Not to sure which rock we have been hiding under but just found this awesome place! A great gem using “real” ingredients! Knowledgeable staff that seem to be passionate about food and libations ! Not to mention Affogato nirvana!
The food was excellent; the staff were very friendly and professional; the atmosphere was great. Overall, the evening was very enjoyable.
Went to Zambri's two weeks ago. Delectable Tagliatelli Aglio Olio Peperoncino! Usually a spaghetti dish, I asked to substitute for the egg noodle: "No problem." The house Sangiovese is remarkably juicy and tasty. We sat at the bar and the bartender knew the menus, thoroughly and interestedly describing the dishes and wines. He was perfectly attentive and friendly. Zambri's consistently pleases.
Delicious dinner with my sweetie. The service was exceptional; probably the best and most attentive in many years. Food, atmosphere, and engaging service; thank you for a wonderful evening!
Hadassah Robertson Matha
+5
The coffee was amazing and the brunch was really tasty!!
Perfect spot on a chilly spring afternoon.
Had a pasta itch that got scratched real good at Zambris:) Great suggested wine pairing. Finished off with a Tiramisu that I crave for every time I finish the last spoon! Just a solid place, doing solid food. Loved it!
Had an amazing wine makers dinner with wines from San Felice Italy. The Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva was delicious as was the food prepared by Chef Peter Zambri. The main course of Bistecca all a Fiorentine was memorable! Graci!
Shared the 3 course dinner for 2 last night...every bite was absolutely delicious � also, even though we were late getting our reserved table, we were given a free appetizer and well looked after by staff while we waited. I am definitely going back again!!!
LOVE this place! Delicious food, excellent customer service and great ambience!
This is a great eatery. The food is delicious. Prices are very reasonable. Love me some Zambri's.
USA
We had our 28th Anniversary there. It was great service, spectacular food .will be back.
One of our " go to " places to eat in Victoria . Everything always tastes great.
One of my favorites, the food is always excellent, great atmosphere.
Food was absolutely delicious. Four of us went in all had something different and all loved it. Steak was cooked perfectly, past it was just the right texture, And my pizza was cooked perfectly.
Would definitely go back!
This is easily the best Italian restaurant in Victoria. All food is prepared fresh to order with the freshest ingredients. The peas in my pasta were so sweet and I crisp, I'm sure they were shelled that day. The menu offers a wide variety of options and the knowledgable and friendly staff provide excellent service. The only bad thing I can say about this restaurant (and I'm nitpicking here) is that as a shorter person I find their wooden chairs slightly uncomfortable. Make sure to reserve a table to avoid disappointment.
Great food, drinks, ambiance and service. All excellent by my considerably critical standards! A selection of wonderfully fresh Italian classics in cuisine and cocktails. Pasta, antipasto and red wine at reasonable price points.
I'll be back!
Other than having to read the long page of a la carte, they also offers set menu depending on your budget, with pairing wines! Will definitely visit again.
Very excited to come back to Zambri's for Dine Around. I've eaten here on several occasions but it has been at least 3 years since the last time. My Amethyst cocktail was refreshing and complemented my lemon bacon fettucine. The bread served was nicely crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The tomato brie crostini appy was delicious even for someone who isn't a huge fan of tomatoes. The night ended with their delicious tiramisu in a mug and pistachio creme brulee. Overall the appy and dessert were nice creations. Don't get me wrong, my fettuccine was delicious too - pasta was fresh - but I felt there could've been a bit more to it than lemon and bacon. Service was great though. I felt the staff enjoyed being there.
This place is incredible and authentic. Great atmosphere and stellar food. Just sit at the bar and watch the open kitchen to see a well oiled machine. Also bartenders are among best in town. Pizza too!
Fun place with great bar. Coming back. Pasta and soup was excellent. Nice sauces and service. Peroni beer served. On tap. Good wine selection.
Wonderful service and food. Great experience.
Came there for our two year anniversary, ordered a Milano, it was delicious.
Then the Cesare Salad and it did not disappoint.
The catch of the day was salmon with summer squash and cauliflower and it was so juicy and flavourful, however I should have asked for a piece of lemon to go with it.
The waitress was so kind and very informative, I believe she said she'd been there for 5 years! Highly recommended place for dinner. 😊
Peter and Jo have a real passion for sharing love through food. We live in Calgary now, but come here whenever we can. The room is eclectic, the food sublime, the staff become good friends. (Francis and Haida..thanks). The antipasto platter with candied fennel (which must be a cure for something), and the warm polenta with tallagio cheese, Genoa salami and chorizo...Help me Lawwwd!
Spaghetti aglio olio, orrecchiette with sausage and rapini puree...what mad scientist thing is this? The bread...ok....what? How is this done? Best bread I've ever eaten. Great wine list. Everyone loves being here so it's always a fun night. Beautiful. Thank you. How many meals do we get? Eat here before you die. You're welcome.
We have been here several times. The atmosphere and decor is beautiful and the wine and cocktail list is great. The food is good, not amazing, but generous portions and the menu is constantly changing. The service however is what gives Zambris such a low rating. My friend is severely allergic to a particular ingredient and explicitly told our server... Only to find the ingredient in her meal when it was brought out by another server. The younger blond server who brought it out was horribly rude, did not apologize and instead said, "Oh. Well, it's going to take a while then to re make it." And spun on her heel making my friend feel terrible. There are better Italian places in Victoria who a) don't screw up and b) if they do, apologize and make the guest feel welcome at all times.
Came here for brunch and it was excellent. I tried the sausage and poached eggs - a combo I wouldn't normally put together, but it really was delicious. The cappuccinos were good as well.
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Zambri's is my go-to choice despite it being somewhat overpriced. While service can sometimes feel a bit pretentious, they are consistent in their efficiency and are typically eager to provide a positive experience. The Spaghetti Aglio Olio Peperoncino is to die for! Their complimentary focaccia bread is yummy as are the spicy olives that come with. Their pizza's are really good too, however I find them to be expensive for what you get. They have an Antipasto that is great to share, but the cost has jumped up by $6 in a year and portions fluctuate. When the new menu with increased prices rolled out a few months ago, I called to confirm the $6 increase on one of the appy's (in case this was a typo - it seemed like a huge jump compared to the 50 cent price increases to other menu items) and promptly received a lecture about meat and cheese costs for almost 5 minutes. I thought that was inappropriate. In all, quality food, excellent service, and beautiful ambience. My favorite place to go...when I can afford it.I have never had a poor tasting dish there and recommend it to all.
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The food was surprisingly delicious. We'd read some of the negative reviews of Zambri's prior to our visit, and must say we are so sorry to hear that people have had bad experiences here. We shared the Vegetable Croccante (fried, breaded zucchini and eggplant) and the Palotte Abruzzese (crispy bread dumplings). Both had us off to a great start. We ordered a bottle of a Northern Italian Red Wine, and were told that the chef spent a good deal of time in the area. We ordered, and shared, the Tagliatelle with Meat Sauce and the Alpina Pizza - both mains were killer! Finally, we polished off an incredible meal with a tiramisu (more sharing). Needless to say we had a great experience across the board, with lots of food left over; the portions are substantial and reasonable for the money. In terms of service, from the second we walked in the door the service was attentive, without being overwhelming. It was our anniversary, so some privacy was appreciated. The day was rainy, the lighting was candle lit - it was a prefect night. I recommend checking Zambri's out for yourself - I hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did.
Beautiful ambiance!!. One of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. Food is not amazing, but still a nice overall experience.
Wonderful!! Can't say enough goods things about our dinner tonight. Service was amazing; mini pickles in antipasto board amazing! Lasagna amazing and may have been the best I've ever had. Dessert. Amazing! Tiramisu passed the Mom test. And night finished with flight of grappa;amazing
What a family. Over the last few months our family has been hosted by the Zambri's family to celebrate, life, love and loss. On each occasion they have helped us feel like we were the most special people in the world. Even if it was just having an order of SPAGHETTI AGLIO OLIO PEPERONCINO ready for pick up on some tough days when all we wanted was a touch of love. Like we had made it ourselves, the food picked up our spirits or helped us confirm the love we have for each other. Thank you all.
Wednesday dinner. First time, received well and seated, upon sitting for several minutes, noticed the noise level at the next table. Asked to be moved and done so with positive support. Our server, Tiko, was extraordinary, explained the specials, answered all our questions with enthusiasm, truly loves her job and much knowledge about the menu.DITALI WITH VEAL MEATBALLS, PEAS & WINE and ZUCCHINI & EGGPLANT “CROCCANTE” WITH BURRATA
CHEESE, TOMATOES & OLIVES $11
BREADED & FRIED WITH SOFT CHEESE & FRESH TOMATOES. The food was everything and more than expected. Loved the bread and olives, this bread reminded me of Mother who made fresh bread every day. We shared an appy, and main course also enjoyed dessert with tea. Yummy, shall go again.
Interestingly Authentically Italian. My husband and I have eaten at Zambri's several times and I have also been there a few times with girlfriends. I have also eaten food in Italy and I think the Zambris prepares food in true Italian fashion: simple, fresh ingredients prepared well. We have always been served promptly, and have been given excellent service by their very capable and efficient staff. We've dropped in there several times to eat before a movie and have always been happy with the recommendation for a fast efficient meal. I love their pizzas. Simple ingredients, but wonderfully prepared and seasoned. I also love their vegetable dishes. We are looking forward to trying more of their entrees in the future and know that with a great chef like, Peter Zambri, we will always be in good hands.
Had dinner tonight in the Atrium. What a fantastic location! The service was perfect, and the food was rave worthy. I have never posted a review before but thought this was the time!
Was a bit apprehensive after reading the reviews. Experiences seem to go in either direction. We ended up with both great food and great service. Server was very attentive, quick and ready to answer all questions regarding menu. We were seated immediately despite being busy, and the crowd added to our suspicion that the meal might be a success. Will return in the future!
I dined on the Beef Tenderloin and it put me on Cloud9, heavenly tastebud delight.
Good food, good value and service was attentive
Ceasar salad made with natural ingredients, a rare thing.
Meatball sandwich was tasty.
One of the best restaurants on the Island! We have dinner there usually once a week. Menu changes bringing new options, but they are conscious of keeping on local favourites. Staff and management are top notch and bring a level of service that is hard to find elsewhere. Recommend to anyone to give it a go - you won't be disappointed
Great Food, Great Staff. I came into zambris on a whim with a friend. It was a busy night the service was great!! My waiter helped us through the menu recommending wines that complimented our pastas beautifully. Staff was friendly and accommodating. It was a little pricey but completely worth the service. I will definitely be going back!!
First time, bad, second time, excellent.. First time: Disappointing meal. The decor is nice. The water bottle on the table a nice touch. But my pasta was bland, watery and had very little seafood in it. No pepper nor Parmesan offered either. Surprisingly expensive for such mediocre fare.
Second time: Amazing meal. This time we went for lunch. The pasta was heavenly and the appetizers creative and delicious. Definitely redeemed themselves since our first visit.
Hip, fresh and trendy. The food is spot on, though the decibels are a bit much for an intimate dinner.
The pizza is fantastic, perfect crust and not too dressed.
Vegetable sandwich is amazing! Get it!!!
Zambri's for Lunch. This is not the first time we have visited Zambri's for lunch. We have also been to Sunday brunch and the occasional evening dinner.
The food has always been well prepared, the service is helpful and prompt. Great place to dine in downtown Victoria.
Another Great Dinner. We went with another couple and has another great dinner. The eggplant apply was spectacular and entrees met everyone high expectations. Despite some other negative reviews, we had wonderful, friendly and accommodating service. While we had one one dessert that wasn't great, there was a quick and easy change to a chocolate conconcoction that was fabulous. We haven't been disappointed here yet!
Loved the patio. I went to Zambri's before seeing a movie across the street and wasn't sure we would be able to eat and still get to the movie on time. We told our server Frances (Who was amazing) that we were going to the early show and voila delicious food appeared before us in no time even though the restaurant was full. We were able to enjoy the sunny patio casually eat our pasta special (bacon, peas, and mint in a light sauce...YUM!!!) and then walk over to the movie.
Thank you for completing our night!!
Great Food - Service.... Yes, it has changed since their old location but I like what they do and I still think you can't get a better Italian Meal in Victoria than at Zambris. The service could definitely be friendlier
Best Restaurant in Victoria. Wow. I'm new to urbanspoon and so far I find this place to be remarkably negative. I've been a huge fan of Zambri's for years. The food is always created such that every ingredient in every dish maintains its own voice while contributing to a wonderful harmony. And the delicious food is all that much better if you trust the serving staff to recommend a wine to complement your selection. I've learned a lot about wine pairings by dining there. I'm not as able as I once was to dine there as much as I like but any time I have a special occasion to celebrate Zambri's is my first choice.
As always… excellent gnocchi and good service. Wine list ok but could use a few more options. Will be back.
There are too few restaurants where you can get a simple crisp caeser salad, a tasty bottle of red wine and a perfectly executed authentic yet simple pasta. We loved it!
Good lunch. I have wanted to try lunch at Zambri's since they relocated. I went today, and ordered the tagliatelle bolognese. It was excellent.
The service was fine, and the price was right.
Love it!. I've eaten at Zambri's a few times and have never been let down! I don't know if we've been lucky but it's never been busy when we've gone either so we've always had our choice of seating. I enjoy the free bread and olives but the water glasses are seriously tiny what's with that?
I've tried the pasta, pizza and the halibut sandwich which blew me away. I was dissapointed they only had a bruch menu on Sunday but then I ordered the egg baked in polenta and it blew me away so I'm glad I was forced to try something new. I think their pizza is just as good or maybe better then many other places in town and the pasta is always perfectly cooked. The Tiramisu is amazing as well make sure to save room!
Fun eating at the bar. Zambri's new location has one of the best atmospheres for wine and fine dining in Victoria. Both visits my partner and I sat at the bar and enjoyed being in the mix of the place. The bartender was wonderful, and his wine suggestions were right on and appreciated. We shared a few appetizers and main and overall had a great time sampling the fare and the atmosphere at one of Victoria's best owner-operated restaurants.
You might not like it.. I however do. Pino is the only other person in BC doing Italian food this well. I have never had great service at Zambri's, but I never went there for the service. I never went there because it was a trendy place to bee seen (it used to be located in a strip mall), and I still don't. I go there because the food is excellent.
If you want your sauce on the side, go somewhere else. If you don't like food, go somewhere else. These are simple dishes executed perfectly, this is much harder to do than some might realize. The room is as beautiful as the people who jam up the bar in the evening, but the food speaks for itself. Order the set menu or the specials. You are probably better off leaving the choice of what you eat and drink with the staff, just assume they know what is best for you and you can't go wrong.
Good atmosphere. Although the food they provide are really not all that phenomenal (except for their delicious broccoli lasagne!), they do provide customers with great service and atmosphere. I wish they made better pizza and dessert, though.
Thank you. This place rocks if you are really looking for true Italian food with a twist of local goodness, AND served with flair.
Had their phenomenal tonnato followed by the memorable spag alla sabbia with a side of braised green (tonight were kale and chard). grazzie mille!!
Dieuwertje Von Aesch
+4.5
Best patio in Victoria. I love Zambri's patio. Besides the food , which I love and the wine , always interesting and accessible, there is the most incredible people watching patio in Victoria.
Spacious boulevard, ( I bring my Bouvier) . I relax and enjoy everything about the new Zambri's. I was a huge fan of the old Zambri's as well.
Delicious Octopus/seafood appetizer. My first time to Zambri's. Had heard great things and was very happy for it to be our choice this year of our annual girls birthday dinner. Friendly service froj hostess to our waiter. Great atmosphere, wished we could have gotten a table out in the atrium. The chilled Octopus/seafood appetizer was delicious. Perfectly cooked and chilled with celery in a light dressing. Ordered Spaghetti for the first time in years since Pagliacci horrific spaghetti in tomatoe sauces. Zambri's fresh tomatoe and basil sauce was full of freshness. Will definitely go back to try some more. Waiter was very attentive with our water and drinks. Kept us updated with our order as the restaurant was busy since it took a bit longer. It can be casual dining but it was a nice surprise to get such great service from our waiter. Only thing wrong was, he didn't introduce himself.
So good! They put their own spin on traditional dishes, and the staff were very friendly :)
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This restaurant has good food, but it is not worth the price as the portion sizes are small.
The Food:
The food is quite good. However, due to the small portion sizes, we ordered a pizza to share among three people, and we all ordered main courses and desserts.
I feel that I need to be a little bit more harsh on the food. Because the prices are pretty high, When I went there, I ordered the special pasta of the day, which came with no meat or vegetables, just a cheese sauce and noodles for 30.00. When you compare this to similar restaurants in the fine dining around Victoria, it leaves something to be desired: either the price needs to be corrected, or protein needs to be added as an option.
There is also no free bread which at these prices is a huge disappointment. We ended up paying $5 for 3 slices of their bread. At this point, I would opt to go to a different Italian restaurant within the Victoria area based on pricing and fortune sizes. However, if you have never been to this restaurant, it is worth a visit at least once. The food is small is still very small. I would recommend ordering one of their base menu items and not a special menu item. My fiance ordered the lasagna, which was reasonably sized.
For the desserts, we ordered the Tiramisu, which is by far the best I've ever had!
Atmosphere/ Service.
The atmosphere is one of the top reasons to go to the restaurant. We went to sit on the inside patio within the atrium building, which was a very unique and fun experience.
The service was excellent, as you would expect at a fine-dining restaurant.
It is also easy to get same-day reservations, a massive plus for a fine dining restaurant within Victoria on a weekend.
1. One of the best restaurants in the town.
2. A must visit place if you looking for authentic food
3. Every items are delicious 😋
4. Definitely recommended.
5. Keep in mind: the price may seem to be a bit of higher side, BUT they deserve to keep the price at that level because of their absolutely good food preparation.
Delicious food, friendly server, loved the ambience! The single meatball my husband ordered was delicious. Also highly recommend their Tiramisu!
There are quite a few excellent food places in Victoria, but for relaxed-elegant atmosphere (in the downtown area), Zambri’s wins the crown. Yes, it’s not cheap but the prices are not prohibitive either (they sure are at several other eateries in town). Yes, the portions are small, and so what? I order one dish and I’ve never walked out hungry. Love and love this place!
Loved the ease to reserve a table last minute, great service, beautiful ambiance, and delicious meals!!
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Zambris has always been a favourite restaurant. So, when my husband and I were planning our wedding, it was a total fluke that we were ordering takeout and then mentioned events. About a year later, we were hosting our small wedding reception in the atrium of their building. And as always, Zambri’s delivered on the food. From the antipasto, pizza and amazing cocktails to the drool worthy multi-course tasting menu. They nailed every dishes, each more delicious than the last. The crispy broccoli and panna cotta were especially a hit. Not a single guest went home feeling hungry. In fact, in the months since our wedding, our guests have raved about how amazing the food was. It truly stood out. In addition to the food, I have to mention the staff. They really went above and beyond. I never saw an empty wine glass. We had little ones at the reception, and the staff were so kind and patient. We can’t wait to celebrate our wedding anniversary for years to come at Zambri’s. This place truly holds a special place in our hearts.
Nice location serving well executed family friendly Italian eats. Dishes are very well portioned and the menu was simple. The fried brocolli was wonderful. Service was good and very unobtrusive. We enjoyed our dinner here.
Fantastic waitress with an amazing memory for her regulars, who apparently I dined with. Food was simple, but had great flavors. Nice to enjoy a Bery good house wine selection too!
I ate food, and drank a drink. Also there was conversation. No horse meat, but I guess that is to be expected.
Set partially in an atrium you have the atmosphere and acoustic, comfortable private setting. Service and food was great. The halibut itself was cooked to perfection, but as noted by the waitress it was the only seafood menu option.
The restaurant nice and wider inside. Great location downtown. My prawn spaghetti was delicious, the other pasta was good too. There is no bread comes with pastas so you can order if you want some. Tiramisu here is just average and small. Service is quite slow.
This is a lovely place to take someone you love. The manager, Emily, was amazing. Friendly and helpful, and made our date night feel special. The food was excellent, and the highlight was the smoked chorizo. Our server Quinn always checked in to make sure we were good, and the wine recommendation was spot-on (a nice Italian red). We were very happy with our evening.
My spouse and I had a private dinner in the atrium for our wedding. We had 11 people altogether and it was fantastic. The food was wonderful, we ordered the antipasti to share as a starter and that was also wonderful. We had a range of dietary needs: vegan, vegetarian, no alcohol, gluten free, and each option was perfect and the service was excellent. Great recommendations for mocktails as well.
The atroum itself is also perfect: quiet, and we could all hear each other perfectly. The only downside was we too much food (we got 4 courses and antipasti) but that is not Zambris fault, we just ordered too much:)
Focaccia was good would have been great it was warm. Had the house red, can't remember what It was called but it was really nice. Food, filled me up nicely and had a decent balance. Not too strong or overbearing while having an overall great taste
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