The Old Hotel Bistro

I love the atmosphere there but unfortunately the food was absolutely horrible. The service was slow they did not get the food correct what we ordered the sandwich was all fat and the corn chowder tasted like it was a can of creamed corn that was also cold the prices are way too expensive for what you get. We will never go back and we actually left most of our food and then went to an ice cream parlor to have ice cream because we were still hungry because the food was so horrible. We were very disappointed.

June 17 2016
I’m so sorry to say that today I am very disappointed in the service here today.
Very slow. Non attentive staff. I was first seated at a table facing into the dirty dish area!!! I asked to move. Took forever to get a tuna sandwich…. Food was average.
I’ve lived in Clovis all my life and always support our local Clovis businesses. The Old Clovis Hotel was a fail this afternoon. I have come here off and on for many years. It’s been good and not so good but I kept supporting. After today I could not recommend to anyone I know to have a meal here. I have many Clovis friends. I graduated in ’72 and am sad to write this poor review but… honestly slowest and poorest service almost ever that I have had.

The Old Hotel Bistro was a delightful refuge to the Hot Clovis weather. I had dinner there last night with friends and it was fantastic! I had the Creole Fish Tacos and a glass of wine. We sat out on the patio and overlooked the Farmers Market. Inside the restaurant was a beautiful décor that took you back in time. A great historical site that has brought life to the area.

The service is impeccable here and the food is amazing! I didn’t need to use the salt or pepper shaker and I like that. The atmosphere is elegant and inviting. I’ll be back real soon!

Love the laid back and relaxing atmosphere while we had our lunch on the porch. Can’t wait to try their «cottage tea» The staff are very friendly and the service was good.

An old favorite has become a true disappointment.
I have been taking my mother here for special «dates» since it was the Rose Tea Cottage, and it has always been special. We went here a few months back, and while the food was good, the service was bad. Never the less, I made the reservation for yesterday (Sat of Mother’s Day weekend). Again, the food was delicious (but small portions), but the service was Horrible. The place lacked the atmosphere it’s always had: multiple empty tables scattered around– missing chairs (it looked like they didn’t know they were open!), it was musty and dusty (never had that problem before), and we literally sat for 10 min before our waitress helped us, and then we saw her exactly twice after that. She brought us our beverages, and then almost an hour later came and asked us if we were ready for our bill (someone else brought out the food, no one ever checked on us). She never checked on how our food was, or if we needed anything, no beverage refills (one in our party had a coke), Nothing. We actually had to ask for a dessert menu, and Togo box (when she abruptly asked if we wanted our bill– No «how was everything, can I get you anything else?» — just «would you like your bill now?»)
My mother was so upset, that we actually drove around the corner for 31 Ice Cream, rather than chance dessert there. They were not busy– there were at least a dozen empty — abandoned looking tables. There was 1 party of 8, and then 3 tables of 4 or less (including us) and then a couple tables on the porch.
I’m hoping I can find a new special lunch place to take my mother. I won’t be back, and it breaks my heart. We have loved this place.

Unfortunately this visit was extremely frustrating and disappointing since it use to be such a gem in Old Town Clovis. My mom made a reservation here for a Sunday lunch while my mother-​in-​law was in town as we were trying all weekend to give her a «Taste of Clovis.»
Two of us arrived on time and checked in for our reservation, it was really hot and stuffy inside. They seated us at our table and told us someone would be right with us. Besides the baby shower taking place in their banquet room, there was only 3 dining tables present besides us.
We sat at our table, (even after the final member of our party arrived 10mins after we were sat) for 20mins before my mom had to walk up front and ask them to turn on the air (other tables were even fanning themselves) and requested service for our table. While we were waiting, there was really only one gentleman running around like a chicken without a head trying to keep up with everything so not sure if staff didn’t show up that day or what but it was BAD. The gentleman ended up being our server and the service want not smooth at all the entire time. We even tried to order simple things on the menu so it wouldn’t take too long since we had an appt to get to after lunch. Lunch was served after quite awhile, once the food was dropped off we didn’t see him for a long time so we didn’t get condiments that we would have wanted to enjoy with our lunch. After we were done, we waited another 15mins before we could flag someone down to bring us our bill, and there were 2 other tables that were trying to do the same. All in all, we left frustrated, disappointed and embarrassed. Not sure if ownership or management has changed in the last 2 years but we won’t be back.

Just moved to Fresno not to long ago and drove by to buy some coffee. I had parked right outside of The Old Hotel Bistro but didnt know they even had a coffee shop within so I went to a different place right across the street. As I walked back to my car with my coffee, I knoticed an incredible smell that was coming from there. I was not even planning to stop by but I am so glade I did! I ordered the Chicken fried Salad and it tasted delightful. I enjoyed it very much, too much that I devoured it with in minutes. I am a big chicken and salad eater and well I can honestly say I will defiantly order it again. My waitress was great, very humble and caring. I think I just found my bistro to go to: D

Great place. Built in 1902 as the tallest building in Clovis, this place has history. Reasonable prices. Good food. Attentive staff. The tea selection is superb. Local craft beers. Their twist on a grilled cheese was a delight. Decent Chef Salad, but a little light on the greens. Quiet with great character. It’s a winner.

We wandered in hungry ~2pm on a weds. The little shop in front is interesting and it’s kinda cool how the shop is the entrance to the restaurant .
Beignets, open-​face meatloaf sandwich and Portobello sandwich (and server) were good. Overall, the place is quite unique, menu is solid, preparation and service seem like they really care about what they are doing. With that said, I think I should have tried the gumbo instead of meatloaf sando. The beignets alone are worth visiting this place. Wine n Beer menu are proper. This place has all the pieces for a great restaurant experience.

My new Favorite
Atmosphere was sublime Real Tables Real Chairs, and Real History Great soft Jazz accompaniment
Order the burger medium rare and the fries well done. The Sculpin Grapefruit IPA is best from the bottle, tell them you won’t need the chilled mug

Phenomenal! The décor is so relaxing and a throwback to the good olé days. There’s a cute coffee shop and boutique before entering the dining area. The Waldorf chicken sandwich was great, and the whiskey bread pudding was scrumptious! What really won me over was the great server, Sam. Very well-​mannered and made the experience much more pleasant. Overall, this place is a WIN!

Got the jerk beef salad and it was phenomenal. I asked for medium rare and it was perfect. It was by far the best jerk I’ve ever had. I took a friend who got the bourbon chicken and he literally teared up he thought the food was so good. I’ve never seen food do that to someone, wish I had taken a picture.
After that we had to order the bignettes, bourbon bread pudding and the campfire pie. Incredible. I wish I could give them 10 stars out of 5
If you want the intimate and extremely fine dining, then coming here is a must, I got everything I had hoped for and more.

I’ve ate here twice typically while shopping in the antiques district. Despite what Unilocal thinks this place accentuates Creole/​Cajun dishes, but with the skills of a real chef.
I’ve had the fish tacos and the barbecue shrimp and both dishes were superb. Service was fantastic and this spot is now on my detour to get to list!!!
PCH

The Old Hotel Bistro is a little gem tucked away in the heart of Old Town Clovis. Upon entering the dining room I felt as though I was transport back to the Victorian era. So Downton Abbey! My friend and I each had a slice of quiche and a scone paired with Carmel chocolate truffle tea and pumpkin spice tea. The quiche was very plain, watery, and a bit under salted. I did however really enjoy the scone– it was perfectly flaky and so fun to dress up with the Devonshire crème, lemon curd, and jam provided. The tea was also very tasty, served in beautiful vintage tea pots. This place is a bit pricey, but the beautiful ambiance, yummy scones, and assortment of teas is enough to keep me coming back.

Absolutely lovely setting for Ladies Who Lunch. Seven of us, with two small children, enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Bistro. It was relaxing as well as delicious.
Soups, salads, and sandwiches are all beautifully served. The tea menu is extensive and I will personally attest to the marvelous soothing flavor of the pomegranate/​pear tea. Food is fresh and much of it is locally sourced.
There are two charming dining rooms that can accommodate different size groups. If you have a special occasion, consider having the festivities in this charming, historic dining establishment right in the heart of downtown Clovis.

Let me start by saying the afternoon tea here is probably an american version of having afternoon tea, and not the royal english version I love and have acquainted with. Having said that, its not necessarily a bad thing, unless of course you are an english visiting Fresno and expecting the same experience back in the United Kingdom.
The ambience is absolutely unique and would confuse first timers, the front of the store appears to synchronize with the antique store façade– since they have a two room gift store retail in the front, however as I made my way back, the restaurant features comes to live with its opulent dining room featuring décor from the 1920’s. It feels very historic and a perfect setting for an american afternoon tea.
What I do find unique about the old clovis bistro is the selection of tea they offer (somewhere between 8 – 12 choices of tea). They offer the classics such as earl grey and the english breakfast to exotic tea such as the mango passion fruit tea. The meal I ordered was the cottage tea $ 17.95 set which was a plate of assorted sandwiches, petite salad, scones with devonshire cream, lemon curd and fruit preserve, it also includes a pot of tea from the assorted choice.
The scones itself was overly sweet, somewhat tailored to the american taste with its dusted sugar. The english version is almost like the american biscuit, where it isn’t sweeten. While the devon shire cream was certainly not inspired from the same devon I know, a province in England. It was sweet, and kind of lacking in its creaminess. The real devonshire cream is the clotted cream, it has the luscious creaminess from the top of the cream, and is never sweetened.
The sandwiches was quite delicious, and plain. It was an assortment of an egg sandwich and vegetable sandwich. The salad had a nice balsamic dressing to accompany the fresh salad. Overall a not too bad afternoon tea set. Quite steep for the price, but nonetheless affordable.
The service was overall friendly and attentive. I do hope that the owners could offer an authentic royal english tea version, where people could order a three-​tier tea plate that could be shared, juts like how they do it in England, because that is the experience I miss the most and is lacking in the central valley.

The Old Clovis Hotel Bistro is a quaint and beautifully designed business and building. I came here for a gathering with friends, and I am so glad that this spot was chosen. The front porch of the building was full of people enjoying a Sunday lunch, and already this was a good sign. When I stepped inside, I felt like I walked into the past. The architecture looks so original, and maybe it is. The little gift and keepsake items are in the front, and are filled with clothes, bags, tea sets, figurines, and many more marvelous items.
The back area is where the dining room is, and it is adorned with crafty tables, pictures, and classic wallpaper. We ordered a Bistro tea special which included scones, quiches, and sandwiches. The tea was brought out in stunning pots and cups, and each cup had its own gorgeous style and unique design. Our host and server was so quick and friendly. She showed extreme patience with our group and represents the Bistro with excellent professionalism.
I noticed a couple at a table, next to ours, eating a burger and fries… the dish looked delicious and I hope to try that on my next visit. I loved the welcoming ambiance and I can’t wait to be back!

We had great service from a super friendly and welcoming staff, so not sure what was going on in some of the other reviews. The setting is so beautiful as we really enjoyed a leisurely lunch out on the front porch of this wonderful building. So peaceful feeling the fall breeze, seeing leaves drifting off the trees, and people watching.
The food was good as well. One of us had the Burger which was okay but it had a strange tasting seasoning and even though we ordered it done medium it was served well done so kind of dry. The buns though are delicious as they are buttered and toasted. The other meal was a chef salad which was beautifully presented and served with an excellent balsamic vinaigrette. They have a large selections of teas as well as coffees beer and wine. All in all I would definitely go back.

My sister and I went here for lunch and we got one lunch menu item that came with a scone and pot of tea for something like $ 9 and another that came with a scone, quiche, and teap pot for about $ 10.
I loved the list of teaa they had and how it was decently priced. The quiche was amazing, it was crustless yet had a good balance of flavours. I’m not sure what the standard for scones is but we also got three different spreads for them. Some type of creamed, sweet butter, a homemade blackberry jam, and lemon jelly.
The meal itself all combined really well, the scones, quiche and tea. There was an issue with our server being a bit pushy and trying to rush us to order. There was only three or four other people in the place so I’m not sure why she kept pushing us to order but once we had ordered and gotten our food she was pleasant.
I’m not sure how it would be for dinner since they seemed a bit pricey when I glanced at the menu but for lunch it was awesome.