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    Le Papillon

    4.2 (1.3k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndFrench
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Le Papillon Photos

    Business Info

    LE PAPILLON ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating

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    Ann N.

    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

    Rini R.

    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

    Roasted Chilean sea bass
    Julie T.

    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.

    Amuse Bouche
    Elisa G.

    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

    Allison S.

    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!

    Souffle Grand Marnier
    Jennifer Y.

    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.

    Natalie F.

    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!!

    Trang Ashley P.

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

    Duck
    Jeannie T.

    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

    Slow Poached Lobster(add $10)
    Malissa M.

    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.

    Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Marrow Emulsion, Roasted Plum, Matsutake Mushroom, and Potato Gratin
    Grace F.

    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!

    Chocolate-Coconut Terrine with pistachio
    Brian M.

    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

    Seared scallop
    Amy H.

    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.

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

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    Le Papillon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Le Papillon

    Do I need a Reservation?

    Yes

    Is this restaurant only price fix and tasting menu? Is there option to order just A La Carte?…

    Both tasting menu and a la carte available

    This is a Graduation Dinner- we want to do your tasting menu- do I need to notify restaurant before date?

    It would depend on the size of your party. If large party I would say yes.

    Can you come in for dessert only?

    Hi can i make reservation for a outdoor seat explicitly?

    I have requested it twice and they accepted this as a request -- not a real reservation. I only went one of those times, and did get it. For some stoopid reason, I had to ASK them again for this, indicating that they might not have even made a… Read more

    Can we bring a toddler with us?

    I don't see any reason why not, but you should call the restaurant to confirm. It is a very special place and you should NOT take a toddler that will bother other diners. People pay a lot of money to eat there, and are often hoping for a romantic… Read more

    What is the dress code?

    Yes, this is a lovely classy restaurant where one should wear nice clothing, otherwise you will fee very out of place. NO jeans, tee shirts, beach walkers etc. Wear something you might consider wearing to a wedding as a guest or a very important… Read more

    I would love to find a local restaurant where I could practice speaking French. Does the wait staff speak French?

    My experience with the very attentive wait staff is that they spoke lovely Spanish.

    Can you just order one tasting menu but for 2 people?

    Like all restaurants with tasting menus, it is meant for one person each. So if you want to share a meal between 2 people, don't go to restaurants with tasting menus only.

    Indoor dining will be allowed on 10/14 with limited capacity. Will Ls Papillon reopen their dining room? I would like to make reservations for indoor dining at the end of this month for my bday. Please let me know ASAP. Thx

    How much time should we assign for a dinner at Le Papillon? Would 3h be enough? Thank you!

    Three hours is perfect. The tiny bite size portions keeps coming unless 2hr would be okay if you just order three course meal.

    Is the tasting menu up to date?

    Seems very likely. I visited twice in the last year and the tasting menu was almost exactly the same both times (but still delicious) and basically the same as it is now. It seems Le Papillon doesn't change their menus with the season.

    Corkage fee? Not mentioned on their web site.

    Do they accommodate allergies?

    If you give them heads up, they will take care of you (within reason, of course). First time we went, they were able to accommodate my pregnant friend. I'd recommend giving them a call.

    Does anyone know if they still have foie gras?

    Yes. Had some tonight. Very tasty.

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    Élyse Restaurant - Belgian fries

    Élyse Restaurant

    4.3(547 reviews)
    4.7 miDowntown
    $$

    Had a great experience here this evening. I wanted to treat my coworkers to dinner so made a…read morereservation for a large group a few weeks prior. Making the reservation was a tad difficult since the my did not respond to my email or inquiry from their website and had to call. We arrived for our early dinner and was seated promptly. The place slowly filled up as the night went on. We ordered an assortment of appetizers and entrees. Raved about dishes were their Belgium fries, mussels, and the chicken dish. Most of my coworkers ordered the shaken filet and rice. I had the short rib. Everyone throughly enjoyed their food. They also have a nice cocktail menu. I don't drink but all of my coworkers had a drink and they all seemed to enjoy their drinks. Service was prompt and courteous. We all had a great time. I would definitely return here again.

    CHECK YOUR BILL!!. I recently dined at Elyse in San Jose and wanted to share a mixed experience…read more First, the positives -- the food was genuinely very good. The dishes were well-prepared, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The overall ambiance was also enjoyable, making it a nice spot for a dinner out. Unfortunately, the experience took a concerning turn at the end of the meal. Our bill came out to $86.42, and I handed my credit card to the waiter. Within seconds (thanks to my card alerts), I received a notification that $103.92 had been charged. When the waiter returned with the receipt, there was no mention of any discrepancy. After waiting a few minutes to see if it would be addressed, I brought it up myself. The waiter appeared flustered and then claimed he had accidentally charged me for someone else's food. That explanation didn't align with the itemized bill I was given, which made the situation feel questionable. He assured me that it would be corrected and that I should see the adjustment in a few days, which I'll be watching closely. Mistakes can happen, but the lack of transparency and the fact that it wasn't proactively disclosed is what left a bad impression. Being overcharged without explanation -- and having to catch it myself -- is not something I expect when dining out. I'd consider coming back for the food, but I'd definitely be more cautious when it comes to the bill.

    Photos
    Élyse Restaurant - View of inside of the restaurant.

    View of inside of the restaurant.

    Élyse Restaurant - Mushroom Tartelette

    Mushroom Tartelette

    Élyse Restaurant - The restaurant is very modern and spacious which I loved

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    The restaurant is very modern and spacious which I loved

    La Foret

    La Foret

    4.1(918 reviews)
    13.0 mi
    $$$$
    Fine dining
    Romantic vibe

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

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

    Photos
    La Foret - Rack of Lamp was delicious!!

    Rack of Lamp was delicious!!

    La Foret - Veal chop was out of this world!! Best I've ever had!

    Veal chop was out of this world!! Best I've ever had!

    La Foret - Grand Marnier Souffle

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    Grand Marnier Souffle

    Goodtime Bar - Pork Belly w/ caramelized oyster sauce, peach salsa, ngo gai, jimmy nardellos ($24)

    Goodtime Bar

    4.7(230 reviews)
    4.7 miDowntown
    $$

    I totally understand how they made the top 100 in the SF Chronicle list, it's so well deserved!…read more I have only heard golden reviews of goodtime bar through peers and thought it was a great time to finally check it out! I came here with a friend on a weekday for dinner and it was not packed at all. The atmosphere was very minimalist and clean, with a cute disco ball in the corner. This establishment requires you to order at the bar (makes sense it's a bar), and then they did you a number for the table so they can deliver your food. Any drinks you order they will make it right then and there for you to bring over. In terms of food, here is everything we ordered and my thoughts! *Deviled eggs: You would think since it's deviled eggs, there wouldn't be anything too special about them but I appreciated the small pops of salmon roe that added a nice textural play with the creamy eggs! * Bluefin tostada: Absolutely delicious with fresh tuna, paired with mango, on a crispy wonton chip. What a rich treat. * Arancini: The twist of fusion flavors was great. I love how the Japanese curry added a nice mix of umami, paired with the sharp creamy kimchi sauce. Definitely a favorite! * Pork belly: Pull apart, juicy, and tender! These paired actually really well with the arancini for a good balance of rice and meat. * Red miso crème brûlée: interesting sweet and salty flavor combination between the red miso and Madagascar vanilla. Not too overpowering tho. A lovely meal was had here!

    goodtime keeps me in San Jose. What more is there to say? I…read morewish I could come more often than I already do! Food staff and wine are all the best

    Photos
    Goodtime Bar - Indoor seating area

    Indoor seating area

    Goodtime Bar - Arancini

    Arancini

    Goodtime Bar - A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

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    A rich sparkling white that's not too dry

    Left Bank Brasserie - Santana Row

    Left Bank Brasserie - Santana Row

    3.3(3k reviews)
    1.3 miWest San Jose
    $$$

    We absolutely love and adore the staff at Left Bank Brasserie. My husband and I have visited many…read moretimes, often bringing along family and friends, and every visit has been consistently wonderful. The ambiance is beautiful and welcoming, and your team truly sets the tone -- friendly, attentive, and genuinely warm. It makes such a difference and keeps us coming back. We've always enjoyed the food -- I especially love the pan-roasted chicken, it's just lovely. And every time I have the burger, it takes me right back to France, where I lived for over 17 years in the south. That kind of authenticity is hard to find and so appreciated. What makes it even more special is that my husband occasionally gets to converse in French with some of your staff -- which he absolutely loves. It adds such a personal and authentic touch to the experience. For our wedding anniversary last year, your staff really went above and beyond to take care of us. We had such a wonderful night, and it's a memory we truly cherish. This is one of those places we feel confident recommending to anyone. Thank you for consistently making us feel so welcome -- we'll definitely be back again and again.

    We went there for a date night, which, sadly, with our schedules and budget, is a rare occasion…read more The happy hour menu was abysmal (warm olives with 4 tiny overtoasted crostini pieces was extremely underwhelming). The regular menu is also very limited, so I went for the cheeseburger. My Left Bank Cheeseburger was overcooked, smothered in arugula, and the top bun was almost too hard to bite. My partner had the lemon linguini which was much too rich and saucy. Also, the outdoor seating was in between two live musicians that night, which is no fault of the restaurant, but took away from the experience. The service was fine, however, and attentive enough.

    Photos
    Left Bank Brasserie - Santana Row
    Left Bank Brasserie - Santana Row
    Left Bank Brasserie - Santana Row

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    Épernay Bistro - Cassoulet Avec Confit de Canard maple leaf duck leg, white navy beans, bacon, arugula salad, pickled onions, breadcrumbs

    Épernay Bistro

    4.3(194 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$$

    I had bookmarked Épernay Bistro for a while, and finally came here for dinner with my husband on…read moreWednesday. We came here a couple of times when it was still Billy's Boston Chowder House. The brick walls and blackboards looked familiar. There's still a long table in the middle. With the new chairs and tablecloths, the place looked more classy than before. The floating shelves at the top of the walls were all lined with wine bottles. There're some gigantic bottles towards the back as well. It's quite a nice place to have a quiet, intimate dinner with the causal, yet upscale vibe. There're about eight tables (1-2 persons@) while we're there, and service was attentive, despite having only one server. For the $80 dinner for 2 special, we got to pick one item from each of the first two selections to share, two entrees, and one beignet each. We also added a beet salad to share, and my husband had the wine pairing. For our first course, the two baked oysters were cheesy and rich. It would be better if they were bigger, though. Our second course, the caramelized onion soup was perfectly prepared, one of the best I had ever had. The beet salad was refreshing, and the dressing was so tasty that it made arugula tasted good. I had the sole as my entree; it was cooked well, light and delicious. I took a bite of my husband's slow braised short ribs; it was tender and flavorful. The beignets were delightful, and paired really well with the dark chocolate and salted caramel sauce. I really appreciated that all their hot dishes came out really hot. Overall, it was a really enjoyable dinner. Would be back to have the onion soup again and try other items on the menu.

    This used to be one of my wife's and my favorite places--a charming French bistro with great food…read moreand an atmosphere that always made us feel welcome. Unfortunately, our most recent visit completely changed that. We had reservations for a Saturday evening and were seated promptly. That's where the positive experience ended. After being seated, we waited 20 minutes without a single acknowledgment from staff--no greeting, no water, nothing. Meanwhile, other parties who arrived after us were attended to right away, which made the situation even more frustrating. After more than 30 minutes of being completely ignored, we decided to leave. It was honestly one of the most uncomfortable and disappointing dining experiences we've had. As strong supporters of local restaurants, this was especially disheartening given how much we used to enjoy coming here. Sadly, this experience has permanently changed how we feel about this place, and we won't be returning. I hope the staff takes this as a reminder that every customer deserves the same level of attention and respect.

    Photos
    Épernay Bistro
    Épernay Bistro - Chef's Bouillabaisse

    Chef's Bouillabaisse

    Épernay Bistro - Duck confit

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    Duck confit

    Plumed Horse - CHEF’S TASTING MENU: BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM

    Plumed Horse

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    5.6 mi
    $$$$

    My wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a wonderful dinner at the Plumed Horse…read more The valet out front was a great way to start, because parking at peak times in Saratoga is super challenging- but not for us the other night. Thank you, valet guy! Once seated, we marveled at the beautiful setting and service. We had a nice table against the window and our expert server, Eli, was warm, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. Actually everyone on the staff was kind and attentive, and they all seemed to enjoy their jobs which you don't see too often these days. From start to finish the food was exceptional. The canapés in the 1st course were amazing and my favorite bite of the night was the tiny delicate pillow canapé with goat cheese and agave. Then for course #2 my wife had oysters and I went with a porcini mushroom orecchiette. we loved the pastas we used to get when the less formal sister restaurant Pasta Armelino used to be across the street, and this pasta would have been perfect for that menu. I had the Ling Cod entree and my wife had the duck. If we had to name 1 critical note about our experience at the Plumed Horse it would be that both of our main courses seemed a little bland. My wife would have wanted some acidity in her duck dish like from a fruit like cherry or plum, which are often paired with duck. Similarly my Ling Cod wanted something more too, whether spice or sweetness or something. But both dishes were cooked perfectly- we were just left wanting a little bit more. We finished with amazing desserts - my wife had an apple soufflé and I had a deconstructed s'mores - both were amazing. We had champagne toasts (my wife had a traditional champagne and mine was without alcohol), a glass of wine (wife), a spirit-free cocktail (me again), amazing food and an excellent experience. Lurvely meal.

    Came for a birthday celebration and got the 4 course tasting menu. The ambiance is classic and…read moredated in a refined way, and staff was very attentive. The 4 course tasting menu was nice in the sense that you can choose for each course (except the first starter bite course), and we chose different items to try more dishes/share. We opted for the uni/crab souffle (each), duck and coulotte for entrees, and black sesame passion and caramel apple souffle for dessert. Also got the crispy eggplant as an additional side. Honestly, everything was pretty underwhelming/on the saltier end. The uni/crab souffle was pretty cloying and hard to really taste the uni/crab amidst the fondue. Entrees were ok, but not impressive. Dessert wise, the black sesame passion pastries were a bit dense, and the souffle was too cloyingly sweet. The crispy eggplant may have been our favorite out of all the dishes. Our cocktail drinks were really solid (pink is the new black + allegory) and a highlight of the meal. We were also pleasantly surprised to receive complimentary champagne for the birthday celebration, though it would have been nice to receive this at the start of the meal rather than the very end. Note: we were unpleasantly surprised that the water was extra $9 in the final tab (we were not given any other options/heads up beforehand)

    Photos
    Plumed Horse - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    Plumed Horse - Wild Albacore with charred chicories, tonnato, gremolata

    Wild Albacore with charred chicories, tonnato, gremolata

    Plumed Horse - Black Pepper & Parmesan Souffl, uni & Dungeness crab fondue

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    Black Pepper & Parmesan Souffl, uni & Dungeness crab fondue

    Papillon - Dining room

    Papillon

    4.0(1.3k reviews)
    17.9 mi
    $$$

    We hadn't been to Papillon in several years and decided to go for our Christmas dinner this past…read moreDecember. Our party of 4 really enjoyed the food (particularly the calamari, duck, and ribeye), drinks, and service. The vibe was on the upscale side but not stuffy, a bit format but still warm. We also like that there were pockets for more private dining. So when it came time to have a small gathering for a group of 10, Papillon came to mind. Papillon's service was excellent - from the time of my reservations to the end of our evening. We requested a private room and boy were we impressed when we got to the venue! Without going into too much detail, because there's so much I can write about, let me just say that if you are looking for a place that is easy to get to, has ample parking, nostalgic and warm ambiance, friendly and professional service, classic and signature drink menu, and balanced food offering that are as well-plated as they are tasty, Papillon is the place! Special shoutout to Shawna (spelling?), our host, who took good care of our dining experience

    I came here during Fremont Restaurant week for their special promotion of appetizer or dessert,…read moresalad and entree. This is not my first time coming here so I was excited about the promotion. I am never disappointed about the food and service when I come here. The wait staff are always attentive and accommodating. I requested my bread to be hot and they were able to do it for me. The food was delicious as always and cooked perfectly. The only drawback is that the restaurant looks outdated. The carpet is worn and I can smell cleaner they used. Overall, it's a place worth coming back again since the food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. The owner even came to the table and offered us a drink on the house.

    Photos
    Papillon - Green House

    Green House

    Papillon - Banquet room

    Banquet room

    Papillon - Patio outside dining

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    Patio outside dining

    Le Papillon - french - Updated May 2026

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