Back Bistro

"Back Bistro is marketed as an upscale California restaurant serving up American entrees in a polished and intimate environment. Does it live up to this? Well here’s the review: There were nine of us, six from out of town and three local. It’s our first time here even for the locals. Our criteria for selecting this place was that it had to offer an intimate dining experience with great food (with vegetarian options) and good drinks. We came here for dinner on a Tuesday (2/6/24) evening. Made reservations a few days prior for 5:45pm. Our table was able ready for us by the time we arrived. The restaraunt is located in Palladio, a neat and clean little shopping area. Parking along the street was impossible even for a Tuesday, but there were plenty in the garage. The restaurant is surprisingly smaller than what I was expecting. There’s patio seating outdoor that adds to the dining area which look like it might be a cool place to dine at during the warmer months. The interior decor is very neat and polished; definitely fitting of a more upscale restaurant. Definitely a 5/5. Our server (didn’t get a name… SORRY!!) was fantastic. A young man that paid enough attention to us but didn’t over do it. Service is a 5/5. As a group, we ordered some appetizers which included Ahi Poke, Goat Cheese Fritters, Cheese & Charcuterie, and Goat Cheese Fritters. All turned out great especially the Goat Cheese Fritters. Appetizers were a solid (5/5). Our dinner orders included Vegan Stir Fry, Grilled Chicken and Gnocchi, Scallops and Prawns, and House Cheese Burgers. The food arrived within 15-20 minutes after ordering. I surveyed the group on their dish. Presentation review were all very nice, a solid 5/5. Taste fell a little short however. While it was good, it wasn’t exciting, not something that one would crave for. Most would give their dish about a 4/5. Personally, I had ordered the Grilled Chicken and Gnocchi. My dish turned out ok but not great. The gnocchi was good and but with very few pieces of chicken in it. The chef had used WAYYY too much garlic that it took over the entire dish. Taste wasn’t bad however and I’m not a garlic fan. Portion size was much smaller than I had expected. Granted it IS a bistro but was expecting more. I would give my own dish about a 3/5. The drinks… all came out REALLY GOOD and did not disappoint. We had ordered Margaritas, Moscow Mules, and Barrel Aged Old Fashioned. Everyone in our group enjoyed what we ordered. A solid 5/5. We also got dessert ordering pretty much one of each from the menu to share. The Sticky Toffee Cake definitely tops the list as the favorite. Our bill came out to be about $75 per person with tax and tip for the experience which included appetizers, two drinks, and dessert. It’s definitely pricier for the dining experience. Overall value to price ratio is probably a 4/5. Overall experience is about a 4/5. Do not expect to walk away full when dining here. Personally I walked away feeling hungry given what I had ordered. If not for the great company we were with, the experience may be lower. Do check this place out if you’re in the area. The place is marketed as polished and intimate. It definitely lives up to it. Make sure you’re with good company however, grab a couple of drinks and hang for a while. Food is good but it’s not the highlight IMO. The drinks were. Cheers! If you find this review helpful, give the thumbs up button a tap below"

"Interesting food, style, and location. It almost seems like they are one step from perfection. We came in as a table of 3 for lunch around 1:45pm Thursday (1/18/24). Our server was Colin B. He was attentive and did his job well. The restaurant was extremely slow at this time, we had only seen two other tables sat during our few hour stay. Small note, but for those of you that run cold this restaurant does as well. Our server requested our tab after we had paid, which was fine as I understand they have to leave for the day before the next server shift begins. We received no additional service, water fill ups (we were out of water for an hour), or check ups from other servers or staff during the two hours after we had paid. Understandable, but for a slow day I would expect someone to check on us eventually. Food was very good, though also seems to be one step away from perfection. The Mac and cheese needed more cheese and herbs of some kind. The grilled chicken club and truffle fries were both very good, but nothing you couldn’t get somewhere else. The Caesar salad was the standout dish for our stay, perfect croutons and tomatoes. The steak and potatoes (appetizer) lacked flavor and just needed that extra something to make it stand out. Mac and cheese 4/5 Grilled chicken club + truffle fries 4/5 Small Caesar salad 4.5/5 Steak and potatoes + surf and turf 3.5/5 Quite the nice location, and we are interested in coming back for brunch one day. Hopefully management is able to take that extra step and makes this restaurant one of the best in Folsom. For local reviews or travel content you can find us on most socials @sunsetourist"

"We had a reservation for a large birthday party. The service was great! Our waiter was very accomidating & nice. The menu had a good selection of choices. And our food arrived quickly. Great atmosphere, we really enjoyed ourselves."

"This place is absolutely amazing. The food is always very delicious and the service is incredible. It has such a positive and modern vibe that I love and I will definitely be back."