Zinc

Great food but weak service

by Charles Bronson at Citysearch

I had heard a lot about Zinc and thought it would be a good idea to take my wife there for our anniversary. The food was pretty darn good. My wife and I shared the calamari, antipasto plate and the crab cakes. The food and wine were good but the service was severely lacking. We spent 150 dollars there and when you spend that kind of money at a restaurant you expect top notch service. We waited about ten minutes before we even got glasses of water. It was not a busy night either. If it wasn't our anniversary we would have gotten up and left but we were trying to make the best of it. We probably won't go back. Good food, crap service.

Best kept Secret

by 210sachic at Citysearch

It was our anniversary and we wanted to try something new and we were definitely not disappointed. Zinc is nestled in a secluded little side street on N. Presa. It's a little small inside but the courtyard is where it's at. Candlelit patio tables, fountains throughout, ivy covered terraces, you almost forget that this is San Antonio. We ate outside, of course. We had the escargot. It was cooked beautifully in garlic and butter served with sliced french bread. Next I had the Zinc salad with pears, walnuts, and goat cheese. Then my boyfriend had the lamb sandwich which was delicious and I utterly despise lamb. I had blue crab cakes with tarragon, avocado, and pears. We finished with a chocolate coconut silk pie (very sweet). Oh and we finished off two bottles of wine and he smoked a cigar.

These plates are light and full of flavor, apparently they get their food from Boudros which it also owns. They also have a cigar menu and an extensive wine menu. Some bottles of wine are little pricey but some are reasonable for $30. They also offer mixed drinks, beer, and chocolate raspberry martinis!

This is a place where you can take your friends, colleagues, in-laws and just utterly impress them.

• Pros: Delicious food, Romantic courtyard.
• Cons: Same sex bathrooms?!

The Wait Staff & Bartenders are Excellent

by cruizer at Citysearch

I was in San Antonio the week of Jan 25 thru the 30th,

I was at Zinc every day sometime 2 times! If you get

in there ask for Alley, she really knows her wine and

is a wonderful person. She can direct you to anyplace

you are looking for and if she can't she will find someone who can. Stop by, you will love it there.

• Pros: The Food is Wonderful!
• Cons: None

Hidden gem in the bustle of San Antonio

by dreamarie at Citysearch

Zinc is definitely a great place to enjoy the San Antonio evenings! I have been here many times, and although they have received some bad reviews, I have never had any issues here. The outdoor dining area is quite romantic, and has a classic appeal. The service has always been excellent, and the food! The Lamb sandwich is my favorite! Definitely something to try if you stop in! You will not be disappointed!

• Pros: Ambience, food, drinks
• Cons: size

Looked forward to it all week, was very disappointed

by tking2009 at Citysearch

I had hoped for more interaction from the bartender when I was trying to choose a wine or menu selection. Usually at wine bars, the staff knows the wines well and when I asked for a recommendation, I would have appreciated at least a few questions about what I was looking for in a wine or what I would be pairing it with on the menu. I got none of that.

My steak was overcooked and the bartender never checked back with me to ask how it was, I was asked to keep my dirty salad fork instead of simply giving me a new fork, and when I asked if he would box my leftovers, he handed me a large box even though he wasn't busy and talked to servers or stood in the corner with his arms folded. If I am paying $50 for a meal as a single diner, it would be nice if he at least gave me a clean fork.

The artichoke dip was great and the selections of wines by the glass was nice. I would rather sacrifice wine selection in the future for better, more attentive service. While I do not expect to be waited on hand and foot, I do expect a bit better service in a restaurant at this price point. And if I am paying $14 for a glass of wine, I would hope the staff knows enough about this wine to be able to describe it to me and ensure it is in fact the glass that is right for me. I will not be back.

• Pros: artichoke dip was excellent
• Cons: service was lacking