Tasting Menu 5 presentation, flavors, texture were all very good Service 5 Ambiance 5 read more

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

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Been here a few times and service here is exceptional. Dishes here have been consistent with slight changes depending on the season. Love the sample items throughout the course. Each dish is beautifully prepared and plated. We got the 4 course at $150 per person but they also have a 3 course menu which is just no dessert. Started with some bread and butter. The first course was the slow poached lobster. Cooked perfectly and slightly sweet from the lobster and sauce. The kanpachi tartare was tasty and fresh. Next was the butternut squash soup and came at the perfect hot temperature. Crunchy texture from the pumpkin seed granola. The Dungeness crab salad came with lots of crab that was sweet and had fresh crispy apples along with the buttermilk sauce. The main course we got was the beef tenderloin and the grilled rack of lamb. Both cooked medium rare and come with a delicious sauce and side. The meats were tender and flavorful. For dessert, the soufflé grand mariner is a must try. Warm and soft soufflé that goes amazing with their grand mariner sauce which is sweet and fresh fruits. The black sesame terrine was rich in black sesame flavor. Perfect if you love black sesame. Dim and calm ambiance with a bar as well. Splendid place for fine dining. Small parking lot outside. read more

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I was invited to a team dinner in their private room. It's been awhile since I went here and I want to say it's still the same. It's on a corner of Saratoga and weird parking layout but it was a Wednesday evening and we didn't have any issues with parking. Walked in and it really feels like another world. It's a warm ambiance inside. Tables are fairly close to each other. Bar is right ahead once you walked in. We were walked to our private room to enjoy our dinner. We had a prefixed menu provided and all the items were good, nothing stood out. Waiters were accommodating. Great selection of wine. Nice topper when they brought out a birthday dessert for me. Enjoyed the nice evening with colleagues read more

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Have been here thrice for company holiday party . They are fine dine and have perfect setup if you want to have a date night or some official dinner like I had . Lots of options to choose from . We always get the four course meal from here which includes an appetizer , soup/salad, main course and dinner . Lots of finger food options as well . Parking is easy and staff is very friendly and cooperative read more

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We decided to celebrate a big milestone for us, our 20 year anniversary here. From the beginning to the end the service was exceptional. The lighting was very dim inside and the ambiance was very calming and beautiful. The servers were very attentive of us with each of the meal presented. We opted for a 3 course prix fixe for $125. In between each course, we had an amuse-bouche. Here's what we ordered: First Course: Dungeness Crab Soufflé (5/5) This was really soft and fluffy, and airy with a lot of crab. I prefer the way this was cooked vs a traditional crab cake which is more thicker and dense. Stinging Nettles Agnolotti (4/5) If you like snails and are adventurous since this establishment is a French restaurant, you have to try this. My husband enjoyed this. I'm not too fond of snails. Second Course: Roasted Chilean Sea bass (5/5) This was cooked perfect and you get a pretty decent size fish piece. It is super super buttery and I couldn't eat all of mine. It had shiemji mushrooms on top and a potato mille-futile (crispy potato). Loin of Veal (5/5) The veal was super tender and didn't have any gamey taste. This also came with porcini mushrooms, potato gratin, and confit figs. The combo came together perfectly. Third Course (Dessert) Chocolate Marolaine (5/5) Chocolate cake with pistachio, caramel ganache, and praline butterscotch (I ate it all so it was that good) Peach Clafoutis (5/5) This was baked and warm and gooey peaches when it came out which went well with the ice-cream on top We paired it with an excellent bottle of Chateau Paveil De Luze (2016). For our anniversary they gave us a tasting plate of mini desserts to try. We were so stuffed as everyone was really exceptional. I would come back here to try all the other fantastic items we didn't get to try next time. read more

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We are excited to be here and bf was here 25 years ago so we decided to come here tonight for a 3 course French meal. It is very elegant yet friendly and warm. They are very flexible and accommodate my special needs. I love the amuse bouche which is 2 bites of gluten free heaven. More after dinner. Oh my gosh, so much food! I like the Hamachi Crudo and my sea bass was great. I've never seen potatoes in a rectangular block. Very interesting! The Grand Marnier was pretty amazing. 5,000,000 cal later and $537 later, I feel stuffed and I don't think I would ever do this again but it was a good experience read more

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Visited Le Paoillon on Mother's Day and opted for their 4-course prix fixe menu. It's definitely on the pricier side, but the service made it worth it--our server was incredibly attentive, and not once did our water glasses go empty. Each course was perfectly timed, allowing us to really enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. The highlight of the evening was the pacing and presentation, but the lobster bisque was unfortunately too salty for my taste. Everything else was solid, and the ambiance was fitting for a special occasion. Would recommend for a splurge-worthy night out or celebration--just maybe sample the soup before committing! read more

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I was there on the Valentine weekend. The food was like Costco's food that has been heated up. The price is ridiculous for such low quality. I wonder if Americans do not know what real French food is. read more

I recently tried Le Papillon for the first time last weekend for an early Father's day dinner. This is an unassuming building that I've passed by countless times and never knew it was actually a nice French restaurant inside. There's some parking spots right next to the building which is nice, since it is a busy street. Inside is a cozy fine dining atmosphere. The service was great, not necessarily fine dining in the sense where someone is constantly around but still very good. The food is what surprised me actually. It was delicious. We opted for the three-course dinner menu. - First Course: crab souffle - this was possibly my favorite dish of the night! It was stuffed with real crab and the sauce that accompanied it was flavorful yet light so the crab shines in the dish. - Second Course: local black cod - the cod was cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth. The sauce was a nice pairing. I will say the sides were okay, the broccoli was a little on the harder side than is my personal preference as it was cooked to an al dente. The potato was delicious, just small and I wish there was more than one small potato on the plate. - Third Course: peach clafoutis - it was okay, I'm huge fan of peaches so that's what swayed me to this dessert. It's sort of a baked custard however it isn't that sweet and the ice cream melted pretty fast. There were some bits of peach mixed. Not my favorite. Some other dishes I also tasted included the grilled beef tenderloin, which the people at the table who ordered it really enjoyed. They serve it with a butter knife, not a usual steak knife to show off how tender and soft the beef is. It was cooked really well. I also tried the chocolate marjolaine, which was interesting. I think the layers of cake were pistachio but the cake was on the dry side and the pistachio flavor very subtle. I did like the rich fudge-like chocolate layers though and the decadent salted caramel cream on top was great. The food here is really great. I'd recommend it for an special occasion. read more

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This is a neighborhood institution, so the hubby and I knew we had to visit sooner or later. We decided to make a reservation for our anniversary and had a wonderful experience! We chose their tasting menu which I believe had about 4 courses to it including dessert. Everything was delicious and incredibly well made. We ordered a bottle of champagne as well... If I recall the bill was around $500 ...which ain't cheap for 2 people but worth it for a special occasion!! Don't get scared by the exterior.. it is located on a seemingly random corner near a liquor store and 7/11, but the restaurant itself is very nice!! read more

Le Papillon - French Near Me - San Jose, California

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Wow - why have we waited so long to dine at Le Papillon? The service was absolutely incredible. Jordan made us feel so at ease, guiding us through every step of the menu and treating us to so many delicious micro courses. We enjoyed the Burgundy snails, artichoke soup, halibut and duck - each course was absolutely delicious and perfectly prepared. One of the finest meals in many years! The ambiance is so lovely - refined, elegant yet not stuffy. read more

Everything was amazing, from the service to the food and wine pairing! You really can't go wrong here! read more

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Le Papillon catered our wedding, and we are still floating from the incredible experience. From the very first meeting to the final plate served, everything was beyond perfection. My husband and I were absolutely blown away--not only by the quality and taste of the food, but by the genuine care, professionalism, and warmth of the entire Le Papillon team. We had the pleasure of working closely with Tamera, who guided us through the entire process with such grace, patience, and clarity. Every step was transparent, organized, and honestly a joy to go through--something I never expected to say about planning wedding catering! Tamera helped us schedule our tasting at the restaurant, where we had the absolute honor of being served by Mike, Le Papillon's founder and owner, who also shared stories of his culinary journey. That tasting made us feel like we were the center of the universe--and sealed the deal. We knew we were in the best hands. Now, let's talk about the food. WOW. I'm not even a soup person, but we were served a salsify soup with duck pâté, and my husband and I looked at each other and said, "We have to have this at the wedding." I would honestly die happy eating that soup for the rest of my life. And that was just the start! The hors d'oeuvres were so good we wanted to make a meal of them, and our guests couldn't stop raving. We opted for a three-course meal, including a ravioli course that was out of this world, and a main course duet of duck and filet mignon--both cooked to absolute perfection. Every plate was a masterpiece. Even our most discerning family members (who always have something to say) were speechless. They're still talking about the meal! One of the things we're eternally grateful for was how seamlessly Le Papillon accommodated our guests' food allergies and dietary needs--without hesitation or compromise. Every substitution was just as thoughtful and delicious as the originals. As someone who is gluten-free, I couldn't eat the ravioli course, but instead I was served a toasted polenta with mushroom sauce that was SO good, I honestly think I got the better end of the deal! I still think about that dish--it was packed with flavor and beautifully balanced. We are so thankful for the care and attention that went into making sure everyone at our wedding could enjoy an exceptional meal. To top it all off, Tamera and Mike personally attended our wedding alongside their staff, ensuring everything went smoothly. Their presence meant so much to us. The service was five-star across the board--from the kitchen to the waitstaff--and the entire experience was seamless, joyful, and unforgettable. And this 5-star review doesn't just go for the catering--it's for the restaurant as well. Our families were so blown away by the food and hospitality that they immediately asked Mike if he could host us the following night for a post-wedding family celebration. He graciously agreed, and while the restaurant menu differs slightly from the catering options, it was equally as extraordinary. Every course was executed with the same elegance, care, and bold flavor. It was the perfect way to extend the joy of our celebration--and Le Papillon truly made it unforgettable. read more

Returned to this restaurant again. The food remains good, with the same solid flavors and consistent quality, but there's little sense of freshness or creativity in the menu--it's mostly the same dishes as before. Service felt distant and somewhat mechanical. Several different staff members served us, but no one introduced themselves as our main server, which made the experience a bit impersonal and confusing. Overall, still a decent spot for reliable food, but it could use a bit more warmth and innovation read more

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Had the pleasure of going here with my mom and it was such an amazing time. The staff was so friendly and such a pleasure to experience. We must have encountered about five and all were so nice. Had a reservation for 6 and we were seated immediately upon arriving. Parking was a little hard but I think it's because there was a large wedding party there as well as other patrons. The food was outstanding and the wine, the wine sommelier paired for us were all AMAZING!! In fact he was kind enough to give us the names and my mom and I plan to order 2 of them. Very cozy vibe, there was a bar but I didn't go in, since the wedding party was in there and we got seated so quickly. Beautiful yet simple flowers in the center of the dining area. There were two tables celebrating birthdays, which was nice to see these strangers wishing each other a happy birthday snd chatting. There happen to be a guy seating next to me who was a tad rude to the staff and I could hear him grumbling to his companion. Honestly, he had no reason to grumble either. As mentioned the staff was all so kind. From start to finish our dining experience was amazing, even finished off with a nice tea . I can't wait to go back, maybe for my nieces birthday or something special, but if you're looking for something special this is definitely a must try. read more

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My boyfriend and I went here for our anniversary and enjoyed the experience. We ordered the tasting menu, which was so satisfying I couldn't finish some of my dishes. My favorite dish was the bison tenderloin. The meat was so tender I could cut it with a butter knife.The dish I could have done without was the warm potato mousse since the serving was too big for how rich it was, but I appreciated the experience since I hadn't had something like it before. The service was prompt. Our dishes were cleared soon after we finished each course, and our glasses were always full. At the end, we shared a dessert with espresso and tea which was a nice way to end the meal. I appreciated how the dining room was quiet without feeling stiff and how it felt elevated yet homey. Highly recommend! read more

Came here to celebrate my sister finishing her psychiatry residency program! We made a reservation beforehand so we were quickly seated. It's a nice, quiet ambiance inside. It looked like there were some groups of colleagues and a few tables of friends. It would definitely be good for a date night as well. The menu was either a three to four course dinner, or they also had a set tasting menu of six courses. We went with the four course option and I got a crab soufflé to start, an artichoke soup with prawns, medium rare steak, and Chocolate Marjolaine for dessert. Crab soufflé was really good, with a nice fluffy texture. The prawns in the soup were so juicy and succulent. The steak was cooked perfectly, and the dessert was rich and decadent. They also gave us three small tastes (I forget what the term for this is lol) - all unique. My favorite was a miso panna cotta with salmon roe. And I ended with a cappuccino. Honestly, the service was a bit slow, but I understand this might be the norm for a more intimate establishment like this. I believe we arrived around 7:30pm and left at 10pm, just FYI for anyone planning a visit here. I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a more elevated dining experience in the area! read more

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The food is amazing every visit. perfect for social gatherings and get together. Service was on point. I swear the listeners were listening every single time from across the hall. And it was friendly warm ambience and great for l celebrations. Would like to come back for another get together read more

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Le papillon had superior service and kind, friendly staff. I enjoyed the tasting menu here at this upscale french restaurant. There were a lot of bold rich flavors in the courses of the tasting menu. It is a nice restaurant inside, very clean, and a calm atmosphere. My favorite dish was the linguine carbonara, it was reimagined at Le Papillon into a beautiful and delicious course that I enjoyed very much, especially the jammy sous vide egg yolk on top. read more

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We've come to Le Papillon quite a few times over the years and for me personally this time the food was the least enjoyable I've experienced. I had the three course meal consisting of the Slow Poached Lobster, the Dungeness Crab Salad, and the Roasted Duck Breast. Unfortunately none of them stood out taste-wise. In fact the lobster was too chewy and the duck was under-seasoned (I had to ask for salt). Also the dinner knife was insufficient to cut the duck. As usual, the service was impeccable and the ambiance as enjoyable as always. I those raised my score from 2 stars to 3 stars, but still a costly dinner for what I got. read more

Ah you know right of 280 on Saratoga in San Jose is this nice little French must-do restaurant. I attended here years ago for a private event and then attended recently for another event. Last night I had the pleasure of attending again. This time I would try to fake my French accent" to impress those that I came with ;-) So clearing my throat I entered and said to the greeter..."ahhhhh "dzees" eese Le Papillon" ?! I am sure he was amused with my phony accent when I then spoke to him perfectly in Spanish. Lol From the first time I was here years ago to the last 2 times, it has been upscale semi-French. Unlike some of the other French establishments around and up the peninsula, this is more of a semi elegant down to earth place. The prices of the entrees will not leave you poverty-stricken at a later date ( after the meal) :-) The waiting staff is wonderful, they are there to make your experience at Le Papillon the best, and they are great at what they do! I would say moderate in price from entrees starting with a 4-course dinner at about 140. oo per person. Loved this place. This is what I would recommend or I have had let's say..for starters either the Kanpachi Tartare with Lemongrass, Tamarind, and Avocado Sorbet or Chilled Beet and Puff Pastry Tart with Goat Cheese Sabayon and Pistachio - Then for the next course I have had ruffle Parsnip Soup with Duck Royale r the Heirloom Tomatoes with Polenta Croutons, Jersey Ricotta, Olive Caramel, and Basil and then for the main I have had the loin of Veal with Golden Chanterelles, Shallot Boudin Blanc, and Sweetbread Fritter Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Marrow Emulsion, Roasted Plum, Matsutake Mushroom, and Potato Gratin. Last but not least the supreme desserts are many but I have had Gateau Basque with Poached Apples and Almond Streusel Soufflé Grand Marnier with Fresh Berries and Grand Marnier Cream ( picture attached) Now let's get something real clear here shall we...( in a French accent) "rgrin..rgrin" " tout n'est pas français" ( this is not all French) There is a fusion of French, Italian and Continental. All that aside, just enjoy yourself and imagine yourself in a small quaint restaurant in Paris. Bon appetit read more

Le Papillon - French Near Me - San Jose, California

Le Papillon has been here for generations. We dined in a large group prie fix menu with the following choices... Appetizer: Kanpachi Tartare with lemongrass, kaffir lime, tamarind and avocado sorbet. Fell short of requisite fish aromas and flavors. Tart and acidic, but needs more fish meat. No finish on any of it. Soup and Salad: Baby Lettuce with pears, toasted pecans, grated feta and chambord vinaigrette. Okay, also quite tart, but lots of good stuff here. Main course: Grille beef tenderloin with marrow emulsion, maitake mushroom and rectangular brick potato gratin. Cooked PERFECTLY medium rare, I loved it, and I guess flavor profiles for a tenderloin were decent. Not crazy about the bordelais sauce, as with most sauces, the meat should speak for itself and I don't want to be forced to ingest the sauce. On the side, please. Creative au gratin brick and comes with a pair of carrots - yay. Dessert: Souffle Grand Marnier with creme anglaise - which was undoubtedly way too alcoholic and obvious that they didn't burn off enough. Souffle itself undercooked and not very poofy or impressive on delivery. As a nice touch, a few freebies were served along the way, including a crabby shot of bisque and a salmon roe jello thing. Finally, I know it's a French restaurant, but the wait time was borderline excrutiating, particularly at the end when we were trying to split the bill. Going at a relaxed pace is one thing, but when you're waiting 30-40 min for the credit card slip, that's a little ridiculous. In Silicon Valley, time is money, and that costs a star... That's all... read more

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Le Papillon provided our wedding dinner experience, and absolutely blew us and our guests out of the water. Tamera, the catering manager, was incredible, and their attention to detail, taste, and organization was just magnificent. Multiple people told me it was the best steak they'd ever had. 10/10 would recommend!! read more

We booked Le Papillon as our caterers for our wedding and couldn't be happier. We got married at Nestldown on 10/18/25 and all of our guest raved about our food. We did a melon salad, seabass and filet mignon entree, and five fabulous hors d'oeuvres. The service was incredible. They handle all of the allergies and vegetarian options wonderfully. Highly recommend as they cook all of the food onsite as opposed to other vendors. We can't wait to come back for our first year anniversary. read more

Chose the 4 course option. I am allergic to shell fish. That significantly limited my options. Course 1: Chilled beet and puff pastry tart - the puff pastry was cold and lifeless. Beets and veggies were nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, disappointing. Course 2: butternut squash soup. very good! Course 3: Beef tenderloin. Was a good piece of meat. Other than that, nothing different. Just ok. Course 4: the black sesame dessert. Total confusion. Could barely taste any black sesame. Overall, disappointed. read more

The ambiance is great - very peaceful and clean. The kitchen is amazing as well. There were four amuse bouche in addition to the 3/4 course menu and they gave us a special birthday mango dessert. I would highly recommend the lamb entree (extremely tender and subtle), the hamachi tartare (very fresh), and the asparagus appetizer. I'm not a seafood person but the lobster tail and the lobster soup were apparently delicious as well. The service was so so. When debating two dishes, the server seemed apathetic and said "well snails are rare". My mom said we Vietnamese eat snails all the time. "Oh well okay get the other one". We were hoping for some culinary insight! Oh well. He also seemed apathetic and never cracked a smile even when my mom cracked a joke read more

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We recently visited Le Papillon again after 20 years for our 20th anniversary. The food and service were superb 20 years ago. Based on our recent experience, nothing has changed. We enjoyed every bit of our dinner. The decor is simple and elegant with a bit of "old school" charm - In a good way. Our server Natalie was just awesome - Warm, friendly, and very attentive. The food was just wonderful. The Dungeness Crab Souffle and Burgundy Snails Agnolotti were great starters. The Beef Tenderloin and Sea Bass were just magnificient. And of course, the Grand Marnier Souffle is heaven!! Thank you Le Papillon! read more

We celebrated our anniversary here and had a great experience. While I can't say I was absolutely wowed, the service was great, the atmosphere pleasant, and we had a wonderful meal here. We started off with three different amous bouches which were nice. For the tasting menu, our favorites were the slow poached lobster - tender, yet bouncy (and personally worth the extra supplemental cost); the truffle parsnip soup - very creamy, not overpowering; and both the duck and the sea bass. The duck was perfectly cooked, well seasoned, and the sea bass was so tender. While the desserts were good, I don't think I was able to appreciate them, but I was glad I could finally say I've tried other french desserts besides a souffle. read more

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Excellent service, food presentation was beautiful and ambience is always perfect. Classic fine French dining style. read more

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The last time we actually dined at Le Papillon was 10 years ago, but we've gotten takeout maybe 4 times since Covid and really enjoyed their food. We would dine at the restaurant but we have 2 young kids and just haven't had a chance to! If you are interested in their takeout, it is excellent. They carefully package everything, including the amazing sauces in separate containers. Every dish- appetizer, entree, and dessert, is made with care and high quality ingredients. You can just tell as you savor each bite. My favorite has been the roasted duck and my husband likes the beef tenderloin. The beet tart is delicious and not too heavy as a starter. We have tried a few of their desserts and they have all been excellent! If you're searching for a classic French meal, you should definitely consider Le Papillon. There is a reason it has been around for so many years! read more

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We cannot recommend Le Papillon enough after having them cater for our wedding last week. Food was both beautiful and delicious; service on the day-of was excellent; and communications with Tamera & Mike were seamless from the start. It is clear that the owners take pride in what they do and do not compromise any bit on quality. A few things that stood out: - Food is of the exact same quality both inside the restaurant and at our venue on the day of the wedding. We were awe-struck by the amount of food we were offered at our catering tasting - almost everything on the extensive menu was presented to us, and we parted with 5 to-go boxes full of deliciousness! Everything from plating, to service, and taste, was perfect. Throughout the tasting process, Mike, the owner who hosted us, explained how our experience at the restaurant will translate to the wedding day, anticipating all of our questions, and offering his suggestions along the way, both in terms of balancing food palettes and costs. - Tamera, the Catering Director, is also an absolute gem who not only patiently and promptly answered all of our questions, from food selection, pricing options, to accommodating our last-minute timeline adjustments just a few days before the wedding. Tamera was a solid rock that we could rely on to draw from her years of experience in this field, and offered us so much reassurance during the whirlwind of wedding planning. - After the wedding, so many of our guests raved about the food. It is amazing how Le Papillon was able to serve over 100 perfectly cooked filet mignons in such a short period of time. Service also proceeded without a hitch, and promptness from the servers (and I'm sure a lot of backroom coordination) kept us afloat on a tight schedule. If you are considering Le Papillon for your event, seal the deal now! They will not disappoint :) My husband and I already cannot wait to pay Le Papillon future visits in their restaurant! read more

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Very overrated food wise. I had the braised duck, which tastes like frozen duck meat heated in a microwave. Nothing spectacular IMO. This feels more like a wine shop that happens to serve food read more

Came back to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary! Everything was as amazing as we remembered it to be. Everyone was super professional and friendly, especially Kendra, who took care of us tonight. The place started to fill up around 7pm but was still quiet (everyone whispers lol) and since the tables are spreader out, it didn't feel crowded at all. We enjoyed all the dishes but the corn chowder will always be our favorite- loved it at our wedding and loved it again tonight as well. Thanks again for another wonderful night! Highly recommended for any occasions! read more

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authentic french cuisine in a dated interior, good service, good place for conversations

Late post: we were here on Christmas Eve 2024 ! My one and only choice would be Le Papillon for all My special celebration events ! I have tried so many different fine dining restaurants and to me Le Papillon always out beat them all! My favorite, craving , high end and amazing service! Love love love ~ read more

Wow what a culinary experience! I had the 3 course meal. Crab soufflé -- omg there was so much crab in this soufflé Asparagus salad with prosciutto-- the prosciutto was crispy Halibut -- gently crusted with leek bread pudding Everything was incredibly delicious! I didn't order dessert but the desserts look amazing ! read more

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This was a fine dining restaurant that I've known since high school but obviously being a zero-income student, I was not able to try it out during that time. I was reminded on a whim when I was looking for some Valentine's Day date ideas and decided to finally go. TL;DR = To me, this was a sleeper hit. It was one of the best fine dining experiences in terms of price/food quality/service I've had in a while and I highly recommend people to try it out. [[ Location ]] Not gonna lie.....the location isn't the best. The turn into the plaza where Le Papillon is located is near a right hand turn at an intersection and the surrounding area is a Liquor store and a Laundry Store. Although there is parking, I would say it's limited to about 20-25 cars before you would need to park near the Liquor store area. We didn't have a problem since we ate at the earliest time (5:00pm) but when we finished dining around 6:30pm, there was no parking already around the restaurant. [[ Restaurant ]] The outside of the restaurant isn't very pretty but its much better inside. It's lower ceiling than I would like and I would say its old-school fancy rather than modern but it was nice and it was clean. The place is relatively dark and my "low light" indicator was always on when I tried to take pictures. I would also say the environment is "Quiet". You can definitely hear the conversations around your table. Take that as you want but we tried to be respectful of how quiet it was inside and to try our best to keep the conversation private. [[ Service ]] 5-star service like a fine-dining restaurant should be. Our cups were never empty, plates were cleared very quickly, utensils replaced after each course, and friendly servers. No complaints here. [[ Food ]] I think this is where Le Papillon shines. The food was cooked really well, especially the meats and the various souffles they offer, and the presentation of each dish was beautiful. There were also a total of 4 amuse-bouche (3 starters and 1 dessert) that was a bit unexpected on my end but loved. The menu works as the following: 3-course menu = $105 4-course menu = $125 Tasting Menu = $165 We opted for the 4-course menu and the main difference between the 3 and 4 course menu is that you can order an extra dish from the menu that is NOT the main-course. This is great if you want two starters or two desserts. Choose to your hearts content. This is what we ordered and I starred what I thought were the best: First Course: 1.) Kanpachi Tartare 2.) Dungeness Crab Souffle*** Soup and Salad: Artichoke Soup*** Dungeness Crab Salad Main Course: 1.) Beef Tenderloin*** 2.) Roasted Duck Breast*** Dessert: 1.) Gateau Basque 2.) Souffle Grand Marnier Dungeness Crab Souffle - They absolutely nailed the souffle and there was plenty of crab meat inside. The presentation was also beautiful and I loved the double sauces underneath of green/yellow. Artichoke Soup: Great flavor and the two prawns they gave inside the soup were so fresh and soft. Beef Tenderloin / Roasted Duck Breast - It's rare that we order two main courses and liked both of them but we got really lucky this time. The Beef Tenderloin was pretty big in size given the price and extremely tender. The Roasted Duck was also tender on the inside but also had that nice "crunch" on the skin when you cut into it. I was so excited when I heard that crunch when I cut into the meat. Souffle Grand Marnier - Although I didn't "star" this I wanted to share my impressions. The dessert itself is beautiful and the fruit was tasty. However, the taste of the souffle was a bit disappointing to me as it was like eating egg whites and at the end we couldn't even finish the Souffle since it was so big. I would get it since it looks nice but I'll leave it up to you on the taste. [[ Conclusion ]] Definitely will be back again with a larger party. One of my favorite restaurants that I dined at for recent times. read more

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Yummy meal. Crab soufflé:4.5 stars. Absolutely delicious. Flavors and textures all hit the spot. Pear salad: just right amount of dressing. I ate every bit. Miso sea bass: 4.5 stars. still moist with plenty of flavors and umami tastiness. Potato rectangle was yummy as was the side of veggies. Chocolate Marjolaine: 3 stars. So so. Didn't really hit the spot for me. Servers were efficient and polite. Took some time for the food but overall ok. Nice ambience with lighting and setting. read more

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4.75 stars, but since we can't give partial stars, boosting to a perfect five star rating because Le Papillon can be pretty stellar, earning its position as one of my most favourite restaurants. Ever since they catered our wedding reception on June 30, 2007, my husband and I have been dining at Le Papillon nearly every year to celebrate our anniversary. I have known about this restaurant since I was a child as my parents used to dine here. Le Papillon has maintained their reputation as a quality fine dining establishment for decades. The venue is composed of a small parking lot, a main dining room, a salle a manger with walls of wine bottles, a smaller room that can host private parties, a bar with a few dining tables, and an outdoor garden patio for dining al fresco. The bar and dining rooms are simple and classic in decor and the outdoor landscaping is reminiscent of a well manicured cottage's yard in Europe. The rear garden patio is simple and elegantly modern with its wall waterfall and succulent wall gardens. Service at the restaurant is usually on point. During my wedding, though, I was a bit disappointed that a server was not assigned to pass hors d'oeuvres to the bridal party during the photo session, per my request. Le Papillon offers a contemporary French prix fixe menu as well as a tasting menu of several courses. Dishes are sophisticated and unforgettably delectable. My most recent dining experience on Saturday, July 16, 2022, wasn't the most impressive, but Mom and I still enjoyed ourselves very much: First Course: Mom started off with the Stinging Nettle Agnolotti with Burgundy Snails, Caramelized Fennel, and Tarragon (Le Papillon's take on escargot). I think Mom would have preferred the traditional version of this appetizer over this version. I had a bite of the pasta and can understand why - the sauce wasn't as exciting as the classic garlic and parsley butter preparation of escargots de Bourgogne. I'm not the biggest fan of fennel nor tarragon, though. Dungeness Crab Souffle with lemon, Saffron, and Caviar was a heavenly pillow filled with crab meat. I am not even a fan of saffron, but the sauce was a perfect complement. Surprisingly, I found myself soaking up as much of the sauce as I could with every morsel. I could have eaten three of these souffles! Soup and Salad: Mom ordered the Little Gem Lettuce with Mandarin, Shaved Radish, and Tahini Dressing. Again, she wasn't impressed. In fact, she didn't like the salad enough to finish it. I finished her last bites - nothing special, to my surprise, unfortunately. I ordered the Lobster Bisque with Sweet Corn Timbale which I enjoyed. The soup was very tasty and the light corn custard was a nice topping. I wish, though, that there were some chunks of lobster within the potage, not just the tiny piece that sat atop the timbale. Main Course: Mom and I both ordered the Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Marrow Emulsion, Maitake Mushroom, and Potato Gratin. The tenderlon is my go-to entree from which I never stray. The servings on 7/16/22 were good, as always, but a little overcooked (dry on the edges), first time ever. Dessert: I always order Souffle Grand Marnier with Fresh Berries and Grand Marnier Cream. Not often do I have the opportunity to enjoy a good souffle, so I can never pass this sweet up. Mom would rather have the cream on the side, though, so sweetness could be more controlled. Falling short from perfection is unusual at Le Papillon. We know this from years of dining here. We will return again...and again most definitely. read more

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