Bidwell Street Bistro

Great food! Have gone here twice now, its consistently good. We ordered braised lamb and it was fantastic. Great experience. Pros: Great Food and Wine Selection more

JUST HAD A GREAT LUNCH AT THIS WINE BAR RESTAURANT-FIRST TIME VISIT-HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE PLACE FROM FRIENDS Pros: good food more

I have to say the best food I have ever had in Folsom or nearly anywhere else was at Bidwell Street Bistro in Folsom. I dined there last week with friends and they agreed! The Duck Confit was fantastic as was the French onion Soup and Creme Brulee! The servers were friendly and very attentative. It really is a hidden treasure! Pros: Great food and reasaonable prices more

Found ourselves in Folsom tonight, an early birthday dinner with family. Saw the Bistro was rated best Overall Restaurant in Folsom in a local magazine, so we drove over. Surprised at the strip mall location. We took one of the paper menus on display near the front door and looked it over while in the car, since we knew we had specific entree needs. It listed several dishes that would work for the vegeterian members of our family. Once we were seated, bread & water served, we were given the menus. It was a much smaller menu than what was posted outside, (both were for dinner). The menu we were given did not have one non-meat/fish entree on it. Not a pasta dish, nor an entree salad to be had. We discussed leaving, since there were people in our party that would not have an entree choice. We asked the server about the two menus, he stated the one outside was ""old"", not in use any longer.(why is it still being displayed??) we explained our problem. He assured us they could fix up a great pasta dish with our choice of veggies in either a cream sauce or wine sauce. Sounded great. Well, when the dish arrived, there was no pasta in sight. It was a bowl of lentils, with assorted veggies over the top with a puree of some sort of squash on the side. No sauce to speak of. The other entrees were great, but we couldn't enjoy them knowing how dissappointed our dinner companion was. Her dinner looked like just some side dishes lumped on a plate. The fish entrees that were ordered were very tasty, but if we had known that the kitchen lacked the ability to create a simple dish for our companion we would have chosen a different place for this night's dinner and come back at a different time when the vegetarian entree wouldn't be an issue. But since we were mislead by the server we won't be back. It was not an inexpensive dinner and it left us a tad bit sad as we left. We did let the ""lentil dinner gal"" pick out where we went for dessert since, obviously, she was still hungry. Pros: great fish entrees Cons: misleading menus, disconnect between wait staff and kitchen, offered patio seating on cool evening, no propane in heater. more

Not sure what the review before was taliking about-this place has over 30 wines by ths glass and half glass more

A nice place, but rather boring on the inside. The duck confit is wonderful. The gazpacho is superb. The escargot is a throw away. Old, cold bread with ""butter squares"", untrained service that has NO idea how to reccomend a wine.(Mainly becase they have none to offer). The management is not interested in your comments. Just come in and eat, pay and get out. The front desk, (seating) was managed by a young girl of some 17 years old with multi-colored hair. Nice touch. Sorry, but I do not beleive there is any french food anywhere near Flosom or Rancho Cordova. If you like french food that is about a ""5"". Eat here. Pros: Great duck and gazpacho. Cons: No wines to even choose from. more

This is a nice place for solid traditional French Bistro dining. The service was good, the ambience was cozy, and the food was good. We were especially pleased with the veggies, cooked to perfection, including the wonderful cranberry sauce and sweet potato french fries. The entrees are traditional Bistro style dishes. The duck confit is the signature dish of the restaurant. It was good, but not the best I've ever had. The skin wasn't pan fried crispy enough, and the marinate was a little too strong and bitter (maybe heavy on the cloves?). The poussin was a little dry as well. The deserts received mixed reviews. The creme brulee was good, a little on the creamy side. I prefer the Le Bec Fin style where it is more firm, but still excellent. The vanilla gelato was great, but I didn't like the profieroles as they tasted a bit stale. Overall Bidwell Street Bistro is a very good dining experience. We enjoy it very much and would go again! Pros: cozy, good service Cons: located in strip-mall more

Took my mother-in-law there for Mother's Day on the Saturday night before. We were their first customer on the night (5pm). Wait staff was pleasant, polite, efficient and provided perfect service. The food was good and served promptly. Prices moderate to high. Portions generous, but not crazy. We each took home a doggy bag because we wanted to splurge on dessert. Recommend this restaurant for a nice evening out. It has an upscale feel without the pretentious prices or attitudes. Pros: Elegant, but welcoming atmosphere. Parking easy, Service great. Cons: Location is in large shopping area, not downtown Folsom. But once inside, you are transformed away. more

I have been in the wine industry for many years and anywhere you go, even Napa, the fee for tasting is not as high as $14. Also, we had to ask for some sort of bread or crackers with our flight of wine that we rec'd. They had no cheeses, crackers, or bread out for you! Plus, once we were ready to purchase the wine, we were disappointed to see that there was no incentive to purchase the wine if you paid for a tasting. It was an expensive wine-tasting experience for a strip-mall bistro and will not be back again! more

we just had dinner at this place and it was wonderful-it seemed very busy for a wednesday evening-the food was great and we were treated very well by the server. small bistro in a shopping center but made you feel you were somewhere in europe with the feel of the interior great food and nice service Pros: food, service, wine list Cons: location more

We went early on a Saturday night and the restaurant filled up fast. The atmosphere was charming and our server, Aaron was excellent. We shared a bowl of french onion soup which was very ordinary, not flavorful enough, could have used more richness. For our entrees we had the scallops and the night special, the lamb. The scallops were wonderful, cooked perfect and very tasty. Unfortunately, the lamb was very gamey and once again, nothing but average. For dessert we had creme brulee and it was just right. All in all a nice experience but not special enough to warrant the high price. Pros: service, atmosphere, dessert Cons: location, ordinary, price more

The food was ok. But the location is extremely, excessively strip mall. more

Terrific ambiance interior decor design bar great.. the food fantastic.. the only problem it gets full fast so get there early. Suggestion to the Bistro ""go big"" find a larger location as your definitely Folsom's best and there is plenty of patronage as it is always full so why not relocate to a larger location to accomodate the demand! Suggest utilization of our wonderful local vinters as we have fantastic wines here in El Dorado & Amador counties just need to invite them in with our friends from Napa..great place just make a reservation.. Pros: ambiance, bar, food Cons: , outdoor dinning area, wait times more

I would have the ability to eloquently express my inner culinary feelings for this gem of a restaurant in the unassuming town of Folsom, CA. Tired of the typical Chinese, Mexican and American fare so common in the foothills area, I decided to take a chance on The Bistro... what an experience! The mussles were the best I've ever tasted - rich and loaded with garlic; the escargot - what can I say other than awesome! The creme brule', usually not a favorite of mine, was supurb!! A bit more expensive than enchiladas with rice and beans, but well worth every nickel... Can't wait to go back... Pros: nice atmosphere, Changing menu, smaller dining area more