The Bull Valley RoadhouseSpecial DinnerThe food was great and many of the item were severed family style for splitting meals. Will go again.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely bar with classic drinks.Lovely bar with classic drinks. Food was excellent but as others have noted, the chicken while good is seriously overpriced, but I would go back, just not order the chicken!6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMI have not been therein atI have not been therein at least 40 years, when it was the Bull Valley Inn. Getting there is a bit of a pain but once you arrive it is great.The food and service is outstanding and friendly. There were 4 of us and we had rack of lamb, fried chicken and the wrapped fish. All the dishes were excellent. A little pricy but well worth it.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat placeBull Valley Roadhouse proved to have excellent food and cocktails, and a romantic ambiance. Service was outstanding and the staff went the extra mile to make patrons comfortable. The portions were sized for two so we ordered a salad and entree and shared them. Bartender was able to concoct and excellent Blood and Sand upon request, and though we lingered at our table chatting along with another party until an hour after closing they patiently waited until we were all done. Great food, great atmosphere, great experience in scenic Port Costa.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth the driveWarmly greeted by our servers Christine and JJ, it was the beginning of a wonderful evening. Everything was just as expected and more. Don't miss the smoked roasted peppers on the appetizer menu. New and delicious. The fish (professionaly boned at the table) and rack of lamb superb. Side dish of summer squash was our only disappointment, a gooey blob, exhibiting none of the freshness of the season we expected.. Ended with a peach cobbler that was perfect. We'll definitely return.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMcheck it outFor those of you who remember the Bull Valley Inn, this is a totally different experience. The cozy romantic old inn feeling is gone and the feeling now is more upscale artsy antique. although not pretentious. The Caesar salad was excellent and the cold watermelon soup was creative and intriguing. We ordered the ribeye steak and it was good. I do not like a lot of heat spice to my food and everything including the steak was pretty hot. If you are expecting to see the menu items listed on the website, they were not in evidence. They did not offer bread, although at the end of the meal a table near us must have asked as they were brought bread. The tables are close together and as the restaurant filled, it got incredibly noisy.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall great-- Loved theOverall great-- Loved the location, and the selection of food and drink offerings. The fried green bean appetizer was a standout-- Worth going back just for that! All else was likewise excellent. The idea of "family style" service is not normally my cup of tea, but we made it work and I can see its good points as far as being able to try a variety of the sides as opposed to a large entree for each person. Am anxious to go back now that I "get it"!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for a relaxingGreat place for a relaxing dinner with friends or significant other. Staff was very accommodating and upbeat. Food was delicious. Quaint little setting.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVery homey. Delicious foodVery homey. Delicious food and will be back to try more food selections! The carrot soup is awesome,need to have more!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food...too loud!Great food. We had the fish (cooked wrapped in parchment paper) and for dessert the peach cobbler...it was to die for!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFun destination. Cool space.Fun destination. Cool space. We happened to dine on a warm evening when the doors and windows were open, which was special. The drinks were great, as was our waiter. The food was also excellent. The crispy green beans were delicious as was the salad with pears and gorgonzola (a tad on the sweet side but so flavorful). We shared a slow-cooked pork dish for the main course. It was a perfect blend of smokey pork and tomatillos, lime, cream and cilantro atop creamy polenta. Our only criticism was that the pork was cool (not even lukewarm) and the price seemed high for the amount of pork. The flavors were quite good though and the polenta beneath the pork was warm so it was definitely enjoyable. Great experience overall!6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMDine in Charming Port CostaThe four of us loved the restaurant. The food was magnificent, the wait staff knowledgeable and friendly. I don't like red meat and often skip it, but the ribeye steak was so great that I had a second helping. The caesar salad is the best I've had in years. An added benefit: Port Costa is charming and the drive in from Highway 80 is fun. It's definitely worth the drive. (We came from Berkeley.)6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMPort Costa finds a GemFirst time dinner at Bull Valley. We were offered a drink as soon as we walked through the door at the bar or sitting lounge.
When our guests arrived we were all seated in main dinning room although there is outside patio service available. Our waitstaff, part owner, explained the menu and made recommendation which turned out to be superb. Everything was good but the chicken, steak, and mac and cheese were divine. The wine selection is moderate but a decent value and poured without crimping. The coffee is french pressed and hot. A great ending to an excellent meal. I believe the restaurant has only been open with these owners for 3/4 of a year. I wish them all the best in their venture. With food like this, success should be assured.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome placeThis place is awesome. It starts out with a beautiful scenic ride to the out of the way restaurant. Its in a funky old building. There was a great feeling when u walk into the restaurant. The crew was very friendly and the food was 5*. We had the mussel and lamb dishes. They were cooked to perfection. Perfect place for date nite. We will return....6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMBull Valley ReviewThis is my second time at the Bull Valley Roadhouse and once again I had a great time. The service was excellent along with the food. I definitely plan on going back in the near future.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMBull ValleyI have been to the Bull Valley Roadhouse four time of late. The food has always been great (I particularly like the fried chicken). My major minus points would go to the very loud noise level; they could really use some some sound deadening drapes, or other material so that a normal conversation may be carried on. Staff are friendly and welcoming and the drinks pretty good. I'll go again.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMMartin RosenA very interesting dining experience. Our party of four had all of the starters ordered, and two sides as well. They were excellent. We were advised that the mains were quite substantial and meant to share. We had a half fried chicken which was quite small, nice but a bit pricey at 39.00. The deserts were very well received and the Pisco Sours well made. The town is a must see, and the history, which one of the owners revealed to us, is fascinating.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMDining adventureWe had never been to Port Costa. It is a small, hidden, funkily little town which added to the ambience of this restaurant. The food, drinks and service were excellent. A place I would recommend everyone should try.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a party of four andWe had a party of four and shared all our entrees. They all were great. The only drawback was the noise level.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMfantasticWhat a surprise to find this wonderful restarurant in such a unique setting. The food was out of this world, melted in our mouth.
Preparation very unusual, a real treat.
We will come back again it was so good, I don't think you will find any better food in california then what they brought to our table.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMdelightfulgreat food, charming ambiance, attentive service. can't wait to go back5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMVery crowded, energetic environmentVery crowded, energetic environment on a Saturday evening. Service was great, from start to finish. Food was delicious. Loved the halibut ceviche, and peas. Branzino was unique, fried beans addictive. We also ordered the steak, and brought that home. the portions were ample. We skipped dessert, we were so full, and I am a dessert lover. My husband had a delicious homemade soda. Nice to have something non-alcoholic that is interesting and tasty. A fun evening in an interersting setting.
Parking is difficult. mainly available in an unpaved lot.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMIn the middle of nowhereIn the middle of nowhere, sits the very tiny town of Port Costa. And in this town is a very unique find; a restaurant that rivals some of the best restaurants of SF and Napa. The food is beyond fabulous; creative and wholesome, fresh and delicious. All of the staff, including the bartender and managers, stopped by the table to chat and talk about the food. They were so gracious. The waiter explained the concept of family dining; instead of an entre' per per person, we instead got 3 (there were 6 of us), plus 2 appetizers, 1 salad, and a side dish. It was the exact right amount of food, and there were no leftovers.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good out of the way gemThis is a very good restaurant in a unique Bay Area location. Excellent cocktails and food. Wine list is small but interesting. It's great to see someone restoring the Victorian gems of days gone by..5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMlove the ambiance and thelove the ambiance and the scenic drive to this out of the way place and enjoyed our dinner. the noise level, however, made it impossible to talk across the table to hear anything other than the loud chatter of everyone else.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious!The food is amazingly delicious; the BEST Ceasar I have ever had. My southern born and raised husband is tough to please with fried chicken, yet adored it here. The rib eye was tasty, too!
A few things to consider...no salt or pepper on the table (although my husband did not even need it OR Tabasco-high praise!), we needed to ask for a second round of drinks, and the whipped cream on dessert was whipped without sweetener and was close to tasting of butter(the children did not care for it and would have preferred vanilla ice cream on the cobbler).
Although it is a stitch pricy, my husband and I left already thinking about what we will order the next time we come here!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place rocks!This is a place that is so beautifully renovated ad has great ambience. We sat outside on the patio and was very cozy. However, you can relax here while dining on 4 star food. Loved some of the new items: avocado on toast appetizer and the ceviche.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMMussels to Die for...This is a great place! Love the energy, the staff, the food, everything about it. Had our second dinner there on Saturday night. The stand out for me was the mussels topped with a stack of French fries and a dollop of aioli. I've eaten a lot of mussels in my day and these have to be the best. The other stand out was the fried chicken. Tender, juicy, all that you'd want. Dessert was a peach cobbler. Y.U.M. Do your self a favor and zip on over to Port Costa for a fun evening. And if you spend the night, you can treat your self to the uber cool coffee house at the Burlington Hotel. They only serve coffee, tea, honey pound cake, sweet cornbread like you've never tasted before and bacon. What's not to love?5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMA fine dining experienceWe went to the restaurant for my wife's birthday. I couldn't really find one negative thing to say about our experience at the restaurant. The interior has some great antique furniture pieces along with some more subdued modern art pieces. The bar is beautiful, my cocktail was a delight. Our server told us portions are large. This was true. Our mussels came heaped in a huge bowl topped with French fries and aioli. We then had the rack of lamb. The meat was cooked a wonderful medium rare. The only thing I wanted but couldn't find was a nice hoppy beer on tap. But, perhaps you shouldn't be able to have everything you want at a great restaurant. I give it five stars.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMbull in the valleyreally love the location. nice vibes...a bit noisy...and in my view, about 25% over priced. food is very good.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AM2nd time was as good as the firstThis was our sencond time having dinner at the Bull Valley Roadhouse. We love the family style dining expierence and would recomend that everyone give them a try.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat expectations exceededWow. The upgrade of this long standing. Restaurant , complete with new name and signage....focuses on food, Served family style
With ample portions allows for sharing and a variety of tastes. The steamed mussels with French fries was the first clue things had changed for the better. The rack of lamb was also delicious, Next time we go we are bringing friends.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFor Mother's day, was wellFor Mother's day, was well received by the Mothers. However the noise level was too high for conversation, especially with hard of hearing members of the party.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMEXCELLENTRun do not walk to the Bull Valley Roadhouse!! Really interesting appetizers: PEI mussels, Bone Marrow Bones ... YUMMY!!
Attentive but unobtrusive service, fully knowledgeable of the menu. EXCELLENT, original cocktails (try something new, for sure)!
Probably the best Rack of Lamb ever! Go there ... you won't be disappointed.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved it!Fantastic restaurant! My husband and I were there on Valentine's Day and returned this weekend with our daughters and friends. JJ, the server remembered us and where we sat.
Bull Valley Roadhouse has great food, service and ambience. Everything we ordered was delicious. Our favorites are the fried chicken (deboned) and ribs. The drive to the darling town of Port Costa is beautiful. Take an evening, enjoy your trip to Port Costa and the Bull Valley Roadhouse.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMdisappointedOur meal this time was very inferior to the previous meals we've had there.
We ordered the green beans in the light batter and the rib eye steak. The beans were good but didn't seem to have the same seasoning as we had last time.
The steak, which was juicy, tasty, tender and lean last time, left a lot to be desired. The one we ordered last time was so delicious that we decided to order it again. Big mistake. It was so fatty that half the plate was left. It was not as juicy or tender as the last time we ordered it either.
Maybe it was the chefs night off or something but we were very disappointed with the meal.
Also they only had four white wines by the glass, which did not include a chardonnay. A California favorite.
Sad.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful!I had a delightful time at the Bull Valley Inn, enjoying the food and atmosphere tremendously. Earl and Samuel are lovely and have created a gem in a location that is a bit of an adventure to get to! Port Costa has a feel of the Wild Wild West that I hope will be lovingly preserved with the success of the Inn.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FoodA truly unique experience- making the most of well preserved building and providing wonderfully creative food. The vegetarien risotto had so much flavor The family style serving allows for easy sharing.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed ourselvesWe really enjoyed ourselves here. It was a little loud, but we didn't mind. Service was great. Food was great. We will definitely go back.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentWe had great food, lovely service and will definitely return. Very fun spot, different from ordinary, 'corporate' restaurants.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOut of the way unexpected gemWho would expected such a valiant effort to make very good meal down a long winding road?. The plates are served "family style" and sharing is encouraged. We started with halibut ceviche and a large bowl of mussels. Both were crazy good.I don't take a chance on ordering either of these unless I have a strong belief they will be prepared well. We shared the fried chicken which is a leap from the appetizers but we both that it would be exceptional and it was. The wine list is quirky but chosen by someone dedicated to a very good wine at a reasonable.. The staff is exceptionally attentive and cordial. They are all helpful and cheerful. We felt like were the only two people in the restaurant.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA flashback in timeA great spot in a gem of a town. It's a flashback in time with all the modern flair and excellent service. Well worth a trip.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot!We were pleased, and it was worth the drive, We had 5 people in our party, all with differing ideas about food, and everyone found something they loved. Our only complaint was the noise level - it was hard to hear each other at the table.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat setting, great comfort foodWonderful place to visit; just a short drive from the freeway, down a winding road to the Carquinez Strait. The atmosphere of the restaurant fits the destination exactly. It looks like it was put together from items found at the original site. The service was warm and approachable. There were a number of favorite comfort foods to choose from on the menu -- from a whole roasted branzino to fried chicken with mashed potatoes, or a lemon risotto loaded with spring vegetables, making it hard to decide. We noticed too, that you could order from the appetizer menu and leave really full without spending all that much. Desert was delicious. The bar looked like fun and the specialty cocktails reinforced the unselfconscious nostalgia of the place.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second visitThis was our second visit to Bull Valley Roadhouse........it was even better than the first which I thought would have been impossible! Fantastic food.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFun place, great food. GreatFun place, great food. Great value when sharing an entree (diner is served "family style" and the entrees are big and meant to be shared). Bustling dining room, busy restaurant. What a gem of a find in this area... We live in Martinez and this place is better than anything we have in our town. We'll definitely make this a regular dining spot. We loved it.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMHands down, the best comfortHands down, the best comfort food I've ever had!The menu is served "family style" so the pricey dishes are shared. We had fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, green salad,creamed spinach, and a heavenly pot-de-creme! The old building has a cozy atmosphere..a little dark and noisy. We sat at a shared table divided by flower arrangements.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had two guests join usWe had two guests join us and all of us agreed after the meal that it was worth it. Expensive, but worth it. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. The town of Port Costa is so unique that it added greatly to our evening. Our service could have been better but they kept coming to our table to tell us it wouldn't be long. Good thing we had good company to help pass the time. Definitely would recommend it and go again.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAll very good but very noisy.All very good but very noisy. Hard to converse with companions. All food served family style.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLove theMussels and rib eye!Love theMussels and rib eye! JJ is a great server!!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM