Zaza in St Albans

Visiting at lunch, we had a lovely meal. However I would particularly recommend the service. It had proved impossible to park and on hearing we would have to leave, the staff gave up their own staff parking place just so we could stay. I am so glad they did as we had a wonderful meal and we would certainly come back again.

Staff were all amazing and accommodating. The space was very heartwarming and felt very welcoming. I like how the interiors have been done. Amazing atmosphere throughout the restaurant. Not a bad place in terms of location. The only down side was the food. Garlic pizza bread with mozzarella was dry, olives were so-so, the goats cheese tart was so so good but this fried pasta parcel was very dry and stale. The gammon shank was a bit dry, and the gravy left much to be desired & more portions of it was definitely needed. The mash too was quite dry and bland. The conchiglia con pollo needed more seasoning on it and tasted quite bland. It closely resembled chicken dumplings. The creamy spinach also needed more seasoning and tasted bland. It was nice and hot but felt like it was microwaved. The tiramisu was great, alongside the warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and the crème brulèe was also lovely. Their ice creams are amazing. They also gave us a free birthday Prosecco and what was supposed to be desser, we got shots instead! Which was a win for sure. The portions of the foods are reasonable for the price.

Need to come again fish 🐟 is very good

An excellent local Italian restaurant with an extensive and varied menu and good selection of beers and wines. What makes this restaurant stand out from other similar small restaurant chains is the excellent level of service and attention to detail. Would recommend and revisit.

Amazing service and friendly staff, the food is brilliant, good value for money. SUPERB!!!!!

Amazing service and food!! The best restaurant ever 😋

I went here for lunch. Lovely setting and the lunch menu had a good choice although limited, the food was good but perhaps a little overpriced for what is on offer. However pleasant experience.

A very pleasant and quite authentic Italian restaurant. A good menu of traditional pasta and pizza dishes at reasonable prices. The lunch deal is good and available up to 5pm. Also check daily deals on drinks.

A very nice place to spend some time with great food and great company. Very accommodating with allergies by letting us go off the set valentines menu. The Mezzaluna Croccante is soooo good, and the fillet steak melts in your mouth !!! Will be back soon for sure.

As always, amazing food and atmosphere. Returned for Valentine's , absolutely lovely dinner, Larisa was fantastic, made us feel special , going the extra mile to make our evening special. She is a real credit to Zaza. Thank you Larisa , you are amazing.

Sorry to say this place has seen better days. It’s very tired and the room was freezing. Won’t be staying at this place again.

Medium size setup family run,good selection for all taste buds and not overpriced. Would recommend.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!! We needed a local restaurant for a special occassion and a large group. We know and have tried all in our area of Harpenden and have struggled to find consistently 7 out of 10 + for Food & 7 out of 10 + for Service. Some seemed perfect on the 1st visit, then something went wrong on the next. However, Zaza is excellent. The food is great and it really helped us catering for a large group of many dietary requests and young children. Most importantly for me, the service was always very high and very friendly. The team and the ambience give a warm atmosphere and our day was truly magical. We couldn't have excepted more and they went above and beyond. Sincere thanks to Vlad, Stella & Abi.....Highly recommend. Cory & Gopika

Very nice welcoming staff and beautifully designed premise

Update from 2025: A solid 2* - food very disappointing. A big decline from last time. Not hurrying back here. First impressions: a cold restaurant playing bad music slightly too loudly. For starters: obviously frozen calamari which was rubbery served with a lime that clearly wasn't the freshest. For main a pizza which slightly under-cooked I could have sent it back but it was a birthday outing and I didn't want to make a fuss. The biggest problem was the caramlized oninion which I strongly suspect came straight from a jar (denied by the waiter). Yes, it's a cheaper lunch menu. No, that doesn't mean you can sacrifice quality. ---- Previous visit from 2023: 4* Pretty good. Food was tasty and service good as you'd expect at this price point. Nothing blew me away so this is not a 5 star rating but equally I 2ssnt disappointed either.

Dined here a few times now more recently in December, always received 5 star service and excellent food. Great drinks menu too. Ambience always spot on! Perfect lunch and dinner venue.

Brilliant food and drink. Fast service.

Beautiful spot for lunch, dinner, date. Food and service are great and atmosphere is romantically unique with the trees in the middle.

Just had another wonderful evening dinner at this no nonsense beautiful Italian restaurant. Impeccable service with delicious courses. If you like Italian food, this is the place to go in Harpenden .

Really good evening out with excellent food and service

Beautiful! Food was stunning, staff were incredible. Will definitely be back!

The restaurant had food though it took a long time.The other night part of the restaurant was fully fantastic.

The place and atmosphere were great... BUT the food was simply amazing. As an aperitive I had salmon and as the main course pollo diavola, both were really really good 💯. Fully recommended.

A wonderful atmospheric place and delicious food. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Food quality very high. Medium rare Tuna among the best I have ever eaten. Great service. Upstairs rather noisy on a Sunday lunch for easy conversation.

Brilliant food, super service, came here for my MIL birthday for our party of 15. Would definitely come back

Best restaurant ever! Very good service and food. We will be back. Thank you 🫶🫶🫶

In my opinion- the best restaurant in Harpenden and it takes a lot to be the best in Harpenden as there is so much competition. Our favourite!!!

Amazing place, the food is a very delicious and generous portion!!! Good value for money and superb attentive service.

Come here for my 1st wedding Anniversary phoned the restaurant he went out of his way to make sure we had a table.... Champagne on arrival no extra charge Food was exceptional Service best I have had in a long time And was not expecting the added gesture of a heart with happy anniversary on a plate with another drink at the end I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone very well priced and again the service was sublime 👌 Thankyou team Zaza big thumbs up see you all soon

Fantastic Food & Staff, a few nice touches for our wedding anniversary meal which we really appreciated! Would recommend the smoked salmon starter - delicious! Thank you Zaza

Oat Latte's are the best I've had in a while, service good always smiling and friendly...

Loved it. Great atmosphere, the inside is beautiful and peaceful. The service is pretty fast and kind. The food is brilliant, there's lots of different options for everyone and a decent price.

I recently dined at Zaza Restaurant in Harpenden, and I must say, it was a delightful experience! The staff was incredibly attentive and made sure we felt welcomed throughout our visit. The food was nothing short of exceptional—each dish was not only beautifully presented but also bursting with flavor. From the appetizers to the main courses, everything was delicious and made with high-quality ingredients. I highly recommend Zaza to anyone looking for a fantastic meal in a warm and inviting atmosphere. I can't wait to return!

Very much enjoyed the experience, not cheap but worth it. Would definitely return if in the neighbourhood.

Great service as there were 8 of us. The staff were really friendly and accommodating. Helpful and patient. Food came within reasonable time. We got starters, mains and desserts which all came within similar timings. A wide choice of food to choose from. I love the pasta dishes here as well as the pizzas! Their main course dishes are good as well. I tend to switch it up everytime I visit this restaurant. Prices were reasonable. Restaurant is fancy and had beautiful ceiling and wall decor upstairs. Atmosphere was good, loud as it was a weekend dinner time. Majority of the tables were full. Staff were busy, not just standing about doing nothing. Recommend going here for a date night, meal with the family, parents, etc. Also they did a birthday surprise dessert for my uncle which was cute of them.

Friendly and attentive staff. Food was delicious. Highly recommend

An amazing, beautiful place, very tasty food, wonderful customer service, truly the best choice in Harpenden. Spending an anniversary there melted our hearts

Zaza must rate one of my all time favorite restaurants i have been too. From the moment you walk through the door the quality of the restaurant hits you ,everything from the food to the excellent service and lovely atmosphere is there to see, I was with a group of people who had a fantastic experience we all loved the food especially and will definitely be back, I highly recommend you give Zaza a visit, you will not be disappointed. 👌

Lovely place, Great atmosphere, delicious food and attentive staff. No wonder it's packed!

Really lovely restaurant, fresh food, good menu choices, friendly, efficient service. First time visiting and we’ll definitely be back!

Starters were nice but main pasta dishes were a let down. Ingredients weren’t as fresh tasting as I would have expected and seasoning and garnishes were used very sparingly so in all very overpriced for what you get. Customer service and ambience were very nice.

Very tasty food,large portions, would definitely recommend 😋

Visited for lunch. Great food at a reasonable price.

Great food as always, one of the best restaurants in harpenden.

Fantastic food in a beautiful restaurant. We came here on a Wednesday evening for a date night, we didn’t book but were seated straight away in an almost full restaurant. The staff were very friendly and the food was exceptional.

Lovely food, seared tuna salad nicoise highly recommended. Not overly expensive either. Can be a little noisy when full and most tables are upstairs which could be a problem for some. However they have a varied menu and great atmosphere. Complimentary limoncello is a nice touch at the end of the meal too.

Guests who do not order main courses and for 200 £ are not welcome. This is not my first time here, but it will definitely be the last. Not cool !!!!! no respect !!!!!

Booked for a birthday lunch, we were a little late due to train disruption however staff were very accommodating. Excellent service throughout the lunch which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Staff attentive, great variety on the menus. Love this restaurant; well worth a visit, recommend booking to avoid disappointment.

Very nice restaurant,very busy. The staff is very friendly .The food is delicious and is come very quick .

Was there for a birthday celebration and it was fantastic as always

Superb as always. Food excellent staff even better.

Such a great Italian Restaurant, located in the centre of Harpenden. Offering a fantastic range of Italian cuisine, along with national favourites like delicious steak, lamb-shank and more! We celebrated my brother's birthday here, and it was a lovely time! The staff were very lovely and friendly, and made my brother's birthday even more special when they kindly brought his birthday cake over, singing a lovely birthday song for him☺️

Nice clean restaurant with a good selection of typical Italian dishes. The staff were very helpful and friendly.

Excellent meal, great service. Reacted to a problem, great night 👍🏼

Excellent food excellent service

This place is excellent. I've been here quite a few times now and it's consistently good. The food is always extremely well prepared and delicious. Service is prompt without being pushy and all the staff are super nice. It does get busy though so it's probably worth booking.

First visit here, walked past.it many times without acknowledging it was here. We did a Friday lunch drop in, the staff were very attentive and in our opinion went above and beyond and the food.... excellent. It is now our new favourite place to eat in Harpenden 👍

Great food good price with the lunch deals. Attentive friendly service.

Food was great, portions were huge, price was right. Cool vibe inside too with all the trees and lights etc

Absolutely a great place to eat. Not too pricey and very nice food. Highly recommend going!

Food hygiene rating of 3 is not good enough and it is not displayed anywhere on the frontage. A bit deceiving.

Nice place to eat. The liver was delicious. Waiters friendly but very busy.

We came here for dinner on our anniversary, the restaurant was lovely the decor and atmosphere. We were seated at a lovely table right under the olive tree which really felt special, we were given some sparkling wine at the start to congratulate us, and some limoncello shots at the end as well. The food was excellent, really good portion sizes, and the service was good timing bringing out the food and checking in without being too much. The staff made it a very special evening for us one of the best meals out we have had for sure. Thank you so much!

First visit and it won't be the last. Food was good and the pate was the best I have had for years, a must have.

The service was great, the food is good, I'm just not liking restaurant chains anymore, just a personal preference

Excellent service, got to say that Larisa and her colleagues did a spectacular plate for my wife! My favorite restaurant in Harpenden, definitely recommended! 👏👏👏

Super atmosphere and lovely food. Staff very friendly.

The food was delicious, and the ambience was so romantic.

We went there with friends for lunch. We ordered from the lunchtime time menu, taking advantage of the offer of 2 courses for £14.90 per person. The portions very generous and delicious.

Had a wonderful time celebrating my 30th birthday recently. Very friendly staff, cracking jokes and I was surprised with complimentary prosecco & tiramisu cake which was so lovely. It was very busy so it did get very hot and a bit loud but overall the atmosphere was nice. Food was delicious, but one of the pasta dishes was too bland for my taste so I would probably not order that again. Still highly recommend for a nice meal, get together or celebration.

Very busy Saturday night , enjoyable evening.

Only a loo upstairs and Harpenden prices for the food...but otherwise lovely.

Great food, service and ambience but very noisy.

Great food.. Service was good too throughout. Although at the end before home I visited the ladies toilet and a female staff member that was in a cubicle before & after me came out without washing her hands. That was disappointing as everything else was lovely.

Excellent food , great service. We vaguely mentioned it was a birthday celebration while waiting for the other members of the party to arrive. A glass of prosecco arrived, later followed by a small birthday desert with a chorus of Happy Birthday. Nice touch, thank you.

Amazing,tasty food, very nice and professional staff. Clean,spotless restaurant. Outstanding! We were served by a gentleman who seemed to be the manager on duty/senior staff was absolutely efficient ,polite ,friendly. We will definitely be coming back ! Thank you very much 😊 🙂

The food was amazing and the service was great, I'll definitely come back

Best food I ate in a UK restaurant, everything was at superlative.Go without any hesitation and try it!

The food here tastes excellent and the service is very good. The restaurant is very nice but it is better to sit upstairs.

Christmas decor was nice, food was nice but not exceptional. It gets very busy so make sure you book.

Just perfect and amazing staff as well as food!

Another really enjoyable family dinner - and this time Xmas eve. As ever, lovely food and great team making it a special occasion. Thank you guys.

Very friendly staff and prompt service especially considering the place was packed for Christmas, theres a great selection of food and everything we had was really nice. If venison is on the menu... have it.

Amazing service, we will definitely return !!

Fantastic lunch experience, warm staff, great food and dream like interiors!

Great food and good atmosphere, just one thing to improve- the staff interrupted us repetitively during our conversation, give people a little more time to order and to enjoy the atmosphere!

Fabulous food and service when dining at Zaza, Harpenden with 36 members of The yoga group. Thank you

Would I go again- yes Got the atmosphere with all the trees inside. Food was well cooked. I had lamb shank which was soft.

the food is very average, it's definitely Italian food but without much flair I would say. my ravioli was too salty and the linguini pasta was not salty enough. in general, the food was prepared correctly, but there is definitely a lack of freshness, modernity, variety, etc. I realize that it is a chain, so you cannot count on a variety of flavors or menus, and that is why I give 4 stars because it is my conscious choice, but if it were not a chain it would definitely be 3 stars. Service very lovely and friendly, atmosphere great too.

Good atmosphere even though it was very noisy. Very nicely decorated upper floor. Service friendly and efficient

Always 10\10 food and service everytime I come here. Staff are so friendly, cannot fault Zaza!!

I love Zaza, you are always made to feel welcome at Harpenden, it is quite small but a perfect size for a night out. Food is excellent, generous portions and a very good menu. You never feel like you are being rushed out of the door. Servic us very good, staff are attentive making sure you are enjoying your experience. Highly recommended.

Good value from set lunch menu and very prompt service. Recommended

Solid food and wine in a lovely setting.

Brilliant restaurant! Very good menu and the Chef is excellent always

What a beautiful restaurant , so pretty inside with an olive tree , has an upstairs too. Food was totally 10 out of 10. We were there to celebrate a birthday. Service was great and atmosphere was amazing. Not noisy at all great for group parties or just dining out with a friend. Totally recommend

Ate at Zaza during the lunch period, was greeted by staff who were smiling and very upbeat. Was taken care of by one waitress who we felt was dedicated to us, so was great. Food was served promptly and portions were okay but could have done better with some of the pasta dishes being a bit bigger in portions. Atmosphere was fine until it was ruined by a bunch of inconsiderate individuals. Who I'm sure wanted everyone to know that they had been to had their hair done and what colour paint is going in the living room. Other than that, great service great good.

Excellent options for the kids, friendly service, Relaxed atmosphere, well priced.

Fantastic, so much better going to an Italian which isn't part of a hue chain , with good value and great food