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Another hidden gem. You'd never know that this was such a good restaurant from the exterior. The restaurant is in a bizarre location but don't let that stop you from trying it out.
I went here for my anniversary dinner but only 'cause Alexanders was booked!! I was pleasantly surprised. While it doesn't hold a flame to some other joints in the area, the new french style was tasty. I'm not sure if I'll make it back but it definitely deserves a good recommendation.
To be succinct, my meal here was one of the best I've ever experienced.
I brought my girlfriend here so we could try the tasting menu; every expectation we had was surpassed. I think she's writing a detailed review of our experience with each dish here, so I'll defer to her for a course by course breakdown. I'll give a summary of our overall experience.
Service, as you'd expect in a restaurant of this caliber, is exquisite. Each of the waitstaff, including our excellent waitress, took care to make sure our meal proceeded smoothly. They were able to work around my nut allergy and still provide each course as it was intended.
The food was incredible. Each item was delicate and flavorful, not overpowering in the slightest. The progression of dishes was just right in both taste and timing, and by the end of the meal I felt perfectly satiated. Of particular note was the butternut squash soup, which I loved, the kobe beef (extraordinarily tender, as others have noted here), and my substituted dessert (due to the allergy) of a lemon crepe filled with some kind of custard.
The decor in Le Papillon is nice. It's a little outdated, but charming nonetheless, and feels appropriate. The dining room is fairly small and so has an intimate feel to it, but it's not too noisy and makes for a pleasant experience.
Overall, I don't think I can use enough superlatives to describe my time here. I can't speak to the a la carte menu or any future prix fixe offerings, but the fixed menu as of this last weekend was a clear standout in my history of gastronomical experiences. Bravo, Le Papillon.
Let me start with this: Delish.
I asked my boyfriend to take me out to a nice place for dinner on Saturday night, and upon finding Le Papillon, I think he was more excited about dinner out than I was.
We ordered the Tasting Menu for our table, and although a bit pricey ~$98.00 for a casual nice dinner out, it was definitely worth it. Each portion, including the entrees, was very small, but beautifully arranged and absolutely delectable. Overall, I enjoyed every item served (which is rare!), and I was pleasantly full and satisfied.
The server started us off with a teensy bit of Gouda cheese, courtesy of the chef, and a butternut squash soup in a cup. They were both delicious and savory. We cleansed our palates with a serving of fresh hearts of palm salad with a macadamia nut paste and slightly citrusy dressing.
Our appetizers began with a course of Hokkaido scallop ceviche. I love ceviche, so this was a no-brainer. The sunflower salad and buttered powder complemented the light flavors and smooth texture of the scallops.
I really enjoyed the second appetizer--linguini with prawn and truffle cream. After three light courses, this satiated my craving for something with a little more body. The butter sauce was creamy, but not so overwhelming that it masked the seafood flavor, and the truffle sauce added an extra richness to the ensemble without being too heavy.
The third appetizer was called Duck Three Ways. And, surprise!, the duck came served three ways: duck tortelloni, duck chawanmushi, and duck tenderloin. Can I just say, yum? It was a good mixture of east meets west.
Our first of two entrees was the Kobe beef with maitake mushrooms. I don't like steak much, but this was amazing. The meat was so tender and juicy, and granted it was very greasy, it was absolutely delicious. The small portion was a perfect size because the meat was very heavy, but it took a lot of self-control not to pop the whole thing in my mouth.
In contrast, the second of the entrees was Grilled Buffalo with Syrah Jus. This was much lighter and a refreshing chaser to the Kobe beef, but it held its own just the same. The cocoa nibs added an almost smokey, dark flavor to the steak.
Dessert was an elegant affair. Our first dessert course came with a soft cheese and a red-wine prune tart. Both were delicious and complemented each other--the sharp cheese against the rich, round flavors of prune.
They didn't have the second dessert course on the menu, so they substituted mine with candied pears and a small scoop of gelato with a sweet sauce. I wasn't complaining, though. While this dessert plate didn't seem like much compared to their popular souffles, it was very filling and a satisfying end to the dining experience. We had coffee with the desserts and the server brought us coconut macaroons with our check.
The service here was great, and the servers were very courteous and attentive. The ambiance was one of sophistication, and the general attire was dressy, although some patrons leaned toward smart casual.
I had a great dining experience, and my boyfriend and I really enjoyed our time here. If I had more in my wallet, I would definitely come again!
Came here for a talk sponsored by a pharm company the other week and had a fantastic meal. Just as a side note... I didn't pay for the meal so it may have biased my review of the meal a bit.
I had the Dungeness Crab Soufflé for the appetizer, Baby Lettuce with Sherry Vinaigrette and Danish Blue Cheese, Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Black Chanterelles, Potato Gratin and Roasted Shallots, and the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.
Some highlights - the Crab Soufflé was awesome. If you like crab this is a great dish. The tenderloin was cooked to perfection. The meat just melted in my mouth. The Grand Marnier Soufflé was excellent! Its like eating a bitter/sweet orange flavored cloud. The salad was so so.
The staff was excellent that night. They were very attentive and quick. Whenever my wine was running low someone was always there to refill it.
All in all I had an great experience and I'll definitely be back!
Forty-one dish catering tasting, simply foodie heaven. I was fortunate to join some dear friends for the tasting for their July Nestldown wedding. We started with cold passed hor'deourves, including several shooters for soup, followed by warm ones. We shared soups and salads, then came the six dual-entree dishes, wow. Finale of petit fours
Some of the highlights...
--Snap pea soup with button shiitake, the winner on my ratings list, amazing taste and texture
--Crab souffle, wow
--Fennel jelly topped with meyer lemon sauce and slice of scallion, great bite
--Smoked salmon popovers
--Ratatouille in filo, super light crunch
--Squash soup with squash blossoms, creamy heaven
--Buffalo, hint of gamey-ness, absolutely delicious
The owner Mike is a professional and classy -- his standards for service and attention to detail are immaculate. I liked that his catering standards were the same as for his restaurant, which makes it incredibly difficult as an operator, but means an amazing culinary and service experience for a wedding. Very excited.
We hired Le Papillon as our wedding caterer for the Julia Morgan Ballroom in May of 2009. We loved the fact that Mike offered tastings before you book with them. Most caterers we found would not let us taste the food until we booked them. I don't know about you but before spending tens of thousands of dollars, wouldn't you like to try the food first? Right after our tasting, we knew 100% hands down that we would book them.
Since we had our ceremony and reception in the main ballroom, we hired extra staff to help transition the room flip with ease and so we wouldn't have to drape/partition the room and have tables preset up behind curtains. Everything flipped on time under 1.5 hrs. There were a few of the tables were rotated slightly off from our layout. Since we went with Hartmann Studios for the upgraded linens, chivari chairs and square /king tables, they also provided us with the floor plan.
I have been getting nothing but compliments on all of the dishes we chose. 2 people even mentioned that they licked their dinner plates afterwards. I never imagined I would hear that.
Since we had wedding cake we decided to swap the dessert choice for an appetizer instead. Our venue provided an open bar which they staffed. We did provide bottle win with Le Papillon helped serve.
Approximate Guest Count: 200
Hors D'doeuvres:
Roasted Vegetable and Goat Cheese Pave
Ahi Tuna Sashimi with Wasabi Soy Sauce
Seared Foie Gras on Toast with Julienne Vegetables
Ratatouille on Toasted Brioche
Caramelized Onion and Smoked Gouda Galette with Smoked Duck
Appetizers:
Tortellini with Asparagus, Morels and Madeira Cream
Salad: Pear Salad with Baby Lettuce, Toasted Pecans, Chambord Vinaigrette And Grated Feta Cheese
Entree: Grilled Medallion of Beef Topped with Butter Poached Prawns and Cognac Jus
Dessert: Le Papillon served our wedding cake
PHOTOS posted to Yelp!
My husband and I came here to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Reservations were easy online. We both had the tasting menu and a wine pairing. Our server also brought out a couple of additional courses for us to try which was nice. Service was nice and attentive. The restaurant felt a bit empty for a Saturday night. I guess they were having a slow night. Now on to the food!
Bread and butter - nothing special. I prefer warm rolls, but these were just regular.
Hamachi tartar - (extra dish) a nice way to start off dinner. Good flavor, very light.
Heirloom tomato soup - (extra dish) served chilled. Very refreshing! The soup was very light in color. Nice for hot weather.
Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche with Lemon, Sunflower Salad and Browned Butter Powder - The powder went really well with the scallops. The scallops were so sweet and delish!
Linguine with Butter Poached Gulf Prawn and Cognac-Truffle Cream - As the plate was placed in front of me, I could smell the truffle goodness. The linguine was wrapped around some kind of mousse. The dish was buttery and truffley. I love it!
Shaved Hamakua Farms Heart of Palm Salad and Macadamia Nuts - This was one of the extra courses. I think the macadamia overpowered the whole dish.
Duck Three Ways with Sour Cherry - Came with duck breast, duck custard, and foie gras tortellini. The duck breast was a little over for my taste. I prefer a mid-rare. The custard was very flavorful and the tortellini was delish.
Barely Roasted New York Strip of Japanese Kobe Beef with Maitake Mushrooms - MELT IN YOUR MOUTH GOODNESS! This was my fav course of the night. The kobe was perfect!
Grilled Durham Ranch Buffalo with Syrah Jus, Parsnip Puree and Cocoa Nibs - They give you a pretty healthy piece of buffalo. Good dish.
Pavé d'Affinois with a Red Wine-Prune Tart - The tart was okay. The cheese was wonderful! So soft and creamy.
Bittersweet Chocolate Terrine with Coconut - delish!
To celebrate our anniversary, they gave us a green tea dessert with a candle...How cute! We ended with coffee and tea. They also gave us some lychee candy thing which was not good =\ Other than that, it was a great dinner! I wish they change their tasting menu more often so that we can go back soon!
OMG!!!
The one and only time I went here about 5 years ago, I had the worst experience in my life.
(About me: I go to 2-3 $100+ restaurants a week for dinner with my wife and we have our share of favorites including La Foret, Chez Panisse, Manresa, to name a few)
I ordered escargot and Foie Gras for the appetizer and I don't remember what I ordered for my entree.
The appetizers came out... the foie gras was PERFECT.... BUT here comes the SNAILS....
Now for someone who has eaten Escargot about 50+ times in their lifetime... I know when it is good or when it is NOT FRESH!!!!
This Escargot definitely was past its time, and I asked the waiter to get the chef to come out. Not only did he refuse, but the manager came over to "test it." The manager had the nerve to ARGUE with me and say that it was supposed to taste like this. *Sigh*... after paying only for my $200 Clos St. Hune Trimbach (wine)...
I walked out.
First of all... I have never had a chef refuse to come out or at least take the food in to taste it.
Second of all... the manager had the nerve to say I was wrong. Customer service has definitely fallen... At the least take the food back, apologize, and send something else out.
Third of all, the only reason I DID NOT give this restaurant a 0 STAR that it deserved.... is that the waitress was sincerely apologetic and truthful - and It is not an option on YELP. (She told me on the way out after I paid for my wine... that I was the 2nd person to complain about the escargot that day...)
I am quite surprised that with so many great reviews that we had such a negative experience there... but Oh Well... there are soooo many great restaurants in the Bay Area.
Good luck and roll the dice if you go to Le Papillon
When paying a lot of money for a meal, other than the basics (good food, nice atmosphere, friendly staff), there are two additional things that are important:
1. Creativity: Interesting takes on basic ingredients: I don't want to see something on the menu that I've seen on lesser restaurant menus. I want creative takes on classics with the addition of unique ingredients.
2. Pampering: Little amuse bouches and after dinner treats that showcase the restaurant's creativity, quality, and generosity (you are laying down some serious cash after all).
Le Papillon delivered on both of these things. This is a great place to go for a celebration or for a splurge. I can't wait to go back!
I have been there several times in the past. The last time I was there, I was really craving a Filet Mignon. I was not thrilled to find out that this French restaurant did not Have a Filet Mignon, nor a New York Steak. They had a Hanger steak. Very disappointing. The service? ummm. Have had better. They try to be uppity, but., Harris Steakhouse in San Francisco does not act so uppity.
I love this restaurant. Whenever I go somewhere for fine dining, I compare it to Le Papillon and the amazing dinner my husband and I had for our wedding anniversary.
We got the tasting menu and the wine pairing. We got so many courses and so much wine but the menu was so well thought out and the ingredients so fresh that I didn't feel sick or overly full.
There were many moments during the meal that I felt that my mouth had gone to heaven. There were so many wonderful dishes but these were some of our favorites:
The kobe beef was amazing. It melted in my mouth and the flavors were outstanding. My husband and I loved that after the kobe beef we had buffalo steak which was milder than the kobe beef but just gamey enough to know that it was a special meat. Finally, we had dessert and a port that was older than both of us! This port was just heavenly and it paired so well with the dessert.
Seriously, if you want to spoil yourself and someone you love with some good food go to Le Papillon! For the tasting menu and the wine pairing we put out about $400. This is quite reasonable considering the quality of the food and the wonderful service.
We spent $450 recently in Vegas for food not quite as good at a one Michelin star restaurant. This place is totally worth it!
Le Papillon is an unexpectedly wonderful little haven of fine dining in the middle of San Jose.
I joined two friends here tonight to celebrate a 40th birthday, and the entire evening was a very pleasant experience, filled with great company, delicious food, and attentive service.
I arrived early and was offered a drink by the maitre d' while I waited for the others to arrive. When everybody was present, we were led into the main dining room, an intimate space with muted lighting. There is a 7-course tasting menu for $98, which actually seemed rather reasonable, but we decided to order our own starters and entrees. Both friends ordered the baby lettuce salad with pears, while I selected the asparagus soup with almonds and Meyer lemon. For the entrees, one friend and I both chose the roasted beef tenderloin with black chantrelles while the other opted for the roasted pork tenderloin with roasted pears.
While we waited for our first course, our server brought a trio of amuse bouche, one after another at appropriate intervals. The first, trout eggs with dashi cream was my least favorite, but was followed by my favorite, a foie gras canape topped with a small slice of quince jelly. The last amuse was ahi tartare served in a tasting spoon.
As we chatted, the server brought out our first courses. She presented my asparagus soup with particular panache. First the soup bowl was placed in front of me, and the server explained that it contained two tiny almond cream quenelles, two asparagus tips, and the zest of a Meyer lemon. Next, she produced a carafe filled with the soup and proceeded to pour the emerald-colored liquid into the bowl. The soup was delicious, with the heat of the soup slowly melting the quenelles until the flavors blended together.
The entrees were equally delicious. My beef tenderloin was a perfectly cooked medium rare, served with a potato gratin, roasted shallot, and black chantrelles. My friend's pork tenderloin was also wonderfully presented and meltingly tender. The portions were generous for this style of French cuisine, but allowed a little bit of room for dessert.
Shortly after we had placed our orders, our server had inquired to see if we were interested in the restaurant's signature dessert, a grand marnier souffle. Of course the birthday girl ordered one, while I chose the bittersweet chocolate and macadamia nut marquise and my other friend asked for the creme caramel. The souffle was presented at the table and then whisked away for plating with fresh raspberries and blueberries. We all shared bites of our desserts, and the creme caramel was voted the favorite of the table.
I was surprised to find that two hours had passed when we completed our meal. It had been such a wonderful, relaxing experience that time had flown by. My friend had chosen well to celebrate a milestone birthday here, and after a long week I was happy to have spent the evening in this lovely oasis of civility.
Many high-end SF restaurants are not executing multi-course menus as well as this restaurant....this is a French dining experience worth seeking out...
As you should expect it is pricey....
Great wine list too....
Good food & service. If you liked the continental 1970's period of dining you will enjoy this place. Nothing to look at though...
After passing by Le Papillon for years, my honey finally decided we should check it out since we were dressing up for the Symphony Saturday night and celebrating his birthday. So I called and made reservations which are recommended. It's defintely one of those fine dining places where you would go to celebrate an event. Very nice ambiance, romantic and a striking fresh flower arrangement in the middle of the room. Our server was great and she was happy to answer any of our questions. She recommended the berry soufle and that it had to be ordered at least 30 minutes ahead of time so it can be served hot out of the over - so we did. We started off with a few complimentary appetizers, tiny, tasty and adorable. Don't things just taste and look better when they're complimentary? We ordered the lobster appetizer and it was ver good. I had the noisettes of Red Deer, cooked medium rare, it was very tender and delicious. I didn't think it tasted gamey but my Dale did. It was served with a cabernet truffle sauce (yum-yum), tender baby acorn zuchhini, and a parsnip tart that looked like mashed potatoes in a tart crust - the flavor was nice and sweet as parsnips tend to be. Dale had the pan roasted beef which he liked very much. Our dinners were plated beautifully and the berry soufle was quite wonderful. We couldn't finish it so I took the soufle home. Our server said it would flatten like an omelet but it never did and we enjoyed it later that evening. If you've never been there make sure you dress up. There's a sign regarding proper attire when you walk in. I was little worried because Dale wasn't wearing a dinner jacket but luckily they're not required.
This place is great, I love celebrating those special times here. Well, I can only do it once a year, cause it is a little pricey. But then again I always get the Tasting Menu.
The food is excellent, you would think that you would not get full seeing those tiny items come out. But by the end of the meal you are so stuffed you barely finish the wonderful dessert.
Also the service is top notch, they are very attentive and nice.
This is a great place for a romantic date, the atmosphere is perfect for a "proposal ."
If I am looking for an exquisite meal with an excellent service then I go to "Le Papillion". This restaurant has the signature of a great cuisine and an elegant atmosphere. This is my number #1 restaurant in the Silicon Valley. I've probably been here over 30 times over the last 20 years. They're known for their grandioso cuisine which includes game, and NO MATTER WHAT....I always order the grand Mariner Soufflé - remember to order it at the beginning of your dinner.
We hired them as a wedding caterer
Good:
1) Felt like everything would go as planned: Before signing with them they invited us to a free tasting which was a wonderful full dinner with appetizers and everything. The tasting truly sold us as the food was extremely good and something we would be proud to serve.
2) The food: as mentioned before, was wonderful. Every food selection was cooked perfectly and presented elegantly to the guests.
3) The Personal touch: Before we joined our guests we had the 'head waiter' personally serve us our cocktail hour ordure's which we absolutely amazing. He was very courteous and extremely patient as we snacked on the verity of treats. Unfortunately there was no table for us to excuse him - so he patiently, and happily, waited as we finished the last of them.
4) Bar tender: Their Drink service was extremely well mannered and great with the guests. They were always there to serve the guests and seemed to genuinely enjoy the night.
5) The Cake service: Once we cut the cake Le Papillon was prompt and effective in slicing our cake in the kitchen preparing it for the guest's enjoyment. The service was professional and well executed. Our guests were able to enjoy the cake quickly with little fuss.
6) Clean up Crew: During dancing there were no dirty dishes lying around. The staff was quick to clear them so that the wedding photos wouldn't have a pile of dishes spoiling the back ground.
Bad:
1) Wrong Dinner Linens were ordered: The first issue was apparently in the planning stages - they ordered the wrong linens. It was similar in color but not what we had requested... this can be overlooked however the food service cannot be.
2) Umbrellas were not opened until late in the service: As it was an outside dinner service - some of the guests we directly in the sun. Patio umbrellas were on hand however were not set up until most of the guests were eating. Guests ended up using their sun glasses to shield their eyes which made for some very interesting photos. =0(
3) Dinner delivery Service was lacking: They unfortunately did not staff enough people so the day of our wedding our guests paid the price. We hired them because they seemed extremely confident in the professional and effective execution of the dinner service however we did not witness that. Here is one example of many: One table had served 7 out of 8 guests... the 8th guest had to request their dinner 15-20 min into the meal when it was clear the waiter was not returning. To me, this is NOT acceptable. One guest even approached me regarding the service... inquiring whether the children were going to be served as well since all the adults were already eating. This is extremely embarrassing as the bride.
4) Bride and Groom served after several guests: This should be the first table to be served as it is their day and the schedule normally requires them to mingle with the guests while everyone is finishing up the dinner.
5) Dinner Drink service was slow: I witnessed several guests making the walk to the bar rather than wait for the server since it was taking too long. I am assuming this was also due to the lack of servers on hand at the wedding.
6) Bride's plate was not prepared correctly: It was mentioned when preparing the menu that the Bride cannot eat mushrooms. As we mentioned it several times it did not seem like it would be an issue - unfortunately the dish delivered to the bride was not prepared per her specifications. On top of the meat dish was a pile of mushrooms which was immediately turned away by the groom before the bride would notice. They left the grooms plate and quickly returned with a plate prepared without mushrooms.
7) The Candles were not Light: The devil is in the details - I, the bride, quickly noticed that the elegant candle center pieces were not light. Truthfully, this should not have been something we should have to request as the table preparations are the responsibility of the caterer.
8) Miscommunication: We were under the impression our contact would be at the event assisting the staff so that nothing would go wrong - however that was not the case. One thing that should have been relayed to the staff was that a silver table linen was ordered (through the catering staff) for a photo booth we hired... the individuals working the event knew nothing of this arrangement and the linen could not be found. Luckily the photo booth staff ended up figuring out an acceptable light blue substitution when I mentioned it.
9) The Cost: With all the issues at dinner - we question if it was worth the cost as we paid a premium so that we didn't have to worry about the catering.
I hope this review helps. We worked hard on our wedding and in the end it was a huge success however we did want to recognize the vendors for their hard work. Please understand all vendors have good and bad days - this day was just not one of their finest hours. Preparation is the key.
My daughter took me and my husband to this very nice french restaurant for his birthday. I have never been to a restaurant like this before. The food was nicely presented, the staff was very attentive, but I just can't seem to get over the price. They gave us a lot of extras to try that we did not even order, which was nice, but we ended up spending over $100 per person. I'm the type of person who appreciates value so I can't see paying a lot of money for a meal, even if it is a good one.
Wow! I was completely impressed by this place...I have never been to a place to nice...other than when I have vacationed. This place is top notch and right in the comfort of my own city!
I was brought here for a graduation gift from my supervisor (btw: great place to treat someone) and I was so pleased by everything, especially the service. The service was excellent! The also brought tastings of appetizers around for us to try before the meal. They were patient with my decision making and paid attention to the smallest details (straightening of tablecloths and dusting off bread crumbs).
I especially loved that they have a dress code and do not allow for cell phone usage. Wow! How nice! Very nice ambiance. I would love to go back, maybe another special occasion?
Exquisite Food, Great Service!
The decor however was ok. Nothing too fancy or different. Just a formal setup; nothing flashy at all.
I remember ordering the multi course tasters which was wonderful.
I had been looking forward to dining at Le Papillon for over a year before I finally ate here. For some reason we always decide to go somewhere else whenever a special occassion arose. This year, for my birthday, we decided that it was time and made a reservation.
Only one word can sum up my experience: Disappointment.
First I struggled with whether I wanted to order the tasting menu or a la carte. While I really wanted to do the tasting menu, I decided to do a la carte because I wasn't hungry enough to eat all courses.
The bread basket contained hard bread. It was cold and hard. It was unappetizing. The butter was hard too, impossible to spread on the cold hard bread.
We were then presented with 3 different amuse-bouche. They were delicious. A great start for the night... or so I thought.
The bf and I split scallops for appetizer. It was undercooked. You know, chewy.
Then we both had the lobster bisque. It was very salty and just not very good. It lacked the flavors you'd expect in a lobster bisque. The tiny piece of lobster that we got was good tho.
Then I had the Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin as my entree. My tenderloin was just "ok." I got it medium-rare, upon the waitress' suggestion. It was nothign special. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. I ate it, but could have done without it.
The bf got the rib-eye and it was dry. It was worse than my tenderloin. The waitress asked if they could prepare something else for him instead but he was too polite to say yes. He just ate up his dry rib-eye. I gave him half of my tenderloin.
For dessert we had the Soufflé Grand Marnier. I expected it to be a chocolate souffle as all the other Soufflé Grand Marnier that I've ever had were chocolate based. It wasn't, which caught me by surprise. It was pretty tasty, but again, didn't strike me fancy.
The only saving grace of the night were the amuse-bouches and the bottle of wine.
It's too bad that I didn't enjoy dining here. I really wanted to like it, but for $250 I'd rather go somewhere else.
I took my ex out to Le Papillon as a congratulations for finishing his MCAT, which makes this review around two years past due. Still, I decided to chime in because this was one of the best dining experiences I had while living in the Bay. The service was superb, and the ambience was perfectly romantic. The food was amazing - and I don't remember what I ordered, I know, ridiculous, but please believe me. It was a long time ago, but I remember thinking it was the best meal I'd had in ages.
And I do remember the Grand Marnier souffle. It was warm and fluffy and boozy and wonderful. I still think about it from time to time. Do not order if you don't like alcohol, but if you do, this is the dessert to end all desserts. The bill was a bit steep, so I'd reserve this place for a special occasion, but if you've got one coming up, definitely try Le Papillon.
Lay Restaurant Ay Tray Ben. OK, it really wasn't bad. I took Ma Mere here for Mother's Day and had the pan-roasted beef tenderloin. It was as good as you would expect from a restaurant such as The Paps (as I and only I like to call it). One of the better restaurants I've been to in the South Bay, but French? I've had better. And as far as the finer dining establishments I've had the pleasure to be a glutton? I'd rather go to Gary Danko or Michael Mina's.
There's no denying it's a really good restaurant. But given the restaurant's profile, I would've taken my mom to a place like the restaurants I mentioned above in SF if it had been more convenient.
OH MY goodness. The food here is fantastic. I went there for a dinner meeting from work so I was so psyched after reading the reviews and looking at the menus. Here is what i got:
1 . A crab appetizer. I'm not sure what it came with but oh my goodness: DELICIOUS!
2. Soup of the day: cream of onion soups. Very creamy with onions. A little salty but very good.
3. Lamb with pomogranates: unsure what sauce but it was very delicious. (their lamb though is not as good as it was at chez pannese not as tender but their beef looks good but I didn't choose that dish)
4. Finally something that is on the menus: Fresh Berries Corbeille in Almond Cookie Cup with Grand Marnier Cream. Oh my goodness it is fantastic. I almost felt like I was floating after eating this. DELICIOUS!
Hands down a great place to eat. Everything is so beautifully presented and you can tell their food is their artistry. They have fanatistc art of presentation. Their food is very good especially if it's free! Can't beat that. Enjoyed myself and it's been such a long time for me to have a meal this great!
Warning: Come here only if you have a ton of money to blow. This is a place where you will want to just enjoy the experience and not worry about the bill!
I dined here a while back with an old boss and coworkers. I hate arriving places feeling "under-dressed" so I called ahead to ask them if they have a dress code request (yenno, just to make sure.) The employee that answered the phone kindly let me know that people "come in often wearing nice jeans and the only thing that is frowned upon is coming in while wearing shorts." Nice to know. I just wore a poplin and some slacks.
OK now on to the food. Now, the last time that I had French cuisine was in 8th grade for a French Class field trip. I'm 26 now. I was pretty excited because I did not have to worry about the bill so at my boss' behest, I HAD AT IT.
Before we could order anything, the server was bring out hors d'oeuvres compliments of the chef. I can't remember exactly what we had, as they brought out multiple dishes, but the two things I remember distinctly were 1) sea urchin roe and 2) foie gras. This was the first time I had either and they were both AMAZING. I know there is a lot of controversy regarding the cultivation methods of foie gras, but I've heard of worse culinary traditions (like those involving monkeys.) And it really does taste pretty amazing prepared correctly.
The hors d'ouevres were all great and not too filling because we had another three courses ahead of us. The menu here changes every once in a while to keep the selection fresh and season-appropriate. I ordered the leek bisque to start out the rest of my meal. SO GOOD. It was the perfect temperature, very creamy but not too heavy. My entree was the beef medallion (pretty much a nice little steak.) It was the most tender cut of beef I have ever eaten in my life. The knife practically slid right through it and it barely required chewing. I don't remember what dessert was because I'd also been drinking throughout dinner (GREAT cocktails as well.)
The service was great, just the right amount of attentiveness without being obtrusive, very prompt, really CLASSY and LOVELY decor. I'd definitely recommend calling ahead for a reservation because there was not an empty table in the restaurant EVER. And again, you will want to have quite a bit of money to blow because this is not a place you'll want to go to worrying about the bill. It was completely worth our $500 tab for our party of 5.
if you're gonna go french, you gotta get the tasting menu. i love how the menu changes every few months, so everytime i come, i get some new delectable creations that incorporate seasonal items. if you really want to get fancy, try it with the wine pairing.
the ambience is nice, and the servers really know how to kiss ass and make you feel important. bon appetit!
Cute little fancy french restaurant with big taste and big portions.
Menu:
The seasonal menu has a good bit of selection from seafood to vegetarian. The portions for the entrees were large! We had trouble finishing our entrees, but did anyways since it was quite tasty. A multi-course prefix menu with optional wine paring is also available.
We had the following items:
+ Ricotta Gnocchi with Braised Artichoke, Tomato Confit and Black Garlic -- The garlic and artichoke was a great addition to the gnocchi. The gnocchi itself was a bit more like mashed potatoes balls then true gnocchi. I wanted a bit more of a chew.
+ Pan Seared Maine Day Boat Scallops with Hazelnut Polenta and Preserved Lemon - The scallops were nicely cooked. Nice and rare on the inside and sweet and caramelized on the outside. The preserved lemon gave the scallops a boost with a light splash of brightness without being sour.
+ Truffled Hamachi Tartar with Avocado, Lemon and Pea Shoot Emulsion - The pea shoot emulsion was a bit overpowering and completely overtook the dish. The hamachi was not the main star of this dish... it was the pea shoot emulsion.
+ Noisettes of Red Deer with Cabernet-Truffle Reduction and a Parsnip Tart - I've never had deer before so I didn't know what to expect. The deer had a nice woodsy gamey taste with paired well with the black truffle paste on top and the tuffle cab reduction. The parsnip tart was a bit strong and could have been mellowed out by mixing potatoes into the parsnip.
+ Sautéed Veal Loin with Morel Reduction and Sweetbread Fritters - This was amazing. The veal was so soft! The morels were not chew as they tend to be (especially if reconstituted). The Sweetbread was filled with so much sweet and savory flavors.
+ Soufflé Grand Marnier with Fresh Berries - The souffle was nicely cooked, very fluffy and risen nicely. The sauce was not too sweet and blended the fresh berries with the eggy souffle nicely. My complaint with the dish is the souffle could have use a second or third level of depth. Perhaps some lemon and orange zest to tie the flavor in further.
Drinks:
Quite a selection of wines by the bottle here. The wine range in price from $40 - $300+ per bottle. The wine by the glass menu was quite disappointing. If you dining with one other person that is not really a wine drinker or your wine preferences are different, expect to have a VERY LIMITED selection.
Price:
For the amount of food and the type of food, the price was decent. We spent about $100 per person on an appetizer, entree, two glasses of wine each, and a shared desert. I found the price for the appetizers a big on the high size, considering they are just appetizers ($17-28)
Ambiance:
Semi-Formal dress code. Nice jeans or slacks and a button up shirt or dress shirt here, after all this is a fancy french restaurant.. This place seems small from the outside, but it can actually hold quite a number of guests inside. The entrance is very well kept with a cute little garden. Inside the lighting was not too dim (I was able to read my menu without squinting), but dim enough to have a romantic feel. My only complaint was the temperature was a bit warm for my taste.
Service:
Service was excellent. The food was very prompt. Our waitress kept checking up with us with a nice friendly smile. She was very knowledgeable. The only thing missing was unfolding my napkin for me onto my lap.
Location:
The location is a bit random. It's right at the corner of Saratoga Ave and Kiely, adjacent to a housing complex and a liquor store.
Oh the best meal is when it's not coming out of my pocket. From the reviews, this was definitely a place I wouldn't venture on my own.
Dept holiday luncheon was held here and boy what a doozy. Talk about find dining located next to 7-11, Garden City Casino and a little ways from Santana Roy, quite unusual. Funny thing is since it's fine dining, why is the parking lot so dinky.
Anyways on to food, I had:
Pan Seared Maine Day Boat Scallops w/ Hazelnut Polenta: 2 giant scallops over rectangular slice of polenta. the scallops were soo tender and melt in your mouth, I couldn't taste the striations like I usually do from the scallops served in Chinese cuisine. Polenta was flavored with good sauce.
Chicken curry soup: My first time having curry in soup form. The curry flavor was not overwhelmingly flavorful to blast your taste buds, but enough to tickle your tongue. Light consistency.
Grilled Loin of Lamb: Tender tasty and chewy. Crispy and crunchy fritters on the side. There were 3 green veggies the shape of daggers. Tasted like brocolli--I conclude it must be the super baby form of the grown up brocolli.
Souffle Grand Marnier: Air fluffliness. Nicely browned top and sitting on top of creamy liquor sauce. I can taste the liquer, not overtly strong--matches well.
Hot tea is served with a mini heavy stone teapot you usually find sold in teasets. I had to lift that thing everytime I finished drinking my tea. Their tea is pleasantly refreshing.
All the while between dishes, my touched utensils were constantly replaced and drinks were kept above half full. Talk about great service.
Dishes were served with presentation in mind. I enjoyed my time there with deliciously fabulous food and good company.
Whenever I am in dire need of a pick me up or just gloomy, I'll come back again that's IF I have the bling and the attire to match it :o)
To me this tasting menu is the quintessential fine dining experience in the South Bay. The price is very hefty, but worth every penny. The tasting menu I believe was 12 courses and a wine pairing with each meal. The Kobe beef was probably the best dish I've ever eaten in my life. The texture, flavor, quality and portion were perfect. It may be a place only for special occasions, but I always have the yearning to return.
great place for a dinner meeting -- ensures a good turnout
(food not better than Parcel 104)
the restaurant is on an unassuming corner without much parking
no easy sign to see
the items are all beautifully plated -- definitely stands out
service attentive
sampled:
Pan Seared Maine Day Boat Scallops with Hazelnut Polenta and Preserved Lemon -- very nice diced bits of preserved lemon on top
easily beat out the crab souffle appetizer
corn chowder soup of the day was perfect
the Baby Lettuce with Sherry Vinaigrette and Danish Blue Cheese left a little to be desired -- was missing cranberries and candied nuts or something
Noisettes of Red Deer with Cabernet-Truffle Reduction and a Parsnip Tart -- cooked very nice, not too gamey. rich sauce, cute little tart
Bittersweet Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Marquise -- not spectacular
Soufflé Grand Marnier -- done very nicely but some of them collapsed a little...
this place costs a lot, so glad I wasn't paying!
Our first 5-star review in our search for 5 stars in the South Bay. Almost didn't try this place because other yelpers said it was uppity. But despite my sweater & slacks, we got past the coat closet (now a number of times) without getting kicked out. Service is excellent, professional, not snooty, not smarmy, just right. Switched from wine to dirty martini, which was so good I'm sticking to it (yup, I'm a barbarian). We get samplers while we wait for our orders - the caviar on uni on panna cotta was surreal; if they had it on the menu, we'd keep coming back just for that. The foie gras (hot & cold with maple blis and miso butterscotch, see pic) is the best we've had heareabouts.
I get too stuffed to really enjoy the entrees, prefer the smaller plates. Our faves: the portobello consomme, scallops with hazelnut polenta, burgundy snails with parsley puree, squab salad (with figs, frissee, and bacon, see pic). This leaves room for espresso and dessert, which at the end of all this, will serve at least two. We like what we've tried - the soufflé grand marnier with fresh berries, roasted banana torte, and bittersweet chocolate & macadamia nut marquise.
It's not in a nice location, but it's nice inside. Clean, crisp, cozy. Attracts a decent crowd, although once we were cursed with a table next to a blowhard who wouldn't shut up about louis vitton, his beamer, and other crap he bought. But if they let a guy like me in, I guess they're not too choosy. And it says something about the place that we still enjoyed our meals.
The scallops are the best, they just fall apart and melt in your mouth. The Grand Marnier souffle is possibly the best in the country. Service was awesome, but had a table full of old, drunk, loud, and belligerent people next to us that kind of ruined the evening, until we ate the scallops. That made up and the souffle made the experience worth it.
was treated to the tasting menu by family. i dont have that much experience with french food, but the overall experience was pretty good. the kobe beef with shrooms was the stand out dish in my opinion, and so was the prawn linguine. oh and the duck tortellini!
wine was very good, a burgundy from puligny montrachet. we also brough a bottle of 97 cinq cepages, which definitely added to the meal, which the corkage was waved since we bought a bottle and brought a bottle -- always a nice touch
this place is definitely somewhere i have to be treated to, as it is way out of my price range. 98 bucks for the prix fix. i would have loved some foie gras and souffle though in the prix fix
service was good, but there were a couple slip ups -- first of all, they kept refilling my wine even though i said that i was DD. the waiters should communicate better with each other in terms of refilling glasses. also, a plate was picked up even though my aunt was not finished eating
It doesn't get any finer than Le Papillon. It is the best restaurant in the bay area. Wonderful ambiance, romantic, quiet, excellent wait service. Just don't bring your kids please!! This is the best place and my choice for a romantic occasion. The food is amazing, the wine selection is awesome and the tables are just the right size to reach over to hold your partner's hand or play some footsies under the table. It is the most memorable and pleasant dining experience that I have had.
*cough* *cough*, yes it's a bit stuffy in here. Jackets required, cell phones off in the dining area, but luckily I came as part of a team lunch to celebrate a work project so I ate for free.
The food is top notch. I'd give it 4.5 stars. My salad was delicious and fresh (more on that later) and my steak with red wine reduction was cooked perfectly. The sauce was done well and no complaints about the quality of the food.
On to the ugly...remember how I said my salad was fresh? So was my co-worker's. She started nudging me and pointed to her salad. Now it was pretty dark in the back private dining area so I couldn't really see what she was pointing at until.....THE SALAD STARTED TO FRICKIN MOVE!! There were 3 or 4 pretty good sized bugs moving around in her salad but by this time I already finished mine so I got the free protein boost. -1 star for the bugs in the salad
When we pointed it out to the waiter, he didn't seem to give a rat's ass. Sure we're all rockin our free work logo t-shirts, but you don't need to act rude. The waiter asked if she wanted a replacement (which she didn't and didn't do anything else about it). -1 star for the snooty service and the 18% gratuity added into a large party check.
Overall 2.5 stars. If they had more Orkin and less bitchassedness in the place, it would be a 4.5 star review.
i have had three experiences with them, so the one star is the average:
2005 catering event four star: i hired them for an outing. food was good, mike the owner was very friendly, wait staff was professional. I was a big fan of LP.
2007 New Years one star: they took my reservation AND credit card number to secure. I showed up on NYE, the host said they gave my seat away because he could not reach me by phone to confirm a week before. I was indeed out of country. But what's the point of using a credit card number to hold? Worst yet, the host was VERY arrogant and aloof and practically threw me out of the restaurant... wow.
2009 business dinner zero star: Time can heal any wound. i am a foodie so i fall victim to my weakness. A out of town visitor suggested his preference for LP, i obliged. Also, to be fair, i was a happy customer after my catering experience, and chalked up the 2007 "bad host" experience as a fluke. I had lobster bisque and duck breast, and my guest had salad and pork tenderloin. We traded the main course for sampling. We had good service again from the wait staff, and the wine list was impressive. However, both of us got sick that night. i had to stay in bed for the next 24 hours. nothing life threatening, but certainly a downer to begin the weekend.
I think there are some real management inconsistencies both in the kitchen and in the dining room. Dine at your own risk.
Came here for a Friday lunch with a friend, and found this place indeed lives up to its reputation! Food was wonderful and service was courteous. They only open for lunch on Fridays.
I lived near this place and drove pass by everyday yet
I only been there few times and food was good. It was a little expensive but the food and service good.
My dining partner and I ate here about a year ago. The overall experience was mixed for me.
While good French food, they focus on classics and ignore the entire Nouvelle Cusine movement, which has been assimilated into most restaurant fare found throughout France since the 80's. My personal preference at this level of restaurant leans toward fresher local/regional ingredients for the season, less sauces, and focused presentation.
My personal preferences aside, the dishes we ordered were expertly prepared with high quality ingredients.
Decor: Stuck in the mid 80's, borderline tacky.
Waitstaff: Excellent
Funny situation unrelated to Le Papillon's performance: During our visit we were shocked to see the couple at the table across from us get into an argument and to watch one person literally throw a glass of wine on the other person. Pretty amusing!
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