Restaurant Week Spotlight: ZaZa's Tavola Italiana

By: Jonathan Jones 05/04/2016

What're you doing this weekend for Mother's Day? Head to Lake Barrington for dinner to treat mom on her special day.

With Lake County Restaurant Week rapidly approaching (huzzah, only a month away), this Restaurant Week Spotlight: Zaza’s Tavola Italiana is our stop this week.

ZaZa's Tavola Italiana offers intimate, comfortable seating to relax and savor authentic and fresh Italian foods like visiting a Trattoria in the Italian countryside. The pastas are rich and flavorful reproductions of "Old World" standards, such as Rigatoni Abbruzzese or Paccheri Tartuffi. There are plenty of entrees for guests to enjoy, like the Filet Barolo and the Pesce Bianco Spinaci, as well as insalates, antipastas and rustic brick-oven pizzas.

We watched the magic happen as chef Gustavo Lopez created his Linguine Frutti Di Mare. This dish is sautéed with jumbo shrimp, calamari, scallops, little neck clams and mussels in a plum tomato sauce or garlic white wine.

VLC’s Marketing Manager Sara Rolsma and I were lucky enough to have a grand lunch at ZaZa’s. Unfortunately I couldn't eat the delicious dish because I have a shellfish allergy, so we opted for two different things on the menu.

First of all, I can eat for weeks in a place like this. To start our three-course meal, Sara had del giorno soup while I had minestrone – delicioso! Then we also were served the bruschetta as an appetizer: crostini topped with diced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella dressed with e.v.o.o – our office was pleased.

For our main course – I’m boring – and I had a chicken Caesar salad. That being said it was still the best chicken Caesar I’ve ever had. Sara had Insalata di Pera – served with mixed greens, Chianti poached pears, candied pecans, gorgonzola and raspberry balsamic glaze. When she took a bite of her salad, she exclaimed, 'Oh my gosh.' Our meals in a nutshell: Divine.

Continue here for ZaZa's Prix Fixe menu for Lake County Restaurant Week. If you want some delectable Italian chops, pasta and seafood in your life, plan for a lunch or dinner at ZaZa’s! Also take a look below at our visit to the Lake Barrington eatery below.