We had a great experience tonight for restaurant week. We got to sample more than we might have as a result. Our table had muscles, salmon, ravioli and stroganoff- they were all delicious. The quality of the food and lack of fussiness was refreshing. Nirvana will be in our regular rotation after this.

Nirvana hosted my large family group for a celebration dinner (got married!) and we were all talking about the amazing experience for the rest of the weekend. Not only did Chef Lindsay and the kitchen and service teams fulfill all the plans we made ahead of time for our event - they added special touches all throughout the evening to take care of us. We had many restricted diets/allergy concerns in our group, and they took the initiative to change ingredients beyond what we had even asked for, to make everyone's choices easier and safer. I had previously dined at Nirvana and I knew the food was going to be good, but this menu exceeded our expectations. The salads and starters had so many wonderful flavors and textures. We had three proteins in the entree selection. My favorite was the meatballs (little spicy kick!) but many of our guests raved about the salmon with basil aioli. We also loved how Chef added special touches throughout the evening, like personally delivering ice cream sundaes to our family's kids who were gathered around the fire pit on the patio while the adults finished dining. The service was responsive and thorough all evening.

We found it! Farm to table, organic, grass fed, wild caught, no see oils! Not only healthy but also delicious. The staff is wonderful. Service is amazing. Definitely our favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach. So happy we found it.

My wife and I ate at Nirvana twice, and liked it so much we decided to host an event there (our wedding dinner!). The food and service is consistently excellent. My personal favorites are the kitchen sink salad, crusted salmon, chicken meatballs, and carrot cake (along with the coffee which is also excellent). At our dinners, when we asked about dietary restrictions (gluten-free, and dairy free), the staff was knowledgeable and helpful, and for our event Chef Lindsay went above and beyond to create gluten free and dairy free versions of our dishes, which all came out delicious (especially the crab cakes!). The interior is inviting with interest coming from beautiful, hanging charcuterie boards. Mainly, I love their focus on creative, organic food. Just as one example - the kitchen sink salad has a nice, hardy flavor overall (with beets and carrots), is perfectly dressed with a vinaigrette, then surprises (in my opinion) with candied pecans - sooooo yummy! Thank you to Chef Lindsay and her staff for creating a wonderful dining experience.

deborah fairney

Amazing and fresh...breakfast is the best especially brioche fried egg sandwich ..thank you

Joey Kappaz

Super cute spot with a really good vibe, definitely one of those places that feels straight out of a postcard. The food was amazing, fresh, and tasted legit. Only downside was the price, but that’s California for you. I’m from Michigan, so it felt pricey, but honestly still worth it. 4/5.

S Greenie

Amazing place. They are known for breakfast and lunch, but we got surprised they are now open for dinner. Live music, delicious food, reasonable prices. As always they deliver.

Shivani

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 a great vibe.

+8

Mar Mar (Jellytinkles)

Avocado toast, some maple pecan something or another cookie + an incredible iced latte. Atmosphere really sold it for me during a quick brunch visit before the beach and it was perfect. The avocado toast was *chefs kiss* real cute. Bathroom was small but clean.

Doug Newby

Lovely place. They have a lot of very good healthy food here. But I got the breakfast burrito instead.. I would recommend this place for sure!

+4

Phillip Skye

I don't know why this is the first time I've reviewed Zinc Cafe & Market...as I have been enjoying their incredibly delicious foods and perfectly brewed coffees and teas for over a year now!🤔 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ Well today that changes. And what better meal to review than a Wednesday Brunch (of sorts) when there's no lineups nor long waits?!? I took 2 Deviled Eggs a la carte, just to take the edge off of my Low Bloodsugar, which always delight me. *(the eggs, not low bloodsugar) The Belgian Waffles🧇 are the lightest, most buttery and still crispy I have ever had...better than even I can make at home...🙌🙌🙌 I love🫶 quiche, and this one is just alright, nothing to write home about. ⚖️ Made fresh, with fresh ingredients👍...though perhaps semi lacking in flavor. But what do I know;🤷‍♂️ I'm a smoker.😁 She enjoyed my side greens salad, with black bean chili and toasted garlic bun. Everything, from the lack of waiting time, to friendliness as well as efficiency of service was great today. Indeed. What I liked the MOST, however was that my Mocha came out FIRST, before our meals, allowing me time to enjoy the first fresh sips as well as throughout my meal. That was Heaven to me and unfortunately seems like something my other *favorite brunch Café seems to have lost the ability to do. Zinc Cafe & Market is Always Spot On.👌👌

+5

Denise Zbozny

You might miss this delicious food experience if you drive by too fast. Note that there's no sign alerting you to Zinc. We had to walk up and check the menu posted outside to see that it was the restaurant we wanted to try. Service was excellent. Staff were helpful and courteous. Food was tasty and the portions were substantial. We had the Caprese sandwich, bowl of chili, house salad, and the Reubanesque sandwich. The covered outside seating was comfortable. Be aware that the birds can be very friendly. Guard your food. I wish they sold the bread used for our sandwiches. We could tell that it was real bread!

+7

Overall, delicious food & very nice, accommodating staff. It was my mom’s birthday & they were very flexible with letting us choose our table. We were able to sneak in a cake & they kept it in their fridge until it was time to bring it out with a candle. Our server was so sweet, but it was clear the restaurant was understaffed and swamped with orders. We were at the restaurant for at least two hours and while it gave us ample time to talk and enjoy our food at a slow pace, it was due to the time it took to order and receive our drinks, starters and entrees.

Food was good, a little bland. Chicken curry. Staff was attentive but not very engaging. This may turn out to be a place worth visiting if they can improve taste and train staff to relate better with customers.

A. P. S.

Good food, it’s not the best atmosphere, but it’s a good place to grab a quick bite, they have a lot of options. The matcha was very good. (Pictured are huevos rancheros, shrimp tacos, and middle eastern breakfast)

Sharon B

We met up for lunch at Zinc. You order at the counter and find your seats outside in the large shaded patios. The food came out pretty quickly. Food was hit or miss. The Caesar salad with steak was very good. The steak was tender and cooked perfectly. The chilaquiles bowl was a miss. The salsa was on only one side of the bowl so it was a bit dry and tasteless. It looked pretty good but was pretty unimpressive after the first bite. The omelet was huge but had way too much bacon and not enough of everything else.

+10

Ashla Estrada

I had a good experience at this cafe. The food was tasty, the deli and desert selections also looked flavorful. This is a self serve style venue with outdoor seating. I enjoy the bench seating and great outdoor weather. Not disappointed for a brunch outing on a beach day. 🏖️Our table ordered the Chilaquiles Bowl, Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and the Avocado Toast. 😊

+8

Nica Lampe

Zinc Cafe is so lovely! I ordered an eggnog latte and the chilli which came with some lovely herb-y rolls and tons of toppings. I love sitting outside and enjoying my meal while people watching or reading. The staff is always kind and attentive, but sometimes I find the wait is a little on the longer side, things are brought out at different times, and drinks are forgotten about. Not a super big deal, but can get a little annoying. If you have time to spare give this place a try!

D和美

Good food and coffee, nice outside seating and service makes me go back there again and again. They have few free parking on the side and meter parking in the front. One down side is their one and only unisex bathroom. Not sure how a mother with baby can change diaper.

Quynh Dang

We went to zinc cafe to see our friend playing jazz (beautiful and free live jazz weekend night during the summer), so dinner was not the main reason. However, we were pleasantly surprised that we enjoy the dinner as well. Mushroom Dijon burger is highly recommended. Service was excellent. The location is good, but parking is a bit tight. We had Lemon bar for dessert, though I would like to try the chocolate confections as well next time.

+4

Location: Good, Service: Decent, Parking: Street. Price for food received: a bit high, Was Owner Present : Yes, Overall: This was a first-time try, and I was looking for a nice light filler to end the evening and see the Pagent of The Masters. At first, I did not know our server was the owner and chef. Both myself and my date wanted to share and order 3 dishes. I will admit all 3 were very good and flavorful . The presentation was also very good. The servers were responsive and did check on us at decent times. When I did find that our main server was the owner and I wanted to ask a question. She made it feel like I was intruding, which was not the case at other tables. So would I go back? Sure, there were a few items on the menu I would enjoy trying. So, for now, 3.8 stars...

Interesting, I order a Moscow Mule and received a mocktail (ginger beer lime and two cranberries) Maybe they don’t sell hard alcohol. The mocktail was over priced and I did not drink it.

Food and service were pretty great with two glaring exceptions. The vegetable plate is noted as vegan on the menu, and the server also recommended it with a side of tofu over their other vegan dishes. However, it arrived with mashed potatoes which were not vegan. I wouldn't have even known had it not been for another member of our party who has a severe dairy intolerance. Despite him communicating clearly with the server when he ordered to ensure mashed potatoes were subbed out with rice on his short ribs plate, his plate also arrived with the potatoes. That prompted me to again ask the server about the potatoes on my vegan vegetable plate. The restaurant needs to fix these oversights promptly.

this is not a place to come if you're hungry or want a good sized portion of protein. the mixed veggie plate is good but could have been 50% larger to be a meal. unfortunately we won't go back because it's not enough food.

Apurva

Staff was nice, but food was pretty average. The leaves in our salad had dirt on it, and it took three tries to get a runny poached egg. The matcha was good! Overall, wouldn’t go back or recommend to others.

Kristen P.

I tried Zinc summer 2024 after reading great reviews and have been meaning to share my review since. The food was subpar and not a good value. Our burrito had some lettuce pieces that looked dark/slimy. I also had an unfortunate experience where I got scratched by sharp plastic on the toilet seat while using the restroom which was concerning at the time. My concerns were acknowledged by the staff, but their overall hospitality could have been better. When I told a friend about the negative experience, they said Zinc used to be a neighborhood staple but has gone downhill since the ownership change. I wouldn’t return.

Miles Riehle

Beware! Any reviews and pictures from over a year ago are from a past life of this cafe that frankly no longer exists. This place used to be delicious, but it's sadly been turned into corporate slop crafted for increasing profits (and owned by the same conglomerate that owns Paris Baguette). Adding mediocre meat dishes, outsourcing pastries, removing/downgrading the best menu items, and changing your coffee vendor were all lame ideas and it's sad to see what has happened to an otherwise iconic cafe. I encourage you to instead visit another locally owned and operated cafe in town.

cathy jahadi

This place is a hot mess! Avoid at all cost! Horrible horrible service!! Wait time on food insane! While waiting requested French toast be brought out asap as my 6 year old was starving. All food brought out except his. Walked into kitchen area and asked lady about my son’s French toast. Then I asked another lady ( who was the GM) to please help locate my son’s French toast. French toast finally finally arrived! But now my friend was missing her soup! GM trying to find her ticket and interestingly enough my friend placed the order with her! I asked the GM to please just bring the soup out ( as her investigation into the ticket was taking forever) so she could eat with us and look for the ticket after. She got disgruntled and said she would bring the soup but could get fired or loose her job. Very unprofessional reaction from a GM! I’m pretty sure the owners would want her taking care of customers and making sure they are happy! Never again! What a headache!

Jill Klein

This restaurant used to be a great breakfast option. Unfortunately with their new owners, they have made some really bad changes in food quality and taste. The middle eastern breakfast plate was my go to and I would come specifically for this as it was unique and delicious. Last time I came they had replaced the outstanding fresh crusty bread with sandwich bread (gross) they put Italian salad dressing on the herbs (gross)) and even the fig dressing and Greek yogurt were off and didn’t taste fresh or any better than something you get at a chain store or restaurant. The whole plate was so not good. And even the fresh squeezed orange juice with raspberry puree did not taste good or fresh squeezed. They are definitely cutting costs and I was not the only table experiencing this. It was a topic of conversation between strangers. Even the server admitted they had a lot of complaints about the changes. Super disappointed and won’t be returning.

Amelia Norris

We ordered a lunch to go because my daughter wasn't feeling well. We chose Zinc because the reviews said they could deal with adjustments for my allergies. When I opened my salad that I ordered it was a disaster. The tuna was OK, but it was on a bed of rotten lettuce. We paid 30$ for a few slices of good fish and a bed of totally inedible greens. Whoever served it should be ashamed. I will try to add a photo of the lettuce. I would not recommend anywhere that thinks it is ok to serve customers food that is so clearly past it's prime. My daughter's food was fine, but did not come close to making up for the rotten salad.