Bistro 221
221 Broad St, Nevada City, CA, 95959
Bistro 221 Menu
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Address :
221 Broad St
Nevada City, CA, 95959 - Phone (530) 265-0221
- Website https://bistro221nevadacity.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Leone M.
I've been back for dinner with friends and we all agreed I would post a review. The food is solid here. Only one special was left and just one of us had it. It was tasty (meatloaf), but not as warm as it needed to be.. I had the veggie penne pasta. Alot of veggies were in it. I added salt and pepper for some additional flavor. I would have sprinkled some powdered oregano and/or thyme if I had it and maybe thrown in some sun dried tomatoes. Another had a salad, she said it was good. The service was good, the servers pleasant. The seating good. I like to eat out and have food I would not or could not cook at home. That's what makes a dining experience for me.
(3)Skip D.
Went in without a Reservation on a Friday night. Never had been there before and was completely impressed top to bottom. Got seated in a rear dining room immediately. Hostess and serving staff were friendly and gracious. Menu had a southern flavor to some of it. Wife and I had the fried chicken. Really fantastic. Great new local place and not overly priced (for Nevada City). Felt appreciated, which is a nice bonus. I'll go back.
(5)Ryan W.
Let me start off by saying that, you know how bad the service is, when you have to download an app to your phone so you can write a review... Bad service!!! Yet staff was extremely nice and polite!! Started off We made a reservation for 6:30 and had to wait a half an hour to be seated.. We were seated but w no drink menu so we could choose a selection. Then no waiter or waitress took our drink order or told us about specials for another 15+min... Not to mention we were w our 19 month old, so it was even harder to keep him focused. Ended up having to give him crackers we brought to keep him occupied while we waited. Then it took yet another 10-15 to even get our drinks. Still waited to get our dinner order placed. By that time 2 tables who were sat after us had drinks and apps already. Finally we got to make our dinner orders by a different woman who never introduced herself as our waitress. So we were a bit confused. When our dinner came it wasn't bad but just mediocre. After the manager came to our table to apologize several times even without us making any sort of complaint cause they even recognized how slack it was. Then having to wait for another 20 min for a little dessert we were at the end of our rope. We're Not the type of people who are looking for any free handouts but after ordering apps, dinner, and dessert while having had waited for so long and also having had to call the bus boy over to remind the waitress to bring us our glass of wine she forgot you would think they would knock something off the bill, but no! Full charged on everything. Even after apologizes from the manager n staff for how long we waited. No break. We were there in total 2+ hours.. We had been there once before and were thanked while leaving for coming back but unfortunately we won't be going there anymore... Again, staff was very friendly but lacked in the customer service dept..
(1)Monica A.
The service was very good, the food was excellent. General pub type food on the menu. We had the asparagas appetizer which needs to be on the menu all the time, now that was different and delicious. I would like to see their menu expanded to include more unique offerings, we do plan on going back for brunch soon.
(4)Laura B.
The wait staff and owner are the best part of the restaurant. I wish I could say that about the food. The food was just ok for me. The dessert was microwaved to be heated. My main course had to be sent back because they used the wrong the sauce. I had ordered spagehetti and meatballs they obivously didn't try the dish before it left the pass for I had jambalaya sauce on my spagehetti. The soup needed more salt. It's a nice little spot just the food isn't something I would crave.
(3)Lara N.
Wow! We had lunch at Bistro 221 for the first time today. I've heard great things about it and was not disappointed! I had the grilled cheese sandwich with avocado, bacon and tomatoe. The $10 price was reasonable. It was so rich and wonderful! There is no question that I'll return soon!
(5)Darcy K.
Omg omg omg, I've finally found some goooooood fried chicken in northern CA! We (stupidly) waited over an hour last weekend in San Francisco for supposedly the best southern food there, and their fried chicken wasn't half this good. I've been searching far and wide for the past few years, and this place takes the cake! Their sides were also delicious and the waitress was quite nice. Get the fried chicken, you won't regret it! Sincerely, A southern girl who knows her fried chicken
(5)Steve F.
Always great food and great service. It's nice having the owner there, she seems to really care. I ordered the meatloaf for the first time. I didn't look that close at the description and expected a traditional meatloaf. I was pleasantly surprised. The best meatloaf ever. Made with layers of ground beef and potatoes and zucchini. And a wonderful sauce. Try it, you'll love it!!
(4)Danny T.
Great food great Service Would highly recommend I love this place the fried chicken was the Bomb.
(5)L. D.
I would move to this town just to eat at this restaurant every day. Everything. EVERYTHING was AMAZING. The food and service were through the roof! I was excited with the menu but when the server read the specials - I wanted to go back in the kitchen and meet the chef! The servers and workers acted like it was their first day of work - eager to please and do things right - yet nobody was new - the server just explained that they loved their job. The salad was by far the healthiest and the most delicious salad I had ever had. Perfect. The owner greets everyone and this place is magical. Thank you yelp for getting me here.
(5)Betty K.
Awesome lunch ! Pesto chicken sandwich and my husband had a great burger. Yam fries were very good too.
(5)hatchador v.
Ordered the "special" Chicken Jerusalem. I guess what was special was that the chicken was in Jerusalem, because it certainly wasn't in the bowl of pasta soup they served. There were a few pieces of artichoke and some mushrooms, but it was all so bland it was impossible to differentiate which was which!
(1)Stephanie M.
Not impressed. I wouldn't go out of my way; however, I would come back if prompted and try something else. Overpriced average tasting food.... The fish n chips were bland and the batter was kind of soggy inside. The gnocchi was chewy and reminded me of tortellini, which I like, but not what gnocchi is supposed to be. The cheeseburger was good and something I would order again. I was really disgusted by the water though! It tasted like it came out of a rusty pipe... Yuck! We only waited 30min for our food, which I'd expect on a Saturday night. The staff weren't particularly happy to serve you. I'd say they were tired and complacent... Not rude, just not invested? I can't say I'd recommend Bistro 221. :(
(2)Alex C.
Vert nice cozy place to eat at, the staff was great. The food was well cooked and done right. Small menu, but did have specials. Enjoy everything from the appetizer, to the main course, and desert. The only down fall was, it only have beer and wine list.
(4)Monica J.
We love our visits to the relaxing quaint Nevada City. We have never had a bad meal in the town but wanted to try something different. It was between Moon Cafe and Bistro 221......we choose Bistro 221 and it is now my FAVORITE. Local musican playing the guitar and singing, nice touch of class. Service was good, wine was from local place (nice touch) but the food was beyond exceptional. From presentation to taste.............WOW. If you are ever in town and not in a rush, do stop by. Great find. We will be back!
(5)Derek F.
Great place for lunch. They had a Zinfandel from Lodi (OZV) that was delightful. It paired nicely with the pasta we had. Fresh and not too heavy on the sauce - nice lite olive oil and garlic. The atmosphere was quaint and the staff were both friendly and helpful. I plan on eating their again next time I am in town.
(4)Isabella E.
This place has the most amazing food i have ever had in a long long time!! I feel like a spoiled brat after eating here. My boyfriend and i came here because we were staying next door at the cool national hotel. We walked around this cute night lite up town looking for a good place to eat, and the smell of this place brought us to the bistro . I ordered the skirt steak, and my man got a regular steak. The meat was mouth watering and the seasoning was so good. The sides were amazing. They made a crazy version of potatoes gratin but with sliced fried potatoes and gooey cheesy goodness, and the creamed spinach was so good . I often think about driving all the way up here just to eat at this place again. Dear bistro thanks for spoiling me :)
(5)Robbie G.
We were a group of teachers visiting and had dinner at this lovely restaurant 6/16/15. The dinners were fantastic, very nice flavors (I sampled everyone's), the food was hot, good portion size. We had apple strudel for dessert and it was so good! Our server Hannah was delightful.
(5)Bill P.
Forget last review. Jambalaya great last visit, singed and dry this time. Fried chicken all crust. Not good. Only positive nice staff and service.
(2)Josh F.
Heard the story about how this place opened and the story itself is pretty awesome...I leave that to ya'll to find out when you try this place out. We stopped by during work for lunch and their food is BOMB!!! I ordered a basic cheese burger but this sucker had a soft bun, grilled onions and a juicy patty. Fries, well I'm a sucker so any French fries order is amazing. Also ate a house salad with lemon dressing...that was refreshing and leaving wanting more. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed. The waitress and hostess that greeted us were sweet lady's. We'll be back for sure.
(5)Danielle T.
We had our two children with us so it was nice that they were able to color on the table top coverings. This place is very child friendly (with three different versions of a kids spaghetti on the menu). We came in for lunch and the restaurant slowly filled up after we came in. This place definitely gets busy! The food was great! I had a French dip, the bread was perfectly crusty/fresh. The aus jus was homemade as well as the delicious cole slaw that accompanied my husbands meal. My husband ordered the Ortega Beef Melt sandwich and it is a must have for pepper lovers!! Kind of spicy but very delicious. The people next to us ordered the fried calamari and you could tell that it was fresh calamari (and not the deep fried frozen stuff). The only reason for a 4 star review is that the servers were slow (not the kitchen) and it took us forever to pay and leave which made my children cranky.
(4)Feather B.
Really enjoyed this place! I had the carnitas chimichanga and side salad. Delicious. The lemon vinaigrette was amazing. The atmosphere is cool. Photography on the walls was beautiful. The hostess/waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable and extremely attentive. I would for sure recommend Bistro 221.
(5)Denis H.
After walking out of the New Moon Cafe (see my review) we chose Bistro 221 for a birthday dinner. Our party of four was treated courteously throughout the meal. Service was flawless. Food was very good and reasonably priced. Atmosphere was comfortable. We'll be back.
(5)Linda S.
Another great hamburger!!! Consistency in flavor and quality is the key to success. Great Food!!!
(5)Dave C.
I had the clam chowder and it was awesome! I also had the deviled eggs for appetizer. also very good. great service, exceptional food.
(4)Katie R.
The service was appalling. The orders were mixed up, we had two people waiting on us in a very slow restaurant and it still took ages to get a refill (I was about to go drink from the faucet at that point). It took nearly 10 minutes to get our drink orders taken, then they forgot my friend's wine entirely, my other friend wanted two beers and only got one, and I ended up being content with just my water. Our food took forever to come out once ordered, we had to physically wave them over to ask for salt for our unsalted fries, and my macaroni and cheese wasn't anything special. Not terrible but not worth the price and hassle. Halfway through I needed my refill and I ended up drinking someone else's water at my table - it took that long. After we finished it took 15 minutes for them to check on us, and another 10 to get the bill. Overall we spent an hour and a half there just trying to get dinner. There was absolutely no reason for them to be that slow. They weren't even half full and no one ordered anything complicated. My friend never got her garlic bread that comes with the spaghetti. Just awful. The servers were very nice, but not enough to make up for the service.
(1)B S L.
This was the third time my family ate at bistro 221. The first experience was easily a four star experience. It was about a month after they're opening. About two months after that we went back and the service and the quality of food was dramatically worse. Last time there my wife got the gnocchi and they were so dense and over cooked they were inedible. My daughter ordered the chicken parmesan which the thyme in it was so overpowering it was hard to eat. They did good on the salmon and the fried chicken. My jumbalaya was microwaved and not fresh. The chicken in it was so dry it was literally crumbling. Let's put it this way. Considering the meal was well over 170$ for 6 of us. And there was no alcohol ordered. I was disgusted. Go to lefty's or Sergio's in Gv.
(2)Cathy K.
Finally made it here. Food was as good as I hoped. It would be. I can't wait to go back and try the dinner menu. The flavors are amazing.
(5)Clifford W.
Ate here for dinner. Good fried chicken breast, clam linguini, soup, and salad. Recommend reservations if you want to eat between 5-8pm. Parking is off the street or in meters (enforced 9am-6pm). This is a tourist town and there were several restaurants to choose from. This restaurant is relatively new on 221 Broad Street.
(3)R Y.
What a delightful restaurant with a hospitable staff! We accidentally came to Nevada City during the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. BF and I aimlessly roamed through Nevada City and Grass Valley in search of a decent restaurant that had a table available for 2. No such luck. Morale was low and tensions were high. At the end of two hours, I decided it was worth calling all the restaurants we visited to see if anyone would take pity in two starved and desperate individuals. Bistro 221 to the rescue! Carly and Melissa had a packed restaurant, but they told me they could have a table ready in 25 minutes. Thank goodness! Bistro 221 is a charming place. You can be seated at the front or back of the restaurant. The front is a bit louder. When we were there, someone was strumming soft melodies on an acoustic guitar. It was pleasant, but BF and I needed more quiet after our harrowing adventure. Thus, we opted to be seated in the back room. Rebecca waited on us, and she was a gem! She was working the back room alone, but she never once lost her smile and positivity. She made us feel at ease and made sure everything was done to deliver a wonderful dining experience. Rebecca first brought us homemade biscuits with butter. The butter was mixed with something delectable, but I couldn't tell what the amazing flavor was. Needless to say, we vacuumed them into our mouths. BF's Gnocchi and my Chicken Marsala came later. They were both EXCELLENT! The Gnocchi had a creamy garlic sauce with sautéed basil. Yum! The Chicken Marsala had succulent mushrooms in the sauce and came with rice pilaf and green beans on the side. Double yum! Chicken Marsala is my favorite dish, and the chefs at Bistro 221 have perfected it. Bistro 221 and its staff more than salvaged our night; they transformed it. This place is a diamond in the rough. I hope everyone else has a remarkable experience here as we have.
(5)Harrison L.
Genuine "country" friendliness from very attentive staff. We sat in a nice, cozy, TV room (in da' back). Pepperjack Cheese burger w/caramelized grilled onions grilled to perfectly "medium". It was sooooo juicy. Ask for their home-made Chipolte sauce. Tangy and tasty. Dessert was to die for. "Heather" (our wait-professional) recommended and we savored the hot chocolate "flour less" cake topped with ice cream... Yummy! It's hard to get a 5-star from me but that burger was pretty darn good (really!).
(5)Chris B.
We love Bistro 221. We use it for every family gathering that we can. They can take care of us in the back room and the service and food is always amazing. Love all the appetizers, eggs, blue bread, calamari, potato skins. YUM. I have branched out from my favorite of the fried chicken and have tried the steak, burger, ribs, pastas and linguine with clams (my new favorite), and all of them wonderful. We are already booked for another family event, my boyfriend's 50th for about 25 people. No host dinner (they have no problem separating checks) and I will pick up all appetizers. Melissa and her crew rock. I cannot wait! She also is great with letting us bring in our desserts!
(5)Stan W.
Food and service was excellent. I highly recommend. We were in town for the Victorian Christmas and the staff was wonderful.
(5)Melanie H.
I'd love to leave an awesome review for this place. Unfortunately that would be dishonest of me. My friend and I were turned away at 7:15 pm on a SATURDAY EVENING because the restaurant staff were apparently overwhelmed by the number of customers already there, (which didn't seem to be extraordinarily large to me) and couldn't keep up. Very disappointed :( ... Don't waste your time here. Go walk down the street to the creek and eat at Lefty's instead, which is the former tenant of this building. They know what they are doing and have been in business here for quite awhile now.
(1)Marty Z.
A really good place for lunch. I had a great pastrami panino and a salad. There is a nice patio on the side that has plenty of shade.
(5)Sofia O.
Awesome food!!! The buffalo wings were, according to my fiance, the best he's ever had. Spicy buffalo sauce and chunky, sharp bleu cheese dip. Great texture and flavor of chicken. The clams and linguine with red sauce was incredible!! Just perfect. The dark lager was delicious and not bitter, and I am not typically a fan of dark beer. I ordered the chicken parmesan on spaghetti which was pretty good, but too dry. I am used to that dish being covered in a plethora of marinara and goops of mozzarella cheese, which I was craving, and did not get. There wasn't quite enough sauce to moisten the pasta. But I asked for some extra and they gave it to me so no biggie. Our waitress wasn't the most attentive, and addressed patrons in a patronizing tone which turned me off. I think she tries her best to be extra nice but it doesn't come off quite right. Will definitely be back whenever I crave some good ole American/Italian food!
(4)Linda H.
Have been here three times and enjoyed it each visit. Last time I split a wedge salad and a spectacular grilled cheese with someone who appreciated the food as much as I did. Have also ordered salads and pasta there, both of which I could highly recommend. Will try and eat here next time I'm in the area. I guess I'm a creature of habit, but why not stick with something you know is good?!
(5)Josh E.
Love this restaurant. Have come here twice, both times were excellent. The prices are reasonable, and the service has always been great. Our second time in was after leaving the worthless Ike's Corner Cafe after an hour and 15 minutes of non-existent service. We were seated here immediately, our food was ready in 10 minutes, and the waitress was wonderful with our son. She told us that all of the staff are parents, and so they really enjoy it when people bring in their kids. The wine selections are decent, and they have a wide beer selection as well. The food is fresh and flavorful. My one tiny gripe is with the portion sizes, which I feel can be a little on the overwhelming side, but truthfully, does anyone really care if they get a ton of really good food for a reasonable price? I'll keep coming back to this one. So far one of my favorites in the Grass Valley/Nevada City area.
(5)KL O.
Had a enjoyable dinner here and can't say enough great things about the staff. It's such a treat to eat in a restaurant where the staff smiles and speaks pleasantly to everyone. The chicken pot pie special was really yummy and the wine list was even better. My husband's pasta was good, too, so that's a plus. Lots and lots of local wine available by the glass - it was hard to make up my mind. We'd be happy to eat here again!
(4)Kate W.
we went here for dinner on our last night in nevada city and it was great! i had primavera pasta and it was great, as was the garlic bread with a hint of rosemary. they provided free homemade biscuits with molasses butter which was tasty and unique. the service was wonderful as well. i would definitely come back next time i visit nevada city.
(4)Jesse K.
We really enjoyed our dinner here. Delicious, juicy burgers for us parents and the two kids selected yummy gnocchi. We had apps of calamari and dinner salads; very good. Not a four-star restaurant in the Zagat sense but four stars on a 1-5 scale of did-you-like-it, would-you-recommend-it, and would-you-go-again. Our two criticisms (and we told them) were that the fries were over-salted and a request for an additional drink was forgotten. Big deal. Go to Bistro 211 and enjoy the food, the service, the art, the historical building, and yourselves.
(4)Kathy D.
Love love love Bistro 221. We always are welcomed like family, customer service is exceptional, and the food so wonderful. Simple but creative menu, really well priced and always something new to try. Melissa knows how to keep her customers happy: incredible service, food, and experience.
(5)Harriet D.
This past Saturday night was very busy at the Bistro 221 and yet service was friendly, professional and attentive to making our evening one to be remembered. I had the salmon dinner. I would say it was terrific, exceptional but even that is too lame. I loved every bite of this perfectly cooked salmon with rice and veggies.and I must say that I have experienced salmon in every local restaurant including in Auburn and this was by far the best! I bought a bottle instead of glasses of the Rutherford Vintner Cab 2011 and I know why it was rated 90 points and received a gold medal. I look forward to my next dinner there!!!!
(5)Karen P.
We stopped in here for lunch. First thing that caught our eye from the street was the sign. Were greeted promptly and given the choice of a place to sit. Susan was our waitress and she was great. Offered up some great suggestions and was very friendly and attentive. They had a Great selection of specials of which we picked the Rueben and the Philly Cheesesteak. Loved how they offered a different side instead of fries. We were too full for dessert but looked at the menu anyway. The flour less chocolate cake looked awesome. We will definitely definitely be back.
(5)Maria G.
We came here on a whim. Being visitors in this town we didn't know where to go for a good dinner. But let me tell you - this is the place! From the biscuits with maple butter served in place of typical bread to the phenomenal chicken pot pie, EVERYTHING was delicious. On top of it all, the staff treated us almost like family. It was busy so it was slower service, however we didn't mind cause we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. So if you're looking for great service and outstanding food - look no further!
(5)Robert B.
I had dinner here for the first time, the service was excellent! Our server let us sample some of the beer that we have never tried, the fish and chips were excellent. My friends were happy with their meals and the pricing was fair. I would definitely recommend for Dinner or Lunch while in Nevada City.
(5)Cage G.
We had a very nice experience here with the staff, hostess/owner, chef.. it was a memorable night, and above all, the food was amazing! Thank you.
(5)Margot S.
I don't know how to begin. I searched Nevada City, CA by foot, put my name on a few reservation lists, really hoping for a memorable dinner with my cousin and daughter, after all, we drove all the way from Elk Grove, CA to eat here! I spent about 1 & 1/2 hours looking, not being satisfied, and then finally settled on the last restaurant I found, 'Bistro 221.' We wanted a quiet corner, and that we were granted. We were led to a back room, beautifully lit with subdued lighting, and sat in a corner grouping in very comfortable sofas. A pleasant and attractive waitress was so good at what she did. The menus gave a hint at some very gourmet food, with promises of mouth watering flavors. The three of us enjoyed dinners such as; Rib Eye Steak served with fresh spinach, crispy chips drizzled with hollandaise sauce, Arugula Salad with roasted beets, goat cheese and creamy herb lemon vinaigrette, Fettuccini Alfredo with garlic bread, and finally, my Soup du Jour was incredibly mouth watering and very filling. Every single item was over the top! The employees were so friendly and hospitable. I definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)Sierra S.
I have been here a couple of times for lunch, and now once for dinner. The food is just fine, and the service is friendly. They have Ol Republic beer on tap, which is a plus, for me. The prices are mid-range for this area. BTW, this is the former location of Lefty's, which I liked better when it was here.
(4)Randy B.
Bistro 221 delivers! My wife and I booked well in advance for a Thursday dinner and were greeted and seated promptly, at the best table in the house. Our waitress was charming and appreciative of our business. We had appetizers, salad, entrees and wine. Every bite was outstanding and the service was exceptional. We will definitely be back to Bistro 221!
(5)John M.
Nevada City's best restaurant. This place is definitely the best hidden gem within 50 miles. Well priced. Great food. Great service. Been here seven times and every time is great. Only thing I would change is to have short ribs year round.
(5)Sook H.
I am a native of Nevada City and I visit as much as I can to be with my family since home is where the heart is. I love my hometown and although I live currently in San Diego, I can say that my hometown restaurants are much more amazing than most of the So Cal eateries. My dad happened to chance upon this place and on a hot day, we decided to go to dinner here. It was made known to us that the restaurant's AC was out (it was being worked on the next day) but we went anyways, curious and hungry. The moment I walked in to the place, we were greeted by the owner, Melissa, a tall, lovely and warm-spirited woman, who apologized once again for the inconvenience of no AC being available. She led us to the back room where it could be cooler. We were seated and our menus given to us. The menu is simple but full of divine sight to the eyes, which lead to your stomach and you can only imagine tasting the meals to come. The dishes that were ordered were the Cesar Salad, Arugula Salad, Salmon(the specialty fish), Linguini with clams, Ribs, Bistro Blue Bread, Fried Chicken(appetizer, not to be confused with the main dish). We didn't try the dessert, it sounded great but we were too FULL. :) Next time! Loved the place and trust that the owner followed her glory all the way in opening up this restaurant. I overheard her telling the table next to us the risk and the chance she took and that her belief was it was going to be all right. Well, it's definitely more than ALL RIGHT. IT'S WORTH IT.
(5)Phil M.
Bistro-211 - Awesome! So glad to have some new Restaurant blood in town. Our food and service was perfect. Short ribs-Melt in your mouth good. Wedge salad pure bacon and blue cheese heaven. The proprietors were ever present and obviously interested in our having a pleasurable dining experience. We will be back often! Phil
(5)Rebecca W.
Went there for a glass of wine and a place to hang while my kids perused downtown Nevada City. What I received was a warm smile, wonderful food and an incredible story of loyalty, passion and heart. The wine and food was delicious though I only had appetizers. This is a gem of a place and will easily draw me back up to Nevada City.
(5)Julie S.
So I came here on a rather busy night, there was a 30 min wait which is fine, the place looks very cute and charming. The tables are set up nicely and the waters are already waiting for you in goblet glasses when you get seated at your table. The hostess sat us and we were told our server would be right with us. About 9 min later our server came by and took our drink and food order. About another 9 min later we got our drinks and about another 10 min later we were given their house rolls I'm guessing? They were dry and bland so we didn't eat much of them. When our food finally came it looked and tasted great....until later the next day when 3 out of the 4 in our party got sick, including me. Needless to say I won't be going back again. My mother decided to give it another try and got sick again. Maybe the sauces are too rich or something but I won't be back here again.
(1)Chris S.
The Bistro staff was amazing! They graciously invited us in and were ready for our group of 6. Food was thoughtfully and well prepared. Menu had an interesting selection to choose from and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meal. My only regret was not getting an order of the Jambalaya to go for a late night meal. Energy in the restaurant was lively, but not too loud. This place is well worth your time for either a date or group.
(5)Steve R.
I have repeatedly had exceptional food and service at Bistro 221. Melissa and staff are the friendliest around. The menu is exceptional, execution perfect. We had our family Thanksgiving feast here, and it was wonderful. I have brought my out of town guests to Bistro 221, and they have loved it as much as we do! I appreciate their local brews on tap, especially ol' Republic dark lager. I highly recommend you come in and experience the hospitality and ambience!
(5)cat b.
The food was decent and there was a lot of it... The lasagna was an overwhelming portion that I barely tackled after eating the included spinach. We split it between three people the following day. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce (there was some kind of spice in it, like a nutmeg or something? Not sure...) but I'd love to go back just for molasses butter! And to maybe try their fried chicken.
(3)Jenna C.
Given the reviews, I had wanted to try this restaurant. The service by the waitress was almost non-existent. The busboy was pretty attentive - and almost too much so as he couldn't take orders, serve the food, give us the bill, or our change. The burgers were tiny and not remarkable. The French fries were unremarkable. Our food was lukewarm when we got it - so the cheese was not very good. It may have been an off night but there were only 3 tables occupied including ours.
(1)MaryAnne K.
They hosted a rehearsal luncheon at 3:30 p.m. (so not peak time); two menu options (burger and chicken sandwich) and they still couldn't get the food out timely. Fries were cold; no salt and pepper on the tables. All-in-all, service was horrible. Would NOT RECOMMEND this place for any type of event. Possibly they do an okay job on regular table service - I don't know and I wouldn't go back to try.
(1)Jon F.
Nice place. Good American fare with some experimentation and local ingredients. I have a nice wedge salad and that tasty meatball appetizer. The molasses butter and biscuit was good too. Nice wine list with many from local vintners.
(4)Tom N.
Fantastic food. Extremely well run, efficient, and friendly. From a business meeting to romantic dinning for two they do it all.
(5)Abe M.
Poor service but good food. After being seated and waiting for 15 minutes we had to ask our water guy to find someone to take our order. The waitress apologized but didn't seem that concerned. I ordered shrimp alfredo, which was delicious but had some plastic shrink wrap in it when it arrived :-/ When I mentioned this to the waitress she ended up comping our drinks which is why I gave 3 stars instead of 2. My biggest complaint was not being served at the beginning. Seems like it has the potential to be a 5 star place once they get the kinks ironed out. Not sure if I will return to see if it was an off night...
(3)Richell S.
I came here this evening and was looking forward to a great meal. The menu sounded good and reviews seemed to do the place justice. Service was fine. Attentive and patient, drinks kept full. Food wasn't all that great. The bistro blue bread was great at the first bite but then half the pieces in the middle were cold and that left the bread just tasting odd. Salad was overdressed. Clam chowder was tasty, parmesan cheese was sprinkled on top with was a nice touch but then it gave the chowder a weird consisting after mixing it together. Flavor was great. I was really looking forward to the Gnocchi, with a basil garlic cream sauce. I was very disappointed though. Gnocchi was over cooked, brown, very dense and chewy. The sauce wasn't a sauce at all but more like cheesy goo. Afterwards I thought I would try the creme brûlée for dessert, flavor was great. Although the brûlée itself was very cold. I've always had creme brûlée warm all the way through. The sugar on top was great, clearly done quickly with maybe a torch? Overall, for the amount we spent not worth it. Or else would have given three stars.
(2)Katarine Q.
Looks so nice and cozy, service is great but food is disappointing. I ordered a day special of "crispy" salmon risotto and had no salt nor flavor on fish. And no crispiness as advertised.
(3)Heather C.
Whenever a new restaurant opens up in these hills I get really excited because I'm hoping for a reason to expand my short list of places that gladly eat at. If you read my other reviews you can get an idea what currrently occupies that list. The other day as i walked on Broad Street I noticed Bistro 221 has Lefty's old spot. Great! Maybe this one! Nope. Truly sorry but nope. Ambiance was ok, and the service pretty decent but the food just made me sad. Its a case of close but no cigar. I ordered the meatloaf. I've heard this meatloaf is a big hit here because that's the report from the server and the fellow yelpers, but honestly I can't understand why. First off I'd un terrine it. The layers of summers quash hiding in the loaf didn't do anything for either, being cooked together. Just ended up sliming up the loaf a little. The meat layers tasted pretty much just like unseasoned (and oddly stringy) hamburger meat. It would be better to saute to squash, and the (supposed) winter green layer, separately to ensure they don't get mushy and also, add some mashed potatoes on the side. It might just be me but meatloaf without mashed taters is like bread without butter. It would be better also to season the meat with more salt and pepper and if you get really crazy some rosemary and thyme. But what would be even cooler and make you stand out from the crowd is if you added a little minced kidney meat in the mix. There are a suprising number of people around here that would like to incorporate a little more offal in their diets. (lots of paleo's and WAPFer's would be putty in the hands of a restaurant that offered more than just muscle meat.) (To be fair a couple next to me ordered the same thing and they seemed to love it from what I could hear). My husband ordered arrugula beet salad and their Bistro Blue Bread. Well in an arrugula beet salad there are two main things to do right. the arrugula and the beets. This is done by making sure the arrugula is fresh without any weird wilted pieces and that the beets are cooked enough and flavorful. His salad had a few old wilted pieces and the beets tasted merely boiled in water for too short a time. This dish can be instantly improved by carefully removing bad leaves, and byadding flavor to the beets. Try adding red wine vinegar and cloves to the boil, or anything to add some zesty tartness. In such a salad the tartness of the beets should be balanced by the richness of the cheese crumbles. The Bistro Blue Bread is their attempt at the famous Billy Blue Bread served at The Owl in Grass Valley.Again close-but not quite. At the Owl the bread comes out piping hot, soft, dripping with blue cheese butter. YUM. Here they got one out of 3. The bread was not soft or hot but it was indeed dripping with buttery cheesy goodness. We ended up not eating it there and cooking it ourselves in our toaster oven and it was much better hot all the way through. So yeah the easy fix here is to cook the bread longer.
(2)neil d.
I come from NC so have eaten everywhere -- Just left there after having dinner - the place is capable of producing delicious complicated dishes -however even the 1/3 lb cheeseburger is a five star item for $10!!! Clearly the best in town. High quality grass fed beef and for a dollar more they put on a 1/2 avocado. Wife had the Caesar salad - huge for $8 with very flavorful dressing prepared right there. That would have been a meal for two for $18. But we had to try the Vegetable soup starter fresh, homemade, and excellent. Flourless chocolate tart with ice cream, coffee, and a glass of wine - all good - total about $40. Nice atmosphere and friendly efficient service. I have live in NC for 12 years and this is really a great new addition - BTW I have no affiliation with the place.
(5)Christine J.
If you are in Nevada City this is THE place to eat. Everything on the menu is great and you will have a hard time deciding what to have. I will go back again and again until I taste everything on the menu, and then I will start over!
(5)Vanessa L.
2 stars for overpriced, mediocre food and poor, snobbish service. Had we not been starving that day, we would have probably left for a different place.
(2)Paul M.
Great food and open on Monday night. My wife had the jambalaya which she enjoyed thoroughly and I had the half of a roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and kale. It was excellent and hit the spot. The Rutherford Cabernet went very well with the chicken. Service was quick, attentive and with a smile. As we waited for our meal a home made bisquit with molasses butter unexpectedly showed up. What a pleasant surprise and very tasty too. Bistro 221 is a welcome addition to downtown Nevada City and so good to have a place to go on Monday when all the other places take the day off.
(5)J.J. L.
Another nice find in the Gold Country, this time in Nevada City for a stop on the way back to the Bay Area. I had the eggs Benedict which were excellent washed by an Auburn Fool' s Gold ale. Nice setting on a Main Street location. Perfect for a Sunday brunch.
(4)Zachary M.
Just got the jambalaya. Waaay too spicy! Decent flavor but not very impressive. Sauce was too thin. Felt like there should be more rice
(2)Janice R.
Omigod... SOOOO delicious! Popped in on our way home from Tahoe while wandering through the cute town of Nevada City. Saw the sandwich board outside and were hooked. Had a burger and the chicken/caramelized onion/brie sandwich on herb bread, both fabulous... but those sweet potato fries have RUINED us for anyone else's!!! Our six year old said of them, "I have harmony in my hands" with a blissed out look on his face. Good taste! Great service, too. So glad we tried it, and thanks to the lady from the Nature store for suggesting it!
(5)Stacy I.
Wow! Delicious food! Pulled pork sandwich, Eggs Benedict, BLT's and chicken/biscuit sliders all graces our table.... Everything was so good! Lovely atmosphere and great service!
(5)Matthew M.
my roomate brought me to this place a few months ago, and since then ive been religiously coming to the place about once a week. i have never been to a place like this where the staff is so friendly! even the cooks in the kitchen try to be cool with you! ive been told by other people that they have had to wait a while to get their food because they were so busy, but after you taste the food, you will see why they are so busy.. ive probably gone there more than a dozen times now and i cant get enough of it. they really make you feel like family there, and i recomend anyone to go there and give support.. the pricing is pretty reasonable for a new mom and pop style place to eat. definetly a rad place to bring a girl
(5)Courtney S.
My fiancé and I are having our rehearsal dinner at Bistro 221 in a couple months and we just did a tasting of our intended menu for the event. First of all, I made the decision to choose Bistro 221 after visiting the restaurant and having lunch there. On that visit, a girlfriend and I split the blackened chicken sandwich and southwest chicken wrap. Both items were absolutely amazing! We had sweet potato fries with a chipotle aioli on the side and I have not stopped thinking about those fries since. I am a huge fan of sweet potato fries and I felt that Bistro 221 had the best ones ever!!!! So, back to the tasting that my Fiancé and I had. I had never done a tasting and so I did not know what to expect. Working with the owner Melissa has been extremely easy and she had been so generous. The tasting provided us an opportunity to try all the menu options which we will offer our guests. With that said, I had the opportunity to try numerous menu items in one sitting. I will start with saying that I am not a picky person like I feel some of the listed reviewers may be. I am a food lover though and can honestly say that the food at Bistro 221 is AMAZING. We started with the calamari appetizer J It was not deep fried (which I really enjoyed) and was breaded and served with an amazing garlic aioli. I cannot wait to have more. We also had the pleasure of enjoying some of the homemade biscuits served with molasses butter. They were insane! The remaining entrée's we tasted were the Vegetable Penne, Chicken Parmesan, Meatloaf Terrine, Macaroni and Cheese, and Lasagna. We also were treated to a side dish of the creamed spinach as well as a very light and refreshing berry dessert. I will just say that every single thing we ate was delicious and I have not one single bad thing to say. I will just let you know the two entrees that both my fiancé and I are now obsessed with; the Meatloaf Terrine and the Macaroni and Cheese. Wow, they were so rich in flavor and I could not have asked for better tasting food. I found everything about them perfect and I really enjoyed the caramelized onions and bacon which is part of the Macaroni and Cheese. The slight sweetness of the dish was awesome. Anyway, I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed every bite, but I think you all get the point. I have NEVER written a review about a restaurant, but I truly think that what Melissa at Bistro 221 has done is worth talking about. We live a little distance from Nevada City, but we will be having many more dinners here in the future. In fact, I now feel that I need to try all of the other entrée options which I did not try on this visit. A++
(5)Natalie F.
Menu is similar to so many other spots. Burger, meatball app, and steak were all mediocre in taste and quality. Very nice staff and location on the quaint Main Street.
(2)P. S.
Went there for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The salad was fresh and plentiful. Service was excellent . They serve gluten free as well I will surely go back.
(4)Tonie H.
This was our first visit to Bistro 221, but we will definitely return. I had the chicken parmesan special and my husband had spaghetti with meatballs (and, of course, we each checked out the other's selection). They were both excellent, as were the house chardonnay and merlot. Susie provided outstanding service along with some history of how the Bistro came to exist. As long-time customers of the original Cirino's, we were pleased to discover that so many of the staff who worked there have brought their skills to this new addition to Broad Street. We went on a Wednesday night so we didn't have to fight the crowds, but I suspect that will change as more people discover this quaint little restaurant. Can't wait to return and try more of the offerings on their impressive menu!
(5)Drew M.
Mediocre. Ran out of special at 7:30 on a Tuesday. Prawn appetizer special was over battered with what seemed the same batter for fried chicken. Nothing was bad and if you want blander food, this might be your place. They had Jambalaya on the menu as well. Maybe that had some kick.
(2)Joe U.
I decided to try Bistro 221 for lunch on a recent trip to Nevada City. My friend and I were impressed with the 4.5 star Yelp score, and it turned out to be a great decision. Both the food and service were fantastic. I went with the ortega beef melt, while my friend raved about the pulled pork sandwich. I even splurged for the flourless chocolate cake which was awesome with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The restaurant itself sits in a great spot, and has a unique and pleasing ambience. All of this is coupled with very reasonable prices. I had an outstanding experience at Bistro 221, and would strongly recommend it to anyone.
(5)Patti M.
We've been there a couple of times now. Very impressed with the service and hospitality plus the food was excellent!!! Local produce us an added plus. Grateful this area has a place as good as this. We live locally and will be back!
(5)Richard B.
One of the best egg salad sandwiches I have ever had. Actually I was there with three friends for a business luncheon and everyone's meal was superb, as was the service. For a rather swanky, upscale eatery with an expansive menu, prices were quite reasonable. A great value in my opinion. I wish them success.
(5)John R.
My wife & I had dinner there on Saturday and everything from the staff, cleanliness, and food was superb. I'm not sure what restaurant Jc C actually went to but there is no way is was Bistro 221. Looking at her other reviews it's obvious that she likes to write up bad restaurant reviews. When you're at Bistro 221 make sure you don't skip the dessert after your meal. We'll be back for more!
(5)