As soon as you sit down, you can't help but notice how filthy the tables are. Beneath the wrapped cutlery and saucers are dried stains of most likely the previous mess made by the patrons that sat before you. After you get your menu, it takes a very long time to have them comeback and take your order. It also takes even longer when your food arrives, and the waiters/waitresses are hardly ever around if you need your drink refilled. I do not recommend that you order the pizza. Whether it's pepperoni or any special type of pizza, it's cheese and sauce overpowering the crust making it too flimsy to hold up and eat. You can barely hold it with a fork. I once ordered a pepperoni pizza and looked at its quality and gave it back to the waiter and told him I wasn't eating this, and ordered something else. The tomato soup is too salty and the basil takes away the zest flavor of the soup. I once ordered the caeser salad and the lettuce was lymph and soggy. The chicken sandwich is okay, but the fries are flimsy. Therefore, the preparation of most if not all meals are of substandard care with substandard service. read more

Don't believe the 5-star reviews. This place is a toxic environment. waitresses and managers behave with "Mean Girls" attitude. They talk behind the backs of patrons. One evening, a middle-aged woman asked where the restroom was. Loretta, the assistant manager or waitress directed her where it was instead of showing her or leading her to the restroom. Another manager Nicole asked Loretta, "what did she say to you?" She told her that she asked where the restroom was. Then I saw them laugh as if they ridiculed her, which was so unprofessional. It would have been best to actually escort her to the restroom being that it is a long walk to the end of the corridor. There have also been times when patrons have been neglected. These "entitled" and "stuck up" women provide no quality service to many of their patrons. They neglect the single patrons over their big party patrons. If you have a table in the back towards the courtyard, you would be greatly neglected. Much of the waitresses and waiters disappear throughout the time and you are unable to get a refill on your drink, or any service you may need. read more

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! read more

I freakin love this place. Let's start with the food. I am a huge fan of Tapas style food and when I visit 'normal' restaurants I usually order 2 appetizers instead of an entree...I like to try lots of different things. Their small plates are absolutely amazing. Starting with the brie and pear grilled cheese, 2 perfect little sandwiches filled with fruit, cheese and love. Next, the zinc chopped salad has too many things to list in it, but they all work great together. My friend tried the Gregorio pizza which was a sweet and spicy heaven and we shared the pot de creme (sp?) dessert. For cocktails, I like mine not too sweet and the server, Carisa, offered the Pear Martini. It was delicious, strong, but a perfect version of a true martini without all the sugary additions. The space is the best part about it. Very swank, loungey, and comfortable. The Dj was playing great music and in general people were laughing and having a good time. It's simply a great place, couldn't find one thing wrong. read more

1 million thanks to chef Ashley Oates, Chris Porter and their teams of people at shade hotel in Manhattan beach. I am gluten intolerant and it's really scary eating out. I was one in a group of about 30 professionals having a lengthy meeting in Shade Hotel's beautiful setting. The last thing anyone wants is IBS or allergic relations while in a business atmosphere. Chef Ashley assured me my dish was hand crafted with special attention and BOY WAS IT DELICIOUS!!!! Nom nom nom. The meeting went on and cookies were delivered ... The whole room was filled with sugary splendor. Just as I was thinking DAMN!! Those cookies look scrumptious ..chef Ashley hand delivered a beautiful dish of chia seed vanilla yogurt, topped with toasted flax seeds (for crunch) edible flowers and fresh berries JUST FOR ME!!!!!!! Wow...... Again WOW!!!!! I thank you. 5 stars isn't enough. Life is good but it's better in the SHADE read more

I came upon this place while trying to find a local lounge spot in the South Bay since all the ones I know about are in the L.A. area. Coming on a Thursday night, my friends and I found the place not crowded at all, so we grab a table which is mainly seating yourself type deal and browsed the extensive cocktail list and menu. Not knowing what to order, my friend decided on "Pomegranite Kiss" which was served in an ice glass and it was AMAZING! I ordered "Strawberry Pop" which came in a champagne glass, it was very strong, but not good. I definitely recommend "Pomegranite Kiss" and "Honey Money", the taste was so good. We then split the calamari there which was okay and the Pizza Gregorio which was also AMAZING. I like this place a lot because it's so chill and low-key, yet upscale in it's own way. I will definitely come back when I want to stay local and hang out for a bit. read more

After several months since our last visit to the South Bay, we decided to bring a friend along to see Manhattan Beach. And one of the highlights of our trip was to dine in at Zinc@Shade. It has been quite a while since we dined here last - the food and ambiance is still quite great as we have remembered it. The service was likewise beyond great. From Kalim and Loretta who greeted us with a warm welcome, to the hotel's GM Scully who sat us to our table, to Amber who took our orders, to Arturo and Francisco's friendly service and of course to the new Executive Chef, Christina - whose gastronomic creations are always a delectable and mouth-watering delight! Zinc is highly recommended for those who are looking for a high quality dining experience in Manhattan Beach. Will definitely be back on our future trips here. read more

Great night. It's inside of Shade hotel but it feels like its own spot . The decor is nice, comfortable and there is plenty of space to stretch out. The crowd was awesome for a Tuesday night, apparently the ladies like to come here because at any given time there was at least 4 groups of women. And they weren't old contrary to previous reviews. The food- we had snacks and they were really very good- pizza with chicken, rib sandwiches (absolutely amazing) and lamb chops (good but small) The drinks- I liked that they had local beer and I enjoyed one from El Segundo Brewery. My friends gin martini must have been good because he had 4. The service- flawless. She was there when we needed her and absent when we were chilling. All in, very good. I'd give 4.5 if it was possible read more

Decided to go here for a cocktail before dinner. We sat on the covered patio ( at the entrance to the hotel) and were very comfortable on the couches surrounding a coffee table. We had a party of 8 including 2 young children and it worked out perfectly for us! I just have to mention to those who love a dirty martini that it was the best I've ever had! Of course they also have a wide variety of cocktails, wine and beer. We ordered the chips w guac and salsa which everyone enjoyed. The servers here were friendly and attentive. They seemed to have a team that worked very well together. It really was the perfect choice to relax and socialize with our family who were all in the area for the holiday. read more

This hotel was absolutely gorgeous!! Everything was great and our experience in the restaurant Saturday morning put the icing on the cake! Our waitress Ivana was very attentive and made excellent food recommendations. My family was brought together for a funeral and we were grieving; however, Ivana made us laugh and took some time to get to know our family members. Although, we were eating from the buffet, our waitress suggested the Belgian Waffle, which was delicious. The restaurant seemed very busy that morning, but the staff showed not one ounce of stress. All the employees at this hotel were very friendly. If you decide to stay at this Hotel be sure to visit the restaurant. Thanks again!!! read more

I went here a few times. It's really not as extraordinary as the "glowing reviews" say. The food is pretty adequate, but not as good as the other dive bars around Manhattan Beach. The menu is just based on the latest trend, such as a "smashburger." There's really nothing they're quite known or famous to have. Service is poor. Loreta, the waitress or assist. manager, is not as helpful or accommodating as one would expect in this establishment. She's not as available as you would want her to be if you needed a refill on your drink or additional napkins. As a matter of fact, hardly any of the waitor/waitress/servers are available when you need them. read more

Zinc @ Shade Hotel is fantastic! I just finished having their Christmas Menu dinner, and it was absolutely incredible. The portions were generous--more than enough to satisfy--and the ham was perfectly cooked and delicious. The service was truly phenomenal; the staff went above and beyond to make the evening special. This wasn't my first visit to Zinc. I've also been here for happy hour, and it's consistently impressive. The drinks are expertly crafted, and the food is top-notch every time. Whether you're coming for a special holiday meal or just a casual happy hour, Zinc never disappoints. Highly recommended! read more

Zinc is one of our favorite restaurants in Manhattan Beach. We enjoy sitting on the outside patio for lunch or dinner -- great spot to have some wine, share some incredible small plates and people watch in the plaza. Very relaxing and comfortable. The menu is constantly changing for the seasons. Chopped salads are delicious as are the short rib sandwich, carne asada tacos (new on the menu and tasty) and burger with fries (I think the ketchup is hand made). Great beer selection including my favorite hard to find IPA -- Sculpin. Nice wines as well. Great way to spend an afternoon in Manhattan Beach. read more

Amazing Food. Hands down some of the best calamari I have ever had and surprisingly good short ribs. The service was top notch and the vibe of the place was great. It was a perfect spot to go and watch the game with friends in an environment that doesn't consist of kids spilling beer on my shoes. It was crowded on a Saturday night, but not obnoxiously so and everyone from the hostess to the server were so darn friendly. A nice atmosphere with good food and stellar service...I'll be back! side note- skip the valet, the street parking meters end at 9pm read more

Went in for a meal with friends. It took 25 minutes for someone to come and take our order. I ordered the steak frites. There was actually more fat than protein, so my meal wasn't really enjoyable. Waitresses are hard to get a hold of. It took 13 minutes to get a refill of a soft drink. Much of the waiters and waitresses seem to go hide after your food is served to you. Their system on waiting seems to be "stay distant" and "unobtainable." If you make a complaint, they'll behave like it was your fault to begin with. read more

I was at a birthday party on the shade Sky deck and a girl was having her birthday party here with us and when they lit the candles of the cake the smoke alarms went off it was the best effect I could've ever seen for her birthday party thank you Shalane because I will recommend everybody to have their birthday party here I asked the girl in charge her name is Shalane and she told me was for her sister and that the smoke alarms went off on their own however I will attribute that the smoke alarms to special effects!!! read more

If you like upscale bar food that can get expensive this is the place for you. In other words what a disappointment. For such a nice hotel in a nice area. The food is garbage. I rather go to an Irish pub. Someone should tell the kitchens manager to hire a chef with a lot of experience and put out food like the surrounding restaurants and make sure the food comes out within a reasonable time Don't eat here there are plenty or other great restaurants in manhattan beach. Trust me, I know, I am a local. J.S read more

Shade's cocktail lounge is fabulous ! Its spacious, bright and accommodating .. and since its a hotel, its always open, so its a no brainer for lunch, dinner or evening cocktails. They have outdoor deck with heat lamps which is really nice and a large handsome bar. Best part about this place is the staff. They're mostly locals with a kind and friendly beach personality, really make you feel at home great selection of wine by the glass, and excellent beers on tap. Well Done Shade ! See you soon read more

I've been here several times. What can you call it but "rich people's dive bar." The glass tables are sticky and stained. Food is sub-par. The water has a weird taste. The waiters and waitresses are so unresponsive. Good luck if you've got Sabrina or Rebecca waiting on you. They act like what you ordered was your fault when you ask them if the dish was going to be prepared a certain way. I miss the days when the customer was always considered right. read more