ZINC — Restaurant in New Haven

I have been to Zinc before for multiple work dinners, so I got reservations for another work event with five other colleagues. We came in around 6PM, waited about 20 mins to be noticed by our server and ordered our apps and entrees. My colleague (who does not drink) ordered non-alcoholic Prosecco and wanted to double-check that they had received the right Prosecco. Our server replied "if that's what you ordered' with an attitude. Our server also announced that they would be bringing our food "3:3", which made no sense to us--we later realized that they had meant they would bring two to three entrees at a time. This also doesn't make sense, as we had specifically explained that we were hungry and wanted our food right away (which is the point of a restaurant).

We waited for about 10 mins and received the calamari that we ordered. We were perplexed at how small the portion size was, but we had ordered 4 apps and 4 entrees. After 20 mins, we were very hungry and asked the server where the rest of our food was. After another 10 mins, they brought out two of our apps. The server, when they weren't too busy ignoring us and avoiding eye contact, kept telling us our food "was on our way".

40 MINS GO BY. At this point, we had only had 3 out of our 8 orders. It was already 7:30pm and the group and I agreed that we would just go to the restaurants next door because we were starving. I spoke to the manager to see what was going on--they said "sorry, but there was nothing we can do" with no offers to placate our starvation and irritation. We were about to pay the bill and walk out when our server brought one plate of food and said "the rest of your food is coming." I clarified and said "is it coming in the next minute or do you mean like its "coming", like it has been all night? It's 7:45pm" The server brought two more entrees, and we realized they had forgotten to bring two of our orders. We raised our concerns to both the manager and server, who again said "there is nothing we can do". Notably, our group was being spoken to as if we had never been to a restaurant before (all working professional adults) and as if we had not been waiting for nearly 1.5 hours for all of our food to arrive.

In addition to the atrocious wait times and server attitude, the serving size was appalling. The branzino ($37+ tax) was barely enough for one person. We quickly finished what had been brought to us at around 8PM and were about to leave, when the server brought us two desserts to apologize for "the wait". At this point, the group mood was tarnished. We tasted the desserts, but opted instead for ice cream at the nearby Ben and Jerry's.

To clarify, we came in at 6:15PM and left at 8PM because of the food delays. I and another colleague were appalled, as we had both dined here before. This is undoubtedly the worst dining experience I have had in New Haven. I regularly plan work events in restaurants in the area--ZINC is out of that list...

zinc, Zinc, ZINC! Now this is what I call a culinary experience!

My boyfriend and chose Zinc as one of the restaurants we would check out during New Haven Restaurant Week. The way we made this decision was based on the online menus.

We opted to get the supplemental cheese platter. Those cheeses and bread was so delicious that I asked the server what they were and I wrote them down in my notes app.

For the first course, I chose the butternut squash soup. It had an interesting tartness to it that I was not expecting but it went well with the overall texture and flavor of the soup. My only note on the soup was that it wasn't a smooth puree. Perhaps it was intentional, but I was getting pea-sized chunks of squash that settled at the bottom.

The main course I ordered was the salmon dish and my boyfriend ordered the pork carnitas. WOW! Both of these dishes had me audibly making sounds while eating. The flavors all complemented each other so well. The presentation elevated the experience. And although we were full, we could not bring ourselves to bring it home with us - we had to eat it right then and there!

For dessert I ordered the flan and my boyfriend ordered the brownie. With the exception of the dish the brownie came on deceiving us into thinking it was served on a pool of bittersweet fudge, the desserts also knocked my socks off. I, of course, had room for dessert.

I truly cannot express how wonderful this experience was and I cannot wait to come back. To top it all off, they were able to make my favorite cocktail - The Last Word and although out of their control, there was a northern lights display outside when we left the restaurant. Truly magical. Zinc, you have gained a...

Along Chapel Street's culinary corridor, ZINC crafts an experience that rises above mere sustenance. The restaurant's understated elegance - with its undulating ceiling panels and ambient pendant lighting - provides a canvas for executive chef's thoughtfully composed plates.

A recent dinner revealed the kitchen's mastery: perfectly seared salmon, its flesh translucent at center, paired with caramelized sweet potato and scattered with toasted walnuts. The sauce - a burnished butterscotch color - demonstrates the kitchen's grasp of both technique and restraint. Their pastry program shines through a precise layered dessert that wouldn't look out of place in Manhattan's finest establishments.

The bar program deserves its own accolades. An encyclopedic spirits collection catches the soft lighting, while informed staff navigate guests through an impressive wine list. The space manages to feel both intimate and social, a rare achievement in modern dining.

While ZINC's name nods to essential minerals, the real chemistry happens on the plate. Seasonal ingredients are treated with respect rather than laboratory precision. The result is sophisticated without pretension, refined without stuffiness. At $30-45 for entrees, prices reflect the quality but remain accessible for the caliber of cooking. Bring a friend with a credit card and enjoy.

Not a destination for boisterous groups or young children, ZINC instead offers a grown-up sanctuary where the art of fine dining is alive and evolving. Reservations, especially for weekend dinner service, are essential.

Bottom Line: A polished New Haven gem delivering consistently excellent cuisine in an atmosphere that manages to be both elegant...