Cafe Zinc

Deeeeelish afternoon snack.
French dip in fresh bread.
Crispy fries (just enough)
Delightful white pinot noir
Lovely outdoor venue
Attentive server
Perfect

This place is beautiful and my food was nicely presented but I just didn’t have the best experience. It took a ridiculously long time for our waitress to show up and my family and I thought we weren’t going to be served. But the point in my experience that really upset me was when the hostess came up to us and asked if we would want anyone sitting next to us because we were at a high top table. Politely we said no because I have awful anxiety and didn’t want to be elbow to elbow with a stranger. Then 20 minutes later people were seated right next to us by this hostess. I guess what upset me is the fact that the hostess asked and then decided to do the opposite. Our conversation stopped and we got out of this place as quick as possible. For how nice this place is I didn’t expect such awful seating arrangements. The food was fine but I really couldn’t enjoy it. I won’t be back.

Went here and placed an order to go because I had to catch a flight. The interior of the restaurant was adorable! If I was celebrating my birthday I would definitely want to come here with friends. It’d also be perfect for a date.
I thought the prices were a bit high for the amount of food you get. I wanted to get something quick to go so I ordered the best salad and a croissant. It took them 25+ minutes to put this together which stressed me out as I had a flight to catch.
Also I asked if I could sit at the bar while I waited for my food but the cashier pointed me towards some benches by the bathroom instead. Kinda weird. I would have preferred to have sat in the restaurant and gotten my food faster.
The salad was quite good though– plenty of goat cheese and a great dressing. Also the whole wheat croissant was fabulous and came with some whipped butter — total game changer!

Overall I was very impressed by the food and décor. It was so cute in there, and I just love the atmosphere. The got the chef salad and French fries, and both were delicious! The only thing I would suggest is to work on the service. Although the staff are all polite, they seemed almost overly formal and snooty. It made me feel like I had to act super formal instead of having a relaxing meal. I also felt like the staff was somewhat unapproachable. But the food was really good, and I would definitely come back.

Love their dessert! So far the best dessert I found in town. Yummy! Brunch is also great, recommend!

Wow wow wow. What a bright bright bright end to an otherwise dreary, winter Sunday. I am from California and wanted to stay at Hotel H (home to Café Zinc) but it was booked for three of the ten days of my Midland stay so couldn’t. I had reviewed the French-​inspired Café Zinc menu and knew it was an option whether staying at the hotel or not. Wide-​plank wood floors, white marble, exposed brick and fire-​engine red accents welcomed me upon arrival, creating a chic, warm, industrial vibe. It was as much NYC or Milan as it was Paris. I had salmon to start and salmon as my main course. They were both divine and I was ecstatic that the courses included some of my favorite super foods (salmon, kale, sweet potato, ginger, seaweed, grapefruit, apple, etc). Who would have thought I’d be dining like this in Midland, Michigan? The wine list was terrific and moderately priced. I had a dry, French Chardonnay to start and it was fortunately anti-​oak and anti-​butter — two things I absolutely despise!!! I had a Malbec with my main course and a heavy-​handed splash of dessert wine that the chef recommended with tiramisu for dessert. Yum yum yum to both. In a community filled with what seemed like a sea of horrific chain restaurants, Café Zinc impressed and surprised. Looking forward to tomorrow night’s dinner!

I had a really lovely evening in here because the staff was very friendly and chatted me up, as I was dining alone while on a «work trip» (interview). The beet salad was delicious — perfect balance of sweet and salty. The scallops, on the other hand, were SUPER salty. I tried very hard to eat them, but just couldn’t take any more… and so I mentioned to the waitress that they were too salty for me, and in a nutshell, her response was not really acceptable. I mean, it’s not a super cheap place… they could have at least offered to get my dessert or my dessert wine. In the end, they just ignored it. And if the place were super busy, I could have understood, but it was super empty. There was only about one other couple in there getting engaged (gag), and another table of 4 from out of town (like me). I am glad that this place was open, b/​c it’s not like there is much selection in Midland on a Sunday night. But most likely were I to return to Midland, I wouldn’t spend this much money to get sub-​standard food. The dessert was just okay too — I got the mousse cake, and I’ve had far better mousse cake (but that’s a little unfair since I’ve gotten it in France). The port was also good, but nothing super special — especially for $ 16. We all know that I’m not afraid to spend money on food, it’s just that I want it to be worth the money!!! I spent $ 20-​something on scallops that I could only eat half of secondary to the saltiness. Okay, I’m done here. It’s a decent option for what’s happening in Midland, but certainly not a place that I’d go back to even if I do return to Midland. I think that I can spend $ 100+ on a meal in Detroit and be 100x happier.

This is my Go To restaurant in Midland – a foodie’s paradise. They have macarons. I have been here a few times since they opened and have never been disappointed. I took my 6 year old niece. She enjoyed it also.

This place is beautiful, if you are looking for an elegant place, this is it! I have been there for lunch and breakfast, with all people in my party pleased with their food. Dinner gets much pricier, and I have not been for dinner, but if the food is as high quality as it is for breakfast and lunch, it would probably be worth it. Sitting out on the porch is lovely and the inside is stunning. If I lived closer I would be a regular.

We came here for breakfast today (8÷15÷15) and left without getting served. It took approximately 20 minutes after we were seated to get a waitress to field our orders. I ordered an «Orange Creamsicle» smoothie along with my breakfast that took an additional 20 minutes and for $ 5 was not worth half the price. After about 15 minutes and halfway through the smoothie, we noticed a group of people who had been seated about 30 minutes after we were and they were already eating! Also note, the restaurant wasn’t busy. At all. We promptly got up, paid for the smoothie, and will never return to this very over-​rated establishment. Don’t waste your time or money!

Love this hidden gem located on the end of Main Street! You can sit outside and enjoy the summer while treating yourself to wonderfully prepared food. We had omelette bacon eggs and pancakes. All were some of the best. They also have cottage cheese which is a rare find there days. Coffee, juice and tea were all great!

Outstanding food and service! I am always pleased when I dine here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The preparations are thoughtful and creative. The entire staff is professional and efficient.

Excellent food and even better service. Staying at the H Hotel so had dinner and breakfast here. Everything we had was excellent. Definitely would make a stop here next time in Midland.

I am a big fan of French Onion soup and I have to say they do a real, real good job here. I would totally go for it again. I went with the Sea Bass which was cooked perfectly. Very juicy with nice meaty texture with the sauce vierge. The menu mentioned saffron braised fennel but got a mushroom vegetable mix that I had to pass. Overall I think the food is good, but have had better.

It’s a spendier place but it’s actually worth it, unlike most of the expensive places in Midland. I like coming here for a nice date or special occasion. You never know when it’s going to be quite busy but Sunday is usually a good night for dinner here.

I had high hopes for this restaurant. Fabulous décor and a posh environment in the middle of dreary Midland. I wanted to love it so badly that I suffered through several terrible lunches hoping each failure was a fluke. On my fourth and final attempt last week I was served a Thai noodle dish with the most amazingly overcooked, globby mess of a noodle bed that I am now certain the cooks on the lunch shift have no idea what they’re doing. The menu looks promising, but the cooks are just not technically proficient enough to execute it properly. On my last visit I had «browned butter squash risotto» with so much not-​browned butter on the top of the terribly-​overcooked risotto that I had to pour it off into my bread plate. The salads are not dressed — a personal pet peeve and an absolute crime in a place that bills itself as a high-​end restaurant. As a side note, and also a full-​disclosure, I am a classically-​trained chef and I worked in high-​end restaurants in Los Angeles for years before moving back to Michigan. Prior to writing this review I e-​mailed the owners, explained my grievances in detail, and offered (at no expense) to come train their staff in how to properly cook a risotto, dress and season a salad, and toss a bed of noodles. I informed them I did not want to write a negative review because I am invested in the success of local restaurants. They did not respond and after last week’s mess I see they didn’t take my advice either. Alas, I won’t be returning.

Rule 1: Take reservations on Valentine’s day! It’s insanely ridiculous that they did not. Luckily we came in at 4:30 and had a 30-​minute wait rather than a 2-​hr wait that others had as we left. Luckily they had a good bar to keep us while we waited.
The food was good, but well overpriced ($ 33 for a 3−4oz portion of sea bass) and the portions are small. We’ll come again, but for lunch.

I have been to Café Zinc on numerous occasions, so here’s my feedback based on my experiences overall!
Pro’s:
— Breakfast and brunch is always very good, and the coffee they serve is freely flowing and delicious.
— I love the bright, white wash, fresh ambiance. It’s modern, chic and takes customers «out of Midland» a bit.
— Their salads are always fresh and prepared with unique tastes: I certainly recommend!
Considerations:
— I’ve had a mix of experiences with servers which — to be fair — is understandable. Even so, I’ve had a handful of servers who were very off putting and snobby.
— My lunch and dinner meals at Café Zinc have been very hit or miss over the years. I’ve had a few dismal meals, but have had some great ones as well.
— Prices are a little steep, but the food quality is good overall.
— Most recently, there were multiple families with small children at the restaurant for breakfast. Café Zinc doesn’t really have a children’s menu and the ambiance is, I believe, intended to be a little more adult and upscale. I wouldn’t normally mention this (I love kids!), but the space is a bit snug and the children were very noisy, which was pretty awkward and disruptive.

A couple dollars more than a typical lunch, but well worth it… especially with the amazing free bread! Oh, and don’t skip dessert no matter what!

5 star service, upscale ambiance, and a plethora of menu options each prepared with detail. I enjoy the reasonably priced beer options and rotating chef’s special.
The servers are very knowledgeable and quick. The prices are steep so be prepared to pay upwards of $ 50 per person on average but you are paying for the experience as well.
I would try the rotating chef’s special or the Salmon which is very tasty. Great place to grab a bite while staying at the H hotel.