So I didn’t go to OAR. I melt in the rain. Let’s talk about Zinc! And by “let’s,” I mean if you’re reading this and you’ve been to Zinc, you’re writing a comment or new post!
Upon my first visit to the self-described “Gastropub,” I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s being run by Thomas Leroy and Vu Nguyen of Bizou/Bang/Cassis/etc. fame. I’ve met each of these guys at least once, and they struck me as very hard-working and knowledgeable. Better than that, they’re nice. They’ve taken on a difficult piece of real estate– formerly the Station, and most recently the White Orchid, the space is not known for its tenants’ longevity. It’s surprising, too, because the former fill-up lends itself extremely well to an airy, clean dining room. I should add that the “gastropub” is relatively new to those of us not connected to the concept via a Chunnel– both New York and Chicago have, in the past couple of years, been de-gastropub-flowered with some fanfare. We’re lucky to be so graced with the presence of, well, you’ll see.
I should start by saying that, given that American haute cuisine almost all comes from France, many of the menu items have, in some way, been done locally at Cassis, and before Cassis by Metro, and similarly by Fleurie, not unlike Oxo, and so on. They’ve been done by Julia Child and Thomas Keller and even (cringe) Rachael Ray. (I’d rather bitch-slap Gordon Ramsay and see what he does than listen to Rachael Ray for thirty seconds. But I digress.) So the question is: how do you balance the gastro with the pub? Zinc struck me as more gastro, less pub.
I thoroughly enjoyed the decor and appetizers, as did my dining companion, and yet we were both a bit taken aback when our entrees arrived and saw the trout literally smiling back at us. By “Truite aux amandes,” they mean, “Truite aux amandes entiere, la tete souriante.” I had a rather humorous experience a year ago on a date at a Brazilian restaurant: my friend was so repulsed by a trout head on my behalf that he was turned off to learn that I would, in fact, eat it regardless. Needless to say, he sent my happy meal back, and I ate a Happy Meal when he dropped me off. Not surprisingly, perhaps, there was no good-night kiss. If I can handle a fish head, a man can, too. But in balancing haute cuisine and accessible cuisine, heads tip the scale.
I also recommend that Zinc spend some quality time training our server. Sean Lawford understands the importance of service to match the quality of his food at Cassis, and it shows. Those servers are sharp. But our server couldn’t tell me why Zinc’s mussels are so perfect. Ask. F*, watch Rachael Ray.
Gastropubs walk the fine line between authenticity and appeal. It’s a shame that there’s such a disparity between the two, but I think Charlottesville can take it. And I think that Thomas and Vu are actually going to pull this off.
Gastro aside, pub will catch up. With the reopening of Blue Moon Diner, Starr Hill’s summer concerts, the inexplicable rise of West Main, and the popularity of people who live in Walker Square, I’m seeing a new “West Main district” social life independent of the downtown mall. Maya’s arrival to the scene will seal it. It seems absurd to suggest that a 0.4 mile distance would stop people from crossing McIntire in a given night to barhop, so I hope the scenes aren’t mutually exclusive. What I’ll be really curious to see, though, is if a different 0.9 mile distance would stop a different demographic from crossing 10th Street.
I want Zinc to stick. Go– and tell us what you think.
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Tagged as: Albemarle County, Charlottesville, Restaurants, Reviews
I honestly could not be any happier with Zinc. I was so happy, in fact that I made friends go for drinks two days after the first time I went just for the atmosphere, and then again about a week later. Unlike the review, our service was fantastic, the smiling trout put a smile on my own face and my husband’s entree was so delicious that he started playing footsie with me under the table. The only complaint that I had was the wine that we ordered–we got the $19 bottle of red, and while it’s not always true, in this case we got what we paid for. It was so blah that it actually distracted from the food. That was kind of our mistake (though, great restaurants should have great bottles at all prices) and so I encourage everyone to RUN, don’t walk! to Zinc and do yourself the favor of a lovely evening out.
I went to Zinc with a group of friends and we were not very impressed. Although the patio is very nice and the servers are very friendly (unlike many C-Ville restaurants), we were annoyed to have to pay $4 for a basket of bread. Aren’t there complimentary baskets anymore?
Overall the prices are expensive for the portions and the quality. A friend ordered trout and it was maybe $20 and didn’t come with a side dish or veggies or anything! My side of white asparagus was stringy and tough. The quiche of the day was pretty good but the salad was tiny. Overall the food was unimpressive.
Dear “not all that impressed”: Thanks! And welcome to the site! I’m impressed with your pseudonym: descriptive and yet vague. I respect that.
I appreciate your review because I haven’t been back since my first two experiences early on. For the liliths out there, it would be really helpful if you could elaborate on your specific meals and/or beverages. Did you go on a weekend or weekday? Was any part of your meal still swimming or smoking?
And perhaps most importantly, what’s your favorite restaurant around these parts?
post 2,
get your info straight, the side of bread is actually $3 and it comes with imported french butter, not your local shit. As for charging for bread i too ask why, but the valid answer was, nothing is free but mostly in order to keep entrees at a lower price point they are charging for bread.As for the trout if you look on thier website menu , http://WWW.comptoirzinc.com , it is actually $16 for the whole fish, where in c’ville you get a whole fish for that price.I am starting to wonder if you even went there bro.
Zinc has become one of our favorite ‘easy’ restaurants–good food, reasonable prices and pleasant service. I am fond of the confit de canard–duck leg confit–and the accompanying veggies are great complements. My husband likes the steak frites. As for the bread, indeed, why pay unless you want it? And the butter makes paying for bread so wothwhile.
Regarding service, we’ve found it perfectly fine–friendly and helpful. I was even steered–correctly–toward a less expensive that the waiter thought was better. How great is that?
My francophile sister-in-law even likes Zinc!
I am a big fan of Zinc and I dread the day that they realize they can’t turn a profit by selling the quality of products they use (Seafood at West Main is expensive) for their prices, jack up the menu and then we just have yet another high end French restaurant on our hands. This has become my go-to place for a reliable and tasty dinner with friends. Sure, it won’t blow your mind, it doesn’t have the sophistication of l’etoile or Fleurie, but it’s a bistro (unlike Petite Pois, which is like a lazy and nearly as expensive Fleurie). As long as they keep on doing what they’re doing, I will continue to frequent this lovely little bistro. Granted, I’m not sure where Casis falls into this Franco-Charlottesvillian scale, but they have been doing a good job lately as well.
They switched their tap from Chimay to Kronenbourg a while ago. NICE.
Had a lovely dinner last night with friends at Zinc. Perfect evening to sit out on their patio. The hanger steak and fries were delicous. Two people in our party ordered the skate and it was all raves and yumms.
A definite place to return to.
Okay guys, I have only ever defended Zinc, and the meal I had there last night was fine (under salted as usual, but totally fine), but I have to say something about the experience. I understand that we were the only table left after 9:30 on a Monday night, but turning off the kitchen lights a cranking up the “why won’t you leave already” music is a bit over the top when we are clearly waiting for our check, which the waitress hasn’t actually dropped off yet. In my table waiting days I’ve puled the music trick, but the light? Really?
Juicy! Anyone ever get the vacuums? There’s a diss if there ever was one.
Lys,
sorry you felt that way , i didn’t even try to attempt kicking you guys out. In terms of light i always turn it off in the kitchen area once clean up is done ( why spend energy if not necessary ?) I didn’t that would send out wrong signals. For the music maybe it was turn up upon request to the bar customers. If we wanted to be done early that night we would off turn your table away. we always welcome tables and under no circumstances i would tolerate my staff to act that way.
Hope that clears the Air.
T
I had the rabbit leg at Zinc and it was super dry and super tough and a hot green salad. Second time I have been there… not going to be a third.
Eduardo, interesting. I’ve ordered rabbit a couple of times, and I remember it being overcooked a little once and badly the second, not that I’ve had perfectly cooked rabbit to hold them against. But similarly, they were chewy and not in an enjoyable way. Second one was sauced so much, I suspect, so that I wouldn’t taste the burn of the braise. Can someone provide some insight to why this is not an easy animal to cook? (Sorry, vegetarians, to be so blunt.) Is it just that this particular game meat is tough? I’m pretty sure you can tenderize a rock if you want to bad enough, but I haven’t been to culinary school. HELP!
Lilith, rabbit is not hard to cook. If braised properly the meat should literally fall from the bone. Perhaps they are not braising but boiling which leeches all the moisture and flavor from the meat and seizes it up to make it tough.
are you a competing restaurant?
Thor, why would you ask that of Eduardo? Nobody asks Lillth if she owns Zinc when she defends it. We should encourage dissenting opinions not question them.
Personally, everything I have eaten at Zinc has been totally satisfying. As for the service, I don’t remember from the twice I’ve been and that’s a good sign.
I think Thor asked that because the dude’s response sounds like something a cook would say. Derrr.
No shenanigans, your response sounds
more like something a cook would say.
blacksox, you make me think of the British with their black work-out socks! Welcome to the party. Please help yourself to perfectly cooked rabbit legs and frog legs and crab legs and pigs in a blanket.
Oh, blacksox, your response sounds
like something a dick would say.
because I’m very weary of first posters who make negative or positive posts about places. ps I was just asking.. what difference does that make??????????
alright, Shenanigans in that corner, Thor, -over there, and BS, clam it!
so… I DO work at another restaurant… although I wouldn’t consider it a competitor of Zinc by any means… I would really like nothing but success for Thomas and Zinc. Why do people think the pie is finite? We need to GROW not cut others off. Sorry I had two bad experiences there. I know I should go a third before passing judgement.. so maybe I will. I just won’t have the rabbit.
the “gastropub” idea confuses me too, but i think they have accepted that they do french food best and i noticed a new sign out front that says “bistro zinc”.
zinc is one of my top three favorite restaurants in town for the following reasons: the bar is comfortable, not too crowded and the bartender is always there when you need him and not up in your business when you don’t. ( i always eat at the bar, so never have had waitress experience). i crave the croque madame weekly. it is outstanding! the trout is great- well seasoned from head to tail. love the steak tartar and the frites and the salads. now they are opened for lunch and i am so glad.
Zinc is going to make it in the long run because the food is authentic and good, the place has a good vibe (no pretention, good music and lighting) and the owners know what they are doing.
Cheers to Zinc! (and i have no affiliation with the place except for being a regular customer.)
Thor, you are entitled to ask, that’s the beauty of the site. I’m entitled to question, I was trying to be ironic. Unfortunately, feelings do get hurt see #18, so sorry.
Zinc plays awesome music, I second.
Let’s not be hard on Eduardo. I pay a lot of attention to where restauranteurs, cooks, and waiters eat. Mas is a given. They serve food until late and it’s great food.
blacksox, my advice to you is to remember that no one knows who you are, so it’s not personal. Keep your opinions, stand by them, defend them, concede if someone proves you totally wrong, and throw in an occasional dirty joke
On the other hand, don’t use anonymity as an excuse to be an asshole…
@22 Thor: I’m hoping you mean “wary” and not “weary,”???????????
I’m not sure where I went wrong
shenanigans, you know I’m a huge fan of yours, but I’m also confused as to where blacksox went wrong!
blacksox, a while ago, we had a couple of rave reviews that were so positive that we thought they were promotions from people who worked at those places. One confirmed it, I believe. So Thor might ask but it’s not at all threatening, or it’s not supposed to be, anyway. It just kind of conveys that self-promotion and targeted attacks aren’t what our site is about. We are happy to promote if you just ask us to.
Nanigans was responding to blacksox’ attempt to get between Thor and Eduardo as a sort of ‘moderator’
If there was humor in there, or irony, I missed it too, blacksox. Not sure its your place to tell the people who own/operate this site how they should go about it, but maybe after you’ve hit a dozen comments they’ll turn it over to you?
Thanks for the clarification, Eduardo.
So doof, you run this place?
Pretty sure we can take care of it. I’ll leave it to Thor to decide whether or not he was offended.
I am CAPSHAW
OMG!
I’m just explaining, and now you’re mad at ME?!? I for one am certain you two can take care of it, but blacksox was being a bit of a dick (in this and another thread “KCB clearly has an axe to grind”), got called on it and you don’t seem to have any idea what’s going on..
just sayin..
Rabbit meat!
Mad? Sounds like an overstatement.
chicken feet!
Pickled pig feet!
I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone episode where everyone else has a pig face. (not you nanigans or lilith) Where are all the regulars today?
what???
centipedes.
lentil beans.
homogenous milk.
vacuums.
signals.
rabbit meat: too cute by half.
@18: I was being a smartass.
@21: I just wanted to say “dick”.
@29: A good point just in general.
@Lil vs. Doof: Sexual tension anyone?
Rolo’s for all!!!
where are the regulars you ask? staying out of this trainwreck, for one. weeeeiiiiirrrdddd thread.
Me: “But rabbit meat. I’m hypoglycemic!”
rabbit meat: “Rolos for some! Tiny American flags for everyone else!”
Just got back from Mas. Had a huge and delicious feast, and we got to put it on my buddy’s corporate credit card, which made it even more delicious. I LOVE having sell-out friends. The mussels they have are fantastic. A little small, but they give you many of them, so it evens out. They come in a smoky red broth that tasted almost like…sausage maybe…couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was very familiar and very nice. The lamb was also delicious, as was the carne asada (but when is that ever not delicious).
Zinc rocks. I’m all about the croque monsieur. So glad they are having lunch again, even if I will be gone in a couple of weeks:( And I rarely see it on menus, but rabbit is delicous. Sounds like I need to make one last trip to Zinc.
Tim, talking about the topic is like, so 7th grade.
Your mom is so 7th grade.
OH SNAP!
Ok, you win the “Who’s the Gayest?” competition. I give up.
that Zinc T-shirt changed my life
Moved to here: http://cvillain.com/?p=901 by Thor
cancel @59, i was typing elsewhere
3 weeks out of beta test – I’m coding like a monkey on crack…
(a very talented, very hot monkey, who’s hung like a horse)
(it needed to be said)
(what was that about hot monkey sex Lil?)
I have had a 102 fever since tuesday, and have spending my time lying in bed and going to doctors visits. Seems my stomach doesn’t like to have things put in it anymore, and I haven’t eaten anything since monday. Seriously, something is wrong with me. Is there something going around that I don’t know about or should I start picking out headstones down on mead and east market….
Has the headstone place been reviewed here yet?
belmont yo, I sincerely hope you feel better, soon. There’s a student flu problem (not so much a problem as “this happens every year but there are new first years on Grounds so we have to act surprised when a couple hundred people are ill”). Food poisoning would be out of your system by now.
No, the headstone place has not yet been reviewed, and I don’t think anyone will be fighting you for it.
yo, Yo – apparently there’s a pretty nasty flu going around. Coincedence that the Hook yesterday had a flier stuffed into it about how to prepare for a pandemic?
I, for one, welcome our new viral overlords
I don’t see why everyone was freakin on this thread. Take a breather count backward from 20.. ok is everyone alright now?
I wasn’t offended. Welcome to the internet.
belmont yo, i had what you have a few weeks ago. it’s nasty, and it’s going around all over charlottesville. i think i know about 15 people that have caught it. if you started to feel sick on tuesday, then you should probably start feeling better today, but be careful because it lingers. take it easy this weekend if you can.
Thanks for the inflammation information guys, I thought it was just me. I hardly ever get sick so it freaks me when its this bad.
Yeah, I think I will have to do tonight’s set in a wheelchair. If I can get past that, I have very little to do til’ Monday.
Um, I don’t think that alcohol-cures-colds things is too effective. Cause what if it’s a flu! Feel better, sickees.
I’ right here
Oh, where are you now?
Pussy willow that smiled on this leaf
When I was alone
You promised the stone from your heart
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down
Treading my sand please
Please lift your hand
I’m only a person
Whose arm bounds beetles
Hands lay tall
Won’t you miss me
Wouldn’t you miss me at all oh, oh, oh
The poppybirds sang
Swing twig-coffee ground around
Brandish her wand with a feathery tongue
My head kissed the ground
I was half the way down
Treading my sand please, please,
Please lift your hand
I’m only a person
Who’s asking my chains
I’ve tattooed my brain all the way
Won’t you miss me
Wouldn’t you miss me at all oh, oh, oh
Yo I am sorry to heqar you’re so sick. Rest up. Be good to yourself and feel better. Do you need anything from the store? Soup, ginger ale, beer? Let me know and I ‘ll fetch it for you (seriously) It’s sucks hard to be so sick especially when you need stuff from the store but can’t muster the strength to get it.
@69 – You’re wrong. I was feeling like crap on Tuesday. But I dragged myself out to the cafeteria to hear Yo and had two drinks and then went home and had a very big drink and I feel great now. Alcyhol chased that bug away.
Some fuckwit used the term “Klammy Incision” in reference to one of our “clique” and none of you fuckers came to her defense. Plus, everyone seems to be developing other interests, kicking my “rejection” complex into high gear. And yes I am at times insecure and/or neurotic.
/ thank god this site is anonymous … D’oh!
Oh and my laptop crashes everytime I try to access the interweb which puts me in a bad mood
/flame on!
OK I’m done being angry. Sorry for the rant cliquers
Alright it is time to jack……
CRUSH ANYONE? …Patting Silmo gently on the head.
so went to Zinc for lunch today… and wow.
I have such a heavy food buzz that I can barely type.
Visit #3 lunch was amazing.
I dined with some friends and we had…
cheese plate… which was missing the chevre for some reason.
our waitress was very accomodating but not very educated about the menu/wine… which isnt really a surprise for lunch in cville.
we had the white wine mussels which was an obscene portion. So many mussels piled high that you could barely get to the white wine in the bottom of the bowl.
one friend had chicken salad crossiant which had some veins in it but she seemed content with.
the other friend had the quiche which looked very appealing. very large portion again…
I had the croque madame and bruseel sprouts and let me tell you holy f*@#!!! That sandwich is DELICIOUS! rich, tasty, happy, tingly, I can’t even describe how it made me feel. just… WOW!
paired with the Vouvray… yum.
didn’t have time for dessert unfortunately… but will be back to try it for sure.
and lunch is priced right on point… (or a ltitle below actually) I think the most expensive thing on the menu was ten bucks.
we have a winner for lunch on west main! Good job Zinc!