Zelda's Original Gourmet Pizza

Its the AWESOME SAME Crust and recipe guys, its still Zeldas flavors, I started coming in 1997, now Zeldas has an upscale and cleaner atmosphere. Plus, real plates and big red wine glasses, thank you for the generous pour! Always worth the wait.

I’ve been to Zelda’s many times over the years. I love their deep dish crust but sometimes the pizza can be a little watery/soggy. Other than that, the ambiance, service and location are always on point. Over all the menu offerings are very good. I recommend the wedge salad and craft cocktails.

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.

Super cute place and wonderfully nice staff! The mushroom soup they had was amazing!

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.

About the coolest place you’ll ever go to in Sacramento. With chill vibes, classic old school music and some of the best service ever- Zelda’s is a must visit and also happens to have incredible deep dish pizza and now offers a gluten free option. Sure, the GF is not deep dish but it’s still delicious. We lived the Cesar salad which we split 3 ways. It’s really good! Can’t wait to go back!

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.

5 stars! One of my favorite places! I've been here on dates, with friends, or just alone at the bar and it's guaranteed to be a lovely time. The owner is a friendly, welcoming, helpful dude, with incredible taste in decor! My favorite is the bartender Fianna! Great person, a true pleasure to be around. Can't go wrong with a pizza and a pitcher of beer! -THATS RIGHT! Pitchers of beer! So fun!!

Zelda's is one of a kind! The atmosphere is so throwback you just can't help but enjoy the dark welcoming feel this place gives absolutely wonderful vibes. Then there is a pizza there's nothing like it. There was Zachary's in Oakland that comes kind of close but is a little greasy compared to Zelda's for some reason Zelda just really has the crust nailed down for their pizza. This is a unique pie and my favorite pizza is something I get an incredible creating for that even people who don't eat spinach and broccoli, and it always insist upon having meat on their pizza will even love it. It's absolutely wonderful! In years past, I always complained that their house wine was terrible but now they carry Bogle, which is local and wonderful and I'm just so happy with this choice! The new management is really on top of everything and enjoying running this wonderful establishment. I can't tell you how much I'm happy that Zelda is still going strong.

Coming from a Chicagoan this place is amazing ingredients are fresh and everything comes together great this place is at the top of my list for places to eat in Sacramento I no longer have to fly back to Chicago to eat good pizza Thank you for the fantastic Continuation this place is fantastic fresh ingredients always and great atmosphere only complaint was out of Budweiser this visit but not a normal thing for them

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!

I'm so happy Zelda's is back. Dan, manning the bar, is a treat. And you just cannot beat the delicious pizza.

Great place with delicious pizza, strong drinks, and a great atmosphere! It recently under new ownership and it has definitely changed for the better. The staff here is a whole vibe! I'm definitely going to be a repeat customer!

We love Zelda's for the seventies vibe and great pizza. If you love deep dish with a twist - cornmeal crust - Zelda's is your place. The staff are welcoming and friendly and the food and drink reasonably priced. My favorite and go to is the wedge salad. So special. Enjoy!

I loved it here!! As soon as I walked in I was mesmerized! Like I stepped back in time. Extremely friendly service! Felt like old friends. Loved the dimmed lights. Pizza was so good! Our salad with watermelon, cucumbers and red onions was delicious! Can't wait to visit again. Perfect date night restaurant, too!

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!

The bartender was so nice, and we can't wait to get back to enjoy our local eatery! The pizza, hands down always delicious, but it depends what kind of pizza you're into or in the mood for. This pizza has the most amazing cornmeal crust. We normally split the personal cheese with added fresh garlic. We love the option to personal size pizzas and is the perfect amount for 2. This time I had their steak, wow what a new experience! If you came here before like we did for years, time to try again! Don't sleep on this one!

OG of OG deep dish pizza in the 916....word on the street is "originally established in 1978." I think they're on the 3rd owner now and will be open everyday. Good to see "Legacy Businesses" able to keep the doors open. ....it's been years since we revisited the establishment. -sign and secret looking entrance looks super cool. There was a weird looking dude w/ a backward hat spooking folks - LOL - (O';'O).......... Pizza: sauce- was pretty good. Sauce tastes like a good original family blend of "Can Tomatoes " mix w/ secret recipe. Different than the flavors from the chain places. -Crust- nice and crispy. Had a unique sour-dough-ish after taste. Not bad. -meat - kind of skimpy. Ordered the combo w/ expectations of "hella meaty goodness " in every bite. Missing quantity- LOL. Need to add more to kick it up a notch. - staff- was cool. Woow, they kept coming around w/ a pitcher of water to top us off. That doesn't happen to much these days, even in high dollar restaurants. Very GOOD SERVICE.... OVERALL: family left Zelda happy....will be back w/ da homies.... -Recommendations is to check out when in the mood for a Sac-Town Original Deep dish pizza.

New try the lamb stroganoff! It melts in your mouth. It is good. It comes with bread.

The food is super good. The service was very bad. Not just the hour long wait but the communication.

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.

I've had Zelda's a million times but today was the best Zelda's pizza I've ever had. Went 1/3/26 who ever was cooking at night is a keeper my date was super impressed and had never had deep dish before. Thanks for keeping this place quality

Good Chicago deep dish pizza, a fun cocktail bar, and a nice bit of camaraderie. Worth checking out!

I'm thrilled to see this place back in business, if only under a different management staff. It's still dark as can be in the place. The staff is probably overworked, as they always seem very busy. That hasn't changed. I would lovevsome salt added to the crust, which is bland. However, the rest of the pizza is very good, and not as soupy as I remember it. So, an improvement even over the original. Good going!

I'm so happy they've managed to keep Zelda's open and serving up great deep dish pizza! I am giving a lower review only because the last two times I've ordered the pizza is not cooked thoroughly. The bottom is soggy. Zelda's used to be something you could pick up and the nicely crisp bottom held up the quite heavy amount of cheese and sauce and other toppings. Please cook the pizza longer!! We aren't in a hurry.

As in my previous review, the deep dish pizza is wonderful. It reminds me of lasagna! Yelp asked me if I recommend this place and yes, I certainly do.

Ordered a large sausage pizza, extra oregano. It was amazing, and my kids loved it. The pizza here feels like you are eating a real pizza pie, the crust is so flaky. The place still has that divvy feel to it. The service is hit or miss sometimes. The pizza is what keeps us coming back. One thing I no longer see on the menu is the pastrami sandwich they used to have. They had really good pastrami.

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!

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.

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.

Had a good experience at Zelda's last night. Tried a combo pizza, a Spinoccoli pizza & a wedge salad. All were really good. Received excellent service from Rodrigo. The new owner has spiffed the place up so it looks really nice. But I miss the faux vines & Christmas lights. We'll be back soon.

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.

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.

Pizza recipe has changed to shortcuting, or bad cooks, this place used to be quality, the last two times I went there the pizza was lousy

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.

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

New ownership same great pizza. I'm so glad they saved this Sacramento staple. Pizza was great. The inside is refreshed but still Zelda's character. Servers were great.

Zadas Pizza offers an incredible dining experience with an inviting environment that makes you feel right at home. The ambiance is warm and cozy, perfect for a casual meal with friends or family. As for the food, the taste is simply outstanding! Each pizza is crafted with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor. The crust is perfectly baked, and the variety of toppings ensures something for everyone. Whether you're dining in or taking out, Zadas Pizza guarantees a delightful experience that you won't soon. You have to exprince the bar. Service is amazing

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.

Zelda's Pizza: The Battle Maid Still Stands This Nobleman found himself in a nostalgic mood, craving a deep, flaky pie crust pizza -- the kind that exists only at a true Sacramento institution: Zelda's. Now let me be clear: Sacramento is a dive bar paradise, a living museum of bygone watering holes where men once pledged loyalty to barroom pool teams like they were medieval clans. From Pine Cove to the Round Corner, from the Flame Club to the Raven, Limelight, Torch Club, Brownies, Zebra, Swiss Buddha, and even the dearly departed Monte Carlo -- each a dive with a story. And nestled among them, proud and unyielding, is Zelda's. The name Zelda traces back to the gray battle maid, and true to her namesake, this old girl has been slinging the same thick, buttery, pie-crust pizza for decades. Some hate it -- and they're welcome to be wrong -- but this Nobleman? I love pie. Perhaps it's childhood bias. Granny's maid Olga made the finest apple pie I've ever tasted. That is, until she hit the jackpot in 2003 by running off with Hector the Gardener, taking her sacred recipe and vanishing from history. To this day, I swipe my card at Freeport Bakery, trying in vain to replicate the magic she left behind. Granny's hedges, I'll add, were never the same. But I digress. Zelda's weathered COVID shutdowns and financial strain, even closing briefly. But unlike Olga, the new owners secured the recipe -- bless them -- and revived this temple of crusty devotion. I sat at the bar. Still divey. Still charming. Budweiser on tap, whiskey as it should be, and even a pleasant surprise -- Four Roses bourbon behind the counter. The drinks are honest and poured like the bartender's trying to fix your day. Next to me, a man devoured a sausage sandwich with the primal energy of a hyena. Between bites, he grunted "amazing." I took it as gospel. Then came my combination pizza -- and I'm pleased to report the Old Battle Maid still has her sword-arm. Flaky, rich, indulgent, and proudly resisting any trend toward thin crust or dainty toppings. I paired it with the garlic bread (hot, crunchy, glorious) and a Caesar salad, which was crisp and generously dressed -- a noble side quest, if you will. I left full. I left happy. I left grateful that some parts of Sacramento still remember who they are. Verdict: If you hate flaky crust, go order flatbread somewhere and talk about your feelings. But if you believe pie is sacred, bars should smell like history, and loyalty matters -- Zelda's awaits you. Long live the Battle Maid. Long live Olga (but give the recipe back). Land Park Gentleman

Delicious! Had a very nice pizza tonight and great drinks from the bar tender. Also the owner was friendly. The restaurant was busy (!) Nice to see a Sacramento institution thriving.

Thank the lord they reopened! Their spinoccoli pizza is absolutely perfect. If anyone has ever told you broccoli doesn't belong on pizza, ignore them and try that pizza immediately. Also one of the few places left that offer anchovies. I never tried anchovies on pizza until my 20's but a must try if you like a nice salty, fishy fish. Really great, especially with some jalapeños or red pepper.

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!

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!

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 is best pizza hands down in area, came to eat twice in last few weeks and I am addicted to their deep dish pizzas and service is amazing! It has an 80's vibe inside and great place to dine in. Best pizza!!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

Husband & MIL went back for dinner. They said the service was better, and didn't have any issues.

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!