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Bistro Vida, Menlo Park, CA

Bistro Vida

4.8
4.8
2754 Reviews
$30 and under
French

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Charming
Established in 1998, Bistro Vida is a neighborhood restaurant inspired by the great Parisian bistro culture and traditions of French cooking. Our mission is to bring the joie de vivre, comfort, and community of the City of Lights to downtown Menlo Park. The name " Vida" the Spanish word for life, was chosen as a toast to the enjoyment of life, love, and food. Each delicious detail of the chic interior from the smart bar to the blackboard menus, the huge cylindrical chandeliers to the long mirrors reminiscent of brasseries has acquired a warm patina over the years.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    French, Bistro, Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (650) 462-1686
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Ali El Safy
  • Catering
    From a small gather to a large corporate lunch or celebration, we have a variety of menu options for your catered event.
  • Private party facilities
    We have several options for large groups, special occasions, corporate events, and more. Please contact the restaurant to inquire about holding an event at Bistro Vida. We will work with you to create a personalized event including a uniquely crafted menu and a signature wine experience. RESTAURANT BUYOUT​We offer availability for large parties in the form of a full restaurant buyout. Our dining room accommodates up to 100 guests for a seated dinner and up to 150 guests for a standing reception. ​PATIO​Our private heated patio can accommodate up to 40 guests for a seated event and up to 60 guests for a standing reception. 
  • Neighbourhood
    Menlo Park
  • Cross Street
    El Camino Real
  • Parking details
    Street parking all around and public lot directly to the rear of the restaurant.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,754 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bistro Vida in Menlo Park captures the essence of a true French bistro. Guests rave about the "best onion soup," "perfectly prepared" entrées like coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon, and a delightful outdoor dining experience. Excellent service complements its classic ambiance and a menu filled with French culinary delights.

2,754 Reviews
  1. robin

    VIP

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Luv Luv Luv it Great Service the mussels are too delish even the butter is good

    Is this helpful?

  2. Luis

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great cocktails, very good wine selection, great french traditional food.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Julie

    San Francisco

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I love Bistro Vida. It’s reliably really good. You can’t have a bad meal here.

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  4. Purnima

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I always enjoy eating with family and groups at Bistro vida. Not only are they extremely helpful but also flexible. They changed our table when the group became larger than planned, moved us indoors at our request due to kids in the group, got us a small bday cake for the birthday boys, and did us a favor for the 2 year old in terms of food. Totally appreciated. Very accommodating and the food was amazing as always. Expensive but worth it!

    1 person found this helpful

  5. J

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were great. Can't wait for the bar nextdoor to open... same owner.

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  6. Walter

    VIP

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had a great dinner at Bistro Vida before seeing a performance at the nearby Guild Theater. Nice little slice of France in NorCal, warm and bustling, all good.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Aimee

    VIP

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic lunch with family. All the service personnel were top notch and absolutely fantastic.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Kelley

    VIP

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 10, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitperson, Tracy, was spectacular. The food was delicious. we love Bistro Vida!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Barbara

    VIP

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Delicious halibut on the daily special menu. We all ordered it and were all very pleased.

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  10. Lynn

    San Francisco

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Classic French eatery and the food was delicious as always. Came for lunch in a Saturday but did end up feeling rushed which is not what you expect at a French restaurant. Still love the place and will go again soon.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bistro Vida offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 462-1686.

Bistro Vida is rated 4.8 stars by 2754 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 17 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Bistro Vida

641 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    El Camino Real
  • Neighbourhood
    Menlo Park
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    French, Bistro, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking all around and public lot directly to the rear of the restaurant.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ali El Safy
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (650) 462-1686
  • Catering
    From a small gather to a large corporate lunch or celebration, we have a variety of menu options for your catered event.
  • Private party facilities
    We have several options for large groups, special occasions, corporate events, and more. Please contact the restaurant to inquire about holding an event at Bistro Vida. We will work with you to create a personalized event including a uniquely crafted menu and a signature wine experience. RESTAURANT BUYOUT​We offer availability for large parties in the form of a full restaurant buyout. Our dining room accommodates up to 100 guests for a seated dinner and up to 150 guests for a standing reception. ​PATIO​Our private heated patio can accommodate up to 40 guests for a seated event and up to 60 guests for a standing reception. 
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