Zinc At Shade Hotel

It troubles me to give Zinc a less than stellar review as we’ve been regulars there (and Shade and Strand House) for maybe 10 years. Last Saturday, a bad night. We had an 8pm reservation, restaurant was quiet to partially empty, took 15 minutes to be seated (?), and we asked several people to help us? Long story short, food was ok … but we’re a couple, celebrating our engagement as locals in MB … had a nice waitress, got some drinks … then ordered 4 apps to relax and share at our leisure on a Saturday night. The problem, our pizza, lamb chops, tuna, all came at once, then the salad last, like 40 seconds later … so much for «pacing and relaxing and enjoying». So … 2 people, and in a few minutes our entire order came at once … we were so overwhelmed, we didn’t eat much, and most of it went to the trash. We eat out a lot and travel the world, and all at good restaurants, they allow you to enjoy and embrace a delicious meal, they care about the food and service, and when there’s a rare issue, it’s fixed immediately. We were challenged on how to eat the pizza while it was hot, the chops while hot, or let one get cold and focus on the other, the salad came and we never even got to it, not that salad last was good, but not after tuna, pizza, chops … it was a rush rush bad night food bomb. The manager, a gentleman came to see how things were, we showed him our dilemma, he said, «oh, it all came at once, a lot of food, I’ll comp the salad» … are you serious (?), an entire meal wasted and you «comp the salad»??? He ended up comping the salad and one round of drinks. He saw and admitted the issue, just a little, «OMG, I’m so sorry, can I clear a few things, redo them, and allow you to enjoy and pace the night»? The worst part, as nice as the waitress and manager were, they were not trained at all to deal with a mistake, they barely apologized — manager couldn’t get away from our table fast enough. Waitress was very sweet, but just was uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do, but she was very sweet. I hate to say there’s a reason that was such an easy ressie to get last minute, but I won’t, I normally love it there, especially brunch … On this night though, I would have been mortified and comped the meal … and it wasn’t much. But, they didn’t even offer. The food was «good, not great», chops good — could have used some salt, the tuna delish, the salad — I was so overwhelmed — we tossed it out, so I’ll never know, and the pizza — actually I used to love the pizza at Zinc, it was very pedestrian this time. mediocre crust and «ok» sauce, kinda sweet for a cool place … Odd, it used to be delicious! I hate to give a bad review, I love and frequent Shade, Zinc, and Strand House ALL THE TIME, have met the owner Mike Zislis many times … but this was a pretty bad night in terms of service, respect, and response.

We stayed at the Shade (nice hotel) and our first night didn’t feel like going out so we hit this place. Really like the grilled cheese and the tacos. Great food and service. I recommend the Long Board or Beach House Amber. Nice place to sit and eat or just have a cold one with your significant other. Check it sometime!

Nice place. Fun. Good drinks. Moderately priced. Nice people. Great location.

First time we ate here wanted a nice relax place. This is the place. Johnny the guy at the bar fixed me up with a fruity Moscow mule he knows his stuff. We had one of their flat bread pizza very good. crepes for dessert was ok. The staff very attentive seeing if we needed anything. This is midweek dinner the weekends might be loud. See you next time Johnny!

Fantastic! Had the mini grilled cheese with prosciutto and the short rib tacos. Loved it all! Will come back!

I Unilocaled this place and all of the great reviews was what drew me to Zinc. First place I came to when I moved to LA and I am NOT disappointed! Lovely ambiance with great food and drinks!

Damn, they sure know how to make a killer risotto. I ordered the Scottish salmon but the star of the dish was the wild mushroom risotto. I would have liked the salmon to be a little more seasoned but nothin that a little sprinkling of salt and pepper won’t fix. The sliders were okay. I found the patty to be a bit dry. The appetizer was delicious. We ordered a sushi platter.
It’s a chic dim-​lit restaurant. Perfect for a party! Parking free in the lot after 9pm.
It’s clearly late because I started this review in reverse order

We decided to go to this restaurant for my sister’s birthday and atmosphere inside was a bit noisy during the time when we arrived at the restaurant since there were performances done inside. However dishes that were prepared inside were delicious!

Kalbi Tacos from Zinc at Shade Hotel. These are delicious 9 star tacos. So simple and so right. Korean style Braised Short Rib, Kimchi Coleslaw, and top notch Corn Tortillas. The beef was sweet and savory, the slaw was light and not too fermented, and the tortillas were next level. A lot of times you will have corn tortillas that over power the taco, but not with these. We also had a nice Chacuturie board. Our bartender Johnny was excellent. He made sure the wine I had wasn’t turned. It was right on the edge so he opened a fresh bottle. When drinking Orin Swift wine it better be good. He was right and the fresh glass was amazing. The Prisoner by the glass is one of my favorite wines. He also suggested the tacos. Great choice. The place is a little out of date and could use a facelift. But the service, drink, and food were all on point.

I came here for a wedding rehearsal dinner and it was pretty ritzy. I felt a little out of my element, but the food and drinks were good. I would love to come back for a meal during regular hours. This is definitely a birthday dinner or fancy date night kind of place. It’s really modern with purple and blue lighting– sort of a club feel. The staff was pretty on their game and if I could afford it I would definitely have an event here. Just by going once I could tell it is probably pretty pricey.
Parking was a bit confusing if you park in the plaza parking lot. When you come up look opposite of where the escalators bring you. We had to ask people walking around where the Zinc hotel/​restaurant was.

Its Five Star Fri again!!!
I have only been here to GFU (get effed up), and I have not tried the food until my most recent visit. Zinc is on Valley & Manhattan in the beach volleyball mecca of Manhattan Beach. The reason why I mention the latter is that male & female beach volleyball players frequent Zinc on the weekends. Man, have I ever felt short on those nights (even amongst the female players), and I’m 6’2″! LOL
I came here for a business event, and John & Jennifer Nogawa (makes me holla) took excellent care of us. They were both on it to make sure we had plenty of excellent food, and enough to drink. BTW, if you haven’t figured it out yet, Jennifer is hawt!!! Hahaha
We started out w/​charcuterie, and the meats & cheeses were nicely presented and really fresh. The next item was the grilled cheese sandwiches w/​brie. I have not had GC this way, and I thought it was brilliant. Third item: The sliders were juicy and the bread wasn’t dry which happens a lot w/​sliders. Next items were the bruschetta and fries. Both were executed nicely, especially the fries that came out piping hot and w/​three sauces. Fourth item: Flat bread pizza that was also executed very well. It too came out hot (like Jennifer — hehehe). Second to the last item: Tuna & jalapeño on a fried rice thing. This item was very good and had nice heat. However, Zinc saved the best for last with the lamb lollipops! They were boldly seasoned, and came out warm to enhance the flavor: All 5 Stars.
The ambiance is very nice and we had the patio in front to ourselves. It was a cool spring evening, and the heat lamps provided the right amount of warmth. In addition, it was easy to move around the spacious layout: Both 5 Stars.
I need to start hanging out in Manhattan Beach more now that I know Zinc has food (and Jennifer works here!). Hahaha!!! The food is tasty, the ambiance is sexy, and the service is excellent.

Victor and the support staff (runner from the kitchen) were so fantastic! They anticipated our drink and food needs before we even realized and were so kind! I will definitely be back!
Thanks!!!

Swanky place, great patio, gorgeous décor. My girlfriends and I came for apps and drinks. Cocktails were just okay, but the ceviche was crave-​able!

Zinc is a trendy and hip restaurant/​lounge located inside of the luxury boutique, Shade Hotel. The ambiance of the restaurant is perfect for the downtown Manhattan Beach scene with dim lighting, bar seating, modern furniture, and a beautiful terrace. For an upscale restaurant/​hotel nothing about this place is pretentious. No matter what the occasion is, you are assured to have an amazing meal and fantastic service.
I am no stranger to Zinc. I’ve eaten here for brunch, lunch, dinner, and I have also been here just for drinks. Recently, they got a new Executive Chef, who has revamped the menu with innovative and delicious new dishes.
You wouldn’t expect to see entrees such as a South Bay paella or a panang curry bowl on the menu but they do have it. And yes, it is actually very good. Last night, I got their pan-​roasted Scottish salmon ($ 24) served with a wild mushroom risotto, English peas, and a blackberry Cabernet beurre blanc. The salmon was excellent — cooked to a perfect medium rare in the middle with plenty of flavor. The risotto was perfectly cooked as well and loaded with flavor without it being too rich. The portions were generous but the salmon to risotto ratio was just right, so I didn’t feel gluttonous at the end of my meal. It was also so good that I ended up with an entirely empty plate. I would order this again in a heartbeat!
If you want something lighter or smaller, they have great salads and tapas options as well. I am forever devoted to their famous Zinc chopped salad. The salad is made up of wild arugula, couscous, tomato, grilled corn, pepitas, currants, Parmesan cheese, and your choice of smoked salmon or salami. The bitter arugula is offset by the sweet corn and the couscous adds a wonderful texture to the dish ⁵⁄₅. You can get this salad as a full portion for $ 15 or a half for only $ 9. This is my go to especially for lunch. By the way, you can always pre-​order your food here and pick it up to eat outside or back at the office.
Let’s not look past their drinks too. All the bartenders here are friendly and knowledgeable about the drinks that they concoct. I’m a huge fan of their Moscow mules and they have great beers on tap.
If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you stop by Zinc at Shade Hotel. They constantly have daily specials too. The location is perfect since it right by the pier. Whether you come in here for a light snack, a drink, or a full on meal, you will leave completely satisfied. I know parking in Downtown Manhattan Beach is always a scary thought but don’t fret, they offer valet parking and you can validate your ticket here for only $ 8. Now you have no reason not to come.

A small group of us came here after our run club to celebrate a birthday. Pretty happening place located in the lobby of the Shade hotel. It’s located in the heart of Manhattan Beach.
Originally they were going to seat us in the casual lower seating but we asked to sit in the higher stool tables near the bar which the hostess obliged. Very nice décor in the lounge. Cute centerpieces of white sand & coral or seashells encased in a glass cylinder.
Bruno was our waiter. He brought out our drinks (coffee & tea) in a timely manner. The brunch menu has a lot of great options. I wish I payed closer to attention and saw the pressed juices & mimosas (ginger) :(Next time!
I ordered the Shade Omelet (applewood bacon, avocado and tillamook cheddar cheese), house-​made hash browns and a side of spicy chicken mango habanero sausage. Very fluffy eggs and a good amount of cheese & bacon inside the omelet. The spicy sausage was a good compliment to the omelet but the real star to this meal was the hash browns. It looked like the shape of a McDonald’s hash brown but the surprise of a little spiciness (poblano pepper or jalapeño) made it a delectable treat.
A wonderful birthday brunch for us. They even brought out a birthday dessert fruit plate for my friend. This place is a true gem near the ocean.

Zinc is a nice spot to stop for a drink in the area. Cocktail prices are in the area of $ 10 to $ 14, which is expected considering the proximity to the water. If you like a little spice in drink try the Fire and Ice.
Would I make this a destination on a night out? Probably not, but a nice place for a drink if you are looking for something in the MB area.

Zinc was Zintillatingly good! I was amazed by the food quality and portion of the entrees ordered!
Brie and Pear Grilled Cheese was amazing! The Brie was creamy and melt-​in-​your mouth. The pear had a subtle taste that balanced the Brie’s taste. The French baguette was toasted and had a bite that was crisp to perfection.
The Kalbi Tacos was good. It had a balanced taste of sweetness. I prefer the tortilla to be crispier though if.
The Seared Maine Diver Scallops was awesome! I love the texture of the risotto and how the taste and mix with the different herbs and butter made it taste exotically wonderful! I appreciate how perfectly poached the egg was. The scallop had a good sizing and portion. The taste and bite was perfect!
The Pan-​roasted Scottish Salmon was succulent and scrumptious! The serving size of the salmon was very good. The texture was tender and the meat was juicy! The wild mushroom risotto was heavenly!
The Chocolate Mousse Bar was heavenly and for hazelnut lovers. The wafer was crispy and the mousse was creamy and hit the right spot with the hazelnut taste!

Came here for an early meal with a friend. Great friendly staff, but found it weird that they wouldn’t let us sit at the booths at 5pm because they were «reserved». Nobody came even after an hour of us eating at the bar.
But with that said, the food was pretty good. We ordered some small plates — the brie and pear grilled cheese and spicy tuna crispy rice. The brie and pear grilled cheese hits the spot. BUT could have been a bit more melty and larger portion. They’re pocket sized and left a little to be desired. The spicy tuna crispy rice was great, although a bit too crunchy on the rice part and bothered my teeth just a tad.
We also got the seafood paella as a main entrée. This meant A LOT of rice, but certainly filling and full of great flavor!

Wanted to take a second and update my review. I went in for dinner last night with my family and it was wonderful. We had a reservation and they were ready for us when we got there. I was excited because they just re-​did their whole menu.
We all shared things and we liked it all. Truffle Sliders, Farrow Risotto, Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Paella, Zinc Chop Salad (thankful they kept that one), Scallops, and a Margherita Pizza.
There were plenty of people around and we felt very taken care of.

You can’t throw shade at Shade hotel! Haha. (In reference to Real housewives of Atlanta).
If you haven’t been to Shade hotel then you’re missing out.
It is located along valley (a one way street until you hit the corner in the direction of live oak park.
It is a boutique hotel with great service. I’ve been coming to shade hotel for many years. My family and I have enjoyed brunches and countless meals here. We personally have not stayed since we live in the area, but who wouldn’t want to have STAYCATION here?
The blue/​teal tones are beautiful and the open area where Easter brunch and Mother’s Day brunch take place is breathtaking. There is a living wall of plants – such as those in Paris that I have seen. Pretty cool.
The staff is wonderful and have always given excellent service. This last Easter (4÷5÷15) we had Ryan as our waiter. He was very personable and was really friendly. We are actually low maintenance people compared and had to ask several times if we needed anything when in fact we wouldn’t need anything because he was awesome!
I love coming here. It’s always a pleasure because the food is amazing and the service is as well.
There is valet parking for 8 $ or self parking.
The spread for brunches are amazing. For instance, Easter brunch included an omelette station, pancake/​French toast station, dessert station, savory station (bacon, braised beef, etc), cheese and fruit station and many more. It’s my favorite!
Then after brunch you can leisurely walk around the metlox or down the street to the beach. Cool place.
My family will continue to go during holiday brunches!