iluomo
(99) reviews
6/10/2008
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I was excited to try this place with my wife after eyeing it for a very long time (years, in fact). I don't know what the deal was on why I hadn't tried it except that I just had a feeling it wasn't going to be good. Unfortunately, at least as far as the food goes, my hunch was right and that was very disappointing because it looked so promising initially.
I was almost shocked by how much the place looked like a real french bistro. The only difference was that everything was new and almost too clean looking. But it was very nice. Walked the line between something I like and something my mom would like. The server could not have been nicer and was very attentive. Of course, we were there pretty early, but I think it would be passable at a minimum any other time.
The real problem, though, was the food. We both went for the steak frite and it was just really, really bad. It was smothered in onions (which I've never seen in Paris) and was a hanger steak. Not good. ”
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carlos majano
(1) review
10/16/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Le Zinc is really great!..food is excellent ..i think is always very hard to please everybody so all i can say to those snobby people that think that they are going to a restaurant to get treated like kings ..please !!
i think service can inprove but don't let that fool you !..the food is great , excellent dishes for dinner and brunch ..and yes it get's packed ..what do you expect ..when is good food you have to wait! ..
and also don't think prices are bad ..is san francisco after all .
i really think this is my fav place in Sf for a cozy relaxed time...also great decor and ambiance , really detailed work and care
from the coffee to dessert this place is worth trying ..again this is a very personal oppinion but i also don't like those childish reviews !..
try it out! ”
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GaySpecies
(6) reviews
4/9/2007
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “
Awful. Neither I nor guest could eat our entree. For lunch, their "club" sandwich was the worst ever served. Service was non-existent, even without other diners. Maybe the wine list offers consolation. Twice out. No third time. The old breakfast dive that preceded it was a better experience. Not to S.F. standards. ”
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FlightPlan
(30) reviews
11/2/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “
Mixed bag - the service is slow and a bit snotty, but it's french so perhaps that's the way it is meant to be. The have beautiful fruit plates and delicious breakfast potatos. All of their portion sizes are bit big and pricey. It would be better if they added a couple of lighter items to the menu. ”
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Riffgurl
(102) reviews
8/13/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Went on a Saturday and was placed on the waiting list. We sat outside at one of the tables and noticed after 20 minutes, that we were the only ones left of the original people waiting. We asked the hostess, and she apologized and said it would be 10 minutes. Twenty minutes later we had to ask again, and then we were finally seated in the back patio. We had to wait another 15 minutes before someone took our order. When we finally got our food, we did not find it to be worth any kind of wait. I will never go to this place again.
”
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GPGreg
(27) reviews
6/26/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I'm pretty neutral about the wait staff, in spite of the fact they forgot about part of my order. Service is adequate, but it doesn't match the food or the prices. Took our dessert order, but never asked if we wanted coffee. Only way to get refills on the ladies kir royales was to wait until they brought the entrees - they ignored us up to that point. Dinner was outstanding from the appetizers to the entree to the desserts, but I strongly suggest they hire staff based on experience and capability rather than their french accent. ”
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MrCoconuts
(86) reviews
5/10/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ There is something slightly surreal and austere about this place. I have never been able to put my finger on it, but the "energy" (or lack thereof) never feels quite right. Also, I think the food used to be better. During the first year or so that Le Zinc was open, they made a really fantastic salade ni?se, with a light dressing and actual anchovies (a big plus in my book). The last time I had it, it was okay, but it didn't have as many interesting ingredients and the seared tuna seemed less fresh than it should be.
”
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darkside
(14) reviews
5/9/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Sunday, March 26 1:05pm (Brunch until 3). "We're OUT of Bloody Marys" (how can that be? Out of mix? Out of Vodka? Aren't there just a few places in the hood that stock these things??). OK with the Kir Royale though ("hit the spot"). AX: OJ (sans ice) and french Toast (maybe more egg needed), ML: Eggs Bene + homefries ("spot on"), Darkside: Dungeoness Eggs, Latte (yolk not so firm as req). Overall, we'd come back to the patio for a relaxing brunch. Had dinner here a couple of times too, can't say I remember what I ate but was satisfied overall. Question of the hour: To Kooquez or not to Kooquez? Did AX spell it right? ”
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dshsfca
(6) reviews
1/31/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “
Rarely have I ever ordered food anywhere where it was so bad, I really did not want to eat it. My companion said his meal was "okay," with a frown, but it looked nasty. Unusually pricey, and service was not minimally acceptable, even though we two were the only ones in the place. ”
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delight
(120) reviews
1/15/2006
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I think Marky-Mark is about right, but it annoyed me. I have had both brunch and dinner there and at brunch it was pretty busy and service sucked, and at dinner it was practically empty and service sucked. It's too pricey to have bad service. Food quality-taste-value was not up to the price either. Stick to a drink and a snack and it's OK. Nice decor, nice back patio. Very french feeling. But service in France is good! ”
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promotersf
(423) reviews
11/13/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ A cute and cozy little french bistro in Noe Valley. Had an good brunch on Sunday...they have a $19 prix fixe brunch which was a good deal: fresh squeezed OJ, cafe americano, muesli with fresh fruit, baguette with fresh strawberry jam, and decent eggs bennie. The outdoor patio is nice on sunny day. I'll have to give it a whirl for dinner. For such a cute place, I was surprised they weren't packed for Sunday brunch...parking is a b!tch. ”
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mapleleafgirl
(480) reviews
11/13/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Had brunch here today , have been wanting to try this place for a while. Its a cute bistro, nice atmosphere (we sat out back). Had a kir royale and crab benedict (w/o the muffin?) served with a side of thier roasted potatos.I had to ask for salt and pepper to help the flavourof the dish and even then it was still pretty bland. The eggs were poached perfectly...but the crab cakes were not crabby enough, too much bread filler.The roasted potatoes could have sooo delicious...if they had been caramalized a bit more...they were pretty dry.
So all in all it was just OK...especially when you factor in the price. ”
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marky_mark
(17) reviews
9/21/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Yes, the wait staff is pretentious. Yes, the portions are small. Yes, it's pricey. Yes, the food is great.
In a place like this, I think you have to view the wait staff's attitude as part of the entertainment. I even suggest pronouncing "camembert" with the 't', just to see them wince.
I had the pork tenderloin; it was very good. It was cooked, but still succulent and went well with its sauce. It came with well-flavored cabbage; clearly the chef is not afraid of butter or salt. My companion had the Indochine rolls and the crispy tuna, she enjoyed both. She frequents the place and recommends it highly for brunch.
Overall, I'd say the food is great, but overpriced. I think this is intentional; they're trying to live up to people's expectation for a french Cafe in every way. ”
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papadontpreach
(1) review
7/13/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I went to Le Zinc w/ my husband after apartment hunting in that area. We decided to have a glass of wine and a salad/chevre. We had a wonderful experience. We decided to drive from Laurel heights to have a full dinner experience yesterday 7/11/05 and it was very dissapointing. What is up with the portion size ? I ordered buffalo and my husband had duck. My'n was a half of a normal half size. His Duck had 4 slices. He was still hungry after having apetizer and main course !!! When I mentioned to the tall brown hair waiter. "yoru portions are quite small". He said "oh really, ok".
The lack of atmosphere really made me realize that there is NO management what so ever. No music, no good serivce...It was a really waste of money. DO NOT GO THERE ! ”
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secretgardengirl
(45) reviews
6/16/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ This french cafe (two of my favorite words: french and Cafe), is in the heart of Noe Valley. It's hard to know where to go when it's beautiful outside, and folks, this is it! The flowery patio is spacious and free from noise and commotion; the service is attentive,and authentically french (our waitress the last time was truly from Paris), and the food is solidly good. For brunch, try the chocolate crepe, which is soft, creamy (exactly as a crepe should be!), and just oozes rich chocolate. If you're craving something savory, the eggs Florentine are served in a buttery Hollandaise with crispy, garlicky potatoes on the side: delicious! ”
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supersassy
(11) reviews
6/1/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I went to Le Zinc with a friend for an early drink and appetizers and was completely underwhelmed. The menu had recently been updated, and the waiter had not tried the wines or the dishes we ordered. I had a glass of rose and the Warm Goat Cheese Salad which was overly sweetened with honey. The salad was ok. My friend ordered the shrimp in the crispy crepe with vegetables (overcooked) and a basil/pesto type sauce that had no relationship to shrimp. The flavors did not go together at all. Our waiter was friendly, but considering no one else was in the place, not attentive at all. We had to call him over 3 or 4 times. The wines were ok - but nothing special. ”
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Lia
(114) reviews
5/27/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Atmosphere and decor are adorable and very authentic. Even the service was authentic if you figure the french got their reputation somehow. I sat outside on a sunny day and it was lovely but I agree that the food is overpriced. ”
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Tonimaddog
(37) reviews
5/17/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ What a lovely little place but I'm not sure about the rest..the food is way overpriced for what it is..decent food/ tiny portions. We left and had to get chinese food after because still hungry, also I felt I had to be on my best behaviour..a little snooty although our waiter was very pleasant and love the look of the place, it was cosy on a rainy evening. I would go back for desert or a drink, maybe at happy hour. ”
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cyberdoggie
(49) reviews
4/25/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ It's open all the time
Where else in Noe Valley can you sit outside pretty much any time of day or night and get something tasty to eat? My favorite thing is the wine available by the carafe in the most amazing decanters... Food is average bisro fare. Wish there were a little more innovation or daily specials. As someone who's eaten here over 15 times, (sunny day- sit outside and nosh) I'm worn out from the menu! Still the Niscois (sp) salad is good but ask them to barely sear the tuna or it will be served overcooked. Sit outside! Drink wine! Enjoy! ”
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calforever
(151) reviews
4/9/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ Cute place, but the server and the bartender seemed a bit cold and aloof. What was lacking in the service, they made up for the food, which was quite delicious. The greek salad was flavorful. I had the duck confit with white beans, which I found was a tad too salty, but still not bad. Be sure to save room for the chocolate lava cake. ”
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wjboring
(180) reviews
4/3/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ As good as Paris. A terrific neighborhood bistro. A significant selection of wines and an authentic french delight. This evening I enjoyed a cream of broccoli soup and the Salmon with couscous and finely chopped vegetables & spices. Just right! and for the the finale...and what a finale...Mi-caut au chocolat. Warm molten lava cake with nougat ice cream, simply amazing. ”
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shiralg
(140) reviews
3/27/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ While overall I enjoyed our meal, I was disappointed by the shrimp small plate I had for my main dish. However, big thumbs up for great service, pleasing dishes for everything else, low key but nice ambiance, and, they fit us in hours before we came for Friday dinner(!). ”
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Chadder Box
(185) reviews
3/27/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ This cute and popular little Noe Valley restaurant with outdoor patio in the rear serves up some delicious french fare. The ahi tuna appetizer, though on the small side, was delicious and served on a bed of green beans and olives that were perfectly flavored; the duck breast served with sauteed red cabbage, puree of date, and puree of eggplant was wonderful and cooked perfectly. The tarte tatin, a caramelized apple tart served with maple ice cream is served warm, is a large portion and was delightful. Our waitress was friendly and we left quite satisfied. ”
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Wayne Lambright
(212) reviews
3/19/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I had a french hamburger, upon arrival I found out what a french Hamburger is all about, it's a bun-less burger, "no bun" :-) I would just call it a beef patty, but it was still yummy, they server it with an egg sunny side up, or as they call it, a fried egg. the french fry's were perfect. Service was good. ”
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JohnnyCan
(62) reviews
2/9/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ It's good bistro food and a nice atmosphere - it won't break your bank either. The service is a bit aloof (why is it they roll their eyes at ME when they give me 7-up when I order lemonade? Lemonade maybe 7-up in Europe, but who cares?) I still go back because I like the simple but fussy food. ”
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renotahoe
(2) reviews
1/3/2005
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ I've been there twice now and both times have been extremely unimpressed with the waiter service. I tried the goat cheese salad (yuck) & pork confit (way too salty). Once we tried the shrimp but deemed it much too fishy and returned them. ”
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Angela Von Buelow
(225) reviews
4/27/2004
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Cuisine:
French (Bistro) Tapas
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Noe Valley |
| “ When you can't get to Paris go here. The atmosphere is authentically french. Good wine, tapas and cafe. Many french imported goodies. They allow dogs and smokers on the patio, but no smoking dogs ;) Very Euro.
UPDATE: they now offer a great price fix menu, 3 courses for $35. They don't skimp on the portion size, you will leave full and happy! Check out the photos above! Le Zinc is one of the best french Bistro restaurants in the city and a hidden neighborhood gem. I've had lunch, brunch and dinner; while all the meals I've had here were good, dinner is outstanding! ”
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