Bistro 120 — Restaurant in Oakdale

Our party of five was so excited to celebrate our friend’s birthday in this fairly new restaurant after reading all the great reviews. Unfortunately, we had a really bad experience yesterday night. We had reservations for 7pm and arrived on time. We were seated in a the table close to the door. Kindly, they were able to move us inside in front of the kitchen, which was much better with the both. By 7:20 we have ordered our food. The two appetizers we ordered were ready in a daily good time but unfortunately lacked in flavor. We ordered the sprouts and they were burned and the asparagus fries were bland without the dip and the dip was an ok flavor. After the appetizers came it took fir every for our food to get ready! We were watching the kitchen with waiters just standing there waiting for dishes to get ready. We waited patiently over ab hour for our food without the waitress coming to reassure us it will be ready soon or apologize for the delay. When the food came, we were very excited since it looked amazing especially the salmon dish. I even took a pic of my chicken scampi ( they accommodated me by changing it from shrimp to chicken and I am thankful for that) and the salmon dish that looked the best. The only thing that did not look enticing was the tortilla soup. My friend ordered the bowl and it looked more like half a bowl and there was no brith whatsoever (I could not even imagine what half a bowl would look like if this was the bowl). It looked more of a porridge than a soup and she refused to even mention it to the waitress so that we can enjoy our food that we have waited for a long time. The Birthday girl ordered the chicken piccata and she loved it. I ordered the chicken scampi and it was delicious as well. The friend that ordered the shrimp scampi said it was ok unfortunately, when my friend who ordered the salmon cut in, it was rare after all the time we waited and she just could not care to eat anything after that. We could not enjoy our delicious food with one of us not eating at all after all the time she waited and another who finished her soup in three bites! We really wanted to love this place as everyone else did but unluckily we did not and it was noisy with a table next to us screaming all the time in such a restaurant! I wish I took pics of the soup and the salmon when it was cut through but we were so upset to think of taking those pics. I only took a pic of the two plates that came first cos they looked amazing and then when the soup came, I got busy trying to convince my friend to ask the waitress about it then my friend cut the fish and that was it. At least they brought a dessert for us to celebrate our friends friend while they are getting to close, since we were from the few last...

My husband & I have been a couple of times now. We choose to sit at the bar and have our food and drinks when we don’t have children with us. The food and the drinks are presented beautifully! And we have not been disappointed with anything we have ordered so far. The signature cocktails are delicious and fun! My favorite so far is the California Sunshine, but the Oakdale Ranch Watwr is a close second. The espresso martini was a bit lacking. It is definitely more like espresso and vodka than anything creamy or frothy you’d most likely get elsewhere. My husband tried the watermelon mojito and it must have made a good impression because he ordered it again during our second visit. The smoked presentation on the old fashioned was so warm and inviting and gave me Christmas ski lodge vibes. I made the suggestion to maybe include a slight hint of orange. Bistro120 nailed the steak bites appetizer! Buttery and perfectly cooked medium. The BLTA is a grown ups BLT dream with tons of flavor and texture with the toasted sourdough and savory spread. Sorry but we dove in before the photo op happened. We upgraded to truffle fries that look simple but are packed with flavor. Next time we started with the Philly cheesesteak rolls and they were as good as everyone said they were. Creamy with a light spice flavor and the dipping sauce was a dimensional compliment. My husband and I shared a French dip for lunch. It was good. The bread was toasted perfectly on one side while still soft on top, and the meat was juicy and pink. I personally felt the Aus Ju was a little lacking in flavor. Overall I would still order it again. The atmosphere is classy yet still manages to give the small town friendly feel. The prices are a little more than surrounding options but we’ll worth it for the class and level of food & drinks you get. I will also add that I have a specific allergy and the bar staff was wonderful in tracking down the head chef to ensure I wouldn’t run...

A Tale of Two Restaurants

An Unfortunate Experience with Bistro 120

I recently reached out to Bistro 120 hoping they could help me deliver a bit of comfort to friends who had just experienced a profound loss. Calling from out of town, I wanted to send a warm meal to offer some solace. Upon calling, I was informed by a woman that they don't deliver. Understanding the circumstances as special, I asked if they could make an exception. Unfortunately, the response remained the same, so I requested to speak with a manager, hoping for a more empathetic ear.

The manager, a gentleman, listened as I explained the situation again. He mentioned that they could perhaps assist if a family member would pick up the food. However, I clarified that asking my grieving friends to do this would be insensitive. Despite my offer to cover any extra costs involved, they declined, stating they weren't equipped for such arrangements. Feeling disheartened, I had to look elsewhere.

The Kindness of Firenze

After my unsuccessful attempt with Bistro 120, I turned to Firenze. From the moment I contacted them, their response was the complete opposite. They were compassionate and willing to accommodate my request without hesitation. It was a relief to find a business that understood the importance of empathy and kindness during difficult times.

This experience reinforced my belief in the principle of reciprocity: you get what you give. If businesses like Bistro 120 don’t recognize the value of going the extra mile, they may find themselves missing out on what they could gain in return. Meanwhile, Firenze has gained my appreciation and future business for their outstanding service and...