Vanessa's Bistro

02/06/2025

I haven’t posted a bunch about people’s poor behaviors in the restaurant. So let me catch you all up on what’s happening at Vanessa’s in Berkeley.
Last week on Friday a husband and wife came in for dinner. Pedro took their order and the husband verbally ordered the prawns and scallops curry with a side of sticky rice. What the husband actually wanted Pedro to do was read his mind, which he was telepathically communicating to Pedro that he wanted the tamarind glaze prawns and sticky rice. We brought out the food and he made a huge deal about it. Pedro apologized, but the husband started yelling at him. The wife told the husband that he was being rude. Then the fight between the husband and wife began. He started dropping his bowls on the table. Speaking disrespectfully to the wife in front of other tables. She told him to not speak to her that way and they continued to eat in silence…after they finished he proceeded to argue with his wife and told her “f*ck you!” And walked out.
To the wife of this man. Thank you for sticking up for Pedro. A simple mistake that we could have easily fixed. If you’re having a bad day, please don’t come into our restaurant. Please don’t talk to your spouse like that in public! *****if this wife happens to read this post, please come in alone and I’ll treat you to a nice dinner!

01/25/2025

We will be closed tonight for a private dinner party.

01/07/2025

We will be closed tomorrow Tuesday the 7th to attend Serene’s funeral service. If you’d like to pay your respects to her loved ones.

Share Memories and Support the Family.

01/04/2025

It is with heavy heart that we share the passing of our former employee, Serene. She was my best server for 6 years. She was always available to work. She took care of my customers, even though sometimes she would talk their ears off but she got the job done. 6 years she was with us. I know life gets in the way. I know people go through things that you have no clue about. She was young. Passionate about what she stood for. She loved hard, even when they didn’t deserve it. We are devastated. May god watch over you Serene, now you can finally be at peace. If you would like to pay your respects, her service is on Tuesday the 7th at 2pm Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland.

12/31/2024

12/24/2024

We’ll be closed tonight and tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with our family. Have a wonderful holiday! See you Thursday at 4pm

12/18/2024

I want to thank everyone for their patience these last 2 weeks. One of our cooks had to go back home to care for his mom who has cancer. Another kitchen employee was out all last week with covid…all which means my poor mother has been in the kitchen SOLO! I am already working with a skeleton crew in the front. What does skeleton crew mean? I have 4 employees for the front of the house including myself. I am the main bartender, with my little sister filling in when I have to run inside the kitchen to help mom cook and also do the dishes. Service has been slow, but business has also been slow. Last night we were slammed! My server told a party of 4 that we’ll have a table ready for them 3 times. Once that table got up the man waiting gave us zero time to clean and set up the table…he sat down at the dirty table, so we asked him to wait by the door and let us do our job and he walked out with the rest of his party. While that was happening two of his guests was going to sit at the bar, “we’re waiting for a table but it was unclear if we had a table” I told her we’re short staffed and give us a second to clean up the table for them. If telling you 3 times we’ll have a table ready you is unclear? I don’t know how much more clear you need us to speak. I think we’re all speaking English here?!? If you can’t see the same 3 faces “running around “ serving EVERYONE ELSE in the dining room, I don’t know how to make things more clear. We are truly working as hard and quickly as our body allows us to.
We are tired. Business is inconsistent. People are mean. This keeps up and just like Fonda’s, I will close to!

11/26/2024

Thank you Comstock’s Magazine for including us in the article! 18 years, changing with the times! 🙏🏽

Capital Region restaurateurs showcase the diversity and fun of Vietnamese cuisine

09/09/2024

We had an amazing time celebrating our 18th anniversary with a delicious 5 course chef’s tasting with wine pairing!!! Mom outdid herself yet again!!!! Thank you Seth and Ted from
SGWS for helping me host the event and sharing your knowledge. Our guests had a memorable experience, left full and partially stumbling out the door… joking 🙃

📸 credit: Nancy and
📸 credit: Elisa

First Course
Dungeness crab, cucumber and tomato gazpacho with garlic croutons
~ Albariño Vionta Rias Baixas, Spain 2023

Second Course
Marinated scallops and prawns, salad with English cucumber, arugula, Romain hearts, and nuoc mam vinaigrette
~ Pinot Gris Wairau River, New Zealand 2021

Third Course
Duck strudel, shredded duck, confit, risotto, mozzarella cheese with pineapple beurre blanc
~ Vermentino Belgvardo Maremme Toscana DOC, Italy 2033

Forth Course
Black Angus New York steak & lobster with Peruvian mashed potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and red wine reduction
~ Mourvèdre Cline Family Cellars, Contra Costa County 2022

Fifth Course
Baklava cheesecake ( made by Vi)

09/07/2024

We will be closed tonight for a private event. See you Tuesday at 4pm for happy hour and 🌮 Tuesday

09/05/2024

Tomorrow is our 18th anniversary!! Come and celebrate with us, so many things to be thankful for but we’re most thankful for our community for supporting us through the years 🥂💖

08/23/2024

I am beyond grateful for my community. Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our gofundme campaign, Venmo, checks, cash, dined in, ordered takeout all last week. We surpassed our goal and were able to raise everything to cover the costs of the last 3 break-ins!!! It’s situations like these that reminds me why I do what I do. I have built so many amazing relationships over the last 17 years at the restaurant, Solano Ave is my second home!

Friday September 6th will be our 18th anniversary! Please come in and celebrate with us! 🥂 (We will be closed for a private dinner on Saturday the 7th)

08/18/2024

Thank you everyone who has donated to our gofundme, ordered takeout or joined us for dinner all last week. The support we continue to receive from our community is what keeps us going. These last 4.5 years haven’t been kind to us or other small businesses. We really are trying to survive doing what we love. My mom takes pride in her cooking. She still grocery shops for both locations and hand picks her vegetables. She also is the only one that helps my brother with his catering business in Walnut Creek. Sometimes she doesn’t have full days off. She’s exhausted but she still wakes up everyday and does what she loves. As of March I went back behind the bar. I can’t find reliable staff. Which means I’m Bartending 5 nights a week. Which also means I have the same 4 employees including myself on the schedule. We are all trying our best to make sure you have a great time at Vanessa’s! We know you have plenty of choices, and you pick us!! Thank you.

September 6th will mark 18 years on Solano Avenue. Our community has sho… Vi Nguyen needs your support for Help Vanessa's Bistro Recover from Recent Break-Ins

08/15/2024

I don't do this at all. I hardly ever ask for help, but I've reach a desaprate point and need my communitys help. I have started a gofundme for Vanessa's Bistro in Berkeley after all the breakins and my insurance company isn't letting me file a claim or they'll drop me. Business is already slow and paying for the damages out of pocket has been hard! Especially after the breakin in March. If you're able to any support would be grately appreciated ❤

September 6th will mark 18 years on Solano Avenue. Our community has sho… Vi Nguyen needs your support for Help Vanessa's Bistro Recover from Recent Break-Ins

08/12/2024

Well. This happened again. 5 months after being burglarized in March! Luckily they didn’t get in because the alarm went off but paying for another repair that I just can’t afford is frustrating! March when we were burglarized, my insurance said if I filed another claim that would be my 3rd in 3 years and they’re dropping me in September. So I never filed a claim! I can’t keep swallowing the costs because these low lives don’t want to find a job and earn an honest living!

07/30/2024

Vi’s homemade pecan pie and Vietnamese coffee and Oreo cookies cheesecake is back on the dessert menu at both locations! Come grab a slice or two 🤤🤤

07/05/2024

We’re back open tonight for dinner service! Happy hour 4-6pm

07/04/2024

We will be closed tonight in observance of Independence Day and reopen tomorrow at 4pm for happy hour. Have a fun and safe holiday everyone!

06/18/2024

We’ve decided to close on Mondays again. Not enough people are coming in to join us so we’ve decided to go back to our regular hours.
Closed Sundays and Mondays
Tuesdays - Saturdays 4-8:30pm
Happy Hour 4-6pm

Thank you to the ones who did show up consistently on Mondays to support us! You’re the real MVP!

04/15/2024

Don't forget, happy hour all day on Mondays! See you at 4pm =)