Inside: Zini Cafe Med

(Credit: Wade Byars, Special to Metromix)

Photos:

Zin American Bistro has an addition to the family: Zini Café Med.

Award-winning Chef Nicolas Klontz and his longtime partner and wine director, Mindy Reed, have combined their talents to create this casual Southern European sidewalk café and bistro in the former Patrice Italian Bistro.

Across from the Mercado Plaza, this new bistro features fresh traditional Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Large open doors allow those who dine inside to mingle with the outdoors while enjoying “conversational” background music.

Klontz, who has twice been named the Belgian Chef of the Year, says that to be truly successful, “one must never compromise on quality.”

With a name like Zini, you know the focus will be on wine. Reed has an uncanny ability of remembering her guests and is passionate about wine.

Zini will be featuring selections from Spain, Italy and Portugal, with more to come.

Zini has created a bar menu with amazing flavors and reasonably priced selections to complement the wines.

Feast on marinated San Remo olives and grilled bread ($5) or mussels and chorizo in tomato garlic sauce ($6).

Try the spicy shrimp scampi with garlic, tomato and Tuscan olive oil ($6) or pork pate with grilled bread and house pickled vegetables.

If you choose to dine here for lunch, try one of the featured paninis. The light, vegetarian version comes with roasted peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes and Swiss cheese.

With choices that include veal scaloppini, seared Atlantic salmon filet and pollo alla diavolo (macadamia-crusted chicken scaloppini), there is something for everyone.

And for those of you who think meatballs are pretty run of the mill, you’re in for a surprise when you bite into the veal and ricotta meatballs served over perfectly cooked spaghetti. The meatballs have an amazing light and creamy texture, which makes them not to be missed.

Zini uses sustainably farmed produce and meats and environmentally sound seafood whenever possible.

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