We had another fabulous time at the @bistro San Martin They provide consistently excellent meals and service. Our compliments to the chef, Steve, Tracy, and all of them. Even the young man who kept our water and bread baskets filled and boxed our leftovers, did an exceptional job. Reservations are highly recommended. You will need to leave that on a voicemail so try to plan ahead in case they're booked up. They have two dining rooms side-by-side. It gets busy and is currently open Thursday through Saturday for dinner. It gets loud as people are dining and enjoying themselves. The ambience is always delightful and fun. You can really tell the amount of pride and skill that goes into their service and meals. Tips: order all of your food upfront so that if your favorites are popular that night, they don't run out before you order. Popular items are Chilean Sea Bass and fresh-made desserts like the dreamy, white cake, just to name a couple. read more

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What an amazing little wonderful piece of delightful bliss. Crab cakes were Devine, pear salad so wonderful, crab bisque came straight from heaven and the lemon creme brûlée was straight from the angel's! I tasted the raspberry lavender sorbet and my taste buds danced! Thank you and my compliments to the chef whom truly knows how to run an exquisite kitchen!! Ambiance is the perfect bistro setting with a romance of delight. read more

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We absolutely loved this restaurant. I can't say enough great things about the food. We loved everything that we ordered and can't wait to try more from their changing menu. We started off with the bread and olive oil and ordered drinks. The shrimp appetizer was great! We ordered halibut and crab cakes. Followed by crème brûlée. The service was exceptional and very attentive. The chef cooked everything right there in the open kitchen and it was wonderfully prepared. The ambiance was very warm and inviting. read more

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Wow! I never leave reviews but I just had to after our dinner last night. Service and food were 10/10. I'm still dreaming of the food. Prawn appetizer the server recommend was to die for. The scallops with risotto was one of the best meals I've ever had. Bf had the lamb chops and those were amazing! Can't wait to go back! read more

​I went here for a rehersal dinner and the food and service was amazing! I have no idea how they cooked for so many all at once and made everything impeccable. Who could ever imagine that little old Arlington had such a gem of a place. Highly recommend! read more

Bistro San Martin - New American Near Me - Arlington, Washington

Went on an amazing double date 7/11/25 & experienced this wonderful gem. Perfect ambiance for a little bistro. Quaint seating area in the front with a larger seating area in a 2nd room & a private Zen Garden in the back perfect for the private intimate moments. Vibrate cultural art from Mexico & local artists & just the right level of background noise with the ability to carry on conversations comfortably. The kitchen was exposed to the front allowing interaction with the chef & his crew while the air was filled with the delicious smells of the kitchen. Another perfect touch was one of the owners greeting & seating guests & walking around checking on tables & chatting it up with the guests to provide a caring experience. The staff was friendly, courteous & on top of things. Waters constantly filled, tables cleared & food arrived fast, hot & delicious. Everything we ordered was prepared to perfection & there is not 1 thing I think could have been better. I can honestly say this was one of my top dining experiences of all time. Thank you for an AMAZING experience. read more

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I simply love this place! The Food, The Service and the Atmosphere! I live in Bellevue and this place is worth my travel and time. I haven't been there since covid, but this recent visit, Steve recognized be from my previous visit. The owners are always upfront amongst the patrons and making sure everything is consistently pleasurable, delicious and delightful. Jason, our server and expert in everything wonderful, was most awesome. BTW, If you're missing an arm, the chef will cut your meat. read more

Bistro San Martin - Slices of heaven - New American Near Me - Arlington, Washington

Excellent service. Fine cocktails. Great appetizers and main course. Seafood abd steaks are consistently amazing. Worth the drive and phone only reservations. read more

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Wonderful bistro with great selection of entrees and wines. The service was excellent and ambiance very nice. Great place for date night!

A consistently exceptional culinary experience. Each course of food will exceed your expectations. Tonight's crème of leek soup made my mouth want more. The rack of lamb was so perfectly prepared. My wife's bacon wrapped filet is perfectly cooked every time. Often times small towns have quaint little diners. However Arlington has one of the best dinner restaurants in western Washington. White linens and full service, but no pretension or stuffiness. Bistro San Martin is an accept-you-as-you-are restaurant that has been consistently providing us excellent dinners for years. read more

We absolutely love this restaurant and go there several times a year for special events like birthdays etc. The service is always spot on and the food is FIVE STAR! If you haven't tried it yet, call and make reservations ASAP! You will not be disappointed! read more

We were greeted at the door and seated within 3 minutes. Our steak and rack of lamb were perfectly prepared as were the chanterelles. Desert was amazing. The server was very knowledgeable on all the menu items. She was attentive without being intrusive. A wonderful experience and we will be back soon. read more

I don't like sweets usually but the vanilla mousse cake at the bistro is just perfect. The service is great. The flowers and vase made from silverware adds to the perfect ambiance. read more

Bistro San Martin - Vanilla mousse cake - New American Near Me - Arlington, Washington

Super underwhelming but a solid restaurant. Was a good dinner all around but nothing special, our table of 6 ordered a BUNCH of the menu, and there were some really good things but most of it was underwhelming. Non of it was bad, the steaks we all ordered were cooked perfect, but it wasn't seasoned really at all. Lot of people in Arlington don't usually enjoy traveling out of town so this is the spot for them, but 20-30 min south and I feel there is some better food to be had. Waiter was super awesome and service was great. Everyone really loved their drinks and prices for everything was decently good. We all heard about this place for years and finally went, so maybe our expectations were a lot higher for the food and we left wanting more out of it I think. 5 of us had steaks, 3 had lobsters, and we had about 6-7 starters. read more

We tried this restaurant for the first time, and were totally impressed with the quality of the food, the impeccable service by Jason and friendliness of Steven Van Marte, proprietor/GM. It was an evening of delicious food, wonderful wine and lovely made-in-house desserts. We are having our daughter's birthday celebration there in August and Steven remembered us when I called the make the reservation; impressive. They even offer gluten free options upon request. This place is the gem of Arlington! read more

Date day I was treated to The Bistro San Martin. What an amazing experience and meal! Our waitress was outstanding! We asked for our meal to be spaced out over the evening after we placed our orders and she was spot on! Friendly and very familiar with the menu and gave great suggestions. We started out with the Poke'. It was delicious. Very flavorful and tasty. The caprese salad was next, very refreshing and crisp. Sweet onion soup followed, it was so savory and succulent. Main course was scallops that were seared to perfection served with an amazing risotto. This is a great dinner spot. The food and service are right on point! read more

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Beautiful presentations of delicious food. Our favorite restaurant . Every thing and every person there is suburb

So delicious! Go there for sure -excellent food excellent service. A surprising spot for such well made food.

This is always a win win. The atmosphere is truly wonderful. You always get superior service and the food is unbelievable. You typically have to go into the city to find food and service like this. A true gem for the locals for sure. read more

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Everything. This is our go-to place for. Special occasions. It compares well with any place in the Puget Sound area. Martin, the chef does a remarkable job with the food. I have never had anything that I did not enjoy. Steve, the other owner welcomes you, remembers your name, and makes you feel at home. The service is excellent, the food is delicious . read more

Incredible service , nice atmosphere, super yummy drinks, super yummy food. We also took home dessert, which was a fruit tart, with homemade pie crust and fruit in the center, all next to a scoop of the most amazing vanilla ice cream! read more

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Bistro San Martin is pushing Arlington, WA well above it's stars! The food was Michelin star, except the carrots, broccoli, and green beans. That said, simply perfect and exceptional primary courses and appetizers! read more

Hidden Gem! By far one of the best meals I've ever had. The service was impressive, the cocktails were amazing, and the food..... Oh my! Everything from the presentation to the flavor was outstanding! We will be back! read more

Bistro San Martin - Stuffed chicken! - New American Near Me - Arlington, Washington

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Walking in the atmosphere is very decorated, but I love seeing the chef prepare and cook the dishes. Very welcoming, and smelled delicious! We sat in the back area with our two kids, which was expected. We ordered drinks and bread plate; sacred lemon drop and Martin martini was superb!! Poached pear salad and duck entree was perfect according to my husband, I ordered the New York steak and it's was cooked exactly as I requested. My children had noodles and were delicious as well! The owner assisted when my son got fussy with a plate of fruit and some crayons, which was very kind. This place is amazing and we will absolutely be going back. read more

Food and service were amazing!! A little loud, but otherwise nice to see it so busy. We would go again, but are sad they will close for good this week. Food of this quality is severely lacking in the area. Stanwood isn't too far but it's nice to enjoy and not worry about the drive home. read more

I finally made it to Bistro San Martin this week. It was delicious!!! We had spinach salad and potato soup. Freshly made and the bread was great. The New York steak was yummy. I love the sauces! The best chocolate cake I have ever eaten in my life. I'm still thinking about the food. The service was great. I can't wait to go back. Best food I've ever tasted!!! read more

Best food north of Lynnwood. Great selection of wine. Unique cocktails. Very good service and nice bistro ambiance. Price is reasonable for the high quality. read more

Food is amazing, one of the best dinners I have ever had. Food is worth the price, service was awsome also, very friendly.

the food is superb!!!!!!!!! the service is perfect and the ambience is amazing with gorgeous original art that makes me want to dance with joy. it is an unforgettable dining experience**************. Go NOW while it still exists. read more

After long adieu via an extended COVID closure, Bistro San Martin is back in full swing. The owners both working from Kitchen to table side, a pleasurable experience. Starting with an escargot starter swimming in butter and garlic as the lord intended. Followed with a fresh caesar and the very impressive seafood bisque, that was my favorite piece of the evening. The Filet was a generous size, immensley tender, properly cooked and seasoned topped in a bleu cheese compound butter than accentuates perfectly! read more

Bistro San Martin - Char-Broiled 8 oz Beef Tenderloin Wrapped with Bacon, Topped with Roasted Onion, Bleu Cheese Compound Butter and House Made Demi-Glace. - New American Near Me - Arlington, Washington

Exquisite! This is our new favorite restaurant in the area. The clams off the fresh sheet were prepared in a very unique and tasty way in a creamy red sauce with leeks. They were divine. The escargot were also great. Even their house baked bread and compound oil left us stunned. The New York strip with compound butter and Demi glace were to die for and the Maine lobster tail was tender and delicate. The service was also so friendly and quick! Your server prepares your drinks which results in them coming out quick! The drinks are absolutely delicious too, with the San martini and pear sidecar requiring seconds. They also have fun wine flights so you can try a few at a time. The restaurant is very clean with interesting paintings and the kitchen is front and center for a good view. We can't wait to go back! read more

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My husband and I had heard of this spot and decided to make the drive to try it out. Being in Snohomish/Lake Stevens area we forget how close Arlington actually is. From the second we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and friendly faces. Our waitress was patient and understanding as I asked what seemed like a million questions. We got drinks and an appetizer, soups and main course. To say we were FULL was an understatement! They brought out delicious bread and oil as we waited for our food. I had one of the specialty cocktails, something San Martin with tequila and it was DELICIOUS. For appetizer we had the Ravioli (gnocchi type pasta in an amazing sauce) and the sauce was so delicious we could eat it with a spoon! I then had the Yam soup with coconut milk and curry and my husband had the Seafood Bisque. They were both delicious, one more sweet and the other savory. For dinner I had the Scallops and my husband the Filet. By this point we were both so full but couldn't stop eating. The flavors were like an explosion of deliciousness in your mouth. We will definitely be back and I hope to be able to try everything on the menu! read more

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Bistro San Martin is one of Arlington's culinary gems. I chose it for dinner last night as a special treat for my boyfriend, and we were both impressed with the service, ambience, and with most of the food. We arrived on time for our reservation and were greeted and seated right away. In fact, we were offered our choice of two tables, which was nice. Our server was both attentive and efficient. Despite being a small restaurant that was fully booked, the noise level was reasonable. We started with two appetizers--the poke and the ravioli. Both were very good; the sauce served with the ravioli was wow! For entrees, my boyfriend chose the lamb, and I went with the roasted chicken. Both were very good, but I thought his lamb was better than my chicken. The sauce that came with the chicken was just a tad too sweet. For dessert, my boyfriend ordered the chocolate pudding cake, and I chose the lemon crème brûlée. Again, he picked the better dish. That chocolate cake was heavenly. Disappointments included the complimentary amuse-bouche--the sardines were overpowering and did not pair well with the hummus, and the lemon crème brûlée--the custard was flavorless. Bistro San Martin just reopened, so considering this was opening weekend, I imagine there are some snags that need to be worked out. I would like to come back again and give it another try. read more

It's such a fun experience every time we go. They are so nice and very kind. I was celebrating my birthday and they put a candle in my dessert. The food was so good. I recommend for all special occasions. read more

The chef here is an ABSOLUTE GENUIS! I'm not kidding. I've already reviewed this place in detail. I hope this quick compliment doesn't override my previous review but I just had to say this. We go here as much as we can get in! Our FAVORITE BISTRO hands down! read more

Visited with three other people. Everyone thought that food was absolutely delicious. We started with the baked feta that came with fresh baked bread and mushroom puffed pastry. We also had crab shrimp cocktail, seafood bisque, and Caesar salad. Entrees for our party included baked prawns, crab cakes, halibut, and iron steak (didn't get pics of everything). Everyone just kept raving about how delicious everything was! For dessert, our table had the chocolate cake, lemon crème brûlée, spicy chocolate cake, and espresso with vanilla ice cream. We also had drinks from the menu that were made to perfection. Highly recommend the ruby vanilla martini! The service was great. Staff worked really hard to deliver quality service and delicious food. Definitely the best restaurant meal I've had in Snohomish county in a long time! read more

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"A delight!" "Isn't this just fantastic food?" "That's the owner! No, really! They have the most incredible service!" "Don't ask me, all of it is AMAZING!" "Oh my gosh! YUM!!!!" These are just a few of the comments we overheard at Bistro San Martin in Arlington, WA the other day. Yep, I am serious! And each, and every single comment was completely accurate! Okay, and while I am at it, I will also add a few of my own: I may have threatened my husband if he tried to steal another bite of my entrée. The local artwork throughout the restaurant is just so cool! Yes, you will see at least one of the owners pouring water, checking on guests (who he often knows by name). This GEM is in the middle of the main street of my little hometown of Arlington, WA. Yes, it is! It is unassuming from the outside. It is busy without ever making its guests feel hurried. The linens are starched white. The glassware is sparkling. THE FOOD IS SO GOOD! You will need a reservation because it is in such high demand and well worth it. Go there. You will thank me. Oh, and FYI, I could not agree with Duane S. more! The escargot starter will renew your faith in humanity! read more

We love everything about this place! As a vegetarian, I request Chef to create the entree of his choice and it never disappoints! It's so nice to experience artistry beyond the standard salad or pasta. read more

It took months for us to get reservations here and it was worth the wait because everything was amazing! For our starters, we ordered the Gnudi Ravioli and the spinach salad and for our main courses, we got the halibut (which was a special-of-the-evening option) and the grilled flat iron steak. Everything was cooked perfectly. The steak was literally the best steak I have ever had! The drinks were yummy, too! The spiced pear sidecar was so good! The ambiance was nice. Cozy inside with dimmed lighting. The server was polite and helpful with menu modifications (for dietary restrictions). read more

Who would've thought this little gem was nestled in little Arlington!!! This little bistro is perfect for an intimate night out. The staff is amazing and the food......OMG!!!!! To die for. Drinks are stiff, if you like clams, the sauce we freakin out of this world!!!!!! I wanted to lift the bowl and slurp it down, but had to be civilized so instead I used the mini spoon and pretty much killed it Haahhaha Ordered the filet mignon and lobster tail....AMAAAAAAZING. I'm not a fan of sauces, so I didn't care for the sauce over the steak, but the quality of beef was so damn good, it didn't even bother me. The sauce over the lobster was absolutely delish!! Could have just been all the butter, whatever it is, it was perfect for the lobster. They really know how to do food well. We ended the night off with the nutty choc cake sprinkled with cayenne. Perfectooooooo! I was and still am so impressed by the food here. When I come back to Washington, I'm def stopping by to stuff my face!! This is def one of the best restaurants in my book read more