Zucca Ristorante

We went there to celebrate one of my friend's birthday. We were a group of 4 and 2 of us were drinking. After we had about 3 shots of tequila each in a period of 2 hours along with food, we wanted to order more food 30 minutes before their closing time. The waitress said the restaurant ran out o the dish we ordered! Then we wanted to have one last shot. She sent another waiter to our table and he said she thinks we had enough drinks and refused to serve us anymore! While we were in the middle of our dinner, she came over to us and asked us which country we were from and made some smrky remark when we told her where we were from!

Pros: Close to Staples center

Cons: Bad service, high prices

Posted 08/19/08

My wife and I went there for happy hour just before a Laker game. We went into the outdoor patio area. When we talked to the waiter, we told him we were there for the happy hour and basically ordered off the happy your menu. The happy hour menu said "complimentary pizza" so we ordered 2 orders of the pizza. I was actually holding and looking at the happy hour menu and pointed to the part that said "complementary pizza" when I ordered it. When the bill came, they charged us for the 2 pizzas. When I asked the waiter about the charge, he said the pizza was only complimentary if you ate at the "credenza". He said he'd talk to the manager. They ended up charging us for 1 pizza instead of 2.

Even though they did that for us, he admitted that the happy hour menu was misleading. I would think that this issue was probably a common occurence if it's printed on their happy hour menu (there was no mention of the credenza on the menu). Not to mention that I pointed at the "complimentary pizza" part of the menu when I ordered it and the waiter never even said anything about it when I ordered.

Not cool.

Pros: pretty good food

Cons: good service except for the fact they tried to pull one over us. dont trust them.

Posted 03/21/08

There were 4 of us in the group and we had made resv a couple of days in advance...they asked for the credit card and said we would be charged if there was a no show. We arrived promply and there was not a patron in the restaurant. It was an early dinner and then off to a concert. We were given a table in the very back facing the restroom and a wide screen used by the servers. We asked to be moved and specified a nicer table and no TV. It was as if we had 3 heads when we made this request and the hostess sit us next to the bar and a TV overhead. Again, there was not a single person in the restaurant but us. So we asked if we could move Again..I didn't make rsvp so we could sit next to the bar and watch a noisy TV. The hostess said NO she would not move us as she already had the seating planned. Well, no one asked me when making the rsvp any questions about seating, so how could she plan it out..and we were the ONLY people in the place. We finally aranged a table but really it wasn't a nice table....the food was medicore and the portions were really really small. I ordered wine by the bottle and it came out by the glass. They rushed us out of there w. no dessert...not like I wanted any anyway, but I was terribly embarrased as I was taking out clients. We are in our mid forties and culturally diverse, and I speculate that we were not the crowd they wanted...but they sure wanted our credit card just in case we didnt show. Which is how they prefer it.

Pros: The restaurant is very nive to look at, but nothing more

Cons: the service, attitude, portions that are too small and not even that great

Posted 03/18/08

I try to go to as many happy hours as possible... I'm young, its cheap, less formal, and many times still tasty. Zucca blew the roof off of all of the happy hours I have ever been to. The inside of Zucca is beautiful and grand, with high ceilings and marble floors. On the right is the bar, sit with Gary and he will take care of everything. The house cab was very good (only like 4 dollars) and my boyfriend got a dirty martini which he enjoyed (like 4 dollars). All of the food is $4.50. We got the zucca pizza, a pizza with truffle oil and mushrooms (can't remember the name), fried ravioli, and vongole (clams). The pizzas are amazing! I loved the zucca, my boyfriend loved the truffle oil, but we both enjoyed each of them. The vongole was also great, very fresh, with this amazing toasted bread that was so good dipping into the tomato brushetta sause. The fried ravioli wasn't that great and really was kind of like mozzarella sticks (instead with ricotta), but I think I just don't like that sort of thing. Four drinks and four appetizers later, me and my boyfriend were buzzed and very very full... all for like $40 dollars. I can't wait to go back, and when I earn a little more, actually try their normal menu. Hands down, the best happy hour in L.A.

Pros: Food, food, food... oh and the ambience and Gary the bartender

Cons: Nothing!

Posted 07/12/07

The nice thing I have to say is that it is a beautiful restaurant and my own meal (Tortelloni di Zucca con burro e salva) was excellent, but the way we were treated was such that I won't ever go back:

A group of co-workers and I went in for a celebratory Friday lunch around 1:30 or so and were enjoying ourselves until about 2:30 when, unbeknowst to us, they closed. Up until that point, things hadn't been perfect -one of our party had to send her linguine and clams back because it was far too salty (and she likes more salt than most) and our main courses arrived mere minutes after our appetizers- however,
we were, like I said, enjoying ourselves. Once they closed, a frost came over our server as though she couldn't wait to get rid of us. She tried to remove dishes prematurely several times and leave the check even though we weren't offered dessert, which several of us did indeed want. The vibe wasn't lost on us and we were offended by the rudeness -especially after they seated our group in the first place and we were spending a lot- but we wanted to enjoy our meal. We asked for dessert and got it, but they were quick to swoop up the empty plates as soon as possible. The kicker was when the fire alarm suspiciously went off as some of us were still finishing our coffees and the piercing shrillness drove us from the place. On the way out, we made jokes about it like, "We get the point, we're leaving!" which the bartender was quick to defend telling us it must be the bakery next door -as though it happens all the time (which it might). Of course, not but moments after we were out the door and it was closed behind us did the alarm conveniently stop.

Anyhow, I figure in a town like this where we have so many options I can very easily go somewhere else and get an excellent meal without all the attitude and shenanigans. It would be money and time much better spent.

Posted 04/26/07

I've been before and actually loved the 1 item I always get the linguine and clams. So my wife and I decided to go on a Thursday night, we live DT so it's a cool thing to walk over there. We've gone before on a Sunday and a Saturday night well before the closing times and both times we were locked out while there was full dinning room.
"sorry we're closed". So this past time we thought we would be safe at 8:15 with a Lakers game down the street.
We got the look of death as we walked in and our server Lyn R wished we were never born.
So we get ready to order and Lyn drops the "oh yeah we're out of the linguine and clams..D'oh!
My wife order the Lobster and shrimp ravioli that turned out to be a gooey bad dish stench of a meal in a sea salt brine. I tasted the broth and pushed it aside and we then ordered just a PIZZA...the table next to us were laughing b/c they new what we sent back b/c they did too, as well as the table next to them.
WELL the table next to us and the table next to them didn't have to pay nor did it show up on the bill.
We had to ask and then explain and justify our case for the item to be removed then we got the check with highlighted notes. "thought dish was too salty" our neighbors didn't get labeled.
Anyways the pizza was cold, service was cruel and the seafood brine pasta was gross.
They have lost some DT customers for ever. next time we hop in the car and go to Palermo!
I no longer will defend the Patina group.

Posted 04/12/07

We went there before a concert at Staples Center, which is three blocks to the south. The service was generally good but the food was pretty ordinary, even less than ordinary. We ate on the patio, which is nice but noisy with the street traffic at rush hour only a few feet away. Occasional lapses in service included forgetting to bring new forks with our main dishes, and virtually ignoring us once we declined desert. Everything is a la carte and the portions are adequate though not generous. Over-priced considering the mediocre quality of the food.

Pros: Good parking

Cons: Mediocre food, Patio close to street, Very crowded

Posted 11/15/05

Been a few times and has been above average each time. Spiced potato soup was very hot and very flavorful. Salad with greens, endive, olives, and squid was simple yet delicioius. I had lamb for entree was tasty, except for the fact that medium rare was a slight bit under. The filet my girlfriend had was tasty, well cooked, but not very exciting as far as originality. Rosemary potato gratin and haricot verts with beef is somewhat standard. Lasagne is VERY tasty and flavorful with plenty of the cheese. The only thing that I had which i didn't care for was a risotto with cabbage and ham. Very bland and a little al dente for me, but would try another risotto again. Wine list is extensive, a bit scary because of the way its set up. Desserts are great. Taramisu, the ricotta cheesecake are great...especially with an aged Armagnac!

Pros: Flavorful Food, Service

Posted 08/11/05

Happy Hour is great! The food is above average but the Pizza is really good. Nice Italian food in Downtown, about time!

Posted 07/26/05

Love Zucca.
Impressive looking restaruant. Warm and elegant. Food is consistantly good. Love the risotto and trout.
The manager and her staff seem to enjoy going that extra mile for their patrons. Seems like the people who make the food and the people who serve it really love what they are doing here.

Pros: great food, no corkage fee, excellent staff

Cons: no valet

Posted 07/03/05

Can't beat the prices for what you get. It's basically a $4 menu. The clams are exceptional! The service was very warm and attentive. bartender (female) was cool ---I don't remember her name but she works on wednesdays.

Pros: happy hour, clams, decor

Cons: not enough bar seats

Posted 03/28/05

Was going to a game at the Staples Center & went here first and had dinner and drinks at the bar. If you are looking for a great restaurant to go to near The Staples Center and don't want to spend a fortune - try this place. The bartender was very friendly and so was the hostess.

Pros: food, staff, location

Posted 03/23/05

I've now been Zucca 4 times. My last visit was most concerning though, and usually indicates the end of my patronage to a restaurant. We ate on a Sat. evening, and they were out of nearly EVERYTHING. When my dish was presented ( I had just had it 2 days prior), I commented to the waiter, who prefaced his response with "I just hate it when I'm right...", and explained to me that I did not, in fact have asparagus on my salmon. I was stunned, and asked if he was calling me a liar, and he responded by bringing over another (off duty, out of her apron) server to corroborate his story that I did not, and will not, get asparagus with my salmon. Not wanting to cause a scene, I just then asked for a side of asparagus, to which he said, "Oh, we're out of asparagus!". Outrageous!

Pros: beautiful decor, great liquor & wine

Cons: inconsistent, "pompous" servers

Posted 03/22/05

Thoroughly enjoyed a meal at Zucca. Have always found the tastes of the menu to be appropriately complex and delicious. Service is as distant from second rate as a restaurant can be, especially in the quality service-deserted LA. The only negative thing I could say about Zucca is that the artwork is kind of Eyes Wide Shut-style creepy with phantoms and such. Given that that is the only remotely negative thing I can allow, you can imagine that this place has got it. I don't even like seafood, and I gobbled that fish DOWN.

Pros: Diverse Menu, Holiday Prix Fixe, Service

Posted 04/08/04

First of all, Zucca is one of the most beautiful restaurants I've been to since I've moved to LA.
We went based on a co workers suggestion.
I expected to it to be very pricy based on the decor. The menu was very reasonable and the food was unreal! I had the lasagna. The best I've had since I moved here from the East Coast. Wonderful. My dining companions all had the same experience w/ their selections.
Zucca also boasts an very diverse wine list. So much to choose from! I had a wonderful grappa after my meal.
The staff is warm, attentive and professional.
The free shuttle to the Music Center was the icing on the cake.
I have a new favorite restaurant. Zucca is another gem in the Patina reataurant family.

Pros: excellent service, the Food! , atmosphere

Posted 10/24/03

Ok, its Sat night we are downtown and wanted to try Zucca. The food was very good, pizzas, steak, pastas, but the staff was weird. We (5 pp) sat down and asked to move tables (we were next to the waiter station) they told us all tables were taken. Only later to see the same table we wanted still empty. The Hostess is coo coo, came to our table to pour the wine and kept rolling her eyes. We listened all night to the bus boy put the silverware in the waiter station. When we asked to him to please be more quiet, he then started to THROW the silverwear hard into its separate containers LOUDER! Overall, like I said, I just can't put my finger in it...

Pros: good food, pretty restaurant

Cons: inexperienced staff

Posted 09/02/03

The food is nothing to drool over and the service is unbelievably SLOW

Posted 07/29/02

Since the Staples Center has been built, a bevy of downtown restaurants have opened up. While this Italian restaurant is not all it's cracked up to me, it's still a satisfying place for a high-end meal.

Posted 05/20/02