Zambri's

Someone from this business manages this listing.

#58 of 707 Restaurants in Victoria$$ - $$$, Italian, Pizza, Vegetarian friendly

+1 250-360-1171+ Add website

Write a Review

Hours

Tue

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wed

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thu

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Fri

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sat

5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Improve this listing

Reserve a table

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.0

643 reviews

#58 of 707 Restaurants in Victoria

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

Learn More

PRICE RANGE

$11.00 – $32.00

CUISINES

Italian, Pizza

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

meals, features

Location and contact

820 Yates St, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1L8 Canada

Downtown

+1 250-360-1171

Improve this listing

Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

Unsure

Details

Manage this business?

About

Zambri's is an award winning restaurant specializing in Classic Italian cuisine, paired with a unique selection of Italian Wines. "Best Italian Restaurant in B.C….maybe Canada", is just one of the many accolades bestowed on them. Their stunning new location in the Atrium Building is just another reason to visit. Add to this their casual but professional service and you will have a dining experience that cannot be beat.

PRICE RANGE

$11.00 – $32.00

CUISINES

Italian, Pizza

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

FEATURES

Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

Contribute

Write a review

Upload a photo

Ask a question

4.0

643 reviews

Excellent

314

Very good

172

Average

Poor

Terrible

styl0r0uge

Victoria3 contributions

Luck of the draw...

Jan 2020 • none

It all depends on your waiter/waitress that night and the time you go. At peak time , 7ish pm, they are busy and it seemed to me they were understaffed as our sever was so busy we had to wait quite a while to get his service. In essence it’s slow service as it seemed to us . Some dishes were good but others mediocre...it’s a crap shoot, not everything is divine. Then again what is your gastronomical expectation for authentic Italian cooking. Individual palates have different degrees of satisfaction. Overall much of your enjoyment of this restaurant is proportional to you individual expectation and appreciation of fine Italian cooking. I recommend you choose a time away from “rush hour” and choose a dish you are pretty sure you will appreciate given you taste. Not a bad restaurant but some might walk away disappointed. Be educated on your choices, or take a chance....

Written January 28, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen R

Victoria351 contributions

Excellent Service

Feb 2020 • none

Zambri's is popular and busy at lunch so make a reservation. All of the high ceilings and tall glass windows, combined with the concrete pillars contribute to the noise level. This creates an ambiance of high energy for the business crowd but makes conversation difficult for seniors. We four seniors appreciated being seated next to the window overlooking the atrium courtyard. Service here is excellent: prompt, attentive, and cheerful. Three ordered pizzas: prosciutto, funghi, and pepperoni. All were crisp and well topped although the prosciutto was felt to be very thin. Sides of olive oil & balsamic, and the fennel & potato daily feature were deemed good. I ordered the gnocchi with house made sausage and tomato sauce (average) and paired it with a very pleasing glass of Collesecco Montepulciano D'Abruzia Cantina Tollo. For me the best part of the lunch was the wine. We opted for Macchiatos over dessert. I would be willing to give Zambri's a try at dinner.Zambri's is popular and busy at lunch so make a reservation. All of the high ceilings and tall glass windows, combined with the concrete pillars contribute to the noise level. This creates an ambiance of high energy for the business crowd but makes conversation difficult for seniors. We four seniors appreciated being seated next to the window overlooking the atrium courtyard. Service here is excellent: prompt, attentive, and cheerful. Three ordered pizzas: prosciutto, funghi, and pepperoni. All were crisp and well topped although the prosciutto was felt to be very thin. Sides of olive oil & balsamic, and the fennel & potato daily feature were deemed good. I ordered the gnocchi with house made sausage and tomato sauce (average) and paired it with a very pleasing glass of Collesecco Montepulciano D'Abruzia Cantina Tollo. For me the best part of the lunch was the wine. We opted for Macchiatos over dessert. I would be willing to give Zambri's a try at dinner.

Written February 1, 2020

basketwoman

Sooke63 contributions

Consistently excellent

Mar 2020 • none

Always delicious, fresh food and prompt, excellent service at this restaurant. My husband loved his fresh rockfish entree while I enjoyed meltingly tender lamb. The bread was fantastic as always and the octopus appetizer a lovely way to start the meal.

Written March 5, 2020

Alan R

Victoria40 contributions

Over crowded and under served

Dec 2021 • couples

We made a reservation for 5:30 pm. We were told that the restaurant was very busy and we would have to leave by 7:00. We said that was great as we had to leave by 7:00 to go to a theatre production. When we arrived, we were told again at the door, that we had to leave by 7:00. We waited about 15 minutes for our drinks and only got them because we flagged someone down and asked for them. At 6:50 we still hadn’t been served our main courses. When they arrived we had to gulp down what we could, and leave food on our plates and drinks in our glasses. The server said that no-one had told him that we had to be out by 7:00. Not a lot of communication between the front door and the servers. The restaurant was clearly oversold and under staffed. It was packed and no social distancing in place. The main course I ordered, a spaghetti dish with oil and garlic, was inedible. Our friends ordered a pizza, thinking it would be quick….wrong it turns out, and asked for additional mushrooms. None of us could see any evidence of them. They may have been on the half of the pizza they had no time to eat. When we got our bills, which came very fast, they had covered the first round of drinks. That was considerate however we all left drinks in our glasses. Would we return…no. Would we recommend this place…no. They’ve developed a nice trendy looking place but have left out service to the customers.

Written December 4, 2021

A M

London69 contributions

Delicious Food...for a Price

Jul 2022 • none

We visited this Italian restaurant in July and found the food to be quite tasty and plentiful. Our favourites include the Lasagna, Tagliatelle and Orecchiette. While it may not be Victoria's best Italian restaurant (people prefer Il Terrazo), it does occupy a nice location and offers a comfortable atmosphere. The Cesare salad is the perfect size for two people to share and the croutons melt in your mouth. Pizza lovers will enjoy the many options, along with the capability to add items. While the menu is a bit confusing, it does list one beer in a bottle, and you have to guess that the other options are actually on draught. You can get wine by the bottle (over priced, as you'd expect) or by the glass. There should be more options in the $28-35 range. They do not offer half-litre flasks, which many other Victoria restaurants now do. If you wish to have bread and oil/vinegar, you're looking at around a 9.00 charge (Terrazo and Il Covo include it at no extra charge). All in all, it's a good restaurant. And we'd like to attend more often if they'd make some necessary changes. Two thumbs up for offering bookings through Open Table.

Written August 15, 2022

Louise K

3 contributions

Less bang for your buck

Mar 2022 • friends

When we visited Zambri's we were seated immediately. Good so for. We were right across from the bar, but drinks were slow to come. Food arrived within a reasonable time....but "WOW" the portions were tiny for the amount they charged! My husband said his drink, a Caesar, was unpleasantly spicy...and overpriced. Our server was conspicuously absent for a good deal of time, so the service was very slow. To top it all off the acoustics in the place trapped sound and amplified it to the point were we had to shout across the table to be heard. I won't be recommending this restaurant to anyone!

Written May 4, 2022

Alex

3 contributions

Average food, small portions, exorbitant prices

Jul 2021 • none

My wife and I dined at Zambris with a group and ordered the striploin beef. I was not asked how I wanted my steak cooked at it arrived well done (not my preference). The food was fine but the portions were very small and a few others were still hungry after. We ordered salads, the striploin and a tiny chocolate pudding and a soda- no alcohol. They then slapped an 18% gratuity on my bill and I walked out with $162.50 less in my wallet for the 2 of us. This restaurant does not offer good value and we will not be returning.

Written July 30, 2021

Csdp

Vancouver Island9 contributions

Very disappointing!

Aug 2022 • couples

Not happy that we need to pay for bread ($5) whereas all Italian restaurants in downtown Victoria (Terrazo, Brio, Covo) offers complimentary bread with tapenade, butter or olive oil/vinagrette. If you want olive oil and vinagrette at Zambris, it is an additional $4. Total of $10 right of the bat for something that everywhere else is complimentary. This sets a negative mood to the whole evening, when you also consider that the list of appetizers is limited to: bread, olive oil, olives, ceasar salad, and burrata (served with seasonal vegetables, instead of prosciutto, like it is normally serve in Italian resraurants). Zambri used to be one of the best restaurants in town with true appetizers list but in recent years, it has significantly lost at all levels, in terms of style as well as the quality of food served.

Written August 28, 2022

Barbara C

Oakland38 contributions

Great food, slow service

Dec 2021 • family

The food and wine here are very good. Downside was it took almost an hour before we got our appetizer and longer to get our food so we were sipping wine for an hour before we ate and didn’t have much wine with food. The waitress seemed overworked. Also we were seated very close to the path of wait staff - less than optimal social distancing. If the food weren’t delicious I’d recommend against this place. Maybe go on a less busy time.

Written December 31, 2021

skychaserCalgary

Calgary1035 contributions

Outstanding

Mar 2021 • none

I had visited Zambri’s a couple of times years ago and had good memories of those occasions. My partner and I decided to have dinner there recently and by showing up at 5’ish we were assured of a table (although we discovered that they now take reservations - at one time that was not the case). Our server, Haida, was spectacular...excellent suggestions and wonderful service in every way. I ordered the spring salmon special which was cooked to perfection. My partner ordered the three course special with the ragù and tagliatelle main....the caesar salad was ample for sharing and the panna cotta dessert although on the small side was perfect - a few bites to finish off the dining experience. Since we were driving a distance we each had a glass of wine, a chianti and the featured white....both lovely. We will definitely return with a reservation and look forward to another wonderful evening!

Written March 5, 2021

grant257

38 contributions

Lacklustre and overpriced mains, stick to pastas or pizzas!

Feb 2023 • none

Still good service from friendly staff and pizzas decent but dinner menu mains, appetizers and deserts are incredibly overpriced for their size, lacklustre taste and presentation. Very disappointing and quite a change. Have been coming to Zambris for decades but after a second disappointing meal here where for example you are paying over $40 for a small chunk of meat tossed on a plate with a few potatoes dropped beside then I'd suggest there are several better places nearby to spend your money, such as Paggliaccis, Cafe Brio or Brasserie Lecole. The panna cotta was tasty but at $10 for a portion slightly bigger than a toonie no thank you. Our three appetizers all looked as if they had been thrown down in a fast food kitchen. A very decent bottle of wine at $75 but the entire bill was over $400 for 3 and it should have been a memorable meal but it was not. I can't see myself coming back for dinner havin gbeen burnt twice now.

Written March 6, 2023

James Harvel

Toronto1 contribution

First Visit to Victoria

Nov 2020 • none

I have posted precisely 0 prior reviews as I so rarely have an experience that compels me enough to take the time to do so however, my business partner and I dined at Zambri`s recently and had a truly fantastic experience. From the hostess/greeter, to the bartender saying hello as we entered then our server Andrew. I am not in any way a "foodie" but I recognize exceptional service and that`s precisely what we received from Andrew who helped guide us through the menu, offering suggestions based on his and other guest experiences. He had a very calm, fun demeanor which we appreciated and was attentive without being bothersome as it was obvious we were there to conduct some business. He made a terrific wine suggestion as well to go with our meals. Then to end the evening he did what I hadn`t experienced before, he placed the bill down and insisted we take our time, finish our beverages and pay when we were ready. Hats off to your entire staff but specifically Andrew, it`s evident this isn`t just a "job" for him but a passion and when I return to town, you can be assured Zambri`s will be on our agenda and a request to be served by Andrew. Thank you and keep up the good work, the meals were perfectly cooked to please pass along my appreciation to your kitchen staff too James

Written November 7, 2020

Ellen R

Victoria3 contributions

Appalling Customer service

Jul 2020 • friends

We visited this well loved Victoria Restaurant with high hopes and good memories only to be let down by horrible customer service and mediocre food. One of the owners “greeted” us by tapping on the plexi glass partition and waving us over asking what we wanted. She didn’t smile the entire time we were there. When we dated asked to move to a different table to avoid being sat beside a man drenched in cologne, she directed us to “ you take your wine glasses” and “I’ll carry the plates” again with a scowl on her face and a brusque and dismissive manner. Save your money and eat anywhere else. I honestly would have had a better time at home and saved myself the mistreatment and poor quality food. Clearly a restaurant resting on heir laurels.

Written July 3, 2020

Andrew

Victoria7 contributions

A solid Italian restaurant

Feb 2020 • none

A beautiful space with very friendly staff. A good selection of appetizers, pasta and mains, I have never tried their pizza. the local octopus appetizer is particularly tender and tasty as an appetizer, it's a shame they don't generally make their own pasta but sauces are robust and portions generous.The mains include few vegetables so it is wise to order separately. A well chosen wine list with good value Italian wines and plenty by the glass.

Written February 23, 2020

JJL

153 contributions

Fantastic service, food good.

Apr 2023 • business

It's been a long time since my last visit, not because of the pandemic but because the previous time I was last dejected. The great: I was so impressed by the front line staff. Everyone super friendly and attentive, and gave us the right amount of time and space. I hope this crew is getting star remuneration! Can't say enough about them, especially in this tight labour market where I have observed indifference with folks in the service industry. Also delighted to see a full house - yes, every table full on a Tuesday night. Hope this will refill what has been a brutal run for restaurants. The good: the food remains (compared to last time), good. Portion sizes nice, flavors good, nothing bad to say at all. My starter, tuna, was a little on the dry side. However, Halibut was perfectly cooked. You'll see the kitchen uses the same garnish (baby pea shoots) on both dishes. For a quite high-end restaurant, I'm sorry to say that that's a bit 'uncreative' and a real cost cutting measure (I acknowledge inflation pressure here). Overall, it was a much better experience than last time but still would not come back (came because someone else injured group wanted to try). I would recommend trying yourself.