ZaZa Restaurant

(212) 772-9997

1207 1st Ave
New York, NY 10021 40.763544 -73.959109

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Neighborhoods: Upper East Side, Midtown, Lenox Hill

Hours:

Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm

Last updated 6.17.10

Category:

Restaurants

Restaurant Special Features:

Special Occasion Dining, Brunch

Cuisine:

Italian

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “This area needs more places like this (good food, inexpensive, nice decor).”
  2. “Surprisingly great food and nice atmosphere!”
  3. “It really is a pleasant place with a comfortable, open feel.”
drinks
25.0% positive
  1. “Lastly, when examining the check, the bottle of wine we ordered was more expensive than it was listed for on the wine list.”
  2. “wine by the glass list isn't that great - but hey, they have great bottle and I never drive in the city anyway :-)”
food quality
91.99999809265137% positive
  1. “spaghetti with clams is consistently fresh tasting and delicious.”
  2. “Surprisingly great food and nice atmosphere!”
  3. “Great food and family friendly”
  4. “The fettucine with peas, potatoes and pesto is terrific!”
  5. “Haven't had mozzarella that fresh or delicious in a long time!”
  6. “The food is reasonably priced and I've never had a bad meal here or anything less than great service.”
  7. “Combined with friendly service and meals that turned out to be delicious, Za Za was quite a nice surprise.”
  8. “The Sangria is to die for and the waiters are fresh off the boat just like the mozzarella.”
  9. “cool garden, excellent food”
  10. “Good food, Friendly Service”
  11. “Good food but cheesey outdoor furniture”
  12. “Excellent service and as I am an Itlaina-American who cooks well, there food is excellent and never disappointing Consistently good.”
  13. “This area needs more places like this (good food, inexpensive, nice decor).”
  14. “Food is delicious and the service is very friendly.”
  15. “The food had been fairly good and we thought the prices were reasonable.”
  16. “We took advantage of the promotion that we had gotten by being on the mailing list and received an order of New Zealand baby lamb chops that were grilled to perfection along with garlic roasted potatoes and salad and grilled rare Tuna with sauteed vegetab”
  17. “The food here is great.”
  18. “It was cute with good food when it first opened, but in the last year ZaZa has expanded with a back room and outdoor garden.”
  19. “This place does have good food, I'm not going to argue with the others.”
  20. “Full of Italian pastas and sauces, as well as an ample amount of seafood, the selection, including the long list of specials our waiter recited to us, was a bit overwhelming.”
  21. “The outdoor patio is nice but with plastic chairs and tables a little low brow for those dishes they are charging 30 bucks for.”
  22. “It is so very rare to find a reasonably priced, delicious Italian restaurant in NYC that meets certain standards.”
  23. “Salads are a little different and very tasty and the pastas and other entrees are fabulous.”
  24. “Fresh pasta with simple sauces are my favorite.”
  25. “This dish was incredible.”
menu variety
0.0% positive
  1. “Full of Italian pastas and sauces, as well as an ample amount of seafood, the selection, including the long list of specials our waiter recited to us, was a bit overwhelming.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “excellent Italian and a great neighborhood restaurant who delivers on time.”
service
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “Food is delicious and the service is very friendly.”
  2. “The Sangria is to die for and the waiters are fresh off the boat just like the mozzarella.”
  3. “Full of Italian pastas and sauces, as well as an ample amount of seafood, the selection, including the long list of specials our waiter recited to us, was a bit overwhelming.”
  4. “Excellent service and as I am an Itlaina-American who cooks well, there food is excellent and never disappointing Consistently good.”
  5. “The food is reasonably priced and I've never had a bad meal here or anything less than great service.”
  6. “The wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly.”
  7. “Great food and family friendly”
  8. “Plus, our waitress was sweet, and the service was extremely attentive.”
  9. “Combined with friendly service and meals that turned out to be delicious, Za Za was quite a nice surprise.”
  10. “Very good and very frendly staff”
  11. “The portions are very large and the service is fantastic!”
value
87.5% positive
  1. “The food had been fairly good and we thought the prices were reasonable.”
  2. “have been there three times already and I think this is one of the best, most affordable italian restaurants in the city.”
  3. “The portion sizes were nice-not huge, but if you're watching what you eat that's a plus-and the prices were good.”
  4. “Lastly, when examining the check, the bottle of wine we ordered was more expensive than it was listed for on the wine list.”
  5. “The outdoor patio is nice but with plastic chairs and tables a little low brow for those dishes they are charging 30 bucks for.”
  6. “This area needs more places like this (good food, inexpensive, nice decor).”
  7. “The prices are reasonable.”
  8. “The portions are very large and the service is fantastic!”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “Full of Italian pastas and sauces, as well as an ample amount of seafood, the selection, including the long list of specials our waiter recited to us, was a bit overwhelming.”
  2. “Haven't had mozzarella that fresh or delicious in a long time!”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/09/10

Reliable Italian Food + Friendly Staff = Happiness

by a Tooch , Citysearch Contributor at Citysearch

It is so very rare to find a reasonably priced, delicious Italian restaurant in NYC that meets certain standards. Even Little Italy can't compare when you've been eating Italian family cooking your whole life. Behold! Za Za.

My boyfriend stuck with a traditional pasta dish while I ventured out on a limb and after hearing the specials, selected the spinach ravioli. In my humble opinion you can really judge a restaurant by its homemade ravioli. WOW. This dish was incredible. Other items on the menu included the usual bruschetta and calamari, osso buco special which everyone seemed to be ordering, and $10 desserts (we did not try these...)

The big draw to this restaurant was the awesome patio garden out back that seats around 40. I have to say though, Zaza definitely gets shafted by its far east location. Wish it were closer!

  • Pros: Outdoor Patio, Decent Prices
  • Cons: Location
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/06/09

Perfect place for the summer

by billyclay3333 at Citysearch

Very Romantic garden that makes you feel like your in Italy. A great UES date spot without the cost of a plane ticket. The Sangria is to die for and the waiters are fresh off the boat just like the mozzarella.

You should move the a neighborhood with a restaurant like this. Good eats, friendly service, large variety.

  • Pros: Fresh food, great pasta & seasoning. Excellent service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/05/09

Very good and very frendly staff

by James455455 at Citysearch

This resaurant is consistently excellent. Small and cozy with a backyard garden. Excellent service and as I am an Itlaina-American who cooks well, there food is excellent and never disappointing Consistently good. We eat there and order in

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/05/09

Great Italian Restaurant

by gmartorelli at Citysearch

excellent Italian and a great neighborhood restaurant who delivers on time.

Lovely neighborhood restaurant with great outdoor garden....spaghetti with clams is consistently fresh tasting and delicious. If they have the polenta appetizer with chesse sauce when you visit, get it! Unbelievable!

  • Pros: great food and frendly service
  • Cons: too good....!!!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/01/09

Delicious Food, Early Week Deal

by nyfoodie1 at Citysearch

A small group of us (just 4 in total) came here for my friend's birthday on a Monday night. One of the owners were there and he and the waiter who took our table could not have been nicer. We took advantage of the promotion that we had gotten by being on the mailing list and received an order of New Zealand baby lamb chops that were grilled to perfection along with garlic roasted potatoes and salad and grilled rare Tuna with sauteed vegetables , each for only $10 based on ordering generously portioned appetizers that we all shared--very fresh fried calamari, mozzarella & tomatoes, vegetable patties and a large salad. The owner joined in singing happy birthday for our friend and offered her a complimentary tiramisu, which we of course just had to help her finish.

It was a little chilly out so we dined inside rather than in the garden out back, but we've eaten out there before and it's a tranquil respite from the hustle & bustle of the city.

Anyway, just wanted to write a little something to show our appreciation for a good time at Za Za tonight.

  • Pros: Delicious Food, Promotions, Good Service, Outdoor Space
  • Cons: None

The Details on ZaZa Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • fantastic friendly service
  • very good wait staff
  • favorite fresh pasta
  • romantic patio garden
  • loved place
  • great bottle
  • never bad meal
  • delicious spaghetti
  • delicious mozzarella
  • delicious restaurant
  • great outdoor garden
  • nice decor
  • great ues
  • nice atmosphere
  • fresh waiters
  • incredible dish
  • big draw
  • nice outdoor patio
  • great neighborhood
  • overwhelming full
  • fabulous other entrees
  • consistently excellent resaurant
  • reasonable prices
  • very fresh fried calamari