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Le Papillon
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Steakhouses French, Steakhouses [Edit]
410 Saratoga AveSan Jose, CA 95129
(408) 296-3730
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
330 reviews for Le Papillon
Review Highlights
"The Grand Marnier souffle is not to be missed."
(in 29 reviews)
"The tasting menu is excellent."
(in 60 reviews)
"Then I had the Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin as my entree."
(in 11 reviews)
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330 reviews in English
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Review from Caitlin H.
Campbell, CA
2/9/2012
By far my favorite restaurant!
Ragout of Burgundy Snails & Lobster Bisque is pure delight!
I always order the fish for my entree... the fish varies from time to time, but if you ask for something previously on the menu, they will make it for you!
Bittersweet chocolate for dessert and sometimes I get lucky and they will have ice cream so I'll get a scoop alongside it... There is nothing better! -
Review from Sarah C.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/18/2012 1 photo
I am thinking more of a 3.5.... but whatever.
Le Papillon catered my wedding in August up at Byington Winery. I contacted nearly 8 different caterers, and while they were not the cheapest, they were also not the most expensive.
But for quality, my family and I agreed that we should test them out, my fiance and my parents all went the tasting at the restaurant, while my fiance and I were free, we paid $50 per additional person, which was cheap for the amount of food we received. It was wonderful, great vegetarian options too. We started out with hors d'ourves and then moved onto main courses, and there were plenty to choose from. The coolest part of their main course if you get a duo, so you get both options like pork and fish, and if you don't like fish, you can get two portions of the pork or vice versa. After tasting several meals at other vendors and at other weddings i decided cooks must hate vegetarians and their option was delicious!!
Communication between me and Le Papillion, much to be deserved, maybe because I am online all the time, and at work I expect good timing in returned responses. It was hard to get Jondel to email me back quickly, which was a pain, but not everyone is me I understand that.
The rentals are expensive, but if you go anywhere they are expensive. Classic Party Rentals have a ton of different options. 2 weeks before the wedding i found out the rentals i wanted were not available but they had different options and while I was disappointed. It did end up looking beauitful.
At the wedding, things went smoothly. My mom complained that there were barely any appepetizers, she barely saw any of the servers up in the cocktail hour. So I don't think we got our moneys worth there!
We had to go do photos in the middle dinner so they took our dinner and warmed it up. Dinner was good, they brought us 2 of each appetizer for our dinner table. Very nice touch.
Additional charges, coffee, soda, punch -- Since the wedding is at a winery they didn't do the wine, beer & champagne ***they do provide the plates, silverware, wine glasses so that saves you.
Overall very happy --DISAPPOINTED IN: email response time & Not enought appetizers passed around...
But i would use them again, they are reasonably priced. And you pay for what you get in my opinion -
Review from Pallavi S.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2012
Le Papillon did such a horrible job doing the service catering for our wedding reception that we filed a BBB complaint. Our issues with them remain unresolved. Here are some of the highlights:
- Though we explicitly rejected a champagne toast during our walk-through of Kohl Mansion*, Le Papillon charged us for a champagne toast, but in correspondence with us, referred to the drinks as sparkling wine. Several glasses were left bubbling away on trays, as Jondel and her team pre-poured too many. We paid for it all.
- We told Jondel about a sheet cake of tiramisu that needed to be cut and ready to go after the cake cutting.* This sheet cake, which we carefully picked out and paid for, was both our mothers' favorite cake flavors, and a small tribute to them. The cake was left untouched.
- A member of Jondel's team ignored a guest's multiple requests to remove broken glass from the ground, that was a danger to all present. The staff member finally decided to clean it up half-a**ed, and left several broken glass pieces. The guest ended up picking up the rest.
- The food in each tray was not replenished fast enough. After the event, Jondel blamed this on miscommunication and language barriers between them and our Indian food caterer. We have many witnesses to Jondel's team stuffing their faces with our food instead of serving guests, while guests went hungry. We didn't have a problem feeding the Le Papillon team. We were prepared for that. What would have been more reasonable was for them to do their jobs first, then stuff their faces.
- In the months leading up to the event, Jondel was horrible at communicating. She would not respond to phone calls and emails for weeks at a time. I ended up handing over communication to my mother because I was so frustrated by her lack of professionalism. My mother ended up handing communication over to my husband for the same reason.
- Jondel repeatedly misquoted us on the pricing of rentals. When we found out we were being overcharged, we decided to find another supplier, and Jondel told us that she was allowing us a concession in using another vendor, but that she should charge us. For what? Her bad mathematical skills? Her misquotes are just another reflection of her dishonest business practices. We hope she ceases to do this with future clients.
*We told Jondel about the cake and the champagne toast at the Kohl Mansion walk through. She had brought her daughter along and appeared very distracted when we discussed these two issues. I should have confirmed our selections in writing, following our meeting.
In hindsight, I wish that we paid more for a caterer that was communicative, honest and responsible. Jondel and the Le Papillon team were none of these things, and I regret that I did not heed the red flags that arose in my mind when she wouldn't respond to my emails or phone calls early on in the process. We went with Le Papillon because they were the most reasonably priced, which was clearly a mistake. They hit us with surprise charges and in the end we paid just about what we would have paid another more professional vendor. We are still awaiting a refund and have not heard back from them since November 18, when we last communicated with them. I have been waiting to write this review in the hopes of resolving the situation first, but it doesn't look like that will happen, and I really want other brides and grooms to be fully informed before hiring this catering team.
Good luck, beware, and heed your instincts. And get everything in writing, including the quotes for all of your rentals and the details from the walk-through. It might also be good to write into the contract a reasonable expectation for communication from your vendors. Do you want a response within 48 hours? A week? If you're doing business with Le Papillon, get this in writing, so you're not left hanging for longer than that. I'm trying to think of a single positive thing to say about Le Papillon, but I can't come up with anything. We had a wonderful wedding and reception, despite the glitches, but I can honestly say that Le Papillon had nothing to do with anything good that happened that day. Had we received any kind of a sincere apology, this review might have gone differently. Alas.
P.S. I am happy to forward any and all communications between us to interested parties. And I have to say that Mike's response below is the first time we've heard from him in 6 months.Listed in: big/fat/hindu/wedding
Comment from Mike M. of Le Papillon 1/29/2012
For the first time in the thirty five year history of Le… More » -
Review from May B.
Los Altos, CA
2/6/2012
Enjoyed dining here tremendously :) French fine dining at it's best. Very good quality food. Excellent service. I really enjoyed working with Mike. I hosted a Customer event here and booked a private room. Everyone was raving about the food and wine. We had about 30 people and every single person enjoyed it. My friend also used them for a wedding for about 100 guests. They do an excellent job catering for weddings and large events. I would highly recommend them for catering work. Food tastes and shows beautifully.
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Review from Badri N.
An absolutely delightful little restaurant, located in the unlikeliest of places... a strip mall right by busy Saratoga Avenue. Please don't be turned off by the location, even if you have to park in the somewhat shady looking strip mall, the dining experience will more than make up for it.
I cam here with my most awesome friend, fellow Yelper and fellow wine lover and it was an evening to remember :) Great food, great wine and the best company one can ask for.
The decor, as has been stated, is somewhat dated... this restaurant could benefit from a serious makeover but as long as the food stays at this quality and the clientele keeps coming, why bother? It's not something that detracts from the meal.
Small bar/lounge area for you to wait for the remainder of your party. Good selection of premium alcohol at the bar and a bartender with a heavy pour - a good start already :)
Make reservations! Even on a weeknight, it's hard to get in here because they are not about a fast turnaround - most diners spend the entire evening here enjoying the amazing food and the company.
Excellent sommelier... we had brought a couple of bottles with us. A 1995 Chateau Lascombe - a fine Margaux that unfortunately turned out to be corked :( The sommelier knew it instantly and warned us about it. So we settled for our second bottle, a 2007 Caymus Cabernet that was just incredible. The restaurant was kind enough not to charge us corkage for the bottle of corked wine. We shared the Caymus with our delightful waitress :)
Knowing we would get a bunch of amuse bouche items to snack on, we went à la carte instead of going for the tasting menu and ended up with some fantastic choices...
- Ragout of Burgundy Snails with Warm Fennel Panna Cotta and Parsley Puree which was really very good - the snails were of the perfect texture, slightly crunchy and also chewy.
- Truffled Hamachi Tartar with Avocado, Lemon and Pea Shoot Emulsion. If ever an appetizer takes home the prize as the star of a meal, it is this one. I still remember the magnificence of this refreshing dish - and the truffles just made it as perfect as perfect can be. Order this - you will not regret it.
- Seared foie gras, foie gras terrine and a foie gras foam. Every presentation was amazing and perfect. The foam/soup was delectable and went well with the bread they gave us at the beginning of the meal.
For the main entrees, we ordered;
- Noisettes of Red Deer with Chestnut Puree, Huckelberries a Parsnip Tart. The deer was cooked medium rare, as requested and was hardly gamey at all... if someone put this dish in front of you without saying what it was, it would be hard to say it's venison... it was perfectly seasoned and the sides accentuated the richness of the red meat perfectly.
- Braised Duck Breast with Pomegranate, Walnut and Black Forbidden Rice. This was my other favorite from the meal... the tartness of the pomegranate added exactly what was needed to balance the delicate duck. Again, a perfectly executed and presented dish.
Dessert was a no brainer. After reading all the reviews, there really was no choice but to go for the Grand Marnier souffle which was every bit as good as advertised here! The souffle was light as air and it was a great way to end a fabulous meal.
We ended the evening with a complimentary tray of little chocolate delights and the traditional petit-fours. That was a really nice gesture on the part of the restaurant.
Impeccable service. The sommelier, as stated previously, really knew his stuff. Our waitress was new but she was incredibly friendly, charming and never intrusive. It was the kind of service that enhances a meal and I have nothing but good words for this.
~ 5 stars. There is no doubt in my mind about this and I hope to be back here soon to try more of the incredible menu. Great food, wine and the most amazing company does make for a memorable evening out on the town :)
# 268Listed in: Reviews of the Day
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Review from Ned N.
San Jose, CA
2/4/2012
Not what I was expecting.
My wife and I had a dinner here celebrating her birthday. My expectations were obviously high, but this place did not meet them at all. Me and my wife love French and Japanese food, and were surprised that this place is rated so highly among Yelpers. We had forgettable dishes (there was not a single dish out of 6 dishes on the tasting menu that made either of us think 'this is great'). We had one bite of the dessert (butterscotch pudding with chocolate) and could not remember any dessert that was worse than that one.
The service was very snobby, and our waiter (who seemed to be new at this job) was very arrogant in answering our questions and made the whole experience uncomfortable.
Will not be going back for sure. -
Review from Elise G.
French fine dining. One of the best meals I've had. A great date night in a quaint, quiet, upscale setting.
Tasting Menu ($100/person):
First Bite:
Caper Biscotti with white truffle oil gnash. Cold, nutty, olivey, salty. An exciting introduction to what was to come.
Second Bite:
Panacotta with uni and black caviar. Powerful, salty, soy sauce flavor. A creamy, fishy aftertaste that lingered until the first course.
Hokkaido Scallop with Seaweed Puree, Puffed Rice, Pickled Miyoga:
Thin strip of cold, raw scallop that had a really nice texture. A great bite once you got everything on your fork. The ginger brightened everything up. I liked the seaweed puree. It was salty and when I ate it with the rice puff, it reminded me of Japanese rice crackers I used to eat when I was a kid. This dish was comforting and gave me a sense of familiarity.
Barely Cooked Arctic Char with Corn Anglaise and Caviar:
Salmon Sous-vide. I've never had this texture of fish before and it was so soft and delicious. The puree was sweet and the orange dots had a smokey flavor. This dish was really good.
Heirloom Radishes with Guanciale, Tangerine, Rye:
It was like a warm salad with heirloom radishes, bacon-like pancetta, tangy orange, sweet daikon? and rye char. The char was so buttery and crumbly and like croutons, only in a dust form that dissolved in your mouth. My palette went from bitter to butter then was wiped clean by the veggies and then to sweet to citric and then back to butter. So many layers of flavor.
Potato Bellini Mousse:
Like mashed potatoes, only a different texture. Puffy, creamy, aired out mochi like potato mousse with stretchy, melted goat cheese at the base. I ate it like pudding and there was more after each bite. The truffle was like a stronger shiitake mushroom, so salty and earthy, only the texture of a cross between shaved Parmesan and creme brulee crust. This was not on the menu and a really awesome surprise.
Breast of Squab with Grilled Pear Puree, Confit Tortellini and Baby Turnips:
Like red meat with duck or fatty chicken skin around it. Super soft and tender meat with a gamy flavor. Nice gravy. The candied turnips were good smeared in the pear puree because it was bitter and then sweet. The tortellini was rich and tasted like there might have been some cheese in there.
24 Hour Missouri Wagyu Tri Tip with Black Truffle and Quince-Potato Pave:
Tender to the point it ell apart like a slow cooked short rib. It was a bit dry, but when you smeared the chestnut puree on it and dipped it in the sauce, it was wetter and more succulent. The parsnip tart tasted like an apple turnover and looked like baklava.
Shepardista with Walnut Financier and Preserved Green Walnuts:
Unpasturized cheese, baby spinach, walnuts, walnut sponge cake and walnut oil. Sweet, cold, and cheesy. The walnut oil tasted like honey. The walnut was moist and looked like a mushroom. So good. A nice segway to dessert.
Butterscotch Pudding with Chocolate:
Dessert. Cold, firm butterscotch, the texture of cheesecake. It was super sweet and the dark chocolate ice cream was a balancing complement. The chocolate cake was like an airy brownie and the frozen balls of chocolate were like dip and dots, only colder and crunchier and better. A sweet, tasty, fun ending with a ton of texture.
House Made Toffee:
Like peanut brittle, only with mini chocolate chips and sliced almonds topping it. These little bites were sweet, salty, cold, and had a burnt marshmallow aftertaste. So good.
Service was attentive and awesome. The matradee was hospitable. The bartender made well balanced dinks. The waiter was polite and knowledgeable about each course. The kitchen timed out each course perfectly with a nice pause in between to chit chat and drink. The busser cleared our plates, gave use new silverware after every use, and refilled our waters at the halfway empty point. Everyone was so accommodating.
Wow, what an amazing meal with great service and a nice quiet, romantic ambiance. -
Review from Marina S.
Los Altos, CA
2/4/2012
What should you expect from a great French Restaurant. I am never quite certain. but my husband is a lover of French foods and wines, and I am just a lover of life. Le Papillon starts you off with 3 amuse bouches without ordering from the tasting menu, i was truly impressed. They were all excellent as they awoke my senses. For the appetizer,we shared the poached lobster. One word, amazing...
For the main course,I had the duck, and my husband had the the Pork Tenderloin, it was all superb. The service was perfect, the sommelier matched the wines beautifully, and the ambience inside the restaurant, though a little dated, is still very impressive. We finished off the dinner with their famous Grand Marnier Souffle'. Though impressive looking, it was not really to my taste, but my husband enjoyed it.
The restaurant seems to cater to an older crowd and it was a little noisier than I wished. But if you want great French food and wine than I recommend Le Papillon whole heartedly. But try a different dessert. -
Review from Wendy S.
1/5/2012
Oops, I've had this restaurant in my "to review" queue for quite some time.
I came here with my family for my sister's birthday. Food was as follows:
-Three amuse bouches. The first one was kind of gross since it had what tasted like a stale fried wonton wrapper, but the other two were good and presentation was quite pretty.
-Hamachi sashimi appetizer with pea shoot emulsion was AMAZING. I would get this again for sure.
-Pea soup was okay. Nothing made it stand out, and I honestly don't remember eating it. Then again, I'm not sure how much I can expect from pea soup.
-I got the sturgeon wellington for the main entree. It was honestly kind of weird. I didn't like the fishy taste with the puff pastry, but that's what I get for trying something somewhat experimental.
-Souffle for the dessert was a nicely done souffle: satisfyingly airy and fluffy. I thought it was pretty heavy handed on the Grand Marnier though.
Other notes:
-I kind of wish they had done something special for my sister's birthday like another dessert or something since most restaurants do something extra.
-They played an instrumental version of "No Surprises" by Radiohead, which I found very amusing.
-Decor is very, very old. This restaurant is in definite need of a makeover! -
Review from Winifred X.
Santa Clara, CA
12/24/2011
I went there with my foodie friend, and the appt was at 6pm on a Sat. night, surprisingly it's not crowded at all, maybe they priced out the crowd?
The amuse bouche was excellent, a mouth watering small spoonful of tuna bits and some delicious sauce.
Overall, I find it interesting that it's usually the amuse bouche or appertizer that intrigue me at these types of fine dining restaurants. By the time the main course arrives, I am already half full, and thus reduced appetite. In addition, the ingredients in the main course are usually: Chicken, beef, lamb, pork, in larger chunks... even when it's more interesting such as venison and duck, they just don't intrigue me as much as the initial small courses. For those reasons alone I really like a multi-course prix fixe menu.
Service is good, but not outstanding (compared to equivalent restaurants in CT). Oh, and yes, do expect to be there for ~3 hours for your meal. And the decoration could be stepped up one more level. -
Review from Annie D.
12/20/2011
Maybe 3.5 stars, it's kind of hard to judge since we had a private party so our menu was set. We had their 5 course dinner.
These are the items I got to try:
Appetizer:
Truffled Hamachi Tartare with Lemon and Pea Shoot Emulsion- this was probably the best dish all night that I tasted.
Pan Seared Maine Day Boat Scallops with Hazelnut Polenta and Preserved Meyer Lemon- the scallops were cooked perfectly, everything else was just on the plate.
Soup- potato leek soup was served that day, pretty good, like cream of mushroom taste.
salad- Assorted Green Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette and Danish Blue Cheese- pretty average salad, nothing crazy special, besides that they shredded their blue cheese and it wasn't crumbled!
Main course:
Braised Duck Breast with Pomegranate, Walnut and Black Forbidden Rice- duck was cooked pretty well, tasted a little dry for duck but moist enough to enjoy. I couldn't really taste pomegranate, but I could see it. The rice was ok, dish was good, a little too sweet for my taste.
Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Maitake Mushrooms, Potato Gratin and Bone Marrow ravioli- the ravioli was good, I love bone marrow, only had one ravioli by the way. The meat was cooked to medium for everyone. Pretty basic steak dish. Wish there was more gratin, it was just a sliver you got. Good dish.
Dessert:
Vanilla Custard Crepe with Meyer Lemon Butterscotch- this just wasn't good.
Fresh Berries Corbeille in an Almond Cookie Cup with Grand Marnier Cream- this was pretty darn good.
Overall, the service was great, they were on it to refill the wine and taking away our dishes while we wait for others to finish. Food was good, but I'm not sure if it was worth the $75 pix fixe choices. But a good experience, maybe I'll want to try their normal menu where I can order what I want. -
Review from Margaret T.
New York, NY
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Aside from Alexander's Steakhouse, I would guess this is probably the nicest restaurant in San Jose. I came for lunch on a Friday (according to a sign on the door, is the only day they serve lunch, though their website says otherwise) and was pretty blown away by the food.
I can think of worse ways to spend 3 hours on a Friday afternoon than having someone treat you to a 3-course lunch in a French restaurant. Despite it's relatively long run in its current location, this was actually the first time I was eating in the restaurant (I had been to a wedding they catered) and didn't realize how stuffy the clientele was. Luckily, it's California and my flip-flops, while out of place, were not a problem.
Amuse Buche:
Some duck pate thing I think. It was flippin' fantastic.
1st course:
Tuna tartare. The taste was amazing. Good zing thanks to the grapefruit supremes scattered about. I was slightly put off by the slightly grey color of the fish but the taste more than made up for it.
Salad course:
Mixed greens with a vinegarette dressing and a ton of blue cheese. I'm not a big fan of blue cheese so this was not my favorite salad. I was also saving room for...
2nd course:
Steak with bone marrow ravioli (well, just 1 ravioli). There was only 1 ravioli but it was so rich and the steak so well made that I basically licked the plate clean. I think I remember mushrooms and/or potatoes too but the meat and ravioli really stole the show. Nomnomnom
3rd course:
I forgot what it was called but it was a chocolate and banana layered pyramid thing in a pool of pudding. Needless to say, it was good.
I tried all of the things my mom ordered as well but I think my choices were better (sorry mom). -
Review from Andrew Y.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
Was there for Xmas eve, it was excellent.
Had the one order of foie gras on top of the pre-fix menu, almost everything was excellent. The wine list is perhaps one of the better ones and very good prices for the wines as well. Actually, I really loved their wine selections and their prices. Since it was my first time here, I judged a lot by their wine selections since that I know. They also have pretty good but few selections of half bottles. I think it's a lot better than serving quartino out of already opened wines.
It was first time trying gourmet in SJ, and I was almost choked at the spot on how stuffy it could get in the south compared to SF or Napa, but my girlfriend like it. The ceiling is kinda on the low side, and everyone wearing pretty suits and dresses (waiting staff and guests alike... me and one japo dude were the only people in jeans), but wine bottles on the walls helps me calm myself.
Wines, it's not just about drinking.
I probably was the youngest person there except the teenagers who came with their parents. Many tables had people over 50s, I think. But who cares, restaurant is for food.
The foie gras we had was excellent. One of the best ever. Served in cappucino, grilled and cold cut settings. Go get them before it becomes illegal in CA (still one of the dumbest things CA ever wasted tax payers' money on). We actually need more to bring the prices down.
The prefix menu was very well balanced.
The radish selection was very interesting and very memorable. It was various radishes, cut in different forms and depicted a sun rising over mountain. Radishes were seasoned/picked differently, too.
Seafood dishes almost made me think they should have a Japanese in the kitchen. The place did have several japanese patrons around me, so I thought it was understandable since the food, although based on French cuisine, always had a hint of Japanese in it. But not to the fusion level.
The main course of the December 2011 prefix menu was missouri wagyu beef, I expected more. It was unfortunately and easily the worst dish of the night and it sadly was the main course of the evening. It was not bad, but it was not good either. Somewhat hard for wagyu beef and my girlfriend didn't care to finish it.
But they made up with one of the really good desserts. Not intimidatingly sweet but just great.
I could not try their wine pairings to the pre-fix menu, but I had some glasses of wines to be paired with some of their dishes, their pairings were pretty good. The parings involved sake, beer and wine. Based on the list, I felt it was a little overpriced for the sake or wines being served, but they were all pretty good matches nonetheless. If lazy, I'd recommend trying their wine pairings, but I'd actually choose wines that are similar but better than what's on the pairing menu.
It was a really excellent dinner. I was there for nearly 3 hours and left really happy from the meal. I told my friends this place was "shit good". It really was. -
Review from Jen C.
12/26/2011 1 photo
My husband and I dined here for my birthday on a Tuesday night. I thought it was kind of an odd location for an expensive restaurant - in a ghetto looking shopping center, next to a liquor store. Inside the restaurant, though, it was clean and nice... but a bit uptight. We were seated next to a bathroom at first, but we asked to be moved to another table after about 15 minutes, when we caught a whiff of bathroom chemicals and poop. NOT COOL. They knew it was my birthday and they sat us next to the bathroom??? Geez. There were many empty tables that night. Anyway, the guy was happy to seat us at another table right away.
The food was delicious! The snail and the scallop appetizers were tasty. I had the deer, it was cooked perfectly and the sauce was really good. My husband had the duck and it reminded me of the duck I had at La Foret because the sauce was sweet and yummy. We wished there were more vegetables or side dishes with our main dish. We asked for a side of veggies or something, and they brought two more little scoops of black rice for free. We liked it!
For dessert, we had the fresh berries corbeille in almond cookie cup with Grand Marnier cream. It was sooooo goooood. OH yeah, we had fun eating the three amuse bouche, and they were all excellent! The first one was like spam on a stick, the second one was on a spoon, and the third was.... I forget, but it was good.
I don't know if I'll come back here again since there are so many other restaurants in the San Jose area that I would like to try, but I would definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. -
Review from Cindy F.
12/22/2011
I can't count the number of times I've been here (a lot over the years), so this review is long overdue. In fact, I've already made reservations for New Year's Eve, since they offer a variety of options for a $95 four course menu versus Manresa, which is charging $165 for four courses. Plus, I'd rather have a nice beef filet than "beef cheeks" or whatever. Also, if you think the service is stuffy here, I actually thought Manresa was much worse, like "can I help my waitress remove the stick out of her [...]" worse.
On the many occasions I've been here, I've enjoyed pretty much everything. My favorites are:
Slow Poached Lobster - Always cooked to perfection and served with the perfect sauces to go with it. You would think this is a no brainer at a fine restaurant, but I actually had undercooked lobster at Gary Danko!
Lobster Bisque - My favorite! This bisque is super rich and flavorful with the sweet corn timbale in the middle. I started splitting this with my boyfriend, so I'm not full by the time my entree arrives.
Main Day Boat Scallops - Seared to perfection with the perfect sauces that don't overpower
Truffled Hamachi Tartar
Pear salad w/champagne vinaigrette
Beef tenderloin - Perfectly cooked and tender. Their sauces that go with are always fabulous, especially the cognac version.
Noisettes of Red Deer - One of the few places that knows how to make deer tender without tasting gamey. Tastes very much like beef tenderloin and is very rich.
Roast Pork Tenderloin
Grand marnier souffle w/fresh berries - All of their desserts are really good, but this one is my favorite.
Over the years, Le Papillon has been my classic go to French restaurant in the south bay. Honestly, I've enjoyed the French food here more than Fleur De Lys in SF even. It is more on the traditional side, but I'm not always in the mood for foam served in an eggshell or some abstract interpretation of corned beef or poached beef cheek with cuttlefish.
On the other hand, the decor and atmosphere does remind me of a rich granny's living room. The service is always very attentive, but I can see why people complain that they come off on the stuffy side. The wait staff could be more inviting and friendly, which would help customers feel more welcome and relaxed. However, what they lack in personality, they are professional and attentive, perhaps just need to let loose a little. Not everyone is in the 50+, reserved affluent customer profile.
Really, if they remodeled and created a more vibrant, sexy and modern atmosphere (i.e. Gary Danko), and were a bit more inventive with their food, that would bring it up to five stars for me. But I'll still keep coming as a loyal customer that can always count on Le Papillon to more than satisfy my French fine dining cravings without breaking the bank or having to trek all the way to the city. As is, I've been more satisfied by the food here than many other "highly rated" French restaurants in the city and Carmel Valley. -
Review from HopHop P.
San Jose, CA
2/5/2012
Good french place in town. Souffle is huge and comfort tasting. Had the 3 course besides that. Duck breast can be passed.
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Review from Simon J.
Cupertino, CA
1/26/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This was our first time here... and it was our marriage anniversary celebration... and things couldn't had been any better!
We had the tasting menu with wine paired. It was excellent throughout the whole way! Highly recommended! -
Review from cali c.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
I'm a foodie. I was not impressed by the meal here-- and i really wanted to be! We ordered the tasting menu. I found the dishes to be consistently lacking an acid element. A couple of the ingredients were repeated, like the chestnut puree, which I personally found nauseating.
Also, our server was awkward and it made me uncomfortable.
I felt like they needed to tun on some back ground music.
We were by far the youngest couple there.
There was a private party in the room with the only bathroom. I needed to go twice and it was not pleasant to have to walk through private seated dinner just to use the restroom.
Compared to Gary Danko, Michael Mina, French Laundry, this restaurant just failed to impress. Don't get me wrong, the food was lovely-- but didn't blow my mind.
2 tasting menus, 3 bottles of water and a coffee, NO Alcohol, with tip= $300 -
Review from John S.
Los Altos, CA
1/24/2012
My wife and I have been here numerous times. I usually don't get to write reviews much. Every single time we have been here has been consistent service, food and ambiance. It's one of my favorite French restaurants in the bay area. Sure there are some great ones in SF too. But this one is closer to home and we are happy with the food, service, etc.
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Review from Dan N.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm giving Le Papillon 3.5 stars out of 5.
I use to live by this place and for years I always thought it was some kind of beauty spa or something. From the outside it doesn't seem like much just an old house. But I was recently in the area again for a business trip and decided to try it out.
Right off the bat this place was a very warm, intimate atmosphere. Perfect for a date but not so good for larger groups. The decor matches the outside as a small cottage style house. Overall it was nice.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and very attentive. My drink was never empty and when I needed something it was taken care of quickly.
Throughout the entire meal they gave us 4 complimentary hor'dourves which was a nice touch. 2 of them were so so but the other 2 were amazing and deserve their own spot on the menu.
They have some unique items on the menu such as deer, foie gras, etc. That fact alone might warrant coming here to try it out.
For dinner I had:
The duck dish, which was very soft and tender. Good combination of flavor but not the big hit I was expecting. Nothing really stood out about it other then the peanut brittle which I loved. 3.5 out of 5 sporks.
I also had the hamachi tartare dish. That was the real winner for me. It was full of light savory flavor. A perfect blend of truffles, avocados, and hamachi. It melted in my mouth with every bite and I couldn't get enough. The only thing I wish is that it would have come with some kind of toasted bread or something like that. 5 out of 5 sporks.
One complaint I have came during the end of the night. I asked for separate checks for our good so we could expense it and it took nearly 40 minutes to get that taken care of. I came to find out that they do their checks by hand and that's why it took so long. A nice upscale restaurant like this should come into the 21st century and upgrade to some kind of system to speed up the check time. The 40 minutes we waited for our checks really killed the rest of the night for us. It should not have taken that long.
Overall Le Papillon is a good restaurant with some hit or miss items on the menu. Go here if you are willing to shell out $$$$ for your meal. Don't go here in a group unless you are willing to wait a long time. If you're into fine dinning then this place is worth a try if you're not then you might be better off going somewhere else. -
Review from K K.
Orange County, CA
11/30/2011
Background: Age 30s, professional. Came here with family of 5 adults. Didn't like the prix fixe menu and opted to order a la carte. Didn't drink any wine. Shared everything. Had:
Appetizer
-seared scallops: very fresh, seared just right to perfection.
-truffled hamachi scallops: a bit on the tart side, would ease up on the lemon. did not see or taste the truffle on the hamachi
-panna cotta escargot: well done panna cotta cream sauce, went well with escargot
-pan seared foie gras: seared to perfection (better than it's terrine cousin)
Soup
-lobster bisque: a bit on the heavy handed/generous side with the salt, but the taste itself is rich.
Main
-noisettes of red deer: wonderful gamy flavor, the reason I ordered it; however after about 10 mouthfuls, wanted something less pungent. Overall, I liked it; perhaps some citrus or carbs to balance the gamy nature would be nice.
-grilled Pacific swordfish: tender, but on dry side;
-sturgeon Wellington: it surprised me. This was the best entree out of all the selections; the puff pastry remained crisp and the sturgeon was perfectly prepared and moist. You'll like it if you are a fan of beef Wellington; it's a nice twist.
-loin of lamb: well executed, but nothing that really stood out. Still tasted wonderful.
Dessert
-Grand Marnier souffle: beautiful puffy presentation, soft, warm, and everything to be expected in a souffle.
Service
-server seemed a bit green, but was very enthusiastic, and anytime I asked him something he didn't know, he would run into the kitchen to ask the chef instead of making up an answer. Very attentive, and friendly.
Overall
-Damage came out to about $600 for 5 people; Wonderful deal for an upscale French restaurant in San Jose without having to drive out to San Francisco. Also, prices much more palatable than Manhattan prices
-Would come again, and would overall recommend to others, but hopefully they will read my review and perhaps work on some of the details.
-Very romantic setting, excellent for dates. -
Review from Randy F.
10/10/2011 6 photos
4 Stars Service
3.5 Stars Food
I had gone to a dinner meeting at Le Papillon and been blown away by how good the food was. It was an easy decision to eventually make a return visit.
Service and ambiance of the small, intimate restaurant is top notch. However, I can't help but be a bit disappointed by the tasting menu. I think that if you have the choice, the a la carte traditional french items are a much better way to go than the tasting menu. My thoughts below:
We came for a special occasion and the service was outstanding. They are friendly, attentive, yet never obtrusive. Despite the quiet atmosphere and dim lighting, I felt comfortable being my usual chatty self and we soon were deep in conversation.
The wine list is extensive and also very good. I'm positive you'll be able to find something to your liking or simply go with a recommended pairing.
The prices at Le Papillon are definitely higher end, but they are treading on a Michelin experience and have been one of the premier South Bay restaurants for a long time.
In a sense, Le Papillon no doubt feels the need to be innovative and to also offer more value for the money by showcasing a unique and creative experience as many high end restaurants now do. They have also decided to allow much more Asian influence in their tasting menu, which has not crept into their traditional menu, and I'm not sure it's a good thing. I realize that places like the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton and Michael Mina have been doing this, but it doesn't always work. Here, I think the classic French experience is better, so I'll have to come back some day to try that.
Several appetizers are brought out before you even start the meal and it's a nice touch. Soon the main entrees start to come out and if there's one thing I like about the tasting menu, it's the variety and selection.
Hokkaido Scallops - sashimi style and served simply. Nothing really novel about this dish if you are a frequent diner of Japanese cuisine as I am. Again, not much French about this dish.
Artic Char - cooked sous vide and retains a raw color although being cooked. This was perhaps my favorite dish of the night. Great fresh seafood and nice flavor.
Heirloom Radishes - nice vegetarian dish and creative to boot as rye bread was toasted and crumbled to resemble dirt.
Breast of Squab - another tasty dish. Great dumpling filled with squab liver.
24 Hour Missouri Wagyu Tri Tip - being cooked at a low temp for 24 hours is supposed to yield uncomparable tenderness, but I found it a bit overcooked. The sauce was wonderful but Asian influences creep in here....not jut the Wagyu meat, but also the vegetable choice of bok choy.
Sherherdista - a cheese plate. Unmemorable. More a fan of soft cheeses.
Black Mission Figs - nice dessert of figs, but didn't enjoy the pastry it was served on.
Souffle - by far the winner of the night, but an extra order and more from their traditional dessert menu. Delicious and a must order.
Overall, we had a good meal at Le Papillon. All entrees were tasty but admittedly we didn't find anything spectacular. Our favorites of the night were definitely the artic char and the breast of squab, both dishes that had the least Asian influence compared to their other menu items. As a classical french restaurant, I hope to try more of their classic menu and would probably skip the more nouveau items. Sometimes change is good, but sometimes, as with the souffle here, the classics are all right too.
Le Papillon accepts credit cards, including American Express. -
Review from steve n.
Los Gatos, CA
12/31/2011
Really was looking forward to my NYE dinner with my girlfriend and was disappointed. The service was a 7/10 and food was 7/10. Yes, they were busy for a NYE nite, but the staff kept bumping into my chair due to the fact there was a large party next to us. It got kinda annoying after the 4th TIME!!! I let it go but won't be back anytime soon and would not suggest this restaurant to fellow Yelpers. If want great French food go the the Plumed Horse in Saratoga. You will you get a excellent meal and fantastic service!
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Review from Amanda B.
*********************** 696 **************************
1 of the longest running French cuisine restos in the South Bay. If you are looking for authentic classic French cuisine, this is it for you.
Although Le Papillon located in an odd neighborhood, the layout is bit dated, but the food always consistent and good here. The wine list is also amazing. Love sitting in the back room with all the wine displayed through out the wall.
You can always go right with these few classic French dish.
- Slow Poached Lobster
- Truffled Hamachi Tartar
- Ragout of Burgundy Snails
- Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin
- Red Deer with Cabernet
- Braised Duck Breast
- Any gaming meats dishes are great here.
- The Soufflé Grand Marnier is excellent here!
Service is always good, you can always guarantee to have a great meal here. It's been a staple spot in the South Bay for so long. Michelin quality food for less! And the chef is really cool too! -
Review from Annie W.
10/16/2011
I found their seafood dishes to be their standouts: pan seared scallops were amazing. Incredibly tender and buttery. Linguini and prawn was uniquely atop some sort of fishcake, I loved the truffle cream. Slow poached lobster was a definite favorite. So tender, so juicy. They should make it into an entree dish!
The sugar snap pea soup was delicious and the hearts of palm salad was really special. Stripped in long thin slivers and the macadamia nuts finely grated into small bits which I really appreciated--makes eating nuts a whole lot easier!
The deer was still too gamey and the braised duck breast was tender and well cooked but unfortunately wasn't wow-ing.
Definitely get the grand marnier souffle. Very fluffy, very eggy (which I love!).
The atmosphere is more traditional and some could see it as stuffy. -
Review from Adolfo L.
10/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Michelin Star quality food at half the price. Well, not quite half the price but it's cheaper than say Quince or Meadowwood with comparable quality.
Le Papillon is as hidden as you could be on a corner in San Jose, kitty corner from an AM/PM, with an executive chef, not classically trained, who worked his way up from a dishwasher at LePapillon to where he is today. Some might say those are some of the reasons why this restaurant doesn't hold a coveted Michelin Star.
So why do I keep mentioning Michelin Star? That's all I could think during the meal. Sure, the dining room seemed a bit stuffy and uptight, but the service was friendly and welcoming. Every dish from the amuse bouche to the Grand Mariner Souffle was bursting with great flavors. My entree, the Walu, was probably one of the BEST pieces of fish I've ever had. Cooked perfectly, the walu had a complexity of flavors that was balanced perfectly and made it more of an experience than a simple piece of fish. Seriously, that was some fucking good fish.
So to sum it all up, you must try Le Papillon if you're in the South Bay and want some fancy French food without all the hype, with all the flavors, and without breaking the bank.
MUST TRY: The Walu, if it's on the menu... -
Review from Jennifer H.
San Jose, CA
1/4/2012
i really enjoyed my dinining experience and the food served here. we were greeted and immediately served with bread and complimentary small dishes.. these small appetizers were delicate and delicious. you get a couple of them free of charge too. we got the snail as the appetizer, which was interesting. the sauce was delicious! i got the deer meat, which was very gamey.. so i didn't enjoy it as much as i wished, but i think it was nicely prepared and cooked. my husband got the pork tenderolin, which was the best pork dish i have eaten!!! very tender and juicy! just perfect... the service was pretty good too...
we had their famous souffle for dessert. the price was fair for that big dessert, but i wasn't a fan of the airy texture for dessert/cake... it was more a personal taste preference as my husband enjoyed the dessert.
one thing that i would complain was that my husband had made the reservation specifically for my birthday celebration, so we were told that they would serve us champagne and put a candle on our dessert via email RSVP... however, it never happened.. i was quite disappointed, but i didn't want to make a big deal out of it....
i do recommend this place for people who want sophisticated food and dining experience. -
Review from J. B.
San Jose, CA
11/7/2011
3 stars seems low because its better than just OK, so i'll give it 4 but given the great reviews and reputation I would expect a bit more. Its really 3.5, i'm on the fence and "Yay! I'm a fan" is a bit too rah rah for how it realyl was.
My Fiance and I went here for our 3 year anniversary / engagement celebration. We wanted something to remember and decided this was a good bet. We were both excited to see what Le Papillon was all about. Overall we had a good time and really enjoyed trying every dish ( we did the tasting). There were a couple things off and some dishes we enjoyed more than others but overall it was a lot of fun.
The good:
We really enjoyed the amuse bouches. My favorite was a little square of foie gras (pate/terine style, smooth).
There was a tasty potato mouse with a bit of soft cheese in the bottom of the bowl, very delicious.
The wagyu beef tri-tip (unexpected cut to use, no?) was very tender and melty.
The fish course was also good, nice soft, sweet corn puree as a sauce.
The not so good:
When we arrived and were asked to wait in the waiting area there were used coffee cups on all of the tables. Nobody was there to clean them up and nobody was at the bar area in case we wanted a cocktail.
The veggies dish... whatever it was, radish, maybe beets... forgetable, clearly.
The desert: figs, sorbet, some sort of cake... boring and just a monotone sweetness, missing something.
Overall we enjoyed ourselves but were hoping for a bit more. Nothing was bad but only a few dishes left us wanting more. I'd go back to give them another shot but until then its 3.5 stars. -
Review from C D.
Menlo Park, CA
9/27/2011
I'm stingy when it comes to giving 5 stars but Le Papillon deserves it without any doubt. Last night was my first experience here and, although pricey, I left feeling like it was money well-spent because I had one of the best meals of my life.
We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and every course was exquisite. I think they brought us 3 different amuse-bouche before the meal began, and delighted we were, especially by the smoked gouda with duck meat. What a treat that is.
For me, the highlights of the meal were the sous vide Arctic Char served on a corn creme anglaise, and the 24-hour braised Wagyu tri-tip. The fish was amazingly sweet and knocked my socks off. The Wagyu beef was buttery and the jus reduction complimented it perfectly, as did the wine. The dessert was also noteworthy -- the peaches were sweet-as-can-be, and the honeycomb and Humboldt fog paired with the late harvest Riesling was just over-the-top good and precisely the right amount to finish off the meal.
Every dish was beautiful, and every wine pairing thoughtful. Our server, Paul, was perfectly attentive, knowledgable regarding the wines, and he coursed the meal at just the right pace.
I cannot recommend Le Papillon enough and will definitely be going back. -
Review from Minty O.
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review of their catering services:
LOWDOWN:
Wedding at Boulder Ridge Golf Course, Le Papillon is the preferred vendor.
PRODUCT:
The food was amazing. When my husband and i did the tasting, we knew that we were going to have an excellent meal for our guests. But you know how sometimes, at your tasting, the food is never the same on the wedding day? Yeah, not here. It was absolutely fantastic.
Our guests raved on and on about the food. From the passed hors d'oeuvres to the appetizer, from the salad to the entree.
SERVICE:
For the most part, the service was uncannily amazing. Fast and awesome. Some of my guests have special dietary needs and i stated on the menu for guests to inform the servers as such. Some of the servers didn't know or weren't informed so when guests asked, the servers were confused. But all in all, it was great.
NUTSHELL:
I haven't had much luck with caterers. they don't ever really deliver what they promise, and they make excuses like, "it's not my kitchen" or try to blame anything and everything except themselves.
Not Le Papillon. They used a plating kitchen, delivered what they promised (and more!), and BROUGHT IT ON! I highly recommend Le Papillon for any catering event. They are awesome. -
Review from Shanna N.
8/30/2011
C'est simplement magnifique!
It is seriously classy... like seriously. No cell phone, get dressed up, and get swept away by A+ service!
The decor is classical and tres chic (Better than La Foret) but it is a little dark.. I find it to be more romantic :) So don't be fooled by the odd location. -
Review from Michael M.
San Jose, CA
Le Papillon. Saying the name always reminds me of an old 70's movie with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman but that's not important now. As some of the other reviewers have written the first thing you notice after finding parking is the no cell phone sign hanging on the door. I made it a point to put my cell phone on the table just to see if an old French chef would come out of the kitchen to smash it with a rolling pin. Good thing that didn't happen because I was able to take a few nice pic's of the food with it. The night we came some kind of party was being hosted thus making it a bit loud but kind of funny because from time to time you could hear the slurs from a loud drunk woman.
The meal started with three Amuse-bouches. All tasted good and I thought the best was the heirloom tomato gazpacho. It had a nice lite and rustic taste that was very refreshing. The courses to follow are listed below in the order they were presented.
Hokkaido Scallop with Seaweed Puree, Puffed Rice, Pickled Miyoga
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Sous-vude Arctic Char with Corn Anglaise
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Heirloom Radishes with Guanciale, Tangerine, Rye
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Breast of Squab with Toasted Milk Puree and Nicoise Olive
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24 Hour Missouri Wagyu Tri Tip with Truffle-Potato Gremolata and Vincotto Jus
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Humboldt Fog with Rhubarb and Honeycomb
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Blenheim Apricot with Cocoa Butter Financier and Greek Yogurt Sorbet
All items on the tasting menu where cooked perfectly and plated nicely. The flavors in my opinion were just good but nothing to really come back for. The service was also good but a bit more refinement was needed to deliver the top notch dining experience. I also felt the interior needed to be updated. It just felt like it was trying too hard to be high end. I honestly felt that the tasting menu should be priced somewhere around 85 -90 dollars per.
If Le Papillon ever receives a Michelin star I might be back but something tells me in order for that to happen, the flavors need to be taken a small level up and a renovation is needed. -
Review from Honey B.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012
My husband and I had dinner here for our anniversary and enjoyed the experience from beginning to end. The maître d was hospitable, the other staff that would come by and pour wine and refill our breadbasket were also very attentive, and last but not least, our server, Paul was wonderful. We enjoyed the amuse bouche, we both agreed our favorite out of the three was the monkfish liver, it was delicious! We began with Truffled Hamachi Tartar with Avocado, Lemon and Pea Shoot Emulsion and the Pan Seared Maine Day Boat Scallops with Hazelnut Polenta and Preserved Lemon, both were very good. I had the Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Maitake Mushrooms, Potato Gratin and Bone Marrow, the bone marrow ravioli was my favorite part of the dish. It was so delicious! My husband had the Grilled Pacific Swordfish with Black Garlic Romesco, Piquillo Pepper-Yuzu Jam and Dauphinois Potatoes which he really enjoyed. For dessert my husband had the Roasted Banana Torte, Valrhona Milk Chocolate and Malted Anglaise and I had the Butterscotch Pudding with Chocolate, they were both very good but we both agreed we loved the banana torte the best. Overall, I have to say it was a wonderful dinner!
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Review from Pete S.
Santa Clara, CA
12/17/2011
Had dinner here last night with my Fiancee. I have driven by this restaurant for ages but never eaten there. Then my fiancee got a gift certificate for community work so we wanted to try it out.
I read the reviews and was excited about going. But I was disappointed. First the good things:
The scallop appetizer was to die for! Some of the best scallops I have ever eaten.
My Fiancee loved her butter lettuce salad and ate every bite
Her beef tenderloin was also tremendous, a beautiful cut of meat, cooked perfectly.
The home made mortadella served as a complimentary appetizer was the best mortadella I have ever eaten..
I was not so lucky.
I ordered the Red Deer. It was fine, well prepared and cooked as I ordered. But the meat was not very tender. Being a country boy, I have had a lot of venison that was better meat than this.
But my issue was the Lobster Bisque. It was atrocious. Way overcooked, it tasted burned and the only essence of lobster to be found was in the garnish. This dish should not have been served. I didn't finish it and no one asked why. I wish I had sent it back.
My fiancee loved the Grand Marnier souffle but I am not a souffle fan and ate only some sauce and berries. They were very good, as much due to the greengrocer as anything.
My Fiancee would give them five stars as she greatly enjoyed her meal. I was glad that with the gift certificate I was only out the tip.
Maybe it was just a bad night but since it was my only experience and it is quite costly, I will not be back. At these prices, a meal should not be hit or miss. -
Review from Lisa C.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/1/2011
The best wedding food I had was catered by Le Papillon and I am equally happy with my dining experience there.
The Good
* The Pea Soup was surprisingly good even after reading all the raves.
* The Foie Gras cold/hot was nicely done. The cold part is the best Foie Gras Terrine I have ever had (compared to Bouchon, The Modern and Chez TJ). The compliments (like the Rye soil) are creative and pretty. The hot Foie Gras was pan roasted. I would prefer it seared and caramelized, but it maybe the chef's intention to preserve as much of the food's original glamor as possible.
* The Deer was probably as good as a deer gets (though it is still a deer).
* The Passionfruit and Coconut dessert was a interesting dish to explore and it is much more satisfying than the ordinary Grand Marnier Souffle with Berries.
The Bad
* Lobster Bisque was okay. I fondly remember having the best Lobster Bisque ever from Le Papillon catering. Perhaps they added lobster claws or some body parts which gave the soup a weird lobster taste.
* Snail Ragout was terrible. I normally like escargot drenched in oil and garlic, but I did not enjoy a single bite of this rendition of snails.
I think Le Papillon's decor is better than Gary Danko or Manresa. I like how we don't sit elbow to elbow with the next table and there are some empty spaces. The service was top-notch even though my hubby was very dressed down and we did not order any wine. We were not looked down upon for soaking up remaining soup and sauces with bread. They automatically split dishes for us when we only order one dish for a course. We got lots of amuse bouche (though none of which was outstanding). -
Review from ed c.
San Jose, CA
11/26/2011
We're huge fans. If you get the tasting menu, you really should get the "wine" pairing - which includes beer and sake!! Pairing was perfect in each case, and really elevated the meal. Great date night place, as well as celebration spot. Love it!
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Review from Ben S.
San Jose, CA
12/4/2011
gist - food is awesome, classy service. decor is so-so.
came here with the gf. overall food is just awesome. hors d'oeuvres that came out in between appetizers and the main course were just right.
for appetizers, i got the lobster bisque, the lamb loin for the main course, and the souffle for desert. the cream has an alcoholic kick to it. yum.
what makes me a big fan of french food is the portions. they're just right. by the end of the whole meal. you don't feel super stuffed, just right.
service is great, attentive server and waitress. our waitress explained what the hors d'overs and what our orders were. filled up my water when it's half full, etc. that's a plus for me, cuz i'm heavy water drinker.
i maybe nitcpicking, but the decor is not as 'modern' i would imagined it to be. but don't let that stop you from checking this place out. -
Review from Alexis p.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2012
The food was delicious especially the duck breast. I love the soufflé Gran Marnier. It's service, however, was not good. I expected great service when I'm paying $150 for dinners for two. The waiter was too busy taking care of another older couple that we were almost ignored except when to bring out our food. Maybe next time, I'll just go to Alexander's Steakhouse.
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Review from Viking Chef C.
San Jose, CA
8/4/2011
I was somewhat looking forward to eating at Le Papillon but was rather disappointed with most of the experience. Coming here you need to look out for parking for sure, but that's not what I am going to down the restaurant on. Going through the doors into the restaurant I was at first thinking to myself"WOW, this place is nice."I then see where we were going to eat. walking into that room I felt like I was eating at my grandma's house with the whole floral upholstery and flowers everywhere. It was also dark. Like watching a horror movie when the lights just go so dim so fast that you knew something was going to happen. Yeah the lights were very very dim.
We ordered the tasting menu with the Beverage pairing...I actually liked that idea of not just wine but they also had a type of beer and a champagne with certain parts of the meal. Anywho the overall meal wasn't anything I went WOW about. My comrades and I chose our favorite parts of the meal but we all agreed that it wasn't worth the experience. Although the Pommes au gratin fondue I still think was a cool thing. The Potatoes were not a sliced but pureed and foamy strangely enough and the fondue was great. I wish the rest of the meal was as cool as that idea. Oh well Keep on trying. -
Review from Chrystell S.
San Francisco, CA
5/12/2011
Decided to have dinner here on my way to a work assignment in the Monterey area. French fine dining at its best but it will empty your pocketbook. I felt kind of bad that I wasn't really dressed for the occasion but they were very cool about it.
Torn between selecting a la carte or tackling the tasting menu, we opted for making our own selections with the assistance of our waiter. The menu changes regularly but I can honestly say that we did not have a bad dish.
They started us off with an amuse bouche. I don't know what it was but it tasted great! We shared 3 appetizers. Okay, it might have been a tad over indulgent but when you read the menu and can't decide, don't you just order everything??? How can you choose between scallops, foie gras, and tuna tartare? On top of that, we also ordered a rich and savory lobster bisque. One of the best I've ever tasted!
By now, we were stuffed. That's four dishes! But here comes the entrees of beef medallions and mutton. I would've just picked at it and not eaten much were it not for the fact it was simply marvelous. The funny thing is that our waiter kept checking on us and he was genuinely so very excited about the cuisine there. He actually inspired some of the dishes. He loved his job, verbalized it, and showed it. That's a sign of great a restaurant. His recommendations were spot on.
Don't pass up desserts either! Everything we ate was great! Simply put, this is a wonderful fine dining establishment that is creative, elegant, and satisfies even the pickiest of foodies! One slight flaw is that it will empty your wallet. Your taste buds will be satisfied but your bank account will take a hit!!!
