Zinc Cafe & Bar — Restaurant in Laguna Beach

The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, with a design that encourages lingering over a meal or drink. My favorite is their Avocado toasts!

🥗 What to Expect

Menu: Zinc Café is known for its vegetarian-friendly menu, featuring dishes like the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Asparagus & Mushroom Omelet, and the Burrito Bowl. While the café has recently introduced some meat options, many patrons still enjoy the classic vegetarian offerings.

Drinks: The café offers a selection of cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages. Popular choices include the Zinc Mezcal Margarita and the Mango Mule. Happy hour is from 4–6 PM, featuring specials on drinks and appetizers.

Service: While generally friendly, service can be slower during peak hours. Some guests have reported delays, especially on weekends. However, many appreciate the attentive staff and the overall dining experience.

🌿 Atmosphere

The café's design emphasizes natural light and open spaces, with a mix of modern and rustic elements. The outdoor patio is particularly popular, offering a tranquil setting amidst the bustling Arts District. It's also dog-friendly, making it a great choice for pet owners.

🕒 Hours & Location

Address: 580 Mateo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Hours: Daily, 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Parking: Limited street parking is available. There are also nearby parking lots and structures, though they may charge a fee.

💬 Final Thoughts

Zinc Café & Market offers a delightful dining experience with its fresh, flavorful dishes and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're stopping by for a casual meal or enjoying a leisurely brunch, it's a spot that combines good food with...

I am deeply disturbed and disgusted by my recent experience with a chef helper at a restaurant. This individual was extremely unprofessional and went to the extent of putting BOOGERS in my food because I had asked twice for my order to be brought to me. I was able to obtain his name from a co-worker who informed me that this behavior is something he does on a regular basis.

It is incredibly disheartening because I used to love this place and have been a loyal customer. However, I have decided not to share the video evidence of this incident on my TikTok, as it would not only ruin the business owner's reputation but also negatively impact the innocent co-workers. Rest assured, I have plenty of evidence to support my claims.

It is truly shocking and disturbing to witness someone intentionally contaminating food in such a repulsive manner. When I confronted the chef helper about his actions, he laughed at me and even threatened to ruin me and my vehicle by using my name and license plates.

I have waited several months before posting this review, hoping that the situation would be addressed internally. However, since no action has been taken, I feel it is necessary to share my experience with others. It is important for potential customers to be aware of the unhygienic practices and disrespectful behavior exhibited by this chef helper.

I sincerely hope that the restaurant management takes this matter seriously and addresses it appropriately. Such behavior is completely unacceptable and tarnishes the reputation of an otherwise beloved...

Cute cafe in Laguna with outdoor seating. Service was quick and seating was available around 10:00AM on a Sunday. Parking was easy to find on the street at that time as well. Servers were helpful and quick so extra points for that.

The food was not that great though which is unfortunate. I do like the atmosphere and will come back for more of the middle eastern type dishes - maybe that is what they specialize in. Had the Margherita pizza and it was overcooked, the crust was super hard and not nearly enough mozzarella. More tomato sauce than mozzarella. I do enjoy a nice thin crust pizza but this crust, although thin, was almost rock hard, more like a tough unleavened cracker than thin crust pizza. I felt maybe it was overcooked but the bottom of the pizza was still white. So maybe it was cooked too long at too low of a temperature? The beet and arugula salad was alright. The only thing that stood out was the bread in the salad - that was great. A great, crunchy crust with perfect crumb. Very tasty bread so good choice on the bakery that they use or if they bake it in house very good. The dressing on the salad though was not very tasty so I would not get this again.

Hopefully I just ordered the wrong things. Will try the other more middle eastern type dishes next time I come and may update the review if...