The food is delicious and the service is very attentive. It's a nice place for an intimate dinner and the bar is always full of lively locals. Great place! read more

Second time here. First time the owner recommended the muscles and we gagged when they were set down in front of us. Did not smell right. Drinks were great though. This time, the arancini had the aftertaste of a dirty dish rag. The sauce on the chicken parm & arancini likely came from a BigY can. The arugula was 6 weeks past prime. Oh, and my small water glass was empty on the edge of table for 95% of the time we sat there. It was 6:30pm on a Saturday and only 3 or 4 tables active with people in the dining room. The waitress (pretty sure it's the co-owner) realized we had been sitting there for a bit and proactively blamed the chef for "moving at a snails pace tonight." Funny part is - the chef has nothing to do with our empty water glasses sitting on the table of the empty restaurant. Rustic Italian bread was good, but they do charge you for it, which is petty imo. Seems to me the owners are, or have completely, given up. Do not recommend. Too bad. Seems like it could have been a decent spot. read more

Came here last night with family and the food quality was great, but the food quantity for the price on some dishes were just not that great. I had a dinner salad with arugula and it was in a tiny dish for 15$. I added scallops which were 15$ extra and they were tiny (not sea scallops) and only came with 3. For a 30$ salad it could have been much larger. Some of my family members had pasta dishes which came in larger portions so if I come again that's what I would order. The bread was a highlight. The patio is nice for warmer weather. All in all 3 stars. read more

My family and I went to Pumpkintown USA nearby and was looking for a spot for a late lunch. We searched and searched; we decided to go to the Chinese restaurant but they didn't have tables to dine in. We found Zina's Cucina right next door. It's a very nice Italian restaurant. The menu looked great and the drinks looked delicious. The bar was full when we got there but the dining room was empty. The bartender was also our waitress. She was friendly and efficient. We ordered bread and oil to start; it came out with olives and garlic, all very delicious. We ordered my toddlers Mac and cheese to share (huge portion) and I couldn't stop eating their meal lol, it was so good. My entree, I was torn between eggplant parmesan or the spaghetti and meatballs. I decided on the spaghetti and meatballs and I wasn't disappointed; the meal was simple but delicious and the meatballs were large and tasty (plenty of leftovers). My family and I really enjoyed dining in at this restaurant. I wish we were closer, we would be here often, when we crave Italian. I highly recommend it if you're in the mood for some Italian fare. read more

Zina's Cucina - Mac and cheese - Italian Near Me - Marlborough, Connecticut

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Went to Zina's happy hour & loved it all! Great quality food drinks & good prices. The hostess & waitress were attentive & friendly. read more

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Overall a great experience. Drinks and food were delicious and service was great. We ordered happy hour drinks and the happy hour chips and Gorgonzola dip which were great. Our server was nice enough to extend happy hour until 615 so we could get in a couple extra drinks. We ordered the bread which was an extra $3. Not a huge cost but I think it should be included with a meal. The bread also didn't come with any butter and just olives/garlic which I thought was different, but not necessarily bad. The bread was soft and very fresh. Everyone loved their meals. I personally got the chicken Milanese and liked it, but thought the flavors could have been a bit better. Like that they do different specials each night of the week (they had $10 flatbreads on Tuesdays which we did not get). Small inside but didn't get too busy while we were there. Probably a good idea to make reservations on the weekend. read more

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Best pork and best brussel sprouts I have ever had! I asked the server for a recommendation and she was fucking right!

Went here with friends for a bourbon dinner that was excellent, if their regular menu is anywhere near as good as the food at the bourbon dinner, than this place is a hidden gem, the service was on point, and it's a great spot in the middle of Marlborough, looking forward to going back, especially on a nice day because their outside patio's look great. read more

My family and I have dined at Zina a few times and it's been average at best, but our visit on March 13, 2026 was truly disappointing and our last. I was genuinely excited for this visit because I had pre-arranged a special order of steak tartare with the restaurant ahead of time, as it's not a regular menu item. This was supposed to be a highlight of the evening. Unfortunately, what arrived at the table was shocking -- the presentation was nonexistent, the tartare was carelessly thrown on the plate, and to make matters worse, the chef had inexplicably sautéed mushrooms and garlic and placed them on top of the steak tartare. Steak tartare is a classic, delicate dish served raw -- adding hot sautéed toppings is a fundamental misunderstanding of the dish. When our waitress saw the plate, even she was visibly surprised. She apologized and admitted she had tried to communicate the proper preparation to the chef, but said he simply didn't care. That tells you everything. My wife ordered steak tips and explicitly requested them well done. The waitress acknowledged her request and confirmed it would be taken care of. The steak arrived rare. I do want to highlight one bright spot -- our waitress was absolutely wonderful. She was attentive, genuinely caring, and without us even asking, she removed the steak tartare from our bill entirely on her own initiative. I actually told her she didn't have to do that, but she insisted. You could tell this is someone who truly loves the restaurant industry and takes pride in her work. She deserved a much better kitchen behind her that evening. This wasn't a matter of an off night -- it was a clear pattern of a kitchen that lacks basic culinary knowledge, attention to detail, and most importantly, respect for the customer. When a guest takes the time to pre-order a special dish, the least a kitchen can do is prepare it correctly and with care. We will not be returning, and I cannot in good conscience recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Really surprising experience, as the last few times we came here we absolutely loved it. Three Stars for pretty nice staff & good quality of food. But...sigh, I sadly cannot recommend this fine local establishment anymore. The prices are quite steep for the minuscule amount of food! Hubby & son ordered linguini & clams. It looked like an app! See the pic-$56 dollars for their meals & they left still hungry & I was still thirsty! Our nice waitress never offered to refill water. Ended up sharing hubby's til We were BOTH out. Ugh. On a better note, I did greatly enjoy my very tasty lemon ricotta, panchetta & brussels sprouts flatbread. Price was reasonable for this, and a it's a unique menu item $14. However, We won't be back again. Too many other choices at the price point. I really liked it here previously, but we were left SO disappointed! Thanks for reading & happy healthy yelping! read more

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Hard to rate with a star. Food was very good, and they did their best from a service aspect on a busy Saturday night. That might be the issue that brings the star rating down. . It was a busy and full Saturday night which made the noise level impossible to have a conversation between the four of us. Small place and then put a large table of 8 in it and the noise level was not bearable. Couldn't wait to eat and get out since we met there to catch up, and that was impossible. As I said, hard to rate but keep in mind weekend nights you may not be able to have a conversation. Too bad since the food was good but will think twice before going back. read more

food was excellent, service so so. entrance and exits less than desirable young staff

Loved the location. The person was nice. The food tastes good. Just wished the portion was bigger for the price.

Parking: large lot behind the business Decor: cozy and simple but very clean Staff: very friendly and there to help each other if your server is busy Food: VERY tasty, if I was home I would have grabbed a spatula and gotten everything off the plate. Price: very reasonable Overall: would have been 5 stars if it weren't for the noise, they need the sound damper on the ceiling for such a small place. Everything else was excellent and will be going back! read more

Zina's Cucina - Italian Near Me - Marlborough, Connecticut

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Zina's Cucina is an Italian restaurant that opened in Marlborough, Connecticut in December 2020. It was founded by husband and wife Tony and Margaret Mangiafico. Tony would drive past the building on North Main Street on his way to go fishing. One day he thought, "That'll be a great place to have a restaurant." Tony decided to lease the building. He then decided to name the restaurant after his mother Vincenza LaBruna Mangiafico, whom everyone called "Zina". She had always loved to cook and everyone loved her food. Many of the dishes on the menu are based off of her recipes. In addition to being the co-owner, Margaret also serves as Zina's dessert chef. All of her pastry creations are made from scratch. Adam Dickieson and Eric O'Brien work as Zina's chef and executive chef respectively. My wife, son and I recently dined at Zina's while we were staying in the area. We had rented out a lake house in nearby Hebron for the long Presidents' Day weekend. I started off with a "Zina's Sparkling Lemonade" (Housemade limoncello and club soda, garnished with fresh mint) and it was very refreshing. For an appetizer, we ordered the "Brussels with Pancetta" (crispy Brussel sprouts topped with pancetta, crumbled goat cheese, candied walnuts and balsamic reduction) and they were simply divine. Their complimentary bread basket with dipping oil was also quite good. For entrees, my son had the "Elbow Mac & Cheese" from the Kid's Menu, my wife had the "Pesto Chicken" (Grilled chicken, Kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes tossed in a pesto cream sauce served with penne), and I had the "Veal Parmigiana" (breaded veal cutlet with mozzarella over penne pasta tossed in a fresh pomodoro sauce). All of the dishes were absolutely delicious! The portions were very generous; we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The dessert menu sounded great, but we were so full. Excellent food and very friendly staff! We had such an amazing time at Zina's and can't wait to return! read more

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We found this place randomly on Yelp only bc we were in the area. It is a diamond in the rough! The food was amazing, the wine list was pretty good and the waitress was very accommodating. We will be back if ever in the area. read more

Went here on a recommendation and was so glad we did. Small restaurant with great food and excellent service. We are fairly new to the area so we are looking for some great places to eat and bring our guests. This restaurant hits all the marks. Hubby had the short rib entree. I had to have a taste seeing that short ribs are one of my favorite foods. Cooked to perfection and falling apart like it should, just yummy. I opted for the eggplant and spaghetti. Very large portion and very good. Drinks were good and for dessert we got the flour less chocolate cake and eggnog crème brûlée. We wanted the cheesecake but they were out. Chocolate cake was good and crème brûlée was better. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. All in all, this was a great place and we will go back again!! read more

Nice intimate atmosphere, cozy bar area with a great selection of specialty drinks. The food is always perfectly seasoned, good size portions to not ruin the presentation or flavoring. Staff is always attentive and helpful with suggestions. Takeout is easy and ready when scheduled, feel welcomed whenever we visit. Wonderful addition to our small town read more

Excellent service, the food is outstanding and offered at a fair price . The restaurant is welcoming and comfortable.

Well word on street they got better but word was absolutely wrong. Over priced frozen crap. Chicken parm was so dry and they used a slice of kraft cheese on top like really ? The ravioli was so frozen you could taste it. If I wanted frozen food I woulda went to Walmart prob woulda tasted better. 88$ for 3 meals of frozen crap never will go back ever again surprised people even give them business. Save your money or go spend it somewhere that the food is good it's not this place it's total crap. Olive Garden serves better Italian food read more

Delicious food, friendly service, great cocktails. There were drafts on a cold night, but our corner seating made it bearable. I'm betting in good weather this will be a great place to eat. read more

Love this restaurant! The food is incredible, staff is friendly, and I love the quaint environment.

What fun we had on the little patio at Zina's! Fun people watching, diverse wine list, and live music! I am always cold, so I opted for the Italian wedding soup and some warm, fresh, and flavorful Italian bread. I also got the Brussels sprouts (w/o meat) and they were cooked to perfection. My husband had the cauliflower in garlic sauce and he topped it with some parmesan cheese. After I had a bite, I was VERY jealous! Overall, I really enjoyed the visit! read more

Zina's Cucina - Italian wedding soup. - Italian Near Me - Marlborough, Connecticut

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First time to this restaurant, who only accepts online orders and take out. We ordered the fried calamari, cauliflower with pasta in garlic sauce and broccoli rabe, sausage and penne pasta. Total was $40 and change. Bit high for lunch... The calamari-fried with semolina flour - it was okay (it would have been crispier if it wasn't in an enclosed take out container). There was fried hot cherry peppers which were delicious. Only thing missing were the calamari legs. Cauliflower with garlic sauce and pasta - tasty, with the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese, bits of garlic (could have used more in my opinion) sautéed in olive oil and freshened up with Italian parsley. Broccoli rabe, sausage and penne - not the best. Penne was overcooked, beans were not Cannellini but Navy beans and they were undercooked. The sausage was not cut the same throughout the dish, and the stalks of the broccoli rabe were are tough and also not consistently cut (ie: there were small pieces and large pieces throughout the dish). There was two specs of crushed red pepper (could have used a bit more). This dish, while simple to make, was not executed well. The service was good. They text you when your dish is ready to come in to the restaurant to pick up (in the ordering process you select the time for pick up). If not for the good customer service I would have given this place only three stars, for the reasons stated above. I will give them another chance and order something else; it's nice to have an Italian restaurant in Marlborough. read more

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Zina's Cuchina is quite possibly the best Italian restaurant in Eastern Connecticut. Living just down the road in Colchester, we frequently order takeout from.this establishment. Each time we order, we make a point of trying new dishes. We have yet to be disappointed. Everything on the menu is fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared. If you find yourself in your Marlborough and are looking for an excellent dining experience, give Zina's a go. The arancia rice balls are delicious and a family favorite. read more

Zina's has great food and exceptional service! Italian wedding soup & clam chowder are homemade too!

My best friend has been telling me about Zina's for months! She and her husband love the place. She even got me a gift card for Christmas. I have no idea why the heck it took us so long to use it, but I'm certainly glad we finally did. We live in Hebron and we call ahead to see how busy they were, it was the Saturday before the July 4th holiday and things were actually kind of quiet. There's plenty of parking behind the restaurant, and there are two different options for outdoor seating, one on the side and one near the road. We choose to sit inside out of the humidity. Our waitress was very friendly, and the food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the special Zina's Stompanad (slow-roasted chicken thigh filet with Kalamata and green olives, capers, eggplant, celery, carrots, red wine vinegar, diced tomatoes, in Zina's Marinara over polenta) which was absolutely delicious! Great combination of flavors and textures. My husband had the cheese ravioli bolognese and ate every bite. I don't know why we waited so long to get there the first time, but I know we won't be waiting so long to go back! read more

A good friend recommended this restaurant. What a fantastic place!! FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! Large portions! Absolutely delicious!! Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful! There is nothing not to like here! If your in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by! We will certainly be back again!! Ps I had the "SUNDAY Sauce" (Awesome!!) read more

I would highly recommend and we have returned several times as the food was fresh, creative and delicious. Nice little bar area with wonderful drinks. Outdoor and indoor seating. Staff very friendly and helpful. The food is all homemade and so delicious. So reasonbly priced. Portions are more than generous. We hadsmaller portion of Cod on risotto and an order of crab cakes. All so yummy. Burger and fries are better than your local tavern. Also worth saving some room for a homemade dessert with your expresso or freshly made cappacino read more

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Sandi I love Zina's recipes. It's like cooking with my Mother-in law. Cooking is easier to grasp when you can see what is supposed to be happening. Love the videos because they are such a big help. read more

Another amazing dinner at Zina Cucina. Service is always amazing as well. We just love this place.

Food is very good service is excellent nice indoor dining outdoor is to close to road. Cheese Ravioli Bolognese Eggplant Rollatini Fried Calamari Italian Wedding Soup Scrimp Scampi Veal Parmigiana read more

They make their own Limoncello. Get the lemonade but have them add a shot of vodka. I promise you happiness. The Sangrias are both on the money too. We started with the walnut encrusted goat milk cheese salad. Wonderful, though slightly over-dressed for my taste. For entrees we both had one of the specials. My partner had the champagne braised chicken salad. It was just right for a late spring afternoon. I had pork belly with beans and portobello mushrooms. Every taste rang out. It was very satisfying. We ordered sides of gorgonzola spinach and a cheesy polenta. Both were over the top. I can't wait to eat the leftovers. Please go. They deserve to do well. You can see that a lot of heart and soul goes into what they do. read more

FABULOUS food. Everything, and I mean everything, was superb. Food, service, atmosphere, and the owner. We are all vegetarians and the owner went out of her way to have one of the chefs (who is also vegetarian) create a surprise for us. It was a phenomenal success, both visually and tastewise. Even the cheese in the shaker is real and high quality, which is typical only for the finest restaurants. We live far from Zina's Cucina and came upon it only by accident, however we will find a way to go back there! read more

A fantastic addition to Marlborough! I am a huge fan of chicken parm so it was only right that my first meal from Zina's was their chicken parm. I ordered take out and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken breast was so tender and moist (who wants dry chicken?), topped with melted mozzarella cheese, and their simple yet super tasty marinara sauce has a very fresh taste, much different than other establishments I've tried. The thin spaghetti covered in their marinara was cooked beautifully and went very well with this dish. I also had the rustic garlic bread which comes with some dipping oil. The bread was simple and light, and again, tasted fresh and delicious. I can't wait to try many other dishes from Zina's! read more

Zina's Cucina - Chicken parm! Absolutely delicious! - Italian Near Me - Marlborough, Connecticut

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These mussels are the best I've ever had. Highly recommend Zina's! Spinach and cheese in a very light creamy broth cradling the mussels. Awesome! read more

Love this little gem. Enjoyed our food. Usually great service. We will return. Reservation needed on the weekend.

Had the house Red Sangria and it was delicious, then the French Dip with sweet potato fries, and it was easily one of the best French Dips I've ever had! Friends loved their meals as well! Highly recommend! read more

We sat outside on the heated, enclosed porch. Great space! Our group got chicken parm, chicken francaise and shrimp fettuccine. All the dishes were flavorful, plentiful and hot. The chicken francaise was so tasty and well prepared. Our server was attentive and friendly. Great food and overall experience. We will be back for sure! Recommend! read more

Food was ok. But not good enough for me to want to go back. Ordered a pasta seafood dish that was fishy. The restaurant smelled very fishy too. read more