O3 Bistro & Lounge

Been here twice so far and both times are excellent.

Ambiance: very welcoming and roomy. There are two parts: dinning room and bar area. Bar areas are perfect if you love to watch sport, there is a huge TV where you can watch the game. There's a live band on Thursdays. so make sure you come earlier.

Service: Outstanding. our waitress whom i thought was the owner, very attentive and knowledgeable with food and wine selection. She recommend us to try their rib eye beef with rice powder sauce as an appetizer, perfect dish and beef was so tender. Had it both times and I think it will be one of our go to appetizer.

Food: Very delicious and makes me crave for their food. Even though I only been here only twice, but both times are great and I know they are pretty consistent.
Crab fried rice: outstanding!!! had it both times and both times were very flavorful.
Tom Yum Ton seafood: very tasty and not super sour and spicy like some other places.
Rib eye beef with rice powder sauce: EXCELLENT!!!! must get
chicken wings: it was ok. nothing too special
Pad Thai with Shrimp: it was very good. would get it again
One Hope red wine: MUST GET!!! first time shared a bottle with my girl friends and we all love it. 2nd time, they ran out of the wine =( that's how you know this wine is pretty popular. Will keep trying eheheh

I would definitely come back and check out their happy hour menu. My friend told me they have excellent oysters, so stay tune!

4.5 stars because of service and the food. The staff took care of us and the waitress I'm assuming was the assistant manager or something has that friendly face every business needs. She was the one that confirmed my 5pm reservation when we arrived. Many thanks to Kurt C. for the recommendations!

I arrived 15 minutes early for our four person reservation before they opened and the staff was still cleaning up. Luckily the door was open and they allowed us to take a seat in the waiting area. Five minutes later, we were seated comfortably perusing the menu, making note of any changes to add to the order list I created two nights ago. They have yellow curry with chicken and potatoes! It wasn't on the online menu. Disappointed they didn't have the grilled rib eye app that night.

*crispy shrimp rolls in wonton wrapper $9
I'd recommend these. Served with sweet and sour sauce.

*spring rolls with shrimp $9 were standard, sauce wasn't peanut butter, instead had chili flakes

*shrimp fried rice $13.50 disappeared so fast I almost didn't see them take the plate away, a must for Thai dining

*sizzling seafood platter $18 with squid, mussels, shrimp, maybe scallops? Wasn't exactly sizzling, I asked for mild.

*Yellow chicken curry with potatoes $12.50 has more visible oil and coconut flavor than most places, but tasted fantastic with plain jasmine rice! The chicken pulled apart effortlessly. Not spicy.

*Coconut green curry with shrimp $16.50 is normally spicier than yellow curry. It arrived in an actual coconut with shaved coconut slices in the curry! Tender, not over cooked green beans complimented the shrimp.

*Finale for the night: crispy trout with mango cashew salad stole the show ($18). I saw at least two other tables order it. Tastebuds relished in the mix. The mango salad was tossed in a lightly sour coat of spices along with a hint of fish sauce? That's what it tasted like to me. Highly recommended.

*A large bowl of Jasmine rice is $2, made the mistake of ordering 3. Ended up taking home a whole bowl.

Dessert!
Fried bananas with vanilla ice cream and fresh mango with sticky rice! Only $4.95 each. Best way to end the experience.

*My water glass was never empty. Refilled four times or more. The ladies are ahead of the game.

Arrive early because the dining area to the left is full by 6pm. The lounge area on the right probably gets packed by 8pm. If anyone's looking for Asian cuisine after a performance at the Opera House or Symphony Hall, head on over or make a reservation.

4.5 STARS

Bringing SWAAAAKINESS to the Hood!

O3 Bistro & Lounge is a welcome addition to the area, bringing a dash of Asian flair to the dreary avenue of Van Ness.

As a former chef at Le Colonial, Joseph Villanueva has created his own an Asian-Californian Fusion menu. If you've read my reviews, you'll know that I have a Love-Hate relationship with Asian Fusion cuisine. To their detriment, many Asian Fusion restaurants dumb-down their flavors to appeal to the masses. Not with O3. They've found a perfect balance to appease the Asian palate while bringing the lightness of Californian cuisine to fruition.

F O O D
*PORK & SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS w/ Garlic, Cilantro & Green Onion ($7) - 3 STARS
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pVRWTLqsZpq_Macq14E0NA?select=wTbWD9QjvfPqH8Zt4pl32g
The spring rolls were filled with unique yet familiar savory pork and shrimp paste mixture. For all you Brodard fans (OC's Best Kept Secret: http://www.yelp.com/biz/brodard-restaurant-garden-grove), the filling reminded me of the Nem Chau Cuon beef paste (meatball-like) in their infamous crack spring rolls. Though I enjoyed the filling especially when paired with the tangy Vietnamese nuoc cham fish sauce, the wrapper was not crisp and borderline soggy.

*PORK BELLY w/ Quail Egg, Hosui Pear, Savory Caramel & Truffle Oil ($9) - 5 STARS
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pVRWTLqsZpq_Macq14E0NA?select=8t5LezSFgdDWKAJEhjrxLw
Redeeming the spring rolls were the flawlessly executed trio of pork belly pieces atop fresh frisee and drizzled with a caramel and truffle oil sauce. The pork belly was impeccably seared; crisp around the edges with a succulent tenderness. The caramel and truffle oil sauce added a luxurious layer of sweet earthiness while the pear gave a pop of crisp freshness. For all you oink oink lovers, this dish is A MUST ORDER!

*GRILLED SALMON w/ Kimchi "Dirty Rice", Carrot, Shitake Mushroom & Bacon Dust ($11) - 4.5 STARS
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pVRWTLqsZpq_Macq14E0NA?select=YlL1Nzn13D7TOy9SxexpYg
Being a carniwhore, I never order fish when I dine out. I hate cooked fish (because most places tend to overcook it) and will only eat it sashimi style. As much as I wanted the Wagyu Burger, I had a flashback of myself huffing and puffing while on my date with Mr. Elliptical this AM so I decided to take a leap of faith with this dish.

As I took the first bite, I was blown away with this dish! The generous slab of salmon was perfectly grilled. The skin was crisp and the moist salmon delicately flaked off with each stroke of my fork. The magical bacon dust added a subtle smoky decadence which made me forget why I was ever a carniwhore to begin with. The al-dente kimchi dirty rice was like a "happy" marriage of Korean and Cajun flavors.

*THAI TEA BREAD PUDDING w/ Egg Bread, Thai Tea Anglaise, Almond, Sesame, Feuilletine Tea Crunch, Vanilla Ice Cream ($8) - 4 STARS
The Thai tea bread pudding was like having the best of both worlds: a novelty Asian drink and a classic American dessert. The bread pudding was deliciously crisp around the edges and soft in the middle. The sweet milky tea flavor was prominent but not overwhelming. The sliced toasted almonds and tea crunch gave a nice crunchy texture sensation in my mouth while the creamy vanilla ice cream gave a cold contrast to the warm dessert.

(FYI: To my friends who saw me check into the gym this AM while ranting about "healthier" eating...I enforced the Dolly Parton two-bite rule and ate half my entree. *Fingers Crossed* that my waistline can be as small as hers one day with boobs as gigantic as her head.)

S E R V I CE
The entire staff from the hostess, our waitress to the busboy was incredibly professional, friendly, and attentive. Given they've only been open since Friday, kudos to the staff for operating like a seasoned restaurant.

Our waitress accidentally gave us the wrong dessert (chocolate coffee mousse) but quickly fixed our order. She let us keep the extra dessert without charging us for the mishap.

Our busboy, Raul was super friendly. At the end of our meal, he kindly introduced himself. He saw our leftover boxes sitting on the table and quickly went to get a doggy bag for us. How sweet.

A M B I A N C E / D E C O R
SCHAAAAAA-SWAAAAANKYYY!

Once use to be California Pizza Kitchen is now the most beautiful restaurant & lounge in the Civic Center/TL area.

Muted gray walls paired along with dark purple furnishings and the large abstract gold flecked Buddha art piece makes you feel like you've stepped in to a chic LA or NYC restaurant. The huge pane windows and clear glass encased orchids transports a lovely brightness into the space.

With City Hall just across the street and neighboring city buildings, the lounge area has a long comfy ivory leather couch perfect for civil servant FMJ (f*ck my job) happy hours.

P A R K I N G
Metered street parking only.

With that, you can find me at a comfy ivory leather couch near you...

This was a great place to come for happy hour since they have good appetizers and pretty cocktails and I love both! Adored the classy gray and purple toned decor with an impressive Buddha painting.

This spot where the former California Pizza kitchen was does not have a lot of foot traffic. Location is not very ideal, area is a bit questionable it is actually surprising to see an upscale restaurant/lounge in this area... but since the food is scrumptious I wouldn't mind coming back here.

Chef Joseph Villanueva, a former Le Colonial executive chef came up with brilliant Pan-Asian dishes. Though the ox-tail tacos and pork belly that I kept reading about in the reviews were not on the menu anymore I still enjoyed the:

Crispy Autumn Rolls ~ fried egg rolls filled with silver noodles, cabbage, carrot and garlic. Served with sweet and sour sauce was really tasty and not oily which was great.

Chicken Satay ~ Five skewers with Thai coconut curry, peanut sauce and cucumber salad. We had this was their coconut rice and I loved the exceptional flavors from this common dish.

O3 Wings ~ Deep-fried finger licking chicken wings served with sweet chili sauce. They're light and crispy.Though I have had better wings...hello San Tung or Crazy Pepper.

Crab Rangoon ~ Crab meat and cream cheese wrapped in wonton skin and served with sweet plum and chili sauce. Wow the molten center of oozy, tangy cream cheese delightfully melted in my mouth. My favorite at O3.

Calamari ~ Salt and pepper fried crispy calamari w cilantro & chili aioli. Always a safe dish to get to share with a group.

Thai Beef Jerky ~ Crispy marinated beef strips served with chili sauce. Tender, beefy, and aromatic with a moist texture also goes well with any of their rice dishes.

Red Chicken Curry ~ lacked a bit of a punch, curry was very light not what I'm used to but still very good.

The vibe is hip and relaxing. O3 is a great place to go for some light bites, and they also have a very tempting dinner menu. If you can get past the location it is an inviting and charming place to go. 4 Stars!

Since this is an easy hop off my bus line on the way home, it's become an after work stop. I love coming here and hanging out in the lounge. On Monday nights they have $1 oysters and half off bottles of wine! What more could you ask for in an after work snack?! I wasn't a huge fan of Asian fusion before coming here, but O3's managed to sway me. Their bar menu is delish! I luv the O3 nachos! The chips are crispy wontons and add a different crunchy texture when eating the nachos. And with the oxtail and jalapeno cheese?! They definitely hit the spot!

From the dinner menu, I luv the Scallops and Steak. SOOO GOOD! The Scallops are cooked to perfection and the the Garlic Lobster Noodles are nice and garlicky! The Steak melted in my mouth and the truffle fries were just heaven! I luv truffle fries and these do not disappoint! My mouth is watering just thinking about them! I can't wait to come back!

Several of us wanted to take a co-worker out to lunch since she was leaving our office to head over to PUC (across from the bistro). The choice was either this bistro or Brenda's Soul Food on Polk Street. We wanted to try something different and since I never had Asian fusion cuisine, well, it couldn't hurt to give it a try. The bistro was highly recommended by yet another co-worker who had already dined here for lunch and his suggestion - the grilled salmon. Thus, we opted for O3 and I'm glad - very content - that we made the right decision. We lucked out as we did not have to wait and were seated immediately (beat the lunch crowd). The wait staff was very attentive, friendly and kept our glasses filled with water. We didn't order any cocktails, but I wished I would have ordered an Arnie Palmer.

We were all impressed with the lunch entrees - Petaluma fried chicken, braised oxtail grilled cheese sandwich, pan seared wagyu burger, grilled salmon and sake steamed manila clams. Four of us had the grill salmon with kimchi "dirty rice", one had the wagyu burger and the honored guest ordered the braised oxtail grilled cheese sandwich.

The grilled salmon was superb and flavorful (4.5 stars). It was not overly salty and it was just right for my taste bud. The kimchi "dirty rice" with slivers of shitake mushroom and finely chopped carrots was delish...but I have to admit I was trying to figure out what the bacon dust was and instead of thinking "where's the beef", it was "where's the bacon"? After stirring the rice a bit, I did see the "bacon dust". Everybody who ordered this entree enjoyed it immensely.

Pan seared Wagyu Burger: Co-worker said it was tasty, but the brioche bun (bottom) became soggy from the juice of the burger patty and the kimchi mayo. She asked for a "replacement bun", but it was not as tasty. I guess all the seasonings of that burger went right into the soggy bun. Rating based on presentation: 3.5 stars.

The presentation of the braised oxtail grilled cheese on lavain bread with five spice raisin jam and bechamel, accompanied by a side of mixed salad greens, looked very inviting and savory (4.5 stars). It's a must try for my next go round since I haven't had oxtail for many years...like over 40 years ago.

We were very pleased with the food and we all agree to have lunch here again at a later date. We also want to sample the sweets on the dessert menu - Thai tea bread pudding, chocolate and Vietnamese coffee cake, coconut "twinkie" cakes, green tea cheesecake and the trio of sorbet. I found out from Chester (not sure if he is the owner) that the pastry chef aka PC is in the house during the dinner hours.

For what O3 Bistro and Lounge is offering, definitely I will be back for more than one visit.

Finally, thank you, Chester, for taking the time out to talk to me after my group finished lunch and headed out the door.

A pretty decent place in the Loin! This used to be a California Pizza Kitchen. We came here for lunch. I ordered the shrimp pad thai (yummy!); some seafood platter (good) and tofu salad (that's was good too). The one dish we didn't like was the pork and green beans dish. It just looked unappetizing.

Prices are ok. $12/dish or $12.50 for a set meal that includes, app, entree, rice and soup. Service was ok. I asked for hot tea and they gave me Lipton. Really! Why don't you spring for jasmine tea. That was the one downer.

Restaurant was clean. Will definitely come back here if we want to eat somewhere nice.

Swanky and chic, this modern restaurant-lounge serves up a fresh take on Asian fusion and American cuisine. Appetizers range from $5-$8 during happy hour and come in large portions. As for drinks, draft beers and well drinks are $5 while wine and other special drinks range from $6-$7ish.

We ordered:

Lobster Garlic Noodles: Savory flavors with chewy and chunky pieces of lobster.
O3 Wings: Glazed in sweet teriyaki sauce and sprinkled with green onions.
Ribs: Super tender and drenched in finger-licking sauce. Definitely the heaviest dish.
$1 Oysters (Monday): I didn't have any (bleh..) but they looked cool?
Cheese fries: Bathed in creamy cheese and topped with meat and green onions...WTF so good.

The Pomegranate Press was refreshing and well-made/mixed. Recommed!

It's a classy place to eat and drink after work or if you're catching a show at one of the nearby theaters.

I can only score their Pad Thai because that's the only dish I've tried so far.
It would have been great if they didn't put too much sauce and added a bit more fried egg. But I liked how the added deep friend battered shrimp besides the saluted ones.
Liked the fried tofu in it.
Loved the hot tea Numi Organic Breakfast blend.
Ambienc is so perfect!
I wouldn't mind coming back for other dishes to try :)


My 2nd visit earliest. Tried their appetizers & they are delicious! My co-worker treated so not sure if price was good enough for the serving size.

Great delicious food but service is slow (may be a language barrier). We presented several dishes appetizers and full lunch meals. And all portions were generous. The Crying tiger appetizer was beefy and sauce was sweet with enough savory to make it perfect. Ialso tries the fries shrimp egg rolls and they were also delightful. The pieCe du resistance was the Coconut curry noodles and spare ribs that were TdF(to die for), only thing was the spare ribs were boneY but they were very tasty.