If you're looking for a higher end meal in Midland, this is one of your only options. That doesn't sound like a shining recommendation, but I would choose Cafe Zinc over a lot of restaurants I've encountered in major cities. The menu is limited, but every dish I've ordered has been well thought out, nicely plated, and made with seasonal ingredients. There is always at least 2 vegetarian options, which I appreciate, and at least one seafood option. The salmon preparations are always favorites of mine -- right now they have a salmon/spaetzle dish with apple slaw that is one of the best things I've eaten. I really enjoy the dark seeded bread that comes with dinner, too. There is a big case of desserts that you can also just pop in and grab to-go and I always make a mental note to do that and never follow through. They're pretty inexpensive and if you aren't willing to spend $30 on an entree here, at least grab a dessert. I recently tried breakfast here and the options are incredibly adventurous for a Midland breakfast. You can get a standard eggs + toast breakfast if you really want, but I had a butternut squash tartine with gouda and apple butter that was amazing. I can't think of anywhere else in town to get an out-of-the-box breakfast. My least favorite meal here is lunch. This might be because of my dietary restrictions (veg + seafood), but the options seem limited and mainly just sandwiches. I'd suggest coming early and getting breakfast or waiting it out until dinner time. read more

Wow. Went to zinc for brunch twice in December. Both times great food, service and atmosphere. The prices were fair. Looking forward to try dinner soon. read more

French cuisine in a cozy modern atmosphere. Macarons in the bakery display are legit.

Scallops were spectacular! Grains were hearty and had a great taste. The Hazelnut Mousse Cake was pretty great too! read more

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We love this restaurant. Service was wonderful. Croque monsieurs not quite as delicious as in the past, but came with a beautiful salad. Bakery is fantastic tho as usual. read more

Upscale dining. The atmosphere is modern and welcoming. Do not wear a t-shirt and shorts, you'll be underdressed. Amazing, very well cooked food. I had the seared halibut with couscous and veggies tonight. Omg it was one of the best meals I have had the pleasure of eating. Fruit tart for dessert was nothing special, but good. Price range for dinner is 25-35$ per plate read more

The food and service is impeccable! However, a little too pricey in my opinion. Dinner for 4 with two rounds of cocktails was 300 dollars..... Would highly recommend the lobster thermodor Also the bread they served with dinner was unbelievable....dark bread with seeds read more

Great food and drinks. A unique flavor! Always enjoyable! I recommend this place for brunch and lunch!

Food is always delicious, lots of options to pick from. Very nice staff. This building has a nice patio to sit out on when it is warmer as well, recommend the wrap for lunch. read more

I had a really lovely evening in here because the staff was very friendly and chatted me up, as I was dining alone while on a "work trip" (interview). The beet salad was delicious - perfect balance of sweet and salty. The scallops, on the other hand, were SUPER salty. I tried very hard to eat them, but just couldn't take any more... and so I mentioned to the waitress that they were too salty for me, and in a nutshell, her response was not really acceptable. I mean, it's not a super cheap place... they could have at least offered to get my dessert or my dessert wine. In the end, they just ignored it. And if the place were super busy, I could have understood, but it was super empty. There was only about one other couple in there getting engaged (gag), and another table of 4 from out of town (like me). I am glad that this place was open, b/c it's not like there is much selection in Midland on a Sunday night. But most likely were I to return to Midland, I wouldn't spend this much money to get sub-standard food. The dessert was just okay too - I got the mousse cake, and I've had far better mousse cake (but that's a little unfair since I've gotten it in France). The port was also good, but nothing super special - especially for $16. We all know that I'm not afraid to spend money on food, it's just that I want it to be worth the money!!! I spent $20-something on scallops that I could only eat half of secondary to the saltiness. Okay, I'm done here. It's a decent option for what's happening in Midland, but certainly not a place that I'd go back to even if I do return to Midland. I think that I can spend $100+ on a meal in Detroit and be 100x happier. read more

This review is value oriented. I do not have a complaint about the food flavor at all. The service was o.k. The prices were too high for the amount of food. I understand the customer is paying for quality over quantity. That being said, i have had better sea scallops in Sedona. I can't recommend this restaurant. read more

I have been here twice now and I am not a fan. A very impressive looking menu with a kitchen staff that isn't capable of executing a fast food menu. The time I had the poached salom, my salmon was still frozen in the center when I recieved it, and nothing on the plate had flavor. The place looks like it is trying to be trendy and upscale - but watch for dirty chairs and food/gum stuck to the legs of the charis and under the tables. read more

Café Zinc is a modern bistro that claims to be European-style, but it certainly has an American slant. It emits an upscale atmosphere that is cozy rather than pretentious, which is why I have eaten here several times. I like the clean-cut décor, fireplace, small number of tables, and, of course, and the staff. Every employee I have encountered has been courteous and eager to help. They even let me customize the menu items. In typical bistro style, the menu is limited, but they determine some of the menu based on what ingredients the kitchen has that day. The dinner prices are a little pricey, but the lunch menu is more reasonable, so I often call ahead to pick up a takeaway order. My favorite aspects of the restaurant are its display of gorgeous, fresh desserts/breads/pastries and its multigrain bread. I love this bread and take as much as I can to-go so I can eat it for breakfast over the next few days. The bread is dark and sweet, studded with seeds and grains. And the small slices are perfect portions! The desserts are also nice, especially the meringue cookies that are each larger than a baseball and only $2! The key lime tart is delicious and too big to eat in one sitting. The chocolate mousse cake was not the best as the cake layers were a little dry and bland (needs a douse of sugar syrup). The salads I have seen look small for the price and could all use some rework. However, the escargot appetizer was excellent; the $12 dish came with 8-10 large snails piled on a puff pastry square, covered in a thin, sweet garlic-butter sauce. Personally, I prefer the snails to not be soaking in sauce, and Zinc's version achieved my light ratio of butter-to-meat. As for entrees, their Reuben sandwich is great - house made slaw, mustard, and rye bread, and is very light for that type of sandwich. The vegetable dal is good, maybe even better than the dal at Lahori Foods. However, this dish would be improved by adding cauliflower and eggplant to the veggie mix, as these are authentic Indian ingredients and would pair extremely well with the spices in the dish. The one filet mignon I had was cooked nicely, but I think I had a poor cut of the meat; it had an odd grain texture in one side, and the flavor was not outstanding. However, I might be spoiled from the steak I have had in Texas, and this MIGHT be some of the better steak in Midland (but I have not tried others). The salmon entrée is my favorite entree! The portion of fish was enough for a meal, and the kitchen cooked it nicely; easily flaked, was not overcooked at all, had a gorgeous smoky sear, and was a hard medium throughout. The salmon normally comes with a side of spätzle, but they let me substitute that for shaved Brussels sprouts, which tasted great combined with the dish's tangy red cabbage and apple slaw. Yum! For any special occasion in Midland, this would be my go-to dish at my go-to restaurant. Overall, Zinc is one of my favorite spots in Midland, and I wish I had time to just sit there noshing on espresso and desserts all afternoon. However, I wish the restaurant offered more vegetable options, such as sides of broccoli/greens or a bean ragout. And if they are promoting themselves as "French", then could they not style the menu to show that better? Perhaps offer less Midwest beef and more items like duck, lamb, or even a savory buckwheat crepe (to compete with Crepes et Amis down the street). read more

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Love this hidden gem located on the end of Main Street! You can sit outside and enjoy the summer while treating yourself to wonderfully prepared food. We had omelette bacon eggs and pancakes. All were some of the best. They also have cottage cheese which is a rare find there days. Coffee, juice and tea were all great! read more

We came here for breakfast today (8/15/15) and left without getting served. It took approximately 20 minutes after we were seated to get a waitress to field our orders. I ordered an "Orange Creamsicle" smoothie along with my breakfast that took an additional 20 minutes and for $5 was not worth half the price. After about 15 minutes and halfway through the smoothie, we noticed a group of people who had been seated about 30 minutes after we were and they were already eating! Also note, the restaurant wasn't busy. At all. We promptly got up, paid for the smoothie, and will never return to this very over-rated establishment. Don't waste your time or money! read more

This place is beautiful, if you are looking for an elegant place, this is it! I have been there for lunch and breakfast, with all people in my party pleased with their food. Dinner gets much pricier, and I have not been for dinner, but if the food is as high quality as it is for breakfast and lunch, it would probably be worth it. Sitting out on the porch is lovely and the inside is stunning. If I lived closer I would be a regular. read more

While at the H hotel a large group of us went down to zinc to the cafe for brunch. The hotel itself is beautiful and the cafe has a wonderful European feel. Large patio area overlooking downtown Midland. Our waiter was very attentive and super professional. The food was delicious! Highlight was the French toast covered in poached fruits and sliced almonds. Portions are Midwest size (I.e. You should have enough for a to-go box). Wonderful place, if I lived in the area I would definitely be back. read more

I am a frequent guest at the H Hotel and have spent many a meal at Cafe Zinc. I love the clean and modern design of this space and they have an extremely friendly staff. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options offer modern takes on classic American and French fare. The chef was even kind enough to share a recipe with me for one of his amazing ravioli dishes! One of the best in Midland! read more

Very nice menu, well-trained staff, excellent food. I wish there were 10 more places like this in the area.

When I travel to Midland, I know that my dining options are very limited. However, I find that I can dine three days in a row at Cafe Zn. Modern ambiance and always busy in the evenings. In the morning if I want to indulge, then I splurge myself on a chocolate croissant. Breakfasts are large portions and always delicious. You may want to carve out time to eat as sometimes the morning service is slower (food-wise). The dining room can get loud at night up until about 9:00. The salmon is a favorite, always cooked perfectly. Make sure to save room for desserts!! The Sabayon is to die for!! read more

Food was okay, but definitely expensive. My chicken had zero flavor and I'm pretty sure the fries are McDonald's fries. Also the tap water tasted like swimming pool water without ice cubes. Great place to eat if you have money to blow! read more

I have eaten here once for breakfast and once for dinner, and both meals were excellent. On my most recent visit, my husband had the shrimp fettuccine (one of the evening's specials) and I had the Angus NY Strip steak with burgundy shallot butter, creamed spinach and heirloom fingerling potatoes. My steak was perfectly done, and the side dishes were rich but not at all greasy or heavy. Our server was friendly and efficient, and we didn't wait very long for our meals. I like that the dining room is fairly small, and the decor manages to be both cozy and contemporary. Before we checked out the next day I stopped by the cafe to pick up some pastries for Easter breakfast and it was difficult to pick from the amazing selections of sweets and breads. The lemon coconut cookies were my favorite, but the croissants were incredible, too. read more

The restaurant is beautiful and very classy looking. The waitresses were great and prompt with refills and service. The food was amazing. I had the brisket panini and upgraded with the Parmesan fries and my friend got the vegetarian pad Thai and added shrimp to it. The food came out fast, placed elegantly, and tasted just as good as it looked. Definitely recommend taking the time to visit this restaurant. I can't wait to come back and try more items! read more

This is a great place to eat. The bread is excellent and the menu always has interesting options. I'm glad it's here in Midland.

Top notch for the area, definitely, but I would very, very happy if we had something even remotely comparable in my part of the metro Detroit area. I had the steak frites, which was delightful, and done exactly as I wanted (one would hope). The bread basket highlights their own bakery goods, and the mini baguette was perfect. My friend had as an appetizer the grilled beef crostini, and there the place outdid itself. Slivers of beef layered with a bruschetta type topping and a creamy horseradish, drizzled with balsamic vinegar syrup. Fired all the tastebuds at once -- outstanding. We had dinner outside, and the service was friendly and attentive. Fun also to watch the street traffic; it's a lovely setting. read more

Zinc has a great atmosphere and great food. Sometime the service can be a bit slow. Having moved from Chicago to Mid Michigan the food selection and quality is a bit different but we love going to Zinc for breakfast and brunch. read more

The ambience is nice and decor was cool, but the food was only average. I like the play on chemistry words and elements of the periodic table: Ca Fe Zn. read more

Delicious food and great service! I particularly love the ambiance and that I almost feel like I am in a beautiful cafe in Europe! It's always a treat to dine here. read more

Very good food! Had the chefs special today and was totally impressed! Great food, great atmosphere, wonderful service. Highly recommend.

This is a great little cafe in the "downtown" area a midland. The Dow's have really made a quaint place to have a great lunch, or dinner.

I've been here for lunch, and really enjoyed the french onion soup and the seared tuna salad, but dinner left something to be desired. My husband ordered the strip steak, which was tough and very fatty. For a $30 steak, it was disappointing. I ordered the pad thai with tofu, which wasn't pad thai but noodles with a sesame peanut sauce. It was still good, just not what I expected. The vegetables in it were very fresh, which added nice flavor. My complaint about the dish lies with the tofu. There were four very large piecesof tofu that were tempura fried and had absolutely no flavor. There also wasn't enough sauce to incorporate the tofu into the dish and get some flavor on it. The service, however, was excellent. I'd go back for lunch, but for the price I don't think we'll be back for dinner. read more

Five star service and food at three star restaurant prices. I particularly recommend the filet mignon and the salmon.

We love Café zinc for breakfast. There specials are amazing. Dinners are good so don't anything special. The service is always stellar.

Excellent Bloody Mary's, service was a lil slow, but heaters on the patio made for a relaxing breakfast!

This place is beautiful and my food was nicely presented but I just didn't have the best experience. It took a ridiculously long time for our waitress to show up and my family and I thought we weren't going to be served. But the point in my experience that really upset me was when the hostess came up to us and asked if we would want anyone sitting next to us because we were at a high top table. Politely we said no because I have awful anxiety and didn't want to be elbow to elbow with a stranger. Then 20 minutes later people were seated right next to us by this hostess. I guess what upset me is the fact that the hostess asked and then decided to do the opposite. Our conversation stopped and we got out of this place as quick as possible. For how nice this place is I didn't expect such awful seating arrangements. The food was fine but I really couldn't enjoy it. I won't be back. read more

In my opinion what differentiate cafe zinc from it's peers is their pastry dessert. You dine there for the modern atmosphere and the dessert. Appertizer and entree are well thought of and are almost there with Shari, but more experimental. Popular with young people. Price has gone up for dinner, probably since they have become very popular in town. read more

This is one place I enjoy when visiting Midland. The menu has changed since I was there last, not as good as before but still better than the other local options. Great atmosphere and good service round it out for four stars. I would have said five in the past but the menu changes don't support that. read more

I am a big fan of French Onion soup and I have to say they do a real, real good job here. I would totally go for it again. I went with the Sea Bass which was cooked perfectly. Very juicy with nice meaty texture with the sauce vierge. The menu mentioned saffron braised fennel but got a mushroom vegetable mix that I had to pass. Overall I think the food is good, but have had better. read more

Walk in the front door and instantly you're transferred to Paris and a wonderful bistro. Every meal has been delightful: beautiful presentation pleases the eye and the food -- no matter which meal-- excites the palate. Not to be missed. read more

this is my favorite place to eat. from little snacks/ drinks to a full course meal they have it all. sometimes me and my friends get their hot chocolate to go and it's legit amazing you have to get it. also it's the PERFECT aesthetically pleasing place to be for morning sunday brunch. the marble and classy vibes are iconic. the service here is 10/10 and the waiters act like you belong there. food is amazing, make sure to get dessert! my favorite thing to get is the cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake. love it here you must check it out read more