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Name: Zia’s Restaurant
Address: 5256 Wilson Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63110
Telephone: (314) 776-0020
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.82

Zia’s Restaurant

5256 Wilson Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63110

(314) 776-0020
Store is closed

Zia’s Restaurant Menu

Apertivo

Toasted Ravioli

Toasted Seafood Ravioli

Pomodori Fritti

Parmigiana Di Melanzane

Calamari Fritti

Calamari Piccate

Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms

Steak Fries

Garlic Cheese Bread

Crostini Gamberetti

Carciofi Fritti

Mozzarella Fritti
Insalata

Zias

Deluxe

Dinner Salad

Sicilian Tomato Salad
Bistecca

Mudega

Soto

Marsala

Mignon Pancetta

Gamberetti
Pollo

Picante

Antonio

Soto

Parmigiana

Saltimbocca

Marsala

Alla Zia

Chicken Spiedini - Pollo Alla Spiedini

Chicken Spiedini - Spiedini Proscuitto
Pesce

Baked Orange Roughy

Cod Bianc

Pesce Maria

Pesce Asparagi

Deep Fried Icelandic Cod
Pasta

Capellini Angelico

Capellini Carciofi

Pasta Con Pesce

Linguine And Clams

Penne Alla Zia

Cavatelli Broccoli

Tutto Mare

Mostaccioli Al Forno

Pomodoro

Pasta Con Broccoli

Carbonara

Fettuccini Alfredo

Tortellini Piselli

Canneloni

Seafood Ravioli

Ravioli

Mostaccioli Or Spaghetti

Portabella Asparagi

Baked Pasta
Imbottio

Steak Sandwich

Steak Sandwich On Garlic Cheese Bread

Boneless Breast Of Chicken

Chicken Parmigiana

Meatball

Fish Sandwich
Vitello

Saltimbocco

Gamberetti

Marsala

Piccata

Carciofi

Parmigiana

Soto
Desserts

Tiramisu

Cannoli An Italian Tradition

Healthy Meal suggestions for Zia’s Restaurant

Apertivo

Toasted Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toasted Seafood Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

Steak Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Crostini Gamberetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chicken Spiedini - Pollo Alla Spiedini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Spiedini - Spiedini Proscuitto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pesce

Baked Orange Roughy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cod Bianc [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Deep Fried Icelandic Cod [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

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

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

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

Linguine And Clams [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Tutto Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Fettuccini Alfredo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Seafood Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Mostaccioli Or Spaghetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Steak Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Sandwich On Garlic Cheese Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boneless Breast Of Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Fish Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vitello

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

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

Cannoli An Italian Tradition [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.

Church’s Chicken ( 805 N Kingshighway Blvd )

Church’s Chicken ( 10646 New Halls Ferry Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.

Church’s Chicken ( 805 N Kingshighway Blvd )

Church’s Chicken ( 10646 New Halls Ferry Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Mindy M.

Disappointing lunch. Salad was cold and fresh, but that was the only positive thing. We didn't care for the dÃ©cor - nothing seemed to even flow together. Service was ok, but my huge disappointment was the chicken marsala. I expected a wonderful wine sauce, but instead was served something like chicken and mushrooms in a tomato soup. The chicken was good, but I couldn't get past the icky sauce. Nothing like a marsala sauce that I've ever prepared or had out. My husband's dish was a special with very little flavor. Not an awful experience, but we won't be heading back.
(2)
Amy A.

Great food, lousy restaurant with lousy service. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 5:00pm. We waited for over an hour for a table in the cramped bar area, only to be seated at a terrible table right in a busy aisle. There are very few good tables in the restaurant and it's so loud that you cannot carry on a conversation. The food was good, but the service was terrible. We will get our order "to go" from now on.
(2)
Jay M.

Perhaps this is the best way I can put it: If you've been to the North End in Boston or any other place that is renowned for it's Italian food you're going to be disappointed here. With all due respect everything about the place is mediocre: - the food is bland and boring from the bread, to the salad, to the meal. The only exception is the sauce ... which has a weird sweet taste to it. - the waiters balance between being polite yet giving off an "I don't really want to be here" attitude. - the staff is somewhat well dressed except for the busers who are oddly in t-shirts. - the atmosphere is alright but the old floor makes the place feel dirty. I almost feel guilty about this review because there's nothing really wrong with Zia's other than it's just overpriced for the quality you're getting. This is at least the third time I've been to Zia's and personally I need some sort of reminder that I don't need to go again. Judge for yourself though.
(2)
Edward M.

Enjoyed a great meal there tonight. The place was packed and yet we got in without a reservation in about 10 minutes. I had the Capallini Angelico and it was delicious and plentiful. I took the suggestion to add the Pino Gregio and am glad I did. We dined as a family and the 6-year old enjoyed his pasta and butter along with the bread. If I have a quibble, the salad and dressing were terrific, but they drowned it with cheese. Just too much cheese and it drowned the other flavors and crispness of the salad. Still, it was quite good.
(4)
Jennifer E.

My husband brought me here a while back. I still dream about the tiramisu! I had the spaghetti with meatballs. The meatball was huge!! I loved it! I always say that I judge an Italian restaurant by their most simplest dish. Perfect!
(5)
Julie D.

This is what I put up with. "Julie, Julie, we have to eat on the hill. Really great Italian food there. Julie, we have to eat on the hill". BJ is obviously much easier to excite then me. But of course, the first place we eat in St. Louis is on the hill. When we checked in to our hotel, Zia's was highly recommended. So, BJ wins. Truly off the beaten path, Zia's in on an old family neighbor hood. We parked in front of someones house. The restaurant didn't look busy. From the outside, but inside, the place was buzzing. Service was satisfactory. The food is the star here. BJ was all about trying the toasted ravioli. Never had it in all his life. And the appetizer here was amazing. So was the marinara dipping sauce. According to the menu, it's a St. Louis original. Next came the bread. Big as your head and very tasty. Next, we shared a salad. Romaine and iceberg lettuce, diced red peppers, Italian cheese and parmigiana served with house dressing. So good! For our meals, BJ got the Tutto Mare, linguine with garlic cream sauce with shrimp, sea legs, clams and mushrooms. He loved it. I got the Penne Alla Zia. It was penne tossed in olive oil, butter, garlic and shrimp, sun dried tomatoes and green onions. So flavorful and delicious. Both of these dishes had one thing in common, the portions were huge.
(5)
Sarah B.

Went to the Hill this past Saturday afternoon for the first time since moving to STL last fall. I was referred by a local native friend to Zia's. We went for an early dinner as I had read that there tends to be a wait. This restaurant was everything I had hoped it would be! The best real Italian food I've had since living in Italy. We ordered toasted ravioli as an appetizer, it was delicious! For our (4) meals we had 2 pasta dishes, veal parmesan & chicken parmesan. My pasta dish was their special, it had very tasty shrimp and was absolutely amazing. Besides my dish, I thought the veal was the best. We ordered a bottle of Chianti that was outstanding, and we were all very impressed with their house salad that came with our meals. And last but certainly not least, their OIL!!! If there is one thing I miss about not living in Italy anymore (besides the fresh pasta), it is the delicious olive oil. Zia's olive oil for bread-dipping was to die for, and their bread was an amazingly hot & fresh compliment. Our server was great, very attentive and nice. I plan on going back very soon, and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an Italian meal on the Hill.
(5)
Teena C.

Repeat customer here. My husband and I live several hours from St. Louis and always stop at Zia's when we're in town. The service is excellent and the food is fantastic. This trip we started with dinner salads and garlic cheese bread. The salads were crisp and fresh and huge. The garlic cheese bread was hot and delicious. I had the baked orange roughy with a lemon butter sauce and the fish was cooked perfectly. My husband had a steak wrapped in pancetta and it was exactly medium as he requested. We each had the white pasta on the side, which, frankly, is good enough to eat as your whole meal. I highly recommend Zia's.
(5)
Chris Z.

Here's the thing about many of the Italian favorites on the hill. The food is good... but the service is somewhat pointed & in your face... like at a diner. I don't know why this is. I started noticing this when one of my favorites Cunetto's down the street turned me off with less than stellar service. Zia was the same. The service is just rushed. No personality. And some of the other intagibles left a sour taste. Our table was right against a wall where on the other side of the partition I could hear plates banging loudly. I could also hear servers complaining about getting tables 20 minutes before close. And others discussing tips. Not professional. Not welcoming. But the food is good. We got seafood stuffed mushrooms, a deluxe salad, and split an order of pasta. The hot stuff comes out hot... I mean really hot. The mushrooms and pasta had to sit for a good 5 minutes before attempting to eat them. I liked this... but beware if you're coming hungry. You'll hurt yourself.
(3)
Gregg J.

Great food and casual and fun atmosphere on The Hill. Best calamari I've ever had. Fun place to go before a ball game or theater or for no reason at all.
(5)
Suzanne G.

Went to eat dinner with my son, I was so hungry for some good lasagne, stuffed shells. Since our move here from out of state, a lot of people recommended going to the Hill for Italian food. Upon our arrival we were escorted by the host to the back of the restaurant-very dull, dreary, dark atmosphere. While looking over the menu, no lasagne or stuffed shells listed. I asked our waiter whereupon he stated they only make the lasagne on Fridays. O.k. so I asked about stuffed shells and he looked at me like I was crazy and said what is that. When I explained to him what stuffed shells were, he recommended a dish of a long noodle stuffed with a pork meat. When I asked if it is topped with a mozzarella cheese, again he looked at me like I was out of my mind and stated we don't have that, we top it with provel cheese. And this is an Italian restaurant? Apparently, as an Italian restaurant, they do not have mozzarella cheese, just provel. I have read the reviews about this being a great restaurant, I can't understand as our food was very bland, no flavor, the toasted ravioli was hard as a rock, difficult to chew and I don't understand St. Louis's fascination with provel cheese - personally I find it to be like plastic white american cheese.
(1)
Pat S.

Fantastic food is my first thought!! Mushroom asparagus raviole and a chicken/cheese fusille. Great atmosphere (a bit to much noise for me). The bus boys were trying very hard to clear tables, fill waters and make people happy. The waiters and waitresses were taking orders and bringing food. No one stood around. Parking is an issue but we got super lucky. The building was old and very cool, Not to much of a wait 20 minutes on Saturday night 630 ish. Will do this one again for sure. Even took business cards to pass around back home in Minnesota.
(4)
Walter K.

I think their lunch is cheap. Drink, entree+pasta and salad for $13-$15. Good food. I think it is a bit overrated and definitely features Americanized Italian food. My favorite is the chicken with ham and mushrooms (saltimbocca) I think is what it is called. The salad is the best part in my opinion.
(4)
Laura M.

Delicious food. Great service. Huge amounts of food. Two of our five split a dish and still couldn't finish the food. Of course, we had toasted ravioli appetizer and bread before dinner. Our least favorite part of our meal were the drinks: margarita and piÃ±a colada. The wait for 5 people on a Saturday night (arrived 6:30) was 45 min. Loved the food.
(5)
Miranda G.

Wasn't overly thrilled with anything there.
(3)
Mario P.

This was a cool place , but the veal was bathed in sauce. This was my first visit, possibly my only visit to Zia's. I had read a few reviews on yelp and saw that they were mixed. But, being in St. Louis and going off a few local recommendations, our group decided o go here. The place, when you first walk in feels authentic, but turns out it's not that authentic after all. It helped judge the place, since on of the people in our group is from southern Italy. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and drinks to start. I ordered wines for the table. My problem here was that after our waiter had served those with glasses and even though I was the one approving the selection. He never filled my glass. He'd put the bottle on and walk away(3 times). I ordered the veal and was hoping for more and boy did I get more. But none of it was what I wanted more of. It was absolutely soaked in a wine reduction to the point that my veal needed a Life guard to save it from drowning. I thought it was just mine, but after looking around the table, I was not alone in looking for the Baywatch crew! No one ordered dessert and we all left a bit disappointed , maybe if I move here I'd give it another try, but since I'm usually only stopping or work or vacation, I don't see myself coming back.
(2)
Xueer C.

Went there with the bf on our first date. It was pretty noisy..( we'll, it was on Valentine's day.. So it's acceptable I guess) I had the capellini carciofi.. Didn't like it that much. Their Sweet Riesling was pretty good, though.
(4)
Bill C.

Like the surrounding neighborhood, streets and houses, this place is a bit cramped. If you are claustrophobic, stay away. If you like snug and cozy, this is your place. The food isn't cheap at supper - $19 for a pasta dish with a minimum amount of protein in it (meat). Having said all that, the food was very good. Loved the lemon butter sauce in my tortellini. I'd have given 5 stars if they would've used better mushrooms (I hope they were fresh...) Even with those, it was still very nice. Bread and salads were good, too.
(4)
Paulette A.

Great food on The Hill!! Wonderful toasted ravioli, the sweet vinagrette on the salad was great and perfect on a hot summer day. We had the chicken soto, a special cheese manicotti and some pasta in red sauce. The whole meal was wonderful. The staff were polite, very attentive and helpful in recommending a bakery worth visiting while in the area.
(5)
Shari S.

The food was excellent! Our waiter didn't come around much & forgot my drink but I think that was only bc they were busy. I had the mostaccioli al forno & my boyfriend had the seafood ravioli. Both were excellently prepared & came out hot & fresh. I would definitely recommend this place & I plan on returning again :)
(4)
Erin B.

Love, love, love! Whenever I'm back home in STL, my BFF go to Zia's. The salad is great, the food is great. And I loooove their toasted ravioli! For those of you looking for some good food on The Hill in STL, Zia's should be number one on the list!
(5)
Mariah W.

First of all, parking is horrible. So be prepared to drive around for a while looking for a spot. After we had parked we walked in and they told us it would be about a 10 minutes wait (on a Friday night, mind you). We were thrilled since we figured it would be a much longer wait. In reality, we waited for maybe 30 seconds before they called our name. On to the food. I ordered the Tutto Mare (I have no idea if that's how it's spelled) and it was incredible. Perfectly cooked pasta with amazing seafood. The meal was huge, so I got a doggy bag. The food did not microwave well the next day, but when served fresh it was great. I was shocked at how reasonable the prices were. Everyone talks about Zia's and I was expected quite a pricey dinner, but the prices were very fair. I will certainly be going back!
(5)
Mike M.

The wait is the only thing that draws people away. If you go at rush hour and are expecting a wait, its fine. Big bar room to hang out and have a few drinks while waiting for your table. Customer service was excellent. Food - I had veal parm. Absolutely fantastic, one of the best I have ever had. Calamari was excellent as well. Some buddies had meatballs and pasta as well as a chicken and pasta dish with bacon bits. I had a taste of it all, and I would recommend any of the dishes. I feel like Zia's food is better than the food they actually make in Italy. One suggestion would be to add a few more import beers to the menu. Will def. be going again!
(5)
Jeff G.

THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT ON THE HILL!!!! Everything is awesome. I often get the daily special which usually comes with a Zia's famous salad. You have to try the Pizza Pasta if your have never done so. ITs amazing!
(5)
Courtney B.

Looking for some real Italian food? This is the best. The Hill offers multiple Italian restaurants but Zia's has a great atmosphere, friendly service, and amazing food.
(5)
Robin W.

This place was absolutely fabulous, from the service to the food. The best meal we've had in quite a while. Portions are large, so my daughter & I shared a dish - which was more than enough food. We were initially headed to a different restaurant because of reviews, but it was too crowded. We came here despite some of the reviews. We needn't have worried, everything we tried was delicious!
(5)
Harin G.

My sister-in-law (who lives in Minneapolis) did some research with her coworkers from St Louis and ended up sending me a gift certificate to here for my birthday. I was happy to receive it and went expecting a solid meal. What my husband and I ended experiencing was DELICIOUSNESS! We started with the Seafood Toasted Ravioli which was absolutely sensational and lovely with the lemon butter. The salads and bread were equally as delicious. My husband got the Chicken Parmigiana and he loved it so much, I swear he was drooling as he ate it. I took the server's suggestion and ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca. It was definitely rich but absolutely delicious. We both selected the pasta with red sauce as our side and it was light, simple, and delicious against the complexly rich chicken dishes. We had no room for dessert, it is a serious amount of food and you aren't going to finish it all unless you are a machine. The service was quick, and our service was to the point and just attentive enough as he was insanely busy. So all of that plus two glasses of wine a piece came to $52.00 before the tip. Pretty damn good if you ask me!!
(5)
Kurt C.

This became one of our "go to" places for a great dinner in the Lou. The food has always been fantastic, and the prices are quite reasonable for such find dining. They do keep it a bit dark for a more intimate atmosphere, so be prepared for that. The only bad thing is the parking... good luck finding a good spot on The Hill! You are bound to circle the block a time or two, just try not to drive the wrong way down a cramped, unmarked one way street!
(4)
Keith S.

Zia's did not disappoint. There was a bit of a wait, but well worth it. House Cab was excellent, a very good choice for your dinner wine. Got the seafood toasted ravioli with a side of marinara, it was excellent. Decided to try the Spiedini Prosciutto (chicken), a little change from spaghetti and meatballs. A great choice again, chargrilled with white wine sauce and prosciutto. Even the dinner salad was not only delicious but visually appetizing. Service was fast and efficient - thanks Jeremy. Dessert selections were pretty numerous, the cannoli are homemade. That's a wrap!
(5)
Mallory M.

**Let me preface this by saying I've lived in Italy, so I'm a bit biased.** My hubby and I just moved to St. Louis a few months ago, and I have had a hankering for some fabulous, saucy, savory Italian. That is NOT what I got at Zia's. I ordered the oven-baked pasta, sometimes known as 'combinazione.' I'll say it was decent because it satisfied my hunger, but it did not satisfy my craving for some legit cibo Italiano. Perhaps I'm wrong, but the sauce tasted store-bought...that's not something I expect from an "authentic" restaurant on The Hill. Also, I don't recall from my years in Italy that I was ever served spongy white bread with sesame seeds...what was that?! I'm glad the managerial staff/owners have high standards for their staff, if not their food. I heard two of the servers talking about "Man, so-and-so is such a d*ck. He told me not to come in if I didn't cut my hair!" Thanks for the information, man. Also, props to whoever chose the olive oil/herb blend that sits on the table--delicious! The house Cab was also divine, and not too pricey. All in all...not sure I'll ever be back to Zia's, especially when there is a whole neighborhood of other Italian places surrounding it. Mi dispiace!
(2)
David P.

We ate there April 26th, the place was dirty, bathrooms unkept and the food was terrible . A raw steak was served, yes raw . Chicken alla zia was a small butterflied breast covered in a slimy viscous sauce topped with two tiny broccoli florets and some canned mushrooms. the sauce was nothing more than chef boyardee sweet on their pasta dishes. i honestly dont understand the good ratings; their must be better or are expectations that low on the hill? Other non pasta dishes were equally disgusting. To their credit they comped the steak, but the food was bad enough to never return
(1)
Sara D.

I was in St. Louis for business, and the concierge at my hotel recommended Zia's as his fave Italian restaurant on The Hill. I'm a big fan of taking locals' recommendations when traveling to new cities (and had good luck doing so the previous night), so my coworker and I decided to try it out. When we arrived, the bar was totally packed, and we had a solid 20 minute wait for a table. Considering the crowd, we figured we were in for something outstanding. The toasted ravioli was great and the wine was good, but that's where the tastiness ended. The iceberg lettuce salad was drowned in cheese and dressing, the bread was served without oil or butter and my entree (a chicken special) was super mediocre. My coworker's chicken parm was equally underwhelming. When all was said and done, I'm really didn't understand what all of the fuss was about.
(2)
Claire R.

I have been going to Zia's for years and it is still my favorite restaurant on the Hill. My favorite thing to eat there is their appetizers. My favorites being (in order): the Calamari Picante, which has just the right amount of kick to it; the Parmigiana Di Melanzane, which is eggplant with lots of gooey Italian cheese baked on it; and the Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, which are amazing but include a lot more mushroom than seafood and can sometimes be disappointing. The House salad is really popular and while I like it, be warned it is always completely drenched in dressing. Finally the entrees are also very good but are very big portions that can often times be split, especially if you have appetizers, a salad, and bread before. But I would definitely recommend the Seafood Ravioli, which is in a lighter cream sauce that does a great job of not overpowering the seafood in the ravioli. I also would recommend the Pasta con Pesce which is in an amazing sauce that is cream based with a little marinara, and again just the right amount of kick. The service is also always consistently nice but the wait can be really long near holidays and on weekends.
(5)
Kathy L.

Not as good as it used to be. Food is average same thing you can get at a chain like Olive Garden. Service average. Disappointed not up to the Hill standards I remember.
(1)
Lindsay M.

Okay. Apparently, I'm on my own with this one because it seems that this place has great reviews, but I had nothing that was good. As a dining companion suggested to the waitress, everything was 'fine'. The salad was drowning in dressing, the side of pasta was also drowning in a pool of Alfredo sauce, the sauce that was on the Soto tasted of nothing. Truly nothing. The chicken was well cooked so I'll give them that. However, that doesn't make up for the bland, oversauced, over oiled food. The people I dined with also shared the same sentiments as I on the food. The service was prompt, polite, and knowledgeable, so for that, they received 2 stars. Beyond that, the food wasn't bad, but nothing was good either. This place feels like mediocre, at best, american style Italian. I was really disappointed.
(2)
Mike W.

Always a favorite when we are in the area. Penne Pisilli a favorite of mine.
(4)
Melissa L.

We had to have a meal on The Hill on our trip to STL and since it was Saturday at lunch, Zia's it was. The wait wasn't too bad. We ordered the toasted ravioli and it was good. Hubby ordered the chicken piccata and it was good even though it was burned on the bottom in places. I ordered the steak marsala and was disappointed. I knew that it was going to be different from a classic marsala when I saw that it had green peppers. This did not resemble any marsala dish I have ever had before and so it was rather disappointing. It lacked the flavor of much but the green peppers and the sauce was watery.
(3)
Jeff M.

Great place. As an app, we had the toasted seafood ravioli. ÃŒ had the Speidini prosciutto. Great dish. The house salad was absolutely outstanding. I would go back for the salad if everything else was terrible, which it wasn't. My pasta was so-so. Prices were pretty good.
(4)
Scott G.

Good food at good prices, staff was very friendly and the wine specials were affordable and excellent quality. Will definitely go back next time I'm in the area
(4)
Kevin M.

Server was fast and friendly but forgot the second glass of wine. The special was linguini oscar which sounded good but was full of fake crab "meat" and tough shrimp. Its a shame that the best Italian food is not served on "The Hill".
(2)
Emily K.

I loved everything about Zia's. The atmosphere is nice and casual, the food is amazing and the staff was very friendly and knew what they were serving. Their white sauce is awesome, and I had the chicken spiedini, which was some of the best I have ever had. For dessert, one word: Tiramisu. It's ridiculously good.
(5)
Bill C.

Great
(5)
Jeff B.

Delicious. Great wait staff. Classic Italian. Could use a better beer selection. Don't forget to check-in on Yelp and get free toasted ravioli!
(4)
Carol L.

Was in town for a conference and this restaurant was highly recommended. I don't know why. Raised as an Italian-American in San Francisco (and having lived in Italy for a year), I like to think I know good Italian food. I always like to make a trek to a city's "Little Italy". Of course, SF. Boston, check. Chicago, check. Headed to NY in September (will let you know). So going here was a natural. First of all, I thought the location lacked everything that makes a "little Italy" special. It was totally dead. Perhaps it was the night, and I didn't venture far from this corner, but it was immediately surrounded by residential area with no street activity. The inside of the restaurant was fine. Nothing special, but nothing scary either. I got there as my group ordered the fried ravioli app. Chewy and uninteresting. I ordered their cappellini with artichoke and chicken. It was a huge, uninteresting mess. The chicken chunks were dry (I didn't even bother after the first bite). There wasn't enough "sauce" to the dish so that the cappellini was clumpy/sticky and unflavorful. Four of us had the same dish at our table and the 5th had something penne. All of us picked at our food not wanted to voice what we all apparently agreed upon. Total disappointment.
(1)
Jang N.

I am not sure what's all the fuss about Zia's. It was an OK Italian restaurant, but doesn't deserve my 5 stars. Calamari Picante was OK; it was more like fried calamari in chicken wing sauce. My Linguine and Clam was OK also; but I had better ones in many other Italian restaurants; Zia's was at Olive Garden level. The portion was huge. You can't go hungry from this place. I suggest reducing portion and focus on putting out better quality product.
(3)
Jenny T.

Amazing food and service! We had the toasted ravioli, baked pasta with meatballs, and chicken parmesan. It was all amazing. Highly recommend!
(5)
Emily L.

The portions are HUGE!!!! The food is good and average and you definitely get your money's worth. I had the linguine and clams and it was delicious! Ask anyone and they'll tell you I can eat like no other but it barely looked like I made a dent... Partially because it was a little too creamy for my taste but also because it was an enormous portion. Definitely a great place for pasta but I strongly recommend sharing!!!
(3)
Stephanie T.

I had a really good Italian meal here. I had the sage pasta dish which was really good and paired well with my house white wine. There is a nice bar area in the front, which I suggest you get comfortable at! This place was packed when I went in, but it was worth the wait. Cash is required at the bar for small checks under $20 I believe. They have a free ATM at the edge of the bar. My tiramisu was good, not the best, but a solid representation of the dish.
(4)
Divine-Asia P.

The Eggplant Parmesan is hella good. Not on the menu as a main dish but you can substitute the chicken or veal for the eggplant. Highly recommend this with the pasta in olive oil and garlic sauce.
(3)
Brianna T.

I am so disappointed to give this restaurant a bad review. The food was great. That's not the issue. The issue we have is that our waitress charged two different meals on our debit card, almost two weeks ago. I called them that day to let them know what happened. They blamed it on a computer error and asked me to wait a few days to see if it would fix itself and come off. I waited until Friday. It didn't come off. So I called and they said the manager wasn't it and he'd call back. He didn't call back. So I called back again on Saturday. By this time one of the charges was refunded into the account (which was our bill), the wrong and more expensive meal was still taken out of our account. When I spoke to the manager on Saturday he acknowledged what had happened, and said that he couldn't get into the system for credit cards but it would be taken care of on Monday. Here I am Tuesday and it's still not taken care of and we still can't get anyone to take care of it. Now we will be disputing the charge with the credit card company. Terrible, awful customer service. If you want to pay 100 dollars for a meal that should have originally cost 25 then by all means eat at zias.
(2)
Derek H.

Went here on Saturday night for dinner with my wife. This was her first time at Zia's, even though she's been to many other places on The Hill. For anyone that's never been here, this is another classic Italian restaurant on The Hill. The decor is nothing fancy, but it's still nice. They have a large bar area, which is the first thing you see when you enter the restaurant. They don't take reservations on Saturday, so you'll be in for a little bit of a wait if you come at prime dinner time. Our wait was about 30 minutes, so we just grabbed a drink at the bar and waited. Once seated, my wife and I each ordered a chicken dish. I got the chicken parm, while she got a chicken dish with mushrooms. The exact name of her dish escapes me. Each dish comes with a salad and a side of pasta. The Zia's salad is quite good. The dressing really makes the salad. It's a sweet Italian type dressing. I know you can buy it at the local grocery stores. Our entrees and pasta sides were both very good. I've been here for lunch several times and have ordered the same thing. It's just a slightly larger portion for dinner. They'll give you some fresh bread as well, so there's no way you're leaving here hungry. Their pasta dishes are huge! My wife was trying to bet me that she could finish an entire one for dinner if she didn't eat all day. Ha! I say no way! You'll have some leftovers for sure if you come here. Zia's is one of the more affordable places on The Hill. Before tip, I think our bill was around $35. Not bad at all. If you're looking for some great Italian food in St. Louis, be sure to give Zia's a shot.
(4)
Carlos F.

Baked Pasta (Mostaccioli) with meatballs was awesome! Would have been 5 stars but staff had slight attitude (lots of slamming of plates and glasses).
(4)
Jeff M.

Wonderful Italian food. My wife and mom and I went here the other day. The service was great. The salad was great. The pasta was to die for. We had the house salad, Tortellini Piselli and Capellini Angelico. None of these were a disappointment. I have only eaten in one Italian restaurant in the Orlando FL area that I liked better than this night at Zia's.
(5)
Dustin O.

This is for a review of the Zia's Food Truck. It came near my work today and I walked about a half mile over to it for lunch. The selection seemed to be very nice for a food truck, and all of the food looked and smelled fresh and tasty as I waited in line. I ordered my food, and waited approx. 5 minutes for it to be prepared for me. Once I got it back to my desk, which again was a half mile walk, it was still very hot and melted. I opted for the cannelloni which was 6.00. For that price, it was a fantastic meal. While its not the absolute best cannelloni I have ever had, it is definitely pretty close to the top, and considering the fact that is 6.00... Its will definitely have my repeat business.
(5)
William D.

Before we get into the review of Zia's, let's talk about the outside of Zia's. There are a few curbside tables where diners were eating, and a guitar-playing musician playing for them. And by playing for them, I mean directing a hurricane of sound away from ZIa's wall out onto the neighborhood. We had a wait of about 45 minutes for a table, during which time this ridiculously loud music continued. We actually crossed the street around the corner from the musician to try to get a bit away while we waited for our table because the music was so loud. Now, on to the actual restaurant: The service was perfunctory. Zia's was quite busy, but part of going out is the service aspect, and you want more than just your water to be refilled by the designated water-jug-guy. Our waitress was too busy to ask us how our food was, and forgot to bring by a sauce that we requested for our appetizer until we asked a second time. The food was delicious. If I was breaking things down on serving size, the food would get a 5. Flavor is more like a 3 or 4. The chicken parmigiana looked like it came off the bird version of a Dolly Parton; seriously, this was the largest chicken breast I think I've ever seen. If I had had anything else to eat that day I would have had to take some home. That said, the red sauce was pretty much just tomato, and so it was an enormous, tomato-flavored chicken breast. If there was some garlic or other spices in the sauce, they were't evident. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be, but if so, it made it pretty plain tasting. Best: Good bread, free appetizer of toasted ravioli because we checked in w/yelp, huge portions. Worst: Food a little bland, server didn't seem that attentive, music while you wait pretty aggresive.
(3)
Richie D.

Ya ya, just another Italian joint that business men and families flock to with Italian owners preaching that they were the first Italians in the Hill who did this and that... Well I don't care who the heck truly "invented" the infamous St. Louis Toasted Ravioli but Zia has mastered the recipe!!! I was seeking out the best and nothing less before returning to Chicago...and I think I found it! I loved the Toasted Seafood Ravioli that are ravioli stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat (actually crab, not this odd "sea legs" found elsewhere on the menu), a side of lemon and melted butter, and then topped with parsley. Splendid! If you're not into seafood, then be sure to swap it with the original Toasted Ravioli that is filled with beef and topped with parmigiana and served with a side of marinara. Both are under $7! With a side salad ($6.00) smothered in their homemade vinaigrette dressing, it's perfection with size and flavors. Check out their website for every and any question you may have, or if you're not sure what you have a taste for. Anything you order here will be a large portion, with often bread, their namebrand oil and a salad. I was also happy to find that it was not overwhelmed with cigarette smoke like many other Hill businesses. It may very well be an Italian [pronounced Eye-taliun] Mafia requirement.
(5)
Curtis V.

I have been here a few times and all my visits have been great. When I come for lunch I love to get their steak sandwich one cheese garlic bread. Hands down the best steak sandwich I have ever had. This place is always busy and also has great Pasta Dishes. Overall great Italian food
(4)
Adam M.

My wife and I went to St. Louis for a weekend away from the kids. We decided that going to The Hill for some great Italian. Because of Yelp we decided to go to to Zia's. We shared everything we ordered: -Toasted Ravioli - good, but nothing special - Mozzarella Friti - above average, especially the texture. The marinara was maybe the best I have ever had. - Zia's salad - potentially the best salad I have ever had, but shouldn't be eaten for health. The dressing, cheese, and meats were fantastic - Pasta carbonara - great!! Bacon was crispy and plentiful, the sauce was creamy. Pasta cooked perfectly. - Canoli - very good, nothing more special than any other quality Canoli. But what was special was the price. Only 3.75. We wouldn't have shared if I had realized :) We were very, very pleased with Zia's and will go back for certain. It isn't fine dining if you are looking for tuxedos and fine gowns. But warm woods, good service and great food were plentiful. And the price was right - $52 total, even with a 30% tip.
(5)
Mary Kate M.

I have been here a couple of times, and I will have to admit -- this is my favorite place on the Hill. Their seafood ravioli is wonderful, and they have an awesome wine selection. It is great for a date night or for a simple family dinner. It really suits the needs of anyone. With so many reasonably priced items to choose from, pretty much anyone can go here on a budget. When it is crowded, the servers do not have any troubles keeping up. They do really well with keeping my glass full, and making sure that everyone is content with their quality of food and with everything else. If you want to try one of St. Louis's diamonds of the city, try Zia's.
(5)
Shari d.

We came here on the recommendation of one of our coworkers. The restaurant was cozy and the staff was friendly. Our server made sure we were well taken care of and the food came out quickly and piping hot. We ordered some toasted ravioli - which is not something I am really a fan of but it was good. I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs as I wasn't feeling too adventurous. I have to say - the portions for pasta items are freaking HUGE. I felt like I had a mini bathtub of noodles in front of me. I ate and ate until I couldn't eat anymore and there was still enough in the bowl for 2 more meals. That being said the prices are pretty much on point for what you pay. I didn't try it but according to my dining companions their salad is some of the best out there so if I came back that would probably be my first choice. And seeing as how big the portion sizes are for entrees I would probably split that with someone else.
(3)
Don S.

Absolutely fantastic. The toasted ravioli was the best I've ever had and the cannelloni was excellent. We arrived at 12:10 and helots a table in 5 minutes. The service was great as well.
(5)
Leigh G.

Yelp let me down. I was at SLAM on a Friday night with my parents, who are very particular about food in a way very different from myself. They want things fairly cheap, fairly bland/simple/not spicy, don't like waiting for a table, and they don't like a lot of noise. My phone's battery was nearing death at this point, but I poked around Yelp until I stumbled onto Zia's, which said it had moderate noise levels, had good reviews, and when I called said that at that moment reservations wouldn't be necessary. I was pretty sure my phone would die before I could find another place AND navigate us there, so Zia's sounded like the eating-with-my-parents hat trick, and we rushed over. Since my parents and I have different enough opinions about food, you'd think regardless of where we ate we would have stumbled into a situation where someone would have walked out happy, right? Wrong! We were unanimous in our disappointment of Zia's. It was noisier than the Yelp rating implied, making my mom frustrated (granted, it was a Friday night; this wouldn't have bothered me if I were here with my husband or friends). The waiter was forgetful and looked a little hipster-annoying, which was a strikeout with my dad. And the food was simply not good, making it the perfect triple play. (Yes, I realize I went from hockey to baseball metaphors - but I can't help but feel like that's appropriate for STL!) My food had too much garlic and salt in the sauce, and since I am a terrible cook and rely on both in my own cooking, that's a testament to how overpowering it was. My mom said hers tasted like sauce straight out of a jar. My dad said his, a daily special (lasagne), was only OK. When I went to college in downstate Illinois, my now-husband and I would sometimes go to a Macaroni Grill in the suburbs after a day out in STL. I cringe as I type this, but the chain Italian would have totally beat out Zia's on this trip.
(2)
Lianne S.

6pm on a Tuesday: -I found parking right outside. -Enter to find the bar/waiting area with plenty of chairs. Didn't need to use this as we were promptly seated at a table for 4. -Table of 4 really should've been a table for 2 because this thing is small! We're all tall (5'9"--6'4") and we were very cramped! -The floor was incredibly slippery. I noticed one woman almost faceplant. -Staff - very friendly, professional. -Bread - although I love bread this one missed the mark. -Salad - Although this was my first time at Zia's, I have had their salad dressing (store bought) many times. So so yum. Too much cheese though. -Entrees - so...soo....good. I had chicken parm and it was delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. My husband had another chicken dish, and the couple with us both had pastas. Our chicken dishes came with a side of pasta. I opted for the butter, garlic and olive oil sauce and my husband got the white. The butter sauce was good but I kept wishing there was shrimp in it. That would've been a fabulous scampi. The white sauce however....SO GOOD. Huge portions. Everyone was very happy with their food. -Very affordable for the food (amount and quality) that you get. I have been to several restaurants on the hill but this is my favorite so far.
(4)
Brandy B.

This is a truly wonderful Italian restaurant! When you get here they serve you their fantastic bread while you wait for your food. They have a fantastic house salad. This time I got the Saltimbocco (8 oz. boneless breast of chicken, lightly breaded, charbroiled and covered with fontina cheese. Topped with mushrooms and prosciutto ham sautÃ©ed in white wine lemon butter sauce with a hint of garlic and red pepper.) which came with the Zias House Salad and choice of pasta. I have also had ALL of the other chicken dishes. I have to personally recommend the Tiramisu "House Speciality" Lady fingers brushed with Kahlua and Rum layered with Italian Custard. They have fantastic Brewed Ice Tea!
(5)
Jason R.

Had a wonderful dinner with friends this past Friday 1/21/2011 at Zia's. The Hill in St. Louis is so rich for its great Italian restaurants and Zia's is one that I never leave hungry or disappointed. It's hard to do a review on a restaurant as busy as they were this past Friday. I felt that our waiter was polite and knew the specials and menu as he should. The bus boys were a little confused at times so I had to occasionally ask for refills on my water. As always the food was amazing. I had their house salad and baked pasta. You can choose mostaccioli or spaghetti in a marinara sauce with a touch of cream and baked with provel and parmigiana. I chose the Baked Mostaccioli which was absolutely fabulous and full of flavor. They provide you enough to have for lunch the next day! Zia's is also a great place to take a client out to lunch. Zia's never disappoints. Always a wonderful Italian experience.
(5)
Diana J.

I love love love their pasta dishes!! Their main entres are not impressive, I find them overly oily/too much butter and too salty. However, all of their pastas are freaking delicious!!!! My favorite is the pasta con pesce, what can I say I love pink sauce and seafood! Their house salad also has a tasty dressing with lots of provel cheese :-) Bread is always hot and soft with olive oil seasoned with herbs for dipping (I leave the crusts) and calamari app is good too. No go on the desserts though. Oh and they have good house chardonnay (comes in a liter craft!) for cheap! Love going there with friends on a Friday night before hitting downtown (expect ~1hour wait if you go before 9pm). :-)
(4)
Liz W.

I love Zia's but usually all I get is appetizers. Must haves are the toasted ravioli, Parmigiana Di Melanzane which is some of the best eggplant parm ever, Calamari Piccate which is some of my fave spicy fried calamari, and the seafood stuffed mushroom caps filled with shrimp, crab and clams in a garlic butter stuffing, topped with parmigiana. Mmmm tasty. This and some bread will fill you and some friends up, no need for dinner. If you must have more food after the big graze of happiness I suggest pasta con pesce, linguine in a spicy cream sauce with shrimp, assorted seafood, clams, mushrooms and a touch of marinara sauce. It is awesome and easily the best main dish here. Canneloni filled with beef and pork, topped with parmigiana then baked in a red and white sauce is also great. I like the regular and seafood ravioli or a baked mostaccioli too in a pinch. Usually we get a giant carryout and party at my sister's house, everyone sharing. It rocks, truly. I have dined in plenty and always find it friendly and charming but there is nothing like a smorgasbord shared by the whole family at home. I am sad about the recent fire and cannot wait to return to a redone Zia's next time I come down.
(4)
Kelly W.

Food was bland - actually the tomato basil sauce was just oil. The waitstaff was rushed and short with few patrons in the building. I know I "took up your time" & you could have "made more" on a bigger group-that's why as a single diner, I will typically tip 40% for good service-but I didn't feel my business was welcome nor did the food set well. With a ton of Italian places in The Hill to pick from, I won't be visiting this location again.
(2)
Lisa K.

The reviews seems spot on, both for the good and the bad: the food's pretty easy/comforting/pleasing and is not innovative/inventive/fresh. In general it was a bit too rich for me (they seem to like to add cream to many of the sauces, and the lasagna special looked like a bowl of molten cheese in which there was some pasta and sausage), but, you know, it does taste pretty good. I liked the meatballs - good density, size, well cooked, and tasty. The portions are pretty huge - most people in our group took home leftovers. On that note, we did go in a pretty large group - 15-20 people. We had reservations for 5:30 on a Friday night. They did a good job getting us seated, taking our orders (although I still find it irritating rather than endearing when they take orders from and serve the women first), and getting the food to the table in a synchronous fashion. BUT they'd also booked another group immediately after us, so we got kicked out to the bar for dessert! So it seems like this place can work with a large group, but be careful with what they expect you to do. Finally, we got the house chianti, which I was hoping would be not great but ok - and it wasn't. I think as long as you know what you're getting into - Italian-American comfort food - and you're not expecting something else, you'll enjoy it.
(3)
Steven J.

Nice neighborhood spot. Was packed on a Monday night, usually a good sign. The kitchen was slow getting our food out; people who arrived after us got their food first. Wait staff was attentive and pleasant. We had the seafood stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer, and they were great and served three of us as an app. The Chicken Saltimbocca was really excellent. The accompanying side of shell pasta with marinara was not that great. The seafood stuffed ravioli was fantastic and a deal at $11. The pasta carbonara was excellent (needed a little salt) and was easily enough food for two hungry diners (or maybe three). No children's portions or half-portions are available. The house salad is available only with the house salad, which has a weird sweetness to it. It's also drenched in dressing. I think this is an Italian thing, as I've experienced it at three or four Italian restaurants. I'm not a fan, though. The bread was plentiful, but fairly bland. Overall, it was good, and I'd like to return on my next trip to St. Louis to try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Kimberly W.

After deciding that toasted ravs were in order for lunch today, some random app on the boy's phone recommended Zia's. Thank you random app, because those toasted ravs were amazing! We actually each got an order (yes, we're pigs) and I had enough for leftovers, which I just devoured. I paired mine with a dinner salad, which was that deliciously classic Italian house salad with roasted red peppers and drenched in dressing. Sooooo good. The boy got garlic cheese bread, which was literally the size of the dinner plate it came out on. Can't wait to go back for dinner sometime and try the pasta since everything coming out looked and smelled amazing!
(4)
Anthony S.

I tried out Zia's on the Hill last night after their recent re-opening earlier this week and was quite un-impressed with the quality of the food. The calamari was quite good which led me to believe the main course would be as well, much to my suprise my Veal Marsala was flat, and tasteless and honestly the sauce didn't look anything like any Marsala i'd ever made or ordered. No amount of Parmesan or salt brought this dish back to life. My girlfriend ordered the Liguine with clam sauce, it too was extremely dull and mostly tasted like butter with a hint of garlic. If I were to ever go back it would only be for the drinks and some Calamari, at least my martini was cheap and well made...can't beat $6.50 for a bombay blue martini. If your looking for good Italian food look elsewhere, my family is from Sicily and I grew up eating homemade pasta and sauces, so I'd like to think I have a pretty good gauge of what good Italian is.
(2)
Alex M.

This was definitely a great choice. This is exactly what an Italian restaurant should be like. It's small but big and you can tell just by walking in the door that this is going to be an Italian experience. Be prepared to see families of 15 sitting along side of couples. I was also impressed with the food, not just the entree (which I had some delicious seafood ravioli) but even the salad has an excellent oil dressing that wasn't over the top but had an amazing taste. The toasted raviolis were excellent and of course, you can't go wrong with bread and olive oil to get ready for dinner. This was an excellent choice for Italian in the St. Louis area. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for Italian in STL.
(5)
Heather H.

I've now been to Zia's twice, on my two most recent trips to St. Louis. Both of these times the food has been absolutely delicious. I enjoy Italian food as much, if not more, than the next girl, but it's rather hard to truly impress me. Zia's has done that. The staff clearly cares that you enjoy your food, and will spend as much time as necessary explaining specials and discussing different options so that you feel certain you've made the correct choice. My first trip I had a portabella filled ravioli in an olive oil sauce with asparagus and red peppers - wow was it good! My husband got that on my second trip there, and he agreed completely. On my second time, I got shell pasta in a cream sauce with broccoli and mushrooms. It was also amazing and was a HUGE portion to the point that I was able to make two full meals out of it. Their dinner salad is also delicious. The house dressing and provel cheese are yum-o. Their lunch prices are also about half the price of their dinners, for the same portions, sides, etc. Lunch pricing is also available on the weekends, which is excellent. Everything is clearly made in house with great care. They have ample indoor seating, and also outdoor seating around the front of the building, which would be enjoyable since this is not a heavily trafficked street. Oh, and as I'm the Queen of Carbs, I should probably also mention that the olive oil and bread were killer.
(5)
Liz Z.

a bit of a snob when it comes to marinara sauce + especially if i have to pay for it; but this place did me in: heart it! came here with family for a late lunch on one of those hot st. louis' afternoons. we were immediately seated by the friendly middle-aged hostess + tended to by a equally friendly young woman. the decor is dark mahogany wood (similar to an english pub feel) with an extended seating area in the back for larger groups. the eggplant parmesan was listed as an appetizer, but they accommodated it to make it an entree order for me with pasta + 'gravy' (what some american-italians call they're 'red sauce'). the eggplant slices were large in eggplant width yet thin enough to bite into. each piece was appropriately breaded (not overdone) and covered with just the right amount of gravy. the portions were plenty for a large lunch + the pasta quality seemed quite authentic. they make their own salad dressings sold at some local supermarkets (that's how i knew they existed in the first place) + definitely something to consider when making meals at home that includes a side of salad. oh, zia's, if only i could take you with me to the west coast..
(4)
Brooke E.

During the month of August, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit St. Louis, MO for almost two weeks. While we were there, one of my friends back home had suggested Zia's. I am so glad we gave Zia's a try! The food is wonderful and so is the bread appetizer! We ate here two times in a week. We loved our experience there!
(5)
Zee M.

Not sure how, with all our years in Saint Louis in general and The Hill in particular, we missed this. But it's on the radar now! (We do have our routines, after all, but are willing to add more sources of foodstuffs as we can.) We went here with quite a mob, cousins, second cousins, first moms, et al. We had good service and the food was delicious. And the portions! My ever-carnivorous nephew made the mistake of ordering a sammie and an appetizer...maybe it was even an entrÃ©e. It was an armload and, try as he might to ensure otherwise, he had to take some home. A wonderful new stop for us!
(4)
Pasquale S.

This restaurant is number one in my book when it comes to Italian food. I was born in Sicily and brought up in the USA with my dear mother (God rest her soul) cooking the old fashioned Sicilian way. The flavors at Zia's are a little different than Sicilian cooking. They are more traditional northern Italian cuisine. When I try a new Italian restaurant I usually order the basic spaghetti in marinara sauce because I want to get a feel for the flavor nuances in their sauce. Zia's never lets me down. I have yet to find a better dinner salad at any restaurant. Order the regular house salad. The bread and olive oil are plentiful and delicious. By the time the spaghetti arrives I am more than half full so I have enough spaghetti to take home for a couple of more meals. Please try them you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Matthew L.

Located in a quiet Italian neighborhood of St. Louis, simply called The Hill, this restaurant was a pleasant surprize. My wife and I were recently on a cross-country road trip, so good Italian food was a welcome change from all the fast food we had been consuming throughout much of our journey. Zia's is larger on the inside than it appears to be on the outside. There are two main dining areas. This allows for added privacy, even though this location has only tables, and no booths. Overall, the food was very good. There was plenty of leftover in my wife's shrimp pasta plate, which we both felt was excellent. We wished we could've taken it with us, but being on a road trip, taking leftovers from a restaurant isn't practical. My mushroom beef was also good, though it relied heavily on the sauce to flavor the meat. My recommendation is go with the traditional Italian pasta dishes and satiate your meat cravings at a steakhouse.
(4)
Serena B.

I was really excited to try the St. Louis specialty of toasted ravioli. It was quite delicious at Zia's! For the entree, I had a chicken specialty dish of the day. It was smothered in a bit too much sauce for my liking, however the value of the entree can't be beat since it included a salad too. Our waiter was very pleasant and a lot of the diners around us seemed to know each other and were talking across tables (in a charming, not annoying way). I plan on coming back again to try some other dishes.
(3)
Winston G.

Best marinara sauce I have ever had.
(4)
Tanny A.

I have only visited Zia's twice, but I have yet to find anything that I don't like. The only thing that I don't like is the large portions, which make for great leftovers. The beef sota is wonderful, bread is good, appetizers are great and the food comes out hot and tasty. The only thing that I would change is the really thin straws. I highly recommend this Italian spot.
(5)
Benjamin S.

Kind of shocked that I haven't reviewed Zia's yet, because all-in-all, it's definitely one of my favorite spots in town. I didn't say it was the *best* Italian in town, because I don't necessarily believe that. But as someone who loves to go out to eat it's always a constant part of my rotation, and I've never come away disappointed. Part of the reason for that is I almost always get the same dish. The Chicken Spedini Prosciutto. It's got an excellent charbroiled flavor which they nail perfectly each time. I always recommend friends go with one of the chicken dishes as you get a salad and your choice of pasta on the side. Did I mention the salads? Maybe the best in town, though Cunetto (no -- not "Cunetto's") gives them a very good run. I've also had the Polla Roma, which is most certainly healthier than the Spedini, and the grilled chicken in that dish is tender and flavorful. Service is always friendly and professional. Zia's is nearly always packed on a weekend night, and they don't take reservations, so prepare yourself for a wait at the bar tables for easily 30-40 minutes on the weekend. It's a nice and clean place, but the environment is entirely casual, which is another thing I love about the joint. You can show up in the summertime in shorts and a ball cap and you'll fit in just fine.
(4)
Tamara M.

I love Zia's. I usually go there every time I go back to visit STL. They have the best toasted ravioli and the portion sizes of everything are ridiculously huge! I could eat just the toasted rav, salad and garlic cheese bread and be totally stuffed, but I have to save room for the pasta. My husband and I usually split a pasta entree, toasted rav and each get a house salad. It's more than enough food for two people to share! I've never had any of their non-pasta dishes here so I can't comment on those, but the pasta dishes I've had have always been excellent.
(5)
Molly P.

Zia's is affordable, has quality authentic Italian food and lots of people! So go early or late unless you want to hang around the bar for 30 -60 min. The bread basket is so so, but the menu is large and has many great appetizers to choose from.
(4)
Tiffany N.

I'm not really sure how to describe Zia's other than: deeeeelicious.
(4)
Gregory P.

You'll love this place if: Your Grandma is Irish and you still think she makes the best Italian food you've ever had. You look forward to frozen lasagna from Sams Club. You think American and Provel are the two best cheeses in the world. And last, but not least.... You don't cringe when you see Homer Simpson eats a stick of butter out of the fridge.
(1)
Colin X.

Zipping through St Louis on a Monday, I only had a few hours, which included time for lunch. So I decided to go by the Hill and ended up at Zia's. Bottom line up front- the food was great, the service was good, the atmosphere was cool, but the staff was very impersonal. Now I was probably an oddity for them in that I was there alone. I am a really outgoing guy, so when I go to a restaurant alone I always try to engage the staff in conversation. I elected to sit in the bar area as opposed to the dining room. I was the only customer there. The bartender took my order right away. The hostess returned from the dining room. I told her that I had read a lot of really good reviews about their restaurant on Yelp. She just gave me a "dont bother me smile" and walked away. Then a beer distributor showed up wanted them to try selling a new product for them. She spent the rest of my meal trying to convince this guy to get her some Blues playoff tix in exchange for marketing his product! She then sucked the bartender into the conversation, leaving me alone with my food. Hard to put it into words...just not the hospitality I expect in St Louis. When faced with an unfriendly staff, I like most people these days turn to my I-Phone. But they don't have WIFI so that wasn't much help either. As for the food, I had a lite lunch with toasted ravoli and garlic bread. It was delicious. I was driving so I had a coke, and the total bill was a reasonable $15. Toasted ravoli is so awesome! Along with the Zoo, the Arch, Forest Park, and Cards baseball it is an absolute must do whenever you visit St Louis!
(3)
Edward J.

Visited on busy Friday night. Got a table pretty quick. Great service, good food.
(5)
s r.

Incredible!!!
(4)
Ashley H.

very very good! not much of a wait for seating on a weekend night! calamari is to DIE for! we didn't have problems with parking, but I could see where if they were super busy, it may be a problem. definately worth a try!
(5)
Charles S.

Toasted ravioli was amazing.
(4)
Paul And Kelsie A.

A Family Favorite! Authentic Italian. Doesn't get much better than this! Competes with Charlie Gitto's for our Favorite spot on the hill! But this is where we went the night we got engaged so it will always be special! We are pretty strict critics of Italian Food and this place delivers!!! Classy and Romantic as well!
(5)
Cliff and Claire H.

Great place to go for some simple, yet perfect Italian cuisine. The toasted ravioli here is the best. Usually get the Chicken Marsala as an entree with a salad and a cup of coffee. Can't beat it for a nice Saturday afternoon lunch. This past July we had a couple of friends visit from out of town and they were very impressed. The wait staff was phenomenal.
(4)
Joy O.

Zia's was excellent. The deal for free ravioli was so nice and it tasted incredible! The service was excellent and pasta great- VERY large servings.
(5)
Lauren A.

Wow. Portion sizes are huge! Toasted ravioli was delish, but as this was my first visit to st louis, I don't have anyone to compare them to.. which I think may be a st louis thing. I had the pasta carbonara, it was super rich but very tasty.. I only wish my hotel room had a fridge so I could make good use of all the leftovers! This restautant is super cozy, has a classic menu, and nice friendly staff. For a random pick of an Italian restaunt on the Hill, I'm glad we went here.. I only wish I had more time to explore the neighborhood.
(4)
Rick D.

The Hill never disappoints and Zia's is a must visit for anyone in that area of St. Louis. This trip was the first time i went on a Saturday and although we had to wait close to an hour at their peak dinning time, no one seemed to be annoyed. It was PACKED in the bar area waiting for our table with people even crammed in the entryway.. and still no complaints because we knew what was in our near future. I don't even remember what i ordered to be exact, but it was some pasta dish with Scallops, Shrimp, and Crab (or lobster, i can't recall). It was a great recommendation so i went with my server's suggested special. Wonderful experiecne with some fantastic friends from out of town. The food was amazing and feed me for lunch the next day too. They are certainly known for salads but feel free to try something new the server recommends.
(4)
Alyssa S.

The meatballs were burned badly and so dry they could not be eaten. They brought my salad with my dinner when I requested it be brought before the entree. The server was incredibly slow, she was very young, looked still in high school and she was very confused, she didn't know some of the menu items and actually had to take the menu away from me twice to look at it herself....the only thing really mentionable is that Zia's has some of the best salad dressing around and a really deep and earthy past sauce, not so sweet like other places... but the things I mentioned above those two- pretty much cancel it out.
(2)
Meg M.

Last december before going off to thr Fox to see Wicked myself and a man friend came here to have some supper. I have to say that our supper was wonderful. The wait staff was very knowledgeable on what wine goes with what we had. So, i always tell people to go to Zia's! All that aside, i do love this place. With so many places on the hill to sample Italian food, this place has a place in my heart!
(4)
Matt M.

I went to Zia's with my parents and my girlfriend over 4th of July weekend. My dad is a big fan of Italian food (he practically has marinara sauce coursing through his veins), so I didn't want to disappoint him with some mediocre food on the Hill (believe me, it exists). Zia's wasn't that crowded, and we got our food within 10 minute of ordering. The prices were very reasonable for a nicer Italian restaurant (cue the Billy Joel), and the portions were very large. I could only finish half of it, and I pride myself on finishing my plates! I'll definitely be returning to Zia's again, but hopefully I'll find some more great places on the Hill.
(4)
Richard Z.

Great food! Great service! Go hungry!
(5)
Tricia R.

This was disappointing. This used to be one of the bf's favorite Italian restaurants, but the past few dining experiences were just ehh. This past trip basically wrote it off the list for him, and we've decided that we'll stick with Bartolino's for Italian. 1) Dinner salad - nothing special to rave about. 2) Capellini Carciofi - this was actually not bad. It was not heavy like some pastas tend to be, but there was not much capellini in the dish. While some ppl may find it great that the dish is FILLED with chicken, I personally wanted a balance of everything and was disappointed. 3) Chicken on special - Usually we assume that whatever is on special for the evening would be the best bet. WRONG. I'm still not sure how this dish is different from the other chicken dishes on the menu. After looking at the menu again, it sounds just like the Picante Pollo or the Soto Chicken - charboiled chicken breast, topped with cheese, white wine butter sauce, and mushrooms (there might've been peppers). The bf swore the mushrooms were from a can, and the overall appearance of the dish was not appetizing. The side of pasta was also disappointing. I feel like the Hill is overhyped and has been going downhill in the past few yrs. All these places have been around forever, and maybe ppl just keep going for the sake of tradition. BUT CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SERVE SOME BETTER FOOD!?!!?! On the plus side, service here has always been great and when the weather is warm, you can sit outside.
(2)
Aaron G.

This was the first time I have been too "The Hill" area of St. Louis, MO and it was a treat. I stumbled upon Zia's by accident while looking for another restaurant. This is very close to a traditional Italian restaurant other than going to Italy. I had the baked pasta with a creamy cheese sauce and meatballs. The sauce has a slight wine taste to it and it was very good. Fresh bread was served and they have a nice olive oil and spice mixture for the bread. Shake up the bottle before you serve it, wonderful!
(4)
James M.

This place is outstanding. NEVER had a bad meal here. Met Yogi Berra and family here one night eating.....if that tells you something about this place. Been eating here since 1980's and it keeps getting better. Toasted Rav is the best on hill and prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Chad W.

The best Italian restaurant in St. Louis. House salad is out of this world. Huge portions and helpful staff!
(5)
Angela L.

My first time visiting the Hill, and I choose to eat here because my coworkers always raved about Zia's salad dressing. So I thought, if they're that famous for just their salad dressing, their food must be amazing! And it was! Ordered the fried ravioli (and for the first time realized why St. Louis is proud of it!) and the chicken marsala. Each meal comes with a salad (with their famous dressing!) and a side dish of pasta, so pretty much enough food to feed a small family. Like other have said, the food is pretty heavy, but delicious. I ended up bringing almost all of the pasta and half of the chicken home, which I then was able to stretch into two more dinners that week (adding some veggies in there of course). So pretty much, you really get your money's worth here. The atmosphere exudes Good Food, Good Friends, and Family, and I left thinking about how I needed to get my hands on a bottle of Zia's salad dressing.
(4)
Dean B.

Zia's is one of those places that St. Louisans love but I just don't get. When people talk about eating out in The Hill, someone always inevitably brings up Zia's as their favorite or near-favorite place to eat. I've been there on a number of occasions, and I'll put it simply: This is not Italian food, this is bar food with tableclothes. Not to say I'm a food snob, in fact I'm far from it. If it's deep fried, I'll probably eat it. I'd rather have a good burger over a good steak, and I've been known to opine on the pleasure of eating fistfuls of slim jims and potato chips straight from the bag. But Zia's? I just can't do it, man. Zia's is probably the kingpin of "old" St. Louis Italian, and for those unfamiliar with what that means, it basically translates to: Deep-fry the meat and/or smother it with enough sauce to eliminate the taste. I really hate to say this, but just because you serve a side of pre-cooked pasta with an entree does not make you Italian. Almost everything about Zia's screams "expensive bar food", from the appetizers (9 out of 12 are deep fried!), to the needlessly low lighting (what kind of weird carpet stains lurk in the darkness?), to the loud and crowded space they cram you into, to the wild fluctuations in quality of service. All of this would be forgivable if only Zia's food didn't taste like chewing on an old leather boot. Again, don't get me wrong. I like some fried food. I like some food with sauce. I like provel cheese. But all of these in heavy doses drain the dishes taste to the point of blandness. There are some restaurants on the Hill that get this combo right. Favazza's, Pietro's, and Cunetto's (to a certain extent) are all noticably better in atmosphere and taste IMO and still fit in the "old st. louis italian" category. The fact that people treat this place with reverence is even more mind-numbing. People wait an hour for the honor of eating toasted ravioli and veal parmesan with sauce that tastes identical to Ragu. Cmon St. Louis, you can do better than this.
(2)
Matthew P.

The Toasted Ravioli was the best I've ever had! The wine, entrees, and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was a little cramped and the olive oil wasn't very good. Overall a great dinning experience!
(5)
Green D.

We were in on a Sat night and it was clear that the waiter and bartender just wanted to get off-shift. Wine list was good. Calamari, mushrooms, and ravioli were decent and the pricepoint good--so there was value. It's just too bad that the ambiance was clouded by the servers' haste. Unfortunately they didn't have limoncello.
(3)
French C.

Good Italian restaurant a few miles from downtown. Was there on a busy Thursday evening, so there was a short wait for a table. They have you wait in the bar area where the main entrance comes into. Dinning area is cramped in some places, staff is knowlegeable and the menu has all the Italian classics with wine suggestion matching your order. Parking was hard to find in this residential neibourhood.
(3)
Pat R.

I brought a group of 4 to Zia's for some amazing Italian food. They did not dissapoint. Everything was amazing. I suggest this place for anyone that wants to give their guests the Best that St. Louis has to offer. The bread, salad and pastas were great. I'd suggets everyone getting a salad, appetizer and splitting the pasta between two people.
(5)
Amme M.

I grew up having Zia's salad dressing but beyond that I haven't ever had Zia's. However, a few weeks ago I had the T-ravs and a chicken sandwich from the food truck that was to die for! Last week the beau and I decided to grab a nice casual dinner and we decided to try the restaurant since I loved the food truck. When we walked in the hostess took our name and told us that it would be a 45 min wait. We weren't too keen on waiting but figured that by the time we drove somewhere else and waited it would be the same amount of time. After waiting about 10 minutes I went to the restroom and thought that on the way back I would check and see if it was going to be any faster. When I went up and asked the hostess (who I think may have been a manager as well, she was wearing a headset type thingy) she said "well they told you the wait would be 45 mins and it has been 8 minutes... soooooo about 37 minutes" with quite a bit of attitude. When I went back to tell my boyfriend he was so mad that we left. I'm sure the food is great but the customer service left a bad taste in my mouth . I think that if I do try it again I will just stick to the food truck...
(2)
Howie F.

I have been to Zia's probably 30 times in my life and it is my favorite restaurant in this city. The appetizers are amazing and no matter what, I always have to get Pomodori Fritti and Seafood stuffed mushrooms. Whether it is just my gf (who almost always hate mushrooms) or a group of 10, those two must be ordered or my day will be ruined. Those tomatoes are done perfectly. The salad is amazing, I always have to finish it. Steak Mudega is always fantastic, I have a couple times convinced myself to try something new and always regret missing it. Not sure about the desserts, I have never eaten one, always too full (which is saying something). Only problem is they don't take reservations.
(5)
Amy B.

My favorite place to eat in Saint Louis. One of the rare Italian places that knows how to prepare noodles al dente. Their cheeses and sauces are locally sourced or made and delicious. Be prepared to wait quite a while for a table on Saturday nights, since they don't take reservations.
(5)
Jessica M.

toasted seafood ravioli. The only place that has it. not quite the same as toasted ravioli but if you cannot eat meat it is something to try.
(4)
Sebastian C.

Good food try to avoid getting cheese on the salad. As most places in saint louis this place really likes cheese in cream. Lactose intolerant people be careful.
(3)
Chris J.

The service here is always great, and the pasta is wonderful. Bring your wallet, as I usually find dinner for two will cost around 50.00.
(4)
Brian F.

Overall, the food was pretty good. But, this place seems a little overrated. The service was average, the servers knowledge of menu was limited, the hostess was out to lunch. We had eggplant appetizer (amazing), sicilian salad (not too good), tortelini (pretty good), and pasta with chicken & veggies (pretty good). The portions were very generous. I found the dining area to be a little too loud, cramped, and busy.
(3)
Vina T.

Absolutely AMAZING food! Our waiter Aaron gave us recommendations and they were PERFECT! Too bad the portions were SO GIANT that I couldn't even make a dent in my dish! Try this place out!
(5)
lovesmyanimals l.

I been going to Zia's for as long as I can remember. It is a staple on the hill and my comfort zone if I can't think of anywhere else to go to. However, something has changed here and I am not happy about it. I feel the quality of the food has gone down. Tonight, I did not have a chance to sit down and dine here b/c there was over an hour wait. However, in the past the service has always been good. Tonight, I opted for take-out b/c of the wait. When we got home to check our food, we realized our order was wrong (we order spaghetti and they gave us moscacholli), not a big deal but still it was wrong. Our appetizers and other dishes were burned. So a few bites later our meal was pitched. I will add, they do have awesome salads here. However, if you don't want to wait around for the salad or make a trek to the hill, dierbergs grocery store has zia's house salad available at the salad bar (just a tip) and taste exactly the same. I will go back, but hope next time the food improves....
(3)
Courtney D.

Zia's is the best in St. Louis for the 4 dishes that I ever get there. Can't really speak to the rest of the menu, but given the fact that it's a family birthday tradition, I'm going to say they like their choices, too. The pomodoro pasta is chock full of kalamata olives, fresh mushrooms, and big chunks of fresh tomato. It is tangy, a little spicy, and easily my favorite pasta in St. Louis. We always order a portion of both types of fried calamari, and the platters of calamari pieces and whole bodies consistently arrive steaming hot, delicately battered, and just chewy enough. The fried artichoke hearts are another staple at our table. The rest of the family enjoys the steak dishes and baked ravioli (with meatball). The place is always packed, so I would suggest arriving early for lunch or enjoying a glass of sangria while you wait at the bar for your dinner table.
(4)
Mary J.

Great Italian food. This is in the area called The Hill in St. Louis and it's chocked full of italian restaurants. No chains, all the real McCoy. Parking is on the street, but no problem to find. Make sure you have my favorite - toasted ravioli.
(5)
Tony W.

The food was absolutely excellent but be prepared for a long wait for a table. The wait staff seems a little overworked. They could use a few more. Cannot beat the prices though.
(4)
Brian L.

Jersey shore Italian joint. Meaning not real Italian just pasta with a tan.
(2)
S P.

I enjoyed the food, esp the toasted ravioli but the service was horrible. They never came around to see how we were doing and it took a long time for the food to come out. Overall I'd go back but only if they improve their service.
(4)
Caldwell J.

Zia's is stuck in the 50s -- the food as well as the decor. You're not going to get fresh tomatoes or mozzarella or anything remotely subtle or novel here, just a bunch of the old standbys. If you're a big provel fan... and you like your red sauce very sweet... and having your entire meal breaded and deep-fried and dunked in melted butter makes you smile... sure, hit Zia's. But if you've got a taste for food that won't land in your gut like lead and doesn't make you think you've flashed back to the era of the Rat Pack, you may want to give it a pass. (Jason L. is free to back away slowly, eyeing me suspiciously. But Zia's isn't even a good example of classic American Italian. And don't get me started on their desserts.)
(2)
Scott C.

I just moved to the St. Louis area from Phoenix and Zia's is the first restaurant on the Hill that we went to. Now I have to convince myself to try the others as well. The food was nothing short of terrific. Easily better than the best Italian food I found in Phoenix. I ordered the Capellini Carciofi. It was very good. The flavor is rather subtle though with an oil and garlic based sauce. While it was good and I ate every bite of the huge portion, the dishes that my wife and son ordered were much more pleasing to my palette. My wife ordered the Pasta Con Pesce. It was nothing short of spectacular. I've had many Italian Seafood Pasta dishes, but the cream sauce with a touch of marinara was really tasty. The portions are huge so I was able to polish of my wife's plate the next day for lunch. And it was even better then after fermenting in my fridge overnight. My son ordered the Linguine and Clams. This was also excellent. I have to admit that I'm very picky about my clam sauce dishes. My Sicilian Nana made her clam sauce dish with no cream. The sauce was oil-based and very light. Zia's had a touch of cream texture to it. So while very good I did not like it quite as much as my Nana's. The only reason that Zia gets 4 instead of 5 stars for this visit, is that I have not eaten at other places on the Hill to compare it to, and I happened to order a dish that was not as good as the other two.
(4)
Oliver G.

For me, another Hill disappointment. Most of the dishes in this place are premade meat sauces that get combined with premade pasta-if you don't believe it, look at the menu. The pastas are all offered with the same sauces which should be the clue to stay away from them. Like a lot of restaurants on the Hill, they probably are great for one or two things. I haven't figured which ones, and probably never will. Wine list barely better than what I might find at Applebee's, which is a shame considering the food genre.
(2)
Jane G.

Zia's on the Hill is absolutely wonderful and never disappoints. On this particular trip, we stopped in with our kids for an early dinner. We're thankful we got in when we did, because I believe we got the last seat available in the house. As usual, we shared meals...we do so because the portions at Zia's are HUGE. My husband and I ordered house salads with our meals and they were fresh and tasty as always. My 3 year old and I shared the baked ravioli, and my husband and 7 year old shared the spaghetti with meatballs. When our meals were brought to the table, the kitchen had put our portions into separate plates, so we didn't have to deal with splitting messy pasta at the table on our own. We really appreciated that! Our food was incredible. Our ravioli was simply sumptuous and my daughter and I easily cleaned our plates. My husband and daughter really enjoyed their spaghetti, and our 7 year old decided the meatballs were "the best". The service was incredible, in spite of the fact that the place was packed. We love Zia's and will definitely return again and again.
(5)
Lulu W.

Yeaaaaah....Worst tiramisu ever.
(3)
Richa T.

I came here the other day to celebrate my graduation with my mother. While the food was decent (excluding a few issues), the service really put this place over the top. Yeah, the wait seemed ridiculous - 30 minutes on a Thursday evening (granted, it was a graduation week) and no reservations for parties under 6 people. If that doesn't deter you, you'll definitely enjoy this place. We ordered a couple of drinks while waiting. The staff was super friendly and I highly recommend the espresso martini. It's not very sweet, but still tastes amazing, especially if you are a coffee fan like me :). We ordered a couple of appetizers to share - pomodori fritti and the parmeziana de melanzane. The pomodori was just meh. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt - I generally don't like the taste of raw tomatoes and the tomato (while cooked) was just a little too raw for my personal taste. However, I could see how others might really enjoy it. The parmeziana de melanzane (eggplant Parmesan) was amazing. I haven't had it as an app before, but it was a decent way to start the meal. We split a mushroom ravioli for the main entree. I normally love eating meat, but this dish was so well prepared I didn't even miss it! We finished with a tiramisu for dessert. Definitely loved the food and would wholeheartedly recommend it just based on that alone. However, the service was great! Unfortunately, I found a hair in my appetizer and complained to the waiter. He felt so terrible, apologized profusely, and had the kitchen fire up another one super quickly! How sweet was that? And he ended up comping our dessert. My experience could have gone so sour, but this place really knows how to take care of their customers! I would highly highly recommend this place if you're looking for some good Italian food and hospitality.
(4)
Jaime C.

In my 25 years of life I have been on the hunt for decent Italian food and in all my travels I have been disappointed. I always thought to myself "how hard is it to make a good pasta?" I had given up on ever finding a decent Italian restaurant until I was introduced to Zia's. The best part about it is the food is not decent, it is amazing! Everything we have tried (which has been almost everything on the menu by now) is great. It will be hard for anyone to ever top Zia's in my book.
(5)
Rose Z.

Others have said 3 star food with 2 star service... We went there and spent over $100 in the bar since "our table was just about ready". After a 2 hour wait I was verbally insulted by the "manager" who stated that he did not want to sell food to my party. Never again, having been willing to pay a +$500 tab for our meal and then been so insulted that we had to leave after waiting 2 hours...
(1)
Karen B.

We have been coming here for years and the food is delicious, service is great and the price is reasonable. They do not have a kids menu, but you can order sides or split a plate. Try their red sangria - yum! I hate to post this, but the music in the restaurant kept going in and out...annoying. Paleo/Primal tip: you can order a veggie side instead of pasta or just give your pasta side to you child :)
(4)
Charleen S.

Four star food with two star service. Had pasta on the brain after touring a pasta factory and this was the boss' suggestion. The food did not disappoint - we started with a free toasted ravioli appetizer, compliments of Yelp check-in surprise! They were the best I've had, although I am not a native St Louisian so my experience is limited. For lunch, he had the baked rigatoni with a creamy tomato meat sauce. Looked delicious and it must have been because there was not a drop left. I went with the portabello ravioli. It was scrumptious with lots of garlic, asparagus, and red pepper. The service was abysmal though, which really took away from the overall experience. We were greeted and seated; I left my drink order with the boss and headed for the restroom. By the time I got back he still had not seen a waitress. She finally showed up, so we gave her our entire order to avoid another lengthy wait while she brewed our sodas. She dropped off the app with the drinks and we didnt see her again until right after the food arrived. She asked us how our food was practically before we even tried it, and we didn't see her again until she dropped the check without offering us dessert. We didn't stick around to see if she would grab the receipt before we left; I might have fallen apart at that point. The food was good enough that I'll be back to give them another chance, but I will try other places first...
(3)
Makenzie H.

I had the linguine with clams and the portion size was HUGE! I would recommend splitting and eating with someone or taking half of it home. The atmosphere was OK. Nothing special about this Hill restaurant for me.
(3)
Joe S.

Magnifico! Cozy atmosphere, OUTSTANDING food, great service! Had the veal parmigiana, the best I've had in years. A little off the beaten path but worth it!
(5)
Jim V.

Food is okay, one star since they can not keep their specials updated on their website. The reply was our vendor is unable to keep up, most businesses would find this unacceptable and/or find a new company that can handle the business website requirements. Also, when you click on food truck it lists the week of June 23rd-June 30th. Today is May 18, 2015, must be for 2014. Again poor!
(1)
Owen M.

Several of us went here during the Christmas holiday. Very crowded, very popular. A bit of a costumer line as we arrived at the restaurant. A good sign. As we had a reservation the wait was reasonable thou the lady staffing the front desk was unable to let us have any certainty on how long the wait might take. The food was good, seafood pasta etc. Server was cool with the busyness of the place. Don't think you can go wrong here, arrive early with a reservation. Parking a bit of a challenge as the Hill parking is along neighborhood streets designed a long way back to handle much less traffic. Next time we are in St. Louis we will spend an evening here.
(4)
Shelby W.

Absolutely love this place. Toasted ravs are the best I've had with amazing sauce, and it's free when you check in on yelp. The beef mudega was delicious - hope you like it a little bloody!
(5)
Matthew G.

Met my expectations! I went here Saturday night after hearing about Zia's for so many years and seeing all their stuff in the grocery stores, so my expectations were pretty high. First of all I went at 8 pm on Saturday with no Reservations and it wasn't a problem. My wait was quoted about 25 minutes but only ended up being 15. There is a nice front bar area to wait and order drink while your waiting for your table. The dining room is broken up into a few different rooms and has that real nice old school Italian feel! When seated my server greeted the table promptly and told us about the evenings specials which all sounded amazing. I ordered the Moscacolli al Forno which was made with a homemade sage cream sauce chicken, broccoli, mushrooms and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs then baked! Oh my God! First of all it was huge! Then the taste was amazing and piping hot. We were given fresh baked bread which was also very good, it better have been since were on the Hill after all! The price was $13.49 which considering the amount and quality was definitely a bargain! The bill process was quick and smooth. The bathrooms are small but clean. This place had been there forever so you need to expect things to be a little cozy anywhere on the Hill. There is definitely a vast variety of places to go on the Hill but make sure you insert Zia's in your rotation!
(5)
Valerie C.

Amazing! Service was exceptional. Salad was stupendous. Catelloni broccilli had the best cream sauce I've ever had. We had tiramisou and cannoli which were perfect. The hommade sangria was delicious, not too sweet. It was amazing.
(5)
Holly H.

Holy food, Batman! Make sure you come here hungry because the portions are HUGE! Many of the dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen could easily be split. This is one of the more casual restaurants on The Hill, and it's very family friendly. Great news for families on a budget because one plate of spaghetti here could easily feed like... um, maybe 25 kids? My husband wanted to try the toasted ravioli appetizer, as it's a favorite of his. They were very good and we could tell they were homemade, though we both agreed we've had better at a few other places. However, that didn't stop us from eating every last one. All of the entrees come with a house salad and side of pasta. They have one of the best house salads... simple, yet full of flavor. They use their signature Zia's dressing on this salad, which can also be purchased at local grocery stores. I chose a baked cod dish topped with a white wine / lemon / butter sauce, cheese, mushrooms, and broccoli. It was cooked perfectly. I opted for the garlic and olive oil pasta. My husband decided on the chicken parmesan and white pasta. Everything was excellent, but it was just way too much excellence.
(4)
Michael G.

It was restaurant week, but we managed to slide in because we were out of towners coming from a Hotel. Thanks for letting us know that. Food is standard Italian fare, served in a pleasant atmosphere by well intentioned servers. It was very busy on this Friday night. The portions are huge and the two dollar surcharge to share is a deal. We would return, but our appetite would have to be greater.
(3)
Gayle R.

Four years living and eating in Italy makes dining in an Americanized place like Zia's a bit difficult. We went here on a whim and were craving pizza. It's in THE Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. We were dismayed to find no pizza and not even bruschetta on the menu. We shared a small salad (nothing to write home about) and split a huge portion of their mushroom ravioli with asparagus. It was tasty enough, but too much butter lemon sauce. On a positive note, service was quick and friendly on a busy weeknight. The moment of truth of the place's Americanization was the menu's lack of vegetarian fare, a pasta dish with chicken AND bacon in it and the topper---when the waiter referred to our selected dish as including "as-per-I-jeye."
(2)
Bryan L.

Totally recommend the Spiedini Prosciutto as your entree, but if you order the Calamari Fritti appetizer make sure to invite your friends...there's enough for the whole table!
(5)
Bob F.

Wow!!!! Excellent service , outstanding food and great atmosphere. Even saved parking up front on busy street for elderly family members. Definitely a neighborhood gem.
(5)
Shawn M.

I leave one star because we didn't even get to eat. Went by about 4pm with my girlfriend and daughter to get some appetizers before the cardinals game. The place had maybe two tables occupied. It was pretty well empty. Asked for a table for three but said my parents may come by in an hour. The hostess told me she couldn't seat us since other people would show up later. I said it would be an hour and we were ready to order now. She still told us to hit the road. Empty restaurant and we were ready to eat and she turned us away. So we walked down the street to Charlie Gittos and got some great dinner. I recommend everyone go to a restaurant that wants people to eat there.
(1)
Gary S.

Almost all of the food was fantastic. Yummy pastas, bread. However I don't recommend the calamari or the salad. The service was amazing and the waiter gave us a great wine recommendation. The tiramisu was really the best I've ever had! Great prices too!
(4)
Tara C.

Nice server, good service. Food was ok. Nothing great. I had the Chicken Marsala. It was grilled chicken swimming in a pool of a sort of bland sauce. There were green peppers and mushrooms on the chicken. I had the pasta with the oil and garlic...again not much flavor. The dinner salad was my favorite part because their house dressing was yummy...which was a good thing because they only have one dressing. The bread didn't seem to be homemade but it was warm so that made it ok. Being from out of town, I wouldn't come back. It just didn't thrill me or blow me away.
(3)
Carter C.

Some of the better chicken options I've seen. I had the breaded chicken with lemon butter and ohhh was it delicious...the bread and pasta are also amazing. Prices aren't bad at all!
(5)
Parmela P.

Well, I'm obviously in the minority here. I keep asking myself what sets our experience apart from all those that I've heard rave, for years, about this must-go place on The Hill? I'm truly at a loss as to what the difference was. But, I'm brutally honest, so this is based on our experience, one weekday evening. We did not have reservations, but our wait wasn't long...maybe 10 minutes. The place is old and shows it, but I feel they are trying to keep it looking presentable. It's definitely an older crowd. Once seated, we decided to try something we'd watch go by several times that looked appetizing - the Mozzarella Fritti ($6). It's a slice of fresh Mozzarella, fried and served with marinara. We LOVE fresh, fried mozz, so this was a no-brainer. It came out quickly and was very good. A tad greasy, didn't seem hand-breaded which made me question the "fresh" part, but I could be wrong. The flavor was good which made me think maybe it was fresh. The marinara was zesty and very good. I'd recommend it. For our entrees, I asked about the Pasta Con Pesce because it's one of my favs. But I wondered what were "sea legs?" Maybe the leg meat of the crab? No, not quite. I was informed it was that imitation Krab meat crap that isn't crab at all, but a blend of cast off white fish pieces transformed into something that is supposed to be a substitute for real crab. Not. No thanks. So, on to my second choice. Pollo Soto ($14). It's advertised as a charbroiled chicken breast, topped with Italian cheese, white wine, lemon butter, mushrooms and spices. The breast was very large and tender, but the lemon butter could have used more lemon, less butter. My plate had so much greasy-yellow stuff puddling on it, I slipped the handle of my knife under my plate to raise one end up so the grease would puddle away from my chicken. Not something I'd expect at such a restaurant. My fiancee had the chicken parmigiana ($15). That is his barometer for all Italian restaurants. It's always the first thing he'll try at a new Italian place. He's sort of an expert on the dish. His assessment: average at best. Lastly, I had a glass of wine with an average pour. And my salad was good but dripping with far too much dressing. In general, I think the kitchen could learn from a less is more approach with some of these dishes. And of course, spend the money to serve true crab meat or take the dish off your menu. Serving imitation Krab is just embarrassing for a restaurant of this supposed caliber. We will not go back. There are far too many other fantastic places on The Hill to patronize.
(2)
Ryan W.

Best restaurant on the hill.. maybe the whole city. Friendly staff and best pasta I've ever had. Fresh salads as well and reasonably priced fir as nice as the atmosphere
(5)
Severin P.

Absolutely fabulous setting, atmosphere, and food with a knowledgable and friendly staff.
(5)
Aditi M.

The first restaurant that I visited on The Hill .. My friends took me there on my birthday and it was great !! We were a big group of 17 people and every dish was delicious !! Not a single soul was disappointed with their choice .. The server was vey patient with the big group and explained each item on the menu with a smile on his face .. I got a complimentary birthday special tiramisu :)
(5)
Kathy H.

I'm going to apologize first, because pretty much everyone I know loves Zia's. It's okay, but I don't think it's a whole lot better than a Pasta House. And it's more expensive. I will admit loving their toasted seafood ravioli. But it tastes suspiciously to me just like the frozen seafood ravioli you can get in freezer case at DiGregorio's Market and then take home and fry yourself. I like their house salad a lot, too. Typical sweet Italian dressing. Sometimes a little too much of it. Pastas are okay. The sauce is a little bland for me. Not much like my grandparents, my dad or I make. Huge portions, though. Things are sauced a little heavily for me, too. Don't get me wrong. Zia's isn't bad. It's just the Americanized Italian that a certain segment of St. Louisans think is gourmet. Maybe it's just that I cook pretty good Italian, so when I eat Italian out, I want it to be special. I just don't find Zia's special.
(3)
Valerie S.

***Please note, this is a review of the Zia's Food Truck*** Food Tried: - Toasted Ravioli: topped with parmigiana and served with marinara ($5) - Italian Fries: french fries topped with truffles and parmigiana? ($5) Lately, my absence from the Indianapolis Food Truck Market has taken its toll. I've been On The Move though, taking an extended route to London, and on the way, I made sure to try trucks where I found them. Luckily, my second night out of Indianapolis, I found myself in Forest Park for the Art Museum's Friday Film Series, which also happened to feature a food truck festival! (If I've got to miss the FFFTF in Indy, this is a good alternative.) After perusing the trucks, I settled on Zia's because my St. Louis guide noted that Zia's on the Hill, the restaurant which the Zia's food truck is affiliated with, is well renowned in the area, and is well received. And it's Italian, which while not one of my absolute favorite cuisines, is part of my heritage and always welcome in my diet. I decided to keep things light, going for a few apertivos. For the crowd around the Zia's truck, the guys working it were very efficient and it took only a few minutes before I was bestowed two dishes of artery-clogging goodness. The Toasted Ravioli was by far my favorite, crispy and flavorful; not too stuffed but balanced in flavor and completely complimented by what looked like a home-made marinara sauce. The Italian fries (which aren't on the restaurant menu and thus escape my memory of exactly the toppings that were on them...) were tasty, reminding me of the bacon fat popcorn at Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL (which I had a few days later). They weren't as dynamic as the ravioli, but still would go well with a saucy pasta dish. In fact, I dipped the fries in the marinara left over from my ravioli, and that was exactly the flavor I wanted. Given that I ordered two appetizers, I ran the bill a bit more than I do at most trucks, but I could easily have been satisfied on one alone (I was sharing!). Their prices probably average around $8 for a meal, which is reasonable, given that you're enjoying the food truck atmosphere and are certainly encountering a more cost-efficient option than the sit-down restaurant. Their containers were eco friendly, though it always suits to offer something that has a lid in case, like me, you always have leftovers. I didn't buy a drink for my apertivos, so I also can't attest to how well matched Zia's options are. I'm thinking a Pelligrino would go well, of course. It seems like Zia's reputation as a St. Louis staple for Italian food is well earned. They offer creative yet traditional dishes and appetizers, and do it quickly as well as reasonably-priced. Given the wide variety of options I had at the food truck festival, I was pleased to have given Zia's a shot.
(4)
Russell B.

Was not impressed by service as we walked in. Was greeted with a 2 in your party, follow me. I guess the option of sitting in the bar area or outside dining was out of the question, even though other guests were seated outside. Only a handful if travels were occupied, and was seated directly next to the service station. Other than that experience. Food was good, very large portions. My wife and I split a Pasta dish for lunch and still could not finish it.
(2)
Zach F.

This is the best Italian food that I've had yet. Anytime I travel through St. Louis, I make sure to go here for dinner. The entrees are of good portions and I have yet to try something that did not taste fantastic. The Zia's house salad is also a must have. It's made with provel cheese, a staple of the STL area, which adds a unique flavor to their already palatable house dressing. Tip: If you get a meat entree, opt for the garlic butter pasta for your side, it's great.
(5)
Bethany H.

Zia's used to be my favorite restaurant on The Hill when I lived nearby in the 80's and into the 90's. However that certainly changed after bringing my family there recently while visiting St. Louis. Service was poor. My father ordered a salad with Thousand Island dressing and they brought one out with house dressing. When I asked about this, the waitress said, "Oh, we don't have Thousand Island." That's fine that you don't have it, but let the customer know when the order is placed. Drinks weren't refilled and one of the servers asked, "Hey, can you pass me those salad plates?" He could have walked around. The toasted ravioli were tasty but small. The dinner salad was just lettuce with provolone cheese and some pimentos. The biggest let down was my overcooked pasta tutto mare. The highlight of Zia's seafood pasta was "sea legs." Apparently sea legs are chunks of imitation crab meat made out of polluck, formed to look like a crab leg. Disgusting. I had to fish out these huge chunks and put them to the side of my plate. I should have used them to walk out of the restaurant. Anyway, I will not be going back nor recommending this place to anyone. So very disappointed.
(1)
Mandi L.

You are going to get what you pay for. I had a bottle of the Chardonnay ($40), toasted T-Rav ($7) and Pasta Con Broccoli ($13). It was all phenomenal. Just really good Italian food. You felt like you were eating in some Italian family's house. Just a great place to go with friends, a date or solo. Service wise they are extremely knowledgeable about the menu but not so friendly. I didn't feel very welcome.
(4)
Leah D.

No matter if you are a local or a visitor, going to Zia's is a MUST! They are known for their salads, but you can't go wrong with a glass of homemade sangria, calamari, or tortellini. Great for two or twenty people!
(5)
D W.

We are not from the St Louis area and were looking for a good Italian dinner. A coworker from the area suggested Zia's on the Hill as the place for a great dinner. Overall, we were not disappointed. The salad stole the show with not only the portion size but the unique dressing - one of the best house dressings we ever tasted. The entrees were outstanding - two of my daughters had Chicken Parm, my wife and other daughter had Mostaccioli and I had the Saltimbocca chicken. Absolutely outstanding and nothing but high marks from some of the pickiest eaters (my daughters) on the face of the earth. Our server was fast and attentive but not overly friendly (though I care little about the small talk with the wait staff - just bring me the food). The only negative aspect of the experience was the wait. We arrived at 5:30 and were told it would be a 30 minute wait for 5 people since they needed to add a chair at the end of a table for 4 - no problem. After an hour our patience started to waiver as it seemed like everyone that came after us were seated. However, even with the long wait it was well worth it and we highly, highly recommend Zias on the Hill.
(4)
John A.

The atmosphere is authentic and the food is delicious! I'm Italian and I have to say I was impressed both times I've eaten there. I'm coming back to St. Louis this weekend and Zia's is on our agenda again.
(4)
Carol W.

We loved the toasted ravioli And the Artichoke hearts , since I like ravioli continued with seafood amd was well rewarded. The prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Barry H.

Wife & I had lunch on the hill yesterday. We chose Zia's because of friends recommendations. The were so right. Excellent food and friendly service. We have friends arriving from out of state soon and this will be the first restaurant we will visit.
(5)
Richard E.

St. Louis classic...if you want a decent Italian option on the hill it is worth visiting this old world resturaunt. The salad is famous and the dinners are classic.
(3)
Ann T.

Stopped by this place for the first time a few weeks ago. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the special of the day - lasagna. It was good although I generally like my lasagna with a little more sauce. There's was more cheese. It was good, I'm just saying that's my personal pref. Fresh bread w/oil and spices was delicious. Salad featured that tasty, slightly sweet Italian dressing. One area for improvement would be drink service. I don't like my glass to get empty or to have to ask for a refill.
(4)
Andrew W.

Spadini was pretty good, but the veggie pasta was fairly boring. The pasta shells side dish was amazing however! Spicy and cooked to perfection. Bummer that the side dish was the most memorable part. Oh yeah, and that they were having sewer work done during the lunch hour and we were sitting outside. Ick.
(3)
Sara B.

Outdoor seating is always a place. The pasta was good and the service was good. Nothing blew me out of the water though. I think I need to give this place another go.
(3)
Tricia M.

This is close to home but I put it on Zia's for better calamari because they buffalo it and it's amazing (not chewy the times I have had it) and good sauce. 1 of my top 6 Italian, and you can send the sauce nation wide to family.
(5)
Adele S.

When I was a kid, my family would go to Arvey's, a greek-owned coffee shop on Oakton and Harlem, that inexplicably served a top notch veal parmesan, thinly pounded slices of heaven, breaded, fried and layered, covered with a home made meat sauce full of finely ground beef and bay leaf. This is my bench mark, what all veal parmigiano should aspire to. Which is not what I got at Zia's. I got 2 rather thick veal steaks, covered in sauce and provel. I haven't eaten veal in years just because of the cruelty factor. Now I won't eat it because this was the chewiest, most gristly veal ever. Really bad. Also, they used to serve a commercial brand of spiced olive oil and now replaced it with their own brand, which is not as good, too peppery. I did buy 2 bottles of salad dressing, which I love and it is just as good as I remember. Several members of our party didn't like provel cheese and Zia's doesn't serve anything else. Portions are enormous. When we got home, I transferred my daughter's leftovers into a tupperware and there was 2 lbs of pasta! Of course, there was 2 lbs left over because she didn't like the meat sauce...too licorice-y. Hubby was pissed off that they didn't have lasagna on the menu. At all. Never. Service was good and we didn't have long to wait...it was supposed to be a 45 minute to an hour wait; we were called after 20 minutes. Unfortunately our party wasn't all there, so we let someone else have the table and we ended up being seated 1/2 hour later.
(3)
Patrick N.

zia's is decent place to go for an inexpensive meal on the hill. it is a good spot for lunch or a quick early dinner before a concert or blues game. the toasted ravioli is the best in the city, and their house italian dressing is very good. otherwise, the food is all decent, but nothing remarkable.
(3)
Fred W.

Had lunch there yesterday, sat outside under the awning. service was good, but food was spotty. Deep fried tomato app was interesting, salad was OK too, but dressing was sweet. Wife had Baked mostiaccoli with meatballs which was very good, but very sweet sauce. I had chicken spedini stuffed with prosciutto, one of my favorite meals and it was terrible. I came out swimming in a flavorless watery sauce and covered with what looked like boiled mushrooms. the whole thing was totally lacking in flavor and I left half of it. The side of shells were gummy. We would not return
(2)
Jennifer B.

Alright, I'm one for being healthy but I also feel it is important to live. I have a bit of Southern in my blood, and I love fried foods. Therefore, I am a fan of Zia's. If you want that fresh garden healthy sort of Italian, then go somewhere else. If you want the sort of unhealthy but oh-so-good Italian that most of St. Louis grew up with, this is your place. That's not to say that you can't get unfried and healthy entrees here, you can and in fact I did on my last visit. The portions are great and the prices are modest. On my most recent visit I tried the fried artichokes for my appetizer, and have now had every appetizer that they serve. I loved them. I had the pollo sotto for my entree, and it rocked. It was actually near to being a healthy dish, too!
(4)
kathy h.

My favorite St. Louis place. Decor is ok, food is fantastic. I can hardly get past the Chicken Spedini. I order this a lot. The tutta mare is wonderful. Pastas are large enough to split. Salad is one of the best in St. Louis.
(5)
Jennifer H.

I really like Zia's on the hill for a couple of reasons. I know a lot of people don't but may I suggest that perhaps you're just ordering the wrong things. Zia's has really good pasta. I would stay away from everything else on the menu; it just isn't very special. I know some people refuse to order pasta out at a restaurant b/c they feel they can make it themselves, but seriously, you can't make pasta like they make at Zia's. I promise. I like the Tutto Mare best, with a great combination sauce of both red and white, the house salad- one of the few places I like provel cheese, and dessert (I usually trade off between a couple of them). I think you should give Zia's another shot; this time skip on the steak and get the pasta instead.
(4)
Jeff S.

What a surprise! I was in St. Louis on a road trip with friends and we were told this was a good place. We ended up driving around the Hill and walking around for a bit- we almost ate at some other place and I'm glad we didn't. Everything was great about this place, the salad, the meal. Our server was fast and friendly, and overall the price was reasonable. "Provel" cheese on everything... we had to wikipedia that one. We liked everything so much we bought some of the salad dressing and sauce after we returned home- however the lemon and butter sauce wasn't what I expected- I wish they would have the creamy white sauce packaged for sale instead. I would go back the next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Jill D.

I was visiting St.Louis to see in-laws and was taken here for the first time. It was the day after Christmas, a Friday, and I think everyone's internal calendars were off due to the holidays and it being a long weekend. When we called at 1:15 in the afternoon to make a reservation for 6 we were told reservations were not taken for Saturdays. No one on either end of the phone caught that it was actually Friday. We got to the restaurant just before 5:00 pm and my mother and sister-in-law, who was on crutches from recent knee surgery, went in first and were told to stand and wait by the hostess. When the rest of us arrived we were told by the manager the best table we could get would be one for 4 with a seat at the end to accommodate the 5th (one of our party had dropped after we could not get reservations) since all of the bigger tables were being held for people that had called and gotten reservations. My in-laws pointed out that we had called and were told reservations were not being taken. The manager responded that we were told that because we only had 5 people. We then explained we did have 6 at that time and were still told reservations were not being taken. She then responded that she was not the one we had talked to so she could not account for why we were told that. She led us to the table in a room where maybe half of the tables were occupied and my father-in-law again stated we had called ahead for reservations. The manager responded that it was not anything she could explain since she had not been the one on the phone and it was his choice to stay if he wanted to. The exchange got heated. My father-in-law did not want to go elsewhere so we stayed, A hostess came in a moment later to give us menus and literally threw the last one on the table, knocking off a place setting of silverware in the process. Both sides could have handled this better but I really do expect more in terms of customer service from a restaurant manager. At no point was an apology spoken for the mix-up over the phone or was an offer of an accommodation of any kind made; I think even a free appetizer could have diffused the situation. Bottom line, a customer was upset and instead of trying to sympathize and solve the manager chose to argue and set the example to her staff to treat paying customers with indifference at best. The food was fine, large portions and nothing exceptional either way in terms of taste. Chicken Antonio nice for those watching fat and calories and the Chicken Marsala had green peppers in it which was unusual. While the house salad dressing is tasty and popular enough to be sold by the bottle getting a salad (mostly iceberg lettuce) literally swimming in it was overwhelming; ask for it on the side to really appreciate it.
(2)
Monika M.

Great salads! Great casual and mostly affordable place.
(4)
Carrie L.

My father and I were visiting family in STL and wanted to experience " The Hill" that my aunt kept raving about, we read really good reviews on Zias and thought we would give it a try. All we wanted was a bowl of pasta, how hard is that to screw up... right? Wrong!! We started off with the calamari which was good, soft, not too greasy then my father got a red onion and tomato salad which would've been better if the tomatoes were in season. I.got a house salad with my chicken marsala, the salad was okay, but way too much dressing to have any type of nutritional value. I wanted to cry when my chicken marsala came to the table, it was grilled not sauteed chicken breast in a sweet tomato sauce with raw green peppers and mushrooms. WTH? Do you have any idea what chicken marsala is?? Theres nothing I hate more food wise then sweet tomato sauce and raw green peppers, what a culinary nightmare for me! My dad got the linguini with white clams which was a huge bowl of mush and canned clams, for $8 an entree I guess you get what you pay for, garbage. If that was my Zia id tell her to crack open a cook book, pronto.
(1)
Jason L.

Everyone who comes here loves this place. It's in a cozy little Italian neighborhood, and the food is spectacular. This area can be a little difficult to navigate through at night, if you're a visitor (narrow streets, lots of one-ways) but consult a map before you leave and you'll get the some of the best food in StLouis. If someone tells you otherwise . . . back away slowly while eyeing them suspiciously.
(4)
Chris L.

One of my favorites when I used to live in St. Louis. Reasonable prices, good portions, and a decent ambiance.
(4)
yvonne o.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. As an educator, my patience threshold is very high, however, my six years of experience could not have prepared me for the awful experience I had at Zia's. When our food orders came, two out of the three were wrong. The vegetarian I was with had specified a vegeterian dish and it came with meat sauce, while my medium well steak came out hard and completely brown in the middle. It was hard to cut and very dry. The waiter took both dishes back and apologized for my steak being "overcooked." The waiter brought back new orders, however, after a couple of bites, I found that my steak was fully of sinewy gristle and fat throughout. I was having to take pieces out of my mouth that I could not eat, which repulsed me, especially at a restaurant that was supposed to be higher quality. When I told the waiter, a female manager named Jamie came back and was immediately hostile, accusing me of sending the two orders back on purpose, and said she would not discard the steak meal from my bill. I told her that I didn't eat it or enjoy it, and that I had sent it back twice because the order was wrong. She explained that sometimes medium rare meant well done (?). Long story short, I told her I was not paying for the steak and at that point, she threatened to call the police to come make me pay for my meal. I asked for her boss, and she called the owner of the restaurant and put me on the phone with him. The owner told me that my steak was fine (even though he hadn't been in the restaurant that night) and that he would call the cops if I didn't pay for my meal. He referred to me as "you people" and said he wouldn't let people like me get free food from him. I am a very responsible woman and have been to many restaurants internationally and locally. Nothing could have prepared me for this nightmare experience. My friends were mortified that they had taken me to this place where I was treated so badly. Believe me, avoid this experience at all costs.
(1)
Ally C.

It's gone down hill from the last time I visited several years ago. Decor/dining area needs to be updated. The service is mediocre at best, not genuinely friendly. The best part of my meal was the bread & oil and my salad. My saltimbocca didn't have any flavor and the side pasta wasn't hot when it came out and had that film on it like it had been sitting out. I know Zia's is a staple on the Hill but I would send people elsewhere. There's several other places that have more flavorful food and better service!
(2)
John S.

We were brought here by family members who we were visiting in Missouri. We loved the neighborhood and the homes surrounding the restaurant. It reminded me of the Italian neighborhood in the South End of Springfield, MA. Many of the yards were immaculately groomed with lots of artsy touches and many vegetable gardens. The interior of the restaurant is clean and attractive. We were greeted and quickly seated by a very nice, pretty hostess. Our server was there immediately to bring us water and make suggestions about the menu. The food, I will describe as home made Italian. I am Irish and married into an Italian family who educated me on every aspect of Italian food and its' preparation. To make a long, delightful story short, we all enjoyed our food and the service at "Auntie's" restaurant.
(5)
Rob D.

The good -it's very affordable -the salad is filled with cheese and yummy The bad -the food tastes slightly better than olive garden...but it's a slight advantage VERY BLAND -service was below average, had to ask for things twice etc...not awful but most servers I see are much better than this one. - bread was gross like it had been microwaved I used to love this place 10 years ago...but it isn't 10 years ago so I guess it's time to move on, this restaurant just isn't as good as it once was...its sad, I'll miss the memory of yummy zias :( Sure it's not terrible, and it's not bad to the wallet but if you're on the hill ya might as well go elsewhere and eat something with flavor instead of the bland pasta here.
(2)
Melissa W.

I weep. I weep for the fact that I do not live in St. Louis. Zia's is a gem that I continue to crave. Every day. I love you Zia's.
(5)
Chris V.

Fantastic service & spectacular food. We had the Toasted Raviolis ,Veal Parmesan, Chicken Fettucine, Pollo Al Forno, Zia salad & Cheesy Garlic Bread. I was seriosly impressed with their salad dressing. It was the best I've had outside of Italy. The red sauce with the toasted raviolis and on the pasta was the perfect brend of tomatoes and garlic. This the place to visit on the Hill in St. Louis. I plan on visiting everytime I'm in St. Louis.
(4)
Artura D.

I was well please with my experience at Zia's. We will be returning. Jessica, Jason and the manager Jeff all made sure that our dining was the best. We really appreciate it. We had the Mostaccioli Al Forno and Spiedini Proscuitto and we also had the tiramisu. No complaints from me AT all!
(5)
Anita R.

Was really disappointed. Husbands order came out wrong. This place has went downhill.
(2)
Scott C.

Excellent service, great atmosphere, and reasonably priced--all tucked away in a quaint neighborhood. Lots of Italian dishes to choose from--the pasta con pesce was excellent.
(5)
Ashley G.

Me and my friends were visiting Illinois on a work trip and decided to head to the college park area. Somehow we wandered down to little Italy and found this gem. From the server to the margaritas to the special. Everything was great!
(5)
Jem F.

We went for dinner on a Thursday. For appetizers, we ordered the toasted ravioli, which was great, and the garlic cheese bread, which didn't have much garlic on it (it was mostly bread with insane amounts of cheese on it). Our pastas were alright, good but not amazing. Our service was pretty poor. We did go during a busy time, but our waiter, though friendly, was never around, though we were seated in a prominent area. In the middle of our meal, he asked us if we wanted our garlic cheese bread reheated. When he brought it back, it was pretty clear that he had just microwaved it. The bread had gotten soggy, and it was just generally unappetizing after that. Parking can be difficult to find, especially during busy times. (It's just street parking)
(2)
Beth W.

First time here last week and it was pretty good. We came for my aunts bday and had 3 kids in our group, I wish they would have had a kids menu with smaller portions. We had toasted ravioli which were pretty good. The salad is ok, their dressing is sweeter than most and I wasn't sure that I liked it. My favorite salad is the pasta house one. My aunt ordered filet which I tried and was tender. I had the cannelloni, it was decent but I wish it had cheese melted on top. Also it looked like it was under the broiler a little to long. Maybe there was a little cheese on top but didn't really notice. My kids shared the spaghetti and meatballs which was a huge portion. My husband had the Alfredo which he said he liked. This place is decent but didn't knock my socks off.
(4)
Julie V.

I've only been to the Hill one other time but I'm starting to notice a pattern. Food is okay but nothing amazing, service is wanting, and you leave wondering why the Hill got its reputation. That being said, nothing was overly wrong. Maybe I chose the wrong dish (capellini scampi) because my salad was good as was the bread & oil. The dish itself just had no flavor and that was disappointing since it was quite filling. Service was a disappointment too. My husband and I are shopping for "our" Italian place in the new neighborhood. The waiter wasn't welcoming, ignored us at times, and didn't make us feel welcome for the first time which was a shame considering this is our audition process. I thought maybe we just didn't look the type but there was a birthday celebration at the next table and while they were taking pictures of the birthday girl the waiter was stepping into the photos to clear plates even though plates weren't finished and it was still early in the evening. I get that they need to work but even a 30 second delay would have been an obvious choice (it was obvious to me at least). I'll probably try this place again since the cocktail menu had potential and maybe I just got a bad seat and okay dish.
(3)
Rachele B.

We went for my boyfriends birthday on a Monday night and the place was pretty busy. I had the manicotti which was very good and authentic; even the leftovers were still good. He had the cavatelli broccoli which was to die for! I just kept "taste testing" it. And we even took my dad the seafood ravioli which was excellent with just enough garlic. The chianti house wine was good as well.
(5)
Wendy A.

Best toasted tabs I've ever had!! I would give it five stars, but while we were eating they were arranging for a large party and we constantly had to move around. The food was good and portion sizes well worth the cost! Service at the beginning was great, but after we got our food it was difficult to get our waiter back and waited 10 min for our check after our food was boxed up... Again-food was fabulous!!
(4)
L B.

Absolutely horrible! BEWARE, poor service, poor customer service and just acceptable food. Plenty of other good restaurants on the Hill. This place should be avoided has gone down hill and stayed there. As a St. Louis native, I cannot remotely recommend, AVOID.
(1)
Tim R.

Came with family. Left with friends. Had the Zia's salad and arancini (rice balls). Superb. Really fine food. Others had spedini and fried tomatoes. All superb. Kids had spaghetti with HUGE meatballs. They enjoyed and cleaned their plates.
(4)
Austin Elizabeth H.

Came here with a group of graduate students for dinner. The bread and oil are good, but that was about it as far as my meal went. I got the seafood pasta at the recommendation of my friends, and found it thoroughly unenjoyable. Perhaps it's the distance from the ocean, but it didn't taste as fresh as seafood I'm used to (I'm from the coastal region of Georgia originally). The sauce was creamy, but did nothing to compliment the flavors of the seafood. I probably would not go back unless I had to. There's plenty of great restaurants in this city. Zia's is just the kind of place you really only feel compelled to go to once. Try it, but don't expect to be blown away!
(3)
Evan M.

This place was great, came for lunch and had a very enjoyable meal at their outdoor tables. Inside of the place is nice (and huge) too with family friendly bathrooms. Anyway, back to the food, which was excellent, with huge portions, even for lunch. Also impressed with the extensive lunch menu, especially the seafood dishes. Had the linguini with clam sauce, nicely flavored with lots of clam chunks. The other seafood dish that one of us got was even better, forget what it was called, something like "mare" with cream sauce. Others in our group got two chicken dishes, also very good even though the one with prosciutto was a bit salty, but I suppose it's supposed to be. Almost forgot, the bread was great too, so overall an excellent meal at a reasonable price, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was I'm trying to be a little more discriminating and saving that for my all time favorite restaurants, but this was almost on that level.
(4)
Gary G.

Excellent pasta dishes. Large portions with ample ingredients -- perhaps a bit too much sauce for some, but very enjoyable. Throwback atmosphere good for family or friends.
(4)
Stuart K.

It is really disappointing when an old friend is not doing well, and this old friend is either too tired or has just stopped caring. Yes they had toasted Ravioli, but they just did not have that crisp snap and cheesy meaty filling. I ordered the "special" a chicken dish with prosciutto, provolone, mushrooms on what was supposed to be a buttery sauce. The first plate came out cold. There is no excuse for a kitchen not to have the sauce hot, when it is only the beginning of the dinner rush. Our waitress was great, took the offending dish and put it back to the kitchen for a refire. Our grand daughters had fried mozzarella, and it tasted just like cracker crumbs. The red sauce, out of a jar. Sad, the kitchen acted like it did not care anymore, and were only going through the motions.
(2)
Braden B.

Amazing!! The salad was money. Piccata was top knotch. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for dinner on The Hill.
(5)
Chris J.

I went to Zias on date with my wife. The salad was very good but the entree was just okay - good but not great. I had expected a little more but still OK place. Dessert was good. I won't be in rush to go back but would give it another try.
(3)
Mamie V.

The hill is a wonderful place to get loud, eat great food and have a wonderful time with friends and family! This place has one of the best house salads I've ever had! Zias always makes my tummy happy! I go there quite a bit with family and we love the staff, atmosphere, wine selection and hearty portion sizes! Plus leftovers from this place are almost as good as the night before, and that's coming from someone who rarely eats leftovers!
(4)
Valerie R.

First off wait was about 45 min which is expected for a Saturday evening. Food ok, service HORRIBLE. My veal was tough and had to use husbands knife because they took mine and didn't bring another as requested. Also I ordered wine with meal. Waitress said I would have to remind her, which I did, but never got it. It's a waiters responsibility to remember customers order, NOT the customer themselves. Waitress not friendly. Place is overrated.
(3)
Tina B.

Not bad. My waiter Aaron was very sweet. Garlic bread with cheese was greasy, but not inedible. The Cavatappi Broccoli was good, but drowning in too much sauce. Will probably try one of the other Italian restaurants on 'the hill' next time.
(3)
Kayley W.

Delicious toasted ravioli! I ate a whole appetizer order by myself, which I shamelessly admit since they were so yummy. The complimentary bread leaves something to be desired, which is why I can't give them 5 stars. Also their pasta is good, but not the best that I've had. Overall, I do like going to Zia's if I'm near the Hill, but it's not the best Italian food in STL. Still enjoyable though.
(4)
Jolena S.

Fantastic meal and dining experience. We went on the last night of restaurant week in the hill and did the three course dinner for $25. Arrived early evening (5:30ish) and had at most a 20 minute wait for a table, just enough time to grab a drink at the bar. Once seated we got a bottle of the Castle Rock Cabernet and ordered dinner. He had the toasted ravioli, filet in a brandy cream sauce and chocolate torte. I opted for the tomato salad, veal involtini and cannoli. For his side of pasta he opted for butter and oil sauce while I blended their red and white sauces. He didn't really care for his sauce choice on the pasta, it was too lightly flavored. My only issue with my meal was I had to request a steak knife to cut through the veal. Overall everything tasted great and portions were plentiful. Service was excellent as well.
(5)
Rockey G.

This little Irish guy was made to feel Italian. As previously stated, I rarely venture far from Dogtown. Yet, I decided to make the hop over to the Hill. This place was incredible. I got the Chicken Special for lunch. Not sure what it was called, but it had this wicked good sauce on it. The chicken was perfectly cooked and delicious, but they could put that sauce on anything and I would have eaten it. Check this place out!
(5)
Steven F.

Zia's is one of St. Louis's best restaurants and most likely the most-well known Italian restaurant in the area. Those complaining about the "outdated" interior fail to see that the restaurant is aiming for an old-fashioned look. Why do all restaurants have to look modern to be considered nice? As for the food, the main draw here is the salad. It is very simple: lettuce, cheese, and dressing. But those three ingredients somehow add to to the most delicious salad I've ever had. The dressing is great and can be purchased at local supermarkets. The spaghetti and meatballs is very good and is a gigantic meal. The meatballs are extremely good. The toasted ravioli is pretty good too, some of the best I've ever had. Don't listen to the bad reviews, try Zia's out and form your own opinion. The only thing you need to know: it's somewhat expensive, at around $20-25 a person. However, that seems to be on par with most Italian restaurants. Interior- 4/5 Food- 5/5 Service- 4.5/5 OVERALL- 5/5
(5)
John M.

Very good food and excellent specials. I love Italian on the hill and am not knowledgeable enough to distinguish the best ones just yet. Maybe in time I will give this place a 5. Everyone had some seafood. The salad did come out a little heavy on the dressing. You can definitely get it on the side. Usually I go for the pasta dishes and I'm not from St. Louis so a side of pasta is a little foreign to me. Zia's definitely had the best sides of pasta I've ever had. (It was consistently true when I tried everyone else's) There was so much food it was difficult to finish. Everyone else couldn't. We were celebrating and they brought out cannoli and tiramisu for dessert! Maybe on the house? Both were excellent. Possibly the best tiramisu I've ever had?! Then somehow we took home some Missouri Bakery from right across the street. Excellent dining experience. Will return.
(4)
Wendy F.

Finally made it to the Hill! The Hill is not what we expected. Zias restaurant was tucked in a neighborhood. Throughly enjoyed our dinner. The house salad was so delicious. I could have stopped with the salad and would be happy, but we ordered pasta dinners which I don't even remember what they were called. House Specials! I did try a simple pasta with their marinara sauce. The sauce had a sweet taste which is my favorite way to be served. The place quickly filled up with guest. Glad we went early. The decor is nothing special. Just simple and old. Thought the Hill area had more shopping. Just a lot of restaurants. Would not go out of my way to visit the area again.
(5)
Lowell R.

Ate for the second time at Zia's and I was once again really impressed by the food and service. Started the night out with some Amaro grappa because screw aperitif I was in the mood for some grappa! It was above and beyond the best i have ever had although I don't have it that often. The dinner started with copious amounts of bread with an olive oil and herb drizzle, wish there had been some balsamic vinaigrette to go with it but the oil blend was still quite tasty. Next we had the calamari and garlic cheese bread. The calamari was outstanding, especially with the lemon oil drizzle that came with it. As for the main meal I had the Pasta Con Pesce. The portion was gigantic so I had to quickly throw in the towel and take it home. It was extremely tasty though, the spicy cream sauce and linguine with shrimp and sea legs made my palate one happy camper! With a table of 6 we definitely needed a reservation, even on a Thursday night. Zia's is a popular and long-standing restaurant so it was packed for dinner hour. Expect an old world charm to the restaurant and be ready to carefully make your way to the table as the servers and bussers are busy at work in the dining room and there isn't a lot of space.
(5)
Kathleen G.

I had dinner here with my daughter over the weekend. The environment is very friendly, the service is excellent, the food is okay. We ordered stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer which was okay; lots of stuffing. For entrees, my daughter ordered the chicken parm and I had veal marsala. The veal was tough and the marsala sauce was not very good. The chicken parm was pretty good, so we ended up sharing that and tossing most of the veal dish. For desert we shared cannolis which were delicious. Bottom Line Service- 4 stars Food - 3 stars Cost - 4 stars
(3)
Dennis T.

I love this place. Old school Italian "Hill" feel with generous portions of great food at exceptional values. Might be my favorite restaurant in St. Louis. I usually get the Zia's salad, seafood ravoli, and chicken speidini.
(5)
Camryn P.

Not the best italian on The Hill. We waited an hour for a table, and figured it would be worth it since it was so busy. The toasted ravioli was great, as was the red sauce. The salad was drowning in dressing and nothing to rave about. I ordered one of the specials, a tortellini dish. The chicken inside was very dry and wasn't a very nice texture. The chicken spedini was pretty good, slightly over seasoned. The Alfredo sauce had entirely too much garlic and pepper. The clam and linguine dish was good-no complaints there. Everything is very slow, the food is okay. There are definitely better Italian restaurants on the Hill.
(3)
Patrick C.

Good food and a decent wine. Not great, but good enough to go back for. Big portions. Toasted raviolis were good but the hit of the day was the eggplant appetizer - a huge serving of perfectly prepared sliced eggplant covered with sauce. We couldn't eat it all. Even when we finally got it. Which brings me to the service - definitely not good enough to go back for. We were seated right away by the very friendly, personable hostess, brought water, and ignored. Our waiter did stop by long enough to say he'd be right back with bread. He fibbed. People who arrived long after we did and had different servers had their food before we did. We had been looking forward to Italian food on The Hill and were disappointed with the experience we had at Zia's. We'll try some other place on The Hill next time.
(3)
Leslie S.

How has it been this long before I ever tried this restaurant?! I loved the outdoor seating as I entered the front door for lunch. I had the lasagna special. It was sooo good, I polished it off pretty quickly. This came with a salad, which I requested to-go, so I'd have room only for my lasagna while it was still hot. Looking forward to a return visit.
(4)
Katherine B.

Went here for Hill Restaurant week. I've had it from their food truck and also as an app for dinner, and they have the BEST TOASTED RAVs in the city- crunchy (but not crispy) ravs, with a meaty filling and not too much cheese and plenty of flavor and seasoning. For dinner, I had a white garlic butter cream sauce pasta, which was great. Nice and cheesy, but also well flavored. I had the Veal Saltimbocca, which was crusted veal, and it was a little tough and not flavored all that much - not my cup of tea. The chocolate torte was amazing. After taking a bite, I could see why was it was on the small side. It was so rich, but not cloyingly sweet, and had a perfect texture, not spongy, just melt in your mouth delicious.
(4)
Marni P.

The staff was very nice and the wait was reasonable. Great for small groups or just a date. The food was ok- I wasn't super impressed, but the menu was diverse and had options for everyone. The food came out quickly and was fresh.
(3)
Eileen B.

Zia's is not a place i will return. Too many great places on the Hill to settle for average food, poor service and, most importantly, a non caring kitchen. I thought i ordered a garlic butter sauce pasta. Received a heavy cream sauce. Finally, got the waiter and he said, no problem. Took my plate. Returned with my ORIGINAL plate, watered down to appear not a cream sauce. Awful! Waiter never asked why i did not eat my meal. Took forever to get my bill. Wish we had gone elsewhere as it was my husband's birthday!
(2)
Monsieur E.

Another place close to Zia's was closed so we decided to check this out and was not disappointed. This is definitely a place that I plan on coming back to again. The atmosphere is on par with other places in The Hill. very unassuming in the front, somewhat casual inside but the food is very good. The Crostini Gamberetti is a must get appetizer, not your run of the mill taster, it had just enough spice to make it interesting. Can't wait to try more of the menu at another visit.
(4)
Sarah G.

Great bread, fresh salads, and amazing pastas. My favorite Italian place. You can get a little bit of everything here.
(5)
Jesper J.

Really good atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Drinks are served healthy and the have a good wine selection. Great place to go as a group of colleagues to get a bit away on a business trip or to show your appreciation for your team.
(4)
James H.

Stopped here for a late lunch. Got great service and really good food. Calimari Fritto was perfect, tender and delicious. Salads good, pasta good. A rich but very filling meal.
(5)
Jason B.

Zia's. To quote the Italian stereotype: "Momma Mia!" Zia's is located in the heart of the Italian district of St. Louis. Hey, is that fire hydrant red, white and green? It sure is. Find some parking and head to the green Zia's awning. There are plenty of vegetarian options and the portions are typically Italian (Italians eat big meals in case you didn't know.) Things to do after eating at Zia's: - Lay on your back and bask in the glory of being full of good food. - Die happy. - Wish you never got full so you could continue trying other Zia's options.
(5)
Erica S.

We spend a lot of time on the Hill and the salad at Zias is probably my favorite. I ordered the seafood ravioli and it was alright. My boyfriend ordered the chicken with capers and it was just so so. We couldn't believe they didn't have lasagna. He ordered a side dish of pasta in white sauce and the standard side dish was honestly better than my pasta entree!! Our server was very weird and fidgety and she didn't stay on top of things. I think we will just pick up some dressing and make our own salad at home instead of coming back.
(3)
Kerrie C.

I found this restaurant on Yelp & TripAdvisors and decided to try it based on the reviews. I called at 7pm and asked if they could accommodate about 15 all from out of town....soon. (I know, horrible lead time) Without skipping a beat, Jeff and his team said No problem and hooked us up. I offered that we could have separate tables, but he wound up being able to set us up within 20 or so minutes with one giant table. The waiter was fantastic and handled our crazy group well. The food came out quickly and was definitely some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. The waiter told us that Zia means Aunt in Italian and that all of the recipes came from the Aunts of the family. Our waiter didn't even flinch when we asked for 5 separate checks. The food and experience was so great that some of the family members returned the next day. Incredible experience. If I am ever back in STL, I will DEFINITELY return to Zia's.
(5)
Alison E.

Generous portions and SO delicious. I always try to get my out-of-town company over to Zia's. The calamari, lasagna, and baked pasta are all favorites!
(5)
D W.

This is a great place for their SALAD. Their SALAD is wonderful and sweet. Their bread is nice and their House Olive Oil is ZESTIER than most. However, as many times as I have eaten here with family and friends, I have never had an Outstanding memorable meal, aside from the salad. Ate here just last week for lunch. Our waiter had such a THICK accent that we coudln't understand him. He also mis-represented their luncheon seafood pasta by telling my daughter that it had muscles in it. It did not, when presented by another waitress to a side table, after we had already ordered our chilcken dish. My daughter would have definitely opted for the seafood dish. Our chicken was tough and didn't taste fresh. The SALADs as always were exceptional.
(3)
Michael D.

You can't really go wrong with any Italian restaurant on The Hill, but Zia's is certainly among the best options available. Typically, you may be subject to a short wait, but the bar in front is stocked with any beer or liqueur of your choosing. My favorite dish is the Veal Parmesan, and the red sauce is sweet with the perfect amount of kick. The spicy calamari is a great starter, and even the bread and butter you receive upon being seated is top notch. My only real complaint isn't even food related, but venue related. At times, it is very congested in the dining area and it often feels like the servers, bussers, waiters and customers are all maneuvering on top of each other. If you get seated in the table for 2 section along the wall, there is very little room on the tables and walkways. However, the food more than makes up for the lack of space, and everything is very fairly priced. Our most recent visit, my girlfriend and I got two entrees, an appetizer, and two glasses of wine for roughly $70. Prepare to pay a bit more for other similar establishments on The Hill.
(4)
Leah L.

Some of the best food in St. Louis! We went at lunch time and they were super busy. The wait was worth it. Hostess was nice and on her game. Got seated and waited on quickly. Our waiter was a little hurried but we understood, it was close to a shift change. Excellent house dressing, fresh pasta and the grilled chicken in their parm was juicy. We will be making a trip next time we're in St. Louis!
(5)
007a83 -.

I had the spaghetti with sauce and meat balls, it was extremely good. The portions where perfect, I got my moneys worth. There was good seating for our group. I defiantly will return when I'm in town again. Recommended.
(5)
Jason B.

Zia's is good and would probably get 3.5 stars in my book if I could. I would not rate this as high as Trattoria Marcella, but it is still pretty solid. Enjoyed the house salad to start. The toasted ravs were ok, but not great. (We tried both kinds) My wife's entree was tortellini with cream sauce -- very good! I had their veal saltinbocco and it was good. I can't recall what my in-laws ordered, but they seemed to like it.
(4)
Bryan M.

We found this restaurant by over-hearing a person ask for directions to it. We decided to follow and were glad we did. Everything that we ordered was excellent. The marinara sauce is among the best I have had. As marinara sauce accompanies so many Italian dishes, this is important. The prices are also very reasonable, especially when you factor in the quality of the food. As for service, this is also an area of strength for Zia's. We decided to sit outside and were enjoying our meal when a table of four smokers sat down at the next table. Although they were perfectly within their right to smoke outside, the drifting smoke was ruining our experience. We requested that we be moved inside during the middle of our meal and Zia;s quickly accommodated us. Even though our waiter was stationed outside, he still did a very good job attending to our needs. Being from the Chicago area, with no shortage of Italian restaurants, I have sampled a lot of Italian food. I wish we had a Zia's restaurant here. When I do return to St. Louis, I will pay them another visit.
(5)
Daniella B.

After all the years I've lived in St. Louis, this was my first time in the Hill. We chose Zia's because it was one of the only recommended restaurants open for lunch. Since we came around 2, and I overheard the bartender saying it was their slow season, we did not experience any of the issues a lot of other reviewers complained of. We had prompt, attentive, friendly, and fast service. I will say that this place is over hyped. The salad is definitely delicious but its not like the food here is extraordinary. The quality of the ingredients were pretty average. I ordered the pasta con pesce and I spotted quite a heavy amount of imitation crab in my dish. My boyfriend had the chicken marsala and we're sorry to say that it was a little dry. Also, the house wine came out of a jug - didn't see the label though. While the food wasn't anything to write home about, you can't beat the price. Two entrÃ©es plus appetizer and a half liter of wine only set us back $40. I wouldn't go out my way to eat here. I definitely wouldn't wait an hour to eat here. We'll probably try something new next time we're in the Hill.
(3)
Samantha A.

I have now come here over 10 times. I am absolutely in love with this place and even spent my favorite snow day of all time in their dining room. Let's preface this review with I have no idea what authentic Italian food is. Whether this place has "authentic" Italian food or not, how should I know? What I can say is that I have tried several dishes here and they have all been extremely tasty. My original go-to dish was their tutto mare. Swimming in a delicious cream sauce with bits of crab and shrimp (yummy!). Lately, I have switched to their mostaccioli al forno as it is topped with bacon bits and is super delicious. In addition to these dishes, my husband loves their tortellini piselli. I've never tried it so I can't say. I have also tried their mozarella sticks which are super gooey and come with a generous side of marinara sauce. My only complaint about them is that I would love a bigger portion as there are only 4 mozarella squares per order. Finally, they have recently added a chocolate cake with sea salt and caramel sauce. Super delicious and only $4 (if I'm remembering correctly). Sometimes I even ask for extra salt :) They have take out so I've ordered this along with the mozarella sticks to go a couple of times. Finally, they always have daily specials that come with salad so those are worth hearing before you decide on your meal. Their prices, particularly their lunch prices, are extremely reasonable. Since their portions are huge, my sister and I have often come here and split an entree, gotten a glass of wine, and then ordered a dessert for a little over $20. We can't even go to Panera for that amount anymore.....so I feel that says something. I'd say the big problem with this place is that one of their main dining rooms is pretty dark. They have a separate dining room in the back so I would highly recommend asking if you can be seated in there, especially when it is cold as the first dining room lets in a draft. I'd say the only other downside is that their alcoholic drinks aren't cheap (about $6-$7 for a glass of wine). As a side note, this place gets ridiculously busy on the weekends so be prepared to wait. I live on the Hill so sometimes I just drop off my name, go home, and then come back about 45 minutes later. Finally, I've never had any trouble with the service. They've almost always been friendly and really fast once I sit down. All in all, great food, OK atmosphere, and terrific service.
(5)
Mark H.

I hadn't been to Zia's in a long time and after we had our meal, I asked myself why! My wife and I went down to The Hill to pick up some staples from Viviano's and decided to grab lunch while we were there. We decided on Zia's because we hadn't been there in a long time. Unfortunately, it was graduation weekend and the place was slammed and there was a wait. However, the wait didn't faze us so we found a seat at the bar eventually and had a glass of wine while we waited for our table. When we were seated, the service was outstanding and immediate. I ordered a chicken special that was just over the top amazing and my wife ordered pasta which too was fantastic. We were even treated to a little "entertainment" from the table behind us when a lady decided to completely unload verbally on her husband. He tried to talk calmly to her but she only got louder! She called him every name in the book and had the nearby tables literally speechless. Even the servers were shocked. Eventually, she got,up to leave and it turned out to be an olde lady about 5 feet tall. She took her doggie bag with her and left her husband sitting there just shaking his head. I doubt you'll have the "entertainment" we did but I can assure you that you'll have an excellent meal.
(5)
Sean B.

Great lunch and amazing service.
(4)
David A.

Zia's is one of my favorite restaurants on the hill! They have a great salad. The service is excellent!
(5)
Denise L.

Amazing!!!! I will definitely return! Great service and wonderful atmosphere nestled in a small St. Louis neighborhood!
(5)
Rebecca R.

From someone who eats Italian on a regular basis, this was disappointing. I don't know how it has 4 stars. My saltimbocca looked and tasted like a microwave dinner. The pasta was something a college kid might have accidentally made on their first night away from home. My friends' dishes were no better. The salad was a pack of cheese with some lettuce. Never again.
(1)
Tina A.

The food was great! I attended a birthday dinner. I would definitely go again. I was also happy to know that they sell their salad dressing in stores. It was great!
(5)
Daryl H.

Again, catching up on my reviews. We went to Zia's last week for my wife's birthday. The service was great. We were well attended to by our server. The food was good. Toasted ravioli, veal and chicken dishes were all too much to finish so lunch was set for the following day. Also, it was all reasonably priced! Two things were a bit disappointing. First, we were seated right next to the bussing station. The loud banging of dishes was a source of quite a few interruptions. Second, (and this is just my own taste) the good could have had some kick. I wouldn't call it bland just needed some spice or more garlic???
(4)
Anastasia D.

After hearing a great deal of hype about this place, my husband and I decided to check it out. I wish I had the presence of mind to have made a reservation beforehand, because this place was packed! We waited for maybe 20 minutes and were seated. Our server brought out a bread basket with butter. Usually, I just eat the bread plain because I'm not a huge butter fan, but I am always ecstatic when a restaurant has olive oil available. Thankfully, Zia's had olive oil already on the table. I ordered some kind of fried tomato appetizer as my entree (I wasn't too terrible hungry) and not only was it amazing, the portion was much larger than I was anticipating. We finished our meals and noticed they (of course) offered cannoli for dessert. I couldn't resist. As much as I ADORE dessert, I never want more than a few bites to give a nice ending to dinner/lunch. The size of their cannoli was perfect and there were two. Throughout our meal, I was surprised my water glass never once went empty. With so many people there, I would have understood if they couldn't immediately attend to my water. Overall, I think the hype lived up to my expectation. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Ming C.

Amazing food but I went during dinner on a Sunday night and it was an hour wait so be prepared to wait. I got the Mostaccioli Al Forno which comes with a salad. The starter salad was absolutely delicious, I probably would have been happy with that and the free bread they gave out. The pasta was even better, very creamy and heavy. I felt like taking a nap afterwards. I was on a date and we ordered toasted raviolis as a starter but apparently the order never went out but when we talked to out waiter, he gave us the toasted ravioli for free. Overall, I would definitely come back for a date or special occasion, just be prepared for a wait.
(4)
William M.

One of the best places we've ever eaten, the Spiedini proscuitto is hands down the best food I've eaten in St. Louis !!!!!!! We also had the pasta con pesce which was great as well, the toasted ravioli was ok at best, the sauce more than made up for it though. Our waitress Diane was a very attentive server, and the rest of the staff made it a very enjoyable visit. This will be our place when we visit St. Louis .
(5)
Yvonne F.

Love their white pasta and garlic butter sauces! Had a scrumptious special,chicken breast smothered in a light sauce with mushrooms and other veggies. Chianti wine is also yummy!
(4)
Karyn S.

Yum yum!!! So good! I got the baked pasta with mostaciolli noodles. There was a bunch of cheesy goodness on the middle. So good! I had to split it because it was so big! It was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be!
(5)
Mallory G.

Pretty decently priced Italian food, as well as generous portions. The service was pretty awful though, the waitress was flippant and didn't try to pretend to be happy to help. I got one of the chicken dishes, which was pretty solid. Seems like the pasta dishes are the best here, as it is what most others seemed to have ordered.
(3)
Kimberly H.

Their tiramisu is the best I've ever had.
(4)
Chris V.

Fantastic service & spectacular food. We had the Toasted Raviolis ,Veal Parmesan, Chicken Fettucine, Pollo Al Forno, Zia salad & Cheesy Garlic Bread. I was seriosly impressed with their salad dressing. It was the best I've had outside of Italy. The red sauce with the toasted raviolis and on the pasta was the perfect brend of tomatoes and garlic. This the place to visit on the Hill in St. Louis. I plan on visiting everytime I'm in St. Louis.
(4)
Artura D.

I was well please with my experience at Zia's. We will be returning. Jessica, Jason and the manager Jeff all made sure that our dining was the best. We really appreciate it. We had the Mostaccioli Al Forno and Spiedini Proscuitto and we also had the tiramisu. No complaints from me AT all!
(5)
Anita R.

Was really disappointed. Husbands order came out wrong. This place has went downhill.
(2)
Scott C.

Excellent service, great atmosphere, and reasonably priced--all tucked away in a quaint neighborhood. Lots of Italian dishes to choose from--the pasta con pesce was excellent.
(5)
Erica S.

We spend a lot of time on the Hill and the salad at Zias is probably my favorite. I ordered the seafood ravioli and it was alright. My boyfriend ordered the chicken with capers and it was just so so. We couldn't believe they didn't have lasagna. He ordered a side dish of pasta in white sauce and the standard side dish was honestly better than my pasta entree!! Our server was very weird and fidgety and she didn't stay on top of things. I think we will just pick up some dressing and make our own salad at home instead of coming back.
(3)
Monsieur E.

Another place close to Zia's was closed so we decided to check this out and was not disappointed. This is definitely a place that I plan on coming back to again. The atmosphere is on par with other places in The Hill. very unassuming in the front, somewhat casual inside but the food is very good. The Crostini Gamberetti is a must get appetizer, not your run of the mill taster, it had just enough spice to make it interesting. Can't wait to try more of the menu at another visit.
(4)
Sarah G.

Great bread, fresh salads, and amazing pastas. My favorite Italian place. You can get a little bit of everything here.
(5)
Jesper J.

Really good atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Drinks are served healthy and the have a good wine selection. Great place to go as a group of colleagues to get a bit away on a business trip or to show your appreciation for your team.
(4)
James H.

Stopped here for a late lunch. Got great service and really good food. Calimari Fritto was perfect, tender and delicious. Salads good, pasta good. A rich but very filling meal.
(5)
Alison E.

Generous portions and SO delicious. I always try to get my out-of-town company over to Zia's. The calamari, lasagna, and baked pasta are all favorites!
(5)
D W.

This is a great place for their SALAD. Their SALAD is wonderful and sweet. Their bread is nice and their House Olive Oil is ZESTIER than most. However, as many times as I have eaten here with family and friends, I have never had an Outstanding memorable meal, aside from the salad. Ate here just last week for lunch. Our waiter had such a THICK accent that we coudln't understand him. He also mis-represented their luncheon seafood pasta by telling my daughter that it had muscles in it. It did not, when presented by another waitress to a side table, after we had already ordered our chilcken dish. My daughter would have definitely opted for the seafood dish. Our chicken was tough and didn't taste fresh. The SALADs as always were exceptional.
(3)
Michael D.

You can't really go wrong with any Italian restaurant on The Hill, but Zia's is certainly among the best options available. Typically, you may be subject to a short wait, but the bar in front is stocked with any beer or liqueur of your choosing. My favorite dish is the Veal Parmesan, and the red sauce is sweet with the perfect amount of kick. The spicy calamari is a great starter, and even the bread and butter you receive upon being seated is top notch. My only real complaint isn't even food related, but venue related. At times, it is very congested in the dining area and it often feels like the servers, bussers, waiters and customers are all maneuvering on top of each other. If you get seated in the table for 2 section along the wall, there is very little room on the tables and walkways. However, the food more than makes up for the lack of space, and everything is very fairly priced. Our most recent visit, my girlfriend and I got two entrees, an appetizer, and two glasses of wine for roughly $70. Prepare to pay a bit more for other similar establishments on The Hill.
(4)
Leah L.

Some of the best food in St. Louis! We went at lunch time and they were super busy. The wait was worth it. Hostess was nice and on her game. Got seated and waited on quickly. Our waiter was a little hurried but we understood, it was close to a shift change. Excellent house dressing, fresh pasta and the grilled chicken in their parm was juicy. We will be making a trip next time we're in St. Louis!
(5)
007a83 -.

I had the spaghetti with sauce and meat balls, it was extremely good. The portions where perfect, I got my moneys worth. There was good seating for our group. I defiantly will return when I'm in town again. Recommended.
(5)
Jason B.

Zia's is good and would probably get 3.5 stars in my book if I could. I would not rate this as high as Trattoria Marcella, but it is still pretty solid. Enjoyed the house salad to start. The toasted ravs were ok, but not great. (We tried both kinds) My wife's entree was tortellini with cream sauce -- very good! I had their veal saltinbocco and it was good. I can't recall what my in-laws ordered, but they seemed to like it.
(4)
Bryan M.

We found this restaurant by over-hearing a person ask for directions to it. We decided to follow and were glad we did. Everything that we ordered was excellent. The marinara sauce is among the best I have had. As marinara sauce accompanies so many Italian dishes, this is important. The prices are also very reasonable, especially when you factor in the quality of the food. As for service, this is also an area of strength for Zia's. We decided to sit outside and were enjoying our meal when a table of four smokers sat down at the next table. Although they were perfectly within their right to smoke outside, the drifting smoke was ruining our experience. We requested that we be moved inside during the middle of our meal and Zia;s quickly accommodated us. Even though our waiter was stationed outside, he still did a very good job attending to our needs. Being from the Chicago area, with no shortage of Italian restaurants, I have sampled a lot of Italian food. I wish we had a Zia's restaurant here. When I do return to St. Louis, I will pay them another visit.
(5)
Daniella B.

After all the years I've lived in St. Louis, this was my first time in the Hill. We chose Zia's because it was one of the only recommended restaurants open for lunch. Since we came around 2, and I overheard the bartender saying it was their slow season, we did not experience any of the issues a lot of other reviewers complained of. We had prompt, attentive, friendly, and fast service. I will say that this place is over hyped. The salad is definitely delicious but its not like the food here is extraordinary. The quality of the ingredients were pretty average. I ordered the pasta con pesce and I spotted quite a heavy amount of imitation crab in my dish. My boyfriend had the chicken marsala and we're sorry to say that it was a little dry. Also, the house wine came out of a jug - didn't see the label though. While the food wasn't anything to write home about, you can't beat the price. Two entrÃ©es plus appetizer and a half liter of wine only set us back $40. I wouldn't go out my way to eat here. I definitely wouldn't wait an hour to eat here. We'll probably try something new next time we're in the Hill.
(3)
Samantha A.

I have now come here over 10 times. I am absolutely in love with this place and even spent my favorite snow day of all time in their dining room. Let's preface this review with I have no idea what authentic Italian food is. Whether this place has "authentic" Italian food or not, how should I know? What I can say is that I have tried several dishes here and they have all been extremely tasty. My original go-to dish was their tutto mare. Swimming in a delicious cream sauce with bits of crab and shrimp (yummy!). Lately, I have switched to their mostaccioli al forno as it is topped with bacon bits and is super delicious. In addition to these dishes, my husband loves their tortellini piselli. I've never tried it so I can't say. I have also tried their mozarella sticks which are super gooey and come with a generous side of marinara sauce. My only complaint about them is that I would love a bigger portion as there are only 4 mozarella squares per order. Finally, they have recently added a chocolate cake with sea salt and caramel sauce. Super delicious and only $4 (if I'm remembering correctly). Sometimes I even ask for extra salt :) They have take out so I've ordered this along with the mozarella sticks to go a couple of times. Finally, they always have daily specials that come with salad so those are worth hearing before you decide on your meal. Their prices, particularly their lunch prices, are extremely reasonable. Since their portions are huge, my sister and I have often come here and split an entree, gotten a glass of wine, and then ordered a dessert for a little over $20. We can't even go to Panera for that amount anymore.....so I feel that says something. I'd say the big problem with this place is that one of their main dining rooms is pretty dark. They have a separate dining room in the back so I would highly recommend asking if you can be seated in there, especially when it is cold as the first dining room lets in a draft. I'd say the only other downside is that their alcoholic drinks aren't cheap (about $6-$7 for a glass of wine). As a side note, this place gets ridiculously busy on the weekends so be prepared to wait. I live on the Hill so sometimes I just drop off my name, go home, and then come back about 45 minutes later. Finally, I've never had any trouble with the service. They've almost always been friendly and really fast once I sit down. All in all, great food, OK atmosphere, and terrific service.
(5)
Kerrie C.

I found this restaurant on Yelp & TripAdvisors and decided to try it based on the reviews. I called at 7pm and asked if they could accommodate about 15 all from out of town....soon. (I know, horrible lead time) Without skipping a beat, Jeff and his team said No problem and hooked us up. I offered that we could have separate tables, but he wound up being able to set us up within 20 or so minutes with one giant table. The waiter was fantastic and handled our crazy group well. The food came out quickly and was definitely some of the best Italian food I have ever eaten. The waiter told us that Zia means Aunt in Italian and that all of the recipes came from the Aunts of the family. Our waiter didn't even flinch when we asked for 5 separate checks. The food and experience was so great that some of the family members returned the next day. Incredible experience. If I am ever back in STL, I will DEFINITELY return to Zia's.
(5)
Mark H.

I hadn't been to Zia's in a long time and after we had our meal, I asked myself why! My wife and I went down to The Hill to pick up some staples from Viviano's and decided to grab lunch while we were there. We decided on Zia's because we hadn't been there in a long time. Unfortunately, it was graduation weekend and the place was slammed and there was a wait. However, the wait didn't faze us so we found a seat at the bar eventually and had a glass of wine while we waited for our table. When we were seated, the service was outstanding and immediate. I ordered a chicken special that was just over the top amazing and my wife ordered pasta which too was fantastic. We were even treated to a little "entertainment" from the table behind us when a lady decided to completely unload verbally on her husband. He tried to talk calmly to her but she only got louder! She called him every name in the book and had the nearby tables literally speechless. Even the servers were shocked. Eventually, she got,up to leave and it turned out to be an olde lady about 5 feet tall. She took her doggie bag with her and left her husband sitting there just shaking his head. I doubt you'll have the "entertainment" we did but I can assure you that you'll have an excellent meal.
(5)
Sean B.

Great lunch and amazing service.
(4)
David A.

Zia's is one of my favorite restaurants on the hill! They have a great salad. The service is excellent!
(5)
Denise L.

Amazing!!!! I will definitely return! Great service and wonderful atmosphere nestled in a small St. Louis neighborhood!
(5)
Rebecca R.

From someone who eats Italian on a regular basis, this was disappointing. I don't know how it has 4 stars. My saltimbocca looked and tasted like a microwave dinner. The pasta was something a college kid might have accidentally made on their first night away from home. My friends' dishes were no better. The salad was a pack of cheese with some lettuce. Never again.
(1)
Tina A.

The food was great! I attended a birthday dinner. I would definitely go again. I was also happy to know that they sell their salad dressing in stores. It was great!
(5)
Anastasia D.

After hearing a great deal of hype about this place, my husband and I decided to check it out. I wish I had the presence of mind to have made a reservation beforehand, because this place was packed! We waited for maybe 20 minutes and were seated. Our server brought out a bread basket with butter. Usually, I just eat the bread plain because I'm not a huge butter fan, but I am always ecstatic when a restaurant has olive oil available. Thankfully, Zia's had olive oil already on the table. I ordered some kind of fried tomato appetizer as my entree (I wasn't too terrible hungry) and not only was it amazing, the portion was much larger than I was anticipating. We finished our meals and noticed they (of course) offered cannoli for dessert. I couldn't resist. As much as I ADORE dessert, I never want more than a few bites to give a nice ending to dinner/lunch. The size of their cannoli was perfect and there were two. Throughout our meal, I was surprised my water glass never once went empty. With so many people there, I would have understood if they couldn't immediately attend to my water. Overall, I think the hype lived up to my expectation. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Ming C.

Amazing food but I went during dinner on a Sunday night and it was an hour wait so be prepared to wait. I got the Mostaccioli Al Forno which comes with a salad. The starter salad was absolutely delicious, I probably would have been happy with that and the free bread they gave out. The pasta was even better, very creamy and heavy. I felt like taking a nap afterwards. I was on a date and we ordered toasted raviolis as a starter but apparently the order never went out but when we talked to out waiter, he gave us the toasted ravioli for free. Overall, I would definitely come back for a date or special occasion, just be prepared for a wait.
(4)
William M.

One of the best places we've ever eaten, the Spiedini proscuitto is hands down the best food I've eaten in St. Louis !!!!!!! We also had the pasta con pesce which was great as well, the toasted ravioli was ok at best, the sauce more than made up for it though. Our waitress Diane was a very attentive server, and the rest of the staff made it a very enjoyable visit. This will be our place when we visit St. Louis .
(5)
Yvonne F.

Love their white pasta and garlic butter sauces! Had a scrumptious special,chicken breast smothered in a light sauce with mushrooms and other veggies. Chianti wine is also yummy!
(4)
Karyn S.

Yum yum!!! So good! I got the baked pasta with mostaciolli noodles. There was a bunch of cheesy goodness on the middle. So good! I had to split it because it was so big! It was a LOT bigger than I thought it would be!
(5)
Mallory G.

Pretty decently priced Italian food, as well as generous portions. The service was pretty awful though, the waitress was flippant and didn't try to pretend to be happy to help. I got one of the chicken dishes, which was pretty solid. Seems like the pasta dishes are the best here, as it is what most others seemed to have ordered.
(3)
Kimberly H.

Their tiramisu is the best I've ever had.
(4)
Claire R.

I have been going to Zia's for years and it is still my favorite restaurant on the Hill. My favorite thing to eat there is their appetizers. My favorites being (in order): the Calamari Picante, which has just the right amount of kick to it; the Parmigiana Di Melanzane, which is eggplant with lots of gooey Italian cheese baked on it; and the Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, which are amazing but include a lot more mushroom than seafood and can sometimes be disappointing. The House salad is really popular and while I like it, be warned it is always completely drenched in dressing. Finally the entrees are also very good but are very big portions that can often times be split, especially if you have appetizers, a salad, and bread before. But I would definitely recommend the Seafood Ravioli, which is in a lighter cream sauce that does a great job of not overpowering the seafood in the ravioli. I also would recommend the Pasta con Pesce which is in an amazing sauce that is cream based with a little marinara, and again just the right amount of kick. The service is also always consistently nice but the wait can be really long near holidays and on weekends.
(5)
Kathy L.

Not as good as it used to be. Food is average same thing you can get at a chain like Olive Garden. Service average. Disappointed not up to the Hill standards I remember.
(1)
Lindsay M.

Okay. Apparently, I'm on my own with this one because it seems that this place has great reviews, but I had nothing that was good. As a dining companion suggested to the waitress, everything was 'fine'. The salad was drowning in dressing, the side of pasta was also drowning in a pool of Alfredo sauce, the sauce that was on the Soto tasted of nothing. Truly nothing. The chicken was well cooked so I'll give them that. However, that doesn't make up for the bland, oversauced, over oiled food. The people I dined with also shared the same sentiments as I on the food. The service was prompt, polite, and knowledgeable, so for that, they received 2 stars. Beyond that, the food wasn't bad, but nothing was good either. This place feels like mediocre, at best, american style Italian. I was really disappointed.
(2)
Mike W.

Always a favorite when we are in the area. Penne Pisilli a favorite of mine.
(4)
Melissa L.

We had to have a meal on The Hill on our trip to STL and since it was Saturday at lunch, Zia's it was. The wait wasn't too bad. We ordered the toasted ravioli and it was good. Hubby ordered the chicken piccata and it was good even though it was burned on the bottom in places. I ordered the steak marsala and was disappointed. I knew that it was going to be different from a classic marsala when I saw that it had green peppers. This did not resemble any marsala dish I have ever had before and so it was rather disappointing. It lacked the flavor of much but the green peppers and the sauce was watery.
(3)
Jeff M.

Great place. As an app, we had the toasted seafood ravioli. ÃŒ had the Speidini prosciutto. Great dish. The house salad was absolutely outstanding. I would go back for the salad if everything else was terrible, which it wasn't. My pasta was so-so. Prices were pretty good.
(4)
Scott G.

Good food at good prices, staff was very friendly and the wine specials were affordable and excellent quality. Will definitely go back next time I'm in the area
(4)
Kevin M.

Server was fast and friendly but forgot the second glass of wine. The special was linguini oscar which sounded good but was full of fake crab "meat" and tough shrimp. Its a shame that the best Italian food is not served on "The Hill".
(2)
Emily K.

I loved everything about Zia's. The atmosphere is nice and casual, the food is amazing and the staff was very friendly and knew what they were serving. Their white sauce is awesome, and I had the chicken spiedini, which was some of the best I have ever had. For dessert, one word: Tiramisu. It's ridiculously good.
(5)
Bill C.

Great
(5)
Jeff B.

Delicious. Great wait staff. Classic Italian. Could use a better beer selection. Don't forget to check-in on Yelp and get free toasted ravioli!
(4)
Carol L.

Was in town for a conference and this restaurant was highly recommended. I don't know why. Raised as an Italian-American in San Francisco (and having lived in Italy for a year), I like to think I know good Italian food. I always like to make a trek to a city's "Little Italy". Of course, SF. Boston, check. Chicago, check. Headed to NY in September (will let you know). So going here was a natural. First of all, I thought the location lacked everything that makes a "little Italy" special. It was totally dead. Perhaps it was the night, and I didn't venture far from this corner, but it was immediately surrounded by residential area with no street activity. The inside of the restaurant was fine. Nothing special, but nothing scary either. I got there as my group ordered the fried ravioli app. Chewy and uninteresting. I ordered their cappellini with artichoke and chicken. It was a huge, uninteresting mess. The chicken chunks were dry (I didn't even bother after the first bite). There wasn't enough "sauce" to the dish so that the cappellini was clumpy/sticky and unflavorful. Four of us had the same dish at our table and the 5th had something penne. All of us picked at our food not wanted to voice what we all apparently agreed upon. Total disappointment.
(1)
Jang N.

I am not sure what's all the fuss about Zia's. It was an OK Italian restaurant, but doesn't deserve my 5 stars. Calamari Picante was OK; it was more like fried calamari in chicken wing sauce. My Linguine and Clam was OK also; but I had better ones in many other Italian restaurants; Zia's was at Olive Garden level. The portion was huge. You can't go hungry from this place. I suggest reducing portion and focus on putting out better quality product.
(3)
Jenny T.

Amazing food and service! We had the toasted ravioli, baked pasta with meatballs, and chicken parmesan. It was all amazing. Highly recommend!
(5)
Emily L.

The portions are HUGE!!!! The food is good and average and you definitely get your money's worth. I had the linguine and clams and it was delicious! Ask anyone and they'll tell you I can eat like no other but it barely looked like I made a dent... Partially because it was a little too creamy for my taste but also because it was an enormous portion. Definitely a great place for pasta but I strongly recommend sharing!!!
(3)
Stephanie T.

I had a really good Italian meal here. I had the sage pasta dish which was really good and paired well with my house white wine. There is a nice bar area in the front, which I suggest you get comfortable at! This place was packed when I went in, but it was worth the wait. Cash is required at the bar for small checks under $20 I believe. They have a free ATM at the edge of the bar. My tiramisu was good, not the best, but a solid representation of the dish.
(4)
Divine-Asia P.

The Eggplant Parmesan is hella good. Not on the menu as a main dish but you can substitute the chicken or veal for the eggplant. Highly recommend this with the pasta in olive oil and garlic sauce.
(3)
Brianna T.

I am so disappointed to give this restaurant a bad review. The food was great. That's not the issue. The issue we have is that our waitress charged two different meals on our debit card, almost two weeks ago. I called them that day to let them know what happened. They blamed it on a computer error and asked me to wait a few days to see if it would fix itself and come off. I waited until Friday. It didn't come off. So I called and they said the manager wasn't it and he'd call back. He didn't call back. So I called back again on Saturday. By this time one of the charges was refunded into the account (which was our bill), the wrong and more expensive meal was still taken out of our account. When I spoke to the manager on Saturday he acknowledged what had happened, and said that he couldn't get into the system for credit cards but it would be taken care of on Monday. Here I am Tuesday and it's still not taken care of and we still can't get anyone to take care of it. Now we will be disputing the charge with the credit card company. Terrible, awful customer service. If you want to pay 100 dollars for a meal that should have originally cost 25 then by all means eat at zias.
(2)
Derek H.

Went here on Saturday night for dinner with my wife. This was her first time at Zia's, even though she's been to many other places on The Hill. For anyone that's never been here, this is another classic Italian restaurant on The Hill. The decor is nothing fancy, but it's still nice. They have a large bar area, which is the first thing you see when you enter the restaurant. They don't take reservations on Saturday, so you'll be in for a little bit of a wait if you come at prime dinner time. Our wait was about 30 minutes, so we just grabbed a drink at the bar and waited. Once seated, my wife and I each ordered a chicken dish. I got the chicken parm, while she got a chicken dish with mushrooms. The exact name of her dish escapes me. Each dish comes with a salad and a side of pasta. The Zia's salad is quite good. The dressing really makes the salad. It's a sweet Italian type dressing. I know you can buy it at the local grocery stores. Our entrees and pasta sides were both very good. I've been here for lunch several times and have ordered the same thing. It's just a slightly larger portion for dinner. They'll give you some fresh bread as well, so there's no way you're leaving here hungry. Their pasta dishes are huge! My wife was trying to bet me that she could finish an entire one for dinner if she didn't eat all day. Ha! I say no way! You'll have some leftovers for sure if you come here. Zia's is one of the more affordable places on The Hill. Before tip, I think our bill was around $35. Not bad at all. If you're looking for some great Italian food in St. Louis, be sure to give Zia's a shot.
(4)
Carlos F.

Baked Pasta (Mostaccioli) with meatballs was awesome! Would have been 5 stars but staff had slight attitude (lots of slamming of plates and glasses).
(4)
Jeff M.

Wonderful Italian food. My wife and mom and I went here the other day. The service was great. The salad was great. The pasta was to die for. We had the house salad, Tortellini Piselli and Capellini Angelico. None of these were a disappointment. I have only eaten in one Italian restaurant in the Orlando FL area that I liked better than this night at Zia's.
(5)
Dustin O.

This is for a review of the Zia's Food Truck. It came near my work today and I walked about a half mile over to it for lunch. The selection seemed to be very nice for a food truck, and all of the food looked and smelled fresh and tasty as I waited in line. I ordered my food, and waited approx. 5 minutes for it to be prepared for me. Once I got it back to my desk, which again was a half mile walk, it was still very hot and melted. I opted for the cannelloni which was 6.00. For that price, it was a fantastic meal. While its not the absolute best cannelloni I have ever had, it is definitely pretty close to the top, and considering the fact that is 6.00... Its will definitely have my repeat business.
(5)
William D.

Before we get into the review of Zia's, let's talk about the outside of Zia's. There are a few curbside tables where diners were eating, and a guitar-playing musician playing for them. And by playing for them, I mean directing a hurricane of sound away from ZIa's wall out onto the neighborhood. We had a wait of about 45 minutes for a table, during which time this ridiculously loud music continued. We actually crossed the street around the corner from the musician to try to get a bit away while we waited for our table because the music was so loud. Now, on to the actual restaurant: The service was perfunctory. Zia's was quite busy, but part of going out is the service aspect, and you want more than just your water to be refilled by the designated water-jug-guy. Our waitress was too busy to ask us how our food was, and forgot to bring by a sauce that we requested for our appetizer until we asked a second time. The food was delicious. If I was breaking things down on serving size, the food would get a 5. Flavor is more like a 3 or 4. The chicken parmigiana looked like it came off the bird version of a Dolly Parton; seriously, this was the largest chicken breast I think I've ever seen. If I had had anything else to eat that day I would have had to take some home. That said, the red sauce was pretty much just tomato, and so it was an enormous, tomato-flavored chicken breast. If there was some garlic or other spices in the sauce, they were't evident. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be, but if so, it made it pretty plain tasting. Best: Good bread, free appetizer of toasted ravioli because we checked in w/yelp, huge portions. Worst: Food a little bland, server didn't seem that attentive, music while you wait pretty aggresive.
(3)
Mary Kate M.

I have been here a couple of times, and I will have to admit -- this is my favorite place on the Hill. Their seafood ravioli is wonderful, and they have an awesome wine selection. It is great for a date night or for a simple family dinner. It really suits the needs of anyone. With so many reasonably priced items to choose from, pretty much anyone can go here on a budget. When it is crowded, the servers do not have any troubles keeping up. They do really well with keeping my glass full, and making sure that everyone is content with their quality of food and with everything else. If you want to try one of St. Louis's diamonds of the city, try Zia's.
(5)
Richie D.

Ya ya, just another Italian joint that business men and families flock to with Italian owners preaching that they were the first Italians in the Hill who did this and that... Well I don't care who the heck truly "invented" the infamous St. Louis Toasted Ravioli but Zia has mastered the recipe!!! I was seeking out the best and nothing less before returning to Chicago...and I think I found it! I loved the Toasted Seafood Ravioli that are ravioli stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat (actually crab, not this odd "sea legs" found elsewhere on the menu), a side of lemon and melted butter, and then topped with parsley. Splendid! If you're not into seafood, then be sure to swap it with the original Toasted Ravioli that is filled with beef and topped with parmigiana and served with a side of marinara. Both are under $7! With a side salad ($6.00) smothered in their homemade vinaigrette dressing, it's perfection with size and flavors. Check out their website for every and any question you may have, or if you're not sure what you have a taste for. Anything you order here will be a large portion, with often bread, their namebrand oil and a salad. I was also happy to find that it was not overwhelmed with cigarette smoke like many other Hill businesses. It may very well be an Italian [pronounced Eye-taliun] Mafia requirement.
(5)
Curtis V.

I have been here a few times and all my visits have been great. When I come for lunch I love to get their steak sandwich one cheese garlic bread. Hands down the best steak sandwich I have ever had. This place is always busy and also has great Pasta Dishes. Overall great Italian food
(4)
Adam M.

My wife and I went to St. Louis for a weekend away from the kids. We decided that going to The Hill for some great Italian. Because of Yelp we decided to go to to Zia's. We shared everything we ordered: -Toasted Ravioli - good, but nothing special - Mozzarella Friti - above average, especially the texture. The marinara was maybe the best I have ever had. - Zia's salad - potentially the best salad I have ever had, but shouldn't be eaten for health. The dressing, cheese, and meats were fantastic - Pasta carbonara - great!! Bacon was crispy and plentiful, the sauce was creamy. Pasta cooked perfectly. - Canoli - very good, nothing more special than any other quality Canoli. But what was special was the price. Only 3.75. We wouldn't have shared if I had realized :) We were very, very pleased with Zia's and will go back for certain. It isn't fine dining if you are looking for tuxedos and fine gowns. But warm woods, good service and great food were plentiful. And the price was right - $52 total, even with a 30% tip.
(5)
Richard E.

St. Louis classic...if you want a decent Italian option on the hill it is worth visiting this old world resturaunt. The salad is famous and the dinners are classic.
(3)
Ann T.

Stopped by this place for the first time a few weeks ago. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the special of the day - lasagna. It was good although I generally like my lasagna with a little more sauce. There's was more cheese. It was good, I'm just saying that's my personal pref. Fresh bread w/oil and spices was delicious. Salad featured that tasty, slightly sweet Italian dressing. One area for improvement would be drink service. I don't like my glass to get empty or to have to ask for a refill.
(4)
Shari d.

We came here on the recommendation of one of our coworkers. The restaurant was cozy and the staff was friendly. Our server made sure we were well taken care of and the food came out quickly and piping hot. We ordered some toasted ravioli - which is not something I am really a fan of but it was good. I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs as I wasn't feeling too adventurous. I have to say - the portions for pasta items are freaking HUGE. I felt like I had a mini bathtub of noodles in front of me. I ate and ate until I couldn't eat anymore and there was still enough in the bowl for 2 more meals. That being said the prices are pretty much on point for what you pay. I didn't try it but according to my dining companions their salad is some of the best out there so if I came back that would probably be my first choice. And seeing as how big the portion sizes are for entrees I would probably split that with someone else.
(3)
Don S.

Absolutely fantastic. The toasted ravioli was the best I've ever had and the cannelloni was excellent. We arrived at 12:10 and helots a table in 5 minutes. The service was great as well.
(5)
Leigh G.

Yelp let me down. I was at SLAM on a Friday night with my parents, who are very particular about food in a way very different from myself. They want things fairly cheap, fairly bland/simple/not spicy, don't like waiting for a table, and they don't like a lot of noise. My phone's battery was nearing death at this point, but I poked around Yelp until I stumbled onto Zia's, which said it had moderate noise levels, had good reviews, and when I called said that at that moment reservations wouldn't be necessary. I was pretty sure my phone would die before I could find another place AND navigate us there, so Zia's sounded like the eating-with-my-parents hat trick, and we rushed over. Since my parents and I have different enough opinions about food, you'd think regardless of where we ate we would have stumbled into a situation where someone would have walked out happy, right? Wrong! We were unanimous in our disappointment of Zia's. It was noisier than the Yelp rating implied, making my mom frustrated (granted, it was a Friday night; this wouldn't have bothered me if I were here with my husband or friends). The waiter was forgetful and looked a little hipster-annoying, which was a strikeout with my dad. And the food was simply not good, making it the perfect triple play. (Yes, I realize I went from hockey to baseball metaphors - but I can't help but feel like that's appropriate for STL!) My food had too much garlic and salt in the sauce, and since I am a terrible cook and rely on both in my own cooking, that's a testament to how overpowering it was. My mom said hers tasted like sauce straight out of a jar. My dad said his, a daily special (lasagne), was only OK. When I went to college in downstate Illinois, my now-husband and I would sometimes go to a Macaroni Grill in the suburbs after a day out in STL. I cringe as I type this, but the chain Italian would have totally beat out Zia's on this trip.
(2)
Lianne S.

6pm on a Tuesday: -I found parking right outside. -Enter to find the bar/waiting area with plenty of chairs. Didn't need to use this as we were promptly seated at a table for 4. -Table of 4 really should've been a table for 2 because this thing is small! We're all tall (5'9"--6'4") and we were very cramped! -The floor was incredibly slippery. I noticed one woman almost faceplant. -Staff - very friendly, professional. -Bread - although I love bread this one missed the mark. -Salad - Although this was my first time at Zia's, I have had their salad dressing (store bought) many times. So so yum. Too much cheese though. -Entrees - so...soo....good. I had chicken parm and it was delicious! Definitely the best I've ever had. My husband had another chicken dish, and the couple with us both had pastas. Our chicken dishes came with a side of pasta. I opted for the butter, garlic and olive oil sauce and my husband got the white. The butter sauce was good but I kept wishing there was shrimp in it. That would've been a fabulous scampi. The white sauce however....SO GOOD. Huge portions. Everyone was very happy with their food. -Very affordable for the food (amount and quality) that you get. I have been to several restaurants on the hill but this is my favorite so far.
(4)
Brandy B.

This is a truly wonderful Italian restaurant! When you get here they serve you their fantastic bread while you wait for your food. They have a fantastic house salad. This time I got the Saltimbocco (8 oz. boneless breast of chicken, lightly breaded, charbroiled and covered with fontina cheese. Topped with mushrooms and prosciutto ham sautÃ©ed in white wine lemon butter sauce with a hint of garlic and red pepper.) which came with the Zias House Salad and choice of pasta. I have also had ALL of the other chicken dishes. I have to personally recommend the Tiramisu "House Speciality" Lady fingers brushed with Kahlua and Rum layered with Italian Custard. They have fantastic Brewed Ice Tea!
(5)
Jason R.

Had a wonderful dinner with friends this past Friday 1/21/2011 at Zia's. The Hill in St. Louis is so rich for its great Italian restaurants and Zia's is one that I never leave hungry or disappointed. It's hard to do a review on a restaurant as busy as they were this past Friday. I felt that our waiter was polite and knew the specials and menu as he should. The bus boys were a little confused at times so I had to occasionally ask for refills on my water. As always the food was amazing. I had their house salad and baked pasta. You can choose mostaccioli or spaghetti in a marinara sauce with a touch of cream and baked with provel and parmigiana. I chose the Baked Mostaccioli which was absolutely fabulous and full of flavor. They provide you enough to have for lunch the next day! Zia's is also a great place to take a client out to lunch. Zia's never disappoints. Always a wonderful Italian experience.
(5)
Diana J.

I love love love their pasta dishes!! Their main entres are not impressive, I find them overly oily/too much butter and too salty. However, all of their pastas are freaking delicious!!!! My favorite is the pasta con pesce, what can I say I love pink sauce and seafood! Their house salad also has a tasty dressing with lots of provel cheese :-) Bread is always hot and soft with olive oil seasoned with herbs for dipping (I leave the crusts) and calamari app is good too. No go on the desserts though. Oh and they have good house chardonnay (comes in a liter craft!) for cheap! Love going there with friends on a Friday night before hitting downtown (expect ~1hour wait if you go before 9pm). :-)
(4)
Jason B.

Zia's. To quote the Italian stereotype: "Momma Mia!" Zia's is located in the heart of the Italian district of St. Louis. Hey, is that fire hydrant red, white and green? It sure is. Find some parking and head to the green Zia's awning. There are plenty of vegetarian options and the portions are typically Italian (Italians eat big meals in case you didn't know.) Things to do after eating at Zia's: - Lay on your back and bask in the glory of being full of good food. - Die happy. - Wish you never got full so you could continue trying other Zia's options.
(5)
Kathy H.

I'm going to apologize first, because pretty much everyone I know loves Zia's. It's okay, but I don't think it's a whole lot better than a Pasta House. And it's more expensive. I will admit loving their toasted seafood ravioli. But it tastes suspiciously to me just like the frozen seafood ravioli you can get in freezer case at DiGregorio's Market and then take home and fry yourself. I like their house salad a lot, too. Typical sweet Italian dressing. Sometimes a little too much of it. Pastas are okay. The sauce is a little bland for me. Not much like my grandparents, my dad or I make. Huge portions, though. Things are sauced a little heavily for me, too. Don't get me wrong. Zia's isn't bad. It's just the Americanized Italian that a certain segment of St. Louisans think is gourmet. Maybe it's just that I cook pretty good Italian, so when I eat Italian out, I want it to be special. I just don't find Zia's special.
(3)
Zach F.

This is the best Italian food that I've had yet. Anytime I travel through St. Louis, I make sure to go here for dinner. The entrees are of good portions and I have yet to try something that did not taste fantastic. The Zia's house salad is also a must have. It's made with provel cheese, a staple of the STL area, which adds a unique flavor to their already palatable house dressing. Tip: If you get a meat entree, opt for the garlic butter pasta for your side, it's great.
(5)
Carol W.

We loved the toasted ravioli And the Artichoke hearts , since I like ravioli continued with seafood amd was well rewarded. The prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Barry H.

Wife & I had lunch on the hill yesterday. We chose Zia's because of friends recommendations. The were so right. Excellent food and friendly service. We have friends arriving from out of state soon and this will be the first restaurant we will visit.
(5)
Valerie S.

***Please note, this is a review of the Zia's Food Truck*** Food Tried: - Toasted Ravioli: topped with parmigiana and served with marinara ($5) - Italian Fries: french fries topped with truffles and parmigiana? ($5) Lately, my absence from the Indianapolis Food Truck Market has taken its toll. I've been On The Move though, taking an extended route to London, and on the way, I made sure to try trucks where I found them. Luckily, my second night out of Indianapolis, I found myself in Forest Park for the Art Museum's Friday Film Series, which also happened to feature a food truck festival! (If I've got to miss the FFFTF in Indy, this is a good alternative.) After perusing the trucks, I settled on Zia's because my St. Louis guide noted that Zia's on the Hill, the restaurant which the Zia's food truck is affiliated with, is well renowned in the area, and is well received. And it's Italian, which while not one of my absolute favorite cuisines, is part of my heritage and always welcome in my diet. I decided to keep things light, going for a few apertivos. For the crowd around the Zia's truck, the guys working it were very efficient and it took only a few minutes before I was bestowed two dishes of artery-clogging goodness. The Toasted Ravioli was by far my favorite, crispy and flavorful; not too stuffed but balanced in flavor and completely complimented by what looked like a home-made marinara sauce. The Italian fries (which aren't on the restaurant menu and thus escape my memory of exactly the toppings that were on them...) were tasty, reminding me of the bacon fat popcorn at Revolution Brewing in Chicago, IL (which I had a few days later). They weren't as dynamic as the ravioli, but still would go well with a saucy pasta dish. In fact, I dipped the fries in the marinara left over from my ravioli, and that was exactly the flavor I wanted. Given that I ordered two appetizers, I ran the bill a bit more than I do at most trucks, but I could easily have been satisfied on one alone (I was sharing!). Their prices probably average around $8 for a meal, which is reasonable, given that you're enjoying the food truck atmosphere and are certainly encountering a more cost-efficient option than the sit-down restaurant. Their containers were eco friendly, though it always suits to offer something that has a lid in case, like me, you always have leftovers. I didn't buy a drink for my apertivos, so I also can't attest to how well matched Zia's options are. I'm thinking a Pelligrino would go well, of course. It seems like Zia's reputation as a St. Louis staple for Italian food is well earned. They offer creative yet traditional dishes and appetizers, and do it quickly as well as reasonably-priced. Given the wide variety of options I had at the food truck festival, I was pleased to have given Zia's a shot.
(4)
Russell B.

Was not impressed by service as we walked in. Was greeted with a 2 in your party, follow me. I guess the option of sitting in the bar area or outside dining was out of the question, even though other guests were seated outside. Only a handful if travels were occupied, and was seated directly next to the service station. Other than that experience. Food was good, very large portions. My wife and I split a Pasta dish for lunch and still could not finish it.
(2)
Bethany H.

Zia's used to be my favorite restaurant on The Hill when I lived nearby in the 80's and into the 90's. However that certainly changed after bringing my family there recently while visiting St. Louis. Service was poor. My father ordered a salad with Thousand Island dressing and they brought one out with house dressing. When I asked about this, the waitress said, "Oh, we don't have Thousand Island." That's fine that you don't have it, but let the customer know when the order is placed. Drinks weren't refilled and one of the servers asked, "Hey, can you pass me those salad plates?" He could have walked around. The toasted ravioli were tasty but small. The dinner salad was just lettuce with provolone cheese and some pimentos. The biggest let down was my overcooked pasta tutto mare. The highlight of Zia's seafood pasta was "sea legs." Apparently sea legs are chunks of imitation crab meat made out of polluck, formed to look like a crab leg. Disgusting. I had to fish out these huge chunks and put them to the side of my plate. I should have used them to walk out of the restaurant. Anyway, I will not be going back nor recommending this place to anyone. So very disappointed.
(1)
Mandi L.

You are going to get what you pay for. I had a bottle of the Chardonnay ($40), toasted T-Rav ($7) and Pasta Con Broccoli ($13). It was all phenomenal. Just really good Italian food. You felt like you were eating in some Italian family's house. Just a great place to go with friends, a date or solo. Service wise they are extremely knowledgeable about the menu but not so friendly. I didn't feel very welcome.
(4)
Leah D.

No matter if you are a local or a visitor, going to Zia's is a MUST! They are known for their salads, but you can't go wrong with a glass of homemade sangria, calamari, or tortellini. Great for two or twenty people!
(5)
D W.

We are not from the St Louis area and were looking for a good Italian dinner. A coworker from the area suggested Zia's on the Hill as the place for a great dinner. Overall, we were not disappointed. The salad stole the show with not only the portion size but the unique dressing - one of the best house dressings we ever tasted. The entrees were outstanding - two of my daughters had Chicken Parm, my wife and other daughter had Mostaccioli and I had the Saltimbocca chicken. Absolutely outstanding and nothing but high marks from some of the pickiest eaters (my daughters) on the face of the earth. Our server was fast and attentive but not overly friendly (though I care little about the small talk with the wait staff - just bring me the food). The only negative aspect of the experience was the wait. We arrived at 5:30 and were told it would be a 30 minute wait for 5 people since they needed to add a chair at the end of a table for 4 - no problem. After an hour our patience started to waiver as it seemed like everyone that came after us were seated. However, even with the long wait it was well worth it and we highly, highly recommend Zias on the Hill.
(4)
John A.

The atmosphere is authentic and the food is delicious! I'm Italian and I have to say I was impressed both times I've eaten there. I'm coming back to St. Louis this weekend and Zia's is on our agenda again.
(4)
Andrew W.

Spadini was pretty good, but the veggie pasta was fairly boring. The pasta shells side dish was amazing however! Spicy and cooked to perfection. Bummer that the side dish was the most memorable part. Oh yeah, and that they were having sewer work done during the lunch hour and we were sitting outside. Ick.
(3)
Sara B.

Outdoor seating is always a place. The pasta was good and the service was good. Nothing blew me out of the water though. I think I need to give this place another go.
(3)
Liz W.

I love Zia's but usually all I get is appetizers. Must haves are the toasted ravioli, Parmigiana Di Melanzane which is some of the best eggplant parm ever, Calamari Piccate which is some of my fave spicy fried calamari, and the seafood stuffed mushroom caps filled with shrimp, crab and clams in a garlic butter stuffing, topped with parmigiana. Mmmm tasty. This and some bread will fill you and some friends up, no need for dinner. If you must have more food after the big graze of happiness I suggest pasta con pesce, linguine in a spicy cream sauce with shrimp, assorted seafood, clams, mushrooms and a touch of marinara sauce. It is awesome and easily the best main dish here. Canneloni filled with beef and pork, topped with parmigiana then baked in a red and white sauce is also great. I like the regular and seafood ravioli or a baked mostaccioli too in a pinch. Usually we get a giant carryout and party at my sister's house, everyone sharing. It rocks, truly. I have dined in plenty and always find it friendly and charming but there is nothing like a smorgasbord shared by the whole family at home. I am sad about the recent fire and cannot wait to return to a redone Zia's next time I come down.
(4)
Kelly W.

Food was bland - actually the tomato basil sauce was just oil. The waitstaff was rushed and short with few patrons in the building. I know I "took up your time" & you could have "made more" on a bigger group-that's why as a single diner, I will typically tip 40% for good service-but I didn't feel my business was welcome nor did the food set well. With a ton of Italian places in The Hill to pick from, I won't be visiting this location again.
(2)
Tricia M.

This is close to home but I put it on Zia's for better calamari because they buffalo it and it's amazing (not chewy the times I have had it) and good sauce. 1 of my top 6 Italian, and you can send the sauce nation wide to family.
(5)
Gregory P.

You'll love this place if: Your Grandma is Irish and you still think she makes the best Italian food you've ever had. You look forward to frozen lasagna from Sams Club. You think American and Provel are the two best cheeses in the world. And last, but not least.... You don't cringe when you see Homer Simpson eats a stick of butter out of the fridge.
(1)
Lisa K.

The reviews seems spot on, both for the good and the bad: the food's pretty easy/comforting/pleasing and is not innovative/inventive/fresh. In general it was a bit too rich for me (they seem to like to add cream to many of the sauces, and the lasagna special looked like a bowl of molten cheese in which there was some pasta and sausage), but, you know, it does taste pretty good. I liked the meatballs - good density, size, well cooked, and tasty. The portions are pretty huge - most people in our group took home leftovers. On that note, we did go in a pretty large group - 15-20 people. We had reservations for 5:30 on a Friday night. They did a good job getting us seated, taking our orders (although I still find it irritating rather than endearing when they take orders from and serve the women first), and getting the food to the table in a synchronous fashion. BUT they'd also booked another group immediately after us, so we got kicked out to the bar for dessert! So it seems like this place can work with a large group, but be careful with what they expect you to do. Finally, we got the house chianti, which I was hoping would be not great but ok - and it wasn't. I think as long as you know what you're getting into - Italian-American comfort food - and you're not expecting something else, you'll enjoy it.
(3)
Steven J.

Nice neighborhood spot. Was packed on a Monday night, usually a good sign. The kitchen was slow getting our food out; people who arrived after us got their food first. Wait staff was attentive and pleasant. We had the seafood stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer, and they were great and served three of us as an app. The Chicken Saltimbocca was really excellent. The accompanying side of shell pasta with marinara was not that great. The seafood stuffed ravioli was fantastic and a deal at $11. The pasta carbonara was excellent (needed a little salt) and was easily enough food for two hungry diners (or maybe three). No children's portions or half-portions are available. The house salad is available only with the house salad, which has a weird sweetness to it. It's also drenched in dressing. I think this is an Italian thing, as I've experienced it at three or four Italian restaurants. I'm not a fan, though. The bread was plentiful, but fairly bland. Overall, it was good, and I'd like to return on my next trip to St. Louis to try some of their other dishes.
(4)
Kimberly W.

After deciding that toasted ravs were in order for lunch today, some random app on the boy's phone recommended Zia's. Thank you random app, because those toasted ravs were amazing! We actually each got an order (yes, we're pigs) and I had enough for leftovers, which I just devoured. I paired mine with a dinner salad, which was that deliciously classic Italian house salad with roasted red peppers and drenched in dressing. Sooooo good. The boy got garlic cheese bread, which was literally the size of the dinner plate it came out on. Can't wait to go back for dinner sometime and try the pasta since everything coming out looked and smelled amazing!
(4)
Anthony S.

I tried out Zia's on the Hill last night after their recent re-opening earlier this week and was quite un-impressed with the quality of the food. The calamari was quite good which led me to believe the main course would be as well, much to my suprise my Veal Marsala was flat, and tasteless and honestly the sauce didn't look anything like any Marsala i'd ever made or ordered. No amount of Parmesan or salt brought this dish back to life. My girlfriend ordered the Liguine with clam sauce, it too was extremely dull and mostly tasted like butter with a hint of garlic. If I were to ever go back it would only be for the drinks and some Calamari, at least my martini was cheap and well made...can't beat $6.50 for a bombay blue martini. If your looking for good Italian food look elsewhere, my family is from Sicily and I grew up eating homemade pasta and sauces, so I'd like to think I have a pretty good gauge of what good Italian is.
(2)
Alex M.

This was definitely a great choice. This is exactly what an Italian restaurant should be like. It's small but big and you can tell just by walking in the door that this is going to be an Italian experience. Be prepared to see families of 15 sitting along side of couples. I was also impressed with the food, not just the entree (which I had some delicious seafood ravioli) but even the salad has an excellent oil dressing that wasn't over the top but had an amazing taste. The toasted raviolis were excellent and of course, you can't go wrong with bread and olive oil to get ready for dinner. This was an excellent choice for Italian in the St. Louis area. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for Italian in STL.
(5)
Heather H.

I've now been to Zia's twice, on my two most recent trips to St. Louis. Both of these times the food has been absolutely delicious. I enjoy Italian food as much, if not more, than the next girl, but it's rather hard to truly impress me. Zia's has done that. The staff clearly cares that you enjoy your food, and will spend as much time as necessary explaining specials and discussing different options so that you feel certain you've made the correct choice. My first trip I had a portabella filled ravioli in an olive oil sauce with asparagus and red peppers - wow was it good! My husband got that on my second trip there, and he agreed completely. On my second time, I got shell pasta in a cream sauce with broccoli and mushrooms. It was also amazing and was a HUGE portion to the point that I was able to make two full meals out of it. Their dinner salad is also delicious. The house dressing and provel cheese are yum-o. Their lunch prices are also about half the price of their dinners, for the same portions, sides, etc. Lunch pricing is also available on the weekends, which is excellent. Everything is clearly made in house with great care. They have ample indoor seating, and also outdoor seating around the front of the building, which would be enjoyable since this is not a heavily trafficked street. Oh, and as I'm the Queen of Carbs, I should probably also mention that the olive oil and bread were killer.
(5)
Liz Z.

a bit of a snob when it comes to marinara sauce + especially if i have to pay for it; but this place did me in: heart it! came here with family for a late lunch on one of those hot st. louis' afternoons. we were immediately seated by the friendly middle-aged hostess + tended to by a equally friendly young woman. the decor is dark mahogany wood (similar to an english pub feel) with an extended seating area in the back for larger groups. the eggplant parmesan was listed as an appetizer, but they accommodated it to make it an entree order for me with pasta + 'gravy' (what some american-italians call they're 'red sauce'). the eggplant slices were large in eggplant width yet thin enough to bite into. each piece was appropriately breaded (not overdone) and covered with just the right amount of gravy. the portions were plenty for a large lunch + the pasta quality seemed quite authentic. they make their own salad dressings sold at some local supermarkets (that's how i knew they existed in the first place) + definitely something to consider when making meals at home that includes a side of salad. oh, zia's, if only i could take you with me to the west coast..
(4)
Brooke E.

During the month of August, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit St. Louis, MO for almost two weeks. While we were there, one of my friends back home had suggested Zia's. I am so glad we gave Zia's a try! The food is wonderful and so is the bread appetizer! We ate here two times in a week. We loved our experience there!
(5)
Zee M.

Not sure how, with all our years in Saint Louis in general and The Hill in particular, we missed this. But it's on the radar now! (We do have our routines, after all, but are willing to add more sources of foodstuffs as we can.) We went here with quite a mob, cousins, second cousins, first moms, et al. We had good service and the food was delicious. And the portions! My ever-carnivorous nephew made the mistake of ordering a sammie and an appetizer...maybe it was even an entrÃ©e. It was an armload and, try as he might to ensure otherwise, he had to take some home. A wonderful new stop for us!
(4)
Pasquale S.

This restaurant is number one in my book when it comes to Italian food. I was born in Sicily and brought up in the USA with my dear mother (God rest her soul) cooking the old fashioned Sicilian way. The flavors at Zia's are a little different than Sicilian cooking. They are more traditional northern Italian cuisine. When I try a new Italian restaurant I usually order the basic spaghetti in marinara sauce because I want to get a feel for the flavor nuances in their sauce. Zia's never lets me down. I have yet to find a better dinner salad at any restaurant. Order the regular house salad. The bread and olive oil are plentiful and delicious. By the time the spaghetti arrives I am more than half full so I have enough spaghetti to take home for a couple of more meals. Please try them you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Matthew L.

Located in a quiet Italian neighborhood of St. Louis, simply called The Hill, this restaurant was a pleasant surprize. My wife and I were recently on a cross-country road trip, so good Italian food was a welcome change from all the fast food we had been consuming throughout much of our journey. Zia's is larger on the inside than it appears to be on the outside. There are two main dining areas. This allows for added privacy, even though this location has only tables, and no booths. Overall, the food was very good. There was plenty of leftover in my wife's shrimp pasta plate, which we both felt was excellent. We wished we could've taken it with us, but being on a road trip, taking leftovers from a restaurant isn't practical. My mushroom beef was also good, though it relied heavily on the sauce to flavor the meat. My recommendation is go with the traditional Italian pasta dishes and satiate your meat cravings at a steakhouse.
(4)
Serena B.

I was really excited to try the St. Louis specialty of toasted ravioli. It was quite delicious at Zia's! For the entree, I had a chicken specialty dish of the day. It was smothered in a bit too much sauce for my liking, however the value of the entree can't be beat since it included a salad too. Our waiter was very pleasant and a lot of the diners around us seemed to know each other and were talking across tables (in a charming, not annoying way). I plan on coming back again to try some other dishes.
(3)
Winston G.

Best marinara sauce I have ever had.
(4)
Tanny A.

I have only visited Zia's twice, but I have yet to find anything that I don't like. The only thing that I don't like is the large portions, which make for great leftovers. The beef sota is wonderful, bread is good, appetizers are great and the food comes out hot and tasty. The only thing that I would change is the really thin straws. I highly recommend this Italian spot.
(5)
Benjamin S.

Kind of shocked that I haven't reviewed Zia's yet, because all-in-all, it's definitely one of my favorite spots in town. I didn't say it was the *best* Italian in town, because I don't necessarily believe that. But as someone who loves to go out to eat it's always a constant part of my rotation, and I've never come away disappointed. Part of the reason for that is I almost always get the same dish. The Chicken Spedini Prosciutto. It's got an excellent charbroiled flavor which they nail perfectly each time. I always recommend friends go with one of the chicken dishes as you get a salad and your choice of pasta on the side. Did I mention the salads? Maybe the best in town, though Cunetto (no -- not "Cunetto's") gives them a very good run. I've also had the Polla Roma, which is most certainly healthier than the Spedini, and the grilled chicken in that dish is tender and flavorful. Service is always friendly and professional. Zia's is nearly always packed on a weekend night, and they don't take reservations, so prepare yourself for a wait at the bar tables for easily 30-40 minutes on the weekend. It's a nice and clean place, but the environment is entirely casual, which is another thing I love about the joint. You can show up in the summertime in shorts and a ball cap and you'll fit in just fine.
(4)
Richa T.

I came here the other day to celebrate my graduation with my mother. While the food was decent (excluding a few issues), the service really put this place over the top. Yeah, the wait seemed ridiculous - 30 minutes on a Thursday evening (granted, it was a graduation week) and no reservations for parties under 6 people. If that doesn't deter you, you'll definitely enjoy this place. We ordered a couple of drinks while waiting. The staff was super friendly and I highly recommend the espresso martini. It's not very sweet, but still tastes amazing, especially if you are a coffee fan like me :). We ordered a couple of appetizers to share - pomodori fritti and the parmeziana de melanzane. The pomodori was just meh. Please take my opinion with a grain of salt - I generally don't like the taste of raw tomatoes and the tomato (while cooked) was just a little too raw for my personal taste. However, I could see how others might really enjoy it. The parmeziana de melanzane (eggplant Parmesan) was amazing. I haven't had it as an app before, but it was a decent way to start the meal. We split a mushroom ravioli for the main entree. I normally love eating meat, but this dish was so well prepared I didn't even miss it! We finished with a tiramisu for dessert. Definitely loved the food and would wholeheartedly recommend it just based on that alone. However, the service was great! Unfortunately, I found a hair in my appetizer and complained to the waiter. He felt so terrible, apologized profusely, and had the kitchen fire up another one super quickly! How sweet was that? And he ended up comping our dessert. My experience could have gone so sour, but this place really knows how to take care of their customers! I would highly highly recommend this place if you're looking for some good Italian food and hospitality.
(4)
Jaime C.

In my 25 years of life I have been on the hunt for decent Italian food and in all my travels I have been disappointed. I always thought to myself "how hard is it to make a good pasta?" I had given up on ever finding a decent Italian restaurant until I was introduced to Zia's. The best part about it is the food is not decent, it is amazing! Everything we have tried (which has been almost everything on the menu by now) is great. It will be hard for anyone to ever top Zia's in my book.
(5)
Owen M.

Several of us went here during the Christmas holiday. Very crowded, very popular. A bit of a costumer line as we arrived at the restaurant. A good sign. As we had a reservation the wait was reasonable thou the lady staffing the front desk was unable to let us have any certainty on how long the wait might take. The food was good, seafood pasta etc. Server was cool with the busyness of the place. Don't think you can go wrong here, arrive early with a reservation. Parking a bit of a challenge as the Hill parking is along neighborhood streets designed a long way back to handle much less traffic. Next time we are in St. Louis we will spend an evening here.
(4)
Shelby W.

Absolutely love this place. Toasted ravs are the best I've had with amazing sauce, and it's free when you check in on yelp. The beef mudega was delicious - hope you like it a little bloody!
(5)
Charleen S.

Four star food with two star service. Had pasta on the brain after touring a pasta factory and this was the boss' suggestion. The food did not disappoint - we started with a free toasted ravioli appetizer, compliments of Yelp check-in surprise! They were the best I've had, although I am not a native St Louisian so my experience is limited. For lunch, he had the baked rigatoni with a creamy tomato meat sauce. Looked delicious and it must have been because there was not a drop left. I went with the portabello ravioli. It was scrumptious with lots of garlic, asparagus, and red pepper. The service was abysmal though, which really took away from the overall experience. We were greeted and seated; I left my drink order with the boss and headed for the restroom. By the time I got back he still had not seen a waitress. She finally showed up, so we gave her our entire order to avoid another lengthy wait while she brewed our sodas. She dropped off the app with the drinks and we didnt see her again until right after the food arrived. She asked us how our food was practically before we even tried it, and we didn't see her again until she dropped the check without offering us dessert. We didn't stick around to see if she would grab the receipt before we left; I might have fallen apart at that point. The food was good enough that I'll be back to give them another chance, but I will try other places first...
(3)
Makenzie H.

I had the linguine with clams and the portion size was HUGE! I would recommend splitting and eating with someone or taking half of it home. The atmosphere was OK. Nothing special about this Hill restaurant for me.
(3)
Joe S.

Magnifico! Cozy atmosphere, OUTSTANDING food, great service! Had the veal parmigiana, the best I've had in years. A little off the beaten path but worth it!
(5)
Jim V.

Food is okay, one star since they can not keep their specials updated on their website. The reply was our vendor is unable to keep up, most businesses would find this unacceptable and/or find a new company that can handle the business website requirements. Also, when you click on food truck it lists the week of June 23rd-June 30th. Today is May 18, 2015, must be for 2014. Again poor!
(1)
Daryl H.

Again, catching up on my reviews. We went to Zia's last week for my wife's birthday. The service was great. We were well attended to by our server. The food was good. Toasted ravioli, veal and chicken dishes were all too much to finish so lunch was set for the following day. Also, it was all reasonably priced! Two things were a bit disappointing. First, we were seated right next to the bussing station. The loud banging of dishes was a source of quite a few interruptions. Second, (and this is just my own taste) the good could have had some kick. I wouldn't call it bland just needed some spice or more garlic???
(4)
Matthew G.

Met my expectations! I went here Saturday night after hearing about Zia's for so many years and seeing all their stuff in the grocery stores, so my expectations were pretty high. First of all I went at 8 pm on Saturday with no Reservations and it wasn't a problem. My wait was quoted about 25 minutes but only ended up being 15. There is a nice front bar area to wait and order drink while your waiting for your table. The dining room is broken up into a few different rooms and has that real nice old school Italian feel! When seated my server greeted the table promptly and told us about the evenings specials which all sounded amazing. I ordered the Moscacolli al Forno which was made with a homemade sage cream sauce chicken, broccoli, mushrooms and tomatoes topped with cheese and breadcrumbs then baked! Oh my God! First of all it was huge! Then the taste was amazing and piping hot. We were given fresh baked bread which was also very good, it better have been since were on the Hill after all! The price was $13.49 which considering the amount and quality was definitely a bargain! The bill process was quick and smooth. The bathrooms are small but clean. This place had been there forever so you need to expect things to be a little cozy anywhere on the Hill. There is definitely a vast variety of places to go on the Hill but make sure you insert Zia's in your rotation!
(5)
Valerie C.

Amazing! Service was exceptional. Salad was stupendous. Catelloni broccilli had the best cream sauce I've ever had. We had tiramisou and cannoli which were perfect. The hommade sangria was delicious, not too sweet. It was amazing.
(5)
Holly H.

Holy food, Batman! Make sure you come here hungry because the portions are HUGE! Many of the dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen could easily be split. This is one of the more casual restaurants on The Hill, and it's very family friendly. Great news for families on a budget because one plate of spaghetti here could easily feed like... um, maybe 25 kids? My husband wanted to try the toasted ravioli appetizer, as it's a favorite of his. They were very good and we could tell they were homemade, though we both agreed we've had better at a few other places. However, that didn't stop us from eating every last one. All of the entrees come with a house salad and side of pasta. They have one of the best house salads... simple, yet full of flavor. They use their signature Zia's dressing on this salad, which can also be purchased at local grocery stores. I chose a baked cod dish topped with a white wine / lemon / butter sauce, cheese, mushrooms, and broccoli. It was cooked perfectly. I opted for the garlic and olive oil pasta. My husband decided on the chicken parmesan and white pasta. Everything was excellent, but it was just way too much excellence.
(4)
Michael G.

It was restaurant week, but we managed to slide in because we were out of towners coming from a Hotel. Thanks for letting us know that. Food is standard Italian fare, served in a pleasant atmosphere by well intentioned servers. It was very busy on this Friday night. The portions are huge and the two dollar surcharge to share is a deal. We would return, but our appetite would have to be greater.
(3)
Rose Z.

Others have said 3 star food with 2 star service... We went there and spent over $100 in the bar since "our table was just about ready". After a 2 hour wait I was verbally insulted by the "manager" who stated that he did not want to sell food to my party. Never again, having been willing to pay a +$500 tab for our meal and then been so insulted that we had to leave after waiting 2 hours...
(1)
Karen B.

We have been coming here for years and the food is delicious, service is great and the price is reasonable. They do not have a kids menu, but you can order sides or split a plate. Try their red sangria - yum! I hate to post this, but the music in the restaurant kept going in and out...annoying. Paleo/Primal tip: you can order a veggie side instead of pasta or just give your pasta side to you child :)
(4)
Gayle R.

Four years living and eating in Italy makes dining in an Americanized place like Zia's a bit difficult. We went here on a whim and were craving pizza. It's in THE Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. We were dismayed to find no pizza and not even bruschetta on the menu. We shared a small salad (nothing to write home about) and split a huge portion of their mushroom ravioli with asparagus. It was tasty enough, but too much butter lemon sauce. On a positive note, service was quick and friendly on a busy weeknight. The moment of truth of the place's Americanization was the menu's lack of vegetarian fare, a pasta dish with chicken AND bacon in it and the topper---when the waiter referred to our selected dish as including "as-per-I-jeye."
(2)
Bryan L.

Totally recommend the Spiedini Prosciutto as your entree, but if you order the Calamari Fritti appetizer make sure to invite your friends...there's enough for the whole table!
(5)
Bob F.

Wow!!!! Excellent service , outstanding food and great atmosphere. Even saved parking up front on busy street for elderly family members. Definitely a neighborhood gem.
(5)
Shawn M.

I leave one star because we didn't even get to eat. Went by about 4pm with my girlfriend and daughter to get some appetizers before the cardinals game. The place had maybe two tables occupied. It was pretty well empty. Asked for a table for three but said my parents may come by in an hour. The hostess told me she couldn't seat us since other people would show up later. I said it would be an hour and we were ready to order now. She still told us to hit the road. Empty restaurant and we were ready to eat and she turned us away. So we walked down the street to Charlie Gittos and got some great dinner. I recommend everyone go to a restaurant that wants people to eat there.
(1)
Gary S.

Almost all of the food was fantastic. Yummy pastas, bread. However I don't recommend the calamari or the salad. The service was amazing and the waiter gave us a great wine recommendation. The tiramisu was really the best I've ever had! Great prices too!
(4)
Tara C.

Nice server, good service. Food was ok. Nothing great. I had the Chicken Marsala. It was grilled chicken swimming in a pool of a sort of bland sauce. There were green peppers and mushrooms on the chicken. I had the pasta with the oil and garlic...again not much flavor. The dinner salad was my favorite part because their house dressing was yummy...which was a good thing because they only have one dressing. The bread didn't seem to be homemade but it was warm so that made it ok. Being from out of town, I wouldn't come back. It just didn't thrill me or blow me away.
(3)
Carter C.

Some of the better chicken options I've seen. I had the breaded chicken with lemon butter and ohhh was it delicious...the bread and pasta are also amazing. Prices aren't bad at all!
(5)
Parmela P.

Well, I'm obviously in the minority here. I keep asking myself what sets our experience apart from all those that I've heard rave, for years, about this must-go place on The Hill? I'm truly at a loss as to what the difference was. But, I'm brutally honest, so this is based on our experience, one weekday evening. We did not have reservations, but our wait wasn't long...maybe 10 minutes. The place is old and shows it, but I feel they are trying to keep it looking presentable. It's definitely an older crowd. Once seated, we decided to try something we'd watch go by several times that looked appetizing - the Mozzarella Fritti ($6). It's a slice of fresh Mozzarella, fried and served with marinara. We LOVE fresh, fried mozz, so this was a no-brainer. It came out quickly and was very good. A tad greasy, didn't seem hand-breaded which made me question the "fresh" part, but I could be wrong. The flavor was good which made me think maybe it was fresh. The marinara was zesty and very good. I'd recommend it. For our entrees, I asked about the Pasta Con Pesce because it's one of my favs. But I wondered what were "sea legs?" Maybe the leg meat of the crab? No, not quite. I was informed it was that imitation Krab meat crap that isn't crab at all, but a blend of cast off white fish pieces transformed into something that is supposed to be a substitute for real crab. Not. No thanks. So, on to my second choice. Pollo Soto ($14). It's advertised as a charbroiled chicken breast, topped with Italian cheese, white wine, lemon butter, mushrooms and spices. The breast was very large and tender, but the lemon butter could have used more lemon, less butter. My plate had so much greasy-yellow stuff puddling on it, I slipped the handle of my knife under my plate to raise one end up so the grease would puddle away from my chicken. Not something I'd expect at such a restaurant. My fiancee had the chicken parmigiana ($15). That is his barometer for all Italian restaurants. It's always the first thing he'll try at a new Italian place. He's sort of an expert on the dish. His assessment: average at best. Lastly, I had a glass of wine with an average pour. And my salad was good but dripping with far too much dressing. In general, I think the kitchen could learn from a less is more approach with some of these dishes. And of course, spend the money to serve true crab meat or take the dish off your menu. Serving imitation Krab is just embarrassing for a restaurant of this supposed caliber. We will not go back. There are far too many other fantastic places on The Hill to patronize.
(2)
Ryan W.

Best restaurant on the hill.. maybe the whole city. Friendly staff and best pasta I've ever had. Fresh salads as well and reasonably priced fir as nice as the atmosphere
(5)
Severin P.

Absolutely fabulous setting, atmosphere, and food with a knowledgable and friendly staff.
(5)
Aditi M.

The first restaurant that I visited on The Hill .. My friends took me there on my birthday and it was great !! We were a big group of 17 people and every dish was delicious !! Not a single soul was disappointed with their choice .. The server was vey patient with the big group and explained each item on the menu with a smile on his face .. I got a complimentary birthday special tiramisu :)
(5)
Mindy M.

Disappointing lunch. Salad was cold and fresh, but that was the only positive thing. We didn't care for the dÃ©cor - nothing seemed to even flow together. Service was ok, but my huge disappointment was the chicken marsala. I expected a wonderful wine sauce, but instead was served something like chicken and mushrooms in a tomato soup. The chicken was good, but I couldn't get past the icky sauce. Nothing like a marsala sauce that I've ever prepared or had out. My husband's dish was a special with very little flavor. Not an awful experience, but we won't be heading back.
(2)
Amy A.

Great food, lousy restaurant with lousy service. My boyfriend and I went here on a Saturday night at 5:00pm. We waited for over an hour for a table in the cramped bar area, only to be seated at a terrible table right in a busy aisle. There are very few good tables in the restaurant and it's so loud that you cannot carry on a conversation. The food was good, but the service was terrible. We will get our order "to go" from now on.
(2)
Jay M.

Perhaps this is the best way I can put it: If you've been to the North End in Boston or any other place that is renowned for it's Italian food you're going to be disappointed here. With all due respect everything about the place is mediocre: - the food is bland and boring from the bread, to the salad, to the meal. The only exception is the sauce ... which has a weird sweet taste to it. - the waiters balance between being polite yet giving off an "I don't really want to be here" attitude. - the staff is somewhat well dressed except for the busers who are oddly in t-shirts. - the atmosphere is alright but the old floor makes the place feel dirty. I almost feel guilty about this review because there's nothing really wrong with Zia's other than it's just overpriced for the quality you're getting. This is at least the third time I've been to Zia's and personally I need some sort of reminder that I don't need to go again. Judge for yourself though.
(2)
Edward M.

Enjoyed a great meal there tonight. The place was packed and yet we got in without a reservation in about 10 minutes. I had the Capallini Angelico and it was delicious and plentiful. I took the suggestion to add the Pino Gregio and am glad I did. We dined as a family and the 6-year old enjoyed his pasta and butter along with the bread. If I have a quibble, the salad and dressing were terrific, but they drowned it with cheese. Just too much cheese and it drowned the other flavors and crispness of the salad. Still, it was quite good.
(4)
Jennifer E.

My husband brought me here a while back. I still dream about the tiramisu! I had the spaghetti with meatballs. The meatball was huge!! I loved it! I always say that I judge an Italian restaurant by their most simplest dish. Perfect!
(5)
Julie D.

This is what I put up with. "Julie, Julie, we have to eat on the hill. Really great Italian food there. Julie, we have to eat on the hill". BJ is obviously much easier to excite then me. But of course, the first place we eat in St. Louis is on the hill. When we checked in to our hotel, Zia's was highly recommended. So, BJ wins. Truly off the beaten path, Zia's in on an old family neighbor hood. We parked in front of someones house. The restaurant didn't look busy. From the outside, but inside, the place was buzzing. Service was satisfactory. The food is the star here. BJ was all about trying the toasted ravioli. Never had it in all his life. And the appetizer here was amazing. So was the marinara dipping sauce. According to the menu, it's a St. Louis original. Next came the bread. Big as your head and very tasty. Next, we shared a salad. Romaine and iceberg lettuce, diced red peppers, Italian cheese and parmigiana served with house dressing. So good! For our meals, BJ got the Tutto Mare, linguine with garlic cream sauce with shrimp, sea legs, clams and mushrooms. He loved it. I got the Penne Alla Zia. It was penne tossed in olive oil, butter, garlic and shrimp, sun dried tomatoes and green onions. So flavorful and delicious. Both of these dishes had one thing in common, the portions were huge.
(5)
Sarah B.

Went to the Hill this past Saturday afternoon for the first time since moving to STL last fall. I was referred by a local native friend to Zia's. We went for an early dinner as I had read that there tends to be a wait. This restaurant was everything I had hoped it would be! The best real Italian food I've had since living in Italy. We ordered toasted ravioli as an appetizer, it was delicious! For our (4) meals we had 2 pasta dishes, veal parmesan & chicken parmesan. My pasta dish was their special, it had very tasty shrimp and was absolutely amazing. Besides my dish, I thought the veal was the best. We ordered a bottle of Chianti that was outstanding, and we were all very impressed with their house salad that came with our meals. And last but certainly not least, their OIL!!! If there is one thing I miss about not living in Italy anymore (besides the fresh pasta), it is the delicious olive oil. Zia's olive oil for bread-dipping was to die for, and their bread was an amazingly hot & fresh compliment. Our server was great, very attentive and nice. I plan on going back very soon, and I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an Italian meal on the Hill.
(5)
Chris Z.

Here's the thing about many of the Italian favorites on the hill. The food is good... but the service is somewhat pointed & in your face... like at a diner. I don't know why this is. I started noticing this when one of my favorites Cunetto's down the street turned me off with less than stellar service. Zia was the same. The service is just rushed. No personality. And some of the other intagibles left a sour taste. Our table was right against a wall where on the other side of the partition I could hear plates banging loudly. I could also hear servers complaining about getting tables 20 minutes before close. And others discussing tips. Not professional. Not welcoming. But the food is good. We got seafood stuffed mushrooms, a deluxe salad, and split an order of pasta. The hot stuff comes out hot... I mean really hot. The mushrooms and pasta had to sit for a good 5 minutes before attempting to eat them. I liked this... but beware if you're coming hungry. You'll hurt yourself.
(3)
Gregg J.

Great food and casual and fun atmosphere on The Hill. Best calamari I've ever had. Fun place to go before a ball game or theater or for no reason at all.
(5)
Suzanne G.

Went to eat dinner with my son, I was so hungry for some good lasagne, stuffed shells. Since our move here from out of state, a lot of people recommended going to the Hill for Italian food. Upon our arrival we were escorted by the host to the back of the restaurant-very dull, dreary, dark atmosphere. While looking over the menu, no lasagne or stuffed shells listed. I asked our waiter whereupon he stated they only make the lasagne on Fridays. O.k. so I asked about stuffed shells and he looked at me like I was crazy and said what is that. When I explained to him what stuffed shells were, he recommended a dish of a long noodle stuffed with a pork meat. When I asked if it is topped with a mozzarella cheese, again he looked at me like I was out of my mind and stated we don't have that, we top it with provel cheese. And this is an Italian restaurant? Apparently, as an Italian restaurant, they do not have mozzarella cheese, just provel. I have read the reviews about this being a great restaurant, I can't understand as our food was very bland, no flavor, the toasted ravioli was hard as a rock, difficult to chew and I don't understand St. Louis's fascination with provel cheese - personally I find it to be like plastic white american cheese.
(1)
Pat S.

Fantastic food is my first thought!! Mushroom asparagus raviole and a chicken/cheese fusille. Great atmosphere (a bit to much noise for me). The bus boys were trying very hard to clear tables, fill waters and make people happy. The waiters and waitresses were taking orders and bringing food. No one stood around. Parking is an issue but we got super lucky. The building was old and very cool, Not to much of a wait 20 minutes on Saturday night 630 ish. Will do this one again for sure. Even took business cards to pass around back home in Minnesota.
(4)
Walter K.

I think their lunch is cheap. Drink, entree+pasta and salad for $13-$15. Good food. I think it is a bit overrated and definitely features Americanized Italian food. My favorite is the chicken with ham and mushrooms (saltimbocca) I think is what it is called. The salad is the best part in my opinion.
(4)
Teena C.

Repeat customer here. My husband and I live several hours from St. Louis and always stop at Zia's when we're in town. The service is excellent and the food is fantastic. This trip we started with dinner salads and garlic cheese bread. The salads were crisp and fresh and huge. The garlic cheese bread was hot and delicious. I had the baked orange roughy with a lemon butter sauce and the fish was cooked perfectly. My husband had a steak wrapped in pancetta and it was exactly medium as he requested. We each had the white pasta on the side, which, frankly, is good enough to eat as your whole meal. I highly recommend Zia's.
(5)
Laura M.

Delicious food. Great service. Huge amounts of food. Two of our five split a dish and still couldn't finish the food. Of course, we had toasted ravioli appetizer and bread before dinner. Our least favorite part of our meal were the drinks: margarita and piÃ±a colada. The wait for 5 people on a Saturday night (arrived 6:30) was 45 min. Loved the food.
(5)
Miranda G.

Wasn't overly thrilled with anything there.
(3)
Mario P.

This was a cool place , but the veal was bathed in sauce. This was my first visit, possibly my only visit to Zia's. I had read a few reviews on yelp and saw that they were mixed. But, being in St. Louis and going off a few local recommendations, our group decided o go here. The place, when you first walk in feels authentic, but turns out it's not that authentic after all. It helped judge the place, since on of the people in our group is from southern Italy. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and drinks to start. I ordered wines for the table. My problem here was that after our waiter had served those with glasses and even though I was the one approving the selection. He never filled my glass. He'd put the bottle on and walk away(3 times). I ordered the veal and was hoping for more and boy did I get more. But none of it was what I wanted more of. It was absolutely soaked in a wine reduction to the point that my veal needed a Life guard to save it from drowning. I thought it was just mine, but after looking around the table, I was not alone in looking for the Baywatch crew! No one ordered dessert and we all left a bit disappointed , maybe if I move here I'd give it another try, but since I'm usually only stopping or work or vacation, I don't see myself coming back.
(2)
Xueer C.

Went there with the bf on our first date. It was pretty noisy..( we'll, it was on Valentine's day.. So it's acceptable I guess) I had the capellini carciofi.. Didn't like it that much. Their Sweet Riesling was pretty good, though.
(4)
Bill C.

Like the surrounding neighborhood, streets and houses, this place is a bit cramped. If you are claustrophobic, stay away. If you like snug and cozy, this is your place. The food isn't cheap at supper - $19 for a pasta dish with a minimum amount of protein in it (meat). Having said all that, the food was very good. Loved the lemon butter sauce in my tortellini. I'd have given 5 stars if they would've used better mushrooms (I hope they were fresh...) Even with those, it was still very nice. Bread and salads were good, too.
(4)
Paulette A.

Great food on The Hill!! Wonderful toasted ravioli, the sweet vinagrette on the salad was great and perfect on a hot summer day. We had the chicken soto, a special cheese manicotti and some pasta in red sauce. The whole meal was wonderful. The staff were polite, very attentive and helpful in recommending a bakery worth visiting while in the area.
(5)
Shari S.

The food was excellent! Our waiter didn't come around much & forgot my drink but I think that was only bc they were busy. I had the mostaccioli al forno & my boyfriend had the seafood ravioli. Both were excellently prepared & came out hot & fresh. I would definitely recommend this place & I plan on returning again :)
(4)
Erin B.

Love, love, love! Whenever I'm back home in STL, my BFF go to Zia's. The salad is great, the food is great. And I loooove their toasted ravioli! For those of you looking for some good food on The Hill in STL, Zia's should be number one on the list!
(5)
Mariah W.

First of all, parking is horrible. So be prepared to drive around for a while looking for a spot. After we had parked we walked in and they told us it would be about a 10 minutes wait (on a Friday night, mind you). We were thrilled since we figured it would be a much longer wait. In reality, we waited for maybe 30 seconds before they called our name. On to the food. I ordered the Tutto Mare (I have no idea if that's how it's spelled) and it was incredible. Perfectly cooked pasta with amazing seafood. The meal was huge, so I got a doggy bag. The food did not microwave well the next day, but when served fresh it was great. I was shocked at how reasonable the prices were. Everyone talks about Zia's and I was expected quite a pricey dinner, but the prices were very fair. I will certainly be going back!
(5)
Mike M.

The wait is the only thing that draws people away. If you go at rush hour and are expecting a wait, its fine. Big bar room to hang out and have a few drinks while waiting for your table. Customer service was excellent. Food - I had veal parm. Absolutely fantastic, one of the best I have ever had. Calamari was excellent as well. Some buddies had meatballs and pasta as well as a chicken and pasta dish with bacon bits. I had a taste of it all, and I would recommend any of the dishes. I feel like Zia's food is better than the food they actually make in Italy. One suggestion would be to add a few more import beers to the menu. Will def. be going again!
(5)
Jeff G.

THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT ON THE HILL!!!! Everything is awesome. I often get the daily special which usually comes with a Zia's famous salad. You have to try the Pizza Pasta if your have never done so. ITs amazing!
(5)
Courtney B.

Looking for some real Italian food? This is the best. The Hill offers multiple Italian restaurants but Zia's has a great atmosphere, friendly service, and amazing food.
(5)
Harin G.

My sister-in-law (who lives in Minneapolis) did some research with her coworkers from St Louis and ended up sending me a gift certificate to here for my birthday. I was happy to receive it and went expecting a solid meal. What my husband and I ended experiencing was DELICIOUSNESS! We started with the Seafood Toasted Ravioli which was absolutely sensational and lovely with the lemon butter. The salads and bread were equally as delicious. My husband got the Chicken Parmigiana and he loved it so much, I swear he was drooling as he ate it. I took the server's suggestion and ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca. It was definitely rich but absolutely delicious. We both selected the pasta with red sauce as our side and it was light, simple, and delicious against the complexly rich chicken dishes. We had no room for dessert, it is a serious amount of food and you aren't going to finish it all unless you are a machine. The service was quick, and our service was to the point and just attentive enough as he was insanely busy. So all of that plus two glasses of wine a piece came to $52.00 before the tip. Pretty damn good if you ask me!!
(5)
Kurt C.

This became one of our "go to" places for a great dinner in the Lou. The food has always been fantastic, and the prices are quite reasonable for such find dining. They do keep it a bit dark for a more intimate atmosphere, so be prepared for that. The only bad thing is the parking... good luck finding a good spot on The Hill! You are bound to circle the block a time or two, just try not to drive the wrong way down a cramped, unmarked one way street!
(4)
Keith S.

Zia's did not disappoint. There was a bit of a wait, but well worth it. House Cab was excellent, a very good choice for your dinner wine. Got the seafood toasted ravioli with a side of marinara, it was excellent. Decided to try the Spiedini Prosciutto (chicken), a little change from spaghetti and meatballs. A great choice again, chargrilled with white wine sauce and prosciutto. Even the dinner salad was not only delicious but visually appetizing. Service was fast and efficient - thanks Jeremy. Dessert selections were pretty numerous, the cannoli are homemade. That's a wrap!
(5)
Mallory M.

**Let me preface this by saying I've lived in Italy, so I'm a bit biased.** My hubby and I just moved to St. Louis a few months ago, and I have had a hankering for some fabulous, saucy, savory Italian. That is NOT what I got at Zia's. I ordered the oven-baked pasta, sometimes known as 'combinazione.' I'll say it was decent because it satisfied my hunger, but it did not satisfy my craving for some legit cibo Italiano. Perhaps I'm wrong, but the sauce tasted store-bought...that's not something I expect from an "authentic" restaurant on The Hill. Also, I don't recall from my years in Italy that I was ever served spongy white bread with sesame seeds...what was that?! I'm glad the managerial staff/owners have high standards for their staff, if not their food. I heard two of the servers talking about "Man, so-and-so is such a d*ck. He told me not to come in if I didn't cut my hair!" Thanks for the information, man. Also, props to whoever chose the olive oil/herb blend that sits on the table--delicious! The house Cab was also divine, and not too pricey. All in all...not sure I'll ever be back to Zia's, especially when there is a whole neighborhood of other Italian places surrounding it. Mi dispiace!
(2)
Robin W.

This place was absolutely fabulous, from the service to the food. The best meal we've had in quite a while. Portions are large, so my daughter & I shared a dish - which was more than enough food. We were initially headed to a different restaurant because of reviews, but it was too crowded. We came here despite some of the reviews. We needn't have worried, everything we tried was delicious!
(5)
David P.

We ate there April 26th, the place was dirty, bathrooms unkept and the food was terrible . A raw steak was served, yes raw . Chicken alla zia was a small butterflied breast covered in a slimy viscous sauce topped with two tiny broccoli florets and some canned mushrooms. the sauce was nothing more than chef boyardee sweet on their pasta dishes. i honestly dont understand the good ratings; their must be better or are expectations that low on the hill? Other non pasta dishes were equally disgusting. To their credit they comped the steak, but the food was bad enough to never return
(1)
Sara D.

I was in St. Louis for business, and the concierge at my hotel recommended Zia's as his fave Italian restaurant on The Hill. I'm a big fan of taking locals' recommendations when traveling to new cities (and had good luck doing so the previous night), so my coworker and I decided to try it out. When we arrived, the bar was totally packed, and we had a solid 20 minute wait for a table. Considering the crowd, we figured we were in for something outstanding. The toasted ravioli was great and the wine was good, but that's where the tastiness ended. The iceberg lettuce salad was drowned in cheese and dressing, the bread was served without oil or butter and my entree (a chicken special) was super mediocre. My coworker's chicken parm was equally underwhelming. When all was said and done, I'm really didn't understand what all of the fuss was about.
(2)
Adele S.

When I was a kid, my family would go to Arvey's, a greek-owned coffee shop on Oakton and Harlem, that inexplicably served a top notch veal parmesan, thinly pounded slices of heaven, breaded, fried and layered, covered with a home made meat sauce full of finely ground beef and bay leaf. This is my bench mark, what all veal parmigiano should aspire to. Which is not what I got at Zia's. I got 2 rather thick veal steaks, covered in sauce and provel. I haven't eaten veal in years just because of the cruelty factor. Now I won't eat it because this was the chewiest, most gristly veal ever. Really bad. Also, they used to serve a commercial brand of spiced olive oil and now replaced it with their own brand, which is not as good, too peppery. I did buy 2 bottles of salad dressing, which I love and it is just as good as I remember. Several members of our party didn't like provel cheese and Zia's doesn't serve anything else. Portions are enormous. When we got home, I transferred my daughter's leftovers into a tupperware and there was 2 lbs of pasta! Of course, there was 2 lbs left over because she didn't like the meat sauce...too licorice-y. Hubby was pissed off that they didn't have lasagna on the menu. At all. Never. Service was good and we didn't have long to wait...it was supposed to be a 45 minute to an hour wait; we were called after 20 minutes. Unfortunately our party wasn't all there, so we let someone else have the table and we ended up being seated 1/2 hour later.
(3)
Patrick N.

zia's is decent place to go for an inexpensive meal on the hill. it is a good spot for lunch or a quick early dinner before a concert or blues game. the toasted ravioli is the best in the city, and their house italian dressing is very good. otherwise, the food is all decent, but nothing remarkable.
(3)
Fred W.

Had lunch there yesterday, sat outside under the awning. service was good, but food was spotty. Deep fried tomato app was interesting, salad was OK too, but dressing was sweet. Wife had Baked mostiaccoli with meatballs which was very good, but very sweet sauce. I had chicken spedini stuffed with prosciutto, one of my favorite meals and it was terrible. I came out swimming in a flavorless watery sauce and covered with what looked like boiled mushrooms. the whole thing was totally lacking in flavor and I left half of it. The side of shells were gummy. We would not return
(2)
Jennifer B.

Alright, I'm one for being healthy but I also feel it is important to live. I have a bit of Southern in my blood, and I love fried foods. Therefore, I am a fan of Zia's. If you want that fresh garden healthy sort of Italian, then go somewhere else. If you want the sort of unhealthy but oh-so-good Italian that most of St. Louis grew up with, this is your place. That's not to say that you can't get unfried and healthy entrees here, you can and in fact I did on my last visit. The portions are great and the prices are modest. On my most recent visit I tried the fried artichokes for my appetizer, and have now had every appetizer that they serve. I loved them. I had the pollo sotto for my entree, and it rocked. It was actually near to being a healthy dish, too!
(4)
kathy h.

My favorite St. Louis place. Decor is ok, food is fantastic. I can hardly get past the Chicken Spedini. I order this a lot. The tutta mare is wonderful. Pastas are large enough to split. Salad is one of the best in St. Louis.
(5)
Jennifer H.

I really like Zia's on the hill for a couple of reasons. I know a lot of people don't but may I suggest that perhaps you're just ordering the wrong things. Zia's has really good pasta. I would stay away from everything else on the menu; it just isn't very special. I know some people refuse to order pasta out at a restaurant b/c they feel they can make it themselves, but seriously, you can't make pasta like they make at Zia's. I promise. I like the Tutto Mare best, with a great combination sauce of both red and white, the house salad- one of the few places I like provel cheese, and dessert (I usually trade off between a couple of them). I think you should give Zia's another shot; this time skip on the steak and get the pasta instead.
(4)
Jeff S.

What a surprise! I was in St. Louis on a road trip with friends and we were told this was a good place. We ended up driving around the Hill and walking around for a bit- we almost ate at some other place and I'm glad we didn't. Everything was great about this place, the salad, the meal. Our server was fast and friendly, and overall the price was reasonable. "Provel" cheese on everything... we had to wikipedia that one. We liked everything so much we bought some of the salad dressing and sauce after we returned home- however the lemon and butter sauce wasn't what I expected- I wish they would have the creamy white sauce packaged for sale instead. I would go back the next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Carrie L.

My father and I were visiting family in STL and wanted to experience " The Hill" that my aunt kept raving about, we read really good reviews on Zias and thought we would give it a try. All we wanted was a bowl of pasta, how hard is that to screw up... right? Wrong!! We started off with the calamari which was good, soft, not too greasy then my father got a red onion and tomato salad which would've been better if the tomatoes were in season. I.got a house salad with my chicken marsala, the salad was okay, but way too much dressing to have any type of nutritional value. I wanted to cry when my chicken marsala came to the table, it was grilled not sauteed chicken breast in a sweet tomato sauce with raw green peppers and mushrooms. WTH? Do you have any idea what chicken marsala is?? Theres nothing I hate more food wise then sweet tomato sauce and raw green peppers, what a culinary nightmare for me! My dad got the linguini with white clams which was a huge bowl of mush and canned clams, for $8 an entree I guess you get what you pay for, garbage. If that was my Zia id tell her to crack open a cook book, pronto.
(1)
Jason L.

Everyone who comes here loves this place. It's in a cozy little Italian neighborhood, and the food is spectacular. This area can be a little difficult to navigate through at night, if you're a visitor (narrow streets, lots of one-ways) but consult a map before you leave and you'll get the some of the best food in StLouis. If someone tells you otherwise . . . back away slowly while eyeing them suspiciously.
(4)
Chris L.

One of my favorites when I used to live in St. Louis. Reasonable prices, good portions, and a decent ambiance.
(4)
Jill D.

I was visiting St.Louis to see in-laws and was taken here for the first time. It was the day after Christmas, a Friday, and I think everyone's internal calendars were off due to the holidays and it being a long weekend. When we called at 1:15 in the afternoon to make a reservation for 6 we were told reservations were not taken for Saturdays. No one on either end of the phone caught that it was actually Friday. We got to the restaurant just before 5:00 pm and my mother and sister-in-law, who was on crutches from recent knee surgery, went in first and were told to stand and wait by the hostess. When the rest of us arrived we were told by the manager the best table we could get would be one for 4 with a seat at the end to accommodate the 5th (one of our party had dropped after we could not get reservations) since all of the bigger tables were being held for people that had called and gotten reservations. My in-laws pointed out that we had called and were told reservations were not being taken. The manager responded that we were told that because we only had 5 people. We then explained we did have 6 at that time and were still told reservations were not being taken. She then responded that she was not the one we had talked to so she could not account for why we were told that. She led us to the table in a room where maybe half of the tables were occupied and my father-in-law again stated we had called ahead for reservations. The manager responded that it was not anything she could explain since she had not been the one on the phone and it was his choice to stay if he wanted to. The exchange got heated. My father-in-law did not want to go elsewhere so we stayed, A hostess came in a moment later to give us menus and literally threw the last one on the table, knocking off a place setting of silverware in the process. Both sides could have handled this better but I really do expect more in terms of customer service from a restaurant manager. At no point was an apology spoken for the mix-up over the phone or was an offer of an accommodation of any kind made; I think even a free appetizer could have diffused the situation. Bottom line, a customer was upset and instead of trying to sympathize and solve the manager chose to argue and set the example to her staff to treat paying customers with indifference at best. The food was fine, large portions and nothing exceptional either way in terms of taste. Chicken Antonio nice for those watching fat and calories and the Chicken Marsala had green peppers in it which was unusual. While the house salad dressing is tasty and popular enough to be sold by the bottle getting a salad (mostly iceberg lettuce) literally swimming in it was overwhelming; ask for it on the side to really appreciate it.
(2)
Monika M.

Great salads! Great casual and mostly affordable place.
(4)
Molly P.

Zia's is affordable, has quality authentic Italian food and lots of people! So go early or late unless you want to hang around the bar for 30 -60 min. The bread basket is so so, but the menu is large and has many great appetizers to choose from.
(4)
Tiffany N.

I'm not really sure how to describe Zia's other than: deeeeelicious.
(4)
yvonne o.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. As an educator, my patience threshold is very high, however, my six years of experience could not have prepared me for the awful experience I had at Zia's. When our food orders came, two out of the three were wrong. The vegetarian I was with had specified a vegeterian dish and it came with meat sauce, while my medium well steak came out hard and completely brown in the middle. It was hard to cut and very dry. The waiter took both dishes back and apologized for my steak being "overcooked." The waiter brought back new orders, however, after a couple of bites, I found that my steak was fully of sinewy gristle and fat throughout. I was having to take pieces out of my mouth that I could not eat, which repulsed me, especially at a restaurant that was supposed to be higher quality. When I told the waiter, a female manager named Jamie came back and was immediately hostile, accusing me of sending the two orders back on purpose, and said she would not discard the steak meal from my bill. I told her that I didn't eat it or enjoy it, and that I had sent it back twice because the order was wrong. She explained that sometimes medium rare meant well done (?). Long story short, I told her I was not paying for the steak and at that point, she threatened to call the police to come make me pay for my meal. I asked for her boss, and she called the owner of the restaurant and put me on the phone with him. The owner told me that my steak was fine (even though he hadn't been in the restaurant that night) and that he would call the cops if I didn't pay for my meal. He referred to me as "you people" and said he wouldn't let people like me get free food from him. I am a very responsible woman and have been to many restaurants internationally and locally. Nothing could have prepared me for this nightmare experience. My friends were mortified that they had taken me to this place where I was treated so badly. Believe me, avoid this experience at all costs.
(1)
Tamara M.

I love Zia's. I usually go there every time I go back to visit STL. They have the best toasted ravioli and the portion sizes of everything are ridiculously huge! I could eat just the toasted rav, salad and garlic cheese bread and be totally stuffed, but I have to save room for the pasta. My husband and I usually split a pasta entree, toasted rav and each get a house salad. It's more than enough food for two people to share! I've never had any of their non-pasta dishes here so I can't comment on those, but the pasta dishes I've had have always been excellent.
(5)
Lauren A.

Wow. Portion sizes are huge! Toasted ravioli was delish, but as this was my first visit to st louis, I don't have anyone to compare them to.. which I think may be a st louis thing. I had the pasta carbonara, it was super rich but very tasty.. I only wish my hotel room had a fridge so I could make good use of all the leftovers! This restautant is super cozy, has a classic menu, and nice friendly staff. For a random pick of an Italian restaunt on the Hill, I'm glad we went here.. I only wish I had more time to explore the neighborhood.
(4)
Colin X.

Zipping through St Louis on a Monday, I only had a few hours, which included time for lunch. So I decided to go by the Hill and ended up at Zia's. Bottom line up front- the food was great, the service was good, the atmosphere was cool, but the staff was very impersonal. Now I was probably an oddity for them in that I was there alone. I am a really outgoing guy, so when I go to a restaurant alone I always try to engage the staff in conversation. I elected to sit in the bar area as opposed to the dining room. I was the only customer there. The bartender took my order right away. The hostess returned from the dining room. I told her that I had read a lot of really good reviews about their restaurant on Yelp. She just gave me a "dont bother me smile" and walked away. Then a beer distributor showed up wanted them to try selling a new product for them. She spent the rest of my meal trying to convince this guy to get her some Blues playoff tix in exchange for marketing his product! She then sucked the bartender into the conversation, leaving me alone with my food. Hard to put it into words...just not the hospitality I expect in St Louis. When faced with an unfriendly staff, I like most people these days turn to my I-Phone. But they don't have WIFI so that wasn't much help either. As for the food, I had a lite lunch with toasted ravoli and garlic bread. It was delicious. I was driving so I had a coke, and the total bill was a reasonable $15. Toasted ravoli is so awesome! Along with the Zoo, the Arch, Forest Park, and Cards baseball it is an absolute must do whenever you visit St Louis!
(3)
Edward J.

Visited on busy Friday night. Got a table pretty quick. Great service, good food.
(5)
s r.

Incredible!!!
(4)
Ashley H.

very very good! not much of a wait for seating on a weekend night! calamari is to DIE for! we didn't have problems with parking, but I could see where if they were super busy, it may be a problem. definately worth a try!
(5)
Charles S.

Toasted ravioli was amazing.
(4)
Paul And Kelsie A.

A Family Favorite! Authentic Italian. Doesn't get much better than this! Competes with Charlie Gitto's for our Favorite spot on the hill! But this is where we went the night we got engaged so it will always be special! We are pretty strict critics of Italian Food and this place delivers!!! Classy and Romantic as well!
(5)
Cliff and Claire H.

Great place to go for some simple, yet perfect Italian cuisine. The toasted ravioli here is the best. Usually get the Chicken Marsala as an entree with a salad and a cup of coffee. Can't beat it for a nice Saturday afternoon lunch. This past July we had a couple of friends visit from out of town and they were very impressed. The wait staff was phenomenal.
(4)
Joy O.

Zia's was excellent. The deal for free ravioli was so nice and it tasted incredible! The service was excellent and pasta great- VERY large servings.
(5)
Rick D.

The Hill never disappoints and Zia's is a must visit for anyone in that area of St. Louis. This trip was the first time i went on a Saturday and although we had to wait close to an hour at their peak dinning time, no one seemed to be annoyed. It was PACKED in the bar area waiting for our table with people even crammed in the entryway.. and still no complaints because we knew what was in our near future. I don't even remember what i ordered to be exact, but it was some pasta dish with Scallops, Shrimp, and Crab (or lobster, i can't recall). It was a great recommendation so i went with my server's suggested special. Wonderful experiecne with some fantastic friends from out of town. The food was amazing and feed me for lunch the next day too. They are certainly known for salads but feel free to try something new the server recommends.
(4)
Alyssa S.

The meatballs were burned badly and so dry they could not be eaten. They brought my salad with my dinner when I requested it be brought before the entree. The server was incredibly slow, she was very young, looked still in high school and she was very confused, she didn't know some of the menu items and actually had to take the menu away from me twice to look at it herself....the only thing really mentionable is that Zia's has some of the best salad dressing around and a really deep and earthy past sauce, not so sweet like other places... but the things I mentioned above those two- pretty much cancel it out.
(2)
Meg M.

Last december before going off to thr Fox to see Wicked myself and a man friend came here to have some supper. I have to say that our supper was wonderful. The wait staff was very knowledgeable on what wine goes with what we had. So, i always tell people to go to Zia's! All that aside, i do love this place. With so many places on the hill to sample Italian food, this place has a place in my heart!
(4)
Tricia R.

This was disappointing. This used to be one of the bf's favorite Italian restaurants, but the past few dining experiences were just ehh. This past trip basically wrote it off the list for him, and we've decided that we'll stick with Bartolino's for Italian. 1) Dinner salad - nothing special to rave about. 2) Capellini Carciofi - this was actually not bad. It was not heavy like some pastas tend to be, but there was not much capellini in the dish. While some ppl may find it great that the dish is FILLED with chicken, I personally wanted a balance of everything and was disappointed. 3) Chicken on special - Usually we assume that whatever is on special for the evening would be the best bet. WRONG. I'm still not sure how this dish is different from the other chicken dishes on the menu. After looking at the menu again, it sounds just like the Picante Pollo or the Soto Chicken - charboiled chicken breast, topped with cheese, white wine butter sauce, and mushrooms (there might've been peppers). The bf swore the mushrooms were from a can, and the overall appearance of the dish was not appetizing. The side of pasta was also disappointing. I feel like the Hill is overhyped and has been going downhill in the past few yrs. All these places have been around forever, and maybe ppl just keep going for the sake of tradition. BUT CAN SOMEONE PLEASE SERVE SOME BETTER FOOD!?!!?! On the plus side, service here has always been great and when the weather is warm, you can sit outside.
(2)
Aaron G.

This was the first time I have been too "The Hill" area of St. Louis, MO and it was a treat. I stumbled upon Zia's by accident while looking for another restaurant. This is very close to a traditional Italian restaurant other than going to Italy. I had the baked pasta with a creamy cheese sauce and meatballs. The sauce has a slight wine taste to it and it was very good. Fresh bread was served and they have a nice olive oil and spice mixture for the bread. Shake up the bottle before you serve it, wonderful!
(4)
James M.

This place is outstanding. NEVER had a bad meal here. Met Yogi Berra and family here one night eating.....if that tells you something about this place. Been eating here since 1980's and it keeps getting better. Toasted Rav is the best on hill and prices are very reasonable.
(5)
Chad W.

The best Italian restaurant in St. Louis. House salad is out of this world. Huge portions and helpful staff!
(5)
Angela L.

My first time visiting the Hill, and I choose to eat here because my coworkers always raved about Zia's salad dressing. So I thought, if they're that famous for just their salad dressing, their food must be amazing! And it was! Ordered the fried ravioli (and for the first time realized why St. Louis is proud of it!) and the chicken marsala. Each meal comes with a salad (with their famous dressing!) and a side dish of pasta, so pretty much enough food to feed a small family. Like other have said, the food is pretty heavy, but delicious. I ended up bringing almost all of the pasta and half of the chicken home, which I then was able to stretch into two more dinners that week (adding some veggies in there of course). So pretty much, you really get your money's worth here. The atmosphere exudes Good Food, Good Friends, and Family, and I left thinking about how I needed to get my hands on a bottle of Zia's salad dressing.
(4)
Matt M.

I went to Zia's with my parents and my girlfriend over 4th of July weekend. My dad is a big fan of Italian food (he practically has marinara sauce coursing through his veins), so I didn't want to disappoint him with some mediocre food on the Hill (believe me, it exists). Zia's wasn't that crowded, and we got our food within 10 minute of ordering. The prices were very reasonable for a nicer Italian restaurant (cue the Billy Joel), and the portions were very large. I could only finish half of it, and I pride myself on finishing my plates! I'll definitely be returning to Zia's again, but hopefully I'll find some more great places on the Hill.
(4)
Richard Z.

Great food! Great service! Go hungry!
(5)
French C.

Good Italian restaurant a few miles from downtown. Was there on a busy Thursday evening, so there was a short wait for a table. They have you wait in the bar area where the main entrance comes into. Dinning area is cramped in some places, staff is knowlegeable and the menu has all the Italian classics with wine suggestion matching your order. Parking was hard to find in this residential neibourhood.
(3)
Dean B.

Zia's is one of those places that St. Louisans love but I just don't get. When people talk about eating out in The Hill, someone always inevitably brings up Zia's as their favorite or near-favorite place to eat. I've been there on a number of occasions, and I'll put it simply: This is not Italian food, this is bar food with tableclothes. Not to say I'm a food snob, in fact I'm far from it. If it's deep fried, I'll probably eat it. I'd rather have a good burger over a good steak, and I've been known to opine on the pleasure of eating fistfuls of slim jims and potato chips straight from the bag. But Zia's? I just can't do it, man. Zia's is probably the kingpin of "old" St. Louis Italian, and for those unfamiliar with what that means, it basically translates to: Deep-fry the meat and/or smother it with enough sauce to eliminate the taste. I really hate to say this, but just because you serve a side of pre-cooked pasta with an entree does not make you Italian. Almost everything about Zia's screams "expensive bar food", from the appetizers (9 out of 12 are deep fried!), to the needlessly low lighting (what kind of weird carpet stains lurk in the darkness?), to the loud and crowded space they cram you into, to the wild fluctuations in quality of service. All of this would be forgivable if only Zia's food didn't taste like chewing on an old leather boot. Again, don't get me wrong. I like some fried food. I like some food with sauce. I like provel cheese. But all of these in heavy doses drain the dishes taste to the point of blandness. There are some restaurants on the Hill that get this combo right. Favazza's, Pietro's, and Cunetto's (to a certain extent) are all noticably better in atmosphere and taste IMO and still fit in the "old st. louis italian" category. The fact that people treat this place with reverence is even more mind-numbing. People wait an hour for the honor of eating toasted ravioli and veal parmesan with sauce that tastes identical to Ragu. Cmon St. Louis, you can do better than this.
(2)
Matthew P.

The Toasted Ravioli was the best I've ever had! The wine, entrees, and service were outstanding. The atmosphere was a little cramped and the olive oil wasn't very good. Overall a great dinning experience!
(5)
Green D.

We were in on a Sat night and it was clear that the waiter and bartender just wanted to get off-shift. Wine list was good. Calamari, mushrooms, and ravioli were decent and the pricepoint good--so there was value. It's just too bad that the ambiance was clouded by the servers' haste. Unfortunately they didn't have limoncello.
(3)
Pat R.

I brought a group of 4 to Zia's for some amazing Italian food. They did not dissapoint. Everything was amazing. I suggest this place for anyone that wants to give their guests the Best that St. Louis has to offer. The bread, salad and pastas were great. I'd suggets everyone getting a salad, appetizer and splitting the pasta between two people.
(5)
Brian F.

Overall, the food was pretty good. But, this place seems a little overrated. The service was average, the servers knowledge of menu was limited, the hostess was out to lunch. We had eggplant appetizer (amazing), sicilian salad (not too good), tortelini (pretty good), and pasta with chicken & veggies (pretty good). The portions were very generous. I found the dining area to be a little too loud, cramped, and busy.
(3)
Amme M.

I grew up having Zia's salad dressing but beyond that I haven't ever had Zia's. However, a few weeks ago I had the T-ravs and a chicken sandwich from the food truck that was to die for! Last week the beau and I decided to grab a nice casual dinner and we decided to try the restaurant since I loved the food truck. When we walked in the hostess took our name and told us that it would be a 45 min wait. We weren't too keen on waiting but figured that by the time we drove somewhere else and waited it would be the same amount of time. After waiting about 10 minutes I went to the restroom and thought that on the way back I would check and see if it was going to be any faster. When I went up and asked the hostess (who I think may have been a manager as well, she was wearing a headset type thingy) she said "well they told you the wait would be 45 mins and it has been 8 minutes... soooooo about 37 minutes" with quite a bit of attitude. When I went back to tell my boyfriend he was so mad that we left. I'm sure the food is great but the customer service left a bad taste in my mouth . I think that if I do try it again I will just stick to the food truck...
(2)
Howie F.

I have been to Zia's probably 30 times in my life and it is my favorite restaurant in this city. The appetizers are amazing and no matter what, I always have to get Pomodori Fritti and Seafood stuffed mushrooms. Whether it is just my gf (who almost always hate mushrooms) or a group of 10, those two must be ordered or my day will be ruined. Those tomatoes are done perfectly. The salad is amazing, I always have to finish it. Steak Mudega is always fantastic, I have a couple times convinced myself to try something new and always regret missing it. Not sure about the desserts, I have never eaten one, always too full (which is saying something). Only problem is they don't take reservations.
(5)
Amy B.

My favorite place to eat in Saint Louis. One of the rare Italian places that knows how to prepare noodles al dente. Their cheeses and sauces are locally sourced or made and delicious. Be prepared to wait quite a while for a table on Saturday nights, since they don't take reservations.
(5)
Jessica M.

toasted seafood ravioli. The only place that has it. not quite the same as toasted ravioli but if you cannot eat meat it is something to try.
(4)
Sebastian C.

Good food try to avoid getting cheese on the salad. As most places in saint louis this place really likes cheese in cream. Lactose intolerant people be careful.
(3)
Chris J.

The service here is always great, and the pasta is wonderful. Bring your wallet, as I usually find dinner for two will cost around 50.00.
(4)
Vina T.

Absolutely AMAZING food! Our waiter Aaron gave us recommendations and they were PERFECT! Too bad the portions were SO GIANT that I couldn't even make a dent in my dish! Try this place out!
(5)
lovesmyanimals l.

I been going to Zia's for as long as I can remember. It is a staple on the hill and my comfort zone if I can't think of anywhere else to go to. However, something has changed here and I am not happy about it. I feel the quality of the food has gone down. Tonight, I did not have a chance to sit down and dine here b/c there was over an hour wait. However, in the past the service has always been good. Tonight, I opted for take-out b/c of the wait. When we got home to check our food, we realized our order was wrong (we order spaghetti and they gave us moscacholli), not a big deal but still it was wrong. Our appetizers and other dishes were burned. So a few bites later our meal was pitched. I will add, they do have awesome salads here. However, if you don't want to wait around for the salad or make a trek to the hill, dierbergs grocery store has zia's house salad available at the salad bar (just a tip) and taste exactly the same. I will go back, but hope next time the food improves....
(3)
Courtney D.

Zia's is the best in St. Louis for the 4 dishes that I ever get there. Can't really speak to the rest of the menu, but given the fact that it's a family birthday tradition, I'm going to say they like their choices, too. The pomodoro pasta is chock full of kalamata olives, fresh mushrooms, and big chunks of fresh tomato. It is tangy, a little spicy, and easily my favorite pasta in St. Louis. We always order a portion of both types of fried calamari, and the platters of calamari pieces and whole bodies consistently arrive steaming hot, delicately battered, and just chewy enough. The fried artichoke hearts are another staple at our table. The rest of the family enjoys the steak dishes and baked ravioli (with meatball). The place is always packed, so I would suggest arriving early for lunch or enjoying a glass of sangria while you wait at the bar for your dinner table.
(4)
Mary J.

Great Italian food. This is in the area called The Hill in St. Louis and it's chocked full of italian restaurants. No chains, all the real McCoy. Parking is on the street, but no problem to find. Make sure you have my favorite - toasted ravioli.
(5)
Tony W.

The food was absolutely excellent but be prepared for a long wait for a table. The wait staff seems a little overworked. They could use a few more. Cannot beat the prices though.
(4)
Brian L.

Jersey shore Italian joint. Meaning not real Italian just pasta with a tan.
(2)
S P.

I enjoyed the food, esp the toasted ravioli but the service was horrible. They never came around to see how we were doing and it took a long time for the food to come out. Overall I'd go back but only if they improve their service.
(4)
Caldwell J.

Zia's is stuck in the 50s -- the food as well as the decor. You're not going to get fresh tomatoes or mozzarella or anything remotely subtle or novel here, just a bunch of the old standbys. If you're a big provel fan... and you like your red sauce very sweet... and having your entire meal breaded and deep-fried and dunked in melted butter makes you smile... sure, hit Zia's. But if you've got a taste for food that won't land in your gut like lead and doesn't make you think you've flashed back to the era of the Rat Pack, you may want to give it a pass. (Jason L. is free to back away slowly, eyeing me suspiciously. But Zia's isn't even a good example of classic American Italian. And don't get me started on their desserts.)
(2)
Scott C.

I just moved to the St. Louis area from Phoenix and Zia's is the first restaurant on the Hill that we went to. Now I have to convince myself to try the others as well. The food was nothing short of terrific. Easily better than the best Italian food I found in Phoenix. I ordered the Capellini Carciofi. It was very good. The flavor is rather subtle though with an oil and garlic based sauce. While it was good and I ate every bite of the huge portion, the dishes that my wife and son ordered were much more pleasing to my palette. My wife ordered the Pasta Con Pesce. It was nothing short of spectacular. I've had many Italian Seafood Pasta dishes, but the cream sauce with a touch of marinara was really tasty. The portions are huge so I was able to polish of my wife's plate the next day for lunch. And it was even better then after fermenting in my fridge overnight. My son ordered the Linguine and Clams. This was also excellent. I have to admit that I'm very picky about my clam sauce dishes. My Sicilian Nana made her clam sauce dish with no cream. The sauce was oil-based and very light. Zia's had a touch of cream texture to it. So while very good I did not like it quite as much as my Nana's. The only reason that Zia gets 4 instead of 5 stars for this visit, is that I have not eaten at other places on the Hill to compare it to, and I happened to order a dish that was not as good as the other two.
(4)
Oliver G.

For me, another Hill disappointment. Most of the dishes in this place are premade meat sauces that get combined with premade pasta-if you don't believe it, look at the menu. The pastas are all offered with the same sauces which should be the clue to stay away from them. Like a lot of restaurants on the Hill, they probably are great for one or two things. I haven't figured which ones, and probably never will. Wine list barely better than what I might find at Applebee's, which is a shame considering the food genre.
(2)
Jane G.

Zia's on the Hill is absolutely wonderful and never disappoints. On this particular trip, we stopped in with our kids for an early dinner. We're thankful we got in when we did, because I believe we got the last seat available in the house. As usual, we shared meals...we do so because the portions at Zia's are HUGE. My husband and I ordered house salads with our meals and they were fresh and tasty as always. My 3 year old and I shared the baked ravioli, and my husband and 7 year old shared the spaghetti with meatballs. When our meals were brought to the table, the kitchen had put our portions into separate plates, so we didn't have to deal with splitting messy pasta at the table on our own. We really appreciated that! Our food was incredible. Our ravioli was simply sumptuous and my daughter and I easily cleaned our plates. My husband and daughter really enjoyed their spaghetti, and our 7 year old decided the meatballs were "the best". The service was incredible, in spite of the fact that the place was packed. We love Zia's and will definitely return again and again.
(5)
Lulu W.

Yeaaaaah....Worst tiramisu ever.
(3)
Ally C.

It's gone down hill from the last time I visited several years ago. Decor/dining area needs to be updated. The service is mediocre at best, not genuinely friendly. The best part of my meal was the bread & oil and my salad. My saltimbocca didn't have any flavor and the side pasta wasn't hot when it came out and had that film on it like it had been sitting out. I know Zia's is a staple on the Hill but I would send people elsewhere. There's several other places that have more flavorful food and better service!
(2)
John S.

We were brought here by family members who we were visiting in Missouri. We loved the neighborhood and the homes surrounding the restaurant. It reminded me of the Italian neighborhood in the South End of Springfield, MA. Many of the yards were immaculately groomed with lots of artsy touches and many vegetable gardens. The interior of the restaurant is clean and attractive. We were greeted and quickly seated by a very nice, pretty hostess. Our server was there immediately to bring us water and make suggestions about the menu. The food, I will describe as home made Italian. I am Irish and married into an Italian family who educated me on every aspect of Italian food and its' preparation. To make a long, delightful story short, we all enjoyed our food and the service at "Auntie's" restaurant.
(5)
Rob D.

The good -it's very affordable -the salad is filled with cheese and yummy The bad -the food tastes slightly better than olive garden...but it's a slight advantage VERY BLAND -service was below average, had to ask for things twice etc...not awful but most servers I see are much better than this one. - bread was gross like it had been microwaved I used to love this place 10 years ago...but it isn't 10 years ago so I guess it's time to move on, this restaurant just isn't as good as it once was...its sad, I'll miss the memory of yummy zias :( Sure it's not terrible, and it's not bad to the wallet but if you're on the hill ya might as well go elsewhere and eat something with flavor instead of the bland pasta here.
(2)
Melissa W.

I weep. I weep for the fact that I do not live in St. Louis. Zia's is a gem that I continue to crave. Every day. I love you Zia's.
(5)
Ashley G.

Me and my friends were visiting Illinois on a work trip and decided to head to the college park area. Somehow we wandered down to little Italy and found this gem. From the server to the margaritas to the special. Everything was great!
(5)
Jem F.

We went for dinner on a Thursday. For appetizers, we ordered the toasted ravioli, which was great, and the garlic cheese bread, which didn't have much garlic on it (it was mostly bread with insane amounts of cheese on it). Our pastas were alright, good but not amazing. Our service was pretty poor. We did go during a busy time, but our waiter, though friendly, was never around, though we were seated in a prominent area. In the middle of our meal, he asked us if we wanted our garlic cheese bread reheated. When he brought it back, it was pretty clear that he had just microwaved it. The bread had gotten soggy, and it was just generally unappetizing after that. Parking can be difficult to find, especially during busy times. (It's just street parking)
(2)
Beth W.

First time here last week and it was pretty good. We came for my aunts bday and had 3 kids in our group, I wish they would have had a kids menu with smaller portions. We had toasted ravioli which were pretty good. The salad is ok, their dressing is sweeter than most and I wasn't sure that I liked it. My favorite salad is the pasta house one. My aunt ordered filet which I tried and was tender. I had the cannelloni, it was decent but I wish it had cheese melted on top. Also it looked like it was under the broiler a little to long. Maybe there was a little cheese on top but didn't really notice. My kids shared the spaghetti and meatballs which was a huge portion. My husband had the Alfredo which he said he liked. This place is decent but didn't knock my socks off.
(4)
Julie V.

I've only been to the Hill one other time but I'm starting to notice a pattern. Food is okay but nothing amazing, service is wanting, and you leave wondering why the Hill got its reputation. That being said, nothing was overly wrong. Maybe I chose the wrong dish (capellini scampi) because my salad was good as was the bread & oil. The dish itself just had no flavor and that was disappointing since it was quite filling. Service was a disappointment too. My husband and I are shopping for "our" Italian place in the new neighborhood. The waiter wasn't welcoming, ignored us at times, and didn't make us feel welcome for the first time which was a shame considering this is our audition process. I thought maybe we just didn't look the type but there was a birthday celebration at the next table and while they were taking pictures of the birthday girl the waiter was stepping into the photos to clear plates even though plates weren't finished and it was still early in the evening. I get that they need to work but even a 30 second delay would have been an obvious choice (it was obvious to me at least). I'll probably try this place again since the cocktail menu had potential and maybe I just got a bad seat and okay dish.
(3)
Rachele B.

We went for my boyfriends birthday on a Monday night and the place was pretty busy. I had the manicotti which was very good and authentic; even the leftovers were still good. He had the cavatelli broccoli which was to die for! I just kept "taste testing" it. And we even took my dad the seafood ravioli which was excellent with just enough garlic. The chianti house wine was good as well.
(5)
Wendy A.

Best toasted tabs I've ever had!! I would give it five stars, but while we were eating they were arranging for a large party and we constantly had to move around. The food was good and portion sizes well worth the cost! Service at the beginning was great, but after we got our food it was difficult to get our waiter back and waited 10 min for our check after our food was boxed up... Again-food was fabulous!!
(4)
L B.

Absolutely horrible! BEWARE, poor service, poor customer service and just acceptable food. Plenty of other good restaurants on the Hill. This place should be avoided has gone down hill and stayed there. As a St. Louis native, I cannot remotely recommend, AVOID.
(1)
Tim R.

Came with family. Left with friends. Had the Zia's salad and arancini (rice balls). Superb. Really fine food. Others had spedini and fried tomatoes. All superb. Kids had spaghetti with HUGE meatballs. They enjoyed and cleaned their plates.
(4)
Austin Elizabeth H.

Came here with a group of graduate students for dinner. The bread and oil are good, but that was about it as far as my meal went. I got the seafood pasta at the recommendation of my friends, and found it thoroughly unenjoyable. Perhaps it's the distance from the ocean, but it didn't taste as fresh as seafood I'm used to (I'm from the coastal region of Georgia originally). The sauce was creamy, but did nothing to compliment the flavors of the seafood. I probably would not go back unless I had to. There's plenty of great restaurants in this city. Zia's is just the kind of place you really only feel compelled to go to once. Try it, but don't expect to be blown away!
(3)
Evan M.

This place was great, came for lunch and had a very enjoyable meal at their outdoor tables. Inside of the place is nice (and huge) too with family friendly bathrooms. Anyway, back to the food, which was excellent, with huge portions, even for lunch. Also impressed with the extensive lunch menu, especially the seafood dishes. Had the linguini with clam sauce, nicely flavored with lots of clam chunks. The other seafood dish that one of us got was even better, forget what it was called, something like "mare" with cream sauce. Others in our group got two chicken dishes, also very good even though the one with prosciutto was a bit salty, but I suppose it's supposed to be. Almost forgot, the bread was great too, so overall an excellent meal at a reasonable price, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was I'm trying to be a little more discriminating and saving that for my all time favorite restaurants, but this was almost on that level.
(4)
Gary G.

Excellent pasta dishes. Large portions with ample ingredients -- perhaps a bit too much sauce for some, but very enjoyable. Throwback atmosphere good for family or friends.
(4)
Stuart K.

It is really disappointing when an old friend is not doing well, and this old friend is either too tired or has just stopped caring. Yes they had toasted Ravioli, but they just did not have that crisp snap and cheesy meaty filling. I ordered the "special" a chicken dish with prosciutto, provolone, mushrooms on what was supposed to be a buttery sauce. The first plate came out cold. There is no excuse for a kitchen not to have the sauce hot, when it is only the beginning of the dinner rush. Our waitress was great, took the offending dish and put it back to the kitchen for a refire. Our grand daughters had fried mozzarella, and it tasted just like cracker crumbs. The red sauce, out of a jar. Sad, the kitchen acted like it did not care anymore, and were only going through the motions.
(2)
Braden B.

Amazing!! The salad was money. Piccata was top knotch. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for dinner on The Hill.
(5)
Chris J.

I went to Zias on date with my wife. The salad was very good but the entree was just okay - good but not great. I had expected a little more but still OK place. Dessert was good. I won't be in rush to go back but would give it another try.
(3)
Mamie V.

The hill is a wonderful place to get loud, eat great food and have a wonderful time with friends and family! This place has one of the best house salads I've ever had! Zias always makes my tummy happy! I go there quite a bit with family and we love the staff, atmosphere, wine selection and hearty portion sizes! Plus leftovers from this place are almost as good as the night before, and that's coming from someone who rarely eats leftovers!
(4)
Valerie R.

First off wait was about 45 min which is expected for a Saturday evening. Food ok, service HORRIBLE. My veal was tough and had to use husbands knife because they took mine and didn't bring another as requested. Also I ordered wine with meal. Waitress said I would have to remind her, which I did, but never got it. It's a waiters responsibility to remember customers order, NOT the customer themselves. Waitress not friendly. Place is overrated.
(3)
Tina B.

Not bad. My waiter Aaron was very sweet. Garlic bread with cheese was greasy, but not inedible. The Cavatappi Broccoli was good, but drowning in too much sauce. Will probably try one of the other Italian restaurants on 'the hill' next time.
(3)
Kayley W.

Delicious toasted ravioli! I ate a whole appetizer order by myself, which I shamelessly admit since they were so yummy. The complimentary bread leaves something to be desired, which is why I can't give them 5 stars. Also their pasta is good, but not the best that I've had. Overall, I do like going to Zia's if I'm near the Hill, but it's not the best Italian food in STL. Still enjoyable though.
(4)
Jolena S.

Fantastic meal and dining experience. We went on the last night of restaurant week in the hill and did the three course dinner for $25. Arrived early evening (5:30ish) and had at most a 20 minute wait for a table, just enough time to grab a drink at the bar. Once seated we got a bottle of the Castle Rock Cabernet and ordered dinner. He had the toasted ravioli, filet in a brandy cream sauce and chocolate torte. I opted for the tomato salad, veal involtini and cannoli. For his side of pasta he opted for butter and oil sauce while I blended their red and white sauces. He didn't really care for his sauce choice on the pasta, it was too lightly flavored. My only issue with my meal was I had to request a steak knife to cut through the veal. Overall everything tasted great and portions were plentiful. Service was excellent as well.
(5)
Rockey G.

This little Irish guy was made to feel Italian. As previously stated, I rarely venture far from Dogtown. Yet, I decided to make the hop over to the Hill. This place was incredible. I got the Chicken Special for lunch. Not sure what it was called, but it had this wicked good sauce on it. The chicken was perfectly cooked and delicious, but they could put that sauce on anything and I would have eaten it. Check this place out!
(5)
Steven F.

Zia's is one of St. Louis's best restaurants and most likely the most-well known Italian restaurant in the area. Those complaining about the "outdated" interior fail to see that the restaurant is aiming for an old-fashioned look. Why do all restaurants have to look modern to be considered nice? As for the food, the main draw here is the salad. It is very simple: lettuce, cheese, and dressing. But those three ingredients somehow add to to the most delicious salad I've ever had. The dressing is great and can be purchased at local supermarkets. The spaghetti and meatballs is very good and is a gigantic meal. The meatballs are extremely good. The toasted ravioli is pretty good too, some of the best I've ever had. Don't listen to the bad reviews, try Zia's out and form your own opinion. The only thing you need to know: it's somewhat expensive, at around $20-25 a person. However, that seems to be on par with most Italian restaurants. Interior- 4/5 Food- 5/5 Service- 4.5/5 OVERALL- 5/5
(5)
John M.

Very good food and excellent specials. I love Italian on the hill and am not knowledgeable enough to distinguish the best ones just yet. Maybe in time I will give this place a 5. Everyone had some seafood. The salad did come out a little heavy on the dressing. You can definitely get it on the side. Usually I go for the pasta dishes and I'm not from St. Louis so a side of pasta is a little foreign to me. Zia's definitely had the best sides of pasta I've ever had. (It was consistently true when I tried everyone else's) There was so much food it was difficult to finish. Everyone else couldn't. We were celebrating and they brought out cannoli and tiramisu for dessert! Maybe on the house? Both were excellent. Possibly the best tiramisu I've ever had?! Then somehow we took home some Missouri Bakery from right across the street. Excellent dining experience. Will return.
(4)
Wendy F.

Finally made it to the Hill! The Hill is not what we expected. Zias restaurant was tucked in a neighborhood. Throughly enjoyed our dinner. The house salad was so delicious. I could have stopped with the salad and would be happy, but we ordered pasta dinners which I don't even remember what they were called. House Specials! I did try a simple pasta with their marinara sauce. The sauce had a sweet taste which is my favorite way to be served. The place quickly filled up with guest. Glad we went early. The decor is nothing special. Just simple and old. Thought the Hill area had more shopping. Just a lot of restaurants. Would not go out of my way to visit the area again.
(5)
Lowell R.

Ate for the second time at Zia's and I was once again really impressed by the food and service. Started the night out with some Amaro grappa because screw aperitif I was in the mood for some grappa! It was above and beyond the best i have ever had although I don't have it that often. The dinner started with copious amounts of bread with an olive oil and herb drizzle, wish there had been some balsamic vinaigrette to go with it but the oil blend was still quite tasty. Next we had the calamari and garlic cheese bread. The calamari was outstanding, especially with the lemon oil drizzle that came with it. As for the main meal I had the Pasta Con Pesce. The portion was gigantic so I had to quickly throw in the towel and take it home. It was extremely tasty though, the spicy cream sauce and linguine with shrimp and sea legs made my palate one happy camper! With a table of 6 we definitely needed a reservation, even on a Thursday night. Zia's is a popular and long-standing restaurant so it was packed for dinner hour. Expect an old world charm to the restaurant and be ready to carefully make your way to the table as the servers and bussers are busy at work in the dining room and there isn't a lot of space.
(5)
Kathleen G.

I had dinner here with my daughter over the weekend. The environment is very friendly, the service is excellent, the food is okay. We ordered stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer which was okay; lots of stuffing. For entrees, my daughter ordered the chicken parm and I had veal marsala. The veal was tough and the marsala sauce was not very good. The chicken parm was pretty good, so we ended up sharing that and tossing most of the veal dish. For desert we shared cannolis which were delicious. Bottom Line Service- 4 stars Food - 3 stars Cost - 4 stars
(3)
Dennis T.

I love this place. Old school Italian "Hill" feel with generous portions of great food at exceptional values. Might be my favorite restaurant in St. Louis. I usually get the Zia's salad, seafood ravoli, and chicken speidini.
(5)
Camryn P.

Not the best italian on The Hill. We waited an hour for a table, and figured it would be worth it since it was so busy. The toasted ravioli was great, as was the red sauce. The salad was drowning in dressing and nothing to rave about. I ordered one of the specials, a tortellini dish. The chicken inside was very dry and wasn't a very nice texture. The chicken spedini was pretty good, slightly over seasoned. The Alfredo sauce had entirely too much garlic and pepper. The clam and linguine dish was good-no complaints there. Everything is very slow, the food is okay. There are definitely better Italian restaurants on the Hill.
(3)
Patrick C.

Good food and a decent wine. Not great, but good enough to go back for. Big portions. Toasted raviolis were good but the hit of the day was the eggplant appetizer - a huge serving of perfectly prepared sliced eggplant covered with sauce. We couldn't eat it all. Even when we finally got it. Which brings me to the service - definitely not good enough to go back for. We were seated right away by the very friendly, personable hostess, brought water, and ignored. Our waiter did stop by long enough to say he'd be right back with bread. He fibbed. People who arrived long after we did and had different servers had their food before we did. We had been looking forward to Italian food on The Hill and were disappointed with the experience we had at Zia's. We'll try some other place on The Hill next time.
(3)
Leslie S.

How has it been this long before I ever tried this restaurant?! I loved the outdoor seating as I entered the front door for lunch. I had the lasagna special. It was sooo good, I polished it off pretty quickly. This came with a salad, which I requested to-go, so I'd have room only for my lasagna while it was still hot. Looking forward to a return visit.
(4)
Katherine B.

Went here for Hill Restaurant week. I've had it from their food truck and also as an app for dinner, and they have the BEST TOASTED RAVs in the city- crunchy (but not crispy) ravs, with a meaty filling and not too much cheese and plenty of flavor and seasoning. For dinner, I had a white garlic butter cream sauce pasta, which was great. Nice and cheesy, but also well flavored. I had the Veal Saltimbocca, which was crusted veal, and it was a little tough and not flavored all that much - not my cup of tea. The chocolate torte was amazing. After taking a bite, I could see why was it was on the small side. It was so rich, but not cloyingly sweet, and had a perfect texture, not spongy, just melt in your mouth delicious.
(4)
Marni P.

The staff was very nice and the wait was reasonable. Great for small groups or just a date. The food was ok- I wasn't super impressed, but the menu was diverse and had options for everyone. The food came out quickly and was fresh.
(3)
Eileen B.

Zia's is not a place i will return. Too many great places on the Hill to settle for average food, poor service and, most importantly, a non caring kitchen. I thought i ordered a garlic butter sauce pasta. Received a heavy cream sauce. Finally, got the waiter and he said, no problem. Took my plate. Returned with my ORIGINAL plate, watered down to appear not a cream sauce. Awful! Waiter never asked why i did not eat my meal. Took forever to get my bill. Wish we had gone elsewhere as it was my husband's birthday!
(2)

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Address : 5256 Wilson Ave
Saint Louis, MO, 63110
Phone (314) 776-0020
Website https://www.zias.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
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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Zia’s Restaurant

5256 Wilson Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63110

Zia’s Restaurant Menu

Apertivo

Insalata

Bistecca

Pollo

Pesce

Pasta

Imbottio

Vitello

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Zia’s Restaurant

Apertivo

Insalata

Bistecca

Pollo

Pesce

Pasta

Imbottio

Vitello

Desserts

Mindy M.

Amy A.

Jay M.

Edward M.

Jennifer E.

Julie D.

Sarah B.

Teena C.

Chris Z.

Gregg J.

Suzanne G.

Pat S.

Walter K.

Laura M.

Miranda G.

Mario P.

Xueer C.

Bill C.

Paulette A.

Shari S.

Erin B.

Mariah W.

Mike M.

Jeff G.

Courtney B.

Robin W.

Harin G.

Kurt C.

Keith S.

Mallory M.

David P.

Sara D.

Claire R.

Kathy L.

Lindsay M.

Mike W.

Melissa L.

Jeff M.

Scott G.

Kevin M.

Emily K.

Bill C.

Jeff B.

Carol L.

Jang N.

Jenny T.

Emily L.

Stephanie T.

Divine-Asia P.

Brianna T.

Derek H.

Carlos F.

Jeff M.

Dustin O.

William D.

Richie D.

Curtis V.