Zio's Pizzeria — Restaurant in Omaha

The pizza isn't half bad, it's worth the price for the quality. However the last 2 visits I've had to the downtown location have put me off. I went in and ordered, the house was packed on a Saturday afternoon, so I expected some wait which is completely understandable. But after 45 minutes I noticed people who ordered after me and girlfriend had received their food.

I still wasn't upset, mistakes happen. I politely told the waiter and she confirmed that the cooks had mistakenly skipped and forgotten my order. She said she'd get them to make it right way and get it to us as soon as possible. 30 minutes later and still no simple 12 inch pepperoni pizza. I asked the waiter how much longer it was going to be because I was truly famished at this point. She said she'd go to check again and assured me it was probably ready.

She came back and told me that my pizza had mistakenly been given to another table with the same item ordered. I still wasn't fuming but I was certainly annoyed and didn't want to leave and start a new wait at another restaurant so we decided to push through it. 20 more minutes pass and they finally bring out our pizza.

Now I wouldn't ask for some freebie or something , it's just not me. Although, it would have been gladly accepted as an apology, maybe some bread sticks, free soda, a buck or two off our bill- but no. There wasn't even a measly, "I'm sorry about that". Just here's your bill, I can get you here at your table or at the register. I paid and didn't return for a few years.

This last time tonight, I was cautious and decided to go in for a single slice of pizza. My girlfriend opted for the same since she hadn't forgotten our last visit either. Our order was promptly delivered, our food quickly made and brought to our table, drink refills and dessert offered. But here is the kicker. Now it could just be that I was sitting right next to the register and Kitchen. But I very clearly heard our waiter complaining around to a cook about how he couldn't understand why someone would only order a single slice and "who does that, what's the point?"

I get it, busy nights suck for those working at restaurants on weekend nights especially one as highly trafficked. It's good to sometimes vent to your fellow employees to ease those frustrations. But come on. Not in ear shot of someone who just ordered exactly what you're griping about. It's just plain rude.

I'm really disappointed. I truly wanted to like this local favorite. I had heard so many good things. But unfortunately it just didn't work out like that in...

4.14.24

My husband and I went to a comedy show in the old market and after went to dinner. We are not from Omaha and wanted to try something new. We came across Zio's and went inside. We immediately were asked if we were there "picking up". I said no, and the waitress seemed instantly annoyed. We were seated at a table and ordered two waters. My husband asked if they had a restroom and the waitress gave a snarky reply "yeah, we got one" and then just stood there. My husband had to ask again, "where is it?" and the waitress flung her arm over her shoulder and said back there. Shortly after that we placed our order and I had a question about the toppings on the pizza. I was given a look like I was stupid and a slight eye roll. I asked for half our pizza to not have tomatoes. That request was met with another eye roll as yhe waitress scribbled our order down and walked away without another word. About 15 minutes later our pizza arrived and my husband asked for a parmesan cheese shaker. The waitress was annoyed at the request and made sure to correct him and said, "it's ROMANO not parmesan". She brought the shaker over and left. The waitress did not return once to check on our meal or drinks. We ate quickly as it was clear the restaurant closing for the evening. We asked for our ticket and a box. Being a pizza place, we expected to get a pizza box to take the remaining half of our large pizza home.(other tables had been given pizza boxes to take their leftovers) The waitress brought us a small square Styrofoam box that we had to stack and cram our pizza in to fit. As we left the restaurant we couldn't figure out why the waitress was so annoyed and rude the entire time we were there. After checking the website we found out why- this location closes at 9:30 on Saturday and we arrived around 9:20. Again, we have never visited this establishment before, but saw the lights on, patrons eating, and it smelled delicious so we chose to go in and eat. This had to have been the reason for our servers distain and ire. We arrived while the business was STILL OPEN, ate quickly, and were out the door by 9:57 pm. If this establishment doesn't want to serve customers during their designated hours of operation they should have told us they were no longer seating customers and we would have understood and found a different establishment to eat at. I would have rather gone elsewhere than sit through the terrible attitude and service we received at Zio's. In case a manager sees this review, Cindy W was the waitress name...

I think I had been here before. I took my family with me over labor day weekend 2012 however and we had a bad situation.

We ordered some mac & cheese for one kiddo and 2 slices of cheese pizza for another. No issues there. Our garlic cheese toast came fine too. I also ordered a large pizza for my wife and I to share. Here's what I ordered:

Large with pepperoni and feta cheese on the whole thing. One side black olives and the other side beef. Pretty simple right? Wrong!

After 30 minutes or so (which is fine as they were swamped) the pizza comes out very very wrong. It was artichoke hearts, chicken and tomatoes all over it. I told the waitress it's wrong and she proceeded to tell me that's what I ordered. My wife and I both told her that was not what we ordered. She took it back and then came back 5-7 minutes later telling me that this is the pizza I ordered. No, it's not, I said and made her re-order it. She tried to give it to me to "munch on" while we waited for the corrected one and I said we weren't interested as we weren't.

Finally, 20+ minutes later, the manager comes to the table with...wait for it...the incorrect pizza again. I told him it was wrong again and he said that this is what I ordered. I asked him how he knew as he wasn't there when I ordered it. He asked, "Well, what do you want?" and I told him I wanted my flippin' pizza made correctly and then I told him I really just wanted to leave and I wasn't paying for anything at all, but we're hungry.

My wife was in the restroom with one of the kids at the time and she came back as I was getting our things together. I told her it was wrong again and the people around me at tables were all expressing their own frustration at the service.

Anyway, my wife went to talk to the mgr. and he offered to take care of the bill and please let him have another shot at making the pizza correctly and he'd have it ready in 5-10 minutes. She agreed as long as it was to go. The kids and I waited outside and after 10 minutes, she came out with a fresh pie boxed up for us to go. They had made it wrong again. Correct ingredients this time, but put the beef and olives on one side.

It was good, though. I'll give them that. Not cooked really well, but tasted good.

Long story short...if you have the waitress we had, you may have to bring some crayons and paper to draw out how you want your pizza made...even if it's only 4...