P.S. WOW!!! Seriously I had no idea veggies could be so good on a pizza! It is something I tend to avoid because I hate the sog factor. Broccoli and tomatoes are the two hardest things to get right on a pie, but not only did they do it awesomely, they did it together! The veggies are freakin' fresh, and I mean that literally and figuratively!!! read more

Za is a great specialty pizza restaurant housed in Arlington along Mass Ave. It's interesting the amounts of varying toppings that they can pile on the pizza dough. Sometime they pair incongruous ingrediants togethers (like mac and cheese on pizza or portobello and goat cheese or sometimes figs) yet the taste is surprisingly rich and come together in harmony. For those who are less adventurous you can pick your own topppings. They also serve great salads that is packed into a hocky-puck-like mold and is not very leafy but very good (ie the beet salad). As for drinks, Za has an assortment of wine and beer. You wouldn't think that pizza would go with wine but somehow Za manages to make the pizza experience transcend your college slice and give you a more grown-up experience with a waitstaff. But that of course requires an acompanying fatter wallet. I personally love the atmosphere of this small restaurant and the decorations. The artwork on the wall changes every so often to feature local artists and you can buy the works. Sometimes they are bizarre, sometimes whimsical, but I look forward to it everytime. read more

Yelp comes through again! I was searching for a dinner spot in between Waltham and Somerville to meet up with a friend and thanks to all the wonderful reviews, I picked Za's. I'd never heard of it previously, but I'm glad we tried it out as the gourmet pizzas are yummy in the tummy! It's great that Za's does not make your typical Italian-style pie with loads of red sauce and melty mozzarella. While there is a time and place for those beloved greasy slices, these particular pies are crafted with inventive topping combos that may include truffle oil, roast duck, caramelized peaches, and/or maple bacon. Is your mouth watering yet? I also love that they use local farm produce. My fig and gorgonzola pie was tasty as could be and perfectly portioned for a single person. The crust was a not-too-thick and not-too-thin conveyance for the delectable, fresh toppings. I actually only ate half and took the rest home so I could save room for dessert. Admittedly, the ginger blueberry creme brulee was better in concept than in execution (more like a very dense custard and lacking the characteristic crackly crust). The dining room is cozy and inviting but beware that it fills up quickly after 7 p.m. Ample street parking is a bonus though. read more

A good sign of a quality restaurant: There's a salad on the specials board that required four lines on the chalkboard to describe. Went with friends, and had a slap-up dinner. Original plans to get three pizzas and share between six, turned into buying five to eat at the table, and two more to take home for snacking the next day! Highly recommended. read more

Really didn't expect that much when coming here and boy was I surprised. The staff was so friendly when we walked in at lunch that we were confused... are we still in the Boston area? Very nice, seemed very sincere, this continued throughout our meal. Which was AMAZING. Fantastic gourmet pizza. We had the mac and cheese pizza (I know, crazy right? but oh so freaking awesome)... elbow macaroni, cheese, cheese, cheese, garlic, breadcrumbs? omg. I think I died and went to starch heaven. We also tried the portabella pizza with goat cheese, roasted red peppers and carmelized onions - fantastic! I wish I could have a pizza that is one slice of everything they have. There wasn't a thing on the menu that I wouldn't want to try. Can't wait to go here again! read more

This place is terribly mediocre. It manifests some of the worst aspects of 90's food culture. It tastes as bad as Jennifer Anniston's first season "Rachel" haircut on Friends. Having lived down the block for almost 6 months I decided to check it out. After reviewing the menu online I was prepared to have this place be a new go-to spot. I ordered the beet salad. When it arrived I was shocked to find that it was a molded salad. That's when I knew this place was based on an out dated 90's concept that is as lame as it's name. The salad was definitely assembled ahead of time. I could tell because the beets stained all of the other ingredients. I suspect the beets used weren't fresh because they were cloyingly sweet. Overall it was a bad look. I ate all of the beet salad because I was starving and I'm not in the habit of wasting food. When the pizza arrived it was clear that the kitchen was in he habit of using pre-prepared ingredients and not cooking from fresh. The chicken on my pizza looked and tasted like the ready-made grilled chicken that can be picked up at the grocery store. The ingredient ratio was all wrong and the topping to crust proportion was disastrously unstable. I'm a military service member. I've deployed to Iraq. This is mentioned only to reveal my baseline. I've had more enjoyable meals while on deployment and while in the field. read more

Good pan pizzas and service! We got the fig and gorgonzola pizza, and another with potatoes and corn. The waitress brought out both pizzas, but one was missing corn. It probably is a common mistake because two of the pizzas on the menu with potatoes differed only by a couple ingredients. We didn't say anything to the server, but the manager stops by near the end of our meal and apologizes for their mistake. He goes on to tell us that the correct pizza is on its way out to our table. At that point, we could not eat a third pizza between the two of us. So, Jeff had it wrapped up and ready to go at the end our meal. I really appreciate that! At another point, I saw a table of girls celebrating birthdays and Jeff handed them a couple of desserts on the house and wished them happy birthday! The pizza itself is good; I do like the crust here better than most places in MA. The pan crust has a nice light crunch with a little soft buttery bread taste. Great stuff. I liked the combinations for the special pizzas, but I don't think I would come here ordering the simple tomato, mozzarella, and basil. If I was craving the simple stuff, I would probably just make it myself..., but that's a different standard. Come here, you'll be taken care of. I like Jeff and their pizzas! read more

Za (slang for PizZa, get it?) stands alone among all the pizza places in the Boston area. It's not thick crust, Chicago-style, it's not New York, thin crust, it's not Jersey-style, tomato pies. It's not "Boston-style" aka Greek pizza (yuk, too oily, saucy-sweet), it's not "coal or brick or wood or whatever-fired oven". It's Za-style. Now, I am from NYC and I take my pizzas as seriously as I take my bagels and I have yet to find a decent bagel place in New England. So don't try to give me any pizza pretenders. Forgettaboutit! I want something original. Well, Za delivers. The best way to describe Za is "farm-to-table" pizza. Many, but not all the toppings and salad innards come from local farms, usually Verril Farms in Concord. Butternut squash, pumpkin, apple, etc. You'll find them either on a pizza or in a salad. The pizza's themselves have eight slices and is an ample portion for a couple with an eye on living a long and healthy life. The crusts are crispy, and the sauces range from the standard tomato-based, which is quite good and fresh, to the more unusual. What's unique about any of the pizzas is that all the constituent ingredients stand out on the palate individually and collectively. In other words you can taste everything but the flavors come together harmoniously to provide a quite rich sensory experience. They'll be a pizza party in your mouth! Za has a reasonably priced wine list with featured specials and a decent craft-beer selection ( but the sparse selection will leave craft beer aficionados wanting, I am sure). One surprise is that the desserts are quite good, obviously selected and prepared with care. I've sampled the chocolate goat cheesecake and the apple creme brulee recently and both are outstanding. If there is one disappointment, it is with the coffee which is the standard run of the mill drip-carafe sitting around too long arrangement. I wondered about this seemingly lack of interest in brewing a decent cup, given Barismo is not too far down the street and asked the management. Interestingly, the strategy is to use the mediocre coffee as a way to prevent customers from lingering too long after dessert. You'll notice serving sizes are small and you wont be offered a refill (not that you'd want one). So, save for this weird customer rotation strategy, I highly recommend Za's for its fresh, tasty, and unique pizzas, creatively thoughtful desserts, and reasonably priced wine. read more

I had been dreaming of this mac and cheese pizza for quite some time........I mean come on. If you like carbs and cheese, you already love pizza, so why not bring it to that next level and throw more carbs and cheese on top of carbs and cheese by having a mac and cheese pizza!!!! And I finally got a chance to try their pizza and I was definitely not disappointed. The mac and cheese on top was even browned a little from the oven!!! And little toasted breadcrumbs with that cream sauce and four types of cheese and the bites that had the caramelized onions in them just sent me overboard!! And hooray for a place that had pretty awesome crust too! We also got their pizza that was topped with sweet potato, bacon, more of that tasty caramelized onions, scallions, and tons of hot peppers and of course MORE CHEESE! ha ha Yes, I do love cheese. But I truly enjoy anything that goes well with cheese too and both of these pizzas were pretty awesome in my book. Their salads were a little on the small side, and the avocado salad really is a salad of avocado--just an fyi there! When we opened up our take out from Za we thought they had forgotten to give us spinach or lettuce! But turns out it literally is a salad of avocado which is good for me! (but I still added in some spinach leaves from home, otherwise it would have been a little like eating guacamole raw which I normally am down for, but only if I am eating Mexican and not pizza ha) read more

I went back to Za tonight, after a year+ hiatus. I don't know why I hadn't been in so long, but it was damn good! Now that locally-grown produce is coming into season, the innovative Za chefs are incorporating that produce into their dishes. There was no shortage of unusual or intriguing dishes on the special menu today, that's for sure! We started out with the avocado salad, which I've had on prior occasions. I couldn't bring myself to branch out on the salad because I had such fond memories of the avocado one. It didn't disappoint. Loaded with black beans and jalapeno peppers and tomatoes, it was delicious and refreshing. We ordered one of the pizza specials, a pie featuring local strawberries, goat cheese, basil, and walnuts. I had heard about a similar Za pizza featuring cherries, and I would have preferred that, but my boy talked me into the strawberry one anyways. It was good, and a little more savory than I expected it to be. They are good at making pizza, so I think that whatever they put on it, it will probably taste good. We were lured into getting a pistachio creme brule for dessert, and it was different but good, though a little heavy for such a lovely night as this. They carry a nice freshly brewed iced tea, which made me very happy, and they served it with the obligatory (and appreciated) lemon wedge. They also have a nice beer selection, which today included the Newport Storm blueberry beer and the Berkshire Brewing Company coffee porter. Service was great, atmosphere was relaxing. A fine trip indeed. read more

Ate there a month ago waiting for movie to start, very good pizza. I like buying something before heading into a movie.

I love this place. I used to live just up the street, and it was a go-to dinner venue. The pricing is pretty good, and the portions are excellent. My sister, bro-in-law, and I used to go pretty often -- now I love introducing new people to Za who do not often head out into Arlington. (Haven't been to the new location in Kendall; I'd rather stick to the original.) My favorite starter is the beet + goat cheese salad, which is always perfect. Keep in mind, it's mostly beet--it's not one of those arugula salads with beets thrown in. No. It is chopped beets + mandarin oranges + goat cheese shaped into a little tower on your plate. Amazing. Every pizza is delicious, and you can request your own combinations. I've probably tried close to every pizza they offer, but my favorite is still the caramelized onion + fig + goat cheese they offer seasonally. All ingredients are local. (The family also owns EVOO, which is more of a fine-dining establishment.) Za in Arlington is family friendly. The wait is not usually too long. They don't serve liquor, but they have some good wine/beer offerings. The owner is friendly, as is the wait-staff. I definitely suggest this place for a casual date or if you're getting a bite to eat with a few friends. read more

Holy crap, I had the fig, gorgonzola, and truffle oil pizza here and nearly fell out of my chair it was so good. I'm not talking, "damn this greasy pizza hits the spot" good, but actually inventive culinary good. They don't have a bar though, so be prepared to wait in on a cramped bench. Trust me, it's worth the wait. read more

We're not coming back. The menu and decor all screamed high-end pizza restaurant. We were duped! We ordered the grilled chicken specialty pizza and a custom pizza with three extra ingredients. We also ordered two beers, two sodas, and a glass of wine. The total for the bill, including tip was $63. Yes, $63. The food is incredibly underwhelming if not mediocre at best. When our pizzas came out, they looked like frozen pizzas I might buy from grocery stores. Perfectly small, round, and it tasted like mediocre pizza. I still can't believe we paid $63 for our meal and drinks. Ridiculous. Even the service was mediocre. Even though we were there on a Tuesday night when the restaurant was fairly empty, our server checked in on us only a few times. We weren't told of the special pizzas on the special board so that was annoying because there isn't much to choose from the menu. I didn't know this until after we ordered and then I looked up to see the special board. The board is hard to see from the distance. Pretty disappointed overall. read more

I've been to Za three or four times now and they always manage to serve up some of the most delicious pizza I've ever had in my life. This probably isn't the place to go if you're looking for pepperoni and cheese; however, it's the perfect place if you're looking for something a little more adventurous and eclectic. My favorite pizza at Za boasts a cool collection of toppings, including the following: salmon, dill, caper, and crème fraîche. If you're feel extra hungry, I would definitely recommend the dessert. Chocolate goat cheesecake? Or is it chocolate goat cheese cheesecake? Whatever it's called, it's downright delicious! Unfortunatly, the only things keeping this place from earning a five star rating are the okay service and horrible paintings on the wall. read more

The whiny little girl within me always mutters "but it's Arlington- why is it so busy!? every time I expect to waltz in on a random Friday or Saturday night. Like Arlington ain't worth a great, busy restaurant. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Order a couple of their salads. The wedge salad (iceberg, bacon, tomatoes, etc.) is always a good choice. Personally, I'm a fan of their avocado, black bean, tomato, red onion one. It's served in a neat little stack and has a nice balance of flavors and textures. 2. Split a "make your own" pizza. Sure, it's a little intimidating to put your own together, but all the ingredients are top-notch and whomever is behind the oven knows how to balance out the proportions so you get maximum yum. 3. If you're in a hurry, don't go on a Friday or Saturday night. They do get busy and you end up having to share a bench with a really pouty 30 something, loudly smacking her lips. *sigh* How embarrassing! read more

This is one of the few pizza places I go to. I am not one who enjoys the standard pizza. I have tried. I have asked people what they like about those cardboard disks covered with overcooked tomato sauce. Za has very different and unique ingredients you never tire of. I had apricot and duck sausage... it was great. I just think your pizza should have interesting toppings. If you are looking for boring pepperoni (yawn ) keep on driving and get out of my way. read more

My husband and I love this place so much, we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. Instead of reserving the whole place for a Friday night (which would have cost a bundle) the manager let us just make a reservation for 60 at 5 pm. Yep, a reservation for 60. The staff just kept bringing out pizzas and beer and salads...it was great. My personal favorite pizza is sausage, mushroom, and roasted garlic. After eating one, I smell like garlic for 24 hours and it is so, so worth it. All of their pizzas are good--fig, etc...and so are the salads. Favorite salads include the beet salad and any salad that involves a parsnip puree underneath fresh greens. Their desserts, especially the cheesecakes and panna cottas they come up with, are also amazing. Plus, a small but high quality selection of beer and wine. The ambiance is friendly and inviting. It's great! In fact, I think I'll go there for dinner right now... read more

I was a tiny bit weary when I walked into Za because it was packed full of patrons. I am intolerant of awkward standing and watching people eat, willing them to finish and pay so I can take their place. Za doesn't have a bar, so it was an awkward wait. Mental note: go in the summer when it's better to stand outside. But the pizza is pretty friggin' good. The mac 'n' cheese pizza was outta sight. It's literally mac 'n' cheese on pizza and super filling. Truly the pizzas are the reason to go. The bar is(was) limited to beer and wine only. The appetizers and salads were pretty common. But who needs those when the pizza is delicious. read more

We built our own pizza, but let me tell you: order anything here, and you can't go wrong. Pizza: They make their own sausage and bread & butter jalapeños. Also, when they say roasted garlic? They mean ENTIRE CLOVES OF ROASTED GARLIC. Yum!!! They have incredible toppings and the crust is perfect. We also ordered the Caesar salad, which is perfectly tossed and the salad-to-dressing ratio is just right. For dessert, we ordered the Chocolate Goat Cheesecake. Lordy!!! There was a beautiful zing to the chocolate cheesecake (because of the goat cheese) and the whipped cream was hand whipped right there in the kitchen. Everything here is from scratch and just...SO TASTY. Service: Incredible. Faviola was our waitress and she had the best attitude. Love her, and you will too. read more

Hands down, worst restaurant pretending to be a great restaurant in Mass. The service was garbage: the waitress first couldn't remember the drinks, which started off my night in a bad way (i'm certainly not a snob). She did not check in with us at all. She did not fill our waters. She was aloof the entire evening. No, it was not a busy night either so there was no excuse. She also forgot two of the entree salads that we ordered. As for the food: garbage. Do yourself a favor and just go get some frozen pizza or Dominos for much less money, honestly, it will probably be better. The pizza at Za was pretending to be creative, but was horrible in proportions, pretty awkward in terms of ingredients (relish? on a Chorizo pizza?), not to mention cold. They also told us that they would reimburse parking? Nope. Oh, and the salads didn't make sense and were also garbage. read more

My mom is very very picky about her food. Everything has to be uber healthy, yet delicious. Amazingly, she had not a single complaint about Za, and to me that warrants 5 stars automatically. Between three of us, we got two salads and two pizzas. The salads weren't too big but they were delicious. The special salad was a Hass Avocado, Mexican-esque salad packed into a cylinder shape. We wrote down every single ingredient in it and analyzed proportions (after devouring it, of course), all set to re-create it at home. It was that good. The pizzas were funky and unique, but delicious. Mashed potatoes instead of marinara was surprisingly light and tasty and the Mac & Cheeza pretty much fulfilled my expectations. I wasn't a huge fan of the figs on my pizza, but overall the crust was perfectly thin (thought not cracker-like) and crispy. There is a standard "make your own" menu for the less daring diners. The decor is pleasant, dark wood and fun cartoon-y paintings of Boston for sale. All in all, Za is definitely worth parallel parking for. read more

We rolled in here on Friday to get our pizza fix. I'd classify this as the 'go-to" family pizza joint in Arlington. Great atmosphere, solid food if you sticks to the pizzas (not sure the salads and desserts are their strong suit). Here's the rundown on the grub: - both salads we had were average (the burrata special and the avocado, black bean, tomato, etc...). Lourdes Burrata was actually questionable at best. - The pies are what I refer to as "House of Pizza" style pies which both my better half and I like: Tomato & Mozz and Grilled Chicken, Broccoli & Carmelized Onions - enjoyed both of these, but will come back here just for the tomato & Mozz Worth putting in rotation. We'll be back to explore more of the pies. 2nd visit (March-ish 2015 - Beef Bomb and Tomato & Mozz were fantastic. Salads are ridiculous. This is easily my favorite: Local Farm's Butternut Squash, Apple, Red Onion, Smoked Goat Cheese,Parsley with Toasted Walnuts, Pea Greens and Maple Vinaigrette Incredibly kid-friendly which is a huge selling point with a 14 month old. read more

I hate the name of this place. Almost as much as I hate the name "Boston Chowda Company." I used to live around the corner, though, and the "za" itself is great. The person who seemed to be the owner checked up on us too much--and for that matter definitely didn't come across as the sort of person who says "za." Isn't he the owner of EVOO too? I'll never eat at EVOO even though I hear good things about it because of my admittedly irrational hatred of Rachel Ray. Other pro: They have delicious, creative salads. Other con: When we used to go they served too many beers on tap for a small place that doesn't sell much draft beer so there were freshness issues, but then again I was still giddy at the fact that I could drink beer at a restaurant in Arlington in those days. read more

I am convinced this place uses frozen Boboli shells for their pizza crust. This place is awful. The menu is misleading and it is insanely overpriced. We got a pizza with potato puree, shitake mushrooms, truffle oil, and melted fontina. Where was the truffle oil and the mushrooms? I think I counted three mushrooms on my pizza, and if you know the smell of truffle oil, it is so pungent and delicious you can smell it from a mile a away. There was none on this pizza. Extremely disappointing... We also ordered a tomato/mozzarella pizza with chorizo and caramelized onions. The onions were not caramelized, which is a common theme with these reviews. By the way when you order a tomato/mozzarella pizza you are not getting what you think. Usually I think of slices of tomato and fresh mozz. Not here, instead you are getting a Mama Celeste knock off with bad tomato sauce and shredded mozz. No need to get into the service or atmosphere, the crappy pizza speaks for itself.... read more

never disappointed after having Za! Za brings pizza to a whole different level then what anyone is used to. mac and cheese pizza is delic and their seasonal fig pizza is a special treat! I love all their salads as well. they have a great beer and wine menu that they are constantly updating. and kudos to them for supporting the local farmers! read more

Fabulously creative and fresh pizzas and salads. I've eaten there several times and have always enjoyed my meal! The service is friendly and attentive. The last time I was there they had good beer specials; I think my partner and I each ordered something different and I remember them both being good. I don't usually drink wine with pizza, so I can't comment on that. Note on the salads: a couple times now I have ordered a salad and expected to get whatever the featured ingredients were (beets and goat cheese, cucumbers and feta, etc) on top of a bed of greens. What I got was a lot of the featured ingredients, beautifully arranged on the plate, and no greens. This turned out not to be a bad thing and both salads were delicious. But if you want a big pile of lettuce, and lettuce isn't in the description of the salad, you may be disappointed. read more

This place makes good pizza. It also gives lots of options (that is, if you want pizza). They also have really good salads (which I have only shared). The salads are pretty creative, including some that do not have lettuce, but not too crazy and the pizzas have plenty of options if you want to make something really personal. I have had several different pizzas and they have all been good. I think the beer selection makes this place even better. It does not have a wide selection but it did have a few excellent unique choices. I suggest this place be called Zahhhh! read more

Solidly and reliably good pizza. Odd and delicious varieties. The place is comfy and usually between 2/3 full and full. The service has always been fine. Prices really aren't bad (from an ex bostonian now in the thrifty world of Portland, OR). A good place for kids or a group - just not too rowdy a group. Not a place I would want to spend hours.. but that's a rarity for me anyway. read more

Za is interesting... I really, really wanted to like it. Its cute and has interesting menu choices (Fig and Goat Cheese? Bing Cherry?) Sadly, it was just sub-par. Za does seem to have a following of older Arlington natives, so I think they will be ok. Its worth checking out. Maybe they will feature a pizza that you will fall in love with. Maybe not... read more

There is a time and place for all pizza (well, most pizza) and there is a perfect time for Za Pizza. My favorite time is on Saturday mornings, around 11:30am (a great time as it avoids the evening crowds). Za is quite popular so Saturday mornings, just before lunch, ensures that you get a great table near the window, with bright and cheery servers. The pizza options are varied and awesome and, yes, very gourmet. My favorite pie was last Summer's figs with gorgonzola and truffle oil. It was sincerely a little piece of heaven. My second favorite pie last summer was a gorgeous little number piled with duck and peaches. Yes, the two flavors go together beautifully. Be sure to try it this Summer. read more

Being from the South Shore, and the the South Shore having the best places for bar pizza hands down, Za does a pretty great job at pulling at my heart strings. It's not just any bar pizza either, it's upscale and they use local and fresh ingredients. I've ordered take out on numerous occasions and dined in once. It is a pretty small and cramped eatery. But if you can get over any claustrophobia you may have, I would definitely dine in. They have many different "exotic" pizza's however I always turn to the mac and cheese or just plain cheese. You can't go wrong with either. They have chalkboard specials that are forever changing. Their salads are on the different end. Don't expect your typical iceberg salad here. I ordered the haas avocado salad, very unusual presentation, but yummy none the less. I live within the area of this restaurant so parking is never an issue for me, however since it is on Mass Ave. people who drive here might find parking a bit difficult. My only really gripe with this establishment is I order from here quite frequently (at least once a week) and they seem to "misplace" my order half the time. They always ask if I ordered from the Za in Arlington (since there are two locations) and I always reply yes and show them the call I made to them 20 minutes prior (I live 2 minutes away why would I call Kendall Square location for take out?) I've received a few pizza's on the house because of this and they are extremely apologetic, which in this day in age is very comforting and goes along way in my book! Great customer service!! read more

A new Pizza and Salad restaurant in Arlington. Pizzas are cooked to order with a variety of options for toppings. Pizza crust is pretty good but many times I get a overcooked pizza where the cheese is way too brown. Toppings can add up the price as they are not cheap. Get a personal pizza with 4-5 toppings and what was $6 is now over $11. The salads are fantastic and they offer deserts as well but overall the pizza could be much better. read more

Za - ZA - Pizza Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Sure it's only Pizza. Yet, there is pizza. And then there is ZA's pizza. Nothing can come close to my Pini's. Trust me Pini's is great-but it is 80% mental and small% convenience-that is why I love it so much and it is a cure all. For me, Za's come close. My sister wrote a few reviews down and I just saw a new one, so I figured it was time to write a review based on my YELP profile's answer to last meal on earth. FIG AND GORGONZOLA CHEESE PIZZA. First, I had the fresh mozz, beefstake and balsamic salad as well. If I never ate a piece of meat in my life, I live on slices of these local farm fresh tomatoes. Heavenly. Not acidic. Deserving of their OWN two buns. *love* Someone else out table, ordered a small Fig and Gogonzola cheese pizza. I tried it and thought to myself. Yup. This is as good as it gets. Did you ever have a piece of pizza melt in your mouth? No? Now you can. Slices cut so perfect and with purpose .... to be home for toppings galore. These slices won't let you down. No sagging here. It will stay erect and hold those toppings proud. Even though it is only dough, it is proud of its life long purpose....to be a delivery mechanism for the most luscious toppings ever....fig and gorgonzola..... When it is just an after thought in my tummy, the next in line is always ready to hold and proudly present the most mouthwatering toppingsof your choice. Dare I say they are "gourmet like?"...yet, not so much that you won't chill in one of Za's red leather booths and squint your eyes, to check out their chalkboard menus.......what a perfect combo! read more

A terrific combination of neighborhood joint, gourmet pizza and unordinary beer list. I've been here a number of times and find the pizzas consistently good and the service consistently inconsistent. Still, that's not enough of a drawback to keep me away. It's very similar to Stone Hearth in Belmont Center, where families and regular folk can dine in harmony. The portion size isn't huge, but I'm one of those "one slice too many" types, so it's just as well. When I go with a friend, we get two different pizzas, share a salad, drink a beer, and are perfectly content. The fig, Gorgonzola and caramelized onion pizza is wonderful. read more

I have only been here once, but I have been meaning to go back because I loved it! Even though there was a long wait for a table, we noticed the manager going around to people offering to get them something to drink while they waited. VERY thoughtful. I have only seen this at a couple other places, and while it is a small gesture, it makes a BIG impression. We started with an avocado salad that was really delicious. It had black beans, tomato, red onion, jalapeno, cheese, cilantro, lime vinaigrette, topped with sour cream. The portion is tiny, so while it is a perfect appetizer, probably not enough for a meal. For the pizza, you can order one of their specialty pizzas or create your own. We decided to create our own and ordered a tomato and mozzarella pizza topped with homemade sausage, red pepper, and kalmatta olives. My mouth is starting to salivate just thinking about it... read more

Okay so let me preface this by letting all of you know how indifferent I am about pizza. I never order it, and only eat it when my friends or family really want it. That said, I must say how completely NOT indifferent I am about Za. What a great place. I had a specialty pizza with sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, bacon and cheese and it was so amazingly delicious. My friend's pizza was something with mushrooms and it was equally as tasty. The pizza here is not traditional and that's probably why I liked it so much. Additionally, the atmoshphere is great. Such a cute place, very warm. The wait staff was beyond pleasant, joking around with customers and making us all laugh quite a bit. I loved it here! read more

This place was decent, but I'm really kind of stunned that so many people gave it five stars. I mean - it's good and all, but it's definitely not "I wet my pants it was so good" good. The place is a little cramped. Once I got into my seat on a relatively crowded Friday night, there was no moving. And it was butt-cold outside, and every time somebody came in the front door I got a blast of arctic air in the face. They vainly tried to put up some curtains behind the door to shield us, but it was trifling. The food was decent, but on the waitresses recommendation, my wife and I split a pizza and it was definitely not enough food. Go with one pizza per person. The toppings were interesting, but I once again got the feeling that the place was trying too hard to be "alternative." I'm all for culinary creativity, but when you are just doing it to get attention and "oohs" and "aahs" rather than because things go well together, you are really whoring your restaurant. Definitely seems like this is a hangout for people who like that granola vibe. One big saving grace was the wine selection. My wife and I got a few glasses of some various reds and were pleased with the wide variety and good quality of the options. So overall, I might go back, but I'm really not all that into potatoes on my pizza or calling a half a head of lettuce with some dressing a "salad", so I won't be making any special trips. read more

Huge fan of Za. I'm not a big fan of pretentiousness, and this definitely seems like the type of place that would be steeping in it, but they manage to walk the fine line well and delivery quirky, tasty food. Warning: if you're looking for *pizza*, you're barking up the wrong tree. To compare this to a normal pizza joint is [insert stock simile about produce]. They might call them pizzas, but they're very, very different and worthy of evaluation on a completely different scale. If you go with one other person, get individual salads before the pizza -- I have yet to get a bad salad there -- and then split a pizza. (Or get two pizzas and bring some home). Service is always friendly, and if you ask, they're happy to voice their opinions on which pizza or salad is best. They're also one of the select few restaurants in Arlington that serve beer and wine, so that's a nice addition. read more

I'm not sure why I haven't yelped about Za before, given that I ate here frequently! Oh well. The Chalkboard specials are what drew me in! The choices - very original. You would too...Portabella Mushroom Pizza! Yum. Ambience - 5 * Service - 5*, sometimes 4.5* Cleanliness - 5* Food - 5x5* Price - affordable. Seriously, even a student could go there once every 10 days :O) Recommend - YES! read more