Cafe Zupas

we got the you pick two chowder and panini combo while I got the strawberry salad and it was delicious and under twenty bucks! We will be back!!!

For the price and the quality– pretty good.
Great variety of panini’s, salads, soups and all yummy :)
Try the 2 combo!

Expensive, food is average at best. Portions are small, if you have more than two people in your party the checkout will frustrate you… as they have no idea what you ordered. Go to Paradise Bakery. same shopping center, better food.

Rocked a Try 2 combo with a Grilled Cuban sandwich and a Glazed Chicken Chipotle salad. Everything was perfect, I wish I could buy their Honey Cilantro glaze by the gallon. The bathroom was so clean and aesthetically pleasing I would’ve gladly eaten my meal on the floor.
I personally enjoy Coca Cola with their Italian Vanilla syrup added in, but if you’re not a Coke person disregard.

First the food: The soups are amazing. Two things I hate are mushrooms and cauliflower so naturally I ordered the combo with two soups — wild mushroom bisque and Wisconsin cauliflower. The bisque made an explosion of happy flavor with colorful notes of sherry and, if I am not mistaken, real butter. Wisconsin cauliflower has cheese, maybe bacon, onion, etc. What you won’t believe is how light and creamy it is. The flavor is light and subtle.
The service: This branch seemed to be operated by a young person. Going through the line forces too many questions. I want to be able to say what I want once, get it, pay, sit down and eat. The cleanliness was only so-​so. This was my third visit to the place. The first time there was a panhandler outside going up to every customer on their way in. The women with children were clearly uncomfortable. The second day was a Sunday afternoon for lunch –closed?!

The menu just kind of screamed «we want to be that wacky salad bar place that makes you eat kale». Ok, thats not fair. I guess it just was not my thing.
That having been said — the ordering system seems convoluted. Too much q&a like a quiz show. Just let me order once. As you walk down the line, it felt like a memory test.

People are friendly and we love the food!!!
I especially love the butter and cracker station ;).

My boyfriend and I come here quite a bit and we usually have a great experience. AND we usually feel as though Café Zupas, the Happy Valley location, is very clean and sanitary. Tonight, not so much. In fact, I’ll never be back because of this. A few bites into my crab avocado melt and I had to pull a long blonde hair from my sandwich. It wasn’t my hair either… I couldn’t even stomach eating the other half, because God knows what was in that one! Another hair most likely. Needless to say, that is highly disgusting and this particular incident will be the reason I never return.

I’m so upset with this location and more than likely won’t be back.
I used to work over by the the location near 20^th street and Camelback. Never really had major issues except for the fact that no matter what, my same exact order would always come out to be a different price every single time. But regardless, this review is for the one off Happy Valley.
First, the portions are way smaller than other locations. Today I ordered a large build your own salad. I asked for chicken in it and egg added on. I got MAYBE 5 chunks of chicken the size of my index fingernail and MAYBE 4 slices of skimpy egg. For the prices they up-​charge you with, you’d expect a whole lot more than that.
I also asked for cheese as well. Again, they have to keep reminding you that every little thing is an up-​charge. Yes… I know, I can read. Well they gave me MAYBE a half TEASPOON of cheese. But I think I’m probably being generous here.
Asked for croutons… I got 4 of them… how generous…
This is absolutely ridiculous and if I’m gonna pay these outrageous prices, I’m gonna just take my business across the way to Paradise Bakery where I’ll at least get more bang for my buck.
Finally, why do I have to tell every single employee who is working what my order is? Why, then, do you bother to have the first person write it down on the plastic container?! It’s annoying especially for people with large orders!!! Fix your system because it’s not a good one right now.
I really like Café Zupas but this specific one will never see a dime of my money again.

We visited for our first time just before hitting up Harkins for a movie and while the food was great, the service was a bit… frantic. It is not a very first-​timer friendly place. You are rushed through the line, asked a million questions about your specific food, and if you have multiple people in your party on the same ticket, you have to remember what it is everyone ordered through each one of the stations because they will ask you – repeatedly. It’s not very user-​friendly in that respect. Let me break that down for you.
We were at the end of the line so with no one behind us, I didn’t understand the rushed feeling we were receiving from the staff. It was lunch time. It wasn’t closing time. The greeter at the first station asked us what we’d like and when you select something from the menu, there are a variety of options that go along with each menu item. Those options aren’t really listed on the menu – that I could see – because if they are, we were rushed through so fast we didn’t really get to see if they were. We were pushed from section to section and each time someone was asking us what our complete order was for our group. As the head of the line, this was very frustrating and the pace was frantic the entire way through the line. Almost to the point where I was wondering if they are paid based on the speed in which they get people through the line. The line set up is like how it used to be at Paradise Bakery with a sandwich station, salad station, soup station. You go down the long line, get what you want with the various options to each individual item, and then you go and pay. What they don’t explain is that all these various «options» are actually upcharges so you’re going to be in for a surprise at the register. By the time we got to the register to pay and after being asked for the 4^th time what our entire group’s order was, it was downright annoying. Why is it not written down somewhere? Why do I have to be asked for it multiple times like this? Why do I feel so rushed to the point where I’m starting to feel panicked? It was weird.
The drink station is at the far end of the restaurant so you have to navigate your way through a very narrow walkway because it’s lined with tables right up the middle and booths on either side. If you are a larger person – you’re going to butt check people because there’s just no way around it. I’m not a larger person and I was butt checking people… if that gives you any idea how narrow this walkway is.
I want to like this place because the food really was tasty but I am not sure about it just yet. Another visit, this time as a 2^nd timer might be in order since I now have an idea of what’s going on there.

I want to love this place, I really do but I don’t think I’ll return for a few reasons:
1) Why do I have to tell them what I ordered three times? each employee asks what I ordered, then when I get to the cash register I have to tell them again what I ordered, when I come in with five meal orders I can’t remember everything, why do they not have a better system for this?
2) When I ask for bacon to be cooked extra crispy they used to do it for me now they tell me they are not allowed to. Seriously? chewy uncooked bacon is not cool. Even McDonalds can oblige this request.
3) The portions. I should be full after spending 10 dollars on a salad but when they only put a couple pieces of chicken and charge nearly $ 2 for more or can’t fill the soup bowl up it comes across as pretty stingy.
4) Upcharges on everything. At the prices they charge for everything they should be able to add extra cheese or croutons free of charge.
The food is very tasty and I’d love to return but the above reasons are enough to find another place.

Most likely will not go back. Actually I won’t be going back. Workers were very friendly but the amount of money I spent vs the amount of food I received very very very pathetic. Paradise Bakery here I come.

The food is not bad but they rip you off in portions. I ordered a soup and was given only half the portion of the container. They gave me no viable reason for a half portion soup. I paid for a full portion soup. As a customer a proper portion in alignment with your container is expected-​what a disappointment. If you pay for a small to go soup then give that to a customer don’t skimp on portion amounts.

Greatly impressed!
I was surprised, I finally caved and visited here for the first time today… after seeing it for over two years. I was thinking it would just be another Panera/​Paradise, however the flavors in this place are very good!
I had a sandwich and the nut berry salad… I’m tempted to get a second portion of the salad. It was a nice touch getting the chocolate covered strawberry too.
Clean, friendly staff, and free wifi. I’m definitely going to put this place into my regular lunch rotation.
Thanks!

Eight employees behind the salad soup bar, only one working. What a nice first impression the first time I came here.
Honestly, I don’t have many good things to say about this place. I will say that they do have good food. That’s why they get some stars. But… The customer service isn’t good and they offer small portions for the price they charge. Don’t get me wrong, the pricing is fair for the portion of other things except salads. I ordered a Strawberry Harvest with Chicken Salad and I saw the girl put a very small scoop of chicken on it… meaning she didn’t fill to scoop and it was all small pieces of chicken. I said something and she said I would be charged $ 1.79 extra for more chicken. I told her she didn’t even fill one scoop, how was that fair for what I’m already paying? She said «Well that’s just out price for portions.»
I have had a few friendly employers here but I’ve gotten a lot of attitude from employees more and they make it look like it’s so hard to work… I’ve been here a few times because it’s convenient and I like the salads and soups… But honestly, they’ve officially lost my business.
If you don’t care for good service and being cheated out of proportions, I would recommend their salads that have fruit and the cauliflower soup is delightful.

Attention Corporate: This is the ONLY location in the Phoenix valley that is failing all customer standards. And I highly suggest to any customers to go elsewhere. Zupas other locations are far better at everything from customer service, food portions, cleanliness of the restaurant. The management needs to be let go and this location revisited by your corporate office.
Let me say this review is after 7 visits. All visits have been about the same. Poor or rude customer service, an issue that is easily resolved by good management. Portions way under serving compare to other Zupas. (for ie. The soup was not even half full and she insisted she was correct) I refused it and so did the next 2 people after stating the issues to make a point. My last visit she missed the cup and didn’t even clean it off. I had to ask them at the register. No sense of pride, for your brand. Salads are also skimpy here. I frequent your establishment to eat and be filled up. A half cup of reg. soup and ¾ of a half salad will make any customer question if they should continue business with you. My $ 30 a visit could easily be spent elsewhere.
To top this location off, the staff is lazy. From dirty prep areas as you watch them prepare and question if you would pass a AZ health dept inspection. The dining room is also always dirty, which as a manager myself Im always tempted to take off the soda fountain nozzels because I’m sure they are dirty too. I am a long time customer of your Biltmore location and thank them for the great service, I hope you take care of this locations issues.
Sincerely,
Annoyed and Done with this location.

Awesome place
Nice food
Good Service
Low price
Nice place to have some food when come to movie at Harkins Theaters… Loved it! :)

So pleased to have one of these close to work. Great food, good selection about time someone gave paradise a run for their money that place is pathetic. Zuppas is cheaper and better by far.
Let’s see what do I want a free 5 cent cookie or a $ 1 chocolate covered strawberry. And meal is cheaper too. We’ll done Zuppas
Not sure who the 1 star reviewer spoke to as I have ordered here for personal and work and given them all the allergies that we have between myself and people at work and Zuppas have worked with me and provides all that information.

Place looked nice and everyone was friendly. This was my first visit. I got a soup and sandwich. There are three soup container sizes so I picked the middle one, expecting the soup to fill it. Nope. It was once scoop of soup, about ¾ full-​22 spoonfuls to be exact. It was tasty though. The sandwich was quite small. I guess the pictures on the wall that are 20×30 made me think I’d get something bigger-​my bad. It was also tasty but the meat was sliced like the cheap packaged type. I can’t certainly don’t know but that’s what it felt like.
Overall, for $ 9+ I was disappointed in the portions. I guess, comparatively, a sub sandwich, even at Subway, if you are into that, would have been more food for less.

People say that variety is the spice for life. I couldn’t agree more so that’s why I ventured out to Café Zupas from my normal rotation.
I decided to get a large make your own salad along with a soda for $ 9.29 (inclusive of tax). They give you plenty of mixed greens and about four ingredients on the salad. I could probably fit all the ingredients that they gave me on a hot dog. If you stick out your hand and look at your ring finger and pinky that would have been about the volume of chicken in the salad. I may have gotten somewhere between a ¹⁄₃ to ½ of a hard boiled egg as well. They chop up the cucumber and tomatoes very fine. Maybe a couple of teaspoons of each ingredient.
It’s safe to say that I won’t be fooled again. At least I enjoyed this:
(start at 1:14).