ZINO

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1. JB

   JBaker

   San Francisco

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 19, 2023

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   Was a great spot for a pre-theater brunch. Very much enjoyed the experience and would not hesitate to return.

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2. C

   Chuns

   San Francisco

   75 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   75 reviews

   Dined on March 12, 2023

   overall2food2service3ambience1

   The restaurant needs warmth. It’s a large room with no character. Even tablecloths would help! Service is not ‘sophisticated’. Young nice people but not trained to know diners needs so the don’t anticipate them. We’ve eaten here many times over the years but this will be our last.

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3. RM

   RobertM

   Portland

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 10, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   A beautiful, elegant, quiet place with excellent food (the best pork chop ever) and friendly, attentive service. Because of an OpenTable problem (I could select the desired time and number of diners but not the date) I tried calling to make a reservation and that was a complete failure. I called four times over four days, always at a different time of day, and left clear messages each time and nobody ever called me back. I was finally able to make a reservation with OpenTable (it worked on my phone but not my laptop - weird) so we were able to enjoy two delicious meals, dinner and breakfast, during our brief stay at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza, home of Zino. Reservation snafus aside, I would have no reservations about recommending the restaurant or the hotel. We loved both.

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4. PM

   PaulM

   San Francisco

   6 reviews

   4.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on March 4, 2023

   overall4food4service5ambience4

   It was our 45 Anniversary and the waiter was fantastic! He even gave us two complimentary glasses of sparkling wine! Five stars!

   Report
5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Central Coast

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on February 27, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Our server M was wonderful. The restaurant was beautiful and elegant. The food was amazing. Would recommend.

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6. r

   robertpaul

   San Francisco

   13 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   13 reviews

   Dined on February 18, 2023

   overall5food4service4ambience4

   Food was excellent and staff was very courteous and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience.

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7. P

   Peter

   San Francisco

   5 reviews

   vip
   2.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on February 17, 2023

   overall2food3service1ambience5

   I go to Zino often but today was exceptionally poor. 1. They ran out of pancakes that my friend was craving for (that’s the only reason we chose to go to Zino today) 2. They forgot to bring sausages that we ordered. 3. They didn’t pick up the bill with my credit card for 20 minutes (there were hardly any guests so I doubt they were busy), so I needed to walk to the waiter and hand-deliver my credit card. 4. And on top of that they reported a no-show on my Opentable reservation. I wonder what else to expect from them now. Maybe they charged the wrong amount on my card?

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8. WJ

   WalterJohn

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2023

   overall4food4service4ambience4

   The Valentine's Day prix fixe menu worked out well. Each course was prepared with excellence. Service was good, though insufficient staffing was present to handle the load. Pricey, but hey, these restaurants have to do much making up for lost time during COVID-19 pandemic.

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9. SO

   SusanO

   San Francisco

   10 reviews

   5.0

   10 reviews

   Dined on February 13, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   We always enjoy Zino. The ambiance is lovely, the tables well spaced, the food delish and the service good. We often go for pre-theater dinner.

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10. p

    peebers

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on January 29, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    ZINO always seems understaffed, but the food is consistently good. I have some food intolerances, so the “no substitutions” policy is irksome. All in all, it’s a good option for reliably good eats n downtown Berkeley. Tho, skip the dessert and get gelato from Almare on Shattuck.

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11. b

    beusceus

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 25, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Really delicious food great service nice wine/drink selection

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12. M

    Menumav

    San Francisco

    48 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    48 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    Very good food: a general monthly menu plus a monthly set of specials focusing on a particular country. Well-chosen, unusual selections. Wines and cocktails too. It's quiet, but hustle-bustle of a hotel adds life. Huge, elegant space, good service. One of my favorite places in Berkeley.

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13. WH

    WalterH

    Yosemite

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 2, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    desserts were a little deficient, but everything else terrific

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14. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    It was New Year’s Eve! We had a very nice time. I was just sad that they were out of the octopus bc I wanted to try it. But we had a lovely New Year’s Eve!

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15. J

    Joanneb

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall2food3service1ambience4

    Generally, the food is good here but last night the service was really below par. The waiter brought us an open bottle of wine, quite expensive, left us waiting several times for basic items, and several dishes were unavailable and didn't offer us dessert; when queried about it they only had sorbet. Something us up there.

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16. w

    willstarr

    San Francisco

    129 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    129 reviews

    Dined on December 26, 2022

    overall1food1service2ambience4

    Do not eat at this restaurant! We arrived at 6 PM for the Christmas buffet and I got the last slice of prime rib, and my wife had only bits and pieces. One of the ideas of a buffet is that one can go back for seconds of your favorites. There were almost no desserts left and the side dishes were all disappointing, too. I ordered a glass of Albarino wine and received such a short pour that I complained! They eventually brought me another at no charge. The servers were all totally untrained--more fault to the management. The bill as presented was $222, but I sought out the manager and told him I would not pay it. He eventually gave me a new bill for children's dinners and we left sadly disappointed. This place is in way over their heads. Do not patronize it.

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17. MB

    MartinB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 26, 2022

    overall2food1service3ambience2

    The Christmas buffet was such a disappointment. Lunchroom quality food-bland salad, uninteresting cheese selection, plain institutional cold rolls, adequate prime rib(no horseradish). Didn't even try the turkey and stuffing , they looked so unappealing. The deserts we're like something from Costco. Worse was the presentation. Like a VFW hall buffet. Sad and for $200 with one drink and an iced tea, we would have done better at a hometown buffet

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18. GG

    GreggG

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    2.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    The meal was a Xmas day buffet. Food was ok and could have been served warmer. Turkey was overcooked and tough, prime rib good but no horseradish. Service was inattentive, especially considering the add on 20% gratuity for a table of 2.

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19. MK

    MelK

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    It was just ok with quality of foods. However, all of the servers, including at the carving station and in the dining room were outstanding. Very responsive, mindful, and gracious.

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20. KN

    KateN

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    Very disappointing over all. Drink orders lost. Food very subpar and not served with proper silverware or listed accompaniments. No salt/pepper on any table. It’s gone downhill.

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience5

    This restaurant was a staggering disappointment. We were literally the only ones eating in this hotel dining room at 6:30pm on Christmas Eve, and this should have been a warning. A $19 glass of Pinot noir didn’t receive a full pour. The food was clumsy, poorly seasoned, and thin on the ground. The fideaua featured a small handful of limp overcooked angel hair pasta draped like wet hair over frozen seafood—cooked correctly but definitely from the freezer. The squash pasta was both colorless and flavorless. The lamb tagine had correctly cooked meat but with dried apricots placed in it fresh out of the bag—not diced or cooked into the stew. There seemed to be very few spices in the kitchen through and through. The server spoke in a barely audible mousy whisper and knew nothing about either the food or the wine, so couldn’t answer any questions about either. In fact, she told my husband that his tagine featured “peaches”. He questioned this because the menu said “apricots”. Her response was, “Sorry, yes, apricots. When I hear ‘peaches’ I think of ‘apricots’.” She was certainly intending to be friendly and nice, and we tipped accordingly, but her talents clearly lie elsewhere. There was a live band playing to an empty house. The decor is gorgeous. That’s all I can say. A very dismal, sad, and overpriced Christmas Eve dinner.

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22. KS

    KateinSonoma

    Tahoe

    12 reviews

    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on December 20, 2022

    overall4food3service3ambience4

    The room was lovely and diners were seated far apart so we felt very comfortable. The mezes were excellent; the wrap unmemorable. We had to send the champagne back as it was totally flat. It was replaced by nice bubbles. Server was extremely accommodating.

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23. VM

    VM1966

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on December 11, 2022

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    This is a great choice for dining pre-theater or event.

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24. D

    Dida

    San Francisco

    16 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2022

    overall5food4service4ambience5

    Lovely bar, great Spanish food and wine the night we visted!

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25. M

    Marian

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 3, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our server was exceptionally welcoming and helpful.

    Report
26. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 30, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience5

    Food was mediocre and not served to temp.

    Report
27. B

    Bobs

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2022

    overall4food4service3ambience4

    food and ambience were great. Location good too in Berkeley.

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28. O

    Occasionally

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall3food2service3ambience4

    Unfortunately, we chose the Thanksgiving buffet. Everything was cold and almost gone by 6 pm. Turkey, stuffing, and prime rib good. Vegetables so so. Baklava way overbaked. No hot water for tea. Nice historic dining room. Friendly waiters. Go elsewhere for Thanksgiving. We won't return.

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29. AR

    AngelR

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    We enjoyed our Thanksgiving buffet dinner there. We will surely come back🥰

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30. AM

    AshM

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Terrible experience. Food was terrible, service was terrible.

    Report
31. F

    Fypm

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall3food2service1ambience2

    This was for the Thanksgiving Buffet. Food was ok. For the exorbitant amount they charged, absolutely not worth it. I’m not clear how they justify adding an 18% gratuity when you seat and serve yourself. A “server” came by twice during the entire meal to ask if we wanted drinks. Definitely not returning.

    Report
32. DW

    DrWatson

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Walking in it was very confusing, we didn't know if we had to check in or who to check in with...some signage with directions on how the buffet works would help. The restaurant area where we were was marked off as closed. Took a little while to get the buffet ready for all the 1pm guests, but maybe they had staff issues. The buffet table was a little unorganized, paired items were separated, signage was small, tables had access on both sides but only had one set of serving utensils/signage on one side. Sadly they didn't prepare for how many people wanted to eat pumpkin pie and my slice was frozen, solid as a rock. However...none of this really mattered when had our first bites of food. The cheese, soup, salmon, salad, turkey, prime rib...delicious. we had such a good time sampling all the wonderful items and going back for thirds and fourths! We would love to go back next year, hopefully they work out all the little things for smoother service. Staff was incredibly wonderful once the service started. We loved our Veronica! Thanks Zino!

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33. LF

    LisaF

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2022

    overall1food3service1ambience4

    We dined at ZINO on Thanksgiving. Our reservation was at 1. They were not ready to seat any guests until 1:15. It was a buffet style dinner. The food was good but it was not hot. For some reason, they decided not to turn on any of the warming plates. They struggled keeping the desserts stocked. When they finally brought out more pumpkin pie, it was frozen. We could not even cut through it. Would definitely not recommend ZINO for a holiday dinner.

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34. NK

    NapaKat

    San Francisco

    64 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    64 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2022

    overall4food3service5ambience5

    Great location for us to meet our friends from the East Bay. We come from the city and it’s a easy Bart stop. The menu, while not extremely diverse, have something for everyone. The weight staff were fabulous. Accommodated our requests.

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35. KH

    KurtH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great place for a first date. Wonderful ambiance, great adult beverages, and supreme wait staff - highly recommended!

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36. d

    diningwithrents

    San Francisco

    45 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on November 19, 2022

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    Very disappointed in our meal. I've had the lamb tagine before which is why I ordered it again. This time some the lamb was dry and the dish wasn't that flavorful. Cavatelli noodles were tough and the dish overall was bland. The 3-spread appetizer was really good.

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37. d

    disappointed

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2022

    overall3food1service3ambience4

    The food was really bad. The waiter was kind, but seemed to have no idea about what he was doing as a waiter or how the special wine tasting menu worked.

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38. E

    Elaine

    Tallahassee

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience4

    This was a special event. A fall festival meal and wine tasting. The wait staff did not seem to understand anything about the wine tasting part and had a difficult time explaining what the protocol was. It was very disorganized and left us with a feeling that the evening was not at all what we expected. Food was ok, but not great value.

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39. GW

    GretchenW

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The special Harvest Wine Dinner was outstanding. The food was delicious and generous- perfectly prepared scallops with a garnish of parsnip “chips.” The wine tasting pours were likewise generous and delicious. I hope they do this every year.

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40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Nous étions en visite à Berkeley pour voir notre fille. Le Zino fut une excellente découverte : belle salle, bon accueil, très bonne nourriture méditerranéenne … nous recommandons

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