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Overall Ratings: **1/2

Overall Review:  Overall, we were very disappointed in the presentation and quality of the food.  On the plus side, I do recommend this restaurant for a good BBQ steak.

Review Date:  June 26, 2007

Cuisine: BBQ cuisine

Alcohol:  Very extensive wine list of Walla Walla wines and Washington state wines.

Attire:  Casual to dressy casual

Location: Located in the downtown area of Walla Walla, WA.

Open Hours: 
Lunch:
Monday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Dinner: 
Monday-Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wheelchair Accessible:  Yes

Parking:  Parking on the street

Price Range:
Starters: $8.00 to $10.00
Salads:  $12.00 to $21.00
Entrees: $16.00 to $28.00

Reservations: Reservations suggested


 Rating Key Explanations:
* Bad (will never go back)

** Fair (below average - will not go back)

*** Good (would consider dining there again)

**** Very Good (will definitely go back)

***** Extraordinary (will be back as soon as possible)

I make every attempt to remain anonymous while reviewing each restaurant.  All meals are paid for by myself.  This way, I can report the most honest and trustworthy restaurant reviews possible. Other recognizable critics frequently get special food and service. I forgo any perks so that my restaurant experience will be similar to yours.

If you would like to add a review of this restaurant, email Linda Stradley. Also feel free to send me suggestions of restaurants for review.
 

 


Backstage Bistro

 
230 E. Main Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362

Website:  http://www.backstage-bistro.com/

Map & Directions
 

Phone: 509-528-0690


With our friends, we traveled to Walla Walla to taste and purchase some of their outstanding wines. Naturally, we wanted to enjoy some great restaurant dining while there.  We choose the Backstage Bistro restaurant after reading some great reviews. Unfortunately, the Backstage Bistro did not turn out to be a great choice.  I don't know if the chef was sick or if it was just a bad night, but this recommended restaurant turned out to be a bad choice for dinner in Walla Walla.  It was a big disappointment, and we wish we had used our evening to visit one of the other restaurants recommended to us. As a reminder, I always go to each restaurant with good intentions and hoping it will be excellent!

According to their write-ups, they pride themselves on their BBQ, but the chicken and seafood that we ordered were overcooked and too dry. Even the bread that was served was dry and not fresh. I do recommend this restaurant for BBQ steaks.

 

On the positive side, they do serve a great cup of coffee - espresso, and lattes.

 

Starters:

 

Baked Portobello Mushrooms - Served on toasted Italian Country Bread and topped with Swiss cheese. $9.00

These look good, but the mixture on the toasted bread hardly tasted of mushrooms.  It was more like a tapenade with no flavor.

 

 

Crab Cakes - With our special sauce. $10.00

I don't know what was mixed in with the crab, but it definitely didn't taste of crab.
 

Barbecue & Grill:

NOTE: Presentation of all the entrees were less than desired. Every dish was served with over-cooked broccoli and mashed potatoes! Not very original!

 

Rib Eye Steak - Generous marbling makes this steak sweet and deliciously juice. Our chef's favorite. Melt in your mouth tenderness.

12 ounce - $24.00 16 ounce - $28.00

My husband said the rib eye steak was very good.  This was the best meal of the evening!

 



Barbecue Chicken - Slow cooked over hickory and served with our World Famous BBQ Sauce.

1/2 chicken - $16.00 Full chicken - $22.00

Unfortunately, the chicken was overcooked and dry. Very hard to swallow. In fact, I couldn't eat it.  They may be a great BBQ restaurant, but this chicken should never have been served to anyone!

 

 

Steak with Shrimp - This was their special for the evening. $24.00

The steak was good, but the shrimp was overcooked.

Comments from other diners:

I had lunch today at the Backstage Bistro and was terribly disapointed for the second time. My order was brought to me incorrectly for the second time. The service was terrible. One of the waitresses even made a comment about how slow they were and yet I had to ask for almost everything that we wanted. I would not recommend this establishment to anyone and I would not go back myself. - 9/14/07