Zaza — Restaurant in London

My experience at Zazza was... well, just okay. The staff were lovely, polite and professional, and they handled everything with care. However, the food left a bit to be desired and, unfortunately, it’s what let the place down.

For my starter I had calamari which was flavourful and hit the spot. However, my main course: a lamb shank, must have been in a rush to be served, as it hadn't been cooked long enough. It refused to fall off the bone. Further, it lacked depth and flavour which suggests that it hadn't marinated long enough to soak up the depth of flavours. The sweet potato mash was a small redemption, but the broccoli... was hard, chewy, and somehow resistant to all cutlery.

Then came the tiramisu, which arrived beautifully layered. However, the plate had a drizzle of an oddly flavorless chocolate sauce that tasted more artificial than indulgent. To top it off, the tiramisu itself seemed to have been soaked in rum which overpowered the balance of flavours of what a tiramisu should be.

As for the service, here’s where things took a turn for the curious. My colleague generously bought me a drink, only to be told rather brusquely that in the future, all drinks should be added to the main tab. She was granted an “exception” this time, but I couldn’t help wondering, why the drama over a single drink?

Speaking of exceptions, one of my other colleagues, who eats only halal, discovered that the fries were cooked in oil containing pig fat. Not only is this an issue for halal diets, but also for vegetarians and vegans. An alternative was offered but only after the original dish was served. This could’ve been clarified a bit sooner, perhaps?

Overall, Zazza has potential, but the food and these little service quirks may need a touch...

I was looking for a restaurant to meet a friend that I haven’t seen for awhile. I love Italian food, and so does my friend. This restaurant was halfway between our houses.

The review of this restaurant are very good. I did book, and we ate on a Saturday at lunchtime, but was amazed that the restaurant was actually empty. And this was Unfairly empty.

The food was absolutely amazing.

I’m pescatarian, and my main course was the salmon and prawn in a white wine sauce with pasta. Very good taste, well done, pasta and nice pieces of salmon in with sizable prawns.

The lemon tart was also amazing. Not too sweet, and served with beautiful pistachio ice cream.

The restaurant itself has plenty of tables, and I’m not too cramped. The restaurant is in good repair and is tastefully decorated inside.

The bathrooms are clean, although the toilet cubicles are very small.

Parking is an issue around the restaurant, although there is parking on the streets nearby, I would recommend using a taxi, and why not have a taxi anyway if you’re planning to drink??

I was impressed with this Restaurant, and would happily visit...

A couple of friends told us about this place, when we were just starting to date, years ago. Since that, Zaza has always been our safe port: when we wanted a nice lunch or dinner out but nothing too fancy or too basic, when we had guests from UK or other Countries and we wanted to be sure to make everyone happy and satisfied... It offers a very good range of dishes, for us it is really a safe choice. In fact, the place does Italian cuisine with an attention for the English palate. For instance, honesty, I love the filled pasta "conchiglie with pollo (chicken), despite the fact the chicken filling is not really used in Italy. In this case I don't mind, the result is worth it. But, in any case, there are so many plates to try. We have been always served with courtesy and a friendly smile. Food is fresh and tastes lovely. Their Crème Brûlée is still one of my favourite, compared to other places. I don't think it is suitable for kids to run around (there are places more child friendly, I think). But is nice for having a good time with the right people...