On the edge of Irvine Business Complex, you can hear the clinking of glasses mingling harmoniously with laughter and live music. Family-owned Bistango is a hidden gem among the cityscape where you can go after work to escape the hustle and bustle of your busy day. For the first time since the pandemic, the restaurant is offering a new, special menu in the bar, lounge and designated outdoor patio areas.
Far from typical bar food, Bistango’s recently relaunched menu elevates your experience with savory bites that will ignite your palate. Plus, its elegant atmosphere is infused with live entertainment that features everything from Latin jazz to contemporary cover tunes Monday through Saturday, which is especially enjoyable with a glass of wine in your hand. Bistango offers a variety of featured wines by the glass for less than $10.
Each food item on the new bar menu sounds so tantalizing it will be difficult to only choose a few. The truffle pommes frites and the Kobe-style beef sliders are a classic, delicious combination. Crunchy shoestring fries are topped with truffle, parmesan, garlic and herbs and served with ketchup and honey mustard. They’re the perfect addition to gossip sessions and work discussions alike. The sliders are juicy and topped with crispy onions and a sriracha aioli sauce that created the perfect bite.
The bacon-wrapped dates are stuffed with cheese before being drizzled with balsamic. Salty and sweet is an unbeatable duo, and these dates are no exception. Bistango’s take on macaroni and cheese is reminiscent of French onion soup. Mushrooms and onion marmalade are mixed in with the macaroni before everything is topped with white cheese and a hint of blue cheese for a different and flavorful dish.
If you’re looking for a mini meal, the curry-marinated lamb chops and the beef tenderloin skewers are filling yet modest. Two perfectly cooked lamb chops with port wine sauce are adorned with a creamy potato puree and carrots. This dish exudes the class that Bistango embodies. The skewers allow you to get a taste of a steakhouse with a hearty portion and green peppercorn sauce for dipping.
Bistango’s bar menu is available Monday through Thursday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.
For more information, visit www.bistango.com.
19100 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA 92612