Kaysey Price/ Winonan
Tuesday night, April 14, as I waited window-side at Zaza’s Pub and Pizzeria off Huff Street in Winona for my study group, I drank in the atmosphere and a Lonely Blonde Ale.
Zaza’s has perfected the relaxed sports fan’s fantasy. The sports bar atmosphere reflected a friendly din of chatter and pool queue sounds, which were not overwhelming – not like Buffalo Wild Wings, where there is an angry sportscaster on a television yelling at you in every direction you look.
Tom Rekward, a student at Winona State University, commented on the crowd.
“The people are generally affable,” Rekward said.
However, when 8 p.m. rolled around, the crowd picked up, and it became difficult to carry on a conversation.
Unable to speak without yelling, we decided to eat wings instead.
I asked Brooke Parks of Winona for her thoughts on Zaza’s wings.
“They have the best wings ever…zesty ranch. Mmmm!” Parks said.
I tried the wings with zesty ranch sauce, and I can second Parks’ opinion. They really were “Mmmm,” especially at the college-student-affordable price of 60 cents per wing.
Zaza’s runs different wing specials Tuesdays through Thursdays.
On Tuesday nights from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Zaza’s offers 60 cents boneless wings, which can be paired with their drink special: $3.75 22 oz. Long Island Iced Teas from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m.
On Wednesday nights, Zaza’s brags about their 35 cents traditional wings starting at 5 p.m., their $2.50 Captain Morgan mixers from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. and their $3 domestic beers from 10 p.m. to 1 p.m.
On Thursday nights, Zaza’s has 50 cents dry rub, boneless and traditional wings from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Their drink special is $1.50 Busch Light bottles, $2.50 domestic bottles and $1.75 rail drinks from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Wings are not all Zaza’s has to offer. They are also fine makers of pizza.
Shawn Stanton of Winona had wonderful things to say about their specialty pizzas.
“I like their pizza and their appetizers,” Stanton commented. “The baked potato pizza is for sure my favorite. Mashed potatoes have always been my favorite food, and the fact it’s in pizza form with bacon is like potato crack yumminess.”
In addition to the Baked Potato Pizza, Zaza’s makes an Aloha Chicken Pizza topped with chicken, bacon, pineapple, shredded Parmesan, onions, oregano and ranch.
They also have a Spaghetti Pizza topped with spaghetti sauce and noodles, meatballs, mushrooms, onions and oregano.
Mondays through Thursdays Zaza’s has a delivery special from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., where you can buy one specialty pizza and get a second one free.
They also run various drink specials every night. The deals are so good. If you haven’t already checked Zaza’s out, you definitely should.
