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Had another nice experience at Bistango. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the live music adds a fun touch to the evening. The food was enjoyable, and the parking was convenient. Service was okay. Overall, a nice place for dinner with good food and live entertainment.
Our wine group decided to come here for the burgundy themed blind tasting. They charge $20 per bottle for corkage. For a Thurs night they weren't too busy so we had good service. A few friends shared some food so we could try a variety. I really enjoyed the smoked salmon appetizer. I feel that their dinner menu is better than lunch.
We have been to Bistango several times for special occasions like date night and our anniversary. The food is amazing and very flavorful. The specials usually add something unique and worth trying. This visit recently we took my parents and they found the staff to be wonderful, the manager was very funny and visited our table multiple times after learning of our Italian heritage. Plus, the music that night was all my dad's favorites from the 60s and 70s. We couldn't have asked for a better night to return. And we will return again!
After decades of living in the area, we finally decided to try Bistango (I'd first heard of it when I met Diana Ghoukassian). We went on a Friday for lunch. The ambience was notably "business", but bright and cheery. Our waiter was funny and attentive. We asked for a slight modification due to a dietary issue, and he was quick to oblige. We skipped the starter and ordered the Squid Ink Linguine Alle Vongole, Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Shrimp Risotto (minus the bacon), and Prime New York Steak Sandwich. Overall, everything was delicious. The only downside was the overuse of salt in all the dishes. But we definitely enjoyed the meal. We finished it off with a Tiramisu and coffee. I would definitely return for lunch. The reviews for the High Tea and Dinner were not so great, so I'll skip those.
Back here after about 15 years!! About 15 years ago I was here for a corporate event. And I remember this place was, and probably is still, a big thing. The place is around the corporate area of Irvine close to the John Wayne area side. I don't quite remember it the same way when I came back. Since it's in a building where portion is the real high ceiling, it felt more for a corporate event. They still managed however to make the place look and feel cozy. Especially in the area where you can't see the super high ceilings. I had a reservation and they were able to seat us right away. It was an early dinner so at that time, certain areas were still empty. The live band was already there and looks like they were already set up but didn't start until perhaps half an hour later. We were just early. The waiters are attentive and nice. The complimentary bread and butter is delicious! They don't give you the whole basket but one bread per person. They do however go around and give you more if you finish your bread or ask for more. We had the wedge salad, ahi tartar, rib eye steak and for dessert, the tres leches. And all were delish!! The wedge salad is really nice and refreshing. The ahi tartar is fresh and delicious. And oh, the rib eye steak is so yummy and hits the spot! Cooked just the way we asked! And the tres leches is a sweet and delicious ending to our wonderful dinner. We also enjoyed the live band. I also liked their kinda eclectic paintings hung on the walls. However, a few days after this, we went to Bayside restaurant (after a couple of years) and were able to see the similarities. We were able to confirm that they are of the same owners. As such, between the two, though both are really good, I'd probably still go back more often to Bayside. Only because it feels more cozy and intimate.
Food is good with a Ribeye and potatoes dish. Great dessert to boot! The gentleman serving us was spectacular and attentive. Dining in this place feel different as sure, it's a restaurant, but also feels like it is part of an office place. Not a negative at all, but different. The art is great and the band playing is good and entertaining! Food most of all is good! And good value for this caliber. Yes, do visit them and you'll have a good time and a good tummy happiness. Same owners as Bayside restaurant in Newport Beach.
Friday night Birthday dinner turned out pretty good. The ambiance is so artsy. Literally. Great decor. The food was superb. Fresh and flavorful. The service....well let's just say ...they need some assistance. The crowd is all older so if your on the younger side, you may not gel. N8ce toush with the live band. That steak though...perfection!
This review is for the "Jazzed up Afternoon Tea" experience. Props to their social media team whose post advertising the afternoon tea. It looked amazing ! But reality bites. Arrived at 4:20 for our 4:30 reservation, didn't get seated until at least closer to 5:10 (live jazz/music was listed until 5:30 and they did promptly end playing at 5:30). The staff asked if we wanted to be seated indoors immediately (main restaurant not open at that point, and away from the music and lovely garden experience they advertised). We declined and they were able to find a table outdoors and put enough umbrellas to ensure shade. Food. There was an effort to make things cute and tasty but the execution was poorly lacking. Sandwich breads were dry and hard, not soft so you could tell that it had been sitting out. The top of the bread was hard and if you flipped it over, the bread was soft leading me to think Saran Wrap probably could have helped them if they were prepping in advance. The cheese puff was completely deflated. The lemon scone was decent but honestly, I could have made a tastier scone from a box mix (sorry not sorry). We had to ask for clotted cream and jam. The plates didn't have the proper assortment. One plate had 2 chicken sandwiches (missing a salmon one), another plate was missing a rosemary scone (not very good) and had a lemon one substituted. If you were not proactive and didn't ask for stuff, you would have missed out on a lot of what you paid for. Tea was presented not in a teapot but a dinky creamer sized pot. Cute tea cups at a tea party ? Nope. How about some diner like mugs. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! See the pictures. Only AFTER we asked if there were tea cups and teapots, they gave us proper tea cups. Price tag was hefty ... $75+$13.50 service charge+ tax which came to $95.36/pp. I expect hefty for tea experiences. I've paid plenty for tea experiences and I don't mind it if the quality is there. Honestly, unless they overhaul their service and quality, an appropriate price would be $30. Which they probably would never do, but you've been forewarned that this is not the tea experience youre probably used to. The ONLY nice thing was the live music.
4 stars due to Julian and the taste of food. If not for Julian working to rectify, it would have been 2.5 stars. Thanks Julian! At their 1st tea experience. They had a bit of a rough start. At least at our table, Julian our server made things right. Thanks Julian! To start, they seated people without order. Many were inside waiting to be called to be seated but later, we saw the hostess seat those who had just walked in. That prompted many to ask status of their table in which they proceeded to seat people as they approached to front desk. So guests needed to be proactive. For a fancy restaurant, I'd think they'd know how to seat people. Once seated and after we placed our tea selections, they brought one plate with one each savory less one sandwich. We were a party of 2. Saw across the way with a table of 4 ladies, that they too were given just one plate of 1 savory each. After asking Julian, he asked the kitchen and brought out our 2nd plate, also missing a sandwich. Brought that up with Julian and he brought out our missing sandwiches. Thanks Julian! Then our sweets came out. This time though still only 1 plate of single items, there were 2 of the fruit tart! It took a little but the 2nd plate did come out, and that too had 2 fruit tarts! Well, the 2nd plate, instead of the sweet lemon scones, received a savory rosemary scones. I guess they do look a little like. Not sure what's going on in the kitchen. By the way, all the food we did receive was very good. If this become their regular thing, they could get better at this but so far for the cost and experience, I'd say I would not return for tea and makes me wonder if we'd receive our correct orders if we came for dinner. But Julian was great as he explained this was new experience to him and he rectified the errors in food and delivery. Thanks Julian! Should mention that we believe it was the owner, Karen, wo seated us and check know us at the end. We touched upon our experience and she wanted to give complimentary glass of wine to make up for the mishaps but we don't drink. Perhaps we will try them again after they had a few of these.
parking: available either in the structure which is free with validation or valet which is complimentary food: overall everything we ordered was yummy but nothing had that wow factor or blew me out of the water. this is a perfect restaurant for those wanting a good steakhouse meal. *tuna tartare (4/5) - delicious and very flavorful but wish it came with chips other than taro chips as i'm not the biggest fan of taro chips but just a personal preference *calamari (4/5) - average, was good so can't complain! was just your everyday calamari *14oz ribeye (4/5) - again, good ribeye and was tender just not the best i've ever had. i wish this came with the peppercorn sauce instead of the red wine sauce as this was a bit overpowering. *chocolate soufflé (4/5) - i liked how it wasn't too sweet. a good soufflé but again, just not the best i've had. service/ambiance: service was amazing and our waiter was extremely nice and friendly. ambiance was lively with live entertainment singing + playing instruments.
I threw a BD party here for a close friend, everyone enjoyed their food choices, aside from a couple of glitches, and a waiter that was very old, it was a fun evening. A few of my friends had never been here before and the general consensus was that they were impressed and would come back. Their chocolate souffle was terrific and timed perfectly.
Came here to celebrate a graduation and had a wonderful dinner. The dining area was warm, inviting and had many interesting art pieces, but some of the fixtures (e.g. the ceiling panels) are showing their age and could use refreshing. The food was delicious and the portions were generous. We had the roasted beet and avocado salad, panko calimari and blue crab cake appetizers. Everything was flavorful and in ample portions. For entrees, we had the filet mignon medium rare, NZ rack of lamb medium, Chilean sea bass and the linguine with shrimp arrabiata. Everything was prepared perfectly and delicious. We wrapped up the meal with their chocolate soufflé and profiteroles. The wonderful service added to the lovely dinner and their staff were friendly, attentive and thoughtful. Overall, what is most important to us was excellent and we all had a lovely and memorable dinner celebration!
Fancy restaurant with great service and delicious food! My coworkers and I came here for dinner. Parking is validated and valet is free. Interior is large with live jazz music. They have various selection of apps, mains, and wines. I got a Pinot noir which was easy to drink and smooth. We shared the burrata, calamari and crab cake as appetizers. Burrata (7.5/10)-fig jam was too sweet but the burrata was fresh Calamari (7.5/10)-not as crispy as i would like but not overly greasy Crab cake (8/10)-fresh but needed some kind of sauce Pork chop (7.5/10)-got this for my main but it was cooked well sauce was too sweet for my liking, liked how the slaw underneath was not mayo based. We also got desserts to share, the creme brûlée and the pear tart was my favorite. The soufflé was a bit too chocolate for me. Overall very fancy atmosphere with delicious food. Would love to come here for date night my next visit.
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Came here with friends on a Saturday night. Spacious and a lot of tables which is great for large parties. There's also a pretty good size dance floor with live music. The band playing that night was really good. The decor is beautiful and the ambiance is relaxing. Our server was nice and I forgot his name however service was a bit slow. Food: Complimentary Bread 16 Oz Bone in Rib Eye Steak Ahi Tuna Tartare Garlic Soup Chocolate Souffle The food were all delicious. My friends both loved the Lamb Chops and the highlight of our dinner was that Garlic Soup. It was smooth and very flavorful. Although it's a garlic soup, it was not overpowered with garlic taste. It was perfectly balanced. And lastly, the dessert did not WOW me so I wouldn't order it again. Overall, a nice restaurant in a business district area. read more
2 years ago
Yelp asks us to consider Food, Service and Ambiance. What is the hardest to describe? I believe Ambiance. When the Princess and I really go out, ambiance is the killer. It can make up for a 5 , instead of a 6 ounce pour; a medium instead of of a medium rare steak; and a five minute instead of a four minute wait. The bar lounge at Bistango succeeds in all three counts! We have been coming here off and on for 8 or 9 years, ever since we retired to SoCal. The Bar Lounge is the best. It has been consistent and happily it survived Covid. Live music, nice crowd, classy decor. Now for the food. We started with the Chargrilled Octopus and the Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. The Octopus is so tender, we thought we were in Greece. The salad was nicely composed and flavorful. Jane ordered Linguine and Shrimp. She asked for a White Sauce and was accommodated. I had the Pork Chop. It was cooked perfectly. Juicy and tender. Food Heaven. Dancing. By this time, you can guess the service was top notch. It was. The place is definitely where we come to feel great and be treated well. read more
1 year ago
Overall a very good experience. I did not drive but it did not appear to be any parking issues. We where a bit cramped at the table. The table was round and really for about 4-5 people, we had 6 and made it a bit cramped but we made it work. The service was good but the food was okay. I ordered a steak and asked for the plate to be hot. It was okay but did not have as much flavor as I preferred. The sides were good and the desert was good. I would recommend and would visit again. They did have a live band easy listening playing. There is also a bar and you can sit there as well. As for eye candy it is a place you bring your own. read more
3 years ago
One of the treasures in OC and reasonable price. Their steaks are cooked so well and their soufflés must be the best in town. Grand mariner is amazing. read more
2 years ago
Went there with a small group and had a terrific dinner. We ordered some appetizers including the shrimp and octopus. Nice servings tender and flavorful. Entrees were varied with the pork chop, Lamb steak and the Ravioli being the main attractions. All were beautifully cooked and presented. Not a dessert person but a series of desserts are shared including Creme brûlée which I did try... and liked! The Cheesecake and tiramisu rounded this out Great Service and great art I recommend this place! read more
I used to work close by and came to Bistango all the time. However, that was before I started Yelping. Bistango is on Von Karman & Campus in Irvine, and offers New American cuisine. We sat out on the patio for a b'ness gig entitled Cigars & Bullshit. I don't smoke (at least not tobacco - hehehe), but we had wine (courtesy of an aspiring sommelier in our group). We also enjoyed HH apps like sliders, flatbread, truffle fries and calamari. All of the food was very good, especially the calamari. You could tell the calamari was fresh because it was cut from a steak and it was not chewy: 4 Stars. Regarding the ambiance, its very nice inside. There is a double sided bar, and a few booths on the bar side. Live music was playing on a Tue, and the place was lively. There is an expansive patio area to enjoy the weather when its nice. Nonetheless, we enjoyed ourselves even though it was cold & windy bc of the heatlamps: 5 Stars. The service from Casey was great. She was attentive for our large group, and handled special requests with ease: 4 Stars. I'll have to remember to return to Bistango for good food, nice ambiance and great service. read more
Made a reservation for Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised to see live music at Bistango. Haven't seen much live music around since the whole fiasco that was 2020, so that really set a happy mood for the night. After we arrived, we were promptly seated at the far back of the restaurant. It was a nice little area with classy ambiance despite being in an office building. One thing I loved about Bistango is their bread rolls. They are like little pillowy dough squares of heaven!! So delish and fluffy on the inside while having that crunch on the outside. Can't get better than that!! When there is bread, I'm always sold. I also loved that the menu was not too overwhelming with options like some places can be, yet had enough to choose from. I ended up ordering the fettuccine. They don't skimp out on this plate. At other higher end places, the plate may be smaller or you just get a couple pieces of meat on a huge bed of pasta, but not Bistango. Here, they have a nice portion of fettuccine noodles with a perfect amount of filet mignon. Two words. So flavorful!! The meat cut was so tender and there was definitely enough to last every bite of noodles. Mm mm mm. I'm a total sucker for portions and this definitely satisfied me. If you are like me and want to get their money's worth at a higher end place, yet still have something delish, don't hesitate to order the fettuccine. In regards to parking, they valet parking, but you can also do self parking and get your ticket validated. There is plenty of parking so I would go the self parking route. Free is always better! read more
5 years ago
The service was everything. On top of everything. From the moment we pulled into valet, everyone was warm and inviting. Super attentive without being too much.. I accidently dropped the red pepper flakes all over the table and they were there immediately to scrape off of table.. without impeding in our dining space.. simple gestures like that is top notch in my book. The food was delicious, everything prepared perfectly. We tried the ribeye, Seabass, fettuccine alfredo, hamburger with truffle fries (yum), octopus, and both souffles. The ambience was just right with live music. Overall a good dining experience. read more
4 years ago
I have been to Bistango with my date for the sunset jazz concerts twice. The jazz concert is held in the beautiful patio outside the restaurant . The food is very excellent and the music is very jazzy. I order the New York steak with baby potatoes and it was so delicious, that you can cut it with your butter knife. The waiter service is on there toes, always there to serve you. If you wanna empress your date or love one, I highly recommend Bistango Restaurant in Irvine, Calif. read more
I invited our dear friends for dinner to celebrate my husband's 45th birthday, and I could not have asked for a better experience. Our waiter Victor was and always has been phenomenal. He took excellent care of our party. Everything at Bistango, from the ambiance to the exceptional food and exemplary service, makes it one of my favorite restaurants. Thanks to everyone for ensuring our evening turned out perfectly. read more
Wow just wow! Excellent service, amazing food, live music and special birthday treats, one of my favorite restaurants in OC thus far. I had the tuna tartar, lamb chops, skirt steak, chocolate soufflé, side car and my favorite the tiramisu cake. I am a big fan of tiramisu and wow they really outdid themselves! Or waiter was so friendly and welcoming he was always very attentive and took care of us 100% the staff was super friendly from the get! I really appreciate this restaurant for its welcoming staff, because we had a bad experience at the previous spot we went to. Looking forward to aiming back with friends! read more
3 years ago
Recently revisited Bistango last week. Just like I remembered it, great cocktails to go along with the live music. The different steaks cooked on point for all 5 of us. Don't miss on the soufflés....a must and also a must order 45 min ahead of time. read more
Love Bistango! Great atmosphere with live music, food is very high quality (consequently a bit pricey) and the service is always great. When you first get seated they come around with a warm sourdough roll for everyone served with soft butter. Plenty of delicious entrees to pick from. I had the NY Strip and it was fantastic. The green peppercorn sauce is a MUST! Lastly, do yourself a favor and order the soufflé. Your diet can wait another day. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
food was delicious here definitely a recommended spot to check out location had valet parking can't miss it large venue with many seatings and staff members dark and ambient tuna tartare 4/5 creamy and delicious shrimp cocktail 4/5 large shrimp with great cocktail sauce sea bass 5/5 superb definitely try short rib 4/5 tasty read more
2 years ago
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3 years ago
Beautiful ambiance and the food was amazing. Surprised that more people weren't here for this service read more
4 years ago
3 years ago
Love the atmosphere and the food! I have been to Bistango a few times now, special occasion and not! Each time I've loved the food and love the live music really sets a vibe. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
3 years ago
Delicious food! The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare! Not many places get the right temperature for food. The 16oz Rib Eye comes with one side of potatoes, we added one mo re side and it was enough for two people! Previously we had had the wedge salad as an appetizer which I did not take a picture off but it was delicious too. We went on a Saturday night and they had live music, very nice location. Service was very flat and we had to wait a long time to have our order taken but it's definitely a place I would go back for the great food. Parking it's $8 an hour but they validate your ticket at the end which I was not expecting but was very nice. read more
2 years ago
Went to see the band Old Spice which was listed on Bistango's website (picture posted below). I sat at the bar, the bartender was not attentive. He was busy talking to a regular about cooking. Finally, I flagged down a female bartender and ordered a drink and a wedge salad. I noticed there was a musician setting up but it was not Old Spice. I asked the bartenders which band was playing and they didn't know. I asked the guy who was setting up and he said his French wife was playing jazz. Salad was ok, the tablespoon of dressing was nice and peppery but had to ask for more dressing. Jazz singer was ok but not the vibe I was expecting so I ate my salad and left. Talked to the band leader of Old Spice online and he said Bistango double-booked and cancelled on them at the last minute. Clearly, Bistango BS'd them because if they double-booked, then why wouldn't they go with Old Spice like they had posted on their website??? Also, when my cab driver tried to get out of the gate, it wouldn't let him through. There was no attendant. He had to call several times, the guy told him he was there for more than five minutes so he had to pay even though the sign said there's a 15 minute grace period. He had to get out of the car and flag someone down who finally let us out. It's a very disorganized place all around. What a disappointment, I won't return! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Wow, Bistango certainly wins a spot among my favorite restaurants; they have excelled in all-around customer service (desk, bar, servers, bussers, and a visit from management), food presentation/taste, and experience. No matter the group size or occasion, they know how to make one feel pampered, never feeling rushed. We had the pleasure of dining here twice within a 2-week period recently: for a fabulous dinner; then, for New Year's Eve celebration! I thoroughly enjoyed their Lobster Louis Salad followed by a generous "petite" portion of their Prime Angus Flat Iron Steak. On New Year's Eve, I was SO disappointed that they didn't serve a lobster salad (as listed on the menu); instead, they substituted a creamy lobster soup, which did not compare. Fearing that they would reduce their portions/quality for a big event, I was pleased with my Chilean Sea Bass -- an impressive and delicious cut. Looking forward to experiencing their Happy Hour! read more
4 years ago
Amazing food, service, valet and drinks. What more could a girl ask for?! From the moment I parked my car to the last step out of the restaurant I was impressed. The live music was icing on my cake. I will be back - especially for that Bistango bourbon martini read more
7 years ago
Very good vibe, mid age crowd, it has a bar, not too crowded but let me tell you this place is bomb food. All the dishes were great. Waiters are humble, knowledgeable and quick. The food is great quality, well spiced and well cooked. I would suggest it's mastros quality in my opinion. Highly recommended to try. read more
More info about Bistango in Irvine
19100 Von Karman Ave
Ste 100
Irvine, CA 92612
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(949) 752-5222
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https://www.bistango.com
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Ask the Community - Bistango in Irvine
Is there dancing? What is the typical age group?
Yes, there's dancing when there's a live band playing. Average age group range is 40-80 yrs young.
Is self parking available?....is there a cost for parking? Does the restaurant validate
Valet is free(you should tip valet person) and there's free parking around the area if you want to walk.
Any live music this weekend and if so what type of music?
Yes. Friday is Motown and Saturday is a 3 piece band playing 60-80's primarily
Do they still have happy hour with Covid right now? Days and times? Anyone have a pic of the happy hour menu?
Yes
Do you have hh on weekends too and what time does it start and end?
They have hh on Sat 5-7pm.
Do they have live music, piano bar?
Yes! Live music at least Thursday through Saturday!
Are there any vegan options? Thinking about going here for my birthday.
Yes!! They have a "Fusilli Alle Verdure" that is vegan as it comes on the menu. Also several things that you can ask to omit cheese, and would be vegan. The Organic Baby Mixed Greens, Baby Spinach Salad, and Roasted Baby Beets Salad can all be vegan…
What is the average type of attire worn to dinner?
Business casual at least. This is a nice, stylish restaurant.
I've seen happy hour menus from years ago, does anyone know what their current happy hour times are? Or what's on the happy hour menu? Thanks!
Yes their happy hour ends when they close but you have to be by the bar area or the tables around it.. And it's great by the way... they have salmon skewered, Lamb chops,…
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