We Zinc we like it!
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By Louisa White
Zinc Brasserie is a small restaurant, with about half the available space taken up by a bar that got busy, although not overly loud, the night my friends and I went for dinner.
I'd been several times for lunch, but last Saturday was my first dinner service, and I was surprised by how romantic and stylish the restaurant looked by night. Not that it's unpleasant at noon, but it's never quite as full, and the votive candles on each dinner table better illuminated the dark blue walls and silver-pressed tin ceiling more
beautifully than the bright afternoon sun.
We started with cocktails and wine. My Manhattan was good, not too harsh, and the waitress was very knowledgable about the extensive list of interesting wines by the glass, and made several excellent recommendations.
There was quite a crowd, not only at the bar, and I noticed that there weren't any children.
Zinc is probably not the best bet for picky kids; the menu caters to adults, or children who are accustomed to eating like grown-ups, with a taste for trying new things. More so than the lunch menu, which is heavy on sandwiches, salads, soups, and the house variation on pizza known as tarte flambé, the dinner menu can be challenging. It lists entrées with such exotic ingredients as Escargots and Roquefort Fondue, and Seared Scallops with House-Cured Coppa and Lemon Port Sauce.
For the less adventurous, there are more familiar options, each with a fun, daring twist.
My friends started with Charcuterie Plates, thinly sliced cured meat served with mustard, crusty buttered toast, and pickled vegetables, and the divine Crispy Salt and Pepper Calamare with Honey Lime Dipping Sauce.
The calamare are some of the best I've ever had - tender, lightly breaded morsels that bear no resemblence to the usual rings of rubber you get most places. The sauce is a sweet spicy combination with a hint of Thai flavoring.
Everyone who got a soup or salad was thrilled with it (the Petite Spinach Salad with D'Anjou Pears, Prosciutto and Balsamic Vinaigrette was described as "exceptional"), especially the special Baked Maine Lobster Bisque, which was served with a golden puff pastry topping, creamy and fragrant with sherry beneath the flaky crust.
My Frisée Aux Lardons (fancy term for salad with bacon) was great, the tart lemon vinaigrette a piquant counterpoint to the richness of the soft, poached egg and the smoky salt of the bacon.
I was happy, because I've found the house salad served with the variety of sandwiches at lunch bland and tastless, the dressing more oil than vinegar.
More than one member of our party had the Pan Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast with Whipped Potatoes and Roasted Garlic Pan Jus, and allowed me to taste it. The chicken was juicy and tender, very flavorful - in fact, I found the garlic jus a little too flavorful, the sharp bite of the garlic overwhelming everything else.
My guy friends who had the Brown Sugar-Soy Brined Pork Loin cleaned their plates, though, even after being pleasantly surprised by the large portion size. In fact, none of the portions were tiny, directly contradicting the stereotype of French restaurants serving meager, unsatisfying dishes.
No one went home hungry, even one of my girlfriends who showed up not feeling well, unsure if she'd be able to eat anything.
The waitress was extremely kind and sympathetic, however, suggesting possibilities, and the kitchen did everything it could to accommodate my friend's needs.
Zinc Brasserie is a wonderful neighborhood bistro where diners have the opportunity to sample flavor combinations they can't get anywhere else in Sandusky, in a hip, grown-up atmosphere.
I've been here a few times
I've been here a few times and the quality of service, food and atmosphere is excellent. This place is seemingly thriving and I think this bodes very well for the rest of downtown Sandusky.