One thing is very clear: on a busy Thursday night people don’t come to Bistro 33 just to eat. Located on 16th and K Streets in downtown Sacramento, Bistro 33 provides an environment where people eat, drink and party. There are many hybrid restaurants out there that try to combine all the elements of a fun night out. Where most restaurants fail, Bistro 33 delivers. But, does it do so for college students?

Scene:The first thing you notice walking into Bistro 33 is the well-dressed, 26-year-old and over-mature crowd. You see a sprinkle of young people here and there, but the majority of the people are not college students. Bistro 33 does not enforce a dress code, but you’ll stand out from the formally dressed patrons if you don’t look nice, so dress to impress.

Regardless of your age or your looks, Bistro 33 goers are genuinely friendly and even offer some advice.

“We don’t get many college students, but people here are nice and friendly,” said Arina Masovik, a Bistro 33 regular. “The Park (Ultra Lounge) and Streets of London Pub are close, so if this isn’t your thing then you can always head there after you eat.”

Atmosphere:Bistro 33 provides two unique atmospheres. If you feel like socializing and being in a loud, high-energy environment, then make your way inside of the restaurant. The inside of Bistro 33 looks like your typical high-end restaurant. Just imagine an expensive looking Ikea restaurant/bar set, with brightly colored dining tables, abstract ambiance lights, sophisticated looking bar stools, and futuristic stainless steel salt and pepper shakers, and you’ve captured the look of Bistro 33.

The bar is usually crowded and is elbow-to-elbow, but there are plenty of tables to sit down and have a meal at while you listen to the loud, upbeat music.

If you prefer a warm, peaceful environment, then have your meal outside of the restaurant. The tables are surrounded by soft glowing candles and heat lamps that will get you relaxed in no time. You can talk quietly amongst friends while you have dinner under the stars.

Food:Bistro 33’s menu is very diverse, with prices that average around $12 to $13 for main dishes. There was too much to choose from, so I decided to ask one of the regulars for his advice.

“Try the Kobe Burgers. I always tell my friends ‘you have to try these burgers, they’re really good,'” said Jon Pacheco, a Bistro 33 regular.

So I did. The Kobe Burgers were delicious. It was like biting into thin air. The only problem was they were only a little bit bigger size than a tennis ball. And there were only two burgers with a half serving of fries. I recommend taking mouse bites of your food, and making sure to chew 40 to 50 times to get your money’s worth.

As a college student I was disappointed. Although the burgers were very good, the $13 price of these burgers could have been spent on a decent sized pizza or a couple of tremendous sized burritos.

Drink:Bistro 33’s drink selection is definitely its forte. There is a huge wine collection, a number of specialty drinks and draft beers that would please any alcoholic. Thursdays are “Think Pink” nights, and a selection of wines, specialty drinks, and beers are sold for $3. So if you want to get drunk with a touch of class then come on down.

Service: The service was prompt and friendly. It took 15 minutes for my Kobe Burgers to arrive, and there were plenty of servers to make sure that I was well taken care of for the rest of the night.

Overall: Bistro 33 has great food, great mood and a great atmosphere. But because of the age range and serving sizes, I can’t imagine the majority of college students coming to a place like this, especially when other venues are so close that draw more of a college crowd.

3 out of 5 martinis

Charles Weinstein can be reached at [email protected]