ZaZa’s — Restaurant in Clarendon Hills

My wife and I were on the hunt for the perfect spot for a romantic date night, and Zaza came highly recommended. We made sure to reserve our seats in advance, and upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised by the bustling atmosphere of the restaurant. Though the noise level was slightly higher than expected, it added to the lively ambiance and didn't detract from our overall experience.

To kick off our evening, we indulged in some expertly crafted cocktails. I opted for the Old Fashioned, while my wife enjoyed the Manhattan. Both drinks were impeccably mixed, boasting robust flavors that set the tone for the culinary delights to come.

For our appetizers, we decided to sample the baked oysters and scallops. While the oysters were decent, it was the scallops that truly stole the show. Cooked to perfection, they were tender, succulent, and bursting with flavor. In fact, I'd go as far as to rate them a solid 10 out of 10 – a rare accolade from someone who's typically reserved in their praise.

Moving on to the main course, my wife opted for the lobster ravioli, while I selected the seabass. Both dishes were nothing short of exceptional, showcasing the skillful execution and authentic flavors that Zaza is renowned for. We found ourselves savoring every bite, ultimately cleaning our plates – a testament to the quality and taste of the cuisine.

To round off our meal on a sweet note, we followed our server's recommendation and indulged in the tiramisu and chocolate truffle desserts. The tiramisu was rich and creamy, while the chocolate truffle was a decadent delight. Though tempted by the soufflé, we decided to save it for our next visit – a testament to our certainty that we'll be returning to Zaza in the near future.

our experience at Zaza surpassed all expectations, making it the quintessential Italian dining destination for any occasion. From the impeccable service to the exquisite cuisine, every aspect of our evening was truly unforgettable. Zaza has undoubtedly earned its place as our go-to spot for Italian cuisine, and we can't wait to return for another memorable dining experience. Grazie mille, Zaza, for an evening we won't...

I ordered Pollo Limone with angel hair pasta and extra sauce. I cut up the chicken and it tasted amazing, cut the pasta and it was different, the sauce was runny, but I put the chicken on the pasta and the 2 together were a no!! I receive a different sauce on the chicken, pasta and a side of sauce all tasted different, I let the waitress know it was all different so she was going to have them remake it, the manager comes to my table and asks me to tell her what was wrong with it, I said what I told the waitress and she said you ordered a wine sauce on your pasta and that is different I said no I did not I ordered what it comes with and extra, she said you should have said something sooner, I told her I tried to tell the waitress sooner but she was not over there and she said (I’ve been watching and she was over here quite a bit, I said no she was not and I let her know as soon as I could with out getting up. I told her never mind I don’t want the food now. The waitress came over after that and asked if we needed anything. I said did you say I ordered a white wine sauce instead of the limone sauce and she said no you ordered the pollo limone with extra sauce I didn’t say wine sauce. I said well she (manager) said that’s what you told her. The waitress apologized but management was awful! I wasn’t expecting a free meal I wanted my food and ended up eating bread and a few bites of an...

Experience was fine, but nothing to write home about. Food and service were adequate but we felt like the experience was overpriced. There are better options in the area.

Pros: Some elements of fine dining experience - nice presentation, free bread, attentive waitstaff, and food was reasonably good.

Minor qualms: Cocktails were $15 a piece and were mediocre at best. Portions were small for the price compared to other Italian restaurants.

Reason for score: I believe the meatballs were undercooked (partially raw) and didn't eat them. We were reassured by the kitchen (via our server), that they were not undercooked - but we chose not to eat them anyway and we didn't receive any offer for discount, item removal from the bill or any complementary item as a consolation. In a time of shrinkflation and rising food costs, its small stuff like this that confirms why I won't be returning...