Zinqué — Restaurant in Newport Beach

Zinqué in Newport Beach is a chic, European-inspired café and wine bar that effortlessly combines casual elegance with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Nestled in the heart of Lido Marina Village, this stylish spot offers a delightful mix of French and Californian flavors, making it a must-visit destination for food lovers and wine enthusiasts alike.

Food & Drinks: The menu at Zinqué is a celebration of simple, high-quality ingredients prepared with a touch of sophistication. Their tartines (open-faced sandwiches) are a standout—I tried the avocado and smoked salmon tartine, which was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The Le Bowl, a customizable grain bowl, is another favorite, offering a healthy and satisfying option packed with quinoa, greens, and your choice of protein. For something sweet, their pastries and desserts are divine; the almond croissant is buttery, flaky, and absolutely irresistible.

The drink menu is equally impressive, featuring an excellent selection of wines, craft cocktails, and coffee. Their rosé selection is perfect for sipping on a sunny Newport Beach afternoon, and the espresso drinks are expertly crafted for those in need of a caffeine fix.

Ambiance: Zinqué’s ambiance is effortlessly stylish, with a relaxed, coastal-European vibe that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a charming café in the South of France. The indoor space is cozy and inviting, with warm lighting and rustic-chic decor, while the outdoor patio offers stunning views of the marina. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal, catch up with friends, or simply soak in the laid-back Newport Beach atmosphere.

Service: The staff at Zinqué are friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. They strike the perfect balance between being helpful and giving you space to enjoy your experience. Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, you’ll feel right at home.

Overall: Zinqué is a gem in Newport Beach, offering a unique blend of European charm and Californian flair. The food is fresh and delicious, the drinks are top-notch, and the ambiance is both stylish and relaxing. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, or an evening glass of wine, Zinqué delivers an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait to return and explore more...

This might be the first Yelp review you'll read that actually focuses on the quality of the food instead of just poor service.

To be blunt whoever hyped this place up should reimburse me. This is my second time here, hoping it would redeem itself after a disappointing visit last month, but it only confirmed that this place is all hype and no flavor.

I dined here on 6/22/2025 and ordered the Steak-Frites ($31). Easily one of the most flavorless and overpriced dishes I’ve ever had. I asked for my steak medium, but it came out extremely tough, chewing it felt like gnawing on a tire. The meat quality was poor, and there wasn’t a hint of seasoning. I’ve had better results seasoning a skirt steak at home for $12.99/lb and got way more meat, too. The portion was maybe half a pound at best. When I asked the server about the flavor, I was told, “It’s all in the peppercorn and chimichurri dips.” Unfortunately, those weren’t any better. The peppercorn sauce tasted like unseasoned butter, and the chimichurri was basically just olive oil no garlic, salt, or herbs. Just a sad drizzle of oil with one lonely parsley leaf. The fries were decent but nothing special thin, shoestring-style. What stood out was how stingy they were with the ketchup and aioli. After about seven fries, the ketchup was gone, and the second serving wasn’t any better still a tiny portion like they were rationing it.

My fiancée ordered Le Bowl with Grilled Salmon ($17 + $7). The salmon came out completely charred, almost blackened. The salad was mostly arugula 90% of it. The toppings it was supposed to come with were barely present: a few tiny bits of Parmigiano Reggiano, a couple of avocado slices, and sparse pieces of Comté. It felt slapped together without care.

It honestly feels like the prices are set to cover their prime boardwalk location, not to reflect the quality or taste of the food. And to be clear I don’t cook for a living, I work with numbers. But I do enjoy cooking at home and can confidently say the execution and quality here are far below average. I highly do not recommend if you’re looking for a good meal. You’ll leave disappointed and overcharged. You’re better off walking next door to Bear Flag or Malibu Farm places that actually care about what’s...

I need to start this review off by saying this was the first restaurant of 3 that would even allow us to eat due to it being a graduation weekend. So our table started with a 45 minute wait, which is completely understandable, but the entire experience from just trying to get seated, and get decent food, was horrible. I'm only giving three stars because it was a busy weekend and I'm hoping that this was a random occasion for the restaurant staff.

Pros: Cool vibes Friendly staff vegetarian friendly and accommodating.

Cons: hostess seemed confused multiple times, as they told us our table was ready twice when it wasn't. servers at open seating did not seem to be in any hurry to get us a drink even though we sat down and asked for both food and drink menus. (We even told the staff we wanted to order and they never came back to take our drink order) some of the seating areas are very awkward and not conducive to conversation. (Choose elsewhere for a group of 5 or more)

For the food: The prices were ok, but the menu doesn't give you an idea of what dishes come with size, and what is available. We ordered fries, because after almost an hour wait, we were hungry and this was the only thing that was on the menu. Also, when we received the fries, after waiting another 20 minutes even though we asked for them and mentioned we were really hungry, they weren't even hot. They tasted great, but the temperature was as if they had sat in a food warmer.

We order a strawberry Nutella crepe - it tasted fine, but the crepe was thick and burnt. Our friend ordered a veggie crepe and the crepe was even more burnt and weird tasting.

The breakfast sandwich was presented well, but it tasted different. Perhaps the cheese made it taste a bit burnt, but after one bite, I let my husband have the rest.

All in all, the consensus from our lunch group was 1) we liked the dipping sauce for the fries, 2) way overpriced and small portion size 3) not...