My partner and I decided to eat at this restaurant for our anniversary! This is a breakdown of the food we ate and our experience. Seating - We were seated right by the window that views over the creek. We had the corner table and it was perfect. I think it was the best seat in the section we were at! Bread and Butter starter - You can't go wrong with bread and butter. Contains sourdough and white. - Initial basket was cold. Our second basket was warm and toasted. Ahi Tuna as Appetizer - It is seared on the outside and raw on the inside. Very tasty. The sauce that was paired with it is savory and had a slightly pungent taste due to the horseradish. It was the perfect balance. Tortellini - The sauce is creamy and rich but it is also tangy. I felt the tanginess was too overpowering for my preference. Rib eye - This was my partners meal and he ordered it rare. I was given 2 bites LOL. It came out tender and perfectly seasoned. Easy to chew and was very delicious. Service - It was great! Our server Alondra was very sweet and friendly. We felt welcomed and she made our experience memorable. Gifts - We received pens! - We also received a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. read more

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Tucked away creekside, La Foret is a sparkling gem of finery in rustic Almaden. What a classic! My Pierre and I are all aglow after a meal savoring classical French cuisine! For an appetizer we shared the Tortellini, which we agreed was good and had a pungent sauce reminiscent of a garlicky sundried tomato and mushroom bisque. For our second course we each had Salad Francais, which was composed mostly of simple fork-and-knife butter lettuce with a delicate French Vinaigrette made with a Tarragon-infused Olive Oil and garnished with Cucumber and Radish. Though simple, this salad shines and was a favorite! For our entrée course, Pierre ordered the Medallions of Elk Loin and I had the Bison Ribeye. Pierre's Elk Medallions came with Portabella Mushrooms and a juicy semi-sweet Cognac Demi. My Bison entrée was enormous and was served with a Peppercorn Cabernet/Courvoisier Demi. Both entrées were paired with very simple petite haricots vert and buttery puree of potatoes. Pierre's entrée was normal in size. I was feeling a little sorry for him, played mother wolf and gave him slices of my gigantic gorgeous Bison steak. Both entrée were cooked perfectly to temperature. For dessert I chose the Gran Marnier Souffle which came with a créme Anglais. I am so glad that we ordered this unique and delicious desert! It was lighter than air and a perfect finish to the meal paired with espresso! This refinement of the menu is reflected in time-honored culinary traditions with technique that allows the ingredients to shine. Nothing was oversalted or overpowering. If subtlety is not for you, then you might miss the point. ****************************************** While at La Foret, we met Maître D' Sami and Waiter Alan. Sami bent over backwards at every moment to acknowledge us each and every time that he was in our presence, even going so far as to offer to try to seat us when his restaurant was packed, although we had arrived fifteen minutes early. We declined his offer, of course! Alan was warm, witty, attentive and helpful. I am so glad that we followed his advice and ordered TWO salad Francais! Both of these gentlemen staff embodied grace and gave us the feeling that we were welcome in ernest from the start. The service at La Foret tonight was really shining and makes us want to come back again! *************************************** The impetus of our visit began when by chance I saw the restaurant when I was in the neighborhood. It is absolutely lovely and I had been wanting to visit for several months. The inside of the restaurant is also a beauty! read more

La Foret - A view from our inside table, of the outside balcony. - French Near Me - San Jose, California

Went to celebrate my mom's birthday today and wanted to share our experience! I made a reservation for 5:30 PM, and we were running a bit late, so we called to let them know. They were really accommodating, and we had no issues when we arrived. I made the reservation for outdoor seating near the creek. I will say, it did look a bit "bare" since there weren't a lot of tables outdoors, but nonetheless, it was very aesthetic. Another thing I would like to mention is the bugs. I had already seen in the reviews that there tended to be mosquitoes and other bugs because of the restaurant being next to the creek, so just a heads up if you're planning on sitting outside. I will say it was a little annoying during the meal having to keep flicking away mosquitoes and a fly that kept bothering us, but realistically, there isn't much they can do about that. Now for the food! You get complimentary bread, and honestly, the bread wasn't anything amazing. They serve you sourdough and regular bread with cold butter. The first tray they brought us was a bit cold and hard, but then the second round of bread the waiter brought us was fresh, warm, and a bigger portion since there were four of us. After a while, though, it did get harder. Still, it was good. I ordered the Pasta Frutti di Mare, and it was solid. I felt like the seafood wasn't the most seasoned, though. There wasn't much flavor, if I'm being honest. It wasn't bad, but I would recommend getting something else, like the Steak Diane. My mom got the Steak Diane, and she ordered it well done. It was really tender and cooked amazingly. I definitely recommend the steak over the pasta! The mashed potatoes were also good. I will say, though, that although the meat itself was good, I felt like it lacked a bit of seasoning and flavor. This was something I noticed with all of the proteins we ordered. Next, my sister got the ribeye. Once again, the meat was amazing and very tender, and she got it medium well. But again, it lacked that flavor aspect. I'm not saying it was bad--it was good--but it just lacked that extra flavor. The ribeye came with what looked like quinoa, and from what I could tell, I think it had some kind of cheese in it. I thought it was okay, nothing mind-blowing, but my mom thought it was a little salty. I personally didn't have an issue with it, but I just wanted to point that out. My father got the bison. The meat was, once again, very tender, and he ordered it well done. But again, it lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were good, but personally, I would much rather recommend the steak over the bison. If I were to rank everything we ordered, I would say: 1. Steak Diane 2. Ribeye 3. Pasta Frutti di Mare 4. Bison Then for dessert, we were recommended their house-special dessert, which needed to be prepared 20 minutes ahead of time. It was a Grand Marnier soufflé, and I personally would skip this one. It had a pretty strong Grand Marnier/alcohol flavor, which I'm assuming is intentional given the dessert, but it just wasn't for me. Since we were celebrating my mom's birthday, we also got a complimentary crème brûlée. It was good. I would much rather have the crème brûlée over the soufflé, but honestly, I wasn't wowed by that either. Lastly, my parents both got coffee. I don't know... it tasted like regular coffee to me. Overall, I would say it's a one-and-done kind of place for me. The atmosphere was really nice, the service was good, and the food wasn't bad, but I just wasn't wowed enough to want to come back. read more

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My partner and I came here to celebrate our anniversary, and we had a good time. The ambiance is beautiful and very inviting. However, as we were taking pictures near the flowers, one of the restaurant staff opened the door and approached us in a way that seemed slightly aggressive, as if the assumption was that we were not there to dine in. It took me off guard to be interrupted in that manner, but we went in and sat by our table. We were intrigued by the meat selections and got what our server recommended. Overall, the dishes were both good! The proteins were cooked well, but I do wish there was more complexity in flavors with the dishes, such as some acidity to brighten up the meat and sauted veggies. Regardless, we had a fine night. read more

La Foret - French Near Me - San Jose, California

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came here for a date night/celebratory dinner and was blown away by how this place looked! Loved the vintage vibes and the decor, this place used to be a hotel back in the day so I love that they kept the style. The bartender who made our cocktails was super friendly and gave me a flower in my French 75 so my bf and I could match (haha). Service was fantastic. We were seated outside so we had a wonderful view of the creek and the music selection fit the vibes. Highly recommend for a date night, special occasion, or if you're looking to treat yourself. read more

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19 yrs. That's how long the hubby & I have been married for. Tonight, the hubby & I went to La Foret for our anniversary dinner. I got the rib eye & the hubs got the lamb. As an appetizer we shared the prawns. Everything was delicious. My steak was very well cooked & the asparagus w/the steak was grilled & a lovely accompaniment to the steak. The hubby loved the lamb & the wild rice. The hubs doesn't drink & got a delicious mocktail called Sun-kissed passion. Add a shot of coconut rum to that drink & I am fully onboard. But... the highlight of our night (besides the service & ambience) was... dessert. I got the key lime cheesecake & the hubs got the chocolate lava cake w/ice cream. The cheesecake was sublime! It was light, not overly sweet & didn't make me feel like I swallowed a brick. It was so good. The chocolate lava cake was the perfect size. We would both take bites of each other's dessert & while the hubs loved the chocolate cake.... He really enjoyed the cheesecake best. Mademoiselles & Monsieur's if you're looking for a romantic restaurant to take your significant other, enjoy a great dinner & dessert at La Foret. read more

La Foret - The entrance to the restaurant. - French Near Me - San Jose, California

We wanted a special place to celebrate our wedding anniversary and La Foret delivered! 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. read more

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Amazing service. Great food. Elevated dining experience for sure. I have a food allergy and felt very well cared for. We had the decent course tasting menu with wine pairing. read more

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This place was darling! Their patio presented right next to a beautiful creek while the restaurant was off the beaten road in a shaded wood. What a magical place. We thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. If you want to get away and enjoy some natural peace and quiet, this is the spot. The service was good, we were way out on the patio, probably very hard to get to for the server, but they still made sure we were cared for and my water glass stayed full. We got delicious food. It was a little pricey, but worth it. The steak was huge and we got full immediately. Thank you for having us, La foret! read more

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food as always excellent, service as always excellent, ambiance very lively in bucolic setting views of leafy trees and creek all inside a well kept 200 year old hotel read more

The ambiance is really what you paying for at this restaurant. The food came out quickly and we were seated promptly. But that's mostly it and I do not think worth paying $300 for dinner. The food is very good but not anything that is so good that it will stick with you. The service is good but disappointing. I picked this place to celebrate my engagement and I told them on the phone that I wanted to make it a special night. When I got there, I mentioned it again but there was nothing done to honor the occasion. I was really hoping they would do something unique like bring out a special dessert or drink or something to make it memorable but we got none of that. This is a solid restaurant all around but solid is not good enough for $300. It checks all the boxes and does everything well but nothing great and, when it came to the service, let me down. I do not think I'll go here again. read more

Food was good but quite expensive. Had the veal, elk, and the seafood pasta. Came here for a birthday dinner and I wish they had more personal touches to make that it a bit more special. I think I meant to order half a glass of wine but found out they gave me a full glass when I got the bill. On weekday evenings it is a quiet spot to have an intimate dinner. If I benchmark to another birthday dinner experience I had at sabor and sazon in paso robles recently, I feel that was equally delicious and better priced. Plus they gave like a rose, handwritten card, and free dessert for the birthday person. read more

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The food was good. The ambiance is stunning. I would say this place is great for a Date night, Business Meeting / Get together. Please has great options for alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. The pictures is some of the food that my boyfriend and I order. We went here for my boyfriend's birthday. I do recommend buying Costco gift cards for this business and then come here and have a romantic dinner. The prices will explain the atmosphere and I loved spending time looking around. I will be coming back. read more

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We try to go to La Foret for our anniversary every year and the food always amazes us. We love the ambiance and the staff. We noticed the same staff there which makes it more welcoming where most restaurants, you usually see new faces after a few years. The staff also helped take photos of us before and after dinner. We usually order 3 appetizers when we eat there and we ordered our go to appetizer which was the prawns meuniere. It is so rich in flavor with the buttery sauce. It comes with 3 prawns so better to order 2. It's that good. I decided to order the escargot over the mushrooms for appetizers since I forgot how they tasted. The escorgot came got so be careful when eating it. I am use to escargot being baked in pesto sauce so this was a nice switch. The escargot texture is similar to clams but a little tougher and the garlic butter sauce added a good flavor. They offered a special sliced raw tuna with jalapeno and mustard and pickle. This was a really good dish. I hope they add this to the menu instead of offering it as a limited time. I wish the jalapeno was a spicy but the mustard gave it a good kick and the jalapeno was crisp. Adding that pickle in the mix somehow worked pretty well and gave the dish a very unique taste in a very good way. My wife ordered the mushroom soup and I took a taste and was amazed that I had to order one for myself. The texture reminded me of clam chowder but not as thick. The flavor was amazing and I highly recommend it if they offer this soup during your visit. I ordered the wild boar and flavor was good. This is my first time trying wild boar. I usually order the venison, lamb, or elk. The meat was tender at first bite but as I chew, the meat was tough. The sauce that cane with the wild boar complimented it pretty. I ordered the mushroom soup to eat with the wild boar meat so i dipped the boar meat into the mushroom soup and wow, that was amazing. The flavor of the mushroom soup with the boar went perfectly well together. I will definitely order this again with the soup. My wife ordered the pasta fruit de mer. she was full off the appetizers and bread so she had to take some to go. I was able to sneak a taste of the boodle and it had a lot of flavor. My wife didn't let me try the scallop or the shrimp though so can't tell if it's good. My wife killed the scallop and said it was really good. She also liked the shrimp and she's not a big fan of grilled shrimp. For dessert, I ordered the souffle. It was very fluffy and light. Taking the bite I can taste the hint of alcohol which reminds me of rum. The sauce that surrounds the souffle was very good. My wife ordered the creme brulee which is her go to dessert here so she really likes it. The fact that the portion wasn't big made it more appetizing for her. If you have a special occasion and want to take ur partner out, I highly recommend this place. You can't wear shorts or sweatpants, just fyi. I recommend setting a reservation on Yelp to ensure you get seated just in case it gets booked by walk ins. Be prepared to stay there for at least 1.5 hours. They really make sure your food and drinks get prepared to perfection. My wife and I enjoy this time to relax and talk in between dishes and drinks. It also gives us time to soak in the view and enjoy what's around us. If you want to come here for Valentine's day, make sure you book way in advance. This place gets fully booked during that day. They do need you to provide a credit card to hold your reservation just in case you cancel. So make sure you can make it when you set your reservation. read more

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I had dinner there in celebration of a birthday. The all gender restrooms are really disgusting. Used to be a women's room and a men's room. Of course, this is the second time this has happened to me at a venue that decided to have all gender restrooms, I walked in on a man in the bathroom. Who didn't bother to lock the door. This time, this man did not expose himself to me, however, that has happened before. It ruined the night. I wish that Business owners would be more concerned about offending women than a very small part of society that demands transgender restrooms. The food quality was not as good as usual. I will not be frequenting this restaurant anymore. read more

Quite overpriced for what they offered. Definitely meets expectations but dishes were either a hit or a miss and even the hits lacked that extra umph in flavor, creativity, and cooking execution. Disappointing to spend this much when you could eat elsewhere and witness culinary art. Even the service here, although cordial, it lacked the Michelin esque of someone who craves fine dining. Dishes from best to least best -------- * Scallops appetizer (Sea Scallop, Light Saffron Herb Cream, Puff Pastry) - OH MY GOSH. The Scallops were cooked to perfection in tenderness. The Puff pastry was a little tough and not flaky not enough. The saffron herb cream sauce had hearty character and was such a clever but subtle savory blend. Could not get enough of this. Only 2 pieces but Best dish of the night. * Escargot - nicely done. Flavors were subtle but flavorful and well balanced. A hidden predictable hue. * El di mar - surprisingly a great smokey flavor. Seafood was cooked just ok. Good, one of the top entrees for what it was. Technically more enjoyable than the venison but the venison was definitely worth a try. * Elk - cooked to perfection. Great flavor highlighting the taste of elk as opposed to other flavor notes. Flavor was slightly better than the venison especially if you're not a sour cranberry sauce kind of person. However cook wise the meat was a bit tougher than I expected but still softer than the venison. Delicious mashed potatoes (that was a bit too heavily creamed but still delicious) to compliment the meat. The elk and the venison were both a close call but I think the Elk was done slightly better as a whole so I'd go with that. * Venison - was a bit turned off by the uneven cook. When I did get a bite of medium rare it was delicious but the other bites were quite tough and dry. The server even brought out a large steak knife for me to cut through whereas she said the other dishes were tender enough to not need a steak knife. The cranberry sauce was a bit too tart but if you only grab the cranberry fruits with the meat it was a good pairing. The wild rice hash was so bad I took one bite and couldn't finish the rest. Had a bad aftertaste. I wish I ordered this more rare than medium rare as the chef cooked it too tough on some portions of the rack. * Rack of lamb - not gamey. Cooked to perfection. I wish the flavor was a bit more unique in its pairings but still an excellent straightforward lamb cut with no sear. * Beef tartare - did not perfer this as much. Felt like it was puréed raw beef instead of finely chipping with spices. The accompanied bread was rock hard and it was not a great spread. Would not get again. * the desserts were so bad which was surprising for a French restaurant. I would not get these again but if you need to finish off a sweet note, then the sampler plate aka the I can't decide was perfect because it only gave you a tiny bite of each. The creme brulee was not as creamy or custardy the bruleed top didn't integrate with the custard and you could still taste the granular sugar that hadn't fully carmelized yet. The chocolate tart's crust was so hard that a spoon/fork couldn't break into it so the chocolate mousse part fell off as we were trying to dig into the crust. The cheesecake had such a different texture which was amazingly simple and light in its flavor if you line that kind of non sweetness. Overall there was no umph to any of it and the fruit were tart so it was probably more of just decor as opposed to intentional pairings. ---------- Overall a fun night out as the ambiance was beautiful but not "lavishly beautiful." There's still a long ways to go for this restaurant to be on the $$$$ tier but lack the finishing finishes of a true fine dining restaurant. Free parking lot in the back of the restaurant. read more

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Nice ambiance, they add roses to the tables and overall a very romantic place to go. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and they brought a small birthday treat afterwards with a candle which was sweet. The service is pretty attentive and overall happy to pack anything in boxes for you even if you're doing a 5 or 6 course meal. Food was okay -- pricey for what it was but also just pricey considering some of the dishes were okay and not amazing, but I did love the final steak dish I had as well as the quail dish. My boyfriend had an elk dish which was decent too, and I tried the steak tartare appetizer which was interesting too. Lots of good options and I recommend trying this place at least once! read more

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La Foret = family owned charm with Michelin service. With warm, attentive service and perfectly paired food and wine, this place is great whether you're celebrating an engagement party, corporate event, or a romantic date. If you're a wino, you'll appreciate the wine list here, and how they do their pairings. It beats many Michelin restaurants! They were also nice enough to alter my menu as I'm pescatarian, and thus, my wine also needed to be altered. At the same time, my date and I drove so we shared one tasting. They were so accommodating, making sure our food and wine still matched. This is what we had: Caviar: 3/5 I couldn't taste the caviar (maybe that's good?), but the presentation was cute. I thought it could have been better paired with other foods than plain crackers, chopped eggs and horseradish. Seared tuna: 5/5 best tuna I've ever had! Perfectly flavored and seared, yet tender like sashimi. Seared scallop: 4/5 tender and juicy. The mini puff pastry was a nice touch. The sauce could have had a tad more flavor. Lamb tartare: 5/5 I'm not a fan of lamb but this was so good! Not gamy and just right on flavor. Wagyu: 4/5 could have been a tad more tender but my date did order it well done. Possible red flag haha. Gateau au Chocolat Fondant: 5/5 perfectly decadent and not overly sweet Soufflé Grand Marnier: 1/5 y'all I love alcohol, but not when my dessert tastes like a shot! All I tasted was liqueur. read more

Amazing service! Food was great as well, very romantic - 1 appetizer 2 entrees and 4 drinks were about 250$ ! Great price for overall ambiance but would only say be careful going around sunset I came out the restaurant with a bunch of mosquito bites read more

La Foret - Outdoor patio - French Near Me - San Jose, California

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One of my favorite date night spots. I've eaten outside and inside..This time was outside and went around dusk. It was beautiful during the meal but be advised that the bugs come out quickly. During our meal, we had very kind servers trying their best with an area change. Our food got slightly delayed because servers didn't realize our table was added. The food itself was delicious. I usually get the ribeye and husband always gets the wild boar. Maybe one day he try something else but probably not. Till next date night. read more

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I had an incredible experience here, all thanks to our server Sean, who was both attentive and knowledgeable. My partner and I visited on a Saturday night. We thought it would've been extremely busy so beforehand we requested for side-to-side seating since we would be able to hear each other talk better compared to sitting right across. When we entered, it wasn't really busy so we asked our hostess if they can move us to a nice quiet table next to the river. We were able to hear each other talk and even hear the water flowing through the river. Although it was a cold night, the heat lamps were enough to keep us warm. We honestly didn't want to order anything out of our ordinary nor did want to try something new that night so we didn't order from the course menu, just really here for the ambiance and experience. We ordered the ahi tuna as an appetizer which I honestly wish I ordered as a whole entree cause of how delicious it was. Everything served was quite delicious and made with love and delicate care which all that matters! read more

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Last Saturday we had my husband's 50th birthday party at La Foret. From start to finish, the whole process was absolutely stress free and the party itself was AMAZING! All our guests fell in love with La Foret. We got so many compliments for the event! The beautiful space, the food, the service - all top notch! I also want to mention Lisa Bonelli who was the event coordinator. She met with us, answered my calls, emails & texts and was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was so organized and capable and every interaction with her put me at ease. I was able to enjoy the event because she and the other staff were working efficiently and seamlessly in the background. An amazing experience all around. I 100% recommend La Foret! read more

My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary and it was delicious! It's tucked very deep in the woods of San Jose- there's no service but it's right next to a river and it's beautiful! Waterfront was super friendly and very nice. Our dinner was delicious. It's definitely great for a fancy special occasion. There are seats inside and outside, we got lucky to be seated outside right by the river! The inside vibe is also really cool. I loved the decorations. read more

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A Lovely First French Dining Experience La Forêt was one of the first French restaurants I had the chance to try, and overall, it was a great experience. The ambiance was absolutely spectacular, even though we visited on a rainy day. We celebrated my wife's birthday here, and the staff went above and beyond--welcoming, attentive, and making us feel like part of the family. While the food was enjoyable, it didn't quite leave a lasting impression on me personally. That said, I'm still glad we got to experience it, and I can see why so many people love this place! read more

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We came here last night to celebrate our anniversary and absolutely loved it! The space is beautiful, intimate yet spacious and feels really special and exclusive. Our server, Sean, was incredible. He was attentive, patient, and so helpful with all my menu questions. He truly made the night feel more romantic and memorable. We'll definitely be requesting him again when we come back! And if you're curious about the restaurant's history, he's happy to share; which I thought was such a nice touch. :) For food, we ordered the lamb, bison steak, and a side of mashed potatoes, along with a few cocktails that I was able to customize to my liking. Everything was delicious! read more

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Came here to celebrate my birthday. We made a reservation for a Friday night at 5pm. They require a credit card for a reservation as they are a nicer restaurant. They open at 5pm so when we were greeted and seated we basically had the restaurant to ourselves. Our host was very friendly and helped serve us a bottle of wine as well as open a bottle we brought with us. Corkage fee is $50/bottle which is a fair price if you're planning on doing a couple of glasses. We had the escargot, quail, boar, elk and a sampler of the desserts. We really enjoyed our time here. The staff is really nice and not snobby like you might expect. Parking is great and the bathroom is big and really clean! They even have a cute little bar area that you can do cocktails at. Overall it was a very romantic vibe and I would love to come back. read more

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4.5 STARS Date: Friday, September 6th, 2024 Time: 5pm Meal: Double Birthday Dinner Party of: 3 Reservations Made: via OpenTable about 2.5 weeks prior Tasting Menu 1 - Five Course ($115) *La Foret Salade *Tortellini La Foret *Quail *Tournedos of Beef Chanterelle *Creme Brulee Tasting Menu 2 - Six Course ($150) *Prawns Meuniere *Salade Francaise *Sea Scallops *Elk *Rack of Lamb *Chocolate Truffle Torte Tasting Menu 3 - Seven Course ($220) *Tsar Nicoulai Caviar *Beef Tartare *Ahi Tuna *Lobster Tail *Wild Boar *American Wagyu *Souffle Grand Marnier *Barrel Aged Manhattan ($19) *Jordan 2017 Cabernet Alexander Valley Bottle ($120) *Full Glass Bella Union 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon ($30) For my birthday this year, I was turning a very large increment of 5. I was originally going to do a solo dinner here, but my parents said they wanted to join, so we made it a family affair. Also, my Dad's American bday is the day after mine, so why not have a double celebration?! What I love about this spot is that they let you do different tasting menus. Most restaurants make everyone order the same thing, so it's awesome La Foret does not. We were able to try all three tastings. I'd say we tried about 80% of the menu because we did one of each. And they coursed it out really well. If I had to choose one tasting, I'd say the middle one is the best. The salad francaise was bright and fresh. The lamb was juicy and tasty. I actually enjoyed the torte, even tho I don't really care for chocolate. It was the best dessert out of the three. For the 7 course, I enjoyed the caviar and wagyu. The wagyu was not A5 obvi, but I don't like my steaks too fatty, so it was nice for me. Meaty, buttery, but still a slight chew. For the smallest menu, I think my fav was the quail. Nice flavor and texture. It's been a while since I've had quail. The menu reminded me of my dad's old french resto. He had buttery rich sauces which I don't see much any more. Overall, the dishes were pretty good. Most were a good portion and plated nicely. I did find most of the seafood heavy on the citrus. So there was a sour element to everything. To me, it overpowered the delicate seafood and sauces. The meat dishes all seemed to have a very similar brown sauce. I guess that would have been fine if we didn't order three different tastings. But it got a little repetitive since my fam shared everything. Dessert wise, the brulee was eggy and the souffle wasn't fluffy since it wasn't served in it's cooking vessel. A little bit of a bummer since these are two of my favorite desserts in general. Service was amazing. Our server was the sweetest. Friendly and attentive without being overly so. In fact, everyone was great. From the host to the sommelier. Made for a fun night. Although I'd give the food about 3-3.5 stars, the experience was lovely. And being able to order different tasting menus makes it a huge plus. So bumping up due to that. Definitely a nice place for a special occasion meal. REVIEW #3556 read more

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My husband and I have been fortunate enough to have dined at many amazing restaurants. This is the best meal we've had in our lives! We had the chefs tasting menu and the additional wine pairings. When you pull around the corner and park do not let the surrounding area throw you. It doesn't look like a street for a fine dining restaurant! The building is a historic building. It was a mining boarding house previously. Love the history. We also had fantastic service from Michael who was attentive and knowledgeable. After dining here nothing compares. Incredible! read more

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Ugh! My husband wanted me to take him out to La Foret for his birthday dinner last night. We hadn't been 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! read more

I ordered the ribeye but was served elk instead. When the mistake was brought to attention, I was not offered the option to have the correct meal or any other resolution. Instead, the waiter acted like he was doing a favor by offering the elk price instead of ribeye price which was a one dollar difference. The concern was not the price. The situation was handled poorly. This was a special anniversary dinner. Unfortunately, this experience was disappointing, and I do not plan to return. read more

I went here for my anniversary made reservations really friendly staff leaded us to the table and were very attentive through out the whole time despite it being a busy night. Very good customer service! However personally me and my partner had the worst experience we thought the food seemed alright my partner got the rib eye he said there was to much peppercorn but he still ate everything. Mine I chose salmon and the vegetables were very good but the sauce over the salmon had an odd taste. Overall we both ate our food and came home a few hours of us being home my partner got very sick and threw up, I shortly after got sick through the night as well. I'm not sure if during there transitions of the food if there was cross contamination... I'm not sure but something really made us both sick and not the best experience... read more

First, I will not deny that this restaurant has a great vibe and ambiance. Great for a date night or special evening. However. We ordered an appetizer, Caesar salad, I had the bison ribeye and my girlfriend got the seafood pasta. Bill came out to $178 before tip. My dish was clearly left out on the pass because the pasta wasn't ready on time. Everything on the plate was lukewarm except for one green bean that was hot because it was insulated by the rest of the green beans on top. The mash potatoes also had an unpleasant sourness to it. The pasta was hot though. Service was slightly below average. Not what I expected from a place like that. I would not spend my money there again. read more

We went for our 37th Anniversary, special occassion. We arrived at 6:30, no wait, seated at a very nice table with a view . I love the atmosphere there wasn't a lot of people yet so it was very quiet. I had an appetizer, scallops w/ puff pastry and a shrimp salad for dinner and my husband had a seafood pasta dish. we enjoyed all the dishes but my husband noted the pasta seasoning / sauce was not quite what he expected, i tasted it and i didn't care for it. We will return and try different things. read more

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We visited La Foret for our anniversary and it was the best dinner I've had in quite some time. The food was exceptional, and the service was wonderful. The dining room did get a touch loud, causing us to lean in in order to hear one another, but that is no fault of the restaurant or staff, merely a few rambunctious older groups catching up and enjoying their evenings. We played it safe with salmon, and wagyu this time (which was incredibly soft and melt in your mouth delicious), but as La Foret has bison and elk on the menu, I've been informed that we will be returning soon to "sample the other beasts" and I am very much looking forward to our next dining experience here. read more

La Foret - Cocktails- Mr. Black and Gin Cooler Cosmo - French Near Me - San Jose, California

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Went here for my partner's birthday. We started with the tortellini app. He ordered the quail, and I ordered the veal. They also brought out a complimentary creme brûlée for his birthday and did not sing happy birthday, which he much appreciated lol The food was good but not outstanding for the price point. The ambience very nice and quiet, which made for easy conversation. The outside area looks like a little garden which added to the peaceful ambience. We were seated outside near a little stream, and the sound of trickling water was relaxing. There were some insects flying around but that's to be expected with outdoor seating and greenery surrounding you. It wasn't too bothersome but something to be aware of if you are sensitive to that. Service was very friendly and attentive. Parking was easy. read more

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Great spot for date night, great ambiance and very kind staff. Got the tortellini with a glass of wine and everything was delicious. The 'I can't decide' dessert was a mixture of everything on the menu. Would come back! read more

Unfortunately very disappointed. Michelin prices without the Michelin experience. This restaurant has potential for an exquisite experience. The Occasion: We came to celebrate my partner's birthday. The experience: Upon arrival, 7:30pm, we were sat next to a table with a loud child. I requested to sit on the opposite side of the restaurant as we were hoping for a more intimate experience. The manager said, it would put us against a wall and suggested our current table. We selected the six course tasting menu with wine pairings. The pace of each plate and wine pairing was extremely slow. At the end of the meal we sat and waited . . and waited. We hadn't seen anyone in quite sometime. I had to go looking for our server or even a manager at that point to bring our check. The check: $768 - My partner and I left feeling very underwhelmed and disappointed. read more

La Foret - French Near Me - San Jose, California

We went here back in August 2024 for our 13th year wedding anniversary and we have no regret. The food was sooo good. I been wanting escargot and I was so excited to eat it and was not disappointed. Like picture said we were happy with everything. It's such a cute place and intimate. Just a gorgeous restaurant. The service is amazing! Everything was just so good and perfect way to celebrate our wedding anniversary. read more

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The ambiance is beautiful even despite being seated at a not great spot in a seemingly empty restaurant. The service was great however and our waiter made sure to explain every course to us, and check in consistently. For a multiple course meal a lot of these courses did not satisfy, the escargot was the only dish that I left feeling good about and I feel that is only because it was drenched in butter. I'm not sure if I see myself coming again. read more

La Foret - Escargot - French Near Me - San Jose, California

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Ambiance 5/5 - but that's all they had going for them pretty much Service 2/5 - They were overall slow with drink menus etc. when we asked, forgot to bring us bread until reminded, took away bread and plates without asking when we weren't finished. Obligatory 20% tip was included on top of the bill by the way (plus recommended extra tip) Food 3/5 - If my friend had cooked me a similar meal in their home I wouldn't complain, but overall completely lackluster especially for the price. Even though it was a 5 course meal the portions were still comically small (a single scallop? half a lobster tail?), so expect to leave hungry as well, especially after the waiter steals away your bread. There's just so many better options in the area for this price range, or even well below it. read more