Excellent lunch today - we tried the calamari (so good and fresh!!) and the chicken panini. Also very good - took 1/2 home. Someone else got cranberry salad it was huge and looked delicious. I would absolutely recommend this hidden gem - parking lot was larger than expected and the ambiance with the windows over looking the lake added a nice touch! I loved this spot - thank you for a great meal. read more

I've come here twice now and have been happily surprised every time! Staff is friendly, though sometimes hard to track down at times, even when the restaurant has a few patrons. That's probably the only downside. Otherwise, food every time is amazing!. They have a seasonal menu which keeps the options fun. The menu changed after only coming 2 months apart, I was planning on ordering the same dish I had last time but had to switch it up. Wow, the pretzel crusted chicken was so tender and skin was crispy. Vegetables and sauce topped on the chicken was delicious. 10/10 meal. I'm already craving more!! Also their sweet heat calamari with honey, I haven't had any calamari like that before and it was super flavorful and perfect crispiness. Place is right by a lake, though I only went during the winter so we didn't get to personally enjoy the views. The inside of the restaurant though is cozy and good for date night or groups. Looking forward to coming back here! read more

Zinna's Bistro - Pretzel Crusted Chicken - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

hotel recommended and said it was open until 9. Got there at 8:50 and door said open until 9. Walked in and was told the kitchen closed at 8:30. So be aware. Can't tell you about the food. read more

Friends recommended Zinna's for a New Years day catch-up and we were not disappointed. Set back in a corporate office park on a man-made lake, the property itself is extremely warm and inviting with service that was slow to engage but once popped into gear, was very attentive. The prices seemed elevated (especially for the pasta) but the portions were potent and the execution of their "greatest hits" Italian menu was appreciated by all. Definitely a new place to put on our rotation moving forward. Four and a half stars. read more

A surprisingly good little bistro serving delicious sandwiches. The godfather was great and Italian chicken Panini was also solid. We also had a special, the fried shrimp, which were plump and crispy. Typical for Jersey, portions are big and price is reasonable. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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This spot was a halfway point for my friend and I and was also decently rated. Parking is ample and so is seating. It looks like during the summer time it's fun due to the crowd and being near the water. However, I found the inside to be chillier than I'd like especially considering December is already chilly enough. Service was friendly and attentive which was great. I believe this is a BYOB spot due to seeing many of the patrons with their own wines and the menus didn't have drinks on them. The menu gives a good amount of options and we both ordered the parm rigatoni. After longer than we'd like we got bread for the table and shortly after our entrees. The portions were great but the overall taste was just okay. Overall, I don't know if I'd return as I've had better experiences but I don't think it's a bad pick that I'd give it possibly another opportunity. read more

Zinna's Bistro - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

Saturday we made a return trip after not being there in quite some time. We made a reservation and were promptly seated For a starter we tried the sweet hot calamari. This had what I think was fried onions on top of the calamari with a spicy sauce drizzled on the calamari and in a good sized pool of sauce under the calamari. This was a very filling portion for two people and probably enough for three. The best news was there was a slightly hot finish as you ate the dish, but not so hot that my wife didn't like it For dinner I tried the pork chop with sausage, small pieces of cheese, peppers all over spinach. And drizzled over all this was a balsamic glaze. While I thought walking in I expected to land on an Italian dish, but elated that I didn't. This was a fantastic tasting dish the mix of the softness of the spinach and cheese, followed by the texture of the pork and sausage. The only suggestion I might offer was the pork chop could have been closer to medium-rare than medium. I'm a fan of pork less done but other might not be My wife had the Drunken Burrata Chicken meal which she loved. A generous portion of chicken was breaded and cooked well with burrata cheese on top. This was in a vodka sauce and penne pasta. For dessert we tried a Buckle Blueberry that was a flaky pastry topped w vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. A perfect sugar shot to end your day. My wife had a special dessert with Nutella that looked like pudding that was wonderful. Inside it's a unique ambiance w wine bottles use to look like leaves on a tree. Service was great and the waitress covered all my questions before landing on the pork chops. A great visit and we cannot wait to return read more

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Food was literally tasteless. I had chicken parm and it was the worst iv ever had. I believe the sauce was a can of diced tomatoes with no salt. My husband had the pork chop and it was awful as well. I can't remember the last time we had a meal this bad. read more

What kind of place is this that's nestled In the middle of a business complex with no signs or arrows from 2 main roads.. certainly not a good business decision ! AM I MISSING SOMETHING? Came here ushered by friends to find average food ... looks like the owners really not sure how to run a business Try and find Zennas on your own read more

Fantastic restaurant! We came here for Christmas Eve dinner and had a great time. The calamari was a hit but the arancini fell short of our expectations. Everyone enjoyed their main meals from the fish to pasta to pork chop so you can't go wrong with anything you get. The buckle was a nice surprise at the end since I had no clue what kind of dessert it was. It turned out to be a cakey blueberry dessert served warm with ice cream. Overall, I look forward to dining here again with some friends. The service was great and it's byob here. I also liked the decorations inside with all the empty wine bottles left from tables and all the CHICKENS! read more

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The food was well prepared and servers were nice. The place is interesting inside wine bottles are decorated all over place. However, they don't serve liquor, if you care to bring your own wine bottle. They do have a parking lot. read more

Saturday night dinner at Zinna's Bistro in Cranbury, NJ. We shared an avocado salad, roast artichokes, grouper with risotto and burrata chicken parm with rigatoni vodka sauce. Everything was delicious and the service was good, as well. The restaurant has a nice ambiance and there is outdoor patio space. They are BYOB but have some outdated policies about plate sharing. We were going to order more appetizers but we had to order 2 entrees to avoid being penalized. read more

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Used to love this place. Not sure if new owners took it over, but it was a different scene. No table cloths and inconsistent furniture, paper napkins instead of cloth napkins and only 1 per person, trying to upsell Acqua Panna that sits on the table before you ask for tap water. Menu was downsized which isn't a bad thing if you perfect the food but the food was extremely bland and inconsistent cooking temps throughout the chicken. Even the pasta was overcooked and mushy. Unfortunate, but used to be a great spot for weekend dinners, will pass in the future. read more

This place is in a very beautiful location next to a little lake or pond I'm not sure. I do love near it but never went. Very interesting decoration inside but it's super nice and cozy. Service was a bit slow but it was busy. You can see straight into the kitchen whoch isn't what a lot of ppl want to see. The food was fantastic super flavorful. A bit overdone on the oil but it was so good. Def going back read more

Zinna's Bistro - CHERRY PEPPER CHICKEN - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

The calamari was very good, but the roast beef was extremely saltyand kust one pieces roastbeef .The fries tasted stale and they had been refried again (reheated ). In short the view is beautiful, but I'm not sure it's worth coming .By the way they no longer offer brunch service.Service extremely slow. read more

Zinna's Bistro - ROAST BEEF - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

Zinnia's Bistro is an absolute gem! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with such warmth that it felt like visiting an old friend. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, and the owner goes above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome--there's a genuine pride and passion here that you can feel. Now, the food... wow. The bolognese is on a whole different level. Rich, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to that slow-simmered depth that only truly great kitchens can pull off. It's the kind of dish you keep thinking about long after you've left. Easily one of the best I've had anywhere. read more

We came here for a private event but were able to order off the regular menu. Our group had a few tables together and the place was packed. The service was great and our meals delicious. I saw outside that the place is BYOB - evidently there are not a lot of liquor licenses in this area. No worries for us as our party brought several bottles of wine. My only complaint was that it was pretty loud in there with the high ceilings. Otherwise it was a beautiful place for the event. read more

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Such a cute spot! I went here for a date and it was a great BYOB. The staff were kind and accommodating. We arrived right after an event and they were communicative of when they would open and where we could hang out. The food was delicious! I ordered the burrata chicken and pasta and it was amazing!! The portion size was perfect, with some to take home. The calamari was perfect and crispy. We didn't sit outside, but the patio would be ideal for cooler evenings. I would highly recommend for a date spot or going with good friends. Good atmosphere and great food!! read more

There's a quiet charm to an evening at this establishment. The kind of charm that doesn't demand attention but slowly wins you over if you let it. I went in hoping for a standout Italian meal, the kind that lingers in your memory. Instead, what I got on the plate was just ok. The penne vodka did its job, nothing more, nothing less. The chicken parm followed a similar script. It wasn't bad it just didn't speak to me the way a good Italian meal usually does. While the food was average I must say the service was genuinely exceptional. Our waiter felt less like staff and more like someone who actually cared that we were there. The service and atmosphere carried the night. Sitting in the restaurant, looking out over the water, surrounded by small, thoughtful decorations created a setting that felt relaxed and inviting. So while the dishes didn't steal the show somehow, it didn't ruin the night either. Some of the friendliest staff you will ever meet can make all the difference for a place like Zinna's. read more

Zinna's Bistro - Chicken Parm and PENNE VODKA - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

This restaurant used to be a nice place to have a decent meal. Had dinner there this week and truly awful. I ordered chicken piccata and the chicken was literally so rubbery I could not cut it! It seemed they may have microwaved the meat and served it over pasta. My friend had bolognese which had little flavor. Very disappointed that this good neighborhood restaurant has gone so far down hill. Will not go back. read more

Tucked away in a charming spot, this restaurant was a wonderful surprise! The venue offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Our party of 14 was warmly welcomed and expertly served by our waiter, Conner, who handled our large group with ease. His attentiveness and friendly demeanor truly elevated the experience. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We started with a variety of appetizers: the calamari was perfectly crispy, the eggplant was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the meatballs were a crowd favorite. The salads were plentiful and fresh. For the main course, the bolognese sauce was very good, while the lemon ricotta sauce was an absolute standout--creamy, and unforgettable. The drunken chicken stole the show, though, with its bold flavors and presentation. Dessert was equally delightful, with the special pancetta paired with toasted marshmallows being a surprisingly perfect sweet-savory combination. The tiramisu was the favorite. One thing to note: this is a BYOB spot, so come prepared with your favorite bottle. Overall, this restaurant is a gem for this area --great service, delicious dishes, and a fun ambiance. read more

To say our experience was disappointing would be an understatement. Although our waiter was attentive and courteous, the overall dining experience fell well below expectations. While we waited for our meal, we were served stale, undercooked bread that resembled unfinished pizza dough. As time passed, we noticed that a nearby table--who had been seated after us--was already enjoying their meals. After waiting 45 minutes, we were informed that one of our dishes had not been prepared at all, with the kitchen initially placing blame on our waiter. However, he confirmed that he had properly submitted the order. Throughout this entire situation, there was no visible presence from a manager or owner. When my husband eventually sought one out, he was told the missing dish would be prepared--but at that point, we declined. We were not willing to wait another 45 minutes for what had already proven to be a subpar experience. To make matters worse, one of the dishes we did receive--a grilled vegetable salad--consisted of just two small pieces of grilled zucchini on a bed of arugula. This lack of quality and care was truly disappointing. Overall, the experience demonstrated a clear disregard for customers. We will not be returning and will not hesitate to share our experience with others. read more

A very picturesque setting in Cranbury, Zinna's is great for corporate lunches or early dinners. The decor is rustic with wine bottles weaved into a metal framework through out the building. Amazingly though, this place is BYOB. Note - there is a liquor store down the road. The sides like the cocktail shrimp and sweet potato mash were amazing. The entrees were just alright. This area has many Italian foodstuffs, so there is no curve to help you get better. On multiple work visits I have had the burger, pasta and branzino. While each was very good, none were memorable. Lastly, there is no steak on the menu. A plethora of vegetarian, chicken, and fish, the lack of any beef is troubling when you bring a lot of mid westerner in your party. Due to locations, it is always packed mid to late afternoon. Make reservations, as you will have a long wait. But after 7, there are plenty of spots. read more

Zinna's Bistro - Wall decor - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

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Had dinner with friends last week and ordered the Grilled Z salad with salmon added was extremely disappointing. I basically had a large bowl of arugula with about 2-3 oz of salmon and 2 slices of carrot for $29. read more

Been here about four other times. Ambience is fine, wait staff is fine. The food, however, was poor. As the highest priced chicken parm plate in the area, it was way too salty. The side of spaghetti resembled Chef Boyardee out of a can rather than some gourmet prep. Upon returning of the parm, I was slightly more pleased to get an unsalted bolognese dish which actually had no flavor at all. So much for the boasted high quality ingredients. On a nice Saturday night where other equivalent yet not as pricey restaurants were unavailable for prime time dinner reservations, Zinnas with their water views, etc., was half full at best. The proof is in the pudding. To charge the prices they do for what they provide will not cut it in this region of discerning diners. Competitors at half the prices are superior. I hope they smarten up and take a good hard look at their internal controls. If not, the next owner surely will. read more

I don't come on and do reviews like this because I don't want to pull any business down, but this food was bad, really bad. If you're looking to come here with a significant other or your family the place inside is gorgeous but the food is bad quality. Our bill came to $242 with two appetizers and 4 entrees. Very expensive and low quality. I ordered the crab special and the pasta was over done and the crab was frozen. The pasta was not fresh. When there packed the kitchen can't handle the amount of orders. We waited about and hour and a half our food to come out. You can get better pasta at dominos, that's how bad this food was. As much as I don't like making reviews like this it was my father's bday and this just was not good. I do not recommend this place to anyone and I hope the owner takes notes because that was ridiculous with the price of our bill. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone unless things change. If your gonna charge that much for that quality of food you need to back it up with a good meal. read more

Amazing food, nice atmosphere. Nice wait staff when you can get one. If you're a small party, they don't pay much attention to you..... Definitely try this place read more

Had a very good dinner tonight with my husband and our waiter I wish I got his name was a doll. The food was very good. The bread was missing something.. not sure what. Almost wanted to add salt to it. It was bland. But the rest of our dinner was delicious. My husband got the short rib ravioli .. so good. And I got fish with broccoli rabe and sweet potatoes. Such a good combo. Definitely going back read more

Food, ambience, and service were great. Would definitely recommend and visit again. Especially enjoyed the eggplant rollatini appetizer. read more

Very poor experience it seems like they have very small portions and try to charge an exorbitant amount for those small portions and also mess up often on peoples orders even when it's just exactly how the item is supposed to be made. I don't know if it's a staff issue or if it's a management issue but something needs to be done. read more

Zinna's Bistro - my sandwich that is supposed to have prosciutto not having prosciutto. - Italian Near Me - Cranbury, New Jersey

Appearance wise a very nice unique looking restaurant with a great outdoor view. The fried calamari and Caesar salad (seemed real fresh) were good. Our main courses, Drunken Chicken and a Braised rib dish were tasty, but the macaroni on both dishes was definitely overcooked. The Canollis were pretty good as well. The fresh baked bread on premise was a nice touch. Our server was very nice throughout our time here. I had heard from friends that the prices were a bit high, and honestly they were, but most restaurants nowadays are. I'll return next time to try the lunch menu, maybe sit outside. read more

My husband and I stopped here after a cross country meet. The decor inside and outside the restaurant is so unique, the staff were kind and friendly, the location on the water was beautiful, and the food was delicious! read more

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Great quality Italian cuisine, perfect for lunch or dinner. It's BYOB, so keep that in mind. I have been here many times and it's always a good meal with good service. Lots of eclectic decor which makes for an inviting ambiance. Buon appetito! read more

The restaurant is nicely decorated. It has a great rustic feel to it. I have been here before and had a positive experience and a great meal. Tonight, however, things were a bit off. Their version of the spiedini was lacking. The mozzarella triangle had a lot of breading with very little mozzarella cheese inside. The white wine sauce was very salty. The lemon ricotta pasta dish was slightly on the bland side; while the pasta itself was cooked well, the sauce was very liquid in consistency and not creamy as expected. The staff was friendly but did not pass the water test. read more

I came here for an event so it wasn't a typical dining experience. The servers were very nice and I really enjoyed the calamari. The salad didn't really have much dressing at all so that wasn't my favorites. Overall they do nice events here and I had a great time. It's super eclectic on the inside too and that enhanced the decor that the event already had. read more

Playing catch up on so many reviews that I have pending. This was my first time here and had a pretty good experience. As anyone who knows me well knows as much as I love Italian food I am not a fan of Italian restaurants. Very rarely do I find a place that makes the quality worth the exorbitant price the food usually costs. I mean, it's flour, egg and water for God's sakes. Being on the east coast and in Jersey, I was looking for some quality Soprano's level Italian food and this was close to where I was staying and was told it was pretty good. First of all, I was surprised by the price. Everything was more than reasonable. Since I was already going out of my typical routine and eating at an Italian restaurant I thought why not try something I wouldn't order typically and I settled on the BBQ Chicken mac and cheese. Splitting it with 3 others made ok as an appetizer because it's a bit on the heavier side. It was nice. The cheese soaked macaroni was quite flavorful but the chicken blended nicely with it. The bacon added some flavor and the salt wasn't overpowering so that was a bonus. For the main dish I had the Godfather, which is for all practical purposes is a chicken parm sandwich, which is one of my favorite sandwiches so of course I had to have it. I know you're thinking to yourself, man this guy is eating a lot of chicken cutlets and here is my response: DAMN RIGHT I AM!!! Prosciutto and cutlet dressed in vodka sauce on Italian bread. Yum yum yum. This I did not share with anyone. Served with a basket of fries, it was the perfect amount after the mac and cheese. I've read some of the other reviews and they were very critical of the service and the owner, but I can say I didn't have this experience. The service was warm and efficient. Granted it was not very busy when I was here, but still, no issues at all. I would also like to say that this is a beautiful restaurants. The interior of the restaurant lovely, with a series of book cabinets, red napkins color against the darker theme. Empty wine bottles wind through the inside and the outdoor patio, although ironically they don't serve alcohol. Cute place for lunch with solid food. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat hear again, but definitely wouldn't be against it. read more

My new favorite restaurant! Great food, friendly service, and I love a BYOB! You wont be disappointed.

I went here for my partner's birthday and Zinna's bistro was so accommodating. They even had a hand written birthday card from the staff, it was super thoughtful. The food: Started off with 2 apps: the jumbo shrimp cocktail and the drunken clams. The shrimp cocktail was good, nothing out of the ordinary. The drunken clams were mixed with in with some chorizo that gave it a more meaty flavor than seafood. It's not bad, a bit on the salty side and I'd wish there was more garlic. I'd recommend saving some of that garlic bread they give you in the beginning of the meal to mop up the left over gravy from the drunken clams, so good. For the main entrees, we got the Cavatelli Bolognese and the Seafood Fra Diavolo which were both excellent. I love that the pasta is homemade and it had plenty of sauce in every bite. One thing I'd suggest to the staff is to offer some grated cheese as soon as the dish is served as I'm sure folks will want some. For dessert, we got the homemade lemon cake and the tartufo. Let me just say... the lemon cake is a MUST TRY. I've had a fair share of lemon desserts before but the lemon cake here actually has a strong lemon flavor, which I LOVE. It's not overbearingly sweet at all and the vanilla gelato on top paired with the crispy, fluffiness of the lemon cake is out of this world. The tartufo was also really good and I'd recommend it if you love ice cream or gelato and chocolate. I'd describe the tartufo as a vanilla and chocolate ice cream cake with a hard chocolate shell. Simple and delicious. Overall, highly recommend Zinna's bistro for an intimate dinner or even a large party. Just try to make a reservation in advance. One suggestion for the Zinna's team - I think it would be a great addition to include olive oil on the table for those who like it with their bread instead of cream/butter. Something to think about. read more

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At some point, Zinna's Bistro moved to a new location. And, I must say, I am definitely a fan of the new locale. You wouldn't think much of it at first, since its in the middle of a corporate park. However, the makeshift pond, outdoor deck, and accompanying greenery helps make it an inviting environment. In the past few weeks, I have been here for breakfast and lunch. The lunch experience was really great as we got to sit outside on the deck, listen to music, and my Turkey Avocado Panini was really good. The sandwich came with the option of a fabulous fresh house salad. The brunch experience, lacked the ambiance, because there was a Private Event inside the restaurant. They had us sit in the tent located in the parking lot. The tent is decorated in an eclectic manner with lots of china cabinets, but I would much rather prefer to sit inside or on the deck. I enjoyed my Grilled Veggie Panini and the accompanying salad, however, the hubby had room to be desired for his Jerzey Hash. I would suggest to call ahead on the weekends, to find out if the restaurant and outdoor deck is open. Also, the restaurant is BYOB. read more

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Terrible food. Will never ever come back My diner was supposed to have penne a la vodka and got marinara by the way worst marinara ever. read more