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    Trattoria Zaza

    4.5 (497 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Trattoria Zaza Photos

    TRATTORIA ZAZA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Trattoria Zaza

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    Gabe P.

    It took me 5 years to make it back around to Zaza. I like the vibes here. Ok!!! This place is always packed and was no different when me and some friends met up here for Sunday brunch. The long lines can be discouraging but actually moved pretty fast. The staff here is amazing and definitely hardworking. As you can see from the pics we ordered a few different things. I was not happy with that overcooked bacon I was served. For $7 it really could have been better. I also had 2 eggs ($3 each) / side of hashbrowns ($6) and a $12 itty bitty mimosa. See pics. My friends seem to have enjoyed their food. They also enjoyed their cold coffee drinks. For me a $31 dollar check wasn't what I was expecting. Thankfully their pricing already factors in the tip. Overall, this visit was fun, catching up with my gal pals. I hate to give 3 stars since this is really more like 3.5 stars based on the food quality and service received.

    Crimson L.

    Went here on a girl's night. Got the Saturday special (has since changed but was - rigatoni, vodka sauce and chicken cutlet) and the rosemary bread. OH MY GOSH! I have been craving it ever since. It was delectable. Price was very fair especially with the portion size. I really like that gratuity is built into the menu prices. Food was so fresh. We sat outside on the patio and it was just beautiful and wonderful. Despite it being fairly busy, we got our food quite promptly. Staff were very polite.

    Pizza of the day
    Alison L.

    Casual ambiance and fast service. Great value for what you're getting. Not the best Italian I've had but decent for the price. People rave about the baked feta, but for $14 I don't think it's worth it at all. The pizza is pretty good and they have creative flavors of the day. The chicken parm was the best, as it was crispy and flavorful.

    Breakfast Za (by the Slice Only)
    Art C.

    A solid option while downtown. I got the breakfast pizza on a Saturday; with the added egg you can get a substantial meal with two slices.

    SMOKED SALMON CREAM CHEESE BAGEL
    Lyn D.

    We had a girls brunch here, and it was such a beautiful day. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, and we chose to sit inside. The food came out quickly, and it did not disappoint. The salmon was delicious! They also offer complimentary water, which was a nice touch. The location is perfect for a nice walk afterward. Definitely give them a try!

    Chicken parmigiana Fettuccine with Garlic-Pecorino Cream
    Roicia B.

    Stopped in for a bite with a friend and was pleasantly surprised! The food was super delicious and priced and portioned nicely. I don't know if this is worth sharing, but new silverware would be a nice touch especially with the noodles. Ambiance was great and honestly, I wish I would've added a pizza it looked so good!

    Spicy SwineApple
    Lynn B.

    If you want an absolutely delectable dessert, Za Za is the place and the blueberry poppyseed cake is the item! This cake was everything you could possibly want! Served warm with a fresh blueberry cream sauce, the cake had a slight crisp on the outside with a delectable buttery taste. The inside was warm and soft. The flavors melded perfectly! Not too sweet with a hint of salt. Mmm, my mouth waters just thinking about it! Go here. Get this. You won't be sorry!

    Soup salad bread lunch special
    Natalie F.

    I recently stopped by Trattoria Zaza for lunch during the work week for a friend's birthday. It was a super rainy day so we sat inside, but I always see people sitting outside and it looks absolutely lovely. The space is small, but it definitely makes me feel like I'm in a small Italian café. Since it was cold and rainy, I opted for the soup, salad and bread special. The soup was a curry based and had so much flavor! The salad was so simple yet so delicious that I felt like I could not even re-create it, but the rosemary focaccia was 10 out of 10! The service was nice and quick, and it was nice that we were able to take our time during the lunch hour and not feel rushed.

    Camille F.

    Fast casual, and they have a special dish for every day of the week! I was here on Saturday night and got the rigatoni with fried chicken on top. The fry on the chicken was amazing, and the flavor of the pasta was great, I could've gone a little spicier. My dish came out a little bit cooler than I would've liked, but nonetheless delicious. I also tried the strawberry basil lemonade mocktail. Very refreshing for a hot summer day. My recommendation is to come here for lunch and get the pizza/salad lunch special. I believe it's two slices of whatever they've got made (usually cheese, pepperoni, and something special) and a side salad. But, if you're in the mood to try an interesting pasta dish, they do pasta very well, too! The vibe in here is much more family than date night. Some people kinda treat it like a coffee shop and do some work from the counter seats. Overall, I love Zaza and think it's a great addition to the downtown area. Street parking can be a little bit challenging around here, so come prepared to walk a block or two.

    Fettuccine Alla Panna
    Rod G.

    Zaza continues to be one of our favorite casual spots for a quick Italian meal in a trendy environment with friendly service. You can see everything being freshly prepared in the open kitchen. We stopped in on an early Thursday evening just before the dinner rush. Parking can be a little tricky, so be patient as you may have to circle a bit for a close spot or just take a longer stroll in this usually active and walkable area of downtown Birmingham. Printed menus are available on the counter as you enter and specials are posted on the chalkboard just behind the little cart where you place your order with the hostess/cashier. We started with the delicious baked feta that comes with a generous side of warm rosemary bread. The rosemary bread alone is worth the trip downtown! For entrees, we chose the fettuccine alla panna with chicken and the baked mac & cheese. Both were excellent, and yes we ordered an extra side of the rosemary bread. There are lots of things to try, including an assortment of pizza options, some by the slice; beverages, including coffees, plus their very popular weekend brunch. They have some of the best French toast and scones in the area! Overall, I give Zaza an A+.

    Alexi M.

    If you're looking for a euro-style café, this is your place. I have eaten here for dinner, brunch, and just a cup of coffee. Each time has been spectacular thanks to the friendly and attentive staff, the unmatched vibes, and great food! Love coming here, absolutely on my top 5 spots in Birmingham.

    Bella A.

    Trattoria Zaza did not disappoint for a weekday meal. Location and parking can be tricky, but once you get inside, you find a cozy dinner spot. Another review mentioned flies inside which still held true during our November dinner. Tried a few different items tonight! Highlights for appetizers were the baked feta and the Brussels sprouts. The rosemary bread was a delicious pair to the baked feta. Enjoyed the penne, but I tried my friend's fettuccine garlic-pecorino cream pasta which was so good. Wanting to come back to order the fettuccine for myself and try the spicy swineapple soon!

    Three Cheese Pizza
    Cassidy C.

    The pizza was a little greasy but overall it was good! We ate on it for 2-3 days! It was quick and easy dinner though and the price was good! Order at the counter when you walk in so not a lot of service to judge off of!

    Egg plate

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    1 month ago

    Food was great and at opening time the line to order was out the door. I'm definitely going back!

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    6 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Had a nice casual dinner here. Pasta was very good. Have not yet tried much else but will be back. Service was quick!

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    4 months ago

    This was a great place to grab a bite before a show at the lyric. Food was great. I had the fettuccini and the pizza was yummy too.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Trattoria Zaza

    What time for brunch is the least busiest?

    Do they take reservations?

    No. This is a fast casual sort of place.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The ABSOLUTE best pasta!!! My friend and me came here during their pasta happy hour ( look it up)…read moreand we had the most amazing experience! The hospitality was top tier. The hostess girl who seated us was really friendly & accommodating. Our server, Becca took such great care of us from drinks to apps to entrees to dessert. She did such a great job throughout our time here. I had their bolognese dish /caesar salad/ red house wine with the HH special. The pasta and Caesar salad were prepared and plated with perfection! I ate every bite... literally!!' The ingredients were all so fresh & I really could go on & on. I won't! Haaha The dining space is classy and decorated nicely. The ambiance provided the perfect mood for a fun night with great food/ drinks /great company! I already know I'll be returning to Bocca real soon.

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    I've heard so many great things about Bottega--from the food to the top-tier customer service--so…read morewhen my friend was in town for a lawyers convention and suggested dinner, this was one of the first places I recommended. We were deciding between here and Lapeer, and she ultimately chose Bottega because of its reputation. We had reservations for 8:30 PM and weren't seated until around 8:40, which wasn't a huge issue. However, once seated, the service quickly became disappointing. Our waiter took our drink order, dropped off the drinks, and immediately walked away without asking if we wanted to order anything else. He eventually came back and asked us for our appetizers. While waiting, we noticed the table next to us receiving significantly more attentive service--frequent check-ins, questions about their food, and overall engagement--while our table was largely ignored. When our appetizer arrived, it was dropped off without any follow-up. It's like he had the zoomies. He never came back to ask how everything was, which is something I'm not used to. At 9:29 PM, I stopped the waiter to ask if they were about to close (closing time was 9:30). That's when I realized we were never even asked if we wanted to order entrees. His response was that he thought we were "enjoying our food and we could still order if we wanted to ," but from the energy, we chose to go someplace else. To be clear, the food was excellent--I'd give it a 9/10. Unfortunately, the service was a 3/10. I considered whether timing played a role, but since the table next to us received attentive service during the same time frame, it was hard to overlook the contrast. I'm not sure if it was because we were black and the only minority there, but the difference in treatment stood out. I live not too far and truly wanted this to be a go-to spot, but the experience didn't reflect the "one of the best restaurants with the best customer service in Birmingham" reputation I've heard so much about. I might consider returning to the café side to see if the experience is different, but as of now, I left feeling underwhelmed. I'm sharing this in hopes that it helps improve consistency in service, because the decor was beautiful and the food itself is worth it. We had the Parmesan soufflé which was delicious and very comforting, so were the oysters.

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    Trattoria Zaza - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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