Differences between a restaurant and a bistro in Richmond, Virginia

Bistro 804 in Richmond, VirginiaPhoto byBistro 804 Screenshot

Most of the time, when people eat at a place that serves meals from a menu, they refer to that establishment as a restaurant. While people use the generic word "restaurant" for places to eat, every eatery is not a restaurant.

Bistro: Definition

A bistro is a small neighborhood eatery serving moderately priced, simple meals in a casual setting.

• Menu: Bistros have simple menus with moderately priced dishes.
• Service: Bistros usually have a main counter for ordering food.
• Food: Bistros emphasize classic, hearty dishes.
• Price: Bistros have inexpensive options and are generally designed to be accessible to all.
• Atmosphere: Bistros have casual settings.

Differences between a bistro and a restaurant

A bistro is a type of restaurant, but it's typically smaller, more casual, and less expensive than a traditional restaurant. Customers order food from a counter at a bistro. In a restaurant, a waiter goes to a table to take customers' orders and serve them there.

Food at a BistroPhoto byengin akyurtonUnsplash

The fundamental idea of a bistro is the speed at which the food can be given to the customer. That's because food is prepared in large batches and sold throughout the day, whereas restaurants don't prepare food until the customer places the order.

Bistros in Metro Richmond

Even though the bistro became familiar in France during the 19th century, some bistros exist in Richmond, Virginia today, according to Yelp. The word "bistro" may or may not be in its name.

• Bistro 804, located at 443 N Ridge Road, Richmond, VA 23229
• Shawarma Bistro, located at 12422 Gayton Road, Henrico, VA 23238
• CMX CinéBistro, 9200 Stony Point Pkwy Ste 101, Richmond, VA 23235