Review Zambri's - Victoria

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!!

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

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!

The coffee was amazing and the brunch was really tasty!! Perfect spot on a chilly spring afternoon.

The food and the service at Zambri's was excellent. It made our belated Mother's Day lunch really special. Gnocchi was top notch just like Nonna makes it.

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.

Nice spot. Good atmosphere and consistently good food and service.

One of my favorites, the food is always excellent, great atmosphere.

A great place for business lunch. Lots of good meal sized salads, I'm a fan of the meatballs and the daily vegetables. Very happy with the portions and prices - for LUNCH. Dinner is a different story.<br/><br/>Ambience is fancy, it's quite nice in there. Beautiful new building. Good luck on parking though.

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.<br/><br/>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. <br/><br/>I'll be back!<br/>

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!

The setting was nice. But the food is mediocre. Especially multiple selection of pastas. The drinks are pretty good tho, but if you're looking for good food, this is not the place.

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. <br/>Came there for our two year anniversary, ordered a Milano, it was delicious. <br/>Then the Cesare Salad and it did not disappoint. <br/>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. <br/>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!<br/>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.

The gnocchi tasted pretty terrible- they do not taste like any gnocchi that I've had before. The food doesn't seem authentic at all. No wonder the rating is not very high.

Will NOT be returning to this restaurant. Enjoyed the food so I am sad that our experience was so negative that we feel like we just cannot return. The waitress we had was incredibly rude, not just to me but to quite a number of people at our table. She put a negative feel to the whole evening. When I called the next day after thinking that I should let the owners know about our experience, the response was about as cold as the waitress was the night before! When I called, I asked to speak with the owner and she said, "well that depends what this is about", I told her about our experience and she said that she was the owner but she did not seem too bothered by the experience we had. We have been to Zanbri's many, many times (both for work functions and socially) but we will not be returning and will no longer recommend this restaurant to anyone. I am not sure how a restaurant can survive long term if they treat customers this way?

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.

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.

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.

Mediocre. Started off well with friendly service and bread, olives and water brought to the table.<br/>Food was nice but no wow factor. We had salad starters (fresh but plain). Pasta with meat sauce (could have made this better at home), salmon (tasteless but the veggies and sauce were good). Would have liked to try dessert however we were given the menus then abandoned for 25 minutes with no drinks or follow up service. There was also hardly any atmosphere.<br/>There are much better and much cheaper restaurants in Victoria.<br/>

I'm underwhelmed. The food was ok, the service was ok, but it's not hard to do better elsewhere.

Beautiful ambiance!!. One of the most beautiful restaurants in the city. Food is not amazing, but still a nice overall experience.

Dissapoment again. Another try here and again throughly dissapointed, the bar lady acting as hostess when we arrived as a party of three was putting us next to the work station so since the place was virtually empty we asked for a different table she said she would check and told us they were reserved which is strange as we're told on the phone only large parties could reserve table area, well that made it worse when two friends happen to be walkins and we're given a table where we asked for....I hope her Christmas is full of coal.. Service was indifferent he offered none! it took 50 + minutes to get our pizza mains... Being Xmas we knew everything would be busy that's why we went early and they were set up for a couple of large groups but 50 mins for a 3 topping pizza,!!!!?? Well it is now a place we will be sure to warn people about and for the price there are a lot better choices

I really love this room with the clean lines and livley ambiance. The beef crisp is to die for and the peas & Gorgonzola was quite good for a simple dish. The lamb was outstanding, yet the service was a little uneven

Don't go there for the food.. We've had dinner there a few times over the years but we're done. Great space, atmosphere and service. But the food's always been disappointing. Zambri's touts themselves as a great Italian restaurant. But I'm sorry -- they just don't get it. I don't know how else to say it, but the food just lacks spirit. Which is a shame as it's the only decent Italian joint in town. Enjoy a drink at their terrific bar. But don't get your expectations up for the food.

Good and bad. The mixed vegetable salad from the specials menu was really good, blanched new carrots and beans with cucumber and lots of fresh herbs. <br/><br/>Both pastas were lame - undercooked noodles, store-bought gnocchi and boring sauces.<br/><br/>Chocolate dessert was good.

Wow. I think that perhaps the hostess could have been more snooty, but I'm not sure how. I've lived in Victoria for years and skimmed by zambri's a couple of times but something has always turned me off. My instincts were right. Other than the hostess the service was ok but very slow, quite a nice place to sit, but the food was ridiculously overpriced and not great. Parts were ok, particularly the vegetables but what was done to that fish was criminal. Proving myself right about not eating here for 14 years was an unfortunate experience in eating. Please don't waste your money here, and someone please let that hostess really needs a new career. We almost left at that point - I wish we had.

Worst meal Ever. Four of us ate here on Mar 30th and had a terrible meal, it is the first time I've dined out where everyone at the table had a bad meal. My wife and I had the veal dish it was over cooked, dry and the only taste that came through was an unpleasant fried taste. Our 3rd diner had the salmon dish again it was so over cooked and dry, it was terrible. The worst dish of the meal was the rabbit that our 4th diner had it was completely raw in the middle. We had been there before, some time ago, and liked it but after this experience - never again. The one pleasant thing about the evening was the waiter he was very good!

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

Good but no WOW factor. I have eaten at Zambri's roughly once a year for the past 6 years. I think the food was better when they were at the old location. The food is simple, with clean uncomplicated flavours. Service is hands off, which is nice for a quite romantic meal. While the food is good it has never wowed me; I feel like with a few high quality ingredients, some butter and cream, I could make a comparable dish at home. For the price I don't feel its worth it.

Condescension at its finest. Last week I decided to take my family to Zambri's for the first time. I'd never been, but I'd heard a lot about the great food, location and decor of this upscale restaurant. Instead of receiving a warm welcome and a fine gourmet food experience, I was treated to one of the snootiest and most condescending receptions I've ever had in a Victoria restaurant. <br/><br/>Before going to the restaurant, my family and I were told that this establishment did not take reservations. Regardless, we decided to show up early to get a spot in what always looks like a busy restaurant.<br/><br/>Upon entry I was greeted by the owner (or manager) who did not smile as she scanned me up and down with her dark rimmed glasses. When asked if I had a reservation, I informed her that I was under the impression that they did not make them. She very quickly and dismissively said "My staff has known for over 3 years that we take reservations, so I'm not sure where you got that idea". Well then, I guess she put me in my place. Call me old fashioned, but maybe a better response might be, "oh I'm sorry about that mix up, maybe someone forgot? I would never blame you for thinking that we don't take reservations."<br/><br/>When I asked if I could walk through the restaurant to see if my parents had arrived there early, she hesitated for quite a while. Was I dressed like a bum? Was I good enough to drag my feet through her restaurant? After her pause she gave me permission to look around, but said "I guess, just don't go into that room over there, it's for a special function." My parents were nowhere to be found, either in the normal seating area, or in the room having the special function (maybe they were in there, I just wasn't allowed in). I returned to the front.<br/><br/>Asking if they had any more spots, she dismissively said "no, not until 8:30, you should've had a reservation."She then handed me a business card and sent me packing. <br/><br/>Now I know that she was maybe having a bad day. It was a busy night and there must've been a lot to do. But being adamant that the fault lies with the customer, reluctantly allowing them to see if your family members are there and telling you (rather like a small child) to not show your face in a room strikes me not only as bad service, but also snobbery at its worst. Maybe the owner/host is unpleasant to everyone, but I can't help but feeling that the fact that I walked in off the street, wearing casual clothing made me look like someone she deemed not good enough to patronize her restaurant. Rudeness, pretentious body language and treating my very presence with discomfort not only implies that my money is no good, but that someone who looks like me is not welcome. This sour experience makes me not only want to never ever try this restaurant, but to also tell all of my friends and the people on this website, that this particular restaurant is not concerned with basic good service, hospitality and treating every customer with dignity. <br/><br/>I guess I'll never know what the food tastes like, but I'll certainly always remember the bitter taste of condescension and pretentiousness that this particular establishment seems to deal in.

Valentine's Dinner. First time at the restaurant and it was a busy night being Valentine's . The "hostess" was a bit cold and couldn't seen to break a smile to welcome you so I had my reservations about the place to begin with... but then that was replaced with a delicious meal and great service which made the night very special. Thanks Yann for making our first time at Zambri's a great evening!

A little suspicious.. Always a little suspicious when I see three or four reviewers who all joined within one month all reviewing only one restaurant in glowing terms inconsistent with the restaurant's rating and review history. Based on my personal experience the old Zambri's in the London Drugs mall was fantastic, the new not so much! Very cautious now with restaurants trying to capitalize on their start up success at a new and expensive high profile location.

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<br/>CHEESE, TOMATOES & OLIVES $11<br/>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!

Better past experiences. I was invited by my gal to go for an impromptu dinner outing last night and we chose Zambri's. I had eaten their food a few times in the past, but only as take out for a large group. With delicious memories of wonderful pasta I started to review the menu settling on the Ditali pasta with veal meatballs and a Prosciutto Pizza to be shared.<br/><br/>Our greeting upon arrival, introduction to server, arrival of bread snack and overall service were top notch and timely.<br/><br/>My gal and I had decided to share both dishes and without asking for side plates the pasta arrived dual plated. Sadly our meal was not delicious and really could be prepared by most any capable cook, the flavour of the pasta, sauce and meatballs was pretty uniform due to excessive salt. We did mention this to our server who suggested I might not be "used to restaurant salt levels" but that another diner had the same observation the night before and that she would mention it again to the chef.<br/><br/>Overall, I can't say I'm in a hurry to go back to a restaurant I had high hopes for, friendly people, nice room (albeit crowded) good wine list. 6/10

I dined on the Beef Tenderloin and it put me on Cloud9, heavenly tastebud delight.

Bagged pasta and Ragu would be an upgrade. My husband and I went here to celebrate a special occasion. Boy, were we disappointed. The service was great, as is the atmosphere but the food just didn't cut it. I ordered a pasta and my husband ordered a meat dish. Our appetizer was tasty- the breaded zucchini with mozzarella. My pasta however, was inedible. There was a layer of baked cheese on top and about half an inch of oil swimming at the bottom of the plate. I noticed that the noodles didn't seem great either. We decided to send it back and asked the server about the pasta. They *do not* make their own pasta here. They did bring me another pasta, but it was just okay. Just a weekday meal at home with a jar of pasta sauce would have been better though. I had the impression that this place was slightly higher end Italian, but its actually just low end Italian with high prices. My husband's dish was ok, but certainly not memorable.<br/><br/>Won't be going back.

Good food, good value and service was attentive<br/> Ceasar salad made with natural ingredients, a rare thing.<br/>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.<br/>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.

Really? You 86'd pizzas cuz you ran out of dough?!? How could you not see that coming? Did someone forget to order dough? Do you even make it yourself? ...oh wait, that's right. It's amature hour. Anyone, where can I get decent Italian food in Vic?

I wanted to try Zambri's see as he worked at the Windsor Arms in Toronto. Wow was I dissatisfied, the service was appalling waiting 25 minutes for a server to come to our table. Ready to order I asked if the pasta was made in house much to my displeasure it's not--being told they serve to much pasta--I don't know how they can justify the prices. I decided to have the halibut for $29 and it was so dry I ate it because the whole experience had already been a disappointment I didn't want to wait for them to correct it. Needless to say I will not be returning especially after reading other reviews it seems Zambri's needs some help in the front and back of house.

A typical overpriced Victoria,BC Restaurant. Basically the service was poor ( waited 25mins for our server just to take our drink orders) and the food was moderate at best. Additionally, if they are going to charge $18 for pasta you better make the pasta from scratch. This place would never make it in any major market, so it's a good thing they are in Victoria,BC.

Soooo BAD. I went for spaghetti and meat sauce and what I got was spaghetti swimming in a huge pool of oil...my waiter explained it "i changed from tagliatelle to spaghetti and they absorbs oil differently " what a load of.....! take a look and see for yourself....its the third and final time I have gone there and been disappointed....no more

Gave it a second chance but no more tries.... Went there two weeks in a row just by chance with Different people who wanted to try it. First time service was so bad that no matter what you thought of the food it didn't matter Plus we had 8 people so automatic 18%. Our host suggested that he would like an option other than 18% which was so fair. They agreed but we got some funny looks. What the hell do you expect The place is expensive Ok so one week later another couple we were having dinner with said they would like to try it. I told them bout the service but we decided to give it a try. Service was slow other than the girl filling water glasses. The waiter ased if I would like my steak med rare to which I said NO. I Was the last one to be served and the steakl was not med rare it was rare. I sent it back and asked for med well. Twenty minutes later after the other three people at the table had finished eating my totally dried out steak returned. I was so hungry I ate it but it was dreadful and it was $29.00 not cheap but ok if it is properly prepared. This joint won't last. My meal should have been comped. I am a Red Seal Chef so honestly I know what I'm talking about. I won't step foot in the place again. I also find them arrogant. About what???? You live in Victoria not New York or TO. You guys need a new chef and you really need a new front manager. Get over yourselves. Bet you are not here next year unless you get it together. Sorry but I detest bad service and poorly prepared food. Oh the presentation is very good! But that's it. Save your money. Go to Cactus Club. Great food. Great service. Great presentation and great value for your dollar. Incidentally I never review restaurants because I know you can have a bad night but this is not the case here They need an overhaul

Oh soooo bad. First I will say my husband's meaballs were good. I ordered a pasta that tasted like they had just poured cream over plain noodles. Sent it back and the waiter talked me into trying another kind. It had bland noodles with greasy butter poured over it . Awwwwful, sent it back also and gave up. Had no lunch that day/ Will not return.

Dissapointed. Went to Zambri's for a work function (group of 11) with fond memories of the original location and food. Left feeling that the golden days of the restaurant may have been left behind with the original location.<br/>For the prices being asked and using the original location as a benchmark I found the service to be slow and the food to be below par. My salad was way too big for a single serving and plain. My halibut was overcooked and the dish left me thinking I had drank salt water. The food delivery itself was poorly timed, leaving us waiting for dishes to arrive.<br/>I'll try to remember the better times of this place and find other places to enjoy.

Hip, fresh and trendy. The food is spot on, though the decibels are a bit much for an intimate dinner.

Just Okay. We went for lunch and the meal was just okay. We both had pasta, the macaroni was rather tasteless and bland and the tagliatelle had just a little more flavour. The service was very slow and the waitress not particularly friendly - no cheese, no salt and pepper, etc. We can cook better Italian at home and we are not Italian....

Dear "CRE". My name is Yann and I am the GM at Zambri's. I am sad that your very first review on urban spoon is a negative one at Zambri's.<br/>I truly wish you had mentioned something to the server who took your order, checked in with you to ask whether each dish was to your satisfaction, to the support staff who cleared you table or to the hostess who thank you on your way out.<br/>I really hope you will give us another chance to impress you.<br/>I would love to send you some gift certificate however, anybody reading this could claim to be "CRE" and therefore claim these gift certificates instead of you.<br/>Perhaps next time you are unhappy you could simply tell us?<br/>Best regards<br/>Yann

The pizza is fantastic, perfect crust and not too dressed.

Here's hoping. Had heard mixed reviews on this place since it moved. Was looking forward to trying it as it paints a good picture. Similar to another reviewer, our appetizers were delicious but we were let down with the mains. For a restaurant with the name it has in the location it has, the food was simple in an elementary way and seemed like unfinished recipes. The only thing that saved it for us were the appies, the desert and the amazing company that we shared. Sorry to say that I can't recommend a place that could be so impressive.

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. <br/>The food has always been well prepared, the service is helpful and prompt. Great place to dine in downtown Victoria.

One visit was enough. A few of us stopped by for a glass of wine and a snack. Found the room felt quite cold and bare. We went with the sommelier's recommendation for wine included in the menu and we all found it to be drinkable but nothing more. Some bread and olives were brought out and the bread was tough and tasteless . We shared the fried bread dumplings with prosciutto, which were really good but not enough reason to go back.

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. <br/><br/>Thank you for completing our night!!

Overrated. I had been looking forward to dinning at Zambri's. However, the meal was disappointing. While the descriptions on the menu seemed promising, the flavours were ordinary and nothing particularly memorable. Some reviews had been critical of the portions size (too small). I did not find this to be the case, as the pasta portions were generous. They were just somewhat lacklustre.

Brunch. Everyone seems to be doing brunch these days, so the missus an i checked Zambris out..<br/>Poor choice.<br/>Had the Florentine. 12 bucks for what?<br/> Bread spinach and touch of hollandiase.... Peter Z you can do better!!<br/>Next time im heading back to Floyds..

Frustrating. I've eaten here a few times. Each time I hope it will be better, but it never is. The frustrating thing is that the menu is obviously put together by someone who knows food, but the service is often poor, and the owners seem to have decided that squeezing food costs will be their road to riches. Examples of this would be "strip loin" which is literally just a shaving of beef (nicely seasoned, but a pathetic portion), and "Bison" which arrives ground up and served like chilli, not to mention that bread is served without butter or olive oil. They would do far better to charge a little more and offer proper portions, the way it is now I just to trust this establishment.

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.

Dinner March 24, 2012. Amazing lamb dinner but realize it is 4 small lamb chops and 3 potatoes and that's it. Don't get the clam in wine sauce, sauce cannot be found anywhere on the plate. Slow service, not the Zambri's it used to be with a small kitchen and servers rushing around all night long. This is more like a high end Earls with an Italian flavour. Wine menu is Italian with two french wine choices and that's it. <br/><br/>We really liked the old Zambris because we felt we were in an authentic Italian restaurant. This feels more like a Romeo's.

Same same. Been to zambri's twice now, both times have had mediocre food and similar service. Not sure if I'll be drawn back again

Giving credit where credit is due - we had fabulous service, they also had a decent wine list, but that is where it ends. The food was terrible, a terrific looking seafood salad ended up being a handfull of lettuce with deep fried mussels, deep fried oysters, deep fried scallops and deep fried shrimp on it, I am sure they got their inspiration from 'Red Lobster', only they charged twice the price. They have way to many tables in the restaurant, we were knocking elbows with the people at the next table over. Get rid of the chef and half the tables and they might have a good thing going.

Snore. We went for an early Valentine's Day dinner and were disappointed in the tasting menu; it sounded great but did not deliver. All the ingredients were of a high quality, and the value was there, but the food was super bland. We each ordered different items to add to the variety of the experience but it was all plain. We both tried adding salt just to get some flavour. Service was nice, so was the wine, and the atmosphere is pleasant, but the food was not memorable; for 150 bucks it was a snore.

R.I.P. Torte di Limone. One of Zambri's most important creations has recently passed into the annuls of great desserts. You will be missed and with any luck will return.

Not worth it!!. I ordered there rib eye steak and expected it to be great but it turned out to be extremely chewy and almost un- edible.The presentation was poor and it tasted mainly of burnt charcoal. have never returned a meal before but I had no choice in this situation. My second steak had the same issue but I ate it anyways as I did not want to be difficult. My boyfriend also had the lamb and was equally unimpressed with his meal. After spending over $100 I would expect a lot more than I received. We made a complaint and they gave us 50 dollars gift certificate. We gave it another try and ordered pasta. it was really ordinary and not worth it . I will never come back again!

As always… excellent gnocchi and good service. Wine list ok but could use a few more options. Will be back.

Good italian wine. I only wish they would bring back their simple yet delicious Gorgonzola pasta . I also love there ceasar salad . Have not gone back yet but i would still recommend this restaurant

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!

Great lunch!. I had the Gnocchi for lunch and it was spot on! My father had one of the Pizzas. As good as I have had if you don't count Prima Strada! Service was spot on. Atmosphere made me want to come back. These guys have a good thing going.<br/><br/>Highly Recommend!

OK, just OK. Good pasta (but then again it's not that difficult to make) but expensive for what it is. Shouldn't be more than $12-15 for a good bowl of pasta. Service OK.

Zambri's. Visit was on a Friday evening at 7:30pm.<br/><br/>This place kills it<br/><br/>There take on the Cesar Salad is like a wonderful discovery for the mouth. (pick it as a starter). Food is amazing. Its a tighter fit of a restaurant, but in the Atrium building so the atmosphere is very nice. Servers are top-game. My server had the best table manners i have encountered in a while. <br/><br/>Always busy on weekends but you can wait in the lobby with a glass on wine!<br/><br/>place is great check it out - if finances are healthy

Ice Age at Zambri's. I have to agree with Northern Sage's review in that the hostess (wife, owner??) was the Ice Queen when it came to greeting newcomers. The waiter was impersonal and the kitchen was an "assembly line" Overall there was little ambiance and several times wait staff attempted to remove our "unfinished" drinks and meals. On the upside the temperature was nice and warm, surprising since the hostess was the Freeze Out Queen. The food itself was OK. Nothing to rave about. I was also quite shocked that the kitchen would NOT attempt to accommodate someone with "food allergies". I myself have a few intolerance's (dairy, soy and such) but normally it is no issue to remove said dairy and add some chicken...not at Zambri's. My meal, Spaghetti and meat sauce (really how difficult a meal is this) came covered with Cheese while my friends pizza came without cheese. Perhaps a simple mistake and I get it but no one apologized for the inconvenience of having to wait for a remade meal. Wouldn't recommend this place and won't go back again. If you want authentic Italian with great ambiance and friendly people not to mention an awesome kitchen go to Il Terrrazzo's which I highly reccommend.

Friend in Victoria really wanted to try this resto when we visited from Vancouver. Ambience is lovely but food not great! Worst pizza ever (for thin crust) and friend with dairy allergy spent time with waiter explaining allergy and requesting suggestions. Waiter suggested chicken parmigiana (cheese!!) then when friend reiterated she could not have dairy and requested plain chicken on pasta, waiter said they "could not make up their own menu" Ridiculous not to make simple accommodation or suggest reasonable alternate, especially given overpriced food. Finally friend ordered spaghetti with meat sauce and yet again stressed no dairy. Waited stupidly long time for food and when food finally arrived, friend's pasta had cheese sprinkled all over it! Frustrating and ridiculous. Food is overpriced. Save your money and go to spaghetti factory or buck a slice pizza place - will taste better! If you have allergies, avoid this place that finds it too much trouble to make simple accommodation.

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. <br/><br/>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?<br/>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!

Meh.... Went in on a Friday night and was surprised to be seated in a half-empty dining room. The seafood salad was the highlight (except for the oversized chunks of celery). Food is overpriced ($35 for a 12 oz AAA ribeye?!) and nothing on the menu really stands out (was even discouraged by the server from ordering what I thought sounded the most interesting). Cauliflower side dish tasted burnt. The creme brulee dessert feature (pistachio!) was delicious. Service was good but was expecting better tasting food for the price paid.

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.

Arrogant, annoying and delicious. Yes the menu is hard to understand the difference between a meal and an appetizer, yes the surly women waitress (wife of the owner? what is HER problem?, she is so abrupt and unfriendly) and male waiters seem to have gone to the Paris school of arrogant wait staff, but the food is complex, well prepared and delicious. Reasonable price, no, repeat visit? Maybe, there are more friendly and value orientated good Italian in Victoria (Prima Strada, Il Terrazo) where you don't feel like they are doing you a big favour by serving you.

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. <br/><br/>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.<br/>Had their phenomenal tonnato followed by the memorable spag alla sabbia with a side of braised green (tonight were kale and chard). grazzie mille!!

Should I start backwards.... You know, like that old sitcom episode. Well, they took 20% off my bill and removed the charge for the dessert. My dessert had 3, that's right, THREE hairs in it. And i hate to say they were short and curly. We had to ask for salt and pepper. The server did not bring more bread when asked. The bartender DID make the specialty drink we requested. There is no butter served with the bread and when I asked, they brought unsalted butter and said it cost extra for EVOO and balsamic. The server kept making some weird messed up face as is she had been sucking on a lemon. Nothing on this Italian menu had pancetta. Did i get it all out...hope so...just another fancy shmancy Italian restaurant.

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.<br/><br/>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.

Sigh................. One of the worst tasting, poorly presented, over priced meals I've had in Victoria. And don't get me started on the service...wait a minute...what service? Me thinks the emperor has no clothes

Great location, inspired food. Chef/owner Peter Zambri is enjoying some well deserved success with his well appointed new space and creative cuisine. <br/><br/>Highly recommended!

What were they thinking?. I couldn't wait to eat at Zambras for a huge family celebration. All my research pointed to this restaurant. We were all disappointed. From the fatty stuffed pork to the bland pasta. Eventhough the halibut was cooked well, the plate was empty. If you wanted some vegetables, you needed to order them as an extra. They totally nickeled and dimed you to have a balanced meal. There were no side plates for your bread that came without butter or olive oil. The meal was very over priced for the quality. I would never go back there.

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 :)

Best itallian food in town hands down. Sorry for you who don't get it, go get some "crazy bread" and st_u.

Very Nice. Went here with high expectations and it did not disappoint. Im a sucker for a proper authentic bolognese and the service was immaculate. Im surprised people do have bad experiences here, but mine was gold.

Sorry zambri's, i hate to do it....<br/>the place is just not the same. it has lost that zambri's feel. the food isn't nearly as good. the room doesn't have the same charm. the service is really not good. will try again eventually but i don't hold out much hope...

I just don't understand the hype about this place...the food is heavy - anyone can make food taste good with lots of butter and cream, it's expensive and the service is a joke. A colleague left several messages/emails to book a work event for 25 ppl but they couldn't be bothered to respond...I guess they don't need the business - if they keep it up I'm sure they'll need to downsize soon enough!