Bistro Viz

Ok, we’re stolling through the San Anselmo Art festival… sweating up s storm and stumbled upon this gem! We were ushered in by the charming hostess that said, «yes, we’re serving meals at 3pm»!! She settled us into a booth in an empty and very nice restaurant. She recommended a very nice and, refreshing French Rose. Fantastic! Then, we ordered, warm olives, avocado and cucumber gazpacho (one of the best I’ve ever had!), stuffed squash blossoms (stuffed with salmon, Thai curry basil and tarragon, 42 degree poached egg with smoked trout, crisp potato and fried leeks… finished everything off with their hamachi crudo!!! OMG!!! This place has been in business less than a year! I predict great things in the upcoming year for Bistro Viz! Oh, btw, did I mention their AWESOME sound track… fucking amazing!!! Love this place!!!

Went with several friends last night for early dinner .
Food was very good but found entrees a little pricey and wine selections very high as well.
It would have been nice to chose from a house wine as most 5.6 oz glasses were $ 12 – 14 ea.
Nice outdoor seating on a warm evening.

62 degree egg, perfect, bay scallops perfect, crème brûlée fair, service perfect, atmosphere great, wine selection great, I will return.

Every bite was excellent! Service and ambiance was appropriate for a neighborhood bistro. This will be a go-​to for us.

This place is a little known gem. but why so hidden? Maybe a sign would help? The owner was very nice and knew a lot about wine. The food was creative and very good. The atmosphere was a little quiet. I assume this will change as more people learn about it. Did I mention they need a sign?

We visited the new location in San Anselmo for my husband’s birthday dinner and the food was delicious. Soo Young’s selection of the freshest ingredients and the creative combinations make this restaurant our «go to» for special occasions. The service is excellent and very personal. Soo Young visited our table and recommended wines to accompany the various dishes. We enjoyed them all. Our next visit is Mother’s Day dinner and we can’t wait.

Good food, so-​so service and all in all I’d give it 4 stars if the price wasn’t so high. Nice neighborhood place, but food seemed under seasoned and amateurish at times (housemate vanilla ice cream was icy). Great octopus appetizer, under seasoned unremarkable fish tacos, although the house made salsa was good. Nice wine selection. I’m going to keep trying this place.

Valentine’s prix fixe dinner tonight was astounding. Scallops perfectly charred, tender shrimp, lobster with silky parsnip sauce… We can go on but the tastes are so unique and inventive yet satisfying that there’s no way to use words to explain the experience. We will always be back.

I have had lunch here twice and both were super yummy. On my first visit I had the savory bread pudding. I was confused by what this might be, but it was amazing. Two perfectly poached eggs next to a pile of perfectly braised greens, and then a chunk of savory bread pudding. Choosing what combination of each to put on my fork was a fun adventure.
Second visit my friend and I each had the sole. It was lightly pan fried with a hint of panko, served over greens with a couple of small carrots and potatoes on the side. We admired the beautiful presentation, and the portions were very generous. Super delicious.
I hope they stay open for lunch because they have a cute little outdoor patio that will be great in the spring sunshine.
Wine selection takes up an entire sheet, so lots to choose from regarding types of wine and price.
Great addition to San Anselmo!

Hands down the best clam chowder I’ve ever had. The food is carefully crafted with very fresh ingredients. The wine list is full of interesting and exciting selections. I had the Ojai Riesling to go with the Hamachi. Wow, what fresh and a vibrant pairing. Soo Young is an amazing resource of wine knowledge, if you want your dining experience to go the extra mile then dine here tonight!

I went here for lunch and I absolutely loved it. What a great addition to the neighborhood.
I had the burger and the fish tacos. Ok, the fish tacos is one of the best I ever had. It’s light and fresh. The wine list is fantastic as well. Soo is knowledgeable about wine and I like having her do the wine pairing for me.
I find the staff extremely sweet and welcoming. I was eating alone and they were very sweet to keep me company…
I’m coming back to book our Christmas party here. It’s a fantastic place!

I had lunch and just enjoyed the atmosphere. The owner was so kind and she came to table and chatted which I so enjoyed
I will be back as regular customer for sure !
I had the sole dish it was kite and came with the freshest greens and the ships were perfect

I know Soo Young because she rents space near my business. I enjoyed her previous restaurant and know that she is an excellent chef. Recently when my best friend’s son got engaged, I gave the happy couple a dinner gift certificate as my engagement gift. I just spoke with the groom last night and he gave a glowing review of the food, the service and especially the setting. They ate at a table with a view of Mt. Tam and they were treated like royalty. He said that my gift was the BEST engagement gift they received!
Congrats to Soo Young and the entire staff at Bistro Viz, and keep up the good work!

Bad service. Fish tacos were a pile of shredded cabbage tiny pieces of fish. Cheapest glass of wine $ 16.
Really wanted this restaurant to be great. Not coming back big waste of money when there are great restaurants down the street

My bride and I went to Bistro Viz to celebrate my passing my oral exam for coaching certification. We decided to forego our view of Mt Tam and sit inside instead.
We did what we often do: ordered 3 appetizers and 1 main to split, and bought several half glasses of wine to try pairing with different dishes combining both Erich’s and Soo Young’s perspectives on the wines.
Appetizers
I liked the La Caña Albariño with the Tartare (hamachi, ginger sesame vinaigrette, wonton chips). The wine was clean and with a lower fruit which allowed the fish to shine through.
I liked the Ojai Riesling with the Peppers and Okra (padróns, Jimmy Nardellos). I like the slightly sweeter Reisling with the occasionally hot padróns and the yummy JN’s.
I liked the Ojai Riesling with the Baby Beets (beets, mustard frills, Laura Chenel chèvre, yuzu vinaigrette). Somehow the Riesling fit with both the sweet earthy beets and the just right sharpness (and amount) of the chèvre.
Main
We split one of my all time favorites, Fish Tacos (cornmeal-​crusted petrale sole, organic corn tortillas, red cabbage, tomato, onion, cilantro, cilantro aioli) and I liked it with the Gamba Zin. I should have added some of the housemade hot sauce but I didn’t. Not sure what (or if) I was thinking. It’s one of my favorites.
Dessert
Affogato I passed on the dessert wine this time.
Just writing it down makes me yearn to return. Maybe when my certificate shows up in the mail and I can frame it and hang it on my wall I’ll go visit Erich and Soo Young again and celebrate just one more time… I think that the grilled octopus is calling my name ;-)

This restaurant has potential. The food is good and could be better. And the customer service needs to be paid attention to a bit more.
Our friend ordered the pano coated deep fried egg as a starter. She had to ask the staff why wasn’t it prepared as stated on the menu. Staff said the chef would be happy to present it again prepared properly. Huh?
We ordered a second bottle of wine. They were out of that one so recommended another mi had to ask that they charge us the same as the bottle we ordered. They did, but should have offered that without our asking.
But the weirdest thing was when a very small Asian woman came running up to our table, picked up our bottle of wine and proceeded to pour. I grabbed the bottle and asked who she was as there had been no introduction. Turned out she was the chef/​owner. I was taken aback. She really interrupted our conversation, not to say it was literally quite surprising the way she came to us.
Finally when we received the check, we had to ask they take the incorrectly egg appetizer off the bill.
I want this restaurant to be successful. Just a few things here. Keep the chef out of the dining room and listen to your customers.

Went for dinner tonight and was so very glad we did. It was just lovely from beginning to end. Substantial and varied wine list. Started with the stuffed squash blossoms. Moved on to the duck breast and short ribs for the entrée. Ended with coffee and affogato. The décor is sleek but warm. Great attention is paid to presentation. The staff is super attentive and supportive of one another. The dining room was full but we could still hear one another speak just fine. Loved all of it and will be going again soon.

You simply MUST order the beet salad. The red, orange and yellow beets are cooked to perfection and served cold with greens and a melon ball of goat cheese; beautiful and delicious. The Scallop dinner also is demanding of a great review. We will soon be back to experience the other entrees. The wine pairings, expertly chosen by the owner, Soo Young were very enjoyable. The Crème Brulee and Chocolate Cake with ice cream finished this special night. And, by the way, siting outdoors under the stars was extra special, and if became cold there are plenty of heaters to keep you warm. You are missing out if you do not experience this very special new restaurant next to the San Anselmo Post Office.

This is an absolutely great place to eat. The owner’s Soo Young Kim and Erich Lichtblau have reinvented formerly Bistro Vis a Vis into a slick modern newly renovated building with amazing food to match. We took a couple of our friends there as a thank you for a great baby shower they threw for my wife. Soo Young was not on the ones and two’s (chef) but the quality of the courses have not diminished in the slightest. In fact, her great personality sets an amazing tone that enhances the whole dining experience. Also, Soo Young’s wine pairing skills are master level status.
Ok, lets get into the food. The starter I tried was the Brassicas. I had never seen or tasted a purple cauliflower, the seasoning was light, but savory. That was a real treat. The starter that got raves all around were the Salmon stuffed squash blossoms. Simply amazing. A must if you go there.
My main was the Flat Iron steak. I like my steak medium well (just a little bit of pink) most places jack that request right up. But not here, it was seared to perfection, and the sauce just took it to the next level.
I see my wife and I dining here for years to come, and you should too. Welcome back Bistro Viz, we missed you!

Bistro Viz is newly opened in San Anselmo (but is a reincarnation of Bistro Vis a Vis in the Bön Air Center in Greenbrae). We loved our first dinner here and enjoyed the outdoor patio dining on a warm summer evening. I was especially pleased how they totally transformed this old San Anselmo restaurant.
We all had the paired menu (each course served with a wonderful wine). Food was beautifully presented and tasted even better. The only downside was that the staff’s inexperience showed a bit. After all, they had only been open a week, so the server was a bit uncertain on a few things, and we’d sometimes have 2 – 3 people come by and ask us the same question (maybe this is better than an inattentive staff, though). Food was almost flawless except maybe for the the molten chocolate dessert wasn’t molten enough.
We will definitely be back often… If the food stays as good and the service becomes a bit more polished, I’ll definitely up my rating to 5.