Zesta Cucina - Yakima (WA)

5 /5 Chris Neel: Zesta Cucina is a gem in Yakima! From the moment we walked in, we felt relaxed and welcomed. The ambience is inviting, and the staff—both hostesses and servers—were genuinely friendly and encouraging. We tried a variety of dishes and everything was spot-on. My wife and I split a summer salad with fresh strawberries and blueberries—light, flavorful, and perfectly portioned. We also ordered their signature bread, which has a small charge ($2.25) but was fresh, warm, and absolutely delicious. Our daughter described her chopped salad as protein-packed, light, and refreshing. Our son’s Alaskan halibut was tender and flavorful. Our grandson loved his zippy noodles (kids menu) with Parmesan, broccoli, and mandarin oranges—he cleaned his plate! Overall, Zesta Cucina combines great food, great service, and a great vibe. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in town.

4 /5 goran lalov: There was nothing wrong with the food or the service; in fact, the food was properly prepared and served, and our server was professional, friendly, and had excellent sales skills. The other staff members were also busy all the time. However, my issue with this restaurant lies in the menu. It reflects the stereotypical misconceptions about Italian food, offering an American-Italian concept that lacks authenticity. Additionally, they have a Taco Tuesday? The restaurant positions itself as somewhat fine dining, but it has more characteristics of a diner than a fine dining establishment. There is white paper on top of the white tablecloth. The utensils, glasses, and cocktails also lack quality. Furthermore, the ambiance is inconsistent and doesnt create a cohesive dining experience. They have decorations and lights that give off a holiday vibe throughout the year, featuring elements from various cultures, along with gaudy flowers draped from the ceiling. I believe this is a bit overwhelming for anyone with good taste, and when paired with the lackluster menu, it made me less enthusiastic about enjoying my dining experience.

4 /5 Dusty Arenson: We had a lovely Friday night dinner with my mother in law. I had a chicken fettuccine and my wife enjoyed a steak salad. The food and service was better than average (not the absolute best Italian I have had but good) and we all really loved the atmosphere. Our servers were attentive and pleasant. All in all it was a nice place for dinner.

1 /5 Austin Stromme: I eat here often because the food is, admittedly, consistently quite good. This is also how I recognize the astronomical price increase when ordering delivery relative to in the restaurant itself. I wanted to order delivery this time around because car is being fixed. I noticed the price was $35.74 (after tax, WITHOUT delivery fees) but in-store it is roughly $28 (after tax). This is a 27.6% increase. Upon calling to ask the restaurant “why”, I was informed that it was the delivery companies themselves increasing the prices on their respective apps and NOT the restaurant making this decision. Quick research will reflect that this is a lie and it is, in fact, the restaurant making this decision to pass the costs off to the consumer to offset all of theirs. This is what is most bothersome - the lie (aside from the astronomical price increase). Again, this restaurant has great food - but questionable business practices.

5 /5 Jamie Boyd: We were visiting my daughter in Yakima for the weekend, and this place was an absolute treat! Beautiful historic building, the decor inside is absolutely gorgeous, the food was incredible, seasonal cocktails were even better, and Erica was one of the best servers I have ever had. She was ON IT, for everything, including things I didn’t even think to ask for. Seriously, Management, give her a raise!