Zeppo

Oh my God the worse service I've ever seen. The food was okay but nothing special more

Truly one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had! We have been to Zeppos many times and had a wonderful experience. We had a guest in from New York and wanted to take them out for a good dinner. We arrived and were seated close to our reservation time. We order a bottle of wine and an appetizer. The wine and appetizer arrived and we placed our orders for dinner. Within minutes of placing our order the salads arrived. We had barely made it through half the appetizer. They took away the remaining half of the appetizer. We had made it through half the salads when two of the dinners arrived. The piled the plates on the table where they could find space. The third and remaining dinner did not arrive. After ten minutes we were able to flag down our waitress who went to the kitchen to discover the order for the third dinner had not even been placed. Fifteen minutes later the third dinner arrived. Desert then arrived with one desert (the cheesecake) still frozen. The waitress apologized but responded with ????you know those things just happen????. What has happened to your restaurant? more

I've been to Zeppo a few times and you think I would have learned by now. I really try to like because I like the location of the restaurant - they have great outdoor tables and it has a nice atmosphere. Unfortunately, the food consistently disappoints. The meal I had today was probably the worst I'd had there. We had a breakfast omelette with hash browns that was very subpar - I really have had better hashbrowns at Denney's! We also had a cobb salad that only had a tiny amount of greens and it was very wilted as it was overdressed. - again, I could have better food at a Standford's or something. I always leave there wishing I hadn't gone - I just get sucked in by a nice day and outdoor tables. Please improve the food! more

My wife and I wanted to go out to eat last Friday night after her hair appointment. Zeppo was close to her hair salon, and we had been there before. So, I met her there. Because of traffic, I arrived 30 minutes after she had been seated. What happened next blew me away.... I sat down and saw my wife had an empty glass of water on the table and one plate of bread. She told me that the waiter had only been over once to see her and that was 10 minutes ago. He came up and asked if she was waiting for someone, and then he left taking only her drink order even though she wanted to start with an appetizer and get some more water! He must have seen me sit down, so he came over and asked me for my drink order right away. My wife then asked if she could get an appetizer ordered, and he interrupted her right away and asked me for my drink order. I was blown away. I told him that my wife was talking to him. He just asked for my drink order again!! He then walked away when I told him that I didn't know what I wanted yet. He just walked away! After this, we left... the kicker of it all was that our waiter happened to be....THE MANAGER!!!!! It was not even that busy... Just terrible! Avoid this place like the plague... unless you want terrible service. more

We arrived at the restaurant, sat down and after twenty minutes went to the front desk and asked for a waitress. She appeared, took our drink order, brought us our drinks and took our lunch order. Then she vanished for over an hour. After an hour of waiting for our food I went and spoke to the manager. Our food arrived shortly thereafter. Some of it was cold and one of us was given the wrong order. We were never asked if we wanted more drinks, any bread or any dessert. Neither the waitress or the manager apologized for the hideously long delay. Lunch at Zeppo ruined an otherwise nice day and I would never go there again. more

This is just not a place that puts a lot of wieght on taking care of the customer. The food can be decent to bad. The service at best competent but often they can be rude or neglectfull. Not a good value. Pros: location Cons: service, food more

Four adults plus 2 children and none of us had anything that was good. The calamari was almost inedible, the steak, spaghetti and meatballs, and salmon dinners were terrible. Even the pizza for the children was below par. We will never eat there again and would give negative points if we could. They are way overpriced for what they serve. How are they still in business?????? Cons: bad food more

I enjoyed a very, very good breakfast at Zeppo this past weekend. Simple, almost provincial egg/meat/veggie dishes; busting with flavor and, most importantly, stomach filling. I'm not sure what brand of coffee they served me, but it was really good! Pros: Very tasty Italian-ish breakfasts, excellent coffee, fast Cons: Cold inside more

We go to Zeppo once a week and love it. The atmosphere and food are second to none. The friendly staff only add to an already fabulous experience! The menu offers great selection and value at a time when eating out is now a luxury for most of us. Pros: Great Value and Service. Elegant Atmosphere! Cons: What are the drawbacks? more

My boss orders lunch from here at least a couple times a week; he has ever since Zeppo's opened. They've continually forgotten parts of the meals; I honestly can't remember a time I haven't had to go back and pick something up that they forgot. Finally, this week was the last straw. I spoke with the owner (who acts very pretentious) about this, and he said that next time we ordered a meal from them, it would be on the house. Today I called and ordered my boss's lunch and told the server what the owner had said. When I got there, she said that they had only subtracted the cost of the (last) meal they had messed up, not the entire meal. She called the owner only to apparently have him say, ""That's like ordering a hamburger, not liking it, and asking to substitute a fillet mignon."" Excuse me? It was only $4 extra, not to mention this was through no fault of OURS, but THEIRS. Ridiculous and rude. Never going here again, and I suggest you don't either if you like being treated well. We're in a recession, and they're throwing away consistent business! Pros: Decent food, close-by Cons: Worst customer service I've experienced in a long time! more

Joined my sister on Friday for her 40th birthday and was BLOWN AWAY! The service was impeccable; we were seated immediately and our wait staff was knowledgeable and personable. My scallops were prepared to perfection and the presentation was so beautiful I was loathe to mess it up by actually consuming it but was I ever glad I did! My family had the filet, the garlic shrimp Retto and the Pollo de Orrechiette and each dish was better than the last. My family has been in the restaurant business for years and give ample kudos to Doug Lee and his staff for a job well done. Zeppo's is a GEM!!! Pros: Amazing service and unbelieveable food. Cons: I can't eat there every night! more

My husband and I live in Vancouver and frequent Zeppo quite often. They have the friendliest staff and of course excellent food. We do not cook but fancy ourselves to be very knowledgeable about food as we go out for almost every meal. We have gone to just about every Italian place in the Portland area and have found none better. They make all of their sauces to order as is evident in the freshness. They have a wide variety of items to choose from including Pastas, Pizzas, Steak, and many more options. If you want to have fresh, great tasting Italian food served by a friendly people at a very reasonable price, visit Zeppo, You will never be dissappointed! Pros: It is an entire experience from beginning to end! Cons: There is not one in Vancouver. Maybe someday??? more

This place is close to my mother's house, so I thought, ""Why not give it a try, how bad could it be?"" Oops, it really could be that bad. If you like the Olive Garden, then you will love this place. If you like food that is made fresh and has taste then stay far far away. Yes, they do actually cook here (unlike an Olive Garden's method of open-a-bag-and-nuke). However what is the point if the pasta is so overcooked the kitchen could have saved the time and energy and opened up a can. The rest of the menu seems like it is based on trying not to offend anyone with flavor or originality. As a business model it seems to work, the lemmings keep coming. As an indepentent restaurant, they should be ashamed. Pros: in lake oswego Cons: the pasta more

Tonight was our fourth or fifth visit over 18 months and as usual the food and service were great. We arrived at 8:30 pm found that they offer an evening menu with very reasonable prices. The staff was highly attentive and we felt well served without being pestered. My wife and I ordered a selection of very well done dishes from pasta to chicken and salads including a very tasty caprese. Even with a drink each, and a good tip, it was only $40. A great value! Pros: fast well trained service, good food Cons: not in my home town more

We went out to lunch with two friends, myself and my wife and child. We were immediately informed as we sat down that a 18% service charge would apply on our party which seemed very excessive. I am willing to give 10-15% based on service level, but this presumption that I was to fork over 18% for four adults and one 11 year old seemed way out of line. Indeed, the service was slow and very spotty and I am guessing that since the waitress knew she was getting 18% anyway, why bother. The restuarant was fairly quiet and I can understand it with a larger party but setting the cutoff at 5 people appears very cheap. The server even wrote it the tip on the bill so there was basically no argument. I don't know if I will return as I have been a constant customer over the years and enjoyed the food and the service. To nickel and dime people like this is way out of character for the area and atmosphere of Zeppo's. Or at least was. Pros: Food is good, interesting menu Cons: High service charge on small parties,parking more

This is a pretty cool Italian place located in downtown LO right next to Five Spices and Manzana. \r When you first walk in, it's hard not to notice the curtain that you walk through to get to the waiting area. That was pretty cool. Right next to the wait area is a full bar and behind that is their kitchen. So far so good. We were promptly seated at our table for lunch, and immediately brought out warm bread. This place scored major points with me from the get-go with their bread being warm. Typically at most (Italian) restaurants I go to that's not the case. They had the olive oil and vinegar already at our table and that again scored points with me. No butter in sight. Very nice. \r \r For starters I had the pumpkin soup which I actually wouldn't recommend. It didn't taste like pumpkin at all and was less of a soup and almost more like a thinner paste. I'm glad I only got a cup then and not a bowl. The entree I had was Retto which was shrimp and angel hair pasta. It was cooked to perfection and for an extra $1 I was able to get it glutten free which was a nice touch. \r \r The ambience is really cool. They have tables where a curtain drapes above so it you wanted privacy at those specific seats you could have it. Their lights were pretty interesting. They were your normal lights and instead of a glass light or shade around them they had a collander around some and a cheese grater around others. A very clever thought, especially for an Italian restaurant. \r \r The total meal was around $31 for lunch and that included tip. My friend had the burger and it was pretty good as I had some of hers. So they were a little on the pricey side, but the service was friendly, the food was great, and the ambience was well thought out. I'd have no problem coming back to Zeppo's. They were a nice change of pace from going to Manzana's. \r more

Wow, I am so impressed, we had a party of 9 and the staff could not have been any nicer. The food was perfect and the bar delivered some of the best drinks in town. With 9 adults and 1 child the staff was attentive to all our needs. Thank you Zippo for a wonderful evening, we will be back again and again. Pros: Food, drinks and the staff. Cons: Nothing more

I live in Lake Oswego and have visited Zeppo twice. The first experience was pleasant so my boyfriend and I decided to go back again. To my disappointment I was denied service (a glass of wine) because my ID ""felt funny"" to our waitress. We asked to speak to the manger who lectured us on Oregon liquor laws. Despite being served alcohol at my previous visit I was still denied. I was not even given the opportunity to provide a second form of ID. I respect the right of the restaurant to refuse service to anyone but was extremely surprised and disappointed by the rude and condescending attitudes of both the waitress and manager. \r \r The food is decent but not good enough to risk being treated poorly. There are plenty of restaurants in both Lake Oswego and the surrounding areas that serve great food at great prices without the attitude at Zeppo.\r \r I will not be going back. more

Just wanted to write to say that this has been a great stop for me, whether I'm hungry for some great food or to stop by for a seat at the bar for relaxed and friendly banter with their friendly servers. I've brought many a friend in and all have enjoyed, many saying it's their new favorite restaurant, which makes me feel like I really know what I'm doin'! All & all this has been the best of the best for me, with impressions for friends or business associates. It doesn't hurt that they have a great atmosphere and excellent menu, with fresh food specials wine and good service. I guess you can tell, I highly recommend this great relaxing little spot that's not at all over priced. I'll be returning again and again. Pros: friendly, nice atmosphere, great food, plenty of parking Cons: must have over 5 for a reservation more

We visited for lunch on a Saturday. Yes, it was bustling and noisy outside (it was a nice day) but inside was quite cozy. I was pleased to find a few vegetarian options on the menu. For those that would be interested, they offer gluten-free pasta by request. At just $9.95, I'd have to say that the penne porcini is a must-try dish. Mmm! We also had the lunch trio, which consists of a half sandwich, salad, and cup of soup. Another yum. Butternut squash was their soup du jour. I found it rich, thick (not watery at all; substantial), and flavorful. I am looking forward to trying this restaurant again. Pros: outdoor seating, parking more