The Restaurateur Behind Bistro Vida Is Opening a New Spot in Menlo Park

According to The Almanac , the restaurateur behind Bistro Vida plans to debut a new bar concept in Menlo Park.

“I want next door to be a little bit more free, more casual, fun,” owner Ali El Safy tells the Journal. “Bistro Vida is like my oldest son – he went to Cornell, he’s academic. My youngest son goes to (University of) Oregon – very free and hippie personality. So I based this identity of the two places on my two sons.”

Landing just next door to Bistro Vida at 641 Santa Cruz Avenue , Loretta will land near establishments such as Cafe Borrone, Coffeebar, and Saint Frank Coffee, and offer “classic cocktails as well as seasonal specialty cocktails, beer, wine, snacks, tapas and charcuterie.”

For readers who are unfamiliar with Bistro Vida, “El Safy opened Bistro Vida in downtown Menlo Park in 1998, specializing in classic French dishes like cassoulet de toulouse and boeuf bourguignon,” according to The Almanac .

Loretta was originally slated to open in June. Stay tuned for updates.

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