Zia’s Restaurant is the Walgreens of the pasta industry

THEA WELTZIN illustrator

While described as being “on the corner of happy and healthy”, operating on a corner is the only thing Walgreen’s slogan has in common with Zia’s.

Inside, Zia’s has a welcoming atmosphere. Furnished with faux at-home appliances, the restaurant is seemingly attempting to replicate the feeling of grandma’s kitchen. However, these homey add-ons did little to the atmosphere, the restaurant still very much felt like a chain with the mismatched ceiling fan and skylight combo. Apart from the strange vibes, the seat- ing area had, the food was overall decent.

I ordered the Cannelloni and was pleased to receive literal loaves of dipping bread, as my main dish was incredibly saucy. The combination of white and red sauce was better than the pork noodles themselves, with a light savory taste that complimented their bread wonderfully. The noodles were filled with grainy meat that did not taste similar to the sauce in any aspect, though the sauce made up most of the meal. Garnished with a layer of unappealing cheese, this dish was not worth the $19 I spent on it. For the price you’re paying at Zia’s, I would recommend trying another one of their dishes besides pasta.