Hmmm...just hmmmm. Interesting joint with one big open room that I think needs some "division" (either between tables or between the entrance and seating...) to make it feel more cozy. It just felt like a ..classroom?? Appetizer of Brie was good and brussel sprouts were ok-seemed like deep fried instead of pan fried which made them hmmmm, but the iceburg wedge salad left much to be desired. It was an entire head of iceburg split in half with all the toppings underneath the whole thing so don't find the description of "wedge" to be accurate and cutting the darn thing was more work than it should have been. It was iceburg overload after that and would be sooo much better as a true "wedge" with toppings sprinkled on top. My 2cents worth here...cha ching... read more

I had this place saved on my list of places to try, so when my husband happened to be in the area and were hungry for a snack, we decided to check it out. You would not expect this to be a restaurant from the front. When we pulled in, we were a little unsure about if we were at the right front door, but we were right. Inside is a nice space - its not a large space, but more of an intimate space. There are mainly 2 and 4 top tables and I believe a couple booths in the back. We chose to sit at the bar, which was nice. They seemed low staff, only one waitress and the bartender who was also helping take orders. To eat, I ordered the mac and cheese with chicken and my husband got the elk sliders with fries. The food came out hot. My mac and cheese was filling. Hubby likes his burgers and liked the fries because they are on the thinner side. Looks like they had a decent menu. Would be willing to come back and try something else. They have a cute little patio as well for when the weather gets warmer! read more

Bar Bistro - Macaroni and Cheese with Grilled Chicken - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We went on a Tuesday night to celebrate a birthday. The place was not busy at all. We ordered the House Old Fashioned and one of the non-alcoholic drinks. They were good and we ordered the Brussel sprouts as an appetizer. Again, pretty tasty. The lull between the appetizer and the entrees coming was a bit long but that was fine. The Filet was cooked lovely however the pave potatoes ended up not being cooked all the way through with slices in the middle still being a bit white and crunchy. But with the filet being the star of the plate, that can be forgiven. The macaroni and cheese was the real bummer here... the brisket burnt ends were rubbery, bland, and hard to chew. The jalapeño cheese biscuits were bland as well and did nothing to complement the Mac and cheese. However, the winner of the evening and what earned its very own star was the crème brûlée. That was delicious and gave a lovely creamsicle vibe and was tasty to the very last bite. read more

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Dined here before the Pink concert and it started our night off wonderfully! At first it seems a bit questionable from the outside, but inside was a very different atmosphere. Beautifully decorated, staff was friendly and helpful. Food did take a bit longer than we expected. But in hindsight it may have been because we were a larger group and they were trying to serve all our food at once so that no one what waiting while others were eating. They had an array of unique drink options. I had tried one of the non-alcoholic fruity drinks that had Rosemary in it. A couple people in the group did the special watermelon drink and they loved it. I ordered the crab cake and it was full of crab and not a ton of filler which I appreciated. The Birria flat bread was also a happy dance of flavor. Elk sliders had the most amazing fries that came with it and the sliders were so packed with flavor and wasn't dry at all. Hubs had the Cuban, it was full of yummy flavor, but was a bit more on the soggy end compared to other places we've tried. They had the Mac & cheese on special and it was SUPER cheesy my kids would definitely approve of the cheese pulls we were getting. My SIL got the filet mignon and it came with a potato pave that was thin slices of potato layers finished off with all sides fried which was fun to eat for us who love peeling layers . One brother did the duck and the mashed potatoes and carrots were on point. Another had the chili that had the most delicious jalapeno cornbread. read more

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How did I not take a picture of my food?? Because it was so good I didn't have time to stop. And how have I never gone here before?? How?? Everything from the food to the service was beyond my expectations. (And no... I don't know a single soul that works here!) And I can tell you everyone at my table felt the same. The Wild Boar Ragù was exceptional. I love a little spice in my dish. My dad had the ragù as well and coming from an Italian you know it's good when he says it's excellent My nephew devoured the fettuccine and my brother didn't talk while eating his Cuban... he just ate. The place was clean and charming. And I want Stephanie to be my waitress every, single time. You have a gem with her... absolutely sweet. We will be back again and again. I hear things on the menu gets changed up a bit and I cannot wait to see what's coming! Grazie Mille! read more

Bar Bistro is a decent spot for upscale comfort food in a bizarre industrial area of Tacoma called "Midland". The staff are consistently pleasant and professional. The drinks are very small and overpriced, however the food is fairly good. (2) complaints and then some praise. My wife ordered the charred romaine salad and although very good, it was severely underdressed. I ordered the wild boar ragu and was extremely disappointed in the sauce. The flavor was decent but it was just stewed tomatoes with pasta, instead of a hearty tomato sauce that I had expected. The boar was fairly absent in the dish, but to be fair, I should have asked about the sauce as I loathe tomatoes in whole form. Positives, the drinks could be a bit more generous, however they are crafted with skill and attention to detail. The elk sliders with pimento and lingonberry are really tasty. The French fries with the parmesan and garlic dipping sauce are otherworldly. The other strange thing was that at the end of our dinner; which was to visit our daughter who we do not see often, was that suddenly the staff rushed us out of the restaurant! The behavior was bizarre, the staff serving us proceeded to bring us our check while we were still eating! She stood there until we gave her our credit cards and then processed our payment. She continued to stand there and uncomfortably tried to engage in small talk...I repeat, we were still eating!! We were the offered water (3) times by the staff...we got then hint and left. Stranger still was that no one was waiting for our table or waiting for any table for that matter. On a side note, one of the employees has truly epic hair, which is honestly worth the visit in and of itself. read more

I really liked this restaurant. You definitely wouldn't expect this in the area. They had lots of different cocktail options. For appetizers we shared the fried Brie and crab cakes. The brie was tasty and came with a big variety of fruits. I had the seafood paella. It was really tasty. It had lots of different seafood in it, I liked the flavor of the rice. I sampled the duck which was cooked perfectly and had a tasty sauce. We shared the citron creme brûlée for dessert. Our server, Michael was very friendly. Overall, it was a very delicious dinner. read more

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My party decided to give Bar Bistro a try as we were meeting up in the Tacoma area to celebrate my friend's birthday. This location is not near downtown and is a bit of a drive inland to reach. The outside of the restaurant gives off an uninviting vibe with all the windows being covered up, there is no indication of any lights or activity going on inside besides the neon "Open" sign. Upon entering, the vibe is much better and the restaurant was busy with almost every table occupied. We arrived at 8:45 PM on a Friday night and were seated right away. A note on service: My girlfriend and I like to scan the menu and decide together what we want to order so we can try different items which sometimes takes a bit longer than usual. After our server came by a couple times before we were ready to order, they did not come by again for 30 minutes. I can understand that it was coming close to closing time and they wanted to turn guests out the door but we didn't get our order taken until after 80% of the seated guests had left the building so it felt like we were being ignored. The food: My friend and I both ordered the American Wagyu Burger with smoked gouda and fries. My girlfriend ordered the Seafood Paella. All the food came out at once. My friend and I agreed the burgers were way over salted. We ordered the patties cooked medium but they were more on the rare side. Because of the saltiness, I couldn't taste the beef flavor very well and felt like I should have just ordered the regular angus beef burger which is a few dollars cheaper. The fries were very good! Probably the best part of the meal. They have a battered texture and taste delicious when dipped in the spicy ranch sauce. Oddly, my friend's burger was served with noticeably more fries than my portion (about 2x more). The Seafood Paella was served with a nice spread of halibut, mussels, prawns, snow crab meat, scallops, and Portuguese sausage. The halibut, prawns, and crab were stars on this dish. The rice was cooked well and had nice texture but lacked any distinctive spices or flavors. There were maybe 4 small slices of Portuguese sausage and felt like it was not part of the dish. For the price of $33, I would have expected a more generous portion of seafood. Overall, I wanted to like Bar Bistro but, because it is tucked out of the way and my experience with the food and service was not great, I will pass over this spot the next time I'm looking to eat in the Tacoma area. read more

Everything from the cocktails and appetizers to the main dishes it was absolutely amazing , along. With the service which was great , our waitress had some really great suggestions , we'll be back soon read more

Bar Bistro - Mussels - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Great food and service. Poor ambiance. Expensive. The place is trying to be both a family hangout and a quite expensive fancy restaurant. The food is too well presented to be takeout food. But the music is overly loud and not good for dining, and there are too many screaming children for an expensive restaurant. I don't mind that the decor is plain, but overall it's too expensive to go for a fancy dinner out, given everything else. read more

Nothing went wrong. Service was there where needed, decor was fine, and the food was presented fairly for the price. Check it out when weather permits. read more

My family came here to celebrate my youngest sister's graduation. I set up a reservation but the graduation ceremony took much longer than anticipated so I gave them a call to let them know that we would be a few more minutes late and not only did they pick up politely but reassured me that it was fine and that the table would be ready any time we arrive. When we did arrive, we were greeted warmly and sat promptly. We received our waters and menus as we all gathered. We all ordered several different entrees on the menu and each of us were extremely happy with our delicious choices. The entrees that we had were the two pasta, paella, steaks, macaroni and cheese, and burger. The food arrived within an appropriate timeframe as well as gorgeous presentation. The portions were filling and there was plenty left even after sharing. I highly recommend this spot for any occasion and look forward to my next visit! read more

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Our waiter wasn't the friendliest person we've encountered while dining here. We asked if the bartender could make a tasty margarita. To which he replied "she can follow a recipe". But we didn't let that stop us. The food here is amazing. Not your normal bar food but top notch. We will be back read more

Went to bar bistro before going to the fair, they had a deal going on so wanted to take advantage of it. Restaurant was super clean and host was friendly. Shay was our server and she really did a great job. She made delicious recommendations (fettuccine beef gorgonzola) and it was five star. Got the almond creme brûlée... it's a must try. All in all, Shay was attentive, kind, and very charismatic as well as the food being amazing, made for an overall great experience. Can't wait to come again! read more

As good as this was the first time, was how bad it was the second time. We went on Sunday, and yes, we did get there at 8p but... there is no but. We tried the calamari this time. They were good but not great. Aside from the salt sprinkled on top, there was no flavor. Had the steak again. Still cooked perfectly, but they have removed the mashed potatoes so I got Brussels sprouts and the first layer was charred. And, no seasoning. My date had the lamb and it was pretty good! Our waiter (the bartender) wasn't as attentive this time either. Again, we went at 8, and as a former server, I understand the time frame. But, just wasn't as great as the first time. read more

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Date night location... great food, customer service and ambiance and drinks were perfect. Although, I was on a date with my spouse this place is kid friendly which is a plus. I recommend the crab bisque, delicious as well as bar drinks. The bartender was something of a mixologist. read more

Bar Bistro - Appetizers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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The food and ambience is top-notch. We had great service. They seemed a little bit understaffed, but the team made sure to check in with us and communicate when the kitchen was running a little bit late. The cocktails are incredible. I love this cozy spot and the deck is perfect in the summer. read more

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Excellent dining experience with our waiter Jake D. He was friendly, knowledgeable, likable and helpful. My friends ordered the Filet and Fried Brie and said they were both excellent. My Wagyu burger was large and very flavorful with perfect toppings! The fries were crispy and a little greasy, but just how I like them. We will definitely be back. read more

Delicious food. Happy welcoming server. We were a group of 7 and never felt rushed to "eat and leave". Wonderful evening

Without a doubt 5 stars! Drinks, food and service are far above average. Clean establishment, great atmosphere & good parking. read more

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One of my fave places for a burger. The building is very unassuming and at the corner if a busy street. But once you enter, it's like a different vibe. The Angus burger with smoked cheddar with a side house salad is my fave! And I always get it with a bowl of crab bisque. read more

Bar Bistro - A must eat, thr Angus burger! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Unfortunately, this restaurant did not live up to the hype and popularity that was researched. It's my first time in Tacoma, visiting my husband while he's on assignment, and for my first dinner expectation, it was unpleasant. People who came after us, were served their drinks, appetizers, entrees and received their checks. When my husband called to ensure a "special" dinner setting, which they said they could accommodate. They claimed they could deliver on what he requested yet they did not live up to that expectation. Our reservation was at 6pm and at 7pm, we're just now receiving our food. The only reason for the 1-star is because the owner was nice and professional. Food wise: The pork belly left a lot to be desired after. It wasn't seasoned and one of the pieces was over cooked unnecessarily (see picture). The kimchi was good and so were the crisp green apple slices. The Elk sliders and fries were delicious. The polenta and veggies were hot; however, the meat was lukewarm. Serving hot sides with lukewarm-cold doesn't mix. The lack of seasoning on the Osso Bucco and the lamb shank was unfortunate. The beef cheek tagliatelle was good (beef is tender and flavorful, falls apart in your mouth), pasta well cooked, sauce is yum and the burrata mozzarella was a touch of perfection. Service wise: Our server was initially okay; however, throughout the time we were there, we weren't checked up on as often as the table to our left. She was the server for both tables and it was unfortunate how that table was checked on more than us. I had to ask for the manager, but the owner came and spoke with us. As mentioned previously, he is the reason for the 1-star. Drinks wise: I ordered the Bourbon Mai Tai and my husband ordered the Red Cloud. Both drinks were not the best. Ambiance was pretty lively. The decor was pretty contemporary and I appreciated the music that was playing. read more

Bar Bistro - Korean pork belly. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

4 friends went for a birthday dinner mid week. PAELLA!!! Had the first really good Paella since I left New York in 1991. Only minor disappointment was too little sausage. 2 people had Salmon that they really enjoyed. Definitely recommend. read more

I found this place by accident; boy, what good fortune. The food was outstanding. Even the picky teens enjoyed and finished their food. Unless you are a big eater, I recommend sharing a plate. I gave a 4 star because they ran out of one of their staple dish at 7 pm. read more

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The Old Fashioneds can not be beat. My SO and I have searched for better ones in many different locations. Some of them even being $45 a glass. Still the best is here! Every bite amazing. Every occasion spot on! Steak made to perfection. My SO likes it basically raw with flavor and I love it well done.The biggest and tastiest prawns in WA. Our mussels were so fresh and sauce so creamy. We get the same most of the time because we know what to expect. The pictures are unfiltered. I don't care who in your family thinks they can make amazing Brussels sprouts, this place will knock them out of the park. They are charred to perfection and just the right amount of spice and butter. It's a perfect place for a date night but close enough if you need to dash back home quickly. We have been here so many times I have lost count. read more

Bar Bistro - Rib eye (partially eaten bc I couldn't wait) with potato hash, Brussels sprouts, and shrimp. Divine! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We had the most amazing dinner at this little hole in the wall restaurant. You would never suspect a nondescript place like this could put out such food. The reason for four stars is that I ordered the campfire cocktail, expecting it to be flaming. If you have a picture showing that it's flaming but when it's served, it's not that's deceptive. Also the crab bisque was luke warm to cool. We will be coming back, though the food is too. read more

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Service was excellent, nice atmosphere inside....great food. Outside looks completely different than the inside. Definitely a hole in the wall for this location. I would expect a place like this to be in Seattle or Bellevue. Definitely going back a few times. read more

Highly recommend. The food & drinks are delicious and reasonably priced for how tasty the food is. The ambiance is just a little strange. Decoration wise just very all over the place, plus, the place is a little cramped. But overall a great experience! Will go again. read more

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I found this incredible place thanks to Yelp, I drove over 36 miles from my house in Kent to eat at Texas Roadhouse so I can review the difference between them and Jimmy Mac's. I didn't know that TRH was on a military base, I didn't have access or a visitor pass so I was ask to turn around at the gate by the guards. I was extremely disappointed because I haven't ate out in about 3 weeks and I looking forward to a nice juicy steak. I guess maybe some other time TRH (so sad/mad about it) . While on I-5 heading north, I asked my GF if she can Yelp "steakhouses" and find a few places for us. We decided to go with somewhere nearby with good reviews from my fellow elites. We took Exit 127 and Bar Bistro it was. I got there a little bit early (3:45) they open from 4pm to 10pm on Saturday. Upon arrival I noticed it was a small place with outside seating in the back and the location was a little strange. We walked in and was greeted by a gentleman with a tablet. I told him that I don't have a reservation and that I'm a walk in, he was fine about it and asked if we wanted to sit at the bar or sit at a table. I asked for a table and pointed to the one by the window, and luckily that table wasn't reserved. Digital Menu only. Drinks: 5/5. I ordered The Tourist and my GF got the Cool Berry. The drinks were really amazing! Mine was spicy and refreshing while my GF's drink was a little sweet, but just as good. Appetizer: 5/5. We decided to go with the Spicy Prawns and it was so delicious! It was spicy of course, but it had that special naturally sweetness taste to it, the sauce was incredible and the prawns was really meaty. Ribeye: 5/5. It wasn't on the menu, but I had to ask my waiter since NY strip was the only steak I saw on the menu. He told me they also have a 16 oz. Ribeye. The Ribeye was huge, I got it cooked medium today. It was delicious and perfectly cooked, nicely seared, very juicy and tender. Halibut: 5/5. The halibut was great! Everything on the plate complemented each other perfectly. The asparagus was cooked to perfection. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anybody out there. Food and drinks were incredible. Service was on point and the place is very clean. The prices are pretty high, but I understand they can charge extra for great quality food. I'm already planing out my next visit and I can't wait to try more items off the menu. read more

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This was our first time having dinner here. The service and food were outstanding. We had the fried brie, crab bisque (so delicious), wedge salad, prime rib, and fettuccine beef gorgonzola. Everything was superb! We will definitely be back. read more

We've been going to bar bistro for years and it never disappoints food and drink are amazing as well as the service!

I know! I know! This is a second review. We celebrated two birthdays there Friday night. Our server was amazing and quick-witted. Our food was amazing (as always). This is a jem that is not hidden and hard to ignore. When you walk in, you will be amazed. read more

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Very good food. Yummy cocktails. Last time we went it was menu change so they were out of some things but never have had that happen before. One of our fav spots read more

Who would have thought, for the adage of don't judge a book by its' cover rings true for Bar Bistro. Located in a rougher section of South Tacoma/Parkland, the building doesn't scream craft cocktails or carefully constructed apps and main dishes. Maybe that's the point - make it a type of adventure - word of mouth or seek it out - it definitely worth the trip. Open and somewhat loud interior, with a small bar area. Can accommodate large groups, but a group of four makes it an intimate experience. Custom craft cocktails - are innovative and span the spectrum of taste - to include all the classics. Apps - from Elk Sliders to Korean BBQ Pork Belly - are rich, flavorful and could be a meal unto themselves. Main dishes - seafood Pallela to aged rib-eyes - portions are ample and challenge the pallet. Bar Bistro - a solid choice and worth the trip. read more

Bar Bistro - Solid Old Fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We have been going to Bar Bistro for years and recommend it to anyone who will listen. Eric has created a gem in an otherwise crusty area. He has a rotating menu and creates unusual crafted cocktails to complement the seasons. While it is a small establishment, it is big on atmosphere. read more

Listen POINT BLANK- stop the BS ANYBODY NOT GIVING THESE DUDE 5-Stars...........kill ya self! If this spot was in Seattle Yo Ethan, Tom & EVERYBODY Else.... Cancel Christmas These cats thought about everything thing and then presented it effortlessly! I've been 3 times in a month...not a single items fell short...wait let me be honest I'd prefer the Crab Cake sauce be thicker( but that's just a me thing) the sauce still smacked! Actually.........you know what ...Don't come cause you jokers will make it so I can't get in when I want Service is Hella slow Foods Cold, except the Cold food which is hot I definitely wouldn't go here! read more

Bar Bistro - Gnocchi!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

We went here for our anniversary for the first time, let me just say we were blown away by everything. The drinks were great, the appetizers were phenomenal and the main course was amazing. The customer service was great as well. We can't wait to come back to try other things. read more

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Absolutely love this place! The owner is amazing & we did some content for him last Summer. Great guy! His staff do need to step their game up with the service they provide. Paella is probably the best thing on the menu! read more

Great food and customer service . Hidden gem for Tacoma ! Everything in their menu is amazing ! read more

Bar Bistro - Ruben sandwich with crab bisque soup - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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I did a reservation last minute and took my husband here for our pre-Valentine's day dinner. Ordered Seafood paella and my hubby was very skeptical about it since he's had authentic paella in Spain but let me tell ya he was pretty impressed. This is the best food we have had so far US read more

Bar Bistro - Seafood Paella - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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