Ex Pizza places, its the best place I've been in in New Haven. Great vibe, awesome food and perfect service.

Came here on Valentine's Day last Saturday night. We made a reservation without realizing they would be serving a Prix Fixe menu at $85 per person. It was quite steep, but since other local restaurants were booked, we decided to keep our reservation. I had been eager to return after several years, remembering previous excellent experiences. Because it was the Valentine's Day menu, it wasn't representative of their usual offerings. I missed the unique dishes they normally feature, but overall, it was still a pleasant evening. I had hoped to try their Arctic Char, but ended up with the salmon from the special menu. We started with an amuse-bouche of deviled eggs, which were fine. The ricotta appetizer was outstanding, with bright hints of lemon zest and balsamic, while the zucchini and carrots were less memorable. The salmon was enjoyable, though not my favorite dish, and I heard the steak was well-prepared. For dessert, the pistachio cake was tasty, though slightly dry, and was served with a pistachio and chocolate gelato. Overall, it was a decent experience, but quite pricey for the quality. I'm giving Zinc a 4-star rating, taking into account my past visits, which were quite good. read more

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I started with the mushroom polenta which was creamy and perfect with a small hint of heat. The star of the show was the chicken! Perfectly crispy paired with a nice herbaceous sauce which paired perfectly with a glass of wine. read more

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Had an incredible lunch here with a girl friend. I'm Celiac and dairy-sensitive as dairy proteins can cross-react with/mimic gluten in the body - no issue, delicious options for me! ZINC is swank without being pretentious. Great location right on the main drag across from the park and down the street from the iconic bakery in town. I'll be back. read more

We dined on the first night of the summer menu and were impressed by the ambiance and the selection. Our server was good but, at one point, mentioned not being able to get us what we asked for (additional toasted ciabatta for our $20 dip) because the kitchen staff were "very stressed." He said he'd try then came back with a plate of cold, plain bread. That was disappointing. As for the rest of our food, the flavors were good and the dishes 'tasted like summer.' The only other bummer was that our steak was, surprisingly, prepared overcooked when we asked for medium and got medium well. Given the size and shape of it, the majority of the steak was cooked well (see photo). I really enjoyed the ambiance, the robust cocktail and mocktail menu, and the menu curation. The execution was a little bit off from our expectations though - maybe it was because it was the first night of a new menu. I'd be willing to give them another try because I mostly enjoyed. read more

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I brought my friend here for a birthday dinner. Reservations were easy to make on OpenTable. We each got a 2 course meal with a cheese plate, dessert, and wine. Definitely on the pricer side. Food was great! Service a bit slow. The only thing I didn't like was that I mentioned it was my friend's birthday on OpenTable and nothing was done on the restaurant's end. Not sure I would bring someone back here for a celebratory or birthday dinner but this would be a great date night spot! Yellow Curry Mussels (10/10) - would recommend if you love Mussels, flavored well Gras-Fed Prime Teres Major (9/10) | $39/plate - My favorite part of this dish was actually the Lemon-Rosemary Crispy Sweet Potato!! The steak was also cooked well. Shredded Duck Carnitas Tostada (8/10) | $22/plate Valrhona Chocolate Cake (8/10) - super chocolaty, dense, delicious! Artisanal 3 Cheese Plate (8/10) | $18 read more

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New American restaurant but some dishes here are more Asian fusion! I made a reservation on a Friday night. Food was great, service is fast and the place is nicely decorated. Their menu also isn't super big. I really loved the duck tacos and the tempura mushroom appetizer. Tuna was great as well. The chocolate cake I would skip for next time, it didn't stand out to me as a chocolates dessert. read more

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This was a good option in New Haven for a business party of 8 to enjoy a meal and some drinks. Service was great with the wait-staff refilling waters and offering more drinks shortly after finishing one. I never felt I was waiting for anything. The drinks were all lacking something. I started with a spicy gingery drink and it had a nice kick to it, but was lacking something. So I switched to a mezcal based drink which was good, but again, missing something. Finally, I just switched to beer... they had a great Japanese white. Foodwise, I had some good stuff! The Lettuce Wraps were amazing with a nice spice and great flavor. The Sea Scallops weren't overly large, but they gave me 6 of them! The were cooked perfectly (Gordon R. would be proud) and came in a puddle of Tzatziki with a cool Quinoa and Veggie side. I felt like I was eating healthy again! Until the Gelato Trio at the end which was a nice finishing touch. I'd go back again as they had some excellent looking options which my co-workers ordered and liked (Gnocchi, Singapore Noods, Hangar Steak). I'd probably get the Singapore Noods based on what I saw (and maybe sampled). read more

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We stopped in for lunch and enjoyed a quiet meal, good food, and attentive service. The prices were a little high, but the quality and preparation was very good. I had the cheeseburger, and it was a hefty burger, stuffed with prime Angus beef, generously melted jack cheese, lettuce and tomato slices, and a delicious onion relish to spread as one pleased. It came with seasoned fries that were well cooked, crispy exterior and a tender interior. My wife had the charred Caesar salad with grilled salmon which looked delicious (and was per my wife). Service was very good and the ambiance was very calming. read more

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Another wonderful experience at Zinc. We brought the entire family to celebrate Christmas. Our party had steak, halibut, char, lamb stew, scallops and octopus. Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted amazing. Drinks were ordered that paired well and appetizers of fresh hummus and muhammara. So glad we chose Zinc for our family and we will be dining here again. read more

Now this place is awesome. Met my daughter there as it's right across from her campus. Great staff. Wish I could remember the waiters name but the guys had black painted nails and an affinity for food. Had walnut dip app, duck nachos. Then a soft crab sandwich. Perfect. Great restaurant. read more

ZINC came highly recommended by a friend, so I celebrated my birthday there. We were a party of 7. The atmosphere and decor is very nice, and we had a great table by the window. Service was great from the moment we walked in. Drinks were very unique. The wine list extensive. We were started off with two small plates, compliments of the house...cucumber with salmon and something else, that was delicious, and yummy bread with fennel and some other spices, with a dipping sauce that was also delicious. I had the pork tenderloin, and it was superb! In retrospect, I should've tried ZINC without kids (we had a 10 and 7 year old kids with us), the menu is fascinating but not really for kids (my daughter did devour the pork belly, but not the gin soaked watermelon). Going to come back without the kids. read more

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Visited for my husband's birthday. The service and atmosphere were top notch. We loved each course from the apps to the drinks; we will be back! There is a variety of options and a quick shout out for their Espresso Martini flight. We loved trying all the different flavors. Truly a New Haven staple! read more

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I liked the vibe - an oasis in grim downtown New Haven. Great service from the bartender (we ate at the bar). Interesting menu, everything was good. Would be a regular if we lived here. read more

ZINC - Duck bao - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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A truly wonderful experience. Professional all around. They took my mother's wheelie and coat and stored it safely out of the way, first time that's happened. And we go out in New Haven area almost every weekend. Sean, Bar Manager and mixologist extraordinaire, created three unique drinks for us, one without alcohol for my mother. Our waiter, I forgot his name but he's from Salerno, Italy, was on top of service every step of the way. It was restaurant week, which isn't the reason we went, and we don't typically care for the special menu, but there was something for everyone in the three course offering. The House Cured Gravlax For appetizers, the Edamame and Mango / Coconut Milk / Fried Rice Paper appetizer was one of the best things I've ever eaten anywhere! Two others had the Crispy Sunchoke Herb Oil / Garlic Aioli, which was also very good. For dinner, t lwo of us had the green curry w/tofu and one had the fried chicken. I was told the chicken was very soft and moist but the accompanying greens were too salty and the chow chow not very appetizing. The green curry was very good but had a couple of surprises not listed on the menu, some type of little red pepper which I've never had but believe we're sweetly drops, that had a sweet pop and a bit of a spicy note, which I appreciated but the other person didn't necessarily. Dessert was either a chocolate mouse with a chocolate gelato or a rhubarb crumble cake with crème fresh gelato. Both were very good, gelato excellent, but the chocolate mouse wasn't chocolate mousse. It was heavy on the espresso/coffee flavor which the person ordering it wouldn't have had it been described as such, a tiramisu-like cake. All in all a wonderful meal! read more

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Let's just start by saying, if I could give them more than 5 stars I would absolutely do so. As we entered, they checked in our coats and proceeded to seat us. The restaurant was dimly lit but perfect for a romantic dinner. Our server was quite attentive but not overbearing. To start our meal we had the 3 cheese board which came with some bread, jam and fruit as well. The cheeses were really good, a nice way to start. For our meals I had the double cut pork chop which was cooked perfectly, served over some beans and butternut squash. My girlfriend had the bolognese served with sausage. Both meals were cooked perfectly. For dessert we had a pear tart which was served with a pistachio sauce which was really good. We really enjoyed the meal and service and would definitely go back in the future. read more

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We got to Zinc by accident. The food was very tasty and service was excellent. We needed gluten free and the waiter was knowledgeable and accommodating. We would definitely recommend this restaurant read more

Really great atmosphere. The food was great and the service even better. I'd go back again.

I came on a Friday night at 6pm to get dinner with a friend. There was a weird moment when the hostess wanted us to sit at one of the high tops when we had a reservation (and the restaurant was empty), but we were eventually sat at one of the normal tables. The service during dinner was otherwise great, very friendly staff and I enjoyed the food. I splurged for the Marinated Chilean Sea Bass. While it was tasty, I don't think the value was the best given how expensive it was ($42). We paid about $100 per person for dinner, one app, one salad, and 1 drink each. We also wanted to try the dumplings but they were out when we went. The lettuce wraps were pretty good, and I also really enjoyed the Caesar salad. The restaurant got progressively louder as the night went on, as well as dimmer. Intimate, would probably be good for a date if it's not too loud. I probably won't be back anytime soon, but may be down to give it another try in the future! read more

ZINC - Marinated Chilean Sea Bass - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I hate giving less-than-stellar reviews, so I'm sorry to write this. We went to Zinc for lunch for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. I wanted a handsome place that would be quieter, and it was. We had a lovely table for our party of four. The first issue came up when we were ordering. When the server told us the soup and pasta of the day, she didn't tell us that the Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich wasn't available. Someone tried to order that, and that's how we found out. Then, after we ordered, the server returned and apologized for the artichoke appetizer being off the menu. As someone with restaurant experience, I will assume that the kitchen didn't communicate well with the staff that day rather than blame the server. The second issue had to do with food. My pasta with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella was fine, as was the cheeseburger, and the Charred Gem Caesar was rather petite but good. My wife got the organic greens salad and the ramen. The salad again was tiny, but it was undressed. I don't know how you forget to dress a salad. And the ramen was so bland that she only ate a bite or two. I usually would be wary of ordering ramen outside a ramen shop, but there are limited vegetarian items on the menu. At home, we use minimal salt, so food tastes excessively salty when we dine out. That's how tasteless the ramen was. I hope this was just an off day for lunch at Zinc. Unfortunately, I'm from out of state and won't have a chance to verify that. read more

I had a nice lunch, which included the duck nachos and burger. The nachos were very tasty but I feel you didn't get enough of you plan on sharing. The burger was good and a nice size. It came with either fries or salad and I liked the salad. My party also ordered the shrimp pasta which they said was ok, nothing remarkable, and the fried chicken sandwich, which was good but not exceptional. The service and ambiance are nice but I was a little surprised by more expensive I thought it would be. read more

ZINC - Burger with salad - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

And the Yale graduation adventures continue. Today I celebrated a post graduation dinner for my niece at Zinc. It's a very elegant place. Nice décor and ambiance. And very close to Yale university. I ordered duck confit with pasta and chased it down with a nice sauvignon blanc. For appetizers I had a tasty charcuterie board of various goat cheeses, prosciutto and grilled brussel sprouts. And afterwards some delicious cocktails . I enjoyed everything immensely. Quite tasty as I like to say and absolutely another Sho' am good sho' am good Time by Derek Branum ! read more

10/10 for everything here. The ambiance. The service. The bartender. The sommelier. The food. The wine. The cocktails. Zinc is a perfect fine dining experience and I can't wait for the next special occasion as a good excuse to come back here !! read more

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I couldn't love this restaurant any more than I do now! From the moment you enter this special little gem of a restaurant located on the busy New Haven Green you feel taken care of and so comfortable. The staff is welcoming, professional and knowledgeable. The restaurant ambiance could be a beautiful oil painting. Tables are placed for privacy, gleaming glassware, and a bustling atmosphere but still intimate. The menu leaves you wondering how much you can possibly eat in one evening. We narrowed it down to the duck nachos with our generous delicious cocktails. We followed the nachos by the salmon entree and the chicken entree. I selected the chardonnnay and my husband the pino noir and both were better than your ordinary glass of wine. We thank the fabulous staff and so appreciate the skilled and talented chef. We can't wait to return!!! read more

ZINC - Scottish Salmon - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Man what a gem of a restaurant. New Haven is truly the best foodie city in New England. There are dozens of amazing places to eat and drink. And still through all of them Zinc finds a way to stand out. We ordered the lettuce wraps for an appetizer which were really outstanding. They're packed with flavor, you just have to try these. My wife for the steak and I got the salmon. Oh my we're both out of this world. My salmon was cooked PERFECTLY and it was so balanced with the risotto and cranberry's. Their menu is always tweaked to fit the season. What I think really set Zinc apart from some of its neighbors is that service. They really make you feel like you're in a Michelin star restaurant the way they serve you. Such attention to detail which is especially rare with the staffing shortage due to Covid. A waiter even noticed my parking ticket I had left out so I wouldn't forget to get it validated and he came over without me asking and give us the validated slip. Little things like this will keep myself and others coming back to Zinc New Haven. read more

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I went here with a few work colleagues, figuring they would have at least one vegetarian/vegan entree, because that sort of seems like the usual thing in this modern world. However, I was surprised to find literally every single entree was fish or some other meat. I asked if they could make anything vegan, and they said they could make some curry vegetables (which was very accommodating, maybe Zinc should get some points for that). The salad was honestly really weird and slimy. The vegetables were mediocre. Fairly bland, and overly salty. But possibly understandable given that it wasn't on the menu. The overall vibe was strange. The restaurant was dark and the skylights were really grimy looking. Absolutely would roast this place to anyone who would listen. Probably much better if you eat meat. read more

Food is amazing must go back here. I got seared scallops that were so so good. The duck nachos didn't have enough meat and stuff on it. It tasted good but was lacking. Everything else great and I will be back. read more

I've been coming to this place before a show at the Shubert for years. The food is excellent. The service is excellent. I used work nearby and would often get the Cobb salad. Also, excellent. read more

Came here a while ago to celebrate a friend's job offer. Classy environment and interior with attentive and kind staff. The seasonal duck breast I got was juicy and delicious, but there were a few spots where the fat wasn't rendered completely. Otherwise, a perfect dish and a good time! read more

ZINC - Duck breast - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Zinc was an amazing experience. I came here for a romantic night with my husband. The staff were unbelievably friendly and accommodating. The food was the best I've ever had. I highly recommend the salmon and the gelato dessert Omg it will literally melt in your mouth!! Had a blast here. Definately a top restaurant in the new haven area!! read more

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My husband and I are in town for our daughter's college orientation. We asked one of the administrator's at the college for a dinner recommendation. Without hesitation he recommended Zinc, and several of his colleagues agreed. Took a look on Yelp and quickly made a rez. The atmosphere was very nice and the service was almost impeccable. The only glitch was not bringing me sugar with my cappuccino, and then taking a while to bring me sugar after I asked for it. Our server did apologize, though, for taking so long with the sugar. This was not that big a deal, I would still give them 4.95 stars for service. We also sat at a nice round table which we really enjoyed. We ordered the cheese plate which was FABULOUS. Nice variety of cheeses and served with a thinly sliced cinnamon raisin bread which was really good and went well with the cheeses. Server was not able to answer a question about one of the cheeses, but quickly got back to us with the answer. The amuse-bouche of puréed sweet potato topped with octopus was nicely presented. I put it in the same category as escargot and uni, not my thing. My husband ordered the curried shrimp which he really liked. I ordered the Korean short ribs. The dish was almost a complete miss. I was expecting something close to a classic Korean braised short rib that is tender and juicy and full of flavor. As soon as I saw the meat I knew that was not what I was getting. Still, I gave it a chance and tried to cut off a piece to eat. Cutting into the meat was a workout. Still, I put the piece in my mouth and chewed. That was a mistake. It was really inedible, so overdone and dry, dry, dry. I think there was a light drizzle of the promised ssam sauce on top, but there was no saving that meat. The rice was okay. The only good thing on the plate was the thinly sliced pickles. I pushed the dish as far away from me as I could. The server came over right away and asked me what was wrong and I told her. She apologized and asked whether I would like to see the menu and order something else or try having the kitchen remake the dish. I of course went with the first option. The manager also came over to apologize and let me know that they were taking the dish off the menu for the night and that I of course would not be charged for it or for the second dish I ordered which was the Saigon Beef Lettuce Wraps. He asked me if I wanted to still have the rice and pickles from the original dish, and I said yes to the pickles. The lettuce wraps were pretty good, good flavor but the beef was a little overdone. The raspberry chocolate mousse cake we ordered for dessert was very good, even though the cake seemed a little dense for a mousse cake. They also gave us a small dish with a cardamom panna cotta, a mini coconut brûlée, a small scoop of a fruity ice cream that was also flavored with lime, and a blueberry and lime crumble. The dish was so yummy with the ice cream being the star of the show. I would definitely go back despite the fail with the short ribs as we still really enjoyed our dining experience. Great service goes a long way! read more

ZINC - Raspberry chocolate mousse cake - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Came to Zinc for a birthday dinner. I made a reservation a couple days ago, restaurant staff called to confirm this pm. We were greeted warmly and sat at a table immediately. Water was refilled promptly, service was wonderful. I would definitely return to try more menu items. Delish! read more

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Parking: street or around the corner on College St is a parking garage Atmosphere: business casual, low music in background, not too loud...just right Food: had Pork Belly app and Gnocchi with fig entree and they were stellar! Service: fast and friendly, Jessica was waitress and she was on top of things, even water refills! Price: on point for atmosphere and quality of food and wine. Overall: 5 star and will 100% return read more

ZINC - Korean BBQ pork appetizer - New American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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Really spectacular. I used to live in New Haven full-time, now I am half-time in NYC and half-time outside New Haven, and have not been to Zinc in years. I was just here for dinner with a friend from NYC and we were both blown away. The food was the best I have had in New Haven in years - by far. The cocktails were spot on, the service wonderful, the table spacing and sound level just right. (And the validated parking just makes it too good to be true.) I could have the duck here once/week...and that is currently my plan. Don't miss Zinc. read more

Very innovated menu. I like how it changes with the seasons. My favorite menu items aren't on the menu anymore but I'm sure everything new is just as good. read more

overpriced and tiny serving sizes. ordered a $40 steak and waited an hour for a steak the size of my hand. do not recommend. people are nice tho. read more

I was there 8/27/2022 with three guests and I have to say I was not impressed at all. First off, I despise bad, slow and inattentive service by the wait staff and it was not a good experience. Had to literally ask for everything...water, napkins, etc and several times at that. We started with cocktails and they did not arrive until the dinner just about came out -and that was a while to get. The menu -I like creativity and innovative menus but not impressed with the appetizers or entrees. Weird stuff, weird menu offerings -just way to off what is even halfway normal and really weird combinations of ingredients as well. The pork belly app was good....the pork dumplings should have noted on the menu how spicy they were. Naaaaa...not worth the $300.00 plus bill. read more

Service was nice at first, until the entrées came. The cioppino was just above room temperature and they forgot the accompanying toast with lobster foam (toast was cold, crumbly, and greasy). Even when they reheated the cioppino, it was kind of bland and nothing to write home about. I was nice about the temperature stuff and missing toast, but I won't be back. Not worth the money. The salad with cheddar and caramelized onions was good, though, but I can recreate it at home. I waited about 10 minutes while they reheated my cioppino, so I just awkwardly waited, hungry, while my date ate his meal (or that would have gone cold, too). Would have been nice if they offered anything at all-- glass of wine, knock the salad off the bill-- but nothing. Just because of that I won't be back. read more

Our food was absolutely delicious. My husband got the duck bao and I got the Singapore noodles. Our server Wendy was very professional, helpful, and helped make our first anniversary so special. We will definitely be back! read more

My husband and I went to dinner at Zinc last night for the first time and were so glad we tried it. We were drawn in by their creative menu and proximity to College Street Music Hall (which we were going to afterwards). Zinc is a stylish looking restaurant with very professional and attentive service. We had the duck nachos and olives as appetizers, and then both ordered the duck lo mein for our main courses. Everything was delicious. The olives weren't really anything different than you could get elsewhere, but the duck dishes were. The other items on the menu sounded great too, and the plates we saw other patrons eat looked good. The portions were generous, although the prices were on the higher end. We both said that we would gladly return. I am interested in trying the 3 course prix fixe dinner "of the week" on a future visit. read more

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