ZINQUE
VENICE FAVE NOW SERVING WEHO

A favorite haunt along trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, Zinque, a popular neighborhood hang by day and hip wine bar by night, is now serving West Hollywood. A cozy spot offering al fresco dining, the décor impresses with its zinc-topped bars found all over Paris, along with its urban oasis setting highlighted by  planted trees and vines, and outdoor fireplace as its centerpiece.

Zinque is a welcoming space where you’ll want to linger all day enjoying wine while listening to music playing from an antique piano or DJ spinning, while relishing its menus that offers fresh foods from around the world. Fun fact, their bread is imported every three days from the famous Poilâne Bakery in Paris.

Owner Emmanuel Dossetti has taken his Venice concept, where local artists, professionals, and, often times, celebrities, come-and-go at all hours of the day to drink coffee and wine, eat, read, work, and socialize. The vibe is no different in WeHo.

“West Hollywood needs this kind of neighborhood hub,” Dossetti explains. “A place that is personal, where you know the staff, and where you can go at all times of the day—on your way to work, for lunch, on your way home from work, or late at night. Zinque is a place where it’s easy to meet people, to converse, while enjoying uncommonly good food and drinks.”

 At Zinque, in addition to flying in fresh bread from Paris, they carry cheese (Epoisses) from Burgundy (known as the “king of cheeses”). Also impressive, their charcuterie items and oysters are shucked by Christophe Happilon.

During our recent visit for dinner, we started with a refreshing Lillet Blanc aperitif cocktail before transitioning to wine. Their tartines on toasted Poilane bread from Paris are great starter items. The Salami Tartine with artisan salami-butter-cornichon is delicious and paired nicely with a 2010 Sancerre, Patient Cottat.

After our opening salvo, now with a nice glass of Chablis from Burgundy in hand, we worked our way down the Bites section of the menu, sampling the Pan Com Tomate with Prosciutto (a delightful ham and tomato open face sandwich), Roasted Mini Sausages (tasty bite sized treats), and the hearty Potato Gratin Dauphinois. Combine any of these and they can make a tasty tapas meal.

The Plates section of the menu is more filling and made up of actual individual sized meals. Since we were eating family style, we split the Quinoa Salad, to which we added avocado and chicken (you can also add ahi tuna or smoked salmon), and the Smoked Salmon Carpaccio served with your choice of fries or potato gratin. The salmon dish is a great light and healthy option.

If you haven’t gotten to your fill of bread yet, the Mushrooms Thin Flatbread with gruyere-herbs is highly recommended. This flatbread is satisfying and can serve as an entire meal.

Looking at the menu, mornings at Zinque sound inviting too as their Breakfast Sandwich with egg, tomato, basil, and aged gruyere sounds delicious, as does the Tuna Tartar Tartine on toasted Poilane bread. For lunch, gourmet sandwiches, salads and rice bowls are offered. The full menu is available until 11pm while flatbreads, quiches, fries, and bites are served until close at 2am. Lookout for beloved special events such as Paella Night or Moules-Frites Night.

Zinque is located at 8684 Melrose Ave, across from the Pacific Design Center. Hours: Monday to Thursday 6:30am to 12am; Friday 6:30am to 2am; Saturday 7:30am to 2am; Sunday 7:30am to 12am.

Story by: Jose Martinez