Contemporary French Cuisine with California inspired ingredients, best describes Le Papillon Restaurant. From its inception in 1977 till today with recent remodel and innovative cuisine using local sustainable ingredients puts Le Papillon Restaurant among one of the top restaurants in northern California. The seasonal menu along with ever changing tasting menu, offers great selection to be enjoyed in an elegant setting. The extensive wine list offers variety as well as quality. The service staff along with the Maître d" and Sommelier provide an experience to remember.
"Lovely, special occasion place. We had the 3 course fix-prix dinner, $70 PP. Lovely with some special addition such a tiny shot glass of Vichyssoise soup. I ordered the scallop appetizer, the salsify soup (whatever that means), and the sturgeon "Wellington" at the recommendation of the waitress. She seemed very knowledgable. My friend enjoyed her meal as well. We ordered a half bottle of Viognier wine which was terrific. It was only $25. Certainly a special occasion unless you won the lottery."
Dined on 5/15/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"I love the subdued, friendly atmosphere here for special occasions. We were a party of four who tried the red deer, sturgeon,and duck entrees. Each was unique in presentation and taste. Their souffles are the best anywhere."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, special occasion
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"The service is always friendly and prompt without being intrusive. The food is properly portioned, exquisitely presented, and delicious. I would recommend Le Papillon to anyone with a discerning palate and a love of the food experience."
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Cell phones are not allowed, meaning no ringing cell phones. They will give you a warning if your phone starts ringing. I guess this helps in a more quiet, intimate atmosphere. The service is polite and accommodating. We wanted less salt in some of our dishes and our waitress was responsive and made sure the cook did just that. The food was pleasant to look at and taste. It was overall a very good experience."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"It is a gem. Classic and elegant , very cozy. Food is superb and the service is excellent. I go always to celebrate my birthday and my husband's birthday. It is a fantastic experience each time. They Cather for my daughter's wedding ...guess still talk about the amazing food we served. Love Le Papillon!"
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: special occasion
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"My wife and I were very pleased with our selection of Le Papillion for Mother's Day. It had been some time since we had dined at the restaurant. We spent much of the evening recalling our previous experiences. We won't let as much time elapse before returning again."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: romantic, notable wine list, special occasion
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"I had forgotten about this restaurant and when I finally went back it was as good if not better than I remembered. The service is impeccable and love the way the menu is priced. You just can't go wrong here.
We'll definitely be back!"
Dined on 5/09/2013
Special Features: romantic, notable wine list, special occasion
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"We are from Louisiana and had never been here before. When we first sat down, we were in a higher traffic area and I saw a table against the wall. The owner came over and gladly assisted us Food was excellent and would definitely go back."
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"Finally a night out to Le Papillon. Service was very friendly and knowledgable. Food perfectly executed. Classic french, but there are some modern innovations on the menu. The wine list is very approachable. Overall, it was a quiet night out with my lady, a bottle of wine, and excellent food. Can't ask for much more."
Dined on 3/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Our favorite restaurant, although the last several dinners we had were mediocre, this one was spot-on. Service was great, they moved to a prix-fixe model so the diner may choose a 3-course or 4-course meal. Wine selection was extensive, moderately priced, and a knowledgeable sommelier was very attentive and ready to describe boutique wines that were well-made and help with selection. Several "gift from the chef" morsels served while looking at the menu were interesting and delicious. A great experience."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"This is a restaurant you can rely on for outstanding cuisine, elegant decor and classic good service. You can bring a group or have a romantic meal for two. The experience is always memorable and outstanding. We will be back. Rosemary and David Adamson"
Dined on 04/15/2013
2009
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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"The birthday celebration we had at this restaurant couldn't have gone any better! The six of us got the price fixed menu for 4 courses and were treated to several amuse-bouches on the house! Perfect restaurant for a special occasion!"
Dined on 04/14/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"As perfect a meal as I have ever had, anywhere at any price. It is not often you will pay over $100 for dinner and feel you have received incredible value. Memorable!"
Dined on 04/06/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"This is one of my very favorite restaurants. Have celebrated many special ocassions here including 2 dinners for 8-10 in their private dining room. They never fail to exceed our expectations!"
Dined on 04/05/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"The staff was excellent. The waiter was very helpful. Explained each dish and wine. Very, VERY nice. Went out of his way to make us feel comfortable. The food was amazing. We ordered the tasting menu and it was full of surprises, all of them fabulous. Loved the entire experience."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, special occasion
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"This is our "go-to" restaurant for special occasions such as anniversaries or significant birthdays. The place is pricey, but wonderful. And the Grand Marnier souffle: priceless!"
Dined on 04/01/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"nothing negative to say about this gem. Every entre was amazing. The service was superior and the wine list outstanding. For a restaurant of this caliber it was without pretense. We would certainly return for a special occasion."
Dined on 03/20/2013
2002
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"The service and food was fantastic. The sturgeon wellington was delicious... but maybe a touch too much salt for my palette. The sturgeon mousse though was a phenomenal treat. Overall for my first time, le papillon was great. I hope to return soon."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"It is always a pleasure to dine at Le Papillon. We reserve the restaurant for special ocasions only and have never been dissapointed. The food is great, the service excellent and the ambience divine."
Dined on 03/11/2013
2004
Special Features: special occasion
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"We had an outstanding lunch. The steak my wife had was done to perfection, and my salmon was great. The waitress, Cathy, was there when we needed her, and just left us alone the rest of the time. This is a first class restaurant from the entrance in, the food, the service and when you depart. Highly recommend it."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion, great for lunch
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"Excellent food for those who like and appreciate classical French cuisine. Do not expect major culinary breakthroughs, but the dishes served are well executed. We had the pea and salsify soups, beef tenderloin and sturgeon, and finished with passionfruit mousse and Grand Marnier souffle. The waiters are well dressed, which may be intimidating for some diners. The wine list is very good but only some choices are economical. Perhaps the greatest drawback is the location in a funny strip mall and the surprising lack of parking for such a restaurant. We had to look for a parking spot and parked in front of the dry cleaning, fortunately after they closed, so we avoided a parking ticket."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"We used to go to different restaurants for special occasions, but they always fell short of Le Papillon; we now only go to there. Comparable to the French Laundry in quality, but at Le Papillon you get a full 3-4 course meal instead of a dozen little plates, at half the cost. You also get a few little surprises along the way. All perfect: lobster appetizer, scallop appetizer, salmon with mirin glaze, pork tenderloin (if you don't like rare pork, tell your server when you order). The night we were there, they had a sugar snap pea soup that was excellent. I can't comment on dessert choices, because we always order the Grand Marnier Souffle -- order because it takes a while to prep. Can't wait to go back."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"Overall food was very good, we loved especially the Salsify soup and sugar snap pea soup was our most enjoyable and surprising dish of the evening because of the flavour layers in them. The service was very good, we had a lovely waiter."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"The food is very good , the service also good but not for the price they charge! Me and my wife spend about $400 for the dinner, it could be better for that price range"
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, special occasion
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"The food was excellent - definitely above the standard in San Jose: carefully prepared, presented, and thoughtful. The red deer was perfect, as were the amuse bouche. The decor was a bit tired, however, and the interior could use redecoration. In addition, for the prices listed, the overall experience was not up to par."
Dined on 02/15/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Three of us went to Le Papillon. We were pleasantly surprised to find it is prix fixe. Our waiter, was amazing, accomodating, and made our dinner feel very special. The Somnlier performed flawlessly, considering our carried in wine cork was slightly broken. Corkage was reasonable. Even though our wine and year was on their menu. From the start we were delighted by the complex and balanced flavors of the food. The surprise pre dinner treats were a hint of what was to come. The chef's amuse bouche was Uni mousse with a sweet dollop of something on top that melted in my mouth. I was tempted to lick the plate. In fact, everything was like that. So good, you just want to smile and taste slowly so it will never end. Highly recommend."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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"We went there for dinner on my husband’s birthday with our 4-year old son. They set up a table for us in the waiting area, I guess they were concerned about the little one making too much noise. We ordered food first and asked for the sommelier to come by to recommend some wines but nobody showed up until 10 minutes after our first course had been served. I got a warm dish as my first course so by the time I got my wine the dish was cold already. Overall the food was good but we probably won’t go back again."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2005
Special Features: special occasion
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"unfortunately the food is not up to par with the price we paid. plus both me and my wife got sore throat after the dinner. the service is decent but it's probably not worth for us to come back again."
Dined on 02/09/2013
2008
Special Features: special occasion
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"It's been several years since I've been because they replaced their chairs with ones that are not comfortable for my fat friends. Aside from that, it's still the same excellent place it's been for the past couple of decades: excellent food, excellent service, very quiet.
One tiny nitpick: two of the dishes came with insufficient side ingredient to properly taste and share with my companion. (scallops/hazelnut polenta; heart of palm salad/grapefruit)"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Beautifully prepared and delicious food. Wait staff are professional and helpful. Room is pretty, tables are spaced well so you feel a sense of privacy when conversing."
Dined on 01/29/2013
2012
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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"My husband's birthday dinner. Our server, Kaitlin, was terrific, and all the servers and owner were so gracious and thoughtful. All the flavors were fantastic. We enjoyed our dining very much."
Dined on 01/24/2013
2007
Special Features: special occasion
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