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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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

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

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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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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excellent restaurant , wonderful food and service. The ambience is also very nice. l had venison with cherry reduction and it was excellent

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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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

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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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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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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Really beautiful spot. A little off the beaten path so be prepared to drive a bit. Great service. Very good food.

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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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

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

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 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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Wonderful and has been for several decades! The service is top notch. Go eat here! You will not regret it!

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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What a bummer! We had been looking forward to trying this place and we finally made the 30 minute trek, and were completely disappointed. We ordered the 5 course tasting menu with the wine pairings. The wine choices were not high end, but decent for the price of $45 for 5 tastes. The food was super disappointing. The bread on the table was stale, days-old baguette, Safeway has better bread by far. Each course was pretty basic. The sauces had tons of added sugar. When it came to the final entree of steak medallions- the whole plate was very underwhelming. Overcooked, boiled green beans, basic mashed potatoes and meh steak - no flavor. I looked around and realized the clientele is quite old and I guess that is who's pallet they are catering to. The menu setups lack creativity and if you use better ingredients you don't need to add things like sugar. We were overcharged for a glass of wine we purchased on the side and was poured the wrong wine for the other glass we ordered. The manager took off the wine that was poured incorrectly (that we did not drink because it was the opposite of what I ordered- think sauv blanc vs. high oak chardonnay) and left the glass that was overcharged according to the price on the menu. The souffle was undercooked in the middle. The creme brulee was burnt on top (actually black) and had ZERO vanilla bean in it. 100% fake vanilla. When we were done with dinner I went to the bar and asked for a taste of the wine I had ordered and was supposed to receive and compared it to what I was given. I wanted to compare to make sure I wasn't crazy. Sure enough the taste he poured (Viogner) was a very light color and NOT oaky, unlike the glass I was given (Conundrum- which I have never liked) which is very yellow and very oaky. I took a picture for my own sanity. I hate when servers lie about what they are giving you and act like you are crazy to question it. In short, we will not be going back. read more

Date: February 8, 2025 Time: 7:30pm Party: 4 Reservation: Through OpenTable (1 week prior) I recently visited La Forêt for my grandmother's birthday. Here's how the evening went: Wait-time (2/5 stars): Our reservation was for 7:30pm, so we arrived early at 7:15pm to check in. Unfortunately, we didn't get seated until 7:55pm, which felt like a long wait. It was a bit frustrating, and my family and I even considered leaving. However, the servers were kind and offered us a complimentary drink--my grandmother enjoyed a glass of champagne as a nice gesture. Ambience (3.5/5 stars): The atmosphere was cozy and elegant, though a little dimmer than I expected. For the rest of my family, it was just right. Each table had beautiful flower arrangements and lamps, which added a lovely touch to the mood. The noise level was moderate--pleasant but not overly loud. Service (4/5 stars): Our server was friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu. He described each dish in detail and gave thoughtful recommendations based on his favorites. He made sure our courses came out at the right times, ensuring all the dishes arrived together. We appreciated his efforts, though the meal did take about two hours, which felt a bit slow. Food (3.5/5 stars): We opted for the 5- and 6-course tasting menus, 2 of each, which offered a great variety of flavors. All the dishes were tasty and tender, though some leaned a bit on the salty side. The presentation was beautiful. Nothing that really blew me away. From the 6-course, the rack of lamb was the standout for my mom and me--it was perfectly cooked and flavorful. From the 5-course, the tournedos of beef with chanterelles was a favorite for my grandmother and sister, as it was more tender and less gamey than the other options. Both were excellent, though the rice served with the lamb was a bit too hard and salty for my taste. The desserts, particularly the chocolate truffle tart, were delicious, though it was a little firm towards the end of the night. Still, it was rich and creamy--a perfect finish to the meal. Portion Size & Pricing (3.5/5 stars): Portions were decently sized. Initially, I thought the portions might be too small, but by the time the entrees arrived, I was already quite full. The prices were reasonable for the quality of food. The 5-course tasting menu was $115, and the 6-course was $150--still pricey, but it felt worth it for a special occasion. Overall Experience (4/5 stars): Overall, La Forêt is a lovely spot with great French cuisine. It was a wonderful experience, even though the meal was a bit slower than expected. The service was excellent, and the servers were thoughtful and kind. If you're planning to visit, I'd recommend booking an earlier reservation to avoid a long wait time. Expect to spend around two hours enjoying the full experience. It's a great choice for special occasions! read more

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I've eaten at La Foret a couple of times, and in my opinion it's a place that is living on it's reputation. The decor is dated and a little run down. The menu is classic French - no surprises. The food is very good, but I've yet to have a dish that really blew me away. Which brings us to the service. It is, in a word, terrible. It is very, very slow. On one visit, we wanted to get another round of drinks, and our waiter had disappeared. We flagged down another waiter, and he said he'd tell our waiter that we needed help. When our waiter returned several minutes later, he asked "How are you enjoying everything?" He clearly had not gotten the message. We gave him our drink orders, and by the time he returned, we'd finished our meals. The last time I was there, our waiter seemed annoyed when my friend had questions about the menu. La Foret isn't a BAD place... it's just not the really special place it pretends to be. And for the price, they should do a lot better. read more

Totally disappointing! This used to be a really nice place for dinner, but those days are gone. I know there have been a few new owners in the recent past, and perhaps that's why they lost the elegance they once had. They've remodeled and the interior is nicely decorated, but it's quite loud and you can hardly hear the person you're sitting across from. There was something about it that just felt tacky, no longer the quiet elegance it once had. Aside of the ambiance, the food quality has completely gone down. I ordered the ribeye, which was certainly not a prime cut of beef, but choice at best. It was cooked medium rare as I asked, but there was such a burnt, charred taste to the outside, the sauce they poured over it in didn't even cover it. It came with rice pilaf, which was overpowered with all the bell peppers they put in it. Just not the right paring for a ribeye. It also came with asparagus, that was also charred so badly you couldn't actually taste the delicate flavor of the asparagus. The little carrot that came with it was ok. My husband ordered the bison and it was ok, nothing to get excited about. The portions were huge, so we got the impression of quantity over quality. I will say though the appetizer we ordered was very good! We ordered the scallops and the shrimp. The scallops came with two, which were cooked perfectly in a very nice sauce. The shrimp only came with three and were perfect! Bit pricy for what you get, but very good! We were way too full for dessert, but we also didn't want to see what disappointment that brought, so I can't comment on the desserts. Overall, there are much better restaurants to go to for this price point. If you actually looking for a good steak, go up to Sundance in Palo Alto, they've never disappointed. read more

My coworker held her daughter's wedding reception here. It is lovely and intimate, feels cozy and tiny, but easily accommodated the entire wedding party. Beautiful tree-filled setting, lots of windows, and pretty and quiet interiors. Of course the food was delicious. read more

AMAZING. From the ambiance and the view and the professionalism of the staff, everything was enjoyable. The only thing I was a bit confused about was that we had thought there was a dress code upon entry, but we saw a lot of people in casual wear and they weren't turned away. So I guess for a restaurant being upscale, they aren't too strict with your attire where they'll turn you away if you're not "dress to code." We had a fulfilling time in Alan's section, and he made recommendations I'm definitely glad I took the "risk" to try: VENISON! The scallops were so tender (I wish they were cooked a little bit more so that they had a bit of a crunch to it rather than having it soft/melt in your mouth). The prawns were delicious. And the sauce? Ohhhhhh the sauce... it tasted so good with seafood and with the protein dishes we had. I wish I had more. The venison (cooked medium-rare) was extremely moist and absolutely not gamey as you'd expect. The ribeye was superb (though I wish it was a bit less fattier) and so juicy. I LOVE dessert and couldn't decide which to get (and I still think about the deliciousness of it all to this day)... so we had the creme brulee, souffle, and chocolate torte. Do I regret my decision? ABSOLUTELY NOT. But I do wish they had a take out option where I can just order the desserts to enjoy :') Definitely a place for a "big" celebration, or just to try! You definitely won't regret anything. read more

This place was amazing, but be warned it is pricey, but well worth it. The elk was the most tender meat that I have ever had and the seafood pasta was enjoyed by my wife. Our waiter was very well versed on both the menu and the wine and provided wonderful recommendations that were very much appreciated. I recommend this place for a special celebration. read more

La foret is my bestie favorite dating restaurant with her husband so she recommended it to me. I came here for celebrating my work buddy birthday. What i felt about this restaurant is Food 4/5 Service 3/5 Ambiance 3/5 The food here is absolutely delicious! From appetizers to desserts, this restaurant exceeded all our expectations. Only one dish I quiet doesn't like is tortellini la foret. My server of the night is very friendly and helpful. However, sometimes its hard to find her maybe she is too busy with other tables. The entire staff kinda ignore my table. We have to wait for our drink more than half an hour the food is more than an hour. Nobody came to our table for check in or refill water. It is very lacking of attentiveness. Ambience is alright. My table is very near to other table. And the family on other table keep staring at us the whole time and making us feel uncomfortable. All in all, i might give it a second chance for the food but I hope they improve more on the service. read more

La Foret - French Near Me - San Jose, California

First of all, special thanks to Sean/Shawn for his hospitality and friendliness! It was our first time here and he really made the experience to be extra special. Easily one of the best smoked salmon dishes I have ever had. The pasta and ribeye was delicious, "a little surf and turf combo", as Sean/Shawn had stated. It was our first time trying a Soufflé as well and was really new to us but we really enjoyed it. Overall the restaurant is a great spot to go on a fancy date or celebrate an occasion. Can't wait to come back in the future! read more

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The most romantic restaurant I've been to in a while! When we first arrived, it didn't seem like such a great place as the restaurant is nestled in a residential area. Parking wasn't too bad considering we were there on a Friday evening. Once we checked-in, they showed us to our table (I had requested outdoor seating near a space heater) and this is when I was blown away by how cute this place is! It's placed right next to a creek and you can still hear the water flowing beneath you. The water isn't too close to you so you don't have to worry about mosquitoes which is nice. For our appetizer, we ordered the Tortellini La Foret, it was delicious! We instantly wanted more, and to be honest, their portions are kind of petite so we wished we had ordered more. Then we ordered our salads; I ordered the Salade Francaise, my husband ordered the Soup Du Jour and my best friend ordered the La Foret salad. All three of these were very tasty and well balanced. For our entrees, my husband and my best friend both ordered the Ribeye and I decided to try The Rack of Lamb... my goodness, was it delicious!! The red wine reduction sauce our dishes had complemented the meats perfectly. We all ordered medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. Hats off to the chef! My French 75 cocktail was delivered to me pretty quick and once I sipped it, I only wanted more. I wish I had taken his name down, but the older gentleman that walked us to our table had a great warm presence to him. Elondra, our server was very kind and attentive to our table and they were both friendly to us. I absolutely loved my dining experience. Thank you to the staff for making our evening special. read more

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