An important part of my dining experience is service. Unfortunately, my experience was nothing but tension, frustration and disappointment. The server did not seem to know her job, served us the wrong appetizer and she didn't even know what it was! The food took forever, so I found the manager, who seemed un-fazed, but soon brought our food. We had pasta and had to ASK for pepper and Parmesan. Worst service ever! In the end, the CHEF was at our table apologizing for the poor service and gave us 1 free drink and appetizer ticket. Seriously??? where was the manager??? I will say the braised short ribs were excellent. It's just hard to enjoy a meal after such frustrating service.
(2)
John R.
I've got to say that Zurlo's used to be our go to joint for Friday evening happy hour, drinks, and then dinner. "Used to be" Something happened in the last couple months where service has taken a nose dive that is starting to drive customers away. It feels like they dumped all of their old staff that was very professional and now has untrained family members handling the bar and table service. Why bring an appetizer without plates and dinnerware and not even ask if the customers needs anything else. I had to go swipe plates and silverware from the next table. I think the issue is the service as the food tastes as good as it used too. We will see if owner wakes up to the problem. Issuing drink tickets is not the answer.
(2)
Carol S.
Four of us headed to Zurlo's for lunch as it has been one of our favorite places in the past. We all came away thinking there's been some significant changes and wondering if the restaurant might be in trouble. Observations: (1) Much more limited menu options, (2) no bread or crackers offered, either in a basket or with salads, (3) when one of us ordered the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken, the waitress brought the salad and the chicken on two separate plates - very odd, (4) no soup & salad combination options, (5) one in our party commented that she had been there recently for Happy Hour and ordered a pizza. The pizza was significantly smaller and cut in small pieces - not at all like they had served in the past. My guess is they are cutting corners to save money. Unfortunately it may cost them more in the long run if they lose what were once frequent patrons. I do think their food is great - just concerned they may not make it with all these noticeable changes.
(2)
Chris L.
Amazing food! Great portion size. High quality ingredients. A jem of a restaurant with high quality food and service. We are coming back soon.
(5)
Sara P.
This place is amazing!! Homemade pasta and the best lasagna in town. I have been there twice and the chef has asked us about our meal personally. You won't regret eating here!
(4)
Kylie K.
I am not really sure what happened last night. It was probably the worst experience of my life. 5 of us girls go there for happy hour and it was not busy at all. The waitress did fine at first as she brought our wines to us. But when she brought my sisters meal out she had a towel underneath of it because it was so hot. She went to hand it to my sister across the table and did NOT warn her that the plate was hot! Thank god my sister didn't just dropped it on the table but set it down real fast. It was funny at first wondering what just happened. It was 6:19 and I asked her for a glass of wine before the 6:30 mark. Finally at 6:45 I never saw her again so I got up and went to find her. I explained to her that now everyone needed drinks and we needed it before 6:30 but she never came back to us. She said she would be right out. at 7:15 I finally said WE are DONE!!!!!! We still have NoT seen her and it's been almost an hour! Who doesn't come back to check on you for an hour?!! So after complaining to the owners I said we need our checks right away because we have babysitters at home. The woman handed us all one drink ticket! What an insult! I am sorry but we gave them back to her insulted,again, because we would never go back again. It truly use to be our favorite spot and they should have -a. Not treated us with such poor help and -b. Probably taken our whole ticket off. Oh and the meatballs were still red in the middle! So disgusting and disappointed and for the first time in my LiFE we did NoT tip her. I'm sorry but after an hour and making us finally wait inside by the cash register before u can even hand us a bill with no apologies- DONe!!!!!! We have a successful business in Florence and excited to see Enzo's open. That's when you guys were successful before and so we will follow him now. Oh and I'm pretty sure she still charged me for my glass of wine she never brought to me!!!!!!!
(1)
Pam S.
Discovered my new favorite dinner menu item! Mixed Seafood $25 The Groupon helps with pricing! Very flavorful meals & fresh bread table side is always good! My hubby never veers from his #1 favorite meal in town! Chicken Balsamico $18! Don't forget the wine selection is vast! The new General Mgr Richard was promoted from our #1 favorite bartender in town! He makes sure everyone's happy
(4)
Kris S.
Fabulous Happy hour. Owner and chef are very welcoming. Server was very attentive. Food was SO DELICIOUS!! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jason L.
Chicken Picata was very good. The bruschetta was okay. Mozarella bites were very good. Service was excellent. We would definitely try it again.
(3)
Lisa K.
Went for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, The restaurant or patio was not too busy. The food is absolutely amazing. In addition to great tasting food, the prices were very reasonable. Atmosphere is modern and very clean. The only aspect that needs work, is the service. Definitely will continue to frequent.
(5)
Sarah G.
I had lunch here with a friend a while back and initially forgot to write my review... sandwiches, pasta, soup... and service was a little too slow for my liking at the time. Based on this, I was previously at a two. Recently we stopped in for peach bellinis (yum!) and impromptu desserts - and I have to ammend my star rating to a three. (Also, apparently I have to come in for dinner and really order some honest to goodness italian food to see what this place is all about - one of which is handmade pasta). A feedback item I would offer now, however, is that the desserts were a little too overdressed - akin to a frilly tuxedo on James Bond. We all know Bond doesn't need frills. Just like rumchata creme brulee doesn't need drizzles of chocolate and raspberry sauce with whipped cream, mint and strawberries. The dessert on its own was great (and served flan-style!) That's unique enough on its own. The other stuff - especially all together - wasn't necessary. And the fact that the flourless chocolate cake was served almost exactly the same way made both look generic instead of unique. Taste, however, was gooood. Looking forward to trying a full meal sometime soon.
(3)
Scott E.
After hearing so many good things about this place, I am not impressed. When asked to describe the dishes we tried, my mind debates between cafeteria quality at worst and Fazoli's flavors at best. The atmosphere was lively, and their patio remains to be tried. I feel, where the main dishes failed, happy hour plates may surprise. I will return to try their pizza and small plates, but would not recommend this as a dinner destination. Open message to owner: "Your reputation is quickly declining. You must change suppliers and improve the oils, cheeses, and sauces. Cheeping out on ingredients puts your chef in a difficult spot and leaves your customers wanting better."
(2)
Chester V.
The place has lost its luster and vision. Just not the same and the food is over sauced dish after dish. Less is more is definitely not on the mind when creating dishes. Oh and balsamic should not touch every item just because it's Italian.
(2)
Josh H.
I believe this has to be one of West Omaha's best kept secrets. I frequent this place and for good reason. The food is great and the atmosphere is fun as well. Especially on Thursday nights they have live music and the deck is very nice. A couple items that I especially like are the bread with a unique garlic butter which is delicious. Also, you cannot go wrong with the Lasagna, steak and antipasta. They also have a great lunch menu but whenever I go to lunch I seem to be the only one there. Which is odd because they have a great affordable lunch... Which again is why I say kepf secret..
(4)
Omaha Hair Extensions U.
Clients from Omaha Hair Extensions LOVE the food here and keep coming back for more! Chef Enzo's amazing skills are a personal favorite of the Owner of Omaha Hair Extensions! The atmosphere and location makes you feel like you have come into an upscale, but relaxing space and in from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Our next adventure at Enzo's? Definitely one of the live music nights...any excuse is a good one to eat at this place!
(5)
Christine S.
I would give it a 2 1/2 if I could, but it is better then a 2 star so 3 stars it is. I was unhappy with the service at the bar (10 minutes for a water), and then found the food just ok. Once we got seated, service did improve. For appetizers we had very rubbery calamari, and a too salty crab & smoked Gouda dip. For entrees, we had at the table both very over done pasta, and under down pasta. Whoever was cooking the pasta that night, wasn't watching the pot well. Then the interesting sounding chicken gilda was just a mess, lackluster chicken topped with a very salty gravy that tasted straight from a packet. The sauce was well done on the chicken picatta, but not good enough to cover up the overcooked pile of angel hair pasta, but the manhattan clam chowder was well done, lots of clams, bright tomatoes, great balanced taste. For me the cons outweighed the pros for this restaurant.
(3)
Andrea T.
Went here for dinner. I had the sausage and peppers and it was just okay, nothing to write home about. The friends I went with all enjoyed their meals so I might have ordered the wrong item and it could be that I'm finicky. We had good service, no complaints here.
(2)
Jeff C.
My first impression was the menu. Fine dining prices but with a diner style menu with very limited selections for dinner. My portion (gnocchi) was too small and not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I was also disappointed that the expensive dinner did not come with a salad, which would have been $6 more. My wife liked her shrimp pasta (vodka) but both her and my son said his spaghetti & meatballs lacked flavor. I probably will not return for dinner, maybe will try the lunch. For dinner you are much better off going to a place like Vincenzos for great food at reasonable prices, better atmosphere too.
(2)
Carrie H.
Driving past and decided to pop in on a Sunday for a late dinner. Food was ok and our service was fine, but the smell of cigars from next door bothered us ... they really need to figure out how to keep the cigar smell in the cigar bar. Poor Zurlo's.
(2)
Sean Q.
Been here twice. Left twice feeling disappointed. It was difficult to taste anything other than the salt! Not sure what the philosophy behind it is.. (Maybe drive up liquor/beverage sales?) But we won't be returning. I also felt the prices were steep for the product that you actually get. The only reason it got two stars instead of one was the atmosphere. On a weekend night, they had a female playing the guitar and singing. She was fantastic.
(2)
Norman K.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. They have a nice out door dining option. Very modern approach to Italian food and facility. Good prices. The "butter" for the bread is amazing. Service was ok. Drinks took a little long to come along with being able to place the food orders. Was not a big deal since we were not in a hurry. I had pasta with marinira, with chicken added. It was good, not the best in Omaha. They did offer red peppers which was plus in my book. Good prices for the quality of food. I would go back, but there are a lot of good Italian places in Omaha. I did like the Italian wines they have on the wine list.
(3)
Dan C.
I was excited to come here, as I always love trying out new Italian restaurants. It's situated in a shopping mall close to Old Chicago near 132nd and Maple. Not the easiest place to get to unless you know the roads. You can't get into it from Maple unless you're driving eastbound, then you have to drive by it, turn into a parking lot, then turn back around. I'd give it 3 stars for appearance. Nice enough decor, but the seating can be a bit cramped it it's full. It can be a bit on the louder side during happy hour, or on those evenings when they have live music. There really doesn't seem to be enough room in there for a guy and his guitar, but they put him in there anyway. The service. I'm basing this review on the average of about a dozen trips to the place. The last time I went on a Thursday evening at about 5pm, I met a friend. The host asked if we had reservations. I told him no, and as I looked around I noticed only two tables had been seated. He asked me how long we planned on taking to eat our meal, as he wasn't sure how many reservations he had for the evening. Not off to a good start if the host has no idea what his seating looks like for the evening. The waitstaff is usually pretty attentive, and can be found close by as the place isn't all that big. On to the food. The tomato bisque is excellent, and the salads always seem to be made very fresh. I've had a few of their pasta dishes, and haven't been disappointed, but also haven't been wowed to the point I'm thinking about when I can come back again. I really wanted to give this place 3.5 stars, but since I have to choose between 3 and 4, I went with 4. This is because there has been more than one occasion where I have had the head chef (possibly owner?) come into the dining room, say hello to the diners, and ask how they like their meal. This little touch goes a long way for me. I don't go out of my way to get to Zurlo's, but if we're in the area and need some good Italian food in a pinch, we'll head there.
(4)
WAJ W.
What's your position on the smell of cigars while you're eating? If that's not for you, don't eat here. A cigar bar shares a wall with the restaurant and the smell permeates this place.
(1)
Leigh L.
Just okay. Ordered the fried calamari expecting your classic calamari with marinara sauce but it came on a salad with no marinara sauce. If I wanted a salad, I would have ordered one. Waitress was sweet and maybe new, but forgot our bread (never brought it). Pasta primavera with red sauce was okay. I do appreciate the lower prices since it changed owners from Bianco. Would not return if prices raise. Biggest complaint was the calamari!
(2)
Jennifer B.
Another great night at Zurlos last night! We first enjoyed happy hour...$3 glasses of wine, and super cheap appetizers. I think the delicious bruschetta was $5. I also enjoyed a wonderful latte because I was cold. We then moved into the dining room and started out with some delicious bread and butter that was sooooo good! It's like crack! I enjoyed the gorgonzola gnocchi and my dinner companion ordered the penne with Bolognese. The penne was a bit overcook but the Bolognese was fabulous made with real meat (short ribs maybe?) My gorgonzola cream sauce was absolutely fabulous and came chock full of yummy sun dried tomatoes (a great combination). The gnocchi are a little different than I'm used to (bigger and fuller) but still very tasty. For dessert we drank delicious coffee and enjoyed a fabulous piece of lemoncello cheesecake and a divine flourless chocolate cake. I was still eating off the gnocchi and cheesecake today because the portions are very generous! Definitely get over there for happy hour 3-6:30 and then enjoy some dinner. One of our favorites is their lasagna and the pizza!! DELiSH!
(5)
Ronicca W.
Awesome happy hour. Sit outside and get the mushroom pizza! Next to Bravo, they have best pizza in Omaha.
(5)
Kit W.
I came here for lunch with a colleague of mine. Their menu is sort of limited for the lunch, and the prices are a little more "upscale" than the taste of their food would merit. I understand they are trying to be a more upscale food restaurant, but no matter how "fancy" you want to make a calzone, it still has to taste good. I had the mixed mushroom calzone and the crust was a little burnt and the insides had a very acidic leftover taste. I found myself cutting pieces off and drenching it in the watered down "marinara" it came with. The server was quite unattentive to our table considering we were one of three seated tables in the entire place. My water was emptied and never filled back up. When I asked for a box at the start of the meal (because I always portion half for later), she said she'd bring me one at the end of the meal. Um...not to be mean, but I have a reason for why I want the box at the beginning when I asked for one. I won't be going back. The food wasn't really "italian" as much as it was more Americanized, just trying to be a fancier version of pizza joints' calzones and pi'zones.
(2)
Cmh H.
This is really great food, from the red wine, ravioli and Gilda chicken... to the Creme Brulee, it's fabulous! Dinner for two was about $85. We've been here twice this month already. Next time we plan on trying some of the pizzas.
(4)
Sara K.
My family and I went to Zurlo's to celebrate my birthday. Upon arrival we were thankful we had a reservation given how packed it was for a Tuesday night. We found out the restaurant was celebrating their 1 year anniversary which probably drew in most of the patrons. However, when we told the hostess we has a reservation she gave us a confused look and asked "For tonight?" very rudely. Luckily for her and us a table had just opened up and she was able to seat us pretty quickly despite having lost our reservation. For part of their anniversary celebration they had a small buffet guests could help their selves to. My family chose not to try it as it was clear it had been sitting out all night. I got the Tomato Basil Soup to start while the rest of my family ordered salads. My soup was excellent and the one thing I was happy with. For my entree I ordered the Porcini Mushroom Gnocchi. What a horrible decision that ended up being. I love gnocchi, but this was a plate full of doughy balls twice the size of normal gnocchi. And to make matters worse, the gorgonzola cream sauce was way over salted. I ended up visiting the buffet because I could not eat my meal. We found that salt must be a favorite seasoning of someone cooking in the back as nearly everything was over salted on our table. The one entree that was enjoyed was my brother's choice of Sausage and Peppers with linguine. He loved the sauce. However the pasta was very over cooked and he ended up mentioning that to Chef Zurlo. And the one meal that was enjoyed ended up being the one that was comped off our bill at the end. Overall, I was not impressed with Zurlo's in the slightest. Now, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were more focused on keeping the buffet stocked or something. But in the end I will not be returning to Zurlo's and neither will the rest of my family.
(1)
Downtown J.
Great discovery today! Next time you think Old Chicago sounds good, you should absolutely check out Zurlo's instead. My office and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch on the patio at Zurlo's today. No one in my party had been to this location since it was previously occupied by Bianco. We were greeted by the owner Enzo and we appreciated that he took time to tell us about his most popular items. The lunch panini's were fresh and the perfect combination of crispy and gooey. I had the Sausage and Pepper sandwich and I will definitely go back for that item in the future. Our sides were fresh cut fries and pasta salad. The pasta salad was the best I've had in a restaurant. I'm excited to go back for their pizza and calzone's. There were not very many tables occupied during our visit and when we left the parking lot unfortunately Old Chicago appeared to have a ton of business. Zurlo's was a million times better, it is local and has a much classier atmosphere for around the same prices. Omaha needs to do a better job of supporting the local guys.
(5)
A B.
Great surprise for a strip mall. When you walk in you know something good is about to happen When you see the chef walking around greeting customers and serving them their dishes, your hunch proves correct. The menu is great, the wood fired pizza oven got my attention, and the service was spot on. Next time your anywhere near west O stop in.
(5)
Rachel R.
Awesome! Great Italian restaurant with a fun vibe. Food and service is fantastic and delicious. I suggest the gelato. The pizza and the lasagna are amazing!! yum! Here's the sites website: zurlos.com/index.html
(5)
Nanette S.
Love this place! Love the staff! We have spent many a Friday night at Happy Hour. The pizzas are authentic and get the total approval of my Jersey-based family. We have also enjoyed dinner here. Our favorites are the lasagna, the sea bass and roast pork special. If you haven't tried Zurlo's...what are you waiting for?
(5)
shannon b.
Been here several times since my last review and I've liked everything I've tried but just have to say the lasagna might be the best in the city (sorry Malara's I still like you too). It's covered in both marinara and bechamel sauce (I normally ask for all marina as it's pretty rich that way) and it's HUGE which is great because it also reheats very well. Paired with a salad and their yummy bread with fresh garlic/cheese butter it's total comfort heaven.
(5)
Mary Q.
Delicious and authentic. Dishes are large, so I suggest splitting with your date. Atmosphere is ok, but the patio is fantastic in summer!
(4)
Moe M.
Downloaded a Daily Deals 50% off coupon so I thought I would try it. I would have eaten there even without the coupon. My dining companion and I split some apps along with a bowl of ethereal mushroom and gorgonzola soup. The saltiness of the cheese gave the creamy broth intense flavor while the mushrooms made for a toothsome texture. It was garnished with finely sliced scallions along with a drizzle of sun dried tomatoe and garlic oil. We moved on to the Beef Carpaccio with arugula, horseradish and caper creme. It was no longer on the lunch menu (need to update the webpage) but they happily prepared it. Four crostini's grilled to perfection covered with very thinly shaved beef. The arugula and caper creme topping gave it a pop and a great mouthfeel. Fresh Parm-reggio was also spinkled on top. Next we tried the semolina encrusted fried calamari steaks served over baby greens and citrus vinaigrette. The calamari were cooked to tender perfection and while the dressing was good on the greens I would have liked a side of an aoli or something to dip the squid into. Finally we chose the shrimp scampi bruschetta which were four small shimp butterflied so just the tip of the tail was holding them together. The scamp sauce was very nice with sliced garlic, spinach, scallions and more of that sun dried pepper oil.. We also ordered a side of goat cheese to slather on the crostini's which were served seperately from the scampi. Service was only slightly slow but with only one waiter on duty, he actually did a very good job as busy as they were. The bill came to $48.00 including ice tea. I I higly recomment this fine dining establishment to all. Jonathan was our waiter so ask for him.
(5)
Kyle K.
Stopped in here with my 12 y/o son recently before a movie and they apparently have happy hour during the week with 1/2 price apps. I was surprised to see the comment about the rubbery calamari because that was actually one of the better fried calamari I have had in NE. I found it to be tender and my son actually wanted more. They were calamari skewers and not the usual rings that restaurants serve. We also got two single pizzas which were a good size. (8-9" across) sauce was good, toppings were generous, crust was a little burned one section of one the pizza but not charred. Server offered to take it back but we were already full. We would come back without hesitation for happy hour as that was a great deal (two drinks, apps, 2 pizzas and was less than $20 before tip) The main menu looked a little on the expensive side so maybe my wife and I will try that in the future. During dinner they had a trumpet player doing "light" jazz if you are into that.
(4)
Jamie L.
Went for dinner around 6 on a Monday night. The bar was full, but the restaurant was nearly empty. Just OK. The decor is somewhat interesting, the service isn't bad, but the food is a bit of a snooze. We tried beef carpaccio: tasted only of salt, no discernible hint of the "horseradish cream". The "Italian Pie" martini sounded inspiring, but the taste was just odd. The chicken piccata was serviceable and took way too long for the number of diners present. My husband's dish was so boring I can't recall what it was, although it was served with these tasty potato croquettes. Not exactly a bad meal, but for $60 + tip (everything I described plus a diet coke), I will not go back.
(2)
Mayra V.
We made a reservation for valentine's day. The waiters were really friendly and did a great job. However we sat right by the kitchen and the we could hear all the vulgar things that the cooks were saying. They were rating women who were in the restaurant in Spanish. Our reservation was at 9pm we didn't get our food until almost 10; we heard the the waiter telling the cooks to make our food and they constantly argued back. The waiter offered a free drink which was nice but we paid $100 dollars for their valentine special and I don't think we got what we paid for. We are from out of town and I was hoping for a better experience. Unfourtantly this was not the case. I will probably not come back or recommend this place to anyone. Kudos to our waiter Cruz. BTW my boyfriend and I had to share a napkin because we only had one. I forgot to say that. (Forgot about that)
(2)
Christine B.
We decided on Zurlo's since the four of us were coming from different locations and we have this incredibly misguided notion that we could save money during HH. The key to saving money, of course, is to a) stick with the HH menu and 2) don't overstay HH. Needless to stay, we suck at rules and attack HH as if it's a post-holiday clearance sale. While the couched seating area accommodated the four of us comfortably, the trendy little square tables were a bit awkward to accommodate our food and drinks. Nonetheless, we forged ahead, determined to yell-converse with each over the noise. On a Friday evening, the bar was jammed with a large crowd of post-work mature folks who were also yell-conversing with each other. The meatball appetizer ($7) would be more aptly named meatball tasting, was well presented, and included pairs of meatballs in different flavored sauces. Overall, OK. The cheese plate ($8) was pretty standard with a selection of hard and soft cheeses served with bread. Since no french fries were available (I have a ridiculous french fry obsession), we opted for the potato croquettes ($5) which were a bit salty and did not satiate the fried potato craving. After a few HH cocktails (house wine @ $3/glass, sangria @ $4/glass, martinis @ $5/glass) and a bottle of better wine (hey, a girl's gotta have some standards), we ordered a prosciutto & arugula pizza ($7) and chicken pesto pizza ($8). While the pesto pizza was a bit messy and drippy, overall, both pizzas were surprisingly tasty. Having had my share of disappointments in the area of flatbreads and pizzas, I tend to avoid these menu options, but my companions were insistent and I'm glad they insisted. Service was slow but not unexpected since the bar area was packed and we were jammed in a corner by the entrance. Our water glasses were refilled regularly and I appreciate not being charged for club soda. Overall, the bartender did a pretty good job of checking in on us and encouraging our post-holiday clearance sale mentality.
(3)
Tanya P.
We went a Saturday afternoon during their happy hour when they have 1/2 priced apps and a few drink specials. We ordered a bunch of apps and shared them which is what I would recommend to do. This way we got to try a bunch of different things. They have pretty good margarita's and the bellin'is aren't bad either! The service was pretty decent and the waitstaff was really helpful. They really knew their stuff and were able to make some great recommendations on what to try. I'll be back for more and this time plan to sit on the patio:)
(4)
Rod H.
Beautiful meals, we shared a bowl of cream of tomato soup. It was heavenly very flavorful. I ordered the Gilda chicken, everything I like was in this dish. Asparagus , mushrooms, chicken,cheese,Marsala sauce. Fabulous ! My wife had the eggplant Parmesan. She really enjoyed it. Excellent service and food. We loved it all.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Roberta H.
An important part of my dining experience is service. Unfortunately, my experience was nothing but tension, frustration and disappointment. The server did not seem to know her job, served us the wrong appetizer and she didn't even know what it was! The food took forever, so I found the manager, who seemed un-fazed, but soon brought our food. We had pasta and had to ASK for pepper and Parmesan. Worst service ever! In the end, the CHEF was at our table apologizing for the poor service and gave us 1 free drink and appetizer ticket. Seriously??? where was the manager??? I will say the braised short ribs were excellent. It's just hard to enjoy a meal after such frustrating service.
(2)John R.
I've got to say that Zurlo's used to be our go to joint for Friday evening happy hour, drinks, and then dinner. "Used to be" Something happened in the last couple months where service has taken a nose dive that is starting to drive customers away. It feels like they dumped all of their old staff that was very professional and now has untrained family members handling the bar and table service. Why bring an appetizer without plates and dinnerware and not even ask if the customers needs anything else. I had to go swipe plates and silverware from the next table. I think the issue is the service as the food tastes as good as it used too. We will see if owner wakes up to the problem. Issuing drink tickets is not the answer.
(2)Carol S.
Four of us headed to Zurlo's for lunch as it has been one of our favorite places in the past. We all came away thinking there's been some significant changes and wondering if the restaurant might be in trouble. Observations: (1) Much more limited menu options, (2) no bread or crackers offered, either in a basket or with salads, (3) when one of us ordered the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken, the waitress brought the salad and the chicken on two separate plates - very odd, (4) no soup & salad combination options, (5) one in our party commented that she had been there recently for Happy Hour and ordered a pizza. The pizza was significantly smaller and cut in small pieces - not at all like they had served in the past. My guess is they are cutting corners to save money. Unfortunately it may cost them more in the long run if they lose what were once frequent patrons. I do think their food is great - just concerned they may not make it with all these noticeable changes.
(2)Chris L.
Amazing food! Great portion size. High quality ingredients. A jem of a restaurant with high quality food and service. We are coming back soon.
(5)Sara P.
This place is amazing!! Homemade pasta and the best lasagna in town. I have been there twice and the chef has asked us about our meal personally. You won't regret eating here!
(4)Kylie K.
I am not really sure what happened last night. It was probably the worst experience of my life. 5 of us girls go there for happy hour and it was not busy at all. The waitress did fine at first as she brought our wines to us. But when she brought my sisters meal out she had a towel underneath of it because it was so hot. She went to hand it to my sister across the table and did NOT warn her that the plate was hot! Thank god my sister didn't just dropped it on the table but set it down real fast. It was funny at first wondering what just happened. It was 6:19 and I asked her for a glass of wine before the 6:30 mark. Finally at 6:45 I never saw her again so I got up and went to find her. I explained to her that now everyone needed drinks and we needed it before 6:30 but she never came back to us. She said she would be right out. at 7:15 I finally said WE are DONE!!!!!! We still have NoT seen her and it's been almost an hour! Who doesn't come back to check on you for an hour?!! So after complaining to the owners I said we need our checks right away because we have babysitters at home. The woman handed us all one drink ticket! What an insult! I am sorry but we gave them back to her insulted,again, because we would never go back again. It truly use to be our favorite spot and they should have -a. Not treated us with such poor help and -b. Probably taken our whole ticket off. Oh and the meatballs were still red in the middle! So disgusting and disappointed and for the first time in my LiFE we did NoT tip her. I'm sorry but after an hour and making us finally wait inside by the cash register before u can even hand us a bill with no apologies- DONe!!!!!! We have a successful business in Florence and excited to see Enzo's open. That's when you guys were successful before and so we will follow him now. Oh and I'm pretty sure she still charged me for my glass of wine she never brought to me!!!!!!!
(1)Pam S.
Discovered my new favorite dinner menu item! Mixed Seafood $25 The Groupon helps with pricing! Very flavorful meals & fresh bread table side is always good! My hubby never veers from his #1 favorite meal in town! Chicken Balsamico $18! Don't forget the wine selection is vast! The new General Mgr Richard was promoted from our #1 favorite bartender in town! He makes sure everyone's happy
(4)Kris S.
Fabulous Happy hour. Owner and chef are very welcoming. Server was very attentive. Food was SO DELICIOUS!! Can't wait to go back.
(5)Jason L.
Chicken Picata was very good. The bruschetta was okay. Mozarella bites were very good. Service was excellent. We would definitely try it again.
(3)Lisa K.
Went for dinner and drinks on a Saturday night, The restaurant or patio was not too busy. The food is absolutely amazing. In addition to great tasting food, the prices were very reasonable. Atmosphere is modern and very clean. The only aspect that needs work, is the service. Definitely will continue to frequent.
(5)Sarah G.
I had lunch here with a friend a while back and initially forgot to write my review... sandwiches, pasta, soup... and service was a little too slow for my liking at the time. Based on this, I was previously at a two. Recently we stopped in for peach bellinis (yum!) and impromptu desserts - and I have to ammend my star rating to a three. (Also, apparently I have to come in for dinner and really order some honest to goodness italian food to see what this place is all about - one of which is handmade pasta). A feedback item I would offer now, however, is that the desserts were a little too overdressed - akin to a frilly tuxedo on James Bond. We all know Bond doesn't need frills. Just like rumchata creme brulee doesn't need drizzles of chocolate and raspberry sauce with whipped cream, mint and strawberries. The dessert on its own was great (and served flan-style!) That's unique enough on its own. The other stuff - especially all together - wasn't necessary. And the fact that the flourless chocolate cake was served almost exactly the same way made both look generic instead of unique. Taste, however, was gooood. Looking forward to trying a full meal sometime soon.
(3)Scott E.
After hearing so many good things about this place, I am not impressed. When asked to describe the dishes we tried, my mind debates between cafeteria quality at worst and Fazoli's flavors at best. The atmosphere was lively, and their patio remains to be tried. I feel, where the main dishes failed, happy hour plates may surprise. I will return to try their pizza and small plates, but would not recommend this as a dinner destination. Open message to owner: "Your reputation is quickly declining. You must change suppliers and improve the oils, cheeses, and sauces. Cheeping out on ingredients puts your chef in a difficult spot and leaves your customers wanting better."
(2)Chester V.
The place has lost its luster and vision. Just not the same and the food is over sauced dish after dish. Less is more is definitely not on the mind when creating dishes. Oh and balsamic should not touch every item just because it's Italian.
(2)Josh H.
I believe this has to be one of West Omaha's best kept secrets. I frequent this place and for good reason. The food is great and the atmosphere is fun as well. Especially on Thursday nights they have live music and the deck is very nice. A couple items that I especially like are the bread with a unique garlic butter which is delicious. Also, you cannot go wrong with the Lasagna, steak and antipasta. They also have a great lunch menu but whenever I go to lunch I seem to be the only one there. Which is odd because they have a great affordable lunch... Which again is why I say kepf secret..
(4)Omaha Hair Extensions U.
Clients from Omaha Hair Extensions LOVE the food here and keep coming back for more! Chef Enzo's amazing skills are a personal favorite of the Owner of Omaha Hair Extensions! The atmosphere and location makes you feel like you have come into an upscale, but relaxing space and in from the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Our next adventure at Enzo's? Definitely one of the live music nights...any excuse is a good one to eat at this place!
(5)Christine S.
I would give it a 2 1/2 if I could, but it is better then a 2 star so 3 stars it is. I was unhappy with the service at the bar (10 minutes for a water), and then found the food just ok. Once we got seated, service did improve. For appetizers we had very rubbery calamari, and a too salty crab & smoked Gouda dip. For entrees, we had at the table both very over done pasta, and under down pasta. Whoever was cooking the pasta that night, wasn't watching the pot well. Then the interesting sounding chicken gilda was just a mess, lackluster chicken topped with a very salty gravy that tasted straight from a packet. The sauce was well done on the chicken picatta, but not good enough to cover up the overcooked pile of angel hair pasta, but the manhattan clam chowder was well done, lots of clams, bright tomatoes, great balanced taste. For me the cons outweighed the pros for this restaurant.
(3)Andrea T.
Went here for dinner. I had the sausage and peppers and it was just okay, nothing to write home about. The friends I went with all enjoyed their meals so I might have ordered the wrong item and it could be that I'm finicky. We had good service, no complaints here.
(2)Jeff C.
My first impression was the menu. Fine dining prices but with a diner style menu with very limited selections for dinner. My portion (gnocchi) was too small and not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I was also disappointed that the expensive dinner did not come with a salad, which would have been $6 more. My wife liked her shrimp pasta (vodka) but both her and my son said his spaghetti & meatballs lacked flavor. I probably will not return for dinner, maybe will try the lunch. For dinner you are much better off going to a place like Vincenzos for great food at reasonable prices, better atmosphere too.
(2)Carrie H.
Driving past and decided to pop in on a Sunday for a late dinner. Food was ok and our service was fine, but the smell of cigars from next door bothered us ... they really need to figure out how to keep the cigar smell in the cigar bar. Poor Zurlo's.
(2)Sean Q.
Been here twice. Left twice feeling disappointed. It was difficult to taste anything other than the salt! Not sure what the philosophy behind it is.. (Maybe drive up liquor/beverage sales?) But we won't be returning. I also felt the prices were steep for the product that you actually get. The only reason it got two stars instead of one was the atmosphere. On a weekend night, they had a female playing the guitar and singing. She was fantastic.
(2)Norman K.
Went for dinner on a Saturday night. They have a nice out door dining option. Very modern approach to Italian food and facility. Good prices. The "butter" for the bread is amazing. Service was ok. Drinks took a little long to come along with being able to place the food orders. Was not a big deal since we were not in a hurry. I had pasta with marinira, with chicken added. It was good, not the best in Omaha. They did offer red peppers which was plus in my book. Good prices for the quality of food. I would go back, but there are a lot of good Italian places in Omaha. I did like the Italian wines they have on the wine list.
(3)Dan C.
I was excited to come here, as I always love trying out new Italian restaurants. It's situated in a shopping mall close to Old Chicago near 132nd and Maple. Not the easiest place to get to unless you know the roads. You can't get into it from Maple unless you're driving eastbound, then you have to drive by it, turn into a parking lot, then turn back around. I'd give it 3 stars for appearance. Nice enough decor, but the seating can be a bit cramped it it's full. It can be a bit on the louder side during happy hour, or on those evenings when they have live music. There really doesn't seem to be enough room in there for a guy and his guitar, but they put him in there anyway. The service. I'm basing this review on the average of about a dozen trips to the place. The last time I went on a Thursday evening at about 5pm, I met a friend. The host asked if we had reservations. I told him no, and as I looked around I noticed only two tables had been seated. He asked me how long we planned on taking to eat our meal, as he wasn't sure how many reservations he had for the evening. Not off to a good start if the host has no idea what his seating looks like for the evening. The waitstaff is usually pretty attentive, and can be found close by as the place isn't all that big. On to the food. The tomato bisque is excellent, and the salads always seem to be made very fresh. I've had a few of their pasta dishes, and haven't been disappointed, but also haven't been wowed to the point I'm thinking about when I can come back again. I really wanted to give this place 3.5 stars, but since I have to choose between 3 and 4, I went with 4. This is because there has been more than one occasion where I have had the head chef (possibly owner?) come into the dining room, say hello to the diners, and ask how they like their meal. This little touch goes a long way for me. I don't go out of my way to get to Zurlo's, but if we're in the area and need some good Italian food in a pinch, we'll head there.
(4)WAJ W.
What's your position on the smell of cigars while you're eating? If that's not for you, don't eat here. A cigar bar shares a wall with the restaurant and the smell permeates this place.
(1)Leigh L.
Just okay. Ordered the fried calamari expecting your classic calamari with marinara sauce but it came on a salad with no marinara sauce. If I wanted a salad, I would have ordered one. Waitress was sweet and maybe new, but forgot our bread (never brought it). Pasta primavera with red sauce was okay. I do appreciate the lower prices since it changed owners from Bianco. Would not return if prices raise. Biggest complaint was the calamari!
(2)Jennifer B.
Another great night at Zurlos last night! We first enjoyed happy hour...$3 glasses of wine, and super cheap appetizers. I think the delicious bruschetta was $5. I also enjoyed a wonderful latte because I was cold. We then moved into the dining room and started out with some delicious bread and butter that was sooooo good! It's like crack! I enjoyed the gorgonzola gnocchi and my dinner companion ordered the penne with Bolognese. The penne was a bit overcook but the Bolognese was fabulous made with real meat (short ribs maybe?) My gorgonzola cream sauce was absolutely fabulous and came chock full of yummy sun dried tomatoes (a great combination). The gnocchi are a little different than I'm used to (bigger and fuller) but still very tasty. For dessert we drank delicious coffee and enjoyed a fabulous piece of lemoncello cheesecake and a divine flourless chocolate cake. I was still eating off the gnocchi and cheesecake today because the portions are very generous! Definitely get over there for happy hour 3-6:30 and then enjoy some dinner. One of our favorites is their lasagna and the pizza!! DELiSH!
(5)Ronicca W.
Awesome happy hour. Sit outside and get the mushroom pizza! Next to Bravo, they have best pizza in Omaha.
(5)Kit W.
I came here for lunch with a colleague of mine. Their menu is sort of limited for the lunch, and the prices are a little more "upscale" than the taste of their food would merit. I understand they are trying to be a more upscale food restaurant, but no matter how "fancy" you want to make a calzone, it still has to taste good. I had the mixed mushroom calzone and the crust was a little burnt and the insides had a very acidic leftover taste. I found myself cutting pieces off and drenching it in the watered down "marinara" it came with. The server was quite unattentive to our table considering we were one of three seated tables in the entire place. My water was emptied and never filled back up. When I asked for a box at the start of the meal (because I always portion half for later), she said she'd bring me one at the end of the meal. Um...not to be mean, but I have a reason for why I want the box at the beginning when I asked for one. I won't be going back. The food wasn't really "italian" as much as it was more Americanized, just trying to be a fancier version of pizza joints' calzones and pi'zones.
(2)Cmh H.
This is really great food, from the red wine, ravioli and Gilda chicken... to the Creme Brulee, it's fabulous! Dinner for two was about $85. We've been here twice this month already. Next time we plan on trying some of the pizzas.
(4)Sara K.
My family and I went to Zurlo's to celebrate my birthday. Upon arrival we were thankful we had a reservation given how packed it was for a Tuesday night. We found out the restaurant was celebrating their 1 year anniversary which probably drew in most of the patrons. However, when we told the hostess we has a reservation she gave us a confused look and asked "For tonight?" very rudely. Luckily for her and us a table had just opened up and she was able to seat us pretty quickly despite having lost our reservation. For part of their anniversary celebration they had a small buffet guests could help their selves to. My family chose not to try it as it was clear it had been sitting out all night. I got the Tomato Basil Soup to start while the rest of my family ordered salads. My soup was excellent and the one thing I was happy with. For my entree I ordered the Porcini Mushroom Gnocchi. What a horrible decision that ended up being. I love gnocchi, but this was a plate full of doughy balls twice the size of normal gnocchi. And to make matters worse, the gorgonzola cream sauce was way over salted. I ended up visiting the buffet because I could not eat my meal. We found that salt must be a favorite seasoning of someone cooking in the back as nearly everything was over salted on our table. The one entree that was enjoyed was my brother's choice of Sausage and Peppers with linguine. He loved the sauce. However the pasta was very over cooked and he ended up mentioning that to Chef Zurlo. And the one meal that was enjoyed ended up being the one that was comped off our bill at the end. Overall, I was not impressed with Zurlo's in the slightest. Now, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say maybe they were more focused on keeping the buffet stocked or something. But in the end I will not be returning to Zurlo's and neither will the rest of my family.
(1)Downtown J.
Great discovery today! Next time you think Old Chicago sounds good, you should absolutely check out Zurlo's instead. My office and I enjoyed a fantastic lunch on the patio at Zurlo's today. No one in my party had been to this location since it was previously occupied by Bianco. We were greeted by the owner Enzo and we appreciated that he took time to tell us about his most popular items. The lunch panini's were fresh and the perfect combination of crispy and gooey. I had the Sausage and Pepper sandwich and I will definitely go back for that item in the future. Our sides were fresh cut fries and pasta salad. The pasta salad was the best I've had in a restaurant. I'm excited to go back for their pizza and calzone's. There were not very many tables occupied during our visit and when we left the parking lot unfortunately Old Chicago appeared to have a ton of business. Zurlo's was a million times better, it is local and has a much classier atmosphere for around the same prices. Omaha needs to do a better job of supporting the local guys.
(5)A B.
Great surprise for a strip mall. When you walk in you know something good is about to happen When you see the chef walking around greeting customers and serving them their dishes, your hunch proves correct. The menu is great, the wood fired pizza oven got my attention, and the service was spot on. Next time your anywhere near west O stop in.
(5)Rachel R.
Awesome! Great Italian restaurant with a fun vibe. Food and service is fantastic and delicious. I suggest the gelato. The pizza and the lasagna are amazing!! yum! Here's the sites website: zurlos.com/index.html
(5)Nanette S.
Love this place! Love the staff! We have spent many a Friday night at Happy Hour. The pizzas are authentic and get the total approval of my Jersey-based family. We have also enjoyed dinner here. Our favorites are the lasagna, the sea bass and roast pork special. If you haven't tried Zurlo's...what are you waiting for?
(5)shannon b.
Been here several times since my last review and I've liked everything I've tried but just have to say the lasagna might be the best in the city (sorry Malara's I still like you too). It's covered in both marinara and bechamel sauce (I normally ask for all marina as it's pretty rich that way) and it's HUGE which is great because it also reheats very well. Paired with a salad and their yummy bread with fresh garlic/cheese butter it's total comfort heaven.
(5)Mary Q.
Delicious and authentic. Dishes are large, so I suggest splitting with your date. Atmosphere is ok, but the patio is fantastic in summer!
(4)Moe M.
Downloaded a Daily Deals 50% off coupon so I thought I would try it. I would have eaten there even without the coupon. My dining companion and I split some apps along with a bowl of ethereal mushroom and gorgonzola soup. The saltiness of the cheese gave the creamy broth intense flavor while the mushrooms made for a toothsome texture. It was garnished with finely sliced scallions along with a drizzle of sun dried tomatoe and garlic oil. We moved on to the Beef Carpaccio with arugula, horseradish and caper creme. It was no longer on the lunch menu (need to update the webpage) but they happily prepared it. Four crostini's grilled to perfection covered with very thinly shaved beef. The arugula and caper creme topping gave it a pop and a great mouthfeel. Fresh Parm-reggio was also spinkled on top. Next we tried the semolina encrusted fried calamari steaks served over baby greens and citrus vinaigrette. The calamari were cooked to tender perfection and while the dressing was good on the greens I would have liked a side of an aoli or something to dip the squid into. Finally we chose the shrimp scampi bruschetta which were four small shimp butterflied so just the tip of the tail was holding them together. The scamp sauce was very nice with sliced garlic, spinach, scallions and more of that sun dried pepper oil.. We also ordered a side of goat cheese to slather on the crostini's which were served seperately from the scampi. Service was only slightly slow but with only one waiter on duty, he actually did a very good job as busy as they were. The bill came to $48.00 including ice tea. I I higly recomment this fine dining establishment to all. Jonathan was our waiter so ask for him.
(5)Kyle K.
Stopped in here with my 12 y/o son recently before a movie and they apparently have happy hour during the week with 1/2 price apps. I was surprised to see the comment about the rubbery calamari because that was actually one of the better fried calamari I have had in NE. I found it to be tender and my son actually wanted more. They were calamari skewers and not the usual rings that restaurants serve. We also got two single pizzas which were a good size. (8-9" across) sauce was good, toppings were generous, crust was a little burned one section of one the pizza but not charred. Server offered to take it back but we were already full. We would come back without hesitation for happy hour as that was a great deal (two drinks, apps, 2 pizzas and was less than $20 before tip) The main menu looked a little on the expensive side so maybe my wife and I will try that in the future. During dinner they had a trumpet player doing "light" jazz if you are into that.
(4)Jamie L.
Went for dinner around 6 on a Monday night. The bar was full, but the restaurant was nearly empty. Just OK. The decor is somewhat interesting, the service isn't bad, but the food is a bit of a snooze. We tried beef carpaccio: tasted only of salt, no discernible hint of the "horseradish cream". The "Italian Pie" martini sounded inspiring, but the taste was just odd. The chicken piccata was serviceable and took way too long for the number of diners present. My husband's dish was so boring I can't recall what it was, although it was served with these tasty potato croquettes. Not exactly a bad meal, but for $60 + tip (everything I described plus a diet coke), I will not go back.
(2)Mayra V.
We made a reservation for valentine's day. The waiters were really friendly and did a great job. However we sat right by the kitchen and the we could hear all the vulgar things that the cooks were saying. They were rating women who were in the restaurant in Spanish. Our reservation was at 9pm we didn't get our food until almost 10; we heard the the waiter telling the cooks to make our food and they constantly argued back. The waiter offered a free drink which was nice but we paid $100 dollars for their valentine special and I don't think we got what we paid for. We are from out of town and I was hoping for a better experience. Unfourtantly this was not the case. I will probably not come back or recommend this place to anyone. Kudos to our waiter Cruz. BTW my boyfriend and I had to share a napkin because we only had one. I forgot to say that. (Forgot about that)
(2)Christine B.
We decided on Zurlo's since the four of us were coming from different locations and we have this incredibly misguided notion that we could save money during HH. The key to saving money, of course, is to a) stick with the HH menu and 2) don't overstay HH. Needless to stay, we suck at rules and attack HH as if it's a post-holiday clearance sale. While the couched seating area accommodated the four of us comfortably, the trendy little square tables were a bit awkward to accommodate our food and drinks. Nonetheless, we forged ahead, determined to yell-converse with each over the noise. On a Friday evening, the bar was jammed with a large crowd of post-work mature folks who were also yell-conversing with each other. The meatball appetizer ($7) would be more aptly named meatball tasting, was well presented, and included pairs of meatballs in different flavored sauces. Overall, OK. The cheese plate ($8) was pretty standard with a selection of hard and soft cheeses served with bread. Since no french fries were available (I have a ridiculous french fry obsession), we opted for the potato croquettes ($5) which were a bit salty and did not satiate the fried potato craving. After a few HH cocktails (house wine @ $3/glass, sangria @ $4/glass, martinis @ $5/glass) and a bottle of better wine (hey, a girl's gotta have some standards), we ordered a prosciutto & arugula pizza ($7) and chicken pesto pizza ($8). While the pesto pizza was a bit messy and drippy, overall, both pizzas were surprisingly tasty. Having had my share of disappointments in the area of flatbreads and pizzas, I tend to avoid these menu options, but my companions were insistent and I'm glad they insisted. Service was slow but not unexpected since the bar area was packed and we were jammed in a corner by the entrance. Our water glasses were refilled regularly and I appreciate not being charged for club soda. Overall, the bartender did a pretty good job of checking in on us and encouraging our post-holiday clearance sale mentality.
(3)Tanya P.
We went a Saturday afternoon during their happy hour when they have 1/2 priced apps and a few drink specials. We ordered a bunch of apps and shared them which is what I would recommend to do. This way we got to try a bunch of different things. They have pretty good margarita's and the bellin'is aren't bad either! The service was pretty decent and the waitstaff was really helpful. They really knew their stuff and were able to make some great recommendations on what to try. I'll be back for more and this time plan to sit on the patio:)
(4)Rod H.
Beautiful meals, we shared a bowl of cream of tomato soup. It was heavenly very flavorful. I ordered the Gilda chicken, everything I like was in this dish. Asparagus , mushrooms, chicken,cheese,Marsala sauce. Fabulous ! My wife had the eggplant Parmesan. She really enjoyed it. Excellent service and food. We loved it all.
(5)