Bella Vista Restaurant
3.9063/5 (30 reviews)
13451 Skyline Blvd
San Mateo, CA 94062
(650) 851-1229
Category: Continental, French, Italian
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| Updated: |
October 19, 1999 |
| Cuisine: |
American, Cajun-Creole, CooktoOrder, Crab, Deserts, Fish, French |
| Reviewer: |
JAMES GARCIA |
Relation: |
Not Related |
| Attire: |
Casual |
Reservations: |
Suggested |
| Ave. Wait: |
30-45 minutes |
Payment: |
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| Facilities: |
Lounge, Parking |
Phone Orders: |
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| Smoking: |
Not Permitted |
Meals Served: |
Lunch, Dinner |
| Seating: |
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Alcohol Service: |
Full-Bar |
| Type: |
Adults Only |
Entertainment: |
Background Music |
| Crowd: |
Normal |
Atmosphere: |
Great View, Romantic, Normal |
| Uses: |
Private Parties , Dining Only |
Nearby Places: |
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30 Reviews
REVIEW #4
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Avg. Entree: $15-20
Rating:
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October 30, 2004
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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This is a lovely place to dine for a special dinner. The only issue
is they don't have many non-meat/fish options so if you're
vegetarian as I am or vegan or just want a none meat/fish dish you're
almost outta luck. For being partially an Italian restaurant
they have virtually no pasta dishes. They specialize in meat
dishes and seafood dishes like Abalone, salmon and such. When
I made my reservations I asked the guy if they can prepare a vegetarian
entree for me and he highly recommended their homemade marinara
sauce. My hubby & I dinned there tonight. Got there at opening
to ensure we get a window seat as even w/ reservations it's
first come first serve. We had probably up to 4-5 people for different
things serving us and everyone was super friendly and professional.
They bring room temp sourdough bread and butter to start which
was yummy. I ordered the virgin strawberry daiquiri which tasted
fresh, but was not slushy like a daiquiri should be, though I would
order it again. I ordered a pasta dish w/ the marinara and my hubby
ordered the salmon dish special which was salmon in filo dough
w/ a champagne sauce. Right before our dishes came we were served
a tiny glass of sorbet which was really odd & we weren't
expecting at all. It was this pink flavorless sorbet that neither
of us still have a clue what the flavor was supposed to be. Before
we could even take a second spoonful our meals came so I don;t know
if that was just really poor timing on their part or if for some
reason that's how they do it typically? Anyhow, my dish was
capallini w/ their marinara and a side of steamed zucchini carrot
and bell peppers (none of which I like or ate) The Marianna was
far below the quality I was expecting considering how mush the
reservation guy hammed it up and the fact that I had to call the
week of my reservations to remind them to have the ingredients
for it! All it was...was minced tomato, onion and spices. Tasted
primarily like tomato paste as the tomato was really strong.
I have had better in a jar and my homemade is a million times better
as my hubby stated and I agree. So while I ate it and was full it was
disappointing. He really liked his salmon. It's not"wrapped"
in filo as they claimed but instead just had a thin top layer of
it. Came w/ a side of pilaf and the same veggies as mine. For dessert
we got the chocolate , mousse. Thankfully it was the best chocolate
mousse I have had in about a year or so. Not the whipped cream kind
or pudding kind, but the whipped light but dense kind that melts
in your mouth and is really rich but you just can't stop eating
it. One order is enough for 2 people by far so don't let the
server talk you into ordering more then one ;)
Reservations are highly recommended for no more then 15 min after
opening which is 5pm on Sat because they got packed fast. If you
want to see the view then you'll need to do this.
I'm hoping on the weekdays for dinner we can eat later after
dark so to see the lights of the city through the trees. They have
one other dish I think I can get which is a basic fettuccine Alfredo
dish, but that's about it. Loved the view and service so we
shall dine there again because of that.
Reservatiosn are highly recommeded for no more then 15 min after
openign which is 5pm on Sat because they got packed fast. If you
want to see the view then you'll need to do this.
I'm hoping on the weekdays for dinenr we can eat later after
dark so to see the lights of the city through the trees. They have
one other dish I think I can get which is a basic fettucini alfredo
dish, but that's about it. My basic pasta dish was $19! I thought
tht was quite a lot for what it was. For everythign we got includign
my hubbies Mai Tai he ordered it came to about $75 so $90 w/ tip.
If my dish had been anythignh special or at least something I couldn't
very easily prepare at home a million times better then $90 for
everything would had been worth it. Loved the view and service
so we shall dine there again because of that.
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REVIEW #8
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Randi M.
Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:
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October 24, 2000
0 of
2 people found this review helpful
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Phenomenal view and ambiance, well worth the gorgeous drive.
Unfortunately, I was not equally impressed with the meal
(I had beef medallions with prawns). The sauces were heavy and overwhelming and it seemed more like conveyor belt food rather than cuisine created by an executive chef. However, my parents enjoyed their meal and they are less picky. The service was very
good and we had no trouble making reservations for a table by the window.
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REVIEW #11
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Rating: Unknown
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April 24, 2000
0 of
1 people found this review helpful
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REVIEW #12
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Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:
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February 10, 2000
0 of
0 people found this review helpful
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I was lured to this restaurant by all the excellent reviews printed
here. So my wife and I decided to give it a try, and had high expectations
from all we had read. The hostess was very warm and friendly, and
gave us a nice window table with an excellent view of the Bay. But
then came the entrees. My wife's veal was excellent. But my filet
mignon was completely burned on the outside, covered by a solid
coat of charcoal. When I asked the waiter for a new dish, he waved
his arms and exclaimed loudly that it was supposed to be that way.
He insisted that the cut was the full 16 ounces, which of course
was not the point I was trying to make. Not wanting to make a scene,
I reluctantly cut away the charcoal layer and finished the dry
tough interior, which was a mistake. I had a pretty bad stomach
ache after leaving.
DONT ORDER THE FILET MIGNON!!!!
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REVIEW #16
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Avg. Entree: $20-30
Rating:
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October 18, 1997
0 of
2 people found this review helpful
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Yes, it is very hard to get in this place,
yes it will always be crowded, yes, the staff can
sometimes get too busy, and there is a good
reason for all of this. This is simply THE BEST
restaurant on the peninsula, bar none. I've lived
here for 22 years, been to a very nice place once or twice
a week for the entire 22 yrs, from San Fran. to San Jose,
and I can tell you, this is the best. Save it for
those special occasions....
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