BackDoor Bistro and Wine Bar

Outstanding cuisine with a California laid-back vibe. Perfect for a weekday dinner with a friend. Not good for large parties, call ahead for reservations if you can.

Everything was great! The food, the service, all of it. The staff were all awesome, very friendly. All of the food was so flavorful!

First time there, and my husband and I enjoyed the food as well as Joe's excellent service.

Bloody Mary's are amazing! Great bartender, and waitstaff! The food just wowed our group from the Avo-Potato Power Breakfast to the Cinnamon and Sugar Hush Puppies. Wonderful time by all!

Lovely restaurant in heart of downtown Vacaville where I attended a private event. The food was beautiful (salmon, couscous and an excellent Fresh salad). The salmon was perfectly cooked! Best ever. And the restaurant is intimate, perfect for a special group event.

We lunched on a weekday and it was fantastic. The outdoor patio is wonderful. Our sandwiches, fried Brussel sprouts and quinoa salmon salad were delicious and nicely prepared. A couple dishes reminded me of NYC’s Momofuku or San Anselm’s Cucina. Menu had a great selection of fresh local ingredients. Great location and very attentive wait staffs. A couple of staffs were often circling tables to make sure anybody’s drinking glasses were refilled. If you’re in Vacaville and looking for delicious meal reflecting a good selection of local ingredients with a good recipes, this place might be the one. I wonder if Backdoor bistro might be the best restaurant in Vacaville downtown especially for the folks who enjoys nicer ambience, casual yet creative dishes you might find them often in Napa & Sonoma. The indoor space looks very spacious and airy. We really enjoyed the outdoor seating and it had enough shade where we dined. There were a plenty public parking spaces near by the plaza. Can’t wait to return when we are in Vacaville.

The perfect mid afternoon wine bar stop, and their food is superb! We had Polenta fries with cilantro sauce and skuna Bay salmon cakes along with bubbly!

I had rack of Lamb that was excellent. Terry the chef is amazing. By far the best meal I've had in years. Michile my waitress was friendly and knowledgeable. Thanks Fuso!

There are a lot of fun bunch choices in downtown Vacaville. Make sure this one is on your list. This time of year, the outdoor patio is especially nice

Excellent service & excellent meal!! We had the rib steak special & cooked perfect! Oysters appetizers were excellent and mixed salad yummy!! We went there for our anniversary and very happy with this restaurant!!

Great experience, at the last minute my wife and I decided to go. Booked us on open table for an 11:30am reservation. Had no wait when we arrived. The food was great we both ordered the Eggs Benedict and Mimosas. We were full and feeling no pain. Staff was great, we will be back again.

Great service! Good food. The seared octopus was soo tender! And the food looked and tasted great

Hidden gem in Vacaville! One of my favorite places. Indoor seating is a little loud but outdoor is heavenly with lighting and outdoor heaters. Menu is amazing with local Farm to table fare. The beet salad was heavenly! We always get the focaccia and Brussels sprouts with bacon as a starter which is delicious. I never get the dessert but the pot de creme is 100 percent the best dessert I have ever eaten, I get it very time we go! We had the salmon which they graciously split for us. Everything was so good! I gave 4 stars for service only because we had to get up and get our own silverware but everything else was perfect. Don’t miss this amazing gem in Vacaville downtown.

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in Vacaville! I’ve been here multiple times because the food is amazing. The chef changes up the menu and new items are always available when I go. I love the appetizers and the entrees I’ve never been disappointed! The staff is always so kind and very attentive. I would rate this place a 10/10! As someone who is not from California I am so happy I found this establishment.

Fresh food and upscale dining experience! The dining area is quaint and adds to the ambiance. The food is priced accordingly to the quality of ingredients and I would say the drinks were maybe a bit on the higher priced end. It was around $300 for 2 people but we did order a few drinks, an app and both had the special which was $64 each. The pork belly as an app was amazing and very rich and light at the same time which is very hard to come by! The the 14 oz ribeye was just as good and also very flavorful and fresh. The chutney on top was also one of a kind and everything from the salad and duck fat fried potatoes paired perfectly. The servers were also very attentive and present which added to the great experience. I would recommend this place over Makse down the street for better quality food and a “lighter” meal. Perfect for a date night and can’t wait to go again!

The food for me was delicious. I had the shrimp and grits. The mixture of flavors was delightful, the tomatoes playing against the slight heat of the spices. The feta is a great touch. The shrimp was fantastic, soft, flavorful, and very fresh. It is a little noisy as it is a small dining area and the walls are bare. My wife didn't like the lamb saying it was too raw and didn't taste enough like lamb. I liked it.

Place opens at 11:00am. I was there when the doors opened on a Saturday. It was a cute rustic / valentine's day vibe. With the rain and dreary weather people didn't start coming in till noon. Food was excellent, wait staff was on top of it. Food wait wasn't bad either although again there weren't many people in there Below you can find pictures of the Cinnamon Apple Fritters, Eggs Benedict and the Biscuit and Grave with eggs & bacon dishes. All three with 2 lattes totaled $68.

A hidden gem! Located just a couple minutes off the freeway. Loved all the dishes we ordered. We think BLT was the best BLT we ever had. Chicken sandwich was very tender. The steak salad was cooked to perfection in a bed of fresh greens.

I was surprised how tasty the food offered by this restaurant is. The food is American style in general, but fusion with European and Mexican components. I strongly recommend it if you come to this area.

Ryan

Fresh food and upscale dining experience! The dining area is quaint and adds to the ambiance. The food is priced accordingly to the quality of ingredients and I would say the drinks were maybe a bit on the higher priced end. It was around $300 for 2 people but we did order a few drinks, an app and both had the special which was $64 each. The pork belly as an app was amazing and very rich and light at the same time which is very hard to come by! The the 14 oz ribeye was just as good and also very flavorful and fresh. The chutney on top was also one of a kind and everything from the salad and duck fat fried potatoes paired perfectly. The servers were also very attentive and present which added to the great experience. I would recommend this place over Makse down the street for better quality food and a “lighter” meal. Perfect for a date night and can’t wait to go again!

Matti Smith

The food for me was delicious. I had the shrimp and grits. The mixture of flavors was delightful, the tomatoes playing against the slight heat of the spices. The feta is a great touch. The shrimp was fantastic, soft, flavorful, and very fresh. It is a little noisy as it is a small dining area and the walls are bare. My wife didn't like the lamb saying it was too raw and didn't taste enough like lamb. I liked it.

Vanessa Naranjo

Place opens at 11:00am. I was there when the doors opened on a Saturday. It was a cute rustic / valentine's day vibe. With the rain and dreary weather people didn't start coming in till noon. Food was excellent, wait staff was on top of it. Food wait wasn't bad either although again there weren't many people in there Below you can find pictures of the Cinnamon Apple Fritters, Eggs Benedict and the Biscuit and Grave with eggs & bacon dishes. All three with 2 lattes totaled $68.

Sunny Roland

A hidden gem! Located just a couple minutes off the freeway. Loved all the dishes we ordered. We think BLT was the best BLT we ever had. Chicken sandwich was very tender. The steak salad was cooked to perfection in a bed of fresh greens.

K Chang

I was surprised how tasty the food offered by this restaurant is. The food is American style in general, but fusion with European and Mexican components. I strongly recommend it if you come to this area.

Debra Palmer

Our typical brunch location was not available so we researched and found this spot. As my brother called it, a hidden gem. The food and service was beyond great. I had the Chicken Sandwich and my brother had the Eggs Benedict, both we so delicious and just the right amount of food. We will definitely be back. Great food, great staff and very clean facility.

Marsha Berotte

Excellent meal. The Confit Terra Firma Farm Beet Salad was fresh and delicious. My friend added a piece of the daily fish petrale sole with the salad. I had the potato soup which was rich and creamy with a smokey background, the Pan Seared Petrale Sole over a potato puree which was absolutely delicious. It was my first time there but definitely not my last.

Chase Will PoWer

This place is awesome , clean and provided great service and food. Quaint lil spot off the main downtown strip. Menu was good as well. I would go back and definitely recommend to others.

First things first...order the focaccia bread! We all ordered an appetizer to share and a different brunch dish. No complaints! Every dish was delicious but the overwhelming consensus was always get the bread!

My wife had the pleasure of dining here and was truly delighted. Each dish stood out for its exceptional quality, perfectly balanced flavors, and flawless execution, clearly reflecting a deep passion for the culinary arts. The care, technique, and love behind every detail are evident. An outstanding dining experience that truly honors the art of fine gastronomy. My sincere compliments to the chef and the entire team.

A regular lunch spot for me. I love their burger in particular but everything I’ve had here has been really tasty. I always get good service. Food comes out in a reasonable amount of time and I’ve never felt rushed to leave when finished. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Vacaville.

BackDoor Bistro & Wine Bar is such a cozy, welcoming spot — the kind of place that makes you want to linger over every bite and glass of wine. The atmosphere is warm and intimate without feeling crowded, perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. The food is absolutely delicious — fresh ingredients, beautifully plated, and full of flavor. I ordered the Scallop Agnolotti and it was cooked perfectly. The menu has a great variety, and you can tell there’s real care put into every dish. The wine selection is amazing, and the staff really knows their stuff — they’re friendly, attentive, and make great recommendations. I love that it feels upscale yet relaxed, not pretentious at all. Overall, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Vacaville — a true local treasure! I’ll definitely be back soon for another meal and a glass (or two) of wine

Pandaddy Applehorn and his little stab Glorious Gloria the Cymbals player for the VacaValley Vallettes Marching Band, had invited me to their compound out in the flats for an early dinner, and when I got there they said we'd be going to the BackDoor Bistro for dinner. Well, that's a surprise because I know only to well how Gloria likes to show off her Cymbals 😉 but the opertunity to eat at the BackDoor Bistro was stronger than seeing Gloria's front end. Man-O-Man what a great place the BackDoor Bistro is, the place was jumping! The staff and service was exceptional, and the food was amazingly delicious! I got the steak and asked for grilled onions and mushrooms on top, and boy did they deliver...Bigly! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

We've come here for years. This is by far the best Vacaville has to offer in the way of "quality" "gourmet" food. Yeah, we've always had our complaints.....kinda noisy and, while the food is great, the menu seldom changes so, if one comes here often, it can be a bit too much "same as last time." That said, we went there tonight and, indeed, the menu has changed and the new additions (roast chicken and trout, in particular) are great! Now, if they could just make these kinds of changes more often..... Service is wonderful - all of the workers are great (okay, Sam is our favorite, but you can't lose with anyone)! Of course(!), we'll keep coming back - like a bit of Napa in Vacaville, without the drive or the crowds. ALL GOOD!

Easy 5 star experience. Brunch egg sandwich and avocado toast was delicious. Coffee and Mimosas were creatively done. Attentive service

LaToya Thompson

First things first...order the focaccia bread! We all ordered an appetizer to share and a different brunch dish. No complaints! Every dish was delicious but the overwhelming consensus was always get the bread!

John Romie

We've come here for years. This is by far the best Vacaville has to offer in the way of "quality" "gourmet" food. Yeah, we've always had our complaints.....kinda noisy and, while the food is great, the menu seldom changes so, if one comes here often, it can be a bit too much "same as last time." That said, we went there tonight and, indeed, the menu has changed and the new additions (roast chicken and trout, in particular) are great! Now, if they could just make these kinds of changes more often..... Service is wonderful - all of the workers are great (okay, Sam is our favorite, but you can't lose with anyone)! Of course(!), we'll keep coming back - like a bit of Napa in Vacaville, without the drive or the crowds. ALL GOOD!

Erika Kelsh

BackDoor Bistro & Wine Bar is such a cozy, welcoming spot — the kind of place that makes you want to linger over every bite and glass of wine. The atmosphere is warm and intimate without feeling crowded, perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. The food is absolutely delicious — fresh ingredients, beautifully plated, and full of flavor. I ordered the Scallop Agnolotti and it was cooked perfectly. The menu has a great variety, and you can tell there’s real care put into every dish. The wine selection is amazing, and the staff really knows their stuff — they’re friendly, attentive, and make great recommendations. I love that it feels upscale yet relaxed, not pretentious at all. Overall, it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Vacaville — a true local treasure! I’ll definitely be back soon for another meal and a glass (or two) of wine

Celeste Garrett

First time at this location for Backdoor Bistro. The setting is very nice. Food was delish. Service was excellent I made reservation for 2 for Saturday lunch and was pleased with table they saved for us though, they were quite busy. I told them it was my friend's birthday in the reservation and they came through with a nice complimentary dessert and candle. The restaurant is a little pricey, but for a special occasion, it was worth it.

Not what you would expect from the outside. While I give it 4 stars there were a couple of things. Let's start with the food, service and ambience were very good. My questions are why is my risotto swimming... And I mean swimming in brown butter. Never had a brown butter and sage risotto swimming in liquid. My son's mac cheese and chicken he didn't finish and we asked for a doggie bag... We never received it to take home. Still worth checking out.

+6

Good fresh seasonal food. A bit expensive for area and what comes to your table. Good craft cocktails from a non partake person. I was actually impressed. Need another not so rushed, non high weekend to really see the vibe/culinary experience. Enjoyed my time.

Nice new discovery for me in the cute downtown Vacaville. Friendly staff. Great ambiance. Tastiest tomato soup I've ever had!

This is a popular place to eat in Vacaville with an eclectic menu that deserves respect because it tries harder than any other restaurant in the area. For example, duck and pomegranate tacos are a great choice. Unfortunately let down by a cold flour tortilla. The tacos need a smaller corn tortilla that is fried, or at least warm. The service is great and a cut above all other restaurants in the area. That said, this restaurant is extremely LOUD. I'm talking San Francisco restaurant loud. Do not come here if you want to have a peaceful time and relaxing conversation. Despite the decor inside, it is not that kind of place. We arrived at 2:20pm to a full house, and the roar met us as we opened the door. We will go back, but only if it is less than 1/3 full. The din of everyone raising their voices to be heard just isn't worth it.

Great local spot. Got in a little early and took advantage of happy hour and app specials. The Pork Belly taco appetizer was amazing. The Scallop dish was great..none left! My Steak was good, but to much grisle, that coupled with the fa didn't leave much steak to eat. What was there was good and tasty. The server took a little off the bill which was nice. Overall great dinner, great spot, awesome service...

Great location downtown and great food. Menu is not large and choices are unique. Good taste, amazing ingredients and fresh. Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts and salmon bowl!! Beautiful Patio to sit outside during spring and summer.

Decided to try with my group of girlfriends. Restaurant did not disappoint. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with chips, was delicious. Also ordered were the chorizo and eggs with potatoes, beat salad, Bree cheese appetizer and for dessert’s we had the lemon cheesecake with berry compote and the butterscotch pot de crème. Our waitress was great, she made sure she got our order in before they ran out of the potatoes, allowed us to try the Sauvignon before we ordered it for our table. Also had mimosas, pomegranate, cranberry and pineapple. I would definitely eat here again. Was great food and made better by my great company.

C Varty

Great local spot. Got in a little early and took advantage of happy hour and app specials. The Pork Belly taco appetizer was amazing. The Scallop dish was great..none left! My Steak was good, but to much grisle, that coupled with the fa didn't leave much steak to eat. What was there was good and tasty. The server took a little off the bill which was nice. Overall great dinner, great spot, awesome service...

Jenny

Great location downtown and great food. Menu is not large and choices are unique. Good taste, amazing ingredients and fresh. Highly recommend the Brussels sprouts and salmon bowl!! Beautiful Patio to sit outside during spring and summer.

Ana Harvey

Decided to try with my group of girlfriends. Restaurant did not disappoint. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich with chips, was delicious. Also ordered were the chorizo and eggs with potatoes, beat salad, Bree cheese appetizer and for dessert’s we had the lemon cheesecake with berry compote and the butterscotch pot de crème. Our waitress was great, she made sure she got our order in before they ran out of the potatoes, allowed us to try the Sauvignon before we ordered it for our table. Also had mimosas, pomegranate, cranberry and pineapple. I would definitely eat here again. Was great food and made better by my great company.

James Riordan

Not what you would expect from the outside. While I give it 4 stars there were a couple of things. Let's start with the food, service and ambience were very good. My questions are why is my risotto swimming... And I mean swimming in brown butter. Never had a brown butter and sage risotto swimming in liquid. My son's mac cheese and chicken he didn't finish and we asked for a doggie bag... We never received it to take home. Still worth checking out.

Came for brunch! I loved the eggs bene. Sadly the online menu has biscuits and gravy, but it wasn’t on the menu when we were seated. Ordered a dish w a side substitute that wasn’t substituted but the waitress was very kind and brought the substitution quickly. The coffee was not great, but the cappuccino was! Look forward to coming back for dinner! Very great service 👏🏼 👏🏼

Katie -

Came for brunch! I loved the eggs bene. Sadly the online menu has biscuits and gravy, but it wasn’t on the menu when we were seated. Ordered a dish w a side substitute that wasn’t substituted but the waitress was very kind and brought the substitution quickly. The coffee was not great, but the cappuccino was! Look forward to coming back for dinner! Very great service 👏🏼 👏🏼

Michele Lacayo

Good fresh seasonal food. A bit expensive for area and what comes to your table. Good craft cocktails from a non partake person. I was actually impressed. Need another not so rushed, non high weekend to really see the vibe/culinary experience. Enjoyed my time.

My wife and our friends have dined many times in their previous location and although pricey experience and food were good. New Years Eve dinner was a different story. Food did not live up to their reputation!! Sadly, everything but the food was great! First course soup stellar! Salad ok needed more dressing. The one scallop sad. Whatever was under the small portion was fiberous and bitter! Steak was well cooked but the brussel sprouts werent carmelized and no one at our table ate them. Dessert was an epic failure. Bitter and sour two flavors not appealing and not eaten again. We were so put off with dessert that we all planned on having a real dessert when we got home! Chef that night obviously didn’t taste the food they presented! Not memorable.

The Highs: The Polenta fries were good. Really enjoyed the sauce. They come as a set of 4 big fries. The service was pretty good. They kept the water cups full and were attentive even though it was busy. The Lows: We both ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes. They were way thinner than I like my pancakes to be. They were ok. Not my fav. We also ordered the Mac and cheese. It was a little soupy with shells versus elbow macaroni. Also not bad but not my fave. The In-Between: We decided to come here for brunch. I did reservations online about an hour in advance and we were seated right away. It was bussling inside so we asked to sit outside on the patio. The tables were a little rusted and wobbly but no biggie. They ran out of brunch menus at first but we were able to look it up on our phone. Our server was Sam. She was cool. The food came out fast enough.... Maybe 20 minutes after we ordered. Overall the experience was ok. If we were to return, I'd definitely try other things.

we went here for weekend brunch. limited menu. we had the roasted veggies bowl and pork belly tacos. both were pretty decent. pork belly tacos were better. the roasted veggies bowl was good but eventually got salty and greasy after eating the whole bowl. it was very slow getting our food. luckily there was live music playing outside in the courtyard while we waited.

A P

we went here for weekend brunch. limited menu. we had the roasted veggies bowl and pork belly tacos. both were pretty decent. pork belly tacos were better. the roasted veggies bowl was good but eventually got salty and greasy after eating the whole bowl. it was very slow getting our food. luckily there was live music playing outside in the courtyard while we waited.

Great service and atmosphere. With a 4.6 star rating I was excited about this place as it looks semi fancy. Sadly, the food was absent of flavor and the portions were extreeemely small. You will pay $130 on two small plates. Add drinks and then you are looking at $160. Add more drinks or a Starter and you start to wonder why you came here. I can’t in good conscience recommend any dish from here. Maybe the wine, thats it.

The waiter clearly forgot to put in our appetizer because after probably 30 minutes, when I asked the look on her face told it all. She didn't apologize for that and made it seem like it was "coming right out." The food was very poorly seasoned, and the brussel sprouts didn't even look like brussel sprouts anymore and were burnt to a crisp. I wanted the seabass and was told they were out of it. Ordered the soup, and it was maybe 3 tablespoons, though the bowl gave the illusion it was more. The pork belly appetizer was the only thing that was decent. The atmosphere was alright but kinda loud. I feel like they put too many tables in the restaurant. I was very disappointed and can't say I'd eat here again.

Christina Peele

The waiter clearly forgot to put in our appetizer because after probably 30 minutes, when I asked the look on her face told it all. She didn't apologize for that and made it seem like it was "coming right out." The food was very poorly seasoned, and the brussel sprouts didn't even look like brussel sprouts anymore and were burnt to a crisp. I wanted the seabass and was told they were out of it. Ordered the soup, and it was maybe 3 tablespoons, though the bowl gave the illusion it was more. The pork belly appetizer was the only thing that was decent. The atmosphere was alright but kinda loud. I feel like they put too many tables in the restaurant. I was very disappointed and can't say I'd eat here again.

Four people interacted with us and never made eye contact. We were seated, given menus and decided the experience was not likely to get better. So, we left.