Zinc Café & Bar

We visited Zinc after a long time and the string that dragged us in was the coupons that they send around the holidays which surprised us. Later we found out that the ownership has changed and all of them are owned by Paris Baguette Corp. We tried the almond croissant which was quite dry, pumpkin muffin which was actually not bad, their breakfast burritos which was very small for $15 and very greasy with literally 8 tortilla chips which were stale. We also got their latte and drip coffee. Service was great however given the quality and quantity of the food and the lack of the premade salad options, we won’t be back anytime soon. Coupons will not help.

Update — they took away dinner!! Sad! Wow!! They just started dinner and this is the best food, best happy hour, best wine, best service. Good prices. The sliders/ burger are to die for. Also great tacos! Coming back tomorrow. CDM, drop everything and get over here. Try to get Javier - so funny! Love, “favorite table” 🫶

The fish tacos were pretty good as well as the burger. The ambience inside is very welcoming and cute. We chose to eat outside since it was a nice day. It’s close to the street so a good amount of traffic noise but it wasn’t bothersome.

Finally had a chance to try this place and it was fantastic. Was completely tricked by the simple look of the outside. I was expecting a really small hole in the wall with little to no seating. I was completely wrong because they have plenty of seating along with a side patio. The food was very tasty and my chilaquiles had a very crunchy tortilla at the bottom which remained crispy to the last bite. I will be going back for lunch but be advised that they do NOT do dinner. This place is highly recommend

Lovely place for breakfast on PCH. Has a nice outdoor patio which is great to sit at for a nice breakfast or brunch. Enjoyed the Benedict.

Zinc Cafe on East Coast Highway has become my sanctuary when I need a productive change of scenery from the office. Every visit is consistently excellent, starting with their wonderfully attentive service that strikes the perfect balance between being available and giving you space to work or relax. Their beverage menu deserves special praise - the matcha is prepared with such care and precision that it's become my morning ritual. I particularly appreciate that they sweeten their matcha and mochas with agave rather than processed sugar, which makes all the difference in taste and is a thoughtful health-conscious touch. Food-wise, the gruyere omelette is absolutely divine - rich, perfectly cooked, and the gruyere adds that perfect savory depth that elevates it beyond typical cafe fare. It's become my standing order. The atmosphere is equally impressive - bright, airy, with plenty of comfortable seating whether you're settling in for a few hours of work or just enjoying a quick coffee. The coastal Newport Beach location adds to the charm. Whether you're looking for a reliable work spot with great WiFi, meeting friends, or just treating yourself to quality food and drinks, Zinc delivers every time. Easily one of Newport Beach's finest cafe experiences and my personal favorite escape.

Zinc Café & Market offers a delightful experience with its great coffee and refreshing juices. The breakfast menu is decent, with a variety of options to suit different tastes. The atmosphere is particularly interesting and inviting, making it a fantastic spot for socializing with friends or family. One standout aspect of Zinc Café & Market is the friendly and attentive staff, who always ensure that customers have a pleasant visit. The café's ambiance is warm and welcoming, perfect for starting your day with a smile. Some breakfast favorites include the avocado toast, which is perfectly seasoned, and the fluffy scrambled eggs that come with a side of crispy potatoes. The pastries are also a must-try, especially the freshly baked croissants. Overall, Zinc Café & Market is a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. The quality of the food and drinks, combined with the pleasant atmosphere, guarantees a satisfying experience. The late brings smiles to people ☺️.

Came here after walking out of Champagne’s and was just really happy to see printed menus for my 93 yo dad-in-law haha. While both places serve great food I find the staff here to be very friendly, happy to be working here, and more eager to help. It was definitely easier for my father in law to pick and order his food instead of being forced to stand in front of the counter and look up at the menu. Try the grains bowl - healthy and delicious with corn and sweet potatoes and a little bite back with the sauce.

Such a solid brunch spot!! Light food fare with good portions. Their pancakes and omelette are delicious and I appreciate the little side salads lol the dressing is awesome. They need to work on their lattes a little bit though, other than that stellar 5/5 on everything!

Love this place! Coffee is so delicious.... Along with breakfast and lunch. Don't forget to try a lemon cookie too Omg just came here for the first time k awhile and like other reviews have mentioned, they have changed ownership and took away the solid bar options. The servers were rude and it seems like the quality went down. I don't understand changing a concept that everyone loved and always worked. Maybe the new owner should read the reviews and consider doing it the old way, and instead of changing to a new way, they know what he likes.

Love this hidden Gem! We had our first 2025 breakfast here and loved it. Everything is so beautiful and tasty! We got middle eastern breakfast, stuffed French toast and the bacon omelet. Great service and prime location with a parking spot.

We visited Zinc after a long time and the string that dragged us in was the coupons that they send around the holidays which surprised us. Later we found out that the ownership has changed and all of them are owned by Paris Baguette Corp. We tried the almond croissant which was quite dry, pumpkin muffin which was actually not bad, their breakfast burritos which was very small for $15 and very greasy with literally 8 tortilla chips which were stale. We also got their latte and drip coffee. Service was great however given the quality and quantity of the food and the lack of the premade salad options, we won't be back anytime soon. Coupons will not help.

Beautiful location beautiful interior! Got the breakfast burrito with veggie sausage and a salted rosemary latte. The coffee was good quality and I liked their flavor choices. The ingredients of the burrito were not as equally distributed as I hoped, very heavy egg in only half- but it was decent once I got to the sausage and such! Definitely would come again for a breakfast with some people!

Very friendly service. Excellent food. I loved my shrimp tacos were excellent. Super cute environment.

Corona Del Mar, CA Zinc has been a long time favorite but John has sold his restaurants to the Paris Baguette Corporation from what we understand and the new changes are not all for the better. Canola oil blend is now used in their dishes instead of 100% olive oil we have been enjoying for years, and it is in almost everything we usually order We love the cold daily salads but not the Canola Oil used in them! So much for the healthy concept! Hopefully they switch back. Until then, we are very sadly no longer patrons.

One of my favorite brunch spots in Newport! Their avocado toast is amazing, and it's the perfect amount for me. I've gotten it to-go a few times because it's so good. I've had their matcha before; it was decent but a little grainy. Their French toast is tasty. Parking can be a bit hard since their lot is small, so I usually end up parking on the side of the street. It's nice that it's super close to the beach. Last time, my boyfriend and I took a nice walk there after our meal.

Well, unfortunately with Zinc Cafe's new ownership and direction they are now a one star destination. I've been coming here for over a decade and always enjoyed the salad bar, and all the menu items. I'm sorry to say that international investors are now the primary owners and Zinc Cafe has completely lost its way. The loss of open seating, combined with waiters who haven't been trained properly, and mediocre food is the sad new reality of Zinc. I do not see this place lasting more than another year or two, very sad to lose such a great restaurant.

Stopped by Zinc during the Corona Del Mar Christmas Walk and remembered how good their avocado toast was from before--so, of course, I had to get it again! My friend ordered one of the bowls, but she couldn't help eyeing my brunch.

There are a few locations in Orange County and I specifically prefer this location. It's typically less crowded and offers seating areas in multiple different spaces of the restaurant. - There's parking available in the parking lot and the service is quick at the register. You receive a number and they can bring your order to your table. I love all of their hot beverages and my favorite dish is the avocado toast. - The guacamole/avocado is a chunky, wholesome spread. You can get your eggs prepared however you like. In addition, they have a cute shop adjacent to the restaurant.

Thank you Eric for the great service and amazing food! The shrimp tacos and avocado salad were to die for and the cookies were the cherry on top!

Came by this place during the CDM Xmas walk and sampled their egg nogg and pecan chew bar, I didn't like egg nogg in previous experiences of it but this place blew my mind with their egg nogg. Best egg nogg I've ever had. The pecan chewy bar was also delicious! I wish the egg nogg was on the menu for purchase because it was so good! Everything on the menu looks delicious and fresh! I will definitely try this place out again soon!

Disappointing to see the changes made to Zinc under new ownership. It was the best place to run in and pick lunch and/or dinner from an assortment of wonderful food items in their "deli" (for lack of a better word) area. It cost a little more but it was always tasty. Great place to order breakfast and sit inside or out while enjoying. When I walked in the last time and saw almost empty gift shelves and no food out for takeaway I was a little heartbroken.

Ideal brunch spot if you're looking for a cafe that has an indoor and outdoor option in CDM! Plenty of variety for food and drinks with above average food. Service is hit or miss as we waited for quite some time both to order and get the check before someone came as they were busy!

This Zinc Cafe & Market location offers a delightful patio, and a very chic indoor space. I strolled in yesterday and bought the Thai Salad with an iced Americano coffee. The iced coffee came without ice in it, which was odd, since the drink became warm very quickly. I had to request an additional cup of ice from the server. The salad was good, but I felt that it could be improved, the presentation was nice, however, the majority of the salad was bean sprouts and carrot with sparsely spread pieces of lettuce, I would have preferred more lettuce in my salad. The dressing on the salad was also a little on the spicy side, and there were only a couple peanuts sprinkled in. Overall, it was a fine dining experience, and the service was alright.

Why did they make this a sit down formal order restaurant? The people here are not trained for that, they're not friendly, they don't check on you, they don't smile... it's like somebody forever them to start waiting tables when they don't want to. Then at the end they want you to tip and stand there with the hand held so you tip anyways. Also, in the middle of my husband's grilled cheese was a giant mushroom. How do you not see a big brown mushroom when you're making a grilled cheese.

Food was amazing, presentable and fresh. Cute place for breakfast or brunch with beautiful view in heart of Huntington Beach. Workers were very nice with great service and very attentive to costumers which makes huge difference

There was a BUG in my breakfast burrito. I am so disgusted. I can only imagine what the kitchen must be like.

Went there for a late lunch and enjoyed it a lot. I got the steak salad and my husband got the salmon dish. We both enjoyed the food. The salad was fresh with the right amount of dressing. The steak was a bit overcooked but still fresh and lean. We overall enjoyed this place with friendly servers and a lively ambiance

Terrible service! Terrible terrible manager! I was there two weeks ago go and my order came incomplete after asking multiple times. Then I walked to the manager and asked for help!!!!! She was completely indifferent and ignorant and had very rude behavior!!! It is whilst another couple left the restaurant in frustration just because they were waiting forever and no one took their orders!!!! I left and felt infuriated how such a nice place turned into such disaster after changing their food service style. This was a DREADFUL experience on a Saturday morning!!!

The new owners of Zinc Cafe have absolutely RUINED THE MENU and everything that was so great about this place. Me and my friends and family have been regular customers at Zinc for over 10 years. This place had many regulars like me and from the looks of all the recent reviews, they all feel the same as I do. I can understand why someone would want to buy Zinc. They had a great concept, presented in a unique way, but most of all the menu items and recipes were cultivated over many years to please their customers. What I don't understand is why someone would want to buy Zinc and then get rid of everything that made Zinc great? The entire deli section that used to have fresh and healthy items, grilled to perfection? GONE. Most of the menu items that we loved? Either GONE or changed into less unique and less healthy dishes that we don't want and that you can find anywhere. The new owners should definitely change the name, since it is an entirely different menu and experience. Than we would all simply be sad at the loss of one of our favorite spots in CDM. But by still using the Zinc name, and entirely gutting the menu and adding so many meat items and less healthy options, people are feeling duped and betrayed. My advice to the new owners is you have two options. 1. Go back to the menu, recipes and experience that you bought from Zinc. Start there and then communicate with long time regular big-spending customers and find out what we want, what is important to us and how you could give us more of that? You could easily start an email list for feedback, polling or market research and also use social media. 2. Watch your customers slowly disappear, as tons of bad reviews and word of mouth will certainly have a major negative impact on your long term business. I really really hope the new owners will consider what so many of your loyal, long time customers are saying.

I don't ever write reviews...However, ZINC cafe had to be an exception! This place was amazing! Food, service and ambiance! My family and had the best time! We each loved what we ordered! Food was soooo tasty!!! If you're ever in the Orange County area- I 1000% recommend stopping by!

As a local CdM resident for many decades / Zinc was our favorite local spot and for neighbors until recently when it changed owners. No longer the casual hip cafe. Changed the vibe by requiring a reservation type sit down and table service only. The beautiful salads selections are all gone!! Also added meat for the first time. They also crammed more tables obviously to max out their profits. Please bring back the old Zinc!

Amazing spot, well thought-out menu, and quality ingredients, clean and classy atmosphere. Chilaquiles, Mediterranean Breakfast and Beacon Gruyère Cheese Omelet are all fantastic. Coffee is also top notch. Great service by a knowledgeable staff. I highly recommend.

Zinc was really good the first time I came here. They're still delicious the second time around but after seeing some of the food people have on their plates-- the simplicity, though elegant and adorable in egg shape, seems like a jip. But if you order the right things then you will walk away smiling for the rest of the day. I promise. Or whatever, I don't know you. In asking for the recommendations, the ones that looked most delicious were amongst the top two suggestions. Their seasonal galette looked adorable especially next to the other lackluster pastries. No offense guys, but you thrive with salads and the simplest ingredients. Pastries are for those who don't care if their cookies are baked all the way. The tart shell was standard pie crust. In the depth of it, you won't find a cooked buttery flaky shortbread but semi-risen pie dough. Not that it's bad. Just could do with improvements. Very standard. Light lemony taste on the blueberries. It's very refreshing. The avocado toast had GENEROUS smushed avocado meat. Yummmmmmm. Love it when restaurants don't skimp on the simplest ingredients. Their poached egg is cute and new, I haven't seen it done much like that anywhere else. But that fresh dill super balanced everything out. Middle eastern breakfast had a great crispy, rejuvenating salad as well as most of the rest of their salads from the salad bar. Got a little over a pound second time around and a molasses cookie. But the molasses cookie tasted like gingerbread only lacking some ginger. It's thick like a substantial burger patty and the color of one too but let's be honest, bigger isn't always better.

What the heck is going on in Corona Del Mar?!! First Rose Bakery has a horrible revamping/rebranding by new owners, and now Zinc? So disappointing to discover yet another Corona Del Mar staple sold to people who don't understand what their customers want. My favorite thing about Zinc was ordering from the "build your own" salad/deli counter, which is now completely gone. And hostess seating? No. The menu has changed with MANY of the old favorites eliminated. Incredibly disappointing experience overall. After twelve years of supporting Zinc, we will not be coming back.

Warning! This place under new ownership. It's a shit show. Now you have to be wait to be seated. They want to take your order when you get to the table they have to bring you water bring your coffee and there's two waiters working in the entire place and they've deleted the entire antipasto bar! Was one of our favorites been back twice not coming again

Husband and I live in Salt Lake city and come to the Newport area about four times a year. Zinc has always been a favorite and we stopped in and ordered the quinoa bowls several times a week. We would come and get takeout from them salad bars, and we love the cauliflower. We love the cookies and the baked goods. We loved everything. We stopped in this week and we're so disappointed to see the changes that have been made. The deli case for salad and veggies is gone. The cookies are not the same. They are nowhere near as good. We will not be back and are looking for a new favorite.

Been coming here for years and as they say happy customers usually don't right reviews only those who are disappointed. Sunday morning. 7 am. No scones no green drink have to inquire with a server for all questions. Now we have to order at the table?? Service is the worst it's been in my lifetime and now you force more to the service personnel??? What are you thinking? Is it a surprise that two popular breakfast items would be ordered? The convenience and to some degree charm/attraction of zinc is to browse the food case then order. Sorry but you screwed this up. I'll be back ONLY to check if you changed back to counter service self seating and only then I will return as a customer.

What was once one of my favorite is now my least favorite. Place is under new ownership. Menu has changed, pasta bar is gone, and sitting format has changed. Vegetarian items are very limited and the food isn't the same. I ordered a vegetarian burrito for $14. $6 more if I had added chicken. The vegetarian burrito was not worth ordering and the chips were cold and hard. Besides the chips being cold, the chips were very dark. Meaning it was cooked in old oil. Waitress said that's how it is. It would got been better to open a bag of chips from the market and serve that instead. Very disappointed. Resturant that was once busy and lively was pretty dead. Will not be coming back to Resturant any more. Wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

I have been coming to Zinc for over 20 years and said that if it would close it would be the only restaurant that would make me cry. To see the new ownership change almost absolutely everything about what made this place such a success is disheartening.... I came back twice now and noticed how many people Stood in line looking for the salad bar/area and it's completely gone!!!! That was the BEST part of such a successful restaurant! It IS THE REASON why. I am so so sad that my favorite part about this place is now gone. Reading the reviews it always amazes me how new ownership changes what made something so successful. I'm all for change- but do NOT change things that are working! I'm reading the owners comments back and seeing how tone dead she is to SOOO many long standing patrons expressing the same sentiment. There is NO need for a more intimate team dining experience. People came here to walk in- peruse the deli counter, grab a delicious home baked tasting pastry and sit down. Now it's just like all the rest of corporate restaurants that everyone is sick of.

Another sad story of new ownership ruining a CDM staple restaurant. Decreased the food quality, decreased the menu options and implemented unnecessary operational changes. I found receipt paper in my salad and the bread of my avocado toast had not even been toasted. We used to come here once a week and we are SO disappointed! The people of Corona Del Mar demand you bring back our beloved salad bar or lose the heart of the masses. And note for the owners- if you do bring back the salad bar, please hang a banner outside otherwise we'll never know since we won't be back until that happens! Ugh.

I have been coming to Zinc ( many of its locations) for the past 25 years Have always loved their food and service it hurts me to say that with NEW OWNERS/MANAGEMENT the service has taken a Huge dive down As usual I went to place my order at the cashier, after completing my order the cashier told me that if any part of my order was to eat in house , then she cannot take my order. She canceled the order. Let me go sit down and re-order all over again. I had to go find a waitress to come help me because nobody was coming over once I ordered part of it for here and part of it to go. I mentioned that I wanted my pastries ahead of time, and they left it up in the counter only the in-house order was delivered to the table.... So sad to see such huge mismanagement Growing up is hard to do, especially when you don't know what you want to be.... They are trying to figure it out at the cost of lowering customer service Very sad to ruin a good thing

The location is cute! Service was spectacular, very kind and attentive people. Even though a waiter dropped our food, she was genuinely sorry, and apologized in the most sincere way possible. The food came out surprisingly quick, it was okay the eggs on the toast were perfect, I personally liked the French toast because it had a more natural flavor. The iced lavender latte wasn't good at all, too watery. The matcha was of true quality but if you are a fanatic of sweet don't get it unless you pair it with a syrup. The green juice was good but i wouldn't buy it again due to the overwhelming price of $9 for a very small cup. I will consider coming back to better explore the menu that the restaurant has to offer.

Cafe Zinc has changed ownership after 35+ years of operation. It is now owned by a corporate entity and the SOUL has gone right out of it. I went into the Corona Del Mar site today and found that the new ownership has removed the HEART of the location by removing the sumptuous salad bar, blasting obnoxious music, crowding in more tables and going from a casual walk up and order format to table service. The place was almost empty and for all the years it has been in operation the mornings I have gone in almost ALWAYS had a full house. This is what happens when a beloved business informed by the values of the previous owner is "sold out" to another corporate overseas based entity. Cafe Zinc is no longer a home for the community it has so graciously fed and housed in the past. VERY SAD!!!

I am writing this review with a very sad heart. Cafe Zinc in Laguna Beach and more recently Corona Del Mar has been a second home to my family and friends for 35+ years. I have memories of first meals out at a Cafe Zinc with both my 27 and 22 year old sons. Cafe Zinc has been purchased by a corporate entity that not only does not know or understand the community these businesses have served or what I am afraid to accept, probably has no care to understand. At the CDM location they have not only removed the most valued "go to" which was the very unique, rich and varied salad bar, but have also gone to a less casual "drop by and drop in" model that has been enjoyed by ALL. It is now a "sit down and take your order" format with a menu that does not allow for the beloved "grab a plate of salads, hummus or deviled egg" offering so many of us have come to Zinc for 35+ years to enjoy. The quality has also been compromised. The baked goods are now mass produced and the food has lost it's healthful emphasis. I am just gutted about these changes. We've lost a second home and the community has lost a real resource; a gathering spot with heart and soul. The emphasis has moved to profit first I am afraid. We'll be in search of a new spot to gather that actually knows and values the people it serves.

Service is great, cute cafe but the food is just bland wine is good too, only thing we ordered that was good was German pancakes. Chilaquiles do not even bother.

Food tastes really good. A bit pricey on the portions but everything tastes great. Ordered the chef specials. Curry Lentil soup, asparagus toast, and an egg white omelette with marinara. Friendly and courteous service. The ambiance was reminiscent of a beach farm house. Would go back and try other dishes. Love the little parking lot.

Oh my gosh delicious! Usually if I stumble upon a vegan or vegetarian place on my own, I'd say let's go find somewhere with some extra protein. But I was starving so we gave this place a go. SO DELICIOUS. You wouldn't even know. In the front, it may look quiet but they stay pretty busy and there's an outside patio (for dogs!)

Had breakfast today with a beautiful and fulfilling Middle Eastern Plate. I loved the combination of ingredients, bright colours and its freshness. I would change the bread option for this dish though substituting toasted white bread with a more authentic flat bread option (pita or lavash). Overall, I was full and happy. Thank you, Zinc, CDM!

Delicious food, a bit overpriced. Lavender latte is delicious, great super cozy ambiance. Food take a while to arrive, but it was also busy at 8:30. I wish they had a lot more parking nearby, it's always a challenge

The avocado toast was delicious! I normally don't like when the avocado is super mashed up bc this was an exception. My only complaint on this dish was that there were barely any tomatoes. On the 3 pieces of toast that came out, we had a total of 3 or 4 half pieces of cherry tomatoes. We also tried the veggie mushroom burger but I didn't love the patty. The walnuts were really large and not blended down very much and the burger needed some aioli. Ketchup helped but it wasn't my favorite. The soup of the day was leek ... which was just okay. The ambiance is cute and the service was prompt... however a lot of the dishes were dirty (extra spoons, bowls, plates that we requested) so it was kind of off putting. I really wanted to love this place but we weren't wowed by anything other than the avocado toast so I'm not sure if we'll be back.

Getting worse! They are hiring lots of new people but no one knows what is happening. What a mess! Looking for a new place to go in the mornings. Any suggestions?

Devastated. Never coming back again. So disappointing. New management doesn't know what they've ruined. Met 2 other pissed off customers while I was waiting in line, while new management was having some sort of huddled business meeting around their laptops, taking up 3 tables, with their backs turned to everyone.

1. Ownership changed. 2. Vegetable and salad bar removed. 3. No more gifts (only a few stragglers) 4. They changed the staff that had been there for 10 years and more. 5. Removed the ordering system. Table service now. 6. Many signature menu items removed and replaced with items that every other place carries, eg ricotta pancakes. 7. Vibe gone. 8. This place was such an awesome spot for a casual meet up, no more.

I have been a regular at Zinc for the last 16 years. Unfortunately, they have drastically changed the restaurant. The epic salad bar and the garlic knots are no longer available and most of the signature baked goods are gone. The salad bar was so delicious it used to be the first place I would bring out of town guests for a meal. It was what made Zinc unique. What is left of the menu is generic and bland and I don't think I'll be coming back.

This restaurant used to be the go to for healthy, fine cuisine in Corona Del Mar. The service has deteriorated to the point where I can no longer make any recommendations regarding a meal here. Starting with the ability to order at the table and waiting 30 minutes for a waiter to come at a time of day where the restaurant is near empty is ridiculous. When the food finally was served, half the dishes were cold and had to be returned to the kitchen to be remade. After 45 minutes of waiting, we still did not receive any of our beverages that were ordered. Speaking with the manager, his lack of interest or facilitation of their horrendous service was evident immediately. After three trips to the counter to try and secure our drinks, we finally gave up and left the restaurant without receiving an apology nor our beverages. No one carriage to take responsibility regarding the terrible service and the food served cold. There are far better restaurants for the price in this area, but this is not one that I can recommend. We've been here multiple times over the years and this is the worst it's been. Don't waste your time or money!

I went in expecting the usual amazing upscale vegetarian experience only to find that the menu has been completely changed. There was not even a veggie burger on the menu! They said they could make me one and they did and it was terrible! The restaurant was empty when I went in and I cannot believe that they took a thriving busy amazing restaurant with an incredible menu and changed it Into something that basically serves bar food! Very very very disappointing