Le Zinc

I last went to Le Zinc on a Sunday night around 6:30 in the evening. Only one other party was present at the time. I have been to Le Zinc on two occasions both times the restaurant was far from full.
The service is attentive and accommodating as one would expect with a relatively small group of people in the restaurant.
I have had the steak tartare, duck breast with tagliatelle, and the chocolate gâteau from Le Zinc.
While the presentation on the steak tartare was nice, the flavor and seasoning was lacking. Nothing special.
The duck was underwhelming, underseasoned, and dry. I believe the duck was overcooked and I would guess the duck was not allowed to properly rest as well. Flavor-​wise the pairing of the duck, green peppercorn sauce, and tagliatelle were a decent pairing which would have worked well had the duck been prepared better.
The chocolate gâteau was having a bit of an identity crisis with hints of lemon littered in a rich molten dark chocolate cake. Accompanying the cake was what tasted like a mild lemon sorbet but it did not pair particularly well with the gâteau.
While the service was good overall, Le Zinc’s food struggled to be mediocre. Some of the flavor pairings of dishes were questionable and each dish I had was just poorly seasoned. Ambiance and service can only compensate so much for below average food.

Came here for Sunday brunch around 2 so not too crowded, and sat in their nice outdoor patio. I ordered the Ahi tuna salad, my mom the French omelette and my sister the eggs florentine. All dishes were pretty good, we all took a few bites of each other’s plates. To drink I got a rose and my sister a beer cocktail which I’d never had and I’d order one next time. Good food, nice drinks, friendly service and cute patio, definitely a great brunch option in Noe Valley.

This place really had potential to be great. Unfortunately the staff is unprofessional. (Except the woman waitress) If you’d like a five dollar cup of watered down coffee with the brown fingerprints of your waiters dirty fingers please go to this place. Upon receiving my cup of coffee –which did I tell you was five dollars? When we walked in the staff was outside and then proceeded to complain about not having a break to the people who sat next to us. The brown fingerprints matched the same color of food that was all over the waiters place. I use to love this place. So disappointing.

Was trying to eat a burger and fries type lunch across the street at the Tavern, but they were closed. Walked over and while totally different from what I was looking for, it was decent.
Cute French café. Food was decent, but not amazing. I tried the wine flight which was surprisingly good.
The waiter hit on me… Like, a lot. Getting more and more aggressive as he kept taking swings. Even after telling him I was married. So much so, my mom was upset. It didn’t bother me as it made me feel pretty.

We came here for drinks and a dessert, and we were not disappointed. Unfortunately, I did not sample any of the food except for the Profiteroles au Chocolat, and that was right down my alley… ice cream, chocolate sauce and almonds combined with a pastry? I accept!
We tried three different types of the Kir (sparkling wine + vodka + fruit juice). The Kir Imperial was my favorite, but the Kir Royal and Kir a la Peche were also distinctive and sweet.
The ambiance is very charming. It’s a cozy place with a romantic little patio area out back. I would recommend it for a nice date.

The food isn’t bad; however, what sets French restaurants apart are two things: great service and attention to details. Neither one is present at Le Zinc. We’ve been waiting for hours to get empty glasses and plates moved away from the table. We got a wrong dessert. The waiters didn’t really ask how we’re doing and what we want during the eve. Bread wasn’t good, we got slices inch thin.
Also, the prices are pretty high. This place should have $$$ instead of two. Wine + 3-​course dinner will run at around $ 80.

Overall this is a very charming and wonderful place to eat. I’m always surprised that it’s not more full than it is when we come in. The food is very good and the service is decent if not a bit disengaged.

If you love perfectly poached eggs, al fresco dining, and sparkling wine imbibements, Le Zinc is for you. We go primarily for weekend brunches, and especially when the weather is nice, to take advantage of the dog-​friendly (they’ll even bring a water bowl for Fido), tree-​lined outdoor area. Eggs Benedict and Norvégienne are prepared with a perfectionist’s touch, with just the right amount of Hollandaise and herbs. Fried bacon is also perfectly crisp, yet chewy, as bacon should be. Dungeness Eggs (crab cakes topped with poached eggs) are unique as well as delicious, though arguably there are better crab cakes to be had in SF. Service has always been excellent in the many years we’ve been regulars, so I’m surprised by other reviewers’ experiences, but perhaps that’s a function of daypart.

Joined a group of friends for lunch last weekend — amazing! A beautiful, quaint spot perfectly located in the heart of Noe Valley. I enjoyed the Eggs ‘Norvgienne’ (Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon). Absolutely delicious and perfectly filling! Mimosas were marvelous and the service was perfection! Had such a wonderful time and will definitely be returning for more brunches here!

Let’s start at the top. I was in my jammies for most of the weekend. I watched all of Season 2 and most of Season 3 of «Friends.» Yeah, it was THAT BAD. On Sunday night, I finally decided to join the land of the living, so we ventured to Le Zinc, because I was starving, and also because we had a reservation via Open Table.
We had such a great dinner experience at LZ, you’d be crazy not to try it. I ordered the tasting menu ($ 62), and le bf ordered an entrée from the dinner menu, and we shared everything. This is a good plan, for the record, because the food is pretty rich.
We started with a small blue cheese, bacon and pear plate which was so simple yet very pleasurable. All of those flavors are so nice together. It’s served with warm French bread, but since I’m a masochist who isn’t eating carbs right now, I did without pretty easily.
The second course was mussels in a saffron cream sauce with julienned veggies. Oh my god, we were SWOONING over this dish. It was something special you definitely want to try. It was loaded with mussels and well seasoned. I resisted the urge to dip the warm, fresh bread to sop up every last drop. Crazy good.
My entrée was Chilean sea bass in a cayenne beurre blanc, served with steamed veggies. It was fantastic. The sauce was rich, round, and full of flavor. My boyfriend’s dish was equally delicious, Atlantic Cod in a walnut cream sauce. It’s so difficult to make a delicious cream sauce, and I’m happy to report that LZ has sort of mastered the art.
Our dessert was delicious, but unnecessary because we were so full at that point. Chocolate molten cake with nougat ice cream ain’t never gonna be bad.
Our server was so fun. My boyfriend likes to order «girl» drinks, so of course I made fun of him when he ordered champagne with a shot of peach liqueur (YUM). Our server joined in the fun. He was great and honest. He told us what was good and what to skip. He also recommended a delicious Sauvignon blanc that paired well with our dishes. Even my bf liked it, and he doesn’t love wine. I like white wine that has a wee fizz to it.
Overall, it was a great experience. LZ is a good place to remember for a Sunday evening dinner without a wait. It’s a little pricey, but well worth it for the joie de vivre. Wine and beer only. Sweet little location right on 24^th Street. All of the delicious things. Just say oui!

Came here for dinner.
Food was ok
Tuna 4 stars
Salmon 1 star
Braised beef 2 stars
Duck 3 stars
Pricey side $ 40+ pp with taxes and tips

This place looks so cute from the outside. I was truly disappointed! The bread was stale. Isn’t good bread a minimum requirement for a French restaurant? The food was mediocre and the staff acted like we were bothering them. You just got the feeling that someone put a gun to the owner’s head and said «You have to open a restaurant!» And he was like, «You can make me own a restaurant, but you can’t make me like it!»
Le Zinc gets two stars because their garden is a nice place to have a glass of wine when it isn’t cold, and also because I feel bad giving one star.
What a waste of a date night!

My wife and I went there randomly a couple of days ago. I got beef bourguignon, it was juicy, flavorful and tender, just delicious. My wife got steak with fries, also wonderful. The waiter, Daniel, was outstanding, nice and smart! Quiet vibe, really a treat.

Don’t waste your time.
We (husband and I) stopped in for brunch today, and they were kind enough to seat us at a larger two top, which could fit four people. Even though there were a number of two tops available up front.
They were then kind enough to seat a four top next to us, after we had a chance to peruse our menus.
Then kind enough bring them their drinks, even though they sat down after us.
We tried to get a server’s attention. And failed.
Next time we talked to our server, he asked us to give up our table for a five top that just walked in.
Perfect place for people who are part of large parties or who like being ignored by waitstaff.

Went with my parents. Place was almost empty and quiet, smelled a bit of dish detergent from the kitchen and you could hear them washing the dishes. The host was quiet but nice enough. The food is very expensive for what it is. My dad had trouble getting through the duck meat and my mom got a dry salmon. None was happy and we left within an hour. Very disappointed. Maybe just a bad slow day but I won’t come back.

Wonderful friendly service. Daniel is very accommodating. Excellent food. Great wines at good prices. My favorite neighborhood place.

I generally do not write reviews on Unilocal but after our experience at Le Zinc, I felt compelled to warn potential patrons. On arrival we were strongly encouraged by a staff member to sit at a particular table indoors despite requesting patio seating.
That same staff member continued to act strangely. He glared at us repeatedly, intrusively interrupted our conversation including once to scold me for not using a coaster under my footed wine glass. He also hovered near our table, peering out the window while mumbling to himself and occasionally clapping his hands loudly. He was highly unprofessional and made us feel uncomfortable.
Unfortunately the food did not help the overall experience. The steak tartare tasted like it had been doused in pickle juice and refrigerated for days. Thankfully the Nicoise salad tasted fresh. We did have one server who was quite pleasant and considered warning her about her colleague’s behavior but ultimately were too afraid to report this in person. We got our check and left without eating much as both the food and atmosphere were unpleasant. This once sweet neighborhood spot has gone way down-​hill. I hope the owners/​managers see this review and make some changes!

We come here for brunch almost every other week, and it definitely is one of the best in Noe valley — very cozy and comfortable. The egg brik amd Dungeness eggs are amazing! The staff is always sweet and inviting.

I cannot believe this place gets bad reviews. It’s my absolute favorite restaurant for a mile. Best for brunch and super friendly service.
Try the egg brik. Just fabulous.

I absolutely adore this place! The food, ambiance and the service. The patio is my favorite spot.

First Visit Good, Second Visit Dispelled the First
On 2 December, went with 2 friends and had a good meal. The mussels were good, the steak hache was good, the soup was good; the service was good. The café viennoise was so good that i still craved it and went back on the 4^th of december. our server on 2 Dec was very good — on the 4^th of dec, the owner served me. the welcome was stereotypically «Parisian. (not in a good sense)» Though only 2 tables were occupied, I was not allowed the table of my choice and did not really care for the table I was assigned. The service was perfunctary and I had to repeat everything I said. The cave viennois was good; the french omelette was so bland, that even salt and pepper could not really rescue it. After the first visit, I was looking forward to dining there again; after the second visit, I lack the desire to go back.

Now I know why I’ve lived nearby for 14 years I’ve never stopped in. 3.5 stars people?! Really? Let’s start with the wines by the glass. We tried 4 styles; red burgundy– awful, chablis-​barely drinkable, white bordeaux-​merely OK. While the bottle selection looked good I am just shocked how bad the wines by the glass were. I can rattle off 8 – 10 great wines priced $ 15 – 20 retail that would do. Stop in a the wine store down the block, pay the corkage and you’ll be much better off.
Th food is just OK. I had the beet salad. Lots of salad, not much beet. The Tuna Nicosia was 2 stars but I was already working on getting out the door after the wine and first course. My wife had the beet salad followed by the fava bean ravioli. Verdict on the ravioli was Meh.
Service was punctual. Our server was efficient yet neither warm nor inviting.

On a walking weekend exercise day, we eventually stopped many miles in at Noe Valley for late lunch. Didn’t mind French items, so Le Zinc it would be!
Our order consisted of:
–Les Huîtres /​Fresh Local Oysters — Kumamoto
–Escargots: Snails on potato canapés, porcini, garlic butter sauce
–Ravioles Aux Fevettes: Fava bean purée ravioli, shaved parmesan, virgin sauce à la provençale
–Galettes De La Mer: Spicy Crab Cakes, Mixed Greens
The only item I enjoyed was the Spicy Crab Cakes, and that was still missing something. Everything else was simply off kilter. I did not like our flavorless Escargot one bit — if not for the mushrooms that added a hint of flavor, I would not have even tried finishing that dish.
The ravioli sure wanted to be somebody… If that gets some additional spices and/​or meats put in the mix to revitalize it, that might do the trick.
Service was still kind. Avoid the escargot and you might enjoy your time more.

Beef Bergenone was excellent, nice and quiet on the patio. Supprsing that there were not many people in the restaurant. Good service and excellent food

The $ 28 pix fixe brunch, in a word: recommended.
It includes:
— 1 coffee drink (café crème was great with a brown sugar cube)
— 1 freshly squeezed juice (the lemon comes with syrup so it can be tart or sweet)
— fresh muesli and yogurt or fresh fruit (berries and melon balls and citrus covered in a mango sauce with a dollop of fresh cream… No complaints!)
— 1 baguette or pastry to start (almond cake is like a big Madeline cookie)
— 1 egg dish (eggs Benedict was yummy and the roasted fingerling potatoes in need of siracha or ketchup
You’ll be stuffed, and you’ll love it. Just nap at Dolores after this lazy Sunday feast.

Brunch should be a happy time, filled with laughter, friends, and cantaloupe. Not this time. Le Zinc delivered an experience that dampened our Mimosa-​induced joy. Frowney-​face.
This should have been a simple gig: two people, two Nicoise salads plus some drinks. Sounds like a slam dunk for an establishment that purports to be a French-​style bistro. The unfortunate reality was our $ 16 salads were terrible. The greens were wilted. The greenbeans were overcooked and mushy. Normal, basic Nicoise ingredients were missing like hardboiled egg, potatoes, olives. The worst part was the dressing, which didn’t taste like dressing at all. I think maybe they forgot the dressing and the lettuce was just wet. It was a bad green salad with a piece of tuna on top. Crazy bad.
To add insult to injury, the service was super slow, and they just forgot to give me the espresso I ordered.
Eat elsewhere.

Rude service! Never going back.
I go to Le Zinc 3 – 4 times a month. It’s a solid option for a neighborhood meal, with a cute patio.
I went to Le Zinc yesterday for brunch, & took a group of 4 friends with me. Today, I went back to try their afternoon tapas. The friend who was to join me flaked out, so I left without ordering much. The waiter, visibly irritated, informed me I was below the minimum spend (I offered to order a plate, but he waved me off). When I paid in cash, he rolled his eyes, sighed loudly, and complained about having to find change (I offered to pay with card but, again, waved off).
And then I heard him complain loudly about me to another waitress. (This made me so uncomfortable, I approached the waitress &, again, offered to order more. She was very kind, and said it was completely alright.)
At this point, I was so uncomfortable, I hurriedly tipped & left.
I have a lot of sympathy for restaurant staff & I’m sure it’s frustrating when people under-​order. That being said, I’m somewhat of a regular and very few tables were occupied — I definitely wasn’t taking a table from someone else.
I’m used to slow service at Le Zinc, but rude service is another matter. Never going back!

Le Zinc is a good go-​to with its prix fixe option.
I’ve dined here several times over many years but I wouldn’t say I seek it out.
Everything is just ok but nothing ever stands out.
Camembert salad — nicely crisped rectangles of the cheese and very fragrant truffle oil. However, salad greens were strongly doused with the dressing. Not enough contrast between the fatty and acidic.
Salmon — the piece was very small but cooked ok (medium rare). Couscous accompaniment was fine but I forgot to note that the sauce would be spicy (and I don’t like spicy things).
Bavette steak — sauce was ok but the meat was too tough. Fries were bordering on the mealy (like In ‘n Out).
Boeuf Bourgignon — nice and hearty.
Dessert was good: classics like tarte tatin and crème brûlée were delivered well. Just wish there was a little more vanilla ice cream with the tarte tartin. Berry coulis was light and refreshing but a bit too much whip cream.
Service can be a little spotty when they get very busy.
Parking is a bit of a pain in the neighborhood, so you might have to circle a bit to see if a spot opens up in the small lot next door (metered).

Have always had fabulous service here and love the outdoor patio that is dog friendly and accessible from the rear of the parking lot.
For brunch, I usually get the blood mary and the steak hache — basically a deconstructed hamburger that can be cooked to desired doneness. Friend and I also share the crepes, which are super tasty. Also recommend the eggs benedicts, always cooked perfectly.
Love having traditional french food in the neighborhood that isn’t hipster and crazy crowded on a Saturday morning. Happy hour also a plus.

I’d come back here for the tasty fries, decent wine, and sidewalk seating.
Skip the cheese plate.
Order more fries;)
Brought my mom here and she enjoyed it:)

I came here NYE dinner for the first ever and was delighted with such a fun, semi-​formal dining experience. They had a set menu for the evening and you could choose 3 or 4 courses. Here’s what I chose and received, in order:
Appetizer: Seafood Soup
This dish consisted of mussels, scallops, and bay shrimp on a fishy broth. I loved this dish because the scallops were a good size, mussels cooked well (not bitter) and the shrimp large. All cooked to perfection, though what I didn’t like was that the broth was so salty.
Entrée: Sea Bass w/​Veggies
This Sea Bass was amazing. It was so tender and flavorful and it melted in my mouth. Served on the side were potatoes, some strange (but good!) type of carrot, and se other round squash type vegetable. All the veggies were cooked just right and were a great complement to the bass.
Dessert: Lava cake with red berries and French vanilla ice cream. This impressed me the most because the berries were organic and had lots of flavor. The ice cream wasn’t too heavy, and the lava cake was perfect. It has a soft outer shell with poet chocolatey goodness oozing out. The perfect way to end the meal.
In all was a fabulous dinner. I wish I could give half stars, because the only things I didn’t like we’re the saltiness of the appetizer, the tables were really small, and we had to ask for water multiple times. However, waitstaff is phenomenal and not snobby.