. 15 minutes. No server. Hmmm. At the 20 minute mark we decided that we should go elsewhere if we wanted to eat. As we were on our way out the door, a server materialized and asked if everything was ok. Well, no, actually.
(1)
Donna S.

Well it was for my b-day and the hubby made a reservation... Which when we arrived we found out that 1- they could not find it and 2- it's not applicable to the outside dining area which was supposed to be the nice part of the evening because it is a cute patio area. So ya think they could do an exception or apologize but 40 min later we got our table. The waitress was so frazzled. Some people got bread with pasta basil sauce = average and some got parm cheese & oil but who or why I dont know they didn't ask our preference Then drinks did not come til halfway done with meal. Food.. We had a mushroom tortellini- melted in my mouth and my husband a chicken dish which he said I could make at home. Service will make us unlikely return customers
(3)
Karen N.

The food is alright but nothing to write home about. It is also very loud there. I would go back but it would only be if I went with a group of people since I really wouldn't pick this place.
(2)
Rick P.

Three stars based on the service and bruschetta. Otherwise the food was very good! Very quaint little downtown area, and the cozy/romantic atmosphere was very nice. The individual couples tables are a little short for someone six three. The server insisted on pouring my beer, which is nice if done right. Unfortunately he didn't and then spilled some of the beer on the table, and when you have one napkin, please offer another or clean it up. The bruschetta was over toasted, but still yummy. Great quick date night.
(3)
Amanda S.

Service is great here, I really enjoyed the ambiance...dim but not so dark that it was difficult to see. The bartender did an excellent job making my French martini and the food was excellent. I had a great time with my friends and would definitely return. I'm interested to see how the expansion of this small place will alter service. Okay, update since the expansion, still love this place, they have a little patio right at the corner of 64 and 1st st offering outdoor seating now as well. The service is still great, friendly and attentive...although I will say you'd think with the expansion they'd maybe incorporate a bit of a waiting area. It's okay for me or my friends/parents to stand in the doorway, but what about the elderly or little kids (actually I am more concerned with the elderly, little kids are very resilient). My other very tiny complaint is the LOUDNESS on busy nights, one Saturday we went here and it was unbearably loud, I was miserable! The food was delicious but I wanted to freak out, it was SO loud. I think it's because it's a small space and there's really not much on the walls, so the sound just bounces right off...unfortunately we were sitting next to a table of Real Housewives rejects screeching and obnoxiously harassing their waiter. Barf. Anyhow, the food is AMAZING. Since my last review I have eaten there a dozen times more at least and I will say their whitefish is to die for. The tuna steak is also good. I really enjoy their lemon sorbet, it's delicious and they pack it into an actual lemon and dust with powdered sugar so the presentation is great as well. They do the same for the peach, which is equally appealing aesthetically but not as tasty and refreshing in my opinion. Tiramasu is the best I think I've had in my recollection, although it is also super rich so I usually stick to the sorbet. All of the pasta dishes I've tried as well are fantastic, although a little heavy for my taste. The pizzas are great as well and the salads are fresh and full of flavor. Love me some ZaZas!!
(5)
Hailey A.

I have not been to ZaZa's in years, which is why my husband and I decided to have dinner here tonight. Needless to say, I won't be back. When we arrived we were told there would be a 45 minute wait and we could wait at the bar. The ambience around the bar was so noisy it was impossible to hear the person sitting next to you. After being seated we were happy to find warm bread on the table but no olive oil or butter. Instead, there was a marinara sauce for dipping which was flavored with so much garlic it was impossible to eat. We asked for olive oil and our server brought it immediately. It happened to be one of the best olive oils I have ever had. The sad part was the olive oil was the highlight of my night. The calarmari we ordered as an appetizer was the worst I have ever had---flavorless and bland. I ordered the special Rotolo and wished I had stuck to plain pasta because the Rotolo was terrible---the marinara seasoned with so much garlic to cover a very bland sauce. I have had a lot of Rotolo and this contained too much Pancetta (overpowering) and not enough pasta. The cream sauce was bland as well. I cook better Italian at home and should have saved my money than spend it here. We were seated very near the bar and there were several groups of patrons ordering dinner at the bar and standing around the bar as if they were having a private party. My poor husband was constantly being knocked into by these patrons as he sat in his seat at our table. Next time we are in the mood for Italian we'll stay in Geneva.
(1)
Critic D.

Wow - I looked back on my first review, not sure what happened but we will NEVER be back. We had a 5:30 reservation for 4, when the two of us checked in the hostess said our table was ready and our friends were at the bar. So we weaved thru the restaurant to the bar - no friends. So I said well we will just sit down, she said ON NO you can not sit until the whole party is here, stay at the bar. I said I do not want to stay at the bar, so back thru the restaurant. We knew our friends would be there in 1 minute, so we asked to talk to the manager. As mentioned in someone else's review he is the guy in the suit. We thought by speaking to him it would be no big deal - at 5:30 the place was maybe at 50% capacity. He basically told us it is their policy to not sit people until their whole party is there and told us he DOES NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE POLICY. We would have walked if it was not for our friends. He was the MOST RUDE person we have ever met in any restaurant anywhere in the world. The food was ok but very heavy. Bus boys were taking plates before anyone was finished. Good news was the waitress was great - pleasant and efficient. Such a shame - if the suit is the owner; if he is just the manager - it is time for a BIG change. I am all about customer service and clearly this place is lacking especially with the management or lack there of!!
(1)
Tammy M.

My husband I went her for my Birthday dinner (our 2nd visit) because we love the food & atmosphere. We were seated near the entratnce and the open kitchen. I was surprised that the kitchen seems so small but for how busy the restaurant was I was im,pressed at the rythem and flow the staff had. I don't caqre for the entryway, very small, bathrooms right there, as are the stairs down to the downstairs bar-be careful, you don't wan't to get bumped & fall down them. After maneveruing through the entry obsticle and walking past the opne busy kitchen, servers w/ food & buss boys w/ dishes, we were seated. Our server came right over and took our drink orders which were brought to our table rather quickly as was the warm bread and marinara sauce, I asked for Olive Oil and it was brought over right away. We started with an order of the Bruchetta Spinaci-we love Bruchetta, and this is one of THE best we have ever had. I ordered a Chicken Florentine Dish with Cream Sauce ( I don't remember the name). It is absolutely delicious! My husband ordered one of the nightly specials, a pasta dish with seafood, calamari, shrimp, and a lobster tail coveres in a red sauce. He said it was really flavorful. By the time we were done eating we were to full for desert so I ordered a Tiramisu to go for my Birthday-it was phenominal!
(5)
Mike O.

This is an EXCELLENT place to eat. Staff is great. Food is outstanding. Atmosphere is exactly what you would hope for in an Italian restaurant. There is a good selection of beers and wines. The serving sizes of all entrees are generous and you will not leave hungry.
(5)
suzanne a.

The food here was probably the best we've ever had! I like stuffed artichokes and theirs was better than great. The reason for the 4 star rating was the washroom situation , not so great and without a reservation they sat us downstairs. It was dark and and the service was not as good as it could have been. I will definitely go back but I'll make reservations first.
(4)
Tracy B.

Nasty. I had the $42 filet mignon that tasted like a cheap frozen steak. It was covered in slimy mushrooms that the waitress never mentioned was part of the dish. My wife had their specialty. A big plate of pasta with ground sausage that was barely edible. Their salad was just ok. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. It was a huge disappointment.
(1)
Scott F.

its too hard to find a good Italian Restaurant in the burbs, but I found this place. Its loud and busy on the weekends, but well worth the noise. Pasta is done right, priced right and has FLAVOR. It seems that most Italian places have replaced their authentic flavors with nursing home selections. GREAT PLACE TRUST ME!
(3)
Kerosan L.

Had dinner with another couple Friday evening and we couldn't ask for more. We started out with calamari fritta and sausage appetizer (sorry, cant remember the appropriate name of it). I'm not a sausage fan but even my husband was amazed I ate it. I had the Risotto Gamberi and I lost count with how many jumbo shrimps were in there....hubby had the tenderloin and it was the tastiest, melt in your mouth kind. Would love to come back here again.... Our server Paul was attentive but not suffocating with his service though he messed up in ringing our tab, coz we had separate checks but it was remedied.
(4)
Blondie B.

Food, Service, Quality, and Ambiance is what I am looking for in my ratings. This Restaurant is always a sure bet! Reservations are strongly encouraged, however you will always have luck at the bar and service is quick (if that is what you are looking for). Food is always spot on perfectly cooked and presented, I have never sent back a dish. Service goes up and down but mainly consistent and quick. Quality of the food is very good and again spot on, and the Ambiance is quaint. Valentine weekend was actually very special....TV's in the bar area were turned off, thank you ZAZA you were so thoughtful.
(4)
Leslie S.

I really do not get why ZaZa's Trattoria receives such great reviews - I can only chalk it up to the fact that Italian food in the western suburbs is, on the whole, sub par, and some people don't know any better, as they've grown up thinking spaghetti and meatballs is as good as it gets. I'm not trying to offend you if you're reading this thinking "that sounds like me." I just want you to know ZaZa's is no where near as good as it gets and you deserve better. Let's start by talking about the food, because it is, after all, why we all end up here. When it comes to appetizers, it's your run-of-the-mill Italian joint offerings: calamari, bruschetta, caprese salad. There's nothing unique, interesting, or particularly authentic about any of it, and there's certainly no nuance to the food - no squeeze of lemon, no bit of thyme. They're cooking it all up in mass quantities and serving it by the heaping plateful (which is not how it happens in Italy, that's for sure!). ZaZa's is what my fiance would call Red Sauce Central, meaning the restaurant uses just two sauces in its pastas: tomato sauce (red sauce) or cream sauce (white sauce/vodka sauce). There are so many more options available, and I absolutely hate it when I go to a supposedly Italian restaurant and see just those options on the menu. Where is the olive oil? The brown butter sauce? My favorite Italian restaurant, and one I would strongly recommend, is Piccolo Sogno, and one look at their menu shows you have different pasta can be prepared - move away from red and white sauce, and you'll be amazed at how good Italian food can be. Now in fairness to ZaZa's, the restaurant has actually tried to experiment with the sauces it uses on its meat entrees, although really great meats do not actually need to be smothered in balsamic wine sauce. I can't speak to the quality of these entrees, as I've only had the pasta. Dessert for us was a previously frozen dish that does not even warrant review. And don't get me started on the wine list. The ambiance further hinders the experience; we were seated in a very dark basement room, right by the bar. The noise level was ridiculously loud, veering quite far from the intimate Italian atmosphere one hopes for. Don't be fooled - ZaZa's in not, in any way, shape or form, a four-star dining experience. It's mediocre Italian food served by candlelight - probably to hide the fact that it's just not that good. Go to Piccolo - it's worth the drive. And if you want to stay local, try Cotto a Legna in Geneva.
(2)
Maria P.

I've eaten here a handful of times and the place is usually pretty busy. Immediately after being seated, we were served bread with cold marinara sauce and then offered oil and freshly grated parmesan as well. They have a nice assortment of appetizers and entrees. The one thing I've noticed is that they never seem to have many left of what's on special. They are usually sold out of it. Their tilapia is great as well as their seafood linguine. Great coffee and dessert to finish off the meal as well.
(4)
Alec L.

Let me preface by stating that this is our favorite restaurant. The BEST. The best restaurant that me and my wife frequent often and leave the kids at home. Now I will tell what happened. Reservation made for 630 on Friday night. Arrive at 628, yep-628. We walked in behind a couple and the host asked them if they had a reservation. They stated "No". The host looked through his tablet and told another host "Table 44" and off they went! Now...when I approach, he asked me if I had reservations. I tell him yes and give him my name. As I stand there, I can see my name, the time 630, and table 44 printed next to it. The panic set in on his face. He looked through the listings of tables and escorts us to a table directly beside the open kitchen. Our favorite restaurant I will remind you, so I politely ask if there's anything else available-not the worst but with a reservation I would expect a better seat (LIKE TABLE 44!). The host tells me "You will have to wait". I couldn't believe it. I politely told him no thank you and that we'll go to our number 2 fav-Wok N' Fire!! He says "OK". and out we go. We were shocked. What did Za Za's just do??? I don't own a business but do know that you treat your customers right. ZaZa's failed. It's the best restaurant, yes it is. This service or lack of customer service, was a shock and very disappointing. We'll go back one day but not anytime soon. ZaZa's: you're good but your not that good and hopefully you can learn from your mistakes. You nothing without your customers. Wok N' Fire has taken the spot!
(2)
Kathleen K.

I went here for a business dinner and had a nice time. The food is pretty standard Italian fare. The beef carpacchio was too busy for my liking. Too many ingredients just completely masked the flavor of the beef. We also had the bruchetta to start. The toppings were great, but the bread wasn't toasted, and the whole thing fell apart easily. The creamy tomato basil sauce on my pasta was delicious. As was the creme brulee I had for dessert.
(3)
Michele K.

5 stars every single time. The wait staff is extremely professional and knowledgeable about the amazing food that kitchen is putting out. Been there a dozen times and we always take our out of town guests there. I love that it's right on the river as well. Sitting out on the patio in the summer makes you feel like you're in an Italian restaurant. We have had everything from the pizza to the pasta to the fish and it's always delicious. I like craft beers, so their beer selection is not extensive. But it's a restaurant and not a brewery so I cannot really complain. If you have not been you should. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Gary D.

Ate here on a Tuesday night after work with a few colleagues and I'd give the place a 4 1/2 if I could. We ate on the patio which was very nice with a view of the river. Service was great, prices were reasonable and food was very good but not great. The portions are very generous, make sure you have an appetite when you get there as you won't leave hungry. I had a salmon dish that was good, the spinach was a little heavy on the garlic but as I said it was very good. Check it out if in downtown St. Charles, well worth it.
(4)
Chris N.

I went there for a dinner on a Thursday night last week, a nice summer night. I was entertaining a potential employee, but a couple joined us who were former colleagues; the occasion was more casual than business. Reservations were handled well and there were no problems upon arrival. The staff I spoke to and who seated us were great. We sat outside on their comfortable little corner terrace. It was a bit cozy but not so close one would be bothered by the next table. Our meals were fantastic. Goats cheese crostini starter was great. Fried calamari was good though I wished we would have had the grilled variety. My main was the Italian sausage with a side of fettuccine. I absolutely loved it: well spiced sausage grilled to perfection smothered in a very nice tasty chunky tomato sauce. Others' meals looked good as well. Desserts and coffee followed, all very good. Beer and wine list was good for my tastes. Overall I was very happy with this little Italian trattoria in St Charles. I would gladly return and recommend others try it.
(4)
Tim T.

We've been going to ZaZa's a few times a year for many years and have never been disappointed. Service is good and the food is excellent. The grilled calamari is an excellent appetizer and the ZaZa salad is great for two to split. Entrees are generous, my menu favorites are the seafood linguini de mare or the New York strip steak. There are always great specials as well. The wine list is good, with a decent price range for most budgets. Ask for a table on the older dining area side of the restaurant, it's not as noisy as the bar side and more quaint. We dined recently with some friends from Texas, they were very pleased.
(5)
J. S.

I love the food and the location. I really enjoy the outside dining option (during the summer), because I enjoy sitting on the busy corner, enjoying drinks and dinner and listening to the fox river. The food can be pricy (especially once drinks are added to your bill), and the service can sometimes be slow (especially in the basement/cocktail lounge) on busy nights; but if you are not on a time limit, and are looking to sit and enjoy/savor your meal, ZaZa's is a great place. If you are not looking for dinner, the cocktail lounge/bar is a nice place to hangout and have a cocktail (again, it's pricey, but nice).
(4)
Craig M.

Cannot beat the Penne Abruzzese - great flavors. Excellent wait staff. Fast, friendly and knowledgeable. Great location
(5)
Brett C.

Went to dinner there last weekend. Party of 6 with a reservation. First time I have ever been there. We all met at the bar and had a drink while we waited for our table. They have a full bar and a really decent wine list. Off to the table. We ordered the calamari fritta, spicy mussels and the Zaza salad for all to share. The apps were really very good. The mussels could have been spicier in my opinion, but then again I like ghost pepper sauce so I have a slightly skewed heat rating. I ordered the Veal Sassi which was excellent. Perfectly cooked veal medallions with mushrooms and a brandy cream sauce. My GF had one of their specials. Prosciutto and cheese rolled in a pasta shell served with white and red sauce. It was good but not note worthy. Everyone else at the table really liked their entrees. All in all it's really a nice restaurant. Typical italian fare with friendly service. I would definitely recommend this place. I'll be back to check out more of their menu items. Cheers!
(4)
Misty S.

I love this place. It's such a cute restaurant with good service and excellent food. It's a classy restaurant minus the outlandish price. There are benches and water fountains outside that adds a nice touch to the place. Our waitress was very perky and nice. MUSSELS - This is my favorite appetizer here! You have the choice of spicy marinara sauce or the garlic white wine sauce. I tend to down the garlic white wine sauce like a bowl of soup after I clear out the mussels. CONCHIGLIA GORGONZOLA CON POLLO - The big shell pasta worked really well with the creamy sauce. It comes with chicken and tomatoes. The portion is quite large and will probably last me 3 meals. For dessert, we had this CHOCOLATE TARTUFO ice cream with hazelnuts covered in cocoa powder. It was...how can I describe it best...gone in 2 minutes. PARKING: There are a handful of parking spots in front of the restaurant and a whole bunch more in the parking deck next door.
(5)
George F.

Dinner with the family
(5)
Ryan S.

I believe a restaurant should be rated on three things. 1.) Quality of food 2.) Service 3.) Ambiance All three constitute a weighted ranking with number 3 contributing very little. I'd rather eat great food in a dumpster than eat garbage in a palace. The food is excellent and well prepared. Could there be a bit more diversity on the menu? Sure. One will certainly find something to one's liking and it's going to be prepared very well. The service is great. I've always had a friendly waitress or waiter and have never waited too long. The seating is a bit tight and it can be a bit loud, both upstairs and down. Is this place on par with a Spiaggia? No. But you don't have to drive to the city and pay a fortune for your bill or parking. This is well worth a trip and I would say those who disagree are merely being pretentious. This isn't spaghetti and meatballs fare. I'm well acquainted with truffles and terrine, but don't need to read that on a menu to think a restaurant is good. The best restaurants are the ones that do, what they do, well. ZaZa's does it very well.
(4)
Andy P.

Zazas is my go to place on a night when I am craving white fish and a decent glass of wine. I always sit at the bar and the bartenders are first class and very personable. Goat cheese and bruschetta are always my favorite.
(5)
Sarah S.

Zaza's is one of my favorite local Italian restaurants! The entrees are delicious, and the pizzas are great too! They bread tastes freshly baked and they also have a pretty good wine list. I went here for Valentine's day a few years back and had a wonderful time. The service is great and waitress we had was really knowledgeable and recommended some fabulous dishes. I've had the Rosemary Chicken and Fillet Mignon both were excellent! I also went to ZaZa's for a party and they were very accommodating.
(4)
Gemma K.

Take me ZaZa, I'm yours!!! A friend of mine recommended ZaZa's because she has used them in the past for family events. Actually, she will have a grad party there for her son, next month. My friend, like me, is 3/4's Italian and unfortunately, when it comes to being critical of Italian restaurants, we must look like grim reapers when we stroll into one. We are, oh so very, critical. But ZaZa's did not let me down, 10 generations of Italians (wherever they are buried) did not roll over in their graves. The food was phenomenal; and truly, authentic. My guy and I had them open a beautiful pinot grigio and then we opened with the calamari appetizer; unbelievably fresh. To go with our bread was a wonderful, sweet extra virgin olive oil; he had minestrone which was hot and super spicy (love that kick). I wanted insalata with artichoke, it was also good. And then came the final hook. Both of us had the white fish entree. We were just groaning over the flavors of the salty capers with the oil and fresh parsley. Steamed fresh veggies came with the meal. The good news was that every one else in the place seemed to be groaning in bliss, as well. We opted out of dessert, sadly, but not before we got a look at the menu which included grappa and other wonderful liquors; and about 12 different options of decadence. Note to self: get dessert next time. And believe me, there will be a next time. Between the food and the ambiance, we'll be back!
(5)
Angela P.

"Best pasta I've ever had," my boyfriend exclaimed with a moutful of panchetta, sauce, sausage and penne. Well, ouch, I thought, that's a slap in the face to my cooking, but a compliment to Zaza's. I knew he meant nothing by it, he just really liked his dish and what he called "fancy bacon." As for myself, I could not pass up the artichokes and fresh mozzarella in my penne with tomato basil sauce. And fresh mozzarella it was! I mean, it was still a little cold on top and then ooey gooey in the center. Amazing if you are a true cheese fan like myself. If you are a spicy pasta, meat lover, you might want to swing the way of what my boyfriend tried with his "fancy bacon" (panchetta) and sausage dish. The martinis are delicious, he had the Italian Apple and I had the French, perfectly made with chambord and cherry Svedka vodka. Waitresses Tina and Martha are super friendly and well versed on the night's specials. The only thing that bothered me is the placement of the tables, they're very close together and both the staff and other patrons seemed to have trouble passing by our table and other tables. When I backed out my chair, I had to be careful not to bump into the woman behind me at another table. Nonetheless, I'd definitely visit Zaza's again. They also have a nice patio to dine outside.
(4)
Cheyenne D.

I really wasn't impressed with Za Za's. While their goat cheese appetizer was excellent, my shrimp pasta was incredibly fishy. They're truffle tortellini lacks all flavor aside from the truffle oil which over powers the dish.
(2)
Lochin S.

only been once. Service was great, and I had salmon. I am telling you, this was the most perfectly done salmon I have ever had. with the most amazing garlicy spinach ever. I will review again when I have more expericen here. but keep it up, so good!!!
(5)
Adam B.

The first time I went to ZaZa's must have been around 2002. As I recall, my experience was not enjoyable. I did not return till maybe 2006 and enjoyed it a little more. Three years later, I enjoyed it again. Well, in 2011, my experience went over the top! After being seated, we were promptly served bread with the cold red marinara. The waiter, Paul, who was mentioned in another review (he is indeed excellent), asked if we wanted olive oil and grated Parmesan as well. We did, and I can testify, this was fresh cheese! During the specials recital, he mentioned the sausage ZaZa's. Homemade sliced Italian sausage with topped with artichoke hearts, wild mushrooms, diced tomatoes and spinach in a balsamic wine sauce with a sprinkling of Romano. It sounds weird at first glance, but the combination of the flavors worked perfectly. I don't say this kind of thing easily, but this is easily one of the top 3 appetizers I have ever eaten. For our entrees, Mom got a whitefish sauteed with baby capers and shallots in a lemon butter sauce with a side of fire roasted spinach. I got a taste of the spinach and I have to say I have never tasted spinach so flavorful and pleasant. It didn't taste salty or garlicky, it tasted like spinach done correctly. I had a shrimp scampi with artichokes, mushrooms, and tomatoes. There were 7 or 8 enormous shrimp on top, always a good sign. The linguine tasted very fresh too and the veggies made this far better than a typical scampi. The sauce was a little more buttery than I like and I think some red pepper would have added a nice touch of spice. Dessert. Two words. Carrot cake. It is made of 6 layers of cake and frosting. While most carrot cakes use a cream cheese frosting, this one tastes looser and richer, it's more like a cinnamon roll icing. And the cake is not too rich, just very moist and full of carrot flavor. Plus, it has chopped pecans on the outside. I have a huge appetite, but it would take some doing for one person to finish a slice of this cake off. Tremendous evening between the food and service.
(5)
Jenni Rowe B.

Amazing dinner! Th baked goat cheese starter was perfectly delicious and the Whitefish was too good for words. Great service! Can't wait to come back!
(5)
Anne P.

Went here for a girl's night. The food was okay and the ambiance was just eh... First of all - and maybe it was just where we were seated - it seemed a bit small. We had a table for four right next to a staircase that went to - I assume - the basement or something. I also felt like I could hear every conversation going on around me because we were all basically sitting on top of each other. As for food - as I said before, it was okay. My friend had the fresh artichoke and was none too happy that the sharp tips were still on. Yuck. I'll certainly give it a chance again... Stay tuned for another review sometime soon. :)
(3)
Gino D.

Great dinner at ZaZa's. Had the swordfish special and it was great! Service was good. Nice outdoor patio. Overall I would recommend,
(4)
Doug H.

I am in St. Charles for business and have never been here before. The staff warmly greeted my foursome and seated us without a reservation. They were attentive but not overbearing. The food was great. I had a caprese salad and sausage over pasta for my entree. And two Peroni beers throughout. The whole experience was delightful. Highly recommend.
(4)
Ben S.

Service was excellent,came in with party of four at 7pm on Saturday and only about 15-20 min wait. Large portion size,menu is not too extensive,but sampled four other entree's and all four were well done. Great product for the price, better than Francesca's for the price. I will definitely be visiting them again when I have the itch for Italian.
(4)
Aaron H.

Good food , great wine and exceptional service.
(4)
Eric S.

The service and food were wonderful. Overall we had a great time and enjoyed it. A plea for the owner/management ... Get rid of the corner table near the men's room. It's a shame anyone should have to sit there and endure a direct view of the men's room door opening and closing. You can literally see the sink and urinal while the light from the loo cascades across your table. This is not right! We felt terrible for the couple that got stuck there on a busy Friday night.
(4)
Brian L.

It's been about 10 years since I've eaten here. What a shame that I've waited so long to come back. We actually ended up here by accident as we were supposed to go to another restaurant but they were slammed and unavailable. The Bruschetta Romano is phenominal. Regular bruschetta but with huge dollops of ricotta cheese on them. Damn, that was good stuff. Although we didn't ask for a kids menu, they have some individual pizza's available and so our little guy had a cheese and sausage and he was very pleased and ate quite a bit of it. Two of our group had the cheese tortellini in the cream sauce (somewhat like an alfredo), one had rigatoni in a red sauce with a huge drop of goat cheese in the middle and I had the special Risotto for the evening which had a tomato cream sauce, sausage and peas. Unfortunately the waiter didn't mention it had mushrooms in it and so I had to send it back and get it re-made, which they did really fast and without any complaints. The bread isn't anything special (typical Italian loaf) but all of our food was hot and very good. Glad we stopped in and next time it won't be our second choice.
(4)
Abby A.

I recently moved to the area and Za Za's was recommended to us. We went on my Birthday in January. The hostess was rude the waitress was rude...and the food was terrible! After discussing this with friends today at lunch they felt the same way after a recent visit. And, they encouraged me to post this review. Dine Elsewhere! They don't care..they mentioned multiple times to us we have so many reservations....take your business elsewhere!
(1)
Jon F.

Been here many times. Always great food great service. You can't go wrong here.
(5)
pbarp M.

A favorite Italian place. We frequently come here, by ourselves or bringing friends with us. My favorite appetizer is the Mussels in Spicy Tomato sauce. I often order fish, salmon or pesce bianco. The pastas are also good, had the tri-colored rolled pasta a couple of times. Cozy intimate ambience in the front room with the windows. Service consistently good.
(4)
Steve S.

We stopped by one night when traveling for business. It is right down town by the river. Nice romantic atmosphere and a good wine list. Food was Italian and very good. Try the Chocolate ganache cake for desert.
(4)
Michael H.

I've had multiple good experiences here. The food is consistently good. The portions are huge (you can split a pasta or entree and still have leftovers). The wait staff is very nice.
(4)
Kristi P.

This place was amazing. Good food, interesting menu. I had Carppacio for the first time here. It was fantastic. Fresh, seasoned perfectly, and a good price. The atmosphere was nice and I enjoyed the high end Olive Oil and bread they gave me when I sat down. Service was great and the chocolate cake I had for desert was the perfect touch. my only regret was that I couldn't come back as it was the last day of my trip.
(5)
Bar C.

This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The food is consistently good as is the service. The prices are reasonable for the quality and ambience. I highly reccomend it.
(5)
Erin C.

Ate here on a Saturday night with my husband. He had made the reservation a few days ahead of time and requested that we either sit outside or have a window seat. It was sort of chilly that night so we chose not to sit outiside, but we did have a window seat. Service was good for most of the night. Fresh, warm bread was brought to our table and glasses of water right away. Server was very polite, and our water glasses were always re-filled promptly. Our food came pretty quickly, which was surprising because they seemed pretty busy. Someone who was probably the manager or owner came by after we got our food to make sure everything was good and server checked on us now and then. I'm not giving 5 stars because after our left overs were packaged and we gave the server our credit card, he didn't come back for probably over 10 minutes. At this point everything had been extremely prompt, but we were kept waiting to get our CC back. I'm not one to sit around and linger after the food is gone, so I just wanted to get our CC back and leave. The food was good. The bread basekt was a little boring and was served with cold marinara sauce for dipping, which I'm not a fan of, I'd rather have oil or butter. I can't remember the name of our entrees, but mine was chicken breasts smothered in prosciuto and mozerella and a creamy tomato sauce; my husband's was a dish with pasta and sausage. We both loved our meals. I had a glass of moscato that was excellent. The decor was nice. No complaints about the decor or ambiance. We will return in the future.
(4)
Riley C.

So good, so good. No complaints whatsoever. My favorite italian restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. Great for dates but works for families as well for a nice night out in downtown St. Charles. I came here with my dad a couple of weeks ago and we ordered two side salads, muscles, and split their pasta with meat sauce. I couldnt stop eating the bread and I practically drank the sauce the muscles were in.
(5)
Mark M.

Ok...this place is outstanding! If you like fresh fish, try the white fish. Its the best I've ever had. Great service, fun location, and delicious food. Do yourself a favor and visit this place for dinner.
(5)
Ingrid A.

On 12/24/2012 my husband and I had reservations for a QUIET TABLE because we were bringing an elderly couple, in their 80's, along with us. I made the reservations 2 weeks in advance of 12/24. Upon arrival we were seated in front of the bar!!!!! My husband got up and asked to be moved to a quieter location so that we could talk over dinner. We were told by management that other quieter tables had been RESERVED for their customers. We did not quite understand this because we HAD made reservations 2 weeks in advance!!!! The management finally moved us to a table in front of the kitchen! We were taking our friends out for a nice Christmas dinner and the service was terrible, the food...NOT GREAT....and I will NOT return. The LACK of customer service helped me with this decision! Not being from St. Charles, I relied of the reviews to select this restaurant. I definitely was not of the same opinion as those who gave this restaurant high marks!
(1)
Jessica A.

Authentic and delicious Italian. Always delicious. Not somewhere I'd frequent though.. but it's a great place for a date or to celebrate those little successes in life :)
(4)
Liz L.

The food is really good hands down really yum and they are always able to make what your dietary needs may be. The place is really smallish and as long as you are NOT seated next to someone who speaks really loudly or the small child who literally came up by our table and stared at us for 10 minutes it is OK. The waitress on the other hand (I have been to this place twice with clients) is really loud and sort of pushy and I always felt like she is in a rush....or put her out, I had the same waitress the last time...Do you know the type? Friendly but not friendly??? The menu is kind of smallish so don't expect a lot of variety but everything is fresh...basil, ricotta yum. Now finding the front door...it is in the back-do not try the door on Rt. 64 or 1st street it is the back....Or you can just look foolish like I did and keep on trying all the doors until you find the right one :)
(3)
Tom R.

Try the whitefish! Saw Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys there this summer. He had the whitefish too!
(4)
Shawn K.

Loved, Loved, Loved the olf building and real brickwork as the decor. Very quite and very cute retsaurant to eat in. Okay so the food. Started off with some fresh bread which was very good. Went with a calamari appitizer which didn't taste fresh. Calamari was very bland and it just didn't wow me. The dinner was okay again not very impressed. The service staff was very eductaed and I thought very professional. Visited the table at regular intervals. The carrot cake dessert was diffently the best aprt of the dinner. MMM should the dessert be better than your meal I think not. However I must say they did have awesome Martini's.... I would return just for the Martini's....
(3)
D N.

Another great meal out of perhaps, ten in the last two years. Wondered on the car on the way home if we had ever done a Yelp review. On a pouring rainy December night, it was well worth the trip to get to ZaZa's. Beginning with appetizers (Carpaccio Heaven!!!) to Veal medallions and whitefish with white wine sauce and capers. Absolutely perfect . We have never been disappointed with service or food at ZaZa's. Made sure we made a Christmas Eve reservation for the family before we left. Love ZaZa's!
(5)
Tom S.

I have eaten here many times over the last couple of years and the food is consistantly good. I placed a large catering order here for the first time and they did a great job. Picked up hot and ready to serve on a Saturday night when they were very busy, they had it ready to go and everything was piping hot and tasted fantastic!
(5)
Jim S.

It was a beautiful day in St. Charles on 8/5/12 so the 4 of us ate outside. Truly was a great experience. Three had the white fish and the other chicken breasts with polenta and a light cream sauce. All came with the sautÃ©ed spinach which was like none any of us have had in the past. We started with great hot bread, olive oil, and freshly grated cheese. Also had balsamic vinegar available to mix with the olive oil. The service was superb with the server actually aware of how the different entrees tasted.
(5)
Eric r.

No free refills, but large portions and great prices
(4)
Kelly T.

We had a really nice dining experience here. Made reservations in advance for a Saturday night on our anniversary and requested a special table. They delivered and put us in a nifty little spot in the corner with a lovely view of the downtown bridge/river/buildings. Our server was very good- friendly and efficient. Our meals were very tasty for the most part. We started with an excellent wine and FANTASTIC fried calamari. I was shocked at the delicious, crispy texture and the coating was so simple yet flavorful. Our meals were quite good- the filet for me and my husband ordered the veal. The one item that was very "off" was the side dish for his veal which was basically potato wedges... the texture was not good (not crispy, not tender, just kind of dry) and the flavor was bland. We finished with a dessert of cannoli- very tasty!! The bill was quite reasonable and our overall experience was very good. The place was PACKED and a bit loud out in the middle of the restaurant, but we enjoyed our cozy spot!
(4)
Marc O.

We love Zsa Zsa's! Pretty simple. Unlike the very nearby Isabella's, the menu is fairly consistent at Zsa Zsa's. Your classic Italian dishes done correctly. Service has always been impeccable. Wine list is not overwhelming but there is something for everyone. We always start with the grilled calamari. Next time I'll probably have it as an entree as well-it's that good. Haven't had desert so I can't comment. I will say that with the remodeling they're doing (adding tables), it's only going to get better. The one minor downfall was the seating when you get put in the "wedge". Hopefully that is a thing of the past. Can't wait to get back.
(5)
Geri Y.

We hadn't dined here in years and last night's meal made us sorry we had not returned sooner. Seated in the newer area with the upstairs bar, we enjoyed the liveliness of the crowd at 5:30 on a Friday. Our server was personable and took our drink order immediately. The stuffed artichoke app was as delicious as we remembered, and we were glad to have some great bread for mopping up the garlicky butter sauce left in the plate. Our entrees were the special cheese-filled gnocchhi in vodka cream sauce and the home-made sausage (with provolone and peppers) and pasta with sweet and hot peppers. Both were yummy and there was enough to take home for another meal. We picked the Ruffino chianti that was the least expensive red wine and it was perfectly fine with our meal. We will not let as much time pass before we return.
(4)
Emma M.

Over-priced for the quality and quantity. Poor service, even at a slow time. Noticed other tables getting attended to more frequently. Will not be going back.
(2)
Deanna R.

We love this place! Great food, great Creme Brulee and almost too big of portions, easy to share!Good service, too. Also try the Addison location.
(5)
Mary B.

Expensive pasta.Server forgot about our salads. We spent over $100 and were rushed out on a Wednesday night.
(2)
Keegan L.

Great date place right on the Fox and downtown Saint Charles. It's a bit tightly packed and often quite busy on weekend nights. But the food and service makes the whole experience quite enjoyable.
(5)
Amanda K.

I went here to celebrate my husband's birthday. I called in advance to make reservations and at the time asked the hostess if they could do a surprise birthday dessert. She agreed and said that she would write a note down for the waiter. When I called, I said that I have had experiences in the past where they ignore the request or mess up so I want to be certain that the birthday cake is really delivered. She said absolutely that she would make sure of it. Several hours later just before leaving for the restaurant which is about 15 minutes away from where I live I called back and the same hostess answered. I told her I'm sorry to be paranoid but I really want to make sure that the birthday surprise is delivered so I just wanted to check again to make sure that it wasn't forgotten. Yet again she assured me, 10 minutes before I was due to arrive, that it would be delivered. Well take a wild guess!!! We had a mediocre dinner and surprise surprise no birthday dessert. When I got to the front desk I asked to speak to a manager. They ignored me and the same idiot hostess came to me and giggled and said "oops". I'm not only offended at her idiocy but at her blasÃ© attitude as if the customer request didn't matter. She just kept giggling like a freaking idiot. I am glad at least that my husband is in his early 40s and that it wasn't an 80th birthday surprise. It would really suck if this was supposed to be a surprise for an elderly person and they never received it and it was their last birthday. ZaZas did nothing whatsoever to mitigate (not even an apology!! just a complete BIMBO saying oops and giggling) and were extremely rude and non-customer focused when I asked how hard it was to remember something that I talked to her three times about! How many hostesses does it take to change a lightbulb??
(1)
Amy T.

Great atmosphere, service & food! I ordered one of the specials for the evening & the portion was huge! Excellent desserts as well!! A must try!
(5)
Steve G.

still a good bet for Italian in St. Charles. They're suffering through the 1st Street renovations, but they've added a dining room and still packing 'em in -- even on a Wednesday! Had the calamari tonight -- buttery tender, deliciously fresh! The Conchiglia was okay, my wife's roast chicken was gi-normous!
(4)
Myla P.

I was brought here by a St. Charles local while traveling on business. I am sure that if I was alone, I never would have known this restaurant was there. It's tiny and tucked away in a little corner. The atmosphere is very intimate. We started with bruschetta, which was great and I had the Italian sausage and peppers, served with a side of spaghetti. For dessert I went with tiramisu. Tiramisu is my gauge for a great Italian restaurant, and this one did not disappoint. Great little Italian place!
(4)
D G.

Very good Italian. Wide selection on menu. Good service. Prompt and friendly.
(4)
Selina K.

I have been here many times. I have never been disappointed, it maybe pricey but it is well worth it. What is really kind of funny is my favorite thing here is to get the dinner salad with my dinner. The house vinaigrette is so delicious, I literally will go here just to have the salad with it. I get cravings for that salad dressing. It is just perfectly made with the right amount of everything.
(4)
Crash C.

I decided to try this place out for my birthday. Usually I choose a high-end steak joint (Gibson's, Morton's, etc) for my birthday dinner but decided to try something different. Had reservations on a Saturday night at 7. Arrived and got seated promptly since the place was not that busy. My wife told them this was for a birthday dinner and requested a nice table with a view when she made the reservation. We got seated in the noisy bar with no view. STRIKE ONE! Sat at the table for about 15 minutes before ANYONE came to our table. It was at that point I realized that our waitress was THE BARTENDER. STRIKE TWO! The one and ONLY bartender I might add. A sinking feeling started to set in. Had to ask a busboy for bread which he brought with some red sauce. Nothing to really report other than it was bread with sour red sauce. I had to keep trying to make eye contact with the bartender to try and get her out from behind the bar to come and WAIT OUR TABLE. It was like pulling teeth. By this time the place was getting full. Finally got some drinks and ordered apps. Bruschetta Romano was tasteless. Consisted of toasted bread with chopped tomatoes and basil with ricotta. No olive oil, no balsamic, not seasoned AT ALL. STRIKE THREE! Fried calamari was cooked very well and was tender. As I was trying to get the bartender's/waitress' attention I overheard another waitress telling a table a couple tables down about that night's specials. Once our waitress came over all she said was "can i take your order". NO MENTION OF SPECIALS! When I asked if there were specials she started rattling them off as if she was totally perturbed to do so. Our entrees were pasta with artichoke hearts with tomato basil marinara (seemed to be the same stuff brought with the bread), rigatoni with shrimp in a vodka tomato sauce and a steak special (only steak available and the waitress kept wavering between describing it as a bone in ribeye or ny strip). Two in my party had the pasta with artichoke hearts and tomato basil marinara and neither ate more than a few bites. Tasted it myself and had to agree with them. It was very sour and really had no other distinguishable flavors. STRIKE FOUR! Rigatoni with shrimp in a vodka tomato sauce was mediocre. I've had better vodka sauce at some fast food type places. Very bland and flavorless. STRIKE FIVE! The person who ordered the steak special did like it and said it was flavorful even though it wasn't cooked as ordered. We then sat there for 30 minutes+ with food and dirty dishes sitting on our table. STRIKE SIX! I had to stop a busboy AGAIN just to get some water refills. The waitress finally did come back and cleared the table but did not once ask if we would like dessert or coffee, NOTHING! STRIKE SEVEN! I looked at the waitress and asked her to bring the check which she whipped out IMMEDIATELY! So somehow she knew we weren't going to be interested in dessert or coffee?? Strange. On the way out I noticed a gentleman with a tie on placing orders into a computer. I quietly asked him if he was the manager/owner, he said "yes". I then told him that it was the first time trying his restaurant for my birthday and that I thought having the bartender be our waitress just didn't work. His response was "thanks" then proceeded back to entering orders into the computer ignoring my existence. STRIKE OUT!!!!!!! All in all I can't recommend. Terrible service, tastless ill-prepared food and a manager/owner with a, I could care less, attitude. You can find much better Italian food with better service at just about any other place. Won't be going back, EVER.
(2)
Meghan L.

when i was a kid, this is where we went whenever we wanted to go to a "nice restaurant." upon my recent return, i can confidently concur with my childhood self that this is indeed a "nice restaurant." the servers seated us right away. everyone was warm and helpful without being pushy. the menu is your standard "nice italian restaurant" set of offerings. we split some eggplant pasta with a spicy red peppery sauce and fresh mozzarella. it was very well-seasoned, actually spicy, and there was lots of it; even after splitting with my husband, we had leftovers for lunch. the real draw to this restaurant is the lovely fox river view from the patio (now unobstructed by the bulldozed manor diner, my former high school hangout, le sigh.)
(4)
Al M.

We had a nice table by the window. The food was excellent. The service was very attentive. We only had appetizers and a great bottle of wine, the preparations we very good, and the food was hot. The service was excellent. They get it!
(4)
Charlie H.

we were treated by our two best friends to a wonderful evening out. Za Za's was our first stop. We had reservations so we were seated right as we walked in. staff was fantastic our seats were by the front window overlooking the river, real nice..we were allowed to order items not on the menu (steak house with no steak on the menu???) I ordered linguinni with white clam sauce..what i got was linguinni in red sauce with calamari and sausage...
(2)
Bill S.

Yum! Good service, excellent food, pretty good wine list at a reasonable price. I'd go there again.
(4)
A.J. M.

Amazing baked clams and pasta! Waiter was a little out there! The food made up for that! Awesome Italian Restaurant! You need to get there!!!!!
(5)
Craig R.

Got a recommendation to try this place and it lived up to the hype. The food was great - scallop appetizer was awesome! Eggplant parm appetizer was excellent. I had the whitefish - this is one of their specialties. It was excellent. Girlfriend had the salmon which was cooked perfectly. Our server was great - overall an excellent dining experience!
(5)
Bill D.

Pizza was a real disappointment and the server was slow and preoccupied with visiting her friends
(2)
Norma R.

We went to ZaZa's to celebrate 3 birthdays in our family on the month of January, the 21 to be exact. Anyway we were a party of 8 with 6:30 reservations they first they said everyone had to be there for us to get our table, my son coming from plainfield and the traffic on 59 was late. 6 of us were there on time by 7pm we asked to be seated again and the refused because everyone was not there 7:15 the rest arrive then they tell us our table was nit yet ready, 7:30 we are still waiting, by 8 we go speak to the guy tablet him know how long we had been waiting he said well you guys were late you can take that tale that is downstairs by the bar or wait another 10 min. Well if you have been to this rest. No one wants that table. So we told him ok we will wait the 10 min. Then he said well it could be longer, my son told him you just said 10 min, now you are saying longer... The guy had a very bad attitude started yelling you can either take it or leave it you were late on and on we asked to speak to the manager and he said I am the manager Wow!!! We were shocked that he old treat customers in such a way then he said you can wit or go somewhere else... Well we never got to taste there food but he left a very bitter taste in our mouths. We left and went to the Mexican restaurant down the street Puentes which was very good and the set ice was excellent! They are getting 1star only because I have to put something in to post this review.
(1)
Liz F.

I have been here many times and will continue to come back again and again. The service is great, very friendly and knowledgeable. If you have questions or restrictions they are really good about letting you know how things are prepared, and what is in everything. The ambiance is nice whether you are there for date night or for a large party (we went for my bday and had 18 people and still got excellent service). The wine list isn't huge but they have a little something for everyone. They also have great martinis. The bar has a nice set-up and they do have two tvs for sports fans. Everything is consistently great, I have never had a bad meal here. The portions are a good size, and pricing really varies by entrÃ©e. They have delicious inexpensive pizzas, a wide variety of pastas and good steaks. Their fish entrÃ©es are always excellent. The whitefish is one of their specialties and for a good reason. The fish is flaky and tender, but not too fishy or butter-y.The spinach is flavorful and perfectly cooked. Their filet's seem bit expensive but you get two large medallions, always perfectly cooked and large side. Having sampled just about every dessert it makes it hard to choose because they are all excellent. The lemon sorbet comes plated in a really inventive way, the mini canoli's are crunchy and creamy. One of the reasons it is so great, is because it's consistently great. We've gone for lunch, for dinner, during the week or on a packed Friday night and it's always great.
(5)
Frank G.

Great little Italian place. I had the riggatoni with shrimp. The pasta was cooked perfectly. It had tge right ammount of sauce and shrimp. I will definatley be going back. The menu is small, but it all looks really amazing!
(4)
Valda L.

We appreciated getting an outside table that would accommodate my hearing deficit. Also the bartender who served us while we were waiting was lovely. Things went downhill after that. The waiter seemed like he'd rather be doing anything else but wait on us. When we asked for specials he said "everything's special" and then unenthusiastically read the specials. And then most of the food was disappointing. The pasta dishes were gigantic and dumped onto the plates as though we were at the spaghetti Factory. The pasta, unadorned by the grated cheese that other waiters were offering to patrons but our waiter neglected, was stodgy and mediocre and thus over-priced. The Caesar salad had brown lettuce, tomatoes, and a boring dressing. Our companion did enjoy the Whitefish. The desserts and coffee were good. But we won't be returning.
(2)
Amanda T.

So far so good! I am having my rehearsal dinner at this location for my wedding and so far have had wonderful service! I havent had the event yet, but the customer service has been terrific. Not to mention the food is wonderful! I have been working with Tony - and he really sets the bar! Very friendly! A small, boutique restaurant.
(5)
Yvonne M.

Went here last weekend. We called ahead and when we got there, the table was ready! The restaurant looks great and the overall atmosphere is wonderful. Excellent service!! The food was excellent as well! Overall, we enjoyed our dining experience and the food. I would definitely come back!
(4)
Julie H.

This place had really good italian food. They serve generous portions and you'll definitely have leftovers at least when you are getting pasta.they serve bread cheese and oil along with this marinara sauce before dinner which is really nice but make sure you leave room for dinner! We also got a bottle of pinot grigio, the $28 one and it was really good. It was fruity and went down smoothly. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars was because towards the end of the night the waitress went bi polar and started being a b. We had told her at the very beginning of our order to make two separate bills since we were two couples and she said absolutely...and she forgot to at the end of dinner. So when we got the bill I nicely asked her to split it and she told me that she would bring me a calculator rudely...its not that hard to split a bill for a two couple table... I told her nah can you just split it. Side grabbed the bill out of my hand and stomped away....at least the food was good...
(4)
Burbalicious X.

Update 7/9/09: Zaza's has expanded their restaurant, and it is so much easier to get a table now (plus no more smoky bar!). The food is still five stars, and we have had really good service on our recent visits. Just took my dad there last night and he said it was his favorite new Italian joint in "Chicago" ('rents were visiting from Texas). That's a big compliment! The food is five stars; the atmosphere is three. Went there on a Saturday night at 7:00, and did "call ahead" seating (they don't take reservations for small parties). Still had to wait over forty minutes for a table. That's fine, but the only option for waiting was in the hot, cramped, SMOKY basement bar area. That bar was in need of some serious ventilation. The food was worth the wait, though. I had a delicious chicken and spinach dish in a creamy sauce w/a side of linguine; mom had whitefish which she raved about; boyfriend loved the ravioli. Next time, we might just do carry out instead. Or come on a weeknight!
(5)
Nermin D.

Went there with my family, knowing that I will have limited choices for food due to my Gluten intolerance. However I was surprised to discover that they were able to modify half of the entries on the menu and make them gluten free. I have had some salmon, with portabela mushrooms, red bell peepers, and spinach on the side. I must say that was the best Salmon I had in my life. And spinach - absolutely out of this world. My wife ordered steak. Afterwards she could not stop talking about how that was by far best steak she has ever had. Even their appetizers were great. I have had some prosciutto with cheese, and avocado - again awesome. My largest surprise was mussels in spicy marinara sauce. Generally I really do hate dishes with mussels. Not this one. I could not have enough of it. Kids loved their calamari (which I could not eat due to wheat flour), as well as pizza. All in all, if you are in St. Charles I definitely recommend that you check this place out.
(5)
dan v.

do not go to this restaurant. rude, crowded, noisey, bad, over-priced food and reservations not honored. sugo restaurant in st. charles is a much better choice.
(1)

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Address : 5 S 1st St
Saint Charles, IL, 60174
Phone (630) 443-9304
Website https://www.zazasitaliansteakhouse.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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ZaZa’s Trattoria

5 S 1st St, Saint Charles, IL, 60174

ZaZa’s Trattoria Menu

Antipasti

Insalate

Entrees

Steaks & Chops

Pasta

Pizza

Sides

Healthy Meal suggestions for ZaZa’s Trattoria

Antipasti

Insalate

Entrees

Steaks & Chops

Pasta

Pizza

Sides

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