Came here for a pre-Berkeley Rep dinner and was not impressed. To start off with the space is awkward and way too large. It's located in a hotel lobby and it makes sense for guests to eat breakfast at, but not for a pre-theater dinner. Food left something to be desired- we ordered the hummus as an appetizer which was pretty salty. For entres, someone in our party ordered the scallops which came undercooked even though they had requested them cooked all the way through. Another in our group had an overcooked burger. As for myself, I had ordered the pappardelle pasta with truffle which I had been looking forward to because I love truffle. Then the waiter arrived with a pesto pasta dish and told me the pappardelle wasn't an option. They didn't even ask me before delivering the pesto pasta which I found pretty inconsiderate. I don't like pesto and I would have rather ordered the chicken if I had known I needed to make a substitution. I felt like the waiter had just forgotten to tell me they were sold out of the pappardelle earlier and just gave me whatever the kitchen whipped up. To make matters worse the waiter had offered to comp the pesto pasta when the dish was delivered to the table. When the check arrived the pesto was still on the bill. We brought it to his attention and he told us he "didn't remember saying it would be free" even though I clearly heard him say it to me multiple times and the person sitting right next to me heard so as well. Eventually, he did take care of the charge which was nice. In summary, I would skip this spot, bad food, below average service and an awkward atmosphere. read more

The food was fantastic! We had the three dip appetizer, okra, the fattoush salad, and Chicken Tajine. The food was fantastic and we enjoyed our meal...the service was good but not great. Perhaps it's newness is causing some disruption but the food came out slowly with some pauses...and we were there at the first seating 5:15. We had to be at a show by 7:00ish! We WILL go back and try it again, the food was delicious and I would like to go when we can eat without watching our time. read more

Went there Christmas Day. Pretty lame. Octopus was warm and tough. Sent it back (which I never do). Came back a little bit warmer but still tough and accompanying potatoes still luke warm at best. Disappointed. read more

My tastebuds are still dancing! I'm staying at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza and decided to try the onsite restaurant. I ordered the grilled pacific tuna (with a cuttlefish, tomato, spring onion, lemon, mango salsa) and the MOST DIVINE snap peas with a garlic yogurt froth. The tuna itself was okay - not rare, but served cold. I expected to at least taste the "grill". The salsa was bright and flavorful. I was blown away by the snap peas! I'm not sure how you make a warm yogurt sauce without curdling it but they did it. I'm here on business for two nights and I plan to eat here again tomorrow! read more

ZINO - Snap peas - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pass on this place if you're looking for good food. We had the sea salt fries (served not-quite-warm), the hummus (served with grocery-store pita), the paella (which turned out to be rice with steamed veg on top, clearly not cooked together, served in a tagine for some reason), and the chicken roulade (dry and tragically overcooked). The reason this is two stars instead of one is that our server was attentive and good-natured despite it being only his 3rd day on the job. read more

I love this space and the many restaurants that have tried their luck here, but unfortunately I don't see Zino lasting long. We were there for dinner and perhaps their breakfast/brunch is better, but we were underwhelmed by the Mediterranean food for what they're charging. It was good, but not that good. On the bright side, I'm sure something new will occupy this space again before the year is out. I'd still drop by for a late night drink and a snack though. read more

New years day, it was open. We arrived after confirming our reservation by phone. Had to wait for 10 minutes while they prepared our table, not sure why that hadn't already been accomplished. Restaurant had mostly open tables, with only a few diners, probably given the day. Once seated drinks came out sporadically, as did the dinner. Food was fair. I would like to think all of this was due to it being NY day and they had given most of their staff time off. So, here's hoping you have better experience in the new year! read more

I recently went to Zino to grab a drink and had such a nice time that I think it is one of my new favorite spots in Berkeley! I sat at the bar and Hana made me the most delicious drink called "spill the tea", and pointed me to some veggie options on the menu. She was friendly, attentive, and all of her recommendations were great. I will absolutely come back to Zino in the future after the amazing service I received. Thanks, Hana! read more

Perhaps the best fried chicken in the county. Don't let the hole-in-the-wall look turn you off. Chicken is really, really good.

Not complaining about the service, no one treated us poorly. But the food that came out of that kitchen was terrible. It started with finding not one item on the menu that seemed remotely appealing. After settling on the cod, it was served dried out and flavorless. It was placed haphazardly on a fried cake of mystery fish, which was both over salted and without flavor at the same time. My husband ordered the risotto which was overseasoned with truffle oil. The cooking staff needs to start tasting the dishes before putting out dishes that I wouldn't dream of serving in my own home. read more

Very Comfortable hotel type bar very sleek and wonderful. HaNa has been a pleasure I would recommend this place to anybody that wants to have a comfortable barThat is super inviting read more

Befuddled, seems to be the best descriptor for the wait staff here. I could also go with incompetent, lackadaisical, entitled, and all around confused. We arrived for a Christmas brunch and there was confusion from the start. We expected the staff to take our drink order before we went to the buffet. We sat at our table why they shilly shallied around the room never talking to us. We finally decided we must get our own drinks. We got up and got our food and attempted to find the bloody mary bar that was advertised but were stymied in our attempts. We went to get OJ for the kids and finally someone spoke to us saying they would bring us drinks. Ten minutes later someone finally shuffled up and took our first drink order. She acted confused about the bloody mary's but took the order. Service was incredibly slow, like the wait staff was in some kind of time loop preventing them from accomplishing anything in less than three times the normal required time. Drinks sat empty, dishes piled up, and our frustrations grew to the point that my wife finally started getting the drinks herself directly from the bar. The food was actually really good but the poor service really detracted from it. That was until we got the bill and were charged a 20% gratuity and for our drinks that were supposedly included in the special Christmas buffet price. There was clearly no point in talking to the wait staff about this issue (or anything else for that matter) so we asked to speak with a manager. He did straighten it out satisfactorily. How a restaurant can expect to treat customers this way and stay in business is beyond me. We did hear they are under new ownership so for their sake I hope they work it out. As for me I won't take a chance spending that kind of money with them again. If I had to sum it up I would say: Baffled and bewildered with drinks and plates she muddled through what will management do? read more

This is my Gem, my favorite place is Berkeley to go and have a nice glass of wine, warm olives. With my lady friends and family.

Just to let you know: Sunday brunch open till 1:30 PM only includes typical brunch items, such as omelettes, eggs Benedict, etc. In other words, Not really Mediterranean dishes. The 2 stars is for the maître d' who had a lousy attitude when we left and apologized: he seemed mad that we decided to leave because of the confusion. So much for apologizing. Otherwise, I would have loved to have tried this place in the future for its Mediterranean food. read more

The food and drinks were excellent, but the service was spotty. We had to ask for water at least 3 times, even though the restaurant was nearly empty. Our server was friendly when she came by, but barely checked in. When she did, she asked "everything ok over here?" and walked away before we could answer (and order more food!) We also had an odd assortment of utensils which were sort of piled on the table. Plus, the room was very brightly lit so the whole ambience was confusing. read more

We arrived upon opening at 4:45 pm. They asked us to wait. Then, they took people to their table at 5 pm that had arrived at 5 pm first. The food was bland and tasteless. We have traveled to Morrocco and the chicken tangines are amazing. This one was plain in a brown sauce. The fish dish had no flavor served with raw vegetables we had just eaten with a fatoosh salad. It was a disappointment. I know it's a good locale near the Berkeley Rep. but we will not return. We liked it better as the former restaurant called Five. read more

Really like this restaurant! Was right near a parking garage which is nice. The ambiance is great and so is the food! The dip trio was delicious and so was the avocado toast we had! Definitely would be back here to try more things on the menu. Didn't go for drinks but they have a really cute looking bar area. read more

Saturday night, almost empty...Football night, understandable. Hostess very bubbly. Mediterranean cuisine, they say, with Californian twist. Well, some good appetizers, such as Muhammara, Tzadziki. However, main dish "Tagine" frankly bad. Undercooked vegetables, too many patatoes, all drenched in harissa, as to conceal the blandness of the rest. The chef refuses to accommodate any food peculiarity (we are in Berkeley, so surprising!). Fish quite edible, but since it is Mediterranean, was is frozen...? No special accompaniment, though. We are very very familiar with "Mediterranean" fare and Zino has a lot to learn to reach an acceptable level. read more

Really great food lunch is my favorite. Nice staff as well my favorite thing was pasta stuffed with ricotta best thing i've ever had. The cups are also really cool. great decor 10/10 read more

Food is great! Customer service is good! Price is affordable. Plates are too small so if you're on a diet, that may help.

Decided to try this place out as we were in the area and found an opening on OpenTable. The restaurant is in a hotel and it feels like it. While it is decorated nicely it feels sterile at night as everything is white and there's no warmth to the space. During the day it probably looks better? We ordered the trio of dips with pita for $18. They were good not great. We tried the hummus, baba ghanouj and Muhammara. All of them were cold and the muhammara was our least favorite as it was very dense and dry. We split the lamb ($27) and a side of okra which were both delicious. Our main complaint was service. Our waiter didn't really know how to explain dishes when we asked him questions about the menu. He also came to us just as we were seated and asked our order. We hadn't even looked at the menu yet! Then he went missing for 10 minutes. When we were finished he asked us if we wanted dessert, we looked at the menu and then he disappeared again. Finally we waved another waiter to get our check. Our waiter never showed up. We saw him outside when we were leaving. We were at the restaurant for 90 minutes and the restaurant wasn't even busy. If I came back I would probably sit at the bar or the bar area and try some other small dishes. read more

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I have taken some of my business associates here twice and I've been impressed both times. It is a great concept, Mediterranean Fusion, which consistently surprises me to the upside. A few things that are a "must try" are the Muhammara, a roasted pepper, walnut and pomegranate dip that is seriously one of the best I've ever tried, especially in the Bay Area. The spicy feta and Tzatiki sauce are a pleasant change from the same old, same old dip served in most "Mediterranean" restaurants. Be sure to try the Octopus and the Braised Lamb shank. I am anxiously looking forward to going again to try more of the dishes as well as the cocktails. read more

Really a wonderful after-theatre destination for cocktails and food. My friend & I loved the ambiance & service. We can't speak to the food, as we only had drinks. But our waitress could not have been more lovely & accommodating. Irish coffee does need sweetened whipped cream in it though! Plan to return often w friends post-theatre & for food next time. So happy to have a classy, civilized destination downtown that is option to loud screaming scene of ALL the restaurants. Well done management!! read more

Outstanding food and attentive service. I had the cod a la plancha with sauce gribiche which was cooked to perfection, and my wife enjoyed a nice portion of the dry aged duck tagine with cherries and couscous. The mezze were also delicious as were the vegetable accompaniments, particularly the green beans with date molasses and sesame. The space is large and relatively quiet, making conversation easy, and has ample comfortable booths. My greyhound cocktail came with a grapefruit peel cut in the shape of a dog bone and a donation to a rescue shelter. Woof! read more

A Wonderful Christmas day buffet! Excellent and varied selections; from appetizers to desserts. No skimping on the high cost items (imported cheeses, prawns, oysters, lox, prime rib, etc. ) Good service, & so many choices. Printed Descriptions of each hot item made it easy to find favorites. Desserts included my favorites: Opera cake, pecan pie squares, & the best Tiramisu ever! We shall return! read more

Went there for my birthday ... sat in the bar lounge ... the food was so delicious ... the cocktails were amazing ... the service was great ... Hana, our server was charming, professional and very efficient. Thank you Zino for helping celebrate my bday in a fun and super delicious way. read more

Expensive and I would not have been satisfied with the food if it has been moderately priced. The pork chops were over done, falafel was dry and flavorless, the vegetable tangine was unremarkable and deserts needed a steak knife to cut. We liked the hummus appetizer and the wine. For $180 with tip not a good night. read more

Our NYE dinner was lackluster based on the quality and presentation of the food. A $200 tab was not worth it and we won't be returning, ever. The star is for staff who did their best, but ultimately either management, the kitchen, or both, need to pay more attention to details (examples: soggy tomatoes in the caprese salad, arrival of our wine well after entree, thinly sliced scallops (2?) accompanied only by 'splash' of sauce and minuscule veggie flourish (not actual side), the lamb dish was dry, and the table's oil-fueled candle burned out half way through our dinner and was not replaced). read more

I do not recommend Zino. There were 7 of us...all arrived on time, at 6:00 and told the waiter that we were going to an 8:00 show at Berkeley Rep. We ordered our food and the main courses for 6 of the group took 45 minutes to be served. I was told that my Ricotta Agnolotti would arrive in 5 minutes. It did not. The waiter came to tell me again, "Five more minutes." Everyone had finished their dinners while I sat there...hungry...and waiting and waiting. Then 75 minutes after ordering my meal, it arrived! And, my dinner was virtually tasteless. I left over half of it. I was very upset with the service and the food...and will not return. All 7 of us are local and you have lost our business! read more

Incredible service paired with Delicious variety of Mediterranean fare : affordable appetizers at the bar and creative cocktail recepies. Even when the bar is full, there are lounging couches around the perimeter that afford a respite from any noise and create pockets for parties from 1 to 4 or 5. Bar seating is comfortable and great for duos or solitary enjoyment. If you are in a pinch and need a room after a day of touring University Of Berkeley Campus or just want a respite from shopping and site-seeing adjacent to the busy Shattuck business district, grab a comfortable four-star room for the night. Minimalist decor and Impeccable cleanliness are paired with sound-proof comfort. If you are alone or a couple you have the benefit of an exercise room and the freedom to come and go as you please with keycard access to elevator and secure and safe locked front.door after hours. Need a relaxing shower? The water temperature is on simple dial and the pressure is message intensity. Relax in the bath with Bamboo and Lemongrass suds by LATHER. Room service selection from ZINO restaurant in the early morning as well as handcrafted coffee specialties that rival Blue Bottle by artisan baristas offered every morning at the bar. Try the Honey bear, even if your not a U Berkeley Bear fan! Enjoy. read more

ZINO - ZINO Espresso Bar - Mediterranean Near Me - Berkeley, California

I only get out to the Bay Area once or twice per year, and it's always hard to know where to start with food. Someone told me I should try ZINO, and they were right! From the elegant atmosphere to the attentive staff and the amazing food and cocktails, I was absolutely blown away. I ordered the Herbs de Fresca to drink: so light and fresh! Everything I tried was incredible...and let's just say the fluke was anything but! read more

Went for Christmas brunch. Pricey at $70 - though the food was good. Service was awful however - and made worse because a 20% gratuity was built into the bill. Service was so bad we just got up and got our own drinks, cleared our own plates, etc. read more

Used to go to the Shattuck Plaza to eat at the previous restaurant here... was initially sad to see it go, because we enjoyed certain menu items. However, the new place is amazing. Enjoyed a lovely brunch with reasonably priced cocktails (a rare treat in the Bay Area), and fantastic morning selections. Also checked out the evening menu while we were there so that we can go back. Our young server was friendly and efficient, checked on us without being intrusive. GREAT food... fresh greens and meats in the omelettes, but their brunch also includes burgers in addition to breakfasty things. The garlic potatoes were great, and the meals were good-sized without feeling like we wasted food. Will return. read more

Zino is one of Berkeley's best restaurants. Top notch food, excellent service, and a lovely atmosphere that feels elegant yet comfortable. The staff is warm and the service first rate. Highly recommend for either business or personal dining. They serve lunch, dinner, and have a full bar for drinks. read more

The worst!!!!!! We arrived during happy hour and decided to have an appetizer. We ordered dip/veges. The dip came in a small bowl (fine) the veggies consisted of the following: 4 celery sticks and 4 carrot sticks on a plate. Absurd!!!!!! The martini I ordered came in a small martini glass (actually not a martini glass per se) and was fair. The service in the bar was very good. Dinner.....fish (recommended by the waiter...it was his favorite) tasted like FISH....nothing special at all. It was fish ONLY nothing else. Very pricey. The meatballs were hard and had an odd flavor to them. The service was good. All and all I would NEVER go back. Too bad....we like going to Berkeley Rep which is in the neighborhood. read more

We went for dinner on Christmas Day. Zino was one of the few restaurants available. It's located in the Hotel Shattuck, and has some beautiful interior design, including large arched windows with classical moldings. It is very roomy, which means that the noise level is dampened. Service was very good, with ongoing attention being given to us by the staff. The food was mostly very good, but there was one dish that I wasn't so impressed with, the vegetable tagine. It's mixture of spicy vegetables with a yogurt base didn't do anything special for me. Also, my coffee was not hot, just lukewarm. Otherwise, we found the various dips, main courses, sides, and desserts very tasty. I particularly recommend the moussaka and baba ghanouj dips. Everything is a la carte, so the bill does add up for a full meal. But it's probably competitive with other similar restaurants. read more

I recently had meal with a couple of associates at Zino and was pleasantly delighted with the Mediterranean fusion menu. I am quite a fan of Mediterranean food and the menu was very diverse. I particularly enjoyed the grilled octopus as it was very tender which's not always the outcome if it is not prepared properly. The Baba Ghanouj was also excellent! The wait staff were very informative of the menu and were very attentive and made our meal a very special outing. Can't wait to go back! read more

Really nice staff and great food!! I enjoyed the burrata and the hummus. The interior is very fun and interesting also!

Wow! As someone who spends a lot of time in the Middle East and Mediterranean region I was a bit skeptical about eating here, especially as it's not very cheap. But the food we ordered was just amazing. As vegetarians we only ordered the mezzeh but the okra and broccoli had such unique flavors and were so well done we ate past the point of being full. Later I had a lovely craft cocktail which was easily worth the $13 price tag, something I rarely say. All in all, great food and drink. read more

Very disappointing experience. I was here a couple of months ago, and had a much better meal. But tonight, oh so many problems. To start with, my martini came in a very funny shaped glass. Puzzling because later the next table had two served in proper martini glasses. Mine also was watery. One of our salads was okay but the other bland. My branzino was very good, the highlight of the evening. However, my wife's tagine was dry, but otherwise unremarkable. For dessert, my wife got a chocolate cake that was so hard it was nearly impossible to cut. When I managed to carve off a bite and taste it, I wished I hadn't succeeded. My baklava also was mediocre. To top it off, our espressos were served in full size coffee cups, and without the sugar cubes I am used to getting. Won't be going back. This space, which has gone through a number of changes over the years, has so much promise. Hoping the next evolution fulfills. read more