Wow, moving out of the orange zone has been a wonder on our evenings! This pandemic has made it tough to go out and eat, but The Wife and I, fully vaccinated, and The Girls (one partially vaccinated, the other too young) decided it was time for a restaurant meal. We've had one or two, but for some reason this felt different. We found Bistro Vida online and were able to secure outdoor reservations. One has to note Santa Cruz avenue has changed, likely for the better, with some of the street blocks devoted to outdoor dining. We arrived and were seated promptly at our table by an unmasked waiter. So if I may jump in here for a moment, I know the CDC is changing guidance, and at June 15th, I think we'll be taking the masks off. I'm fairly confident that the waiters were vaccinated, and we were outdoors (in a partially enclosed shelter) so I understand fully why they didn't mask up. My kids didn't though, and it put us in the position of where they're not vaccinated and they didn't feel comfortable. The waiters I believe were French (or very good at faking the accent). They brought table bread, warm and very tasty, and butter. There were many menu items you'd expect to see from the South of France (mussels, shrimp, clams, french fries and nice wines). I ordered the bouillabaisse, and The Wife had the mussels. The Girls had pasta, and later wished they ordered the mussels. Presentation and serving size were great, but, while delicious, my soup base was cold as was the food in it. I'm not sure how long it sat after waiting, but it did kind of dampen my enthusiasm for it. The price was very reasonable considering the type and quality of food we received. All-in-all, while the COVID slips were annoying and I would have liked my food hot, it was a delicious meal with very good service. read more

Outdoor heated dinning is SO cozy!! Despite the weather and COVID-19 outside seating is spaced out and warmed with huge heaters. Food is excellent as usual. read more

Bistro Vida - Outdoor heated dining - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Ordered: 1. Cassoulet - the duck leg was nice and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The duck meat needed a little bit more seasoning but was otherwise delicious. The fixings that the duck leg came with were SO GOOD!!! White beans in a tomato sauce with celery, Toulouse sausage, bacon, ham stew was the highlight. It was really really good. 2. Poullet roti - the chicken was moist but looked anemic, the mashed potatoes were not really seasoned and the beans were a bit too chewy. It was OK but not as good as it could have been. 3. Assiete cheese platter - goat cheese covered with dry blueberries, Brie (or double brie) with mushrooms and a harder cow cheese complimented by sliced apple and strawberry, mini cucumbers, olives and toasts. This was refreshing and enjoyable 4. Bananana rum crepe - the surprise was the ice cream in the middle! It was a lovely juxtaposition of hot rum bananas over a cold crepe with ice cream... the crepe itself had a harder texture not like a freshly made crepe but the timing to make the bananas and crepe and keep the ice cream from melting most likely meant that the crepe and ice cream were made beforehand and frozen together. Still a nice way to top off the evening. 3 different drinks during the evening, the first being a French 75 dry bubbly wine, followed by boulevardier (I didn't try it) and the sherry cream at the end which was served with ice which was different. The sherry was pleasantly sweet with a nice raisin cherry finish. Pros: 1. They had umbrellas outside and as the evening got cooler they out the umbrellas down and the lights came on, they also had heaters 2. Tuesday night they have nice jazz live music 3. The servers speak French so if you want to practice, here is where to go! 4. The duck and the beans was the clear winner. Saw someone's seared scallops and a lamb shank go by...I'll try those next time!!!! Cons: 1. No one wore masks Overall, a nice gem that we'll go back to. read more

See all

Hair on the pickles!!!!! And the waiter telling me no one has hair here!!!!! Excuses me!!!!! So bad bad experiences ever! The way they handled it so unprofessional! Do not eat here!!! Don't try even to think about it at all!!!! Horrible experience! And after he took the plate he talked to the waiter and start laughing on us.....! He came back and gave us the new plate with the same cheese from the old plate... please see the pictures... he cut the cheese and added small piece and put them together !!!!!!! Very disappointed and disrespectful to the any person! Bad customer service ... food not authentic at all Not French at all.... Fake ... cheese from Costco!!!!! .... Zero The waiter keep saying everything is great!!!! And am telling him am new here and am not dam French ... he couldn't recommend anything to us... Believe me not worth it at all,.. don't waste ur money dear...!!! read more

Bistro Vida - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

See all

We always walked past this place but never got to try it until recently. We started with the beef tartare. It was a pretty good portion. It had an overwhelming pickle taste due to the amount of pickles they add, but otherwise it was good. I had the sole meuniere. There were like 3 fillets and they were nicely cooked with a little crisp. The green beans and potatoes were nice and the sauce was great, except it started to congeal after some time. My wife got the duck confit. It was cooked nicely and came with a nice bean stew thing. We finished with a couple cream puffs. It was filled with ice cream and lathered with chocolate sauce. Note that they have a nice outdoor dining area. Overall it was a nice experience and we look forward to going back to try the rest of the menu. read more

"We don't serve your kind!" were the opening words of the person who met us at the door as we approached Bistro Vida for our dinner reservation tonight. It was followed by a guffaw, to our stunned faces. We rearranged our faces to some semblance of "that's not cool, but we will let it slide for now". The meal that followed was decent with attentive service by the rest of the staff. The food was homey and tasty. The place was busy, and overall, our meal was decent But to say something like that to a customer, in this day and age, especially when that customer is born and grew up in France, it is a great affront. Please do not do it to others, it will leave a bad taste in their mouth as it did for us. For this reason, my rating is a 1-star. read more

Favorite restaurant in Menlo Park. Great classic French dishes, friendly service, and nice outdoor dining. You can't go wrong with any dish. read more

This low rating is due to the Niçoise which had over cooked tuna, no potatoes and the overall taste was overwhelmingly sour due to the olives, capers, cornichons and mostly vinegar vinaigrette. The Saumon, wine, service and atmosphere were all good as were past experiences so we'll still go back. read more

Bistro Vida - Saumon Fume Tartine - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

See all

Solid 3.5 stars Been here a couple times for lunch and have always had a pretty good meal. Their lunch menu has a good selection of sandwiches/salads as well as entrées. My go to has been the boeuf bourguignon, which is quite nice. It has a good wine and beef flavor and the beef is fairly tender. I have also tried the steak frites, which was average for me. It was a bit tough and more on the medium well side despite having ordered medium rare. Their desserts are great and there's a good selection, even for lunch. The service at Bistro Vida is always excellent; servers are attentive at refilling water and checking-in during the meal. Will definitely be returning for future lunches! read more

Bistro Vida - Beef bourguignon - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

We previously had not frequented this restaurant on account of its mediocre Yelp reviews. One weekend we found ourselves in downtown Menlo Park after 1pm and it was one of few places open. Pleasantly surprised with our selections: - Escargot- pretty large with a pesto sauce that we sopped up with bread - Couscous Royal - came with vegetables, lamp chops, chicken and sausage. Moroccan inspired. - Pate read more

Big family group went and got the Cassoulet de Toulousse (duck confit with white bean and sausage), beef Bourginon, cheese fondue, steak frite, gnocchi, scallop risotto....food amazing and service was awesome! We went with folks who had been before. Tip: Order any meat more done than you want it as they undercook the meat. read more

Lovely French restaurant in downtown Menlo Park. We sat down on their outdoor patio, which was perfect for this summer evening. Our wines were delicious and the food brought us back to being in France again. Cassoulet De Toulouse - This cassoulet had a tasty duck confit with a very flavorful Toulouse sausage. Beef Bourguignon - Tender and a perfect combination with the creamy mashed potatoes. Lemon Tart - After the heavy meal, the lemon tart was a perfect palette cleanser. It was more lemon than sugar which I loved! I'm so glad we wandered into this restaurant. I think I'm eyeing the mussels for my next meal! read more

See all

Nice vibe, enjoyed out door dinning a lot with friends, they seem to have short staffs, but still try their best to provide good service. Food is pretty tasty, the manager goes out of his ways to make the dinner dish for for us even we just went for lunch. read more

Exceptional Ambiance and Service, truly - the staff was awesome...but absolutely terrible food. I ordered their burger - which was an uninspired, soggy and completely overcooked mess. Clearly not fresh at all, the meat was old and gamey - the lettuce also was not washed, with sand / dirt in most of it. My wife ordered the half roast chicken which was dry and tasted reheated in a microwave. And, it made us both ill overnight. Don't recommend and won't be going back. read more

As local customers, we were treated rudely by the owner when we asked to simply have dessert and a drink on a Sunday night and we're turned away rudely. We will never go back. read more

We've only been once, but I loved this place. I talked to the owner on the phone when I made the reservations and it felt like we were friends from the start. He was at the door when we arrived. We had a variety of dishes. We had a great experience and have already sent friends there. read more

Great dinner there this past week. Quiet enough for a business meeting, great Swordfish Special, attentive but nor overbearing service. Ambiance inside is great but with the improving weather, sit outside in their parklet. read more

Great bistro food. Menu has been the same for many years. Needs the addition of a few new items. Can't beat the service!

The escargot is my go to appetizer and the crepes are the best around. Don't forget the mimosa! Highly recommended. read more

Bistro Vida - Alexei. Outdoor dining mode. - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

my friend and i came specifically for a croque madame and it was just DELICIOUS. the cheese melted perfectly and every bite was the perfect balance of cheese, ham and bread. my friend who hates salads and tomatoes finished the entire salad on the side because the seasoning was a perfect blend and fresh! a good salad and a heavy cheese and ham sandwhich really goes hand and hand. the cherry on top: the service was super accommodating and even offered extra bread without asking. i would definitely come again and try other things on the menu! read more

Bistro Vida - Le Croque Monsieur ou Madame - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

This French restaurant hit all the highlights on their food. If you are craving onion soup, this is the place for you. If you like Salad Nicoise, ditto. Steak Tartare, the best. You get the idea. And the service is outstanding. A French Brasserie right in the heart of Menlo Park. An oasis in a middle of a concrete jungle. read more

While the food was outstanding and the service was great, they are not too concerned about follwing county guidelines regarding Covid 19. Their staff didn't wear gloves and they reused menus instead of giving us paper menus. I didn't see any sanitization of tables or chairs. When they first seated us, I was inches away feom another party until I requested another table (which they very quickly accomodated us). And suprisingly, they had blankets on chairs in case we were cold, which they were again reuing for other customers. The food was delicious but I will be careful about what restaraunts I patronize in the near future. read more

I come for the food, the atmosphere, but MOST definitely the creme brulee!!! Great service! The outdoor patio and inside bar area is beautifully french inspired. read more

Bistro Vida - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

We went to Bistro Vida for lunch today with another couple and had a delightful time! We were seated promptly, our server was very attentive, and the food was delicious. I had the mussels which were plump and tastey served with perfect fries. My husband had the steak frites and he said the steak was wonderful. The creme brulee for desert was wonderful. We plan to come back soon! read more

Perfect date night! I've never been to France, but my small research with cooking shows and Instagram foodies' profiles, tells me that this place must be pretty authentic. We've been here twice and loved everything we've ordered. Service has been great with attentive and helpful servers. Don't know what bourguinoin means? They won't judge - just ask :) Escargot - (3/5) - my first escargot experience, and it was pretty good! From the intricate eating tools to the pools of delicious buttery oil, I'd recommend this starter. French Onion Soup - (5/5) - there's a reason everyone mentions this soup. It's simply delicious. Order it. Complementary bread and butter - you get one basket, and they'll only bring more if you ask Beef Bourguinoin - (5/5) - like Mom's potroast, but stepped up a few notches. The pearl onions and carrots were perfectly cooked, the potatoes were smooth and creamy, and the beef was tender perfection. Scallops with Linguini and Asparagus - My fiance ordered this both times we've eaten here. He says they're been some of the best cooked scallops he's had. Pork Filet Mignon - (4/5) - served with amazingly complementing Creme Fraiche and potatoes au gratin. This is one of those dishes where you want to craft each now to have a little taste of everything. read more

See all

The service here was impeccable. The host was absolutely exceptional and even helped me with an overdue work expense when I forgot my receipt! Service with a smile is rare and he went above and beyond to not only assist but ensure I was comfortable. A must visit when you're in town or even if you live local. read more

Overall service was ok, food was way below average. First of all, they brought us the wrong soup, then took it away after we had a couple sips. Also took away our bread without asking if we were done with it. Recommended the sword fish but it was clearly frozen before as the overall quality is poor. read more

Although I've been to Bistro Vida more than a few times over the past 17+ years, it never disappoints! The food is always superb , the service exceptional and the ambiance ranks in the top 3 (if not #1) of my Menlo Park/Palo Alto favorites list! The owner of Bistro Vida is always on site working with his team to ensure that every guest has an exceptional experience every time they visit. My personal favorite menu item is the Vida Burger-a traditional concept with a gourmet twist- served with the BEST french fries. While I prefer a burger to pretty much anything, I also, love the salad Nicoise, the mussels or Coque a Vin! Whatever your particular taste, you cannot go wrong with anything in the menu...Especially the deserts! read more

Delicious food and meaningful service during this outdoor social distancing era of the Covid-19 Pandemic. We sat outside in the covered area provided. There was upbeat music playing, and the servers were friendly and efficient. We ordered and appreciated the Saumon Grillé which is grilled wild salmon, beurre blanc, seasonal vegetable; we also ordered and devoured the Moules Frites which include mussels, sauce marinière, parsley, & french fries. Great portions and succulent food. We also ordered a couple of drinks one champagne cocktail and another Italian inspired strong Negroni. Both were great. Overall, wonderful experience. Highly recommended. read more

We went there last evening to celebrate a friend's birthday and what can I say. It was perfect! She said it was one of her best birthdays. Ali and his staff were so warm, hospitable and attentive. We forgot we were celebrating during Covid. The food was excellent. My favorite were the mussels and the cod. The icing on the cake was that Ali had organized a DJ. He got the pulse of the crowd and turned downtown Menlo Park to downtown Miami. Thank you Ali and the staff of Bistro Vida. read more

Bistro Vida - Outside Bistro Vida on a Saturday nite - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Love the location but attention to detail is lacking. Service sub standard. Ordered nice bottle Montrachet, arrived late and warm. "Kept in office, away from others". Appetizer took 45 minutes. When I mentioned this to the owner , Ali, he said " relax, life is short". Too bad - food is good and we need nice restaurants with attention to service in MP. Disappointing after paying our $200 bill for two. We'll just stay home with our own wine, properly chilled, my bbq, and no restaurant owner lecturing me. read more

We came here for a birthday dinner and had a great time. The staff is amazing and even brought out some escargot for our 4 year old to try. The food is great and we can't wait to come back! read more

First of all, the whole point of outdoor seating is to have proper ventilation. It defeats the purpose if you enclose your outdoor seating with heavy curtains. So an extra star off for making me risk death to eat here. And unfortunately the food was not remotely worth it. Bland bland bland. The béarnaise sauce was good, but that was the only source of flavor -- everything was underseasoned. There was no balance -- everything was heavy and greasy. Also, my steak was not cooked to the proper temperature. I sent it back and the second time it was still undercooked. The tarte tatin was the worst. So bland, and the pastry was like wet cardboard. No spices, no flavor from the caramelization. It didn't say on the menu it was housemade, and I'm wondering if it was a store-bought frozen tarte -- that's what it tasted like. Anyway, I wouldn't go back. read more

No one called me back today!! They don't seem to care. Make sure your checks are correct and you don't get charged an additional amount!!! $90 is no joke!!! So very disappointed and angry!! read more

Very mixed experiences. I really like the ambience and service, but the food is hit or miss. On our first visit a few weeks ago, the food (poulet rôti and steak au poivre) was solid. We liked it well enough to reserve a table again for Bastille Day. But on the Bastille Day visit, the food wasn't great. The starters (gazpacho and salade laitue) were fine, but our entrees (pork tenderloin, steak au poivre, and NY Strip) were all tough. The NY strip was so overcooked that it was barely edible. It was crowded on Bastille Day, but it's a bummer to get a bad meal on a festive occasion. read more

Really nice outdoor ambiance, felt like I was in France! And the food was pretty good too! Nice place for pups as well.

We visited Bistro Vida for Mothers Day Brunch today . All three of us in our party agreed the food and service was perfect . We couldn't find any fault at all . Food was delicious and the Bloody Mary was the best I had ever had . read more

Bistro Vida - Bloody Mary - French Near Me - Menlo Park, California

See all

it was a wonderful place to have lunch the food was wonderful the staff terrific!!! Dining outdoors safe for us all. The lemon tart is something you must try thank you Clay family read more

Enjoyed lunch here with my wife. Onion soup was note worthy.

The red walls and decorations inside Bistro Vida take you straight to France! You'll find all the classics at this cozy, casual bistro, which also has ample outdoor seating along the sidewalk and on the patio! After starting us off with a basket of warm, chewy baguette, our friendly server gave us a few recommendations off the menu. I had the coq au vin, a stewed chicken thigh and drumstick in a red wine sauce with onion, mushroom, carrots, and lardon served with egg noodles. I also tried the boeuf bourguignon, which was a very similar-tasting stew of beef chunks in a red wine sauce with onions and carrots, and served with mashed potatoes. The meat in both of these dishes was nice and tender, and while both the sauces were decent, they were a bit one-dimensional / flat in flavor. While the food here wasn't bad for what it was (comfort bistro food), the menu prices were extremely high for what we got, and I probably wouldn't go out of my way to return. read more

See all