One of Lodi's best kept secrets, Zin Bistro packs a punch with bold, wine-forward flavors with upscale comforting classics. On top of that, the service is excellent.Tucked away in a small space right by Changing Faces Theater Company, Zin truly takes the word bistro to heart in its appearance from the outside: cozy. Fret not, because the inside is actually quite palatial; with its street front patio and well spaced tables, the mood is intimate but not subdued. The service is usually run by a bare bones staff, and when tables are filled, there is a constant flow of life circulating within the dining space.The food is very straightforward, being adorned with wine infused sauces and glazes. Again, wine is a cornerstone of this place and is the thread tying everything together. The menu almost always has chicken, steak, and seafood; occasionally pasta and other similar things.The real secret here is Tuesday evenings: they have a fixed 3-course meal for a very reasonable 14$. It comes with an appetizer, entree, and dessert, with the menu being posted day of on their Facebook page. This is truly a killer deal if you're interested in trying out Zin, but for some reason are uncertain.That being said, I've had pork or chicken evwry time I've come here and have never been disappointed. Never dry, always with good sides. The sauces usually err toward the bright side and will cut through and accent the flavor of your meal (obviously), so if you aren't big into sauces this may make it challenging for you to find something. There is a pretty good burger on the menu, though.
Food and service were very good. A modest dining room--call ahead to reserve a table.
We used to love this restaurant BUT NOT ANYMORE!!! We got six different dishes and every single one was so salty that they were almost inedible. Two of the dishes were so overcooked as to be dried out shoe leather, and one dish was almost raw! It WAS a great place in years past but we’ll never go back because of how bad and inconsistent the food is now. What a shame. It is a so sad! The service is wonderful. The ambiance is lovely. But the food is NOW inedible.
The restaurant itself is a little small, but the food is exquisite! The lamb shank (when available) and pork scallopini are our faves. Our favorite restaurant in Lodi!! Enjoy. ❤️
Had dinner here 3 times so far. All the food has been great and the service extraordinary. We will be back soon.
On Tuesday evening, there is a bargain fixed dish (along with the standard menu). We tried the risotto, with a salad and a dessert. Our waiter was charming and knowledgeable about the wines.
We went on a suggestion from our B&B Bella Vine (5stars) and was so pleased!! I would suggest reservations as it is a small dining area. We got luck and we sat without, but it was also 5pm. The had a wonderful wine selection. I has tomato bisque that only a master can do correct. It is either ketchup or tomato sauce. This was neither. It has a great tomato texture but with a hearty soul to it. I had the special Osso Buco and it was superb! Soft and fork tender serves with perfect mashed potatoes and a mushroom reduction sauce. Al Dente zucchini to round it off. My husband had a perfectly cooked steak with a wine reduction sauce.We finished off our meal with a lemon Panna cotta. Delightful. I would give this restaurant 2 Michelin stars for sure!!! A hidden gem.Great price point! Great waiter!I will drive just to go back to eat there!
We were excited to go. Have heard about this place for a few months now. We had the fried Gnocchi appetizer, it was INCREDIBLE! The hubby ordered the steak, it was great. I ordered the chicken pasta. That's unfortunately where I went wrong. I'm sure it's great for someone else, but not my favorite flavor profile. The server said tossed in olive oil, it wasn't, it was like soup. He also mentioned olives and capers. I normally would like this, but it was kalamata olives and capers. It was so insanely salty I couldn't do it! I had 3 or 4 bites and done! It was super pricey for what I had and couldn't eat it. When I told the server, he told me, "wow that's a hard position for you to be in." He didn't offer to take it off, discount it or even remake it. So that just threw me off. I had high hopes. It was the first dinner I had out in weeks after being sick. So, I was very bummed. The server, until that 1 comment, was very GOOD and helpful! So I think it was just a random situation he didn't know what to say. The only other thing was out Ceasar salad was pale green almost yellow and super bitter. I'm sure we will try 1 more time. But for 2 ppl about $100, and we had water. No drinks of any kind.
What a great place to dine. The food was awesome and our server was funny and very informative! We had the Scaloppini, Lamb shank and Beef Tenderloin..... all incredible, thanks chef Walter! Second time here! Place was very empty, I hope they are doing okay...... Go try them!!
Enjoyable night out followed by a great meal