In order to be completely transparent here's a reply to cook Patricks (owner) comments: I have NEVER EVER complained about the food or anything else in this restaurant before. My review was simply to alert consumers that the quality is going down instead of up. The arrogance of the COOK is beyond comprehension. With an abundance of restaurants in the Bay Area it's easy to find plenty that ARE good and ARE there to make the customers happy SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO READ MY PREVIOUS REVIEW: see below. Used to love this place, in fact looked forward to having dinner there. But something is off in the last few visits. Today was really off. After placing the order we are served the soup that comes with an entree. The soup was called potato leak. If anyone ever had this soup elsewhere you probably know the consistency that it should have. What we were served was primarily water. No flavor dirty looking water that maybe had 1/4of some kind of veggie creamed into that. I couldn't eat that and called the owner over( who also happens to be the cook). Instead of listening to my complaint and making me/customer happy - he proceeded to , and I quote him here" to defend his food". That's WRONG way to provide CUSTOMER SERVICE. Not something i wanted to hear. Needless to say the dinner was ruined from there. The glass that the water was served in had been chipped on the edge- lucky for us we didn't draw blood and actually noticed that beforehand. The waiter proceeded to serve my male dinner companion first. Wrong again! Women should be served first. So many missteps in one evening ... I've had enough and will not be back. I frankly don't think the owner ( the cook) cares. I deliberately did not call him chef because of the quality of the dishes. Very average and getting worse with every visit. P.S. forgot to mention: the spoon that was placed in front of me with my latte was dirty . read more

Le Chalet Basque - Sparkling Water served in a chipped glass. Forgot to mention in the review that the soup was delivered on a chipped plate also. - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

Food was pretty good not great. The server was friendly and attentive, but the main dishes took a long time to arrive. Might be better to sit outside and order drinks and appetizers. read more

The soup IS watery! Still not seeing any response to the " service" fee! What about that? Should have opted not to pay that. Would gave at least been nice to give that to the musician playing on the patio. read more

This is one of the truly good, old school restaurants left in Marin. You can find everything from filet mignon and duck confit to calf liver, sweetbreads, and frogs legs on the menu. Entrees come with soup and salad, and a pate and dessert option. My favorite selections are the rack of lamb and new york steak. The lamb is well-seasoned and comes with a red wine sauce. The side items that come before the meal are more well considered than the one's that accompany the entrees. The vegetables are nondescript and bland and the potatoes seem like an after thought as of late. If you're looking to spend a nice, relaxing meal with friends in an old school setting, you may seriously enjoy this hidden gem of a restaurant. read more

Such a great spot to eat and hang out, the atmosphere was so fantastic and the wait staff were incredible. Please keep doing exactly what you are doing! read more

Very good food and service. The ambiance is very nice and it's not a noisy place. I had a good time there

I first started going to Chalet Basque years ago with my family and it was one of my dad's favorite restaurants in San Rafael for its Basque inspired food. The restaurant has vintage charm with outdoor and indoor seating and a lively bar. The restaurant has changed ownership but most of the original menu remains, and I still look forward to the Potatoe leek soup when it's on the menu and their salmon and sand dads. The wait staff are pleasant and glad to hear the memorable and amusing Linda is still there. read more

Chalet Basque is a window to an era of Classical French Cuisine, impeccable service and a distinctly European atmosphere. The very first time you walk onto their garden terrace and approach the front door, you will feel relaxed and as if YOU are THE guest they have been waiting for. Suffice to say their hospitality is matched by their food. They are known for their authentic recipes. My personal favorite is Sweetbreads. They are always just a tad better than the last time I had them. How DO they do that? Your dinner includes an appetizer plate complete with housemade Pate, a freshly tossed green salad and soup. The bread basket holds fresh, hot crusty bread and heavenly garlic bread. Every entree is freshly prepared and delicious. The Fish entrees are always a favorite, but they are masters at Lamb and beef dishes as well. They also have a lovely vegetarian plate. Their desserts are equally delightful. When you are in the mood for an elegant yet relaxed lunch or dinner that will put you in French Heaven, go to Chalet Basque. read more

My favorite Basque restaurant in the Bay Area. Not only do they treat you like family here, the food tastes home made and absolutely delicious. I can now call myself a regular here. Very impressed. read more

Le Chalet Basque - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Meh! Subpar food and this place is tired and dated! The menu choices are not impressive. Staff is nice, but this place could use a facelift inside as well as the menu UPDATE: THANKSGIVING Day FAIL! Made reservations a month ahead specifically to sit by a window and here's a surprise. They were "running behind" so our window table wouldn't be available for 15-20 minutes, but hey, they had a table in the back room available. What's the point of making a reservation? Also for $37 a plate, you would think they'd serve real mashed potatoes. I guess the "culture" there is charge a ridiculous amount of money, but serve lousy food, which includes instant mashed potatoes and I have to say It was my first time ever being able to drink cranberry sauce, which I might add, had no flavor. I think they attempted stuffing, but it was more like a flavorless bread patty. The staff is always great, but unfortunately this place let me down AGAIN! Gave it another chance. Never again. They should change the name to Le Chalet Blech. read more

God, I want to love this place. I bike by Le Chalet Basque at least three times a week and every time I pass by I feel like I am in Europe. I have never seen a restaurant in the US look as authentic as this place. The patio, the cozy vines and red tiles. It makes me feel like I am on a cycling trip through Basque country. After a very disappointing first visit which we chalked up to an off night, we stopped in last night around 7:00 PM for a quick cocktail and some appetizers at the bar. The bar was busy (not slammed) but most of the activity seemed to be on the patio, so we grabbed two stools at the bar and ordered up two cocktails. When we asked for a menu - the bartender told us we should take a table instead. That she was too busy and a table would be better. We explained that we just wanted soup and the charcuterie plate to split and would be on our way. We explained that we were on bikes and did not want to ride back home in the dark, so this was really just a nice pit stop. She seemed really irritated and kept saying she couldn't check on us if we needed anything. The charcuterie was just dumped on a plate but the chorizo was excellent. Pretty sparse, but again, we just wanted a snack. No sign of the soup. Finally after many attempts to get the soup (the charcuterie was long gone), it arrived completely burnt. I love French onion soup and had read the reviews here about their's being excellent, but this was clearly left under the heat lamp or broiler. It smelled burned. One of the owners(?) walked by and offered to get another one, but also said that he liked it "crispy" and with time running out, I opted to just try the crispy version. Long story short, the soup was inedible. The bar by 7:45 when we asked for the check had only a couple and one man, and no one said anything about the soup going uneaten. When we got the check we were charged for 4 drinks instead of 3, and had to wait for the bartender who went on break to return to correct it. She offered to make a 4th drink rather than ring up a new bill, but again, we explained we had to go. The owner even walked by and saw the uneaten soup and said "was everything great?" nice sentiment, but there was nothing to be done at this point and I did not feel like making a scene. I want so much to like this place, but the service needs to be more attentive if not less rude. We live less than 2 miles away and would love to be regulars, but each of our visits has some mishap that leaves us unhappy and sad that they just can't do the simple things with a little more care. It truly was not that busy. read more

Been serving good food for years. (About 50) Caters to locals who enjoy a night out. Parking in the rear and on the street! Three Basque families have run the place since the 1960s read more

we had dinner here this evening and it was outstanding! I encourage anyone in the Marin area to stop by and have dinner at this charming restaurant. We will be moving to San Rafael from Chicago next month and this place will be one of our regular restaurants. The portions sizes are generous, next time we may split an entree but they were delicious. Lynn had the Boeuf Bourguignon and I had Lamb Chops (7 chops...Oh My!). They were excellent. My only recommended change is less sauce on the Flan. The Flan was excellent but the excessive sauce in the plate added too much sweetness. Prices for wine were quite reasonable. If you are in the area, I highly recommend it. We will be back. Were moving to Peacock Gap...just around the bend, so will have easy access in the future. Oh! And I forgot to mention, I think the Chef downloaded my iTunes playlist. ;o) read more

Always love coming here! The service is amazing and the food is phenomenal. The restaurant is really cute, is typically quiet even when it's a full house, and it's perfect for a romantic dinner. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Marin and our go-to for anniversary milestones. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Outstanding service from our waitress. Bread plentiful, fresh and especially delicious. Salad good. Split pea and curry soup very nice if not slightly salty but I still served myself 3 helpings. Rock cod special OK. Good flavor but could have been thicker and firmer. Was more like a sole. Scalloped potatoes kind of mushy blah. Cream spinach a sweetened mushy mess. House Merlot choice good. Chocolate mousse more like a pot de creme or light pudding...not as light and fluffy as real mousse, but tasty. Good portions. All in all a solid value for impeccable service and decent food. 3.5 stars. read more

When we finished our dinner, my husband said, " I want to eat another dinner, it was so excellent!" Shrimp and Lamb Shank were our choices tonight. The flavors were perfect and balanced....the French onion soup was beyond delectable. We plan to make this place a weekly dinner stop! read more

Le Chalet Basque - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

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How often do you find great service, great food, great wine and really good price points in Marin? This place definitely fits the bill. The waitstaff here are really on top of their game, knowledgeable and work hard to make it a great experience. read more

GREAT EXPERIENCES HERE WITH MR. CASEY P. AND HIS FAMILY My husband's family has some history at this place. They've been dining here for many years. After my sister-in-law had her baby several months back, we all came here for dinner (well, not sis and baby), but the rest of the family who'd spent so many hours at the hospital. We revisited for dinner this week to celebrate a birthday! What a treat! On both visits we've ordered the pate plate. With this, a homemade pate, homemade salame, and peppercini order came out with a slice of each item for each person at the table. It was very good. The bread that accompanies it is toasted but still soft and fresh. Two types of bread are in the basket with several pieces of each. The garlicky bread is more thinly sliced and is very tasty, but the plain French bread is good too. For an additional price, your meal can be served with soup, salad, and dessert. We've done this both times I've dined here and so glad we did. I've liked the soup (I've tried both watercress and potato leak) and the house salad was nicely dressed with blue cheese crumbles on the side. They really make the salad. Tiny little pieces of cheese! On EVERY bites if Casey P. is the one putting it on your plate :) I've had rack of lamb as an entree and it was phenomenal. Also very good is the scampi with prawns. Most noteworthy (which 3 at this table ordered this week) was the filet mignon. Lucky for me, husband was one of the three. He'd eaten too much bread and was getting full around the time of its arrival. Not a problem! I'll help you with a few bites. It was huge. And so tender and juicy. Wrapped in bacon and cooked perfectly rare. A little more seared on the top than he expected but a nice bernaise sauce on the side covered this taste. French fries had been substituted on his plate for the potatoes and they were excellent. Small, thin and crispy! We all received dessert. Several flavors of ice cream (spumoni, mango, chocolate, or vanilla) or rice pudding. I went with the pudding and it was really good until about halfway through when it became too sweet for me. Golden raisins floated in it which I usually don't eat but I enjoy them in the rice pudding. I didn't have a chance to try husband's chocolate ice cream but he said it was delicious. I brought my own take-home container and filled it with his leftover veggies, a few fries, some steak, and two of my scampi prawns. It was nice to take something home with us! Service was the right speed. We didn't feel rushed but there also were long period between dishes. Just enough time to be hungry enough again for the next course. We had to ask for drink refills a few times, but the restaurant was pretty busy and the glasses are actually pretty tiny. We've sat inside both visits but the outdoor area is beautiful. There's also a bar (not sure if they serve food but they did have the Giant's game on). And employees are nice enough to give you score updates at your table, if you ask. :) read more

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I've been wanting to go here for some time and we finally went. We took the dog, sat on the patio and there was live music that was very good. The only problem was we were seated right next to the singer so it was a bit louder than I would have liked, nothing wrong with the entertainment though. I've heard nothing but good things about the food and the service, but the night didn't turn out as I would have liked. The service was very slow and the food while cooked correctly seemed to have sat under a heat lamp for a while. It wasn't just our server, but all the servers seemed to be getting food out late. I will say though that this was on a Friday night and every table was seated outside. We started with the clams and they were very good. I had and enjoyed the Chicken Cordon Bleu, but there was no cheese as it probably leaked out while sitting. My wife has the steak and I liked the bite I had. The waitress was very apologetic about the time it took. I don't believe it was her fault, not once did I see a manager. Anyway we will definitely give it another try. read more

Surely I did good deeds in a past life. To what else could I attribute the gifts I've been given in this one, like lunching outdoors without a jacket in December? I've known of this place for years and years and have never had the least inclination to try it. I'd never heard anyone speak of it until R, who'd come here the previous week, announced that he was anxious to return; always a good sign. The Chalet is located in the oddest of spaces, deep into a residential neighborhood without any other non-residential establishments nearby. Somehow though, people have stumbled upon it and the number of people there for a Friday lunch was a testimony to something good happening in that kitchen. We sat street-side, on the outdoor patio, and the waitress was quick to bring us crusty french bread and tell us the day's specials. My dog (allowed on the patio) quickly settled herself for a nap on the sun-warmed concrete. The owner checked in with us towards the end of our meal and we were happy to report good things. We'd had: * Shrimp Louis Salad - Delicious and filling. Next time: dressing on the side. * Caesar Salad with Shrimp * Red clam chowder - R reported it a wee bit over-salted * Roast salmon with vegetables and rice The tab came to $45 for the 3 person lunch (before tip), really reasonable considering I can easily drop $10 for lunch at the local taqueria, and this is so much nicer. I have no idea what The Chalet looks like inside (some have reported it looking worn and dated). The outside though, when paired with the excellent food on a nice warm day, is a perfect find. No wonder this place is still here after all these years. Free and easy street parking. read more

To start their house red wine is extremely delicious. I enjoyed the soup and the salad to start the dinner with. I did order the escargot and was pleasantly surprised and I would definitely recommend it. They were a little slow but it was a busy Saturday night when I went, and there was a particularly large party the same night. I will say the entrée was a bit lacking in my opinion. I ordered the roast leg of lamb and it was very bland and I didn't like the gravy it came with. Our server Denise was amazing but the man who brought our to food to us was a bit curt. Overall I'd say most of the food is delicious and well worth the price and the service was quite decent. read more

I have been meaning to check this place out for a long time. Last night was the night. Apparently it was one of those nights when everyone showed up at the same time so we had to wait a bit. The bartender was a bit flustered (rude - my friend tried to ask for something and she put her palm up in her face, not ok but we rolled with it, I've been there). At the bar we had the house rose and a beer. The bar was filled with a cast of characters, clearly, regulars which endeared me to the place even more. It's also obvious it's a family restaurant. It's really great food that your Basque family would serve you in their homes if you were lucky enough to have a Basque family. since I'm not that lucky, I now have the Chalet! We were seated outside in about 20 minutes, less time than predicted and started off with Pate and Artichokes. I couldn't believe how great it was. There was a nice gentleman strumming his guitar and the sound level was perfect, it added to the atmosphere but we did not have to compete with the sound to talk. LOVED IT. Our dinner came with house-made soup and salad. For entre's we had the duck two ways, Beef Bourguignon and the sole special. The portions were perfect not too much. Then for dessert we all opted to order off the menu instead of choose the included ice cream or rice pudding. Peach melba, chocolate mousse and I forgot the name of the other dish, it was like an almond cake with sauce and ice cream. Clean plates all around. Dinner was leisurely allowing us to chat and catch up. I can't wait to go back, to be honest, I was just looking to see if they serve brunch! I'm only posting this review because it's the right thing to do, I want to keep it secret so I don't have to wait longer for a table LOL. read more

I absolutely love Chicken Cordon Bleu and Le Chalet Basque makes the very best this side of Paris, France. The customer service and ambiance is fabulous. I love their outdoor dining. They have items on their menu rarely seen at other restaurants, like fried frog-legs, pâté and escargots and they're all excellent. My daughter recently took me out for my 64th birthday and I credit Chalet Basque fo making it a very special evening. Thank you! A+++ read more

Great service and excellent food. Charming outdoor seating. Don't miss the frog legs and veal picatta!

Cute neighborhood gem. I imagine when this opened it was the fancy date night spot for the rat packers filling up the surrounding neighborhoods. It definitely has a retro, old-school dining vibe. Very cozy and nice food without the snob (or botoxed cougar) factor. Every dinner entree comes with the soup of the day (when I went it was a classic minestrone with rich, fragrant broth and cooked traditionally, without pasta - yum) and a small salad (dressing with or without bleu cheese. Do it!). Then the entree itself comes on a plate alongside a scoop of rice and steamed veggies. Servings are normal, so it ends up being a perfectly portioned meal. No leftovers unless you are a super light eater, but enough to satisfy. Lots of desserts, cocktails, and a large wine list with reasonably priced bottles. There's a dining room with white linen covered tables, plus a large bar room with more casual seating. And a HUGE patio I can't wait to have lunch or afternoon cocktails on come summer. It's tucked into a neighborhood right along N. San Pedro, so it's easy to not know about it, but super easy to get to. The parking lot is tiny and narrow, so I recommend parking across the street on NSP (or walking if you live nearby). read more

This place is and always has been an example and demonstration of culinary excellence.Stella Artois on draft taste much better here than anywhere else! Patrick is very accommodating and goes out of his way to ensure each guest has a quality experience. The service is incredibly attentive and superb! most everybody who plays a round at peacock Gap finds themselves soaking in the sun at the 19th hole patio ... Chalet Basque is the 19th hole for peacock Gap! And with good reason charming outdoor seating area combined with their caliber of gourmet food and service means that this is a best kept secret of Santa Venetia and truly one of the gems of San Rafael!!! Longue vie à la France!!! read more

Sunday evening we celebrated a birthday dinner at La Chalet. It was above our expectations. The food was delicious and the cozy patio very comfortable. The service was the best we're ever experienced. The waitress made us feel welcome and anticipated our needs. She was attentive to the children and could understand each ones different personality. We will return and recommend La Chalet for a wonderful dining experience. This restaurant is a treasure . Early dinner fit our family perfectly. read more

My family has been going to Le Chalet Basque for years. It's always nice for a good seat down family dinner. I always go with the duck in orange sauce or cordon bleu. Both are always delicious. And you have to go with the complete dinner, which is the pate, soup, salad, and dessert with your meal. The servers are always nice a friendly, as it is a community restaurant that's been there for as long as I can remember. read more

I recommend this place to the most discerning diners anywhere...it is simple, real, fresh and fantastic! It is a humble storefront in a residential area, just a bit off the beaten path. The food is authentic Basque, the wine pairings are flawless, the service is exquisite and the overall impression is that you stumbled across a rare gem that has been kept secret from the world by the locals that lord over the pace. The prices are beyond fair, particularly given the quality of the food, the care in preparation and its location in the Bay area. Please order wine - believe it or not, the place actually loses money on a couple of dishes, banking on the wine sales to turn a profit. The heck of it is, the wines are actually priced about average for the region and WELL below what you would expect to pay elsewhere that serves this caliber of fare. It is a MUST try - I'd put it up against the Laundro-mat down the road any day of the week...simply better food, service at 1/3rd the price, and you can get a table with just a day or two's notice. 5-stars only because they won't give me 20 to give it. read more

Have been here on many occasions over the last several years. Service is good and food has always been very good. I have tried several different dishes. This last time I had the veal. It was very good. My husband had the sirloin lamb which was also very good. We brought out own wine. There is a $12 corkage fee. We will definitely be back. If in the area it's worth a stop. read more

Le Chalet Basque - Veal chalet basque. - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

Do NOT order gift certificates from their website. I ordered one on May 5 and still haven't received it. My emails to Patrick remain unanswered. Val Melvin read more

Top quality food prepared in true Basque tradition. A great neighborhood go-to place which, unfortunately, we always kinda forget is there! I will be placing it higher on my favorite local places to go from now on. Excellent bar, excellent drinks and VERY reasonable (both the food and drinks). The service can get a bit spotty when the place gets crowded and it can get quite loud and noisy in the small dining rooms. All things considered, our waiter Alex did an admirable job. My overall take, a real old school gem off the beaten path and in a beautiful setting. We'll go on a weeknight next time, though. ;) read more

This is a great place to go if you're in the mood for escargot, a chicken thigh with mashed potatoes and a very nice glass of champagne! You have to be in the mood but it never disappoints! It's also a good place for a nice drink a few appetizers if you feel like sitting at the bar. read more

I've been to Le Chalet 3 times over the course of about 8 years. Once when I was a senior in college, once to treat my mother and just this past week as a end of the year staff luncheon. Every time I order the escargot and eat it with the breat - garlicky, herb-buttered deliciousness. Our waitress was very good, attentive even though about 10 minutes in, it got very busy. Older crowd. Substantial food. Good place to go to and become a regular. read more

Well, its just not that good! I've been here 3 times, because its 5 min away from my home, and every time I am left with one and only aftertaste... its just not that good. While the service and the exteriors are pleasing and satisfying, the sole base of what makes a good restaurant is missing, the food is NOT TASTY, its just not. Today we went there for lunch, the patio was bright and shiny, made me happy... my husband and I we ordered the stake from the menu, and a paella from specials. The $5 house Chablis is delicious, makes a good aperitif, adds one star. But holly paella, I've never had a paella with a fish in it, never would have expected one, just never seen fish in the paella before Bouillabaisse, yes, paella no... May be its their special Basque paella, but our waitress said its classic, so darn, I did not expect fish in it. The fish and the chicken together just didn't play... chicken tasted like fish, I swear and there was too much juice in the paella, which is not good because its supposed to stick to the pen its made in. My husband doesn't like me complaining about food but I believe that its a product, you pay for a product if it is not that good, you return it, isn't it what capitalism is all about. But I try not to complain in front of my husband, so I didnt. Service, on the contrary, is a subjective thing, since we all are human beings. Service was delightful BTW! Thats another . Chopped Sirloin... if only I knew that chopped sirloin is a code word for a burger patty... oh jeez... if only it was explained in the menu or someone would have told me - mushrooms were good tho, with onions. So far we have one for the patio,for the delicious chablis and for the most professional server. Meaning this place is missing the one thing that is essential for the restaurant - good, food! read more

Can't say enough! Our first time here & we will be regulars. The food, the atmosphere, the people, the music & the dogs made for a fantastic evening. The house-made sangria & frog legs were well prepared. What a gem! Great for couples & date nights! Can't wait to return. read more

Le Chalet Basque - Yummy spumoni & house rośe - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

I was raised on coming here fairly often for family gatherings as it was always so convenient to drive down to Lower Santa Venetia from Upper Santa Venetia! This restaurant is a hidden gem of incredible people churning out some amazing French-Basque cuisine that this county is so fortunate to have! read more

There is no better spot North of the Tiburon Y to eat outside and the French/Basque menu makes this place a "one of". Finding ourselves there the Eve of Bastille Day and the World Cup Final was an occasion I'll always cherish. Enjoyed bernaise sauce on a NY stripsteak. A nice pate started us off, followed by a smooth cream of watercress soup. I couldn't love this restaurant any more than I do. The accordion player was a delightful addition. read more

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We love this place. The food is great and the service is so personable. Freddie took great care of us. We can't wait to come back.

Wonderful local restaurant, with rich and delicious fare! (Freddy always takes such good care of us, and we look forward to every night we spend there!) read more