Hadn't been here in a couple years, one reason is the drive thru is a bit narrow - is workable, just not the best for a larger truck. Other reason is been the dumpster fire we know as the pandemic. Prices had gone up, up, up since my last visit which was well before the pandemic - no surprise after 2020 and 2021 to see the increase- seems everything has increased. Ordered a roast beef and also a barbeque beef - both with pickles. Guy on speaker, pleasant - asked if I'd like add fries which I did. Began pulling forward, reversed and asked to add a butterscotch shake ($5 for a regular sized one now). I'm guessing this was a pita (pain in the arse) as order already totaled. He not only added the shake but when I got home, I saw he bundled one as a meal and upgraded the meal for the shake which shaved off a couple bucks. Paid and waited - was a couple minutes which I expected. Was handed my food (again, really pleasant guy - seriously, I could never work in the food service industry - admire people who do especially the ones who go above and beyond as he did with my order). So - the food update which is probably why you've kept reading- Butterscotch shake was AMAZING. I rarely ever get a shake - if I do, is one from Zel's (banana or butterscotch). Totally worth every cent. The roast beef and barbeque beef - I had the barbeque beef. Even better than I remembered. Just enough barbeque sauce (and you know there is a hit or miss on adding sauce to beef - Zel's nailed it). Bread was super fresh (this was on a Monday evening) Fries were good. Portion sizes good all around. Was the price more than I'd pay elsewhere for something similar? Probably. Was the quality there? Absolutely. Plus - I don't think anywhere around here could duplicate a Zel's shake. Do I recommend? Absolutely! read more

First visit. Waited awhile in the drive thru and then had to wait in the parking lot. Overall - Just ok. Beef sandwiches had adequate but not generous amounts of meat. Meat was mostly small shriveled pieces. Added peppers and gardiniera were sufficient. Fri s we're tasty and hot but onion rings were super soggy and breading was falling off - Really disappointed. Probably won't go back. read more

Terrible Roast Beef. You should be ashamed of your business. What happened from back in the day 3 times the price for crap Pepinos blows your store away. read more

September 2021 - Since the Arby's next door was abandoned, this place had some added business. The interior was bright and clean. The roast beef sign was covered up and so we had no idea what the roast beef prices were except for the combo which costs $10. We instead ordered two hamburgers and two fries and took our order to go. The only significant problem we had was with the person taking our order. He had no idea what was on the menu. We placed our order and he just stared as us as if he had no idea what to do. He asked us what we wanted on the sandwich and when I asked what it came with he had no idea and started staring at the wall. Please provide this kid a cheat sheet. Our other issue had to do with getting a credit card receipt. The manager apparently had not trained this employee at all. He didn't even know what a credit card receipt was and didn't know how to print one. This is business 101 and not rocket science. The sign on the door says that they close at 7:00 pm. I assume that is due to a lack of employees. The food was good but nothing special. My wife has no interest in ever going there again but I will give them a second chance. read more

Zel's Roast Beef - 1/4 LB Hamburger with Fries - Hot Dogs Near Me - Crown Point, Indiana

Went in to order food and all chairs were put up. Still 45 min till close. We were Tod we could not eat there because the lobby closes for one hour to clean. Will not be back. read more

Took a chance after seeing some of the reviews. I am glad I did. It was very very good. I thought the chili cheese fries were going to have a small amount of chili. But no. Every fry had some cheese and chili. The BBQ beef. Was also very good. Yea it took a few. But it was worth it. I recommend. read more

12/26/17 Well I gave this place a second chance after my first experience not being the best. The moto here is "Great Roast Beef," I have had better. I upgraded the meal to include the cheese fries. I was rather disappointed with the cold under cooked soggy fries.. Not sure whether any future visits will waver change. read more

Would've given it no stars but the fries were good. Fish sandwich taste like disgusting metal or something! One bite and I'm done. read more

Zel's Roast Beef - a half eaten sandwich - Hot Dogs Near Me - Crown Point, Indiana

Never trust a business that puts generic sliced cheese over fries, half ass melts it and calls it a cheese fry and charges 5.00 for it. Lmao never again that is just wrong. Straight up scam read more

Zel's Roast Beef - cheese and fries in a styrofoam container - Hot Dogs Near Me - Crown Point, Indiana

Check your bags before you leave. Do not trust them to put all their food in bag. I specifically asked the lady in the drive thru if everything was in bag she assured it was. Missing a whole meal. read more

Meat was very tough and dry. Fries were good. Went through the drive through but the sandwich took forever to come out and there was no line or anything. Me and my companion took 2-3 bites and then chunked it. I'm from Texas but the person I traveled with was from Chicago and raves about this place for the months before our trip but we were overall disappointed. read more

Zel's Roast Beef - a sandwich and french fries - Hot Dogs Near Me - Crown Point, Indiana

The young guy with glasses working the drive-through was really very pleasant. I got a pizza puff and bag of fries and I don't know why, but it was the best pizza puff I've ever had! Not oily but crispy and lots of cheesy filling. Fries were crispy and the wait was quick. Prices have gone up, but so has everywhere. I would have included a pic but I scarfed that down! Lol read more

OMG! Chili Cheese Beef! Imagine if you will - a layer of french fries, covered in cheese, covered in roast beef, covered in chili, with even more chese on top! That's the Chili Cheese Beef at Zel's. This artery clogging dish is a wonder of fast food... and oh so tasty! Zel's is well known for it's Roast Beef. This place is everything Arby's should be. The roast beef sandwich is not quite an Italian Roast Beef, but shares a similar heritage. It's thin sliced lean roast beef on a vienna bun with pickles and peppers. You can also get the BBQ beef which adds a tasty BBQ sauce. Burgers and hot dogs round out the menu along with a few fish options and tasty milkshakes. Zel's has six locations across Northwest Indiana. read more

I wanted to give their beef a chance, and I was hoping it was good. The only thing good about it was the bun. The beef was very dry and tasteless. Also there was a young girl combing her hair in the seating area. Yuck. I saw her go back into the kitchen "employees only" area. Maybe her mom or dad worked there. Very unsanitary! read more

Zel's Roast Beef - Junior beef and french fries - Hot Dogs Near Me - Crown Point, Indiana

Great food, friendly service with a smile, and very clean location, which is a good thing lately. A definite spot I'll return to.

First and foremost I've been going to Zel's since the early 80's in EC and always have liked their beef sandwiches then when they opened in CP it was great and with that being said the beefs have gotten smaller over the years but then again what hasn't. When I stopped in today and got the beef/fries it was $9.63 and for me no big deal but for a family of 4 that's like 40 bucks which to me is outrageous. The beefs are good, but not that great!! I really hate to say this but I believe they've out priced themselves. I truly don't see them being around much long sad to say! read more

I ordered the 4 dollar meal deal Italian sausage and fries. I asked for a side of cheese. They charged me $1.99 for the cheese. It didn't even taste like cheese. It was not ok. The sandwich was not memorable. read more

Very rude and nasty!!!! Clearly black lives don't matter here.. stay away please!! And the food is over priced and under cooked

My mom had a hair in her chili cheese fry.... no thanks! By the way you don't have to be rude and shout through the restaurant that you "don't give refunds!" Nobody is worried about a whole two dollars lady but you may want to use some customer service skills next time.... ‍ read more

Well, I've had Zel's for many years. I'm sad to say that they are not as good anymore. I picked up a couple beef sandwhichs and a couple chili cheese fries last night from this location. The chili cheese fries were just ok. The roast beefs were small, dry and had one pepper and pickle on each sandwhich. The beef didn't even appear seasoned like it used to be. I'll tell ya, for spending just under $30 for 4 items, and having the quality of something out of the freezer aisle was really disapointing. I would recommend going to Pops or Portillos if you want a decent roast beef. Sorry Zels, you just don't have it anymore. read more

The place was a bit dingy and the bbq beef was mediocre at best. What sealed the deal for me not to return was being charged $1 for literally 2 pickle chips and 1 piece of pepperoncini! Only to find Peppers and pickles are free in the condiment counter!!!!! First and last time visit for me. read more

I'm originally from Crown Point. I moved to Alabama with the military and I miss this place all the time. I love their food! It's waaaaay under recognized. Everyone passes by it to go to McDonald's or Burger King...etc. Those places will suck after you eat the burgers here. They used to have this mushroom swiss burger which was to die for--but unfortunately, I guess I was the only one who thought so and they got rid of it. :( But, they have incredibly huge portions and an incredibly friendly staff. Everyone is always friendly. Seriously. You never know what kind of customer service you'll get when you go to different fast food places on any given day, but here, it's a small business and they treat people right. Everything on the menu is cheap and damn good. Eat a burger. Roast beef. Hot dog. Whatever. You won't be disappointed. read more

Hello everyone I just want to warn you not to go to the Zel's at the Crown Point location. The roast beef is dry in the sandwich and the fries were soooo greasy that I could tell they didn't even drain them. A lady who someone called Lori was very rude and looked as if she didn't want to be there. She just slammed certain items on the counter and looked mean at me and other customers as we ate our food. The tables were sooooo dirty that I didn't know where to sit at in there. If you even have a small brain in your head use it to go to another restaurant! They are not good anymore! read more