Zini's is what I imagine a medieval pub in the forest designed by Disney to look like. It's a little dark, but there's a fireplace going in the back and you're surrounded by beautiful stone walls inside. The ambiance is gorgeous. The food is very good - a little heavy handed with the pepper sometimes, but that can be a matter of taste. The artichoke hearts came on a plate of six and were well sauced. They had a good taste of lemon. The Cesar salad was well dressed, but the dressing was more oily than creamy. The nights special, the lobster risotto, has a good bite in the rice and actual lobster! It was one of the stars of the evening, it was tender and delicious! The second star was dessert - I've never seen a tartufo before, but Zini's had chocolate and vanilla, and was well displayed cut into slices like a pear. Our waitress was very pleasant, and even as tables began to fill up provided consistent attention. All in all it was a great meal in a charming location!. read more

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A quiet little place with delicious food and great service. Everything is first rate.

Terribly DELICIOUS! We immediately planned our holiday dinner party here after testing the artichokes ( fab), Veal Marsala and Linguine with red clam sauce. read more

We came here for our valentines day dinner and had a great meal! The restaurant is small and romantic with a fireplace toward the back of the dining room. There is a small bar area (which we couldn't sit at because of Covid which was annoying) and the decor is very nice as well! It has a nice classy, low key vibe to it. We both ordered from the specials menu which and we got the surf n turf. Filet mignon, stuffed shrimp, sautéed spinach and Potatos. It was very very delicious!!! For dessert we ordered coconut creme brûlée & a large cannoli and both were fantastic as well. Service was good, food was good, atmosphere was good. It was just a really good dinner for us! read more

Service was excellent and the atmosphere perfect. Most of our table enjoyed their food. I had the surf and turf and felt my steak was cooked to medium instead of medium rare, but that is always a guessing game. It's like asking for your eggs to be over easy. Either they are too runny or not runny enough. Overall, we had a great experience and would go back there again. read more

A cozy little restaurant in Bantam, CT with a nice bar area separated from their dining room. Very attentive service and excellent food and drinks. A great place for Italian food in a small town atmosphere. read more

We are local residents but I had not visited long time. We found the restaurant very nicely decorated. We were quickly seated and cheerfully greeted. Our server was polite and courteous. The food was very good. Appetizer of calamari was delicious Bottom line : over priced especially the libations. Food very good. Would we return? NO read more

Good food. Lomo saltado was very good. Meat was very tender and flavorful. Whole chicken and rice with salad was the perfect meal.

Man this place was a disappointment. The bartender is also the waitress, food runner, and table clearer for the entire restaurant. Took about 15 minutes to get a drink. They charge $14 for a Jose Cuervo bottom shelf margarita which is advertised as something completely different on their menu. After waiting another 25 minutes for her to circle back and actually take my order I declined any further service, paid my bill, and left. No reason to go back any time soon... read more

A wonderful atmosphere, warm & welcoming. The service was excellent. Our waitress was the chefs daughter who was very knowledgable about the menu. The main course was delicious as was the dessert. I'm looking forward to going back soon. read more

Always a pleasure to eat here. Cozy, warm and friendly. Food is great and so is the service from veteran servers. Zini makes great sauces and you never go home hungry. Thx read more

The food was excellent, everyone was happy with their meals. The dining area was very comfortable and some tables have a nice view of a fireplace. The service was very slow, it did seem like they were understaffed. It took 40 minutes to get our check after we had flagged down a server and requested it. Drinks also took forever to come out. With even average service this would be 5 stars, I would go back but only if I had a lot of time. read more

"Sunday Drive" We felt like taking a drive in the country Sunday afternoon so we headed up into Litchfield county. We stopped in the center of Litchfield and walked around in a couple of the shops and headed towards Bantam on our way back home. As we drove passed Zini's Restaurant, I remembered seeing pictures of their weekend specials on Facebook. So we turned around and went in. With no specific plans for the afternoon, this turned out to be an awesome dinner. Zini's is a dimly lit romantic restaurant. I loved the stone walls throughout the dining room and the black and white pictures inset into the walls. My wife said she wants to go back to enjoy the fireplace when they light it for the colder months. As I had mentioned, we had no specific plans for the day, but our evening turned into a celebration of owning our store for three years. We worked the night of the anniversary. We began with two very good espresso martinis followed by a delicious burrata salad. Creamy burrata mozzerella and garden fresh tomatoes over fresh lettuce and topped with fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic. My wife had the spinach fettuccine alfredo with garden vegetables and topped with grilled chicken. The alfredo sauce was very light and tasty. I had a huge grilled veal chop served with a classic potato croquette and mixed vegetables. Perfectly cooked juicy veal chop seasoned with rosemary, salt and pepper. I haven't seen potato croquette served in a long time. Crispy outside. Creamy, cheesy and delicious inside. We ended our dinners with a tiramisu and strawberry cheesecake. Zini's is not shy with their portions and the piece of cheesecake was no exception. Excellent meal. The gentleman that waited on us said that most people that dine there are regulars. He was happy to welcome us as new customers and also happy that we'll be back. read more

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Ok, a much needed update since I started frequenting this establishment several times a month now. Let's talk about the seafood Fra Diavolo. This is just beyond words to describe, but here's my attempt. 1. The sauce : is delicious and robust with the slightest hint of seafood flavor- the wow factor...is that the sauce does not "break" or separate into water and solids like many pasta sauces at restaurants do, right?! It's a pet peeve of mine- I Hate when there is a pool of water under my pasta hence the reason I am cautious when ordering a red sauce at a restaurant. This is so velvety, leaving a coat of olive oil on your lips ...in a good way.. with every bite so packed with robust flavor. 2. The linguini: is thinner than the usual and that's the genius part!!!! It doesn't slap you in the face or dangle on your chin like the thing at the car wash that slaps your windshield. It's the perfect width to grab the sauce AND still have room on your utensil for a bite of seafood! See...genius. 3. The seafood: scallops, shrimp, mussels and clams. All are so tender and sweet- the scallops melt in your mouth like butter. The clams are just as sweet and tender, never bouncy. Overall, you will not be disappointed. I dream of this dish and have a hard time getting anything other than the Seafood Fra Diavolo. I'm actually writing this review at 11:00pm because I'm thinking of it. GET IT. read more

A small, but nice restaurant hidden in plain sight on Rte 202 (I nearly drove past it). Sitting at the bar, I received prompt and courteous service. I tried a few of the apps (fried artichokes, burrata cheese caprise) and they were well prepared, and served nearly immediately from the kitchen. The dining room appears small, but I think it was because there as a large dinner party that took most of the tables the evening I was there. I have this on my list of places in that area to return, and will update accordingly. read more

We moved to Litchfield a little over a year ago. We decided to try something new as we frequent the same restaurants. The service was good. The food was not so great, and overpriced. Our chicken was hard and dry, bread was clearly old and had been sitting out all night, and the artichoke appetizer was mediocre. I guess it's hard to eat out when you know how to cook. If you're looking mediocre high priced meal with a cozy ambience this is the place. read more

So wonderful, I don't know where to start! The building is a beautiful display of masonry craftsmanship inside and out. The restaurant is not large (which I think is a bonus), it's quaint, cozy and the seating is well organized. They have a well stocked bar with a flat screen TV, tables, booths, and a fireplace. The staff is extremely courteous, friendly and attentive. You feel as though you're eating at a friend's restaurant. Our meals came out quickly, were presented beautifully and most importantly, tasted amazing! This truly is a treasure and I feel lucky to have found it. Next time I will definitely make reservations, it fills up quickly. I would recommend Zini's for a romantic dinner or a family dinner! read more

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Zini's is a wonderful restaurant. Food is awesome. Owner Zini is a wonderful chef. Service is great. We usually have AJ as server - he knows where we want to sit, what we want to drink and always keeps a close eye on us. The other servers are also very good. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants. Val and Leslie Caron read more

Went here with my sister and we were treated with extreme disrespect. Even the couple next to us expressed how messed up the service was toward us. Complete unprofessionalism. read more

Excellent early New Year's Eve meal. We took Mom out for dinner, it was a good choice, we had never been here before, the staff were delightful and very accommodating. We arrived early to beat the crowd and were seated promptly. The fireplace was burning, the tables were beautifully decorated, it was really a very nice and quiet atmosphere. They had a special New Year's Eve menu. We started with fried calamari which was excellent, crispy outside, tender inside and the marinara was very tasty. Mom and I got this fantastic Scallop Florentine dish, the scallops were huge! It was delicious! Hubby got the veal parmigiana which was tender and delicious. Their sauce is very good tasting. Overall atmosphere was lovely, food was good, service was good, it was a very nice dinner. read more

I love this place! The Caesar salad is the best I've ever tasted. I'll even eat the anchovies with this crispy romaine! I love the chicken saltimbuca (sp?) , the ravioli were delicious, both mushroom and lobster, and someday I'll have room for dessert as they look awesome. Cocktails are always on spot. Service depends on whose working that night.... Oh, did I mention that Caesar salad?... read more

Horrible, Horrible customer service. Food is not good. Takes more then two hours just to serve appetizer . I don't recommend this place at all. Stay away... read more

Zini's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Bantam, Connecticut

Last evening my son in law and his family treated my husband and I to dinner. We've eaten here several times and always enjoyed our meals and the pleasant wait staff. Sadly, our dinners were very underwhelming. Three of us ordered the NY Strip Steak special (med) and the meal was anything but "special.". My steak was well done, very tough and unappetizing . The vegetables; broccoli (steamed) and roasted potatoes (over done) were simply salted; too much. One would expect a sauce for the broccoli or potatoes and at least an au jus for the steak. I think the thing that most disappointed me was the fact that the waitress asked if everything was cooked to our satisfaction and I politely said "no.". I explained politely about the over cooked and tough steak; and, she simply walked away. She didn't even apologize or offer to make up in some small way. Lesser quality restaurants have offered to comp a dessert or glass of wine; our waitress, nothing. We won't be returning any time soon. read more

Had dinner here last week to celebrate a family birthday. Very impressed and will definitely go back. We started with the Toscana appetizer which is dry sausage, cheese, roasted peppers, etc. it was full of flavor and perfect for sharing. My husband had veal parm for dinner, which is his go-to favorite and said it was cooked perfect. Our daughter had chicken Florentine which was full of flavor. I had pork tenderloin which was also terrific. The wait staff was friendly and helpful with answering questions and making small adjustments to deal with foods I needed to avoid. The restaurant itself if cozy and comfortable. It's a stone building and feels bigger than it is due to some creative decorating. Our table was comfortable and there's a nice fireplace adding a terrific feel to the overall space. Dinner took a bit of time to arrive, but to be honest it wasn't too long and it's nice to be able to relax and visit without feeling rushed. read more

This is about a 4.5 star affair. Here is an excerpt from my travel blog: The fried artichoke hearts appetizer at Zini's (zinisrestaurant.com). It has great texture with lemon the prevailing flavor. Tender fried calamari with a light batter and a marinara dipping sauce. Their veal saltimbocca is seriously tasty. I've considered ordering this dish in the past but always opted for veal marsala. The veal is pretty tender and the prosciutto and cheese make the dish. For dessert I have a cannolo pastry which tastes of ricotta cream with slight graininess, moderate firmness and vanilla notes. It is of the simple variety but it is nicely done. David, Dad, Thelma and Bella. The dining room has lots of cottage charm with stacked stone walls, dark wood floors and floral window coverings. We enjoyed a fantastic modern Italian dinner at Zini's. The service is exceptional, especially when your family are friends with the servers. :) read more

A Place tucked in a quiet corner that exudes privacy and smiling faces. Traditional items remain on the delicious menu while new refreshing tastes are always a treat. Try the veal chop which seems to be quite popular. The artichoke hearts appetizer is DELICIOUS! The newly remodeled bar has also become a great night scene for couples and bar dining. read more

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The guy that rated this place a one must have been somewhere else, or maybe a competitor! The atmosphere is cozy country. I wouldn't describe it as romantic but it could be if it was a little darker. We started the meal with the Artichoke Hearts. "Lightly egg battered, pan seared in a lemon white wine sauce" That is the menu description and it doesn't do them justice. The lemon flavor was pretty strong though. Not overwhelming but I would not recommend this for someone that doesn't like lemon. I had the Zuppa Di Pesce for dinner. It was the best I have ever had. Not much in the way of soup, but unlike most there was more seafood than pasta. A whole lobster tail, and enough shrimp, clams, and scallops to make a seafood lover very happy. Absent was the sausage, or pepperoni I have seen mixed in. My Wife had Veal Parm and reported it to be excellent. She finished dinner with the Coconut Creme Brulee. She is a big fan of Creme Brulee and thought it was excellent as well. I thought it too soupy but then again I'm not a huge fan of Creme Brulee. I had the Tiramisu. I have tasted Tiramisu all over the country and have never had it the same way twice. This was more cakelike than most. That doesn't make it bad. iIt was, in fact excellent. As with everything else service was excellent. The hostess continuously circled the dining room checking on service. With only 18 tor so tables you were never more than a minute or two from having any request satisfied. The bottom line is that I would be very surprised if you were disappointed dining at Zini's read more

The number 1 restaurant in the area! Its AWESOME Italian food makes it the PERFECT place for dinner. It's most famous appetizer is Artichoke hearts. If you like a bit of sour it's your dish. We asked to add sausage to it - which the wonderful chief did - and made it even better. We also ordered pork, steak, and salmon. They are all DELICIOUS! The steak came with potatoes, the pork are with beans, and the salmon with risotto (Italian rice). Even though we are very full we still ordered desserts. Tiramisu and Coconut Cream Brule. We had the last Tiramisu (guess we got really lucky), which is SUPER SUPER GOOD! Same for Coconut Cream Brule, which is also SUPER GOOD! Even if you are full we recommend you to try the dessert! ITS WORTH IT! Moreover, the environment is also very good. We sat next to a warm fireplace in a cold rainy day. The service is also awesome. It's the PERFRCT place for a dinner out!!!!! Recommend it with all my heart!!!! read more

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This place was amazing! Me and best friend were in town from Washington, D.C. Needless to say, we weren't sure if we should hold the same standards from home when we felt to be in such a small town. We were surprised the moment we walked in the door. The place was welcoming, the decor was beautiful and comfortable, upon request we sat right next to the fireplace. The staff was very attentive, friendly and accommodating. By the middle of dinner, the place was packed. Undeniably, the food was amazing. The steak with gorgonzola crumbled cheese on top was delicious and juicy and cooked to perfection! We also tried the special, which was salmon. Both had mixed veggie medley and carb side. A unforgettable meal that out flavored some of the best DC spots I've been to which cost way more! Desserts- ummmmmmmm. Creame brûlée and double ? Cheesecake. The brûlée was standard and good. The cheesecake was to die for! They also had a great selection of wine, we got an Italian blend that was smooth and opulent. So good, we stayed after dessert by the fire and talked and drank another bottle!! We'll most def be back and look forward to seeing the monthly menu changes as I am sure everything is done to perfection at this place! read more

If I was able to give a value of Zero, I would. First, we made a reservation through OpenTable for 2 @8pm. We arrived at the restaurant at 7:45 and decided to sit at the bar. The Owner said it was OK and we headed to open seats. After 25 minutes, I requested menus from the Woman who stated is the Owner, and she threw the menus at us. This was shocking since the guest around the bar were being catered to &we were not looked at even once. It was as if we were invisible to everyone. We then waited about 40 minutes, in which during this time bartender/servers looked at us and never offered us to take our order. I asked the woman if we could order drinks and she LITERALLY WALKED AWAY, Did a hand gesture to get out her face as she's busy. We have waited a total of 65 minutes, not A SINGLE PERSON talked to us. The couple sitting next to us were so shocked at her reaction & staff for how they've been treating us since we got there in comparison to everyone else. It was so appalling that when my sister and I stood up to leave, the couple said "That was the most fucked up & racist thing I've seen in my whole life. You did not deserve to be treated this way." It was evident that they were treating us different because we are Hispanic while the rest of the couples at the bar were white. I am so offended by the owner and the people who work here. I will forever provide bad reviews about this place as I cannot believe I was mistreated. I waited till today ( a week after the reservation) to write this review because I was so offended I did not know how to relay this. They are the most racist and disrespectful restaurant I have ever stepped in. My money is as green as everyone else, and for them to treat me with so much disrespect - disbelief. This should not happen to anyone, no matter what you look like or where you come from. I was so triggered by this that I am considering filing a lawsuit with the restaurant for discrimination as they refused to serve me because of who I am. read more

I have lived in litchfield for a few years and have always wanted to try zini's! I ordered take out a few weeks ago chicken Parm dinner. I was told 20 minutes for pick up, I arrived about 30 minutes after I called and still had to wait 20 more minutes. The quality of the chicken was awful, the cheese on top wasn't melted and the sauce had no flavor. I was hoping for better because this place looks cute! I do not understand the good reviews. Bummer!!! read more

Absolutely amazing food. Ambience Was cozy and wait staff were fabulous. Zini came out to meet us- very nice touch. read more

My husband and I love dining here. Perfect date night location. Wonderful food, the menu changes monthly so you never get bored. The decor is cozy and comfortable. The scallops I had this past visit were the best of my life!! read more

Zini's Restaurant - View from bar - Italian Near Me - Bantam, Connecticut

Service is prompt and pleasant. The Manhattan was delicious but it was all downhill from there. The garlic bread was mushy. The menu is limited - nothing original. My husband ordered the daily special - the waiter returned from the kitchen and told us that the chef didn't feel like making the special. The artichoke appetizer consists of artichokes from a can topped with butter, lemon and olive oil. I ordered Zini chicken over linguine - it was was served with angel hair pasta, roasted peppers from a jar and more canned artichokes. The chicken was tender and cooked perfectly. Too many other options in the area - I won't be returning. read more

There are very rare occasions when you come to a new place with your parents and children and all enjoy the experience! My in laws were smiling and laughing throughout the evening. My wife and I enjoyed our meal and the excellent and reasonable wines. My kids enjoyed the Mediterranean specialties and managed to save room for the fantastic Fall desserts. We will be back again soon! read more

Zini's Restaurant - Quaint, rustic and nostalgic. Love this place! - Italian Near Me - Bantam, Connecticut

Very good place.... came up from NYC to visit parents and went here...... calamari was very good and chicken parm was a lot of food and had great taste...... will go back for sure..... I like the small menu...... means everything is fresh read more

Zini's is as good as it gets for service, value and delicious food. His seafoods, meat and pasta dishes just cannot be beat. Amazing sauteed artichoke hearts, fantastic beans and escarole, and truly the best soups, particularly varieties of chicken soup, just cannot be beaten. He makes his own desserts - including a wonderful tiramisu. The menu changes monthly, they'll take care of your special dietary needs - low sodium, etc. Oh - and a fantastic bar featuring large martinis, and good wine value. If you're in the Bantam/Litchfield area you owe it to yourself to give Zini's a try. read more

I'll preface this by saying we've been going to Zinis for over 10 years. It has been nothing but stellar. Until our last visit. We reached out on Facebook and was told we would be hearing from the manager. She never got back to us. This was the email I sent the manager. No answer. "First, I'd like to say that we have been coming to Zinis for almost 10 years, and have never had a bad meal. We last visited in March 2017 and had a stellar meal. I always get the marsala (the best marsala sauce ever!), and my better half gets seafood. We visited this past Sunday, and we felt the need to contact you. I once again got the chicken marsala, and she got the shrimp stuffed sole. My marsala was not the usual dark tasty sauce it normally is. It was very oily, and it looked more red, like there was tomato in it. My finance's rice was minute rice, the vegetables were barely sliced,and the stuffing was all bread, no shrimp! We didn't want to complain while we were there, because we were having a nice time. I was just wondering if you changed ownership or cooks? Every time we do the wine trail we love to stop by your restaurant. But after the meal we had on Sunday, we are hesitant. Hoping for a better meal in the future. Thanks for your time, Rob" This was from 12/17. Still haven't heard back. read more

Stopped in On Friday for dinner...Nice atmosphere, great service, good portions and the dinners !! Oh my, we had their Lobster Scampi that made me want to go back the next day for more.... absolutely delicious. Zini is a master with the sauces he produces for each dinner. We'll go back to try more soon. read more

let me start by saying our appetizers were very good but unfortunately it went downhill from there. I ordered the ny strip and scallops. I ordered the steak rare. The scallops were ok but not great. My steak was well done with no flavor. I sent it back and was actually accosted by the owner/chef as he held my steak in his hand in a threatening manner and he screamed at me and told me it was rare. Now I'm no chef but I do eat a lot of steak. I'm 48 years old and I have sent back maybe 2 in my life. My treatment was closer to criminal than cordial. It was incredible. The other tables all sat in utter amazement. I have eaten there many times but not in a year or so. Hopefully the owner gets his mess straitened out before he hurts someone. read more