Va de Vi Bistro & Wine BarRushed at Va de viWe've been to Va de Vi more than 20 times and it is our favorite. It was our first visit with the new chef. We "graze", enjoying each dish thoroughly. Usually, we have engaging and knowledgeable servers Today, Father's Day,we sat at Nichole R's table. She must think that she works at Denny's with a goal of turning over the tables as fast as possible. In addition, she clearly didn't know either the menu or the wine list. How can tHat be at Va de Vi? Tuna tartare was outstanding. Rock shrimp lumpia was not as warm as usual. Short ribs were terrific and desert sampler was good except for the strawberry shortcake that was not notable. We had the Pom frites, just because, and they were poorly prepared.6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMgirls lunchwe shared the roasted asparagus with Prosciutto & feta w/romesco sauce, ahi tartare with lemon zest, sesame oil and wasabi tobiko (beautiful presentation) and the scallops with lime puree and pancetta. Everything was well prepared and present. We ordered one scoop of the sorbet to share but received the gelato with the sorbet. We indulged and both were excellent. Sipped the icewine with dessert. Sat outside on a very lovely day. the servers were pleasant & knowledgeable but the service was a bit disjointed.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBig City AtmosphereI have been here a couple if times and am still a fan! I get the feeling each time a dine here, that I'm in a tapas bar somewhere in the city. The food is great...I wish they would include some better wines in their offerings.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMVa de ViSince I was treating my daughter for her birthday, I let her pick the retaurant. Both she and her husband were enthusiastic about Va de Vi, andfor good reason. We always prefer ordering many appetisers to being confined to one large dish, so the small plates menu plan is a good fit. Each plate we were served was attractive, tasty, and different, and we enjoyed the "flights" of wines.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous foodDidn't know what to expect at first, was pleasantly surprised!! had my fav Rose Bordeau and the food was so good! Will def come back for more!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappointsWe consider ourselves to be regulars at Va de Vi and can honestly say that we are never disappointed. The always-changing menu keeps us interested and the option of having either a taste, full glasse, or flight of wine to pair with each course is a fun way to dine. Keep up the good work!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMBirthday CelebrationWe celebrated my birthday at Va de Vi..and we loved everything we ordered. We had the beet salad, Mac n Cheese, seared scallops (fav), Black Cod (fav), lumpia and the Ceviche. We were so full that we had to skip dessert. Service was very attentive and fast. Looking forward to going back. Would love to try other items on this menu.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMVa de vi never disappointsI went to Va de vi for the fifth time and I have always enjoyed it. My favorites are the Rock shrimp lumpia and Grilled Yellowtail. Their wine flights are good too, you can never go wrong with the Big, Bad Cab flight. Our server Vito was very cool too.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome place very beautifulAwesome place very beautiful and popular with guests. Will go back soon5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGraduation CelebrationAll the food and drinks were spectacular - I especially loved the cocktails with sparkling wine in them. They were perfect for summer! All the food was amazing, but I particularly recommend the ahi tartare and the cod. We got the dessert sampler & the blondie with ice cream and the blondie was definitely the best of the bunch.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMVamonos a VA de Vi otra vez!WE have been here many times and VA de Vi is always wonderful. Atmosphere is beautiful especially on the back patio facing the fountain & small lake with poi. Concept of shared small plates paired with wine flights is always well executed. Variety & creativity in each individual dish is amazing. Strawberry salad & watercress salad both delicious. All seafood wonderful. Ribs, meatballs and steak also perfectly sauced & cooked. Service friendly & speedy. Dessert sampler presented on a plate divided into 4 different dessert was divine & plenty for two.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat!Great food - we ordered 9 things and enjoyed them all. Charming outdoor seating but too cold for us to enjoy. We didnt see a whole lot of our waitress, but we were up for a long dinner so didnt bother us too much. She was helpful and friendly when she came. The wine list/flights is just too much for the brain, that should be simplified. (About 20 different wine parings are offered and it took us 15 minutes of careful scrutiny to review. We finally just said forget it and ordered a glass each). Will definitely return to enjoy the patio and wonderful food.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat in Every Way!We have dined several times in Va De Vi and are never disappointed. The service is excellent as well as the food. It's
a fun place in a great location.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was good, but notThe food was good, but not as good as in pevious visits. do you have a different chef?5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWent there for Mother's DayWent there for Mother's Day and dined outside. Excellent service and food was exceptional as always. Topped off with the Blondie dessert which should be shared but really topped off a great overall dining experience.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways Great!I may be at my 100th trip to Va de Vi. It always is wonderful. The wine tastings allow for sampling new interesting varietals. I always love the Ahi Tar Tar and the Sea Scallops with cauliflower was inspired.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved this restaurant, myLoved this restaurant, my husband & I enjoyed the food & service. We can't wait to go back! The wine flights were awesome & we especially loved the ahi tuna.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMI am new to the area and haveI am new to the area and have been looking for an upscale place for small plates and adult beverages, I'm happy to say I've found it!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMInteresting Small Plates.An interesting and eclectic menu of "small plates" - four or five will make dinner for 2. The food is consistently well prepared - but if you want it served in a particular order, you've got to ask - or else it'll be delivered in an order set by the chef's deranged imagination. For a place that bills itself as a "Wine Bar," the wine list is unadventerous - but the 'flights" can be fun. Service is friendly, but rather perfunctory. The room is pleasant and you can eat outside in the Walnut Creek heat if that's your preference. The "quality to price" ratio is reasonable.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMBest restaurant in Walnut CreekI love this restaurant. I eat here quite often and it never disappoints. The food and drink is awesome. I love hanging in this restaurant.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat evening. Four of usGreat evening. Four of us shared a number of their small plates. Ahi Tuna tartare and the crispy pork belly were excellent. The Short ribs wiht marscapone polenta was divine. Artichokes were good but not as flavorful as the other excellent items. I would go back and would recommend this great place.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great meal, the smallHad a great meal, the small plate servings spaced out over the evening were a perfect format for our business-dinner meeting. Loved the Black Cod and the Chicken Tinga Tacos!
Wine flights although pricey were great.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMRepeat satisfied customerAlways impressed by the great seasonal small plates at Va de Vi! Service is courteous and excellent.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been to Va de Vi threeI have been to Va de Vi three times and on each of those occasions I was impressed with both the food and the atmosphere. This is a wonderful place to share small plates. My friend and I ordered just three plates, a delicious beet salad, a scallop dish and their signature mac and cheese. The portions are nicely sized and we both felt the amount of food we had was sufficient. We did order a gelato for dessert, which we shared. We sat outside and enjoyed the beauty of the spring day and the delightful Va de Vi experience.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMI went here with some friendsI went here with some friends during Restaurant Week. The food was delicious and there were a variety of options. The service was excellent! They kept an eye on the table without being too intrusive. Water glasses were always filled and food arrived at a good pace. I would definitely recommend this spot and will go back again!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently great foodWonderful food as usual. Usually get more sushi-like things, but tried the VDV Burger during restaurant week. It was juicy and flavorful and accompanied by delicious frites!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMMy mom, sister and I had theMy mom, sister and I had the best Friday lunch here! The service was outstanding - everyone incredibly friendly and engaging - and the food was delicious! I particularly love the pork belly (I think it's the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot). I will come back to this restaurant again and again - the gem of the east bay!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this restaurant. WeI love this restaurant. We had a wonderful two hour lunch. Fabulous!4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed outdoor dining withEnjoyed outdoor dining with heaters during restaurant week in Walnut Creek. We had many choices on the #30 fix price menu and added two wine tasting (3 oz) flights. Two of the dishes on the menu were in SF Chronicle wine and food section the week before and we could compare what we made one week earlier with the chef...Va de Vi won hands down.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWent there with my husbandWent there with my husband during Walnut Creek gourmet food week. He had the slider with truffle fries, generous serving and very good. I had the Gnudi which is like a large gnocchi except it's made with cheese rather than potato. It had a light creamy sauce that was wonderful. I also had the beet salad with fennel and a citrus dressing that was very good. They have a great selection of wines at various price levels. Overall, it's a very nice place to eat.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMthe salad had a sweet dressing,the salad had a sweet dressing, but was oddly salted. Tasted like someone had mistakenly shaken a salt shaker all over it!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMVa de Vi is our favorite placeVa de Vi is our favorite place in Walnut Creek. It's a paradise to explore new food.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent ResturantI came to Va de Vi to have lunch with a friend. The food was great. We ordered 4 plates and split them all so we could try more food. The atmosphere was nice for a mellow conversation, we didn't have to raise our voices to hear one another, and the weather was perfect for sitting outside. The one complaint I have is that when the waitress was bringing one of the plates to our table she tilted it enough that it spilled a ton of oil into my lap. Luckily I had a napkin in my lap, and the oil all landed on the napkin. If it had gotten on me I would have been upset, but she did apologize and did help clean it up. Otherwise the wait staff was very friendly and attentive. I would come here again in a heartbeat.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!My boyfriend and I went here for a nice date night and had a wonderful time. The only thing I would have to say is the dunganess crab risotto was a little too salty. Besides that the wine was great and everything else we had to eat was delicious!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for my 84 year oldWe went for my 84 year old Mom's birthday! She loved it and they even put a candle in her dessert without us asking! Great food and fun.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMSangria on the outside patio!I love Va de Vi and we went right after the SF Chron updated their review. I do love this restaurant and went this time specifically for their fries, which for my tastes were too crispy; others at the table loved them. Great sangria.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this place. Half glassI love this place. Half glass of wines on the menu, a great way to try out new varities! The small plates are perfect for tastings. Love the outdoor area. We had the tuna, yum! Scallops, yum! Cheese plate, yum! We ended with the Lechon (pork belly), so sweet and good!!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat as always for smallGreat as always for small plates of interesting delicacies.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMVa de Vi's new chef had notVa de Vi's new chef had not quite kept the cutting edge culinary achievements that we're used to. The best items remain the beet salad, pork bellies, & pommes frites.
On the other hand, the "jumbo prawns were very tiny shrimp and rather tasteless. The sliders were OK but not that appetizing. The chicken tacos are better at a good Mexican restaurant.So many things kind of tasted the same.
The drinks are now in tiny bar glasses that needed refilled about 3 times during our meal. They need to kick up the menu if we're to come back.....
Service is still great.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMI've dined at the Va da ViI've dined at the Va da Vi often and keep coming back. The consistency of service, well prepared and tasty meals and the fantastic wine list, are all wonderful qualities providing the reasons for my return.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is one of my husband'sThis is one of my husband's and my favorite restaurants to go to. We have been here several times and I can honestly say that every time we've visited, we've had impeccable 5-star service and 5-star FOOD!
Unlike other wine bars that only offer the most minimal selection of small plates for snacks and appetizers, Va de Vi offers a full-course dinner selection ranging from salads, soups, vegetables, cheeses, meat and poultry, pasta, and fish. Everything we've ever tried has been delicious.
Our most recent visit was last night, and we had the truffle mac and cheese, potato pesto gnocchi, ahi tartare, lobster risotto, fried baby artichokes, seared dayboat scallops, and hen of woods mushrooms which were by the far the best mushrooms and d3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is still one of our absoluteThis is still one of our absolute favorites in Walnut Creek. Perfect for date night!3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is one of my go to favorites.This is one of my go to favorites. The Crab Riosotto was amazing and the lamb dish was to die for. Our wait person was very attentive. Great experience and great food.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGood and noisy.The food is always good here. We usually sit outside and it is beautiful. But it was a cold night so we were inside by the bar. The bar scene there is fun, but loud. Next to us was a table of four where one woman had a loud voice and dominated the conversation in their group. Although the food was great, it was not a peaceful evening. We never had this problem when we are able to sit outside.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely place for a quiet lunchLovely place for a quiet lunch with a friend or for wine tasting. Entrees are small but just the right size for me.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMVa de Vi continues to scoreVa de Vi continues to score as the top restaurant in Walnut Creek because of its many unique features, including a wonderful assortment of delicious original tapas and innovative flights of wine. My first-time guests are always amazed and say they want to return. Warm weather allows more outside dining, which is needed due to its small inside dining area that is sometime too close for comfort...tables are squeezed close together.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAs usual, it was great. SorryAs usual, it was great. Sorry to see that the bar is all tables for dining now. We came to have a flight of wine and visit before dinner. Even the bar was full of diners.3/6/2013 12:00:00 AMQuite pleasant overall. OurQuite pleasant overall. Our waiter was quite witty, and the service basically good, except for the young lady that kept coming out to almost slam the plates on the table without regard as to who ordered what and then scampered off in a huff (not sure what was up with that). Except for that, it was rather good. The portions were small, and costly. The fish was perfectly cooked. The wine flights were fun.
I would not put this on my top ten list, but still, it is a good place for late night dining, or grazing.2/23/2013 12:00:00 AM