Five Ten Bistro has one of the best locations for date-night in downtown Merced. I give them a 10/10 for ambiance. I ordered the chicken Marsala which was good, but nothing too extraordinary so I'm changing the scale and giving them a 3/5 for food. (I would go back to try the other dishes just because of their location). Also, I had gone around 7pm; it was not busy at all. Service was a little slow, but if your on a date and don't want to be interrupted, then the slow service won't bother you. read more

Five Ten Bistro - Outside dining - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

See all

Good food, great service, perfect location, staff and owners are very friendly and hard working

Location: SIT OUTSIDE well if weather allows of course. the seating outside is beautiful. the canopies and you can look at the fountains, i highly recommend. The weather when we went was perfect, it was so nice sitting outside and taking in the wind and enjoying our appetizers appetizers! all of us ordered appetizers as our meal. they looked so great!! They were so great! all three of us got burgers of some kind. we also had to try the Bruschetta! Drinks: we were simple that day and just drank water. But i can not wait to come back for the happy hour! on Sundays i would be all over that mimosa deal if i could have champagne Our server was good Our waters were refilled often and she gave good recommendations read more

We went for mothers day brunch, was not good food was cold and server was rude! Never brought my waffels! We where not told about the the omletts waffels or eggs benidict that coukd be ordered from the kitchen, i overheard the server telling another table with more people about it thats how i found out had ask for silverware 5 times still never got any. My eggs bendict where already cold when i did receive them and our waffles took so long we left before receiving them the first ones that they brought where so hard they litterly fleww off my plate when i cut them! Manager was also rude to my husband! Willl not be returning for 70$ for 2 people you think they would have been more accommodating read more

See all

I love love the food I never have to ask To take back or gotten something wrong with my good servers always take our order right they always listen to us before anything double ask if everything is good give us suggestions on drinks cucumber martini is the BEST so hasp we have this place in down town !! Always happy not too pricey elegant place I highly recommend it !! read more

Five Ten Bistro - Deep fried pickles sweet potato fries French onion soup blue cheese burger with over easy egg and a blonde beer creme Brulé. - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

While the offered food choice was varied, and the amount more than abundant, I would say it was about average in quality compared to places I've dined out of town. The thing I found most annoying was dining the evening a large group from UC Merced was also present,. This group was about 30 people who,after some welcoming speeches, were loudly enjoying the gathering. That being said, our server was efficient and friendly. I would suggest management inform those reserving a table there would be a large crowd in the restaurant at the same time. We would have been happy to alter our reservation. read more

I was a bit skeptical of this place with 3.5 stars but this place turned out to be AMAZING. Came here for dinner and the salmon and chicken Marsala entrees were fantastic and the drinks were great. Came back for brunch the next day since they have a great mimosa brunch too. 5 for $5 or bottomless mimosas for $10 with an entree. Got the veggie omelette and it was bomb, house fries (potatoes) were unreal. Definitely one of the cooler places to go in Merced. read more

I LOVE the clam chowder. Its a little different and has some spice but its full of flavor.

Always on Point ! Have even used delivery!! From appetizers , There pastas , chicken dishes, always delicious delicious

Great little bistro in downtown Merced. Friendly & attentive server. Very dog friendly patio. Our server brought a bowl of water for a little doggy. Very nice sitting outside by the water fountain. Great salads, wraps, burgers, fries & drinks on a lovely Saturday afternoon! read more

Five Ten Bistro - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

Outside seating was very welcoming and comfortable. They have big fans running so it's not too warm. The food was amazing. We had the crab wonton tacos, chicken stroganoff and a burger. The server forgot a few things but realized it on her own and was very nice, younger girl. I forgot to take pics because I was too busy eating. I will definitely he going back ASAP. read more

so underwhelming nothing was really good but same experience you get at apple bees or dennys with a high price tag

The food is amazing! Atmosphere it great and the service was wonderful! I'm a big believer in treating people the way you'd like to be treated and kindness goes a long way here. Highly recommend read more

WOW!!! And that's an understatement! I made reservations for 25 at the Five Ten Bistro and was unbelievably blown away by the service, cleanliness, and the FOOD! My husband, sister, and daughter (2yr old) went just the week before for lunch and was impressed so we reserved a dinner evening for a family event. I didn't get our servers name but HOLY SHIT were they friendly and kind enough to translate for my grandpa (speaks Spanish only). The appetizers, entrees, and deserts surpassed my expectation! Merced doesn't offer much but this place is the place to go! Family and kid FRIENDLY! I was so happy to see a baby changing station in the bathroom and they offer a kids menu! Highly recommend the Five Ten Bistro! read more

**Great ambience, reasonable prices, but mediocre food** I came here for lunch to celebrate a special occasion. As I entered, I noticed that the atmosphere was relatively classy, the rooms were spacious, and the decor was chic. They have a beautiful water fountain outside right next to the building, which made for good scenery. The owner (?) greeted us in a friendly manner and told us he would have a server help us. I looked through the Yelp reviews and tips beforehand and we decided to order: the Spicy Crab Wonton Tacos ($10) as an appetizer; the Beer Batter Fish and Chips ($12) for lunch; and the Mahi Mahi Burger ($13). The waitress was well mannered and gave us plenty of time to choose what to order. The Spicy Crab Wonton Tacos were scrumptious upon first bite! The pico, sour cream, and sriracha gave them a nice kick (although the wonton shells could have been thicker and crunchier). I cannot say the same for the Mahi Mahi Burger or the Beer Batter Fish and Chips. The burger was very dry and lacked flavor. There were several small streaks of sauce on the Mahi Mahi and that seemed like all there was in terms of condiments, according to my palate. I realized that the burger was not on their lunch menu, but after asking the waitress, she said that they would be able to serve it regardless (I checked their online menu and the Mahi Mahi Burger is on there, but just not on the lunch menu for some reason). The Beer Batter Fish and Chips were run-of-the-mill and could definitely use more crispness. It came with dipping sauces (ranch and spicy aioli) that did help add more flavor. Both dishes (burger and fish and chips) came with some average french fries. The waitress came by several times to check up on us, which I appreciated. However, throughout the course of the meal she never filled up our water and only offered to do so after we finished all of our food. I was hoping to find a new place in town for special events and Five Ten is definitely the place in terms of ambience, space, and pricing, but the service was just satisfactory and the food was lackluster. If I do come again, I would stick to their appetizers. My whole experience here could be summarized as: great when it started out and gradually became less remarkable. read more

See all

Ordered a rib-eye steak and a pasta with shrimp and scallops. Both were good and brought out in a timely manner. Server was efficient and checked on us often. read more

I've been a great customer to this restaurant but today I was just sitting having a cup of water on the patio when I felt something sharp in my mouth which was glass I chewed most of it i guess because i thought it was the ice I informed the manger about this showed him he apologized and gave me another cup water which I told him I wasn't comfortable drinking it. As I said there maybe hoping for him to remember to be a little more sympathetic to what just happened But I will be seeking legal action at this point read more

Five Ten Bistro - The glass I took out my mouth - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

I felt disappointed considering the prices. We went in to order takeout and felt very rushed to order. We got the calamari appetizer to eat while we waited for our food and it was basically just batter (if you would've told me I was eating a type of plain crunchy chip I would've believed you and not known there was any calamari). I got the tortellini for dinner and felt like it could've been a picky kids meal considering the lack of seasoning, flavor, and depth. Brother had fish and chips that he said weren't bad actually and two other family members said the broccoli was a no go. For $112 I definitely wouldn't come back read more

We used Five Ten to cater our wedding last weekend. I had high expectations for my caterer, being that my dad used to be one and I knew what I wanted. Robert and Mark went above and beyond and did a wonderful job! Robert told me that they would decorate our venue for us, as long as we provide instructions, and they did a great job! My husband was very happy with the outcome! The food was also so amazing! It was flavorful and hot and everyone said they enjoyed it! Not to mention that his staff made sure we (the newlyweds) ate some food and had something to drink all the time! Now we get to enjoy the leftovers! Thank you for making our day amazing! read more

Came here on a Date! Really nice restaurant, super clean. I ordered the 510 Penne and it was really good. Great service over all

I had the pasta 510 penne and my bf had a bacon hamburger both of our meals were very delicious & super filling! It was our first time there definitely a great experience & definitely going back! read more

Five Ten Bistro - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

I received a "compliment" from one of the owners in response to my review. (Literally, they sent it as a compliment-- I think you can see it on my home page). Anyway, they basically accused me of being a competitor in the restaurant business (which I am not-- I have never worked in the restaurant industry, I just like to eat at them), and said: "It's really unfortunate that you would write a ficticous review. It really bad that you as a fellow restauranteur would write ficticous reviews just to make your establishment better. We make all of our sauces fresh and I would love for you to come prep all of our fresh food with our team. We love our food and our team is very passionate about serving great food. We here at the five ten bistro wish your establishment nothing but the best. Cheers!" (Signed, Robert M. Merced, CA) Glad to hear your sauces are fresh, but no mention of the fish and chips I discussed in my review. Is the fish as fresh as possible? Are the fries house-made? Is the Caesar salad made with house-made dressing or croutons, and hand-chopped lettuce? And no thank you, I will not come prep with you. I have a job that I do very well, and when I go out to eat, I leave the cooking to the professionals. But when I see bags of food being opened from my table, and I taste food that does not seem house-made or fresh, I'm going to call a spade a spade. I'll give you another try when I hear you're serving seasonal, locally-grown food, and you've hired a chef. And I'll pay chef prices. read more

I have never before walked out on a restaurant, and I have never before refused to pay for an entree. Now I have. I must add that my dining experience at Five Ten was on Valentine's Day, so comments on wait and service can be taken as you want. However, the food quality should have been equal to if not better than any other day. And it just plain wasn't. We arrived at the bistro and were immediately seated; we did have a reservation. However, no server came up to us to introduce herself for a good 5-10 minutes, and then it was only to give us water. She never gave her name, I still don't know it, and we learned later when two diners sat next to us and got a different server, that she didn't even tell us the specials. After the decent wait, we ordered everything at once, so as to get the ball rolling. Our starters came out pretty quickly, but his soup, a lobster bisque, pretty much tasted like spicy tomato soup. The strawberries on my salad were a bit under-ripe and the vinaigrette they chose only enhanced this bitterness. We weren't impressed, but thought things would get better. Twenty minutes went by. Twenty minutes. No word from our server. Then, she comes out with a menu. They've run out of the peppered ribeye, so sorry. Why did it take so long to realize this!?! We mention that we overheard that they were out of the chicken as well. This comes as a shock to our server. He chooses a steak item, cooked medium. Hopefully it will surprise him. Another 15 minutes and finally the food arrives. EIGHT machine cut ravioli in an orange-y sauce with some fatty pancetta on the side. I've had ravioli in many places and never paid so much for so little. To add to the price, it was overly salty, and the pasta tasted pre-made. Now, the menu didn't say homemade that I recall, but if I'm paying $24 for cheese ravioli, I'm expecting something that wasn't taken out of a freezer box and thawed in the microwave. He offers me half of his steak since my portion is so small. It's practically raw. Not bleeding still, but very raw red in the middle. At this point, we've had it. The wait, the sub-par food - at the price we're paying, this is not acceptable. We privately told the server that we did not want the food and would pay for what we had already consumed. Beyond the food being poorly cooked, and the wait and unprofessional nature of that, I saw the server share our displeasure with the man in the kitchen running expo, who I can only assume was the chef/owner, and he did nothing. He then came out to a table of ladies enjoying their night, and chatted with them. One would think that if there were a criticism of your food, one significant enough for people to refuse to pay for the most expensive part of their meal, you would want to learn why and how you could improve. Apparently not at this restaurant. I will not return. And I will not be recommending this to my colleagues, friends, or passersby. read more

Disclaimer: I'm not from Merced so I can't speak about how this place compares to others (which is often important to take into account), but I can tell you how my experience was. Upon entering the restaurant, I immediately noticed how nice it was. What does "nice" mean? It was new, it was clean, and the décor was sharp. As you would expect, it still felt new, which can be good, but it can be a challenge as well because some people want to walk into a place that feels lived in, comfortable, and familiar. This restaurant IS new so give it time, it'll get there. I entered through the bar on the side and the greeting was warm and friendly as I walked past the bar and bartenders and into the restaurant's reception area. All smiles from the staff. Great. Walking into the restaurant, it's easy to miss some of the details and thought they put into the décor. Stained & polished concrete floor was very well done. The planks on the walls, the silver metallic upholstery, all of it well done. You know a lot of thought went into the space and it will only become more cohesive over time. I do think they need to further accessorize the space, add some window treatments, hide some electrical cords to the wall hangings in the bar, etc. Remember, it's new and all of that takes time. Think of moving into a new home... it takes a while to look "lived in", right? There you go. Food was not only great, but was probably too good for the prices they charge. Not a single thing on the menu was over $19. When I saw the word "Filet Mignon" on the menu, I immediately assumed it would be $30. Nope... $19. Flat iron steak... $18. Nowhere on the menu will you find anything in the twenties. I was shocked. What's cool about that is that you can go ahead and have an appetizer or salad, and your entree, and dessert and not spend $100/head. Let me share with you what I ate/tasted: Mushroom bisque: great. So rich and luxurious with lots of mushroom flavor. I would like a large mug of this while watching a movie on my couch. So comforting. Flat iron steak with caramelized mushrooms and herb butter: fantastic. Steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Mushrooms actually WERE caramelized, not simply sauteed and wet and boring. Fish & chips: I'm not sure what kind of fish it was but I really don't care. It was the most delicate and tender fish I've ever had in fish and chips. It was served with a pink sauce (chipotle mayo perhaps?) and that was awesome. I dipped everything into that sauce. Suggestion: list that sauce on the menu as an accompaniment to the fish. Buffalo mozzarella ravioli: Also great. If I were to offer one suggestion, it would be to include a bit more sauce regardless of how simple: olive oil, or brown butter, or something. It just needed a bit more richness to bring it all together. 510 penne: very tasty. It reminded me of an alfredo mixed with a carbonara. All things I like. I also had one of their cucumber martinis. That was good and I don't even like cucumbers. Not sure how they did that but it reminded me of that refreshing water you get when you're at a luxury day spa. So there you have it. If you're thinking about trying five ten, do it quick. I think they can safely raise their prices based on the overall quality of the experience and the food. In my town, their prices would be double without a second thought. This place will only get better with time as any new restaurant needs time for everything to gel. They're already 98% of the way there. read more

Being derived from the French language - A bistro has now been defined in the USA as a small restaurant serving moderately price meals for a professional clientele. If you eat out a lot, you will notice that bistro's tend to provide a higher dining experience than your family restaurant down the road. Seeing the word bistro at this particular location, I imagined that it would be perfect and professional location to do a business lunch and not your busy hustling family restaurant down the road (Chili's location) with kids yelling/ screaming around, serving meals that anyone can reproduce with no originality to it. The reason why I dine out is not due to convenience it is actually due to the ability of restaurants to give an orgasm of the taste buds and take me on a culinary experience that cannot be achieved at home...the one that keeps you begging for more every time... If I was looking to eat out for convenience I would not be going to a bistro nor a family restaurant; I would be headed to the nearest KFC drive-thru window buying buckets of crappy fried chicken and returning to the office for the meetings. With that said, the food here is overrated for a bistro. Don't get me wrong the food was ok...it tasted good but it had no originality to it. It was something that you could find at your local family restaurant or Chili's. Something anyone can throw together at home...again not reflecting the word "Bistro". The service was mediocre (water glass was not being refilled timely) and the most annoying thing was to have employees bring their kids and let them run around the restaurant, lay on the high bar couch and yell. Not a professional establishment. Don't get me wrong, I love kids!! However, even as a owner I would not bring my kids to work and let them run around free disturbing my clients...it just doesn't look good or professional and it certainly does not go in hand with a "bistro". As conclusion, if you are looking for a bistro experience you will not get it here... read more

Great first dinner. I tried the filet, which was cooked the way I like. The wait staff was very attentive and the prices are in line with Merced. I think they are off to a great start. We will be back. read more

Five Ten Bistro - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

On the road to Yosemite we ventured in to Merced in search of a tasty meal. Fast food as far as the eye could see, we ventured toward Main St, and stopped when we saw a chalkboard sign that said "lunch dinner bistro five ten" It turns out they had just opened just the day before. Penne and buffalo mozzarella ravioli were both good. The raviolis were cheesy and the meat on the penne was good. One of the co-owners checked on us at the end of the meal, which is good because the wife had some useful feedback on the wisdom of serving half-portions in little bowls. The restaurant has a nice ambiance but feels unfinished and the staff are polite but a bit clearly new at the job. This seems reasonable for day two. I normally don't review on the first visit, but a few stars on Yelp might help a business along. read more

I'm here to dispel some myths: just because I am vegan does not mean I abandoned my tastebuds, nor does it mean that I'm willing to pay $16 for some overcooked, watery pasta and a few random vegetables. I don't expect a restaurant to be amazing at creating something off-menu because they have no vegan options. I DO expect a restaurant to know how to cook pasta, and to have a basic idea that barely cooked green beans aren't a good match with a miniscule amount of overcooked yellow squash and random bits of zucchini. Oh, and then there was a "sauce" that was essentially water. For $16. (I really should have asked what they'd charge me for this gem before I told them I was fine with asking the chefs to come up with something.) I went with too many people to drag them somewhere else that would be vegan. I should have, though. I'm a grad student. If I am going to waste my money it's going to be on food that is actually good. read more

5 stars because it's as good as it gets for Merced. Probably on of the best meals you can have for under $10. I had a lunch special, which inlcuded a half portion of macaroni & cheese and tomato basil parmesan soup for $9. I first tasted the soup, which I had chosen from the lunch special choices on a whim. Glad I did that, it was so creamy and savory. Basil served on top was fresh and parmesan was as if it had just been grated minutes before. I'm not a soup fan but this is a must try. The macaroni & cheese was just as tasty, though I didn't love how it had pieces of ham in it. I like my mac & cheese just cheese and pasta. The pasta was penne, and smothered in cheese sauce. The cheese sauce itself is delicious, and on the thicker side of sauces. It tasted homemade and like it had just been prepared. It's a great addition to finer dining in Merced, and I've already made plans to go back. I really like the color scheme of the place as well, which is in the gray family. It felt dark but not dreary and my window view was nice. They also had jazz music playing from an ipod, which helped to not hear other people's conversations as tables are closer together than I would have liked. Oh, and have the brownie sundae for dessert, they serve the brownies warm! read more

Five Ten Bistro - Bistro mac & cheese and tomato basil parmesan. Lunch special- both for $9! - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

I've been to Five Ten Bistro several times since the restaurant opened and I am overall extremely pleased with Merced's newest eatery. Like many new restaurants, Five Ten has definitely experienced growing pains in regard to service and billing, but in general, the food is spectacular, the cocktails delicious and several of the waitstaff are worthy of serving food in a high-dollar San Francisco establishment. The owners/chef seem to dedicate a lot of time creating homemade items, and I personally appreciate being able to experience food that you don't generally find at other Merced eateries. My husband and I have eaten all of the appetizers, as well as some soups and salads, pasta dishes and steak. I must say by far my favorite meal has been the filet and favorite appetizer the pretzel sticks with beer cheese sauce. Although I understand why some of the reviews are a bit critical, I'm glad we have stuck through Five Ten's growing pains as I believe this restaurant is definitely another positive for our Merced community. We'll definitely be back. read more

Enjoyed the chicken and waffles this evening. Great presentation. The syrup had some heat. Ask for more. The barmaid was attentive. A Gin and Tonic and Chardonnay with the meal set me back $16 at Happy Hour. What a bargain! F read more

Excellent food and service. Menu items are a bit on the pricier side, especially for the area & as a college student, however that is the general idea for a restaurant of this caliber. Tables were filled on a Friday night and the wait staff was friendly. This is another alternative in town for date night besides Pocket 8's read more

We ordered fried pickles, garlic bread, chicken artichoke pasta, and smoked salmon pasta for pickup. We picked up the order and went home to find they gave us a salmon appetizer instead of the salmon pasta. The garlic bread had a ton of raw, bitter garlic under a layer of cheese, it was not enjoyable to eat. The chicken pasta was really bland and had 3-4 bites of chicken in it. We won't be back. read more

I usually go to the bar area for their appetizers and drinks. It's a great ambiance with nice and comfortable seating and TVs. They have an excellent selection of beer and wine that can take months to explore all the way. I love their Calamari and their sweet potato fries! They have a restaurant side that is fine dining style with a pricey menu. Parking is on the back side of the restaurant. read more

Five Ten Bistro - Crab wontons! Good app option - Bars Near Me - Merced, California

See all

So very disappointed. We have been coming here for years , though It is a hit and miss. Our last meal was terrible , first cold then re heated and worse. The wait staff is always great. The kitchen really needs to step up. read more

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary dinner at the Five Ten Bistro this evening. This was not our first visit. On the prior few visits the food has been good if a bit uneven and the service is earnest if not quite up to par for this type of restaurant. We try to support restaurants in Merced so we gave this restaurant another go. First the good - the chicken skewers appetizer is quite good and never disappoints. The chicken skewers are tender and well seasoned. The dipping sauce is bright and sharp - very nice. Now the not so good - my mashed potatoes were completely unseasoned (bland, bland, bland), of tepid temperature, and so rife with lumps as to not in any way resemble mashed potatoes except in color. This is a rookie error that should never be made. The vegetables were overdone and mushy. Is anyone tasting anything in the kitchen? The filet was good but the chef could have been a bit more generous with the sauce. A tablespoon or so spooned over top is not quite enough. The dessert menu is lackluster and needs updating. We opted out this time as it was ho-hum. I wish I could recommend the Five Ten Bistro, but I cannot. Unlike the upward trajectory of good quality restaurants that are just getting started, Five Ten seems to be losing its way. Come on, Five Ten Bistro, try to do much better. I can see you have potential. read more

Beyond the best service I've received in some time. Held a small private party and was pleased with the food, price, location, and personal attention and service. read more

See all

I usually come here to host potential applicants. This is one of the many selections of places to choose from. I often find myself coming here mainly because management and food here is awesome. It's no wonder my colleagues come here often to. They have a very decent wide variety of traditional American dishes. The heavy favorite is bacon filet migon. Absolutely delicious. And.. you can't go wrong with bacon! I will eat that everyday if it didn't clog my arteries. Next to the restaurant is a small mini bar that is well hidden. The bartender (or at the one we had) is amazing. She knows how to keep a conversation and keep us entertained. The only recommendation would be to have it open later. This place closes at 9pm and I'm usually getting started at 9. read more

This was my first time at this restaurant and I can confidently say it is unimpressive. After hearing people say nice things about it I decided to give it a shot. The ambiance is great, the restaurant is pretty but the food is mediocre at best. For the prices they charge I was unimpressed. Very plain and unseasoned. I ordered the flat iron steak and it was whatever. The service was not that great either, it took the waiter 20 minutes to bring 3 drinks. Needless to say, I will not be coming back. I can understand it would be a nice place to have drinks. But no to the food. read more

Not very impressed with the food or service. We dined for brunch. The food was saturated in grease and the omelette looked as if it had been placed in the microwave. The food was also not tasty with the exception of the scrambled eggs. I could've prepared a much better brunch at home. I was very disappointed. Last, the restaurant smelled as if a sewage pipe had recently been fixed. I will not visit this place again. read more