Zaza's Cucina, Ithaca

Mediocre food for the price. the 17$ lasagna tastes EXACTLY like chef boy-r-dee. Its like they opened a can, put cheese on it and served it. small portions as well. Not impressed with the food but the atmosphere and waitstaff make up for it somewhat.

The most beautifully decorated restaurant I have ever been to. The food is unique and delicious, but be ready to spend a lot!

I enjoyed my meal at Za Za's and you will too! I'm really picky about food and I have fairly high standards but Za Za's hits the mark. I had a vodka martini up with olives and my girlfriend had a strawberry coconut mojito. Both were very good, especially the mojito. For appetizers I had the mushroom and polenta and my girlfriend had the buffalo mozzarella. The mushrooms had a fantastic truffle taste but they were not salted. Its not necessarily a bad thing because you can always add salt. The polenta could have used a bit more cheesiness too. The mozzarella was excellent! I had the duck with cherries and my girlfriend had the seared tuna. I LOVE this duck! The skin was nicely crisped but not too much and the tartness of the cherries really enhanced the flavor and texture of the duck. At first, the combination of flavors on the tuna was a bit of surprise. A few bites changed that! The dijon and peppercorns worked well. Also, both cuts of meat were EXTREMELY juicy and high quality. The portions of meat were very generous and well priced. EXCELLENT value. The spinach that accompanied the dish was perfectly cooked. However, the potatoes tasted like they were made a while before hand. The outside had a nice crispiness but the insides tasted and felt a bit stale. For dessert, we split the panna cotta. Now this is one of my favorite deserts of all time when done right. Many times, too much gelatin is used that gives it the consistency of a jello block. Not the case at Za Za's The panna cotta was very fluffy and light and loaded with intense flavors. It came dressed with blueberries and raspberries in a sauce. The tartness of the berries went well with the creaminess of the panna cotta. Overall, the meal was excellent. The interior is one of the best in any Ithaca restaurant. It makes you want to enjoy your meal! Also, our server was very attentive despite having more than 6 tables. His service makes tipping easy! I can't wait to go back to Za Za's to try the pasta and other dishes. This is going to be one of my return restaurants!

This place would win rave reviews even in New York city. Great food, wonderful atmosphere!