Ambiance: It's upscale, however they could work on the spacing between tables; specifically, the table for a large group blocking the walkway. It makes it difficult to exit when there's other people dining there and waiters moving around. Loved all of the cat decorations and how they kept the red theme going. It's quite dim, but personally that's preferable to it being extremely florescent and bright. Service: Johannes was very pleasant. Food: We came because we wanted to eat escargot. Our favorite French restaurant, Le Gourmet in Upland closed in 2024 or 2025 so we needed to find a new French place. The lamb loin in lingonberry sauce was wonderfully complex with the savory cheese complemented well by the sweet lingonberry. The escargot was perfect. The only caveat was that we tried the pastries of the day -- one was a puff pastry, forgetting the flavor/name and some kind of cake, maybe Napoleon? We did not care for the desserts at all, if I were to get another dessert I'd probably stick with the crème brulée. The bread and salty whipped butter were delicious, seemed house-made? The bread was slightly sweet and I had to hold myself back from gorging on it. Parking: Parked in a nearby garage for $20. I think there was an event going on. read more

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Another incredible meal at Le Chat Noir. Thank you to our incredibly attentive and friendly server Adrien who provided truly excellent service, including making minor modifications in order to accommodate my diabetic mother. We ordered the greatest hits: the Voil au Vent (scrumptious!), the rack of lamb with herbs, the French Onion Soup + bread service, and the special of the day which was swordfish served with capers and a white wine sauce, and a rosemary risotto. The food was excellent, as always: perfectly sized and seasoned portions, with high quality products worthy of the price point. The meats were perfectly cooked to medium, juicy and just the right balance of firmness and melt in your mouth softness. Incredible! We will be back again, and again, and again. Merci Le Chat Noir! read more

Le Chat Noir - Rack of Lamb - French Near Me - Riverside, California

Went here 2 times so far. Everything is ALWAYS so good. I think this place has the best prices among fine dining, and with the best quality food ever. You can find starters/appetizers for $15, and the entrees are $40 ish. These are from the regular menu, they do mark up prices for Valentine's so watch out!! Regardless, I love the atmosphere. Very romantic and fun to converse in. And the food came out so beautiful and well-made, nothing to be picky and made a fuss about. Our waiter, Adrian, has amazing humor and is very engaging. Im always welcome to tip him well because of how kind and excellent he is read more

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Le Chat Noir delivered a great dining experience from start to finish. I started with the shrimp appetizer and the sauce paired with it was rich, balanced, and super flavorful. The sea bass was another standout, cooked perfectly and topped with an incredible sauce that really tied the dish together. For dessert, the creme brulee was a solid finish that's was classic, smooth, and satisfying. Overall, a lovely spot with dishes that are thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. read more

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It was our first time here and everything was amazing! We called to make reservations and came on a Tuesday evening for our anniversary. The interior was a little smaller than I thought but had a really intimate vibe especially with the dim lights. The host was very friendly and made sure to give us the specials before leaving. Our waiter was wonderful! He gave us suggestions and they were all perfect! He made sure to check on us often and never let our waters empty. The food was so delicious!!!! I've tasted escargot a couple times before and it wasn't very good. But we tried the escargot in garlic sauce here...AMAZING! All our food was wonderful and flavorful. The meat was tender and the veggies were good! All in all we give this 100/10 and plan to make another date night to return. read more

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I recently experienced another great French dinner here with Diane, beginning with Bread Service consisting of freshly baked and lightly crusty baguettes slathered with heavenly butter. Next up for me was an app of Escargots in a Garlic Butter Sauce that was simply superb, followed by Moules Poutelle au vin Blanc (Steamed Mussels) in a milky broth. A crock of Soupa L'Oignon Gratinee au Gruyere featured numerous well-caramelized onions, a delicious broth, and a very cheesy baked lid. For mains Diane enjoyed Les Crevettes in a Lemon Butter Sauce (Sauteed Shrimp), while I was very pleased with my perfectly medium rare Les Tournados de Boeuf Blanc et Noir (Filet Mignon) with both Red and White Wine Sauce. My dessert course was the highlight of the meal. While Diane addressed a large Creme Brulee, I struggled to finish an enormous Dessert Sampler that included Creme Brulee, Chocolate Mousse, Profiterole, and Chocolate Macaron. It was a great end to a great meal. Service was attentive and spot on. And the surrounding ambiance in the small dining room was intimate and romantic. read more

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We are here for my Birthday! The food is delicious and the service was also very well received! All three of us had a fantastic meal perfectly prepared! The appetizers were excellent! The restaurant is small but very intimate! Yes we will return! Thank you for making this evening special! read more

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Came here for a date night - and I gotta say this restaurant really nails the 'je ne sais quoi' vibe to a T. We ordered the smoked salmon for appetizers, and filet mignon and pheasant for the main. Everything was perfectly cooked - the pheasant was pleasant and juicy and the filet mignon had the most decadent cognac sauce. Finally we had dessert, which I thought was the highlight. We shared crème brûlée and the coupe ardechoise (ice cream w/ chestnuts and brandy). WOW these were so tasty! Finally, our waiter was the best - he would always check in on us with each course and would leave with either a dad joke or small quip. read more

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The food here is amazing! You can tell the chef puts a lot of love and time into the food that is served. I personally think it is so rare to find places like that lately. The restaurant is on the smaller side which makes it feel that much more intimate. Service is also great! We had a birthday party here without any complaints. We were able to bring our own cake and the restaurant plated it for us (with a fee). Recommend it for special occasions or nice dates. read more

Le Chat Noir - French Near Me - Riverside, California

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Amazing service presented by Adrien, his recommendations were solid. I had the best escargot with these mushrooms oh my gosh, perfect for dipping my bread. I also had an amazing glass of wine. I really just enjoy this experience. I came by myself and it was just really nice and classy and a bit of sophistication. The portions of their escargot was really nice. It took them a while to make it because it is made fresh and the mushrooms and I'm not a big fan of mushrooms but with these mushrooms it worked perfectly. read more

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The French onion soup was some of the best I've ever had! We also had the escargot and while I thoroughly enjoyed the pesto, I do love a little cheese on mine as well. I would highly suggest the crepe de mer. Still top notch and the restaurant was able to get us in during prime Saturday lunch time without issues. Definitely worth stopping in for this gem. read more

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Brought a friend for dinner to celebrate a milestone. We enjoyed the appetizers (escargots & mussels). My friend indulged in her lamb loin. I thought my duck was a bit over cooked. The dessert sampler was the perfect size to share with someone. read more

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Love this place. French speaking staff are friendly and informative. Place is cute and cozy. Had the pate this time. Tasty with the unlimited bread. Have had the french onion soup before and it's amazing. We had the steak with two different sauces. Perfectly cooked and so much flavor. Creme brulee is classically delicious. Pinot noir was great. Highly recommend if you're craving french food in the area. read more

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Consistently good food & great staff. I keep going back to this place. Everything I ordered are delicious!

All I can say is WOW ! I myself haven't had French Food before and for my first time I'm speechless. Just happened to stumble across this little downtown spot with the wife celebrating 34 Years of marriage. From the beginning the experience was amazing. The waiter was very informative and it was a wonderful anniversary. The French onion soup is absolutely delicious and the bread was fresh and the butter was tasty. Not knowing anything about French food I opted for the venison. The sauce was delicious and the venison was tender and juicy, vegetables fresh and potatoes were excellent. Compliments to the Chef ‍ for such a great first experience. Great little romantic spot. Very affordable considering what you get . Definitely will be back to try some more on the menu. read more

Le Chat Noir - Our evening was amazing ! Thank you Le Chat Noir ‍ chef and waiter's - French Near Me - Riverside, California

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Loved the food, our server and the chef! You know you've found a gem when the workers and owner put quality and heart into the business. We had a lovely late evening meal and are delighted to find this gem in downtown Riverside. read more

I highly recommend having a meal here. Everything was amazing. The food, the service and the ambience are warm and welcoming and delivered in a superb French experience. There isn't anything I would not recommend. I suggest sharing a few meals, starters and desserts. read more

Excellent dining experience! It was my second time dining here with my girlfriend, the service by Adrian was fantastic as always, we felt well taken care of. I got the swordfish and she got the lamb chops, it was her first time trying lamp racks and she loved it! I am also very impressed with both the appetizers and the entrees, the stuffed mushrooms are a must try, and the swordfish cooked medium was delicious. We'll definitely be back for more ^-^ read more

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Very friendly servers and reception at the door! Immediately brought water and bread. Small and intimate setting good for small gathering or date night. Extensive wine menu and full bar. Ordered specials of Halibut and Branzino. Each was perfectly cooked and came with potatoes and veggies. Cocktails were generous and very tasty. Parking was easy either on the street or across in the structure. The area is near historic mission district and has a lot of night life. If you go in the day, there are plenty of shops to peruse after lunch. read more

Stumbled upon this restaurant by accident and we are so glad we did! Charming little French restaurant with a handful of outside seats. We didn't have a reservation on a Saturday but we were able to get seated outside. We ordered the French onion soup, shrimp, lamb chops and the mini dessert tray. Everything was perfectly seasoned and the veggies were all absolutely fork tender and delicious. My only complaint was the lack of a sauce for the lamb chops as I felt it needed a little something. Very affordable for the quality of food and definitely a place to come back to read more

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Delicious restaurant, great for a big group! I tried escargot for the first time and I'm so happy I went with one of their specials: halibut risotto. The fish and veggies were perfectly cooked and seasoned very well. Not pictured but we did pay for bread service and it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, yummy! Servers were very nice but don't let them fool you - they ask if you want soup or salad as if it's included but it's not read more

Le Chat Noir - Garlic butter escargot - French Near Me - Riverside, California

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Their daily specials always look incredible, so definitely ask about them before diving into the regular menu. I ordered the sea bream, which came in a rich, tomato-y sauce with creamy risotto and vegetables. A friend got the duck confit, and wow... it was the star of the night. It didn't have the gamey duck smell! Surprisingly, my personal favorite ended up being the shrimp appetizer, and you can dip your bread in the creamy sauce. We also tried the French onion soup, and I loved that it wasn't overly salty like others can be. For dessert, the mini assortment was perfect for getting a taste of multiple flavors. On top of the great food, the staff was so warm and attentive. A wonderful dining experience from start to finish! read more

Le Chat Noir - French Near Me - Riverside, California

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Celebrated my husband's birthday here and we had a great time. We ordered the shrimp appetizer and onion soup to start with. For our main course, we ordered the sand dabs and shrimps. Service was excellent. We even had the chance to speak with the chef. The restaurant is in a nice location and well decorated. We had a great time! read more

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This was our first time visiting this restaurant, for a fancy date night out, and overall we had a nice time. I think I was expecting more from what I had thought this place would be like but again, nothing went wrong, it was just all very middle of the road and ok. The place is super tiny, that was unexpected, and so you get seated pretty close to others also usually on a fancy date night - Made for a few awkward moments haha. But the wait staff was very friendly. Our order was - a bottle of wine (sav blanc), stuffed mushrooms, onion soup, the pheasant, and rack of lamb. Honestly, the best app was the soup (and comp'd bread) and the pheasant. Both were delicious and we licked those plates clean! The lamb was cooked perfectly, but it was bland, no flavor at all, and while the mushrooms and escargots were tasty, the green sauce overpowered the whole dish with an herbal vibe (love the roquefort though). Again, overall we had a nice dinner and I'm glad we tried it out, but with all the options downtown, I'm not sure we'd be back for another visit. read more

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Love the classy intimate setting, staff is incredibly attentive, food never disappoints, it's our favorite date night spot in town when we wanna get a little fancy read more

Excellent service by Adrian! He is an asset to Le Chat Noir. He knows the menu by heart and takes the time to establish rapport with his customers. Thank you! The food was great! I especially recommend the escargot and the sand dabs meuniere. read more

The food was delicious and the atmosphere was beautiful. Staff was nice as well. We will be back.

Wonderful date night experience! Fine food, great service! Celebration of our anniversary!

The peppered steak and the crème brûlée were delicious. Small restaurant, well located, nice servers. read more

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Food was Amazing , waiter was so kind and funny , the restaurant it self is pretty small so it's pretty intimate but it's really nice ! Definitely try the desserts and duck ! read more

Le Chat Noir - Dessert - French Near Me - Riverside, California

Excellent service! The staff were friendly & helpful. I went with 2 friends & we enjoyed the venue & the food. The 2 out of 3 main dishes (shrimp & lamb) were full of flavor & the 3rd (white fish) was good but not as flavorful. I would return & recommend! read more

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Everything was amazing highly recommended. The service was impressive food was delicious and the prices were great.

Quaint little restaurant near downtown riverside. Perfect to eat and the Walt the lights at mission in. Small menu but food is delicious. Wine is mostly by the bottle. No liquor. read more

Beautiful anniversary dinner. Food was delicious and our waiter was great! Highly recommend all the dishes we ate! Everything we ate was top notch quality. Ambiance was cozy and romantic. read more

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so many issues with this place. Last year I called a they wouldn't take a reservation over 8 people. Today (April 23) I came because it said it was open online only to discover they're closed until May 1. Always issues with this place. Not planning to try again. read more

Everything was perfect! The ambiance, the service and the food was outstanding. Great place to eat for that special occasion!! My husband and I will most certainly come back to have another delicious meal and experience outstanding service!! read more

Food was amazing! We had the cheese tray and the wonderful waiter kept bringing fresh warm baguette. We also had the dessert tray with coffee and big was it delicious. Prices are great. Service was wonderful and comforting ambiance. Will return for more coffee and desserts for sure. read more

Food and service both outstanding. I could get a walk-in table at 5:30 on a weekday, but best to make a reservation as the place filled up quickly. read more

Le Chat Noir - Escargot - French Near Me - Riverside, California

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Sometime you only get one time to prove yourself, my wife and I always enjoyed this place when they were in S.B. When we found them again in Riverside. We made reservations for last Fri. We were a little disappointed in the ambience and was a little uncomfortable we both had the filet mignon pepper steak both steaks were very tough I ordered my steak med.rare it was med.well, the pepper-corn sauce was good, veggies were almost raw, extra charge for a small baguette. The wine was very limited by the glass but a nice wine list by the bottle, I ask if they do corkage yes but only one bottle @ $35.00, the dessert was (ok) the bill was over $230.00 with only two glasses of inexpensive wine. The parking was terrible (down town Riverside) we were going to invite two other couples for our next trip, but I don't will be back, why would we go out when we can do better at home. Sorry read more

THIS PLACE IS GOOD! I have never been to a French restaurant and I went with friends after work to try the food. This restaurant is VERY welcoming and our waiter was so nice and helpful. He explained what each meal was and how the chef prepares the meal. I had the Magret de Canard aux Poivres Exotiques (Duck breast in a peppercorn sauce) medium rare and it was tasteful. It is regular size portions and it allowed us to get deserts after our meal. I was just perfect therefore I recomend for date nights or an outing with a small group of friends. I will be back soon to eat again. read more

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