Visited Bacchus several times now and the food and drinks, as well as the service, are consistently excellent. They have a revamped menu featuring Mexican fare and American favorites (the Wagyu Smash cheeseburger is a must). The service is warm and friendly--they remember you and greet you by name, like a visit from an old friend. The ambiance is casual and relaxed yet still upscale. A true hidden gem. read more

See all

I came here for the first time about a couple years ago. Met up with some girlfriends for happy hour. I recall there was a decent variety of food and drinks on the happy hour menu. Recently met up with a girlfriend on a Thursday evening and noticed that their happy hour changed significantly. Fewer food and drink items for sure. The bar area was full for the most part and the dining area was empty while we were there. Later on, a couple other diners joined us in the dining area. My favorite appetizer was the shrimp on skewers. The shrimps were a good size and tasted delicious with the sauce. The beef skewers were just ok. The guacamole was nothing out of this world, but tasted fine. Seemed like the two round chips was just not enough. A third one would've been great. Our server was not that friendly and not engaging. It seemed like she was not having a good day and we felt negative vibes from her. read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

An entirely valid bistro, Bacchus is a local speakeasy-type restaurant that is aiming at the high end of places to drink with friends and first dates. The charcuterie board was an awesome start, with a balance of savory and sweet in the semi-soft to hard cheeses, followed by a variety of cured meats and a small cup of olives, and a little bit of dried fruit. It set the tone properly for a lovely tapas style meal with my Dutch girlfriend. The tuna tartare was fresh, creamy, and had a kiss of jalapeno or some other local hot in it. The crab cakes balance well against the fresh arugula, and the prime skewers were worth their weight in platinum. The off-the-shelf wines were perfectly serviceable, but nothing to write home about. The service was perfectly kind and thoughtful. All that deliciousness comes at a non-trivial price however. Make sure that your gold card has enough space to handle the hit. The price is steep, but appropriate for the level of service provided. It's a perfectly nice place, just off the 405, to meet a first date. read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Pulled up with decent parking and even better vibes--off to a solid start. The starters came to slay: artichoke dip, tuna tartare, and chicken lettuce wraps? 10/10, would fight someone for that dip. Then we got to the mains... and that's where the plot fell apart. The smash burger? More like a sad squish burger. Fries were elite though--thin, crispy, living their best life. Tried to redeem it with a chicken Caesar, but that salad ghosted all flavor. Service? Attentive with a capital A. Our server checked in so much I thought he was gonna pull up a chair and join us. Pretty sure he was just bored, but hey, we all need friends. Bonus: there's a secret-looking speakeasy inside that gives off cozy "I read poetry and drink old fashioneds" vibes. Might go back just to live my mysterious alter ego life there. Overall? Cute place, fun ambiance, apps were the main event. Mains? Meh. Prices? You're paying for vibes, not the food. 3.5 stars read more

See all

Great food, drinks, service. We had a great time, place was clean, and the staff was a vibe.. very welcoming and engaging. read more

Had the best Galentine's evening at Bacchus! The staff were all amazing, the food and drinks were all delicious! It's got such a great vibe, I loved being seated at the round table by the front because we could see the whole space! Me and my gals would definitely come again! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

drinks were great! Service was fast and nice. I really liked how classy the environment is here and how sweet our server was. Food was bland. Most likely will just go back for drinks. read more

See all

Stumbled on to this gem on a gorgeous Sunday, early afternoon. Nestled in a corner, they have a small, intimate outdoor seating area which is dog friendly. How awesome. Also shaded by beautiful palms and a large fountain to lull your cares away. Outstanding service by Eric. Enjoyed some very good wine and heard the next table rave about their breakfast burrito; from brunch menu. Definitely will be back to try the evening menu with my pup! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Outdoor patio is small but beautiful and dog friendly! Lovely ambiance with a fountain to soothe your stress away.... - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

This cute, little bar is our first choice for happy hour. We love the atmosphere and service. Opens at 4 and happy hour runs until 630 7 days a week. Tuna tartare and truffle fries are our go to appetizers! The deconstructed strawberry cheesecake and panacotta is yummy! We love the servers and bartenders, they are always so attentive (Nicole, Jenny, Paul, Danny and John)! Please come by and support this local business! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Panacotta dessert - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

A Local's Best Kept Secret! This place is FUN! and the food is GREAT! all of which is surpassed by the delightful and energetically playful service staff. Jenny and Angelina made our night so much fun we can't wait to return. It's not often you meet staff, including Danny the owner, who are so happy about their work that they are fully engaged with seeing that you have a great time. The menu is broad, delicious and fairly priced. We had cocktails and French Fries (not to be missed) in the Speak-easy (reservations required) and then enjoyed the restaurant for dinner. A Perfect night of Fun! read more

Overall: 4.4/5.0 Great tasting food, Nice but casual setting, so-so service. Recommend: Yup, mainly for the food. Return: Certainly can be on my 3-6 months rotation when I want to affordably splurge a bit. Taste: 5/5 Excellent flavors and seasonings Quality: 5/5 Fresh and perfect Value: 4/5 Pretty good for the quality of cooking and sophistication; but, be prepared to spend 200 or so before tips for 3 people with 2 appetizers, 3 main entrees, 4 glasses of wine total and 1 dessert to share. Service: 3/5 "Manager-appearing" guy at door had horrible greeting manners. Unfriendly and appeared to really not care for us when we checked in. Main wait staff woman assigned to us was too preoccupied with private room service. Rest of wait staff were great though, stepping in to make up for the inattentive table service that they weren't really responsible for. X-factor: 5/5 A hidden gem in Irvine, so was lovely to have a short drive to get to the place, which is right in the Quail Hills shopping center area. Also, nice wine by the glass selection for all taste buds and budgets. read more

See all

I went to Bacchus years ago when it was a wine bar with a tasting room. It was a little stuffy and catered to an older clientele. Now it's been totally refreshed! The menu is brought to you by the chef of Populaire in South Coast Plaza. There is more of an emphasis on craft cocktails (now that the Blind Rabbit team has been brought on). The music is fun 80's new wave. The space now has a cool hipster vibe with a "secret" speakeasy (small, but warm & cozy with a completely different menu and servers in flannel). Some of the items that we ordered were: * Lemongrass x Ginger Chicken Meatballs Butter Lettuce, Cilantro, Mint, Thai Basil, Pickled Cucumber, Nuoc Cham (5/5) * Wagyu Beef Carpaccio Toasted Pinenuts, Pecorino Cheese, Dijon Emulsion, Pea Tendrils - note there's lots of cheese, I think I will ask for no cheese next time (4/5) * Endless Summer Vacation Coconut Campari Fat Washed Vodka, Orange, Strawberry, Lemon, Peach - I thought this cocktail would be too sweet for me, but it well-balanced & refreshing (5/5) * Coffee & Contemplation Cinnamon Orange Infused Vodka, Cold Brew, Cinnamon Syrup (5/5) Service was a little slow since it was so busy, but very friendly and helpful. This new and improved Bacchus was packed on both Friday and Saturday night. Luckily they're situated in a plaza with ample parking (anchored by Albertsons and CVS pharmacy). Can't wait to come back and try out the rest of the food & the cocktail menus! read more

See all

Came here for a girls night and was surprised by how empty it was! I didn't really check out the speakeasy area so maybe there were more folks in there but we were able to spread out quite comfortably. I tried their house white and it was crisp and cold and hit the spot. It's definitely a cute little spot for happy hour or a date night too, very low key vibes which I loved. read more

Great food, drinks and atmosphere. The portions sizes are insultingly small for the price of the dish though...

Tapas and wine is cool but tapas and craft cocktails is even better. Delicious menu brought to you from Chef Nick and Amber Weber of Verdant and Populaire. Cocktail concepts from the team at the infamous Blind Rabbit! Bacchus is located in the Quail Hill plaza with Albertsons, O Fine, Majestic Spa and Pure Bure. Plenty of parking available. Upon entering it was very intimate and modern, with a full bar. My friends and I came during their soft opening and we all had a spectacular time. For appetizers. we shared their Prime Rib Skewers ($16), Tuna Tartare ($19), and the Wedge Salad ($14). Everything was tasty and flavorful. I liked the tuna tartare the most with the wonton chips as a funnel for the beautiful fresh tuna. However the wedge salad won me over for most innovative being presented as individual bite side with a glorious piece of bacon and fancy tomato. Great spin on a classic, and all great for sharing. For my personal entree I had the Bacchus Smash Burger ($18) which had kobe beef in a house-made bun with some of their secret sauce, lettuce, pickle and cheese. It was so juicy and delicious and it came with a side of crispy thin cut fries. So yummy! I also had a few cocktails. I enjoyed both the Young Blood ($18) and Endless Summer Vacation ($18). I liked both of them in a different way. Highly recommended for those who enjoy high quality craft cocktails. I am looking forward to coming back and trying more cocktails. And here's a pro tip - look out for their secret hidden lounge - Cozy Pine. Good luck finding it ;) Until next time Bacchus! read more

See all

Food was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection! The beef skewers are always a great go to. The service is always friendly and timely with taking orders. They also set up a large screen to watch the World Series on and made it very fun to be there! read more

See all

I've lived around here for so long and just somehow never tried this place. Finally went yesterday and loved it! Looks small from outside but as soon as you enter its a cozy place. Food was amazing and the server was friendly and suggested some great items. Def give it a shot. read more

See all

Attentive service from the bartender and enjoyed shared appetizers and creative cocktails.

Second time here, came for full service (1st time was just apps/drinks). We like the food but was disappointed in service this time around. We ordered dip app and shared among 4 so there wasn't enough bread, then were asked if we wanted more and we said yes. It took 15-20 minutes to get a new "loaf" which was an extra $4. Dinner took about 45 minutes to come out too so we were just surprised on how long everything was taking to get a meal. Again, food was great. Portions are relatively small, depending on what you get for the price. read more

Food was a quality, BUT VERY EXPENSIVE!!! With extreme small portions. Also wine selection is very limited, had NO explanation of wines served, at least at the table. Mayt a different experience at the bar. Also the hostess was HORRIBLE!!! While we were reviewing the menu, constantly coming by asking for an order, didn't bother to explain the recommendation, all she wanted was to take an order. Once we're into eating about 30min. portions were so small and menu selection was very limited, didn't have much else to add on, so was just having a conversation then she brings us a bill to close out. BtW, the restaurant was TOTALLY empty, except for our table and it was only 7pm. Never going back again. Worst service ever. read more

Very friendly staff and nice selection of food and drink. Still need to try the speakeasy.

The food was fabulous, the atmosphere great and I loved this restaurant!! There were three of us and we did many small plates each one was delicious, unique, and so so much fun. I would recommend this restaurant to anybody it was fabulous and not overpriced read more

See all

Ordered from the brunch menu. Great food, quiet atmosphere, and excellent service. Highly recommended! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Wonderful brunch! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

The food was good but the quantity is less for the price. Service is good. Ambiance is nice.

Had drinks and dinner here last night, sat at bar. Dinner (Tuna Tartar and Burger) and drinks were good. Big shout out to Jenny who was manning not only the bar but ensuring the rest of the staff was supported and the customers were being taken care of. She was friendly, engaging, mixed great drinks and went out of her way to provide great service. Made our night! read more

The food and wine are delicious, every dish was very flavorful and tasty. The service could use some improvement as most of the night our main server was occupied with the party room so we were constantly flagging down someone to order more food and wine and get water refills. It felt like there wasn't enough servers to serve the 3 main areas (the secret room, the private room and the main dining room) I really hope the service can be improved as it would make the night that much more enjoyable along with the food! Also I would bring my friends back too but only if I knew the service would be good. Service seemed a bit disorganized because they brought the wrong drinks to us and you could tell they were definitely not focused on us versus the party in the private room. Hope they can improve that! read more

See all

Fantastic healthy food . Excellent service. Salad and appetizer were amazing We will be returning soon. read more

Wow. I don't think I have ever had an experience quite like this. I typically bartend late on weekends but I got off early and my (also bartender) boyfriend had a Saturday night off so we decided to try our luck with the Cozy Pine Speakeasy here. Absolutely blown away by everything about this place. The Bar manager Jenny treated us like family and Nicole was so nice. It felt like something out of a sitcom with the cool ambiance and 80s music playing. I didn't know anywhere like this existed in Irvine , and I've lived here since I was 12. I really do think the people working at a restaurant / bar are really the reason people return to a location, and Nicole & Jenny are top notch in service and personality. I cannot wait to come back here and I cannot recommend it more highly if you're thinking of checking this spot out. If I could give more than 5 stars, I'd give 10. I had such a nice time. read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Beautiful - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

Service by Irwin was great! He went out of his way with the lemon peel garnish which just sealed the deal with the drink for a true Paper Plane vibe. The Alma Enamorada was very delicious and the garnish was a nice little touch. Didn't enjoy any food this time as we were waiting for the Speakeasy to open but we will definitely return knowing the Irwin is here. We've been fans of Irwin for a couple years now, so if you are looking for a great bartender who makes impeccable drinks, make sure to go see Irwin! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Menu as of 5/17/24 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Absolutely amazing service. A hidden gem. If you're in the area it's a must try. The chicken meatballs are heavenly.

Quail Hills' hidden gem!!! Good food, legit craft cocktails, good selection of wines, good service, chill vibes and great service, what more could you ask for! One of our favorite spots!!! read more

My husband an I returned last week to Bacchus after a long hiatus. We popped into Happy hour. The bartender Erick was fabulous and so attentive. The food was really great. We will be coming back! read more

Bacchus Bar & Bistro - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Irvine, California

We love everything about Bacchus! When we first moved to the ate, we were looking for a place to regular for a date night, regular HH spot! Jenny made us feel right at home and is always serving up the best cocktails! Not to mention, they've got great food! Check this place out :) read more