Zinc Cafe & Market

About the Business

Specialties

Zinc is a place for people. We strive every day to provide a place where our customers can take a respite from their day. We provide delicious food and drink with simple service and a thoughtful environment. Please visit any of our three locations.

History

Established in 1988.

Zinc was inspired by the quality food movement that was initiated by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. The name Zinc was borrowed from the Parisian cafés. During the war the government confiscated or purchased the traditional copper and brass sinks and counters of the cafés. The next cheapest and available material was Zinc. Over night the word zinc became synonymous with cafe and these cafés we're know as Zinc Bars, they still exist today.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

John S.

Business Owner

I started Zinc after having a career in Landscape Architecture.  I graduated from Berkeley in 1981and worked and lived in Berkeley and San Francisco.  This was the time of Chez Panisse, Santa Fe Bar and Grill, Cocolat, Zuni Cafe and numerous other restaurants and confectioneries that so surpassed the norm.I decided to change careers and use my design background to create environments that mimic the qualities I found in San Francisco and Berkeley restaurants and cafés.  We grew quickly and had the assistance of my mom, Rosemarie, to further our menu selections.  She has an amazing palette with an eye for creating unique and delicious foods that help define our style.We now have four locations, each having learned from the previous to further enforce who we are and what we're about.