Zack's Bar & Grill

the owner jack passed on may 8, 2008 after a battle with cancer. Darlene has been caring for him and running the restaurant and bar. jack did not wish a memorial.

in the last few weeks i have been lunching there and the food has gotten better again due to a new chef he is on Tues-sat and does a great job with the specials

i love the spaghetti and meat balls the best of all check It out

darlene will close the place for private parties and with the patio it is a great spot for a wild party

Any bar that has Steeler's paraphernalia adorning the walls is going to be awesome in my book. I remember visiting here several years back when the Steelers were in the playoffs and my parents were visiting from out of town. My sis found this place since they were broadcasting the game and we knew we'd find fellow fans here. That was a great memory.

Came here the other night for an early drink before heading to a wedding reception. The glass of Ravenswood Zin I had here was the only thing to tide me over for the next 3 hours ... I wish I'd stayed for another drink or 7 (I certainly had time.)

The bartender was very sweet and friendly. While Millbrae is not usually a destination, I will continue to have fond memories of Zack's and will know it's a place I can always go to find some fellow Black and Gold fans.

We came here for one reason and one reason alone: we missed Caltrain on a Sunday and we had to eat. The place across the parking lot was overflowing and we did NOT want to miss the train again. So, Zack's it was...

1st star off: the waiter brought us the wrong food not once, not twice, but three times.

2nd star off: I ordered a shrimp, mushroom and cheese omelette. Did it have shrimp? NO. Did it have cheese? NO. Did it have canned mushrooms? YES.

3rd star off: MARGARINE.

4th star off: When we first went in the hostess told us that we only had fifteen more minutes to order breakfast. Okay, so we ordered quickly. Seventeen minutes later an elderly couple came in and she said "you here for lunch?" and they said "no, breakfast!" and she said "well, breakfast is over" -- 2 MINUTES AGO -- and then told them other places to go. I mean... it wasn't like they had a complicated breakfast menu, or, what, like they slaughtered their only chicken who could hatch eggs for lunch.

I also ordered a Famous Fizz, not having any idea what it is. Its sort of like a frozen egg nog with enough whiskey in it to kill my cat. I stumbled back to Caltrain with a half full tummy and understanding why
the restaurant across the parking lot was overflowing. 1 star for the whiskey!

This place was very close to the BART/CalTrain.

The portions for our food was small. The only thing I do remember that was good was their salad. Not for their ravoli's. I don't know what else to say. The waiters were nice, but since it was kind of slow and they had another huge group. Well they paid more attention to that group then us.

-SN

NOW AN ASIAN RESTAURANT. WHAT ELSE!!! I live in Millbrae and now I've got to go away from town to eat anything other than Asian foods. Better yet, wife and I are talking about moving out of this area. People here aren't friendly anymore and immigrants that are moving in are nothing but a bunch of prejudice snobs.

A review of Zack's...Used to be a great place for Rib-Eye!

Wife and I couldn't decide on where to go for dinner this Friday, so we looked around and decided to stay local. Zack's has been in the area for 30 years now and we've never paid a visit. Heard some good things about it and also heard that the service wasn't so good.

We arrived at a couple of minutes before 5:00PM and there was no one in the place. We were greeted by a very friendly waitress and seated by the fireplace, which felt really good on the cool evening. We ordered a cocktail from the bar and were brought bread (which was just normal crusty bread with butter) and a small dish with a spicy vinegar "relish". We were immediately served our minestrone soup which was hot and very tasty. After that we were served salad with a pre-mixed creamy Italian dressing which was very good.

The wife ordered Chicken Scalapini which she said was very good.

Now, I'm 51 years old and have had my fair share of steaks, but the Rib-Eye that is served at Zack's is far and away the BEST steak that I've ever eaten. I'd bet that any of you steak eaters out there would agree that if it's not the best, it'll be in your top 3. whatever they season it with or however they age the beef, it's wonderful. It's served with your choice of baked potato or pasta. I took the latter and was pleased with the sauce. At $28.95, it seems a bit steep, (wife's was $18.95) but with the pre-meal goods, the main course and it's topped off with a scoop of spumoni ice-cream, I think that it's a bargain.

It's only been a few hours since we've been there and I'm still stuffed, but I can't wait until we can't decide where to dine again so I can have another of their luscious Rib-Eyes.

The only negative thing was that in the whole time we were there, a couple came in to the bar and that was it. No one else came in, so it was just us the whole time there. Kind of creepy. (But then, i moan and complain when a place is crowded too.)

Some negative reviews about the place I've read have been about service and how they were ignored. I actually like to be left alone when eating and not constantly asked, "How's everything?", "How's everything?", "How's everything?" Arghhh, leave me alone!

Did I mention, go for the Rib-Eye!!!!

Is my review that important.. For this one I hope I save anyone from wasting they're hard earned money.
Most importantly dont spend money here, Drinks are watered down and 6.50a pop. Decor is dreary and depressing. The food was less then appealing and the staff well they would rather talk to each other then help a customer. I asked for the owner'sname so I can personally recommend she/he close this sad establishment. How can anyone justify pricing a shrimp cocktail doused with cocktail sauce and very little shrimp for $12 or Prime Rib which was all fat for $29/ Does the owner love to gauge customers during an economic recession? Go to 16mile house where you arent getting cheated and the meal is decent... Zacks needs to realize we live in tough times and to take a family out for a meal shouldnt cost your whole paycheck.

One of the highlights of being a true, perpetual corporate nomad is the ability to eat out during the weeknights and on the company's dime. Don't get me wrong - on the weekend's you'll find me happily cooking in my kitchen. However, during the week, nothing beats being able to explore a new city and all the goodies it has to offer.

This brings me to Zack's Bar and Grill - located about 2 miles south of SFO. Sometimes a very weary traveler like me often stops by the first restaurant next to the hotel - which is exactly how it happened.

As other Yelpers have already pointed out, stepping into Zack's was like walking into a set for the Sopranos. It immediately reminded me of your classic Italian Mom & Pop joints - complete with red & white checkered tablecloths and little lamps on each table. The restaurant does include a bar. Frequent patrons may tend to get fairly excited during a game, but rather than get annoyed, I just call it atmosphere.

I was greeted by a warm & friendly staff member, Danielle. Having traveled most of the afternoon, I was famished. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. To tell you the truth, I wasn't expecting much... but damn if it wasn't the best spaghetti and meatballs I've ever had!! I had to go back!

During my return visits, Danielle and I exchanged stories of my "la vida loca" and of hers and being on Oprah!! She proudly recounts her submitting her mother as Best Mom and her story winning her and her mom, Raeanne a guest spot on Oprah's Mother's Day show. Wow!!

Like people, restaurants have good and bad days, but the only way to really get to know the place - it's strengths and weaknesses - is to go back and see which are the ones that are most consistent over time.

To me, lovely, little hidden away gems like Zack's is what defines a good restaurant: great food and people who make you feel at home.

We have been to Zack's on a few occasions, after stumbling in after the Millbrae Art & Wine festival one year. Like many Millbrae places, it is a blast from the past -- it really looks and feels like one of those hole in the wall bar and grill places from the 1970's. Very old fashioned, indeed.

When weather allows, the back deck is a great spot to hang out. We met Peter, the owner of Peter's Cafe (the diner right next to Zack's) on the deck one day. He often sits there, sipping drinks and watching patrons go in and out of his place and keeping an eye on what ever vintage muscle car he drove to work that day.

Darlene, the bartender, is a sweetheart. The drinks are what you would expect. No frills. Decent prices.

The food is not spectacular. To me, this is a good bar. I would only order the food if I was desperate. It's a little over-priced and did not blow me away. Don't get me wrong, the food is not bad (the french fries are good enough), and I bet it would grow on me if I was a regular, but Peter's is right next door and that is a favorite of mine. Get your buzz on Zack's, then go next door for your comfort food fix. That's how I would do it.

Bottom line: solid place that takes you back a few years.

Zack's is probably my favorite place to eat in Millbrae. I go 4-5 times a year and because it is so close to SFO, it has turned into a great place to go before or after picking someone up at the airport.

Yeah, their interior is a little outdated... but the food is GREAT.

Their entrees are all inclusive... so soup, salad and a scoop of ice cream are included... Their prices tend to be on the higher side, but when you factor in that it comes with everything but drinks, it's not that bad.

When in Millbrae, Stop in to Zack's for a great dinner!

I've been going to Zacks for some time now and I love it!

It's an older place, nothing at fancy, but hey, if weather permits you can eat outside in the back, if not then there is plenty or room inside. The food here is always good and like grandma use to make.

They have a delicious bloody mary and the portions that I have received received for lunch dining have been way more than enough. I had a split pasta dish which consisted of a red sauce over pasta on one side and white on the other and I swore I had died and gone to heaven. The last time I was there I had the most fabulous hamburger. You could tell that it was not pre frozen, and the quality of the meat id absolutely incredible. I just ate the other half a few hours ago for dinner.

Now where do you that makes a burger so good that you can actually reheat it?? I stuck it in the toaster over for about 10 minutes, added some ketchup and mustard and it was like new again. They get their meat from Pape's in Millbrae. Very high quality and delicious. It's all meat, you know. I know we have all had a burger that seems to be filled with god only knows what and then ground, this burger was beautiful, bun toasted on the inside and out, lettuce stacked all nicely and everything and exactly what a burger should be. Not over done and totally sloppy, but it stays in the bun so that you are not eating just bread at the end because it slips around so much. The meat is seasoned, but not over salty and I kept eating just be doing it after I was full enough. I got a grip soon after but when you get that feeling it is hard to back away from the burger.

However, the ONLY thing that I did not like is the nasty butter pickles.
I'm over it though.

Whenever I am in the area with an appetite, I'm at Zack's. Doesn't seem like much from the outside, but check it out for yourself, I think you be pleasantly surprised.