(312) 337-1131

1131 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610 41.9029 -87.6284

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

BISTROZINC.COM

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.15.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Carte Blanche, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Romantic Dining, Brunch, Lunch Spot, Date Spot

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

French

Smoking Permitted:

At bar

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bistrot Zinc

Featured Review

Valerie Moloney

Contributor

The Scene – With its mirrored walls, wicker chairs, tiled floors and red and black present throughout, this brasserie only needs a sidewalk cafe to make it truly Parisian. Even without the patio, tourists and Gold Coast locals still love this restaurant for a lingering lunch or quiet dinner with friends. A long zinc-topped bar up front provides ample elbow room for those waiting for a table. Servers are fast and especially helpful to families with kids. – – The Food – Dishes such as escargot, bouillabaisse and steak au poivre round out a menu devoted entirely to…

Editor's Tips

Parking:
Street parking is difficult so avoid taking a car if you can. Valet service is available for dinner only.
Know Before You Go:
A 16-percent gratuity is added to checks for parties of six or more.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The ambience in the bistrot is warm and lively like the ones we have visited in Paris.”
  2. “Excellent atmosphere, Excellent food.”
  3. “Everything on the menu is delicious and prepared with a comfortable French style.”
  4. “Marginal food, great atmosphere”
  5. “The food is good but the atmosphere makes it even better!”
  6. “should mention that the valet attendant was extremely helpful and was able to park our vehicle in a location easily accessed after our evening at the club.”
  7. “When we return (and we will definitely be back, the food was delicious, and there are plenty of other things on the menu that we want to try), we'll consider parking further away and walking just to avoid the awkwardness and sense of frustration we felt a”
  8. “Despite the pleasant atmosphere, a recent trip to Bistrot Zinc proved to be less than satisfactory.”
  9. “Everything you could ask for in a local restaurant: service, ambience, food, reasonable prices.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “The chocolate crepes are fantastic!”
  2. “Be sure to order the escargot as an appetizer and don't forget a crepe for dessert (the Nutella-Banana is especially delicious).”
  3. “My favorites include the steak and fries, the French onion soup and the great deserts.”
  4. “My glass of champagne also made the meal memorable, but there was no time for dessert since our waitress had not been particularly attentive.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Good food, good service, excellent wine list.”
  2. “While we were unable to sit next to the windows, we weren't far away, and I was still able to enjoy the zinc bar.”
  3. “Highly recommended for those who want a glass of wine and no fuss food that's yummy!”
  4. “Our waiter was attentive and arrived right away to tell us the specials and take our drink orders (the wine list did seem a little small for a French restaurant).”
food quality
96.51000022888184% positive
  1. “dish I loved loved loved in France.”
  2. “would recommend this place to anyone but would not recommend the steak.”
  3. “The soups are outstanding and their entrees never fail to impress.”
  4. “Inedible food.”
  5. “Marginal food, great atmosphere”
  6. “When we return (and we will definitely be back, the food was delicious, and there are plenty of other things on the menu that we want to try), we'll consider parking further away and walking just to avoid the awkwardness and sense of frustration we felt a”
  7. “And the taste was delicious, enough that I ate half the bread which I soaked into the mussel broth.”
  8. “Delicious food, good service”
  9. “Everything you could ask for in a local restaurant: service, ambience, food, reasonable prices.”
  10. “Everything on the menu is delicious and prepared with a comfortable French style.”
  11. “The bread they bring out is nice as well.”
  12. “Would look elsewhere if you want to enjoy a healthy, fungus-free meal.”
  13. “The french onion soup was also delicious.”
  14. “However, the sandwiches, although not very French, were very good.”
  15. “The turkey and brie sandwich was great!”
  16. “had the soupe du jour (a delicious lentil soup with Indian/Moroccan flavors) which was perfect on a chilly evening.”
  17. “One of my favorite dishes there is the charcuterie plate which has French cheeses, sausage, a liver mousse pate and grapes.”
  18. “Be sure to order the escargot as an appetizer and don't forget a crepe for dessert (the Nutella-Banana is especially delicious).”
  19. “also enjoy lunch entrees like salads and sandwiches.”
  20. “Highly recommended for those who want a glass of wine and no fuss food that's yummy!”
  21. “love their food so that's why I keep coming back though.”
  22. “Good food, good service, excellent wine list.”
  23. “We went to Bistrot Zinc for a light lunch so we only ordered the french onion soup, mussles and fries, but the meal was fabulous.”
  24. “Excellent atmosphere, Excellent food.”
  25. “It has been consistent as a place to stop for good food aand good service at a reasonable price.”
  26. “The french onion soup is great (a little sweet, i prefer a little spice, but still good).”
  27. “These were ginormous--not the wee, sweet little goodies served fresh in paris.”
  28. “wonderful meal.”
  29. “We loved this little bistrot; the menu was interesting and true to French bistrot food.”
  30. “The manager insisted repeatedly that I was mistaken (despite my clarifying that I treat infectious diseases for a living and have seen many molds in my career), and made a big deal about how they would "of course" replace the dish, as if she was doing me ”
  31. “The food is good but the atmosphere makes it even better!”
  32. “The potato and fennel soup was delicious!”
  33. “Thankfully the food did not disappoint.”
  34. “And the fries were fresh -- home made fries as opposed to frozen.”
  35. “I've been to Bistrot Zinc for brunch and lunch and both meals were delicious.”
  36. “He had the skate, which was fantastic -- flaky and buttery, paired interestingly with lime and a side of velvety mashed potatoes.”
  37. “great food and a nice selection for everyone.”
  38. “My glass of champagne also made the meal memorable, but there was no time for dessert since our waitress had not been particularly attentive.”
  39. “My husband and I enjoyed a delicious and relaxing dinner at Bistrot Zinc last night.”
  40. “The tender chicken is rolled around homemade stuffing and poached in a rich chicken broth.”
  41. “My favorites include the steak and fries, the French onion soup and the great deserts.”
  42. “There are many restaurants in this neighborhood, but I keep going back to Bistrot Zinc because of its combination of consistently good food and accommodating, friendly staff.”
  43. “In my experience the people who run BZ take both food and service very seriously and the charcuterie plate is one of my favorites.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “great food and a nice selection for everyone.”
  2. “great selection and reasonable prices”
  3. “Everything on the menu is delicious and prepared with a comfortable French style.”
  4. “When we return (and we will definitely be back, the food was delicious, and there are plenty of other things on the menu that we want to try), we'll consider parking further away and walking just to avoid the awkwardness and sense of frustration we felt a”
  5. “We loved this little bistrot; the menu was interesting and true to French bistrot food.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant and I make it a point to dine here at least weekly.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “When we return (and we will definitely be back, the food was delicious, and there are plenty of other things on the menu that we want to try), we'll consider parking further away and walking just to avoid the awkwardness and sense of frustration we felt a”
service
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “My glass of champagne also made the meal memorable, but there was no time for dessert since our waitress had not been particularly attentive.”
  2. “Our waitress, while friendly, was not particularly attentive, and when we finally needed to leave, we had to ask repeatedly for our check.”
  3. “My husband and I went Saturday night and the service was friendly and quick.”
  4. “Good food, good service, excellent wine list.”
  5. “The manager insisted repeatedly that I was mistaken (despite my clarifying that I treat infectious diseases for a living and have seen many molds in my career), and made a big deal about how they would "of course" replace the dish, as if she was doing me ”
  6. “The service was excellent.”
  7. “In my experience the people who run BZ take both food and service very seriously and the charcuterie plate is one of my favorites.”
  8. “Everything you could ask for in a local restaurant: service, ambience, food, reasonable prices.”
  9. “There are many restaurants in this neighborhood, but I keep going back to Bistrot Zinc because of its combination of consistently good food and accommodating, friendly staff.”
  10. “Delicious food, good service”
  11. “It has been consistent as a place to stop for good food aand good service at a reasonable price.”
  12. “Our waiter was attentive and arrived right away to tell us the specials and take our drink orders (the wine list did seem a little small for a French restaurant).”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “It has been consistent as a place to stop for good food aand good service at a reasonable price.”
  2. “great selection and reasonable prices”
  3. “The manager insisted repeatedly that I was mistaken (despite my clarifying that I treat infectious diseases for a living and have seen many molds in my career), and made a big deal about how they would "of course" replace the dish, as if she was doing me ”
  4. “Everything you could ask for in a local restaurant: service, ambience, food, reasonable prices.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “My husband and I went Saturday night and the service was friendly and quick.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/02/08

great selection and reasonable prices

by gyglygirl

we were looking for a french restaurant and we couldn't have been happier to find this gem. great food and a nice selection for everyone. from appetizers to entrees you will not be disappointed. it's location is obscure but well worth the effort to find it.

  • Pros: price, selection, crepes, desserts, casual to fine dinning
  • Cons: parking
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/14/07

Delicious food, good service

by pjs2780

My husband and I enjoyed a delicious and relaxing dinner at Bistrot Zinc last night. We were seated immediately, having made reservations, crusty and chewy bread was served promptly. Our waiter was attentive and arrived right away to tell us the specials and take our drink orders (the wine list did seem a little small for a French restaurant). I had the soupe du jour (a delicious lentil soup with Indian/Moroccan flavors) which was perfect on a chilly evening. For the entrees, my husband and I ordered off of the seasonal menu. He had the skate, which was fantastic -- flaky and buttery, paired interestingly with lime and a side of velvety mashed potatoes. I had the gnocchi with butternut squash and broccoli rabe, which was rich and succulent, the French gnocchi with a wonderful creamy texture. We were too full for dessert, but all of the items sounded wonderful.

Our only complaint would be the valet situation. We pulled into the valet loading zone and asked the hostess to call the valet for us. We handed off our keys. When we were leaving, we again asked for the valet to be called and stepped outside, only to discover that the car was exactly where we had left it. Why were we stll charged $10 for a self-park job? It was quite strange. When we return (and we will definitely be back, the food was delicious, and there are plenty of other things on the menu that we want to try), we'll consider parking further away and walking just to avoid the awkwardness and sense of frustration we felt as we drove away.

  • Pros: delicious food, attentive service, very cute bistro atmosphere, good location
  • Cons: valet situation
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/04/07

Fabulous French

by lsinanyan

We went to Bistrot Zinc for a light lunch so we only ordered the french onion soup, mussles and fries, but the meal was fabulous. I especially recommend the mussels -- they were so plump and meaty, I was full just from this appetizer. And the taste was delicious, enough that I ate half the bread which I soaked into the mussel broth. The french onion soup was also delicious. And the fries were fresh -- home made fries as opposed to frozen. A wonderful meal. The only negative -- we sat by the window and there were too many flies.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/15/07

Excellent, Fun Bistro

by aver7398

I live in the Gold Coast and have been dining regularly at Bistrot Zinc since they opened. They have quite a few neighborhood regulars like me, as well as a variety of business diners and tourists. There are many restaurants in this neighborhood, but I keep going back to Bistrot Zinc because of its combination of consistently good food and accommodating, friendly staff. One of my favorite dishes there is the charcuterie plate which has French cheeses, sausage, a liver mousse pate and grapes. I was surprised to read another diner?s allegation that there was mold on the grapes. From time to time the grapes sit right next to the pate, and the mousse may find its way on to a grape or two, but having dined at Bistrot Zinc at least twice a week over the last ten years, I have never seen mold on anything I was served. In my experience the people who run BZ take both food and service very seriously and the charcuterie plate is one of my favorites.

If they are offering the poached chicken with vegetables as one of the specials - take advantage of it. The tender chicken is rolled around homemade stuffing and poached in a rich chicken broth. Unusual dish and delicious.

Other favorites: escargot, homemade chips at the bar (goes well with martinis), crepes, grilled salmon (crisp outside, moist inside), waitstaff and getting cooking tips from Chef Tim.

  • Pros: Pros: Consistently good food, service, and drinks within walking distance. Moderately priced wine list.
  • Cons: Gets busy and noisy on Friday and Saturday nights - like a bistro...
1 Star Rating: Poor

07/08/07

Inedible food...

by mhd3w

Was served food with MOLD growing on it! Both hostess and waiter acknowledge the problem, immediately apologized and replaced my plate, but the manager came out to very loudly insist (for the horrified customers around me) that the mold I saw was not actually mold, but a "mousse" that brushed onto the plate. Funny that the mold I, my boyfriend, the hostess and waiter saw was fuzzy and white.... (I would recommend staying away from any "mousse" they serve here as well!) The manager insisted repeatedly that I was mistaken (despite my clarifying that I treat infectious diseases for a living and have seen many molds in my career), and made a big deal about how they would "of course" replace the dish, as if she was doing me a huge favor. Would look elsewhere if you want to enjoy a healthy, fungus-free meal.

  • Pros: Cheap
  • Cons: Horrible food and service.

The Details on Bistrot Zinc

Place Categories:

  • good fuss food
  • good service
  • delicious french onion soup
  • reasonable prices
  • great atmosphere
  • delicious dinner
  • flaky skate
  • true menu
  • enjoyed best steak frite
  • succulent butternut squash
  • lively ambience
  • delicious everything
  • succulent broccoli rabe
  • great sandwich
  • favorite neighborhood restaurant
  • able valet attendant
  • favorite dish
  • not particularly attentive waitress
  • recommend place
  • great lemonade
  • especially delicious nutellabanana
  • loved little bistrot
  • fresh fries
  • memorable fungusfree meal
  • enjoy lunch entrees

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