Cafe Zinho

With its inviting ambience and sophisticated food, Caf? Zinho was wonderful. The menu is small but has a great variety of dishes to choose from and was very difficult to decide, everything sounded great. We had a rather large party so ordered all of the appetizers and they were incredible. Would highly recommend the Red 3 cheese stuffed peppers, perfect touch of spice with the excellent blend of cheeses and the Salmon literally melted in your mouth. The atmosphere and decoration was very eclectic, fun, and inviting. From the moment we walked through the door until the time we left, we felt a warm welcome and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Thank you and we will be back soon! more

I have wanted to try Cafe Zinho for a while now. It always looks very inviting when I pass. Over the summer I was thinking of taking some friends here but decided against it after reading some reviews. Last night I decided to try it out for myself, and the reviews couldn't have been more wrong. The staff was friendly, attentive and jovial from the moment we walked in the door. Even without reservations and a full restaurant on New Years Eve they made room for us and were very accommodating. The wait staff was attentive, but not overly so. Yet, the highlight of this upscale, yet earthy restaurant is the food. Each person in my group of four ordered something different and each was truly superb. I have not had better duck anywhere in the city. I will definitely be going back to Cafe Zinho and highly recommend it to anyone for an intimate couples dinner or for a small group. I would not go here if there were more than five people in my party as the restaurant is more intimate. The combination of service, sophisticated but unpretentious atmosphere and delicious food make this a true gem in my mind. Some reviews noted the ""goodwill find"" decor, but for me that's what makes this place that much better. It is nice to experience fine dining in a place where you can relax, where there is a little more character than the usual, and where you can look around and see something more interesting than a blase flower arrangement. Pros: Delicious food and the best duck I've ever had in PIttsburgh Cons: Small more

I read the reviews on this site and I wondered if they were talking of the same restaurant that I found tucked away on Spahr Street in Shadyside. Either that, or Cafe Zinho has taken the criticisms to heart and mended their ways. The service was excellent. Yes they did make a mistake and brought us two appetizers when we had canceled one, but they were very apologetic about it. The food itself was excellent. I had snapper and my wife had the lamb and both were delicious. We shared a dessert between us & the dessert itself was heavenly (white cake with icing). Those reviewers who complained about the prices have obviously not eaten at the other Shadyside restaurants. I thought that a delicious meal for two at $50 was excellent value for money. At another restaurant around the corner, they charge $12 for a glass of mediocre wine, so BYOP at Cafe Zinho was defintely a plus. I was surprised that they don't accept credit cards, but to me, paying for food by a credit card is really moronic unless one is talking of huge cash amounts. There is something charming about paying for something you have consumed immediately and not carry a credit on it. I would go back there in a hearbeat. Pros: Ambience, service, food. Cons: Everytime restaurant door opens a draft of cold air comes in. Spartan decorations. more

My girlfriend and I decided to try Cafe Zinho on a whim. From the moment we walked in, something just felt off. It was freezing cold and so dark inside the restaurant that we could hardly read the menus, which consisted of dishes that were just as unappealing as their descriptions made them sound. As much as we tried to find something good about Cafe Zinho, our dreams of having a good meal that evening were crushed with too-tiny plates covered in Phyllo dough. At the risk of sounding mean, it felt like we were in a refugee camp. If you make the mistake of going there, you'll know exactly what I mean. Pros: Pleasant waitresses Cons: Absolutely everything else more

We just had dinner at Cafe Zinho this evening for the first time. We have been curious to try this place since it is in our neighborhood. The service was very slow, and our waiter was quite awkward and not very sociable (not good for being in a service-oriented business). The food was below average and my husband's pork chop was seriously undercooked and raw in the middle, so that we had to send it back. We will not be returning to this place - there are far better restaurants in Shadyside. Also, keep in mind that this is a cash only restaurant that's right, no credit cards. Please don't waste your time or money with this one. Pros: Ambience Cons: Everything else more

Were there insects in the meals? No, of course not. Were there spiderwebs visible even for the lazy eye? No, of course not. No. Let me rephrase...unfortunately not! That's correct. Crawling insects and spiderwebs would've made the evening bearable for my wife and I. Pros: Ambiance. Cons: The rest. more

We had an average experience at Cafe Zinho but left a bit unsatisfied for the $50 we left for two entrees. Also we weren't expecting to be paying $5 for the bread and butter they served before dinner. The bread was very good. Though, we don't remember a single place with entrees starting from $15.95 charging for bread and butter. Pros: Fine service, fine crowd, outdoors sitting Cons: Overpriced for the quality, charges for bread and butter, doesn't accept credit cards more

Hit or miss is the most frequent description I hear of this restaurant and I know many people who love it and some who have had a very bad experience. Personally, I fall into the former camp as I find the staff extremely friendly and efficient and the food excellent. The goats cheese and vegetable platter are good if sharing. On the entree side, the pork medallions are a must although I have been served under-cooked ones before so check before you eat! The duck is fabulous too. All the desserts are good. The chicken is very bland and the only dish I have had there that I would not order again. Remember to take cash and bring your own wine, something I am a fan of as it prevents the large mark-up restaurants often apply to wines. PS check out the store at the back. more

Citysearch recommended Cafe Zinho as a great place to celebrate New Year's Eve. I had enjoyed the atmosphere in the past so I thought it would be a great place to celebrate with my family and out of town guests. From the second we arrived we were all very disappointed. When we sat down the very unpleasant waiter announced, ""no specials tonight."" No specials summed up the whole night. There was nothing special about Cafe Zinho!! The food was worse than restaurant chain quality. The calamari wasn't fresh & the steaks were a cheap cut of meat served with fries that tasted like they had been nuked in the microwave. It was very obvious the staff couldn't wait for us to leave & quite frankly we couldn't wait to get out of there! Please don't waste your time or your money! more

Who would have thought that such a little place tucked away on Spahr Street would be such a find. The Goat Cheese appetizer is a must and the Duck was cooked to perfection. I also recommend the Salmon, Crayfish Cake, and Buffalo Meatloaf. I've hear good things about them all! Pros: Food Cons: Cash Only more

The food here is excellent (I would recommend the pork medallions) and the decor is in a pleasing Bohemian style. However, the service is very slow and the wait staff seems indifferent to their customers; the restaurant may want to go for a casual atmosphere, but it comes across as so casual as to be almost uncaring. Whatever you do, don't get the table set right by the front desk - the staff will stand around and hold loud conversations only two feet from you! Pros: Entrees, Decor, Desserts Cons: , Uncaring staff, Cramped tables more