Melrose Ave is one of my favorite hangouts in West Hollywood. On top of being a nice amalgam of what makes Los Angeles unique and exciting, it’s also one of my favorite places where I can go to unwind and grab a quick bite or a leisurely meal. Every corner and every street is brimming with possibilities – with a myriad of rare gems that I keep going back to. And just recently, just right across the street from the Pacific Design Center, my wife Tina and I chanced on a neon sign that reads as “Zinque.” It sounded undeniably French, and being a lover of all things French, we decided to check it out.
The most noticeable thing about Zinque is its huge French country-style outdoor patio spruced up by overhead string lights, rustic wooden tables, pillow-topped chairs, and elegant plant fixtures. The place has a hip yet intimate air to it and appears to have a diverse clientele. Also located on the left side is a huge fireplace where some college-types are having a lively chat over wine and beer. I like this place.
The interiors are just as impressive with its industrial European decor, lively atmosphere, not to mention the extensive coffee and wine bar. The moment we stepped in, we were given a warm welcome by one of the staff and were ushered to one of the empty tables right at a corner where we can get a nice view of the outdoor patio.
The bar is huge, with high wine racks nicely stationed at the back. On the right is a long chalkboard menu showing a nice selection of French-inspired meals, offering everything from “plates” and French salads to flatbreads, paninis and tartines to indulge every appetite. Zinque has food offerings for every hour – be it breakfast sandwiches, pastries, brunches, or happy-hour munchies.
I ordered the ‘Le Bowl’ partly because it is highlighted in red, not to mention that it’s got a winning combination of brown rice, veggies, arugula, feta, aged comte, cilantro, and siracha. The flavors were in tune and the spicy chicken bits win points for tenderness. Also, the veggies are fresh and go well with the fantastic mayo sauce. Tina ordered the Avocado-Arugula-Tomato-Comte salad with Smoked Salmon and was over the moon about it right from the first bite. I helped myself with a few bites from her plate with relish, noting the right balance of crispness and softness in each bite.
For my next order I had the Caprese salad (yes, I love salads). which had huge wheels of mozzarella drizzled with basil leaves as well as fresh tomatoes. Every bite was flavorful with just the right amount of richness.
Next up was the Tuna Tartare toast, which comes with the highly-revered toasted poilane bread. Mixed with salt and vinegar chips, this tartine recipe has a unique combination of flavours that delighted my taste buds in more ways than one. There are many other delectable-looking offerings I’d love to try someday like the Tomato-Avocado-Comte, the Cheese Plate, French County Pate, and the Salami Camembert.
To cap off the evening, my wife and I transferred to a nice spot at the outdoor patio, ordered a couple more drinks, and talked the night away as we pleasantly swirled, sipped, and savored our wine. With its diverse selection of Bordeaux vintage, Zinque is a veritable wine spot my wife and I agreed to keep coming back to. Maybe next time we can come earlier so we can get a better spot near the huge fireplace.
Overall, spending the night at Zinque has been a very pleasant experience. It’s a welcome addition to my short list of regular haunts in West Hollywood. I’ll make sure to come in the morning next time so I can grab one of their delectable gourmet breakfast sandwiches and have a cup of La Combe coffee (their selection of coffee is just as impressive). In fact, I already picked a favorite spot at the outdoor patio where I can indulge myself in some people-watching.