Modern American Fair In An Old American City
San Antonio, Texas USA
Cuisine Style: New American, Southwestern
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in: March 2015
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Danny Ybarra
The Zinc Bistro in downtown San Antonio is located in a historic building more than a century old and takes its name from the metal that was popular for bar and table tops in France around the same time. Pronounced “zonc” in French, the name Zinc became slang in the United States for a neighborhood bar. San Antonio is a city with great history, and a modern business and industrial center for Texas, and a one hour drive south of the capital, Austin. For the tourist, the main stop is the famous 13-day siege of The Alamo, and The Riverwalk, surrounded by groups of shops and restaurants, to include where my daughter and wife ate dinner here at Zinc.
Menu:
- Shared Plates
- Salads
- Pizza
- Sandwiches and Burgers
- Big Plates
- Desserts
My daughter and I spent the day touring the Alamo and casually going around the Riverwalk. My wife was up in Austin and driving down to meet us for dinner, and after some research she recommends Zinc. My daughter and I sat in the back patio area called Charles Court, with the surrounding buildings to the court with a series of small patios outside the back door of the dining room with elegant ivy-clad iron gates. Tropical plants, soft uplighting, and splashing water feature making the spot ideal for memorable cocktail receptions, and meals. We all looked over the menu and started with a few shared plates beginning with a flash fried calamari accompanied by jalapeño and Filipino pickled vegetable escabeche and a spicy tomato aioli.
We also shared two more starters; a chicken liver pate of Faux Gras served with sun-dried cherry marmalade and pistachios, and an antipasto platter of St. Andre triple cream brie, Spanish manchego, smoked duck, pork soppressata (dry salami), and prosciutto (dry-cured ham) with marinated olives, fruits, and toasted almonds. Other items on their starter menu include truffled parmesan fries, escargot, and 2-alarm hummus.
 |
| Antipasta plate |
All the starters were excellent, but we all agreed that the calamari was the favorite of the group. I only wish that the Faux Gras was with goose instead of chicken, the flavor difference was noticed. My wife enjoyed a few glasses of Nora Albariño from Rias Baixas, Spain, while I had a glass of Zaca Mesa Syrah, from Santa Ynez Valley. For entrees, my daughter had the Pasta Portofino with julienned chicken, basil pesto, tomatoes, mushrooms, all wrapped up in a linguini pasta. The presentation was very pleasing, and the tartness of the pesto added a great complexity of flavor to the dish.
My wife enjoyed one of her favorite food on this earth, which also happened to be among the items in the shared plates section called the chili mac and three kinds of cheese with asiago, parmesan, white cheddar, and seasonings. With the dish, she enjoyed the Zinc salad with an addition of chicken. The salad had a combination of mixed greens, pear, goat cheese, tobacco onions (yellow and red onions deep fried with spices), pecans, grape tomatoes, and an orange-sherry vinaigrette. Tobacco onions are a mixture that has cayenne and paprika, dredged in flour, then deep fried to give it the tobacco effect. A very refreshing dish that knocks the socks off a typical restaurant salad elsewhere.
For my entree, I enjoyed the Texas lamb pappardelle, slow cooked in red wine, onions, garlic cloves, local mushrooms, and zucchini. It was good for local Texas lamb, but I had just returned from New Zealand and Australia, so it made the local Texas lamb hard to compare when you have some of the best lambs in the world. Don’t get me wrong, the dish was very nice, and the red wine stock blended well with the gamey flavor, as did the vegetables.
 |
| Texas lamb pappardelle |
Dessert:
Though we did not have room dessert, their menu consisted of a 1980s flashback molten chocolate cake, a pumpkin creme brûlée, and chocolate covered strawberries just to mention a few. Our overall experience was very pleasing, and we would put this restaurant on a recommend list for others when they visit.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy New American Articles & Restaurants:
Alinea Highly creative new American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
Chill Restaurant & Bar New American Cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails in St. Pete Beach
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork Daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Lobby at Twelve Boutique hotel bistro, new American, and Southern favorites at Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samantha’s Restaurant Mellow new American fare in North Canton, Ohio
The Mad Hatter Waterfront upscale new American cuisine on Sanibel Island, Florida
The Mill Restaurant New American fare with a southern spin in St. Petersburg, Florida
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American Classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few Texas Favorites:
|
Farm-to-fork upscale local chain for Southwestern cuisine
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Eclectic global plates and sushi
(name changed to Kuneho)
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Landmark Mexican Restaurant
Austin, Texas, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Zic a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
9.5
|
8.5
|
1
|
Food quality
|
10
|
6
|
4
|
Plate presentation
|
8
|
7.5
|
0.5
|
Customer service
|
7.5
|
5
|
2.5
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
9
|
8
|
1
|
Total regular points awarded
|
44
|
35
|
9
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.795454545454545
|
||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0227272727272727
|
||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.818181818181818
|
||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
3
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
3 of 5 Stars:
82% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
|
Wine List:
|
|
Wine rating:
|
7.5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, California, Oregon, Washington State, Texas
|
Corkage fee’s:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
|
American, Southwestern
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Grass Fed, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Vegan Options, Vegetarian
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Smart casual to Casual attire
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Place for foodies, Contemporary, Trendy, Romantic, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Rustic, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
A Public lot or Street meter parking
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Low
|
Smoking:
|
Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
|
Patio or terrace:
|
Yes
|
Wine Tasting Notes:
Wine & Grape:
|
Nose (Bouquet):
|
Palette Experience:
|
|
|
Winemakers notes:
94% Syrah, 6% Viognier (co-fermented) 16 months in French oak; 19% new with 12,400 case production.
It displays bright blackberry, wild-berry, flowers, mocha, pepper and sage spice.
|
Winemakers notes:
The silky finish lingers from the ripe tannins with a touch of smoky oak. A traditional pairing for this wine is a rack of lamb marinated in rosemary and garlic.
|
|
Denominazione di Origine, Italy
|
This tasty, stainless steel-fermented and aged Albariño should have fish and shellfish lovers salivating. Nora exhibits a crisp, clean, pure nose of tropical fruits,
|
Medium body, zingy acidity, and a dry finish. It should drink well for 2 years.
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
££
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
|
Zinc Bitro And Bar:
207 N Presa St
San Antonio, TX 78205
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
|
|
Maître d or host:
|
+1 210-224-2900
|
Online reservations
|
|
Serving hours:
Central Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 6:00)
|
Mon-Fri
11:00 am - 42:00 am
Sat-Sun
3:00 pm - 2:00 am
|
Social Media
&
Accolades:
|
|
****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
New American, Southern Twist
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Safari + Upscale African Cuisine
Sabi Sabi, South Africa
|
Seasonal American cuisine
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
|
Other Pictures:
 |
| The Courtyard |
 |
| Antipasta |
 |
| Calamari dish |
 |
| Macaroni and Cheese |
 |
| Grilled chicken salad |
 |
| Pasta Portofino |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
