ZAZA Gastobar in Stamford via The NY Times
CTbites Team
We brought you a sneak peek at Stamford's ZAZA Gastrobar before their doors were open. Patricia Brooks of The NY Times has since visted and had some nice things to say about ZAZA in a recent CT Dining review. If you have been to ZAZA, let us know what you thought.
"THERE is much to like at Zaza, a restaurant and bar in downtown Stamford: great variety on the menu, an upbeat staff, moderate prices and a perfect location for business lunches, after-work drinks and tapas or a full meal in lively surroundings.
Nick Racanelli Jr., one of three managing partners in a small restaurant group, along with his father, Nick Sr., and Rose Dionne, said their intention was “to make Zaza an Italian version of a small-plate cafe with a social atmosphere.” I’d say they have more than succeeded.
The Italian-Mediterranean menu at Zaza, which was named after one of the younger Mr. Racanelli’s favorite bars in Florence, Italy, is essential to the place’s convivial spirit. What table wouldn’t enjoy sharing and comparing a few of the 26 tapas it features? "
Reader Comments (12)
It's a pretty fun after work scene. The doors opening to the street were a nice touch even if Broad St is not the most scenic of views. Pizza was good and the bartenders were friendly. I'd go back.
i had the arugula pizza which had prosciutto on it...delicious!
Lobster polenta was delicious as well.
I actually prefer it to Bar Rosso, which has been a bit of a dissapointment given its DNA, (tho Rosso's pizza outshines ZaZa. ) ZaZa mozzie plates are sublime, tho they should be served at room temperature IMO.
I had an AWFUL experience. I went in with 3 other people and we were told an hour wait (which wasn't the issue at all). It was when I asked the hostess why she was seating others who walked in AFTER us before us! (p.s they don't take reservations). Then I asked for the manager and she pretended not to speak english! THEN after another half hour I checked back in to only receive dirty looks like I was crazy. THEN after 2 hours they approached us and said your tables ready and we said we would rather not give you our business. PS we were with 2 highly successful people who would have spent A LOT of money on food and drink. I don't care how the good the food is, they should be ASHAMED of themselves for the service!
I'll ignore the slightly stuck up person above.
But on another note, I treat Patricia Brooks' restaurant advice as if my dog were telling me about a restaurant. She is pitiful and a stain on NY Times dining section
Love Zaza, agree 100% with Lou.
With a menu that large I hope they have cooks that resemble octopus! Menus too big. Looks like an Italian diner. Cant be fresh.
This place is a bar, not a restaurant. The mozzarella is served way too cold. Why refridgerate it if is made fresh? The wine served way too warm. It had to be 80 degrees. The artichokes had to come out of a can. Amazing how many people can be fooled by a trendy and "cool" setting.
funny cause the way mschaepps feels about zaza is what I feel about Bar Rosso...it's a scene, not a restaurant. Congrats to the Racanelli's on another terrific place.
Nick (Jr.) took us on a tour before it opened also and we were hopeful. Zaza didn't disappoint and we actually did like it more than Bar Rosso. We've heard that Bar Rosso's game has been elevated over the past few months though, so I wonder what the competition would be like now. Lobster polenta, as mentioned, is a standout. Loved the gnocchi!!!!!! So loved it. We enjoyed it so much we wrote a post on it and even included Zaza as one of Stamford's brick oven pizza standouts in another post.
On a different note, this is an Italian small plates menu. Of course there are going to be many dishes. Even despite the numerous small dishes, I don't think there are too many things on there at all. All the food and drinks fit on one side of the menu board. That's better than most restaurants in the area in terms of length. :)
Add another vote for Zaza. Food is better than Bar Rosso which while is good, I can't understand how people fall all down the stairs over it. Better wine list and service too at Zaza.