Had a great experience here this evening. I wanted to treat my coworkers to dinner so made a…read morereservation for a large group a few weeks prior. Making the reservation was a tad difficult since the my did not respond to my email or inquiry from their website and had to call. We arrived for our early dinner and was seated promptly. The place slowly filled up as the night went on. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and entrees. Raved about dishes were their Belgium fries, mussels, and the chicken dish. Most of my coworkers ordered the shaken filet and rice. I had the short rib. Everyone throughly enjoyed their food. They also have a nice cocktail menu. I don't drink but all of my coworkers had a drink and they all seemed to enjoy their drinks. Service was prompt and courteous. We all had a great time. I would definitely return here again.

CHECK YOUR BILL!!. I recently dined at Elyse in San Jose and wanted to share a mixed experience…read more First, the positives -- the food was genuinely very good. The dishes were well-prepared, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The overall ambiance was also enjoyable, making it a nice spot for a dinner out. Unfortunately, the experience took a concerning turn at the end of the meal. Our bill came out to $86.42, and I handed my credit card to the waiter. Within seconds (thanks to my card alerts), I received a notification that $103.92 had been charged. When the waiter returned with the receipt, there was no mention of any discrepancy. After waiting a few minutes to see if it would be addressed, I brought it up myself. The waiter appeared flustered and then claimed he had accidentally charged me for someone else's food. That explanation didn't align with the itemized bill I was given, which made the situation feel questionable. He assured me that it would be corrected and that I should see the adjustment in a few days, which I'll be watching closely. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of transparency and the fact that it wasn't proactively disclosed is what left a bad impression. Being overcharged without explanation -- and having to catch it myself -- is not something I expect when dining out. I'd consider coming back for the food, but I'd definitely be more cautious when it comes to the bill.

We wanted a special place to celebrate our wedding anniversary and La Foret delivered!…read more The restaurant is located in deep Almaden Valley. The historic property is built along a creek with views of lush greenery. The tables are beautifully spaced out so it feels intimate. The vibe is romantic and quiet. When we arrived, we were greeted with a Happy Anniversary by both the host and the manager/owner(?). I had requested a quiet table along the window and that is exactly where we were seated. Our server, Michael, was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. He had the perfect blend of attentiveness without being obtrusive. Perfect for a romantic dinner. We both ordered the Le Domaine six course tasting menu. Every bite was absolutely exquisite and in perfect portions. The presentation was artful. The starter was Prawns Meunière. The prawns were in a lemon butter sauce - amazing. Next was Salade Francaise (butter lettuce perfectly dressed with a mustard tarragon vinaigrette) followed by a bay scallop in a light saffron sauce with a puff pastry. Our first meat was elk in a portabella cognac demi-glaze reduction. It was incredibly tender. Our entree was the rack of lamb. We ordered it medium and it was perfectly prepared. The lamb was plated with a wild rice pilaf and grilled vegetables. We finished with the Gateau Au Chocolat Fondant topped with vanilla bean cream with a side of fresh whip cream. A lovely surprise followed with a Happy Anniversary creme brûlée. The price was splurge pricing but worth every penny for a special occasion.

Ugh! My husband wanted me to take him out to La Foret for his birthday dinner last night. We hadn't…read morebeen there in years and the menu looked really iffy for this Pollopescetarian but I complied. Here's what all went wrong: --We waited 30 minutes with only water glasses, a stack of menus, and a placed (but not fulfilled) drink order before getting up to leave. The host convinced us to return to our tables and said he'd personally wait on us. --When my drink finally arrived, the name didn't sound familiar so I asked if it was the one with blueberries in it. Turns out it wasn't! The bartender had called in sick and the substitute (a server, I think) didn't know the recipe so they just brought me some other drink. WTH?!? What if I'd been allergic to something in this other drink?!? I sent it back . --Why did the restaurant not have a set of drink recipes for each cocktail in their menu?!? The bartender calling in sick shouldn't have prevented them from being able to mix a cocktail ordered off the menu! --My salad looked and tasted great, but was drowning in dressing! Better to have served it on the side! --The menu doesn't include any hot vegetable sides. The porcini tortellini dish I ordered tasted great but was pretty overpowering without something on the side. --We never ordered the appetizer we wanted to share because the place was so chilly and the service so pathetic. So, I actually left feeling a bit hungry after just the salad and half an order of the tortellini. In an attempt to be balanced in my review here, my husband loved his wild boar with mashed potatoes and green beans! And the host/waiter brought him a little birthday creme brûlée to share, plus tried hard to get us to accept a totally comp'ed dinner (which we refused). But if my husband wants to go to this place for a future birthday, it'll have to be with a different wife!

Tasting Menu 5 presentation, flavors, texture were all very good…read moreService 5 Ambiance 5

I haven't been to Le Papillon in 20 years, but I could hardly remember my experience then. My…read morehusband had never been, so our recent dinner was basically new to us. We were both highly impressed by the food and service. My husband didn't expect the restaurant to look as fancy as it did. That said, there were a mix of guests wearing anything from casual to formal attire. It was New Year's Eve though, so I felt like most guests erred to the side of being well dressed. There was a 4-course prix fixe menu for the evening, which was superb. Each course had 4-6 options, and I was extremely pleased with everything my husband and I chose. My salad with had baby lettuce, toasted pecans, and shaved feta was the best salad I've had all year. The sea bass I got for the main course was particularly outstanding. I was informed that the sea bass was a staple of the daily dinner menu, so I can't wait to get this dish again. The dinner was also accompanied by complimentary bread service, amuse bouches, and mignardises. Last but not least, overall service was excellent. Kendra was our lead server, and she was friendly, attentive, and very helpful when it came to making selections. All the wait staff members were on top of clearing plates and refilling beverages. The pace by which the food was brought out was perfect.

I totally understand how they made the top 100 in the SF Chronicle list, it's so well deserved!…read more I have only heard golden reviews of goodtime bar through peers and thought it was a great time to finally check it out! I came here with a friend on a weekday for dinner and it was not packed at all. The atmosphere was very minimalist and clean, with a cute disco ball in the corner. This establishment requires you to order at the bar (makes sense it's a bar), and then they did you a number for the table so they can deliver your food. Any drinks you order they will make it right then and there for you to bring over. In terms of food, here is everything we ordered and my thoughts! *Deviled eggs: You would think since it's deviled eggs, there wouldn't be anything too special about them but I appreciated the small pops of salmon roe that added a nice textural play with the creamy eggs! * Bluefin tostada: Absolutely delicious with fresh tuna, paired with mango, on a crispy wonton chip. What a rich treat. * Arancini: The twist of fusion flavors was great. I love how the Japanese curry added a nice mix of umami, paired with the sharp creamy kimchi sauce. Definitely a favorite! * Pork belly: Pull apart, juicy, and tender! These paired actually really well with the arancini for a good balance of rice and meat. * Red miso crème brûlée: interesting sweet and salty flavor combination between the red miso and Madagascar vanilla. Not too overpowering tho. A lovely meal was had here!

goodtime keeps me in San Jose. What more is there to say? I…read morewish I could come more often than I already do! Food staff and wine are all the best

We absolutely love and adore the staff at Left Bank Brasserie. My husband and I have visited many…read moretimes, often bringing along family and friends, and every visit has been consistently wonderful. The ambiance is beautiful and welcoming, and your team truly sets the tone -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. It makes such a difference and keeps us coming back. We've always enjoyed the food -- I especially love the pan-roasted chicken, it's just lovely. And every time I have the burger, it takes me right back to France, where I lived for over 17 years in the south. That kind of authenticity is hard to find and so appreciated. What makes it even more special is that my husband occasionally gets to converse in French with some of your staff -- which he absolutely loves. It adds such a personal and authentic touch to the experience. For our wedding anniversary last year, your staff really went above and beyond to take care of us. We had such a wonderful night, and it's a memory we truly cherish. This is one of those places we feel confident recommending to anyone. Thank you for consistently making us feel so welcome -- we'll definitely be back again and again.

We went there for a date night, which, sadly, with our schedules and budget, is a rare occasion…read more The happy hour menu was abysmal (warm olives with 4 tiny overtoasted crostini pieces was extremely underwhelming). The regular menu is also very limited, so I went for the cheeseburger. My Left Bank Cheeseburger was overcooked, smothered in arugula, and the top bun was almost too hard to bite. My partner had the lemon linguini which was much too rich and saucy. Also, the outdoor seating was in between two live musicians that night, which is no fault of the restaurant, but took away from the experience. The service was fine, however, and attentive enough.

Big space & good service. Food was also pretty good. -…read moredrinks: our drinks were good, not amazing. - tuna tar tar: good, pretty standard or rather basic. - gnocchi: great favor with truffle nose. Alton much sauce for my liking but enjoyed it. Gnocchi was soft & yummy. - Brussels sprouts: very flavorful. Came in a watery sauce which made me skeptical first but really enjoyed it. - shrimps with garlic sauce: shrimps were cooked well & sauce was good. Overall it was fine.

Popped here for a happy hour on a Friday. They had just opened and the place was mostly empty. This…read morereview is for happy hour and food only. We ordered: Fish tacos- 3/5 while the fish was perfectly crispy it was way too greasy. Also the chipotle sauce that came with it lacked flavors Chicken wings. - would've given 4/5 but I'll settle on 3/5. The flavors were great, crispness was there, sauce was just right. Alas one of the pieces was a bit raw. Potato skin - 3/5 nothing to rave about. Could've use a bit of sauce. We had wine and a cocktail. Cocktail was really well balanced (the last word). Overall, it was ok but also a bit disappointing given the price point.

Very nice French bistro place. Food is very good with a very reasonable price, not much differences…read morefrom getting brunch from other breakfast places but you get a better food. We got a tuna salad and mussel with fries. The French press coffee is very good. The place is also nice and not too noisy. Will come back in the future

Amazing french food!! Vibes inside were cozy and well decorated. Could be great for a date night…read morespot or cute dinner with the girls. Our server was so patient with us and gave us the specials of the day. My water cup was also never empty!! The server also kept refilling our bread basket (the bread was so good haha). At one point the chef personally stopped by and asked how our food was! We ordered the escargot, mussels & fries, and the duck cassoulet. Everything was delicious! The duck was my favorite and would highly recommend. Escargots were perfect as well. The mussels were okay to me but still good! Overall 10/10 experience. Vibe were great. Food was chefs kiss. Service was the cherry on top!

I had bookmarked Épernay Bistro for a while, and finally came here for dinner with my husband on…read moreWednesday. We came here a couple of times when it was still Billy's Boston Chowder House. The brick walls and blackboards looked familiar. There's still a long table in the middle. With the new chairs and tablecloths, the place looked more classy than before. The floating shelves at the top of the walls were all lined with wine bottles. There're some gigantic bottles towards the back as well. It's quite a nice place to have a quiet, intimate dinner with the causal, yet upscale vibe. There're about eight tables (1-2 persons@) while we're there, and service was attentive, despite having only one server. For the $80 dinner for 2 special, we got to pick one item from each of the first two selections to share, two entrees, and one beignet each. We also added a beet salad to share, and my husband had the wine pairing. For our first course, the two baked oysters were cheesy and rich. It would be better if they were bigger, though. Our second course, the caramelized onion soup was perfectly prepared, one of the best I had ever had. The beet salad was refreshing, and the dressing was so tasty that it made arugula tasted good. I had the sole as my entree; it was cooked well, light and delicious. I took a bite of my husband's slow braised short ribs; it was tender and flavorful. The beignets were delightful, and paired really well with the dark chocolate and salted caramel sauce. I really appreciated that all their hot dishes came out really hot. Overall, it was a really enjoyable dinner. Would be back to have the onion soup again and try other items on the menu.

This used to be one of my wife's and my favorite places--a charming French bistro with great food…read moreand an atmosphere that always made us feel welcome. Unfortunately, our most recent visit completely changed that. We had reservations for a Saturday evening and were seated promptly. That's where the positive experience ended. After being seated, we waited 20 minutes without a single acknowledgment from staff--no greeting, no water, nothing. Meanwhile, other parties who arrived after us were attended to right away, which made the situation even more frustrating. After more than 30 minutes of being completely ignored, we decided to leave. It was honestly one of the most uncomfortable and disappointing dining experiences we've had. As strong supporters of local restaurants, this was especially disheartening given how much we used to enjoy coming here. Sadly, this experience has permanently changed how we feel about this place, and we won't be returning. I hope the staff takes this as a reminder that every customer deserves the same level of attention and respect.

When I arrived for my friend's birthday, there wasn't a reservation but thankfully since we showed…read moreup right when they opened, they accommodated and made us feel comfortable! Everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere was inviting with soft lighting. We all ordered the Jager Schnitzel, it was creamy and delicioussss! That came with Spatzel which is basically like a buttery pasta. Both parts of the dish could have used a touch of salt but still highly recommend. The soufflé was fluffy and had a nice addition of a blueberry compote underneath like a little surprise when you go to scoop. The ice cream tied it all together nicely. Will definitely be going back again! *All written while thinking about the delicious mocktail I sipped on

As yelp puts it, 2 stars, definitely could've been better…read more 2 of us ordered: 16 oz hazy ipa $13, pricing doesn't match menu scallops $28 paprikawurst $17 goat cheese purse salad $16 tagliatelle pasta $34 NY steak $52 Staff attentiveness was good to start...but as it got busy, almost non existent. Scallops and paprikawurst were good. Everything else needed work. Steak was overcooked which was unfortunate. Also, 3% surcharge for credit card in this day and age is a bit foul. Street parking only.

It's old-world French fine dining using local Californian ingredients. I ordered the full tasting…read moremenu, and my favorite course was the soufflé with the best Dungeness crab fondue. I honestly could have eaten an entire bowl of what felt like a crab bisque. The proteins were plentiful, ranging from red snapper, squab and lamb. The panna cotta and s'mores desserts were to die for. The service was incredible. Chef Charlotte and the team Lenny, Chris, Bong, Tyler, and Carla were all awesome. Grateful I got to walk in and dine at this spectacular establishment.

My wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a wonderful dinner at the Plumed Horse…read more The valet out front was a great way to start, because parking at peak times in Saratoga is super challenging- but not for us the other night. Thank you, valet guy! Once seated, we marveled at the beautiful setting and service. We had a nice table against the window and our expert server, Eli, was warm, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. Actually everyone on the staff was kind and attentive, and they all seemed to enjoy their jobs which you don't see too often these days. From start to finish the food was exceptional. The canapés in the 1st course were amazing and my favorite bite of the night was the tiny delicate pillow canapé with goat cheese and agave. Then for course #2 my wife had oysters and I went with a porcini mushroom orecchiette. we loved the pastas we used to get when the less formal sister restaurant Pasta Armelino used to be across the street, and this pasta would have been perfect for that menu. I had the Ling Cod entree and my wife had the duck. If we had to name 1 critical note about our experience at the Plumed Horse it would be that both of our main courses seemed a little bland. My wife would have wanted some acidity in her duck dish like from a fruit like cherry or plum, which are often paired with duck. Similarly my Ling Cod wanted something more too, whether spice or sweetness or something. But both dishes were cooked perfectly- we were just left wanting a little bit more. A highlight of the meal was our Pommes Paillasson side, which is like extra crispy French fries but with rich mashed potatoes in the middle. Heavenly. We finished with amazing desserts - my wife had an apple soufflé and I had a deconstructed s'mores - both were amazing. We had champagne toasts (my wife had a traditional champagne and mine was without alcohol), a glass of wine (wife), a spirit-free cocktail (me again), amazing food and an excellent experience. Lurvely meal.