A buzzy River North pizza spot with standout tavern-style pies, solid pastas, and a speakeasy-style room, but reservations, crowding, and surprise fees can dull the shine.
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna delivers exceptional food quality centered on crisp tavern-style pizza and surprisingly strong pastas, supported by solid service execution and stylish design appeal that creates genuine date-night energy. The A- grade reflects competitive performance with the area's better neighborhood restaurants, though tighter seating, service inconsistency, and recurring hidden-fee complaints prevent grade A territory. Reservation-dependent access and pricing that rewards sharing rather than solo dining further temper the overall experience.
One caveat: Some diners find the pizza style too thin, too bland, or not worth the price, especially on off nights.