ZZ & Simone's has my heart. Even though I'm no longer a UGA student and I live in Atlanta now, I'll gladly make the drive to Athens just to get dinner here. Definitely my favorite pasta place in Athens! The pastas they offer are creative and are very customizable if you want to add or take away toppings. They have a great variety of cocktails and some really good mocktail options like The Simone. The servers are always super attentive and offer great suggestions if it's your first time here. They have both inside and outside tables as well as bar seating, but during busy nights it can get pretty noisy inside so I would recommend sitting outside if the weather is nice. read more

Went to ZZ's to celebrate my daughter's 21st bday. Always love the food and vibe. We had a table of 6, and a bill over $300. I brought a bday cake and cake cutter, but when I asked for dessert plates, I was told there is a $5 per person charge for that! Ridiculous. Very disappointed and ended up going back to tiny campus apt to share dessert. Boo. read more

Had such a great time at ZZ and Simone! The drinks were amazing -- super well made and perfectly balanced and served in cups with astrology signs which was creative. We tried the Bianco pizza and the Rigatoni alla Vodka, which had the perfect kick of spice and was so creamy and flavorful. The ambience was really nice too -- pretty, cozy, and perfect for a fun night out. read more

ZZ & SImone’s - Chocolate gelato - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Absolutely amazing environment and food! I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was and really enjoyed the quality. The pizza crust is so tasty and the calamari was delicious and doused in butter. Will definitely be back! read more

ZZ & SImone’s - Calamari with Butter - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Really enjoy ZZ's especially the Scrimp cocktail sauce and all of the Italian dishes ... but fair warning ‼ do NOT order any steak entrees. Wonderful servers add to our frequent enjoyment of ZZ's read more

Took our niece here to celebrate her HS graduation. A cool Italian restaurant with a relaxed vibe. We had to wait about 30 minutes at 6:45 on a Saturday for a table for 4. They brought us drinks while we waited on a couch on the porch, and they were really good. We sat and enjoyed conversation along with the artichoke appetizer and a loaf of warm focaccia. The bread was so good we ordered a second loaf. Italian specialties were all delicious. The lemon pasta, spaghetti with Sunday sauce, and eggplant parm were all really good. The side of Brussels sprouts were really tasty. If we lived in the area, this would be on our "go to" list. read more

First time at ZZ & Simone's! Food was amazing! Our server was so patient and attentive. The menu had so many choices and we couldn't decide. We were pleased with our decisions. I added pepperoni to the lemon pizza and I recommend for others to try it as well! It was SO good! The gelato with cherries was amazing my goodness! The ambiance on the patio was amazing too there was a candle and it was nice and relaxing. read more

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Very disappointed in my experience booking a reservation. After communicating with the reservation team for several months, I feel I was mislead about how to book a reservation promptly on the day the reservations open. Despite being very proactive and following the instructions explicitly, I was not able to get a reservation. If you are looking to get a reservation for an important event, I would recommend trying a different restaurant that is more consistent and open with their policies. read more

Everyone at the restaurant did an exceptional job with service. I would recommend this establishment to anyone who visits Athens.

If you are looking for some great Italian food and good drinks I'd 100% recommend this place. We got an appetizer of focaccia bread with ricotta cheese which was awesome. The vodka pasta is more of an oily base than heavy cream and it's absolutely delicious! I also tried the meatballs and they were fabulous too. Definitely try this place if you're in the area! read more

ZZ & SImone’s - Vodka Pasta with Italian sausage and meatballs. - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I am so conflicted about my experience at ZZ & Simone's that I figured I would write a review and let everyone decide for themselves. I set a reservation on RESY about three weeks in advance to take my girlfriend out to dinner Saturday night for her birthday. I was surprised to find that a lot of seats and timeslots were already taken this far in advance. The process was seamless and we were taken directly to our lovely outdoor table. The ambience was fantastic and the service was top notch. I really can't give enough praise for the service that was provided to us. They even offered us free gelato because of the occasion. What really killed it for me was the pricing. I know we're in Normal Town, and I know the place is catering to a higher end audience, but my goodness I don't think I can afford to go back. We got shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, I got a beer and she got a mixed drink, we each got a pasta dish, and that's it. With 20% tip I walked out of there spending $150. I wouldn't mind this too much if I could take home leftovers but the portions were comical. I got the chicken parmesan and was told that the spaghetti comes separately....um okay....and then found out that the advertised price ($10) for the side of spaghetti was actually only a half serving. Who wants chicken parm without the spaghetti? I ordered the $10 half serving and I kid you not, I was brought a bowl with about a cups worth of spaghetti pushed to one half side of the bowl. But it was so tasty. But it was a $38 chicken parmesan. Insane. I was bummed by the $18 shrimp cocktail that only came with 5 median shrimp but I think the chicken parm takes the cake. I just checked their online menu and it looks like either they've changed it or they just don't advertise the $10 fee for spaghetti....at an Italian restaurant. I guess you can see why I'm conflicted. We had fantastic service, a lovely ambience, delicious food and a wonderful time. That comes at a high cost! Just higher than I would have liked. We might go back, but I'll have to take out a loan first. read more

My friends and I enjoyed a delicious and wonderful time at ZZ & Simone's over spring break. It was my first time there, and I'm already planning my return. I regret that we didn't pause to take pictures of the amazing dishes and drinks. The portions were generous. We each ordered and then shared. We enjoyed focaccia, shrimp cocktail, salad, prosciutto dish, salmon, chicken parmesan, raspberry tart, and a doughnut holes type dessert. Red wine, margaritas, and the orange wine were ordered, too. OK, so we almost ate and drank the entire menu. Everything was fresh and amazing. The margarita tasted like sunshine with all of the yummy citrus flavors. The shrimp cocktail was the best I've ever had, and I'm from the South Carolina coast. The raspberry tart was perfection. Our waitress was knowledgeable and excellent in her recommendations. I'm sorry I don't remember her name. Our round table was perfect for conversation. The chairs were comfortable. The noise level was great even though there were many there. I recommend this place if you are entertaining special guests, celebrating a milestone, or proposing. It's a pricey place. I wish something would be complimentary (like bread and butter) and a side with entrees. Well done! Athens is glad to have you! read more

A friend and I decided to visit ZZ & Simone's on a quiet Thursday evening. We were immediately sat by the windows and I was impressed with how cozy the place was. I would first like to say that the staff and the costumer service is amazing. We were constantly checked out by multiple servers and they were all very helpful. We first asked for recommendations for appetizers and one of the servers recommend the Focaccia, it did not disappoint. The crunchy outside with the pillowy inside was delicious and the faint hints of lemon were surprisingly. Next we ordered our entrees which was the Spicy Sausage Pizza and unfortunately not picture, the Spaghettini Scampi. Both were delicious! We decided to end our meal with the Tiramisu and I will honestly say, this was the BEST tiramisu I've ever had. Our server was even nice enough to give us complimentary limoncello drinks before we left. I highly recommend trying out ZZ & Simone's. You won't regret it. read more

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Make a reservation if you wish to sit inside. We didn't have a reservation but was able to be seated outside. It was a perfect evening and such a beautiful patio. Our appetizer was warm focaccia bread it was very dense and buttery. Was very good but not the light bread I was expecting. I ordered the spaghetti al Limone the pasta was made in house and had the perfect amount of lemon. The chicken was an additional charge but did give you enough you could share the protein with two people. We also got the Margherita pizza which was also big enough to share with two. For dessert we got the TIRAMISU to share as a sweet bite after our meal. It was excellent! We definitely plan to go back read more

I went in for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We sat at the bar which we preferred because it was just too hot outside. Overall it was an ok experience. I found it a bit pricey but try catering to this five points neighborhood and all the money there. I had the PESTO ALLA GENOVESE campanelle, local basil, pine nuts, parmigiano reggiano. It was 24$ plus an add on for shrimp. They were very tiny and not at all as was described to me with regards to size. I think the add on of the shrimp was 7 $ so a bowl of pasta with about 6 Little Rock shrimp was 31$. The other dish was the SHRIMP SCAMPI AOP, spaghettini, FL rock shrimp, pepperonata, garlic, white wine, parsley. This was 30$. I have a hard time spending this kind of money for pasta and restaurants like this only serve to reenforce the idea. We stated with the warm focaccia 12$and hand whipped ricotta as well as some prosciutto de Parma for 17$. It was Again quite small in portion. It's an Italian restaurant, they should put bread on the table automatically unless specified by the customer. We had a couple of drinks as well and decided to go elsewhere for dessert. There was also a lemon or citrusy oil all over everything. We thought at first it was hand sanitizer we used but a second trip to the labor to wash our hands proved it was not. The total came to 140$. For the amount of food and service, I feel there are other choices that offer better service and much fairer prices. The meal overall was unremarkable. read more

ZZ & SImone’s - Pesto - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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I sat at the bar. The Caesar salad with house made dressing is pretty tasty. The shrimp cocktails with the house made cocktail sauce shocked me as I am no fan of cocktail sauce... needless to say I am a fan of theirs...I am absolutely in love with their arancini. It's hard to make it past the appetizers menu. If I may suggest I the mushroom pizza. Simply delicious! read more

The restaurant has a great old Italian feel with pasta and food made in house. There is a great atmosphere both inside and out and quiet enough to hear the people you're eating with which still feeling lively and like fine dining. The service was very prompt with us never running out of water or having any major issues while dining. I would recommend for a nicer dinner out in Athens especially for Italian food. Be careful though if you order the chicken Parmesan there is both a seared and fried version and they don't clarify which you will be getting as one of us got each version yet both ordered the same. read more

Ambiance - super cute Service - amazing. They went above and beyond for a friend's birthday and graciously worked with us as we had to move reservations around. Food - great. Nancy's Sunday sauce was amazing and they gave a good portion compared to some of their other pastas. I do wish they had traditional meatballs instead of the awkwardly shaped pork read more

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We had brunch here today and it was wonderful. The restaurant has always been beautiful but it is truly coming into it's own now with fresh new menu items. We enjoyed the Bagel Tower - gorgeous presentation, fresh vegetables, grilled bagels, house cream cheese; the Steak & Eggs - perfectly cooked with a fresh herb topping; a grilled Bagel Sandwich - simple but perfect and the best Potato Latkes I've ever tasted. Our server was friendly and knowledgable and her attention level was perfect for brunch. We will definitely return! read more

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Highly recommend if you're looking for some great authentic Italian food. The food was delicious the drinks were tasty and the service was impeccable. 10/10 would go again. read more

Food, drinks, and service were great here. Definitely pricey but the presentation and taste make it worth it. They have a cute patio area and inside as well. I recommend making reservations. read more

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we went to this restaurant when it had first opened. the owner was pleasant, attentive, the food was quite good. we took friends there ,food was passable, not great. went there again, sat at the bar, food was lousy, bartender was delightful, food, not so much. tonight we decided to give it one more try, perhaps things might have improved. food was practically inedible, from over salted, to over sauced, to badly made. all in all the bill was absurdly high for really awful food. the best I can say is that our server was lovely. read more

The food was delicious and service was amazing. The atmosphere was great we sat outside and with the plants and lights it was adorable read more

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My girlfriend and I loved ZZ's. The vibe was exotic-classy, service was super attentive, and you're truly not going to find better tasting pasta in Athens. Only issue is that while ZZ's tastes 25% better than the DePalmas-- Athens's "next best" Italian restaurant-- ZZ's serves you half the volume for twice the price. As a growing college graduate I appreciate the classic "grandmothers kitchen" size pasta helpings, and find it hard to bear paying $28 for a Bolognese topped pasta. If the value ratio doesn't trip you up however, ZZ's really is the coolest up-and-coming place in Athens. I couldn't recommend the service, taste, and aesthetic enough. read more

ZZ & SImone’s - View from indoor dining 4-top - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Absolutely perfect. Slight wait for our reservation so they gave us complementary beverages at the bar. Such a perfect handling of situation. Food was excellent and served was wonderful and knew the menu perfectly. It was an anniversary so they gave us a free gelato. Perfect night and place! read more

Walking into ZZ& Simone's you could tell it was something straight from Italy. The small decorative details and ambiance had me believing I was summering on the Amalfi Coast and just stumbled upon the cutest "ristorante". We did not indulge in the booze for this meal and stuck with water for the entirety of our visit. The group began with four of the starters. The menu's limited selection made choosing easy. We began with the burrata, the shrimp cocktail, cheese plate and prosciutto with dates. The burrata was airy and fresh while the cheese plate had a deeper richer experience. The prosciutto was by far my favorite of the classic appetizers. It was topped with dates and balsamic glaze giving it an elevated flavor. If you are a fan of shrimp cocktail like me it is a must, the lemon on top was strange but perfect (the cocktail sauce is quite spicy) For our mains we all got pizza, the pepperoni, the Margherita, truffle, and the prosciutto arugula. Mine was the Margherita, it was the perfect tomato base and crust! The truffle had the waitress coming and personally delivering the truffles table side making it feel super deluxe. For dessert it was tiramisu! The dish was very heavy but delish and creamy. If you are looking for something on the sweeter and less bitter side this one is not for you. The espresso was present and ready to play along with small cocoa nibs. It was wonderful but definitely not for everyone. They have the cutest orange candies and personal lighting matches available for take away. This put the cherry on top. read more

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The food is unbeatable!! The food in Italy is fabulous! ZZ and Simone's is as close as I have ever had in the United States to the deliciousness of Italy! Service is always great. And the atmosphere is cozy and elegant. You can't go wrong choosing ZZ & Simone's! read more

My wife treated me to dinner at ZZ & Simone's for my birthday. The service and the food were excellent. Nice wine selection and overall menu selection is very nice. We look forward to trying the pizza on our next visit. read more

ZZ & SImone’s - Eggplant Parm - Italian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This is 2nd visit- over priced food-limited menu options-music too loud. The pasta sauce was heavy and greasy could hardly eat. Surprised this place so busy. read more

really yummy food and cool atmosphere but it's very disappointing when you bring your friend for their birthday and the waitress promises right away the birthday girl will receive free gelato to celebrate but never does...just a happy birthday note on the receipt our whole meal was also very rushed :/ a real disappointment of the night and poor customer service read more

One of the best food experiences I've had in years. Wife wanted to go and I wanted to go to my Athens classics... man am I glad we didn't. Atmosphere Amazing vibe, great vintage 70's rock tunes on the vintage stereo Waitress Amazingly friendly, never missed a beat Food Appetizer Mind blowing. Excellent NY strip is one of the best I have ever had Came with and entire head of garlic to squeeze over the steak Limon spaghetti my wife got was epic Cesar salad is best I have ever had! Bourbon selection is great!! read more

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Fabulous food, atmosphere, and service ! Great place to have an early dinner. Staff is so wonderful. The decor is precious. Next time we go I will request a booth, because it is a little noisy. read more

Easily some of the best food in Athens. Definitely recommend reserving a table ahead of time - this place fills up fast. The pasta dishes are top-notch, and the staff is super friendly and knows their stuff. They'll make great recommendations if you need help choosing. The vibe is cool and modern, with a slightly upscale feel, so it's a good idea to dress nicely. A solid spot for a nice meal out. read more

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, awesome service. Zz and Simone's is a 10/10 and I would recommend to anyone in Athens. The sweet ricotta dip with the focaccia was amazing and definitely a favorite read more

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The atmosphere is great! We sat outside. Everything we ordered was really good. We had the fish- the only thing I would say needs improvement would be to use less olive oil while cooking/plating it. The cucumber salad was amazing. The service was excellent! Dave was attentive and friendly! read more

My wife and I had a consummate dinner date experience at ZZ & Simone's with the best atmosphere, service and food.

I was there the other night and really enjoyed the artichokes but when the eggplant parm came out i knew i was in trouble. They brought me a steak knife to eat the eggplant. I literally had to saw through the eggplant to eat it. You should be able to this dish with just a fork. read more

This place is so welcoming and the staff is super attentive. We got the burrata and artichoke appetizers to start and they were amazing. I had the Spaghetti al Limone and my husband had the Crab Fra Diavolo and they were both delicious. The drinks are very eclectic and served in the most unique glassware/ We will definitely be back! read more

Thank you Anna & Brittany for redeeming a terrible experience. I rarely write reviews but as a frequent and long time customer, I felt this one was important. Tonight, we had Anna as our main server and Brittany at the end. They both had the level of professionalism, kindness, and product education that I have come to expect from ZZ & Simone's. The food is always delicious, but the service is what makes this place exceptional. After my last experience, I had become disillusioned with the restaurant as our last server a few months ago was horrible, her name was Kenzie. She was very unprofessional and could not answer my basic questions about the food or alcohol at the restaurant. It diminished the idea I had built over the years of ZZ's and it honestly made me really upset/not want to return. My party left upset at our experience and it was my guest's first impression of the restaurant. Fortunately, my guest was willing to give it another go and after today, they are excited about returning. Thank you Anna & Brittany for the redeeming experience! read more

Great dining experience! Intimate dining area inside but you can be seated outside. Artichoke app was wonderful!! Arancini were lovely. Great braised short ribs!! Reasonably priced. read more

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