4. Restaurants

Bistro Bethem

309 William St, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401
  • (540) 371-9999
  • Store is closed

Bistro Bethem Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

  • Xtina P.

    We had an awesome experience here tonight. My husband and I just got married on Saturday and ended our mini moon with a nice dinner at Bistro. Neither of us has tried it so we were excited about the menu. We ordered the beef tongue/sea weed soup that was extraordinary. When I wanted to order the crab and avocado salad, my husband warned me that few places do it well and although I walked away from the appetizer feeling like I ate fairly healthy, it did lack flavor. They have live music on Tuesdays, which was a pleasant surprise. We enjoyed $3 beers and $3 wine that I thought, was great. The wine was tasty and the beer they offered was local and unique. Our entrees were ridiculously good. Absolutely no complaints there. We did order a port which tasted bitter and off but I would say that the server and manager handled this situation appropriately. The server informed us that the bottle had just been opened so it ruled out the issue of the port being old. As a restaurant manager, I can appreciate the server handling and putting to rest any initial doubt the table has about food or drink. The server still informed a manager who came by to check on us. We drank the port anyway, even though it wasn't the most enjoyable. We will definitely be back, Bistro is a winner.

    (4)

  • Jessie P.

    Very good food and excellent favors. All of the food is fresh and the menu changes daily. Portion size is a bit inconsistent. Some portions were too small and some excessively on the larger side. Prices were a bit spotty. Cocktails were very pricy (comparable to NYC!), but also very good. Desert was excellent and a good value. Overall, a lovely date restaurant and the cuisine will impress you; just be prepared for a higher bill than other local places.

    (4)

  • Brandon B.

    This place was spot on. My wife and I wanted a place that served local food, was more upscale but still allowed for kids/infants. Their Caprese salad was excellent and the tomatoes they used were a perfect flavor and color of red. The Beet salad, Turkey sandwich and pizza was all what we were hoping for. We had a "Mock-ito" that was really good too.

    (5)

  • Kimberly S.

    I've been to Fredricksburg three times in my life: 1) To see Phantom Planet play at Mary Washington 2) To eat at Steak N Shake on a roadtrip 3) To eat at Sonic on a roadtrip Safe to say, my experiences with the town have been limited to put it lightly. When one of my best friends from high school decided to host her bridal shower here a few months ago, I was surprised to see what a quaint and cute town it was! Bistro Bethem rates high on the adorable scale and their private basement was the perfect spot for our women's only gathering. Service was impeccable, they knew to leave us alone yet all of glasses were always full. I got a salmon, avocado and egg plate and it was perfect -- even though I had arrived and ordered later than all my friends (running on Asian time!) they were still able to get my food out in relative good time. Most of our table had a sweet tooth so almost everyone ordered the Brioche French Toast which looked amazing. With the beautiful atmosphere, top-notch service and delicious food I would think that the prices here would be astronomical but it was actually pretty affordable. Definitely a hidden gem in Fredricksburg!

    (4)

  • J B.

    Wife and I decided to head to Fred'burg at the last minute for dinner and just happened across this place. Top quality prepared ribeye that blew my socks clean off. It was perfection then i realized i was cutting it parallel to the grain and switched. Then it was absolutely heavenly. Everything was amazing and the staff were top notch. Pricey but worth it, we will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Lenore M.

    Great food and wine for lunch. Friendly and attentive service. Nice location downtown.

    (5)

  • Blanche N.

    This place is so good. We loved the mussels and wine. I got the chicken special of the day, and it is tasted so good that it reminded me of Jamaica; Jamaica has the best chicken ever. I will definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Jackie T.

    Service was great. We went on a Sunday for brunch. It's a quiet and nice atmosphere. White table cloths but not uncomfortably fancy. I had the egg tacos and my cute date had the omelette. My egg tacos were the best ! Great taste. Decently priced as well. I was very pleased

    (5)

  • Linda C.

    Lovely little place in historic Fredericksburg. Had my daughter's bridal shower here last weekend. The upstairs (main floor) is light and bright, with artwork on the walls and lots of windows. We, however, were seated in a private area downstairs. This was our choice since we wanted a private room for our celebration. It is a bit dimmer down there, and you do have to walk behind the bar to get to it - kinda weird -, but all in all it worked out well for us and even made it more memorable! The building was built in the 1800s, and while the upstairs has been updated, some parts of the basement have not. Low beams were about the worst of it though! I also want to point out that even though there is an actual office there, it is separate and for the most part only a few guys ran back and forth for a few minutes at a time. Hey, if they want to listen to a bunch of girls laughing and giggling, they were welcome to stay! Anyway, unless you are planning a party, you won't have to concern yourself with this. I just wanted to mention it since that is where we sat and it is available. There was a main menu as well as a separate brunch menu. Our group ordered a variety of entrees, but many of us ordered the Brioche French Toast. Good choice! It was a large portion, very tasty, with a cream custard filling to give it an extra bit of personality. Didn't hear any complaints at our table about any of the dishes. Mimosas and coffee were also great. Our server was helpful but unobtrusive, checking back with us just the right amount of times. We were there for quite a long time, so involved in our merriment that we didn't even realize the restaurant had closed for the afternoon! Kudos to them for not kicking us out or even mentioning they were closing. For that I say - excellent customer service!

    (4)

  • Sabine M.

    Nice place. Great service and decor. I had the pizza and my boyfriend got the po Boy Sandwich. Loved it!

    (5)

  • J E.

    We decided to stop in to sit at the bar and enjoy small plates/appetizers and a bottle of wine for the evening, versus the typical "dinner" with entrées. What a great idea! When we got there, there were only 4 tables and 2 seats at the bar occupied in the entire restaurant, so we picked a couple seats at the bar and were instantly greeted by the bartender. She was pleasant, offered us the specials list, as well as other menus and smiled :) We described the type of wine we were interested in and she let us try a couple tastes of some of their by-the-glass wines and we ultimately settled on a bottle of one. Their potato bisque with strips of shredded chicken was very nicely done, good flavor. We also tried their home made beef jerky and a couple of their own wood-fired, brick oven pizzas, which were topped and baked perfectly! Their happy hour is Wednesdays through Fridays and they have a very nice offering. Can't wait to go try that again!

    (5)

  • Robin A.

    Food was very so so. Especially for the price. My sandwich was fair, nothing special, house made chips were too salty. The brunch omelet was average and very small. We've made better omelettes at home. The gnocchi was good. Decor, ambiance, and staff was lovely. We had a 7 month old and it was totally fine to bring her.

    (2)

  • Aviv G.

    One of Fredericksburg's best. Great restaurant week dinner and overall very good. Outstanding regular menu items include skirt steak and shrimp n grits. Attentive service, eclectic wine list, local art and music. Try it.

    (4)

  • S C.

    Dear Yelp Gods, it has been 4 years since my last one star review (2010 seemed to be a particularly rough year for dining out) - and who really cares what one persons experience was right? I'm a firm believer that nice people don't give 1 star reviews, nice people just never come back. I assure you I'm a nice person... and will not be back, but there is something more to what is seemingly going on at this restaurant that honestly filled me with rage to the point that, well here we are. Applewood Smoked Turkey, Brie, Apricot Jam, Greens on Sourdough. Simple, lovely sandwich. $10 seemed like a steal, as this place was clearly pushing that small menu, locally sourced ingredients, chef driven bistro scene. I dig it. But no, that's not what this is. So peeps who bought the hype, I'm sorry you've been hoodwinked. Applewood smoked turkey breast, does not gelatinize. Commodity bought luncheon meat, does. What we got, was some ultra thin sliced, pre-packaged gelatinous "turkey", apricot jam from a jar, two slices of an unnaturally colored tomato, (no, it was not an heirloom tomato) a handful of arugula, and burnt sourdough store bought bread. MAYBE they ran out of the applewood smoked turkey, maybe they had to run to the store, maybe they thought someone wouldn't notice. Maybe no one else cares. Split pea soup was more like split pea flavored water with teeny carrot squares, and a couple hunks of pork, goat cheese didn't need to be there, added a kinda funk to the broth. Wine list did not impress, but was well priced. I'm not saying don't go here, the atmosphere the night before we came in seemed enchanting. I bet they even have a tolerable cheese plate. The lighting was the best in the city, the service is exceptional for a small town, the crew is so incredibly well trained - it's a double bummer they aren't able to have a quality product to serve with all that finesse. Ugh... I'm not even able to leave the damn 1 star... the service was too good. Service! Namely Kathryn E! You smite my one star and make it 3!

    (3)

  • Dacia D.

    Music on Tuesday evenings. We had happy hour drinks and a really good soup and salad. Our bartender was excellent.

    (4)

  • Chris T.

    Tiny portions big prices. Our avocado crab salad was 15$ and consisted of one avocado a few flakes of crab and some sprouts. Disappointing. Our sandwiches were ok but portions were tiny. Tiny amounts of homemade chips too. This is the third time I hv been there and will be the last. Our waitress had attitude and forgot my friend ordered a salad and that I had asked for tea. 70 bucks was our bill before a tip. Im won't be back.

    (1)

  • Sam W.

    Awesome meal. The house made banger and mash is worth the trip. The menu changes each day and adds to the ambiance. Worth the trip.

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    I went here for lunch when I was in town for a wedding. I had a wonderful gin and tonic with their house made tonic. To eat I had a house salad with blue cheese which was perfect. Then the best part was the entree of a turkey and Brie sandwich on sourdough. It was fantastic. The sandwich had a wonderful flavor and was very, very filling.

    (5)

  • Firecracker W.

    We've been to Bistro Bethem several times and have had extraordinary meals and experiences there. Last night, not so much and it was mostly due to the service. It was irritating. The young lady did not conceal her disappointment when we chose not to order wine or appetizers. We simply wanted a good meal. She rushed our bread and meal, trying to take our plates before we were finished, even though most of the tables inside were open and no one was waiting. There was no reason to do that. Also, I hurt my teeth when I bit down hard on a piece of bone or ?? in the chicken sausage and the Quail. Ouch. The food server gave us another dirty look when we turned down the dessert menu. We were full and didn't want dessert. Our meals already totaled over $50 so her percent was still decent. So, the miserable experience left a bad taste in our mouths. Not sure if we'd return for cranky service like that. We'll see. Maybe it was just a fluke.

    (3)

  • Garth H.

    Always a pleasant experience. Good food and good service, definitely a great place to go in Fredericksburg.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    I made an unplanned visit to the area and after a couple of days or running around, decided to stop into Bistro Bethem. There were three of us dining and all decided to get special (non-alcoholic) drinks all of which were great. While we were trying to decide what to have for dinner, we quickly picked out the Mac N Cheese and Roasted Brussel Sprouts. The Mac N Cheese was so velvety smooth and rich and comforting with the twist being the dense gnocchi instead of pasta. The Brussel Sprouts were perfectly roasted and seasoned. We cleaned both plates. For dinner, we got the Filet, Shrimp and Grits and Quail. All of the meals were fantastic. The only complaint was that the grits were tasteless. Offering a southern staple in the south has to be spot on and these were not. A bit disappointing since it was such a main part of the dish. We ended with the Coconut Cake which at the first few bites appeared to be really dry but after really analyzing it, we realized that it was so super dense that it appeared dry. It was good but not great as it was crumbly and had the consistency of dry cake. The staff are super knowledgeable about their plates (which I love) and all were very pleasant and nice.

    (4)

  • Brandi F.

    I brought an out of town guest here for drinks and appetizers. I ordered the petal pusher cocktail (perfect for the girly girl who loves her whiskey!) and my friend ordered the Viv-a-pie. Then we had the clams to share. Everything was wonderful from the service to the artwork (Bill Harris! Yay!) to the menu offerings. I always go here for special occasions because I know I can expect quality drinks, professional service, divine atmosphere, and consistent, local, incredible food. (I still think about the head cheese I had with apricot jam years ago.) If you want to take someone out for a special evening, go here! I also went here for lunch the day after my wedding, and they were so amazing, making sure that our special day lasted just that moment longer.

    (5)

  • Ahmed A.

    Our last visit was during the recent Fredericksburg Restaurant Week. As usual, Bistro Bethem tops as one of the unique places to go to in F'burg. My wife and I each ordered the 3 course meal - we both had the grilled quail with roasted balsamic carrots, and beet gastrique as our main entree. There was also a little ball (love shaped) ricotta. We love the ambiance of Bistro Bethem and their attentive service. The only downside to going during restaurant week is that the portions are tiny (ie. tasting menu); so I didn't feel full at the end of our 3 course meal. But that wasn't the case after we shared a gigantic double chocolate cake from the regular dessert menu. The dessert was the highlight of the dinner. We loved it. Once again, we love this restaurant and will definitely go back, maybe not for restaurant week.

    (4)

  • Marie C.

    This was a wonderful little place to find here in Fredericksburg. After living in a few major cities, your expectations can be a little high for restaurants. Bistro Bethem doesn't really lack anything in service, ambiance and quality. I ordered a brie and smoked turkey sandwich with homemade chips and it was everything I hoped it would be. My fiance ordered the clams as a starter and I think he liked them quite well. He also ordered the gnocchi mac and cheese. I am not a big fan of gnocchi, so I can't be too much of a critic but I personally think it could have been a little more on the sharper side with the cheese. It was light, creamy and pretty good overall. I would definitely like to go back and try this place for dinner.

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    Had anniversary dinner and even gave us a champagne toast! Dinner was very good with excellent portion size, fine dining, not heavy large wasteful portions. Husband had the quail and I had the skirt steak which was awesome! I've been here several times for lunch and dinner and find the atmosphere and decor comfortable. Dessert was Creme brûlée for me and lemon tart for hubby...a few points off as the lemon tart was way too tart and almost inedible.

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    My husband and I went this Friday and the second we arrived the staff was extremely nice and welcoming. The women who sat us even offered to give us a table towards the back where it was quiter! Our waiter was very helpful and even ran to the kitchen to make sure my husband was able to get the last two way beef dish they were serving that night. The food was incredible. I had the pork loin topped with spinach and sauerkraut and it was amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Fredericksburg area.

    (5)

  • Melanie S.

    I have absolutely been spoiled when I come to Bistro. The staff are always warm, friendly, and inviting. My other half and I were even visited multiple times by Chef. Now, I do know him, but I know that did not matter because I watched him spend time at length speaking to other customers, checking in on them. Our waiters and waitresses at every visit have been extremely knowledgeable. I'll go again and again. I experienced my first taste of sweetbreads, I have sat outside with my dogs and been pleased by how they treated them, and I have had the pleasure of having multiple Dark and Stormy cocktails. I cannot wait to be there to watch them celebrate their 20 year anniversary.

    (5)

  • Mary K.

    Outstanding! With a 30+min drive into F'burg and as new residents, we enjoy exploring the local restaurants. Reservation at BB prior to performance at UMW, waitstaff was sensitive to our schedule, and was also very solicitous throughout the meal. My grilled romaine was WAY too much for one person (wish the menu would suggest this as it is enough to share, but cannot be a half-portion - I asked), husband's mac n cheese gnocchi was great, my stuffed quail was terrific, he said his chicken/mashed potatoes/spinach was great too. Menu is limited, perhaps I will subscribe online to know what they are cooking/what to expect for future visits. Menu creative, innovative, intriguing - looking forward to return!

    (5)

  • Kima N.

    Ate here for the first time tonight. The table bread was sponges and soft and complemented the oil and balsamic dipping extremely well. Husband got the sweet potato bisque with goat cheese which i tasted. That was velvety and tangy-sweet, very satisfying. We both got the salmon with polenta and wilted greens. Salmon was medium rare, moist with a brown sugar chili crunchy topping; greens were slightly vinegary with notes of lemon and the polenta were perfectly creamy and appropriately peppered. Delicious meal. Def our new favorite spot. Drinks were good, very fresh

    (5)

  • Ed D.

    Went over for brunch. Due to family sharing of a lot of the menu, most of the dishes such as the waffles with maple butter with syrup and the gnocchi mac and cheese were unique and well-executed. I enjoyed the pork belly sandwich as well. The breakfast burrito was intentionally toasted crisp but wasn't my favorite due to the texture, in addition to running out of the listed sausage. The chef did offer up complimentary champagne for all that day. The service was great, accommodating for several push backs in reservations and staggered arrivals. Dessert wasn't offered, but we did push back into an art show that we were warned was coming due to our delays. When we asked for a dessert menu, they didn't delay to bring one out despite their desire to clear us out. The combination of breakfast burrito disappointment and the subtle hint to clear out, dropped this enjoyable experience from a 5 down to a 4.

    (4)

  • Joseph S.

    Bistro Bethem is quickly becoming one of our easy go-to's when we are determining where to have an enjoyable dinner. We have recommended it to others as well if they are in the area. The staff is always polite, fun, and attentive and the food is incredible. The last time we were their I ordered the Quail and it was great. Their menu features a good variety whether it's braised oxtail over ratatouille or roasted quail over spinach, it's all been very good.

    (5)

  • Tim M.

    I can't review much but we stopped in on a Thursday evening after having a lite dinner across the street. We sat at the bar and had a drink and shared gnocchi, which was really very good. The place was friendly, we had a long talk with the bar tender who went to college there and I lived there 20 years but this was my 1st trip back in over 10 years. Nice place - stop in. After reading the reviews I was I had tried the mac and cheese gnocchi.

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    We went during restaurant week so extremely busy. Live music. Crowded. The service was good, the food better than most in the area. The bar can make better cocktails than others in the area. Prices were middle of the road but fair. I would only say the noise level was the real killer. People talked loud because the acoustics were very bad. The bar tender would throw empty bottles into a recycling bin from a distance at the bar which made a shocking noise. It's headache inducing and my neck hurt from having to cock my head oddly trying to understand conversation, and I am hoarse from trying to project. The live music was wasted, I knew someone was singing but have no idea what. The company I was with all agreed they need to invest in sound proofing. I won't be returning to the other wise good restaurant until they make a change.

    (3)

  • Nicole J.

    Hands down one of two best restaurants in Fredericksburg (the other being Poppy Hill). The service is always spot on. The food is AMAZING. Try the grilled romaine lettuce with the homemade dressing, the pepperoni pizza, the most delicious and amazing tater tots EVER, the sandwiches. Seriously, this place can do no wrong.

    (5)

  • Anna C.

    I have to say I was so very pleased with Bistro Bethem today. I found them via Yelp because we were using them as a half way meeting point between Fairfax and Richmond for an engagement luncheon, between the two families. We had a large party of 16 (3 of which were children.) I made reservations via their website and was promptly called back. We arrived to find a large table reserved and set with menus. My family which was coming down from Northern Virginia got trapped in an awful traffic snarl and ended up being over an hour late for lunch. They were so kind and patient. We ordered cheese plates while we waited- which easily had the best mustard I have ever had! When my family arrived they surprised us with a complimentary champagne toast- with juice toasts for the kiddos! Everybody enjoyed their meal. I got a porkbelly sandwich that was to DIE for! I heard from everybody else the burger was excellent as well as the turkey brie sandwich. The service was awesome. Food was awesome. Oh! And the drinks from the bar were awesome! I can't say enough about our experience- please frequent this local, yummy, restaurant. Next time I am in Fredericksburg we will definitely be stopping in!

    (5)

  • Emily C.

    Ok, I spent some time in Fredericksburg awhile back and never got around to reviewing this place, but it was so amazing that I had to write a review. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the cheeseburger was one of the best of not THE best burger I have ever had. Whew. Feels good to get that out. I spent 1 month in Fredericksburg and I ate here at least 6 times. Yeah, it's that good. I loved that the menu was different each time I went. I tried a couple of things, all of which were delicious, but once I had the burger I never went back. Kobe beef, Gruyere cheese, garlic aioli...yum. I only hope that business takes me back to Fredericksburg so I can have their burger one more time.

    (5)

  • Jon L.

    This place has exceptional service. Jefferson is a real pro so ask for him. I had business at the Corp office in Richmond so stopped in Fredericksburg on the return drive to NoVa to treat my son and new daughter-in-law to a Wed evening dinner. They moved to the 'burg in April and have checked out many restaurants and this was on their list. We each had a glass of wine, all good. La Bastarda, Pinot Grigio from Tuscany. Guicciardini another Italian merlot - cab blend and finally a Maipe Cab from Argentina. We were all pleased with our selection. We had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer, a nice light bite for three. When I lived in N Orleans I learned that authentic and true fried green tomatoes start with heirloom tomatoes. It is a true non-hybrid tomato but difficult to find. For our mains we each had something different. I had the salmon, Ben had the Martins Farm Meatballs, Dora had the Papadelle Pasta. I was more than pleased with my Wild Salmon. It was fresh, baked, well seasoned and nicely garnished with creamed corn mixed with bacon and ricotta gnudi. Ben & Dora were less pleased with their choice. We finished with a slice of coconut cake which was a bit dry but tasted OK. The service here is exceptional. We sat outside on a nice sunny Wed summer evening. It was quite entertaining watching people try to parallel park. Overall the check was $125 not incluing tip. A little on the pricey side but a nice evening out in any case.

    (4)

  • S S.

    Came here to catch up with friends from DC and I was in Richmond. The place was very quiet but we had a great waitress who gave us plenty of space. We started with pot pie, which was delicious. For entrees we had the turkey sandwich, beet salad and pizza. Everything was rather tasty. A great little spot to grab a meal.

    (4)

  • Al C.

    We picked this place after having tried a lot of other restaurants in Fredericksburg and wanting something different. We are only in town when visiting family and nobody had heard of this place. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Service is friendly and noticeably happy. Food is excellent. Good wine and beer (just a few brews) menu too. Definitely will be back!

    (5)

  • Michelle D.

    This place was our third choice, but from now on it will be the first. Atmosphere, staff and food all excellent. It was my first time visiting the area, but will definitely return to the bistro for another date night.

    (5)

  • Christie H.

    By far the best restaurant in Fredericksburg! They constantly change their menu in order to use fresh ingredients, so it's not the same menu every time. However, they do tend to have a few dishes in their appetizers and salads that are on the menu each time. The atmosphere is wonderful, especially during nice weather when they open up the large windows up front. In addition, their staff is always friendly and very knowledgeable about the food and wines, making suggestions on what to drink with the food you are ordering. One other thing is that they will do half pours of their wine, so if you want a little more wine but not an entire glass, they will pour you half a glass and charge half the price!

    (5)

  • Sheila K.

    Excellent food, great service, good music!

    (4)

  • Cathy K.

    We usually visit the in-laws down in Fredericksburg for a night in eating home-cooked food or a family BBQ. One night though, we thought we'd all make the trek out for dinner in downtown F'burg. "Downtown" is charming and quaint with tiny store fronts that deceptively hide bigger establishments. Bistro Bethem is one of these. It doesn't look like much more then a tiny cafe from the front but when you go inside it's an upscale bistro that would feel at place in any big city. I love when ambience matches the food - there's nothing more disappointing then fantastic setting with crappy food. Luckily, BB's food is just as stellar as the ambience! I'm usually not a salad girl usually equating it to rabbit food but I was in a rabbit food kind of mood. For someone who generally dislikes salad, I was extremely pleased with my salad appetizer! The house vinegarette dressing was light and tasty with a fresh variety of greens. We also ordered the mussels which were pretty darn good as well. The sauce was unique with a nice fennel touch to it. For my meal, I had the scallops which were large and fresh. Scallops are one of those things that are often ill-prepared. It's so easy to overcook or undercook them. But when they're perfectly cooked - with a light sear crust on the edges, juicy on the inside - they're hard to beat. Bistro Bethem was right on in preparation. As good as my scallops were, my husband had the free range chicken which was better! The meat was well marinated throughout and moist from skin to bone. I found myself wishing I had ordered the chicken - when do you EVER think to yourself, "I wish I'd ordered chicken instead"? It was that good. Bistro Bethem is a farm to table kind of establishment with every single ingredient clearly fresh. It is definitely a place to check out in Fredericksburg - I'd probably be a regular if it was closer to the DC area.

    (4)

  • Karen F.

    I was really looking forward to eating here.. My husband and I went on Sunday and had ordered from their brunch menu.. I ordered lox and eggs.. My poached eggs were hard and the biscuit it came with was stale and burnt on the ends.. The salmon should have been thinner and had a very strong fishy taste, which it shouldn't have had. I also ordered the coconut cake that everyone seems to love. Oh My! it was either frozen the night before or it was stale.. It had no flavor at all. Couldn't taste any coconut.. It was even hard for my fork to cut.. It was such a disappointment.. I hope if we try again ( which I we usually will give a place a second try ) we will have better luck. My husbands food was better then mine, can't remember the name. But it was bananas and waffles with bacon.. The waffles were over cooked though..

    (2)

  • Erin M.

    Wonderful. Fresh ingredients, friendly staff, and fast service even though the place was packed for restaurant week. I'm so glad we chose to go there and we will certainly dine there again!

    (5)

  • Brian K.

    I came in for some coffee and dessert. The desserts were old and dry and not appealing (the coconut cake and chocolate pudding) and being a Bistro - you would think they would have espresso or cappuccino - NO, we were told their coffee is only drip but we could add a cordial - which we did. The service staff are unique in their stand offish attitude yet over the top at your table - maybe it was the always by your table with an annoying attitude that was weird. Not sure how to put that into words - just weird service...not in a good way... Too many good places in the Fred to go to besides here....

    (2)

  • Mac O.

    This spot is romantic and adorable, the service is excellent, the prices are affordable, and the food is delicious. What more could you want? Husband and I stopped in Bistro Bethem on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for lunch, and grabbed a little table on the sidewalk. Why other patrons were holed up in the dining room (tho it *is* lovely) on a sunny, 65° day is beyond me. And beside the point. We each ordered The Worthy ($7.50) from the cocktail menu to begin, a cold, refreshing concoction of Makers Mark, house-made mint simple syrup, ginger ale, and basil blossom. They came in Mason jars which delighted as much as the skillful combination of flavors. For an appetizer we shared a cheeseboard ($12) of Galax, an all-natural, grass-fed, cow's milk Appalachian cheese from Virginia's Meadow Creek Dairy Farm. It was served on a folksy cutting board alongside raspberry jam, homemade mustard, honey, sunflower seed brittle, and tiny rye toasts (that really were more like croutons). The accoutrements were absolutely wonderful, the cheese creamy and pungent, if a bit too chilled. Room temperature cheese showcases its flavor profiles much better, if I do say so myself. For lunch husband ordered the Chicken BBQ Sandwich ($8.50), organic pulled chicken on a potato roll (that came with a "B" branded into it!) with pickled onion and a side salad ($1 extra). There wasn't a crumb left by the time he finished with that sandwich. I had the Crab and Avocado Salad ($14), a whole split avocado, heaped high with blue crab meat and topped with microgreens and roasted walnuts, then drizzled with whole grain mustard vinaigrette. I've never experienced blue crab quite the way they served it at BB, but I was enraptured. The avocado was fresh and ripe, the greens crisp and peppery, the nuts toasty and crunchy. The Dijon dressing kicked in the perfect, complementary tang. I would've licked my plate clean if it were socially acceptable. As it was, husband had to practically wrestle a taste from me. Both the hostess and server were affable and attentive. We were made to feel right at home, as if we could take as long as we wished to linger over lunch and cocktails...so I followed The Worthy with a Cranberry Sparkle -- cranberry juice, organic vodka, and champagne. Why not? The ambiance was elegant and informal all at once, like fine dining in a sidewalk café. And the food was fresh, local, and deee-lectable. Since the menu changes daily depending on what's in season and what's available, BB will surely become a must-stop on future visits to Fredericksburg.

    (4)

  • Stephanie F.

    My meal here was very, very good. The service was also excellent! Try the bone in pork chop and the coconut cake if you still have room- both were yummy!

    (4)

  • Patricia C.

    I have been to Bistro Bethem a few times each year. I must say that the food, service, and experience is always pleasing and doesn't vary in terms of expectations. This past Wednesday, August 22, I went for my birthday dinner. We arrived at 7:30 and were instantly seated. The restaurant was comfortably busy (which can be difficult midweek for other restaurants in town). Our server was very polite and optimistic in our food and drink choices and was reliably able to give us suggestions about appetizers. Food: We started off with the General Tso's Veal Sweetbreads. I must say, for the first time having veal, it was delicious! My fiance had warned me that it may seem fatty for being veal, but I was impressed. Additionally, we each got the FRC entree (free range chicken) which came with two cuts of meat that were flash fried and baked with a demi glaze sauce. It came with wilted greens and mac and cheese gnocchi (YUM). It was so good that I almost cleared my plate, but my guy helped me out since he cleaned his plate. Drinks: My guy had two drafts, one being from a local brew pup, and he enjoyed the full body flavor of each. I personally enjoyed my favorite dark and stormy ... a heavy ginger packed cocktail ... delicious! Experience: The servers do a team approach on the floor. Everyone helps deliver food to the tables to ensure your food is never arriving cold or late. They refill your water glass before you even notice that it is descending. Your napkin is refolded if you step away from the table but for a minute. You'll never feel neglected, but I must mention that you don't feel hounded with questions or check-ups. It was the goldilocks version of a food experience, not too much and not too little ... just right. I will definitely continue to dine at Bistro.

    (4)

  • Charles S.

    Twice in two weeks. Back again after dropping the universitario in Richmond. The menu changes every day so this week we had the smoked turkey with brie and the BBQ chicken sliders. Of the four sandwiches I've tried, here's my rating. 4. BBQ chicken sliders on potato rolls. Very nice but not quite tangy enough. 3. Smoked turkey breast with brie and apricot jam on pan toasted bread. A lovely combination. The server said this sandwich is so popular that it is always on their menu. 2. Sliced lamb on pita with roasted cauliflower and tahini sauce. Very tasty. Meat cooked just right. The tangy slaw went complemented the lamb. And the winner is: 1. BBQ salmon. Worth driving from DC just to watch it pass by on its way to another table.

    (5)

  • David G.

    Met friends halfway between DC and Richmond... Chose Bistro Bethen based on reviews. Great food and great service. Very accommodating staff. Food was awesome.

    (4)

  • Carly C.

    What a treasure! I have been exploring downtown Fredericksburg a little more recently, and when my mother told me about this place I knew I had to try it out. I visited on 3/11/11 for lunch and from the moment I walked in I could feel the love in the little bistro. From the beautiful paintings (that I believe are all done by local artists...don't hold me to that), to the brick oven burning away, to the attractive bar lined with wine glasses; I could tell this was someone's vision come alive. The wait staff was very attentive, so no real complaints with them. However, when I asked for the owner/chef to come to the table my waitress told me that because he was prepping he wouldn't come out of the kitchen. This was slightly odd because my mother had been told by the owners wife a few nights earlier while she was dining with friends at Bistro Bethem that the owner would ALWAYS and gladly come and talk to guests. I'm wondering now if the owners wife said that because their bill was over $300.00 that night. A little disappointing. It was also disappointing when our waitress told me that the sous chef would come out but after waiting for a while, and paying, we left without seeing anyone. Strange...but! The menu is small and personalized, but still incredibly hard to choose from because everything sounds good. I love restaurants that when you eat at them you feel like you are getting to know the person who created the menu and prepares the food just by eating the dishes. I enjoyed the meal so much that even though I was pretty irked that no one would come to the table even though it was pretty calm I still rate this place 5 stars. Not speaking to the owner/chef I ultimately feel was his loss and not mine because I was prepared to praise him thoroughly. Oh well. Here is how I rate our meal... Appetizer: Mac N' Cheese: 5 stars. This mac is just like I cook it at home with a pronounced cheesy/nuttiness of the perfect blend of cheeses and a wonderful black pepper spicy that still doesn't completely cover the al dente pasta. Sorry for a run-on sentence but none of that could have been left out! :) Sandwich: Cheeseburger: 5 stars. Not just any old cheeseburger. I don't think I need to say more than Wagyu beef, but for the my pleasure I will elaborate. The smell of this burger alone gave me the chills. I honestly can say that this is one of the only meals I have eaten that might have actually smelled better than it tasted. I don't mean this in a bad way at all though! The taste was off the charts, but the smell was smokey, beefy goodness that words could never do justice. And the challah bread roll! Ah! It was so nice to eat a juicy burger that didn't dissolve the bun it so wrongly paired with. This challah stood up to the test without being 6-inches thick or rock hard. Totally perfect choice. The flavors melded so perfectly in this burger. I am sure that some might feel differently, but this was about as good as it get s for me. Thank you Mr. Chef! Dessert: Coconut Cake: 4.5 stars. This could have been 5 stars had it not been so cold. Bistro Bethem makes their coconut cake with a homemade buttercream which is insanely good, but was a little hard because it was so cold. This was somewhat understandable to me because it was lunch, but still a little disappointing because I know how good it could have been had they taken it out of the refrigerator earlier. :-/ I did love that they toasted the coconut for the outside, and the cake itself was a little lighter than a pound cake yet wonderfully mild and not too sweet. Try this dessert if you visit but order it at the beginning of your meal so you will be ensured it will be close to room temp by the time they bring it to you. Bistro Bethem is definitely a restaurant to try in downtown Fred. It is tiny and intimate, and the menu tastes as good as it sounds. Do me a favor though...if you go, ask for the owner to come out and tell me if he does so I can go in and complain. LOL J/K!

    (5)

  • Marilyn H.

    Special strataciella balsamic cheese appetizer with warm flatbread was amazing. Service very attentive. 2 way beef and monkfish entrees very flavorful and tasty. Short rib beef fell off bone and succulent. Nice size wine by the glass. Recommended!

    (5)

  • Arthur M.

    While waiting for my train back to Norfolk after spending the weekend in Northern Virginia, managing editor, Nikki Contrino, and I stopped by this local bistro in downtown Fredericksburg. We chose to sit outside since the weather was beautiful but the inside is an experience all on its own. The walls are covered in paintings from local artists and the aromas coming from the kitchen in the back are almost indescribable. One thing that sets Bistro Bethem apart from other restaurants in the area is that their menu changes almost daily to accommodate fresh ingredients. We started off with an appetizer of Burrata. This is probably one of the most simple, yet delectable, dishes I have ever had. In the description, it simply lists roasted tomatoes and flat bread, so I figured we were getting some form of Bruschetta with a side of the Burrata cheese itself. Boy, was I wrong... This Burrata arrived at our table on a heavy slab of wood with a delicate little bowl that contained roasted tomatoes and a few balls of fresh Burrata cheese on a bed of what appeared to be caramelized onions, olive oil, and a balsamic reduction, served with a side of grilled flatbread. Everything in this dish just works. The acidity of the plump roasted tomatoes is mellowed out by the sweet caramelized onions and balsamic reduction, while the rich and creamy texture of the fresh Burrata cheese just kind of brings everything together into this big harmonious punch of flavor. I was very impressed. For my main course, I enjoyed a salad called The Wedge. This salad was a generous chunk of iceberg lettuce topped with tomatoes, blue cheese dressing, breadcrumbs and two plump fried oysters. I think what made this dish so enjoyable was the fact that everything was just so fresh. The lettuce was crispy and still had a bite to it, while the tomatoes were tender and juicy. I was somewhat disappointed that this dish only came with two small oysters, but that was mainly because they were so juicy and full of flavor. While Bistro Bethem certainly is on the higher end as far as prices go, each dish was well worth it. If you are in downtown Fredericksburg and are looking for a quaint little bistro to have a quick yet delicious lunch, Bistro Bethem is definitely the place to do so! For more reviews and features, check out CapturedTaste.com

    (5)

  • Margaret W.

    Great experience here while in town to run the Historic Half Marathon. Started off with their mint thyme sour, well worth their very reasonable cocktail prices! Luckily we had an excuse to carbo-load, because their homemade bread was amazing. We also all shared the gnocchi mac and cheese, pizza, and avocado crab salad followed by the creme brûlée and chocolate tarte. Would definitely order the everything again, though the star of the show was probably the creme brûlée. Creamy, rich and delicious! Wait staff was great, quirky and funny, attentive but not annoying, and willing to put up with our sense of humor. Can't really speak to the decor, since we sat outside both times (beautiful weekend!). We went back the next day for Bloody Mary's, Mimosas and lunch. Once again a great experience!

    (5)

  • Cynthia B.

    I really hate to post negative reviews, but Bistro Bethem doesn't deserve many stars. We ate there recently and it seems that the chef chanced upon a huge, maybe free?, load of sweet potatoes and made puree with all of them. My shrimp and scallops (only 2 shrimp and 2 scallops with a tiny sliver pork belly tossed on the side for $24!) swam in a tasteless pool of sweet potato puree. My husband's veal porterhouse also suffered the same fate, drowning in an over-abundance of the same puree. We had to scrape most of it to the side of the plate in order to taste what other food remained on the plates. What on earth was the chef thinking? The vast sea of sweet potatoes hid the paltry number of shrimp and scallops on my plate. The best thing I ate turned out to be the tarragon and black pepper-flavored ice cream. Otherwise I would give this place 1 star for being too expensive and too pretentious.

    (2)

  • Chris P.

    We want to love it. Great vibe, great service, some dishes blow us away but some are disappointing. We've been twice and the fish on both occasions has been overdone. At $23 - we hope for a bit more. It's worth another shot for us....really hoping to become happy regulars.

    (3)

  • Grant J.

    Great service always good food, sometimes it takes a bit to receive it, which is the only negative. I will continue to frequent this establishment.

    (4)

  • Marc E.

    My wife and I met some friends from out of town and we met in Fredericksburg since it was kind of a middle point for all of us. The place was fairly cozy and had a nice feel to it. But that is one of the few positive things from our experience. We were also well treated from the staff, although we had been seated for over 20 minutes before we were brought even the table bread. We were not impressed whatsoever with the food. We ordered the Pizza as an appetizer which was made on Naan bread, or something similar. The entire outside crust and part of the Pizza itself was burnt. We had to scrape off all of the black char from the pizza. We then ordered the beef tongue sandwich and I ordered a special Vietnamese sandwich. The beef sandwich had to thin slices of beef tongue and having eating beef tongue on many occasions in South America and other Latino countries this was not up to par. The Vietnamese sandwich had some good flavor to it but one of the halves of the sandwich didn't have any chicken on it which supposedly it was supposed to have. Instead of having dessert at the restaurant we decided to go somewhere else. Another note we had to make reservations in order to get a table which is completely understandable. But they told us that they didn't have any open reservations at 7 o'clock yet by the time 7 o'clock rolls around when we are in the restaurant there are at least 5 empty tables. That doesn't really make sense 2 why we couldn't get a reservation at 7 unless 5 tables cancelled. As a final note the acoustics in the restaurant didn't allow for a conversation to go more than 3 feet without being able to hear very well. My wife and I sat at the end of our table and had a difficult time hearing our friends just 2 seats over from where we were sitting.

    (2)

  • paul d.

    I have been to BB before on several occasions over the years and I really want to like this place. There have been times I would have given 3 or maybe even 4 stars but there is always something that falls short for me. The decor is cool, the atmosphere is nice. The place seems to be bustling, at least on weekend nights I've been there but something is missing. Last time in I ordered the special porterhouse steak, because that's all I could find that really grabbed my attention in their offering. I was hungry and in times past have ordered and had entrees that were quite small. The waitress assured me the steak would be filling and it came with mashed potatoes too! Can't remember what my wife had but she was satisfied with it and prob would give a 3 or 4 that night. But here's the kicker, the steak cost $42! Yes, $42! now was it a good steak? Sure! It tasted great! Was it dry aged, kobe, gold-plated? I'm not sure but it was good. All that was on the plate was steak and a little bit of mashed potato (maybe some mushrooms..?) and the mashed potato, which was presented under the steak - was COLD! So, I get a hot steak on cold mashed potatoes for $42. It took a few minutes to find server and bring to her attention and she looked at me funny when I asked for some HOT mashed potatoes, like that just isn't done.....weird... Anyway, I want to like this place but either it seems way overpriced, or the portions are a bit small for my choice, or I just can't seem to find what I am looking for on the menu. Not sure exactly but on this visit 2 stars is what they get. Will probably wait and watch Yelp reviews before visiting again.

    (2)

  • Kathy s.

    On arrival my chair needed replacement. The waiter was rude and unwelcoming. I ordered shrimp and grits with pork belly. The pork belly was so over-cooked it was inedible. The grits were hot on one side of the plate and cold on the other. They were also undercooked. But the shrimp were perfect. Our waitress was very attentive and did offer to bring another dish. My husband's veal was supposed to be medium but turned out to be rare. A disappointment to be sure.

    (2)

  • Yolanda B.

    Love, Love, Love this place!!! Too bad I will probably never be back in the area to continue eating here! I was only in the area for a short time, so atleast I was able to eat here to my hearts content for a few weeks! They have an amazing menu with really good nightly specials! I highly, highly, highly recommend this location.

    (5)

  • Johnny U.

    I ordered the F-BLT which was amazing and loaded with fried green tomatoes. Also had the guacamole appetizer, a bit spendy, but the fire roasted tomatoes that came with it were really tasty. The waitress, forgot her name but she was from Ukraine, was super friendly and very helpful. Great food, good vibe, love the artwork hanging up too. Will definitely come again.

    (5)

  • S H.

    My husband and I chanced upon this place on a motorcycle ride one day. We loved it, especially because I have a lot of dietary restrictions and they were willing and able to accommodate. However, when we planned a trip to go back this Sunday, we were greeted with "the kitchen is closed" at 2 pm due to some art function. Nothing on the website indicated this, and I felt it was rude and inconsiderate due to the fact that we ride or drive an hour to get to this establishment. Needless to say, despite good food, we will not be returning. Customer service definitely needs improvement.

    (1)

  • Jaime T.

    Bistro Bethem never disappoints! I love that their menu is ever-changing, based on fresh ingredients that they obtain locally, and everything is skillfully crafted and delicious. They make the best Gin & Tonic, using house-made tonic, and the wine selection is fantastic. Their Gnocchi 'Mac' N' Cheese is to die for and, because I'm a huge fan of pork belly (who isn't?!), I'm thankful that I've never been there on a night when it wasn't on the menu- either as part of an appetizer or entree. The food is a little on the pricey side but, with Bistro Bethem, you definitely get what you pay for and it's worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    We went to the Bistro for dinner with friends. We sampled a few appetizers and entrees. The food was very good. It was also pricey and portions were smaller. The staff was attentive, and as some other reviews stated, very quick to pick up a empty plate. It was kind of funny to see how fast someone comes over to see if they can clean up. It seems that they are trying to turn the table over. The veal porterhouse and mac and cheese were very good. With that said, I look forward to going back and trying it again.

    (4)

  • M S.

    The interior of the restaurant is horrible, the ugliest bar I have ever seen, tacky lighting fixtures and clutter everywhere. Then there is the food, how can you put sugar on salmon. I have tried this restaurant at least 10 times and I am always disappointed. ns

    (1)

  • Joseph V.

    We love this place. We go at least once a month. The menu changes there is always something new to try. If you're in the area and don't mind spending a little more money for quality food and service you must come here.

    (4)

  • Larry M.

    Just attended birthday party for 17. Always difficult but food was excellent and service impeccable. Can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Jonathan H.

    Bistro Bethem is a nice street side cafe where you can sit and people watch in the surprisingly busy downtown Fredericksburg while enjoying decent French-inspired cafe cuisine. Our server was extremely friendly and attentive, and I was very pleased with his willingness to accommodate such requests as water with no ice and extra mini-bread slices for the cheese. We ordered the anchovy pizza, the macaroni and cheese, and the cheese board, as well as two glasses of pinot noir. The anchovy pizza looked pretty cool: it had two whole fish on it, eyes and all, and one sunny side up egg. I'd say it's the most unique pizza I've ever seen, and it tasted pretty good, too. The macaroni and cheese was too buttery, but the worst part is it was actually baked ziti with mozzarella. I know this bistro is trying to be upscale, but frankly mac & cheese is mac & cheese, not baked ziti, no matter where you go. Don't try to dress it up, or the customer will probably reject it, like we did. The cheese board was outstanding. The presentation was amazing and the choice of dressings were exotic but perfect together. There was a peppercorn and horseradish marmalade, an apricot and banana marmalade and a sunflower seed caramel brittle. The bread slices were mini loaf, about two inches wide and very crispy. There were three kinds of cheese, one soft with the taste of mozzarella, one a crumbly bleu cheese, and another a unique sharp cheddar. My favorite part was the kiwi marmalade. The dessert was nutella over a custard-baked thick bread slice, that tasted a lot like French toast but a little more yummy. It was topped with a creamy vanilla ice cream dollop. Delicious.

    (4)

  • Kirsten W.

    A wonderful accident - needed to find a lunch spot in old town Fredericksburg and happened upon Bistro Bethem. Very friendly service and surprisingly fresh ideas (winter sangria anyone??). Our family of four enjoyed the Mac-n-cheese made with gnocchi; pulled pork tacos; French onion soup; beet salad and blt on sour dough. Anyone who regularly dines with a 7 year old and nine year old knows one rarely leaves a new restaurant with the whole family happy and satiated. We would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Fenny L.

    Oh. My. GOD. My husband and I have already made plans to brave the 1.5hr drive each way (without traffic) to come back to Fredericksburg SPECIFICALLY to dine here. Arguably, one of the best meals we've ever had. The food was simple, honest, fresh and so amazingly good that my moans of orgasmic pleasure penetrated through to the diners around us (as I got a lot of kindly and amused glances). But I don't care - it was so amazing. The menu was magnificent - full of local and organic delicious food stuffs that we had a hard time deciding. Finally upon asking our server, we started off with the Chicken and Duck Pate, which was served with sour gerkin. I suppose I could wax poetic about how magnificent this dish was, but I think the simplest way to describe the absolute pure deliciousness of this creamy and silky smooth dish is that at the end, my husband and I picked up the little dish and LICKED IT. In a fine, upscale restaurant, we were reduced to 5 year old kids licking batter out of pan. AND WE DIDN'T CARE. The gerkin was super tart and sour which was the perfect pairing to cut the richness of the pate. My only regret was that we didn't think to order another plate of this. For our entrees, I got the sea scallops with pork belly on a butternut purée and topped with micro greens, while my husband ordered the Beef 2-ways (wagyu & short rib) with mushrooms fingerling potato. My scallops were so perfectly cooked - to the exact microsecond of perfection, that I wanted to call up every restaurant that has ever overcooked a scallop to show them what the correct way to prepare scallops is. The pork belly seemed like an incongruitous pairing, but the rich fattiness of the pork belly enhanced the scallops masterfully. I was enchanted with the light hand that seasoned the microgreens and the butternut puree - just enough to lend flavor, but not too much to detract from the natural fresh flavors these lent to balance the plate. My husband's beef 2-ways was another masterful creation - the moaning coming from his side of the table soon rivaled mine. I know we sound like awful guests, but we can not be held responsible when the food is so perfect. Before I get to dessert, I need to pause for a moment to discourse on the service. Our server and the busser were on top of their game. Never once during this meal did a dirty plate or glass stay on our table for more then a minute. And when we asked our server for recommendations, he actually took the time to think about what we've had and how we reacted before making a suggestion - which brings me to dessert. We had wanted to get the bread pudding (the table next to us were making the same moaning noises that we were), but they had the last one. So our server after thinking about what we've had, recommended the coconut cake, with a scoop of pistachio ice cream on the side. All the desserts are made in house and whoever is the pastry chef deserves a raise. I normally *hate* icing - and I practically INHALED the icing on the coconut cake. OMG! NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM! And the pistachio ice cream was a poem in itself. All gushing aside, this place is truly a gem, and the price points can't be beat (if this was in DC the prices would be 3x as high)! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE... ...love...

    (5)

  • Briar R.

    I'm giving this place thwo stars for two reasons: 1) The first time I had lunch there and I was very impressed. That was almost two years ago so I cannot remember what I had but I remember that the meal left me wanting to return; 2) The wine selection, for both of my visits, was wonderful (not extensive but what I did order was very refreshing and delicious). Given my first experience, it disappoints me to have to write this: My second visit left me so sick that I couldn't move the next day. I ordered the lamb special (forgoing the polenta) and the mussels appetizer - OH BOY, WAS I TASTING THOSE TWO ITEMS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS! The lamb was undercooked. They also completely skimped on the portion size. They claimed it was because I had requested for them to give me extra greens instead of the polenta, but $28+ for four chunks of lamb and some greens? The mussles had a weird taste going down. That should have been my first clue. I had been staying in a hotel that night and ended up having to stay another night because I could NOT move from the tiled bathroom floor. I would go for another glass of wine but I never want to touch their food ever again.

    (2)

  • Laura S.

    Sigh. We stopped here on Mother's day after hiking 6 miles. Maybe it was the fact that we looked sweaty or she was overwhelmed but the first dark haired hostess was super rude - "What do you mean do you need a reservation today!? IT's MOTHERS DAY, we have like a MILLION RESERVATIONS!" Luckily a blond younger hostess stepped up and said "it's no problem to seat a walk in". She sat us (we were one of 4 tables seated and it was 5 pm, mind you). Our thin blond waitress came over and was super friendly. I had the salmon and husband had the chicken. Both portions were TINY (think upscale NYC restaurant TINY size) and the food was just OKAY - quite bland. The salmon piece was the size of half a deck of cards, plus a few snap peas, a BITE sized piece of pork, and a handful of gnocchi. The chickien was a leg (mostly bone and little meat, per my husband) and over top of a small amount of polenta. We were both hungry when we left, and we chose not to order dessert (they looked great but we feared it would be one bite for the 7.50 price tag). I would probably come back just to sit OUTSIDE to people watch and order drinks and apps, but that's about it. The ambience inside is nice though - very large and nicely decorated.

    (2)

  • Deborah W.

    This restaurant is one of our favorites. The menu is small, but most of the time there are daily specials in the appetizer and main course categories. The ingredients are fresh and locally sourced, and the preparation is superb. The ambience is intimate but at times can be on the noisy side. The wood oven adds to the charm and emanates an authentic, comforting fresh baked pizza dough aroma. Dish preparation is carefully thought out. My favorites are the beet salad and salmon.

    (5)

  • Forest R.

    I give it a four stars...but lean toward 3.5. The only reason I say that is every dish my group had last night was slightly overcooked. The fish was a little dry and the scallops were a little overcooked as well. Other than that, our meal was very tasty. The service is outstanding and the menu innovative. All in all, a place worth driving down to Fredericksburg.

    (4)

  • Eva B.

    I recently visited Bistro Bethem while on holiday visiting family in the Fredericksburg area. We are frequent fans of Yelp and Urbanspoon and Bistro Bethem came highly recommended. We arrived with a party of six and were welcomed with exceptional service. The price and offerings were great and we very excited about their commitment to locally grown, seasonal offerings. They had a great selection of wine as well as unique meals & appetizers. My only complaint was that they did not accept our restaurant.com voucher. Being from a large metropolitan area, we have grown accustomed to merchants accepting mobile voucher. However, this was not a major concern and we would recommend this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Duncan W.

    Been here a few times and not really sure what to think. Sometimes its really good and other times not so much. I really like the idea of them sourcing so many local items from places like Snead's Farm, but the inconsistency in execution really puts me off. Also the pricing structure seems kind of high. The atmosphere is nice; they participate in first Friday and sometimes have live music.

    (3)

  • Stacey T.

    Had dinner here a few nights ago with a friend. I had the House Made Pappardelle Pasta, which had dragon creek crab, asparagus, local mint, bread crumbs. It was delicious and perfect for dinner. My friend had the short ribs and she loved it. The food was great, the atmosphere was awesome, and the service was perfect. I will definitely be back for another meal, hopefully soon!

    (4)

  • Dana T.

    At first we were a little skeptical because of the reviews on Yelp. The reviews had said that the staff was rude and pretentious. However, when we arrived, the staff was very nice, from the host to the server. First, the host asked us if we liked the table we were sitting at, which is rare. Then the server came by and was very excited about the food and drinks they had. He wasn't too knowledgeable about the beer selection, but that is not their speciality. For the entree, he recommended the pork cheeks, which were incredible. the other members in our party go the chicken and the crab cakes... both incredbile. We spent the dinner exchanging bites. Overall, we were very impressed and it made our night. Jeff was our server and he was amazing. If we had to pick a negative point, it was that we did not like one of the whiskeys that we ordered and were still charged for it. However, that is reaching for a negative. Overall, A++++

    (5)

  • Jackie P.

    Great service, super friendly and professional service and most importantly, this place is consistent. Fantastic creativity - green apple and curry soup anyone? Never would have put the two together, but it was great! Must, must, must try the grilled romaine salad! Never a disappointment!

    (5)

  • Va B.

    Fantastic service, great food. My "group" of beer snobs enjoyed the adult beverage selection too! The family atmosphere (husband/wife team) really make you feel at home and service was outstanding. Well worth the drive. If you are hesitant, you should at least try it during restaurant week each January.

    (5)

  • Megan W.

    My boyfriend and I had been wanting to try Bistro Bethem for a while, so we were really excited to finally go. We were able to get an early reservation and it was nice enough to sit outside. We both ordered one of the specialty drink, The Worthy - it was delish! We started with an app - the pepperoni oven baked pizza. It was perfect for 2. For our meals, he ordered the cheeseburger and I ordered the halved avocado, crab and spring greens salad. Both dishes were very good. Everything that we had at Bistro Bethem was really good. The only down fall is that all of the portions are so small! For the price, I think the portions should be a little larger. We like Bistro Bethem but next time, we'll prob go for the cheese board and a specialty drink and call it a day.

    (4)

  • John M.

    The staff was awesome the food was awesome this place rocks! They even made my daughter a vegan no dairy pizza cause of her food allergies.

    (5)

  • Brian F.

    Stopped in Bistro Bethem when we couldn't get in another place that was recommended and were very pleasantly surprised. Sat outside on a beautiful day in historic downtown Fredericksburg - pretty hip area. Had the three cheese gnocchi appetizer, very light and delicious. Followed that with an oyster po-boy and my wife had the turkey and brie. Po-boy was delicious with juicy fried oysters and on a soft roll (hate the hard ones that they usually come on). Turkey and brie was awesome with some sort of apricot marmalade sauce on it. The whole menu looked pretty good. Excellent prices and very good service!

    (4)

  • Jim W.

    This was our first time for dinner here. The menu was small, but very innovative. The knowledgeable waiter (Sean) described every dish we asked about and also pointed out the signature dishes. He was also a help with the wine selection from a well chosen wine list. It was a very good meal. even for my wife who is not an adventurous eater. Some small negatives. We ordered two glasses of a nice crisp Italian white, they took a tad too much time getting to our table. Our starters and entrees were delicious with the French Sauvignon Blanc, but not piping hot. I think that is intentional given the VA heat. Does someone know? In summary, this is a great place. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Justin H.

    This place is phenomenal. I was under dressed for the establishment but seated promptly and received excellent service. For starters I had the veal sweetbreads, a chopped salad, the monk fish special and a creme brûlée for desert. All courses were full of flavor and prepared excellently. The only reason for not giving it 5 stars was my monk fish was dry and tough at the edges, but not over done enough to send back. All in all the food was amazing.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    Through unforeseen events, ended up eating at BB on the 24th, and couldn't have been happier with the meal. Started with the bone marrow, which spread like the most sumptuous, gelatinous butter I've tasted in ages. My wife had the beet salad, which I normally gloss over on the menu, but but my attention when it arrived with a poached egg brimming with flavor. For dinner, the veal cheeks and the short ribs were one-utensil dishes, as their transformed makeup resulted in a tender flakiness which left the knife to be a casual spectator in the meal. The taste was hearty and rich, and hinted at the care, time, and preparation that went into the dishes. All told, a wonderful meal, and we look forward to returning.

    (5)

  • Joel B.

    Great food. The menu changes every day and they always have a few things for the adventures eater (sweetbreads, bone marrows).very nice wine selection as well.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    Spectacular food! And thats coming from a vegetarian! And the service was flawless. Our waiter Jefferson made our date night that much more perfect. Did I mention the olive oil sorbet?? Man......whoevers in the kitchen, really likes their job.

    (5)

  • alison s.

    Easily one of the worst dining experiences we've had in a while. I actually can't remember the last time I was upset enough to contemplate walking out mid meal. The service could NOT have been worse. We spent most of the evening waving down other table's servers (because who knows where ours was hiding) to order drinks and food. The menu was made even more limited since they ran out of several items (we received some convoluted reason that their fridge was small). When our food finally did arrive it was completely unremarkable. And then, the cherry on top, our table of FOUR had an 18 percent gratuity already added to our check. Miserable experience.

    (1)

  • Bethany P.

    On a cold January night, after an exciting visit to Home Depot, my husband and I decided to give Bistro Bethem a try. We were encouraged to pick this restaurant by the restaurant.com gift certificate that had been in my purse since the holidays. I am glad it was there and I am glad we went to Bistro Bethem! The service was excellent and the atmosphere relaxed. We started with the Grilled Heart of Romaine salad which was totally yummy. the Romaine was beautifully covered with marinated onions, carrots and a vinaigrette that was totally delicious. Our entrees were the chesapeake rockfish with green and a pork loin with steak fries. Though the steak fries were cold and the pork loin a bit fatty, the overall meal was very nice (according to my husband). I personally thought the Rockfish was right on. Since my birthday was a few days prior, we extended the celebration and the waitress was nice enough to exceed my request for a candle, adding a scoop of Nutella gelato to my coconut cake. The cake, as the waitress warned me, was refrigerated so the icing was falling off, but the cake was very good none the less. Next time I go to Bistro Bethem, I may go just for the gelato! No need to wait for another dinner out!

    (4)

  • Jason S.

    There might not be a better place to eat in Fredrickburg, but that just means you might want to skip this town. Lackadaisical service, mediocre food that doesn't merit the price, and bad lighting. Put this place in a real city and it would close in a fortnight.

    (2)

  • Sonia V.

    How in the WORLD does this place have good reviews? Our waiter was a hair north of god-awful. It took ages to get waters, menus, and drinks. My pasta dish, like my husband's salmon, was thoroughly disappointing and not well thought out. And for the same price, I can get a really delicious meal somewhere in a major city. This was one of the "hottest" restaurants in town according to various sources, but If this is the best Fredericksburg has to offer, I can't fathom why anyone bothers eating out there.

    (2)

  • Rebecca F.

    My monthly restaurant group chose Bistro Bethem for our monthly gathering and we weren't disappointed! Great food, atmostphere and service. We ordered the crispy brussel sprouts, roasted bone marrow (unique and delicious!), smoked onion and fennel bisque (lovely flavor), roasted beet salad, scallops, and lamb (a tad over salted, but very tender). A little pricey for regular dining, but would definitely return for special occasions!

    (4)

  • Rob B.

    Absolutely the best restaurant in Fredericksburg and the DC metro area. Bistro Bethem rivals all the big boys in DC....we recently ate at Chef Geoff's, Bistro Bethem was better - hands down.

    (5)

  • Carly M.

    This is one of my favorite places to eat in Fredericksburg. The prices are on the high side, so I mainly visit for special occasions. They use fresh in season and local ingredients when possible. The menu is small and changes frequently. There is a bar that serves good drinks. The servers are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You can sit outside in nice weather at one of a handful of small tables.

    (4)

  • W H.

    Love Bistro. The food is always fresh and the service is good. As good as we think dinner is, brunch is even better.

    (5)

  • Laura C.

    Wow...what a wonderful evening I had with my daughter. Busy Saturday night, and the service never missed a beat. We shared the crab and avocado salad which was a perfect blend of pure lump crab which filled the cavity of a perfectly ripe avocado. The chef drizzled the vinaigrette around the plate, so as not to interfere with the taste of the crab. Delicious. My daughter had the Hanger steak and I had the Pan Seared Scallops. Both dishes were not only cooked to perfection, but the side dishes were also full of flavor and paired with the entree wonderfully. My waitress suggested a glass of Pinot Grigrio to go with the Scallops, and she was indeed right on the money. The portions are just the right size, as we were completely satisfied with our salad and entree, and could not fit desert. My only complaint with the evening, was that the coffee was on the weak side. Seeing as I had a long drive home, I was hoping for a strong cup of coffee after dinner. I am glad my daughter has 3 more years in Fredericksburg, so we can return to Bistro Bethem again many times!

    (5)

  • Meg M.

    I almost gave this two stars because some of our food was good and I liked the atmosphere, but the service we experienced was just unforgivable. I dined here a couple of months ago with my mother and her friend and am still lathered up enough about it to want to write this review. First, our server presented a little sloppily. We got the impression she was tired out from too many tables or something. You can tell Bistro Bethem is going for casual chic with the atmosphere -- local art on the walls, etc. -- and the servers are in t-shirts. That's fine, but given the menu prices a little more polish would be appreciated. Our server told us about the specials, including an appetizer special -- tater tots with Wisconsin pub cheese dip or something like that (my memory is failing me on the exact description). We are three ladies who watch our figures, so we would ordinarily have ordered salads to precede our meal, but the server's description of the cheese dip won us over. When she brought out the appetizer, no cheese dip! She just placed the plate of tater tots on the table and said: Sorry, we're out of the cheese dip. In my understanding, a server is supposed to inform guests when the kitchen is out of something -- preferably before they order it, and certainly before they just plunk it down on the table! We ate a few of the tots, which were dry and uninspired (I've had better at school cafeterias), with ketchup. The server didn't even ask us how we had enjoyed our appetizer when it was clear that we didn't finish it. And, you can imagine our shock when the full-priced appetizer ended up on our bill! Then came the entrees. My mom's friend ordered chicken without incident, and my mother and I both ordered a pork tenderloin dish. Again, after taking our order, the server informed us that there was only one order of pork remaining. Trying to be accommodating, I changed my order to salmon. Well, I ended up getting the far better end of that deal. When our entrees came, the chicken was tasty, my salmon was good, if a little overcooked (the server didn't take a temp on the fish), but my mom's tenderloin had CLEARLY been sitting under the warmer all night. It was an end cut and much sawing and chewing ensued for her to try to get through it. I guess it really was the LAST piece of pork tenderloin they had! It should not have been served. Again, we watch our figures, so my mom gave up after a couple of bites -- it's not her style to eat something at a restaurant that's not "worth it" calorie-wise. Again, no observation or mention from the server that my mother's meal was substantially unfinished. And the full-priced tenderloin dish ended up on our bill. The server seemed bent on getting that full value of her check regardless of the product she was serving or our response. We should have complained, but my mom didn't want to make a big deal about it in front of her friend. I appreciate what Bistro Bethem is trying to do -- bring some fresh, seasonal bistro dining to downtown F'burg, but wow, what a huge miss on the basics. Servers should be well-informed by the kitchen of when things are 86-ed and be observant about diners' experiences. Instead we just felt ripped off. Although La Petite Auberge (a few doors down) is a little old school in terms of decor and cuisine, at least the service there is always warm and polished. For my money, I'd skip Bistro Bethem and walk next door to La Petite.

    (1)

  • Freedom M.

    Due partially to the reviews here on Yelp, we decided to go to Bistro Bethem for dinner. Everything was fabulous! Our server was very attentive but also allowed us to chat and order and eat at our own pace. Her service was near perfect. The wine was good. The arugula salad was my favorite part of the whole meal, super-delish! We decided after our salads that we wanted the mussles appetizer- best mussels I have had since the Trading Post Cafe in Taos, NM (Bistro's may be better). I had the rockfish, he had the scallops. Honestly, the rockfish was great, but it was my least favorite part of the meal. His scallops were very tasty. Great desserts. The port was good for a port but the muscat was better. The atmosphere was nice, as well. We sat and talked for quite some time and were never rushed at all. Overall, I think this was the perfect place for this particular night out and I will gladly go back to the Bistro, again!

    (5)

  • Dan M.

    My wife and I had a very nice lunch here - very tasty food and quick friendly service. We returned for dinner. With a group of eight. The service was just the opposite of our lunch experience. We were in the restaurant for two and a half hours, and not because we were dawdling over our meals. We waited an unreasonable amount of time for the waiter to take our order and then it took forever for the food to be served. When the meals finally came, mine was not what I ordered. The waiter simply said that what he brought was what he had written down - no apology or acknowledgement that he may have made a mistake, no offer to correct the mistake. My table mates confirmed that I did not receive what they heard me order. I briefly considered having the mistake corrected, but decided that the 45 minutes we had already waited to be served was long enough. The meals were good but not worth the wait. Coffee and dessert after the main meal took forever to arrive. Some of us ordered decaf but were served caffeinated coffee. When asked to correct this, the waiter did not try to hide his irritation. My wife and I decided we would probably try lunch here again, but this was not a place we would return for dinner.

    (2)

  • Alien F.

    I used to love this place but the last four times I have gone here, I've just been unhappy with the food. I have no idea what's going on over there...if they changed sous chefs or if the chef is getting lazy, no idea. But I've had some pretty mediocre meals lately and instead of going a few times a month, I rarely ever go there now. Most recently, I ordered the scallops with the pig cheek and the pig was so dry and gross tasting that I lost my appetite. I never complain to a waiter because It's just an uncomfortable situation to be in and I would never ask for something to be recooked because who knows what will come back to me. But something is lost here lately and I am not sure what it is. I hope the chef can pick it back up and regain the true value this place has in quality of food, but please make sure your sous chefs or your replacement chefs are putting the customer and quality NO. 1 because it hasn't been the case so much for me in 2011 and you've lost me as a regular customer.

    (3)

  • Chrissy W.

    The location and ambiance is great. As for the food, not so much! I have been several times that they have ran out of menu items , including wine. Very dissapointing for the amount of money you spend . The quality of food does not match the expense nor the atmosphere. Refresh the menu or at least stock the items you have on the menu.

    (1)

  • Kyle M.

    Great food, decent service, excellent bartender. Evidently the bartender has been with the restaurant since the restaurant opened, and is the local editor for the newspaper. Seemed to know everyone. Excellent wine list, highly recommend it to anyone traveling through the area or for a date ... nice and quaint, not overly intimate.

    (4)

  • Brander T.

    My girlfriend and I stopped at this place on our way to New York. We were very hungry and thought this looked like a tasty option. We were a little creeped out by the waitstaff who stood like ominous statues, hands behind their backs, gazing at us, awaiting the permission to move. The true disappointment, however, was the food. The bread was charred almost to the point of being inedible. The mac and cheese was really just mediocre penne Alfredo. The pizza had almost no cheese. The pastry element the profiteroles was stale and flavorless, sandwiching a disappontingly bland ice cream. The salads were decent. The thing we couldn't understand was that this place was slamming. People seemed to love it. Maybe this town just doesn't have many good options.

    (1)

  • sarah m.

    Amazing place, never disappointed, serves great food while simultaneously respecting the slow food movement!!! My favorite place for date nite!!!

    (5)

  • Tim H.

    As a longtime local, I feel so lucky to have this place in town. Consistently outstanding food, organic ingredients, professional staff. Fun vibe--optimal noise level. Order the FRC (Free Range Chicken), with world class mac n cheese and spinach. I want to go to there.

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    This is some of the best food I have ever eaten. My wife stayed at a B&B nearby, walked here and loved it from the beginning. I'm not a big desert fan, and the mixed berry cobbler was fantastic. I understand the previous reviews and the desire to drive from DC just for this food.

    (5)

  • Barbara E.

    Went there last night for a dinner date with my husband. The service was very attentive. Almost too attentive. They were moving plates and silverware off our table the minute we finished with a course. I was surprised to see so many young children in there. But, happy to know it's a family friendly restaurant. It was Family Table Week after all. The food was delicious!! We had 4 courses each. I thought the antipasto platter was overpriced, but the blackberry jam was amazing! I could have ate that with a few pieces of bread all night and been very satisfied. I think many of the dishes we tried were a little under seasoned. They didn't have S&P shakers on the table and we didn't feel right asking for them. They were missing for a reason. I had the ceasar salad and chesapeake rockfish special. The salad could have used more dressing, but the rockfish was outstanding. My husband had the fried oysters and the crab and avacado salad. He was very pleased with the both of them, even though the oysters could have used some seasoning. We ended the evening with the chocolate pot de creme and creme brulee. Both were amazingly delicious. We will definitely be back again.

    (4)

  • Jeff D.

    Great atmosphere and the service was terrific.They know how to be attentive without hovering.Food excellent too. Wish I lived closer so i could go back more often.

    (4)

  • Bennett G.

    OK...our first review! Wooohooo, ok, back to business! My wife and I found this restaurant on the web and it looked inviting enough to go w/out the kiddies. First impression was very good...nice small place w/nice ambiance. There were quite a few people already seated and eating. The menu had just the right amount of offerings....to start things off we chose the Charcuterie Board as our appetizer. The Charcuterie board offers several different items...our favorites were: spicy rabbit sausage, foie gras torchon (chicken liver, foie gras covered w/a cranberry jelly), and duck liver pate. I am not usually one to rave to about foie gras, but this stuff was DELICIOUS! Needless to say we ate everything offered w/this appetizer, well worth the $$$. We happened to pick half-priced wine night, we chose an Austrian red that fit our choices of entrees. Next we moved on the main course, my wife chose duck breast w/veal sweetbread and couscous. I chose a beef dish (can't remember all the details) with potato's. Both entrees were cooked to perfection and tasty. For desert we both enjoyed creme brulee. Overall, a great place, the service was great, the meal was delicious from start to finish. I would definitely recommend this for a date night or just casual dining.

    (5)

  • David R.

    Sadly, this is one of the best restaurants in Fred. It's a nice modern room with local art on the walls. The servers are attentive and friendly. The food is ambitious, but doesn't really succeed. For example, we ordered a salad that was gritty with sand. I ordered a fish special that was fine, but served with sides that made little sense, including no vegetables at all. Four small pieces of mushroom isn't a vegetable. Flavors were weak, combinations didn't meld, and proportions were off. At $30/entree, you can usually do better. Having said all of that, nothing was very bad, and some things, like the desserts were very good.

    (2)

  • Kelly K.

    We are on a mission to find thin crust pizza in Fredericksburg. Hubby saw that this place has it, but only as an appetizer. So last night we ordered 3 of them. :) The menu online says that the pizza is only cheese, but I asked to make sure, and sure enough, they came with pepperoni on them. So we got 3 appetizer pizzas (sans pepperoni), and we got 2 different appetizer salads- hubby's was the Grilled Heart of Romaine, which was: Grilled half heart of romaine lettuce dressed with sun dried tomato vinaigrette, feta cheese and pickled vegetables. He said it was awesome. I got : Arugula Salad, which was: Arugula, roasted beets, marinated mozzarella, pinenuts, and eggs dressed with sherry- dijon. Mine was really good, and about twice as big as the romaine one. So yeah, we bought 5 appetizers (and it wasn't cheap, like $45), but it was oh so good. We got the only veggie items on the menu (and had to tweak the pizza), but we will go back. And we might even get 4 pizzas! Granted, the pizza is about the size of a saucer. They are tiny. But isn't it sad that we have to go to this extreme just to get a thin crust pizza in FB?!

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    Excellent. Went for lunch and had the Turkey and Brie Sandwich. My mom had the Cali BLT. My sandwich was amazing, just enough apricot jam to add a touch of sweetness. My mom said thr BLT was the best she ever had. The waitress was very sweet and attentive without hovering. The atmosphere was perfect for a late lunch. Thought about trying another restaurant but it was raining and Bistro Bethem had more indoor seating. Thank you rain! We'll definitely be back.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Bistro Bethem

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