We had a lovely lunch here. The staff was super friendly and attentive. The food was delicious -…read morestand outs include the Mac n' cheese and fried polenta and the salads. (I'd skip the fish tacos.) We had a baby and two dogs so sat down outside. They couldn't have been more accommodating. Also very willing to accommodate special food requests. Overall a lovely experience and we will definitely go back.

Back Door Bistro, Vacaville: 2026 Jul 10 (4.29 of 5)…read more Ladies Gathering!! The service here is a 4.5 of 5. We had different servers who attended to us and they're both friendly and looked cheerful. We got there towards the end of Happy Hour and was presented with their Happy Hour menu. The menu is small, easy to read and has almost everything we'd want for that time of day - including the drinks. The food is a 'hit' or 'miss'. Here's my review: Drinks: Both the Arnold Palmer and the Cadillac Margarita were good. My lemonade tea wasn't overly sweet and I could definitely taste the lemonade. The pitcher of Cadillac Margarita looks innocent but may give someone a slow and powerful buzz if you're not used to the drink. (4.75 of 5) Charcuterie: This a complete appetizer board. Overall, there were some hits and misses, however, we agreed this is a well thought out appetizer board. (4 of 5) Crispy Brussels Sprouts: This is the best dish here, featuring deeply caramelized, dark golden-brown edges and a nutty, earthy flavor. Their Crispy Brussels Sprouts is also the best we've had. The seasoning is on-point, allowing the texture to show off its crackling, crunchy bite on the outside, contrasted by a tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior. (5 of 5) Seasonal Tacos: "Oh WOW!" The explosion of spicy and tangy flavours balanced by contrasting textures makes this dish "pop". (4.75 of 5) Beet Salad: The colours were lovely, but this beet salad was over-salted. The vibrant dish featuring beets as the main ingredient, balances the earthy sweetness with contrasting textures and flavours. If this wasn't too salty, it would have been more refreshing. (3.75 of 5) Coconut Lime Bouillabaisse (halibut, jasmine rice, spinach, snap pea, pickled shiitake mushroom, coconut lime broth, basil oil): Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Bouillabaisse means seafood. The only seafood we noticed were chunks of halibut, which were delicious. This dish looks and tastes more like an elevated Thai soup dish that cost too much. (3.5 of 5) After walking in, we decided to sit outdoors because of the loud music that was playing. We're glad we did. The overhang on the veranda was well positioned with plants and flowers softening the cement walkway. The weather was pleasant - with a gentle breeze blowing down the corridor. Parking is easy if you arrive early enough. One last note: Back Door Bistro in Vacaville was featured on "Check, Please! Bay Area"

This place, now called "The Dive" or something like that, seemed OK since I'd tapped out every…read moreother place in town. All was good for a couple of drinks, until I decided to go play the jukebox. When I left the bar, I covered my drink with a coaster and left my jacket on the chair. Upon returning, here's a young brother making his way to SIT in my seat, REMOVE the coaster from my beer, and just about ready to DRINK it when I let him know...."HEY MAN, WTF????"....He leaves like there's nothing wrong, and it was just "my bad" or some shit. Bartender acts like nothing is wrong, since that dude was a regular. Also, all the money I put in the "jukebox" didn't play any of the songs I selected!! Glitchy, sketchy, and super low-life. STAY AWAY from this dump!

Bar manager is rude! It seems like every time I had gone in there, she is always smoking/ and…read moreallowing pets inside. I've seen dogs at times sitting on a bar stool. I've worked with service dogs and by no means do they belong at the bar. They belong by your feet on the floor. To top it off, there is a guy that comes in and sits there all night, who she pays all her attention to. Not good for business. I will never go back!

Fun brunch spot! We love taking our friends here, and the unlimited champagne is hard to beat! You…read morecan also ask for different juices to mix in, which makes it even more fun. The food portions are a good size, and you can always take leftovers home to enjoy later. We especially love sitting outside when the weather is warm. The crab cakes are my favorite, so getting them with the Eggs Benedict is perfection! Service can be a little slower on the weekends since they get busy, but the staff does their best to make sure your glass is always filled and that you have everything you need.

While service and atmosphere were great, the quality and taste of the food was subpar…read more I ordered a French onion tri trip dip and while the sandwich was large, it was lacking in taste. The slices of roast beef were too thick and hard to chew. We went with family and they were not satisfied with their meals either. My mother-in-laws potatoes were cold and tasted too strongly of chives. Everyone just left feeling very unsatisfied with their food, which was sad because this was a day to celebrate my grandmother-in-laws 102nd birthday!

I need to say that each time we go there I enjoy it more. I normally had the taco sampler which is…read morelike street tacos but each one has a different meat on it. I tried their chicken tortilla soup and it is absolutely delicious. It has so much chicken in it that a bowl would make a meal. I like to add a little bit of the pineapple salsa to spice it up just a little bit. All of the servers that we have had there are friendly and helpful.

We had really been looking forward to trying Los Reyes after reading so many great reviews. We were…read morehoping it would become our new go-to spot for Mexican food since our favorite restaurant is in Davis. The Good: The Cadillac margaritas were excellent! Our group ordered three Classic Cadillacs and one Pink Cadillac, and every one of them was delicious. The staff was very friendly. Our server accidentally spilled an entire tray of ice water onto our table, with a little ending up in both my lap and my daughter's. Accidents happen, and they immediately returned with towels to help clean everything up. I did have to laugh a little as the soaking wet towels ended up pushing more water into my lap than they absorbed, but they were genuinely apologetic and quick to respond. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming. It was a bit loud, but we were dining during peak dinner hours, so it was understandable. The location is fantastic in Old Downtown Vacaville. As a Vacaville native--my father was stationed at Travis AFB from 1957 until his retirement in 1972--my hometown will always be special to me. It's wonderful to see a thriving local business contributing to the vitality of our historic downtown. The Not-So-Good: Unfortunately, the chile rellenos were among the least enjoyable I've had. To be fair, chile rellenos are my favorite dish, so I'm comparing them to some exceptional versions I've had elsewhere. My husband upgraded his tostada to carne asada but found it rather bland and wasn't particularly impressed. On the other hand, two others in our group are regulars at Los Reyes and ordered their usual favorite, the Enchiladas Montadas. They enjoyed them just as much as they always do, so clearly there are menu items that keep customers coming back. The Value: One of the biggest positives was the price. Our total bill, including tip, was under $200 for five dinners, a shrimp ceviche appetizer, four Cadillac margaritas, and a Coke. We felt that was very reasonable. Overall, while our experience was a bit mixed, there were definitely some highlights. The drinks, friendly staff, reasonable prices, and great downtown location made a positive impression. Unfortunately, the entrées we chose just didn't live up to our expectations. Based on the popularity of Los Reyes and the enjoyment of the regulars in our group, we may have just experienced an "off" night :)

Barbecue chicken flatbed recommended. I like eating outside…read morewhen there's some live music which isn't regular but I have experienced it several times. Recommend the Chicken FlatBread.

Pretzel was good. The rosé we got was good. But they were out of most of the wines we tried to…read moreorder, the draft beer was warm and flat, and they forgot our shrimp cocktail. All in all, we won't be back.

"Princess" Christina here to edit her review!…read more I wanted to edit my review to explain sort of what was originally posted trying to make it short. First before being seated we were approached by a female server who was angry we were seated at her table to enjoy waters before being taken downstairs to the show. She told us we're r not allowed to sit there even though the host placed us there. A whole thing... we moved for her. I was there for my birthday, husband Venmo 20$ to play two songs and do a shout out ( owner attacks me in my original review insinuating that I am an entitled princess demanding a happy bday song ( which I didn't request) and that we stormed out after an hour. We stayed till almost 10:30 show ends at 11. We asked for 2 songs that were fun classics everyone could sing along to since the playing of "wet a** P***y" wasn't exactly bumping in the club and just made the establishment even more grimy than it already was! We got outbid, not knowing exactly how dueling piano bars r ran. Now we do and we will never go back. We just wanted a shout out which coulda been said in 2 seconds... is that why you got a 1 star? No. The food was also extremely gross. Only dish with eating was the pasta. What salad comes with no lettuce lol? Weird whatever? I didn't order it. My original review complemented some of the songs and some other things but it was also pointing out the crappy parts like asking for more money mid song. I hate places that seem like they r begging for money. It's just not my vibe. And while this place is "ALWAYS sold out" how many are return customers!? And why are the restaurants reviews at 2 stars? Because it's a 1 star establishment. I have never had two reviews deleted before so yes... my bad... I take full accountability that I ASSUMED your establishment had anything to do with a removed review and it didn't. But i did not delete it myself. Jason m the pianist had asked at one point for me to remove it and I said I would not but I understand the concern. He then brought up health issues and played on my empathy and my love for God then came back and told me how I was rude and how Jesus was not always nice so he justified Jason and himself don't have to be nice to me. My review was unfortunately taken personally by these two men...when I did not say anything personal. The owner though... got personal with me over my expression of why this place was a 1 star ( for me ) and silently attacked my character. Thank the lord for my husband. M. C. Who came to bat like a pro for me. I didn't even ask him to, but he mentioned my military career and other services to this country that in otherworldly do not take the title of "princess". ESPECIALLY the paths I have gone down! I hope this and his review make you think twice about how you speak to people before getting upset over a 1 star review! It's the internet I wasn't being a bully I was explaining so other who read are aware of what they r stepping into. A 1 star bar and restaurant venue who ask for a lot of money don't treat their customers with much respect in person and over the internet... and don't reimburse people for items they don't receive or accidentally got charged for. It's not hard to DO the right thing. And "being a good person" doesn't mean I have to delete a review for your bar. I am a good person. I'd like to say proudly... a bit better of a person than you Jason. I wish you luck! My first review below: edited review above My review was deleted don't know why. Who whole establishment was a rip off. And having my review deleted makes this so much worse off and corrupt. Very interesting. I understand piano bars r based off tips... but this was gross and like begging for more money every song that played. My request was never played.. while I was there... and ( they reached out o tell me they eventually did) (By the way other ppl reviews they were reimbursed for not playing their song but mine wasn't) While some songs were fun... the music selection was truly trash... I won't go back and I'll never reccomend. No one at my table would ever go back. The food was horrid old dry and gross tasting also.

According to the staff who served us dinner upstairs beforehand, this was a real speakeasy in the…read more1920's with secret tunnels and such. They really take pride in its history, and I love that they share these interesting tidbits with visitors. The "reservations only" rule here is kind of odd, especially cuz this place doesn't seem to really get packed, even on a Saturday night. But it worked out for us, cuz my large group was able to enjoy our time together without huge, crazy, crowds like you get in SF, Vegas, or even Texas dueling piano venues. And it was still lively enough around 10-11pm. They even provided fun props at the tables for guests (tambourines and fedoras!). You can order food and drinks down here from the restaurant menu, but of course, just like the restaurant, beware they may be out of items. I enjoyed some of the molten lava cake for dessert. They were out of vanilla ice cream, but a scoop of the strawberry flavor was more to my liking anyway. And of course, just like at the restaurant upstairs, I absolutely loved the drink offerings here... so many tasty concoctions, especially if you like fruity cocktails. We requested a bunch of songs throughout the night, and they played most of them. They were honest about what they didn't know or tried to learn it on the spot (says my musician bf), so I appreciate the effort. Be sure to tip for the awesome range of songs they play for the crowd (mainly rock, rnb, pop, and country). The two pianists (and one drummer) were fun and friendly, and did their best to keep the slowly shrinking crowd entertained. I've never seen a dueling piano bar empty before closing time, especially when closing time is early for a Saturday, but the entire place was deserted by 11:45pm... except my group, of course, which stayed for the last 15 minutes. Compared to other venues I've been to, it wasn't as lively a crowd here at Makse, yet it was kinda what I'd expect in Vacaville... or as my bf calls it, Vodkaville :D

My wife and I went here for a late dinner and beer after watching a play. We got there around 945pm…read moreThe staff was wonderful and very friendly and helpful. Lots of smiles and helpful, considering this was our first time there. My wife loves ciders, and they had several on tap, and they let her try some, and man, were they good. She finally chose one, and I had a light Ale, which, of course, they had lots of on tap. Fantastic selection. The food was over the top and very good and fresh. My wife got the steak nachos, and we shared a mac & cheese balls with pulled pork appetizer. I had the Chicken Caesar salad. Very yummy. The place was clean (so were the bathrooms), lots and lots of tv's and really just a great place to go. We will definitely go back, according to my wife and I.

Came here for lunch and it was my first time here in years. It wasn't super busy, but business was…read morestill going good. We were going to sit at a table in the back, but there was a fly issue in that area so our server recommended we sit near the entrance which we did. I found it interesting that our server commented "you will be dealing with those flies all afternoon if you sit there" as if joking around, but I didn't think it was funny. We started off with the brown sugar bourbon wings. They were nice and hot when we got them, but the flavor of the rub left a bit to be desired. The burgers were good. I got the sweet heat bbq burger, and honestly it was more sweet because I didn't pick up any heat. The fries were okay. It seems like an alright spot to grab a beer and catch the game. I didn't have any beer, but they do have a nice variety of choices available.

Old Huants and New Cheers: An Authentic Dive with Heart in Vacaville!…read more I don't get to Vacaville very often, but when I do, I always enjoy stopping by TJ's Tavern. Stepping into TJ's Tavern feels like catching up with an old friend after years apart--familiar, comforting, and just the right amount of nostalgia. The drinks are straightforward and hit the spot, served up by solid bartenders. The music is often a mix of classics and some new surprises, which is just right. What makes TJ's truly stand out is the undeniable spirit in the place. There's a sense of resilience and growth here, like watching something meaningful continue to hold its own. On my most recent visit, I was happy to see how this place is not just holding its own but thriving. If you're passing through Vacaville and crave a spot with character, history, and a whole lot of heart, TJ's Tavern is well worth the visit. Here's to good times past, present, and those still to come. Cheers

Wild little place. First time there around 5pm. Walked in, girl had her dog sitting on the bar…read more Not next to her, on the bar. Proceeded to put the dog down so it could run around with another dog! I'm cool with that to an extent but my buddy wasn't digging it. The crowd is very local and you can feel it. No hassles but the vibe was strong. Must be some shit going on but what do I know. Wonder what happens at night...