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Bistro Vida

3.5 star rating
based on 97 reviews

Category: French  [Edit]

641 Santa Cruz Ave
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 462-1686
Hours:

Mon-Tue. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Mon-Tue. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Wed-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wed-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

97 reviews for Bistro Vida

Review Highlights   

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"The owner, Ali, is almost always there and is incredibly friendly." (in 4 reviews)
user photo
"It had blue cheese and roasted red peppers inside." (in 4 reviews)
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"Their coq au vin is very flavorful, their free range chicken is not." (in 4 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Sylvie H.

 

28

15

Sylvie H.

Atherton, CA

5 star rating
11/8/2009

I've only been here once and perhaps we were just lucky in our experience.  

After all, the night was perfect and warm, we got to sit out on the sidewalk in charming downtown Menlo Park without any kind of wait, it was romantic, the place itself is enticingly decorated and the waitress told us her favorite dish.  My husband and I both ordered it.

It was the sole by the way.  It was perfect, light and healthy.  I will be doing the one trick pony from now on and can't wait to go back and order it again.  You never know though, some day I might surprise myself and branch out.

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Photo of Susan L.

Elite '09

27

315

Susan L.

Menlo Park, CA

2 star rating
10/20/2009

The burger was good but the couscous was just ok.  I think it would have been good as a side dish but was a little bit too much for a main dish.

anyways everything would have been fine except the service was non-existant.  We saw our waitress twice and we had to ask someone else for our check.  We also noticed some tables getting bread but we weren't offered any..

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Photo of Wes T.

Elite '09

52

429

Wes T.

San Rafael, CA

3 star rating
8/11/2009

3.5 stars.

Came here after being ignored at the BBC. I was hungry, it was warm, and I wanted to sit down and relax.

This place has an awesome outdoor, sidewalk cafe area. I've passed through it numerous times, but never stopped for a bite. Yesterday was the day, and I'm not disappointed.

They had a lot of seasonal offerings, and the place was virtually deserted (then again, it was Monday night in Menlo). I had mussels with french fries, and it was just what the proverbial doctor ordered. A little French beer, and a cheese plate with dessert wine as a finisher made the night pretty alright.

Service was good, but then again, it would be hard to lose us with no one else around. Quality of food was high, and the selection was good. Minus a star for pricing. Sorry, I know that it is Menlo Park, and I know that it is a French joint, but it was overpriced.

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Photo of K B.

 

0

8

K B.

Palo Alto, CA

4 star rating
11/14/2009

I love this place. We came here for our anniversary dinner and more recently for a birthday lunch. It's a bistro: warm and inviting, cozy and intimate. I like the french onion soup, the mussels & fries (prepared exactly like I had them in Brussels years ago), and the coq au vin. The service is not fast but is kind, responsive and relaxed.The profiteroles are great but check first to see if they will be served with ice cream inside (good) or custard (not so good).

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Photo of Scott F.

 

4

137

Scott F.

Mountain View, CA

2 star rating
11/7/2009 4 photos

The macchiato is horrible - it's like bad drip coffee.  I tried the french toast (see my photos). They use Texas toast for the bread.  Skip it.  It's nothing special.  Also, they didn't provide any type of butter.  Hrmph.  The french toast next door at Left Bank ( http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) is way better.

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Photo of Liz c.

 

2

10

Liz c.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
2/15/2009

This is the worst restaurant I've been to since moving to the bay area, period. The only reason we came here was because Borrone was closed due to a power outage.

Let me start with some background.  My family is French.  I have spent a good deal of time in France and grew up eating a diet of largely Parisian cuisine.  I was appalled and insulted by the wildly revolting excuse for food let alone French food that was served up at this dive!  

My husband and I came in for brunch and ordered the "vegetable omelettes."  I should have realized what we were in for given that no description of what the "vegetables" consisted of was provided on the menu.  Chalk my naievete up to hunger induced delirium.  

What arrived on the plates was an abomination.  The "omelettes" were stuffed with large chunks of overcooked carrots, sweet potatoes, raisins (yes, raisins!), unidentifiable white and slightly sweet dried matter, fried onions and mushrooms.  Talk about revolting!  Even if these ingredients were fresh and properly cooked, who in their right mind mixes them collectively with eggs and calls the result a "vegetable omelette!?!?"  

Yes, folks, for approximately $26, our palettes were brutally violated.  But this was only the beginning.  I will spare you the full and complete details of our consequent gastrointestinal distress, but rest assured it was not pleasant.  

Please, please spare yourself the horror we met at Bistro Vida and avoid this place at all costs!

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Photo of Katharine A.

Elite '09

287

741

Katharine A.

Menlo Park, CA

3 star rating
1/12/2009

I have been here a couple of times and although I seem to enjoy the food here, it just doesn't stand out to me.  

The last time I was here the service was OK, but spotty.  I think it was a bit disorganized--multiple people helped us and it was hard to discern who to ask for help when we needed it.  When it came down to it, the food was good, but not spectacular. I'll probably go back, but it won't become part of my regular repertoire.

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Photo of Dave K.

 

22

69

Dave K.

San Carlos, CA

3 star rating
8/15/2009

I wanted to like this place better because The Left Bank, next door, seems to get less and less French every time I go there.  The removal of escargots from their menu was the last straw, so we thought we'd finally try the very authentic looking bistro next door, that is, Bistro Vida.

The decor is very French, right down to the Gitanes cigarettes for sale.  The menu is classic French bistro, right down to the handwritten slates.

But sadly, it didn't deliver:  the food just isn't that good and the service, while friendly, included too many mistakes and forgotten dishes.

Let's grade the elements of the meal.

- Champagne aperitif:  too warm. B.
- Tomates mozzarelles:  forgotten, but not bad when brought.  B+
- Duck pate:  OK, nothing to write home about and the "toast" that came with it wasn't browned/toasted.  More like yesterday's stale bread.  B-.
-  Escargots:  semi-classic Borguignon approach on the little steel plates, but they weren't in the shells and the sauce, while full of yummy parsley and garlic, was cold and starting to congeal.  B-.
- Entrecotes grille (rib-eye steak).  The best dish served; a great piece of meat with the  yummy herb butter on top and perfectly good.  A.
- Paella.  The rice was watery and gluey.  The chicken was in strips. The chorizo tasted good but looked like bologna.  The mussels and clams were OK.  C+.
- Couscous.  The merguez was spicy, the presentation was not classic French (it was all served in one bowl with the couscous already in).  B.
- Vida burger. B+.  Hard to screw this up.
- Profiteroles.  Disaster.  First forgotten and then seemed like the pastries were frozen and then microwaved.  D+.
- Creme brule.  Not bad.  B+
- Crepes. Total disaster, F.  We specifically ordered a plain crepe with nutella (not the nutella Grand Marnier mix) and got a crepe in the middle of plate swimming in a syrup with a glob of nutella in the middle.  The kids said it tasted good, but nowhere in France have I seen anything like that (and I lived there 5 years).

Net:  As I Francophile searching for a legitimate French Bistro, my eyes were excited when I saw this place, but the experience went straight downhill from there. Despite its waning authenticity, I'd still prefer The Left Bank any day.

It's sad because to me, this place is a lost opportunity.  Yes, the big French bistro/brasserie chain is right next door, but they should be able to compete on authenticity, quality, and local-ness/warmth.  Right now, it's missing on all three fronts -- particularly on food quality.

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Photo of Sophia Y.

Elite '09

30

347

Sophia Y.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
3/30/2009

Good alternative to left bank if there is a line there.
found the strawberry crepe - too sweet. yuck
coq qu vin was well done - chicken falling off bone. yum!

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Photo of Joe H.

Elite '09

10

159

Joe H.

Palo Alto, CA

2 star rating
3/2/2009

2.5 stars.

Another reviewer hit it on the head.  "Basically a heated old bun and refrigerator-flavored butter."  Actually, the bread wasn't _quite_ that bad, though I'd never call it french, but the butter was horrendous, even though my dining partner couldn't tell.  

They were out of coq au vin, c'est la vie, so I ordered the burger.  It was actually very good, slightly more medium than medium rare, and highly handled.  The meat is mixed with garlic, onion, parsley, allspice, and who knows what else.  A very Mediterranean flavor, not french, but absolutely tasty.  The roasted peppers on top were mostly bland, and I couldn't really make out the bleu cheese.  Still, I'd be happy with that burger any day, though rarely does a burger justify a $13 price tag (and this one doesn't).  Fries were McDonalds fries, which is not praise from me.  A healthy salad on the side.

My friend's beef stew was passable.  Not tender and not sufficiently moist.  If they were charging less, it would be acceptable.

Really, they're on par with Left Bank.  Take it or leave it.  I suggest leaving it.

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Photo of shauna m.

 

15

56

shauna m.

Atherton, CA

5 star rating
11/29/2008

So some friends were telling me about a trip they took and where they had the most terible Creme Brulee. No I don't like creme brulee but the told me I had to try it at vida.

So we walked over to vida and got creme brulee and the lemon tart. Lemon tart is one of my favorite things. It's confort food for me. Needless to say both were amazing. I actually can now say I like creme brulee.

I love the outside tables. We sat and had desert and this dersert wine i can't remember the name of... needless to say it was devine.

I shall be back to try the food!!! My friends say the food is just as good as the desert!

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Photo of Elizabeth B.

Elite '09

596

314

Elizabeth B.

Menlo Park, CA

3 star rating
3/22/2009

The ambiance and location of Bistro Vida is to die for...I was in a French cafe mood on Friday morning (this happens to me sometimes), and I had always wanted to try this place, so Sarah and I went in for an early lunch. The lunch menu was very exciting; a lot of the items looked like something I would totally love, and it was so hard to choose! There were sweet crepes, omelettes, little sandwiches (for example brie and cucumber), croque monsieur, and a quiche lorraine to choose from, among many other delectable lunch items. We ordered the cheese sampler plate to start, which had brie, goat cheese and bleu cheese arranged delicately amongst baguette slices, strawberries, apple slices, olives and some miniature pickle things which both of us avoided. I must admit, I was hoping for some more exciting cheeses to choose from, like some I had never heard of, but once I had tasted each I was perfectly satisfied. The goat cheese in particular was exceptionally fresh and smooth, especially with a strawberry slice and a crispy bite of baguette.

I ordered the quiche lorraine, which was decent, but not entirely impressive. I hate to say it, but it was almost rubbery, and I would have preferred a much flakier crust. Our mimosas, on the other hand, were brilliant :)

Service was attentive, and the coffee was strong and adorably Parisian in its little cup and saucer. Unrequested coffee refills abounded, I was quite pleased :) The waiter brought out a decorative wooden tea box from which Sarah chose her tea, I thought this was a nice touch.

The ceiling-high bar behind me was impressive, and the decor is so chic! The whole place is done in dark woods, black, deep reds and stylishly placed mirrors. I found myself wishing, in spite of the bland food, for a romantic dinner date at Bistro Vida! The ambiance is very sexy, chic, dark and conducive to romance, especially I would imagine in the evening. I was not a huge fan of the lunch menu, but I love the vibe so much I would give it a try for dinner! Especially with a few fancy cocktails from that gorgeous bar, a dinner date @ Bistro Vida could be a lot of fun :)

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Photo of JOanna B.

 

0

2

JOanna B.

Los Gatos, CA

1 star rating
8/17/2009

this is my first yelp review ever & I only joined so I could do a review on this place. I have to say it was one of the worst dinners I've ever had. Ordered a glass of sparkling wine & it was WARM, my husband had a beer and it was WARM. I ordered the sole, they were out (on a Thursday???), so got the pork chop instead. It was dry, and so pedestrian. The mashed potoates tasted like they whipped with them water instead of heavy cream & butter. The vegetables were so over cooked I could not eat them. My husband had the burger/fries. Fries were good, hot & tasty. Burger was just a burger, nothing special. He asked for some mustard & they finally brought it on his last bite. Save your money & skip this place, what a rip off it is. I've been to France and Paris enough times to know that they have no idea what they are doing!

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Photo of Vanessa L.

 

21

68

Vanessa L.

San Jose, CA

3 star rating
8/14/2008

Went to Menlo Park for brunch on Sunday and meant to go to some other place but as we walked by Bistro Vida, we decided to come here instead. Not sure if it was because we were starving and we were enticed by the waiters walking by us with people's orders. :)

I settled for the Moules et pommes frites dish while my friend went with the eggs benedict.  The moules (mussels) were a bit on the tiny side...meaning they (without the shells) were probably the size of my thumbnail - and my fingers are pretty small already! so that sucked.   I guess that's what I get for changing our destination at the last minute.

Place wasn't bad..just A-OK. I'd be willing to go back and try something else but hopefully I'd be full the next time I leave the place. :)

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Photo of Justin L.

 

32

19

Justin L.

Cambridge, MA

3 star rating
6/13/2009

Bistro Vida is never too busy so it's a good emergency option or good for larger groups for big events. We went during Stanford's graduation and were able to get a reservation for Saturday at 1 p.m. The restaurant was decently full but you could get a table. The food is fine. I had the steak with pommes frites and it was actually pretty good. But overall the decor and experience is unmemorable.

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Photo of Jen D.

Elite '09

94

1198

Jen D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/2/2008

Eugy headed down to Menlo Park again to take me out to lunch. I'm sure he had to visit a work site again, but he insisted that he only reason for coming all the way down to MP was to take his lovely gf out to lunch. Uh huh... Sure babe.. :P

My co-worker suggested Bistro Vida, stating that it was one of her favorite spots in the area and she said they have al fresco dining. Perfect.

We parked in the back lot across the street from Bistro Vida that offers free 2 hour parking. Awesome. We headed over and picked a table outside and got seated. We were quickly greeted by a very polite waitress who took our drink orders and hurried off.

Quick look over the menu. I went with the steak pommes frites cooked medium. Eugy went with the prosciutto sandwich with roasted red peppers, cheese and arugula on brioche. My steak was cooked to perfection and had some type of pesto sauce on top that was delicious. The fries were crispy and lightly salted, just the way I like them. Eugy's sandwich was so damn good. The brioche was soft and the prosciutto fresh with great cheese.

All and all, the food was really good. And having lunch with Eugy is always a pleasure.

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Photo of ang h.

Elite '09

326

516

ang h.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/31/2008

This nomadic profession of mine does have a lot of perks, after all.  Being able to sample restaurants in posh Menlo Park is one. Having to endure the bad food in other less established areas (whose names remain undisclosed) isn't.

Now, if only I hadn't let my laziness prevent us from walking a few feet further, we wouldn't have ended up suffering through a less-than-satisfactory lunch at Left Bank the other day and would instead have found this gem of a place in downtown Menlo Park.

But regret not, for we found it nonetheless.

I know that, having the same price points and offering similar fares, there will be tons of comparison with neighboring Left Bank.  I will keep this review brief by not going into so much detail and would just stop at stating that the menu is easier to read (without trying so hard to fake a French bistro the way Left Bank successfully managed to do) and the service is a gazillion times better ~ friendlier, more thoughtful, and speedier.  

I don't remember the water level in my glass ever dipping below 75% either.

And this antivegetarian in me could not help but revel in the fresh & tasty chicken caesar salad (served with little sprinkle of breadcrumbs in replacement of the usual hard, mass-produced Safeway croutons).

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Photo of HotPot f.

 

4

25

HotPot f.

Redwood City, CA

3 star rating
6/23/2008

OVERALL RATING:
Service: 2
Decor: 4
Food: 3
Dog-friendly: Yes
--------------------------------------------------
Plus (+):
Good food. Great blue cheese burger

Minus (-):
Service (Never coming back because of the bad service)
--------------------------------------------------
I use to visit this place all the time since they have outdoor seating and I can bring my pooch here, but for some reason, their so-so service slipped to almost no service. I guess it depends on who you get, but we always got the heavy-set brunette w/ dark rimmed glasses. She was very friendly about 20+ visits ago (when she was new), but she slowly got worse and worse. She actually wasn't the reason why we stopped going here. The last time we tried to go, they refused to put two tables together so that we could sit 4 people. There were several empty tables for open (for two), so I didn't think it would be such a problem when asked.

So, nope. These ex-loyal Bistro Vida customers are frequenting someplace else from now on. What a shame. I thought the food was good enough to pay the high prices, but not enough to put up with crappy service.

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Photo of Lupe M.

Elite '09

23

131

Lupe M.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
7/19/2008

The weekend brunch at Bistro Vida is great!  All the French bistro dishes on the menu are tantalizing, but I finally settled for coq au vin (chicken and red wine stew served with mashed potatoes) and fresh orange juice.  The coq au vin was simply divine!  The chicken was cooked to perfection (very tender and flavorful).  It was definitely worth the price!  I will definitely be back here to have lunch or dinner.

Though the restaurant is a bit dark inside (romantic for some), they also offer outside seating.  Overall, good restaurant to have a French bistro style brunch and service was prompt and friendly.

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Photo of Ara S.

 

21

22

Ara S.

Hayward, CA

4 star rating
12/8/2008

This place is awesome! My best friend and her hubby took us here last night. I agree, the creme brulee was good! but the best was their Macarons! No not macaroons, it's not the coconut kind. It looks like an oreo cookie but the flavors are pistacio, passion fruit, and etc! the pistacio is the best! gosh! the owner was terrific and i love the atmosphere. i'll be back here when I find a date :)

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4 star rating
7/25/2007

3.5 stars actually but since I'm feeling generous (no idea why) I'll err on the upside...

I've been to Vida oodles of times since they opened, but somehow took a hiatus -- in all honesty, I was turned off by one appy of what "use to be" delicious scallops - we were delivered a $15 plate of 5 shrunken', chewy scallop-like raisins...  Being that Vida is in my hood, and i absolutely LOVE the ambiance of the place, I figured it was time to forgive and forget...

A friend of mine was visiting this past weekend and in my flurry of somehow mistaking the dates for this coming weekend, I had to scramble to find a restaurant for Friday (he phoned at 3p to figure out where we were meeting .... Oops, you're coming THIS weekend, I say batting my eyelashes hoping he'll be so bowled over by my stunning good looks and charm ... Nice try!  While of course I'm stunning (smiles innocently), but after all it was a phone conversation and who am I kidding ... charming?  Haa Haa!  More like potty mouth queen... Don't get me wrong, in the right situation, I can charm the pants off most people... Note:  "right situation."  Old friend in town catching up doesn't usually equal "right situation."  I jest!  ; )

So, we land at Bistro Vida on a gorgeous July evening and after a few glasses of wine at the bar make our way to a fabulous table out on the sidewalk.  The hostess left much to be desired - I think an appropriate description of how she sat us might be "she darted out to the sidewalk, swirling dust clouds in our faces with her speed and hucked the menus on the table."  Yah that about describes it.  Wow, impressive for the face of the restaurant ... Shakes head in dismay.  Our waitress was very sweet and attentive - she did her job and was pleasant while doing it.  The food was yummy as always - and I will agree with the general disclaimer on portion sizes, especially for the price.  But whatever, who are we to complain ... We should be eating less!  ;)  The salmon carpaccio is one of my faves!!!  It never disappoints - a must try.

I will say that my favorite aspect of Bistro Vida is the dark and sultry ambiance.  It has a fabulous cozy feel - perfect for a late night cocktail and yummy dessert!

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Photo of Rob C.

 

6

10

Rob C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/26/2005

If you live along the Peninsula, you're hard pressed to find a genuinely cozy, French restaurant with charm and style. Based on the reviews on Yelp, I decided to check it out and was extremely impressed. This place is a hidden gem and matches many San Francisco restaurants in terms of ambiance and menu selection. The service is cordial yet professional, the cocktail selection is uniquely tantalizing (from champagne by the glass and Kir Royal to a tasty concoction called the La Vida which I'd recommend and authentic French wines).

For dinner, I can recommend the Free Range chicken -- juicy and flavorful. The Nicoise Salad is made up of an array of fresh vegetables.

Yes, the trendy and overrated Left Bank does border it -- but trust me when I say you'll feel much more  la mode when you pass by the chain gang at Left Bank on your way out. That's right, Left Bank is a chain and there's no substitute in my opinion.

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Photo of Samantha R.

 

31

116

Samantha R.

Menlo Park, CA

1 star rating
3/19/2007

I can't opine about any entree other than the so-called coq au vin, but the so-called coq au vin was the kind of thing I could whip up in a crock pot.  Real coq au vin should be dark, rich with lardon, with rich mushrooms and vegetables.  This sauce was brothy and orange (!).  The server was not terribly welcoming, and seemed quite inconvenienced by our request for some bread.

It's cheaper than Left Bank next door, but If you want a decent coq au vin, skip this place.

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Photo of Michele Y.

 

1

8

Michele Y.

Menlo Park, CA

1 star rating
9/20/2008

I was very interested to eat here after hearing good things but I was SO dissapointed. I had the eggs benedict which was tiny. They also didn't make the eggs as I had requested. It wouldn't have been so bad but the potatoes that came with it tasted moldy and were inedible. It takes a lot for me to say something is inedible. The service was mediocre. The waitress took my order and then I didn't see her again until I asked for my bill. I was still hungry when I left and ended up buying a bagel down the street.

Thumbs down.

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Photo of Zoom Z.

 

2

111

Zoom Z.

Santa Clara, CA

4 star rating
1/26/2008

My friend and I walked up and down Santa Cruz Ave. looking for a place to have lunch. We decided on this restaurant over Left Bank.

I had a sausage sandwich on a baguette and my friend had the vida burger. For $9 and $10 respectively, they were an excellent deal. Each dish came with mixed greens and fries on each plate.

The waitress was very nice. She brought us some extra mayonnaise and garlic aioli to use on our food as well.

With a Coke, it came to $21 before taxes.

I'd give it 3.5 but since service went well I will bump it up to four We'll try Bistro Vida again.

Verdict: Livin' la Vida loca!

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Photo of Andrea G.

 

24

109

Andrea G.

Daly City, CA

4 star rating
2/12/2007

What I enjoyed most about Bistro Vida is the atmosphere.  The place reminded me of a bistro I visited in France a couple years ago. The walls are a nice deep red and create a really cozy, intimate setting.

The menu had a nice selection of French bistro food. I had the classic Croque Monsieur for lunch and was very pleased. It was really tasty (loaded with lots of butter!) and filling. I'll try this place again when I'm in the area.

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Photo of Melanie C.

Elite '09

121

612

Melanie C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/3/2006

yep, a great place on the Peninsula with a character rare for the burbs.  Dark loungey lighting, nice wood, bar, chalkboards, the bistro perfecto.  Met up with some high school friends for dinner, last ones in there, and they were totally no worries.

Absolutely delicious seafood pasta special: penne al dente, herby tomato sauce, fresh bay scallops, prawns (overcooked, darn), mussels, clams.  Mm.  Caprese, mussels and pomme frits to start.  Rum n banana crepe and goat/brie cheese plate to finish.  B wines by the glass.   For the peninsula, that earns you an A-. :)

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Photo of Lu W.

Elite '09

98

169

Lu W.

Santa Clara, CA

3 star rating
10/7/2008

I've been to this place twice and have yet to find anything outstanding about it. Good service, no doubt, but the food... Maybe it's because I'm not French, but the meats - beef or chicken - are pretty chewey. Beef stews shouldn't be that tough to bite into, neither should free range chicken. The chicken meat is clearly tastier than the standard issue, hormone fed farm chickens you get from Safeway; but really, keeping it in the pot a bit longer prolly won't give it a chance to go free-range again.

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Photo of Hubert H.

Elite '09

21

233

Hubert H.

Cambridge, MA

2 star rating
4/14/2008

Should be one star because the waitress wanted to overcharge us for a nasty grilled chicken caesar salad. It was written as $7.50, but when we wanted to confer she said it was a misprint and wanted to charge us double ($15). If it's a misprint, a) don't serve it b) FIX THE MENU. We would not have ordered it at $15, nor would we have ordered it at $1 if we knew how dry and stale the chicken and lettuce was, not to mention that I never had Caesar dressing taste like Thousand Island.

My crab cakes were decent. I was going to go back and try the entrees but after this mood-killing experience, never again. Management has got to take back control over lots of aspects of this establishment. I wish I had read fellow yelpers; seems like problems arise all the time!

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Rosalind C.

Pittsburgh, PA

3 star rating
7/15/2006

I came here for brunch based on the reviews from Yelp, and left feeling a little disappointed.  Was the french toast good?  Sure, it definitely was.  We also tried the smoked salmon/ goat cheese omelette (which wasn't an omelette, btw), which also was very good.  But we left with our stomachs only half full, and needed to go elsewhere to fill up.  

So long story short, yes, dark and "cozy" (a little too much like being in a cave for my taste, but it might morph into romantic when it's dark outside) with high quality and delicious food.  But for the amount of money I was paying, I thought they could have given me more food.

I'm going to come back and try the dinner though at some point.  Perhaps that will be a more fulFILLING experience.

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134

Glenn R.

Mountain View, CA

4 star rating
12/30/2008

French toast at a French restaurant. Yeah baby. That's what I'm tawkin 'bout. How many French restaurants in the bay area are open for breakfast? Their French toast is sweet and soft. My brother says it's like eating a donut. It's a sweet as a donut, but tastes better. I can see why another reviewer said it's like crack. The service was indifferent (as expected) but not rude. My sister, brother and I all liked the food.

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Jeff W.

Menlo Park, CA

1 star rating
12/27/2006

It's sad when a menu of French brasserie food shows up in sleepy Menlo Park and the restaurant screws it up.  Menu selection: very good.  Food quality: good to below average.  Service: Hello... Hello? Anybody home? Excuse me... Hey, Buddy!  Atmosphere: a bit red-boudoir-ish.

This place has so much potential.  We go once a year and cross our fingers, and now after five times, I just start swearing under my breath when the overpriced wine list appears with lousy selection, and the service resorts to indifference.  By the time the good food arrives, I am pissed.

One other left-of-center issue is while there is a bar, there is no bartender, so a waiter needs to come and make you a drink.  The waiter's bar skills are issue #1, waiting for a waiter to make you a drink is issue #2, and the odd tacked-on, unimportant nature of the bar is issue #3.  Guys, rip the bar out, or make it happening; not some death sentence.

Don't go for the bar.  If fact, don't go for the service either.  Go for the food but make sure you take a tranquilizer first. Then the service and the dark red walls won't freak you out.

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Malcolm H.

Menlo Park, CA

4 star rating
8/1/2008

We have been there for dinner and Sunday brunch and the food has always been excellent.

The best experience we had was hosting a private party for a birthday. We brought in a band and had cocktails, appetizers, desert and dancing. The food was fantastic and the staff were on their "A" game. The owner, Ali was great to work with. Bistro Vida is a great place to throw a party.

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Elite '09

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Ed L.

Foster City, CA

3 star rating
9/16/2008

The Vida looks legit but the food ain't up to par. This place has potential with the location and setting but it's just not capitalizing. My Cassoulet with duck confit, sausage and hamhock looked appetizing but was so bland like they forgot seasonings and salt, ironic considering all those meats tend to be sodium-heavily. The food also takes forever to come out so keep stuffing your face with the bread.

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Liza P.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/15/2005

Wonderful little bistro!

I love Ali to pieces, he's the quintessential french restaurant owner in all the best ways! The interior is painted the most beautiful dark red, and everything about the layout will make you COMPLETELY forget that you are in the middle of Menlo Park!
The food is terrific and so so much better than left bank. The lunch menu has some of my favorite sandwiches- especially recommend the prosciutto and spinach.

After dark have a Blood Orange cocktail, if you're living on the edge- have two.

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Nate H.

Beverly Hills, CA

4 star rating
5/3/2007

Finally, another great place to frequent for us. I can honestly say this was a treat. I have had such trouble finding gems such as this since my move. The ambience, the food from start to finish. It is hard to find  a place that can cater to a full experience. The wine was great, the food was great, the espresso was good...and the dessert was fabulous. The portions were perfect, you need to go in with the intent of making it through dessert.

If you want a french bistro, this is the place. Buttery goodness, in a cozy cafe wrapper.

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Rob B.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
2/6/2009

This is a great French restaurant located in downtown Menlo Park on Santa Cruz Avenue near El Camino.  This place happens to be a family favorite so we end up there a lot.

All of the food is fantastic.  The service is always excellent.  The owner, Ali, is almost always there and is incredibly friendly.  

The space isn't enormous, but it is a good size.  The tables aren't pushed too close together, so you never feel too crowded.  The French doors on the front of the space open up during warm weather, which creates a nice atmosphere.

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true c.

Menlo Park, CA

4 star rating
1/22/2009

This is a cute, homey, downtown local restaurant so 4 stars to encourage their staying power during these tough times.  My friend loves the linguini with clams.  I'm not sure why I ordered a hamburger, but it was good and above average with tasty fries.  Portions are large, food is average, but consistent.  Service is friendly and above average.  This is a good place to eat if you need a quiet restaurant to catch up with friends or to have a business lunch.

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Amy E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/9/2007

It was sunny outside and the dark atmosphere of Bistro Vida was an appealing contrast. It is a sexy sort of place where people look comfortable with their beer, wine or cocktail alongside their workday  lunch.

My girlfriend and I started with a shared salad. It was simple and dressed perfectly. We shared the burger and frites. It was one of the best burgers I have had. It had blue cheese and roasted red peppers inside. A savory-rich and sweet addition.

Our server was very warm and made some great suggestions including ending our meal with a banana rum desert and capaccino. It took a while for me to find the actual coffee as the drink was overflowing a bit much with froth. We both had a white tip nose issue going on, but not to distract from the overall satisfying experience.

We almost went next door to Left bank, which seemed to look a bit hyped up and commercial. Glad we were drawn in by the music and charm.

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Tawny G.

Menlo Park, CA

3 star rating
2/10/2009

We ate here for lunch on a Tuesday, very good service, not that busy.  A bit pricey, though, I had the fresh fish and it was $18.  They were quick on the refills (love that), and the bread was excellent.  My FH had some really good french fries with his grilled chicken, and he ate them ALL first.  We would definitely eat here again, it was nice and quiet and perfectly quaint for downtown Menlo Park.

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