The first time I tried a burger from here I really liked it! I'm a sucker for a brioche bun. So when I went back for the same burger I had high expectations. It was still good! Cooked well, decent proportions, and didn't get sloppy until the last couple bites. At this visit I chose a side salad, it was one of those red oak lettuce spring mixes. Decent portion, and I didn't have to pick out any black lettuce pieces, which is a huge win in my book.
However, the salad was only tomatoes and cuke, and the ranch felt too "hidden valley" for what I expected. A slice of red onion, some actual homemade buttermilk ranch, and/or a couple of croutons would really take this up a solid notch and make it worth the $17.99 price tag. In the same visit I also tried their fries, and for me these were kind of a miss. They were overcooked to the point of being hollow and so crispy they hardened into something like Veggie Straws by the end of the meal.
One employee at the front of the house was an older guy working his butt off, short in a friendly-busy way. But the young gals at the register were lacking that real customer service, which seems to be a gen z thing not necessarily unique to this place. Don't get me wrong they were nice enough and doing the job, but the vibe was robotic.
The place wasn't overly busy but there was a pretty consistent lunch flow and they seemed to handle it well. You have to get your own sodas and bottled drinks from a cooler next to the register. They also make coffee drinks and have a beer or two on tap. You pick up your own food at a counter.
Overall I liked it but the parts that could be improved really made the price tag hard to swallow. $18 for their basic burger with a light side salad: no drink, no extras, and this is before tax and tip. I'll probably be back, it's still one of the better lunch spots in town.
Kid-friendliness: There's a kids menu with about 4 classic options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Crystal Ćalić
Great atmosphere, coffee and food. Options for indoor and outdoor seating are available so if you want to bring a pet plenty of covered outdoor seating. My first time being an Arnold and my first time visiting Bistro Espresso.
I'm excited to make this our regular stop on our way back home after visiting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
cray0rb
Picked up cup of Latte on my way passing thru Arnold, just to realize later that it was with spoiled milk. By the time I realized it, I was driven too far and didn't want to return.
Food: 1
Robert McClelland
Coffee is fine, but if you plan on eating, you better have some time because they take forever… And after waiting more than 30 minutes for breakfast I omelette and potatoes were dried out like they had been under a heat lamp for a while… Not coming back
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Cynthia Martin
Ridiculously bad service. Tried to order twice, going through a long, very slow line each time. Finally, placed an order only to be called back to be told they couldn’t make the second attempt order. After trying to place an order for 30 minutes, I asked for a refund and they insisted on deducting the cost of the fountain drink from the refund.
Avoid this place!!!!
Vegetarian options: I tried to order a vegetarian burger. The rep took my order and cash. Called me back a few minutes later to tell me they no longer had veggie patties. I explained that I had already been trying for 30 minutes to place an order and asked for a refund. They insisted on deducting the cost of my fountain drink from the refund.
Not recommended for vegetarians or anyone else!
Service: 1
Peter Baumgart
Nice place but it would help if coffee tasted more like coffee. Low quality beans? No flavor. No healthy breakfast choices like yogurt with fruit or granola or something.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ted Wu
Try the flapjacks! They had a wonderful buttermilk pancake flavor with the perfect amount of chew.
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito
WrldTraveler24
Nestled between Sacramento, Stockton and Lake Tahoe is this adorable little café not too far from big trees ? ?(where the big redwoods of California submerge)! it’s a perfect pitstop to grab food. Go to the bathroom grab some coffee or beer and sit outside in the wilderness with big trees surrounding you with quaint tranquil sounds of nature!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Campbell
Cashier was nice but the blended drinks not worth it, just sugar and weird flavors, had the zebra - mid.Also friend v upset she got butter instead of cream cheese on bagel. She sadDry cookies.Prices were okay on regular coffees, good iced latte for hot day. Sure other people have good experiences.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Michael Sherman
All the food was good. Pleasant place to spend the morning as well.
Nestled between Sacramento, Stockton and Lake Tahoe is this adorable little café not too far from big trees ? ?(where the big redwoods of California submerge)! it’s a perfect pitstop to grab food. Go to the bathroom grab some coffee or beer and sit outside in the wilderness with big trees surrounding you with quaint tranquil sounds of nature!
Food: 5
Service: 5
zu st
Coffee shop that is offering lunch as well. We only got coffee and muffins and it was all great. I loved the outside seating under the tree and the wood decor inside.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elizabeth Laza
Got hungry on our way home from Big Trees and decided to stop here. Had a delicious pulled pork sandwich and my husband got the grilled chicken sandwich and he loved it. Recommend this cafe if you want quality food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thaoブロング
Came here twice, for brunch and for lunch. Can’t go wrong with breakfast. Portion sizes are on the larger side, so a plus. It’s nice and cozy here. All the workers are young and the owner usually hangs out in the corner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad
S Simonaro
Great food for the price! Blta sandwich was served open faced with the fixings on both sides! Had to take half home. Kind service staff.
The first time I tried a burger from here I really liked it! I'm a sucker for a brioche bun. So when I went back for the same burger I had high expectations. It was still good! Cooked well, decent proportions, and didn't get sloppy until the last couple bites.
At this visit I chose a side salad, it was one of those red oak lettuce spring mixes. Decent portion, and I didn't have to pick out any black lettuce pieces, which is a huge win in my book.
However, the salad was only tomatoes and cuke, and the ranch felt too "hidden valley" for what I expected. A slice of red onion, some actual homemade buttermilk ranch, and/or a couple of croutons would really take this up a solid notch and make it worth the $17.99 price tag.
In the same visit I also tried their fries, and for me these were kind of a miss. They were overcooked to the point of being hollow and so crispy they hardened into something like Veggie Straws by the end of the meal.
One employee at the front of the house was an older guy working his butt off, short in a friendly-busy way. But the young gals at the register were lacking that real customer service, which seems to be a gen z thing not necessarily unique to this place. Don't get me wrong they were nice enough and doing the job, but the vibe was robotic.
The place wasn't overly busy but there was a pretty consistent lunch flow and they seemed to handle it well. You have to get your own sodas and bottled drinks from a cooler next to the register. They also make coffee drinks and have a beer or two on tap. You pick up your own food at a counter.
Overall I liked it but the parts that could be improved really made the price tag hard to swallow. $18 for their basic burger with a light side salad: no drink, no extras, and this is before tax and tip. I'll probably be back, it's still one of the better lunch spots in town.
Kid-friendliness: There's a kids menu with about 4 classic options
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Great atmosphere, coffee and food.
Options for indoor and outdoor seating are available so if you want to bring a pet plenty of covered outdoor seating. My first time being an Arnold and my first time visiting Bistro Espresso.
I'm excited to make this our regular stop on our way back home after visiting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Picked up cup of Latte on my way passing thru Arnold, just to realize later that it was with spoiled milk. By the time I realized it, I was driven too far and didn't want to return.
Food: 1
Coffee is fine, but if you plan on eating, you better have some time because they take forever… And after waiting more than 30 minutes for breakfast I omelette and potatoes were dried out like they had been under a heat lamp for a while… Not coming back
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Ridiculously bad service. Tried to order twice, going through a long, very slow line each time. Finally, placed an order only to be called back to be told they couldn’t make the second attempt order. After trying to place an order for 30 minutes, I asked for a refund and they insisted on deducting the cost of the fountain drink from the refund.
Avoid this place!!!!
Vegetarian options: I tried to order a vegetarian burger. The rep took my order and cash. Called me back a few minutes later to tell me they no longer had veggie patties. I explained that I had already been trying for 30 minutes to place an order and asked for a refund. They insisted on deducting the cost of my fountain drink from the refund.
Not recommended for vegetarians or anyone else!
Service: 1
Nice place but it would help if coffee tasted more like coffee. Low quality beans? No flavor.
No healthy breakfast choices like yogurt with fruit or granola or something.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Try the flapjacks! They had a wonderful buttermilk pancake flavor with the perfect amount of chew.
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito
Nestled between Sacramento, Stockton and Lake Tahoe is this adorable little café not too far from big trees ? ?(where the big redwoods of California submerge)! it’s a perfect pitstop to grab food. Go to the bathroom grab some coffee or beer and sit outside in the wilderness with big trees surrounding you with quaint tranquil sounds of nature!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cashier was nice but the blended drinks not worth it, just sugar and weird flavors, had the zebra - mid.Also friend v upset she got butter instead of cream cheese on bagel. She sadDry cookies.Prices were okay on regular coffees, good iced latte for hot day. Sure other people have good experiences.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
All the food was good. Pleasant place to spend the morning as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Nestled between Sacramento, Stockton and Lake Tahoe is this adorable little café not too far from big trees ? ?(where the big redwoods of California submerge)! it’s a perfect pitstop to grab food. Go to the bathroom grab some coffee or beer and sit outside in the wilderness with big trees surrounding you with quaint tranquil sounds of nature!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Coffee shop that is offering lunch as well. We only got coffee and muffins and it was all great. I loved the outside seating under the tree and the wood decor inside.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got hungry on our way home from Big Trees and decided to stop here. Had a delicious pulled pork sandwich and my husband got the grilled chicken sandwich and he loved it. Recommend this cafe if you want quality food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here twice, for brunch and for lunch. Can’t go wrong with breakfast. Portion sizes are on the larger side, so a plus.
It’s nice and cozy here. All the workers are young and the owner usually hangs out in the corner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salad
Great food for the price! Blta sandwich was served open faced with the fixings on both sides! Had to take half home. Kind service staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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