El bistro by Salt and Pepper Modesto — Restaurant in Modesto

WELCOME TO THE GOOD LIFE they say on the wall. The food was superior. Worth the money for sure. The entrance was a little off putting. Very sterile. Almost too sterile for the 'moss' hanging from the rafters ha ha ha. The 'welcome post' lets you know the rules immediately. You have a time limit of 70 minutes and groups of 6 or more get a 10% gratuity charge. The group charge is reasonable. But the time limit is a little wierd. When i first walked in the front door i was hopeful but then the music kinda gave me a sad feeling. The song playing was an orchestrated version of 'one is the loneliest number' which then went into a 'cant help falling in love with you' orchestra. Gave me a bummer vibe- not gonna lie. Plus some wierdo in camo track suit was having breakfast alone and it definitely made me feel like a loser,looking almost exactly like him lol. The food (again let me reinforce) was superior! Best omelet I have ever had in the Valley. Easily. But if im buying a fancy $20 omelet... i dont want to hear some lady yelling about traffic court from across the spot. Cant make this kind if trash up... There was a whole table of people whom were on their phones..just yammering out loud. It was amazing how little self awareness they had. I shot one of the would-be Karens of Traffic school a look and she got quieter but it took a couole more sentences til she did. But my honest thoughts are... if the resturant is going to control my time at the table, it should be a good feeling the whole 70 minutes. the songs shouldnt suck my energy and fellow patrons shouldnt be allowed to make me grit my teeth in frustrated while ttying to enjoy the cuisine in response to their inconsiderations.

Add 'please take phone calls outside- to not disturb others dining experience' should be added to the 'welcome pole' and menu rules.

They also have mimosa towers for 2. Reiitterating...the omelet was delicious. The service was average and I guess ok. I like more interactions. I tip good when I get them. The food was out in 20 min. Customers just need more coaching on how to act in such a fine establishment with such exquisite foods.

In summary.... The Bistro on Carpenter Rd has some positives, such as superior food and reasonable group charges. However, there are areas for improvement, including the atmosphere and customer behavior management.

The entrance ambiance and rules enforcement seem a bit off-putting, especially with the strict time limit and the 10% gratuity charge for larger groups.

The choice of music, coupled with the ambiance, didn't match the desired dining experience.

There's a need for better management of customer behavior, especially regarding loud conversations and phone usage.

Honest suggestion! Adding a rule for taking phone calls outside to avoid disturbing others could enhance the overall dining experience.

The Bistro has potential but could benefit from refining its ambiance and customer...

You have to get there early if you don't want to wait for hours for a table, which is always promising for me. If there are a lot of people waiting, the food must be good. The staff is friendly and accommodating which for being such a busy place, was really nice to see. We ordered some coffee from the little coffee Shop they have located inside while we waiting. I ordered the coco latte and it was so tasty! I was surprised by the amount of flavor it had without being overly sweet. We got sat and started looking over the menu. They have a lot of options, mostly Mexican dishes or Mexican inspired dishes. The food didn't take long to arrive and it looked great. I had the Birria omelette which was bland and the beef was dry. I had to use a lot of salsa to make it taste decent. I normally don't add salt to any of my food but in this case, it was needed. The surf and turf burrito was also bland despite being packed with ingredients. The huevos rancheros were tasty and the burger, while overcooked was flavorful. The fries were the best part of the whole experience for me. They were crispy and perfectly seasoned. Our server was very sweet and happily answered all our questions and helped with our requests. This place would greatly benefit from an additional female bathroom stall. It's a very very busy place and it only has a single stall for women which means if you need to use it, you will spend at least 10-15 mins waiting...

We had an awesome experience at El Bistro in Modesto! From the moment we walked in, the place had a warm and welcoming vibe. The staff was super friendly and made us feel right at home. We ordered the chilaquiles, Nutella French toast, Café Mazapan, and the Dulce de Leche latte. Honestly, everything we had was delicious!

The chilaquiles were full of flavor. The tortilla chips were perfectly crispy but still soaked up the tasty sauce just right. They had just the right amount of spice, and the eggs on top were cooked perfectly. The Nutella French toast was a dream—sweet, rich, and so satisfying. It was the kind of dish that you think about long after you’ve finished eating it.

As for the drinks, both were amazing in their own way. The Café Mazapan had a sweet, nutty flavor that was different from anything we’ve ever tasted. It was smooth and comforting, especially with breakfast. The Dulce de Leche latte was creamy, sweet, and felt like a dessert in a cup. It wasn’t too strong, which was perfect for a morning treat.

The service was fast, and everything came out hot and fresh. The vibe of the restaurant was relaxed but still had a modern feel. We really enjoyed everything about our visit—from the food to the atmosphere. We’ll definitely be coming back to try more of the menu. If you’re in Modesto and love good food and coffee, you have to check...