Back Wine Bar & Bistro

Had the BEST service last night from Taylor. Food and wine were great but the service made our experience far better than our last few visits. We look forward to visiting again soon and will definitely request Taylor as our server!

While we were very happy with the service at Back Bistro, the food and wine offered were behind the times. First, for a «wine bar,» there are remarkably few local wines on the list. Amador County is less than 45 minutes away, yet Back Bistro only offered three wines, all from the same winery. Napa and Sonoma wines are available everywhere – it’d be nice if Amador wines got more representation in Amador’s backyard. Second, the food options were limited and dated. The Bistro only has five entrees on the menu. While a well curated menu is usually a plus, the menu was too limited here. We went with the small plates. The steak dish was plated rather peculiarly with bits of steak placed on top of pieces of potato to form a «T.» This was a bit weird. The steak itself had no sear, little flavor, and was overcooked. The brussels sprouts were serviceable, if doused a bit too much in balsamic. The deep fried polenta was pretty tasty.
3 stars is a bit generous for this place – it’s really a 2.5, right down the middle, and would have been a 2 star review if the service wasn’t as good as it was. Maybe mediocrity can cut it in Folsom given the options available, but with a little effort and a few changes, Back Bistro could become the modern bistro and wine bar that Folsom deserves. Until then, we’ll be looking for other options.

I live close by, and love wine and good food, so I was really wanting to like this place! I was excited to try it. Unfortunately, I can’t provide a review on the wine or food because we did not even stay. The service was terrible — we walked in and were not greeted or offered service. Needless to say, we left! I’m debating on whether or not to give them another shot and see if they have improved, but with all of the places offering great and welcoming service in the area I haven’t been motivated to try.

Really like the wine selection here. Food is also very good. Always great service. Good Ambiance

We like this place and have eaten there a few times before. The prefix meal is reasonably priced. The salad, then skirt steak were very tasty. Some chefs try to be overambitious in combining flavors and ingredients and this was one of those cases. The wine pairing they served made it just that more difficult to blend a wine that went with the main entrée with so many different components. Sometimes simplicity is the best strategy with food especially when having a wine to compliment it.

Been here a few times and the food was always pretty good. Went last night and had seared ahi and beef short ribs. The Ahi way way over cooked and the short Rib was hard and dry. Not sure if they got a new chef or something, but the food wasn’t good.
Service was great. Atmosphere is good, hope they get the food right.

Absolutely fantastic experience. Food excellent, wait staff friendly. I asked for a quiet and romantic area and to my surprise my date a I were seated in a very quiet and mood setting area. Loved it and will visit often.

For all of the advertising they do to bring in business, we were turned away tonight. We walked in at 8:25 and they advertise on the door and their website that they close at 9;00. We were told they closed early because they were slow. We certainly won’t be going back there again!

We came here to celebrate birthday. Definitely over priced. Steak quality wasn’t very good. Slow service. We had to ask several times for a refills and checks. Wine selection was ok but this is not a weekly spot.

First time to this bistro. We ordered the scallops and pork entrees. We didn’t have appetizers (we should have due to the small dinner servings).. I wish there was another choice than the risotto, there may have been, I didnt ask and it was just ok. The scallops were tasty. My hubby said his pork was «fine» and I cant remember his side dish It was an expensive meal for the small servings. Trust me we dont mind paying good money for a delicious meal out. We actually went to in/​out burgers after since we were still hungry. The server was friendly and the atmosphere was nice, if we were to go back it would be just for drinks.

We live in Folsom and love the community! That said we’ve been to this restaurant several times a week and you will love the flavor but you will miss the food. Denny’s steaks are enormous compared to back wine’s filet. For $ 32 go to Sutter steakhouse! Salads are small the wine list is mediocre and you won’t appreciate the wine or taste the food!
Save your money, Folsom’s not that small!

Went to Back Wine Bistro this week after wanting to go for over a year! I should not have waited this long. Love, love, love this place. The bar tender was super friendly and continued to check on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Loved the atmosphere and the menu selection. Started with a Champagne Flight and couldn’t have been happier!
Went with friends and can will be returning for sure!

Just happy it’s a non-​chain local Folsom bistro with a nice ambiance. Location sucks it’s literally next to Raleys shopping center and a hair cut place.
Filet with risotto was tasty, but uninspiring. Presentation appeared bland and literally plopped into a plate that could have been mistaken for rookie attempt of a wannabe gourmet chef.
Overall quality + presentation + authenticity +price do not pan out.
I really had high hopes for this place but I was let down by the unimpressive menu and appearance of each entrée and appetizer.
The lettuce wraps on happy hour are $ 3 for ONE soggy sloppy watery lettuce wrap that was not tasty. It literally dropped everywhere and I do not recommend ordering it!
The goat cheese «platter» on happy hour consists of a few grapes some baguette slices and apple that is half way cut and dry fig spread— also nothing to drool over
My friend ordered the «steak and potatoes «this appeared very delicious although for $ 14 it was literally three cut sliced gourmet potatoes with 3 pieces of steak over each potato slice— If you are hungry this will be a tease…
Okay… What saved my review was the desert which was literally a «crème brûlée with chocolate ganache» 5 stars for this!!!***** forgot the actual name !
Last but not least happy hour house wine $ 4 was a good choice.

Gee, I wish I could provide a glowing review of Back Wine Bar, because recently, I’ve had some very good meals here, but last night was not inspiring. The service was great, there was only 1 other table in the restaurant, so, the kitchen was truly not busy. But I believe it was one of those nights where the cook was off, and someone who is unfamiliar with the kitchen took over. Sad, because it was a birthday celebration. My shrimp with polenta was not even lukewarm when it hit the table. The other two at my table seemed equally unimpressed, but I did not ask them details. I had also ordered a salad, that did not arrive, and I may have paid for it anyway. I feel like this restaurant really has potential, but is possibly inconsistent. I hope to try again on a better night.

Folks, you need to check Back Wine Bar out. From the outside it looks simple — like a typical wine bar/​restaurant in a strip mall. But if you can overcome the exterior appearance, then you’re in for a real treat and an exciting surprise! The wine selection is perfect and the quality of the taste is some of the best in Northern California. I know this is a BIG claim, but taste their Karp Schreiber Riesling and their House Red from CA’ Momi Rosso Di Napa is super yummy. And btw, their «Loaded Bake Potato» flatbread is scrumptious! Cheers to feeling the same as us!

My experience here was rather generic. It was ok. Not amazing and surely not terrible. Service was fine … Food was pretty good but it was rather expensive for the portions you get. Didn’t try any wine, but i did order a cocktail and it was very well made and strong. Décor is more upscale .but again very generic. Nothing stood out for me. No character. I’ve had multiple chances to dine here again and each time I pass it up as an option because it was so unmemorable. I do believe for Folsom this is a place that caters to its regulars …

Had s really great experience for Sunday happy hour. The wine was great, food was excellent and the staff was so friendly. Definitely is my new favorite place.

I came here this past weekend to celebrate my friend’s birthday! I made a reservation through Unilocal which was extremely convenient! I got a text that day to confirm our reservation.
We came to Back Wine Bar around 7PM and the restaurant was not at all crowded (which I prefer). The restaurant is stylish and modern, and we were led to a table in the back. There were two other couples seated in the back, which was ever-​so-​slightly awkward due to the close proximity of the tables in the back (not sure how close together the tables are in the rest of the restaurant). My friend and I were slightly dressed up but the other guests ranged from casual to business-​casual to semi-​formal dress. Our waitress was extremely, extremely knowledgeable about wine (much more so than my friend and I!) and very friendly. My friend and I ended up ordering the white house wine — which was pretty tasty to me (although I don’t know much about wine!!!).
Next, we ordered two of the tapas — Hawaiian Ahi Poke, Lettuce Wraps — and one of the salads — Heirloom Tomato Salad. The Hawaiian Ahi Poke was surprisingly delicious. My friend is an avid sushi/​fish lover and even he commented on how fresh the fish tasted. Next, the lettuce wraps were tasty — the meat was cooked nicely but wasn’t particularly memorable. This was perhaps my least favorite of the dishes we tried. Lastly, the Heirloom Tomato Salad was also surprisingly delicious! I wasn’t expecting much from a few tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic but BOY WAS I WRONG! I’m pretty sure the secret to this dish was the balsamic. I *like* balsamic (when I’m in the mood) but it’s usually not my first dressing of choice. THIS balsamic, however, was HEAVENLY and I could eat it on ALL my salads from NOW UNTIL ETERNITY.
Lastly, we ordered the Pot de Crème after reading reviews on Unilocal.THIS. WAS. INCREDIBLE. Easily the best dessert I’ve had in a long, long time. I don’t even know exactly how to describe it — it was a mixture of chocolate, crème, sea salt… and was just DIVINE. The crème on the side was delicious — light and not too sweet, the perfect complement to the chocolate. My friend and I plan on coming back JUST to order this! Overall, we had a really pleasant evening!
Also — please note that although the portions SEEM small, my friend and I were both full afterwards. We were surprised at how satisfied we felt, despite ordering so few things. I recommend ordering a few plates to start!

Wine?
Fantastic selection, but that’s not important.
Ambiance?
Eating on the patio outside is nice and the inside isn’t half bad either.
Dinner?
Yeah, I guess the entrees are alright.
Dessert?
YES. This place wins every award in my book for their Pot de Crème. I would order several of those as my entrée if it was socially acceptable and if I wasn’t scared to death about the beetus.

The cheese plate, bruschetta, and steak & potatoes were all good. Everyone else has posted photos and discussed it already so I don’t really care to.
Our table was sharing a couple lamb burgers and they graciously split them in half without us having to ask. As the waiter came closer to our table, our heads turned and eyes locked onto the burger cross sections as if a gorgeous woman had just walked through the front entrance. I gently cradle the burger in my hands and I gaze at its magnificence. I can only hope to have the same reaction when my first born arrives one day. Fat and meat juices cascade down from the patty, but is quickly captured by the brioche bun. The richness and gamey flavor was perfectly balanced out by the toppings. I’m tired of writing. It was just really good.