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John Bentley's - CLOSED
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for John Bentley's
Review Highlights
"Try the special's (Peppered New York Steak was delicious."
(in 6 reviews)
"I highly recommend the chocolate souffle cake with coconut..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Pan Seared Foie Gras, Braised White Cabbage, Quince and..."
(in 2 reviews)
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Alex M.
Mountain View, CA
3/10/2010
John Bentley's has two restaurants, one in Redwood City and one in Woodside.
Between the two, I like the Woodside one better. The Redwood City restaurant menu focused more on ordinary solid American cuisine, whereas the Woodside location features far more creative dishes with a European fusion flair and somewhat more elegant ambiance. Basically, Redwood City has the regular restaurant while Woodside has the gourmet version.
I'd give 4 stars to the Woodside location, 3 stars to Redwood City. Both are good - it's a matter of personal taste which you'd like better. -
Review from Elizabeth G.
San Jose, CA
4/13/2009
I've totally been slacking on the reviews and John Bentley's deserves better...
I came on a random Wednesday with a foodie friend who let me choose the restaurant. I remembered seeing reviews for John Bentley's so since I wasn't paying, I thought I'd give it a try....
Not bad, not bad at all. It's kind of small and I don't know my way around little Woodside so I drove past the first time but it's in a cute little building. Fabulous service, despite the fact that we were clearly the youngest in the restaurant by a good 25 years, which at some places would mean less than stellar service but this wasn't the case at JB's. Our server was knowledgeable and very pleasant (He even topped off my wine in the middle of dinner to get through my meal, nice touch!).
I had the Foie Gras and the fish special, which was a white fish with mango salsa and fingerling potatoes. Everything was great, super rich for a weeknight meal.
I'd love to go back to John Bentley's but maybe the Redwood City location which I hear has a more up to date look since the decor was not my favorite. -
Review from Eve K.
8/10/2009
From the elderly decor to the mediocre food and frantic service, this place didn't jive with me and was bummed we came her to celebrate my dad's birthday. 2.5 stars
Cost to worth it rating: 1.5 (~$80/person w app, entree, dessert, and 1 drink)
Return worthiness: no
Highlights:
- Crispy pork appetizer: hub liked it cause it was unique. A bunch of shredded pork shaped into 2 triangles in a crispy coating.
- Pork special: tenderloin that was true to its name being very tender. Only gripe here was there wasn't enough sauce.
- Glass of pinot: didn't catch the producer but it was from Chile and divine
- Plate/water service: very attentive--always had our glasses refilled and finished plates removed in a timely manner
- Banana napoleon: crispy layers and bananas hidden within--hit of the table
Midlights:
- Crabcakes: didn't knock it out of the park, but wasn't bad either. Good amount of crab.
- New York steak: bit tough in parts and nothing special
Lowlights:
- Overall feel to the place and experience: could've been little cabin quaint but somehow between the decor and the vibe from our waitress, it felt a bit unsettling and uncomfortable. On a physical aspect, the chairs on the side tables for 4 were unpleasantly smooshed closely together.
- Sea bass: doused in a vinaigrette--when I think vinaigrette, I think very light but this was a more substantial sauce packed with mustard seeds galore with none of the entree or supporting vegetables spared from being covered with it. Underneath it the fish was cooked too firm for my taste.
- Mushroom soup: was served lukewarm
Seems like many people really enjoy this place, but it's not for me. It may have been at a disadvantage following a few nice meals the nights prior, but some of our party enjoyed their food to average out to a 2.5 rating overall. If I would return, it'd be to the RC location, as I remember even though that meal wasn't something I left dreaming about, I did enjoy it more than the one we had here. -
Review from Lisa S.
Bay Area
1/17/2008 6 photos
Winter night. Warm cozy room. Fireplace. Soft clinks of glasses, and silverware on plates. Glowing candlelight. Happy hum of contented diners...
This is my favorite type of ambiance. I love winter for its ability to lend to a setting such as this. Feeling cozy and warm while it's cold outside. Certainly John Bentley's would be excellent in Summer or Spring as well but last night was the highlight of my week.
Boyfriend and I had a $50 Opentable gift certificate burning a hole in my purse. We decided to do a nice date night and allow Opentable to help with the bill - instead of grabbing takeout and eating in front of the TV. John Bentley's was perfect!
Most importantly - Food:
"Pan Seared Foie Gras, Braised White Cabbage, Quince and Hazelnut Sauce" was wonderful. The appetizer was generous - served with 6 pieces of toasted brioche. More than enough foie gras for each piece. I would have preferred a stronger quince flavor (tasted more of the savory than the sweet) but that's me.
"Sauteed Veal Medallions, Cabernet Sauce, Brie, Lingonberries" was wonderful. And generous! Two large medallions covered in a rich, sweet and savory sauce and topped with a small pat of melting brie cheese and lingonberry compote. A few green beans and a smooth dollop of mashed potatoes.
"Pan Seared Seabass, Butternut Puree, Champagne Vinaigrette" was delicious as well. The sea bass was not quite as wonderful as some I've had but I was also more than half full of the veal when I tasted it. The serving was very generous though. We both loved the butternut puree with it. Very smooth and slightly sweet - it complemented the tanginess of the vinaigrette perfectly.
"Banana Napolean, Toasted Hazelnuts, Chocolate and Caramel Sauce" was just divine! I don't recall an actual piece of banana but the custard layered between the sheets of puffed pastry had a strong banana flavor so perhaps it was pureed into it. I really loved this and the generous caramel and chocolate sauces drizzled all over the plate were the perfect complement!
I was a bit disappointed to be seated in the back room (perhaps a deck in the summer?) It was less crowded and still pleasant but the cozy feel of the main restaurant was very appealing to me and I wanted to be up there. But never fear - we had our chance in the main room for dessert. That's right - the waitress asked if I was cold (I wasn't cold, but also wasn't warm) sitting at our table next to 2 windows and a door and surprised me when she offered to make up a table in the main room for our dessert! So attentive and thoughtful!
Would love to go back. It's a great place for an intimate meal - perhaps not for a large boisterous crowd. From what I hear, the large boisterous crowd would be better off at the Redwood City location. -
Review from Luz P.
Redwood City, CA
1/28/2009
Does John Bentley really exist?! Yes, he does and he is actually the chef at this location.
I've been to both locations and this one is my favorite. Maybe it's because I really enjoy smaller restaurants and this place has a warm and cozy feeling to it. If you really need your space around you or enjoy more of a modern decor then the Redwood City location might be best for you.
The food is incredible! I suggest trying their salads because they are one of a kind and the dressings are so light and tasty. As for entrees, I've only had the broiled salmon and the pork chops with mashed potatoes. Both entrees were exquisite!!
I highly recommend the chocolate souffle cake with coconut gelato!! It's De-de-li-ci-ooous!
Overall this is a great location for a special date, anniversary or just any special occasion. -
Review from Cynthia C.
Alameda, CA
5/20/2007
Teetering b/t a 3 and 4 rating, but a 4 would warrant return visit sooner than later. So 3 it is.
First of all, I don't appreciate rustic buildings, but rustic food pleases me. John Bentley's is situated off of 280, in a building similar to a cabin. Parked the car, ventured up the slight grade and onto the patio.
I felt completely awkward when we walked in, b/c the hostess stand is in the middle of the restaurant! We stood a few moments pondering our next move, until the warm hostess came by to save us.
We maneuvered our way through the maze of tables and got seated at a table against the wall, but facing the window. Whoopee. I thought the table arrangements were too close for comfort, but I did enjoy how the patrons were not bashful about having a loud conversation. A change from the typical finer dining experience.
Our server was gracious and knowledgeable.
No warm bread here. They served bread with a puree of olive oil, eggplant, tomato paste and cloves of garlic. Uh, no thanks. We politely asked for butter.
-Mozzarella and baby arugula salad $10
Variety of fresh ingredients, but the arugula was drenched in dressing.
-Spicy Tuna Tartare, pickled cucumber, sesame crostini $10
Liked how they incorporated sriracha sauce. Cucumber was not a good addition.
-Pan seared Seabass, butternut squash puree, grain mustard vinaigrette $28
Fantastic bold flavor. Seabass was seared to the point where a crust forms.
- Ostrich medallions, shitake mushrooms, cabernet sauce, truffle cream $28
Cut had too much connective tissue, but the sauce brought it back.
Warm chocolate souffle cake, espresso anglaise, vanilla ice cream $8
Cake was very good, crisp edges, gelato would have been perfection.
As the night progressed, the service became less and less attentive. The entrees and dessert took longer than expected. If we're going to have lulls, pay attention to the volume of wine in our glasses and please offer another.
Prices are actually reasonable for the quality of food, location and portioning. -
Review from Paul C.
Menlo Park, CA
5/2/2009
I took my wife for to John Bentley's for our 7 year anniversary. I've always driven by both locations (Redwood City & Woodside) and was curious about the these two unassuming restaurants. I'm always on the lookout for gastronomical delights on the peninsula and I read very favorable reviews on Zagat , OpenTable and of course here (Yelp.) I am happy to report that my wife and I came out with with a very pleasant experience.
I've often felt that the word 'quaint' is overused synonym for (sub-par.) I use the word quaint here to describe the ambiance in all the real positive aspects of the word. The dining room is charming, warm and inviting - but at the same time it exudes an understated class. The feeling I got steeping into the restaurant was, We are good and we don't need to show off to prove it. (though I have a feeling the Redwood City location is more of industry standard)
Service was excellent, our server was knowledgeable, personable and attentive - I felt she was genuinely concerned for our experience. She answered all our questions patiently. We were checked on to see how everything was, without feeling intruded upon. The second server's timing was dead-on, pouring of water, refilling bread, taking away dishes.
John Bently's won't wow any Wine-philes with it's short one-page wine list - but again - it matches the non-ostentatious environment that John has created. If you want something special I would recommend stopping by Atherton Wine down the street and bringing your own. Corkage is $15.
We started the evening with a 2006 360 limited case Pinot from Robert Sinsky - one word - perfect. John may have a limited wine list - but if the others are as good at this one--- you're in good shape.
Our journey began with sourdough bread that was accompanied by a spicy eggplant puree, an original delivery. A nice twist on boring dinner bread. Refreshing and satisfying.
For an appetizer I ordered seared Foie gras with quince and hazelnut sauce... home run here. I used to having my foie gras served straight up - the twice poached foie gras has made me a believer it's the only way to eat it property! Bravo John Bently for making me a convert.
My wife enjoyed succulent dungeness crab cakes that were perfectly fried (I suspect pan-fried to a clean crab eminence.) The cakes lightly crisped bodies were presented with baby arugula and mango salsa. Delicious! again, another winner.
We then both had garden fresh tomato bisque - it was very good - though not nearly as earth shattering as the Foi-Gras I just had sinfully scarffed down.
For my main entree I ordered grilled pork chop drizzled with dried cherry and topped with apricot chutney. I felt it was slight overcooked, but the presentation was perfect and the apricot chutney sauce infused it with a excellent robustness that gave it a very satisfying taste.
My wife had sauteed veal medallions, presented with cabernet sauce topped with brie and lingonberries. Perfect execution, the strong flavor of the veal was married perfectly with the boldness of the brie. The cab sauce made it an enjoyable trifecta of flavor.
We finished with standard Creme Brule (on par) and my wife enjoyed a delicious lemon cheesecake paired with infused pears - topped with raspberry sauce.
Overall an excellent tribute to traditional french fair with a touch of contemporary treatment. I highly recommend John Bently's for those seeking non-pretentious class that says with no effort on it's part " I'm quality, and I don't need to prove a damn thing to you." -
Review from Jason G.
San Carlos, CA
11/10/2007
The evening started with a voicemail from the restaurant saying that due to the late arrival of parties had pushed our reservation from 7.45pm to 8pm. We thought no big deal, but it was definitely a sign we should have paid attention to.
The service was great, while it was available. It took 2.5 hours in total for our meal to be complete. Now, I am all about a leisurely meal, but this was not about timing things just right, it was about the fact that they were exceptionally slow. At about 8.45, the wait person arrived and said they would comp our desserts due to the delays unsolicited and that our meals would be right out. While this seemed to be quite nice, we realized when our dishes arrived 20 minutes later that it was a ruse for the fact that our dishes had not even been started.
The food was a 6/7 out of 10, the ambiance was nice, but I would not recommend this place based on the tardiness of every aspect of the service throughout. They seemed to have too few wait staff and the kitchen must have one burner.
Also, if you do decide to go, be sure to ask for the table that is not between the door and the fireplace at the front, as we were blasted with cool air on a regular basis (mostly because of a rude individual continually going in and out and pacing in front of the window on his phone).
Its really too bad, as there is a lot of potential for the place if they could get it right. -
Review from Sara H.
Palo Alto, CA
4/17/2009
I have nothing bad to say about this place. I came here for my birthday last year and I guess my birthday is a popular one because out of the small number of tables at this location, there were three other birthdays! That was a bit ridiculous but comical.
The food was great and the service was faultless. I ordered the sea bass and then 10 minutes later the waitress came to tell me they were out of the sea bass so I had some other fish (cannot remember) and even with that hiccup they still brought the meals out in a timely fashion.
John Bentley's is a lovely intimate place to have a nice romantic dinner. If you are in to that sort of thing. -
Review from Alissa T.
Menlo Park, CA
1/5/2008
Great ambiance, cozy, and awesome food. I did the reservation from open table and input some special request which they honored. It was our anniversary and they gave us dessert on the house..Totally unexpected!! Of course we tipped based on the total amount had dessert not been comp-ed as you should.
We got the foie gras and the sweetbread appetizer, I like the foie gras better, the sweetbread was a tad oily. The foie gras was very much perfect. For entree we had the veal chops which was awesome and the seabass which was also very nicely done. The fish was served on a bed of mashed butternut squash, the flavor and texture worked well together. Dessert was chocolate "pudding" special and the apple tart. I loved the apple tart, it is more of a galette than tart and it just taste fresh and homemade. Delicious.
They also have good selection of by the glass wines. Service was also nice, friendly. This is definately a romantic cozy dinner type place. Not pretentious at all -
Review from Jessy B.
Menlo Park, CA
10/16/2006
We went to dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday. The room is small and intimate, with candlelight dim lighting. Very intimate setting yet you were seated far enough away from your neighbor to avoid overhearing their conversation.
The meal was delicious - two of us ordered the special flank steak and it was perfectly prepared and delighted the taste buds. We ordered a bottle of wine based on our server's recommendation and he was spot on.
Pricey food and wine, but worth it for a special evening. P.S. I had heard the restaurant was 'stuffy' - I disagree. I found the service professional yet not overly self important.
Recommend for a special evening out. -
Review from Renae H.
2/23/2007
Went here for a work dinner for a party of 8. They had the table ready for us right away, and seated us promptly even though not everyone was there at the appointed time (I hate it when you are dining with a large group and they make you wait till you're all there). Our waiter was friendly and helpful, he made some great recommendations. The wine list was very good, if a little pricey. The food was great and everyone was very happy with their meal.
The best thing I can say about this place though is that they didn't rush us, which I really appreciated. Seriously, it took us like three hours to finish our meal, but there was never any pressure to hurry up. -
Review from Liz V.
Brooklyn, NY
7/22/2005
Not exactly fair becuse we're related...but it's one of those places where the chef will come out at the end of the night & say hello. I've eaten here numerous times & credit John's menu for opening my mind to different foods at a young age. Though really, you can't trust me now, you just have to go see for yourself, and make sure you try the banana napolean.
There's a new location in Redwood City as well!
http://www.johnbentley... -
Review from Nicole W.
1/31/2010
Rating: 3.5
I'd never heard of John Bentley's until I received a gift card from the in-laws. With our one card we were able to go twice. The first time we went was last summer and we were sat on the porch (enclosed area with plastic windows) which was fine until the sun set and the winds started whipping. It felt and sounded like we were in the back of one of those old convertible cars. Not the most comfortable surroundings. It finally died down after about 35 minutes and all was good from then on.
2nd visit was last week and we made sure to request a table in the main dinning room. Much better setting especially with the fireplace roaring.
On both occasions the service was good. The food was solid. Nothing to complain about but also nothing to write home about.
The desserts were very good. -
Review from Michelle C.
Palo Alto, CA
3/20/2010
What happened my fellow Yelpers? How can this restaurant be this bad and expensive and still get an average 4 stars? The only good thing I can say about this place is the service is decent, that is it. Complimentary bread with the eggplant sauce was ok.
For appetizer we had the crispy pulled pork - very average, the mustard sauce with the salad was too overpowering and there was nothing special about the crispy pull pork. It was dry and dull. My husband makes a much much better pull pork.
I have the scallop for the main entree, total disappointment. Scallop was overcooked and chewy, a bit fishy and the spinach was sandy tasting. The creme sauce adds nothing to the dish. There were four scallops, and after I ate the first one, I was not hungry anymore because the food was so unappetizing. My husband had the mushroom risotto - again flavorless and dull.
So the common theme of their food is lack of flavor, very one dimensional. Plus each entree is pricey ($30), and as you dig in and eat there food, the rating gets lower and lower. My husband begs me to take him elsewhere to erase this bad food experience.
I can cook much better food than this and we would have been happy eating at home. What a huge disappointment, was really looking forward to this place. Please don't waste your money or calories on this kind of low quality food. -
Review from Francis M.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2009
A cool, special occasion spot.
http://www.johnbentley... gives accurate descriptions.
Try the special's (Peppered New York Steak was delicious). -
Review from Emily B.
Foster City, CA
9/1/2008
I'm not one for fancy dining, but my husband was invited here by the owner for dinner one night.
It was tasty tasty tasty! I had Capon (which is castrated rooster) and I forget what the hubby had...but he was happy with it for sure.
It is a very romantical spot in Woodside. They sat us right next to the little fireplace and I loved it!
Service was great. Oh, and the kitchen was super clean. I liked seeing that! -
Review from Ari G.
Palo Alto, CA
3/31/2006
Woodside is known for its beauty and wealthy residents. I ate here only once, and it was memorable. Thought has been put into each of these details:
The wine selection
The quality of greens in their salads
The dressing ingredients
The choice-cut entree meats
The desserts.
Whatever you order, it will taste wonderful. Their meats are fantastic and cooked right. -
Review from Morty N.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2007
My sister suggested I try this place out on a date one night and so I found a girl willing to travel all the way down to Woodside and try this place out --- fantastic!
This is the type of restaurant deserves repeat business. The ambience is fantastic --- very cozy and romantic, yet can also be a great place for a family dinner (minus the kids). They staff is not only courteous and know what they are doing but our waiter definitely added to the overall evening with brief conversations throughout the night --- other than another table inside (we sat in the patio area) we were the last two in the restaurant and although they were cleaning around us we did not feel rushed to leave what so ever. The food itself was fantastic --- very well portioned, presentation was decent, and the taste was above average.
Long story short --- if you are near Woodside or just want to get out of your area I highly suggest a trek down to this gem -
Review from Bradley N.
Missoula, MT
9/10/2009
This is a nice excuse to spend time in Woodside and get a decently-prepared, creative meal in the process. I took my parents here when they visited CA for the first time, and we enjoyed a quality lunch before heading off to explore Skyline and the backroads of the Santa Cruz Mts. Try a local wine by the glass if you are so inclined. The best choices here are those made simply with fresh produce - big meat dishes or seafood can be had in lots of places, either at the ultra-high end or in a down-to-earth setting. This is somewhere in-between, which is how I like to imagine the town itself, a melange of millionaires tethered to Silicon Valley on the other side of I-280 and those who face the mountains to the West and remember why it's actually called Woodside. Bentley's seemed to have room for both.
Listed in: When in Woodside
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Review from KJ J.
CA
6/28/2007
After checking out other reviews on this restaurant I feel another visit needs to be in order. In the mean time my experience was quite unpleasant. I was here for lunch with a group of coworkers and there was one wait person for the entire restaurant. It took 45 minutes alone before the wine we ordered arrived. When the entrees arrived she did not recall who ordered what entree until some one raised their hand for the dish. Not to mention that the food was cold. I could go on an on and on. The entire luncheon took over TWO hours! So, possibly it was an off day, but until I make it back I have to rate the place at 1 stars.
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Review from Kim C.
Newport Beach, CA
5/15/2007
From the outside, the building looks really small and rustic, but inside is intimate and elegant. The food was good and the service was excellent. I'd definitely try it again, or at least try the Redwood City location to compare.
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Review from Joyce T.
Menlo Park, CA
10/6/2007
We went here on the recommendation of someone in my lab (well, they gave me a gift certificate as part of a going away gift, which I think counts as a recommendation). It's tucked away on Woodside Road and it definitely gives one a rustic feel (especially when it's dark out, since the area is on the dark side), although really, how rustic can you get when you're only a hop, skip, and a jump from Silicon Valley?
In any case, here's the skinny (from my point of view) on John Bentley's: warm and cozy atmosphere, pleasant and attentive staff, good food (if not particularly innovative and the foie gras seemed overcooked), but most importantly, it was a very nice dining experience. At the end of the day, a restaurant doesn't need to be on the cutting edge of the latest food trends or fuse the most disparate cuisines or put the most exotic ingredients into their drinks, as long as you really enjoy yourself when you're there, which means that you'll go back again and again. Isn't that what going out is all about? -
Review from SillyGirl S.
Woodside, CA
11/25/2007
This struck me as a great date place--a small, cozy restaurant that is perfect for a romantic dinner for a couple. Really nice place--good atmosphere, food, and service. We had a lovely waitress who for a moment I thought was putting on airs to cater to the affluent Woodside clientele, but then I realized she really WAS British. There's a nice fireplace, and the place only has about 20 tables--as such, I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation. With only room for about 70-80 people at 20 tables, I can't imagine someone going there on a whim and being seated. But nice place--I am curious to try the RWC location....
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Review from Leon C.
Union City, CA
6/21/2008
having been to the rwc john bentley's, we wanted to bring our friends there on a saturday night but they couldn't accommodate a party of 6 on such short notice. instead, we were able to get reservations at the woodside location.
the setting is completely opposite from the rwc location. it's a lot smaller(but cozy) and a little rustic. the food, however, did not disappoint. everyone enjoyed their respective dishes. we started with some pan seared foie gras and sauteed sweet breads which were absolutely delicious. collectively we ordered veal porterhouse, pork two ways and breast of capon(castrated rooster). the dessert dish that wowed everyone at our table was the chocolate pots de creme. it wasnt too sweet but was damn SMOOTH. simply amazing. everyone at our table wished they had each ordered their own pots de creme.
i would add that this location is a bit more romantic than the rwc bentley's. -
Review from kristen h.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2007
Excellent . . . food, service, menu, ambiance, and company. We went here for dinner on a thursday evening and had a fantastic evening. The atmosphere is comfortable, yet unpretentious. You probably want to know about the food, here's the scoop: We shared the golden beet and warm goat cheese salad - fantastic; for an entree I had the seared ahi with udon noodles which was fresh & tasty while my boyfriend had the fish special which was also perfectly prepared. We rounded off the evening with a fantastic dessert. Great evening . . . can't wait to go back!
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Review from Geoff D.
11/3/2005
The food and service here really are excellent. Perfect place to take a hard-to-please visitor. Inside it's intimate but not impressive... the deck allows for nice breeze in the summer, but its soft-top-style plastic covering in the winter looks a bit cheap.
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Review from Jim P.
Half Moon Bay, CA
10/17/2007
The menu looked decent and it was not far away so we gave it a try for dinner. The service was not bad, the restaurant was small but easy to have a conversation. The food was to me about a 6-7 out of 10. The prices were fair for the type of dishes but it was not great. We had foie gras appetizer and that was fine, we also had another appetizer that was not bad but not memorable. We had the ostridge and while it was ordered medium rare it was a bit dry. We also had the duck and that was not bad but not great. Desert was decent. I would say it is above average quality food, nothing to write home about.
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Review from Theresa C.
Nevada City, CA
3/12/2008
Ambiance and chef at this Redwood City location is much more interesting than the Woodside location. Although either location will make a great impression for a first date! The service is spectacular.
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Review from Gary G.
Portola Valley, CA
9/12/2009
Enjoyable and cozy -- we particularly like going here in the winter and soaking up the warmth of the room while enjoying very well prepared food.
For whatever reason, the past 3 times in a row we've been there, we've been seated near to bickering couples! Not a commentary on the denizens of Woodside, but rather that the tables are a bit closer together than at some other places, and if your neighbors are heatedly discussing why they hate each other and are only staying together because of the kids, you're going to get an earful.
Service is very friendly, and given the tiny size of the rooms it's good that they always seem prepared to seat you the moment you arrive. For my money, we'll go here 3 or 4 times for each time we go to the Village Pub -- food is better, wines are much more reasonable, and price point is just right! -
Review from Thighmaster M.
Ward, CO
4/20/2008
For the price we paid for drinks/snacks on a slow evening in the bar - the service was SLOOOOW, and our drinks were weak. Worst Manhattan I've ever had - worse than my father-in-laws, and that's something (sorry Paul).
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Review from Ty D.
4/12/2009
John Bentley's has been such a part of my life for the past decade. Everything from graduations, to random dinners, to first dates and later celebrating my engagement to my now-wife, has taken place at the Woodside location. I love the Redwood City spot, too, but there's nothing like the original: a casual yet romantic atmosphere, a simple yet spectacular New American menu and wine list, and friendly yet professional service. Now that I'm in Texas, Bentley's is one of the things I miss the most about the Bay Area--it's a truly special place.
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Review from Jordan M.
Santa Monica, CA
12/7/2006
A great local restaurant!! A Woodside classic. Excellent food and perfectionist service!
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Review from angel m.
Portola Valley, CA
3/27/2009
I rated this high because of the service. It was impeccable (compared to L.A. where I have been dining for the last 12 years). We recently moved into the neighborhood and decided to give this quaint restaurant a try. Small and cozy especially next to the fireplace. I was expecting more from the food and was slightly disappointed. It's not bad, just average. We had the sea bass which was not as moist as we were hoping and the lamb was just ok. I would never order either again. We also had the crab cakes which were so-so. I was hoping they were more in line with Ruth's Chris or Crustacean's level of food quality, they weren't. I would come back because it is in my neighborhood, excellent service and not bad (compared to other Silicon Valley restaurants). I am finding that there is not much to choose from around here and everything closes so early ( I believe 9 p.m. is the norm).
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Review from Steven O.
Pleasant Hill, CA
11/8/2009
Cramped space, slow service, ridiculous prices and marginal food. Do yourself a favor and spend your dollars someplace else.
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Review from Randy K.
San Jose, CA
6/23/2008 2 photos
delicious food and so-so service. My girlfriend and I went there on a Friday night and sat ouside. The weather was in the 90's and there was no mist sprays or anything to keep us cool except the patio cover. I ordered the crab cakes for an appetizer and then a new york steak with blue cheese wine sauce which both were amazing! The waiter messed up on our order and brought us the wrong food but we forgave him and once ours came we went to "town". For dessert, I ordered the cheesecake which was ok (nothing special) and my girlfriend ordered the souffle which was good but no chocolate sauce oozing out whic his what I expected. Overall, had a good time despite the service issues.
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Review from Jon P.
Redwood City, CA
2/1/2006
Three stars because the building feels pitched at an older crowd than I like to think I belong in - food is great though. For a slicker atmosphere, head down to Redwood City to its sister restaurant.
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Review from Seth H.
Menlo Park, CA
2/10/2007
Great place for special occasions. From appetizers all the way through to dessert, everything delivers and nothing disappoints. Fantastic service - knowledgeable and friendly.
Have only been to the Woodside location. Small venue perfect for intimate dining or dinner with a small group of friends.
Can't go wrong with this place - one of the best kept secrets on the Peninsula. -
Review from s f.
Palo Alto, CA
11/24/2008
We arrived on a cool night, and were given the best table in the house - in the corner, right next to the fireplace : )
Our server was GREAT. He was fast (but not too fast), nice, knowledgeable without being obnoxious, honest about recommendations, calm, just great, loved him!
The restaurant itself I loved, as it was different from most of the places we usually go. It is small, cozy, and has photos of horses on the walls, which I thought was so hilarious and 'so Woodside' (but in a good, cute way). You're definitely going to be surrounded by a somewhat older, perhaps more conservative vibe than you would be in PA, (at least that's how we felt). But since we live in PA, are are younger ourselves, we kind of liked the Woodside people-watching, it was sort of like being on a rustic, woodsy cruise ship with amazing food and service ; )
Anyway, the food was a 9.5 out of 10, for me. And considering the fact that I was 13 weeks pregnant when we went, that's saying a lot, given food aversions, etc.
Here's what we got:
Roasted Garlic Custard
Ahi Tartar
Hangar Steak (Special)
Sea Bass
Dark Chocolate Pot de Creme
Chocolate Souffle Cake
I don't know how any of it could have been better, with the exception of maybe the ahi tartar, which was a tiny bit on the cold side. Also, as pp mentioned, wasn't a huge fan of the eggplant spread that came with the bread, it was a little cold too.
The wine by the glass pours were very generous, staff was nice, it was just a fun, relaxing, dining experience.
I definitely recommend JB's for a romantic, cozy, late-fall/winter dinner for two. -
Review from Cleo C.
Redwood City, CA
1/3/2009
Attentive service, fabulous food, intimate atmosphere. The tables by the fireplace, in winter, are the best. Moderate noise and quiet children!! What could be better--but it's really a formal dining place for adults. The JBs in Redwood City is a little larger in size, but everything else is similar. I love eating here.
