La Zaza Trattoria

Came here with my boyfriend’s family. Service was excellent, they even gave us a quiet corner table. The portions are huge, and all the red sauce pastas we ordered were delicious. Loved the cozy atmosphere and great quality food.

A nice quaint and upscale, Italian restaurant in the heart of St Charles. I ordered the Halibut special which was fantastic. Cooked very well and was flaky. Other pictures shown are the chicken and whitefish. Both cooked to perfection. The lemon buttery and caper emulsified sauce with the juicy whitefish made me instantly regret not getting the whitefish. However, between trying the chicken, halibut, and whitefish I can confidently say that you can’t go wrong eating here! Our server was exceptional, very friendly and made great conversation. Looking forward to coming back!

La Za’ Za’ Trattoria in St. Charles, Illinois, brings a genuine touch of Italian cuisine and culture to the area. The moment you walk in, the clean, warm, and beautifully designed décor sets the tone for an authentic dining experience. The food is truly second to none, which is exactly what you’d expect from a restaurant that has stood strong for decades. Their menu offers something for everyone, from wood-fired pizzas to fresh seafood and handcrafted pasta dishes that taste like they came straight from Italy. With its inviting atmosphere and exceptional food, La Za’ Za’ remains one of the area’s timeless dining gems.

As a St. Charles local for years, I am embarrassed to say that I wish I had gone to Zaza’s sooner! If you ever pass by it, wondering “should I try this place?”, the answer is YES, absolutely YES! Don’t put it off, you will be impressed. This is such a quaint spot with quality food and I love the family owned element of course. The owner Dino was so kind to us on our anniversary date night. We will be back!

We walked out of the restaurant acorss the way after sitting for 15 minutes and not even one word from the server. Headed over to Zazas and it restored our faith in restaurants in the area. We had multiple people bring us bread, water, just stop by to check on us and the service was just impeccable. Messi waa a great server and fun, but also all the orher wait staff made it an top notch experience. I haven't even mentioned the food! The whitefish was so good, I could have returned the following day for the same meal. It is pricey but absolutely worth every penny. I will be returning to Zazas anytime I am in the area.

Valerie our server was great. The food taste was below average. They slopped the leftover pizza slices in a big sloppy pile in a to go box (see photo). The markup on wine bottles was very reasonable compared to most restaurants ($52 bottle sold for $85).

Hands down my favorite Italian restaurant! We’ve been dining here for years and do all job interview dinners here. Dino, his family and Team are super hospitable. Hands down the best white fish. Always look forward to dining at Zara’s!

We celebrated my birthday here and ir was perfect in every way. Food was delicious, ambience was nice and conversation friendly. The service was not rushed. It was truly enjoyable. Thank you, Zaza!

Wife & I visited La ZAZA for a date night on November 16, 2025. We were seated at a small table for two against a brick wall across the aisle from an open table by a large picture window. When I inquired if we could sit at that open table, we were informed that, that table was for 4 people. We sat down ordered our drinks. I had ZAZA Old Fashioned & my wife had a Aperol Spritz. Both arrived promptly and tased good. It was at this time that another couple arrived and were seated at the table by the window for 4. I was going to make a comment, but my wife told me to forget about it. We ordered Carpaccio Al Avocado as our appetizer which was delicious! For our main course we ordered Petto Di Pollo Salvia, which was equality delicious and very generous portions and Rigatoni Fattoria, which my wife thoroughly enjoyed. For dessert we ordered coffee and the carrot cake. We requested that the carrot cake not be dry, so they smothered it in a syrup!! So much syrup, that we left it half eaten. Yes, we will come back to La ZAZAZ, but this time I will make sure we are seated at that table by the window.

The expansive indoor and outdoor space welcomes you with classic Sinatra music. We were seated promptly for our reservation with a pleasant host. On this warm day, we sat inside. We were initially greeted by our server, but check ins were less frequent over the course of our meal. A drink refill took some time as we at dinner. The were a tinge of arrogance from our waiter that put us off. The food was good, but nothing special for the price point. We started with Melanzane Parmigiano that was fresh tasting, nicely prepared and we enjoyed. The pork chop special presented 2 pork chops on the thin side cooked until dry (like my mom in the 70s) accompanied by potatoes. Another person in our party had the sausage with onions, peppers and pasta. The house made sausage was excellent. Overall, it was tasty enough but not differentiating. The Salmon Diavolo was enjoyed, but slightly overcooked.

Attended a private party. So no choices when it came to food, but everything was delicious. Staff was willing to assist and ensure we had what we needed. I live an hour plus away...but when in the area I would stop by again.

One of our favorite places for Italian in the area. They start you with some warm crusty bread and a dish of cold marinara for dipping. Would love if the marinara was warm or even room temp. Fish specials are so good. This time we had pasta. The spicy rigatoni with olives and capers was perfect. My husband had the penne with sausage in a spicy marinara, also great. They have a nice selection of Italian wines. Our server was attentive but not intrusive and they sat us in the front room, which is quieter than the back. We loved it!

I recently returned to La Za'Za' Trattoria in downtown St.Charles, a family favorite for over 20 years--so beloved that it still feels like coming home. On this visit I tried their pasta, adding chicken, and it was nothing short of to die for. The pasta was perfectly al dente, enveloped in a rich, savory sauce that clung to every noodle, elevated by the tender, beautifully seasoned chicken. It immediately spoke to the care and consistency that have made La Za'Za' a St.Charles classic since 1995. What I love about returning here is that the ambiance hasn't changed: that cozy, slightly dimmed lighting makes it a great choice for anything from casual family dinners to celebratory evenings out . After so many visits, I usually opt for their white fish, but on this night that pasta dish was calling my name--and I'm so glad I answered. Service was just as warm and attentive as ever, with the familiar rhythm of a staff that knows how to make you feel at home. Every bite reminded me why my family has kept coming back for two decades. If you're in St.Charles and craving honest, comforting Italian with quality and heart behind it, La Za'Za' Trattoria still hits it out of the park. I'll be back--just like I have been since I first walked in years ago.

Love this place! Great service. Great food! Fun place to go. The area is always crowded. It's one of our favorite places.

After an extended winter getaway we had to visit ZaZa for our Italian cuisine fix. The osso bucco special was delicious. Falling off the bone, the Sunday Gravy sauce added an element of flavor to the succulent pork. The halibut, as usual, was fresh, cooked perfectly and absolutely amazing. This restaurant should be 5 stars or close to it. If you filter through the reviews that are critical, it's almost always something kind of strange and makes me question the authenticity of the review. Oh well, the pros and cons of sites like Yelp. Pics later.

Food was great as always, had my favorite the Frits de Mare linguini Diaviolo and grilled calamari and goat cheese with spinach bruschetta. The restaurant was not loud despite the busy dinner service and our server was very engaging.

Finally was able to get in after trying for a while lol they're always booked so that was a great sign! The overall vibe walking gives old school bar restaurant with low lighting, soft music playing. Staff very welcoming from the second you walk in. The bar was a little busy on a Saturday night took a while to get a drink and by then our table was ready. Our waiter was awesome and made some great recommendations! Will definitely be back!

3.5 stars! For being an Italian restaurant, the pasta was hard, dry, and covered in oil. Service was good, nothing bad, nothing great. It was packed the entire time we were in there but we weren't annoyed by the noise level or people. The carrot cake however, omg delicious!

We went to La ZaZa's on Halloween. It was not busy & we were seated immediately. We received our appetizer immediately. Took over an hour to get our main course. Plus the server brought us a Bottle of wine $100.00 more than the one we ordered. Didn't realize it was the wrong bottle & we drank it. All the waiter did was say sorry when we told him.

Absolute perfection all around. After a couple not so stellar meals in st charles we found our spot! I have so many positive things to say but I'll keep it brief. Excellent food, amazing location, kind staff. Everyone had smiles on their faces. A GIGANTIC shout out to Val. She knew what we needed before we did. She accommodated every request and went above and beyond. We had 2 different pastas and they were fantastic. The warm bread with chilled marinara was awesome. We will come back to st charles, we will eat at Zaza and we will request Val.

Did outdoor dining of which they do not take reservations for. Beautiful space. Food was VG ambiance exceptional especially on a beautiful Oct. Evening. Our server forgot our appetizer of baked clams which she ultimately recovered from entrees VG, but could have been hotter. Had to ask for bread twice and butter multiple tomes

We had a wonderful time. The food was amazing, especially the awesome desserts. Val was the best waitress, and Dino was an amazing host. We will come back again and again.

You walk into this restaurant and it feels like you just walked into an intimate Italian family dinner! From the host that was seating us to our waitress, everyone smiled, joked with us, complimented us and just made us feel so welcome! We came for a holiday dinner and the pasta was divine. The cake absolutely made us swoon and the Brussel sprouts were addicting. I would definitely come back here with a big group because the laughs and joy train keeps on going.

2 Star Review because Cutlery Only Cutlery: We had a party of 8 and received pre rolled cutlery sets. Upon unrolling two of us had dried food on the forks. We requested a replacement with the server. Of the replacement set, 1 had a piece of bright green lettuce stuck to the knife. Whoever rolled these utensils should be re trained. I would have never expected such an issue at a restaurant with $35+ dishes. I requested to speak to the manager that proceeded to give us new cutlery for the whole table. However upon being informed of the dirty cutlery she just gave me a blank stare until I elaborated. The exchange seemed very strange. Our table was also not really given an apology or an inconvenience discount. If their pasta was priced at $12 I wouldn't care about the cutlery, but when the price is premium I expect better. The whole ordeal makes me question the overall level of cleanliness in the kitchen. Gross - 0/5 Service: outside of the questionable cleanliness standards, the waiters and staff were all very wonderful and attentive. The food came out pretty quickly and even with our large group they kept great track of who ordered what. Great - 5/5 Food: The food was good, would give it 3.5/5.

Great atmosphere and the service was excellent I give five stars to both of those. The food was good but not great. We will have to come back and try a few other things sometime down the road.

Everything was just OK We walked in at 5:45 on a Saturday evening & the host stand said they'd seat us but that they'd need the table at 7pm, I don't think I've ever been told to hurry up in a restaurant before. Since we felt a little rushed we skipped apps They brought out 2 loafs of itl bread & a red sauce to dip in. The sauce was ok, but a nice touch I ordered an Angel hair pasta with sausage ($9 add on- but a lot of sausage) in a spicy-ish red sauce. It was a huge portion, but the sauce was meh. I have enough leftover for a huge lunch tomorrow Wife & 1 son had a chicken dish in a brandy sauce w/mushrooms, she said the shrooms were delicious. Chicken was........chicken 2 others had pizzas- a Margherita which was ok & & a sausage that had a huge pile of spinach that wasn't very tasty. Bill was over $150 B4 tip for 3 entrees, 3 pizzas & 5 lemonades

Always an amazing time at ZaZa's! The service is always incredible. Make a reservation in advance because it can get packed! The food is TOP TIER. White fish is amazing and we get it every time. The ambiance is beautiful- great indoor and outdoor seating areas. Right on the river so you can walk around after dinner.

Actually, 4.5 stars out of 5. Parking, in a 4 story public lot, adjacent to Za Za's and other restaurants and entertainment venues, is a big advantage, as well as one block of 1st St. only being available to foot traffic. Have been coming here at least twice a year, since 2011, can't believe this is my first write up for them (?) In my 13 year history of going here, with a sample set of at least 26 times, I have NEVER had any type of bad dining, dessert, or drink experience. Quite the opposite - every one has been outstanding! This time we met friends and dined outside - the tables were canopied, as well as large trees in the plaza providing additional shade. For July, I was surprised at the comfort level. Music drifted over from a band playing out back for McNally's, which just added to the ambience. Fare is traditional Italian - done extremely well, and in generous quantities, that is served by a top notch staff. p.s. the di mare is tough to beat Once you go, you'll be able to see, how easy it is, to become a 'regular' here.

One of my favorite restaurants in the area. Went on a Friday night. It was busy, but we were seated quickly. Server was prompt and friendly. My wife had the rotolo, which was terrific, and I had my favorite, sausage and peppers. Only complaint would be that prices have gone up quite a bit lately. A must stop by if in the area.

Last night we dined here for the first time. We were told ahead of time that we could not have separate checks, but that she would give us itemized bills so that we could determine how much we owed. When the check came she argued vehemently that we would have to split it 4 ways. We will never return to this restaurant again.

Poor customer service Pretty sad and surprising when a restaurant doesn't know how to provide separate checks for customers. Staff not very friendly.. Water never refilled. Could say more but I won't. Plenty of other restaurants who appreciate customers.

Food good, Service very friendly staff. Ambiance dinning area is very nice, bar area has a warm friendly local watering hole.

I used to love this place, the food and service was fantastic. I'm not sure what happened but over the past couple months the quality of food and service has gone down hill. The service of my last visit was awful. They messed up my order and I had to wait for it to be remade. As I was waiting I asked for extra dressing for my salad. They proceeded to tell me no it would be an up charge. I then spoke to the manager Amanda when she brought out the order and asked due to the inconvenience if I could have a small side of extra dressing. She responded no to have a good night. I would strongly suggest you check out Villa Verone in Geneva. MUCH BETTER quality of food and MUCH BETTER customer service.

First time dining here. the food and service were outstanding. It's a hidden gem. We will be back.

What a cute Italian spot in the heart of St. Charles with river views and good food. This location has a lot of outdoor seating despite the social distancing requirements. While we didn't eat indoors, it also appeared to have a large dining space available. Receptionist was quick and friendly when I called to make a reservation giving me many options and sharing the detail that outdoor dining is first come first serve despite a reservation. Our waiter Jimmy was very pleasant, offering suggestions since most of the folks I was dining with were new to the area. A little pushy and verbose but able to answer questions and give his thoughts. Two team members got the sea bass special and devoured it! Two other team members got the ravioli special and really enjoyed. I got the homemade pasta with pesto cream sauce without sausage and was happy. Portions were quite large making me wish I had something else to reach for. Pasta was fresh but sauce needed more depth of flavor albeit good. The mushrooms were awesome in it. For apps we got the fried calamari and mussels. The mussels sauce was awesome...the rest was standard but good! Carrot cake was served warm and was very tasty. Didn't see any bike parking available in the area and even though it was busy, plenty of street parking available. The road to the east of the building was blocked so you have to go over the bridge if you can't find a spot! All in all very good, but recommend going with a few close friends/family to try multiple things!

Amazing food, great service and a nice variety of food choices. Great location in St. Charles and fantastic indoor and outdoor seating.

Chris and I have had the pleasure, in the past year or so, to do occasional dinners with my Bandmate Bob and his Lady Companion Donna. Mostly in the Far Northwestern 'Burbs (think St. Charles & Environs). We've been to a number of fab places, and not a loser in the bunch. Bob usually picks, and he hasn't been wrong yet. When he said "ZaZa", I thought maybe it was the rebranded "Nemec Bros. Pizza" in Geneva (Bob is a pizza aficionado), but, mais non, it was the ZaZa Trattoria in St. Charles. We'll get to Nemec's soon enough. THIS ZaZa is classic Italiano, muted in those amber shades and dark woods that so lend a grand air, yet warm familiarity. We got there very early, so it wasn't bustling just yet, but as the dinner hour approached, it bustled more and more. It sounded like everyone was having a great time. Tina, the waitress was as warm as the colors, and quite pleasant-she rattled off the specials and took our drink orders. Bob is a regular at ZaZa, and he recommended the OldFashioned, as he knows I am particular to that evergreen tipple. It came with a rock candy swizzle-a nice touch for that drink. I thought the pour was a bit economical-it was gone in a few sips, but not at the expense of quality. It was a fine fine quaff. We ordered some salads-I swung with the Caesar, added anchovies, please. It might have been the best Caesar I've ever had-absolutely delicious. In fact the entrees came quickly, before I had finished my salad. I picked up the plate and scooped up the remaining bits, holding it aloft. I didn't care if I looked the fool or not--I wasn't going to waste any of the salad. One of the marks of a great Italiano is their willingness to provide beyond the menu-I am a lover of Pasta Agli Olio (garlic and oil). It wasn't on the menu, but Tina assured me the kitchen would make it. Bob said the Italian Sausage here was homemade and top shelf. The thought of the Agli O (plus anchovies of course, again) with the house Sausage special appeared a winner to me, and there it was, on the plate before me. (On the menu, it's called "Salsiccia Carnivale") I've ordered Agli Olio everywhere, and this might have been the finest expression of it ever; a perfect balance. The Sausage part of the dish was an equal knockout, with mushrooms and roasted peppers in a light balsamic/tomato sauce. Bob was right about the Sausage. Wife had Angel Hair with Marinara-simple but very tasty, Bob had Penne with the aforementioned sausage-his fave from the menu. Donna had Calamari-she shared a piece and it was fresh and tender. Bob had a bead on the right wine, too. A blend called "Eruption", which complimented our dinners admirably. The GrandSlam was yet to come. Some whispering between Bob and Donna, then Bob and Tina the waitress. Tina returned with a gorgeous dessert they called "coffee cake", but was much more. A generous slab of ricotta cheese custard with a kind of streusel on top, drizzled with a rich caramel sauce; and a scoop of fine vanilla ice cream nuzzled against the "cake". YOWZA! Found out this masterpiece isn't on the menu, but is always there for the asking. If you should visit ZaZa, don't leave without trying it. I ordered an espresso to accompany, but I had some vino left in my glass. Damned if the vino didn't amplify the dessert!! Outstanding! I should have skipped the espresso and had another glass of vino. Easily one of the best meals in recent memory, with great great pro service from Tina. Ran into Dino, from the owning family, at the front desk on the way out, and told him of the extraordinarily good time we had. A good Italian feed should always provoke celebration, and ZaZa's cuisine, atmosphere and service did not fail to do so. I used a lot of superlatives in this Yelp, and I meant every one of them. Throwing Five Stars, but they don't deserve it. It should be TEN stars!!!

We went back after a long absence . It was extremely busy. The service was good, given the number of people inside and outside. We were a bit disappointed with the calamari and the chicken . piccata. The portion of the calamari has diminished significantly . I have mentioned this before and was told that's the same , and I know it's not.

Dined there on Valentine's Day weekend. I could tell they were trying to rush us through the meal because it was busy and because we hadnt ordered alcohol. Food was mediocre but I already expected that since its in St Charles. I could tell the wait staff were trying to bust people sharing food so they could give them an uncharge.

The outdoor seating area is beautifully setup and reminds me of Europe. They have blocked off the street and there are trees and a water fountain nearby. Service here is friendly and attentive. Mussels with White Wine Sauce $13 - Still my favorite item on the menu here! Violet Hour cocktail $14 - Strong and delicious drink. Gnocchi Paradisio $20 - These gnocchi had great texture and covered in tasty rich sauce. Rigatoni Scampi and Broccoli $26 - The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce was fantastic. I couldn't stop eating this dish. Tiramisu $8 ....| \ _ , , , - - , , _ , .../ , ` . - ' ` ' . _ \ - ; ; ; , _ ..| , a - ) ) _ . ; . ( ` - ` - ' - ' ' - - - ' ' ( _ / . _ ) - ' ( _ \ _ ) 2020

delicious food, great service, lovely ambience for our anniversary dinner. Would absolutely return here again, just for dinner with an hour + drive

Attractive restaurant, expansive outdoor patio, pleasant and accommodating serving team, and good food and drinks. Started out with cocktails - espresso martinis are always a must try for me. It was good, not great. It could have used something as it seemed pre-made, out of a bottle even though I'm sure it wasn't - but given I'm not a mixologist- I have no idea what to recommend that I would change. Our server shared what the specials were ... it was 7 and they only had a portion or two of the rotello remaining - a lasagna like meal. I raised my hand and our server immediately dropped everything to run to the kitchen to make sure that a portion was set aside for me, even though our group wasn't ready to order. I really appreciated that extra attention. And, when we did order and I got it, I was certainly not disappointed. I loved the Rotello itself, but I especially appreciated the fact that half was in a red sauce and half was in an Alfredo, which gave it a fantastic richness and incredible flavor. The rest of our group enjoyed their meals, which included pork chops, white fish, rotini with sausage and ricotta... Among other things. Each looked incredible.. We finished off the evening with dessert... which is fairly unusual for us, but we couldn't pass up the coffee cake like richness that we kept seeing walking by us. We split a couple of plates of it, which came with a side of vanilla ice cream, and it was exquisite. Recommend this restaurant..

The outdoor patio was amazing. Food and Service was very good and the prices were fair. We will definitely try again.

Last night we went to ZaZA for dinner. We were babysitting our grandchildren, 5 & 4, and decided to take them out to dinner last minute. ZaZa staff was so courteous, accommodating and just very welcoming. Our waitress was amazing, very attentive without being intrusive. Just perfect. The food was delectable. We started with a caprese salad, we each had the filet and the kids had a pizza. All was delicious. The food came out well timed and exactly as expected. Definitely a wonderful dining experience and will be a definite repeat restaurant. Can't wait to go back.

So we've been here before and we're out. First and foremost the lack of seasoning is big negative. Milanese was rather thick (should be thinner) and needed seasoning. Pasta side bland. Hate paying for items that I can do better at home.

I was so looking forward to my birthday dinner tonight. We were extremly rushed by our server, it was very dissapointing. We did not feel welcomed, even our teenage kids noticed that.

Long post! Last night at Zaza's we had an unfortunately very bad experience. I have been a loyal patron of the restaurant for 25 years with probably more than 100 visits. It has been one of my favorite restaurants with so many great memories. My sister and her husband joined us for dinner and drinks prior to a concert, it was their first time there. We spent $75 at the bar then were seated. When we ordered our food my sister asked our server if we could split checks and she bluntly responded "we don't do that and it says so on the menu". My sister hadn't seen that on the menu otherwise she wouldn't have asked. Then we ordered two appetizers. My brother in law had a late lunch and wasn't too hungry. He wanted fried calamari, which he ate most of, basically as his entree. When we ordered dinner we told my sister the chicken dish she wanted was quite large and we wouldn't be able to take leftovers home with us. She ordered the chicken and asked for a side plate to share a little with her husband. The server said they charge a "plate splitting fee of $5 and it says so on their menu". * *Now TYPICALLY in a restaurant if you split a plate with an extra fee charged, the kitchen does it for you and you typically get a slightly overall larger portion. It's more work for the kitchen too. I definitely understand a split/share fee in high end restaurants where it is difficult to get a reservation. My sister responded ok then don't bring me a side plate. This must have triggered the "share plate police". Never did we all discuss let's save money and not get that 4th entree for Mike...he simply didn't want to be wasteful. We were brought our delicious entrees and Mike had a few bites of my sisters food and each of us took a taste of all three entrees. When we were presented with our bill we observed a $5 "share plate charge". We asked the server to remove it and were told no, it's their policy. We asked to speak to the manager. She bluntly said "our manager is the one who told me to charge you because he was watching your table and saw you sharing the food". I mean how WEIRD is that?!? It made us so uncomfortable as if we were trying to pull a fast one on them and they caught us in the act! My husband went to speak with Dino (manager/owner). My husband politely asked Dino about the charge to which he replied "it's our policy and I have to protect the restaurant". Further, my husband said "but you didn't split the plate up for them, why are you charging this fee? We also ordered 2 appetizers, not just 3 entrees" Dino responded "You didn't ASK US to split it, or we would have. You shared it though so we have to charge the fee." He also said ordering 2 appetizers didn't matter or change things, Mike had been seen eating some of the entree. How about a "I'll reverse it this time as a courtesy but please know in the future this is what we do". He honestly didn't seem to care that we were dissatisfied - which was completely shocking to us based on all of our prior interactions with him. Note: I personally hadn't experienced this share policy at Zaza's prior to last night. It's the first time we've dined with someone who didn't order an entree of their own. To have managers monitoring/stalking tables to see if their guests are sharing an entree feels intrusive and like we were being nickled and dimed. Our table spent almost $300 in this restaurant, and it really wasn't about an additional $5 it was about the way we were spoken to and treated. We won't be going back.

This place continues to consistently provide a classy yet cozy dining experience. There's a real touch of old-school restaurant service here, and the food is wonderful. From the wonderful, warm crusty bread served with gravy your nana could've spent all day making - to the large and reasonably priced wine list, this place makes you feel like you've come home. Eating out isn't cheap these days, but in light of that, Zaza's is affordable elegance. I loved the Chicken Florentine, and my girlfriend loved her Cavatelli. The house salads were large, fresh, and delicious as well. TIP: Park in the 5-story parking garage for free and take the north elevator. It's a short walk across the plaza into the restaurant.

Had a luncheon today with 35 ladies. It was served family style. Started with a delicious salad. Followed by rigatoni and chicken limone. For Dessert chocolate cake, tiramisu and cannolis. Service was fantastic. Some one checked on us constantly. First time I was ever there but will be back soon.

We had a wonderful time here last night! Our Server, Steven, was fantastic - he was extraordinarily attentive without ever being intrusive, and anticipated everything we needed. We'll definitely request him the next time we're there. We just popped in for some light bites, so we had 2 appetizers, and 2 desserts. The carpaccio was very fresh, and very delicious - lots of shaved parm made it extra great. The scallop appetizer was also fabulous, deliciously fresh, sweet scallops with a very generous amount of fresh vegetables. Both appetizers are enough for 2 to share. The tiramisu was good, but if you're a carrot cake fan I 100% recommend the carrot cake. It's really wonderful.

Ended up in the ER for food poisoning by eating carpaccio avocado Never again! Still can't believe it

Good food and great ambiance! Conveniently located in the heart of downtown St. Charles.

I've grown up going to ZaZa's in St. Charles, but after my last experience here I finally am going to leave a review for maybe my favorite Italian Restaurant ever! First of all, the atmosphere is great at ZaZa's, and the service is even better. I have never had a bad experience in the service department here, and sometimes I even find myself having good conversations with staff members. Everyone is very nice and easy going. When it comes to food, the menu changes frequently so it is hard to recommend what to get on a consistent basis. Some meals have been better than others, but I haven't had a bad meal here. I prefer pasta with cream based sauces as opposed to red sauce, so I always lean towards those. Two things that are must get: the bruschetta and the creme brulee. I can say with confidence that they have the best bruschetta I have ever had. ZaZa's is my favorite restaurant in St. Charles, and I can't wait to go there again.

Daaaaang son. This place is Italiano and doesn't disappoint! Service is Mr. Rogers friendly. Tina was funny and very nice. Wife and I ordered the calamari for appetizer and I had all the tentacles...they were crisp and amazing...like Bitcoin to the moon amazing. The delicious whitefish had a wonderful buttery-lemon sauce and was sprinkled with capers, like how my son sprinkles his birthday cake with a light bit of saliva when he blows out his birthday cake. (Wife) I had the filet mig rare because I'm a man and that's what we do. I closed my eyes with each bite because I was in cowboy heaven-yee haw! Subtle showstopper are the veggies which were grilled perfect. Honestly we had bottle service and everything gets elevated so yeah. Review was inspired by true events and have not been modified in any way.

If you're looking for a St. Charles institution that's five stars every time, book your table at ZaZa's. From the savory Sausage alla ZaZa for an app (my wife's fav) to the Penne Abruzzese, Pesce Bianco alla Spinaci or Petto di Pollo Parmigiano (my fav) for your entree, your taste buds will be jumping for joy. They're wine list is big enough and reasonable enough to enjoy a nice night without breaking the bank. We especially appreciate the consistent and personable service. They offer several different rooms, each cozier than the next. If you're just looking for a drink, the dark, woodsy bar is just the place to hide out for an hour or so. One last thing about the food, you will take home doggie bags.

Waitress was great but owner Dino S. was not willing to removed the charge for our meal that was not cooked as requested. He said he should not have to eat the cost of the steak but took the uneaten steak away and did not replace it nor take the price of the meal off. Will not be returning and hope no one else ever has this experience.

We had just attended the funeral of my best friend, and were looking for a place for dinner. After some searching on TripAdvisor, we selected this place. First off, get a reservation. This place is busy. The décor is in interesting - nothing unusual, but nice lighting, good wall texture and art. There is a lot to look at. If you are worried about the COVID restrictions of Illinois, worry not. Look at the statistics. In Region 1 in December, schools were contributing 20 cases out of 100, and restaurants 3. Who got closed with no seating? Well, it wasn't schools. So wear your mask and enjoy dinner indoors. If you don't want to do that - don't post about it for restaurants who are disobeying an illegal order. Now back to the food. Really good. We started with their Bruschetta Spinachi - it was enough for four people, and it was very good. It just sparkled on your palate. I decided to go for their 8 ounce filet, while my wife tried their Gemelli. Both were delicious - I cut the filet into smaller pieces to allow more time to enjoy it. We finished sharing their Chocolate Cake Ganache desert, ala mode. The wine list was solid - we ordered a bottle of Jordan Cabernet, and the price was quite reasonable. Our service was excellent - our waitress was masked at all times. When we saw her approaching, we put our masks on out of respect for her safety. If we weren't eating, we were wearing our masks out of respect for everyone's safety. Nuff said? Summary: Great food and service. Interesting décor. Get a reservation. Enjoy safely.