Zelda's Original Gourmet Pizza

This was my first visit to Zelda's in about 15 or 16 years. I was excited to bring my partner for his first time. Service was great, our waitress was upbeat, funny, and attentive. The crust was just how I remembered it. Unfortunately, nostalgia couldn't help me overlook a few too many things. We were sat in the smaller 2 person booth - the lamp was dusty and our both our plates were dirty. We ordered the ceasar salad that was overly dressed and the salad leaves themselves were not crisp. Our waiter brought out our pizza (1/2 combo and 1/2 pepperoni) and indicated that the kitchen mixed it up and added sausage to the pepperoni side. She gave us the option of having them remake it. We decided we would take it as is since we were hungry. However, the sausage stole the entire show. It was not evenly distributed on either side. We took half the pizza home as left overs and realized we hadn't even seen the worst of it. A slice had a hamburger sized sausage slab on it. I didnt feel great after eating the pizza either day. I dont like leaving these types of reviews but the experience was certainly underwhelming and disappointed.

At first you think expensive and overpriced but once you stick around, enjoy the aesthetic, enjoy the welcoming staff. You realize your getting a deal. Especially when the large Spinoccoli can feed three people.

Zelda’s was the perfect late-night wedding food. Tina absolutely killed it — delivery was right on time, and guests were thrilled it was Zelda’s. The pizza disappeared by the end of the night, which says everything. Iconic Sacramento comfort food done right.

Been a follower of Zeldas since the 90's. Always loved the cornbread style crust for years. Since moving to Lincoln, I have not had Zeldas pizza for 5 years. My son ordered take out. A large combo. Very disappointed in the different crust and inconsistent application of toppings,(what toppings there was). The onions should be better quality like yellow or red. Not cheap white tasteless onions chopped up in little squares. Use a slicer. "This" is NOT the Zeldas I've loved over the years. Chicago Fire makes a better deep dish. Too bad. I'll never go back. To the owners, you can do better.

Had gone in the past when it was the old owners, was pleasantly surprised that its held true to itself and grown with the neighborhood. Nice intimate spot with amazing service. Basic Cheese 8.2/10, my date ranked it 8.5/10. Natalie our server was great, the owner was very accommodating. Dessert was ok, ice cream from Gunther’s, cheesecake. Will come back again, not a huge deep dish fan but Zelda’s is Classic and some things just don’t go out of style.

I’ve loved Zelda’s for years, but our deep dish pizza this time was really weird. It was mostly crust. Like a LOT of crust - more than anything else. See my photo. I would like to fix this and would welcome feedback from the restaurant. My family was disappointed and had to stop eating for it.

We came ever so close to losing Zelda's after covid. When Zelda passed, the restaurant was kept open by family. Her original pie crust deep dish pizza recipe remained. There was a recent ownership change and to my surprise the pizza recipe remains in tact, and many new food choices were added. Please be aware your pie will take at least 30 minutes to cook, but well worth the wait. Currently they are only open for dinner.

This place has the best deep dish pizza and the service was amazing. The new spinach pizza is one of the best I've had and I've been here 2 times now in last week with family and they have delicious food and amazing service . Also the atmosphere with the 80's feel is definitely unique. You want best pizza in town and around you definitely got to make this a part of your rotation for eating out you will thank me later!!

My parents used to go to Zelda's about thirty years ago when they lived in Sacramento. Not having been back since, we decided to give it another try. From the start, it was a fun experience as we stepped out of the bright midtown sun into the super dark but fun atmosphere. It definitely felt very old school inside, with the gingham table clothes and mood lighting. I was a little worried that the Chicago style deep dish pizzas would be pretty heavy, but was actually surprised to see that the pizzas weren't too heavy/deep as we were expecting. We got the combo (with mozz, tomato sauce, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, onion, and green bell pepper) as well as the new spinach (with seasoned spinach, mozz, feta, cheddar, and fresh tomato slices). The crust on both pizzas was really amazing. Again, I was expecting a very deep dish style pie, but these were only a little deep with a crust that reminded us of a savory pie crust. We loved both pizzas and thought it provided a nice balance of veggies and meat, but particularly enjoyed the New Spinach pizza as the cheddar really balanced nicely against the feta and spinach. Even though the pizza didn't have a sauce, it was incredibly flavorful and the cheddar cut through to give it a nice kick. The combo was also super solid and tasted great with the sausage, pepperoni, and veggies. Overall we were very pleased! Very fun spot that still continues to please.

Absolutely delicious. One of the best Chicago style pizzas I've ever had, honestly maybe even one of the best pizzas of my life. The crust is tasty, the sauce is rich, and the cheese is perfect. Great quality for a great price. I'll definitely be back.

I've been a Zelda's lover for as long as I can remember. I live in Roseville and make the effort to come whenever I can. I was wrecked when I heard they closed. This was our first visit since the new owner has taken over. And while the mainstay, the pizza, was everything that it should be there were other issues at play here that can keep us from coming back and my heart is broken. 1. We called on our way downtown to put in our order as we do every time. It was 6:55PM. I was told that pizza would be available around 8. We arrived at Zelda's about 7:30 and waited 35 minutes for a table. At this point it after 8. We order drinks and the server tells us that the pizza is about 10 minutes out. 35 minutes later the pizza shows up. It's an excessive amount of wait for something we called in an order for. My party was not very happy. 2. The menu is a bit different. The salads that we enjoy are no longer, replaced by a wedge with bacon and a Caesar which is not ideal for vegetarians. Sure leave the bacon off and throw away $12 on a salad that has really nothing else on it. 3. The service at Zelda's has never been great, but it was efficient. This visit was neither. The server basically never came by and we were frustrated when people decided they wanted a side of ranch. 2 stars for the pizza still being great, but it's not worth my time for the rest.

If you're craving a pizza experience that's more like a savory, cheesy pie of joy than your average slice, a classic deep dish is where it's at--and this one hits all the right notes. The crust is the foundation, and here it's buttery, golden, and perfectly crisp on the outside, with just enough chew inside to give it structure without being doughy. One of the best parts is despite being a hefty pie, nothing overpowers. The crust, cheese, toppings, and sauce all play together beautifully. It's rich, but not greasy. It's filling--but you'll still want another slice!

Maybe it's just me, but I doubt it. I eat pizza probably twice a week, I've been to all of the popular spots in Sacramento. Today Majka was closed, Pizzasaurus Rex had a monster line, and I had always wanted to try Zelda's so I figured there's no time like the present. It's dark, but I enjoy the vibe. We sat down in a rickety booth and ordered our drinks and pizza. The menu was pretty limited, but to me that usually signifies that the items are absolutely dialed in. I ordered a Dirty Dog, which I enjoyed, and my girlfriend ordered a White Linen which was okay - not the best in town but drinkable. Our pizza arrived, and medium combo for $31, and the server placed a slice on each of our plates. I am going to be very honest, this is the worst pizza I've ever had in my life. I would have rather had Little Caesars or Digiorno. In fact, the Digiorno deep dish puts Zelda's to shame and I'm not exaggerating. The crust was hard. I get that you need structure for a deep dish to carry all the toppings, but there wasn't much toppings to carry. Barely any cheese. I ate a second slice because I was hungry, and I regret it. I should have just sent it back. All in all, I spent $63 for two okay drinks and the worst pizza of my life. I won't be returning.

My husband and I got their Combo deep dish and Caesar salad to go this past weekend. In total it was about $47. We called in around 5pm and they said it wasn't going to be ready until 6:15pm, which was fine for us but just keep that in mind when you're ordering take out and a deep dish... it'll take awhile. The pizza was pretty good! It had a good amount of toppings on it, but I looking for a bit more flavor from the marinara sauce. We got the medium which is 6 slices but keep in mind it's HUGE. We only got half way through. The caeser salad was underwhelming. Dressing wasn't great and lettuce wasn't super crispy. I wouldn't recommend getting it honestly :( All in all, it was good and I'll definitely be coming back!

I'm so happy we opted to try out Zelda's. The pizza and salads were fantastic, our service was on point and I love the moody low lighting, old style feel, wooden lattice between the restaurant and bar. This place has an old school feel with amazing flavors. Do yourself a favor and become a Zelda's fan!

We were so excited to finally try out Zelda's. We were unfortunately sorely disappointed with the service and underwhelmed with the food. They got our drink order wrong, and my cocktail took a half hour to get to us. The appetizer we ordered (cheese bread) never came, 45 minutes after ordering. I had to ask the waiter if the cheese bread was coming. We got the cheese bread an hour after ordering it, only for it to not have any cheese on it. We sent it back and they had clearly just thrown cheese on top and rebaked it, which cause it to be served burnt. The pizza came 90 minutes after ordering, which I understand deep dish takes a long time, but the server specifically and without us asking, told us the pizza would take 30 minutes from the time we ordered it. Nothing was offered to be comped nor did we even receive an "I'm sorry it's taking so long" kind of update. We had to flag down the whole time for refills or asking for the check. I know people love this place, but there wasn't much for us to love.

After 2 take outs in a row where the wait was 30min or more beyond the pick up time and one of those pizzas looked dropped, I'm happy to report that all is right again. The last three take out combo pizzas were ready as promised & a thing of beauty framed in a box. Thanks Zelda crew for restoring the faith!

Love the deep dish here! Also very friendly staff though doesn't quite have the same vibe it used to..hoping they get it back. Like the dark atmosphere with Christmas lights at the bar

Hadn't been in a few years but pleased to report that Zelda's still is serving great pizza, with their signature crust, fresh ingredients and a flavorful sauce. Salad, cheese bread and garlic bread were very good! Of course the beer was good and cold. Our very nice hardworking server did a great job of handling our party of 6 spread out at 2 table, even carrying slices of pizza between the 2 table...that was very thoughtful.

I've been a fan of Zelda's Pizza for years. But haven't been in a while. Decided to stop here for dinner and I'm so glad we did! The staff was so friendly, and we instantly felt welcomed as soon as we walked in. We just got out of a horror convention and after walking around all day, it was so nice to sit and relax here. The restaurant is so beautiful and the lighting is perfect. Our drinks were nice and cold and our pepperoni pizza was perfect in every way. Not only was it delicious, but it was also filling. We got a large so we could have leftovers and I'm glad we did. Thank you for such a wonderful dining experience and we will definitely be back soon.

30/3/25-17:00-Pizza is still delish as usual but service levels have gone down. Not enough staff to handle a Sunday crowd. I reckon they were doing their best. Our group was exposed to 3 servers and they were all great! The old pics on the walls are gone and so are the Christmas lights but the old ambiance is still there. I would still go back and recommend it to everyone but, bring your patience.

We were among the first to order takeout when they reopened and had a great experience, so we were excited to dine in again. We even brought our son's girlfriend for her first visit, but sadly, it turned out to be our worst visit yet. Our server was nice but very forgetful. He forgot our garlic bread, then brought it out cold and undercooked. The pizzas were mostly bread and sauce with hardly any toppings. Water was never refilled even after asking several times, my husband's beer came in the tiniest glass, and my personal pizza never got made, despite the order being repeated back. When it finally arrived after I told him to cancel it, it was the wrong one, with sauce and broccoli (I'd specifically told him no tomatoes or sauce, and I didn't want nor did I order the pizza with broccoli). I attempted to remove the broccoli, then saw tomatoes (allergy) so I left it. I went home hungry, because everything else was closed by the time we left. The booths felt like they were falling apart, and the vibe was more pizza nightclub than cozy pizzeria. Sadly, we left extremely mad, disappointed, and deciding to never come back.

Love the refresh the new owners gave the ol place. It still feels like the same quirky divy place with great pizza - but without actually being a dive. It's always been one of our favorites so I'm glad to see it open again. Same fresh tasting, unique pizza as before but the dining room and bar area has been refreshed. Same sparkly black popcorn ceiling but it adds a spark instead of making the place look a little dingy as it did before. The bar looks cleaner and less cluttered, new lighting over the bar surface, and the Christmas lights and plastic ivy are gone. The dining room received white tablecloths and oval mirrors at each booth. No extra things taped to the walls anymore. Looking classy Zeldas. Well done! Glad you're back.

A place that actually reminded me of Chicago and made me cry. The place is very pizza tavern like. It's great.

The food is still as great as always and now there are some specials that hadn't been there before. The service was fantastic! The ambiance, well that's pretty much the same, but that's actually a good thing.

This place was bumpin' on a Thursday evening! While they don't take reservations, I called at 5 pm to order our 3 pizzas for a party of 8 and with that Zelda's held a table for us for our estimated arrival at 5:30 pm. Highly recommend ordering your pizzas before your arrival as it took nearly 1 hour for our order to arrive. I love that the new owners kept the same Chicago style recipes with its almost pie-like crust. The ambiance is the same as the original Zelda's but without the clutter. We ordered the Pesto with Pepperoni, Combo with garlic and vegetarian and they were all very savory and delicious. As we were seated we ordered their Cesar salad and it was very authentic with the option of anchovies ... like homemade dressing - delicious! It's typical downtown street parking, we drove around the block a couple of times but there's sufficient parking with no metering after 6 pm. The noise level in the open air seating is a challenge but I imagine the tall booths could be a different experience. I'll be back to find out.

Old school pies and $12 pitchers of Budweiser. Can't get any better deal than that in this economy.

They call it "pizza" I dunno about that... but whatever deep bread bowl thing that comes out is pretty damn good!

I have not eaten here too often (less than once a year), but I have almost always found this to be a great pizza. They closed and opened and closed and opened and maybe something was lost. The last one I had was still good, but not great. I will go back though to see if that was re-opening jitters or a different recipe.

This place should be renamed out of respect to Zelda. Not the same pizza and even worse service than the original Zelda's (with love). Failed to check their online orders so I got my pizza 2 hours after it was ordered and it was not cooked well done. We got a slapped together pie and a half-baked (no instructions on how to best cook it). Both were horrible and lacked sauce of any kind. Long time customer no more. Please get it together and figure it out.

Best deep dish pizza I've ever had! So grateful that Beau was able to take over and re-open my most favorite restaurant.

Pizza was good the first time I tried them and I was so excited to try them out a second time. I'm not sure what went wrong but the deep dish was mostly pizza dough and less sauce and meat, toppings, etc. Recently went to Chicago and maybe my expectations returning to Zelda's was too high, but something seemed off. Service and ambiance was and is always great. Hopefully it was just a one off experience.

So glad Zelda's reopened! The staff was exceptional and was the food. They were busy but drinks came quickly and the pizza came with in minutes of being seated. Ordered on arrival. New owner made a point of greeting us and chatting. It was lovely!

We arrived at 6p on a Friday night. It wasn't busy . We ordered 2 pizzas for our table and a couple of beers. 7p still no food. 8p apologies from the staff. 8:30 we finally get our pizza. It was mediocre at best. Definitely not worth waiting 2.5 hours! They did take one of the pizzas off the bill. We will not be back

I was so happy to see Zelda's was open again. Yes I must be the last to know, but I love that they kept it original, recipes are deliciously the same, and the service was fun! I believe the owner was checking on every single patron and was very friendly as well. Happy to see they kept it the same, but with happy new faces to carry on Zelda's traditions.

I used to live in Chicago and Zelda's is a great throwback to Chicago style pizza. I wouldn't say it's identical to Chicago style because that tends to be taller and more dense, but I actually appreciate that it has a solid nod to Chicago style pizza without being like a big savory cake. The important part to me is that the sauce and cheese taste good and they have absolutely nailed both. The service is also great at Zelda's and you can tell that everyone seems to enjoy working there and working with each other, which definitely makes the experience even better!

Delicious pizza (especially the crust) and wonderful atmosphere! Customer service was amazing

Food is great. Staff is friendly. Just was not a fan of being charged an extra 2 per drink when the menu doesn't state a well or top shelf price difference. The waiter didn't say it's $2 extra for the salty dog with vodka nor did the menu. It said $12, so when we got 4 of them the bill said $48 and then a seperate $8 charge for the type of vodka. We didn't request a specific vodka and weren't told of a more expensive or cheap option. I'm just not a fan of surprise charges. If the drink is $14, list it as $14 - not $12 and then sneak some separate $2 charge. Not sure if this is a business practice or the waiter, but really turned me off to the place.

I'm a long time fan of Zeldas and the pizza has always been spot on delicious. Dined in a few Saturdays ago and had a really disappointing pizza. The pizza smelled really off and sour when it arrived to our table. We were hungry and ate some of it anyway but it tasted sour. I think the sauce that was used had gone bad as the pizza tasted really acidic. We didn't eat much, took the leftovers home and that same acrid smell filled our fridge. We ended up throwing it out. Advice to management please check your ingredients before serving. I'm chalking this up to a one time fluke but honestly I'm not in a hurry to return. The retro revamp is nice and I'm glad they brought back the checkered table cloths as it brings a little color back to the restaurant.

Love this place. They make crust like my great grandmother from Italy made. Fresh products and perfect hand tossed

3.5 but rounding up to 4 for the atmosphere and staying power. Loved the speakeasy vibe. I am sad to say I was disappointed by the pizza on my first visit to Zelda's tho. I think the crust is more medium-dish than deep dish. My pie was underbaked on one side and fairly wet on top - not sure if it was the ingredients or if something went wrong in the cooking process... but it didn't live up to the hype - for me. I got the combo with garlic; the toppings were fresh, the crust had the right crispness at the edges but the wet top/underbaked factor overwhelmed the experience for me. Very friendly bar tender, all the patrons were clearly enjoying themselves - I understand the appeal and I will def be giving the pizza another chance.

I used to come here years ago with my late father and I remember their combo pizza with extra garlic being way more meaty with more toppings. Barely any toppings and there weren't even any garlic on the pizza. Overall I was disappointed. Sad because this was a favorite of my dad's.

The ambiance here is so great. Love the dark vibes and there was hockey on the tvs at the bar, which is my favorite sport so I was happy right away. The bartender was so friendly and attentive. They have half-pint beers which at first I thought was odd but they're also half the cost. And as a benefit your beer stays cold because the second half it is in the keg. Deep-dish pizza is not normally my go-to but I really liked it. I got pepperoni with onions and peppers and the dough was delicious. The cheesy bread was great as well. This is one of those places with inconsistent reviews but if you're looking for deep-dish pizza in Sac, this is your spot.

I'm a doctor nearby one night after a long day I was heading back and saw the sign for this place. The wife and I decided to dine in for our anniversary tonight, the pizza was out of this world. The crust, the pull of the cheese the dark old school ambiance spot on. I would personally like to thank you for the delicious pizza and experience as we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary!

I'm so glad they took over, the pizza is outstanding, the service is back. The old owner is gone!!!!! You can't go wrong with the combo pizza with extra garlic!!!

The pizza is fantastic, still the same, just like what you get in Chicago (and I go to Chicago a lot) We have been coming here for over 30 years and it's still a staple for us when we come to Sacramento. They have added items to the menu which is nice. The atmosphere is awesome, throw back to the 70's. The staff is great, they are friendly and promt. Just have a little patience for your pizza, a good thing takes time to make, but it's worth the wait. We usually call ahead pre order the pizza and it is usually ready not too long after you arrive, 45 minutes average from the time you order, gives you time to grab a cocktail. It does get busy so just a heads up.

I used to live in Elk Grove and never got to try Zelda's while they were open. My husband and I came from Chico as there aren't any places that have deep dish up there. We waited in a line prior to opening at 5 and were seated almost immediately. We ordered cheesy garlic bread and a small cheese and pepperoni pizza; my husband ordered drinks at the bar (glasses pictured are what used to be a 7 and 7, martini, and Roy Rogers). We got the cheesy bread after about 30 minutes; not pictured, but you get nine pieces for $6 and it was really good. We didn't get our pizza until an hour after being seated, so I would highly recommend ordering ahead if you are on a time crunch. The small was perfect for two people, was delivered hot, and had plenty of toppings. There was something about the cheese I didn't love, but it was the second best deep dish my husband had tried. Water is not automatically provided when you are seated. A server at another table offered parmesan, but we would have had to ask ours if we had wanted any. The side of ranch is $2 and I thought it was pretty middling. The ambience is fun and kitsch, like The Butterscotch Den.

Back open under new ownership. Great dive bar vibes with deep dish pizza. Worth the visit for a fun night out with the friends.

So...I've wanted to try this place and never got around to it. I was bummed when they closed and figured I should get there once they re-opened. We were the second group in line and sat in a booth. I am a native Chicagoan and pizza connoisseur. While the pizza was good (I've never had a crust like that) it was the WORST service we've ever experienced at a restaurant. Our waitress was abrupt and didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She rushed past us after we asked for a drink menu stating they "could make anything" when we ordered a simple cocktail she said they don't have stuff to make it!? The 4 of us settled on water. She brought water with NO ice. We ordered 2 pizzas 1 for here and 1 to go. She told us it would take an hour. We asked her to check on the pizzas and gave a snarky comment. Our pizzas took 1 hour & 20 minutes. The interior is dark and "vintage" looking, that doesn't bother me, I like it. I hope the new owner reads this. I think it can get better, but I left disappointed! I'd like to go back and give them another chance, but I don't know if we will.

Different Anne R than the one who left the hateful exaggeration of a review. This place is so cute! I love the dim setting, the wooden seats, and the adorable Christmas lights! I also liked the service, she was clearly busy but also smiled hard and never forgot anything I asked for! I ordered the cheese bread, and I'd describe it as comforting. It is a delicious version of something you'd whip up for friends on a movie night! And I also ordered the deep dish combo pizza. I've never been to Chicago but I can describe it as tasty, fresh, and flavorful. Not too salty either. Very balanced flavor. I'm definitely coming back. It's important to know that the soda isn't refillable you get a can and a glass of ice. Honestly, it's such a warm and comforting atmosphere!

The best Chicago style pizza in Sacramento. Always a treat and I have been coming for 40 years.

Back in the day, I probably used to go here 4-5 times a year. The place always had a great atmosphere, with a lively bar and great pizza. We picked up a pizza the other night and the place was BACK to the old days. If it's possible, the pizza is even better now than it was a few years ago. The topping sauce was fresher and the crust stayed the same, three days later. Zelda's pizza seems to get better, as it sits in the fridge. Several years ago, I used to travel from NY to Chicago, on the way back to CA. I would always get pizza in Chicago and eat at Zelda's several days later, just to compare. This current pizza is as good, if not better than anything I've tried in Chicago. Keep up the great work.

Welcome back! I was so happy to hear Zelda is returning. It's only for take-out orders but I'll take that over no Zelda's. Just had to comment and welcome you back!

A few weeks ago I ordered my "normal" pizza, medium cheese with double mushrooms and fresh tomato slices. I arrived about the time it should have been ready. A couple of customers came after me and received theirs first. When mine arrived the cashier was reading the order. She said "Double Cheese, mushrooms and I didn't hear fresh tomato slices. I said no, that is wrong and repeated my order. Medium cheese, double mushrooms, fresh tomato slices. She took it back and all they did was DUMP some mushrooms on top. Didn't see fresh tomato slices. It was one of the worst pizza's I had a Zelda's. I should have said no and have them redo it but I didn't. After I tasted it at home I fully realized I should have had it re-done. I've been going to Zelda's since mid-70's. So very disappointed that order taking and making the pizza has lost the pride in making this pizza not caring about the QUALITY.

Fun and quirky atmosphere. Delicious and zesty pizza. Very reasonably priced. Great service. Staff checked in often.

The best pizza in sac-town. The inside feels Like a old Chicago bar. We ordered the combo and veggie. Really good quality pizza and feels like you are back in Chicago. We had it twice already in a week. It's our new pizza spot in sac !!!

Great food, cool old school atmosphere, and wonderful service. Felt welcomed and comfortable. I enjoyed watching Dan behind the bar work his magic, juggling a bunch of customers and orders without missing a breast while maintaining conversations.