This place is amazing. Good service and fast food. The best part was the quality unique food they serve. Its just enough food for you to want to get a take home box and it's a great prices restaurant.
(5)
David B.
Best Italian food in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque. I go here at least one a month and it never disappoints. Reasonable prices and they have great service.
(5)
Jasmine B.
I really like this place! I'm sad that there aren't any in Washington. Hot, fresh out of the oven bread with spices and olive oil, friendly servers, and (usually) excellent food. We were a bit disappointed this time... My dad's pizza was missing it's sausage, my chicken piccata was seriously lacking sauce, and my mom's seafood pasta only had a few pieces of seafood, but the manager was nice enough to give us a voucher for two free entrees next time we come in.
(4)
Mary M.
Had left our car to have its tires rotated and had only Cottonwood Mall chain restaurants to choose from. We picked Zio's and were pleasantly surprised. We liked it much better than Olive Garden. Nothing tasted bland. The tomato soup was delish. I even liked the Caesar salad dressing (creamy). We also liked the Caprese Salad and the Baked Formaggio but it was very rich. Going back to try the Toasted Ravioli (a St. Louis specialty in ABQ!). A better than average chain.
(4)
Amanda S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place for their gluten free menu options!! My daughter has celiac disease so I'm always pleased to see restaurants catering to gf options. The pizza was amazing! Only missing a fifth star because my husband got the lasagna & was extremely unimpressed...but he helped our son with his fettuccine Alfredo which was very good! Love the atmosphere too, which is quite kid friendly!
(4)
Marissa H.
My friend and I enjoy meeting here for lunch to visit and have a tasty lunch. It is usually pretty quiet and the service and food is good. I have tried several things on the menu and never have been dissatisfied. Each time I go there is a manager walking around to make sure everyone is pleased with their service and meal. I can't wait to try something else the next time my friend and I get together. :0)
(4)
Sharon B.
Pasta with too much butter. Heart attack waiting to happen. Kinda like a cheap macroni grill.
(1)
Lisa F.
I gave this place a chance. I knew from previous reviews it wouldn't be "great" but to be completely an utterly honest DONT WASTE your money or time. I was greeted with a pleasant hostess. Thought ok this might work. I told her we would like to sit at bar. When arrived at the bar it was FILTHY!. With glasses an plates from previous patrons. I thought no biggie, Been in restaurant business before maybe a large rush. But those glasses an dirty bar remained throughout my visit. I ordered a salad an rigatoni. Salad was decent. Pasta dish was sooooo cheesy an mushy hardly edible. Service was substandard, bartender was more worried about rolling silverware then attending to us. Again I have bad nights while serving an bar tending that I understand but this was sad. Terrible all around!! Won't be back an won't ever recommend. I don't write bad reviews this maybe first but this was worth the time to make sure this won't happen again. Ick!
(1)
Marqui R.
So I came here for happy hour one day after coming from the stumbling steer who had absolutely no food on special for happy hour. Zio's fit the bill, they had $3 wine, beer specials, and $3 apps. We ordered 5 apps between 4 of us and that was plenty. The apps were a really good portion size and quite tasty. It had been years since I was here last for dinner but I'd definitely come back for happy hour/dinner. The service was spot on too.
(4)
Rich T.
Upon walking in the door we were greeted with the wonderful aroma of spices and bread. The server was awesome. Very attentive and friendly. However this would be all that was good. I got the meal with lasagna and chicken Parmesan. The chicken was rubbery and very salty. The lasagna reminded me of my childhood bowls of chef boyardee canned pasta. I tried one of my daughter's meatballs from her meal and it was rubbery and just gross. My wife and daughter both had fettuccine Alfredo which they said was bland and the pasta was over cooked. The food was very disappointing. I don't think we'll be coming back.
(2)
Andrea R.
Best service ever! Chastity was amazing! The servers were all very attentive and awesome. Our food was great and they completely out did themselves to accommodate us! I love this place and I think we will be making a regular visit here! Thank you Zios for making an ordinary Friday night extra ordinary!
(5)
Tom S.
My review is mixed on this place. I have been going there for years and actually really enjoy it. Something has changed...... In years past, the lunch special was a spectacular deal. It used to cost somewhere in the $6 range for a hearty meal. I was disappointed earlier this week when I went for lunch. The prices jumped up by almost $3, bringing the lunch menu closer to the $9 mark for a simple bowl of pasta. I firmly believe that you get what you pay for, so I was originally OK with the updated prices of the lunch menu. The real issue was when the food arrived at the table. There was eight of us, and all eight meals we giant let-downs. The portions were consistant with what you would expect in a kids meal. The bowls were mini size and thick, and the bottom of the bowl appeared after just a few bites of food. The lunch portion of chicken parm was more like a chicken nugget being hid by sauce. The lasagna lunch portion was also minimal and left my friend wanting more. Dont get me wrong, the food you get is great, but severely overpriced for the small portions you are served under the title "lunch size". They did run out of bread and we went without any during our meal. At a price, including drinks, of about $12 per person, one should not be leaving hungry. There are many places in Albuquerque that offer good food, great portions, at a fair price. I probably will not make Zios a regular lunch destination.
(2)
Jake R.
Arrived at 5:30 PM on a Sunday, the restaurant was not busy and the staff were all standing around chatting with each other, including the manager. It took 10 minuets to even get acknowledged. Weightier acted like it was a chore to weight on us. If it wasn't for the very good food I would have rated this a -1.
(3)
Jenn W.
The restaurant itself was very clean and the environment was causal. It started out promising with some tasty bread and a coke that had some zip to it, however it was all downhill from there. I had the lasagna which was very rubbery and bland. My husband had a chicken parm sandwich was not only bland but also burnt. The service started out good but by mid meal was rather slow. In my opinion this restaurant doesn't hold a candle to the Olive Garden and in my book that is not a good thing!! My husband said, "I could come back here if I was with someone who really wanted to come her or for a work dinner or something, but I wouldn't come back on my own." Well said.
(1)
Antonio L.
We have eaten inside many times before. We decided to try carryout this time. When we opened our food at home, all the dishes were poorly prepared. All 4 dishes were to be tossed in Alfredo sauce. They basically poured the pasta in, and covered the tops with sauce. The dish was chicken and cheese tortellini.
(2)
Steven J.
Great evening! Service, A+ Food taste and quality, A+ We called ahead and were delighted to hear that they would put us down for a table of 6. When we arrived, we were seated quickly! The entire staff in the restaurant was very kind to me and my family, especially my son (10mo), who was stuffing ravioli in his mouth, which they loved! My wife and I ordered the Spicy Chicken Alfredo and Chicken Marsala with two glasses of wine. The bartender also included a small dish for my daughter (3yr) with maraschino cherries and whipped cream, in the form of a smiley face! The head chef as well as manager checked on us during the night and did so with all the other guests that evening. We were never rushed and had a memorable night. It's important to note that really good service like we had at Zio's, in Albuquerque, is really rare. Zio's is not an expensive restaurant, but that isn't an excuse for them to discount the service. The level of service I had I would never expect in this city! I've been going to Zio's for about 5-7 years. The price and quality of food are on the mark and is made on house, unlike Olive Garden. It's never a long wait on a busy night and the staff has always been attentive. However, they took it over the top last Friday! We will be back! Thanks Mari G (waitress) and Megan (hostess).
(5)
Matt S.
Amazing experience. The marinara has a spicy kick that is hard to describe, (or maybe un-describable) I LOVE THIS PLACE - It was the best chicken parmesan I have ever had....and I eat chicken parmesan at as many Italian joints as I can ... so I know!! Wish I could give it more then 5 stars. I can't believe nobody has reviewed this place yet. If you are thinking about Italian for dinner - GO HERE, do not think twice ... I PROMISE you will leave this place happy and its very affordable. The only thing I am sad about is that I do not live here so I can't go back to it often!! I will be hitting it up again when I go back though ... that is for sure!!
(5)
Andy M.
Spent a lot of Friday and Saturday nights in this place. Food was always good and I highly recommend the Chicken Cannelloni. The baked pasta dishes are always good here. Good strong drinks from the bar and service was always good - prices are reasonable.
(4)
Chad R.
Food is good. Prices are low. The service is good. Not as hood as olive garden, but much more affordable. They offer great coupons if you sign up for there email club
(4)
Rissa R.
Olive Garden has nothing on Zio's! Ive been going here for years! I'm not big on eating at chain restaurants, but Zio's is an exception. Their reasonably priced and their bread is super good. Also I love their Tomato Florentine and Chicken Marsala! Their house dressing is also great. Its the perfect place to go for a laid back family dinner or date.
(4)
Judy C.
What can I say, It's just meadeoker. I was expecting a lot more from the food. The restaurant itself is nice and clean and even the restrooms are nice and clean but they loose it on the food quality. It's just OK! My kids like the angel hair pasta but everything else is just ok. The chicken parm was very spicy for some reason.
(2)
Fred T.
The bread is very good. Ask for balsamic vinegar for it! For entrees, I really like the Strawberry Field salad, and the chicken parm is quite good. For appetizers, try the Toasted Ravioli or the Margherita Pizza. I'm not too thrilled with the Tomato Florentine soup though. It's not bad, it's just that I've had way, way better. My four star rating is in relation to the general ABQ area. It wouldn't rate four stars I,say, NYC or L.A. (maybe two). For ABQ I'm quite happy with it though. Check out Joe's Pasta House in Rio Rancho too. (Don't let the name or the look of the place from the outside fool you though. And for some reason it's listed on Yelp as just Pasta House.)
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Specialities
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 : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Vance C.
This place is amazing. Good service and fast food. The best part was the quality unique food they serve. Its just enough food for you to want to get a take home box and it's a great prices restaurant.
(5)David B.
Best Italian food in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque. I go here at least one a month and it never disappoints. Reasonable prices and they have great service.
(5)Jasmine B.
I really like this place! I'm sad that there aren't any in Washington. Hot, fresh out of the oven bread with spices and olive oil, friendly servers, and (usually) excellent food. We were a bit disappointed this time... My dad's pizza was missing it's sausage, my chicken piccata was seriously lacking sauce, and my mom's seafood pasta only had a few pieces of seafood, but the manager was nice enough to give us a voucher for two free entrees next time we come in.
(4)Mary M.
Had left our car to have its tires rotated and had only Cottonwood Mall chain restaurants to choose from. We picked Zio's and were pleasantly surprised. We liked it much better than Olive Garden. Nothing tasted bland. The tomato soup was delish. I even liked the Caesar salad dressing (creamy). We also liked the Caprese Salad and the Baked Formaggio but it was very rich. Going back to try the Toasted Ravioli (a St. Louis specialty in ABQ!). A better than average chain.
(4)Amanda S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place for their gluten free menu options!! My daughter has celiac disease so I'm always pleased to see restaurants catering to gf options. The pizza was amazing! Only missing a fifth star because my husband got the lasagna & was extremely unimpressed...but he helped our son with his fettuccine Alfredo which was very good! Love the atmosphere too, which is quite kid friendly!
(4)Marissa H.
My friend and I enjoy meeting here for lunch to visit and have a tasty lunch. It is usually pretty quiet and the service and food is good. I have tried several things on the menu and never have been dissatisfied. Each time I go there is a manager walking around to make sure everyone is pleased with their service and meal. I can't wait to try something else the next time my friend and I get together. :0)
(4)Sharon B.
Pasta with too much butter. Heart attack waiting to happen. Kinda like a cheap macroni grill.
(1)Lisa F.
I gave this place a chance. I knew from previous reviews it wouldn't be "great" but to be completely an utterly honest DONT WASTE your money or time. I was greeted with a pleasant hostess. Thought ok this might work. I told her we would like to sit at bar. When arrived at the bar it was FILTHY!. With glasses an plates from previous patrons. I thought no biggie, Been in restaurant business before maybe a large rush. But those glasses an dirty bar remained throughout my visit. I ordered a salad an rigatoni. Salad was decent. Pasta dish was sooooo cheesy an mushy hardly edible. Service was substandard, bartender was more worried about rolling silverware then attending to us. Again I have bad nights while serving an bar tending that I understand but this was sad. Terrible all around!! Won't be back an won't ever recommend. I don't write bad reviews this maybe first but this was worth the time to make sure this won't happen again. Ick!
(1)Marqui R.
So I came here for happy hour one day after coming from the stumbling steer who had absolutely no food on special for happy hour. Zio's fit the bill, they had $3 wine, beer specials, and $3 apps. We ordered 5 apps between 4 of us and that was plenty. The apps were a really good portion size and quite tasty. It had been years since I was here last for dinner but I'd definitely come back for happy hour/dinner. The service was spot on too.
(4)Rich T.
Upon walking in the door we were greeted with the wonderful aroma of spices and bread. The server was awesome. Very attentive and friendly. However this would be all that was good. I got the meal with lasagna and chicken Parmesan. The chicken was rubbery and very salty. The lasagna reminded me of my childhood bowls of chef boyardee canned pasta. I tried one of my daughter's meatballs from her meal and it was rubbery and just gross. My wife and daughter both had fettuccine Alfredo which they said was bland and the pasta was over cooked. The food was very disappointing. I don't think we'll be coming back.
(2)Andrea R.
Best service ever! Chastity was amazing! The servers were all very attentive and awesome. Our food was great and they completely out did themselves to accommodate us! I love this place and I think we will be making a regular visit here! Thank you Zios for making an ordinary Friday night extra ordinary!
(5)Tom S.
My review is mixed on this place. I have been going there for years and actually really enjoy it. Something has changed...... In years past, the lunch special was a spectacular deal. It used to cost somewhere in the $6 range for a hearty meal. I was disappointed earlier this week when I went for lunch. The prices jumped up by almost $3, bringing the lunch menu closer to the $9 mark for a simple bowl of pasta. I firmly believe that you get what you pay for, so I was originally OK with the updated prices of the lunch menu. The real issue was when the food arrived at the table. There was eight of us, and all eight meals we giant let-downs. The portions were consistant with what you would expect in a kids meal. The bowls were mini size and thick, and the bottom of the bowl appeared after just a few bites of food. The lunch portion of chicken parm was more like a chicken nugget being hid by sauce. The lasagna lunch portion was also minimal and left my friend wanting more. Dont get me wrong, the food you get is great, but severely overpriced for the small portions you are served under the title "lunch size". They did run out of bread and we went without any during our meal. At a price, including drinks, of about $12 per person, one should not be leaving hungry. There are many places in Albuquerque that offer good food, great portions, at a fair price. I probably will not make Zios a regular lunch destination.
(2)Jake R.
Arrived at 5:30 PM on a Sunday, the restaurant was not busy and the staff were all standing around chatting with each other, including the manager. It took 10 minuets to even get acknowledged. Weightier acted like it was a chore to weight on us. If it wasn't for the very good food I would have rated this a -1.
(3)Jenn W.
The restaurant itself was very clean and the environment was causal. It started out promising with some tasty bread and a coke that had some zip to it, however it was all downhill from there. I had the lasagna which was very rubbery and bland. My husband had a chicken parm sandwich was not only bland but also burnt. The service started out good but by mid meal was rather slow. In my opinion this restaurant doesn't hold a candle to the Olive Garden and in my book that is not a good thing!! My husband said, "I could come back here if I was with someone who really wanted to come her or for a work dinner or something, but I wouldn't come back on my own." Well said.
(1)Antonio L.
We have eaten inside many times before. We decided to try carryout this time. When we opened our food at home, all the dishes were poorly prepared. All 4 dishes were to be tossed in Alfredo sauce. They basically poured the pasta in, and covered the tops with sauce. The dish was chicken and cheese tortellini.
(2)Steven J.
Great evening! Service, A+ Food taste and quality, A+ We called ahead and were delighted to hear that they would put us down for a table of 6. When we arrived, we were seated quickly! The entire staff in the restaurant was very kind to me and my family, especially my son (10mo), who was stuffing ravioli in his mouth, which they loved! My wife and I ordered the Spicy Chicken Alfredo and Chicken Marsala with two glasses of wine. The bartender also included a small dish for my daughter (3yr) with maraschino cherries and whipped cream, in the form of a smiley face! The head chef as well as manager checked on us during the night and did so with all the other guests that evening. We were never rushed and had a memorable night. It's important to note that really good service like we had at Zio's, in Albuquerque, is really rare. Zio's is not an expensive restaurant, but that isn't an excuse for them to discount the service. The level of service I had I would never expect in this city! I've been going to Zio's for about 5-7 years. The price and quality of food are on the mark and is made on house, unlike Olive Garden. It's never a long wait on a busy night and the staff has always been attentive. However, they took it over the top last Friday! We will be back! Thanks Mari G (waitress) and Megan (hostess).
(5)Matt S.
Amazing experience. The marinara has a spicy kick that is hard to describe, (or maybe un-describable) I LOVE THIS PLACE - It was the best chicken parmesan I have ever had....and I eat chicken parmesan at as many Italian joints as I can ... so I know!! Wish I could give it more then 5 stars. I can't believe nobody has reviewed this place yet. If you are thinking about Italian for dinner - GO HERE, do not think twice ... I PROMISE you will leave this place happy and its very affordable. The only thing I am sad about is that I do not live here so I can't go back to it often!! I will be hitting it up again when I go back though ... that is for sure!!
(5)Andy M.
Spent a lot of Friday and Saturday nights in this place. Food was always good and I highly recommend the Chicken Cannelloni. The baked pasta dishes are always good here. Good strong drinks from the bar and service was always good - prices are reasonable.
(4)Chad R.
Food is good. Prices are low. The service is good. Not as hood as olive garden, but much more affordable. They offer great coupons if you sign up for there email club
(4)Rissa R.
Olive Garden has nothing on Zio's! Ive been going here for years! I'm not big on eating at chain restaurants, but Zio's is an exception. Their reasonably priced and their bread is super good. Also I love their Tomato Florentine and Chicken Marsala! Their house dressing is also great. Its the perfect place to go for a laid back family dinner or date.
(4)Judy C.
What can I say, It's just meadeoker. I was expecting a lot more from the food. The restaurant itself is nice and clean and even the restrooms are nice and clean but they loose it on the food quality. It's just OK! My kids like the angel hair pasta but everything else is just ok. The chicken parm was very spicy for some reason.
(2)Fred T.
The bread is very good. Ask for balsamic vinegar for it! For entrees, I really like the Strawberry Field salad, and the chicken parm is quite good. For appetizers, try the Toasted Ravioli or the Margherita Pizza. I'm not too thrilled with the Tomato Florentine soup though. It's not bad, it's just that I've had way, way better. My four star rating is in relation to the general ABQ area. It wouldn't rate four stars I,say, NYC or L.A. (maybe two). For ABQ I'm quite happy with it though. Check out Joe's Pasta House in Rio Rancho too. (Don't let the name or the look of the place from the outside fool you though. And for some reason it's listed on Yelp as just Pasta House.)
(4)