The Bistro

Tried breakfast/​brunch here with my family.
First impression upon walking in was, «Nice place, but what a ghost town.» After being promptly seated we placed a drink order.
When we were ready to order food we had some questions about some things as my father and I have both worked in the food industry. We have a curiosity for how some food items are prepared. Upon asking about the hollandaise sauce, we found out that the sauce comes in packets. Not made in-​house. Understandable for a restaurant if finances are tight or you have a dang good variation of the sauce once it’s made. Their variation: add Tabasco hot sauce; not very impressive.
I ordered the featured breakfast as it was first on the menu and in a «highlighted» box. Price: $ 13.00.
It consisted of two eggs, potatoes, bacon, and toast with a free tea. I wasn’t expecting anything fancy or intricate, but I didn’t expect there to be too much wrong with a basic breakfast.
The eggs were fried over medium like I had requested and were the best part of my meal next to the toast. The potatoes were definitely frozen potatoes from a bag and were cooked without enough cooking oil to hydrate them so the result was very dry potatoes. The bacon appeared to be excellent at first glance. After the first bite I knew almost instantly that the bacon was either pressed or it was microwave bacon, which can be common for restaurants as it saves time and money, however it was overdone and so dry that I ended up pounding my entire tea and my water just to keep my mouth hydrated between the potatoes and bacon. The toast was very moist and buttery which also was ironic. The naturally driest component of my meal ended up being the most savory.
Now this may sound like a complaint, but I have my reservations when it comes to food. I don’t care if something is frozen before it is prepared for a meal, so long as it is done correctly. I cook frozen potatoes at home all the time for breakfast and I have never had them turn out that dry. I’ve prepared a hollandaise sauce from a packet and been able to create something pretty tasty out of it while being more creative than just adding Tabasco. And I’ve made pressed AND microwave bacon and not had it be that dry.
What I believe is that this place is not designed for breakfast based on how empty it was and because of all the great reviews of the steaks and other meals. So while I give this place a two star review for breakfast, I will have to try the food that is causing people to rave about it before I can honestly say whether I like the place or not.
The atmosphere was fairly lovely and the service was prompt and friendly.

Tried to buy breakfast, got ignored by several employees who appeared to be hiding in the back, one came out to the bar but kept his back to us and then returned to the back. I left and went to sub station instead.

Been around for years. I hear that for several years the restaurant was leased out to a private company to the detriment of service and food quality. The Hotel has taken back operation of facility and believe me… Food answer Service are impeccable. I’ve tried breakfast lunch and dinner and not once been disappointed. Try it out!!!

I had not been to the Bistro in several years. They have changed dramatically. No longer fine dining or anywhere near that, but still the fine dining prices. Service was good. Food was ok, but super over priced $ 7 for a cup of soup. I won’t be going back.

Seriously the best food I’ve had in Bakersfield. You can not go wrong with the ribeye.

What a wonderful place! I have never dined here before until tonight.
Firstly, I have to say that they’ve got such wonderful staff. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Our server was Vance, and I will definitely request his section next time I visit this restaurant. He was very attentive and has such a great personality.
The food was absolutely delicious. The only downside was that we waited quite some time for the food, but the quality of the meal more than made up for the wait. The grilled fish & chips were amazing and I tasted my husbands macaroni & cheese and it was to die for.
There menu isn’t very large but had a lot of diversity. Will definitely recommend to anyone.

As if it hasn’t been said yet, the Mac and cheese is amazing. My wife had a tortellini and veggies, and that was very good too. They made an old-​fashioned just they way I like! For desert I had the crème brulé and my wife had cheesecake. Both were good and the waiter was fantastic!

The Mac and cheese is unbelievable! Burgers are excellent and steaks have always been cooked to perfection. Both my kids love this place. We’ve only ever visited for lunch but may have to try dinner someday. We always sit in the front lounge area for a more laid back meal. Just a bit more informal, especially with two teenagers.

The food was good, the service was great. Kat at the bar is AWESOME. Super attentive, fast w service, patience w assholes. Trifecta.

Food was good. Service was good. No complaints here. Would return. Be sure to use Groupon for a great value!

The only reason it gets two instead of one is the great service. The servers were on top of it. But, the breakfast was not worth the money. The over medium eggs were crisp on the edges. Hash browns were a mushy block most likely reheated from being frozen. I ordered the «Eggs and Bacon» so I’d get breakfast potatoes. She asked me what kind of toast I wanted. I said no toast. She asked if I wanted hash browns instead. I said sure. I figured, great, extra potatoes for a snack later, I can take it with me. Instead she ordered me the «All American» breakfast with hash browns, no potatoes.
Here’s the big clencher, the thing many breakfast places do and you get stuck with in the end… the menu didn’t say that COFFEE is $ 3.50! Just plain old crappy coffee.
The atmosphere was weird for breakfast. It was all dim and romantic. The atmosphere was confusing.

Hands down the Best Steak in Bakersfield break the old habits quality Steak cooked to perfection. If you consider yourself a master of the Bovine this is a must!
Where’s the Beef? It’s at The Bistro !

Honestly, I don’t give 5 stars often, but tonight, this place had all the requirements; service, food quality and quantity, presentation, ambiance, timeliness, and selection. For being a hidden, hotel restaurant, this place exceeded expectations. I have been here a few times before, but only for light lounge food and drinks, which are always pretty good. Tonight I wanted a bit healthier than burger and fries, so I sat in the dining area and ordered the chicken vegetable soup and the chicken paillard (yes, lots of chicken). The soup was great with herb flavors, and the entrée was perfect. Piping hot, nicely roasted vegetables, tasty mashed potatoes, and the chicken was cooked to perfection, with delicious seasonings. I took away a full meal as well, so the quantity was well worth the price. Quiet, relaxing, satisfying meal, after a long work day.

My partner and I used a Groupon to try this place. A little expensive considering the cuisine. The food was okay and the service was decent. The atmosphere is definitely more for an older crowd. Other than the bar, I don’t think anyone there was under the age of 65. It was rather uncomfortable to have people glaring at our table the entire time. I would definitely not return.

We had a coupon to try the Bistro, but when I pulled it up, I found many negative comments. We had to use the coupon, so decided to try it .and what a treat. The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff very professional and the décor superb. h The food was outstanding; I had the salmon, which was so delicious I could hardly wait to eat the next bite. It was served on a delicious rice pilaf with wild mushrooms. I had so much I took some home for the next day, and it was just as good later. My husband had the steak, and it was cooked perfectly. The french fries were the best in town, according to him, and he is quite picky with french fries. The vegetables on both plates were done, not al dente as some restaurants serve them. We could eat these, and loved each bite. Hew usually doesn’t eat vegetables, but cleaned his plate this time.
I’m sorry we did not have a second coupon, but will go back without one, just for the delicious meal and attentive staff. Why this place gets negative remarks is beyond me.

We were here today for a ladies’ lunch and it was perfect.
Bryan was our incredible server. Super friendly service here!
The place was dead on a Thurs at lunchtime. Odd. I would for sure some here more often.
All 4 of us had a different type of salad and wow! They were all chock full of «stuff» and were all presented differently. The chef was very creative!
The restaurant was large, very open and would be a great choice for a business lunch.
I thought coming in that it would be a dressier place (from what I heard) but it really is a ‘come as you are’ kind of eatery. No pretentiousness at all.
Would recommend. And I will be back for that salad from the lunch menu. I got the Asian one but substituted the chicken for my fave — shrimp, and it did not disappoint!

I’ve been here a few times. I usually come for happy hour– they have ½ off appetizers and cheap drinks. Service is very prompt in the bar area. I have eaten twice in the dinner section, where the service tends to be a bit slower. I believe I had steak both times, it was pretty good, although quite pricey. My last visit will probably really be my last time. My group of 6 came in with a groupon which discounted $ 100; & our bill come out to about $ 300– something. They also tacked on 18% gratuity
*beware when they ask if «you want soup or salad with your meal» they make it seem like it comes with it; It’s a tiny salad or soup each $ 6.

This was my first time dining at The Bistro, but my husband’s 2^nd time. I had a Groupon voucher for this place, so we decided to come here for dinner on Saturday evening. Plenty of seating on a weekend evening, there were only 2 – 3 tables of customers. Only 1 wait staff to serve all of us though, so it could get overwhelming.
We ordered:
(1) Prime rib (comes with steamed veggies & mashed potatoes) — mine was cooked medium, and a bit too chewy for my tastes. While the slab of meat was larger than that of Black Angus, it didn’t taste as good. There was no au jus sauce either, just horseradish. I was a bit disappointed w/​the flavoring, but the portion size was definitely bang for your buck. It only cost $ 25 too. I think the prime rib at Hungry Hunter is still the best so far that I’ve tried in town. 3 star
(2) Ribeye (comes w/​steamed veggies & mashed potatoes) — my husband ordered this entrée. He asked for medium but got served medium rare; good flavoring; 3 star
(3) French onion soup — this was a 5-​star soup; my husband ordered this and loved it. he says this is the only item he would get again if he ever came to this restaurant! SO GOOD. I agree with him; did taste fabulous
(4) House salad — this appetizer was too small; he expected the portion size of this salad to be larger since it costs $ 6. it was only enough for 1 person! a bit disappointing.
We probably wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for the Groupon voucher I had in hand (and needed to use before it expired).
Tip: You can earn points to your Starwood Preferred Guest by dining here, so be sure to ask for that if you’re a Starwood points earner. :)

We had merienda cena here a few times as we were at the Sheraton Four Points for Business Presentation Meetings. They have a decent variety on their menu and good service in the bar section. The food is a bit pricey but super convenient for those staying at the hotel.
Try their excellent fusion Korean BBQ tacos– always yummy!

The Bistro is one of the few restaurants I found in town that actually serves prime grade steak. Service is good but can feel a little chaotic and slow when it’s busy. Their macaroni and cheese is excellent! I have had several I their steaks and they are very good as well. I recommend making reservations if you decide to go. Recently went their for a breakfast meeting and had their eggs Benedict. It was good but I have had better.