We had a lovely lunch here. The staff was super friendly and attentive. The food was delicious - stand outs include the Mac n' cheese and fried polenta and the salads. (I'd skip the fish tacos.) We had a baby and two dogs so sat down outside. They couldn't have been more accommodating. Also very willing to accommodate special food requests. Overall a lovely experience and we will definitely go back. read more

Back Door Bistro, Vacaville: 2026 Jul 10 (4.29 of 5) Ladies Gathering!! The service here is a 4.5 of 5. We had different servers who attended to us and they're both friendly and looked cheerful. We got there towards the end of Happy Hour and was presented with their Happy Hour menu. The menu is small, easy to read and has almost everything we'd want for that time of day - including the drinks. The food is a 'hit' or 'miss'. Here's my review: Drinks: Both the Arnold Palmer and the Cadillac Margarita were good. My lemonade tea wasn't overly sweet and I could definitely taste the lemonade. The pitcher of Cadillac Margarita looks innocent but may give someone a slow and powerful buzz if you're not used to the drink. (4.75 of 5) Charcuterie: This a complete appetizer board. Overall, there were some hits and misses, however, we agreed this is a well thought out appetizer board. (4 of 5) Crispy Brussels Sprouts: This is the best dish here, featuring deeply caramelized, dark golden-brown edges and a nutty, earthy flavor. Their Crispy Brussels Sprouts is also the best we've had. The seasoning is on-point, allowing the texture to show off its crackling, crunchy bite on the outside, contrasted by a tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior. (5 of 5) Seasonal Tacos: "Oh WOW!" The explosion of spicy and tangy flavours balanced by contrasting textures makes this dish "pop". (4.75 of 5) Beet Salad: The colours were lovely, but this beet salad was over-salted. The vibrant dish featuring beets as the main ingredient, balances the earthy sweetness with contrasting textures and flavours. If this wasn't too salty, it would have been more refreshing. (3.75 of 5) Coconut Lime Bouillabaisse (halibut, jasmine rice, spinach, snap pea, pickled shiitake mushroom, coconut lime broth, basil oil): Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Bouillabaisse means seafood. The only seafood we noticed were chunks of halibut, which were delicious. This dish looks and tastes more like an elevated Thai soup dish that cost too much. (3.5 of 5) After walking in, we decided to sit outdoors because of the loud music that was playing. We're glad we did. The overhang on the veranda was well positioned with plants and flowers softening the cement walkway. The weather was pleasant - with a gentle breeze blowing down the corridor. Parking is easy if you arrive early enough. One last note: Back Door Bistro in Vacaville was featured on "Check, Please! Bay Area" read more

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The polenta fries are a must-order -- perfectly crisp and even better dipped into the creamy cilantro sauce on the side. The beet salad was also delicious, and major appreciation to the kitchen for thoughtfully splitting it into four equal plates for sharing. Small touch, big hospitality points. The lemon ricotta pancake was the one slight miss for me. The powdered sugar ended up being the main character, overpowering some of the balance and richness I was hoping for. The fish tacos, however, completely redeemed things. Flavorful, fresh, and made even better by our incredibly thoughtful waitress, who had the kitchen prepare four tacos for sharing instead of the usual three. Those little gestures really elevate the experience. But the true standout of the meal? The Back Door Berry Bramble. Pure bliss in a glass. Made with seasonal local fruit purée, lime, grapefruit, orange liqueur, and vodka, this cocktail absolutely knocked it out of the park -- bright, refreshing!!! read more

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I've lived in Vacaville for a while and never ate here before. The cinnamon fritters are excellent and and the shank hash was amazing. My fiance has been wanting to come here so... The food came quick and our server was really nice and helpful. The restaurant is cute and quaint. It is loud inside when its full but that is to be expected. I will try and come back sometime for lunch or dinner. I would come and check this place out if you haven't been. read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Apple fritters!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

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We've been wanting to visit Backdoor Bistro for quite some time, and decided that our 26th Wedding Anniversary would be a nice occasion. We couldn't have been more pleased. We had set a 5pm reservation but arrived early and were promptly seated. The restaurant has a charming feel, and while not large, it still feels roomy. There's also wonderful seating outside that looks directly into the square. While the dinner menu wasn't available till 5 pm, their All Day menu and Happy Hour specials were. Our server, Dominique, was happy to offer suggestions while we waited till 5pm. Before I go any further, I just want to say, Dominique is an absolute doll. She was so nice to my Wife and I, and really enhanced our whole experience. Dominique provided exceptional service, and we both want to say thank-you again. We decided to try the fried polenta and paired it some Turkovich Sparkling wine. Absolutely wonderful. Such a great start. Polenta was firm and creamy, and bubbles are always nice. When it time for the dinner menu we still had some Turko left, so we decided to get some raw oysters as well. They came out chilled to perfection and soy mignonette sauce was magnificent. For our entries, we both decided upon the Lamb Bolognese since we brought a bottle of Cab Sav with us. Only $20 corkage fee which I think is perfect. I did look at their wine menu, and there are plenty of fine selections. We just something specific from home for the occasion. The Lamb Bolognese was creamy and delicious. Kudos to the chefs on this one. Definitely coming back for it again. We finished up with a little cappuccino and expresso. Dominique was nice enough to bring us a little brulee for our anniversary, and it was perfect. Thanks to the whole staff for a wonderful, and fun evening. 26 anniversaries and this will probably be one that we remember well. We both look forward to visiting again. read more

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Backdoor Bistro is probably the closest Vacaville has to fine dining! There aren't many places that emphasize farm to fork freshness or have such an extensive wine menu. November 30th and they were already decorated for the holidays. The interior is a little smaller than expected. There is some outdoor seating as well. We came here for breakfast. I ordered the chilaquiles verdes with duck carnitas and my partner order the lemon ricotta pancakes and a peppermint mocha. Check out their seasonal drinks! The peppermint mocha was a hit. It was consumed very quickly. The lemon ricotta pancakes came with a small metal pitcher of real maple syrup. The taste was light and delicious! Personally he would have liked the option to add seasonal berries, whipped cream, or a pat of butter. But they were still wonderful as is! I really enjoyed the chilaquiles! The green sauce had a bit of a kick but it wasn't overwhelming. The portion size was filling without leftovers. Personally I really like duck. I think this is one of the few places that consistently has duck on the menu. The duck was moist and flavorful. I was told by an acquaintance this place has really good oysters! So I'll have to come back during the dinner hours to try those too. read more

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One of my favorite dinner restaurants. I had a surprising issue. I usually just ordered the fried Brussel sprouts and I would get one of my favorite sandwiches from Pure Grain Bakery next door to BDB. But yesterday PGB was closed and BDB suggested something that was good but the cost was ridiculous. Suggestions is to check costs when ordering. read more

The Highs: The Polenta fries were good. Really enjoyed the sauce. They come as a set of 4 big fries. The service was pretty good. They kept the water cups full and were attentive even though it was busy. The Lows: We both ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. They were way thinner than I like my pancakes to be. They were ok. Not my fav. We also ordered the Mac and cheese. It was a little soupy with shells versus elbow macaroni. Also not bad but not my fave. The In-Between: We decided to come here for brunch. I did reservations online about an hour in advance and we were seated right away. It was bussling inside so we asked to sit outside on the patio. The tables were a little rusted and wobbly but no biggie. They ran out of brunch menus at first but we were able to look it up on our phone. Our server was Sam. She was cool. The food came out fast enough.... Maybe 20 minutes after we ordered. Overall the experience was ok. If we were to return, I'd definitely try other things. read more

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Nice menu options and drinks - go early as tables on the patio fill up fast, there is inside seating. Had Eggs Benedict & the tacos are yummy too! They serve mimosas & Bloody Marys and non alcoholic drinks, coffee good too. Pet friendly if your dad is well behaved. Sit outside and enjoy the casual patio ambience. read more

The food was Delicioso! PAETYN was awesome! Her comments on the food were enlightening. And her service was tight.

Food was a 3-4 star, polenta fries and potato chips were good. Risotto was decent, not very creamy and was just warm. Chicken sandwich was good flavor, but bread to meat ratio was off. Had a small piece of chicken in a large room temp bun, could've been amazing with a buttered and toasted bun and a bit bigger piece of chicken. Enjoyed the ice tea. Staff were friendly. There were a lot of people enjoying their afternoon and ambiance as intimate and lively. They brought me a nice birthday dessert, which was a pleasant treat. Definitely would recommend if you're getting appetizers and drinks, on the fence about recommending as a lunch spot. Would give 3.5 stars but rounding to 4. read more

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We went to BackDoor Bistro when we were looking for a home in Vacaville. After seeing the home of our dreams, we went to eat there and loved the food. We have Vacaville our home and this restaurant is one our favorites. The chef is amazing! read more

Ambiance was cozy and staff were friendly. I had dinner on a Tuesday night around 5pm so it wasn't busy. Got seated immediately and staff were attentive. What i ordered: Polenta Fries (4/5): These weren't bad. Super crispy and great seasoning, but i don't think i'm a huge fan of Polenta. However, my bestfriend enjoyed every bit of it and highly recommends. I do think i would've enjoyed it more if it wasn't so thick. Entree (4/5)- My mistake for not taking a picture of the menu and this item isn't currently on the menu anymore. The fish was cooked and seasoned pretty well and it was on top of a lemon risotto. The lemon zest complimented the dish very well and provided a perfect balance. I ordered the Backdoor Berry Bramble (4/5): Not too sweet and not too strong. I wish it had more of a strawberry flavor, but it will do. read more

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Super bomb brunch spot. It's definitely a bit smaller inside so highly recommend reservations if you're going at peak times. Everyone was friendly and they were even nice enough to push back our res when our friends were running late. Parking was a piece of cake since they share the lot with the library. The focaccia is a must order, the fried polenta was great and the chilaquiles were on point and stayed crunchy the whole meal (the chips never hold up at most places) which definitely got bonus points from me. My brother said the beef shank scramble was also a solid go to. So glad we found this place. read more

BackDoor Bistro and Wine Bar is truly one of my favorite restaurants in Vacaville. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the ambience ...warm, inviting, and just the right balance of cozy and elegant. The service is always outstanding. The servers are polite and attentive, and Sam deserves a special mention for being so welcoming, amazing, and genuinely making sure every guest feels happy and cared for. And the food... absolutely incredible. Every single time. I've brought guests here on several occasions and have also dined here by myself, and it has never disappointed. From start to finish, the experience is consistently excellent. A wonderful restaurant with great food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. I'm one very pleased and loyal customer. Doris S. read more

Went here yesterday, a Saturday on Labor Day weekend. All tables inside were empty, we decided to try inside. Took a while to get a waiter to get our order. Drinks are highly priced. Food was ok. We had the beet salad. I thought it was too rich. Decided to try the New York Steak. It was decent. Ambiance? There is none. Maybe, outside. The lemon cheesecake was amazing! After sharing a meal and $100 dollars later, I think there are better choices. read more

Really really wish Mom & Dad were still alive so I could bring them here for a phenomenal meal! Not only is everything really good, but I'd get a kick out of them seeing how much I love the brussels sprouts. Not only would they belly laugh at me wolfing them down but they'd tell stories - my brother, sister, and I would invent ways to get out of eating them. Were Baby Boomers, ok?!? Leave us alone! You youngsters have created a whole new way of cooking just about everything and I'm here for it. Oh, and a margarita is a must! I'm full and happy - thank you!! read more

The atmosphere was cozy and festive during my holiday lunch with dad. He and his wife ordered the portobello mushroom burgers and they were tough in the middle so that was a bit disappointing. My risotto with salmon was delicious but a little too heavy on the butter. The cranberry cheesecake was a sweet birthday treat, compliments of the staff. Would definitely come back and try other dishes. read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

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Great food and service is excellent. The price is right. We get food for lunches during the week.

Ate outside with a dog - staff were very friendly and brought water for my dog. It is a very cute space with pretty flowers and trees. I had the short rib hash and it was delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection and the cilantro cream complimented the meal well. read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Braised Short Rib Hash - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

I had lunch here for the first time yesterday. I had never been to a farm to fork before so I was interested. I ordered the shrimp fried rice with the extra egg. The presentation leaves something to be desired, but I was hoping the flavor would make up for it. Unfortunately, it was nothing to write home about. There were very few shrimp in the dish for the price. The service was great but I won't be going back. read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

My family stopped by for an early dinner. They were able to seat us right away without a reservation, and were attentive to our needs throughout our meal. We enjoyed sitting outside in the early evening. Happy hour was still on, so the beers were $6! I had the fig cocktail though, and it was delicious. We wanted a quick bite, so we ordered off of their "all day" menu which had good prices. My kids thought the burgers and homemade chips were great. I liked my fried chicken sandwich. I also had the gaspacho, which was a good combination of fruity from the melon with the acidity of the tomato. I'm glad we chose this restaurant. We would come back again. Would make a good date night spot too. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Had a great meal. Service was good and the service was great.

The food is generally really good although sometimes hit and miss on certain dishes. It is very loud inside though making it difficult to have a conversation. They really should try and do something about that. The service is also generally really good. read more

The ambiance was good, but a bit loud for me. It was too cold to sit outside without heaters. The food was very tasty: croque madam, lemon ricotta pancake. The pricing is a bit high for the neighborhood. $24 for a burger and homemade chips! Service was awesome, very attentive. Will return, just for special occasions. read more

This is my favorite place to go if I am wanting something 'nicer' and not wanting to drive far. My favorite thing is the steak salad. The flavors all go together really well! Its nice and light and a perfect lunch! My husband loves the chicken sandwich. The service has always been quick for water refills (yes please!!) and food. The servers are always polite. We usually sit outside bc it is usually a bit loud inside and they offer blankets or to turn on heaters if its chilly. They also allow dogs. Nice place to take a special someone or brunch with friends read more

Decided to meet up with friends during the holidays and Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar was the spot! I ordered the Asian Chopped Salad and my boyfriend got the Stemple Creek Beef Burger. The Fried Chicken Sandwich was a hit at our table and it was highly suggested by our waitress too! Our food came out pretty quickly. I was actually surprised by the size of my salad for the price. I was expecting it to be a bit bigger. The chicken was crispy on the outside, but the chicken itself was a bit dry. It wasn't my favorite salad I've had. My boyfriend's burger was really good though! It was juicy and tasty. We loved the fries too! He finished it up real quick. Overall, the food is good depending on what you order. I do think the pricing is a little on the high side for what you get though. Wish the portions were bigger. Service was great here! read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Stemple Creek Beef Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

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Not bad! A little pricy. Wish the prices reflected the portions a bit more. The food was tasty, though, and very fresh. The cocktail I ordered was delightful and we enjoyed our experience. Worth a try, especially in Vacaville where nice options that aren't chains are hard to come by. read more

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Delicious food, great service, a cozy patio. A perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon! Short Rib hash, Avocado Toast and Mac & Cheese were all super flavorful. read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Avocado Toast (bottom), Mac & Cheese, Short Rib Hash (top) - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

Quaint bistro located in DT Vacaville near the public library. Plenty of free two-hour parking in the large lot. Interior is composed of heavy wood tables and chairs, and restaurant is high ceilinged although it will get noisy since there's nothing to soften the noise. We had some interesting food - Fried Polenta, Lamb Sliders, and an Asian Chopped Salad with their signature Fried Chicken (had better chicken). Also had a Champagne Pomegranate Mimosa for brunch. Dessert was exceptional with the Salted Butterscotch Pot de Creme (Definitely Get This) and a Peach Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream. Pricey for the portions received, service is good, decor and ambiance is nice, noisy interior, restroom shared with adjacent establishment. read more

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Really nice food! Our party of 5 enjoyed a leisurely lunch in this restaurant on the square. There were appetizers (brussels were YUM, polenta was YUM) and entrees. The burger, fried chicken sandwich, beef, risotto dishes were all enjoyed. It's a lovely place to dine on good food! read more

Food - excellent. I loved everything I had and can not wait to return. I had no clue this gem of a restaurant was even in the area. I had the whipped feta salad and will definitely get it again. Next time, I will add salmon. The arugula to feta balance needs to be adjusted as it was a loooooot of whipped feta compared to arugula. Regardless, it was absolutely delicious. My friend had the chicken Cobb salad and she really enjoyed it. We had the bread with garlic oil that had bruscato cheese. It's very tasty. Service - the person who greeted and seated us all the way down to our server... we were treated exceptionally well. Ambiance - it is a very nice local restaurant that has a moderate upscale appearance. They offer indoor and patio seating. It was a very nice day, so my friend and I decided to sit on the patio. read more

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Tried this place on a weekday brunch but was bummed when we found out they don't serve thier brunch on weekdays. We really wanted to try thier lemon ricotta pancakes. Ended up having fried chicken sandwich with their homemade chips and it actually did not dissappoint,my husband had the duck fried rice and surprisingly really good as well. I will suggest get a side or meat or eat this as a side,I just feel like it needed more. Staff was great and was prompt at seating and taking our order. I will say and assume weekends can be very busy since the place isn't that big inside. We do plan on coming back on a weekend to try their brunch!! read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

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I tried it out with my wife last night both are first time. Been hearing the hype for years now! Not what I was expecting kinda small portions for how hungry I was. Food is more on the fine dining style with smaller portions. good but I was still hungry I probably won't make it a regular thing only if my wife wants to go! I had the flat iron steak cooked perfectly. I didn't care for the yellow squash I think it's just the pickling of it or the vinegar that they had used with it again over all the food was good just a little out of my taste element. Service was polite, although he did forget to mention the ribeye special, which I probably would've gotten. But overall I don't have any real complaints just not my usual cup of tea. read more

Food? YES. All day, every day. Can't dispute that. Ordered the steak and enjoyed every single bite. It's was great. The salad was bright and tangy. The steak itself cooked to perfection and the sauces complimented it finely. Creamy and rich. I switched table from outside to the bar because the evening sun just.... Burns. It's relentless. If there's a wine pairing with a dish, I do suggest going with that. Haven't been led wrong yet. Service is always great, even if a tad slow on super busy days and evenings. Everyone is pleasant and helpful. It can get a bit noisy on those busy evenings but it's only because everyone is enjoying themselves. Dining by yourself? Sit at the bar and you'll probably meet and chat with other lovely couples. Great time all around. read more

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My wife and I have resided in Vacaville for over 25 years. We have searched high and Low for a dining restaurant with both quality with reference to the food served and service from the support staff. We found what we are looking for at the "Backdoor Bistro". The quality of the food we ordered was top notch. The service was wonderful and very friendly. The restaurant was a third to one half to capacity, which didn't appear to stress the staff at all. I ordered the "Stemple Beef Burger on a brooch bun, cooked medium. Cooked to perfection. My wife ordered the Steak and Farro Salad! Prepared to perfection. The shrimp fried rice was excellent as well. The price was affordable and not too expressive as compared to the quality. We are definitely very finicky with reference to how food is prepared, so we stayed on the fence until the meal was finished in totality. We really and truly appreciate the owner, chef and waitress who paid attention to our needs as customers. I definitely will dine regularly at the Backdoor Bistro Wine Bar! read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - Fried potato chips seasoned with sea salt and spices. - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

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As an update.... We've continued to come here regularly. This is by far the best Vacaville has to offer in the way of "quality" "gourmet" food. Yeah, we've always had our complaints.....kinda noisy (as before) and, while the food is great, the menu seldom changes so, if one comes here often, it can be a bit too much "same as last time." That said, we went there tonight and, indeed, the menu has changed and the new additions (roast chicken and trout, in particular) are great! Now, if they could just make these kinds of changes more often..... Service is wonderful - all of the workers are great (okay, Sam is our favorite, but you can't lose with anyone)! Of course(!), we'll keep coming back - like a bit of Napa in Vacaville, without the drive or the crowds. ALL GOOD! read more

We had our Mother's Day lunch here! The food was great and the service was really good. But I had the best, and I mean the best Bloody Mary I've ever had! I highly recommend! The Brussel sprouts were so good! Try them! read more

Backdoor Bistro and Wine Bar - So good! - Wine Bars Near Me - Vacaville, California

I'd heard good things about Backdoor Bistro and was excited to try it out. The ambiance is nice with a patio outdoors and indoor dining area. It's rustic and charming. Service is a little slow in the beginning, but became more attentive as we dined. The food leaves a bit to be desired. We ordered a few items: - baked brie: the baked Brie came in a ramekin so the oil sat in the dish and had a sweet jalapeño jelly that also sat on top of the cheese rind. Wasn't as melty as I hoped - burger - I didn't try this but the chips that came with it were good. - beet salad - good if you are a fan of feta. There were not many pieces of beets (maybe 4 chunks) in the salad - brussels sprouts - standard - focaccia with burrata - this was a massive disappointment. The focaccia is basically Texas toast bread with olives. We were excited for the burrata and this was the biggest let down. It was a bowl of olive oil with a smidge of burrata and garlic clove. The garlic was in fact more than the burrata amount. - sangria - best thing there. This wasn't part of the wrong brunch menu but drinks can be ordered from any menu regardless of time. Perhaps this was a go to spot in the past, but unfortunately I would not be able to recommend unless you're coming for a sangria on the patio. read more

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My cousins and our family went here when the popular brunch place across the street was too busy. The host asked if we had reservation and we didn't. She asked if it was okay if we were seated outside and we said okay as long as they could turn on the heater. The host did turn the heater as soon as we sit. The service here was great as our server was very friendly to accommodate our request during our meal. We ordered bunch of dishes and shared it all. - lemon ricotta pancakes: 2 big pancakes - fluffy & delicious! The maple syrup gave perfect sweetness - short ribs hash: the dish tasted delicious. The potatoes were crisp on the outside & cooked perfectly. The short ribs pieces were flavorful. However, there were only small pieces of short ribs. - fried chicken sandwich: the chicken was crispy, tender & flavorful. The coleslaw on the sandwich was seasoned perfectly & gave a nice crunch. The potato chips that came with it were delicious! Every one was fighting over it. - egg chorizo bowl: delicious. The chorizo & egg was flavorful. The fried potatoes were delicious. We would come back here when we are in the area and will reserve ahead. read more

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