Bistro 163 is a non-profit restaurant that "Pay It Forward" to hungry individual. The staff is all volunteers that donate their time and paying it forward. They provide free meals to hungry people who cant afford to buy food. That itself is a reason for 5 stars. Visit their website to learn more. I have ordered from here several times, prior to knowing what their community mission was. Now that I know, I will continue to do so. Now, let's talk food! Amazing! I ordered the Bistro Burger (several time) and it is legit homemade and hand pressed, this is NOT a froze beef pattie. The bacon, thick cut and cooked to perfection, the grilled onions, smokey tomato jam...absolutely delicious! read more

I love the "pay it forward" philosophy of this place. Dan takes great care with everything he makes, there simply isn't anything on the menu that isn't high quality and perfectly cooked. The volunteers are always so pleasant and the atmosphere is cozy and quaint. Can't go wrong. read more

This is a pay it forward restaurant. Servers are volunteers and funds gained go to address food insecurity. The food is really good too. We love the flatbreads, bread pudding, soups and sandwiches...great for brunch too as the eggs benedict is divine. Enjoy a great meal and do a good deed. read more

A simple BLT that was sublime. Somehow it filled me up. The tomatoe soup was out of this world. You could tell this one made from fresh sweet tomatoes. read more

You can't help but feel His presence in this wonderful hidden gem. What an incredibly delicious, thoughtful, and generous way to help the hungry in Port Clinton. Get the bread pudding to go for a tummy warming treat later. God is good! read more

Wonderful service oriented lunch place. Pay what you can or more. Homemade soups, salads, daily specials. Volunteer support and excellent chef. read more

After visiting Catawba Island Club to meet a broker, looked on Yelp for a place to have lunch. I found the Bistro and thought we would try it this. The prenup is very interesting. You pay either the suggested price or more. If you're unable to pay, you can work for the amount of your meal. The people working there are volunteers. Tips go to help others in need. Jen our server explained everything after the asking if this was our first time there. I ordered a Florentine eggs Benedict. My husband had a salmon eggs Benedict. It took a little big longer to get our dish. I'm guessing because they were busy. The plates came outline pieces of art. Very nicely plated. If you're in a hurry, it might bug be a good idea to try. However if you want tasty food and the ability to help others. I'd highly recommend you go to Bistro 163. Enjoy. read more

See all

Soup and sandwiches were very good. Service was great. Prices were very reasonable. Will return if ever in the area again.

Such a cute place located in the middle of a senior center. The food is delicious, reasonable priced and the staff is friendly. No pop or soda. read more

I recently had brunch here on aSaturday. My sister and I both had the Spinach Mushroom Quiche. It was So Good! The crust was homemade and it had fresh ingredients! It came with a cup of soup so I tried the Sausage bean soup That was homemade with bits off carrot , celery , white beans and a good amount of crumbled sausage all seasoned perfectly!!! We had a slice of key lime pie that was the BEST Ive ever had, including what Ive had in Key West! This restaurant is a GEM in Port Clinton! Love this place read more

We came here based on reviews and were not disappointed! The food was great and what an awesome concept!

This place is so unassuming on the outside but don't let that fool you! I went there with a bunch of retired co-worker friends for a visit/lunch we do monthly. The food was delicious & nicely presented, nice modern vibe once you get inside, very clean business as well. I had the tomato bisque & half Ohio Cobb salad which were both pretty and delicious. I took home a Cranberry Turkey Carver sandwich for my hubby to try because he is working during the day. I forgot to take pics of our meals because the company I was with, stories shared, atmosphere and food was so wonderful. All of the staff were so positive, I happily gave extra to support others to have a creative lunch here or to be able to attend one of their benefit meals. I hadn't ate here before as I wasn't sure how it would work or if it would be a high pressure type of donation for the meal. No pressure at all, just a suggested pricing on the menu and genuine support for their mission. I will definitely eat here again, it easily compares in quality and service to other upscale restaurants in our community. read more

Great food; good desserts; good service service; an opportunity to give back; pay it forward!

Awesome food. Had Wild Salmon benedict... side of bacon for my dogs. Had outdoor seating so my dogs could sit with me. Choc chip breading pudding took home for dessert. Service...food was excellent. Pay it forward resteurant...pay what you can afford. If you cant can volunteer and eat for free. Staying here for vacation will definitely be back a few times this week. read more

We were a party of six. Everyone's food was great. The tomato bisque soup was amazing, the burger was also really good. I highly recommend. read more

Food is good, service is good. Atmosphere is good. Feels cozy and local. Always see someone I know.

We have been meaning to come here for a while now after reading awesome Yelp reviews and word of mouth, and finally made it while staying up at our condo in Port Clinton. It can be tricky to find as it's in a plaza off of Route 163, hence the name, and the outside of the building is very plain and difficult to spot. However, the inside is anything but plain! This is a not-for-profit, pay it forward restaurant, the first time I've ever been in such a place. The decor is cute and cozy, like a little bistro as the name implies. This place is run by mostly volunteers and all were very friendly. They put suggested prices on the menu as they invite anyone to come and eat, regardless of your ability to pay, which is very nice to me. If you are able, it is encouraged to pay more than the suggested prices so that they are able to pay for the meals for someone who can not afford to do so. Let's get to the important part: the food! The beverage menu is limited, but they had a tasty-sounding infused water of the day, which happened to be with basil. The flavor was subtle, yet refreshing. The pick two lunch was a nice surprise. The soup of the day was tomato bisque and it was incredible! Creamy and flavorful with some tomato chunks and a nice sprinkle of cheese and green onions on top. The grilled cheese had a nice flavor too with a buttery and herby flavor and paired nicely with the soup. It reminded me of my grandmother's famous "toasted cheese" and was quite nostalgic for me. My boyfriend got the salmon eggs Benedict and it was huge! He got an entire salmon filet on top and it was cooked perfectly and flaky. I'm not much of a hollandaise sauce person, but theirs was good. I can not recommend this place enough. The food is very good for a non-profit eatery and provides a nice place to go if you need meal assistance. The volunteer serving us said they served over 20,000 meals to the community during COVID, thats pretty incredible! They also have some merch on sale such as coffee beans, candles, and homemade apple butter (so delish!) to support their mission. Stop in when you get a chance! The hours are very limited, but so worth it! read more

Bistro 163 - Salmon Eggs Benedict & Pick Two Lunch: 163 Grilled Cheese with Tomato Bisque - Salad Near Me - Port Clinton, Ohio

Stopped by this bistro during a recent trip to Port Clinton. Upon walking in we were asked if we'd ever been here before which is a fairly typical question, but I'm glad they asked! After saying no, they let us know they are a pay-it-forward restaurant and explained their three year history and the residents of Ottawa county that they support. No one is turned away from a meal and those who can pay do so to help those who cannot. If you cannot pay your first meal is free and any subsequent meals you're asked to volunteer. All the wait staff are volunteers, but the cooks are full-time, don't worry! The food was delicious. We had a burger and Bistro Cristo. Would definitely come back to support this establishment and their cause! read more

What a great concept. The food was good. Loved the cucumber infused water. Will definitely go back.

A very lovely place to stop by, have lunch, and pay it forward! The Ohio Cobb Salad is AMAZING.

The food is great. Service on point and the atmosphere just awesome, I highly recommended any time

Amazing food! So much flavor,service was fast and the food was worth so much more than the price was set! The Atmosphere is very nice it gives you the calm cafe vibe! IF YOU WANT AMAZING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH GO HERE!!! read more

The Pecan Chicken Salad croissant was very good, but the croissant is dry it needed butter or Mayo on it. The turkey burger on a pretzel roll was excellent. I don't recommend the pick two. We did this with the Pecan Chicken salad and half of the House Roast Turkey sandwich. The sandwich was extremely small. Our fault we split this lunch and both left hungry. However the Salad and House Turkey Sandwich tasted really good. We donated extra money to cover someone's meal. Nice place, great concept. read more

If you're looking for a good restaurant this is it!! The food was so fresh and delicious! The servers were so friendly. Definitely put this on your todo list read more

My wife and I stopped by upon reading the many good Yelp reviews. Bistro 163 is deserving of them all. I had the Bistro Burger, which was top notch. My wife had the chicken salad plate. Bistro is a non-profit that offers free meals in exchange for volunteering at the restaurant. The menu provides "suggested" prices. The service was very friendly and accommodating. We'll definitely return. read more

What a joy this restaurant is! We were so pleasantly surprised at the ambiance inside. A strip mall location, but a sweet and cozy interior! Mary was so attentive and filled us in on the mission, menu, and joy of Bistro 163. We ordered Swiss and bacon with spinach quiche and the 163 Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque soup. Every morsel was amazing, including the fruit salad garnish. Every staff person we talked with was friendly and happy. We cannot wait to return! read more

We stopped here on the way back to Dayton from Put In Bay for some breakfast. I had the ComeUnity breakfast and it was exactly what I wanted. I also had the most delicious caramel almond milk latte. The staff is so lovely, and we met Chef Stacy, Laura, Jack and Yo. Soo soo lovely! You must stop here. read more

Bistro 163 - Salad Near Me - Port Clinton, Ohio

My family and I love this place! The vibe is comfortable and the volunteers are so friendly. We love the lunch options, especially the soup and the chicken salad croissant. All around great experience! read more

Everything about this place is great. The volunteers are so kind, the food is fantastic, and the pay it forward concept is so heart warming. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone! read more

Great spot for lunch. The menu is small but there's something for everyone and the food is excellent. Service is provided by wonderful volunteers. The setting is warm and cozy. The pay it forward feature means you get a great meal and help folks less fortunate who can it for free. read more

Absolutely amazing from start to finish. We unknowingly arrived a few minutes before they opened, but they welcomed us and invited us to come inside and have a seat and a beverage while we waited. I was bummed that there were no breakfast options, but everything we had was so delicious that I quickly forgot about wanting breakfast. The server talked me into trying the chilled strawberry soup, while my dining companion had the tomato bisque. Both were incredible. The strawberry soup reminded me of yogurt without the tangy aftertaste. The chicken salad croissant was probably the best chicken salad I've had in a long time. Savory, not sweet. I tried some of the lunch bag salmon and it was cooked to perfection, with just the right mix of lemon and dill. The classic bread pudding was to die for. Served piping hot, with a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top. Sticky, gooey and decadent. The entire staff was delightful and made us feel like family. The head chef introduced herself and explained the pay-it-forward concept and how successful it has been thus far. I paid double the "suggested" prices because I felt the dining experience was definitely worth it and I am happy to support their cause and the community. Can't wait for my next trip to Port Clinton so that I can pay another visit to this fantastic establishment! read more

See all

Stopped in this sweet bisto and was greeted warmly. The wait staff are all volunteers who share knowledge about the non profit goal. The food is lovely, and the place itself is clean. A def go again read more

What a great experience. Foodie menu that delivers. Tomato bisque was awesome and the beet, goat cheese, & walnut salad was perfect. Highly recommended! read more

Love the food here. Love that it is a pay it forward restaurant where you give more to some in need who can't pay. You do this instead of tipping. All workers are volunteers. read more

This is without a doubt the best food in this whole area. Everything is fresh and top notch. And the cause is wonderful. Best burger ever!! Suzanne I. read more

Best. Burger. Ever. I have nothing bad to say about this place. Awesome concept. Helps the community out and teaches both young and old The importance and satisfaction of volunteering. read more

This is a nice dining experience. The food is top notch. I had the burger and it was great. My wife loved the 163 grilled cheese. The bread pudding is excellent. Ok, enough about the food. This is a pay it forward restaurant. Those that can afford to pay for their meal do so. Those cannot afford the meal are not turned away and served the same quality of food that I was. What a wonderful idea. read more

This place is a must try spot for lunch! We stopped here after reading other positive yelp reviews and had such a pleasant experience. The staff was so friendly and welcoming and very informative about the company's mission. It's a pay it forward restaurant geared towards using the extra donations received to feed those less fortunate. I was happy to do so. The food was very delicious. I highly recommend the burger! We will definitely be back and recommend to others! read more

Everything I've had here is wonderful! The burger is awesome, and chock full of extra goodies, including house made tomato jam. Not only will your tummy be happy here, but your heart will be as well, because this is a pay-it-forward restaurant. The wait staff are all volunteers, so as much of the proceeds as possible will go toward feeding the community. No tips, just pay-it-forward so those not as blessed can receive a delicious meal at the Bistro as well. Try the bread pudding, it's wonderful too! read more

Bistro 163 - Everything on the menu is excellent! - Salad Near Me - Port Clinton, Ohio

Loved it,loved the concept and the food was out of this world,had the bistro burger and wife oh the salad options, can't wait to get back.