From the deconstructed lemon tart layered in a glass to the tiles from Italy giving ZA a feeling of a trattoria, details are at the heart of the new Italian restaurant coming to Elm Grove.
Gabbi Zierath, who is opening the restaurant with her sister Betsi Zierath, said ZA will have a modern, but cozy feel when it opens April 18 at 13300 Watertown Plank Rd.
As the name implies, pizza is on the menu. Not just any ordinary pizza, but Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fire pizza oven on site that is on display for all to admire. Chef Michael McGee has an ardor for Italian food, said Gabbi Zierath. He will handmake pastas and sauces for ZA.
"He has a passion for dough, and he loves hand making noodles and I think that elevates a dish when you have a fresh pasta like that," she said.
Entrees on the menu will range from pan seared New York strip to a roasted red pepper chicken dish to salads and the classic chicken parmesan. There will be appetizers and desserts to start and finish the meal, such as calamari, tiramisu and cannoli.
"A lot of this stuff is being made in house and fresh," Gabbi said.
The Zierath sisters not only know Italian food (their great-grandma immigrated from Italy via Ellis Island), they also know the restaurant business. Their other restaurant is located a short distance from ZA: Zisters at 13425 Watertown Plank Road. Zisters serves breakfast and brunch, which satisfies the eater in a similar way as Italian food does, Gabbi said, providing comfort in addition to filling stomachs.
Gabbi said she and her sister had wanted to "bring a little Italian restaurant to Elm Grove." The restaurant also has arches, a black-and-white checkered floor and a variety of seating options. In the warmer months, the garage door-style windows will be opened, allowing for warm breezes. The hope is to get village approval for an outdoor patio.
Inside, the front bar has emerald green tiles, from which an extensive wine selection is available, as well as cocktails like negroni and pomegranate spritz. For a little caffeine, an espresso machine is also at ZA.
And while Zierath admits she is probably biased, she said as a foodie, the dishes at ZA are "just incredible."
(Have a Waukesha County restaurant news tip? Email Katherine Beck at kbeck@conleynet.com.)
