Quick Bite: Zinc Café in Medford

Zinc Café
Medford
679 Stokes Road
609-953-9462

Open: Lunch and dinner, Tues-Sat; brunch, Sun

Price: $$ BYO

Style: Modern comfort-food café with a casual yet upscale vibe exemplified by the low, stacked-stone partition (accented by led tea lights) between the service area and dining room.

The Scoop: Chris Sammons, chef/co-owner of the 9-year-old eatery, was named to the 2014 inaugural edition of the Best Chefs America guidebook.

The Menu: Zinc makes you think, and if you like choices, that’s a good thing. Take brunch. The menu lists 31 entrées, five sides and (blessedly) just one soup and one dessert. How about pork roll scramble with cheddar and chipotle ketchup? Or consider the vegan burrito (pictured) stuffed with plantains and served with avocado, black-bean-and-corn salsa, tomatillo sauce and a side of fruit salad. It doesn’t get easier at lunch or dinner, with seven appetizers (like steamed littlenecks in lemongrass broth), eight salads, 15 sandwiches and eight entrées. You might not have room for the six-layer Kahlua toffee-chocolate mousse cake that serves four.

Heads Up: Tables are closely spaced, but outdoor seating is available in warm weather. Reservations recommended.