I hate to say it, but I have to give my first less than stellar review. Last night my friend Thom and I went out looking for dinner, and driving down Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, I remembered an Italian place I used to go to all the time when I worked in the area. We pulled up to Zach’s Italian Café (www.zachscafe.com) just before 8pm, and the parking lot was empty. When we walked in the door, the host seated us and it was pretty much a ghost town. That should have been a tip-off.
In years past when I would go there for lunch or dinner, I always had a good meal. Their garlic cheese rolls were to die for. Now, they’re overcooked, lacking in much cheese or garlic, and could be used as hockey pucks.
I ordered the chicken ravioli, which was a dish I always loved. The ones I received for my meal were less enjoyable than store bought. I could tell they were handmade, but they tasted bland and were not nearly as fluffy as I have had in the past. The marinara sauce was okay, but rather flat. The tomato flavor didn’t shine through.
Thom had ordered the meat lasagna, which he said wasn’t much better than my ravioli. The one bright spot was the salad he ordered: mixed greens, apples, feta, and candied walnuts in a vinaigrette. He let me have a taste, and that I liked.
I don’t know what’s happened with Zach’s. The quality has declined greatly. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, but that just can’t make up for the lackluster food. It wasn’t the worst meal I’ve had, but in the end, I would have been happier probably if I had just gone through a drive-thru.
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