Z's Villa is a great place to eat before an event downtown. We went before a play at the Fisher Theater. Since two of the people we were with had parked at Z's and my wife and I were parked at the theater, it was easy for us to all take their shuttle they have, over to the theater. The food was delicious and the service was impeccable. We did not know about the shuttle until the owner came over and asked if we were going to the theater. We replied yes and he explained how the shuttle worked. They have a great menu and everyone at the table was happy with what they received. I'd love to go back and hang out on the patio. It looks like a great space. read more

I enjoy the atmosphere the food is always great the people are always good to you make you feel at home while you're enjoying your meal or just a drink meeting up after work. It's a great place read more

Good food, service, and prices. Order ahead or arrive early for lunch - the place gets busy fast (but the service is quick also).

Quaint and cozy, we stopped here for a late lunch after a visit to a museum. We both ordered the turkey burger, it was delicious. Came with fries and they were quite good too. The service was excellent, our waitress was very friendly. There's tables and a bar, and even an upstairs section that was closed probably because of covid. Very reasonable as well, will definitely be back! read more

Had the grilled vegetable salad with chicken added and it was delicious. I may have to skip taking my lunch once a week and get this salad.

Again.... Husband and I on our Foodie Find Journey..... Stumble upon this Gem! Right in the middle of nowhere and somewhere, is a quaint building with a homey feel. The guy behind the bar was very friendly and accommodating. The food was awesome! The corned beef is very tender and flavorful, the onion roll was nicely grilled. My husband had the motor city club, he's a big guy and couldn't finish it all. I would most definitely come back here again. P. S. When the check came.... The bartender gave us a dessert beer shot!!!! WINNING read more

Z's Villa - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Ordered fish and chips recently ( in fact a few days ago) and the fish was horrible, not sure what kind of fish that was. I've had this meal in the past years, and it was tasty. read more

My first experience at Z's was lunch and I had the pita sandwich. Honestly, it was pretty lame and I wasn't anxious to go back. Several months later a friend suggested we hit Zs before a Tiger's game. They offered a free shuttle so the cheapskate in me figured if I did nothing more than spend my $20 parking money on beer, it would be a win since beer is $10 at Comerica Park! We arrived before the other Tiger's fans and started with the bucket of beer special...6 domestic beers of our choice in an icy cold bucket for $15. Yep, I'm already saving money on my parking and I have ICE COLD BEER! The waiter walks by with an awesome looking pizza. What goes great with cold beer? That's right kids, PIZZA! I order the "Warrior" which was a Detroit style pizza made with meaty goodness. It was fantastic! Two of us ate the whole large, no dogs at the park for us! The waitstaff were friendly and attentive. Y'all know how much I gripe about lousy service so Z's gets a gold star for that! Randy, the shuttle driver was kind enough to give us a 15 minute warning that his van would be leaving for the game. We drank up our beer and he said we could ask the bartender for a roadie. What, what, what? We can drink on the bus to the park? I have died and gone to heaven (If there's no beer in heaven, I'm not going!). Randy dropped us off, gave our drunk butts instructions about where/when he would pick us up, told us to be safe and enjoy the game. I gave him a big hug for being such a sweetie. He has a great laugh! After the game, Randy was waiting for us at the appointed place and the designated time. He was friendly and a great, safe driver. We went back into Zs for an after game celebration. Randy made the experience great for us with his friendly demeanor. If you take his shuttle, tip him big because he's a swell guy. So, my second take on Z's is don't order the pita, get the pizza and icy cold beer! read more

I tried. I tried so hard. But just can't get myself to go back. Service was decent, great for Detroit. The place itself is kind of cool looking from the inside. People are having a good time around you. But I did not feel welcomed. I felt really outta of place with V and there was some awkwardness. We were new faces and it sure felt like everyone knew it. I somehow became desi and V became whitey. Welcome: this is my culture. Except it's not. I eat crappy food, but I don't eat BAD food. And most of all, I don't enjoy ribs that are boiled and soggy. The sauce was neon pink and absolutely inedible. I remember I was starving and I didn't even want to eat for the rest of the day after the first rib. It was so bad that even V didn't take the rest home. That's BAD. Of course I had to taste the cole slaw, and yes, it was terrible. But cole slaw is always bad. I'm just always a sucker for punishment. This is the trashy side of Detroit, the part of Downriver that never floated downriver. They eked out a place and stayed. This was not scene, and there were no scenesters ... or hipsters. Or whatever you kids want to be called now a days. So what IS this place? It's where ribs come to die. It's a place where you can have a nice stiff cheap drink and watch this thing called "football" on nice flat screen TVs. Also anything out of the frier is good. The onion rings were tasty, but did not make up for this horrific suffocatingly sweet pink taste I had in my mouth. I should go back, but right now I just can't figure out why I would. There are so many better places to go. read more

Z's Villa - the pink house you are looking for (NOT facing woodward) - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Hidden Gem Alert! What a great find from my coworker who has been coming here for 30+ years. He highly recommended the gumbo. When his cup arrived, his head went down and he never looked up until the cup was empty. I've never seen him so quiet and focused. I ordered the Michigan salad. The table next to us ordered the Cobb salad and when it came out of the kitchen I was in shock. It looked sooo good. Even though I had already ordered, the waitress said I could change my mind if I would like. I stuck with the Michigan salad and was not disappointed. It was a huge plate full of a variety of fresh fruits with a very nice selection of lettuce. I cannot wait to return to try the pizza and gumbo for myself! read more

What more can be said about Z's Villa than all of the reviews have already said. The most important thing to point out would have to be that this has been a solid Detroit bar for a very long time with solid Detroit food. Since before the gentrification. This is a spot for regulars and newcomers alike. Definitely worth a dinner and a drink. read more

I don't get here very often. In fact, I don't think about it much. It's hidden and unfortunately easily forgettable. When I say unfortunately, I mean its a shame because this is a great place. 1.50 shuttle to sporting events and its not over crowded like our much loved Nemos during games. I know they have good pizza and burgers, but they also had on this day a carb loaded polish breakfast special for 9 bucks. Is there a better way to put you to sleep early during a dismal Lions game? Perogies, Sausage, Tater Tots...yes Tater Tots, eggs, and toast. Throw back a spicy and vodka diluted bloody mary and it's a good Sunday morning. The staff are always friendly and make sure you glass is full and its usually a fun laid back crowd of all ages. read more

I want to come here when it's warm out so bad! Their little volleyball area is awesome - I could see that being way fun. The place is really cute inside. When I walked in I kind of wanted to sing the Cheers song a little bit. Their food was kinda eehhh - I got the tilapia and I think it wasn't even fully cooked in the middle. Everybody else's looked only okay except for the pizza, which was AMAZING. The drinks were really strong read more

Z's is homey enough, but it just ain't a place I wanna make a home away from home all that often. The food is hit and miss. The burger is passable, but not all that. The cajun tilapia is excellent at times, dry and uninspired at others. The one time I came here for lunch I received the best tilapia I ever had here. It practically melted in my mouth. That was also the only time I ever sat upstairs. I like it up there. You can sometimes get popcorn. The jukebox is okay - very middle of the road. Service here is usually pretty good, though the one gay dude really wears it on his sleeve that he's worked in the service industry forever and is bitter about it. I can't say I blame him too much, but you've really got to bury that under a professional veneer. read more

The fish and fries are great didn't care for the coleslaw and the pizza is deelish the staff very friendly which is a plus I would patronize again read more

The bar soldiered through the Covid pandemic and they kept me warm and comfortable through the winner we have a group that goes there every other Friday night they make good Long Island Ice-T's and Wendy is one of the best waitresses in the world. read more

I love this place. Stopped in before and after Slow Roll tonight. They always aim to please. Their food is delicious. A nice, quaint, hideaway. Always been a favorite of mine even when they were on the corner of Woodward and Warren. read more

I love the outdoor seating, but the food is so so, and the service leaves much to be desired. I really wanted to like this place because it's right near where I work, and my colleagues hang out there frequently, but I wasn't impressed. I know it's just bar food, but there are better places to grab a bite. I wouldn't necessarily NOT return, however. They do have a sand volleyball court out back! read more

Z's Villa - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Z's Villa is one of those classic establishments that warmly embrace their extraordinary and casual mediocrity. They push the fact that the bar is located in a historic home, but the site isn't maintained as a historic home, it's covered in cracked asphalt with a parking attendant, because how could we possibly live in a city where we had to park on the street or, heaven forbid, walk more than fifteen feet from our car to our destination? This is the kind of spot that simultaneously tries to cultivate an image of a "neighborhood" bar, even though every car has driven from (and shall drunkenly drive home to) some remote suburb. I won't fault them for perpetuating the abomination that is "Detroit-style" pizza, because they do an okay job at it. I was there for an event and the rest of the food was at least tolerable or "tolerable plus" as far as pub fare is concerned. Pluses: They have a great patio in back with a volleyball court. The crowd seemed pretty diverse and friendly, and staff were pretty great. Labatt Blue is $3. read more

We stopped in here recently for the first time and were really impressed. The building is really cool and the service was great. I enjoyed the pizza and cheesy garlic bread. The prices were really reasonable. We'll definitely be back. read more

My wife (the Elite Anna S.) and I stopped in for a quick bite on our way to a show at the Fisher. I have to say, the high praise from other Yelpers was founded. There are two floors. The first, has a total loud, sports bar kind of feel - great for the after work or game-watching crowd. The second floor has a couple TVs if you want to follow the game, but a much quieter feel. Dea A. said that "service was decent, great for Detroit" and "We were new faces and it sure felt like everyone knew it". I'm not sure what she bases those two statements on. Unless she cares to elaborate, I'm chalking it up to being a typical suburbanite take on any Detroit city experience. This white, suburban couple couldn't have felt more comfortable at Z's, and the service was quite good. Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. For instance, I flaked out and ordered the wrong beer, and she politely swapped it out for me without issue. I ordered the crab cake BLT, and my wife had the catfish. Both came with fries. My sandwich was a bit light on the crab cake, but with an enormous portion of fries and a nice tangy sauce. Definitely a deal at $6.95. The catfish came with four large pieces, was perfectly done, and had a nice cornmeal breading. The tartar included was a bit bland for my wife's taste, but all in all very satisfying. Total tab with both meals, two beers and tax: 30.56. Not bad! I WILL return to Z's as soon as I can. read more

Z's Villa - A generous portion of catfish, with fries, slaw and roll: $12.95 - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Absolutely love this place. A Detroit classic. Old school and exactly the kind of place to pregame or post game. Close to Wayne State University. Fantastic Reuben, deep dish pizza and onion rings. Don't expect anything fancy.....this is a "Detroit Joint". Great big patio and convenient parking. Owner/manager was present and visible. I'll be back for sure. read more

The concept and atmosphere of this restaurant was very cool but the service was so bad it took away from the experience. Food was very slow leaving the kitchen and came in stages with no urgency or recognition for the inconvenience. Two meals were served and eaten before other meals were brought to the table. Will not be back. read more

First time at Z's Villa this evening but won't be our last. Throwback kind of place that had a lively bar full of regulars, cozy dining room in a 100+ year old house. Huge menu with reasonable prices. They have a Manhattan Seafood Chowder weekly that was awesome. Massive portions. We didn't have it but their pizza looks very good...I want to try it next time we visit. Walking distance to the QLINE. Free parking, too. Highly recommended. read more

Really dirty and dark place. I think they purposely dim the lights so you can't see how disturbing your food looks. Don't go in the restrooms unless you want to vomit. How sanitary the place is (dining and restrooms) tells a lot of what the food is like and this place is disgusting read more

poor management Picked up order at 830 PM after working a hard days work. Got food home, it smelled bad! Tried eating it, everything was burned and overcooked. The grease was old! Called the next day, spoke with Mike the "owner", he told me to call back after 4:30 once the night crew was in. I called at 5 PM, spoke with Steve. Told him about my food. He tried to tell me I needed to speak with Mike. Nope! I already did earlier and he told me to speak with you! Steve got mad. I could hear it in his voice. He says well we're too busy now to make it. I said I'll come at 8 when I get off. I called at 8, spoke to Steve, he said it'll be ready when you get here. I got there about 8:20 and told the waitress I was there to pick up a recooked order. She was nice and proceeded to get the order. Steve comes from his corner by the window and jukebox, grabs my food out the window, opens it up and says very nasty, is this better? I looked it over and smelled it and said much better than yesterday. Steve says I change my grease every night very sarcastically. I said apparently you didn't change it last night! My food was hard, burned & smelly!! Instead of sitting back down in the corner where he came from, he thought it was a good idea to go back and forth with me like a child! I will never spend my money in that establishment ever again! I have informed my children and all of my family not to as well. This is a place we'd go to have drinks or a bite to eat before a game and such. Never again! read more

I have been going to Z's for the 15 years I've worked in the New Center/Wayne State area. As long as I've been going we've gone with 5+ people and have gotten separate checks. Paying with cards has never been a problem. Today we were informed that unless our checks were $15 or more, they would no longer accept our credit cards. We were also told we could use the ATM on the main floor. That is really very terrible customer service in my opinion because for me to get money from that ATM I would have to pay a service fee, and I'm betting that Z's gets a chunk of that profit for having the ATM on site. There are a lot of different options to choose from where they don't fuss about splitting checks and paying with cards. Z's food is good, service is usually good, and I've taken the shuttle to Tigers games as well. However, their prices are steadily increasing and now with this -- I will be hard-pressed to go back. It didn't help that the server was a little on the condescending side when she told us about the new rule. It's possible she was having a bad day, but it's not the way to treat customers who have been going to your restaurant for more than 10 years, and some of us have been going there since it is where the Welcome Center is now. I get that accepting cards is expensive... but there are ways to handle the situation better than what I experienced today. read more

The food here is pretty good. The place is always hopping, but the service is quick and friendly. If I am in the area again, I would not hesitate to eat here. read more

I'm not one to write a review after going to a place one time, but I had to come here and give my five stars purely for the pizza... First, allow me to explain: I have been traveling around the Detroit Metro area sampling pizza. I love pizza of all shapes and sizes and flavors, but have come to appreciate what a true Detroit-style pizza really is. I have come to view Buddy's (ubiquitous) and Louie's (Hazel Park) as the tied contenders for best Detroit-style, though Sheild's is a close second. Well, all of those purveyors of fine pies got knocked down a notch when I had Z's Detroit-style pizza. The sauce was not sweet, the cheese and toppings were real and plentiful (no canned mushrooms!!), but the crust was the pièce de résistance of this pie - the thick breadiness of the style was crafted to a chewy-crisp perfection by somehow adding the coveted crunch of the edges to the entire bottom surface....Art, I'm telling you! I went to Z's just for a friendly lunch with work pals. I had no thought of even including it on my list of top pizzas in the Detroit Metro, as not a single reader of my food blog had mentioned it (I've added a dozen spots on reader recommendation since beginning my list of 21 must-haves). I can't really speak to the rest of the food, though the place looked pretty packed and my friends who took me appreciate good food and have frequented the place for some time....the ambiance is very cozy and friendly, more bar than restaurant, really, in an old house, with a nice mix of happy Detroiters. I'll definitely be back again and again, and barring some other unforeseen and as yet undiscovered Detroit gem pizza surprise, I will consider Z's as the finest specimen for Detroit-style pizza currently in existence. read more

I went here before game three of the ALDS. I wasn't here long, and I had a nice experience, but I'm not sure why I gave it five stars. It is sort of nostalgic for me, but that shouldn't influence my rating. Alright, SO. It was about 11:30 on a Monday (since jackasses had the game start time be 1pm), and I split a small sausage, pepperoni, and banana pepper pizza. I was actually surprised with how good the pizza is. The bottom of the crust has a sort of oregano and basil olive oil concoction on it, which is something I don't think I've had on a pizza before. It tastes great, but it pretty much requires you to eat it with a fork. The sauce tastes alright, but there's not a lot of it. The cheese is really ordinary to me, and didn't seem like it was the highest quality. The crust and toppings (notably the sausage) is what made it for me. Z's is sort of in the middle of nowhere just off of Woodward, but it has a great ambiance about it with a lot of history. As you'd probably hope given their seemingly random location, they also offer a shuttle service to games. There are some better bars in Detroit, but this place's crowd isn't like that of a frat party, and for that, I really like coming here. read more

Back when there was still a "Z's Place" on Warren, I've been a fan of whomever "Z" is. But I've probably been to Z's Villa more than the other venue. The location is good, it's a half block off Woodward in the area of Wayne State. Often you'll see WSU employees in there for happy hour. I have to agree with the other reviewer, the fish and chips are fantastic. I'm a bit of a fanatic, and I heard it was good there. Believe me, Z does NOT disappoint. I've tried various appetizers and sandwiches, and I'm always happy. The portions are decent, the prices aren't too bad. I've never, ever had bad service. In fact, it's the opposite - service is always good. The bar is a little bit lacking, but definitely serviceable. In the summer they have their patio open with umbrella-ed tables, a volleyball court, and I think they might even have horseshoe pits, too. read more

This place is pretty cool. Think beach volleyball court, outdoor patio, giant 2x4 jenga, and a great old brick building all smushed together in one place. I came here for an event and there happened to be a coinciding event that made our experience even better--K9 to 5! The place was full of dogs of all shapes and sizes, and I think I petted all of them. Food-wise, though, I gotta say that I didn't try much, but the buffalo wings were really, really good. Good buffalo wings have an addictive quality, and these certainly did. I wasn't even that hungry, but I kept inhaling them because they were so tasty. The onion rings were GIGANTIC, but they weren't all that much to write home about. Our server was great and managed to track us down in the crowd and take very good care of us while the place was amazingly crowded. I was super impressed. Overall, I'd say this is a great, relaxed place to hang out with some friends and have a nosh while you're at it. read more

I used to love Z's and I go back a long while, but when the waitress ignores you to avoid the fact that after 1 hour and 30 minutes she forgot to check on your food, and the owner says "We're not taking any complaints", it's time for a cool off period. Truly sad because I used to love their pizza, and I've enjoyed some good fish there. Well hopefully things will get better when they get more staff in! read more

Went for a quick lunch with mom and dad before the train. Atmosphere, especially the outdoor seating and volleyball court, is the winner here. The parking lot attendant to watch over the parked cars is a nice touch, be sure to tip a couple bucks. The food here is so so, expected for the atmosphere and style. The draft beer options are all mass market, and only has a couple wines by the glass, expected for the wine, but not the beer. The corned beef sandwich was good, with the beef from Eastern market, and a soft onion roll. Don't spring for the seasoned fries, they're simply over salted with some seasoning salt. Would bring friends to hang outside or kill time before the train, not much else. read more

I live nearby and usually choose Z's when I want good food for a reasonable price. The service is good and there's always the opportunity to meet some very interesting characters if you sit downstairs at the bar. Other seating options include a fenced enclosure outside with umbrella covered tables next to a volleyball sandpit (up for a game anyone?). They also have horseshoes outside. Other seating options include an upstairs bar which is usually quieter and frequented by those who just want to watch the game (TV's are over the bar) and an upstairs dining room with a smattering of tables. This place has ambiance! On cold nights there is usually a fire burning in the fire pit outside. The walls are decorated with local sports memorabilia. And the historic feel of the home has been well persevered. In terms of food options, I usually get the greek salad (huge!) which comes with optional grilled chicken on top. The pizza is the thick crust type. Z's is famous for its marinated veggies which you can get on pizza, as an appetizer with their homemade whole wheat rolls, or on a sandwich in place of or in addition to the meat. I love the buffalo wings, which are crispy with not too much sauce and served with a side of just enough dressing and celery sticks. Also, the women's restroom here is always clean which I see as a good sign of cleanliness for the overall establishment. read more

Special place to come pre game any sport pizza fabulous bus takes you to events. Nice people great service

I've worked in the New Center area for 11 years. Going to the same ol' places for lunch can get tiring. Fortunately, Z's is a fantastic option for those willing to get out of the area, and a good place if you're just in the area. While the two floors aren't big, hey, there's two floors of seating. And during the nicer months, there's an outdoor seating area. The interior is an average bar, but at least it's not buried in cheesy bar deco. In fact, the restaurant is situated in an old Victorian house! The servers are always friendly and thorough. Never have I had bad service. There's a decent variety of food to choose from, and while none of it is a surprise, all of it is good. A full order of nachos will easily feed two. A "slice" of pizza is three slices of a standard square pan pizza, done Detroit style. Burgers, cheese steak sandwiches, fish and chips ... all of it is generous and reasonably priced. You won't leave with empty space in your belly, not an empty wallet. Lastly, this place has one amenity that has to be mentioned: shuttle service. If you work in the New Center area, they'll PICK YOU UP AND BRING YOU THERE FOR FREE. I mean, come on ... they BRING YOU there to eat. What other place does that? And how about free shuttle service to and from Tigers games on game day? This is a mighty fine, off the beaten path restaurant. If you'd like to do something a little different, or are tired of the same four places in New Center, give it a try! read more

I went back here after the Slow Roll Monday night. The $10.95 strip steak dinner was worthy of a last meal. I had minor surgery Tuesday morning and ended up being NPO for a day. I never felt hungry because my last meal was from Z's! Cooked to perfection medium. read more

Z's Villa - New York Strip Steak special - Bars Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

A great hidden spot in the downtown scene. Been coming here for years and always enjoy the ambiance and charm of this sort of "Sports" bar. The food is unexpectedly good, ---- Soups, salads and burgers top notch. Haven't tried the pizza here but it looks good!. --- My favorite is the catfish, along with their exceptional bloody mary's. Come in the summertime as well and eat outdoors on the vast space that also accomodates team sports and a relaxing vibe. Can't miss! read more

I will start the review by saying that I have never eaten food here. But I will give this place my 5 stars alone based on the rest of my experiences there. I go to school in Detroit and my class has had many post exam parties here in the early afternoon, renting out the volleyball court and outdoor patio. Every time the employees have been very kind and accommodating. The drinks are reasonably priced and they serve beer in pitchers to keep your cup full on the patio. It's never hard to find a waitress to take your drink order. It's a bit off the beaten path just off of Woodward north of midtown, but if you stop by for a happy hour or a game of beach volleyball, you won't be disappointed. read more