Description: Okay, I'm going to let you in on a true local's secret place. It's so secret, you can't even see it from the street. Turn into the parking lot beside Pete & Peter's Bar -- it's right behind the bar. Small (it seats, maybe, 50 people if they sit close), rustic and friendly. Great Italian-style food at reasonable prices. This is not a pizza joint -- there are plenty of other ones in and around Tahoe City if you want that -- Za's does have a few kinds of pizza and calzone. The pizzas are the thin-crust, almost "gourmet-style," about 10" in diam. My husband always gets the pepperoni; a friend enjoyed his pepperoin and jalapeno. One of my favorite dishes is the spaghetti puttanesca, which is hearty, garlicky and spicy. I often get the smoked chicken fettucini, which features hunks of smoked chicken in a light white wine sauce with a touch of cream (not a heavy cream sauce). The Caesar salad (the full portion is big enough for 2) is also excellent. I have had the eggplant parmesan appetizer double-sized for a main course and enjoyed it. The polenta topped with sauteed wild mushrooms is also a great apptizer choice. There are other non-pasta, non-pizza main courses, but I'm always happy with pasta or pizza. The pastas can be ordered in half or full-portions; be warned, the full portions are very generous. Wine is served by the glass (a small tumbler) or the bottle or carafe. Beer is available by the glass or pitcher. Desserts are not special, except for the killer tiramisu, which is easily big enough for two. Service is friendly, but the efficiency depends on who your server is. The servers will probably be happy to talk skiing with you.
By the way, the legend is that the name is "Za's" because the sign outside used to say "Pizza's" but some letters fell off. True? Who knows??
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