Restaurant le Zinc — Restaurant in Colmar-Ribeauvillé

I rarely write bad reviews, but I feel compelled to in this case.

A local recommended this restaurant, and since we passed by while walking, we decided to make a reservation. The restaurant opens at 19:00, and we were told that reservations were only possible for exactly 19:00. After some discussion, they reluctantly agreed to 19:30. In hindsight, that should have been a warning sign.

From the beginning, the atmosphere was tense. The staff seemed extremely stressed and unfriendly. Our very young waitress frequently rolled her eyes and appeared annoyed by simple requests. For instance, when we asked to add an additional starter to our order, she clearly wasn’t happy. When she forgot the bread I had ordered with the beef tartare or missed the additional water, our (friendly and polite) reminders were met with indifference. The food was placed on the table with what felt like zero care or attention.

As the evening went on, things got worse. A motorbike passed the restaurant multiple times, revving its engine loudly right in front, adding to the unpleasant atmosphere.

Then came the worst part: shortly after eating the beef tartare, I began experiencing serious stomach issues. It’s now been a day and a half, and I’ve just spent €37 at a pharmacy trying to get some relief. I can only hope the medicine helps.

Is this a tourist trap? I’m not sure. But what I do know is that we didn’t feel welcome, and I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone (who isn’t French) and expects a minimum level of hospitality.

Why open a restaurant in such a touristy area if you clearly can’t...

Stopped here for a quick afternoon bite. We sat outside and the waiter was prompt and while he didn't speak much English, we were able to stumble our way through enough to order because he could understand what we wanted. The menu is written on planks that are brought to your table. We pointed at the small escargot, which was excellent. It was served with fresh bread. Then we ordered a small plate with meats & accouterments. They went perfectly with the fresh bread. Finished with the tarte du jour (daily dessert special) which was made with blueberries. Not too sweet, which was nice. Also, the espresso and glasses of wine...

We came here on our first night in Colmar. It was a very busy evening and we arrived late and did not have a reservation but they very kindly accommodated us and found us a table on the terrace. I didn’t know what to expect as I had not looked at the reviews beforehand but the food turned out to be delicious. I had the “bavette” (flank steak) with peppercorn steak and was so happy with my choice. The service was great and friendly. I knocked off a star for the atmosphere because there were a lot of smokers around and as a non-smoker, this was not so enjoyable while eating. It would be nice to have a non-smoking side of...