Cafe 225

We are on vacation and looking for a place to eat dinner. This place sounded good so we thought we’d try it. We got the crab cakes, they had no taste at all! I can’t say what their other dishes are like, but the crab cakes were awful! The staff was not very friendly either and no one offered to refill our water until we were getting our check. Don’t recommend it. We were here on June 18^th between 6 & 7.

I took a few college students to dinner to catch up. Being a Tuesday I did not think I would need reservations. When I walked in there were two large groups (one had over 20) and there were only a few empty tables. We were greeted quickly and seated in a booth. Our server, Genero was friendly and very efficient. I can truly say he was fabulous. I am a creature of nature but because of Genero I tried one of the specials, it was a fish. IT WAS EXCELLENT!!!
The «water» person came frequently. Genero continued to serve the entrie time we were there. (we stayed quite a while since we were chatting). Sometimes servers forget about you after your meal arrives. I have to say Genero made us feel important and everyone loved their meals. We chose Café 225 because of the variety pizza to steak.

My husband told me that 225 was the best food in town and he couldn’t be more right! I walked in alone wanting to order to go. I was greeted quickly and she was very welcoming. Sat at the bar and was offered a drink by the tender. Even though they were busy, everyone that passed asked if I had been helped. It felt so nice to be acknowledged and cared for. My order was the santa fe chicken caesar with added sirloin. I was a bit specific about my order and was over joyed to hear the server and the kitchen communicate my requests with accuracy. Then I got back to the hotel to find that my order exceeded my expectations. It was absolute perfection. The warm foccacia bread was also delightful! Can’t wait for lunch tomorrow!

Per my customer’s suggestion, I called Café 225 to have breakfast catered for a group of 25.
The person who helped me over the phone seemed irritated by having to take the order, and further frustrated when I asked her to email me an estimate and confirmation via email.
Fast forward to day of meeting, I am sitting here without breakfast for my customer (nor do I have an email confirmation). I’ve tried calling the restaurant (which isn’t usually open this early) and also sending a message online via their website.
They truly failed me today. How is a reputable restaurant to completely not show with a catering order for 25 people?
Luckily the Corner Bakery saved the day! Go there for reliable service. They have NEVeR failed me, and the presentation is beautiful.

If you want a Bloody Mary that will make you day and excite your tastebuds you found the place!

We went in to have Dinner and drinks. We walked in and sat ourselves at the bar and continued to be ignored. The place wasn’t that busy as you could tell by the 2 girls working at the bar that talked to each other and didn’t acknowledge us when we walked in or sat down. There were a total of eventually 5 workers at the bar that never acknowledged us sitting there. I normally only review of the service is really good or really bad. Unfortunately we will not be coming back again and hopefully this doesn’t happen to anyone else
It was around 7:30 — 8:30 pm

Avoid the Mother’s Day brunch.
Party of 4 at 11AM. restaurant was not busy.
Really bad service, lukewarm/​cold food, and hugely overpriced at $ 34/​person. Really disappointing for what used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Visalia.
By the way, pay attention to the automatic 20% gratuity. I guess they add it so that they don’t have to worry about actually trying to provide a decent experience.
$ 180 for 2 adults, 2 kids, and lower quality than most fast food restaurants in the area.
I didn’t even bother to complain. I just won’t be back.

I travel all over California for work and this is by far my favorite restaurant! Love, love, love the salmon (blackened). Sub in the garlic mashed potatoes and you’re in heaven! Don’t forget dessert! Amazing

I ate there a few days ago and ordered the seafood fettuccini. In my opinion the focaccia bread was stale and the seafood in the main dish was not fresh and too salty. To top it off I found a large piece of plastic Saran Wrap rolled up at the bottom of my main course. Yuck. I informed the waitress, and she apologized. I got the bill and the restaurant had the audacity to make me pay for the seafood fettuccini… Seriously? I’ll pay for everything else, but to charge for a dish that had plastic in it …

I used to love this place. Recently though, not so much. Tried again tonight, chicken dry and over cooked and drowning in a bitter sauce. Usual bartender not there., actually no one with bar tending experience. They couldn’t make a margarita. Tequila and sweet and sour is NOT a margarita. All new staff so maybe they just need time to work out kinks. Won’t go back anytime soon.

Used to be my favorite place in Visalia because it reminded me of upscale café’s in San Francisco but my most recent trip was a disaster. Picked Café 225 to go for a nice dinner before a show across the street at the Fox theater. Got there early and they sat us all the way in the back even though the place was almost empty. Had a great view of the back door and the rest rooms. Someone came and gave us bread and water and apologized that the server was in a meeting and will be here when she is through. Really? Oh well, we always enjoy the bread with a little oil and balsamic vinegar. Was really surprised when we found out the bread was cold like it just came out of a refrigerator and the crust was hard. Really disappointing.
My wife ordered the Frenche burger and said it was good. I opted for the lamb and goat cheese pizza and a wedge salad. The salad was good, but huge. I later found out that it was the entrée size, not the side salad I thought I was getting. The pizza dough was horrible. It was undercooked and pale white. The lamb had the consistency of bacon bits but didn’t taste as good.
Not a good night at Café 225. I hope this is a one off. I have been there dozens of times and brought friends and business associates. Not sure if I am willing to give it another try. Too many good places to go in town now.

I love coming to café 225, the bartender, Tony, is very talented and knowledgeable of cocktails. Never a disappointment with him or the staff there! Calamari appetizer is delicious and as well as the margarita pizza, give it a try you won’t disappointed.

Came here on a Tuesday for lunch with my husband and we got seated fast and it was very quiet as it was during the week. I ordered pasta and he a sand which and were very happy with our selections. We weren’t bother much which we like so I did like that. Overall we will definitely be back and I have already recommended my staff to try this place out.

Had the Vegetarian Wrap with side Pasta Salad. Very flavorful, but wished the cook didn’t forget to put the wild rice pilaf in my sandwich

I came here for a birthday celebration party. I didn’t have a choice of eating the food I ate here because it was already chosen for us. The salad that was served was pretty basic. The croutons were bland. However, the main course was delicious. It was pasta, chicken, broccoli, and beef. The sauce that was poured on top of the chicken and beef was full of flavor. The pasta was too creamy for my liking. A side of potatoes was also served and I definitely enjoyed the taste.
I would give this place another try on my terms.

Great prices, great menu, great service. This is also a great place to bring out of town guests.

So many roaches everywhere. Bartender is slow and does not know how to approach people. Our drinks took about 30 minutes. Servers are not trained and lack communication. Horrible service. Horrible experience. Overpriced for how disgusting the table cloths were silverware as well and not to forget the plates were dirty as well. I do not recommend this place. Not a family friendly environment. And I will mention it at my annual Christmas party that this place is horrible.

Very nice place. Café 225, a California Bistro, has been in the heart of downtown Visalia for a long time now and has built up a reputation with Visalian for conveniant healthy fine dining.
The décor is nice. The full bar is nice. The food is fresh!
After eating here you will notice how good you feel, which is a tribute to the quality and fresh ingrediants cooked with.
Other local resturants include Tazzaria which does not know if it is a sandwhich shop, bar, bistro, or coffee house. Either way «Tazz» is no comparison to Café 225.

I love Café 225. The Mediterranean Tostada is my favorite and I usually call to go when I’m at work, but love coming in to eat. It’s really nice and the staff and owner are great. We use to have work meetings in the bigger room a lot and the food for lunch was always so good. I’ve never had anything I didn’t like!
I threw a baby shower there also and everyone I talked to while planning was so helpful and really accommodating. We got to decorate the room also and it all turned out perfect, I was so happy with choosing them for the location.
This is one of the classier places downtown to go for a nice dinner or if your like me and need a yummy lunch to go they have awesome food and great catering!

This review is based solely on a catering event!
We ordered penne Alfredo with chicken for our daughters birthday party and everyone loved it. I believe the tray we ordered fed up to 30 – 40 people and only cost $ 45. VERY cost effective and delicious!
Only bad side, I asked for it to be ready by 12 and when I arrived to pick up, I had to wait 15 minutes. No Bueno.