Review Zak's Diner - Ottawa

A perfect weekend breakfast spot. We were seated outside on a beautiful day. Service was great and the food was incredible. Such large portions for a very reasonable price. I loved every dish we ordered. My personal favorite is the eggs Florentine and it was perfect for my taste. Also enjoyed the milkshake!

As you walk into this cool retro looking restaurant, you are greeted by a red hot mustang. The entire place looked lively with colorful decor and energetic music. Another section of the restaurant has a beautifully renovated school bus, unfortunately it was full that day. My friends ordered a regular and Canadian burger while I went with my favorite egg, toast + sausage breakfast. It was a delicious brunch with lovely atmosphere. Next time I visit our capital I’m certainly coming back here!

Had the nachos and they were absolutely delicious! My cousins had the milkshake and they were surprised how much milkshake they got, they absolutely loved it too! I recommend this place. I will definitely come back in the future!

Loved the place! When we arrived there was a huge lineup but they were quick in seating everyone. The food was delicious Mexican food! We ordered Chimichanga, Tacos and Mango smoothie. Everything tasted really good but the only disappointment was their chicken, it was quiet rubbery and chewy. I would recommend this place if you are looking for a good hangout spot.

An excellent breakfast experience all around. A little bit of a delay in ordering however well worth the wait. My breakfast arrive exactly as I requested it to be cooked and was very delicious. I don’t think I was able to eat half of it the portions were so generous. I highly recommend this establishment for an outdoor patio breakfast or an indoor dining experience. Service is wonderful #localguide

I’ve dined with Zak’s Diner multiple times. They are always nice meals, and filling. But I’m not sure if the French Toast Breakfast I ordered and its presentation is worth $18+

Great burgers and egg benedicts. Food was very tasty and portions were huge. Very friendly service. Would recommend to anyone looking to eat a diner style meal.

Definitely a place for comfort food. I love their vibrant atmosphere and friendly staff. If you visit, ask to sit at their Mexican side its super cute. I love their milkshakes they always serve 1 and half servings which is ideal if you’re a party of two. My favourite is their beyond burger its delicious.

The Zaks Diber is better suited to milkshakes or hamburgers. Their breakfast is a rip off. Over priced and over stuffed with potatoes to make the plate look full, you get skinny toast, no fruit on thenplate unless you pay extra, no Canadian maple syrup unless you pay $2.60 extra (cmon' this is Canada. A full can of Maple syrup can be bought in Sobeys or IGA for under $8). The furniture looks tired with ripped seating, stained dining areas. The staff is still courteous and prompt. Too bad the rest of the experience doesn't live up to expectations. Avoid this spot and go to Coras or another breakfast place.

Went for breakfast with my son yesterday Will never waste my money there agin the waitress was having a whatever attitude then the breakfast was the absolute worst we didn't even finish the 18 dollar breakfast

This is lovely the style is great the staff are always smiling & polite the food is great and on point the restaurant is always clean the milkshakes are fabulous defenitely one of my favorite places to go!

I judge a restaurant by their breakfast and Zak's did not disappoint. Food was great. Large portions and our server was really good.

I will absolutely come back here. As soon as I die. From the shitty plate of slop they called breakfast. And haunt every single person involved with that awful experience last night. I don't know if the cooks just weren't on their A game or just weren't there at all and my plate just came from the dumpster out back but it was vile and a pathetic excuse for food. I would rather eat medium rare chicken than dine here again.

Very fun place! 1950's style. Good food and are waiter was super friendly and fast! I was with my Cousins and friends! 9 of us.We had a swell time.

The first time I came I. I had the monster shake which left me wanting for more and coming back But this time it was horrible The strawberries were stale and when I asked for it to be replaced the server was. Rude and went and churned the old one again and basically gave me that stale crap again. Anyways you guys lost one customer for sure and definitely won't recommend anyone to go there

We went specifically for the poutine and it did not disappoint. We picked the one featured for La Poutine Week and loved the deep fried curds. The gravy is amazing and the fries were perfect. We love the atmosphere of an old 50's diner.

Je suis aller au Zak's diner la semaine derniere. On a très bien manger! La poutine est excellante et le service aussi.

Definitely in my top 3 favourite restaurants. Great service, great food and a great atmosphere. Lucas is the best :)

Had a great experience. Ordered a milkshake and a burger, both of which were great and at a decent price. Definitely would go again.

How can you charge 16 dollars for a breakfast. When down the street charges litterrily half? What's so special you guys charge a ridiculous amount for a "basic breakfast" you're restaurant is a joke. $6 for two coffees that was burnt? Please stop being such a joke.

Friendly staff, good food, managed the Canada Day rush very well, doing their best to squeeze everyone in.

Stopped in for lunch at Zak's on Sunday. Food was fair to good and expensive. Regular breakfast was $12.75. Server we had was good and friendly. When the bill came, I wanted to pay by Debit and was told that they didn't accept Debit. Cash or Credit. I was told that there was an ATM inside to take cash out. After chatting with the waiter, he mentioned that the owner of Zak's owns the ATM and makes extra money every time someone uses it. I couldn't believe it.

Been to Zak's Dinner a few times since the fall and they never disappoint. Food is always absolutely fantastic, servers are friendly and timing of getting food is pretty solid. Only knock for me would be the prices are slightly steep but a lot of restaurants are the same price for less quality. Always love coming! :)

The food was nothing to write home about. The service was sub par, the prices are way too high, there is no debit. The atmosphere is fun, but I will not be going back. Bland food for high prices and poor service.

Disappointed. I had the bacon sausage poutine; it was fine but far from memorable. My milkshake was the thinnest shake I’ve ever had - I had one sip and it just wasn’t worth it. So what if it’s big if it’s not worth drinking? The service was quick but the waiter had no interest in pausing to answer my questions; he said if I wasn’t ready to order right then that he’d come back. I asked for an order of onion rings too but he forgot and after the worthless shake I cut my losses and left without them (was not charged). I will not be going back.

We actually went to Zak’s cantina, not the diner. The food took ages to be served, but tasted really good! I ordered the burrito bowl (with chicken as the meat), which cost $18.50 altogether including tax. The ambience in the cantina is amazing and there’s also the opportunity to since in the old van to eat but unfortunately it was full when we arrived. Would definitely recommend trying this place or for drinks as it has a really nice environment!

This is definitely one of the best looking diners in Ottawa. The decor is iconic 60s style and very fun. It's also open 24 hours which makes it great for a late night bite to eat, especially coming from a club in the market. That being said, I feel like those are it's only pull factors as the food and service aren't great. The food isn't really bad, per se, but it's hit or miss and nothing is particularly good, nor are the prices reflective of the quality. The service is often slow and it can get quite busy and loud.

I've been to Zak's a few times, and it's just ok. Nothing extraordinary about the place. A good place to chill with friends and get breakfast at night. My main gripe about this place is the price. I feel like I overspend by a few dollars every time I come here. If you're in the Byward Market, you're better off going to an Irish pub. However, if you're looking for a restaurant that's got your basic North American standards (burgers, fries, shakes, breakfast), and you're not looking to be adventurous, Zak's is your place.

Went to Zak's in the Byward Market for lunch. We ordered milkshakes which were really good, yet I am allergic to whip cream and cream because of its so heavy, and I asked for my milkshake without whip cream. They put whip cream on it, and instead of offering to remake it, they gave me a glass and a spoon to take the whip cream out, which took a long time to get. We ordered 4 waters got 2 then waited 20 mins more until they remembered to give us our water. Overall not a good experience and I will probably not be going back. Not to mention there was a hair in my poutine. The only reason I'm giving them one star is because their wifi isn't shit.

Classic greasy spoon spot. After a night out there isn't anything like their curly fries poutine or their cheese and chilli foot long dogs. So satisfying!

I've gone to Zak's Diner several times now and I've yet to be disappointed. The food is just perfect and don't get me started on their milkshakes... Oh my they're phenomenal! I really love breakfast and the fact that their breakfast menu is always available makes it 100x better for me.<br/><br/>The service is great. I get seated right away and the waiters are always really friendly! Considering the restaurant is open 24hrs, I'd imagine some waiters be a little grumpy and tired when you'd come later at night but it's the complete opposite! I've always found the best ones are the ones who are working there late! It isn't as busy so they're able to have good conversations with you and really it's awesome!<br/><br/>The vintage diner look gives off this even better vibe that makes your experience even better! With such great food and service, you can't go wrong.

Zaks is an old Ottawa gem! Great for a late breakfast, or a late night bite. The charming decor, makes it all the while to just run in and grab a signature milkshake. Enjoy!

I went to Zak's Diner today for lunch, and one thing I really like is that they have a 24-hour breakfast menu.<br/><br/>They offer freshly squeezed juice, which I think is good.<br/><br/>They have a really good kid's menu, it has good items.<br/><br/>The food is made quickly, but sometimes they forget some parts of the order, but it's not that big of a deal.<br/><br/>An item I really like on the menu is the strawberry banana crepes.<br/><br/>Overall, I rate it a 4.5.<br/><br/>It's awesome, and I do recommend it.

Dinner with a friend last Tuesday. We walked in and were greeted with a smile and a friendly banter. The menus were promptly placed in front of us and we got our drinks pretty fast. The one thing that bothered me is that they gave me the larger size of cider 20oz( and charged that price) but I should have specified that I wanted the smaller portion.<br/>The menu is quite diverse but is typically a greasy spoon type diner. <br/>My Greek wrap with chicken, feta, tomatoes and cucumber was super filling but I found the taste a bit bland after awhile. The fries were my favourite part of the meal since they were so perfectly crispy and salty. So many places cannot get their fries right!<br/>Solid place in the market if you don't want to spend a fortune and want some comfort food.

One of my favorite places to grab brunch on the weekends or get a late night bite. It's so convenient that the place is open 24/7! So many items on the menu but my favorite is always the milkshakes which always come in double size. That's a meal in itself.

Great retro feeling at this place. Open 24 hours a day. Never had to wait more then 2 min to get a table (even during the busier times)<br/><br/>On to the Food:<br/>I am a huge fan of their poutine, not the regular one. I am talking about the curly fry poutine (same one but just curly fries). it's $10.49 but definetly can be shared between two people.<br/><br/>The milkshakes are pretty good too. They are thick and large portion as they give you the extra.<br/>Mocha: best one<br/>Coffee: mocha is better (coffee flavor isn't too strong)<br/>Butterscotch: too sweet<br/>Mango: not bad<br/><br/>The hot chocolate was really tasty too!<br/><br/>I've also tried the quesadilla can't say I liked it very much as it was lacking flavor and was on the greasy side.<br/><br/>

Good hangover cure but avoid the mashed potatoes since they are rock hard. Stick to burgers, fries and a milkshake. Very fun retro diner atmosphere.

Had lunch and good diner food. Tha vegetables were a bit rubbery if I may say. The rest of the food was good. Service fast and efficient . The food was serve hot

A classic spot in Ottawa, family friendly and open 24/7. Food is delicious, portions are huge, and it has the best prices in the Market. Friendly staff and atmosphere to top it off. You can't miss out on their classic milkshakes, delicious burgers.

I went there once with a friend and the food was fine; typical dinner food. On the flip side we tried 2 shakes and they were excellent. I would definitely go back to try some more.

Great atmosphere, busy place but no trouble with food timing at all. The kids had burgers and fries. I had the ends Benedict, the hollandaise was great all the meals were served hot and service was great.

Kinda expensive but considering the touristy area & appeal that's not surprising. The diner itself looks cool. Pretty standard diner fare. Decent food, decent service.

Absolutely love this place! The food is amazing. And the milkshakes as well but the portion sizes are waaaay too big. Also there's usually a bit of a wait for seating but it's worth it.

Was in the Byward Market area and selected Zaks for our dinner. The inside seems like frozen in time from 60s and 70s. Most of the walls have frames with lines on the and all of them are funny. <br/><br/>Started off with Four Cheese Poutine. The gravy is vegetarian and fries although thinner than I would like the Poutine was good. The gravy not too runny or salty. The chef did not skimp on cheese I must add. <br/><br/>Ordered a Mac n Cheese burger with veggie patty with a salad and Grilled veggie wrap with mashed potatoes. The wedges Mac n Cheese were gooey and crispy on the outside. The burger patty was chickn flavour. The wrap was good with perfect veggies inside. The mashed potatoes were fresh made and not made from a box. The gravy was the same as the Poutine. The salad was ok, but a generous helping. <br/><br/>All in all good place to go. Seemed to be a favourite spot for a lot of University Students. Half the tables were full of them. <br/><br/>Updated pictures from Family Day Weekend Brunch<br/>As usual very busy on a Sunday late morning - BRUNCH. Good size portions for breakfasts. The Blueberry Pancakes are huge and delicious. Wife ordered a half order and she was full!.<br/>Eggs Florentine, Zaks Omelette and 3 Cheese Omelette were yum!

Love the atmosphere of this diner! The milkshakes are a must! Chocolate banana is my favorite! Onion rings are great and so is the poutine. Great place to go at 2am after a night out on the town

An ottawa landmark, and one of the best spots in the market, definitely the best value for your buck! The food is delicious, and portions are huge, their shakes and burgers are the best you can find! All day breakfast is a plus. 24/7 gotta try this place if you're around!

Inside, it's like the diners you see in television, movies, and in books. A retro-style diner on the inside, serving greasy spoon food. I ordered a cheeseburger and a poutine, and my friends ordered a club sandwich and poutine, and the other a hot dog. <br/><br/>It's nothing amazing to write about. Poutine was okay - as a Winnipegger I am still getting used to downplaying the novelty that is cheese curds on poutine. See, back where I'm from, poutines were largely made with mozzarella or some other type of shredded cheese, so seeing cheese curds were a treat and would affect how I would rate a poutine - after all, curds, more authentic. So, still getting used to that - all in all, not mindblowing, but had a good amount of gravy and cheese curds.<br/><br/>Burger was okay. Pretty big and filling, but not a burger that I would absolutely crave and feel the need to return to this specific restaurant to satisfy said craving.<br/><br/>My friends made similar comments with their items.<br/><br/>Must say, food portions are big so we didn't have room for dessert. <br/><br/>Service was prompt and friendly, and there is plenty of room to eat here.

Zak's is just one of those Ottawa staples that you need to eat at once in your life. Then you can move on. It's open 24-hours though, which is always good for late-night snacks.

Was expecting decent diner fare , but was disappointed 😕 burgers, sandwiches, fries and milkshakes... No one was happy with their food. I can't see this restaurant having repeat customers just first timers drawn in by the decor .

I had gone here once before and found the food was average diner fare, but very overpriced. I went back because I was downtown and wanted waffles, and when they arrived, it was cold. Not warm, not "room temperature", but actually cold, like it had just come out of the refrigerator. Considering it had been for my Birthday, I was unimpressed, and we informed the server, and left. At least they didn't charge us for the coffee.<br/><br/>I wouldn't return though.

Really wanted to like this place. I love the diner feel and atmosphere. This place has that in abundance. What it doesn't have is good coffee, corned beef hash, or basted eggs. The pan fried potatoes are the little cubes, the sausages were definitely good though. Given the price, I would say that there isn't much going for this place.

Salty ass poutine. My dining experience actually dates back a year ago but since I stumbled upon this page, why not. However, since it was so long ago, I'm not sure if they made any recent changes to their recipes. I ordered the Quebecer (or something like that) poutine and it was SO salty, it was so difficult to even swallow it without gulping down water. I swear my blood pressure went up and above after that - I was an inexperienced diner then but I should have complained about it and have it sent back to the kitchen. I actually split it with a friend so luckily I didn't have to go through the torture of finishing it all by myself.<br/><br/>Of course, one bad experience doesn't mean that their entire menu is bad - a few of my friends went for the breakfast option and it seemed like they enjoyed it. I can't deny that it looked pretty greasy though...

Too greasy. The food is really greasy. You could practically drink the grease off the plate. My food was so drenched in grease that it was soggy and inedible.

Never had a problem at Zak's. Great food, great service, great ambience.

Foods is alright, service is great, good hangout. The burger was topped to the max and went down well. The salad was pre-made and old. I sent it back for a soup that was not homemade but had ingredients added but was still Campbell's like. The server was amazing both cute and kind. She made for a real enjoyable experience. My partner had an average sandwich (plenty of work to be done here) with great curly fries that were clearly the frozen variety but very tasty. All in all it is what it is a tourist diner for teenagers and early 20s types. What is really impressive is the location and the detailed diner design. Full marks on those two important restaurant requirements.

Great place when on the Go. We always go to Zaks' whenever we get the opportunity. It just has this great, comfortable atmosphere! I usually have the burgers or the poutine! I loved the milkshakes too. I found at that it's better to split a milkshake though because they really are giant! I'm always ready to go back!

Why so much hype?. Their menu is kinda pricey... for standard food..? and even the milkshakes are nothing spectacular.. The atmosphere and the decor is nice. I know some people who are really into this place, but I think they fell in love with the decor more than the food. Portions are good, but the quality doesn't really stand out. Service is sometimes nice, sometimes feel like I'm being pushed out when the server immediately tells me and my friends how much our bills will come out to be (because we only ordered milkshakes this one time) right AFTER she took our orders. my friends were annoyed and not impressed and felt like she wanted us out as soon as possible, and it was not very busy that night either. <br/><br/>As a server myself, I understand its very efficient (and could even be seen as helpful) and didn't feel troubled by it, but hearing the disgruntled remarks by my friends, I can understand why they didn't want to leave her a tip. I wanted to tell her myself about the attitude they felt, but she was with some other customers when I was leaving. Don't tell a customer how much their bill will be unless they actually ask for it in advance.

My overall experienced at Zaks dinner in the byward market really sucked! The service,food and they didn't have certain things on their menu..... The overall wait for the food.... Just really sucked! I don't recommend it to anyone! Just a ridiculous place!

Fast service, and great food.. My wife and I came here while we were walking around Byward market. We came in because there was a CAA Certified sign hanging above the door. I ordered the grilled cheese burger while my wife ordered the piggies in a blanket. Our server was very patient with us, because we kinda took a long time to decide, there's just so much on their menu, and it all sounded delicious. Our food came really quickly once we did order, and it was fantastic. The only thing that bothered me was that they don't take debit at all, but hey do at least have an ATM there for you to use.

Ottawa's Famous Diner. Been going here since I was a kid. It's my favourite spot in the Byward Market. For a casual lunch/dinner, family outing, birthday celebration, pre party drink or after party sober up, it's the best buy for your buck. Portions are huge, service is always friendly and fast.<br/><br/>Open 24/7 with all day breakfast!!!

Milkshakes!

After-Hours Hang Out. Its a good place if you're drunk and hungry. They serve 24hr breakfast which is really cool. If you don't mind the loud drunks and tired servers, then its a good place for you.

Could be much better. Have gone to Zak's a couple of times since they opened in the Market. Each time leave a little disappointed. It could be much better. Potato pancakes were particularly disgusting this time. Have they looked in a recipe book for potato pancakes?? Eggs done to request and service ok. Crepe was rewarmed?

Nourriture pour les travailleurs de chantier. Un peu trop gras. Ne prenez pAs l'assiette du bûcheron. Allez-y plutôt avec les crêpes .

Sooo good!!

Always impressed. I've been there for my birthday, to bring out-of-towners and with giant groups and even on a stricter diet (gluten/dairy/sugar free) and I am never disappointed! The service is always as prompt as possible and they're willing to accommodate even the most difficult substitutions. All in all I love going there, definitely a go-to spot!

You bring the boys to the yard. I like millshakes they are good and i like them. that is the best part. also curly fries are very good late snack

Love the place. We go there regularly for years. Always good fast service. Love the diner food.

Poor customer service. Server entered incorrect total into debit machine. Paid by mistake. Tried to contact management to rectify matter several times with no success. Management did not have the courtesy to return a customer's phone call. Very displeased. Very poor behaviour.

Always good. Never had a bad experience here. Food is always good if not awesome and service is always good and fast. I love the breakfast, and also love how accommodating they are and how many secondary options there are. However, the new menu is a little scary and I find it slightly overpriced. Hopefully the food doesn't go down hill :( I love this place.

Love their big breakfast... And they definitely have one of the best poutine in Ottawa.

Very poor service. This resturant do not have a good service, for people who are looking for a pleasant comfy evening with family , I do Not recommend this restaurant

Great casual diner. Food was average but I love Zak's authentic diner ambiance.

Nothing to Write Home About. I was really excited to try Zak's as I heard great things about it. I was on a 3 day trip to Ottawa so I finally made it to Zak's on the second day. Honestly, it was nothing special. I've been to better diners with cheaper food and more taste/quality than Zak's. <br/><br/>I ordered one type of wrap and they gave me another. I did not complain to the server as I was just hungry and the wrap on the plate looked tasty. It was neither disgusting nor delicious. It was just a wrap. I also had a strawberry milkshake with my meal. Once again, I was disappointed with the quality. There was nothing unique about this milkshake. You can get better milkshakes at an ice cream parlor or even just a Dairy Queen. <br/><br/>I found the servers to unenthusiastic about their job. The best part of Zak's was the vintage ads on the wall. <br/><br/>I will not visit Zak's again if I return to Ottawa.

What a treat! Visiting Ottawa stumbled upon this gem! The service was great the food even better must try.

What happened?. I had fond memories of this place so went recentely for dessert. We had a sundae and the deep fried mars bar. Ice cream tasted cheap and freezer burnt. Based on last experience would rather go to DQ.

Yummy. Very delicious! Went there for the first time ever. Great, friendly, fast service. The burger was tasty and yummy. Also shared some curly fries, and a banana chocolate milkshake - would recommend this place to anyone in need of a casual dinner!

Milkshakes!. So awesome.

LOVE ZAK'S. Best breakfast in town, my ALL TIME FAVOURITE POUTINE! This place has an awesome atmosphere! The staff is attentive and very friendly, service is quick, our food came promptly, and it was DELICIOUS as always.

Love It! Great coffee!. Trying to choose my favourite server is Zak's is so tricky; what a motley crew you can't find at another restaurant.! Meet with the GM, she's great! Such a warm smile <br/><br/><br/>They are so much fun and always willing to accommodate all the substitutions I ask for. I like to get my burger without a bun in iceberg lettuce- "Lettuce Burger" . <br/><br/>I recommend: <br/>Peanut banana with a touch chocolate sauce and espresso Shake <br/>So Good MMMMmmm !<br/><br/>Bistro Burger with chicken breast , guacamole Brie, bacon, lettuce and tomato <br/>or <br/>Goat cheese and chicken sandwich - Chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese, spinach, bacon, lettuce, tomato and garlic mayo. Served on Iceberg lettuce. <br/><br/>- Now I'm hungry again-

Terrible Experience / Service. I had a terrible experience at this restaurant. Their staff are very rude and their manager never bothered to respond to my email complaint, although they did seem to have the time to remove my complaint post from their Facebook page.<br/><br/>I went there last Friday, and ordered a burger. My friends ordered an appetizer to share as they were not too hungry. When their food showed up and mine didn't, I just figured that mine was taking longer to cook as it was a full meal and not an appetizer. After another ten minutes I decided to ask, but the server was nowhere to be found. When she eventually came my friends were finished their food and we were ready to leave. She gave us the bill, which included a $13 charge for the burger so I pointed out that I never received my food. <br/><br/>Not only did the server not apologize, when I asked to speak to the manager, she came over with a really smug and rude attitude, and proceeded to tell me that it was my fault for not chasing the server down and telling her that she forgot my order. The manager didn't apologize either. I can honestly say that I have never been treated more rudely and unfairly in my life. <br/><br/>The food that my friends ordered was overpriced, and poor quality. They didn't even finish their food. The only good thing was that I was spared the cost of a $13 burger, which is WAY overpriced. It's actually less expensive to get a burger at the Works than it is here. <br/><br/>I also noticed that the bathrooms were dirty and gross. <br/><br/>Then on top of that, when I complained to their General Manager in an email, they just ignored it. Overall, I would not recommend anyone eat here. If this is how little they care for their customers, then I can only imagine the level of quality they put into preparing their food.

Really great service...they're all friendly, and attentive. They preempt your needs and make great suggestions. The Big Breakfast is delicious...thank you to my server for the recommendation on the sausage over bacon!!

Diner Feel. I absolutely love this place!<br/><br/>Great diner atmosphere and diner food (with a twist). <br/><br/>They make huge milkshakes which are best if shared and can even add a little something to the shake (for those of us who are 19+). <br/><br/>Overall great place.

Worth the trip. Friendly staff and good food we enjoyed it a lot , gives you that sixty's feeling.<br/>Amazing milkshakes,hot chocolate and good coffee <br/>Dos smell of sweaty feet with wet weather due to the carpeting trough out the whole restaurant. <br/>Will we go back ? yes

The milkshakes are huge and yummy! The have many flavours

I love being a regular here. I go to Ottawa U and for 4 years I've been going here once or twice a month. Amy and Cara are the best - they remember my order - what we talked about last time. Genuinely a great group of girls at Zaks. Every male server I've had was a total clue out though - unfriendly and unclean looking :S<br/><br/>Other than that - awesome food, great service - LOVE going here!

Zaks does not rhyme with quality. This is a phonetical fact. It is also true when it comes to the food. The staff is young, friendly, and they don't give a hoot. I like that. The food is bland, generic, and of bad quality (except for their French fries). I don't like that. <br/>Their motto says it all: "Don't Starve." I can't say I was hungry after my meal but I can say it was a bit better than bad. <br/>Sorry Zac. <br/><br/>Word of advice: any menu item that has "famous" in it will be particularly bad.

Not bad. Went to Zak's for breakfast. Got a pretty standard eggs, toast, coffee, sausage, tea, hash browns plate. It's pretty hard to screw up breakfast and Zak's didn't. I enjoyed my meal. Sausages were pretty plump and had a good crispiness to the outside.<br/><br/>Portion size is a little smaller than some of the breakfast places I'm used to, and price was a little higher but you definitely won't go wrong eating here and I'm fairly certain they're open 24 hours a day, as well!

Amazing!!! Ate an entree and drank a beer. Beer was great and the nachos were delicious. Great service btw!

You wont leave hungry. Breakfast was average, but the portion size was great for the price you pay.

Not That Great. We came here for breakfast as we heard their breakfast was good. We were definitely fooled! We walked in and the place was packed, we weren't able to get a table for 15 minutes, so we opted for the bar. The bar was actually comfortable, but it was so busy! We were given menus and chose our items. We waited, maybe about 7 minutes for our food. I ordered 'Zak's Big Breakfast', it wasn't that good at all, the eggs were cold, there was no ketchup for the homefries (I had to hunt down a bottle) and there was no butter/jam/peanut butter for the toast, once again, I had to hunt those items down. On the menu it says 'fresh fruit' however, the lady behind the bar told us that it isn't fresh, it is processed, yuck! Also, I was supposed to get fried beans with my meal but, they never came. The atmosphere is definitely diner-like, I have to give that to them. But the service and food is not worth your money. Needless to say, I would never come back here again.

Meh.. Just your typical 24h diner. Try their milkshakes!

Disgusting! Coffee cup came with someone else's lipstick smears on it. Zak's looks like a fun place to go when you first walk in but I have a feeling that they can't keep up proper quality standards. I went there last night, and when my cup of coffee arrived it had fresh red lipstick smears on the rim. This definitely means that it was not properly washed (perhaps the inside was rinsed, but the outside was not even touched). The server replaced it promptly, but didn't say much, making me think problems like this might occur often.<br/><br/>Needless to say, I will never return. With low standards of cleanliness like this, one wonders what could be happening with the food. Not to mention that the food I ordered (breakfast burrito) was greasy tasting and, in my opinion, below average in quality.<br/><br/>The service, however, was fine.

All Day Breakfast. I've been here twice for breakfast at all hours of the day. I love diners, all greasy spoons actually but as a vegetarian it is challenging to find them. Zac's is good food and the service was really fantastic. They accommodated my food restrictions and it was good. Not the best diner food ever but the service has convinced me to go back. 7/10

Not bad at all. I'm from Toronto, cool 50's 60's vibe but who cares, I went for a greasy breakfast and they delivered. Had bacon, eggs, and pancakes. The place was very busy but the service was great. <br/> I don't complain when a diner is busy and noisy, that means it's a good diner people!<br/>Total bill for 2 people was $30 with bottomless coffee, seemed reasonable for me, maybe not for those who prefer to eat at drive thru's though....<br/>Place is great, don't read into the negative reviews too much, experience for itself, you'll be pleased you did.

Just Bad!. Love GOOD diner food, cheap, pricey and in between. BUT THIS!?! Not only is the food not cheap, good or in between. It's just bad! Real Bad!!! You should try this so you know what the bottom of the cuisine pool taste like. <br/> <br/>We had the Eggs Pacific (aka eggs florentine - Salmon) $12 and the Blueberry pancakes $10 with a $3 coffee. <br/><br/>Eggs Pacific - salmon was old and fishy, maybe even gone bad, home fries 1/2 cooked. Hollandaise! WAY too much, probably to coverup the taste of the fish, and also bad. I could go on. <br/><br/>Blueberry pancakes - Ok, never had pancakes with muffin batter :S Sweet as all hell! On top of that icing sugar, on top of that synthetic maple syrup. Did I say its was sweet? and bad? Real Bad!<br/> <br/>And if that wasn't bad enough, maybe the worst coffee I've ever had. And I will drink just about anything. Tim's, Starbucks and even Coffee Time over that dishwater. The upside, its bottomless!<br/><br/>Just go to Mellos Restaurant<br/>290 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa<br/>If it's open.

Overpriced and noisy!. Food is average but overpriced. Always noisy and the service not the very best. Won't return. Very disappointed.

I like this place but what's the deal with the mushy buns at the Kanata location? Some kind of untoasted sourdough bun I think. The burgers just fall apart. Like the meatloaf and Philly cheese steak. Kids meals are kind of pricey. Should be smaller and cheaper. The Kanata location is very nice and the waitresses are great.

Zak's Review. The food here is generally disgusting. I would never get a meal here unless I was coming back from the bar at 2am. or severely hungover the next day. Once I had to send my quesadilla back it was so nasty. Breakfast is better than lunch or dinner, I will say that. The one thing I do love is the ice cream sundae with oreos and hot fudge. I will indulge in one maybe every 6 months, and only at Zak's. That being said, it's the only thing on the menu I'd recommend at all. So this restaurant sucks.

Good For Breakfast. Good little dinner in Byward market. Great breakfast food, which I think they serve all day long.

Yuk's!. I just don't get it, I had a burger that was obviously frozen and they did not even cook it fully. My husband had eggs benedict and it was sooo plain. Been there 3 times and it is not a charm.

Too expensive. Food is okay, service is okay (sometimes good), price is way too expensive for what you get

Bad buffalo chicken. The breakfast was good but how can you screw up breakfast? The burgers are "proto burgers" (ie contains beef - MAYBE). The chicken patty was an overgrown chicken nugget. This is just one of those places I must not understand because I think the food is generally terrible.

Go after a Bar. Better than Dunn's. Considerably. On Par with Elgin Street Diner.<br/><br/>Go for Late-Night Food but avoid during regular hours. There are plenty of delish options nearby priced at 'market' prices.<br/><br/>Lumberjack all the way.

This place is loud and busy! But if you are looking for something quick and simple, I would recommend it! I had the French Toast. It was good and priced very reasonably.

Horrible. Nothing was made on the spot. Oatmeal was instant oats. Waffles were taken from the freezer and reheated. Fruit from a bucket. Big tourist trap.

Great breaksfast that will break your wallet. Zack's ambiance is very fun, the menu is pretty large and there is great variety for breakfast. only problem or the huge prices! Relatively huge. The service is good even if you often have to wait to be seated. The fact that is open 24h and has 24h breakfast is great too!

Worst service ever. I've given this restaurant 3 tries and it's been extremely slow service each time. No more!

Midnight snack. As they are open 24/7, I can stop in anytime. I dislike pancakes, and they serve some that I would eat everyday if I had the chance.

Can't believe it's still open. This place is horrible. After walking out of the restaurant a year ago, I can't believe it's still doing business.<br/><br/>The food is mediocre at best, but extremely overpriced. $7 for a side of fries, for example. The service is horrible. They only hire high school/university students, who are often chatting with their friends at the bar. The last time I went was with my parents for breakfast. After asking to have my coffee cup replaced because it had someone else's lipstick on it and not receiving a new one for almost 10 minutes, we walked out.<br/><br/>As a university student, I also used to go here with my friends after the bar. Even being drunk and starving after dancing all night didn't hide the obvious service and food issues here. We've all since vowed to never return.

Touristy good. Yes it is a tourist trap, but it has the semi-50s vibe and great food that is well presented.<br/><br/>You MUST have a creamsicle shake when you go to Zak's - OR ELSE!

I like how it looks like but come on 7 $ for French fries

Not worth lining up for on a weekend. It's okay, but no better than any suburban chain "retro" diner. You drove all the way down to the freaking Market, and actually managed to find parking. Explore your options. Expand your horizons. Take a chance on discovering something awesome. Jesus.

Generic food and average quality. Good after the bar or for a hangover breakfast.

Warning - they no longer offer their full menu overnights on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Mediocre late night menu in it's place.

Good food, but a bit overpriced for what it is. Serving sizes are ok but for what I paid for my burger I expected a bit more fries. The milkshake was made perfect but yet again was a bit overpriced for the size. The decor is pure 50's diner - this is what you are paying for. Bottom line - good for a change but I would not eat there all the time.

Ok if you're looking to kill a hangover but overall it is mediocre and overpriced food. I'm probably just grumpy they don't take debit -cash or credit only, but for your convenience there is an ATM beside the cash register and you can pay $1.75 to take money out. Seriously? Who doesn't take debit?

Sweet.!! It's open 24 hours a day and of good greasy food !! What more can you as for !!

Love the design so retro. Hate that the washrooms are upstairs with crazy handdryers. Food is decent and it's 24h

Fantastic food, great '50s era atmosphere. It's a fun and exciting place. A great selection of food all are must try's, espicially the milkshakes.

Waste of money move along nothing to see here. Heat and serve Sysco crap. With so many great choices in the areayou do not want to eat here. Sorry in 2009 heat and serve crap does not fly any more.