Zins
227 2nd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52401
Zins Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cedar Rapids for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
227 2nd Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA, 52401 - Phone (319) 363-9467
- Website https://www.zinsrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Mark G.
Zins is an area tapas place, they offer small dishes meant for sharing. So it really is nice to come here with a group of people to try a little bit of everything. I've eaten here a few times, I won't go over every dish since I do believe their is some rotation in the menu options. The food is pretty good and they do put a decent effort fourth in the quality of the dishes they serve. I would say they put their chef school training to use here. Places like this are good for group outings since you are actively sharing. The prices and size of the tapas dishes are about right, they give you a good sized portion for your money. I've seen similar places to this become very successful, check them out and find the right mix for you or your group.
(4)Paul M.
Having seen a lot of Yelp reviews, both super good and super bad, I didn't know what to expect. The bar service was pretty slow, but not as bad as I'd heard. Basically it's kind of bad. The servers don't know how to deal with a restaurant like this. We sat in the "Chef's Table" which basically means your ambient light is fluorescent from the kitchen. Literally every plate was delivered to the wrong person. Over and over again. It was like a buffet where you had to yell "that's mine!" With 10 people this turns from an amusing joke into a Marx brothers farce. And yes we were sitting at the "Chef's Table" which is just an alcove of the restaurant where you get fluorescent lighting from the angry kitchen staff instead of something appropriate. The food was not even good enough to make up for that. Realizing it was disaster in the making, the only person in charge (the waitress) produced every desert for free. No. So I dunno, maybe it's good for 2 people. Like all restaurants I've seen in Cedar Rapids, they don't know what they're doing.
(2)Michael H.
I really use to like Zins. I would look forward to great service and great food. After having a 7:30 reservation, we were seated at approximately 7:40. At 7:50, I got up and walked out after never actually having a server approach our table. We received menus that looked like they were sneezed into. What a dumpster fire this place has become. I should have known that when I saw 4 other couples in your establishment, it probably was for a reason. Just a small word of advice, don't go begging on social media about needing customer's to give you business when you can't even provide them with service!
(1)Rhonda C.
Second visit to Zins, second bad experience at Zins. I think I just paid $9 for a gin and tonic happy hour drink. The bartender claims I gave her less than the amount owed, so I gave her more money, though I insisted I gave her more than enough. She supposedly takes me at my word, gives me a discounted price, and gives me back some money. Since when does $13 less a drink for about $4 get me change of $4.25?? As I indicated in my previous review of Zin's, no wonder they have a problem staying in business.
(1)Kristin H.
The very best part of Zins is the free valet parking; everything after that is downhill. Before I expose the too-many-to-name fails, let me say this: I really, really, really want to love, or at least like, Zins. I want to support locally owned restaurants in Cedar Rapids and to see them succeed. Truly, I do. This is why I always give restaurants several tries, returning in hopes of discovering improvements in the wake of less-than-great experiences of which I have had at Zins in the past. And so, we chose Zins over Cobble Hill, 360, Vinos, Popoli's and White Star as our pre-TCR show dinner on a Thursday night. There were four of us and while we had made a reservation, we definitely did not need one as the place was nearly empty. Right from the start and throughout our entire visit, the service was slow, disjointed and sporadic, despite our having announced our time frame with our up coming 7:30 show. Cocktails were delivered one at a time, the third coming about 15 minutes after the first two were delivered. I have never experienced cocktail service like this. The teenager at our table ordered a Shirley Temple that caused her to squint her eyes and say to me, "Taste this. Is this right." It was not. "How do you screw up a Shirley Temple," we wondered. We learned they had run out of Sprite and had thought it wise to substitute plain club soda. Not. We ordered the cheese plate to start, followed by a couple of salads, and then three pasta dishes. The cheese plate tasted good enough, but the presentation of piling all the cheese and relishes onto a small plate with no division of the components was less than impressive. I recommend spreading it out onto a board and adding more relishes, mustards, nuts or greens. Just something creative. There was a huge gap after our first course and we were getting pretty impatient, when our pasta dishes arrived, before our salads. Ugh. We noted the absence of our salads and the pastas were wisked away by the food delivery person. Two minutes later she was back, with our server, and now, our pasta dishes AND or salads, all at once. Ugh. It's not like the kitchen had a full dining room of full tables with many orders to fulfill. How does this happen? Sequencing is Restaurant 101 stuff. C'mon, Zins. By now, I'm just praying the food doesn't suck and I'm eating the bread they had brought just in case it does. The tiny pasta dishes were fine, not good, and consisted of box spaghetti tossed in sauce with about 3 ounces of protein (no veggies). The shrimp and seafood portions served in the pasta were below average and reminded me of the shrimp and seafood you would find at Panda Express. Edible, but not fine dining. None of us would order these again. We ate our salad AFTER our entrees because we didn't want to eat cold pasta. Salad was fresh, but I don't think it was properly dressed as we tasted no lemon vinaigrette as promised. Ugh again. I need to stop as I am getting stressed out again just thinking about our dinner. Just know that dessert took forever and service continued to be poor. We barely made it to the show on time. Why two stars? Valet parking, good decor, cocktails tasted very good, and the focaccia bread is yummy. Will I return? Not likely. Zins, I'm out.
(2)Katie R.
one of my always favorite restaurants!! my favorite dishes are their amazing & fabulously calapse delicious mac n cheese & steak frites but they also always have amazing desserts & new surprising dishes I have to try as well. if you aren't satisfied with something that arrives at your table, they fix it, asap, for you! Just, yum!
(5)Mary G.
I ate here the other night and I find the poor reviews puzzling. My husband was formally a concierge in the French Quarter in New Orleans and we now dine out regularly in the DC area. The service, while not the most sophisticated we have ever seen, was charming and friendly. We got the calamari small plate, the seared scallops small plate and the soup - all of which was delicious. We split a large plate flank steak with balsamic marinade and the lollipop lamb small plate. I did find the risotto to have an odd, almost bitter flavor. Everything else was outstanding. The "go to" dessert is the creme brûlée. It was thick, creamy and had a lovely burnt sugar crust on top that cracked nicely. We would definitely go back when we are in the area.
(4)Rosanne M.
We had not been to Zin's for years but thought we would try it again. My husband was never fond of the small plate idea so we had not been there for a long time. There were 6 of us tonight. Everything took forever! Granted our server asked if we we wanted a leisurely meal and we said we did. Our server was pleasant and apologetic but he needed to wash his serving jacket. Pretty dirty. My seafood pasta was not good. Way over seasoned. Shellfish should be light tasting but the sauce on this dish was an unappetizing brown and the seasoning was so strong I could not taste the shellfish. I left most of it. My husand and I both had salads...I had the berry and he had the house. Both dressings had no flavor. We split the pork medallions with bourbon cherries. It sat on a cheddar cornbread which was burned on the bottom. The pork was overcooked and so dry. I could barely swallow it. I guess I expected the cherries to be in a sauce over the meat. No...the berries were on the side alone with no sauce. They brought the wrong pasta dish to one friend but when the correct one came it was good. His hamburger was not....when it finally came. It took forever! In the end there was no charge for it. The bun was so dry it crumbled apart. Our dirty plates sat on the table while we finished our wine. They were still there when we left. I know Zin's has struggled this year and I wanted to support a local business. We won't be back. Beautiful place but the food and service were really lacking tonight.
(2)Robert D.
I like Zins. They never let us down. Very professional service(Jeremy.) Good delicious locally sourced food. I had the Carolina Pulled Pork and it was very good. Wife had a Chicken sandwich and it was delicious too! We ended with Bread Pudding ($4) and it was amazing. A very generous portion that both of us shared. Very good value. We will be back!
(5)M. B. B.
We quit going to Zins over a year ago due to poor service and miserable food. This week we decided to try them agin hoping the service and menu had improved. Sorry to say the service is not passionate nor responsive. The coconut shrimp tasted like frozen from a box and over cooked. Cannot figure out what they used for bread as the brochette was literally inedible as we could not apply enough jaw pressure to chew this rock hard concoction. The end for our visits here sure and will expect another failed business, Zins.
(1)Christian T.
Whatever you do, don't order the prime rib. Flavorless, undercooked, and extremely unappetizing. Best part of the plate was the mashed potatoes on the bottom. Wouldn't recommend coming unless you want decent bar drinks.
(1)Jeff W.
Stopped in several times a while back, with some notable 'wtf?' moments... Mid afternoon, with a promo board out front listing several food specials, I walk in and am informed that there is in fact no food being served until after 4pm (clock reads about 3:30). Well, aside from being hungry, I'm thirsty as well...but the bartender is already distracted on the other side of the wall/bar before I can place my drink order. I figure I'll still check the place out and have a drink and wait until she returns to get my order in. 5 minutes pass before she returns. This will come to frame my experiences at Zins, as, once I get my drink, the bartender is nowhere to be found. My beverage has maybe two fingers (mostly ice) left when she emerges to cash out the only other people in the bar, but she doesn't even look in my direction before walking off again, let alone ask. I finish my drink and wait patiently for the better part of ten minutes while I hear conversation from the 'other side' - there is a wall between the front bar and the dining area. At this point, it's been 15 minutes since the bartender showed her face, and I figure she's forgotten about the only actual customer in her restaurant, and oh yeah, I'm hungry. The bartender/manager is apparently occupied, so I leave a $5 bill on the bar and depart. I waited, patiently, for this server to return and take my payment, for long enough that I actually said '1 more minute' to myself while literally watching a clock. I do not skip out on my tab, ever, but I had things to do, including find a place to eat, and since I'd asked about food and the appointed hour had already past and the server wasn't interested in...serving anything...I got up and left. Leaving, at least, some payment, not knowing what my actual bill for 1 drink was. Had this person made the slightest effort to check on me, get me another drink, or suggest a food option (or, once again, hand me a menu, *sigh) I'd have given it another 5 minutes, maybe...but... So I walk down the street to another business, where I'm greeted immediately as I walk in the door (whoa, guys, calm down!), and I've placed my order and even paid for it when I turn around to find the bartender storming towards me. She demands another $3 for the drink I finished nearly 20 minutes previous, while standing in another business. I ask her for change for a $50 (another reason I only left $5 on the bar) which she does not have. I'm forced to ask the owner of the business we're standing in if he can make change for a $50, which he does. The Zin's bartender storms out while a half dozen customers and employees stare on like 'wtf?'. Once again we see that service is an afterthought if you're eating alone, even at places that present themselves as fine dining and service. If you're going to charge $8 for a basic drink you need to check in on your customers, period. I went in to this business expecting to spend that entire $50 on food and drink but was ignored and then chased down the street for an amount less than what I would have tipped, had the bartender bothered to do her job. I don;t expect to be entertained by your service staff - I just expect service. This manager/bartender couldn't even cover that for a single customer during a dead hour. I might suggest, as well, that if you aren't serving food - close! Zins doesn't have anything on tap or behind the bar I can't find a half a block away for half the price so don't waste your time for drinks unless you're there to eat as well. Even White Star is cheaper (and I daresay has better service).
(1)Matin P.
Ok..... AMAZING FOOD .... Amazing Service! That's all I have to say.... The prices are around 8-15$ for every dish, perfect to share, defiantly try the house made mozzarella and pappardelle ! Hands down best bread pudding I've ever had! Nina was our server and she is great! 3 ppl and we are a lot and bill was 57$ ... Places like this are rare to find !
(5)Brad P.
Impressive for Cedar Rapids. Decent food and beverages. Great wine selection, especially by the glass. Brought in scallops that were again, impressive for Cedar Rapids. Cooked well and presented well. Negative on the bartender's lackadaisical attention to customers sitting at the bar, seemed more interested in chatting with staff.
(3)Jeff O.
Came for brunch on a Sunday! We thought we were taking a gamble with the tapas style menu but it ended up being really great. Some of the items like the breakfast flatbread were actually pretty big, but the bacon pancakes and chorizo and eggs were a little smaller. I'd say a grown man like me could get by getting two and being satisfied. I got the pancakes, chorizo and burger (like a big slider) and was pretty stuffed afterwards. My fiancé got the flatbread and that was enough for her whole meal and then some. Service was on point and really friendly. This is a white table cloth "slow food" kind of place that likes to bring it out in courses, so expect to take your time. It's part of the experience. However, my parents were with us and we only had an hour before leaving for the airport. We told them that, and they did a FANTASTIC job getting us our food on time (all at the same time, no courses), and giving us GREAT service. Also their coffee was really awesome. No cream or sugar needed. My mom had a mimosa she LOVED and my dad had a very spicy bloody mary but he also loved it. Go there (and take your time if you can)!
(5)Jeannie O.
My mother told me I would die if I ate hot cake. I just did ... and went to Heaven. "Chocolate Bread Pudding"
(5)Tom K.
The wait staff seemed confused and unfamiliar with the menu and their drink selections. Poor service all around. Pork medallions sounded great, but weren't so great. The bone in ribeye looked incredible. And the two guys at my table devoured it. Cool atmosphere. Downtown parking is tough. Given a better waiter and a different order, my review could be much different. I'm willing to try again.
(2)Bruce K.
Pretty good restaurant by Iowa standards. They serve small plates, so you typically order 4 more or less plates from starters to dessert. The variety of offerings you can sample at one sitting is the main draw here. Nothing really terrible, but nothing outstanding either. The calamari was swimming in grease both times I tried it, so it actually tasted soggy, which is unfortunate because it's not the most difficult thing to cook. The pappardelle was also too salty and overdone. Like I said though, this is Iowa and I'm judging the food compared to other Iowa eateries, so Zins is still one of the better restaurants in the state. It's worth a try if you're in Cedar Rapids and are in the mood for a decent dinner in an elegant setting with pretty good service.
(3)John S.
Stopped by for a nightcap and weren't disappointed. A fairly decent by the glass wine list, good martinis, but very chill atmosphere. I just wished we had been able to come back for Sunday brunch.
(5)Fontaine C.
This restaurant is located in a good location. Atmosphere was relaxing. Great for business gatherings and dinners after work. My dinner started off with warm bread with olive oil, followed by pappardelle (Home Made Pasta), lamb lollipops; and ended with rhubarb tart. The warm bread and the pappardelle dish were impressive. Both have excellent flavor and texture. The lamb and the rhubarb tart were disappointing. The lamb lollipops were highly recommended by the waitress; yet, they were served half burnt. The rhubarb tart is not much different from the apple pie from McDonalds.
(3)A H.
I have become increasingly disappointed with Zin's. They got rid of their lunch special of selecting two small plates for $9. They have kept the small plates but the prices are much higher. I recently went here for lunch and I asked the waitress what happened to the menu (she had no idea what I was talking about.). I asked if the salad portion was large enough for lunch and the waitress demonstrated with her hands that the salad was the size of a nice sized lunch portion. That seemed right seeing as it was $9. However, when the salad arrived it was on very small plate, like the size of a bread plate. While it was good, it was not worth $9. I was also disappointed in the table service. The waitress reached in front of me to set my plate down. She also took my plate (which was directly in front of me and where my dirty utensils were still resting) away w while I was still eating a shared portion of their pommes frites. She did not apologize or ask if I was finished so I was very put off by this service. I would probably not return for lunch as I don't think Zin's is able to compete with the other restaurants around. The one thing that would keep me coming back is the bar and the outdoor seating.
(2)John F.
If you have just one night in Cedar Rapids, don't pass up an evening at Zinn's. Lee and his staff, and the food and ambiance that they create, will leave you without a care in the world. I only wish I could take them home to Denver. The all around quality is simply amazing.
(5)Jordan S.
I just went here for dessert. I got the Chocolate Bread Pudding and it was fantastic! I also got a coffee. The normal menu looked pricey, but I have heard good things about it. Would definitely go back for the Bread Pudding.
(5)Nick N.
The atmosphere is excellent. As is the wine and beverage selection. The food, tapas style, is a welcome surprise here in Cedar Rapids. It is expertly prepared and expected at a restaurant in a much larger metropolis. The service is equally outstanding. The food is not outrageously priced. Well worth the price. If you are looking for an upscale place to dine in the Cedar Rapids area, this is a very good option.
(5)Christine B.
Two visits, same weekend. Seriously. A quick lunch with colleagues. We were in and out within the hour, ordering off of the small plate menus. The Prosciuitto Salad ($6) was fresh and the perfect accompaniment to the baked (yet creamy) Mac and Cheese ($6). Service was prompt and friendly, which we appreciated immensely since we had somewhere to be. In a rush, I only glanced at the dessert menu, so fast forward several hours... Back again, this time settling in on a sofa with friends. A nice wine selection, we enjoyed a post dinner glass of red. On the recommendation of the waitress, we ordered the Cake Truffle Trio ($2) and the Bread Pudding ($4). Both were dry, so a bit disappointing, but it could be us...we had high expectations after our fabulous lunch. Stick with the entrees, avoid the dessert. Isn't mac'n'cheese tastier than cake anyway?!
(4)robert b.
We dined at zips on Saturday evening and the food and service was excellent. We ordered of the large plate section of the menu, which is new since our last visit. Thank you. We will be back
(5)Cary B.
We have eaten at Zins steadily for nearly 4 years: weeknights, weekends, special events. The food is consistently excellent, imaginative and visually appealing. Special kudos for these items: 1. Menu changes frequently, always offering new delights 2. Locovore: Chef/manager proudly uses highest quality locally produced food 3. Dining room is not too loud to enjoy a conversation with dinner 4. GREAT STAFF of well trained servers. One of my personal benchmarks for ranking the quality of a restaurant is if the server has to auction off the food when he/she brings it to the table? Has it really been SOOOOOOOO long since you took the order that you can't possibly remember who had what? At Zins, if the food is ready IT COMES OUT WITH THE FIRST AVAILABLE SERVER and that server KNOWS who had what without asking. That is called fine service. This is a quality operation
(5)Wesley J.
I found myself back in Cedar Rapids after an extended time in Southern California and thought I would swing by the Zin's corner for a quick couple of small plates. It is fascinating how this place, so far away from major urban culinary centers can deliver such wonderfully excellent food. It's always a challenge to deliver offerings that are adventurous but not too far failed if local tastes. If you read my one or two other reviews you know I'm a carnivore, so you know I probably went for the steak which is ridiculously tasty. They are fairly farm to table, so your menu will be different then mine. Get the frites. The service is profoundly good, make sure to find the proprietor, Lee and give them an atta boy. There was a flood here and in 2008 this place was literally underwater. Before you sit down, step back and take a look at a fully set table for two, then walk to the north side (or northwest, northeast, however they do it in Cedar Rapids) side of the bar and view their shroud of Zin's. It is fascinating. Lee and Zin's, Thank you for the outstanding... Everything.
(5)Cristie F.
Looking for a farm fresh dinner in the middle of Cedar Rapids was going to be pretty much impossible - or so I thought. Thanks to Yelp, I was led to a phenomenal restaurant with amazing farm fresh food, gorgeous decor, and a killer waitstaff. Enter Zins. //Food// :: Sundried Tomato Flat Bread // Sundried tomato, local farmer's cheese, prosciutto, balsamic reduction, grilled flat bread :: Asparagus, Truffle Risotto // Asparagus, truffle oil, creamy risotto, Local mushrooms, Parmesan :: Crispy Potato Gnocchi // Caramelized potato gnocchi, purple kale, cheese sauce, balsamic reduction, Parmesan :: House Made Pappardelle // saffron, garlic, shallots, kale, vodka cream sauce, Parmesan :: Filet of Beef // Grilled beef, creamed spinach, roasted local mushrooms, demi-glace :: Mac & Cheese // Campanelle pasta, cheese sauce, house made bread crumbs, Parmesan :: Chocolate Bread Pudding // House made brioche, chocolate, chocolate ganache, cinnamon Anglaise :: Creme Brulee // Lemon custard, blueberry compote Everything was beyond delicious. I disliked nothing. Absolutely nothing. My favorite dishes for the night was the crispy potato gnocchi and the homemade mac n'cheese. The gnocchi were light and fluffy with a perfect crisp on the outside. The crispy purple kale on top added a perfect crunch. The mac n'cheese was uber rich, but uber delish. The baked dish was loaded with a ton of crispy browned bread crumbs on the top to give the mac a perfect crunch. The pappardelle was phenomenal, but I was totally bummed that the noodles were kind of dry. Flavor wise, it was the bomb. Not to mention, my dining partner ordered a local beer and it came with a slice of salami. Does it get any better than that?? //Service// Incredible. Knowledgeable. Friendly. Provided awesome recommendations. Fast - but not too fast. What more could you ask for? It's also worth mention the prices at Zins are more than reasonable. I was actually shocked when the bill came. $70 for 6 small plates, 2 desserts, 1 beer, and 2 cocktails. Back in Chicago - the bill would have easily been double. //Decor// Elegant but trendy. White table linens, sleek lines, and dark woods. The walls were decorated with abstract art and a variety of well known cookbooks. Think Saveur, Anthony Bourdain, Wine & Food, etc. ((I was tempted to stash a few in my oversized purse, but I figured I would avoid getting arrested on a biz trip.)) Zins is perfect for a romantic date, girls night out, or casual dinner with friends or coworkers. Zins was a perfect solution for a farm fresh dinner away from home. If I ever ventured to Cedar Rapids again, you can bet it will be on my list of places to go to. Farm to table in Iowa - perfection.
(4)Jaren H.
I'm in town for business and this place was recommended to me! I'm glad I had time to come for dinner; the meal, was by far, one of the best meals I've had....EVER!!! Whenever you go to a restaurant and the bread they give you before your meal is amazing then you know the meal is going to be equally amazing...and, Zins did not disappoint! I started off with the mushroom bisque and the crab cakes. Both were fantastic!!! The bisque was well bodied, fully flavorful with a slight kick. The crab cakes also had a slight kick and it was unbelievably fresh. I ended the meal with a NY Strip. The steak was cooked at a perfect medium rare, which is the only way to eat steak. The flavor was great and it had some very nice grill lines on it, which is always plus! My server, Brittany, was also very helpful, with local beer choices, and amazingly attentive! When you go, you have to ask for her because she is top-notch!!!
(5)James W.
Very good establishment. Great for a date. Definitely will be going again
(4)D B.
We have been to Zins several times and are always pleased by the quality and variety of food and wine! The atmosphere is great - whether you are dining outside or inside. The owner has always been attentive and accommodating. On our last two visits we have had Jeremy as our waiter - the service he has provided was excellent and he has always been extremely pleasant. My favorites are the calamari and the duck - one of our friends raves about the lollipop lamb chops!! Zins is hands down our favorite restaurant in the area!
(5)Matthew H.
This is seriously one of the best restaurants not just in Iowa but anywhere. I've had the opportunity to travel around the world for work and I've eaten in some excellent restaurants in major world class cities - I totally wasn't expecting to find one of the best restaurants of all time in Cedar Rapids. No disrespect to Cedar Rapids but I simply wasn't expecting such an incredible restaurant. I was fortunate enough to be back in Cedar Rapids a few weeks later and was very excited to return to Zins. Everything about this restaurant is first class. Restaurants around the world can learn from Zins in Cedar Rapids. The food is very high-quality and expertly prepared. The prices are extremely reasonable. The wine selection rivals any top restaurant in a world class city - some seriously good choices at very reasonable prices. The space is very inviting and the staff is very warm and genuine. This is not a place to go for a high volume of low-quality food - the menu is designed so you can choose small portions of a greater number of interesting and exciting selections.
(5)Paula P.
Had an excellent time last Wed. At Zins. Please try the lamb lollipops as they were the best! The wine was excellent and we appreciated the fast and welcoming service team. We are trying to determine how soon we can return to this wonderful restaurant.
(4)Jeff W.
Food was really good. Service was friendly, but a little slow. Prices seemed a tiny bit high for the portion sizes. I would definitely go back.
(4)Cody P.
Had dinner for two on a Saturday night, it was fantastic! Great location, great staff and atmosphere. I had the calamari and the lamb lollipops. Both were just great. The macoroni was also fantastic. The wine list was good as well. Wines from many different locations as well as right here in iowa. I recommend getting the fly free flight if you decide to go with wine. Gives you 3 different pours of wine, with whatever wine you choose, which is nice since you'll have more than one plate coming. Highly recommended!
(5)James S.
Rude, rude, rude! A friend asked us to meet there and we didn't know it was a private party. The first staff member gave us attitude for being there. The 2nd staff member gave us a wooden nickle to come back - granted she did smile. The host of the party came up to us and invited us to stay for a drink. Then we went to the bar and the bar tender gave not only more attitude, but denied service because "this is really a private party". If this is how they want to treat their guests NO THANKS! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!! They need a serious lesson on customer service!! Wish I could give 0 stars.
(1)Bob J.
Our group dined here on what seemed to be a very slow Saturday evening. There is no host, so the bartender seems to know the reservations and was very friendly. Great service at the bar, but then things changed when we took our table. The server was not very knowledgeable about the food, took our order and really never returned. A food runner brought starters, he came back with entrees and had to be convinced that he should take the dirty plates away. Our bottle of wine was finished, and our server could have probably sold two more bottles, though she never returned. We sat near the exposed kitchen and watched the dessert finishing area. The chef seemed to be running around doing everything. A couple guys were checking cell phones constantly, and the dessert person kept touching all the piercings in her mouth and wiping her hands on her shirt, while handling desserts. We never witnessed her washing her hands once. Mushroom soup was OK, after adding salt and pepper, lamb lolly pops were dry and cooked past well done. We asked for medium rare. I think it is mostly small plates, but that was never explained. Of the two large plates offered (ribeye and chicken) they were out of chicken (at 7pm). Our server finally returned and asked if we wanted dessert. We had already decided that the poor sanitation we witnessed by sitting directly in front of the dessert area, would cause us to skip dessert, so we paid the bill and left. Three or four different people in town recommended this place, so we were a little surprised at the experience.
(1)Elizabeth S.
We visit Cedar Rapids often to visit my grandmother. I wanted to try something local, so I used the trusty yelp "nearby" feature. So glad I found this gem. Vins, you knocked my socks off. We decided on doing brunch and I'm glad we did. Everything was fresh, beautiful, and delicious. Nothing was salted and it was so refreshing. It was hard to decide on what to eat...everything was modestly priced at $5 a plate and I wanted it all. Service was prompt and thoughtful. The atmosphere was quiet, bright, and beautifully decorated with exposed brick.. From the build your own bloody mary (uh, YES) to the omelet, I was in heaven. Even the simple caprese salad was delicious. I left stuffed. And satisfied. And wanting more. Coming from Louisville, total foodie city, I'm always skeptical. I'll definitely be returning to try dinner next time.
(5)Jessie C.
We hit Zin's for a girl's night out downtown, and it was great. Everything our table ordered look phenomenal. Their service was great, and the restaurant was beautiful. I would definitely go back.
(5)Tim M.
They went the extra mile and a half for our anniversary. A very nice restaurant downtown. Excellent atmosphere, food and service. Our favs this trip were the cheeseplate, fries, mac and cheese, and the cocktails! The filet was done well with a sauce, while bland, emphasized the mushrooms well. Get extra peanut sauce with the crab cakes.
(5)Jeff I.
Nice atmosphere. Good beer selection, even though it's a wine joint. They make a good martini as well. Peach salad, calamari, and bacon burger were all very good (not all for me, BTW).
(5)Marlyse S.
When the news came out that Zins needed a good January to stay in business, I spread the word and made reservations. It was a Saturday night with two major events downtown. One of Zin's main problems in the past was quick bar service - this was still evident Saturday. The server was very good in a very bad situation. It took 20 minutes to get our drink and when my husband joined us later, it was another 20 minutes. They were not prepared for a packed restaurant. It was pretty evident that this was happening to those around us as well. I was glad for a change to offer full plates. I ordered salmon and 20 minutes later the waitress came back saying they were OUT of salmon. When you put out notice you need people-you better have your food stocked. The flank steak was good-prepared perfectly. The squash soup- athough delicious was very small. My friend's chicken looked overcooked and more like a small plate. We ordered a bottle of wine and they thought I said glass - but by that time, I didn't care. Valet service was very nice since parking downtown is at a premium when there are events. This particular evening does not merit a return in January and perhaps a new venue that understands prompt bar service is a must will do well.
(2)Elisa V.
Food is always so good and they handled our group of 8 without any issues. Loved the variety and my nephews know the food is good and so they have started to branch out and try new items.
(4)Chris M.
Hadn't been here In a while but man the food was just not very good. The shepherds pie was bland and definitely lacking some herb and seasoning. The lamb was just covered in dried herbs and not good, it left a nasty after taste in my mouth. My wife had the spinach salad and it had little to no vinaigrette and someone got lazy slicing onions because they where just large chunks. All in all just go down a few blocks to Cobble Hill, they know what they are doing there and I regret deviating from there.
(2)Lin C.
Laura parked my car in the Valet spot then broughte yummy focaccia bread and oil, a glass of excellent Viognier and gave me her business card. Nice touch I was not real hungry so I got the calamari and the burger. Calamari was ok. The homemade jalapeño relish added just enough kick but the little guys on the bottom of the dish were swimming in extra oil or something. The burger was excellent bacon relish isy new best friend. I topped this off with the trio of truffles. Two of the three I would get again. One was not very flavorful. Excellent size though. Atmosphere is upscale and modern. There is a chefs table that abuts a large glass window where you watch the kitchen go to town. I sat in the book nook and watched the passerbys. Prices are reasonable, menu limited but they do change it up. Wine flights are available. Overall a very good experience. Glad I ventured out in a strange city and tried a Yelp recommendation. You never fail me dear yelp friends.
(4)Ron L.
Simply outstanding, especially for Cedar Rapids. This restaurant could compete with any I've been to in NY, Chi. or LA. The idea of a tapas menu leading to a main course is novel and very well executed. In addition, their wine list is second to none. If I have any criticism it would be of the wait staff, and I'd classify my next remark as picayune. A restaurant of this caliber should know that you change used knives and forks between courses and to not remove dishes from the table one patron at a time. When the table is done eating is when dishes get cleared. Now on to the food. And OH what food! We shared two starters, the gnocchi and the swordfish. Both were excellent. The gnocchi was crisp on the outside and fluffy and full on the inside. The bacon, cheese and (I think) chard were a perfect compliment. The swordfish was cooked perfectly to a temperature of medium with polenta and chard as accompaniments. Out "big dish" was the pork chop, and I would classify it as one of the best I've ever had at any restaurant, and I consider myself a foodie. It was cooked to perfection, with a full blush of pink in the center while crispy and char marked on the outside. It was covered in a fruit (peach?) concoction that enhance the pork perfectly. The meat remained juicy all the way to the bone, which I'm somewhat embarrassed to say I picked clean. The accompanying fingerling potatoes were exceptional and, once again, cooked to perfection. This was a really outstanding entree. Our only disappointment was the chocolate bread pudding for dessert. It was just OK. It was very sweet to the point of being cloying and could have had a much crispier outside crust, especially since it was prepared and served in a cast iron dish. The wine list is exceptional. We had a 2010 Stag Leaps Cabernet Sauvignon that was simply delicious and a wonderful accompaniment to our meal. I'm only sorry that we're in Cedar Rapids for one night and won't be able to revisit this top-notch restaurant. If you find yourself in Cedar Rapids make sure you eat at least one meal here.
(5)Julie O.
The atmosphere was wonderful and the food looked great. The tap wines were yummy. The only problem I had with this place was the price. All I ordered was fries and was surprised buy the price of $6 for FRIES nothing special about them. They were great and the staff was very nice so I do still recommend this place just be ready to spend a bit more!
(4)Vic T.
Let me start off by saying I know this is Iowa, but I expected more. MY experience at Zins was not the greatest. The wait staff was mediocre at best, ask specifically for my salad to come out first and ended up waiting 20-25 min to get salad and main course. For an establishment of this pretentious level I expected more from the food as it relates to taste (how do you mess up fries!!) and presentation, but again, this is Iowa. The others I was with in part and or in whole share my feelings even though they wanted this place rated a half star higher. If I could I would go a half star less. Parking is terrible, it's free valet but you don't know that till you give up trying to park and relent to pay. Then getting your car back, we'll wait till the bar tender is available because they have no designated staff for parking. I do appreciate the fact that I had the experience so that I can go back home and really appreciate my lousy local greasy spoon. If this is some of the finest that Cedar Rapids has to offer, my condolences, you all are truly missing out, but again, this is Iowa.
(2)Cory C.
I have heard from a lot of people that I needed to go try this place so I was excited to check it out. Unfortunately It didn't hold up to the hype. Some things were good some things were bad! I was there with a party of 6 on a Saturday night didn't take long to get seated. Our waiter seemed very confused and somehow brought 3 people in our party the wrong food. We ordered 3 fish and chips and we got 3 mini bowls of sweet potato gnocchi. It took them awhile to get the correct order back to the table. I later ordered an arugula flatbread that was completely burned to a crisp on the bottom that made it inedible. It doesn't feel right having to leave this place a 3 star review but my experience here was not the best. Hope it was just an off night. I would still go back but I hope next time goes a little better.
(3)Jim S.
Tried Zins for the first time. Went on Tuesday to take advantage of the 1/2 price wine special. Server was very friendly an helpful, offering many suggestions when requested. I had the Zins Manhattan to start off. It omitted the bitters ingredient, which is fine by me. I was talking about how good it was all night. Tried several of the small plates, we're very well prepared an presented. I will definitely be back to try others. My only complaint about my experience was the seating on the west wall- tables were a bit too close together for my enjoyment. But the individual tables throughout the restaurant looked like they avoided this problem.
(5)Kate M.
I really liked Zins, the food, the service, and the atmosphere were all top notch. We had a reservation for 8 on a Saturday night, but I don't think that was really necessary. The restaurant wasn't full and cleared out by 9. No offense to the rest of Cedar Rapids, but I think this is the most aesthetically pleasing space I've seen in the city so far. Its a very pretty dining room and bar. There was a semi private room (separated from the dining room by a pair of curtains) with a large window affording a nice view of the kitchen. We ordered only a few things, my favorites were the calamari and the scallops. Tapas isn't a great idea for me because the small portions make it easier for me to justify ordering the entire menu, but I restrained myself. This time. I'd like to go back to Zins to try a few more dishes. So far, this is the nicest restaurant I've encountered in Cedar Rapids. Makes me feel like I'm home, and that's priceless when I'm traveling.
(5)Sam L.
I'm sure the food is probably wonderful at this place, but we've been waiting for an hour and a half and we've only been served one dish. The wait time is absolutely ridiculous. And by the way, there are only 10 items on the menu for brunch. By far the worst brunch experience I've ever had. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Ryan L.
The food is alright, a little over priced for what it is and I think this place is really too full of it's self
(3)Abby I.
Unfortunately I did not get to try Zins since they are closed on Monday (just a heads up). I wish their answering message had stated so or even their website. Looks great on the outside but I still cannot get used to the smell in downtown Cedar Rapids.
(3)Alida S.
Our son, now a senior, is in college in the area. We found Zins the first parent's weekend we visited, and would have given it five stars. We've dined here at least once a year since then, and this time the combination food/service amounted to three stars. The lamb lollipops were delicious, the fries tasted great (but were a bit limp) , and the sauces with both the fries and calamari were great. The service was chaotic to put it mildly. We did not want to order our whole meal at once, so each ordered an item or two. Our waitress kept returning asking if we were ready to order more. We were not, but asked for more bread, which never came. This was a recurrent theme for the evening. My son and his girlfriend loved the bread, so we kept asking for more, and would gladly have paid for it. We were either promised more, and didn't receive any, or were told "we are waiting for the bread to be cut" and then seeing other wait personnel walk past with bread for other tables. At some point, when we were eating our latest plates, our waitress walked up to the table and asked us if we had decided what we would like to order. As she looked up and saw the table, she realized she had a mistake, mumbled something and walked off! So, the service was minus one star. When we were ready for dessert, it turned out there was not a single gluten free option, not even some ice cream. It was a first for us, and cost Zins another star. Too bad!
(3)Bradford H.
I tried a number of dishes this evening. The salads were attractive and tasty. The lobster bisque was good but a little thin. The duck pot pie was delicious. The star was definitely the lamb lollipops. They were incredibly tasty. The service was excellent. The staff is quite friendly and attentive. I forgot to mention the free focaccia bread. It was awesome! Everything about this place was a class act. I'd strongly recommend this restaurant to everyone who likes very good dining. Just don't bring screaming kids... It's an upscale environment.
(5)Daniel A.
Hands down, the best restaurant and bar in Cedar Rapids. They are so far ahead of any other place around, you don't even need to waste your time eating anywhere else. I prefer to sit at the bar and see the action, but you can sit in the dining room if you want a waiter to serve you. The menu looked great, but luckily the bartender told me to order a few of the small plates so I could try a nice variety...What a great suggestion! I simply told him to bring me the 4 most popular dishes and wow, they were amazing. I was lucky enough to have: 1. Great Lakes Walleye 2. Pappadelle and Italian Sausage 3. Midwest Lamb chop Lollipops 4. Grilled Spring Asparagus Check out my photos of them...delicious! If I was in town a little longer, I would definitely be back. Note: This location was severely flooded during the flood that swept downtown. The owner and his son (the recently appointed head chef - and a good one at that), have worked very hard to bring this location back to its glory. They have done a great job. Go support them. Good food, great drinks, kind people, what more do you need?!
(5)Lane H.
I have had the pleasure of dining at Zins several times. I have always been there for evening meals and so when a friend suggested we check out their Sunday "Brunch", I was all in. Atmosphere: If you haven't been here before, you will enjoy the simple lines of the the establishment. Tall ceilings with dark wood, the distressed brick walls, white table cloths and everything looking spiffy. For Cedar Rapids, it gives the illusion of fine dining at it's finest. How do we know this? Because the host doesn't carry the silverware to the table rolled up in the napkin. Ok. For CR, this is finer dining. Menu: I am only addressing the Brunch menu. A very nice selection of offerings. Chose 3 and instead of paying $18 it is only $16. I went with the Crispy Point Judith Calamari, the Zins Burger, and the Chilequelas. The Calamari was tasty, but the jalapeno "relish" (pickled jap slices with a touch of red pepper?) caused the light breading to dissolve into a mushy mess. The Zin Burger was good. Very flavorful, but a tad overcooked for my liking. However, I didn't get asked for a specific cook on it nor did I think to ask. More the pity. The Chilequelas was tasty, but uninspiring. Perhaps a quick little throw together to use up that chicken that is going out of date soon? The limited amount of tomatillo relish (or whatever you want to call it) was very good, but more might have moved the flavor a little further. Others in my party enjoyed some of the items they had. The biggest complaint that was the Shrimp and Cheesy Grits only had one shrimp. Of course, when you see the word shrimp, you don't think, "One". We need a plural for shrimp so that we won't get fooled again! Drinks: Had several different cocktails around the table. The Bloody Mary looked amazing; beautifully garnished and you got to choose your garnish. I don't like Bloody Marys, but this looked good enough to drink! But then there was the coffee. Juan Valdez must have been back in the kitchen grinding those beans because it took over 30 minutes and two reminders for one of our party to get a coffee. When first ordered the server brought the other drinks, but didn't have the coffee. On her next stop by the table, a good 10 minutes later, still no coffee. When asked, she commented that it was brewing. Ok, so here is a restaurant at 12:30 serving Brunch and they are out of coffee? So knowing that my Mr. Coffee takes around 5 minutes to produce an adequate cup O'Joe, we assumed that it would be there soon. Tick, tick, tick. The next time we asked it was finally done! It would have even been better if the server would have made a point of refilling it! Service: This is a tough one. Having been in the restaurant business for a number of years, I can usually tell where the problems are coming from. Today, I think it was a problem with the server and the kitchen. First, I don't know what type of ordering system they have but the checks managed to have everything we ordered on it. Why then would the server and the kitchen forget that we were waiting for our third course? The server came to the table with checks in hand and looked confused when we informed her that we hadn't eaten all of the food yet. Hmmmm, each time the door to the kitchen opened, I could see cooks standing at the line, so I know they hadn't ran off for a prolonged smoke break in the alleyway. The young woman was friendly and personable. But again, someone wasn't keeping the dining flow going very well. Our total time spent was almost two hours and I know they say to allow 15-20 minutes for each course, but the restaurant was only 1/4 full. Overall the food is good. The price you pay is for the atmosphere and decent enough food. I like the idea of smaller portions with quality food. I would however like to see more attention to the pacing of the meal.
(2)Jeff B.
It's a decent quality tapas restaurant. When we arrived at the restaurant we saw valet parking signs which we thought was a nice amenity to offer since this place was downtown and parking is not always easy to find. We sat in our car waiting for a valet and nobody came. We ended up going inside and asking about the valet parking and the hostess took our keys and passed it along to the valet and then brought us a claim ticket later on. The hostess offered to take our coats which was a nice touch. We ordered drinks. I ordered a Manhattan. Apparently the valet was also our bartender??? My drink was a bit strong. It was a martini glass full of bourbon with a few drops of vermouth. Their liquor costs must be through the roof with pours like that. My wife ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri but they were out of strawberries so they comped us on another drink which was a nice gesture. For an appetizer we ordered the cheese plate which had a nice selection of cheeses so we enjoyed that. The blue cheese really has a kick. The plate also included apple slices as a palate cleanser which was nice. We ended up ordering 3 different tapas each and shared plates to try out the different foods. All the foods were cooked nicely. I personally thought a few of the dishes were a bit under seasoned. The rice crabcakes were very tasty. The siracha remoulade sauce that was served with the crabcakes really overpowered the dish though and nearly blew out my palate. They would have been great just by themselves. The pappardelle was alright. It was tasty but didn't really stand out too much. The seared duck was perfectly cooked and by itself was a bit under-seasoned but with the port reduction sauce was tasty. The duck was served with a couple of parmesan arancini. The arancini was a little odd though normally they would be in a ball shape. It's essentially suppose to be a fried rice ball filled with melted parmesan. These were more like patties and honestly resembled and tasted like McDonalds hashbrowns. The grilled salmon was also nicely cooked, moist and tender and I enjoyed the grilled flavor. It reminded me of the fresh caught smoked salmon I grew up eating as a kid growing up in Washington. The lamb lollipops were nicely cooked but were completely bland and flavorless. I'd say it was my least favorite dish. The Sheppards Pie didn't appear to be as advertised. The menu described them as Beef, Venison, Pork, carrots, onions, celery, garlic mashed potatoes. I only found beef which was very tender but flavorless, no carrots a few onions, no celery and the mashed potatoes were bland and had no garlic flavor and were a little on the runny side. I ordered the chocolate bread pudding for dessert and as a chocoholic I declare it to be delicious. What I didn't care for was the waiter reeking of cigarette smoke when he came to the table during dessert. All in all we enjoyed our meal and would probably return again.
(3)Rica R.
Food is good but service is terrible. We've been going to this resto for some years now but have been getting disappointed. It used to be a pleasant dining place. The servers are not as attentive. The general atmosphere isn't welcoming. Too bad...there are other restos that have good food too so we won't miss going back.
(2)Terry H.
Here for 2 hours waiting for food! Will never come back. No one apologized. They will bring one thing or at a time. So you wait for 2 hours then about thirty minutes in between each thing that should have been brought out together. Then the food comes out cold!
(1)Margaret A.
I adore this place. My husband and I are picky eaters, in that we are particular about nutrition and local ingredients. Zins has both quality comfort food and fresh healthy dishes that can satisfy any type of eater. My favorite part (besides the little plates) is that they change their menu often. I can return again and again and see something new without getting bored or feeling like Im ordering the same thing over and over. The wine list is versatile. The staff is professional. The atmosphere is upscale but comfortable enough to wear jeans. Since you can pick several small plates, you really have the ability to manage how much you spend and eat. I hosted a holiday lunch here last year and everything went very smoothly. They were able to provide everyone enough to eat without being too expensive. Again, it was an upscale treat that still felt relaxed. Although I will continue to go here often, I hope more restaurants like this make their way into Cedar Rapids. They set the bar.
(5)Mandy G.
If you haven't been here, you must check this place out! Randomly stopped in on the way through Cedar Rapids, & it was a lucky choice! Very classy ambiance, but still felt comfortable wandering in wearing jeans & a tee. The service was personal & helped make it a great experience. Tuesdays happen to be half off bottles of wine, so that alone made it worth the while (great selection), but also the food was delicious!! Great selection of tapas to choose from... Not so fancy that you have no clue what anything on the menu means; they are foods that you can understand & relate to, but all with a gourmet spin. I personally loved the asparagus & Mac n cheese dishes, & the lamb pops were amazing! A mojito cake for dessert topped it off. Oh yeah, the bread they make in house gets everything started off perfectly. We all left very full & happy, & I would highly recommend this place!
(4)Rohit B.
I got the fish tacos and Chicken panini.. Excellent food and real quick service.. Very friendly waitress.. Love the ambience.. My first visit to Cedar Rapids.. Will remember this place when I think of Iowa or CR.. After lunch, I needed to get some work done and was trying to find coffee shops in CR where i could settle down for while.. The waitress suggested a coffee shop on 2nd avenue.. It was a wonderful place as well.. Overall, really satisfied with the food, the ambience and the service.. Will definitely go back to this place when I'm in Cedar Rapids P.S - My waitress was really cute
(5)Kay S.
My former experience here wasn't all that great, but someone was listening. My complaints were read by the restaurant manager at Zins, and he emailed me personally to offer me another visit to the restaurant. Of course I took him up on the offer, and my second visit was great! I've tried three desserts now, and they're all amazing. I'm giving this restaurant an updated review because I appreciate a restaurant that cares about its brand representation and overall customer experience. Thumbs up!
(4)Douglas L.
Food - 4.5/5 Service - 5/5 Atmosphere - 4/5 Price - 5/5 Here for Sunday Brunch - $12 Here in Cedar Rapids on a 40hr overnight. Looking for something for Lunch on a Sunday afternoon and found Zins on Yelp! First walking in and you know you're in for something special. Great looking bars and well uniformed employees made me feel like I wouldn't get duped into sub-par food. Our server was Emily and she was quick and cheerful. She asked if this was our (Me and the other pilot) first time to Zins and gladly explained their concept. This was refreshing to find a server that knows what they are there for. My order was "Tell the chef I'll eat anything put in front of me" First up - Muffin Tray. 2 Pecan/Zucchini 2 White Chocolate/Raspberry Softened Butter 2 Bite in size and delicious. I'm glad they didn't serve a flavored butter as I think that would have masked the subtle flavors in the Pecan/Zucchini muffin. The Which Chocolate/Raspberry didn't need anything else - it was great as is. Second up - Breakfast Pizza Tender scrambled eggs, a wonderfully melted cheddar with juicy sausage and bits of bacon on a wonderful white flat bread. Wonderful combination where each component had a voice. Cheese was not greasy or grainy and added a wonderful texture to the eggs. The sausage was a great freshly made pork w/ hints of fennel. A few bacon bits for crunch round out the overall experience. Third - Chicken Fried Steak and Egg One word - Beautiful The gravy was a great fresh cream and black pepper based sauce that complimented the entire dish. The steak was wonderfully encased in the light breading. The breaded piece had a perfect crunch while still allowing the steak to maintain its juicy and tender consistency. The over easy egg on top - in one word - perfect! This dish IS balance. Fourth - Shrimp and Grits This is the dish that kept this review from 5 stars. Overall it was okay. The grits were undercooked. Creamy yes but crunchy - yes too. Grits are one of those hard things to master. Their window of opportunity is small - you go from undercooked to perfect then quickly to mush if you're not careful. The white wine based sauce was light and tastefully refreshing and it allowed the star to shine - the SHRIMP! OMG they were juicy, tender and sweeter than ice cream. If I get back to Cedar Rapids I will revisit with an empty stomach and open point of view.
(4)Sean W.
Huge fan of Zins. Great place to go as a couple or group of friends. Communal Tapas. Great service, great staff, great food, great deserts, great wine selection (OZ system too), great beer (comes with sausage) and great mixologists. The private chef's table with full access view to the kitchen is really great for a group. So glad they came back form the flood... remodeling is awesome (gotta check out the restrooms too). I typically get 2 plates, and 1 desert (& drinks). All you need. p.s. Got to try the Mac&Cheese! I'll update this review when I get more time. I just had to put in my quick 2cents.
(5)Jodee R.
Great food and atmosphere! Once in a while, you'll get an insanely slow waitress but usually great service! Good wine selection and tasty drinks. Definitely go! Only thing that is kind of negative is lunch can be super slow if you sit in the restaurant area, but I usually go for dinner with zero timeline so I don't mind.
(5)Ann D.
Love the ambience, the service and especially the food. Sunday Brunch is the best. Small plates rather than the huge buffet offerings at other places. The mini muffins are always a treat. Today's combo were spinach Parmesan. I've never been disappointed.
(5)Barbara Lynn C.
We read about Zins from other Yelpers while passing through Cedar Rapids on a road trip. I was able to make reservations for dinner on a Friday night via Yelp and OpenTable (super easy) about 48 hours in advance. Loved the accessibility of that. I also loved that they had a chefs table near the kitchen so you could watch all the action. Perfect for a special occasion. Our server, Marc, was fantastic. Attentive without being overbearing. He helped us navigate the menu, which has a tapas-like approach, starting with smaller plates and progressing to larger plates. My friend had the Lillet Sprizer, which was light and refreshing and I had the Handelman Martini (slightly dirty, vodka, and a dash of hot sauce). Loved it! It was a perfect way to start the meal. We started with the heirloom tomato caprese salad which was very refreshing and tasty and their take on an wedge salad, which was composed of romaine hearts, blue cheese and bacon. It was delicious. The focaccia bread they served for the table was also really tasty with the perfect amount of kosher salt and not too greasy. Then had the risotto and potato gnocchi dishes. I wasn't crazy about the risotto, as it seemed to be lacking flavor. But the gnocchi was out of this world. It was pan fried without being greasy, had wonderfully subtle portobello mushrooms, and sauteed kale with shaved parmesan. Nice combo. Moved on to the baby lamb chops with mint pesto. They were perfectly cooked, juicy and tender. The mint pesto was a nice touch without being overbearing. The elote, which is essentially grilled corn with lime and a spicy butter, was delicious. (I posted a pic.) Had a very lovely glass of pinot noir with dinner but honestly can't remember the name. Went easy on dessert as we were pretty near stuffed. Shared the strawberry rhubarb shortcake which was super light and really fresh. It was a great meal overall and I'd definitely go there again when in town.
(5)Rick M.
Tonight was our second trip to Zins. Our first experience was excellent, tonight was not a repeat performance. While the service was average, the food was awful. The pomme frittes were soggy as was the calamari. The next servings were even worse. We ordered the Steak de Burgo. It was served cold and completely dried out. The chicken dish was served on the edge of rare and the pears were raw. The waitress apologized and did not charge us for the steak and chicken and also gave us coupons for free drinks. While we appreciate her attempt to recover we will not be returning to dine at Zins. What a disappointing experience.
(1)Michael S.
Loved our dining experience here. This was our second time doing dinner tapas style, and we really enjoyed it. Two things that wouldn't made our dining experience better: 1)--get a reservation. We got there early for a Saturday dinner--5p--and they were nearly full. We were fortunate to get a seat. 2)--specify wine size. Had one great glass of Petersen Cabernet; menu read $5.50/glass. Final bill showed $11. Our waiter Austin said that their wine glass servings come as Half Glass & Full Glass. Apparently I ordered a Half Glass. We were confident the menu read only bottle/glass prices. If there were sizes involved, our waiter shouldn't asked: 'half or full glass?'. He did not ask. We loved our dining experience here...the last issue was a sour note for us, and was unfortunate.
(4)James S.
While visiting the Cedar Rapids area for Thanksgiving we wandered upon Zins for dinner one evening and couldn't have been more thrilled to find this treasure! Although I wanted to try every small plate on the menu, we limited ourselves to the Roasted Pear & Maytag Blue Salad, Wild Caught Walleye, and a large plate Berkshire Grilled Pork Chop. The salad was excellent, the walleye was full of flavor, and the Pork Chop reminded me of why I love Iowa pork. Simple flavors, but combinations that truly brought out the quality of the fish and meat. We finished with the Gooey Louie, Chocolate Bread Pudding and a White Cake with Maple Frosting and Sugared Bacon. (Seriously, all $3?) All were quite good, but the cake was the real standout - it was like eating a pancake! Try it, you won't be disappointed! From the upscale decor, to the great drinks (I suggest the delicious Manhattan, or the Hendricks & Tonic which they know to serve with a cucumber!) to the food, Zins is a real winner. Please check it out - I want to be able to go back next time I visit Cedar Rapids!
(5)Travis M.
Mu favorite place to have an upscale, thoughtful, delicious meal. If you haven't been to zins, you're missing out!
(5)Darrell A.
They are paying attention to every detail except for the quality of the food. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The server was helpful and knowledgeable and at hand precisely when we needed her. We ordered the calamari w/ a jalapeño aioli and that was fantastic. Light, crunchy breading and the chef avoided the common sin of calamari prep by not over cooking it and turning it into rubber. We're off to a great start. I ordered the lobster risotto and the chicken osso buco. The first sign of trouble was that the entrees for our party emerged from the kitchen in a disjointed manner. A side here, a main plate there with significant time between. Not a deal killer but in this environment and with their reputation I'd expect better. When my meal did fully arrive I was deeply ddisappointed. The risotto was an overcooked, flavorless liquid mess. I can live with the arborio being mushy, the consistency being off but I'm still baffled by the complete lack of seasoning. I did not detect the slightest hint. Note that I frequently preach the "less is more" line regarding salts and seasoning. I like the flavor of the individual ingredients but this was completely lacking in either department. My chicken was 2 small pieces (small plate concept mind you) of chicken with a nice crispy skin and juicy meat served on a bed of sautéed tomato. This dish suffered from the same as the lobster risotto. Simply blah. Boring. We had some time restraints and were unable to try a selection from a very tempting dessert menu. I've been here for lunch several times with better results. I'm willing to write this off as a one time aberration but with the decor, level of service and reputation I would have hoped for better execution from the kitchen staff.
(2)Jeff D.
My wife and I celebrated our 8th anniversary while visiting family in Cedar Rapids. We were very impressed- excellent service with high quality food in a classy environment, all at a reasonable price. We will definitely return the next time we're in town.
(5)Ashlee V.
Well, shit. There are nice things in Cedar Rapids after all. We came last night right before a show at the theatre was supposed to go on, and the waitress let us know of a dish inspired by the show. In addition, we had come after a day where the local farmer's market happened earlier and they had another specialized menu based on that. I can appreciate a restaurant that does its best to accommodate for special events and make new menus with local ingredients. But Zins has value beyond novelty: for a tapas restaurant, it's quite impressive. Compared to the tapas bar in Madison (The Icon), this restaurant is based more on comfort food and American classics rather than classic tapas. Instead of getting several tapas, I ordered one of the three big plates on the menu. I got the grilled bone-in Iowa porkchop which I'm certain was one of the juiciest pork chops I've ever had. The gouda was silky but with a hint of pleasant bite. In addition, the demi-glace was terrific--really added a nice juxtaposition to the pureed sweet potatoes that really solidified the dish. I had a few bites of the crispy potato gnocchi and it was terrific. Truly out of this world--easily one of the best gnocchi dishes I've ever had and the balsamic reduction made it a home run. For me, the mushrooms were a detraction of the dish, but I'm also not a person that particularly enjoys mushrooms. The desserts were amazing, too. Easily the best cap to the night. I had the lemon meringue tart and I can say with absolute certainty it was the best lemon curd I've ever had in my life. The bread pudding was divine as well--tasted like a molten brownie cake with a tinge of cinnamon. The service was a little slow as the cooks were backed-up; they had made a promise to patrons that those that came in at 6pm for the show would be out by 7:15pm--which is admirable, but as we weren't going to the show, we had to wait. Didn't bother me, but I've seen others complain about slowness here too. But I'd rather them be slow and have excellent dishes than fast and mediocre. I'm enthralled with Zins. Next time, I think I'm going to go with the small plates--I want to experience more of what the chef and cooks can do here. But the thing I really liked most about Zins was--while they are small plates, they are slightly larger than the tapas I've experienced elsewhere so you're getting more bang for your buck. Significant other remarked about how surprised he was to get a good meal like this for potentially around $14. I couldn't agree more and I hope to come back sooner rather than later.
(5)Katie F.
My family recently ate at Zins while visiting Cedar Rapids, and we could not have had a better experience. The food was delicious, fresh, and modestly priced, and the menu options are diverse -- something for everyone. Additionally, the service was amazing. Our server was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. Best service I've ever experienced! If I'm ever back in Cedar Rapids, I would love to come here again.
(5)Carla P.
I am a big fan of Zin's! I've had their brunch, lunch and dinner. For a more affordable meal, I would go for there for lunch or brunch. They are very friendly and food is always very good. They mix up their dishes a lot so there is always something new to try. Since you get to try out a little bit of this and a little bit of that, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Krissy K.
Great restaurant! Although I wouldn't quite call it tapas since tapas is appetizers. I would classify it more as small portions or tastings of their menu, which in itself, is still a great idea. You can pick as many as you like and they are all $4.50. I had the pomme frites (fries), Roasted Local Beets, and flat bread. All the food was beyond delicious. I enjoyed the smaller servings so you could try a number of different items instead of just one large meal and being stuck with it in the case you don't like it. The service was great, we never had an empty glass and the food was timed perfectly so you didn't have multiple plates at once. If I were to go back to Cedar rapids (was there on business) I would definitely come back here again!
(5)Kristine D.
Zins is my favorite restaurant in Cedar Rapids. I've been several times and my only hold-out on 5 stars is that the service can be a bit spotty. The servers are always very nice and pleasant, but aren't the best when it comes to pacing a coursed meal. 2 out of 6 visits, I've not received the courses as requested. For a restaurant to move to that next level, the service needs to be consistent and it's just not quite there. The food is great, I have not yet had a dish I didn't like. And I really enjoy that the majority is locally sourced/grown so it's fresh and flavorful. The wine list is reason enough to return. I've lived all over the US in some big cities with amazing restaurants so I was afraid of not finding a decent wine list here. Zins does not disappoint in this realm. There are some great selections that are reasonably priced. And the buy one, get one half price bottle night (Tuesday I think?) is great!! Overall, this restaurant is on par with what I consider a great dining experience and I will go back over and over again.
(4)Cory H.
I was able to try a few plates at Zins on a Friday night. I heard a lot about the place prior to visiting. We arrived there while they were on a wait and was able to find a space at the bar. The place looks very nice inside and and the service was good even though the bartender seemed pretty busy we had multiple people at times, including the greeter, taking care of us. We had two plates and a desert each. The pacing was good for each course. Every plate we had tasted great. Even though I only ordered 2 plates and a desert I left feeling very satisfied. I still recommend getting another plate. The plates were all very flavorful and unique. The deserts were very rich and tasty. I feel like I have only touched the tip of the iceberg and I look forward to trying more plates and pairing some wines on my next visit. For the food experience I received and the reasonable price, Zins is a really great place to eat.
(5)Magnus S.
Service was OK. Prices reasonable. Food delish. Braised beef, prawns and mac and cheese were very good. Very good place for a nice dinner in Cedar Rapids. SERVICE: 5/10 AMBIANCE: 8/10 FOOD: 8/10 PRICE: 6/10 UNIQUENESS: 9/10 OVERALL SCORE: 72 Service: Graded by the "Keep my cup full principle". Ambiance: Pretty self-explanatory Food: A high food score does not always indicate it is a place for foodies. It is weighted based upon the establishment - thus bar food can receive a high score Price: Price is graded based upon what I believe is fair value for the food you are receiving. A high score does not necessarily indicate the establishment is cheap. Uniqueness: Higher scores indicate desire to return.
(4)Arthur S.
I was in Cedar Rapids on business, and wanted to have a nice dinner. After poking around Yelp for a bit, I decide to eat at Zin's -- I like the small plate focus and it sounds like the cocktails would be good. I was not disappointed with my dinner in the "library." My waitress suggested I order 3-4 small plates, so I order three. They arrive one at a time, and I am full after three small plates (and a tasty just-right size dessert for just $2). The cocktails were nice, and it was a relaxing dinner after a hectic trip. Of course, that was one experience, and I prefer to go to places twice -- so on the next trip I go earlier in the evening. It's busier, so I sit at the bar. This lets me pester bartender Jaime for custom cocktails, and she delivered them with aplomb (along with my food). I might be going to Cedar Rapids again, and one of the places I already anticipate eating at is Zin's. The menu varies, so I won't go into specific dishes -- but both vegetarian and omnivore dishes were well-prepared, and I had no quibbles on the quality. Service was focused and helpful -- the first time the waitress even gave me her stain-treatment pen after I put a spoonful of chocolate mousse on my dress shirt. Vegetarian note: This place is definitely vegetarian-friendly. Vegan friendliness seems less so, but I fear that's the case everywhere.
(5)Justin B.
Everyone has already said everything about how great this place is so I'll simply say MILK AND COOKIES!!!
(5)Hannah B.
Bad service took us half an hour just to get drinks and get a waitress to talk to us. After an hour we've only had one course, and our waitress kept blaming everyone else for our late food. Food was dry and luke warm by the time we got it. This is the third time I've had low quality service and this is my last time returning. Don't waste your time or money here.
(1)Michael P.
First my apologies to the clientele at Zin's this weekend - my urban snob attitude told me I could get away with sneakers and jeans anywhere in cedar rapids touche Cedar Rapids you cut me with Zin's this place is ROCK STAR Thank you for dreamy cocktails - and oh you have cakebread chardonnay by the glass you say - nice oh yea there is the super cute atmosphere - the window into the open kitchen! The fact that there is NOT a bad table in the entire place - who designed this place they should design every restaurant - did you read - NOT A BAD table. Very cool Additionally the Food is stellar- I would prefer not to see lobster on the menu in the middle of the country, i don;t think it was farm raised - alas the lobster cheesecake was marvelous - and may I say teh cassoulet was BRILLIANT - so much so that we harassed the chef to tell her desserts staff clientele seriously worth a trip to CR
(5)Jason A.
Zins was a pleasant surprise while on business in Cedar Rapids. The staff was polite and knowledgeable, and the food was delicious. My coworkers and I were happy to find a quality restaurant in the otherwise empty downtown area. If I find myself back in Cedar Rapids, I'll definitely be visiting Zins again.
(4)Tony H.
Great little restaurant. Very classy feel, great service, and AMAZING food! Everything we ordered (calamari, risotto, ravioli, wagyu beef, duck confit, creme brulee, banana duet) was absolutely delicious and the prices are very reasonable. Already looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Clint C.
Second visit, as not being from this area and due to the dearth of high scale eating establishments in Cedar Rapids. I would recommend this place to anyone. The decor is great a total big city vibe. The food is tasty. Someone has defiantly put some time and thought into developing the menu. The appetizers on the blackboard at the bar are not to be overlooked. Great wine selection. The only reason I am omitting a five star rating is due to service. As a traveler I tend to set at the bar. Usually you receive the best service there and generally there are fellow imbibers to pass the time with. On my first visit the service was great and the bartender was exceedingly helpful and knowledgeable about the food and the presentation was superb. On my recent visit it was the opposite. A totally disinterested bartender that acted like my setting at the bar and ordering food was really off putting to her. So real bad unfriendly service this time. No banter about food or wine just someone going through the motions. I would hope based on the lack of fine dining in this area and on the overall quality of the food. That the Managment would screen there help better and hire people who buy into this concept and promote it to public in a more friendly manner.
(4)Eric L.
The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is that I was 4/5 on my dishes. The way dishes are served here is that you order 3 or 4 and they are small plates, similar to Tapas. In fact I think everyone at the table was in that one shy of perfect range. The bread pudding and chocolate cake were fantastic. The mac and cheese was good. The lobster risotto was good (other than I personally think the sauce is too sweet that is around the edges). The only thing that didn't work for me was the pork pizza and that was just bad. They have a great beer selection including an awesome local brew from John Generations that was a white ale. I think I ended up trying 4 or 5 different beers on the menu and they were all excellent. I'm not sure if I'll ever make it back to Cedar Rapids, but if I do, I'm coming back through here. It's a great spot.
(4)Mike B.
A very mixed experience at Zins. Pros: -wonderful space, friendly staff -fantastic bar, great spirits, interesting takes on "classic" cocktails -outstanding wine list for a restaurant this size in Iowa, great selection of wines by the glass -garlic foccacia and dipping oil Cons: -pacing, even on a slow night the pacing was way off, apps came at the same time as one of the mains -truffle fries had no hint of truffle at all, even though they were supposed to have both truffle salt and truffle oil on them -meatloaf was good, but cold -brussels sprouts were not grilled/cooked nearly enough, very tough and chewy -mac and cheese just wasn't all that good, even though it is a 'fan favorite' and came highly recommended by the server All in all, I'd go back for cocktails and a great wine selection any day, but probably skip the rest of the meal, which is too bad as it is such a nice space.
(3)Jenna F.
Check out the bar menu, it's full of unique drinks you can't find in Cedar Rapids. Definitely order the lobster risotto, it's the best thing on the menu. Great service. Chic decor. Expensive for Iowa.
(3)Guillermo M.
Zins is a very nice place with a comfortable, open feel. The waitstaff does a good job and everything is very professional. I had the toasted walnut salad, the mushroom bisque, and the mac and cheese. The high point was a very nice glass of a Sonoma Zinfandel that I chose. The salad was OK but just that. The vinaigrette was a bit too acidic for my taste, either not the greatest vinegar or too much of it. The mushroom bisque was very good but was not served hot, barely warm, and the bowl was so tiny that it was just a few spoonfuls. I am of German descent and we eat bread with both salads and soups, but I had to make a special request, which was honored of course. The mac and cheese good but not great. Lunch with a glass of wine and 3 small plates, $38. For this kind of money I was hoping for at least an inspirational dining experience or better yet a transformational one. Instead I had a OK lunch in a very pretty dining room. It is hard not to compare this to the soup and salad I had at the bar at Biaggi's the day before, a very good Cesaer Salad, awesome minestrone, and really fresh foccaccia. With their great iced tea and tip, $15. I doubt I'll make the trip to Zins downtown very often if ever.
(2)Beth H.
My all time favorite in Cedar Rapids. Nothing compares to the food or the atmosphere. When I have out of town guests, we always head over to Zin's for brunch or dinner. Their menu is always changing so you can go once a month and always try something new. The bread they serve with dinner is AMAZING and their desserts are super creative. Their brunch on Sunday is beyond superb. For $14, you can chose three menu options and a drink (soda, coffee or tea) is included. With your brunch they serve fresh baked mini-muffins and the flavors are always different and innovative. Mr. Belfield, the owner, is always on the scene, talking with guests, helping to reset tables, and even cleaning windows. You can tell he cares about Zin's reputation and your dining experience. We always enjoy dining at Zin's and leave satisfied.
(5)Michael P.
Tapas in my definition are small plates where the portion is the correct size but the taste of the dish is suppose to leave you wanting more. The dishes I ordered made me ask for the nearest waiter to hurry up and take my dish away. The calamari was topped with peppers and served with a cilantro aioli, the combination sounded interesting but to me it didn't turn out to well. The French onion soup tasted burnt and over powered with too much wine, this dish had my palet saying where is the closet Mc Donald's. The Lamb Chops were disappointing, just a heads up if you prefer your lamb to be cooked medium to well done please request it because the waiter's never asked. Several people ordered the lamb and no one was asked how they would like it cooked. For dessert I ordered the fudge brownie, this was the one dish I wanted more and more of. Overall I give a 3 out of 5, the customer service was good, the facade indoor and outdoor was well maintained and up to date.
(3)Jessica W.
First time at Zins and sadly, it was not as good as I thought it would be. We ordered the pommes frites; apple, Gouda and bacon flatbread; late harvest potato and sweet corn chowder; braised beef short rib; mac and cheese and the Iowa Angus hanger steak. For dessert we ordered a butternut squash creme brulee and a pears-3-ways. Break it down: The pommes frites were really good with the garlic aoili served. But they are fancy French fries, albeit still French fries. The flatbread was okay, the toppings were fine but I felt like something was lacking in taste. Nothing really stood out and the actual bread that it was served on tasted like a few layers of store-bought pie dough. That's the best description I could think of. I ended up scraping most of the toppings off of the bread because I didn't like the taste of it at all. The potato and corn chowder was pretty good. It had a spicy kick to it, which was good. But the base was breaking down and it was pretty brothy. I was expecting a thicker base. This was still tasty overall. The braised beef short rib was good (we got one of the last ones...after that they were substituting OX TAIL?? Literally! I double checked on that one). The meat fell right off of the bone. The mac and cheese was not good, not good at all. It tasted like Velveeta and American cheese on some noodles, no thanks! I love mac and cheese like you wouldn't believe, but I would not recommend this version to anyone. The hanger steak was okay, but it had a strange taste to it to me. Boyfriend thought it was good, but he also said it was just a steak. I thought there was supposed to be some kind of a blue cheese and demi-glaze on it, but that was missing. Either that or their online menu doesn't match their actual menu. The crispy fingerling potatoes that came on the side with this one were very good. The desserts were good overall. I wasn't sure what to expect from the butternut squash creme brulee, but it was interesting in a good way. Sort of an earthy sweet taste. The pears-3-ways was good except for the frozen pear which I couldn't even bite into. Rock hard, brrrr! Overall the atmosphere was very, very nice and they had a very impressive craft beer and wine list. However, Boyfriend and I both agreed that the food didn't live up to the rave reviews.
(3)Frank L.
I absolutely love this place. The food is fantastic, the staff is courteous, and the management greets and thanks customers like they're supposed to. We were sitting at a window seat and saw the manager walk around the outside sidewalk and pick up trash and cigarette butts! That's the most responsible thing I've ever seen from a shop owner. Will continue to support their business!
(5)Chris S.
This is a small plate style restaurant which isn't necessarily everyone's thing....but you should definitely try it. My wife and I went there for brunch and had an amazing meal. Brunch is about 12 dollars for 3 different items and a drink. We each got something different and all of it was delicious. Though I definitely recommend the crepes and the fruit scramble. The service was a little bit on the slow side, but that might have been because they seemed a bit understaffed. The staff themselves are incredibly nice and helpful. All in all it was a fantastic dining experience. On the way out we almost forgot our coats and got the chance to talk with either a manager, or owner, or someone involved with the restaurant. He was interested in feedback and sincerely interested that we had a good meal. Great food, fantastic people, and affordable. My wife and I will definitely be coming back.
(4)K F.
WOW.....what a great surprise!!! I visit Cedar Rapids a couple times a year, and typically eat at a few places I know that are dependable but not anything special. Chose to use Yelp tonight, which turned me on to Zin's. Wow....two major pluses for me. 1. The beer selections are very very nice. Great to have a spectrum of craft brews, some which I had not heard of before. 2. The food was fantastic, and with the small plate variety, I left without having over stuffed myself. Yet I got to try three different small plates, each were fantastic. Great to see alot of patrons strolling in, as it towards 8pm, but still lots of room. I chose to eat at the bar...which worked out just fine, seeing how I was on my own. The Zin house salad was very good. Nice spectrum of flavors and very fresh greens, super crispy croutons just the way I like them... The Corn Chowder....was fantastic. Nice and hot..and also some spice. My only regret on this small plate...was that it was a small bowl. I nearly ordered a second helping. I finished with the Zin Burger. It's a mini burger...but not what I would call a slider. It was very nicely prepared.....and very very good. I tend to make smaller burgers at home..and this was toward that size. Just right. Wow...I will be back again!!! I checked out the wine list....a variety of great wines also available. A few of my favorites from back home in California. But with this beer menu.....who needs wine. :)
(5)heidi r.
Great place - wonderful food and the service was excellent. We were traveling through on our way back to Chicago and had an excellent diner at this restaurant. I think the portions are very well sized and allow you to create a three or four course tasting menu which is great. If we are ever back in Cedar Rapids - we will definately go here again.
(5)Richard A.
Good food, nice atmosphere. Four days later I only remember a couple of the plates that we had, but I would go back.
(3)mel c.
Stopped here on a recommendation from a local biz owner...sat at the bar for a bevvie and partook of some interesting new snak crackers they're rolling out- and fried olives. It's official- I think I've tried everything that can be fried- fried. (the black ones- yes- the green ones- aight) Had a big girl table in 'the library' and have to say- the restaurant is really beautiful. The springroll was 5 star and so was the recommendation- the halibut- and I ain't jis sayin it for the...nyuknyuk The wine list needs a more varied selection (like sancerre or rose?I didnt even bother looking at the reds- it was too hot) and if I felt like being a snob it would've been quite easy to do. So PLEASE do up the ante on the wines. Decent wait staff- 5 stars to the attentive maitre'd...good luck to this place- its nice to know there's something decent in CR to dress up for.
(4)Dan J.
Service was a bit slow when we first arrived. Was not overly impressed with the grilled apple salad or the gumbo. The sweet potato gnocchi and the goulash were excellent. Very nice selection of local and craft beers.
(4)Angie T.
This place makes me feel like I'm in Tribeca, NYC or in the San Diego gaslight district. Love the ambiance and simple, classy, spacious decor. I tend to go for drinks, but can also say the small plate selections have never disappointed, especially the lobster cheesecake. If you don't feel small plate is enough food, get the truffled pommes frites. That'll do ya.
(5)Evan S.
Really nice Valentines night!! This was my first visit to Zins. I was very surprised that we were able to get a table with 2 hrs notice on valentines day. We were seated immediately. All of the staff was very nice. They had a special menu tonight which included 4 courses along with 4 different wines, 1 for each course. The sweet potato soup was amazing. I am not a fan of sweet potatoes but this was really good. our entree was a grilled fillet of beef. The beef was cooked really well. Although the bill was around $100 for 2 people it was worth it. The atmosphere and having 4 separate courses made the meal very enjoyable. I am not sure if this is how meals are normally served there or if this was just something special for Vday. I will be back this week to try the Sunday brunch. This is a great place for a special night out, but not a weekly visit... at least not on my budget!!
(4)HOLLY M.
Just delicious, prepared with care, and completely creative. Atmosphere is relaxing and quiet. A wonderful restaurant for any special occasion. This is the kind of restaurant you wouldn't want to dress too casually.
(5)Jake O.
Good enough, nothing special. I'm fully aware of what tapas are and that they usually cost money. There's better eating in CR for less money. Although if I were a business person taking a client out, this would probably be a good location.
(3)Christine R.
I found myself in Cedar Rapids on my birthday. Luckily my friend took me to Zins for dinner. The space is wonderful, comfortable and includes a glass wall with a view into the kitchen. There are a wide range of wines available by the glass. Highlights from dinner included the polenta fries, the bacon wrapped tenderloin and the macaroni and cheese which was excellent. I had the pecan tart with vanilla ice cream for dessert, and it was too good to share even a bite.
(4)Jim B.
My wife and I went to Zin's for their Sunday brunch. For $12, you can pick three 'entrees' or plates as they are called. Each plate is designed to give you 6-12 bites. For my three selections I tried the Biscuits & Gravy (with andouille sausage.), the Eggs Benedict, and the Yogurt Parfait. All the selections were very tasty and quite enjoyable. We each selected a dessert for $2, which for me was the Chocolate and Caramel Waffles. We marveled over the variety of serving dishes used for the plates...we discussed this with our waitress who confirmed our suspicion that it makes for a big headache for the dishwasher! The service was adequate. While the waiteress we had was friendly, she was a bit slow in realizing that I needed a refill of my ice tea. Overall it was a good, but not exceptional dinning experience. The portion sizes were adequate if not a bit on the small size, but then I am a 6'4" tall, 220 lb guy afterall!
(4)Ziggy S.
We visited this restaurant in July, 2012. It was a busy time for the restaurant, but the service was sub par and the food was very average. It is a nice location, the decor is fine, and if you want to spend the better part of 2 hours wondering when your order will arrive, this is the place to go. The waiter wasn't the problem, in fact he was pretty good at handling the problem of slow food service, he has had experience perhaps?? The problem was the kitchen and the ability of the manager to manage a restaurant. We travel and eat out often. We are not from Cedar Rapids. We will not be dining at Zin's again, there are better options.
(2)Bill D.
Nice change of pace. Tapas in Cedar Rapids, wonderful combination of flavors with great presentation. Just like in the big city. I liked it and Mikey will too.
(4)Chad Z.
Great for lunch. Top notch service. Small tappas portions but you will get something unlike anywhere else in Cedar Rapids. Peanut butter chicken tacos highly recommended.
(5)John L.
Good food! Too bad it's a bit loud in the evenings. Very nice for lunch or a nice dinner.
(4)Quynn I.
I should have read yelp first - didn't expect to get such a small portion size for the price. Also our service was terribly slow. The entire dinner beginning to end took us about 1 1/2 hours. I had to ask someone to get the server to take our orders, and we got asked twice if we wanted dessert both times saying, no and that we wanted our check. The staff was friendly and the food was good but nothing to really write home about. Over all I don't think I would go back.
(2)Holly P.
Yum. Simply put. I love how the menu varies each time I go! (They leave the favorites, so don't worry about that.) Their wine selection is impressive and the wait staff is professional and helpful. This is one of the places I choose for a fancy night out with the girls, or a romantic date with my husband. Can't wait to see what the chef rolls out next!
(5)Mitch L.
Zins is as good as it gets in Cedar Rapids and it sets the bar incredibly high. The founders of the restaurant are/were Kirkwood Culinary program instructors. Many of the people working Zins are students in the program as well. Though I can't comment on the dinner, I can comment on their Sunday brunch. The only word that can sum it up is fantastic. You usually have 12 to 16 different options of "miniature" meals to pick from on a list. You pick 3 of the items for your breakfast. The options are all over the place from your standard breakfast chicken fried steak to whatever the chef concocted this week with what they have in back. Though out breakfast, you get minimuffins that change with the week. I haven't had one that I didn't love. You get all of this and a drink for $14. You leave, not necessarily stuffed, but not craving any more food. If you haven't been there yet, get their soon.
(5)John P.
if you're there for lunch...try the $9 big lunch. its huge. but for a buck less, you can get substantially less food which may be good for your diet anyway. if you go for their $8 lunch tapas, do try the crab/corn bisque, crab cake sandwich, or hawaiian burger. once you're over your where's the beef moment, you'll realize that its about enjoying the food. for dessert, the molten lava cake (allow 10 mins) will finish you off.
(5)kati d.
Zins is a great addition to the Cedar Rapids restaurant scene. Much like nearby Blend, this Tapas restaurant is a refreshing answer to the gorge-your-face portions of restaurants today. While I've heard comparisons these types of places to going to the grocery store on sample day, you leave feeling satisfied from the variety of scrumptious dishes. The exposed brick, intricately folded napkin atmosphere is relaxing yet uncharacteristically classy for CR. However, being that it is a new restaurant it's somewhat understandable that the service has yet to come up to the standards of a fine restaurant - they focus more on changing the tablecloths in a perfect fashion rather than filling your water glass. Still, the service can only get better and it's a restaurant definitely worth checking out.
(4)