Cafe Zinc
Critic's rating
Average User Ratings
About
There's always a line out the door of Zinc Cafe and Market, and everybody brings their dogs and babies to sit outside and bump into their friends and neighbors.
If there were a pot-bellied stove on the premises, Zinc would be an old-fashioned general store. But the food is thoroughly modern: Laguna locals and tourists alike come early to read the papers al fresco, get a latte fix and scarf down oatmeal, scones, granola and poached or soft-boiled eggs in little egg cups. There's a terrific assortment of fresh breads, some from L.A.'s La Brea Bakery.
Luncheon fare is just as popular, but try not to be in a hurry; they'll take your order at the counter as fast as they can. The owner is a third-generation vegetarian, so don't expect any roast beef or pastrami here. In fact, all of the offerings are vegetarian. One of the best things to order is the puffy pizza topped with baked eggplant, roasted garlic, swiss chard, mozzarella and goat cheese. A good soup-and-salad combo is always available and usually quite creative.
Once you've feasted on lettuces and baby vegetables, try a piece of the berry-filled sponge torte laced with whipped cream and ricotta cheese. And don't forget to take home some of the market's fat pecan cookies with tart lemon icing. Some of us have been known to eat a bagful in the car on the way home.
If there were a pot-bellied stove on the premises, Zinc would be an old-fashioned general store. But the food is thoroughly modern: Laguna locals and tourists alike come early to read the papers al fresco, get a latte fix and scarf down oatmeal, scones, granola and poached or soft-boiled eggs in little egg cups. There's a terrific assortment of fresh breads, some from L.A.'s La Brea Bakery.
Luncheon fare is just as popular, but try not to be in a hurry; they'll take your order at the counter as fast as they can. The owner is a third-generation vegetarian, so don't expect any roast beef or pastrami here. In fact, all of the offerings are vegetarian. One of the best things to order is the puffy pizza topped with baked eggplant, roasted garlic, swiss chard, mozzarella and goat cheese. A good soup-and-salad combo is always available and usually quite creative.
Once you've feasted on lettuces and baby vegetables, try a piece of the berry-filled sponge torte laced with whipped cream and ricotta cheese. And don't forget to take home some of the market's fat pecan cookies with tart lemon icing. Some of us have been known to eat a bagful in the car on the way home.
--Judy Chamberlain
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What's Nearby
| 1 | Cafe Zinc 0.00 miles |
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| 2 | Cafe Zinc & Market 0.02 miles |
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| 3 | Hapi Sushi 0.04 miles |
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| 4 | Hapi Sushi of Laguna 0.04 miles |
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| 5 | Ristorante Robilio 0.06 miles |
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