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Lamb Shank with Orzo Pasta is all you need to know about the menu....ok, well they do just about everything I have tasted very well. Saying that, I do recommend that bone-in lamb shank. First of all, it's HUGE! It's braised in a wine sauce and has little fried pancetta cubes hanging around the plate waiting to kick your taste buds into overdrive. The wine selection is good. There is a blend of Syrah that I like there. Appetizers are a must here. The fried calamari is always fresh and tender, not chewy at all. The seasoning on it is perfect with just a little spice to complement the fish. I usually also get the grilled octopus. Now, I grew up eating grilled octopus and love it, but it really is good here.
I get the braised lamb shank almost every time I go here, but I am known to stick my fork in my company's dish. The filet is great. They really know how to cook a steak. Pasta with fish (calamari and mussels) is flavorful while not being over fishy. The portions are always bit, but they don't sacrifice on quality.
Let's talk about the atmosphere for a bit. Get there early (pre 7pm) and getting a table is quick. After that, prepare to wait a little bit for a table. The bar area is a bit of a hot spot later in the night. It get's crowded fast, but the energy is nice. I have not been there on a weekend night that was not packed by the time I left. In my opinion, that's a good thing.
Finally made it to Zia's... after many years of driving by... and the food was INCREDIBLE! Now I bet you're wondering why I would call the food incredible and then only give it four stars, well, I'll get to that.
For an appetizer we had Polenta Grigalate which was very nice. The polenta was firm and the flavors were fantastic, especially because the sausage was incredibly spicy, very much a surprise!
Hubby had the lamb shank w/orzo and LOVED it! I'm not a lamb eater, but will taste... well, the sauce from the lamb had a very gamey flavor, which my husband loved but is the reason I don't eat lamb. The orzo was perfect!
I had the Rotolo, my goodness that was good! The only issue I had with it was that I would have liked more spinach, but otherwise... YUM! The sauce was SO good, almost wanted to bathe in it! Ham and a creamy tomato base... you seriously cannot go wrong there!
Reason for a missing star... dessert... husband got the creme brulee which he said was good, but would have been better without the strawberries and blueberries they piled on it. I got a chocolate mousse cake... which was more of a ganache. Mousse (to me) implies light, airy qualities... this was very heavy and not what I expected. Also, it was sitting in a white sauce, that was thoroughly unneccessary, with the strawberries and blueberries my husband complained about and the whole plate was sprinkled with cocoa powder... just seemed a bit of overkill. Even with my preconception of what a mousse is aside, all the other stuff on the plate kind of ruined it for me.
So we probably won't get desert the next time we're there... but the food is fantastic!
Well this was a nice surprise. Usually when I am near the suburbs I stop expecting to find good restaurants. This place had free valet and a very nice atmosphere.
We had the grilled calamari and it was pretty damn good and flavorful. Everyone else loved what they ate and my lamb shank was pretty decent. Usually I can tell how good an Italian restaurant is by the pasta so I should have had that in order to be able to compare this place to some of my other Italian spots further in to the city.
Service was good and they provided bread, oil and parmesean cheese on the table to snack on before the food arrived.
I am pretty sure this is a Ma and Pa place so it isn't a chain.
The neighborhood was suprisingly nice and quaint as well. There were plenty of Italian delis, restaurants and bars on this strip. Its worth a trip just to experience this since again, its kind of out in the middle of nowhere.
It's relatively close to the Pickwick theater too so maybe you can hit this place up before a movie or something.
Love this place!
The restaurant is always packed so make sure you place a reservation. I prefer to sit at the high tops by the bar to drink and eat. The staff is extremely friendly and knows many by name. If I must choose one thing on the menu to try it would be the veal saltimbocca. I have had this the past 4 times I have been there. I just can't stop it's so good.
Although, this is a little off the beaten path from Chicago, it is close enough and worth the drive.
The food is not a problem. Everything there is alright. not in love with it, but would go back.
My problem is the valet service these people hired. First, I smell pot or some kind of drug all over the faux hawked a%$wipe who took my car. Second, he parked it on the street in front of the restaurant in the metered spots. My car is a garage car, and I do NOT park it on the street at all. When i recieved my car at the end of the night, I found scratches on the bumper (which i think was from a license plate holder).
No matter how good this place is to eat, that soured my palet for this place. I understand that this service is all over the edison park area, and, for that reason, Im not going back. If i ever decide to go back, Ill take the train.
I called the restaurant the next day, and they said to call the company. I called the company, they said that they would take care of it. However, when i drove by yesterday, the pot smoking valet was standing out in front of Zias, smoking a cigarette yelling at some lady who tried to park her car in 'their' spot.
Dispicable. Needless.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this restaurant. I have eaten here for a work dinner, with girlfriends, for drinks and appetizers and with children......it was great each time!! The service is great, super friendly and very attentive. The butternut squash ravioli is outstanding, and so is the fillet and basically everything else on the menu. The bar has daily drink specials (you can always get a drink quickly), and TVs showing the game. It was nice to be able to keep up on the Blackhawks playoffs while dining here : )
I would recommend this to anyone!! It's great food, and reasonably priced. It's a neighborhood staple, and if you have been there more than once don't be surprised if the staff says hello and treats you like they know you.
My wife and my 2.5 yr old daughter really liked our visit. We have been meaning to try Zia's for 4 years; we are very glad we did. The butternut squash ravioli were wonderful. The Veal Caluzza was great and my wife had a pin-wheel tri-colored pasta which was just awesome. The service and the decor were great. We highly recommend this to everyone. We were a bit concerned about taking the little one, but they took great care of her as well. A great dining experience all-around.
I ask myself, "Why have I not reviewed this place before today?" I have no freakin' idea. We ate here last night, and I was reminded why this is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. First of all, the service you get when you walk in the door is welcoming and friendly. The staff here really knows how to make their guests feel good. Secondly, the atmosphere is very cool. I love the exposed red brick walls. Now for the REAL reason to go here...THE FOOD IS OUTSTANDING!!! I had the butternut squash ravioli, and the hubby had some sort of pasta with vodka sauce (I was too busy scarfing down my food to notice what kind of pasta it was). Before the entree, we had the calamari, which was not at all rubbery, like at some places. VERY TENDER!!!
As for the reviewer who said that the creme brulee was not great... well, I'll be nice and just say that that was just one person's opinion. The creme brulee was fantastic, and they did not skimp on the fresh fruit that they topped it with. Really, if you don't like the fruit on top, take it off, or ask for it without. I have nothing bad to say about this place. Thanks Zia for a great time!!!
Speechless. I went here for my cousin's baby shower, so the whole restaurant was rented out to us. We had traditional family style food and service. I will start off by saying the service was extremely attentive, and the food was absolutely amazing (this is coming from an Italian that is VERY picky). We had Chicken Vesuvio, Veal Milanese, Caprese Salad, Calamari, Antipasto, Rigatoni with vodka sauce..the list goes on and on. I honestly don't have anything negative to write about this place. It is good, authentic Italian food with a great atmosphere. Great for private parties!!!!
I have NEVER had a less-than-excellent meal at Zia's. This is a carefully and professionally managed neighborhood restaurant. The menu is Italian upscale comfort food. Exposed red brick atmosphere exudes charm (and, my only complaint, extremely poor noise conditions...the noise bounces off the walls, ceilings and floors to render your intimate conversation unintellibible to all but lip readers) and the customer service attributes are top notch. Operating hours span lunch and dinner, and I love stopping by at 2p when it is quiet and the pace of life slows down so the Zia's experience is about as authentically Italian as you're going to get this side of the pond.
Let me start off by saying the only reason this isn't a perfect score is because it is ALWAYS packed no matter what the day is.
But one taste of their food and you know why.
You walk in and immediately it's like stepping into an italian familia. There is a very lively atmosphere, which I loved.
We came for dinner on a Friday night and were told that there would be at least an hour wait. We decided, what the hell, and walked over to the crowded bar. We enjoyed some house wine scoping for seats to open up at the the bar table.
We found, while waiting, that the other patrons are friendly and inviting. They all seem to know each other!
To the food, The steak fromaggio was AMAZING. juicy, perfectly cooked goodness in your mouth. I shared that with the gnocchi like pasta which was out of this world. One of the best home-made pastas I've had in a long time.
Might I mention that while it was crowded, our food was served so quickly that it was almost disappointing we couldn't stay longer. The server was sweet and attentive.
We will be back.
I've been going to Zia's for years - in fact since the week they opened. Food quality for the price is pretty hard to beat. The people that work there are the best. I always feel at home.
I'm a big fan of the Chicken Cesar Salad ( I believe it to be the best ever)
Any of their Chicken specials
also you should try the fish - always fresh. Also a great wine selection.
Nice restaurant with great service. Good for a date, although, their table for two is too small for the average Midwestern male. Not familiar with the current bartender, but, previously the drinks were always poured strong. Italian food is NOT a favorite of mine, so I'd say you shouldn't take my advice on whether Zia's is good or bad. The few times I'd been, my company, enjoyed the venue and fare.
Due to lactose, I couldn't get into loving their food more. Myself I teeter between a 2.5 to 3 star review. I wouldn't say it's good for kids only because of the ambiance, feel, outlay.. it's more for an older, appreciative crowd or date.
Went to a party there for a party and it was pretty nice. The food was served family style, so we were able to try a few dishes.I wasn't too crazy about the Caesar salad, but the Insalata Zia Pena was very good. It had mixed greens with pears, walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese with a honey mustard dressing. I tried the butternut ravioli, which was creamy but not over whelming.
I didn't care for the chicken breast with prosciutto with the Marsala wine sauce. The sauce was too strong.
If I go back, I think I'll have the salad and pasta. Oh, and the complimentary valet is a plus.
Delicious and local -- a winning combination for me. Excellent service, good menu and tasty food.
The capri salad here is awesome, the asparagus salad is awesome, the butternut squash ravioli is awesome, the spicy cork screw pasta is awesome.
Get the point?!
Always a lively crowd- a bit older than my typical resturant but always a good vibe nonetheless.
This place gets packed on the weekends, and for good reason too.
I sometimes find myself craving the capri salad. They have great martini's and a wine list that is not intimidating.
Prices are very reasonable considering portion size, freshness and crazy flavor!
This place is great for dates, parties or what have you. They have a nice bar area where you can sit and hangout. Mainly for those who don't mind falling out of the high chairs after one too many sambuca shots.....
So I'm sure this spot is about to BLOW UP since Barack will be reviewing it via Check Please! January 16th or so. I grew up in the area and Zia's is one of the best little trattoria's to get a good Italian meal in the area. I should know - my momma's Italian!
Recently went with some city-friends and my parents - specials are amazing. I had Chicken alla Zia which was not over-seasoned, had a lot of easily identifiable vegetables and was a hefty portion for leftovers.
My boyfriend did point out, though - a lot of dishes seem to have pancetta served with them, including the caprese which is why no five stars.
Great vegetarian selections as well, and as one of my fellow diners pointed out - they are always willing to accommodate any pasta dish from the item to make it vegetarian. Overall, a great affordable experience. Glad I got to come here one last time before Barack blows it up!
When I go out for Italian, I judge the place on how its pasta is. That is always what I order when I first try a place. Zia's did not disappoint me. The first time I was here, I tried the Penne Abruzzesse, which is
pasta quills and roasted Italian sausage and mushrooms. I'm an absolute sucker for good Italian sausage. The sauces here don't overpower the pasta dishes.
Since going back, I've tried the Veal Scallopini with sundried tomatoes, and also the steak filet stuffed with cheese. I have not been disappointed with either and I must say, their meat dishes merge my love of Italian food with my carnivore instincts! One thing, parking around here can be difficult, but the Metra Union Pacific North West Line is only about a block away (Edison Park Station) so you might want to consider using that.
This has been on my list of places to try, and the Yelp raves proved spot on. Wonderful, fresh and authentic Italian food in Edison Park. My friend and I agreed that food, ambiance and service were nearly perfect.
Fresh bread and mildly spicy carrot giardinaire tided me over until my friend arrived. I think I had the best thing on the menu: butternut squash ravioli w/ marscapone cheese sauce and sprinkled with hazelnuts. Delectable! (it was under the appetizers section: I got the full order).
I tried my friend's fettucine w/ wild mushrooms alfredo - which was actually my second choice. It too, was excellent. I noticed that, unlike other versions of the dish I've had, this one was accented with carmelized onions, which gave it a sweet taste.
Our server was friendly and attentive. At one point, the hostess came up to us and asked if we'd mind if our table was moved a few feet over to accommodate another large party. It was no big deal, and she graciously said she'd comp us glasses of wine, which we said wasn't necessary. Later, when my friend & I ordered the chocolate mousse cake for dessert, our waitress informed us it was gratis. A+ for treating customers right!
Sophisticated decor (hardwood floors, subdued accent lighting, floor to ceiling velvet curtains partitioning off rooms) make it a good choice for a date, a casual dinner with friends, or even a family celebration (saw a few of those). I told my husband I want to come here for our anniversary later this month. A great place!
DAYUM. This place was fucking SEXY good! Thanks Yelp! I owe it all to you jerks!
The dining room was casual, comfortable, but still someplace you could take someone on a date. I hate obnoxious, pretentious eateries that fancy themselves art experts and think that modern art pairs wonderfully with loud ass obnoxious techno. This place was quiet, intimate, and very homey! My kinda place!
There was this appetizer on the specials and I KICK myself for not getting it, it sounded so good! It was a duck ravioli with a lingonberry cream sauce! OH that sounds so good! I hope it makes a return to the specials menu because we WILL be back!
I was going to order this chicken stuffed with spinach and fontinella with sun dried tomatoes served on soft polenta, but then I remembered the spinach bullshit going on and I decided not to take my chances since I've already spent enough time this year being sick, thank you! But i kept thinking about that polenta! It just sounded so good! So we ordered a side of it.
OH
MAN
Shit was good! It was creamy and DELICIOUS with some kind of cheese melted into it. Probably good ole' parmesano reggiano. For our entrees, I ordered the chef's special of fettucini with a wild mushroom alfredo instead. There were shiitakes, morels, lobster mushrooms, and carmelized onions in it. The sauce was so delicate and light! Totally not what I expected and oh soooo good! The fettucini must have been made there because it just had that fresh pasta texture! So tender YUM. My husband had the rigatoni bolognese (the bolognese here was made with veal and pork chunks that had cooked down to a pulled pork like consistency, so delicious they melted in your mouth!) It was just really simple, perfectly cooked pasta dishes. Very good!
They also give you a house made carrot mild giardinare, but I don't like carrots very much :( The olive and the garlic clove I pulled from the carroty mess were really good though and my husband said it was delicious on the complimentary bread. We really wanted to try the desserts, but we were just too full. Oh peach sorbet and vanilla sour cream cheesecake, you will be mine one day!
I was so impressed with this place I didn't even have anything funny or snotty to say because I just wanted to gush about the food! I'm so glad this is right by my house yumyumyumyum I'll be going here a lot when we have a coupla extra bucks to spare! Reasonably priced too!
As an update, I just watched a rerun of Check Please! where prez Obama was a guest. One of the restaurants featured was Zia's. They all liked it so it was good enough for our nation's new leader!
I went on a weeknight so it was not too busy and service was great. It had an authentic Italian… Read more »
My family used to love to come to this place. With its dark, woody, warm interior, decent wine list, and generally friendly and professional service.....
They seem to be getting a little off course lately, though. The bar is smoky and whats with the Edison Park women with the bad highlights, fake nails and too-much perfume always hovering around the bar there? Geesh. It seems to be getting just a little bit too much of a 'bar' vibe rather than the classier vibe it use to have. Maybe I was there on bad nights or I am missing something? Its just not seeming as nice lately here.
Also the food has been getting pretty salty. It seems to be getting progressively worse the last few times I have been, and my mom's last entree was so salty as to nearly be inedible - so I hope that they are working on that.
Their staple foods like the bread and giardanara stuff is still amazing though! I mean, I could eat that stuff as a whole meal. Yum. Butternut squash raviolis, yum. House salad dressing, delicious. I'm going to stick to the butternut squash raviolis until they can tone down the salt a little on their other dishes.
Its generally a decent dining experience. A lot of options are too salty, but it has some redeeming factors. Its no longer on the top of the list of choices for a family meal, but its not off the list either.
YUM!!!! that about sums it up.
This is a staple spot for my family. It's my dad's favorite Italian place and we have been going here for birthday/graduation/anniversary/etc... dinners for years. It's not all that close and it usually said something when my father was willing to drive any sort of distance to spend a decent amount of money.
It's not cheap but it's a great value. Everything is fresh and prepared well. The portions are huge, so count on lunch the next day (see... it's really more of two meals... a total bargain). The wait staff is always very friendly and has good suggestions if you are torn between two or three dishes.
If you are in the Edison park area or just looking to find new, yummy italian, you MUST gives Zias a try. You won't regret a bite!
Wandered in looking for good food, drinks & found it. Good people, Great eats. We will definitely be back.
This is one of the most overrated restaurants in the city. I've come here at least 20 times with my parents and every time they manage to use too much salt, and I am a smoker who oveseasons EVERYTHING. The worst offender is consistently any kind of veal. Their bolognese [sic] is just as bad, but I have to admit I like their gnocchi.
But I digress. The last two times we were there they made us wait half an hour in their over-smoked "bar" for our "reservation," only to bring us plastic bags and tins so we could box our own leftovers--before we were even finished! It was weird the first time it happened, but when it happened the second time I was a bit peeved--I happened to have checked my watch when they brought the food and the doggie bags came out eleven minutes later. And they have the gall to add a "gratuity" to the check automatically?
And the wine selection is at best adequate, though static. Would it kill them to try something other than the standard Chiantis, Merlots, and Pino Grigio?
I do like their pasta...and the bread is good too...but that's about it.
And finally, don't count on atmosphere. There are always people in jeans and gym shoes, and I've even seen a pair of zubaz at the bar, though that's sometimes par for the course in EP. The air is stale and stagnant, so you get to smell like smoke or someone else's perfume.
Zia's is what it is--decent. I couldn't disagree more with almost EVERY one of these reviews. It's overpriced and overhyped, and could really use a freshening-up.
Zia's is a go to restaurant. It consistently offers great food and service at fair prices. You can use it as a celebration spot or a weekly regular spot. The atmosphere is loud, but intimate.
Great wine list. I always try a special and haven't been disappointed yet. I highly recommend it.
The dish to try is their Lingiuni Alla Pescatore , pasta w/ clams,mussels,scallops,shrimp and calamari w/ spicy tomato sauce... v
Some of the best Italian food I've had in a long time. The rigatoni bolognese rivaled pasta I've had in Italy.
I went with 6 friends for dinner on a Friday night. With reservations, there was no wait and our service was excellent. We enjoyed great food and were not rushed along at all.
The location is not optimal given I live in Lakeview, but this is one place that is worth a bit of travel!
PS. Great caesar salad too!
We live SO close to Zia's so we often go there last minute. AWESOME every time! The atmosphere is inviting, and you can't go wrong if you're looking for some last minute Italian food. Our favorite place for Italian closed (actually burned down...) so since then we've been a regular visitors here. Definitely order wine with your dinner.
I thought this restaurant would be out of my price range. But the food is surprisingly affordable and very good. Go to lunch because same dishes of 40% off the dinner prices. It is just very surprising with the value and quality the of food
What a great restaurant. The food is always good, the drinks are good as well, but they need to space the tabels a bit more....if I wanted to sit on top of my neighbor I would go out in chicago every night.....for quality of experience thought it definitely get the 4 stars....I recommend!! And better than Nono Pino for certain!
Fantastic atmosphere, with exposed brick and wooden floors. The food is always consistent, service is quick and friendly. They usually have a few specials for lunch to choose from which are good and affordable. The place is always busy but you can usually get a table for lunch right away.
Zia's is definitely one of my top restaurants. If you are looking for a romantic evening or simply a nice meal in the neighborhood, Zia's is the place to go. In terms of the food, I always judge Italian eateries based on the sauces they use. Quality establishments like Zia's tend to use lighter sauces and don't slather it on their dishes and let it overwhelm everything else on the plate. Zia's also has the best gnocchi I have ever had and an excellent wine list. In terms of ambiance, Zia's is designed very well, perfect for both a family night out or a romantic evening. If you are in the mood for a great Italian meal, Zia's is the place to go on the North side.
The family had a dinner here last Sunday. There were ten of us, including two kids and a birthday celebration and the staff handled and accomodated us perfectly. Parking was easy, there was no wait, and the staff immediately took care of our drinks and orders. The table relish was a carrot/olive/celery/garlic salad that was tasty alongside the fresh bread. We ordered the bruschetta and polenta appetizers which were ample in size and tasted fresh. My table was 10 deep so we probably covered the whole menu, including the Filet, the Lasagna, the Lamb Shank, the Veal, etc. We all had to get the leftovers wrapped up and were almost too stuffed for dessert... until they brought out the bread pudding with a candle and we all sang happy birthday. Perfect restaurant for families, dates, out of town guests... Great Italian food that's not pretentious or overdone.
LOVE THE SERVICE LOVE THE AMBIANCE LOVE THE PUMPKIN RAVIOLI. What's not to love, only that it is too far from my house. Great romantic date place.
The food is great. The item I really like is a Steak with Blue Cheese. The food was cooked to perfection. I will be returning many times.
The head chef and co-owner is my uncle, Joe Calabrese. This place is constantly PACKED with Italians, especially from the old country. Why? Because this place features home-cooked meals from the old country!! Tasty food and beautifully presented everytime! Great prices, as well. Great place to host family parties! Stop in for some authenticity! Valet parking available if you can't find a spot on the street.
This place is one very popluar place! I first noticed it because of the line of cars and people whirling about, just to get in. Authentic, charming, good and definitely worth your time. I love chicken parm and it's so good here.
Went there a just about a year after it opened, and was very impressed. The food was very fresh, and everything was delicious. Last time I went there though, while the food was good, it wasn't as good. It happens, and maybe my expectations from the previous trip were set so high that it couldn't be met again. All in all though, I'd recommend it, as there's plenty of parking, and the food is as good as places you'd pay twice for in "trendier" neighborhoods.
My favorite Italian restaurant on the NW side. We've been going there since before they expanded from the tiny single storefront location to the current size. Nothing too esoteric, just great classic Italian. Generally packed on the weekends so make a reservation.
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