Teatro ZinZanni

Okay this place is amazing! It's a smaller Cirque Du Soleil but with lunch/dinner. There is comedy, drama, slight romance, acrobatics, gymnastics, food - what more can you REALLY ask for??

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we saw Caliente on its last day. The show was amazing!!! We walked into our seat and it was blistering hot in there but after awhile we adjusted. We enjoyed the brie, almonds, and olive appetizer. Then we moved on to a salad (it was whatevs). Entree was choice of chicken, pork, or vegetarian tart. The pork was a little salty if you don't eat it with the mashed potatoes and the chicken was MM in my opinion. Dessert was a panna cotta that was OKAY.

Because the meals were so far apart, we quickly got super hungry again!! Don't forget theres a full bar and LOTS of house special drinks.

Even though food was mediocre, seriously 5 stars for the amazing performance. It was so funny and exciting!! Will definitely be back for another show!!

**Park across the street in the garage for $10 flat rate and go to pier 39 right after!!

Life is a cabaret ole chums.

I want to live here. Sigh.... what with the boas, old-fashioned cocktails, acerbic comedy, low-brow goofing on the guests, undulating skimply-clad gents and gourmandish grub....these are my people.

Disneyland for grown-ups without risk of bubonic plague from erstwhile rodents (herpes --- different matter). My kinda joint! :)

I'll hopefully be spending many more gleefully gluttonous birthdays there cuz I never outgrew wanting to wear my tiara on my special day. So there.

Since it's a rare experience, suggesting on splurging and sit VIP, yeah. The current show "Hearts on Fire" was so fun, but ends May 16 - the next show "Love, Chaos & Couture" begins May 20.

So, just imagine going to a Cirque du Soleil show, but sitting much closer and having the performers mingling with you in between acts. Love how they got the performers to double as food servers without skipping a beat. Love the comedy and the amazing acrobatics (love the Ukrainian contortionist the most, but everyone else was awesome too) within a confined space! Love how with all that going on, eating a very good dinner within a Farallon- or Fleur de Lys- or Moulin Rouge- type of decor! Love how they can squeeze so much inside a tent! Lots of fun, the actors are "world-class" and the food was quite good! It's a tad pricey only if compared to other places separately, but as a whole it's quite a deal for what you get. I'm half exaggerating when saying I'd pay double to go to this show and dinner!

All I can say is, do not turn down a JCP social invite as you are always in for a good-times! That bears repeating. So glad I got to attend this celebration for her daughter's birthday. As JCP mentioned (http://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?userid=yVtAUqcUaLV3PLRcCHaw5w&q=%22dinner+and+a+show%22), you do have to see it to understand. It is worth it considering what a great experience and much laughter is in store for you...and if you can go with great people, just do it. This is a great place to take someone for their birthday, or for an anniversary (oh, can probably close the deal if want to on a first date). I will return for future shows!

Milestone: the 2500th "Cool" vote's review!

Pardon the extra long review. But there's just so much to say!!

First thing to know: Teatro Zinzanni is that "strange" place with all the tents and flags along the embarcadero. Pier 29 to be exact. A place of European cabaret and cirque. 3 hour show. 5 course dinner. A truly unique experience!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=yuEllwG09YpO3iYZ8TXp0w
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=lbstLywmmQgsVM3KQDhi5Q

The decor inside comprises of gold satin and red curtains, sparkling chandeliers, lounging ottomans, huge paintings and tall mirrors. Soft lighting adds to the mystery. Altogether, a very sutry yet circus-fun atmosphere.

The doors open a hour before the show. A circular cash bar at the lobby with a vast selection of wines and cocktails. A boutique store for both men and women to accessorize for the show. Dressing up is highly encouraged!!! Makes the experience much more fun if I may add!!! =D

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=fYZzZHlu0u8-k_EWnb-Nhg
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=fLCiZjh2MMZnY92bqx27Hg
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=AbBCY4qCOme6ZZmVOEuHoQ

The show takes place is an actual tent, where tables and booths circle around the stage. There is no bad spot, unless your view is blocked by one of the tent pillars. But nothing that couldn't be solved by scooching a few inches over.

Current show: 'License to Kiss'. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=Ai-VyTs2NweAv6qxKaJuSA) I expected it to be sexy and beautiful. But it was also hilarious and entertaining! A display of many talents. From singing to dancing, gymnastics to acrobatics, script and improv. Live band music! They had it all!

Oh Kevin Kent. What a character! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=5tovnofC7syPy58FtaFIPg) He's the star, the one with all the jokes. Dished them out like no other. Made fun of audience members and got them out to be part of the show. Cross dressing. Voice changing. He made the night FUUUUUN!!

I had a little moment of my own with Kevin. As I was walking out the tent towards the washroom, he stopped me. In his 'girl' voice, loud enough for others to hear, he asked, "ARE YOU GOING TO THE POTTY?" "Yes," I replied nervously. "Wellllllll, REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS!!" LOL. Talk about embarrassing! Haha.

Onto the Food! It was great that they incorporated the waiters into the show. Even bringing out the food was entertaining! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xuqRDYY4u9mbwfBvMOPh6Q?select=saLyrbgtseGaLmyug0PL0Q) **Sorry no photography allowed in the main tent**

Course #1 (1st Course): Grilled Asparagus with White Truffle-ponzu Sauce. Delightful!! Whole asparagus spears cooked perfectly, with a snap at each bite. Raw cremini mushrooms on the side. Yum!

Course #2 (Soup): Spring Pea with Carrots. A pureed pea soup, sweeter than usual pea soups. With some ground pepper, also delicious!

Course #3 (Salad): Mixed greens with Champagne Vinaigrette. My least favorite course. Just greens and sweet peppers. Pretty plain. Can barely taste the vinaigrette.

Course #4 (Entree): Mesquite Grilled Lamb Sirloin. Medium rare. Tender. Loved the grilled crust. Served with spinach, mushrooms and potatoes. Also sampled the Herb Marinated Chicken Breast. Tender as well. Super happy with the entrees!

Course #5 (Dessert): Fresh Lemon Tart. Crust was the best part. Wasn't a big fan of the lemon and the cream. Can taste the raw eggs in the mixture.

A night of amazement and laughter. A LOT of laughter. Tickets may seem pricey, but definitely worth it for a long show and full meal. Will be back for their next show! =D

We knew we had to get over to see Teatro ZinZanni before its forever home was completely demolished to make way for the Americas Cup

CALIENTE was our show

Yeah, we were suckers who paid full price for tickets & were seated in the booths around the back.....word to the wise: get the discount tickets b/c paying full price does NOT guarantee good seats

Our view was only okay - looking at the actors backs a lot of the time & while they do try to move around so everyone can have a decent view, it's basically impossible so plan to look at people's backs - a lot

Dinner was Mexican-themed to go w/ the Caliente-theme show. Delish Roasted Pepper soup, followed by nice salad & then a yummy Tamale-thing

Didn't have dessert - their only option was Panna Cotta which is NOT vegetarian.....it's made w/ gelatin, which any good veggie will tell you is on the naughty list.

Too bad b/c it looked really, really good & Sis said it was really, really good ( she's not as strict on her veggie ways as I am )

Wine Flight was a great pairing & would recommend getting this.... besides, you're already forking over a ton of $$$ so why not make an evening out of it??

Also found out after the show that we had a loaded audience - not loaded in the drunk sense ( although they were at that ) - but loaded in the sense there were a lot of friends & family....so there was probably more willingness to get up on stage & totally ham it up over a normally staged show

But I think this only added to our enjoyment, knowing everyone was having such a great time

Singing & costumes were outrageously awesome - how some people liken this to Cirque du Soleil is beyond me....there were no death-defying acrobatics; there was no firey wheel of death....

Would we do this again? Hmm, maybe - it was great fun but you're gonna pay for it

Total cost for this evening of frivilolity for 2 people?

Show Tickets + Wine Flight + Bottle of Water + Parking = $400

It was almost my birthday, my friend's friend *thought* she couldn't make it to the show. I was offered the ticket and almost went. Turns out she was able to make it. I told my boyfriend that I didn't get to go to Teatro Zinzanni *sobs*. So he took me to Teatro Zinzanni for my birthday thinking that it's the absolute best gift he bought for me :)

Unfortunately, "Love to Kill" is terrible. Unless you like cheesy jokes, then you might like it.

Ok, to elaborate these are their main characters:

- Guy that tried to fix our table and keep knocking his head on the table. This happened before the show started. I started worrying at this point.
- Girl running around in high pitch voice acting like a little girl.
- Old guy acting like a mad boss with long eyebrow (pointing up), staring at all his employees every time they did something stupid.
- Trannies (sometimes he became a guy) that humiliated a random. male audience, dressing him as a princess with stick-on boobies and a crazy hat.
- Guy that tried to be funny by tapping every single thing he could (this was very very painful to watch).

Food was so meh. It's like airplane food. If you don't have to eat it, you wouldn't. There's additional $12 charge per person for dinner. Why didn't they include that in the original ticket price?

The crowds are mostly 40+ with some interesting mixes. You can sorta tell which couple laughed at the jokes from how they look. Ok, I'm mean.

However, there are some pros:
- The opera singer lady has an amazing voice. 5 stars.
- Good tap dancing. Although who cares? That seems like a performance that should be done in the 80s.
- The pole acrobats were really good. I believe that the couple used to be part of Cirque du Soleil.
- The other acrobats were really good too.

In short, I wish they cut down the "comedy" part and give more acrobats chance to show their skills. They are talented artists, but I have no idea why they need to be comedians/waiters/acrobats at the same time.

I have no idea how this show has 4 1/2 stars. I really don't.

Author and poet Erica Jong once said: "Every country gets the circus it deserves. Spain gets bullfights. Italy gets the Catholic Church. America gets Hollywood".

Here in San Francisco, this city deserves a good circus. Which brought me to Teatro ZinZanni. Walking in, they really go all out to make this venue look the part. The bar area, powder room, and dining room area look like a circus married Boardwalk Empire. The way I saw alcohol being served it sure felt like outside those walls was a Prohibition going on.

I'm not a big fan of shows, especially long shows. But Teatro ZinZanni is a very entertaining one. Acrobats, comedy, singing, dancing, and audience participation made this dinner show fun. At different times in the show a audience member is brought up to be a part of a scene. At one point during one of many love songs that were sung by Ms. ZinZanni, everyone was asked to get up and dance.

They have a very talented cast mainly performers from Ukraine. By the costumes and storyline I could tell a lot of time and effort was put into making this production a success.

This show was definitely geared towards romance, so you're best bet is to bring a date. Throughout the show it speaks about love and there are a number of love songs and romantic scenes involved. Not a night out with the fellas at all, save that for the tailgate Sunday morning.

Don't plan on coming to ZinZanni for great food. The 5 course meal was decent, but just a simple mass prepared dinner. They like slow at Teatro, the service was as slow as the Slowsky's, here's a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDUdoQY3GYc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
"Fast. It's not for everyone"...

Teatro doesn't come cheap, the show price for Saturday night is $170 a person. Not including drinks and the mandatory $12 per person added to your bill at the end of the night. (oh yea, and parking). I'm forewarning you because the $12 service charge which is $24 for two came as a surprise, I felt like I did at the end of my cruise to the Carribean, after being shocked by how much I drank and excursions I went on, on the cruise, I had the added service charge. Also similar to a cruise is that unless you have six in your party, plan on being seated next to strangers.


Final analysis: Great, entertaining show. Decent food. Bill Slowsky is in charge of service. In the end, sometimes it's just nice to get all dressed up, looking dapper. A good evening with date to a Boardwalk Empire styled circus.

overpriced and cheesy

Food was good... Mignon was a good portion.

I've seen a lot better for a lot less.

I've been here more times then I can count and it's because the show is astounding and ever changing. It's a circus dinner theatre that only brings in top talent. They've had famous entertainers such as Joan Baez host the show and they are always hunting down new acts to bring into their intimate tent. Most of the performers are from other countries and travel constantly performing at different venues around the world. They are the best of the best, many being originally trained with Cirque du Soleil. This is the second of its kind - the first is located in Seattle. It truly is a one of a kind night out and well worth the hefty price tag.

Tip: Weekday shows are cheaper. You can also go to TixBayArea.com to sometimes score half price tickets to the show.

Tip #2: Make sure to go a little early so you can explore the lobby. There are lots of interesting things to see there.

Thought it'd be a painfully and embarrassingly bad, cheesy cabaret show with disgusting airplane food. Low expectations can be a good thing. Turned out to be entertaining, interactive choregraphed chaos akin to San Francisco's own Beach Blanket Babylon Cirque show and the food was edible! (Only thing is if you get served last during each course, you better hurry up and eat it before the lights dim for the next performance or you have to know how to eat in the dark!**). Liked the improv. Liked the interactiveness of it all. Like that they supposedly change it up every few months. Definitely a one-of-a-kind dinner experience. Diverse/international cast was hit -n-miss. Have seen the juggling, tumbling, body contortionist thing before, but I could feel they were doing their darnedest for us to have a good time. Only worth it if you can get discounted (under $100) tixs.

Food:

Antipasto Plate of Manchego Cheese, Green Olive Tapenade Herb Crostini, Snap Peas South African Pickled Pepper & Toasted Almonds -- This was surprisingly good cuz I cleaned it up.

Carrot Ginger Soup -- Ok.

Bay Shrimp with Romaine Salad Classic Green Goddess Dressing --Coated with too much with dressing (**It was so dark during the performance that I was in for a nasty surprise when I bit into what I thought was a tender little shrimp turned out to be a sour chunk of lemon wedge - aack).

Chicken Cacciatore with Tomatoes, Mushroom and Capers Sardinian Cous Cous & Asparagus (you could also choose from among the lamb, empanadas, and ravioli dishes) -- Chicken was also just ok - too many bones and then the lights dimmed again!

Lemon Mousse & Polenta Cookie Sandwich -- I did indeed eat up all the cookie and whipped cream part.

Drink:

Pomegranate Mojito -- Bleech!!!

There's always been two things that have kept me from trying this place:

1) It's damn expensive
2) When I think "circus" I think elephants, clowns, and cheesy gags

Although there's not much to be done about #1, I'm so glad I was wrong about #2.

$100+ bucks gets a five-course meal (assorted appetizer, soup, salad, main entree, and dessert) but does not include the required gratuity charged at the end of the meal. It also doesn't include drinks. Spaced at over 3 hours, the courses come slow so make sure to pace or have a snack beforehand if starving. If not, it's sheer torture. Even so I can't say the food was exceptional.

But what I really loved were the acts, there were no clown suits, no stupid water spraying from plastic flowers attached to lapels. No blowhorns. Music went everywhere from electronica to new age, the comedic acts were interestingly woven into the dinner, and the trapeze, contortion, and hulu-hoop acts a marvel to behold.

Imagine a lady with over 7 hulu-hoops twirling around her middle, but with such skill as to enable the hoops to separate, until each hoop was rotating equidistant from each other across a different section of her body. Later she was twirling well over 15.

Imagine two trapeze artists, the girl so tiny, more than once rushing headfirst straight towards the floor, only to be "saved" by nothing more than her partners' feet intertwining with hers.

It were really class acts like those and many more that made the S.O. and I happy we finally took the plunge to taking the trip out there and seeing what the fuss was all about.

That, and they have a little store section filled with the most beautiful and interesting trinkets I'd ever seen. Think fans of peacock feathers, bright feather boas, little clips of feather fuzz to put into your hair, bright sparkling peacock pins, hats, scarves, elbow-length satin gloves, capes

... I think I doubled my ticket price just breezing through this store =X.