The food is better than ever at Bistro Viz. The Alaskan halibut in a savory broth was outstanding. Chef Soo Young elevates seafood, especially including her scallops, to something special. The service and the ambiance are always warm, helpful and pleasant.
Laura
Small but great menu and wine choices! Food preparation and presentation was a 4+.! Owner chef is deeply involved in the service and management of the restaurant as she was both our waitress Occasionally server and busboy she had one other what appeared to be regular waiter and 3 busboy /servers possibly in training. It was madly busy night. In spite of chefs divided tasks the oyster chowder, fried squid small plates , Lobster shrimp noodles and Halibut special large plates were very very good (esp fish) and in portions so generous we could extend savoring the moment the following day! We had sorbet (too large a portion and creative recipe but a bit too heavy for my taste and apple crisp - excellent clean sliced apples with great crisp topping fruit still had crunch but cooked with vanilla ice cream! Yummy! Wine list was extensive a most sll avsilable by glass. Outdoor seating pleasant but cool on a windy night so opted for inside. A bit too dark and old country in appearance indoors but cozy. Apparently frequented by neighbor diners who were familiar with both each other and chef! Street parking not a problem Definitely will return! Thanks for discovery for high end eating spot in Marino add to slim list
Msmaryn
This is one of our favorite local spots to din. Soo is warm, friendly and a very talented chef! Erich is also warm, knows the incredible wine selection and has a welcome sense of humor. We love eating on the patio in any season. You will not be disappointed! A personal favorite of mine are the fish tacos!! It's a lovely stroll down San Anselmo Ave on a warm summer night. If you drive, it's easy to park. Try it! You won't be disappointed.
We had a fantastic Sunday dinner with excellent wines. Every course was done perfectly, with deep flavors and no attempt to force the combination of ingredients. The result was a beautiful and natural coming together of texture and taste. Bravo to the young female chef. The seared yellowtail with wasaby grains was spectacular!
Had a fantastic dinner; Sat outside on the covered patio on a cool night with heaters when needed. The dinner and service was great like on all the previous visits. The food prepared by owner, chef and wine expert Soo Young is always outstanding and takes advantage of seasonal produce, seafood and other proteins.We started with tempura-like presentation of fresh vegetables. The batter was very light and crispy. Then we had the Lobster Garlic Noodles. Am I glad we did! This version had very fresh lobster and shrimp with a bit of a background spicy kick that really made the dish sparkle. It was not only very good but was a generous serving. Had enough to take home for a snack or appetizer the next day. The dish was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also had the Big Dinner Salad that included asparagus, fennel, watermelon radishes, little gems, arugula, pickled onion and frisée. One of us has a shellfish allergy so the gulf prawns were replaced by two juicy and crisp chicken thighs. Again, very fresh produce, expertly cooked chicken thighs and a huge portion. This was a real dinner salad. For dessert we ended the excellent meal with the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. The crisp included an extra of grilled pears on top. A nice touch! It was excellent and easily shared by two. The wine list is one of the best in Marin County and beyond. Not only is it excellently put together by Soo Young, there are over 35 wines by the glass. This makes the dinners even more exciting in that you can have different high-quality wines as you course through your meal. And if you need help deciding on a wine, just ask and they will help with suggestions to fit your palate and the meal. Both Soo Young, the chef and wine expert, and Erich, who does most everything else are excellent, friendly and hosts. They clearly enjoy what they are doing. A restaurant to have dinner any day of the week or for special occasions. They will make it special for you?
route66
** New review! Previous comments were for a different restaurant. We loved every moment of our romantic dinner at Bistro Viz. We sat outside on the quiet patio and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Our food was absolutely delicious and we appreciated the expert wine recommendations with each course. We started with the shaved fennel, beet, & orange salad which was a bright and flavorful starter. I ordered the seared scallops & my partner ordered short ribs sourced from nearby Niman Ranch. The main items and their accompaniments were simply perfect. With the scallops came grilled Brussels sprouts & fingerling potatoes and with the short ribs, fingerlings & other veg. We were sated and certainly didn't need dessert, but were celebrating my partner's birthday, so ordered coffee& ice cream for him and affogato for me. A small note - a woman walking by with a dog got tangled with leash, phone, & a glass bottle, dropping the glass bottle on the sidewalk. Our server (owner? manager?) immediately rushed out to help her clean up the glass, which we found very kind. This is a lovely lovely place we will definitely return to on our next visit to the area. **Thanks for alerting me that I'd initially put the wrong restaurant's review here!
Michele
Lovely meal last night! Dishes were creative, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Wine list and guidance were terrific complements. Ambience was relaxing. Service was wonderfully personable and prompt. The only (good) problem - the diverse menu presented too many alluring choices for one dinner, so we will be back for sure. Thank you for a terrific dinner!
StevenP
I cant believe that after living in Marin since 2006, this was my first visit to the wonderful spot. Great service, delicious fresh food lovingly prepared, and a legitimately world-class wine list make this local spot a real treasure. Open for dinner Thursday-Sunday. I will definitely eat here again. And again.
Yummy
Wish the food was better. The short ribs were dry and a little tough. It was more like a pot roast made with chuck roast. The sauce was not good. On a more positive note the roasted asparagus and the smash potatoes were better, but we could not taste the truffle oil. Service was great. The chef actually serves the main entree.
GordonP
My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Bistro Viz! We had been in the space some time ago (can't recall if it was Bistro Viz at the time). My husband is familiar with the accomplished chef's cooking. We had a lovely experience -- even though a popular night to dine (Valentine's Day), the noise level was fine for a mostly-full dining room. The service was attentive, professional, and personal -- the food, tasty. While not usually a fan of prix fixe menus, it was understandable for Valentine's Day and the portions were reasonable.
Thank you to the most kind and hospitable staff who took care of me (and my dog) when my car broke down in the rain, right by this spot. I was looking for a spot to wait for a tow truck and literally found shelter here. While I waited, to calm my nerves, I ordered a little grilled gems salad and to top it off the food also was delicious. I’m beyond grateful to the two wonderful souls who cared for me and my pup. They even gave my dog a few snacks while we waited. Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LeaRosa
This is one of our favorite restaurants. The food choices are creative and Soo Young and Erich are friendly and accommodating with making dish choices and sharing suggestions. Soo Young recently injured her wrist which as the chef impeded the speed of the kitchen. In order to provide a good dining experience, Soo Young let us know that they have been limiting the reservation times. When we asked the restaurant for an earlier time, they accommodated us. If your experience was not what you expected, I suggest you give the restaurant another try - especially during the nicer weather in the spring when the outside dining is a treat.
Janellen
This restaurant must be a little "under the radar", as it wasn't quite full on New Year's Eve. It deserves a larger clientele, as our food was delicious and a very good value for the quality. I hope they keep the oyster soup on the menu! The NY Eve menu was prix fixe but one of our group was vegetarian, so a special main dish was prepared for her. Highly recommended!@
dineSF
My husband and I always love the food, ambiance, and special service at Bistro Viz. New Year's Eve was no exception! The owners kept dinner intimate by limiting the number of diners so that every dish was served hot and delicious. The oyster soup was transcendent, I am still thinking about it 6 days later. My husband raved about his steak. It was cooked perfectly. I also had the warm, dungeonous crab salad, which was divine. We will return soon and highly recommend.
Wonderful service and food presented by a charismatic couple who made the dining experience very personal. Felt like an experience from the movie ‘Big Night'. Will definitely return!
The food is better than ever at Bistro Viz. The Alaskan halibut in a savory broth was outstanding. Chef Soo Young elevates seafood, especially including her scallops, to something special. The service and the ambiance are always warm, helpful and pleasant.
Small but great menu and wine choices! Food preparation and presentation was a 4+.! Owner chef is deeply involved in the service and management of the restaurant as she was both our waitress Occasionally server and busboy she had one other what appeared to be regular waiter and 3 busboy /servers possibly in training. It was madly busy night. In spite of chefs divided tasks the oyster chowder, fried squid small plates , Lobster shrimp noodles and Halibut special large plates were very very good (esp fish) and in portions so generous we could extend savoring the moment the following day! We had sorbet (too large a portion and creative recipe but a bit too heavy for my taste and apple crisp - excellent clean sliced apples with great crisp topping fruit still had crunch but cooked with vanilla ice cream! Yummy! Wine list was extensive a most sll avsilable by glass. Outdoor seating pleasant but cool on a windy night so opted for inside. A bit too dark and old country in appearance indoors but cozy. Apparently frequented by neighbor diners who were familiar with both each other and chef! Street parking not a problem Definitely will return! Thanks for discovery for high end eating spot in Marino add to slim list
This is one of our favorite local spots to din. Soo is warm, friendly and a very talented chef! Erich is also warm, knows the incredible wine selection and has a welcome sense of humor. We love eating on the patio in any season. You will not be disappointed! A personal favorite of mine are the fish tacos!! It's a lovely stroll down San Anselmo Ave on a warm summer night. If you drive, it's easy to park. Try it! You won't be disappointed.
We had a fantastic Sunday dinner with excellent wines. Every course was done perfectly, with deep flavors and no attempt to force the combination of ingredients. The result was a beautiful and natural coming together of texture and taste. Bravo to the young female chef. The seared yellowtail with wasaby grains was spectacular!
Had a fantastic dinner; Sat outside on the covered patio on a cool night with heaters when needed. The dinner and service was great like on all the previous visits. The food prepared by owner, chef and wine expert Soo Young is always outstanding and takes advantage of seasonal produce, seafood and other proteins.We started with tempura-like presentation of fresh vegetables. The batter was very light and crispy. Then we had the Lobster Garlic Noodles. Am I glad we did! This version had very fresh lobster and shrimp with a bit of a background spicy kick that really made the dish sparkle. It was not only very good but was a generous serving. Had enough to take home for a snack or appetizer the next day. The dish was very flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also had the Big Dinner Salad that included asparagus, fennel, watermelon radishes, little gems, arugula, pickled onion and frisée. One of us has a shellfish allergy so the gulf prawns were replaced by two juicy and crisp chicken thighs. Again, very fresh produce, expertly cooked chicken thighs and a huge portion. This was a real dinner salad. For dessert we ended the excellent meal with the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. The crisp included an extra of grilled pears on top. A nice touch! It was excellent and easily shared by two. The wine list is one of the best in Marin County and beyond. Not only is it excellently put together by Soo Young, there are over 35 wines by the glass. This makes the dinners even more exciting in that you can have different high-quality wines as you course through your meal. And if you need help deciding on a wine, just ask and they will help with suggestions to fit your palate and the meal. Both Soo Young, the chef and wine expert, and Erich, who does most everything else are excellent, friendly and hosts. They clearly enjoy what they are doing. A restaurant to have dinner any day of the week or for special occasions. They will make it special for you?
** New review! Previous comments were for a different restaurant. We loved every moment of our romantic dinner at Bistro Viz. We sat outside on the quiet patio and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Our food was absolutely delicious and we appreciated the expert wine recommendations with each course. We started with the shaved fennel, beet, & orange salad which was a bright and flavorful starter. I ordered the seared scallops & my partner ordered short ribs sourced from nearby Niman Ranch. The main items and their accompaniments were simply perfect. With the scallops came grilled Brussels sprouts & fingerling potatoes and with the short ribs, fingerlings & other veg. We were sated and certainly didn't need dessert, but were celebrating my partner's birthday, so ordered coffee& ice cream for him and affogato for me. A small note - a woman walking by with a dog got tangled with leash, phone, & a glass bottle, dropping the glass bottle on the sidewalk. Our server (owner? manager?) immediately rushed out to help her clean up the glass, which we found very kind. This is a lovely lovely place we will definitely return to on our next visit to the area. **Thanks for alerting me that I'd initially put the wrong restaurant's review here!
Lovely meal last night! Dishes were creative, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Wine list and guidance were terrific complements. Ambience was relaxing. Service was wonderfully personable and prompt. The only (good) problem - the diverse menu presented too many alluring choices for one dinner, so we will be back for sure. Thank you for a terrific dinner!
I cant believe that after living in Marin since 2006, this was my first visit to the wonderful spot. Great service, delicious fresh food lovingly prepared, and a legitimately world-class wine list make this local spot a real treasure. Open for dinner Thursday-Sunday. I will definitely eat here again. And again.
Wish the food was better. The short ribs were dry and a little tough. It was more like a pot roast made with chuck roast. The sauce was not good. On a more positive note the roasted asparagus and the smash potatoes were better, but we could not taste the truffle oil. Service was great. The chef actually serves the main entree.
My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Bistro Viz! We had been in the space some time ago (can't recall if it was Bistro Viz at the time). My husband is familiar with the accomplished chef's cooking. We had a lovely experience -- even though a popular night to dine (Valentine's Day), the noise level was fine for a mostly-full dining room. The service was attentive, professional, and personal -- the food, tasty. While not usually a fan of prix fixe menus, it was understandable for Valentine's Day and the portions were reasonable.
Restaurantji Recommends
Thank you to the most kind and hospitable staff who took care of me (and my dog) when my car broke down in the rain, right by this spot. I was looking for a spot to wait for a tow truck and literally found shelter here. While I waited, to calm my nerves, I ordered a little grilled gems salad and to top it off the food also was delicious. I’m beyond grateful to the two wonderful souls who cared for me and my pup. They even gave my dog a few snacks while we waited. Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is one of our favorite restaurants. The food choices are creative and Soo Young and Erich are friendly and accommodating with making dish choices and sharing suggestions. Soo Young recently injured her wrist which as the chef impeded the speed of the kitchen. In order to provide a good dining experience, Soo Young let us know that they have been limiting the reservation times. When we asked the restaurant for an earlier time, they accommodated us. If your experience was not what you expected, I suggest you give the restaurant another try - especially during the nicer weather in the spring when the outside dining is a treat.
This restaurant must be a little "under the radar", as it wasn't quite full on New Year's Eve. It deserves a larger clientele, as our food was delicious and a very good value for the quality. I hope they keep the oyster soup on the menu! The NY Eve menu was prix fixe but one of our group was vegetarian, so a special main dish was prepared for her. Highly recommended!@
My husband and I always love the food, ambiance, and special service at Bistro Viz. New Year's Eve was no exception! The owners kept dinner intimate by limiting the number of diners so that every dish was served hot and delicious. The oyster soup was transcendent, I am still thinking about it 6 days later. My husband raved about his steak. It was cooked perfectly. I also had the warm, dungeonous crab salad, which was divine. We will return soon and highly recommend.
Wonderful service and food presented by a charismatic couple who made the dining experience very personal. Felt like an experience from the movie ‘Big Night'. Will definitely return!
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