Zenari’s

I love coming here for lunch. I am usually very satisfied with whatever I have ordered. They offer a wide range of pastas, sandwiches, quiches, salads and pastries that are all made in house. You order and pay at the front and they will then bring you your food.
I ordered the pasta of the day, spiral pasta, with the tomato clam sauce. My friend ordered the pasta of the day with the bolognese sauce. Unfortunately, this time both were disappointing. The clams in the tomato sauce did not seem to be fresh and overpowered the sauce. I actually had to use quite a bit of salt and pepper and some hot sauce to give it some other flavour than the clams. My friend said that his pasta was very dry and also lacking flavour.
I guess they must have had an off day as I have always had good experiences with them and because of that I would still come back here and give it another try.

I was walking along the ped way looking for lunch and came across this wine bar, it was only after I had finished my meal that I realized that it is also a coffee shop, deli, gift store and a whole lot more.
I had the pasta, penne with Bolognese. A glass of red.
The food and drink were good, but not good value. I paid almost $ 25, which is a lot more than what believe is reasonable.
The food was none the less good and I might drop by again to try a sandwich or salad or maybe a cappuccino.

Great place for lunch! It gets really busy, so come early and relax.
I seem to always get the quiche, even though it’s the strangest quiche I’ve ever come across. Lots of veggies in it, when I’m used to quiches that are more egg and less veggies. But it does make me feel better about eating it ;) I also love their chicken noodle soup! On a cold day, it really hits the spot. And if you are craving something sweet, they’ve got something for that too. Although I don’t really recommend the panna cotta. It’s a strange consistency… And tastes like tapioca pudding to me.
They have daily pasta, soup, and quiche options. Lots of sandwiches too. You can also get wine, if you need to drink at lunchtime (yes, that was loaded with judgement).

I met friends for lunch at 11:30 and we were able to get the last table for 4 outside of Zenari’s. Before we ordered, we browsed the store as they were having a sale. The items were marked with a dot to indicate what percentage off the product was (I think the minimum was 20% off). They had a selection of oils and vinegars, pantry items, bakeware, and kitchen gadgets.
We made our way to the board with the specials written on it and to the displays were the sandwiches were kept cool. I ordered the chicken and mushroom quiche for $ 6, they also have a tomato and spinach one. The crust was nice and flaky and there was lots of chicken and mushroom to devour. My friends had the tuna crostoni and lasagna and their meals looked delicious too!
The food came out quickly and I like how they brought it to our table. They have a self serve area for water which was nice. Our plates were removed shortly after we finished eating and it was great we didn’t feel rushed and could enjoy post lunch conversation.
Great lunch place to meet friends and enjoy a good meal!

Zenari’s is not only the most European café in Edmonton, its the best café in Edmonton. The food is terrific and the prices are reasonable. I highly recommend the Crostonis! They are Zenari’s version of a flat-​bread pizza and extremely tasty.
Zenari’s does have one downfall, they don’t have an outdoor patio. So if you are looking for a place to sit outside on a nice summer day, Zenari’s is not the place, however for the other 10 months of the year in Edmonton, Zenari’s is a must try.

I came into Zenari’s for a coffee and to knock another small business off my list of places in downtown Edmonton I want to experience. It was after lunch so I decided to go with a lemon tart and cappuccino. I don’t usually order strong coffee drinks so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it but much to my surprise it was quite good. I didn’t find it overly strong and I swear I could almost taste a hint of dark chocolate. Now onto my tart and oh what a tart it was! I honestly don’t remember the last time I had a more moist and flavorful baked good.
I think my one and only concern with this place would be cost versus portion size. My cappuccino came in an average sized coffee cup that wasn’t even filled to the top for about $ 3.50 and my tart though AMAZING rang up at around $ 4.00. With that being said however I do believe it’s important to treat oneself from time to time and I was so impressed with my post lunch experience here I will definitely be back in for a meal and to check out their wine bar as well.
You have many choices when eating downtown but I strongly encourage you to give these friendly folks a try at least once.

A great place for after-​work wine and dinner. Piano music in the background. A variety of pastas and salads and unique bread options. Various salads are Atkins and Bernstein friendly. It’s a good place for lunch too but pick your days based in the daily features, the mushroom soup for example is chock-​a-​block full of mushrooms, or the corn chowder mmmmm. My colleague swears by the spinach salad. An excellent selection of wines too.

This little shop is in the building I work in. There are many bitterly cold days in Edmonton, and sometimes you just want a nice hot bowl of soup. We’ve been back to Zenari’s for lunch/​soup multiple times now and I have been pleased with the food each time.
The chowder is not too thick, and the minestrone is full of veggies, both with a side of fresh bread. I can’t recall the other soups I’ve had, but I do remember enjoying them. Perfect for a cold YEG day, or any day you feel like you may have a touch of a cold.
We’ve also tried their sandwiches which were well made on fresh bread with good flavour. (There are no-​mayo options). We tried a Crostonis on our last visit and it was excellent. They usually have a nice variety with fresh veggies, meats, and sauces, baked to order.
When you arrive, there is typically a line along the front counter and out the door. It moves decently fast. You can eat in and they bring your meal to your table. It can be tough to find a seat during a weekday lunch hour. Service can occasionally be a bit slow over lunch hour as well.
I love the patio style set up that spills into the loby area, plus the little kitchen supply shop to the side. Great unique little finds in there.
I have no doubt we will find our way back here again soon.

Just stopped in for a quick breakfast before lunch. My daughter had bagel with cream cheese & I ordered the Eggs Florentine as suggested by the cashier & it’s GF & I also had a Soy mocha. Paid for my order but no receipt was offered or given. She told us she would bring us our order. So we sat down. It wasn’t too long before or food came. Bagel is bagel can’t screw that one up. The soy mocha came lukewarm so did the eggs florentine. It looked piping hot bcos the edges was bubbling but the center was room temperature to cold otherwise it would hv been a good dish. Lovely man in glasses that works there chats everybody up make this place quite a lovely stay.
I gave them a 2 star for the food but 4 stars for the pleasantry.

I went there for lunch once when I was shopping in the area. They took my order I payed and wasn’t given a recite. I waited for my toasted sandwich for 40 minutes, and when I confronted them they told me they were not aware I ordered anything… With no proof of purchase I had to argue for a new one and watch them make it to make sure I got it. The same thing happened to my father when he went, so I feel that this might be a regular occurrence

I don’t think there are many places in Edmonton where the imported beer is always so consistently cold and the staff so warm and friendly.
The atmosphere is very metro and year slightly European and the wifi is awesome!

Great food, great price and great staff. Zenaris has put together a winning combination and is a favorite destination for the manulife and commerce crowds. Stop in for a quick bite and you won’t be disappointed. Try the tuna melt and be blown away!

An Italian coffee shop, wine bar, deli and gift shop all in one!
I love coming down to Zenari’s for lunch, always a ton of options that are always so good! They pre make everything in-​house in the morning so all the sandwiches and pastas are daily made and fresh. The espresso is excellent and the imported Euro juice selection in the cooler is lovey.
For later in the afternoon, they have a wine bar that exists out in the corridor of Manulife right out in front of Holt Renfrew. It is the perfect spot to toast a new purchase, or to gain liquid courage before your first (or 10^th) Prada or Gucci! Or to catch up with a friend as a pianist serenades you.
If you a roaming worker in search of wifi, theirs is excellent. It is a fun spot to people watch and get work done. Hmmm… well, I think that’s all there is to say folks!

I really do enjoy Zennari’s. the food is great and they also have a lot of little snacks if you are looking for something to keep you full during the day. I love wandering through the cookware section while I’m here. It seriously makes my heart sing. Is that how you know you’re getting old … Cookware makes you happy? Oh well, he selection the have for cooking supplies is fantastic and there are a lot if decorative items that would make a fantastic edition to my home!

This is one of my favourite places for lunch when I’m working in the downtown core. Try and arrive before noon because once the lunch hour starts, the line will be out the door. And for good reason. This is solid, tasty Italian style food. In addition to their regular menu items, they have daily specials for pasta, soups and risottos. Pasta’s can be ordered in full or half sizes. Depending on your appetite, a half order may be sufficient. But for only $ 2 more, you can always have your left overs for a snack in the evening. In addition to pasta’s, soups, salads and sandwiches/panini’s, they have some pretty good desserts as well. That is if you have room left over after your meal.
The main restaurant is casual counter service with tables to sit at as well as space at the counter. But if you want formal service and a glass of wine with your lunch, the area in the lobby by the escalators offers a more formal restaurant-​like experience with a very professional and attentive waiter.
Overall, an excellent choice for lunch and a glass of wine if you’re near Manulife Center and like Italian food.

I loved it the moment I walked in. And the food lives up to all the hype. Breakfast bagel and breakfast crustini are awesome. Fresh muffins in flavours like strawberry rhubarb. And on one side is a section selling nice kitchen wares.

Oh Zenari’s, I love you but… I love to drop in for lunch or dinner at Zenari’s after a day shopping or running errands downtown. Over the years, their menu has remained largely unchanged without going stale. The risotto is always my go-​to dish, but the crostinis and other meals have never disappointed either. Baked goods and coffee are standard to any coffee shop, maybe a little bit above average. I love the set up of Zenari’s: it’s a bistro-​café-​diner. Cool décor and a little shop on the side selling the sort of kitchenware I purchase with good intentions to whip up my own Italian cooking masterpieces at home. My only complaint about Zenari’s is the prices are getting a bit high. I paid $ 18 (that’s including tip) for a full plate of risotto and an Orangina on my last visit. It was delicious, but cost is definitely what keeps me from visiting more often. Oh, and they close early on Mon — Wed, so sometimes I don’t make it in time!

Zenari’s is a better choice than eating at the food court. It’s around the same cost and you get better service. They bring you your food and refill you water.
This place is very attractive with it’s vibrant colors and unique products that they sell.
It’s spacious with lots of artistic tables and chairs.
It’s a convenient place for food if you work in the downtown area. I love there selection of different drinks that I have never seen and want to try.
The pasta and sauce aren’t homemade and it’s not made fresh. The soup is lukewarm and it drives me nuts when my food is not hot!!!
I love the décor of the restaurant and the look of all the food, but why isn’t it as good as it looks?!
I realize that most of the people come here for the deli and the cakes which is apparently the right thing to do.
Don’t do anything «silly» like taking pictures for Unilocal,because people will stare at you. It’s downtown… The people here are «trendy»

Whoa! A hidden gem!
I seriously didn’t know this place existed, a coworker showed me the way! I work downtown and try to avoid going out for lunch. You always feel rushed, and eating out can be expensive!
This little restaruant/​café is tucked away on the main floor of Manulife. Most people end up on the second floor because of the pedway.
You order and pay at the counter and then find a seat. The staff will find you and bring you out your dish and the necessary cuttlery.
They do a large variety of dishes for lunch. One coworker had the pasta special, one a soup and salad combo, and I tried a chicken sandwich. The prices are a tad high, but not ridiculous. The pasta serving looked very large, and my one friend couldn’t finish the soup and salad.
Lunch took about 50 minutes (including the 5 minute walk each way) and allowed for some chit-​chat between the three of us. I’d go back, and suggest this as a place for small groups.

The time has come for me to seriously downgrade my review for Zenari’s :(
I hadn’t been in months, but met a friend yesterday for lunch. The food is still delicious. Most of the old staff are there, with a couple of new faces. The service I received was the worst I’ve ever had there, unfortunately. Very slow, didn’t seem like she was paying attention to me, etc. I’m fully aware that the prices went up last year-​ish, but it was still a shock to me when a large spinach salad and a regular sized pasta came to $ 18.45. Just too ridiculous (to me) for a quick lunch, as delicious as it may be.
Sorry Zenari’s, there will always be a place in my heart for you, and I may visit you from time to time, but don’t count on it.