Food is great, you're in a nice setting, but comfortable and not stuffy, what more can you ask for. Their Bo Luc Lac (or shaken beef for non viet people) gets my vote for being the best in the bay. I've tried almost everything on the menu so far and all of it tasted how it should and better. My mom can really really cook, but honestly, Vanessa can cook better. read more

Reservation: Make a reservation if you want a seat at the tables because those tables are easily booked. However, you can also sit in high chairs or at the bar and order the same food. Food Yummiest: duck lettuce wrap. Fairly generous tender duck meat simmered with onions makes it very juicy. Wrapping it in lettuce makes it a "cool refreshing on the outside and then warm, tender, juicy on the inside" bite. So-so: sweet potato fries. It gives a good contrast to the other foods you order but they are not very crispy. It seems more hard than crispy Ambiance: Friends, date, family. All suitable. Staff: nice. also, there is a hip waiter with cool tattoos read more

after looking through the pictures, the online menu and reading reviews, i was really excited to take my parents here because they rarely go out to eat, but unfortunately we were very disappointed... i had read that reservations are highly recommended because it's such a small place, but luckily i called in same day at 4 and was able to get a reservation for 4 at 6:30. came here with the parents and the boyfriend and being tapa style, we ordered a good amount of dishes. saigon style noodle salad - this was one of my more liked ones because it tasted just like those regular vermecelli bowls you get at pho restaurants. it comes with grilled filet mignon but i couldn't really tell the difference five spices honey marinated quail - a little too much honey for me and it was just two dinky legs of a quail. i much rather get quail from chinese restaurants where they are much fatter and come with at least 5-6 an order. the dipping sauce was also wayyy too sour for me. i only dipped my lettuce in it, but i don't think it would have complimented the sweet quail very well. spicy tuna tartare - the special of the day. it wasn't bad but i felt like there was soo much stuff with the tuna and completely covered the taste of it. spicy lemongrass chicken - this is a dish that sounds better than it tasted. it didn't taste bad, but it was very simple and was not spicy at all. and i don't know how i feel about adding just plain sirarcha to it to make it spicier. it would have been nice to add some greens to the dish too atlantic salmon in a claypot - the vietnamese catfish claypot is one of my favorite vietnamese dishes. its very savory and the fish is very tender and moist. however this salmon tastes like it was just boiled and thrown into a claypot. it lacked a lot of flavor and the salmon was very tough and dry (even though it was in soup) five spice duck confit with bok choy and mash potatoes - the other dish that i favored more than the others. even though it was five spiced, i assumed this one is more in touch with the "french" part of the restaurants. the duck was a little on the blander side but it was sticky rice with wild mushroom - the idea of this sounded really good, especially because im a big rice eater and i love mushroom, but this one was just wayyy too mushy. service here was really good, always filling up our water, offering to give us new plates, and checking up on us to make sure everything is okay, but sadly the food wasn't satisfying. the bf, who is not a picky eater at all, said he would have been happier with a bowl of pho. ouch... i normally trust yelp with the reviews, but this one was way off. read more

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Where do I start? I could talk about how I love every salad available or how the tapas are great for sharing over drinks-oh wait! Drinks! Their wine list is expansive! They even have half off all full bottles on Wednesdays. Don't like wine? VB also has Mojito Mondays ($4 mojitos) to wash down those Monday blues. Missed Monday's special? Hop over on Tuesday for Taco Tuesday: two fish tacos and a margarita for $9. They give you reasons to drink during the weekday with no judgements! Back to those fish tacos; I can eat them all day every day. Add Vanessa's homemade hot sauce and you've got it going on! I love just about everything on their menu, but I'll list a few of my faves to help you out: salt and pepper prawns, ahi tuna and noodle salad, the stuffed sole with crab and mozzerella, the filet mignon, and the bread pudding for dessert! I'm so glad y'all can't see me drooling while typing this out. I'm gonna try to sneak out of work early so I can eat at Vanessa's Bistro TONIGHT! Vanessa, her daughter, Vi, and the rest of the staff always provide sweet and courteous service and that's always a plus. Seriously, you can't go wrong eating at this hidden gem. It's good for girl's night out, boy's night out, a first date, an anniversary, or eating alone. Ok, I gotta end this review so I can head over now. See you there! read more

UPDATED: 5/10/08 We keep going back and it keeps getting better. The service is awesome and the food is delicious. ------------------------ I really wanted to give this place 5 stars. I LOVE tapas, Vietnamese, and French food; this place combines all 3! Myshelle and I went in for the first time last night. The atmosphere was charming (except for the giant flat-screen TV over the bar showing football, what an eye-sore!). We were promptly seated at the bar, and the friendly (and not too hard to look at) bartender greeted us with menus. We started with the green papaya salad which was a PERFECT introduction. The sauce was sweet, tart, and delicous. Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. The beef carpaccio was too sweet for me, which is surprising because I LOVE sweet. The dish was saved by the little slices of fried garlic that just begged to be nibbled on. The biggest disappointment was the crispy pork ribs. The bartender said they were one of the most popular dishes, and being a fan of ribs in general, I was ready for a treat. They had a ton of potential too, the sauce was INCREDIBLE. Sweet and spicy, I licked up every drop. Unfortunately the ribs were anything but crispy. They tasted like they'd been fried a couple hours ago and left under a heat lamp. The breading was soggy and gross. I really hope last night was a fluke, our dinner was almost really really good. I look forward to going back again to give them one more chance. read more

Had a birthday dinner here, and unfortunately was not very impressed with the food. Downside -The lobster salad was bland -Shaking Beef Salad was bland, beef flavorless -Chicken eggrolls were mediocre -Ginger Creme Brulle was horribly burnt on the top -Salmon and squash was mediocre Upside -Tuna Tartar was tasty -Eggplant dish was good -Banana Foster was okay -Bread Pudding was hot, fruity and flavorful read more

3.5 Stars... This small little enclave on the top side of Salano Ave. is a carry over from its predecessor, Le Rose Bistro and owner/operator Vanessa Dang brings her air of professionalism and confidence with her. Her daughter, and co-owner, brings a young and culturally tapped vibe and together they create Vanessa's Bistro. A fusion of Vietnamese tapas and French presentation, the dishes are smaller portioned but pack a powerful punch of flavor. The chicken and vegetable pot stickers are house made and authentic, the curries warming and original, and the banana pudding with caramel and vanilla ice cream ... dangerously good. My only hang up was the Salmon and Tuna poke, which, frankly, was a little bland. They also have a fortified wine list, great for pairing with the many different flavors on the menu and their customized cocktail menu offers some nice refinements on classic cocktails (the lychee martini and the ginger island to name a few). The space is well formatted, with a spacious bar, cozy dinning room, and even a street front brassiere for outside dinning on warmer nights. Sometimes you'll catch her daughter waiting tables, or her son mixing drinks which gives the place a little mom and pop shop appeal as well. Reservations are recommenced for larger parties since space is limited. read more

Hands down one of my very favorite places to eat in Berkeley. There are always amazing options, and food is consistently awesome. Shaking filet mignon salad, fried calamari and shrimp, great sauces, tuna and salmon poke... And dessert! Vi makes all the pies herself, too! Try the pecan pie! You can taste the homemade. Also, I like the bananas fosters and the ginger creme brulee. Ambiance is great for a date night :) And, make reservations! It can be very busy on those Thurs, Friday, Sat nights! read more

I'm going to start off by saying I have very high standards for Asian food, and sorry to say this restaurant does not meet those standards. I don't get the concept of trying to class up Asian food. Asian food is not supposed to be fancy, and fanciness does not necessarily add to the tastiness. I feel like having the words "French" and "Tapas" with "confit," "filet mignon," and "blurre blanc" sprinkled across the menu is just to make the patron feel better about paying higher prices for smaller portions. I came here with 3 other friends for dinner. We decided to share the food family style so we can all get a taste of each dish. Nothing really stood out and nothing was really authentic. The salt and pepper fried prawns were not crispy, not salty, and not peppery. My roasted quail wasn't special and had some feathers on it still. We had some beef salad with crispy noodles that I don't see on the online menu - it was alright. We also had some bland seafood soup thing that I don't see on the online menu. We had high hopes for this from reading and hearing rave reviews, but we left hungry because we didn't want to pay another ~$15 for a small entree. If you're looking for authentic, delicious Vietnamese food, this is not the place. If you're looking for an Asian-inspired attempt at haute cuisine and don't have high standards for Asian food, you might like it. read more

Came with 5 others. Not too big and not too small. Great spot for drinks and food! Perfect Happy hour menu! Service was good as well! Can't wait to come back with my girls read more

Utilized a birthday certificate here...what a great gift :) Shaking fillet mignon = very tender and savory flavor. Mango salsa garlic jumbo prawns = crisp and also very savory (though you only get 2 prawns..) Garlic butter noodles = yummy Ahi Tuna Tartare with avocado, ginger = very light and refreshing French Onion Soup = steaming hot; made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Pear Drop and Lychee Martini = not a fan of absolute vodka...which seemed to be the base in both drinks..tasted a bit tooooo strong! Service = friendly. Would I come back here again? Sure, but only to spoil myself. (Also, this place is more about the food...not the drinks for once! Haha). read more

Vanessa's Bistro is one of my favorite Berkeley hangouts. I love the smaller portions (which allow you to try more than one yummy dish per meal) and general feel of the place. It is a family owned restaurant and I personally think that adds to the charm. It is obviously a labor of love for a very tight and hardworking family. And if you go there a few times and they get to know you they begin to treat you like family as well. Vanessa is a powerhouse in the kitchen and such a lovely character. And her kids, Vi, Mike, and Jimmy are very warm and welcoming. Everyone who works there is very unpretentious and real and maybe to some that comes off the wrong way. That is the only way I can justify some of the negative comments below, because this family is very open and honest. But I think that is a good thing, it really gives the place of a neighborhood joint where you are not just a customer but a friend. Okay enough about the ambiance, the important thing is the food! And Vanessa's doesn't disappoint here either. Everything (and between my husband and I, I do think we've tried everything) is very fresh and flavorful without being heavy, cloying, or predictable. This is not your traditional Vietnamese cuisine, but rather a fresh a take on some old standbys and some creative dishes as well. My husband loves the poke and salt & pepper calamari and I love their take on beef carpaccio and chicken pot stickers. Oh, and the eggplant dish is to die for! They have an extensive bar (cocktails in Berkeley!) and amazing wine list - Jeremy really knows his wine and I have found quite a few new favorites with his help. In my opinion Vanessa's is a Berkeley gem and a real neighborhood restaurant. read more

The positive reviews about this place are def on point. A great fusion menu with so many enticing descriptions it's hard to choose! Just the kind of challenge I enjoy though. Started off with a Gin Blossom cocktail - delicious and refreshing! Not too sweet, citrus with elderflower and just the right hint of cilantro in a tall glass. Wine list is not extensive, but selections are solid and priced very reasonably. We tried the beet salad and beef noodle salad. The first with a good amount of roasted beets, touch of feta cheese and nice dressing, large portion. The latter with tender medium rare slices of beef over noodles and greens with a fish sauce vinaigrette, again a large portion great for sharing. Hot plates were the fish tacos and maple leaf duck strudel. I enjoyed the strudel most, lots of braised shredded duck and a maple sauce, very rich but very good. Fish tacos were good, but I think there are other better choices on the menu. Wait staff tag-teamed the service, all were friendly and helpful. Outside tables are a nice choice if the weather permits. read more

Fantastic fusion food that brings a creative twist to traditional dishes. I came here with a party of five on a Sunday night, and the waiters were very nice and accommodating. The fillet mignon salad was amazing, and the beef was cooked perfectly tender. I also enjoyed the lemongrass chicken as well as the jumbo prawns in spicy tamarind sauce. The prawns came on a bed of savory sticky rice that was wok-fried to a perfect crisp. The desserts were also wonderful. We had both the chocolate panna cotta and the banana fosters to share. The panna cotta was rich and flavorful, and the banana fosters was a delightful combination of hot caramel syrup and hot, half-melted vanilla ice cream. Our family enjoyed the friendly ambience. The only caveat I had was that the dining area is a little small for larger parties, but the wonderful quality of the food really offsets that. Overall great service and even better food. Definitely returning with my friends! read more

I'm now a regular here. I've been here 15+ times, and I notice every time they change the menu. This is my favorite place to eat in the Bay Area, and here's why: 1. It is family owned. If you've been here, you know what I mean. Vanessa runs the kitchen, while her daughter is the hostess, and her son runs the bar. And you know what -- they're all great at their jobs. We're greeted and remembered, and he's made us our Manhattans by the time we're seated. And the food.... 2. Vanessa runs a tight kitchen. I've heard there's been some turnover, but the food comes out fast and clean. Our favorites include: Shaking Beef, the Salmon/Avocado Tar tare, the Quail, the Carpaccio, and the Garlic Egg Noodles. If you ordered all of those, and didn't like it, I'd personally refund you. 3. They have a full bar and a great wine selection. Even the 4 beer taps (limited by my taste) work for my guests. 4. People love it here. I've brought my family, my friends, my family from Minnesota, vegetarians -- and they all thank me for the experience. There's just a little bit of magic, and thank you Vanessa, for bringing it to us. read more

I was not really impressed with Vanessa's. I had the curry with tofu--which was fine (for a 'tapas' dish it was a huge portion) and tried their chocolate panna cotta for dessert (kind of tasted like Nutella with a dallop of whip cream.....) Not even a refreshing Lemon Drop could save the evening--kind of sweet no buzz. Maybe the chef was having an off day? I'll contemplate coming back to test this theory. read more

Cute family run Vietnamese / French food on Solano avenue. We talked about our trip last year to the 'Nam while dining on foods that reminded us of the good times: pork spring rolls, papaya salad, filet mignon beef with lemon pepper sauce, and lots and lots of nicely cooked onions. The service was super friendly and efficient, the wine was great, and I loved looking at the photos of the walls and saying "Yeah, I've been there." I don't really get the Yelp reviewers here who knock the service. They really could not have been nicer or more helpful. Sure, they're not a professional wait staff who are going to kiss my ass for a tip but I liked their style a whole lot better. read more

Short and sweet: - Service was polite and friendly but pretty amateurish even for a local bistro. Stopped in with a friend to see if they had a table. At first, they told us they were completely booked, 30 seconds later they had an opening outside, and about 5 minutes later we had to move tables outside yet again. Our waiter was a friendly guy but tended to make a couple of mistakes including not refilling water glasses in a timely fashion or doing a good job of removing plates when we finished them. - Food was hit or miss. We ordered a bottle of Gewurztraminer and tried to pare it with a few appropriate dishes. Green beans w/tofu was okay. Not great, not bad. Same for the duck con fit. Tuna tartare w/ avocado and tomatoes was tasty but the presentation was bit annoying. Do you really need to have some many carrot and radish shavings on every dish? Really it was just piled on and kind of took interfered with actually eating the meal. Filet mignion salad had decent beef but a weak butter dipping sauce and limp iceberg lettuce. Finally for desert we had banana's foster which had some type of different sauce than a traditional banana's foster. Unfortunately, it was not a nice twist. I get the sense that this is like a ton of other "fusion" neighborhood bistros that try to fuse two different type of cuisines together. Some stuff works really well, some stuff not as well, and others not at all. Given all of the options on Solano Ave, I would want to try another place although it didn't strike me as a bad date place. read more

My first ever Yelp review is for...Vanessa's Bistro! For months I've been wanting to come here and taste Chef Vanessa's food that I've missed since her days at La Rose Bistro. Tonight, my hunnie took me out to Vanessa's Bistro for a birthday dinner. Although we didn't have a reservation, we only waited for about five minutes. The menu had so many delicious choices that it took us a while to decide what we wanted. We went for the shaking filet mignon, roasted pork loin, duck confit lettuce wraps and the crispy baby back ribs. All of our dishes were just executed so well and tasted so good! The presentation was nice and had a cultural flare with the bamboo basket as the serving platter. I think the highlight had to be the shaking filet mignon. It was the best I've ever had...flavorful, tender and oh so good! The service was also very attentive. I think the coziness of the restaurant is key to great service here. At various times during our meal, we were greeted and checked up on by Vanessa, who explained to us how she made a couple of the entrees, her daughter, her son and our waiter. It felt like we were part of a community where everyone knew each other. We finished our meal off with a fuji apple and coconut egg roll on top of vanilla ice cream that could have been slightly bigger...but at that point, I was so full, that it was just enough to make me a satisfied birthday boy. Thanks for a wonderful meal! read more

Two words, very yummy! If you've never tried the garlic noodles or the shaking beef, then you are truly missing out on food that makes your taste buds very happy. My friends and I make a trip to Vanessa's at least once in a month. If it was closer, then I would eat there more often. Service is always with a smile and you always leave with a smile:) read more

I really like this place. The portion of each plate is big enough to share and small enough not to fill me up soon. Their side order of garlic noodle is very tasty and we always order it. All the plates we had before was pretty good, at least on-par or way beyond except their fillet Mignon which was totally mediocre. read more

I had reservations for 2 as recommended for a Friday night and arrived to a full house at 7.30pm. Upon giving my name to the waiter, I happened to see that one open table by the restrooms which was probably ours. A big ugh went across my mind and while we were being lead to our seats, some sort of telepathy took place because a woman (Vi was her name) asked if we wanted to move to another table because a table of 4 had just gotten up to leave. We were immediately seated upon resetting of the table. The restaurant has a chic feel, isn't that large, but cozy and spacious enough to talk to Bonnie about our next hit without having the neighboring patrons foil our plan. The staff is friendly, every waiter I noticed in there came to our table at least once. Also very personable when I noticed a nicely dressed woman doing her rounds to greet a number of patrons throughout the night. Though I was jealous she didn't personally greet us, Vi had and we soon found out it was a mother-daughter duo or a family operated restaurant which also included two sons/brothers. I thought tapas were small plates? My mother always tells me it's better to have more food than less so I had 7-8 dishes in mind. After placing the 5th dish, I curiously asked if it was enough and apparently it was. Now I know why, the portions are large and I was stuffed. The presentation is great and the flavors are gratifying but I'll go without the fried tofu dish next time around. The meal was topped off with a slice of pecan pie and a strawberry mascarpone??....which Vi bakes most if not all of the desserts served there. Boo because they ran out of onions for a Gibson martini for the lady, yay that they serve a local Trumer Pils for moi and another yay that I also got to speak briefly to the mother. read more

Could there be a better date night place? Not really. Its perfect - small, not noisy, fast sumptuous dishes even when the place is full, and simply delicious food and gorgeous cocktails. A mojito in a tall glass with lots of fresh mint and the shaking filet salad to get things going ... just perfect. The kitchen is so fast that we waited to order our third and fourth dishes till we could enjoy the first three and our drinks, which was nice. Otherwise, the delicious experience would have ended too soon! Thanks to Vanessa, her daughter and the staff, who treat everyone as an extremely valued customer - it really creates an incredible atmosphere of genuine pride and caring. Love this place! read more

Contemporary Vietnamese small plates; wonderful, creative food. Three of us went and the two who shared everything had a great time, while the third person thought it was very good. It's not inexpensive, with most small plates in the $10-20 range, but looking at a recent menu featuring Shaking filet mignon salad, Dijon mustard rosemary marinated rack of lamb, Pan seared Filet Mignon with garlic bok choy, Five spices Maple Duck confit . . . this is definitely an occaision kind of place. read more

A friend had been dying to try this place for a while so we went on a Saturday for lunch. We arrived before 1 and the place were pretty quiet (there was a table of 4 sitting outside and that was it). I am usually worried when a restaurant is so quiet during lunch or dinner time, but decided to dine here because my friend wanted Vietnamese tapas. Most of the tables inside were set up for 2-4 people and there was seating along the bar. We sat outside due to the nice weather. I was pretty happy with everything overall. We ordered a mango martini and a lychee martini. Both arrived shortly after they were ordered and tasted pretty good. For lunch we ordered the Fuji apple salad with the mimosa dressing, the salmon tartare, duck strudel, and crispy Saigon rolls. The Fugi apple salad was definitely my favorite. The mimosa dressing was delicious. The salmon tartare was interesting... visually it looked like salsa in a martini glass made with cubed salmon, avocado, and tomatoes. The Saigon rolls tasted good but weren't spectacular. It was pretty much what I expected them to be. The duck strudel probably was the smallest portion of everything we ordered. It was one roll, cut into two pieces and placed over a slightly tangy sauce. For dessert we ordered the banana, raisin bread pudding and the bananas foster. Both tasted good. The service was good. Our server was friendly and the food came out through the meal in a timely manner. Our bill for 4 tapas, 2 desserts and 2 drinks came out under $70 so it is one of the pricier lunches I've had, though I will admit I normally would've ordered the salad and maybe something to drink. This probably isn't the place for you if you're looking to get large portions on a small budget. read more

The negative reviews must be from a disgruntled employee and friends. This place is great! We visited for the first time on New Years Eve. We had a reservation and our table was waiting for us when we arrived. We were greeted, seated and our drink order was taken quickly. Throughout the eveing, neighborhood locals were stopping in just to wish the owner a happy new year. Clearly she is well liked and respected. Our dinner was delightful. Unfortuantely they were out of chicken rolls, but we made alternate choices and they were all great. Loved the rare ahi, pot stickers were super and clearly homemade, salt & pepper shrimp were to die for and curried beef was rich and flavorful. Since it was a holiday celebration, we ordered desert and the bread pudding was just incredible. Don't believe the negative comments, this place is a winner. We were told by our waiter (who offered solid though not perfect service) that they just opened in Walnut Creek where we live - see you there soon!! read more

Vanessa's is my familys home away from home. They have amazing service and amazing food and have been so accomidating to my food allergies (gluten free people, try this place!). My dad brings all his new friends here and we love to celebrate special occasions here. Thank for the great service every time Vi! read more

Attracted by the "Vietnamese cuisine with the French touch" description of this restaurant my wife and I (both French with a taste for Thai cuisine) decided to give it a try. Verdict: WAY TOO MUCH SALT! The curry prawns and salmon claypot were obliterated by a total salt overkill, impossible for taste buds to discern any other flavor... I wonder if the chef reads the Yelp reviews as we do not seem to be the only ones pointing to this irredeemable flaw! Two stars because we hate to be rude :) read more

Preface: we went here for desert. I really want to give this place five stars. But basing SOLELY on desert, I can't and I actually feel like I'm being over generous. I ordered the molasses creme brulee. It wasn't mind blowing. I appreciated the creamy texture, but the flavor was lacking. My husband ordered the banana foster. The alcohol didn't cook out at all. I took a bite, and it stung the back of my throat. Truly the alcohol is to be a whisper in the background, otherwise we would have just ordered a cocktail. The restaurant itself though is adorable, and the owner is very personable. You can tell they take a lot of pride in their little place. I'll have to come back and see if the food is better than the deserts. read more

This was my second or third time here, but my first time for dinner. We were a party of 5, surprised it was so crowded on a Wednesday night! Half price bottle of wine night! No problem, we sat in a line at the bar and it all worked out. We had: French onion soup (with mozzarella?) not traditional but my friend seemed to enjoy The duck strudel: was devoured so fast I didn't get a chance to try it... It must have been good. A couple of us had the chicken curry, it was a little too sweet for us, but nicely spicy. I had the crispy quail appetizer, it was just ok, and the duck confit was also just ok. Wasn't nearly as tender as a confit should be. Side order of sticky rice with wild mushrooms was yummy (but I loooove sticky rice) Fried calamari was ok...the salads that came with many of the small plates were straightforward lettuce etc, nothing special. Dinner for five, with a half-price bottle of wine and a few non-boozy bevs came to $160+.....not cheap. I'd come back for cocktails and snacks, but for the price the full dinner wasn't worth it. read more

The food here is good and the presentation is beautiful. However, as with all tapas-styled places, the portions are ridiculously tiny and the prices are expensive. There were 5 of us and our bill came up to $175 even though really, it was only $75 worth of food. With so many good restaurants in the East Bay area, I probably won't go back here but it was a nice experience. read more

Great tapas style fusion Vietnamese food. Get a bunch of dishes and share! The interior is small and cozy, like a typical Vietnamese restaurant, but don't be fooled, the menu is extensive and service is on the fancier side! ;] As a lover of seafood, I felt right at home. Salads are served light and fresh, but with a strong kick of flavor for sure. The poke bowl was surprisingly perfect. The avocados were somehow magically in between a state of being intact and being mushed, and the way it hugged the pieces of fish ever so slightly made for a very cohesive bite of DELICIOUSNESS. The great thing about Vietnamese food is that you don't feel like you want to double over in a painful food coma afterwards, even though you are quite full! :) read more

I found Vanessa's through a feature in San Francisco Magazine. The picture of their sexy Tuna tartare topped with sexy fried noodles in the hawt martini glass made me curious. I mean...I love all sexy, shiny and silvery, right?? RIiiiite. Boy, was the tuna tartare just as good and sexy as pictured! The service was awesome. They seemed to step in at the right time as needed. I'd most def go back. read more

Incredible creative food, beautifully presented. I would give 5 stars except the service was a little curt at times. Quail was very good on the small plate menu. Just about everything we had was fresh & excellent. Also the tuna salmon Poke was a great blend of flavors .... very refreshing. read more

My wife and I came here for the first time. And we had a hunch you would be good food. We were wrong it was excellent food we really thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. Top-notch ingredients in creative dishes that are full of flavor. The staff is helpful and very nice. I enjoyed a delicious pumpkin/lemon grass bisque with puff pastry and chicken/shrimp clay pot with bok choy and wild mushrooms. read more

This was a wonderful surprise. The drinks were very nice and it fit the need for a Friday night "we dont want to cook". We will be back. We had cocktails to begin - a wonderful bloody mary and margarita. We just had a few small plates throughout the meal and the bartender was very helpful to show us what would work nice with our other selections. We sat at the bar, which is probably 40% of the seating in this place (huge wrap around bar in a small place). We had the garlic crispy tofu, carpaccio filet mignon, duck confit lettuce wraps, garlic butter noodles and Spicy Tuna tartare, pot stickers, crispy quail with lemon pepper juice.... yum! The best part? The whole meal with two drinks for each of us.... under a hundred bucks! read more

I am impressed, after having trouble getting reservations for a restaurant on Valentine's day, I called up Vanessa's Bistro and they had one last table. Perfect, except the table was adjacent to the door, now I was worried that it would be chilly for my date and I or that people will be waiting at the door for a table. My expectations were exceeded when we arrived, while the table was near the door, it was rather sheltered from any drafts and there wasn't a wait at the door. The seating arrangements were still intimate and romantic. Vanessa had prepared a Valentine's day prix fixe menu for the day, but also allowed to order from their regular menu as well. We picked and chose from the prix fixe menu and came up with a 3 course meal, well 4 course since I had prepared a dessert before hand. We had the lobster bisque to start with the crab salad and the Ahi Tuna carpaccio. We both had the stuffed fish, I think it was crab but can't be sure, that was plated with some baby bok choi on top. The lobster bisque was very flavorful, we throughly enjoyed the crab salad and the tuna carpaccio. The fish stole the show, it was cooked perfectly, was a symphony of flavors. Overall the meal satisfied our asian palate adding the perfect french influence, or maybe it was the other way around. In other words it was just perfect. The staff was a pleasure, especially on such an overworked day, it was the little details that mattered and will come back for more. read more

Found this place late night. One thing, great service from the staff. We showed up 20 minutes before they were suppose to close and they treated us greatly! The price is higher, but the quality of food is also pretty high as well. The fish tacos were amazing! Parking was upfront, but this is Solano Ave... it gets pretty busy! read more

I love Vietnamise, and Vanessa's is incredable. Wonderful fried Quail and perfect clay pots! Salmon tarte thats always fresh and if you are lucky you might catch Vanessa in the kitchen herself.If you don't see her here you might catch her at her Walnut creek restaurant.Vanessa and her family work so hard and again this is a restaurant were its like water for chocolate. The only restaurants I go to. read more