Firehouse Bistro

We were disappointed tonight. We ate in the back room by the bar. The service was not good. My husband asked for no bacon on the salad and they got that wrong. Brought us the Foie Gras with very small portions. The Dover sole was over cooked and came in a container that looked like one for pre made lasagna. My husbands scallops were not good either. Wine pours were also super small. What has happened.?We live in Woodside. Don’t think we will go back.

We live near the Firehouse and regularly enjoy many of their standard dishes, e.g., the short ribs, and whichever fish is featured that day. We’ve probably dined there 30 times since it opened; it’s a go-​to kind of neighborhood place. Relaxed and friendly and cozy in size. There are two consistent things that prevent me from giving it better ratings. One is very significant, a health matter; the other is a matter of taste.
Most recently, in early April 2016, a family member ate the raw oysters and became so painfully sick within an hour or two that we were very close to taking him to the E.D. at Stanford. Sadly — I have personal knowledge of 3 friends’ incidents with oysters eaten at the Firehouse. In one case, she called to notify the manager of the diner’s distress, and was told, «Michelle Pfeiffer eats our oysters.» AS IF that makes a difference, or changes the outcome?
Seriously. who cares whether a supposed celeb got sick or not?
The second, subjective, issue is dessert. Clearly not a priority here. The selection is uninspired, and we never order them.
Stay away from their raw oysters, and don’t crave dessert. You’ll be fine.

Intimate, casual setting with great service and an amazing menu! The highlight of the evening was the food. Chef Chelsea and her brigade work their culinary magic in one of the cleanest kitchens I have ever seen… I appreciate that! We were a party of 8 for this, my first visit, and the food came out at a well-​timed pace.
House-​made focaccia with a fresh herb olive oil to start followed by some of the best dishes I’ve had in a while. Everything looked so good that we played the «do you want to taste this?» game all around the table and everything was on point from the pea soup to the farmer’s greens salad and beyond. The asparagus risotto was perfect as was the cook (mid-​rare) on the filet. The short ribs were ‘melt in your mouth’ delicious. Sadly, due to our late arrival, they were out of oysters (which we had come specifically to try) but I guess that’s a testament to how fresh they will be when we return. In place of that, we ordered the steamed mussels in a red curry broth. They were on the small side (which I love in a mussel) and the broth was so good that we asked to take it home… I make no apologies for this! We are going to use it for a kick-​ass veggie/​tofu stir fry tonight We also shared 2 orders of the house made burrata. We actually ordered one but it was so delicious that we ordered a second.
I don’t eat desserts but my table ordered 3 to share and they were gone in seconds. They have a very nice and reasonably priced wine selection as well as a full bar so everyone was happy.
The service was great! Professional, patient and personable. A special nod to Rob who stayed with us with a smile on his face to the end, which was late because we were having so much fun. He let us split the bill 5 ways and knew exactly who had what so everyone was billed appropriately. I know this is a huge pain but he never made it seem as such, which was very impressive and much appreciated!
I hope everyone has the same experience we did. It was truly a great first impression!

The dinner at Firehouse was great. I had less expectation since we loved Station one. The menu is rather small but they were delicious. The whipped Brie was really good. Even our kids loved it. The burger was huge and juicy! Sole was just right. The presentation was really nice. They did a nice job incorporating local flavor décor inside.

Super cute spot. Cozy and (if you want it to be) romantic. The service was outstanding and we loved the food. The oysters were awesome and fresh. Looking forward to our next visit.

Came here twice. First time about two weeks ago, we hosted a party of six. The service was a little off but the food was very nice, the ambience quiet and the wine great. The only nic was that we were seated in an awkward table in the front of the house right next to the front door which kept opening on us. The lady at the far end of the table was not accessible to the wait staff due to this awkward arrangement so all her food and dishes were passed back and forth by way of the two guests either side of the table which was mildly awkward but fortunately we are a casual group. The setting is quite nice and it was quiet so we thought we’d like to try it again with just the two of us. We had a reservation on Valentines Day and it was just a mess. While our waiter was nice (and pained since the evening was going awry for every table around us) but the kitchen and service staff were totally out of sync. We sat down and ordered wine and a cocktail and were pressed to select our entire meal from a prix fixe menu right away, server citing that things were running low. Our appetizers came out before the amuse bouche and champagne starter (which they eventually tried to serve twice), and after watching tables around us being served their meals while they were just beginning their first course we requested that the kitchen slow down our meal a bit. Needless to say, when our meals (quickly) arrived they were both ice cold. We both had the filet and both were cooked to order and presented nicely, but had clearly been sitting in the back waiting for us to be ready. As we tried to enjoy our meal we watched at least six staff members wander around aimlessly with food in hand looking for tables on which to drop their food off, only to be shooed away by waiters and patrons whose meals were coming out of the kitchen ill timed and out of order. Another faux pas, someone offered us more bread, and came back and dropped bread onto our dish rather than taking it back or refreshing it with a new plate. The cherry on the cake was the stereo blasting Frank Sinatra’s «Love and Marriage» and «New York New York» amidst the chaos. It was like being in a bad hotel/​convention luncheon. Not a meal I’d like to pay $ 200 plus dollars for again.

I had the risotto and it was delightful. A lovely Kistler pinot noir, and passion fruit tart rounded out the elegant dinner. Superb. Intimate. And friendly.

Thoroughly enjoyed my meal here tonight. Came early and were seated in back by tiny bar. This is a cozy little back room with red leather seats and great for actually having a conversation with my friend. I began with the Scharffenberger rose bubbly, which ended up being a great complement to all the food we shared. The baby beet salad was better than any I’ve had lately. The Arctic char was accented by a tarragon sauce that worked really well with both the fish and the little turnips and chard. The risotto with chanterelles was luscious, and I’m so glad we shared everything so I could savor one dish, then the other, then back again. Our service was well timed, friendly and unhurried. I look forward to return visits. I enjoy the Pub, but this had an atmosphere that felt far more personal along with great food.

Ok so lots of people carp about this place — «we don’t like the tacky sign!» «It’s the same menu as Village Pub but probably not as good».
Whatever. If you’re in Woodside and you want to eat good food, in a nice atmosphere with friendly service and no hassle, you should come here. It’s the only place within striking distance of my house where I can get fresh oysters and a glass of bubbly — heck, I’d come just for that! But the mains are always great — I’ve even ordered foods I’d normally not eat, just to see how these people prepared it, and they were AMAZING. As in, bring-me-another-plate-I’m-going-to-eat-until-it-hurts amazing!
The only thing I wish I could change is the seating — it’s a little tight. Woodside Bakery has that fantastic back patio (but I rarely go there b/​c their service is so terrible). Wish Firehouse Bistro could take over the Woodside Bakery when it closes (I hear they’re losing their lease…). Anyway, I will keep coming back to Firehouse, for sure!

First of all, if you read the negative reviews, you get a real insight into «entitled» individuals who seem to be more enamored of their writing abilities than treating dining out as an adventure.
Our party of six ordered different appetizers, five different entrees, and three desserts. There were no «clunkers» in any of the choices. The petrale sole was ample and delicious, the short rib was excellent, the scallops were expertly cooked. Well, you get the idea. The whole dinner and service were excellent.
Only downsides: $ 25 corkage fee seems too high and be prepared to spend some money. Would I go back? Absolutely.

Lovely quiet space with excellent food and service. One tenth the size of ThePub, with ten times the enjoyment.

This was our second time at Firehouse Bistro. First of all, the food is really really good. Everything we ordered on a busy Saturday night was just as we would like. The room is, as others have noted, a bit funky given the layout, but they’re doing the best they can.
Our waiter was very good, smart, knowledgable.
The cocktail program is a train wreck. They served one of their featured drinks, a Manhattan, in a fairly standard 2 oz pour. But they served it in an 8 ounce martini glass. It just looked silly. Buy some new glasses already. And one of their other featured cocktails was an undrinkable cherry or strawberry thing that tasted like cough syrup. This isn’t hard. Just make some decent drinks. Given how good the food is, maybe let the chef run the bar too.
The carrot cake was awesome.

Firehouse Bistro has done a great job getting the details down perfectly. We had the Kushi oysters and foie gras for appetizers and both were fantastic. I paid $ 25 more for a dozen oysters at Wayfare Tavern in SF and the one’s from FB were much better. The foie gras was the best I have had with wonderful stone fruit and toasts.
Entrees were pork (chop and belly), chicken and short rib and there wasn’t a bite that wasn’t great.
I’m still impressed that it’s ¹⁄₃ less than The Village Pub and the food is easily just as good in a farmhouse environment.
Let’s keep this place around and go!!! Give it a try and you won’t regret it.

A poorly managed disaster of an establishment that pulls down its trousers and defecates awfulness on the site of the former (excellent) Station One restaurant that used to occupy the space. It will hopefully be put out of its misery soon. The best thing you can possibly do is avoid eating there and tell your friends to stay far away from this wreck. If we work together we can starve it of revenue and get it to go out of business, which will be exactly what it and its wretched owners deserve.
We tried and failed to eat there once. We had a 7:00pm reservation for our anniversary, arrived early, and were kept waiting until almost 8:00pm before we eventually gave up and left. There were empty tables but they were «reserved» for other parties that arrived significantly later than we did. Two other parties were in the same boat as we were. No management was on hand and despite repeated requests with the hostess, bartender, and eventually any staff member we could flag down, no one took responsibility or took charge of anything. There was no space available at the bar and no one was willing to create space for us there, or anywhere. Another thing there was no space for was any apology or even an expression of regret. What? The level of service we received was worse than an off night at Denny’s. Anniversary ruined, and we were stuck without dinner at 8:00pm on a Friday night. Die, Firehouse, die, and take anyone affiliated with you to the grave as you go!
We never got to sample the food, but who cares? The owners and chef certainly don’t. That much is certain from the fact they don’t care about anything else in the place. They don’t care about wine. While we waited, and waited, and waited, I had a mediocre glass of something reddish in a dirty, cheap, thick-​stemmed glass that they didn’t even comp me after our troubles. The wine probably came out of a box. And don’t expect the food to be better: Just because some sous-​chef can splatter some store-​bought balsamic concoction in neat little swirls on bland rectangular dishes does not good cuisine make. (But for confirmation of this point, see the other reviews.) And the dishware, by the way, is institutional-​grade, not like the cute and eclectic collection Station One used to have.
Don’t even try to come here. There’s hardly any parking, anyway. Do yourself a favor and walk the fifty paces to nearby Village Pub. Or even the less fancy but delightfully kitschy Buck’s. Or failing both of those, just stay home and eat a jar of mayonnaise that’s been sitting in a warm room without the cap on for a year. It will be a more enjoyable experience than you’ll have at Firehouse.

Overall 3.5 +Food taste, quality, portion size — table layouts
Love the new seats compared to Station1. For about the same price, the food seems better prepared. My filet was really outstanding, the spare ribs were good (I tasted) and the pork looked good too. The highlight was the onion soup and the cheese plate. Mix green salad was also tasty. Wished for a fowl choice (duck breast, chicken) on the menu. Service was decent, but not as efficient as I would expect at these prices. We meet friends here, but I don’t think it’s quiet enough for date night.

We have been here twice in the last few weeks. The food is great. Nice selection. Portions not overwhelming. Green Pea Risotto and Salmon are excellent. Deserts are ok not great.
It’s a small place and can get noisy. The back room is quieter but this is where the bar is so servers come in and out. Tables near the front door get breezes when people come and go.
Service was great the first time. Second time with a big group not so great. Server was trying too hard and forgot about our food order so it was late. He also overcharged for corkage. Seemed like he was new and or lacked experience.

We had an excellent meal at Firehouse Bistro last night for my husband’s birthday. He had the albacore crudo and the duck breast; I had the mixed greens salad and the risotto. All of our food was fantastic — we devoured it!
We finished with the cheese plate (rather than dessert) and it was excellent. The wine selection is a little limited, but we brought our own wine and paid the $ 25 corkage.
The server was outstanding and even slipped us a little extra of our favorite cheese on the cheese plate. The ambiance is very nice and quaint. It was a quiet night when we went. Make a reservation to avoid a long wait.
We will definitely be returning!

I can’t comment on the food as we didn’t make it that far.
My wife and I live very close and we’re hoping for the best. Station-​1 was OK, but definitely had room for improvement. Unfortunately, Firehouse is not an improvement.
Things went sideways before I even opened the door. It was awkward to open the door because some poor guy was literally sitting halfway in front of it. The two larger 6-​tops are oriented in a way that the entrance is blocked by diners. There is no host pedestal or anything, so we stood uncomfortably between these two tables for a minute or two waiting for… anything.
Eventually we were greeted and told that our reservation would be a few minutes while the table is prepared. Fair enough, but people trying to exit the restaurant were stuck behind the host while he talked to us. He stepped to leave and I stepped to follow to allow room for people to leave (good decision, btw) and he stopped, turned, and told me to wait a moment. Nah, man, I’m just trying to get out of the way!
So after a few minutes of standing in the middle of the restaurant (there’s no where else!) we’re lead to our table in the back porch. While we’re waiting, and as we enter the back porch area, we notice an unpleasant smell. I’m not sure if the porch is over trash bins or what, but it smelled of wet garbage or cat food. Something unpalatable.
As we saw the table we were being lead to, my wife looked at me worriedly. I also balked. The porch is so crowded our 2-​top was right at the bar. So close to the bar that I literally had to ask a man to move so I could pull the chair out to sit at the table. People standing at the bar were basically standing with their butts at our table. Imaging a movie theater where someone is saddling sideways down the isle to get to a middle seat. This is how close our table was to the bar, but these people (not their fault) weren’t going anywhere.
A few minutes of worried sitting and hurried discussion, we left. I’ve been with my wife for 8+ years and we’ve never left a restaurant before service. This is literally my first and maybe only Unilocal review, but hopefully the restaurant will figure out the odor, remove a third of their tables, get rid of the tiny/​useless bar, get a hostess stand, and figure out how to be successful.

Great ambiance! We were on the porch next to the bar and enjoyed everything. It felt very warm and cozy! Food was excellent $ 150 for many drinks (lemon something) two appetizers and two entrees.
Something seemed to be up with the air though, as it was constantly hot or cold. Keep up the work guys! (Familiar staff from the Village Pub can be found here some nights)

Had a nice dinner last night. Firehouse has been open less than 100 hours, so obviously they have not worked out all the kinks yet. But service was pleasant and our food was good. Back bar is cozy. Wine list is quite thin, which makes me question the $ 25 corkage fee.
Woodside/​PV needs another restaurant like this, so go give them a try, and be a little forgiving as they get up to speed.
Note to manager: put your phone number on Unilocal for reservations or get up on OpenTable!