Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar — Restaurant in Walnut Creek

I went there twice in 2 weeks actually. They have a nice outdoor patio under a giant Oak tree. I thought the waiters were not nice at all the first time, and good the second time. The first time I went it for my best friend's birthday. We were 2 women. I had told them that in the reservation which I had made 2 weeks before.. They shoved us on the path leading to the pretty area. The table and chairs were uneven and wobbled. They ignored us completely for 1/2 hour, when I flagged down a waiter and said, "excuse me, but could you send our waiter over please?" He said, "I am your waiter". They offer "small plates" there. . She had ordered a taco, which was actually small, and I ordered roasted beet salad. .. The beets were good EXCEPT they were covered with an IMMESE sour cream and cheese type topping. It completely smothered the beets and was so rich it was actually gross. It was about 2500 calories. I tried to scrape off as much as I could, but it was like slime. Then, I order a slice of cake for my friend, carrot cake. We were given a tiny piece, which was fine with me. Then, minutes later a giant piece of carrot cake was plopped down in front of us. We were confused, and I wanted to ask the waiter about it. We waited and waited and finally went looking for him. I was told that the small piece was gratis and it was because I had told them it was her birthday. That was very nice of them! If only they had explained when we ordered that we were already about to get that same cake. They never explained. I asked them to take back the second piece but they did not want to, and although we never touched it. Finally they did. Overall however, not fun. the second time was so much better. We were two couples who were seated t in a nice location. I ordered a squid salad but it was rubbery and weird tasting. The risotto looked good. The duck confit was dry and hard to eat. The smoked pork shoulder looked decent. Uneven...

Va de Vi Bistro & Wine Bar in Walnut Creek offers an experience that excels in ambiance and presentation but falters in delivering consistent culinary satisfaction.

The service was outstanding. Our server skillfully managed the tight 1.5-hour table turnover, ensuring we kept pace with the kitchen while still enjoying our meal. The hostess, equally adept, finessed a last-minute reservation with grace—commendable touches that showcased attentive hospitality.

However, the food itself was a mixed bag. Each small plate impressed visually but largely disappointed in flavor, with the exception of the butternut squash soup shots. These provided a sip of autumn warmth, boasting rich, creamy textures and well-balanced spices. Unfortunately, they were served in glass shot glasses that became too hot to handle, delaying enjoyment.

The risotto lacked the depth of butternut squash flavor and was under-seasoned, making for a forgettable dish. The braised short ribs, served with polenta, failed to justify their price point. A longer braise could have developed more robust flavors, but the portion size and execution fell short.

The Brussels sprouts dish was similarly flawed—overwhelmed by the tangy bitterness of unsweetened pears and pomegranate seeds, with Greek yogurt exacerbating the imbalance. Only the cod stood out as a highlight, with impeccable preparation and flavor, though its $21 price tag demanded excellence.

The restaurant’s aesthetics are well-curated, creating a sophisticated dining environment. However, one can’t help but wonder if the prime location is inflating prices and detracting from the emphasis on culinary quality.

While the presentation of the dishes was professional, the flavors felt secondary, leaving diners to rely on ambiance to justify the premium cost. Va de Vi has potential but needs to refine its focus on delivering standout flavors to match its visual and...

We’ve always chosen this restaurant for special occasions and have never had a bad experience until today. We made a reservation three days ago for an early lunch on Valentine’s Day at 1 pm. Upon arrival, the hostess (Kathleen) couldn’t find our reservation. I immediately showed her the email confirmation, but instead of being helpful, she was very unfriendly from the start, insisting that our reservation was for July and making things unnecessarily difficult. She even grabbed my phone without asking to “show it to the managers.”

It turns out that the general manager, Bob, was dining with friends at a table, and when Kathleen approached him, he made a dismissive gesture to indicate he didn’t want to be bothered. This was incredibly unprofessional. To make matters worse, Kathleen tried to seat us at a table right next to the door, despite the fact that it was a rainy and cold day. When I politely asked for a different table, she insisted the other tables were for other reservations. At this point, we had a reservation too, and I asked to speak with someone about the issue.

When Kathleen went back to speak with the general manager again, he just gave a rude gesture, completely ignoring the situation. He was so disrespectful, eating and socializing while working, and showing no care for the customers. Kathleen, meanwhile, refused to offer us a decent table, even though there were several available in the dining room.

After all this, we decided to leave and find a better place to celebrate Valentine’s Day. To make matters worse, after 30 minutes, my reservation was canceled by the restaurant—proving it was always there, but they refused to accommodate us or even try to resolve the issue.

We are extremely disappointed and will...