Zucca

had lunch today using the List Card and it was excellent and we saved £16.

Great meal at Zucca on 3rd Feb 2011. I ordered a Milanese pork (perectly cooked), which came with spaghetti, and my partner had a wild mushroom rissotto from the 'rissotto menu'. Delicious food! We were unsure of which wine to go for, so the owner/ manager recommended we try a Sicilian wine, which was lovely. Surprised to hear some negative reviews - all places can have bad days, but personally, we just returned from a break in Italy a couple of weeks ago, and the food in Zucca matched up to anything we had over there. Priced very reasonably (under £40 for the meal including the wine). We will return.

We had dinner here last week. All four of our meals were disappointing. The venison stew I had was cold, chewy and just plain not very good. The risotto was bland, the gnocchi tasted like it came out of a packet and was also bland. The spaghetti linguine left a lot to be desired; it was terrible! Essentially it was as though there was not an ounce of care in any of our dishes. Much better off cooking at home!

This was woeful.

So many staff members working, and yet the place didn't seem that busy, but no one appeared to know what they were doing. We were asked to wait for 10 minutes for a table, which we did, but it ended up being 15 minutes. These things happen. Then we were seated and given bowls of oil and vinegar, but no bread until we eventually asked for it. It took forever to order our meals, and when they arrived... well... I don't even know how they managed to make our food so bland. All of our food was bland and unpleasant so we didn't finish them. My mushroom risotto with truffle oil just tasted like a plain risotto in a diluted stock, with a few bits of mushroom throughout. Our experience was just utterly disappointing and frustrating given there are other Italian restaurants in Edinburgh that are cheaper and produce far better tasting food with more efficient service.

We had lunch here at the weekend. It was amazing value - £10.95 for three courses. The food was very good, the service excellent and the actual place well designed. I would recommend it without hesitation.

My boyfriend treated me to a meal at Zucca as a Valentine's Day surprise (Sat 13th) and I certainly was not disappointed!

We were initially seated at a table which was very close to another couple, however, on request we were offered a move to another table which suited us better with no hassle at all. Being Valentine's weekend we were given the Valentine's menu. Although we could both easily have eaten from it, we asked if there was an alternative menu and were very surprised when we were offered the Theatre menu since most restaurants would have limited service on that particular weekend.

Our meal was fantastic. We both opted for the rib eye steak which was mouth watering and cooked to perfection. I asked for a peppercorn sauce (not on the menu anywhere) and the chef made it specially with no problems at all and at no extra charge!! The service was spectacular! Staff were bending over backwards for us.

All in all, we would both recommend Zucca to anyone and will definitely be back in the very near future!

we ate at zucca on 22 january. prompt service and very friendly staff. for starters, we had an order of scallops and an order of beef carpaccio - both lovely. my partner's main was sea bream and lentils, which he enjoyed. however the standout dish of the night was my main, at the recommendation of our waiter, of potato gnocchi with shredded duck and root vegetables - so delicious we considered ordering a second helping to split between us! very good value for money (made better with our list card). we are both looking forward to returning to try other dishes from the menu!

excellent restaurant, we highly recommend going!

I have eaten at Zucca several times before going to the Traverse, or the Usher Hall. Last week, I decided to try the beetroot risotto, with walnuts and dolce latté, from the new risotto menu. I have to admit I was a bit hesitant at first, but it was absolutely delicious! Zucca is a first-rate little restaurant, and everybody I have recommended it to seems to agree, so I am surprised by the mixed comments on this site. I have never had a bad meal here.

Wow! A fantastic find. We judge our dining experience by food and service, and both were excellent at lunch today. Having read the negative reviews, I felt compelled to leave my first ever review. We chose from the main menu and used our List Card, although the surprisingly great choices on the set price menu made it a tough decision. Being allergic to wheat, I felt like crying when the little doughy rolls were bought out at the beginning of the meal-they looked divine, and according to my partner, were as yummy as they looked. My partner had the Portobello mushrooms followed by a seafood linguine with so many mussels they could have been a separate starter. My beetroot and artichoke salad starter was fresh and lovely, full of crunchy half walnuts. The butternut risotto had a delicate sage flavour to it. We both had the dark chocolate mousse dessert, which was indescribably heavenly. The service was friendly and prompt. The only suggestion I could make is to note on the menu that a gluten free pasta is available, something we found out after the meal. Well done and thanks Zucca.

A few Saturday's ago my partner and I dined at Zucca ordering from the pre-theatre menu. The food seemed to be twisted away from it's Italian roots to a more simplified British menu but we weren't going to judge without tasting. My partner had a starter of antipasto, which left something to be desired with the portions small and the quality varied. I had a carpaccio which could have used a little more truffle oil and thicker meat.

For our main course we both followed with lamb stew. Which looked appetising and was filling enough but from the menu we expected vegetables other than the basic root vegetables in the actual stew itself.

My partner had an excellent tiramisu but my ice cream sorbet lacked any real flavour. Other than that the service was attentive but our server did seem a tad on edge due to an ugly confrontation with, who I can only assume, was the duty manager and as a result the atmosphere seemed very tense which did spoil things a little.

All in all the food was filling but just below average and the ambiance could have been more relaxed. Would recommend it for a quick bite before the theatre but nothing more.

My wife and I eat at Zucca every time we go to the theatre, and we always have a fabulous time. The food is authentic italian, there is not one particular dish that stands out as they are all good. The waiters are always on the ball and helpful, they understand the dishes and can offer advice on which wine is appropriate with the food to be eaten. The enviroment is relaxed, and it suits any dress code and occasion. Whether popping in for coffee, breakfast or an evening meal, Zucca is always is accomodating, comfortable with consistantly good food.

I am only posting tihs because of the shockingly bad review from Sascha. I was one of the '29' who dined at Zucca on Saturday and had the lamb stew, which I must say is a favourite of mine, having had it a couple of times in the past. The stew never fails to deliver, and the meal I had on Saturday was as good as ever. It really annoys me that some spoilt little prats, who probably make a habit out of slagging a place off, think you can get away with it. I could understand if you had good grounds to say what you did, but having dined in the same restaurant on the same evening... I have to wonder. I would advise all readers of your review to proceed with caution, because you really do not know what you are talking about. Zucca is a great little place and both the food and the staff are excellent. excellent.

I am not sure which restaurant redboxer was eating at, but my experience of the restaurant is so different from theirs.

The restaurant was fantastic, very swift and professional service and the menu was really nice nd the desserts were to die for!!

It is my mothers birthday next month and we are coming back to Zucca and now it's bookable online - result!

I would recommend Zucca to anyone - you will not be disappointed!

Hi, I agree with Ron. My wife and I are frequent visitors to Zucca, both due to it's location and excellent quality of food. I have tried to think of a bad experience I've had here but can't, so I'm puzzled by the bad comments above. The food has always been excellent value, especially for the set menus, but even the a la carte is excellent value. Staff are friendly and well informed on the menu and on the couple of occasions that I have asked what something is, they have been able to answer. The problem is, times are hard at the moment so everyone is looking for a 'great deal', and there are plenty of cheap eats out there. The difference with Zucca though, is that whilst they have reduced their prices to compete, I don't feel that the quality is compromised, and this is why I would recommend them. Go to Zucca, you won't be disappointed.

I took my mum to Zucca for lunch on Wednesday (24 June) after reading about it in the List and hearing first-hand reports from friends that it is indeed a good place to eat.
The lunch menu is undeniably good value at £6.95 for two courses, but I can't help feeling that quality is sacrificed to bring meals at this price. While my starter salad of blue cheese, celeriac and apple was tasty, if lacking in dressing, my main course mussels were full of grit and had not been de-bearded thoroughly; the chef had clearly not had time to prepare them properly. I pointed this out to the waiter (who seemed at best a little dazed and at worst quite ineffectual) but I was not offered any meaningful apology or discount.
This disappointing experience was compounded when I went to pay using my trusty List Card. The deal with all participating restaurants should be 241 on *all* food, but I was told that in order to receive the discount I should have had three courses, and from the a la carte not the set lunch menu.
Altogether this was a rather unsatisfactory and disappointing experience that I won't be looking to repeat.

Having read the reviews above, I thought I'd share our experience with you. This was a review given on another website.
Friday 13th (March), our (my wife, son, daughter and I) reservation was for 8, however traffic was light so got there for 7:30. Promptly taken to our table, no waiting needed. While we waited for our starters, we were provided with small warm bread rolls. These were really nice and melted in the mouth.
A variety of starters for us, one leek & potato soup, one Italian meats with cheeses, and two bruschetta with Mediterranean vegetables. All well prepared and were polished off smartly.
Mains were two Italian meatballs with spaghetti and two Fettuccine pastas with chicken and mushrooms. Initial thought was that the servings seemed quite small. Howver it's not the first time we've thought that when dining out. Actually finishing the bowls was something else... but we did, or at least I made sure nothing was left. Lovely.
I chose the Rich Chocolate and Amaretto torte with biscotti for dessert. Nice, sweet and rich! The rest of the family chose the Tiramisu`. Less sweet and rich than my choice, but all the dishes were cleared.
The white wine we were given was the Pinot Grigio, although we were offered a choice of two others. A thoughful touch. The wine was very pleasant and went well with our meal.
We thoroughly enjoyed our evening here, it's not often we get out as a family. The staff were friendly and the amount of attention from them was just right. Give Zucca's a try!

If this place wasn't bolted onto the Lyceum it would go under in six months, especially if it persisted in serving the kind of slop it gave us this evening. In a country where people have more nouse about food but less money in their pockets, this is the kind of restaurant which will only survive on its location and the misplaced notion that good surface presentation is enough to guarantee continued business.

If it does survive, it won't be down to the SHOCKING food we received this evening. The starters were tiny and anyone with a cookbook and a bit of basic experience could have thrown them together. All four of us agreed our mains were terrible - my sea bream was so brutally treated it had gone out the wrong end of overcooked and into a new dimension. I've honestly had better in some of the city's dodgier chippies. My wife is currently feeling quite unwell at the hands of the lamb stew she had - although we're not sure if it's because she's heaving at the prospect of having spent around £11 on something so devoid of flavour, or because it was actually past its sell by date. My sister, who is an avid foodie like myself, was sorely disappointed at the mushroom risotto. And for some reason we were also sold a side of mash, despite the fact we most certainly didn't need it.

The wine list is unremarkable, but this is a moot point, as I wouldn't recommend spending £15 upwards on wine in this place...go to Tesco on your way home from work, pick up three decent £5 bottles and do your own cooking. I assure you you'll be less disappointed.

Two of us ventured towards the puddings, but I'm running out of patience just writing this so I'm sure you can figure out where I'm going on the deserts too.

How else can I put this - if I'd been hit over the head on the way in and had my wallet stolen I'd at least have had a better story to tell my friends. To say Zucca is a style-over-substance rip-off is a huge understatement.