Benji's French Basque Restaurant

Recently moved back to Bako after 8 years of being down south-so I missed this local fave so much. Restaurant gives cozy home vibes and meal was the comfort I remembered. I got the traditional set-up which was more than enough food. I also had a Moscow Mule from the bar which was perfect. The best thing about this food is that it’s comforting, yet not heavy-if that makes any sense. Service was top-tier, all our servers were so friendly. Never had to ask for drink or food refills at all! Highly recommend!!

The food was good, but needs a little bit more meat on the bone. The veal medallions lacked mushrooms, the filet mignon looked lonely, needs a little more appealing to the eyes, snails were good and the creme brule sealed the deal in the end. Service was outstanding, and a quick note, if you need to order souffle for desert, make sure you let them know 45 mins before, if not, you are out of luck.

Amazing!! Never really had any food like it! It’s comfort food but it’s done super well! Portions are big, food it’s hearty, and super satisfying! I got the chicken breast with basque tomato sauce and it was delicious, everything was! I can see why this place was packed. Great food, great service, if I lived nearby I’d be here regularly! Delicious!

As a Basque in California! I was expectant to go to Benji’s. Frankly the restaurant is not offering real Basque Dishes as “Bacalao al pil…pil, or simmilar.. but the food is really good indeed and the deso price/quality… superb! Oso Ondo Benji Jauna!! Laster itzuliko naiz!!

This is an amazing restaurant that gives you an insane amount of food! Food that's enough to feed a whole village! I ordered their seared scallops and the entree came with soup, salad, French fries, buttered corn, beans, bread and salsa. My side order of beef tongue was one of the tastiest. Will definitely return next time I'm in Bakersfield.

The cabbage soup was amazing. I had the rack of lamb. The portions were a little small on the meals but overall good. The lamb was cooked really well and extremely tender, I just didn't personally care for the sauce.

The best Basque restaurant in Bakersfield. The food and service never disappoint. Arrive early and enjoy a cocktail. The food is always delicious and the service is first rate. Save room for dessert. The souffle or baked Alaskan needs to be ordered same time as your main course.

Bakersfield has a large Basque population and Benji’s is one of my favorite local Basque restaurants. I’ve enjoyed the family style dinner here for many years and it’s always delicious. Lamb is a mainstay of Basque cuisine in the U.S. and I judge Basque restaurants by their lamb chops. And here they are excellent—tender, good cuts and smothered with garlic (if you request). The side dishes, which precede the main course, are awesome. Vegetable soup with beans on the side, salad, green beans and fresh cut french fries. A Basque specialty—thinly sliced beef tongue in a savory vinaigrette sauce—is also a side if requested. (It’s actually very good). You won’t go wrong eating at this family owned restaurant.

I haven't been to Benji's since high school! Meaning, it's been about 20 years! My how time flies! Thursday evening, dinner hour, we had reservation for a group of 9. The restaurant seemed pretty full but service was quick and friendly. I don't know why, but I wanted to try the duck. I have never in my life had duck and I am a very picky person when it comes to meat. There were two options for the duck: orange sauce or a yellow peppercorn. I asked the waitress for her input for a first timer and she said bith are good and both are ordered often. I went with her favorite which was the orange. I have to say, I was very pleased with it! The sauce had a nice, sweet, citrus flavor and it wasn't too overpowering. I had always heard that duck was an oily meat but I didn't feel like it was too oily or greasy at all. The flavor was like the dark meat on a Thanksgiving turkey. I was too excited to try it and forgot to take a photo of the whole meal, so that's why my picture of my food is half gone already. When I go back to Benji's, I will definitely try the peppercorned duck. It was definitely worth it.

The waitress was not around much. The food was not as good as last time we were here. The only thing that made me smile was the company I was with.

What a great experience and meal! We were soooo full and very satisfied with our meals. We only didn't get what we just ordered for our meal but we got so much more. Meals included salad and soup w beans, french fries, corn and bread; all included before you get your main meal! Wow! The menu was full of great choices. We definitely need to come back several times to try other items in the menu that we didn't get to try. Service by Kenji was enjoyable and perfect and made our experience pleasant and memorable! Very friendly and made sure our glass were always full. Looking forward to coming back when we are back in town. Very busy during dinner but we were seated immediately. Plenty of room and several party going on but the ambience was still enjoyable for a nice conversation for two. Thank you again Kenji.

Benji's provide a nice stop for lunch. I ordered the Basque Sausage sandwich and my guest ordered the burger. Lunch began with bread and butter followed by a salad. The bread was nice and chewy and paired well with the butter and red sauce. The salad came pre-dressed and cold, and was an outstanding example of how good a simple salad can be. The dressing was done perfectly, with each lettuce leaf coated but not dripping. The Basque Sausage sandwich includes a burger-esq patty of sausage and a cheese spread on a nice roll: it was filling and tasty. My guest's burger was reported to be very good, served on a nice roll too. Both meals came with nicely crisped fries. It was tough to not order one of the daily specials which today included oxtail and lamb shank...I will need to save those options for a hearty dinner. Service was prompt and efficient. The restaurant is nice and clean inside with a good mix of small party and lsrge party tables.

When considering a basque restaurant just go to Pyrenees. The salsa at this restaurant is thin and soupy, Pyrenees salsa is thicker and more spreadable. The bread at Pyrenees tastes better as well. The salad at Pyrenees actually has vegetables in it not just arugula like this place. The soup provided at Pyrenees is better. Pyrenees includes a pasta dish as well with the setup. The prices are lower at Pyrenees and the food tastes better with larger portions. In addition to this considering it is a basque restaurant I was expecting to have more food than I could eat so I ordered an entree for my girlfriend and I too share. Once I got my check I was told they didn't do sharing and charged a full setup I never ordered on my bill. If I would've known I would have just ordered 2 entrees instead. The prices are not a problem, the lack of honesty and transparency is the issue. Just go to Pyrenees instead. This place is so dishonest and mischievous and I think its because they don't think people will come back regardless

If I could rate negative stars, I would. This place is dog shit. The food is mid as hell and the customer service was TERRIBLE, and the most important part of my extremely negative review about this place is the fact that they are not transparent, and they are extremely dishonest. After going in with the party, I got my shared receipt that was split off with another person from a bigger party. Nobody told us going into it that if we were to split an entrée (with a set-up), we would be charged for an extra set up (not to mention the fat that we ordered and split the shrimp scampi, which just came with five shrimp and some sauce). After getting the receipt, we noticed that they impose an 18% tip on the total charge, which is understandable given that it was a bigger party, but the problem is the lack of integrity and transparency, as well as their extreme dishonesty that was illustrated by what occurred today. When we walked up to the front desk to ask why there was a seperate set up charge on our receipt, I said nothing before she came up to ME to explain why it was on my receipt before I had mentioned anything about why I was up there. So quick to come up to me without me saying anything, but couldn't be that quick to mention it prior to serving us the food? And then proceeded to say that this is done at all basque restaurants like this (actually only done here and that's with having been to a couple in town and even the ones that may charge at least they are honest and transparent about it rather than literally being purposely misleading, which is clear by the fact that she came up to me to explain why my receipt looked the way I did before I even said anything)! And even if restaurants (basque) like these do this (i've never experienced this in my life at any other basque restaurant, even high quality places with better food in town and out of town - Bakersfield), at least have the decency to put it on your menu and mention it to your customers prior to them being served. That is just common courtesy, at least if you are a reputable, honest, transparent, and well-wished local restaurant spot that Bakersfield locals have known a long time. The attitude of the likely manager was also just ridiculous and it's just a HORRIBLE overall first impression to give to your customers, especially those of a big party of 20+ people. None of us will be going back! There's a reason why this restaurant is so empty midday on a Saturday, don't even waste your time with this place. Just go to Pyrenees instead!

Stopped by to have a drink in the lounge area. Holly was GREAT! I didn't really know what I was in the mood for. She suggested an espresso martini. I loved it! So yummy and presentation was perfect! Holly was bubbly, sweet and friendly! Bar was neat and very clean. Glad I stopped by.

Great food. Good people. Benji still makes sure your having a nice time. Than you benji.

Fried chicken is buns never order it. The white meat was dry as shit and the dark meat was greasy and fatty.

Fast friendly service and Benji himself was very engaging and worth every penny ! It was the best Lobster I've ever had and it was HUGE ! I highly recommend!

We are done with Benji's. It's been in the Bakersfield Basque food restaurant rotation for our family forever. But they crazy. My brother is severely allergic to dairy, He can't have most items on most menus, and of course can't have garlic butter, because he can't have butter. As most know, the steaks at Benji's come with garlic butter...but tonight, as he has done in the past, he simply asked them for fresh chopped garlic with his steak (no butter). He also told our server that it wasn't a preference, but was an allergy as he is allergic to dairy products, and that included butter. In response to his fresh garlic substitution request, she pushed back, as she has in past visits (my brother said he had been served by her before and it's a pattern), told him no, actually TOLD HIM NO THEY COULDN'T CHOP UP SOME GARLIC FOR HIM, so he kindly clarified that they couldn't just chop him some garlic?, and she said "fine, that will be like $5 bucks then." Huh?? It was very obvious she randomly made up a price off the top of her head. My brother agreed because at this point he just wants some garlic for his steak like he likes, and like everyone else has the opportunity to have. And as she said she would, she sure did charge us $5 for three cloves of garlic for a steak that comes with garlic anyway. A $400 meal and she got annoyed (but, at what!?!?) so arbitrarily charged us $5 for the cook to chop this garlic. So so terrible. So bye Benji....and Ericka. Woolgrowers and Pyrenees have better food and clearly much better service anyway.

Very different food, not the normal French food. They have large banquets room and table that can be accompanied large party.

Food was amazing the bread was fresh everything seasoned great! Highly recommend to bring your family to dinner here

It's Father Day today, A very busy restaurant day. The hospitality here is always great. Benji dropped by the table to say hello. This is such a great touch of recognition in a busy restaurant . Rebecca was our server today. We were able to order quickly. She and her partner were so pleasant, prompt and polite. The service is consistently good here. We always come in a large group and are well taken care of. As always the setup of beans, soup & bread were brought out immediately, then the green salad and marinated tomatoes. The green beans and French fries accompanied our entrees. But a heads up the pickled tongue is no longer included in the set up. Our meals were delicious. Benji's is French Basque and great place to dine if you have a small or large group. We have never been disappointed. It is my favorite Basque restaurant in Bakersfield.

I'm thrilled to write a happy review after seeing several recent negative reviews! My family and I were able to make reservations for a large birthday lunch. I had read some of the reviews ahead of time and was a little nervous, but this trip had exceeded my expectations and I now have a new favorite basque spot! The dining area was neatly decorated and the table was setup in advance. Our 2 servers were extremely accommodating, kind, and very knowledgeable. I ordered the grilled chicken with mushroom sauce and was SHOCKED, I've never had a mushroom sauce be so creamy and have such deep flavor!! It was absolutely delicious I could practically drink it haha. The chicken was grilled perfectly and wasn't dry! The lunch entree came with bread, salsa, salad, and French fries. The salad has a robust flavorful dressing that didn't disappoint at all. From the grilled chicken, to the salmon, to even the children's grilled cheese all items I tried were absolutely delicious! The only downside I would mention about this trip is the charge for refills on soda, other than that the food was extremely delicious and the servers were super friendly. I will definitely be back again!

We had dinner at Benji's after a long stint in an Arizona food desert. We saw mixed reviews, and I'll just say the negative reviews reflect the diner's lack of experience with this cuisine. Everything was perfectly prepared and fresh. Service by Kenji was spot on, and he was a delight. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable. We did opt for a wine we had with us over the wine list offerings. $17 corkage was fine. We started with the traditional picon punch. Cabbage soup was so comforting and nourishing, we ate it all. Salad was perfectly dressed with a light creamy vinaigrette that also graced the tongue that was thinly sliced and tender. Beans, marinated tomato, and warm salsa accompanied the salad to mix and match at your discretion. Do put beans over your salad for the traditional experience. The roasted lamb was good, and veal medallions were excellent. Accompanied by perfectly stewed green beans, the entrees were nicely sized, not wastefully huge. And the Grand Marniere souffle... I have no words for this light, decadent fluff with plenty of creme anglaise. Don't let the tourons deter you. If you're looking for a delicious, comforting family-style meal in the true French Basque style, you'll love Benji's.

Took our grandsons and family for dinner. Great food, service and love the basque way.

Our server, Tonya was the sweetest And very attentive to our needs. The ambience is cozy, giving warm home vibes with Italian decor. The food was utterly delicious, everything is a must try.

My family was ignored here. If you are not a local or look like someone from out of town, you'll be the 2nd or 3rd option here. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

Benji's is by far my favorite basque food I have had. Their soup and set up items are always the best, and I love that they have so many unique entree choices. My favorite entree is the boneless skinless chicken breast with the basque tomato sauce and we also love their ribeye steak. The service is always great but be sure to make a reservation especially on a weekend as they do get pretty packed. There is ample parking though so don't worry about that and you can always have a drink in the bar while waiting for a table. It is a great spot for families and also a romantic date night. Make sure you come hungry!

i ordered garlic butter chicken spaghetti and chocolate mousse as a desert,first of all i waited for around 20 minutes,which is okay honestly but when i received the order it was obvious that this restaurant doesn't know that food shouldn't come in a box,but it was a hot day and i just wanted to get lunch cuz i work nearby,but still walk 15 minutes with that box was pretty hard its kinda an okay experience but i don't think it's quite worth it

Got in very quickly for a Friday night at 5:30pm. Service was very quick-we received the soup for setup before even requesting as entrees include it. Wine selection was also on point. Wine glass was dirty but quickly rectified when pointed out. They don't serve pasta like other restaurants and tongue is extra but worth it. Overall entrees were good not great. Would come back for the experience. We love basque.

Great place for a special dinner. The pickle tongue is the best. My father in law loves the sweetbreads.

Never disappoints! Been a staple of Bakersfield as long as I can remember, all the way back from when they were on Union Avenue.

Benji's has been our go to for years. I've never had a bad experience, but someone has sued them over either a fall or a run in in the common serving area. We cannot go through the area any longer. To get to the restroom you must go around. The lady telling me was rude. I guess she was sued. Who knows. Then my MIL ordered only pickled tongue. Yes, crazy but that was all she wanted. The server told her "ok, but don't eat anything else!" What in the world? Benji, you need to do some readjustments, have a meeting, etc. our food was good but I didn't enjoy the experience one bit. Very sad.

3.5 stars I liked Benji's, however, I felt entirely ignored throughout my meal, which is unfortunate because I thought the food was quite good. My waitress bypassed our table several times and deflected our questions/ requests. Had other diners had the same dismissive service, then okay, however everyone else seemed to have no problem flagging down a server. Shame on them for such shitty service that I don't feel compelled to ever return. No thanks. Conceptually Beni's has the full Basque service complete with something they call "the Setup." When you order an entree, you get something called "The Setup." It comes with a French roll, butter, salsa, soup, beans, green salad, fresh marinated tomatoes, French fries, and veggies - I think it has something to do with the basque tradition of communal sharing, but in any case, it's a whole heap of fun sides for no additional cost.

While looking for a place we found on Yelp (the directions took us in a continual loop) We came across Benji's. Tam remembered the place from years ago so we decided this was the place for lunch. We were seated immediately and greeted as we sat at a table with clear plastic table covering over the linen table cloth...okay save a buck. I deleted the rest of my review, mom said if you can't say anything nice...well. It's not my kind of place, I'm 63, I don't need to be reminded of it when I go out to eat, enough said enjoy your meal Foodguy-martin

So glad we found this Basque restaurant. We usually stop by Bakersfield a lot on big winter road trips, so this restaurant is always a good stop! Food is always so delicious and well seasoned. (the pepper steak, steak and shrimp kabobs, and lamb are a must!) This place also has soufflé, which is not easy to make, so that's really great! Service is also pretty good, the workers there make you feel welcome. The vibe is always lively as well. We are definitely coming back next trip.

Was just here the other night to celebrate a birthday and we had a great time with great food! The "set up" was super tasty and everything was very fresh. I do wish they would serve the bread warm but it still tastes amazing. We ordered two orange roughy plates and it was very fresh and light. We also had a filet mignon with peppercorn cognac sauce (this was mine) and as usual you can't beat the tenderness and the flavor. My favorite place to get a steak! It was quite busy inside but it was pleasant, the owner came around and checked on us and was very nice. The staff was very friendly. It's the perfect place for a family meal or for a date and we always enjoy coming!

We were on the way to hotel for the night. The word "basque" caught my eyes and we went in for dinner. They were busy full of customers but still able to give us a table. Basque is the region bordering France and Spain that lamb must be a key item on the menu. They have a set menu system, which includes soup, salad. Items can be ordered ala carte too. Soup and tossed salad came in large bowls, enough for at least 2 servings each. Lamb can be ordered in rack or sliced. It came in pretty large servings with mushroom sauce on top. A bottle of red wine was reasonably priced. A great dinner.

I'm not familiar with this style of cuisine. Aside from the strange assortment included in the set, the quality was lacking bland salsa, canned green beans, overcooked seafood. Definitely think the history of this place is what keeping it in business

I'm love this place. Authentic basque food is priceless. Benji the owner greeted me and told felt right at home.

For the besties birthday this year she decided on Benji's. I've never been but have always wanted to give it a try since I love Basque food. It's been awhile since I've been to a basque restaurant so I'd forgotten how popular they tend to be. But since we had reservations We were seated quickly and the dining room was PACKED! Our server was a nice young man, bringing us glasses of water quickly and refilling our salad and bread whenever requested. I was a little disappointed in the set up not featuring all the things, but I'm not sure if that is how it's always been at Benji's since this was my first time. You have to add the spaghetti or the pickled tongue separately which gets pricey! I decided to give the shrimp scampi a try and the hubby just added the garlic spaghetti and pickled tongue to his set up. The shrimp scampi was over the top delicious! I was so sad it only came with 5 shrimp especially since I had to share with the hubby. The salad dressing that is used for the salad should be bottled and sold separately just like Olive Garden. I would buy bottles every week! I give Benji's a 4 star because of having to add the spaghetti and tongue but overall it was a great experience!

I was first at Benji's a year ago. It was my first Basque restaurant. Now I've been to most of the others. Dinner last night did not compare to my memory. Fried chicken was dried out and so tough I couldn't eat it. Service seemed a little off. I'd recommend Woolgrowers over Benji's.

In my opinion best Basque restaurant in Bakersfield! The service is great always fast and tentative. The cow tongue is absolute most get!

My first Basque dining experience was at Benji's and it's still a favorite. It reminds me of home style German restaurant back home in the Midwest. They offer kind and professional service, tasty dishes (I love their sole and calamari) , and my favorite version of tongue!

If you are lucky enough to be a Bakersfield native, Benjis is iconic. A part of our culture. Alive and thriving French-Basque heritage. Friday night and Cami is serving drinks at the bar, her laid back, down-to-earth personality sparkles as bright as her smile. No judgment as she fills my wine glass twice, umm.. I mean, thrice with a delicious Pinot. Benji is seated in the bar, socializing with regulars. He makes rounds in the dining area as well, adding to the down home feel of this enchanting place. Tonight I had a little food with my wine. The setup was perfect. Basque soup, beans, salsa, French bread and butter- a side of blue cheese and hard jack are coming along of course. (Cheese is life). How are the French fries cooked so perfectly? Why do they taste so good smothered in salsa? I cannot answer these questions with science. Just savor. Fried chicken was served up fresh and steaming. Literal steam caressing each bite, lingering like the flavor of each tender and savory mouthful. I personally feel like home in each of the basque gems we have in this town. The food is not only prepared with love and care, it is served up that way. This food envelopes you. The warm feeling in your belly and in your heart like only home cooked food can do. If you know Bakersfield, you know basque food. If you know basque food, you go to Benjis.

The in the last time I was there, the food was amazing French basque menu and good quality food. This is before I had to go in a wheelchair. They could not serve me and my wife because my chair would not fit at the table. The hostess said I be should call in advance so I could be seated in the banquet room. So we had to try another place. Bummer dude!

Being a Bakersfield local it is a right of passage to try every Basque restaurant in town. Benji's is definitely a favorite spot for basque food. Every time I go to Benjis it's relatively busy. The service can be hit or miss. I've noticed there's typically only one or two servers that interact with a party even if it's extremely large. I'm not sure if they're somewhat short staffed or if this is how they do things. Large parties just need to practice patience! The food is all delicious and well worth the wait. I think of benjis as having more creamy consistency in terms of sauces and isn't as vinegar based as other basque places in town. My favorite meal to get is the filet of sole with the setup. The fish is always perfectly cooked and comes with a light butter and lemon sauce. I will definitely be back and will be recommending this place to my friends!

This place is a hidden gem! The service was excellent and the staff is on their "A" game at all times. I'm not sure why the overall rating on this place isn't 4 - 4.5 stars, but I'm guessing it's because Bakersfield isn't the type of place where people like escargot or genuine Basque flavours. If you're not adventurous with food you can always order a beef dip or a burger with fries. The pickled tongue is served cold with a savoury white sauce and the meat texture is unique to say the least. I'm not crazy about it because of the tangy pickle aftertaste, but I also do t like pickles. I have it a try and it's not for me. The escargot was excellent! I really enjoyed the savoury gravy and how it complimented the mushrooms and enhanced the earthy flavour of the escargot. I ordered the pepper duck and devoured every piece of meat off the bone. The salad, soup, and beans are great, but i wools hold off unless you're really hungry. I was stuffed after lunch and regretted eating all the appetiser plates This place isn't fancy, but the food is absolutely legit and the staff is great. I'm only here for a couple days, but I'll squeeze in one more meal before I leave. A hidden gem.

Traditional, French Basque style food. I'm a first timer to this spot even thought it's been around for many years. Walked in and was greeted by a friendly lady who gave me a rundown of the menu and their very popular "set-up." The food here is tasty. If you've never been, you must try the traditional "set-up." Food is served family style, with fresh bread and butter, beans, salad, then the french fries. I was pleasantly surprised at how fast everything came to our table as food this good should take forever to make. Pure and simple, the food is great, the staff is friendly and the vibe is super chill. They also have a full bar where you can choose to eat or have a drink delivered to your table. A Bakersfield staple, that you should try at least once.

The food is not what though it was, cold tongue and the place is a little depressing just not my taste

Our first time here and we do like Basque food. The waitress is very brusque and kinda "duhed" me when I was asking about portion size. I wanted to know how much tongue was in a small. She rolled her eyes at me and said 5oz. I said how much is that? She said I don't know- it's 5oz. I mean, I don't know how thick they slice it or anything. I held out my cupped palm and said how big is the portion. Exasperatingly rolling her eyes she said I don't know- it's 5oz. I ordered it anyways. We'll see. *note bathroom stalls out of tp :'( Edit: the tongue was exceptional! Worth the visit. And the waitress was kinder as the meal went on. The roasted garlic was amazing! I ate it by the spoonfuls!

Service here is terrible. Waitstaff needs to learn manners. The management needs to watch how they treat the customers.

Very nice. Decent portions and variety. Some resistance by the receptionist after arriving about 3/4 of an hour before closing. Not the best way to encourage a return visit.

Benji's is always perfect! Great service and plenty of food-so many wonderful choices-it's the BEST Basque food in Bakersfield hands down!

Benji's ambiance is a blast from the past: this is what fine dining for middle-class people was like in the 1970s, and it's important to embrace the experience. If you order the soup and beans (which you should), you will discover that the cabbage soup is the Old Country progenitor of that weight-loss cabbage soup that was a fad circa 1980. Should that not delight you, dump into it your beans and a couple spoonfuls of the salsa that comes with the bread. The result is the most amazing spicy bean soup. Salad is surprisingly modern and also delicious. We got breaded veal in mushroom sauce, which perhaps is not the most intensely Basque dish ever. It was great! It comes with pommes frites, and you will not go wrong in dipping the fries into the mushroom sauce. Service was fantastic. (Also, shout-out to the hostess who was tied down on the phone by a future customer who could not grasp that different areas have different table sizes. She was a model of patience.) Benji's is near the affordable hotel belt, so next time I'd do dinner rather than lunch.

Good quality food. Their bread is the best. I love the set up. My favorite is the dressing on my salad and pickle tongue. Not happy about customer service, I feel like the people were not polite to me. Maybe they just had a bad day because was super busy at lunch time.

The food is very good. It's one of my favorite places in Bakersfield to eat at. I would recommend this restaurant if you ever come to Bakersfield.