Is it possible for a restaurant to be both soulless and good? I didn't think so either. Zinc is the culinary equivalent of Kelly Clarkson. read more

Zinc gets mixed reviews. So I'm definitely in the minority then, when I say that I loved my main course - and my husband's - and I can't wait to go back. Right up there with Union League and Pepe's. I wish I'd ignored all the naysayers and gone here years ago. I did walk in skeptical and I thought that the fennel and corn flatbread (cold) and its zingy sauce did not bode well - too busy and badly done. A fresh wheaty baguette in the pepper sauce, or the fennel flatbread (warm) with plain old olive oil would have made me much less anxious. But I got the gnocchi, which were just lovely. They were miniature, which I think helps with a light, fluffy, consistent consistancy. Then they were bathed (bathed!) in brown butter and nestled (nestled!) in a dish of spinach, radicchio and roasted tomato. On top was mashed winter squash and a few hearty slices of parmigiano reggiano. Now, my first thought was that this wild profusion of ingredients would not be served in one big dish in a traditional Italian trattoria. Ever. They wouldn't even be on the table at the same time. But they might be served at the same restaurant, or in the same meal, if a few people were dining. So . . . bringing them altogether like this really worked. With each bite I loved the dish more. My husband had the hangar steak which was one of the best pieces of meat I've tasted in New Haven. And the mushroom sauce was intensely mushroomy. Simple and straightforward and I can't wait to try the summer market menus. Our waitress was nice, our water was never empty, the music was pitch-perfect. I couldn't hear our neighbors and I even liked the pretty little *ding* I heard from the kitchen when the dishes were ready. The rioja was just right. And we skipped the famous appetizers and I didn't love my dessert. Am I nuts? I wanted cake and they didn't seem to have anything like that. Seriously. Our waitress was maybe at a bit of loss for words when she tried to describe the items on the dessert menu. Next time, the beignets! read more

Zinc is decribed as "Modern American" food. Now, I have no clue what that really means, as the food I tasted there seemed to have some quasi-Asian flare to it. BUT!! Despite any potential personality crises that Zinc food may be experiencing, it doesn't diminish the fact that it's good. So good, in fact, that I might consider Zinc one of my top 3 favourite restaurants in New Haven. And any proponent of New Haven will be sure to point out the plethora of fine dining establishments in the vicinity, so it might be considered quite the feat to make the top 3. I have eaten at Zinc for both lunch and dinner and was quite pleased with both my meals. One of my criteria for judging restaurants is the quality of the complimentary bread. Zinc offers a unique take on the bread issue. Ok, my food identity knowledge is severely lacking and so I cannot quite tell you what this bread is, but it comes with this orange-flavoured, sweet and spicy sauce. It's different and not unwelcome. And in an effort to be concise: the atmosphere is contemporary and moody (in a good way), the food is flavoured creatively and delightfully, the portions are just about perfect, and the dessert menu is a great combination of the classics and some fun new concoctions. Overall, I would definitely come here again, and often. And I would definitely recommend it to anyone I know, or don't know for the matter. read more

I am not really sure why this place has 4 stars. I recently went here and the service and the food were far from special. When my food came out it was delivered to the wrong table, who subsequently ate part of it and I had to wait another 30 minutes for the food. One thing that I did really enjoy was the Duck Nacho appetizer. It was really flavorful and I wish it was a main course. I am going to give this place another shot, because it was really busy when I went there. Once I go back I will do a follow up. read more

Wonderful supper at Zinc last night. Service was fantastic. The restaurant was not full... Maybe half. The cocktail menu is very creative, although they were out of St Germaine. (I wanted the cucumber cocktail) We ordered the beet salad and the Bibb salad with sirachi ranch. Both were just delicious. The special Thai style pulled pork was something else. It tasted amazing, but wasn't much to look at. The cod did not disappoint either! I enjoyed it. The restaurant is pleasant. I look forward to going back again. read more

Zinc is New Haven's attempt to capitalize on the trendy scene, with high priced dining and some seriously snooty atttitude. When all is said and done, the bottom line is despite the problems with service, the atomsphere is hip, the fusionesque food is delicious, and in some ways is worthy of special occasion dining. Try the Sea Diver Scallops or the New Zealand Salmon, many of their entres (subject to change) are worth to try, just not sure if its worth the price. read more

If you're feeling adventurous and wealthy this place can be fun, but with all that New Haven has to offer it's going to stay at the bottom of my list. Everyone is right about the duck nachos, they're great! Also the complimentary fennel pita squares with sweet dipping sauce were out of this world, but everything else we had: Ginger carrot soup, skirt steak, truffle risotto, and lamb stew all fell flat. Stick to the small plates and drinks when you head to Zinc, otherwise hit up the more casual Kitchen Zinc for less costly, less ambitious food that is less likely to disappoint. read more

Don't go here for restaurant week, at least. I got the jumbo shrimp fried rice. The rice was too fried, and the jumbo shrimp was far, far from jumbo. The dessert was good though. Pumpkin parfait The atmosphere was nice, but only coupled with a mediocre meal... read more

Loved the ambiance, not the food. Difficult to find the teeny tiny bits of duck in the smoked duck nachos. Also hard to taste since the fried wonton chips were smothered in thick, creamy sauces. Pork dumplings were okay, nothing special. Gnocchi with portobello mushroom bolognese was the worst gnocchi I've ever had. Gnocchi were heavy, dense, and flavorless... and $24?!! I've had much better for much less. The ricotta cheesecake, though beautifully plated, was also bland. read more

While I moved from Connecticut in 2005 and haven't been back since, I still pine for Zinc. If you're in the area you should deff check it out --the severe, modern decor is quite atmospheric for the area and the food is just delicious. Even the desserts are magnificent for their inspired fusion of tastes and fine presentation. Certainly my favorite restaurant in New Haven, great style! read more

I have never had a bad experience at Zinc any of the many times I've enjoyed their fare. Maybe I've just gotten all of the good waiters. But their wines are phenominal, the watistaff is knowledgeable and always has a great wine suggestion, and the food is consistently delicious. My best recommendations that are always on the menu (it changes with the seasons): for an appetizer The smoked duck nachos are an absolute MUST, and the spring rolls are also memorable. My favorite main course is by far the wasabi oil seared tuna with crispy spinach and a spring roll (although I like the spring rolls better when they made them with rice paper). I love their cheese plates and I have yet to find a dessert that hasn't struck my fancy. And a tip for their desserts: all of them taste fabulous with the least expensive Orange Muscat. You don't need to spend more on the other dessert wines. read more

Overpriced scallops underdone -- Presented swimming in huge amounts of sauce, which also overwhelmed the accompanying risotto. A remarkably poor showing. Add to this the rushed and perfunctory service, and I would suggest giving Zinc a miss. read more

Yuck. Not "yuck" as in bad, but yuck as in this is what I eat at home when I feel very lazy (i.e. paying for this kind of food is retarded). read more

Worst meal I've had in an expensive restaurant. I'm part of a theater group that goes just about monthly to plays in New Haven, and has dinner first in fine restaurants all over the city. We booked a 6:00 table for six. When we arrived, the very pretty but not all that sharp greeter looked confused, and could find no booking though we had called it in that day. We ordered, and I foolishly picked the ossobuco. A overcooked hard tiny piece of pig bone arrived. Black shreds of dried meat clung to the narrow bone. You could use the meat shreds as toothpicks. It was so bad, no one could believe it. Everyone of our group of six picked at it to taste it and agreed it was overcooked - alas that was a problem, as there was little left if the tiny portion that the waiter didn't believe I only tasted it. The manager actually said in a kind of rehearsed voice: "We are sorry you believed your meal was overcooked". We believed? When I complained that Ossobuco means cross-cut veal shanks not pig shanks, they made a big deal of going back to the "chef", and came back and told us that we were wrong. We pulled out our iphones, and showed him the wikipedia article on ossobuco, and they still denied it. They would not take the meal off the bill. I'm told they now put the word "pork" in front of osso buco on the menu. Some people liked their appetizers. It certainly cost a bundle. As I left, I told the manager, "We are sorry you believe you have a good restaurant." We have never been back. There are many fine restaurants in New Haven - it is hard to find a bad one actually. But my experience at Zinc was so bad I have a new rule: "Never eat a restaurant named for a heavy metal." read more

This place is schmancy. I exchanged les bises on the way in with some of the folks in my coterie. They have a coat check. And by schmancy, I mean, "fancy shmancy". The food tastes good and is high-quality, but for me, I'd rather be eating hot dogs, burgers, or dumplings somewhere else for one-third the price and three times the portions. Let me be a little more specific about the ups and downs of this fine-dining establishment: The service is stellar. Our waitress was super polite and very accommodating. I couldn't have been happier with how my party was treated. The decor and ambiance are what you'd expect. Little metallic strings with baubles on them, low-lighting, mirrors, poofy leather booths, the whole nine yards basically. Dr. McMillan and Judge Winthrop both gave two thumbs up (for a sum total of four thumbs up). The food was admittedly tasty... all 0.003434434 grams of it. I had a tuna steak with some spinach and spring rolls and a small glass of dessert wine. It was good, but I mean, for the same price I could've gone to one of my favorite all-you-can-eat sushi places and been drunk with rice ecstacy... twice! This is definitely a place that will impress your date, maybe. If your goal is to go to a place that is really nice, but not quite at the absolute maximum end of the spectrum (think Union League Cafe), then Zinc is perfect. But, for me, I feel like I can find a more satisfying price / quantity option elsewhere. Seriously, I should've worn a top hat, monocle, and pocketwatch (you know the fancy ones with the chains). Also, I saw the dude from Good Will Hunting in the scene at the Harvard Bar where Matt Damon calls this preppy guy out for not having original ideas. C'mon! read more

Went here to kick things off on NYE. Made a reservation and got an awesome spot in the front window. Had it not been below zero and the glass foggy, it would have been a terrific view of the green and passersby. Server was tremendous. Kind. Courteous. Answered questions without condescension. I was a big fan of the porchini mushroom soup pre-starter to warm us up and get us in the mood. The food did not disappoint. I was thinking about the fixed price menu, but ended up going a la carte. I tried the smoked scallops. My girlfriend had the hangar steak. The lobster risotto that came with my scallops would have been enough on its own. Her steak was cooked perfectly. I was a little disappointed with my shrimp starter, but her bento-box inspired starter was a delicious pan-asian trip that was enough for both of us. Even after a warm chocolate cake for dessert (with the most delicious vanilla milkshake shooter next to it), the bill was still more than reasonable for the quality and amount of food we got, the quality of the service, and the atmosphere. I'd definitely return and I look forward to doing so during the summer when I can really taste and feel the emphasis on fresh, local products. For New Haven, this is as good as it gets! read more

Like a lot of other reviewers, I found the entrees to be rather disappointing. My duck breast was tender, but cold and flavorless and the split + fresh pea mash that came with it looked unappetizing (looked like puke). My girlfriend's salmon was rather bland and the 'Pickled Black Trumpet Mushrooms' had an unsavory texture (just gross). They had a nice cheese plate option. The waitress looked at us funny when we asked for it to start. Who has cheese for dessert? The tart we had for dessert was nice though. Lemon pound cake croutons were a nice complement to the vanilla bean tart. Also, not that I care, but for an 'upscale' restaurant, it was rather pedestrian in its decor and lenient in its dress standards. I might give it one more chance, but I think I'd rather just go to their pizza kitchen. read more

Thinking I was in for some pizza, I excitedly sat down at the bar and attempted to order one. I was told they only serve Pizza at Zinc's sister restaurant, Kitchen Zinc. Shot down, I sullenly ordered a cheese plate, salad, and gnocchi. The salad was great. The cheese plate was ok (the size of the cheese portions were minuscule). The gnocchi was OUT OF THIS WORLD. I had overcome my pizza disappointment and decided Zinc was worth a return visit. read more

Zinc is eclectic without pretentiousness. We arrived at nearly 10 on a Saturday evening, having found the place through an Open Table promotion. We were seated quickly and courteously and our waitress was there in an instant. I look for a restaurant to have a generous martini; Zinc didn't disappoint with a drink I was able to nurse throughout the dinner. My wife's pomegranate martini was unusual but delicious. The duck nacho appetizer was delicious: small chunks of duck layered in a cheese and spiced yogurt dressing. Dana's main course was the Smoked Maine Diver Sea Scallops, and they couldn't have been more tender. I chose the prix fixe menu. The roasted corn +and chipotle pepper soup was delicious. The only downside was the beef in the Vietnamese Beef with Heirloom Tomato main course. It was a little tough for my liking. Dessert was a collection of Artisanal Cheeses. Magnifique! My peaches cobbler with honey-vanilla ice cream was also delectable. Afterwards, the employees weren't too proud to let us sidle up to the bar to watch the Olympic swimming competition. The location in the middle of New Haven is both a plus and a minus. While you're close to everything, parking can be a problem. We ended up parking on the street and walking through a neighborhood that was a little seedier than we would have liked. Still, the experience was top-notch overall. read more

Wow!! I've passed by this place a dozen times while downtown, and we always say "we gotta try this place", but just never had. The other night a vendor took a group of us for dinner. AMAZING! A couple of people even started with dessert because they didn't want to miss out if they were too full!! Goat cheese cheese cake, scrumptious! Creme brulee, the best I've ever had. Entrees around the table, staring with mine, duck, which was oh so yummy. Thin sliced steak with polenta, delicious. Some kind of raggout, which look amazing, and several other choices. NO ONE was disappointed. I liked that they had this "Market Menu" selection for this time of year. It's a 4, or so, course dinner, cooked with all locally grown, fresh produce. I would like to go back and try it, two people in our group did and said it was fantastic. Wines were tasty, and I got the chocolate pear dessert with a honey grappa. Mmmmmm, Mmmmm. The only thing I would say sent the tiniest red flag up were some of the dish's portion size. There didn't seem to be a standard. Some had smaller portions, while others had larger portions. Not a big deal, we all had plenty of food, but something to inquire about if you go. read more

I don't know why I haven't written a review for Zinc sooner. I'm not sure I understand the mixed reviews, as my few times at Zinc have all amounted to some very impressive dining. Zinc is full flavor executed to near perfection. It isn't as hyped as other Connecticut farm-to-table establishments like Community Table or LeFarm, but I totally hold it on the same plane. I've gone for restaurant week twice and been thoroughly impressed each time. Never a weak dish, from appetizer to desert. I especially appreciate the subtle touch of Indian, Thai and other South Asian cuisines in many dishes. The only thing that didn't blow me away were the duck nachos, which I ordered in response to all the positive feedback in various tips and reviews. They were good, an above average treat - but did not hold up to the other items we've sampled. One thing they do exceptionally is dishes that layer flavor upon flavor upon flavor. Highly recommended. read more

Excellent food (loved the salmon and chicken) and lively atmosphere, great bartender -only complaint was the very thin and fatty ribeye-avoid that dish! read more

This is a 4 1/2 star review. I've been to Zinc a few times over the years with the most recent being last night for restaurant week. The food is always consistently good and the service stellar. Last night we had a group of 7 and did the restaurant week menu. The thing I appreciated about Zinc's restaurant week is that unlike other participating restaurants, they test new potential menu items. I got the grilled Indian style shrimp appetizer, salmon entree and carrot cake parfait dessert. The presentation was great and food was cooked to perfection. My only feedback is that it does get loud in the space during dinner service. read more

Delicious meal - excellent drinks and food. Pass on the duck nachos though - not nearly enough duck.

I went to Zinc last night for an anniversary dinner with my husband it and was a lovely experience that I would recommend to others. The restaurant itself is very nicely done and you can hold a conversation without too much noise from everything else going on. There's also enough space between tables so you don't feel squished in. Plus the location is great, right across from the green so unlike many New Haven restaurants you look out the windows and see trees and the green which is beautiful. Our waitress was lovely and extremely nice and helpful. On to the meals. The house bread with the roasted peper sauce was great and we started with the smoked duck nachos which were to die for and probably my favorite part of the meal. I had the Gnocchi which were made and cooked perfectly and served in a very nice pesto with yellow and green squash. My husband had the Chipotle Pork which he also really liked. We finished the meal with an incredible Banana Tart. All in all I agree with others, the entrees are good but the appetizers and desserts are incredible but Zinc gets five stars for an overall great dining experience. read more

Too expensive for the quality of the food. Let me start saying that both my husband and I love cooking and we always try to step it up to create gourmet plates, so if I go to a restaurant and pay what it costs the grocery shopping of one week, I expect the food to be better than what I can cook. We started with the nacho ducks, I read a lot of reviews on them so I was expecting something out of this world, but when the plate came there were few nachos, few duck bites and too much sauce. They were ok but again, they could have been better. My husband ordered a steak and I had the yellow seared tuna. Both of us were happy with our order, but unimpressed. My favorite item were the spinaches that came with the tuna, they were crispy, thin, and they melted in the mouth. For dessert we had the goat cheese cake. It was different than normal cheese cakes, specially the textured, so it was worth trying once, but in the future I will stick to more conventional cheese cakes. Apart from the food the service was amazing , we had a very attentive waitress and the food came quickly even if the restaurant was full. I would have give 4 starts to the place if we would have payed 30% less. read more

When I'm on vacation, I'm all about eating. Eating everything I see and everywhere I see food. It's like my favorite part of travel. I'm very happy to have had the opportunity whilst in New Haven to eat at Zinc. It's a bit fancy pants, but I definitely went there a made it casual. The decor and ambiance are great, clean and modern. Staff are warm and inviting, service is great. The best part of Zinc is that they use what they find at farmer's markets from the area. It's nice because if you go often or even once a week, you'll be confronted with a new menu, with new and interesting dishes created from the food in season. Everything I ate had such flavor, I couldn't believe how good it was and you could tell that each dish was made with particular care. Great place to eat with a group or a romantical outing. Try it, love it, go back to it. I hope that I will get the chance next time I'm in New Haven. read more

Had a delicious meal for restaurant week. Service was very attentive and knowledgeable. Great wine list and beer selection. I had a cranberry martini that was perfect. The table bread is flavored with star anise and the chili sauce is so good. For my meal, I went with the brushetta small plate, paella main dish and gelato dessert. I really wanted the chocolate mousse, but they ran out. Our waiter was incredibly apologetic. I also had a few bites of the chicken apple sausage and potatoes. Incredible! read more

ZINC - Paella - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

The food is much better than 3 stars. I'm giving it 3 stars because the service was underwhelming. The waiter didn't give a hoot about us, did the bare minimum. Did not ask if we wanted drink refills. I would have expected more from such an upscale restaurant. We had a shrimp app special that was very good, and the fried sunchokes - which are a must try. I had the masala curry which was very good and unique, and my husband had the black cod - also seriously good. read more

My husband have gone to this restaurant 3 times in the last weeks for dinner before seeing shows at the Lymans Center. The food was fabulous! Service excellent. Each time we went we had a three course dinner, out in about and hour, with out feeling rushed. Reservations is a must though....... read more

This restaurant is not remotely worth the price, unfortunately. If it were half the price, it would probably get 3 1/2 or 4 stars. We came around dinnertime on a Thursday night and were promptly seated by the greeter. Our waitress took longer than she should have to get around to us given that the restaurant was mostly empty. She was prompt returning with our drinks, which weren't bad, but weren't good. We ordered the pork belly as an appetizer, and for my meal, I ordered the gnocchi. The pork belly came quickly and was unbelievably delicious. It was a good size for two (though I wanted all of it for myself) and had came with a fantastic habanero syrup. The meals came as soon as we finished our appetizer, and they were lackluster. My gnocchi, which sounds amazing - (creme fraiche sauce? sage pesto? sounds great!) - was just kind of bland and underwhelming. The hanger steak that my girlfriend ordered was also meh. It was a little overcooked, and also kind of bland. It's a shame, because I really wanted to like this place - the decor is modern, warm, and inviting. The people are friendly. But service was slow, and the food was way too expensive for how lackluster it was. read more

Delicious, fresh and creative dishes. Atmosphere is kind of snooty and the decor is completely beige but you don't mind once you start eating read more

ZINC - Dessert! - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

This place is totally overrated. Ambiance was cool when I walked in, all downhill from there. I heard great things. Went with my bf. We have been to some phenomenal restaurants. This was one of the worst. Service was absolutely abysmal. Food was mediocre. I cook better myself. To top it off, there was a silverfish crawling on the wall behind me. Skip this one. read more

I love their inventive menu that focuses on fresh ingredients. Their lobster risotto really shines, but I look forward to seeing a whole new menu by the time I get back there, it adds a little excitement. Their drink menu is also outstanding, and they are one of the few restaurants in New Haven which employ a sommelier. Zinc has a super cool feel to it that isn't pretentious, perfect for a date. I've also gone there just for martinis and dessert with the girls. read more

Consistently excellent. Trust the recommendations from the servers, as they are all very well trained and know a lot about the menus and specials. Menu changes frequently, so go back frequently. Great place for a single to sit at the bar, too. Bartenders are engaging without being overbearing. Save room for dessert! Some of the best desserts in the NHV area. read more

Zinc has been on my list of places-to-go since last fall I read an article about how the Chef rotates the menu based on what's available from New Haven's farmer's markets. So, during restaurant week a group of us made a reservation at Zinc. I had the spring sangria, salmon with beet risotto, and strawberry/rutabaga tarte with vanilla ice cream. All of it was rich in color and texture, well-thought-out flavor combinations, and beautifully presented. The service was attentive and kind to a large group. I will definitely plan to go back when my budget allows it! read more

We came to town to get out of nyc for a few days, and found zinc on yelp. So happy we did. It was a meal worth traveling for and could rival any nyc restaurant easily. We began with the grilled shrimp which were out of this world---to die for. Our entrees were great too. I had the lamb and my bf had the hanger steak. Really fantastic. They even carry my favorite bottle of wine-Jordan Chardonnay. The service was great too! Give it a try! read more

ZINC - Lamb in front and hanger steak in back - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

We came here on a Friday night and got there before the crowd. It has a dimly lit atmosphere that many upscale restaurants do. Our waitress was quite attentive before it got busy and was happy to explain anything on the menu. There is no market menu in the winter so we went with the tried-and-true: -Duck nachos: Pretty tasty stuff though it's light on the toppings -Pan-seared tuna: The tuna was cooked well. The fried spinach looked like seaweed and seemed extraordinary. I wouldn't order it if you don't like oily stuff. The spinach just soaks up all the oil it was fried in. -Scallops: Cooked just right though still had bits of sand. Why 3 stars while everyone else is 4? The service and food fit well with the restaurant and the inflated prices don't quite fit in with New Haven. It wasn't overly memorable and certainly not extraordinary. read more

Personally, I think this is the second best upscale restaurant in New Haven next to Barcelona. The food will impress everyone except the most picky of foodies, yet at the same time, I've also found that the servers are personable and down to earth. You definitely don't need to dress up to eat at Zinc. The meat dishes are always delicious every time I visit, but I've found myself unimpressed with the pasta dishes such as their gnocchi. The appetizers are phenomenal - definitely try them out. My favorite dish at Zinc was the smoked duck nachos. They are absolutely delicious, with a wonderful texture and savoriness.The burrata is also highly recommended. It is creamy, refreshing, and perfectly seasoned. Zinc is the restaurant I go to when I have company in town I want to impress, or for fancy date night, and it has never disappointed me so far. read more

Great food. Nice space. Waiter took zero interest in us. Most staff here is clearly customer friendly, to be fair. read more