Centro Basco

This restaurant made our anniversary truly special. After a long time of not eating out, we decided to celebrate here and it turned out to be a wonderful choice. The team was cheerful, welcoming, and very respectful, which created a warm and pleasant atmosphere. The food tasted amazing and everything was served promptly. Each dish was full of flavor and clearly prepared with care.

Had our company Christmas party again as last year! And it was amazing more than expected food was good the drinks were awesome and the service is like if you’re at home! Thanks Bernadette and to the team!

Centro Basco is a family-owned gem that brings the flavors of the Basque Country, nestled between France and Spain, right to Chino. You’ll find comforting classics like Veal Cutlet and their signature Tongue and Tomatoes, alongside Poulet Basque and tender lamb chops. What truly sets it apart is the warm, timeless atmosphere and genuine hospitality that make every visit feel like coming home. If you’re looking for an authentic Basque meal with a welcoming touch, Centro Basco is a must-visit.

My family has been coming to this local gem, which is still family owned and operated, for generations. I hadn't been in 23 years, and it was just as good as I remember. The food was just as excellent, and it was quiet, perfect for conversation. We went for lunch and had a wonderful time. We had the chicken parm and the veal cutlet. Both were delicious. Also, if you like beef tongue, you have to try theirs. It's my favorite thing on their menu. Also, the flan was fantastic. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the value, trust me.

First of all , this is NOT authentic french restaurant, nor Spanish, not basque at all. Put few french words like "fait maison" "soupe du jour"on the menu, it does Not make a French restaurant. Let me tell you why, The calamari I can taste nothing but salt and oil, what am i eating?? Bacon jalapeno is Tex-Mex style was ok. The Veal , dear Lord , this is the worst ever, the most terrible veal I ever tasted. How the veal can be wrong ?? And The side veggies are from the CANS !! I do not recommend it at all, it is not French, it is not Spanish and it is definitely not Basque. and I will never come back to this restaurant ever again Oh almost forgot,there is something is French, the service style is very French, so slow and so hard to find your waitress.

Very good food. I highly recommend lamb chops dinner. Excellent service waiter very friendly. plates are large, so come hungry Will definitely be back

This place has delicious food but for my entire meal it was about a 1 hour and 10 minutes wait. I wasn’t in a rush but I hope they would have speed things up. I like how they will serve the side dishes in a family style if there was many people in your party. I ordered the shrimp scampi and the half and half wings. The wings looked over cooked but it was crispy and very juicy inside and nicely seasoned. I was surprised that the noodles for the shrimp scampi was not spaghetti but it was like a twisted egg noodle. But it was still very good. The inside of the restaurant gave an office style vibe to it but it was well decorated with a huge pretty painting.

Walking in, the restaurant had that family owned vibe that signaled "this is either going to be terrible, or amazing." Luckily it was the latter. The veal chop was delicious, and the garlic butter mashed potatoes were phenomenal. Very generous portions.

Hidden gem! The best pork chops, split pea soup and so much more! Bernadette the owner a beautiful lady welcomes you warmly. Our service was excellent! Jackie gets it and you'll want for nothing!

Such a hidden gem in downtown Chino! Everyone should try this place at least once in life! It's THAT good. The place and especially the food will make you feel like you just stumbled upon an authentic eatery in a European village where locals come to eat with family and friends. Everything we had is just amazing! Oxtail stew Poulet Basque Fideo soup Jalapeño poppers Sourdough bread, beans & salted butter Gateau Basque Sterling's Cab Sauv Definitely worth the drive just to have the oxtail stew alone, which apparently wasn't on the menu in the beginning but it's so popular when served during the once-a-month communal type dining they decided to add it to the regular menu. Portion size is really generous, yet full of flavors leaving us wanting more. Service is friendly and on-point. Brandon & Jacob attentively checked on us without being intrusive at all. They promptly change the plates and offer to box up leftovers including the soup. Look forward to coming back to try other items on the menu such as the rack of lamb. Also there's a really nice full bar upfront and a second bar in the middle of the restaurant. Great job Centro Basco!

I've been here a few times and had an event here and they never disappoint! Everyone that works here is so nice and attentive but my favorite server is Brandon. He is the best ! He always makes sure we are happy and that our food is just how we like it. Highly recommended it.

When there was a group and we arrived early. No one was there to greet us, and we eventually found our tables on our own. There was no one in the back for us so we ended up to the bar to get drinks. I must've waited at least 10 minutes for the server at the bar to get to me. One person asked for the tab after I ordered my drinks but she spent the entire time figuring out the tab without pouring my drink. She did then come and pour for me after I gently reminded her of my order. Back to our tables where we continue to wait. Again, we were early with a large party so I guess they had called in a server for us but no one came to see us or give us a menu or even bring us bread. We had about eight kids with us, and it would've been really nice to give them something. Eventually, we track someone down to give us menus, but our server was still not there. She did come at the time we had made the reservation for and by that time we were all hungry, Thursday and grumpy. She got to taking her orders relatively fast, thankfully, although when we told her we were starving, she told us "you were early and I'm on time". Fair enough. Once we got our orders in which we were already to do, we had to wait. We waited so long without bread that we went up to the kitchen to go find it. She finally brought us bread and our rounds of apps. We got two different kinds of poutine as well as S cargo and a wedge of blue cheese. All were good. Happy to eat them and the portions were good. Could use a little bit salt by overall not bad. The S cargo were excellent and the legend blue cheese was perfectly stinky. We also got a couple bowls of French onion soup. The soup was extremely salty, which is great for me, but some people might not appreciate that. I could've used more cheese on mine. It was like one by and gone. But the cops were good sized, and there was a ton of onions in there which I liked. I also ordered a salad as did my husband, but he got his main course before his salad came out. Mine came out at the same time as his but I had only ordered apps and soup and salad so it was fine for me. My kids got a plate of fettuccine, which was more than ample sized and a kids chicken tender. The kids chicken tender was like from a frozen package for sure. They were pretty much shaped like rectangles, and had very little flavor and no texture. The fettuccine had a generous portion and a ton of sauce but once again, the sauce had no flavor. Other people at our table, got the veal Taylor, which was allegedly very good (I don't eat veal), the ox tail stew, which looked sensational and smells fantastic but I did not try and the steak sandwich which was thin, chewy and underwhelming. My sister-in-law's pasta was fettuccine with chicken. Again ample portions, but the exterior of the pasta was raw and the inside was average. She sent it back, and as you can see from the photos, the sides of veggies look worse than cafeteria food. Over cooked and no seasoning. Salad was ok. One weird piece of cheese- tasted good but why? - and the ranch was good. Really could've used something else in it like croutons or cucumber... Just something more than lettuce. Overall, I probably wouldn't come back. The bar area seemed lively, and the drinks were fine priced with the good pours. But the food was so so and while I appreciate that we had a large group with an assigned server I think it was super poor that not a single person checked on us or brought us anything until she got there.

Always good for a home made meal. Service can be kinda slow but I really enjoy Ca Basque restaurant experience

I really enjoyed the French onion soup and the oxtail stew. The French onion soup is the closest to the authentic soups in France that I could find here.

PAELLA was EXCELLENT, recommended by the bartender, excellent service, love this place

Having discovered I have Basque DNA in my genetic lineage, it's been my long-time culinary wish to try Basque food someday. Well, the Universe answered my wish and surprised me recently when I found out I was invited to a Christmas party at a Basque Restaurant. The Centro Basco Restaurant in Chino has been open since 1940 and specializes in Basque cuisine. CB is family owned and operated by the same family since 1970. Known for its friendliness and sense of family, Centro Basco is unique dining experience, and it should not be missed. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and CB staff are super friendly and attentive. Our group was seated in a spacious adjacent banquet room. We ordered family style servings starting with soup, Basco beans, salad, steamed vegetables, Beef Prime Rib-eye Steak with gravy, and roasted chicken in its natural juices. All the food was served on time, it was mouthwatering, and I especially enjoyed the Fideo soup, bread, Basco beans, and savory Rib-Eye. The salad was also noteworthy for its freshness and delicious dressing. Centro Basco has an open dining room area, bar, sports tv, and some banquet rooms. Parking is free.

Owners, food, staff & ambiance is simply amazing! We've been coming for years & supported this family ran business even though the pandemic. We are always coming to their family style lunches/meals, & enjoy their restaurant weekly specials. Their daily Soup Du Jour is always fresh & delicious. If you haven't tried this French Basque restaurant out yet, your missing out.

Basque home cooking, at its finest. This long-time establishment offers delicious food and generous portions (bring your own take-out container to avoid their Styrofoam ones!). Ideal for large get-togethers as there are two larger banquet-type rooms. Everything except their desserts are house made, from scratch. The otherwise brothy vegetable soup is much improved if you add the beans, which will be served in a little bowl. Friendly service, tho' a little slow.

This is our second visit. We came back to to try their paella which is their special every first Friday of the month. It has lots of mussels, shrimps, sausage, and there's also chicken. I really enjoyed every bite! Husband got the poulet basquiase which is roasted chicken with the sauce. He liked it a lot. We got the flan for dessert which is also good. Food, service and ambiance all scored perfect to me! Can't wait to come back to try their meatloaf and porkchop!

Awesome food and awesome service!! We enjoy sitting at the bar and talking with all the wonderful people working there!! Shea and Melissa are the best!

Highly recommend. They are very welcoming and friendly. The food is excellent. Will be back!

Yelp never fails me when I'm on the search for unique yet delicious places, this being one of them. I would never imagine a spot like this out here, with a lovely antique feeling that's great for a date night. The staff was really friendly and we went with the combo that came with a plate of tomato and tongue plus a side of bread and butter. The tomato and tongue was definitely special. Basically a drizzle of olive oil and garlic bits for seasoning but that was all that it needed. The tongue is probably the most tender I've ever had, with its melt-in-your-mouth thin cut. Definitely check this spot out if you're ever in Chino!

I love Centro Basco. I have been coming for years on weekends for the family style lunch and today I tried the dine in weekday lunch service and was not disappointed. I had three scrumptious pan seared lamb chops with a crispy, flavorful outside and tender meaty inside smothered in chopped garlic. The lamb was excellent, full of flavor and prepared well with sides of mashed potatoes and garlic green beans. For dessert I had a homemade pumpkin cheesecake that was heavenly. It's texture was perfect and the crust was out of this world. The addition of a dollop of whipped cream brought everything together for a delightful dessert. I've never had a bad experience here and have enjoyed coming with groups of 15+ for family style weekends. The staff is incredible and know how to treat you right. See you again soon Centro Basco!

The place will always hold a special place in my heart!! Not only the countless dinners and drinks here, but I proposed to my wife, had my bachelor party here, and we go married married here!!!! Bernadette and her staff are amazing, and we love you guys!!!

My family and I love this place! I never eat tongue but I do when I come here! There's an old friend vibe here. My go to is Chicken Cordon Blue my husband loves the soup with blue cheese. Their drinks and bar list is amazing. We highly recommend this place. I should have reviewed this place along time ago. I love the Basque style eating.

Family style done right! from the food to the service everything is top notch. Fresh made from scratch food. Historical.

Visited for my fathers birthday. Interesting restaurant to say the least. Was not familiar with the cuisine before coming to this establishment but I'm a fan of the idea. The food is DEFINITELY what is getting the poor review here. I had the veil parm. Absolute and I can not stress this enough ABSOLUTE garbage. It was probably the toughest piece of meat I've ever entertained eating. Flavor was nooooot good. One bite and that was it for me. Soup/salad little better but not by much. Atmosphere not bad but don't go in expecting some fancy place that's been there for over 40 years. They are operating on a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" vibe as far as the aesthetic is concerned. Service was 4.5-5 stars very very friendly even swapped out my dish for something else. I appreciate this very much. Waiter was great. Young guy tattoo on his forearm. Overall food just needs some love and the main restaurant need just a little over haul. It's basically a box with banquet hall tables and chairs with some stuff thrown on the wall. Doesn't bother me much. I think the place could benefit from a little makeover.

Best meal no matter what you choose. Try the lamb, oxtail, Alaskan baked cod, or anything of your liking, and you will not be disappointed. The service is alway great and very informative on options or specials for the day. The ambiance reminds me of being back in France, Spain or Europe. One day I hope to visit the Basque region to experience what I enjoy here in Chino, CA. We are fortunate to have such an amazing restaurant so close to home.

A hidden gem in the neighborhood... Go there all the time and never disappointed. Rack of lamb, pork chops, ox tails are all time favorite. Every one in the neighborhood should go there and try.

I recently had a graduation party in their hall at Centro Basco. Two weeks after the party I am still receiving compliments about the pork chops, mashed potatoes, and how people loved the split pea soup. I highly recommend you try their meatloaf (served every other Friday), pork chops, and rib-eye steak sandwich. I had 2 servers and they both did a fantastic job.

We have driven by this place for over 15 years! We met some friends for dinner! We both had the Meatloaf with mash potatoes and green beans! Our meal was outstanding! We were served by Shay who was absolutely amazing! Great service! Extremely attentive! A great environment as well. To top it off we shared a Cheesecake which was extremely good! Overall it was a great evening! We definitely will be going back!

A dining institution in Chino,CA. Have been dining there for over 40 years and have never had a bad experience! The food is prepared in the Basque tradition (which means very delicious) and the Family style of dining that is available,makes for a shared experience. A varied menu is on tap. Highly recommended by this writer.

I was so hoping to love this place, but the food was subpar. Green beans tasted exactly like canned del Monte. They do serve good strong drinks though

Definitely a local hangout. Room for events. Depending on day you come, you a choice of menu. Often go for family meal, soup, salad, beans & main meat course that varies. Also wine comes with your meal. You can also order off regular menu. Food is fresh, hearty & above average.

My Dad loves this place so we planned a birthday dinner for him with a party of 9 on a Saturday at 6pm. Most of the food is good, the service is mixed and ADA compliance is bad. SERVICE: The host needs more training. So many things are wrong with him. The server was nice, but too busy to attend to guests properly. It took a long time to get drinks and order food. Then they brought drinks and food no one ordered and forgot salad dressings, bread and my Dad's meal. Dinner took 2 hours with no lounging out after. FOOD: Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Shrimp were both pretty good except the pasta is bland. Salt & Pepper fixed it. The chicken was crispy yet tender. I liked it a lot!! The shrimp was big and cooked perfect. Flat iron Steak my husband had was cooked perfect but the side dishes were subpar. Basque sauce is bland but also better with salt & pepper. My vegan family members really liked the beyond burgers. Kudos for having a vegan option SIDES: The Salad was good because the ranch and blue cheese dressing are GREAT! I didn't try the split pea soup but my family liked it. The pinto beans have good flavor. They charge $10 for a small crock of French Onion Soup! Yikes!! At least it was good. ADA: So disappointed there is NO HANDICAP BATHROOM AND A STEEP EXIT RAMP! MY Dad uses a walker and injured himself trying to fit in the small bathroom stall. My brother is in a wheelchair and couldn't fit in the restroom at all. The woman my Dad told on the way out didn't seem to care. ZERO STARS for this category! The wheelchair ramp is so steep we had to hang on to my brother's chair so he wouldn't go flying into the parking lot. This WAS my Dad's favorite place. Not anymore!!

Yelpers are right. This place has amazing food The ambiance is like an old style diner but the food is on point. The Garlic Chicken Wings were spectacular. The Pork Chop is another great dish as I'd the Oxtail. The food was great and it was worth the drive to Chino.

Found this spot by searching for steak near me- When I got in they had someone tend me right away, I was greeted immediately which feels cool when going to a new restaurant, Ordered a shrimp cocktail and ribeye steak It was firee I recommend going here on a date night or a birthday type thing or even just because It's too good and I will be back Forsure

Unfortunately they no longer offer daily family style lunches, which was the primary reason for us going there.

Greta tasting food. They have daily specials and making your order a meal is great. For $6 you ads soup salad beans and bread.

Been coming for 30+ years always excellent food and great service. Real nice atmosphere as well.

Centro Basque is a Chino institution. Amazing Basque food for more than 80 years. I personally have been coming for 61 years. I have never been disappointed and my expectations are high when I go since I now live across the country. This is simple Basque food from the sheep herders of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. The lamb chops are my favorite but they also have roasted chicken, steak and fish. I promise you will not go home hungry and I believe this simplistic food will delight and never disappoint. Like the food the dinning room is simple and functional including a space for large parties. The staff is always pleasant and attentive. I'll be back again on my next trip to California.

One of my favorite places Great food and the staff is second to none. It's like visiting a relative's house and having one of the best meals ever.

What a fun place to eat. It's like eating at your grandma's house... in the best way. Food and decor is not fancy or fussy, but it was really tasty and satisfying. My family had never heard of Basque food or the Basque region so before we went we did a research on Basque culture and how they settled in Fresno/Bakersfield and Chino. We started on with a hearty bean and vegetable soup, I could see us eating this before a day ranching or shepherding. We then had a variety of dishes including pork/ chicken/ fish that was all very tasty and hearty. The desserts were surprisingly good esp the burnt cheesecake. My wife is still raving about it. Really enjoyed our visit will try to come back when we're in the Chink area.

Recently, friends and I ate at Centro Basco in Chino, CA. The ambiance, the service, and our delicious meals made our visit there quite special. I highly recommend this place.

I've lived in Chino/Chino Hills for almost my entire life. I always passed by this restaurant & never went inside until there was no other choice to go because of Covid. Boy was I so disappointed that I didn't come sooner. You get fine dining experience without all the fancy stuffy environment. Come as you are and enjoy a delicious meal! I would come every other day if I could. That's probably not responsible because I need to make a home made meal once in a while. I love this place.

I love this place! Wednesdays are the best for me as we love the potato leek soup. That's their special on Wednesdays.. we usually get potato leek soup and salad! Very delicious! And also who doesn't love fresh blue s cheese? ‍ great place for the family!

Arrived at noon on a Sunday, greeted and seated immediately. Ambiance is nice, clean and very comfortable. Service was excellent and fast. French onion soup was fantastic and so was their homemade vinaigrette. Chicken parmigiana was superb!

Centro....Today you really blew it. A group of 20 of us booked advance reservations over a week ago for 11:30. We are all in our 80's, graduates of CHS and coming from all directions, myself an hours drive. So I arrive in the parking lot about 11:20 and see other members of our group milling about in the parking lot and wondering why they aren't inside, after all it is 105 degrees according to the temperature gauge in my car and these old folks shouldn't be out in the sun. Well, come to find out all the doors were locked. After knocking on the door for awhile someone inside informed us they don't open until 11:30. After pleading to get inside and out of the heat they begrudgingly let us in 3 minutes early. Terrible experience with a couple of employees with a bad attitude. These YELPS are generally about food. My wife ordered the Basque fried chicken and got 3 backs. Good bye Centro Basque. After coming here for over 70 years I don't need the aggravation and service I witnessed today.

Great service. The bar reminds me of goodfellas. The wings are fire. Food atmosphere for games.

Recently had our son's graduation party here and it was one to remember. Nice private room, great food and great service. If you're looking for a great place for your next special event, look no further than this local gem.

I forgot to mention another slight peeve I have. It seems that the butter they serve is always near frozen. One has to warm it between the palms or under the armpits before it's soft enough to spread.

The food was a bit meager and not of great quality or value for the money. Cool idea though. Just didn't do it for me.

This place is from a different era. Maybe out of the 30's. Great food and fun experience. We always take out of tiwn guests here just for the ambiance. Pork chops are my personal favorite.

They're the best! Their family style dinner is a great value and always excellent. This is a family restaurant that is always family friendly to boot. Service is at a relaxed pace as they do not rush you. The food is always excellent. The prices are reasonable for the food and service received. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!

The white woman in the front is racist and rude ! Both my son and husband had complaints about this woman on 2 separate occasions just picking up food orders for me I placed online . They both had the same experience with the same woman on two separate occasions. They both said she was rude to them and they felt as if she treated them that way Because of their skin color . I don't know who the woman is but they both complained and they never complain about anything . I won't be eating here no more .

My wife has brought me food from here, but this was the first time eating there. I had the Lukinka and noodles. First time I ever had Spanish sausage. Was delicious. Egg noodles were very garlicky, which I enjoyed. Tasted my wife's split pea soup and a friends french onion soup. Both were great. Prices are bery reasonable. Highly recommend.

Long established Restaurant and Bar in Chino, Ca. Excellent food, not a bad dish on the menu. Traditional dishes made like your grandmother is in the kitchen. Excellent and friendly service. Occasionally busy but very much worth the wait in the Dining room bar. Full wine and bar service and smiles and laughter all around. My favorite restaurant no matter how hungry I am, I will leave completely satisfied. Owners are charming and happy to serve their customers. Many regular patrons and nice to see familiar friendly faces from the community.

First time to try their food , it's delicious! Can't wait to go back and try the rest of the items in the menu . I'm a foodie and definitely would recommend this to friends and family .