I’m glad to see The Bistro at ONE65 reopen after a long break! I’m a fan of their amazing Patisserie on the ground floor but had never ventured upstairs til this month. The Bistro is a more “casual” California/French dinner restaurant on the third floor with an open kitchen. ONE65 is also home to the Michelin-starred fine dining concept O’ by Chef Claude Le Tohic and Elements Bar.
ONE65 Bistro currently has three set menus – two, three, and five courses. The prix fixe menus are a bit on the pricey side, but depending on what you order, they can be more in line with typical San Francisco pricing. We opted for the three course menu (two sets total) and were quite full, especially after the irresistible complimentary bread.
We started with some refreshing appetizers – vibrant kampachi ceviche and seasonal heirloom tomatoes with basil and burrata. Finishing the leftover sauces with baguette from the bread plate was a must. And the decadent croissant – perhaps the most buttery I’ve experienced – was sinfully good on its own.
The main courses were both substantial. I chose the campanelle pasta with romesco mascarpone sauce and mushrooms. This was quite enjoyable, with the hearty sauce easily picked up by the al dente campanelle ruffles. He got the grilled half lobster, and though I think lobster is generally overrated, I found myself impressed with the tenderness of this one.
Our server indulged our request for more bread, so we got to also try the brioche, another winner! And if that weren’t enough bread, we opted for the cheese plate with walnut bread for a savory dessert course. The other dessert was a spin on a peach melba, with poached peaches, strawberry sorbet, and a crispy almond cookie.
Overall we really enjoyed the meal, the friendly service, and the counter seating open kitchen view. When I’m feeling splurgy, I definitely want to try O’ given how strong this bistro menu was.
