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    Zio Cecio

    3.7 (154 reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Seafood, Pizza
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Zio Cecio Photos

    ZIO CECIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Zio Cecio

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    John C.

    ----- Critics Review ------ GO! GO! GO! Yes, it's that good! I'm going back tomorrow night for another dish - and I have never ever done that!!! NOTE: If you are unfamiliar with fine dining cuisine - this is not for you. Go to Olive Garden. I've read the negative reviews. Pointless and petty ignorance. Ok, I knew it was very popular and a local secret (HP, I'm plugged in), but I had no idea what I was getting into. So it's after work and all I know is it's good Italian food and I have a gift card to spend. Valet parking, cool - but I'm exhausted, so it's going to be To-Go for me. I sit at the bar, look at the menu and I'm not seeing any of the traditional Italian meals. No spaghetti meatballs, chicken parmesan, etc... But as I read on, I'm seeing incredible dishes I've never seen on an Italian menu! WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!? So cool! Then I see the lamb chops and 16oz ribeye. Ok, I'm staying! Forget To-Go!!! Here was my meal: CALAMARI FRITTI: Chickpea flour dusted domestic calamari lightly fried in vegetable oil. Nice for what it was, but I've had better. The calamari was nice size but borderline overcooked. Not rubber yet, but past the delicate state. Coating was ok, not much seasoning and really had minimal crunch - no crispness. Marinara sauce was spot on and a good paring. Score: Calamari: 7 out of 10 Marinara Sauce: 8.5 out of 10 SCOTTADITA DEL LIMBARA: Tenderized lamb chops with thyme crust and red Cannonau wine reduction. Ok... as I took my first bite, I had an uncontrollable outburst saying "WOW!" out loud. That has never happened to me - ever! I ate every bite and used my knife to get more of the crazy delicious reduction on each bite. Yes, licking the plate crossed my mind! Yes it's that good - hands down the best lamb chops I've ever had. You get 3 chops, single cut, 2-1/2 inch wide medallions, 1/2 inch thick. Perfectly cooked med-rare and delicious beyond belief. (It would have been nice if they were double cut, but I'm not sure if the protein to sauce ratio would be thrown off. I'm undecided - but I'll be back for more!!) Score: Chops: 10 out of 10 Cook: 10 out of 10 Reduction: 12 out of 10 (seriously that unique and crazy delicious!) Wine: I tried 3 and choose the Boudreaux - which is right bank and what I prefer. Perfect. Score: 9.5 out of 10 Service: 10 out of 10 (blue chip!) Atmosphere: Charming and layed out so you feel more European relaxed than American "tables touching crowded". Score: 10 out of 10 My Dad always said the best restaurants ever are ones where the owner is there every night running the shop and VIPing guests. Francesco was all over the place with guests and staff making sure everyone had an ultimate experience. It was my first time there. I'm in jeans and work shirt with company logo - but remember I was planning on To-Go!! (I'll never wear jeans there again. Too nice of a place!) Overall Score: 10 out of 10 Although I'm very picky, I will happily become a frequent customer and bring everyone I know. It's that good, that fun, and overall - great! Hope to see you there too!!! And Tomorrow.... COSTATA AL MATTONE: 16oz aged rib eye steak marinated and roasted in a wood-burning oven.

    Always great food perfect service and unique Anbience. Parola di Zio Cecio che Se poi volete esprimere la vostra opinione non vi resta che venire a trovarci.

    Pasta, lobster and red sauce......I forgot its name so just call it delicious!!!
    David P.

    We come here a lot and the good and service always hit the mark. We really like the fish baked in salt for two and the egg plant parm is incredible!!!!

    a plate of seafood and squid
    Emily L.

    If you're in the mood for pasta, or are looking for an authentic Italian place, this place never disappoints. A neighborhood favorite, the owner, Francesco, clearly knows all of his regulars and makes an impressive effort to get to know them. Cozy atmosphere and plenty of seating at the bar or at the tables. Definitely a relaxing dinner and paced so you can enjoy your food and drink plenty of wine! You have to start with the fresh Focaccia bread. Dip it in the olive oil and sea salt to further bring out the seasoning. I could honestly snack on this all day everyday. As for appetizers, I personally love the calamari and my husband can't get enough of the eggplant Parmesan. The grilled octopus was delicious if that's calling your name. You can never go wrong with the classic Bolognese Pasta where the noodle to sauce ratio is perfect. The branzino is delicious and plated table side. Every dish I've tried here has mouthfuls of flavor without needed anything more. I prefer my food a bit on the saltier side so I am one happy camper coming here! Of course you must end with the tiramisu.

    Zio's ambience. Very Nice!
    Rickster Z.

    For some strange reason, I've had this itch to visit eateries where I once dined, but for some reason had fallen out of favor. It may have been a problem with service. Or maybe a long wait. In some cases, I may have just gotten tired, and moved on to the newest pretty face. It had likely been close to ten years since I last supped at Zio, and from what I recall, we had been there nearly a dozen times. Quite frankly, I think I stopped going there simply because of the crowds and noise. But on a recent midweek night, it was quite the opposite. At our 8 PM arrival, there were only 2 or 3 occupied tables. We scratched our heads on the sparse crowds since the space is attractive and comfortable. It was just as I had remembered. Matter of fact, I'd easily give them 4 stars for the ambiance. The menu looked enticing and the wine list seemed reasonable (despite the fact that I wasn't imbibing...sigh.) Service was good; our waiter friendly, and attentive with suggestions...however, that's tough to judge since there were only 4 or 5 other guests in the restaurant. I had to give them a demerit for my selected dish, the Petto Di Gallo Ai Funghi (chicken breast with wild mushrooms). The chicken was on the dry side. Thus the reason for my overall rating. It wasn't so dry that I'll never be back dry, but "I'll definitely try Zio again, but select something different next time" dry. On the other hand, my better half enjoyed her selection. But to be truthful, I can't recall what she ordered...and she wasn't available at press time for this review to reignite my memory. I'm still a bit mystified by the small crowds on the night we went. Joints just up the street were pretty crowded and the quality of some of the ambience, food and dishes in those places aren't much different. But then again, Dallas is fickle. For us, Zio is definitely worth another visit.

    Natasha H.

    I decided to surprise my husband for his birthday with a family dinner at this Italian restaurant. This was our first time here. We get there and they have complimentary valet parking which I love! We were received by the owner, I think-based on the website, he was not the friendliest but whatever. He sat us down and we waited a bit and our waiter came. He was ok. I think I would rate a 2/3 stars for customer service. Now the food was another story! We started with the cheese plate- small but delicious. We ate everything on the plate, cheese, meat and the olives. I ask for the focaccia bread (I saw on the photos) thinking it's bread they give to all tables. Well it wasn't- we were charge $7.50 for a plate of the bread. But it was soooo good and cooked to perfection I didn't care to pay for that bread. It was worth it. I had the Bolognese and the fettuccine was perfectly al dente. The sauce was a bit sweet but it complemented the meat and pasta. My husband had the gnocchi. He really liked it but he said he actually had better at another Italian restaurant. My oldest had the mussels and she was pleased and the little one spaghetti and sauce and it was good as well. I think the best part were the desserts. Well and the focaccia bread. We ordered a slice of the cheesecake and chocolate cake with a candle and they gave us the lemon tart on the house. WOW WOW WOW!!! All three pastries were soooooo amazing. That alone will earn a 5 stars!! They know how to make their desserts for sure! Overall I will go back to indulge and feast with some Italian dishes and desserts!!!

    Penne Salmone Vodka
    Kim G.

    Just a great restaurant experience. Excellent and authentic Italian/Sardinian food & a great wine list. The owner/manager Francesco is a very engaging guy & is happy to answer any questions & share his knowledge of the Sardinian food & culture. I will definitely be going back sooner rather than later & would highly recommend to any & all of my friends.

    La Bolognese Con Fettucine

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    2 months ago

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    15 days ago

    SUCH a wonderful place!! Delicious food and stellar service!! Highly recommend, especially if you are on the Lemon area.

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    6 months ago

    Great food and great service with a nice atmosphere. Staff and valet were exceptional. The restaurant is amazing.

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    1 year ago

    Not a lot of great choices for Italian Food in Dallas but Zio Cecio is. Great Italian wine list and awesome service.

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    5 years ago

    Great food and ambiance. Staff is great and very authentic. Nice date spot. Wish I had started coming here years ago.

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    6 years ago

    Business owner information

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    Guest Relations

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Zio Cecio

    Is this place good for kids/family also?

    No the staff is rude and not kind.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Enoteca Italia - Sunday special ravioli

    Enoteca Italia

    4.6(301 reviews)
    3.2 miOak Lawn
    $$$

    we came here on valentine's day and first off the service was impeccable. staff was really friendly…read moreand it definitely was one of the best experiences i've had. the place was very tidy, clean and pretty too. there was also a convenient parking garage so that was nice. for food, we got the calamari and focaccia which were both really good. and entrees we got the tortellini carbonara and seafood linguini which were both really good as well. portion sizes were decent compared to a lot of higher end restaurants. overall would come again great restaurant

    I've had this place on my list to go to for a long time and I finally made it out to meet with a…read morefriend. Overall it was a really nice time, but it didn't start out that way. To begin, I would not recommend using their valet even though it is free, because they seem to only have one person working it so it takes forever for them to take your car. We had to wait for over 10 minutes for the valet guy to come back to his post, meanwhile I'm stopped in the middle of the street with car having to drive around me. It would have been much faster to just park in their garage which is also free for I think 2 hours once validated by the restaurant. The valet also didn't have a system for keeping track of the cars, no key tag, number to text, or anything, he just asked for my name and said he would remember me. That didn't seem like the safest process to me. Not to mention, when we picked our car up he just gave me the key to drive it off from the space myself instead. Valet aside, the restaurant was really nice inside and had good balance of not quite fine dining, but also not too casual, which is what I was looking for. They also decorated for the holidays and the red bows overhanging were a nice touch. As an Italian restaurant, they had plenty of pasta options however our entire table decided to go with the waitress recommended Pollo Parmesan. I think we all were interested in the fact that it contained both red and white sauce, so it allowed us to have the best of both worlds. I wasn't sure how it would mix well at first, but it ending up complementing each other nicely. Lastly, the ladies also appreciate that they provided a bag hanger for their purses. I would like to come back to try their other dishes, I just won't waste time using valet again.

    Photos
    Enoteca Italia
    Enoteca Italia - SEAFOOD LINGUINI  with shrimp, lobster, calamari concocted with tomatoes, wine and garlic and served up with squid ink pasta

    SEAFOOD LINGUINI with shrimp, lobster, calamari concocted with tomatoes, wine and garlic and served up with squid ink pasta

    Enoteca Italia - Caesar salad with anchovies, fried calamari rings

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    Caesar salad with anchovies, fried calamari rings

    Via Triozzi - Lasagna

    Via Triozzi

    4.4(159 reviews)
    4.4 miLower Greenville

    Came here for dinner with a friend and overall it was a good experience. Food came out hot and the…read moreportions were enough to fill you up.

    This place is truly something special. Came in with my family on a Sunday night. From the moment…read moreyou walk in, the space feels cozy, warm, and so thoughtfully designed - perfect ambiance for a great night out. Free valet out front so parking was easy. But what really made the experience unforgettable was our server, Leigh. She went above and beyond in every way possible. She didn't just explain the menu- she told a story. From the background of the owner to the details of each dish, you could tell how much care and passion went into everything. She checked in at all the right moments, made sure we had everything we needed, and genuinely cared that we loved each bite. And the food... wow. It transported me to Italy. We started with the arugula salad with bresaola dressed with lemon - super refreshing - paired with the arancini. The bread dipped in the sauce was insane: perfectly crisp on the outside, with rich, flavorful rice inside. We shared the triangoli ravioli stuffed with ricotta and topped with mushroom, hazelnut, and parmesan, and it was incredible. The hazelnut added the perfect crunch and nutty depth. Then came the tagliatelle with wagyu bolognese--perfectly balanced, rich, and made even better with clearly homemade pasta. We finished savory dishes with the veal saltimbocca, and I swear it made me feel like I was sitting in Rome. The sauce was incredible, and the sage really brought everything together. But the true showstoppers? Dessert. My Italian grandma said the cannolo was the best she's ever had - and that says everything. Light, crisp, and not overly sweet. Then the chocolate dessert with olive oil and sea salt... I went in for two bites and somehow finished the entire thing without realizing. Easily the best chocolate dessert I've ever had. This place is out of this world. Would order all of these dishes again. In a city full of restaurants, this is one I will come back to every single time I'm in Dallas. Absolutely 5 stars. Brava.

    Photos
    Via Triozzi
    Via Triozzi - Meatballs app

    Meatballs app

    Via Triozzi - Signora Farfalla

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    Signora Farfalla

    Barsotti’s - Pasta with clams in a spicy red sauce

    Barsotti’s

    4.3(105 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Barsotti's sits gracefully on a corner in North Oak Lawn. Don't let its casual appearance fool…read moreyou--there's some seriously good Italian dining happening inside. I visited on a Wednesday evening with a comfortably moderate crowd; on busier nights you may want a reservation. I started with the fried calamari and a glass of wine. Service was quick, attentive, and happy to offer food and wine pairing suggestions. For dinner I ordered the tortellini vodka, which was perfectly seasoned with a rich, flavorful sauce. Barsotti's is absolutely worth a visit. Casual yet elegant, right in the heart of North Oak Lawn.

    Wow. Worst service ever. Our waiter "greeted" our table with "shall I get you a bottle and five…read moreglasses?" Presumably meaning wine, but we were considering cocktails and a bit confused by the question. He said "I'll come back when you're ready," and disappeared for the first of many long absences. From the beginning it felt like we were ruining his life. He was cheerless and curt and wouldn't make eye contact with anyone. It would be more understandable if the restaurant was super busy or understaffed. But this was Monday at 6 pm. We listed a birthday on the reservation, but it wasn't acknowledged. Why bother to ask if we are celebrating? We waited for empty plates and glasses to be cleared between courses. We waited a long time for him to return so we could order a second glass of wine. Even longer for the plates to be cleared and longer still for the opportunity to order dessert...a piece of cake for the birthday girl and two after dinner drinks...but the drinks weren't picked up from the bar when the cake was delivered, and only remembered when we asked for the check. We watched him pick them up (well after the cake was consumed) on his way to leave the bill. No mention that they had been overlooked, no thank you, no good night. This was our first time at Barsotti's and it will be our last. Aside from the awful service, we had issues with the food as well. The veal was pounded paper thin and fried hard resulting in a tough, chewy texture similar to dried beef or jerky. It was dry and overcooked on two different dishes. On a more positive note, we enjoyed the fried ravioli appetizer and the redfish was fine. While our waiter was largely MIA and unpleasant when he did show up, the bus boy/assistant was gracious and attentive. Maybe he was trying to compensate for his colleague. BTW, the offensive employee was in his late 40s to mid 50s with a slight build and salt and pepper hair.

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    Barsotti’s - Bar area.

    Bar area.

    Barsotti’s - Chicken Parm vodka

    Chicken Parm vodka

    Barsotti’s - Spicy Red Linguine

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    Spicy Red Linguine

    Zio Cecio - italian - Updated May 2026

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