Le Papillon

We made reservations to celebrate a birthday dinner. There were initially three for the dinner and we had forgotten to call to add a fourth member. We arrived to the restaurant and they were extremely kind about the additional member and assisted us with no issues! We were able to sit in a more private area away from the main dining- which was perfect for our family group. The waiters were some of the friendliest people throughout the night! Personally, I’d never had the experience of a French restaurant before and it did not disappointment! The food was phenomenal! Each course was put together so beautiful and the lamb rack was some of the best lamb I had had for quite some time. If you’re in the area and you’re looking for a nice French restaurant- do not hesitate to come here! If I could give 10/5 stars; I would!

Le Papillon has been our go-to special occasion fine dining restaurant for over 20 years. They are consistently EXCELLENT - the atmosphere is calm and relaxed, the service is top-notch, and they really go out of their way to make sure you feel welcome and satisfied with your dining experience. We usually have the chef's tasting menu, and unlike some Michelin-starred restaurants we've sampled, there are never any "clunkers" on the list. All the ingredients are fresh and handled with obvious great care. Make sure to get the Souffle Grand Marnier for dessert (they will sub it in for the tasting menu dessert option which is always good but has to live in the shadow of that divine souffle) - I don't know how they get such good berries in December, but they are always wonderful.

This was the best dining experience for me in 2 years! The quality of the dishes were phenomenal, while the price is just right, not like those overpriced Michelin restaurants. Attentive but not overly disturbing service. Great lighting and atmosphere. Waiters are professional at answering questions about each course. The dishes i would highly recommend are: the crab meat soufflé, the butternut squash soup, the sea bass!

We been here for meals in big and small groups. Each time, the service is always impeccable whether you are with 20 or 2. The food is fabulous and always beautifully presented. The staff here are attentive and efficient. It is pricy to eat here, but you will walk away with the satisfaction of having enjoyed an excellent meal and having been well cared for.

Le Papillon catered our wedding in August 2024, and they ended up being one of our favorite parts of the entire day. At our tasting, we were warmly welcomed by Mike, the owner, and Tamera, the catering director. Mike took the time to chat with us, and his passion for food and French cuisine really came through; it made the whole experience even more enjoyable and we knew instantly we wanted to book them. You know that feeling when you can’t decide between two entrées at a wedding? With Le Papillon, your guests won’t have to. They offer duet entrées, which meant my wife and I each got to pick our favorites; Roasted Chilean Sea Bass for her, Filet Mignon for me. Both were a huge hit, and we even had guests tell us the food was their favorite part of the wedding. They also seriously saved the day when our liquor vendor unexpectedly went out of business. Le Papillon stepped in last-minute to take care of both food and drinks, matched the original vendor’s pricing and drink list, and helped us avoid a big headache. We highly recommend them as a wedding caterer—and we’re already planning a visit back to the restaurant for another round of that sea bass and filet mignon.

I have saved Le Papillion as places I wanna go for a while, and finally visited yesterday. We ordered 3 and 4 courses meals, and we could skip the soup and salad for one additional appetizer. Good - nice service and nice atmosphere. - the 3 complimentary mousses from the chef was exceptional! Tasted creative and beyond my expectation - food has large portion sizes. I was absolutely full after the meal Could have been better - - it would be better if bread could be warmed. - could add more creativity into the dishes. I would like to taste something different when I’m paying >$100 for fine dining Soufflé Grand Marnier was larger than I’ve expected, and tasted great. My personal favorite is the Chilean Sea Bass

I cannot say enough positive things about Le Papillon. It is wonderful. The food is always delicious. The atmosphere is quiet, and soothing and the service is welcoming and so friendly. Every time we go, we comment about how much of a positive experience it is. Each course is made with such care. I am not generally a French cuisine fan, but the flavors and look here are amazing. Each time we go, we talk about "small bites" wondering if it will be filling, but we are so full by the end we barely make it. And do not sleep on the bread! Whether it is a walnut or olive loaf, it is some of the best bread we have had. If there were any left by the end of the meal, it would be coming home with us... Spoiler alert: there is never any left by the end of the meal.

Le Papillon has always been one of my favorite restaurants. I think it offers great value for money in the Bay Area. For a French restaurant, the prices are very reasonable. Last time, we went with two families, and I ordered the four-course meal while my friend ordered the three-course meal. We weren’t sure what wine to choose, but the waiter recommended a great one. This is an established restaurant with beautiful lighting, a great atmosphere, and excellent service. I especially love their soufflé; it’s really delicious!

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!!

I dined at Le Papillon with a friend during the summer, and the experience was lovely. The ambiance is quiet and classic--perfect for celebrating a special occasion or enjoying an intimate dinner. The service was attentive and added to the overall enjoyment. We chose the three-course option, and each dish was delicious and satisfying, though I'd say it didn't quite justify the high price. I'd definitely go again, but only on special occasions

A classic French inspired dining experience in a relaxing classic yet current environment. Superb dining and excellent food above all. Gourmet selections of beautiful dishes. Superb service. Class presentation and overall ambiance. 5 Stars! Our #1 in the South Bay for exceptional dining.

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!

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.

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

Wonderful food and service and a great ambiance. My family took a work colleague of my husband's there for dinner. We all had a a lovely time.

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

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

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

Unquestionably an A +! Everything was perfect in our visit today, from the discreet but totally responsive service, to the balanced and well spaced sequence of the tasting menu, to the beautiful garden table with redwoods overhead and a trickling fountain and wall of greenery, and of course the food itself. We have been here several times over the last several years but this time truly was 100/100. The chef had developed new dishes since our last visit, and even applying a highly critical eye and palate, we found everything executed superbly. Everything hot was hot, cold was cold. The four amuse bouche were cleverly balanced in taste and texture. The server and water and bread people were watchful and there exactly when we began to want them. The restaurant kindly allowed us to substitute a couple of the meat courses for seafood. Try as we might to find something to criticize, we couldn't find a flaw. And the $180 tasting menu price was a great value. Will come back for more than just special occasions!

Knife, Knife, Knife! When you're given a butter knife to cut the steak and lamb, you know this place has bad management & is in trouble. You would think the $$$$ paid, you would at least given a proper knife that can cut the meat effectively. I had to ask for one, and then I was given a proper steak knife. I noticed a nearby table asking for the same thing because he too, was struggling with cutting his lamb. The food was ok, not bad, but not worth the $650 we paid for 4 people. The service was just ok. I brought in a bottle of wine, and after it's opened, they place the bottle at a nearby shelf, so we don't really have access to the bottle unless you get up from your table and walk to get it. I was left with an empty wine glass for at least 15 minutes, before someone noticed it and refilled it- ridiculous. If you don't care to refill it, why take the bottle away from the table? They need new Management, or at least decrease their insanely expensive prices to reflect their just above average food and just ok services. This will be my last time going here.

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

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

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

This restaurant should be included in the 2023 Michelin star list! I've been eyeing this spot for the longest time and was fortunate to be able to dine here twice in December 2023 (once to celebrate Christmas and once for a disease state presentation). The food and the service were top-notch both times. There was about 40+ people for the presentation that weekday evening but each course was brought out at the same time for every single person at the long table (no one really had to wait long for their plate to come out). I was really amazed. Two weeks later, I came back with my husband for our annual Christmas dinner on a Saturday and the service remained just as consistent even though the restaurant was packed that night. Restaurant is located in a small plaza with other businesses including a convenience store and a laundromat so parking spots are limited. Plan accordingly for parking if you dine in on the weekends at prime time. Upon seated, the wait staff bought out a few amuse-bouches for us to try (2 for the presentation event and 3 for our couple dinner). All were very delicious and pretty. Between the 2 dinners, the dishes I've tried include: Dungeness crab soufflé with lemon, saffron caviar (5/5), kanpachi tartare with lemongrass, tamarind, avocado sorbet (5/5), butternut squash soup with pumpkin seed granola (5/5), truffle parsnip soup with duck royale (5/5), roasted Chilean sea bass with chive beurre blanc, pickled shimeji mushrooms, potato mille-feuille (4/5), grilled beef tenderloin with marrow emulsion, roasted plum, matsutake mushroom, and potato gratin (5/5), chocolate marjolaine with pistachio, caramel ganache and praline butterscotch (5/5), and peach clafoutis with vanilla cremeaux and crème anglaise (3/5). For our couple dinner, they also gifted us chocolate truffles when they gave us the bill. I highly recommend ordering the 5/5 eating dishes, it will not disappoint you. The crab soufflé was stuffed with fresh crab and the plate presentation is beautiful (it's like eating a masterpiece). The kanpachi tartare was refreshing. Both soup dishes were just the right temperature when served and the flavors were hearty. If I were to pick, I actually prefer the butternut squash soup over the parsnip one. The sea bass was a bit lukewarm when served and hence I gave it a 4/5. The flavors were good though and the potato mille-feuille was unique, you can see and taste the multiple potato layers. The beef tenderloin was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the roasted plum highlighted this dish. The potato gratin had cheese in it which i couldn't consume so the attentive waitress got the kitchen to cook me something similar on the side (which showed how customer focused the restaurant is). The chocolate marjolaine tasted really delicious even though I got it to go so I imagine it would taste even better if you order it when you dine in. The peach clafoutis was ok, I will probably not order it again. The restaurant is intimate and is perfect for couples to celebrate special occasions. Price is very reasonable for the amazing quality food (plus good portion size) and service you receive. I can see why my supervisor who is a Michelin star foodie raved about this restaurant. I can't wait to come back in the future. Oh yeah, this spot does get packed so make sure you secure a reservation.

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

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

We came here for our anniversary and it was perfection. From the service, to the ambiance, to the unbelievable food! This restaurant is a gem. I can't explain what an experience the food is. So many textures and flavors all perfectly built into each course. Thank God, it was incredible.

We just dined here and had a Great experience; however, we attached our photo of our dessert to go. This is their cheesecake togo. The presentation looks awful and when I called in they mentioned that if it was in person it would be "different". I'm not sure what i was expecting but this is incredibly disappointing that this is the togo version of a dessert after the courses meal we had.

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

Perfect place to celebrate special occasions, just make a reservation online and you're good to go! From the moment you step in, everything is perfection. Our server was so kind to give us recommendations when we couldn't decide. We ended up going with the four courses and shared a few: Dungeness crab soufflé, Kanpachi sashimi, corn chowder, duck breast, grilled beef tenderloin, chocolate terrine, blueberry clafoutis The portions may look small, but they were filling and flavorful! This place is classy, so don't forget to put on your nice shoes or else you may feel a bit out of place. Btw, the parking is shared with a sketchy plaza with some strange folks around the neighboring liquor store, so don't leave any valuables in the car.

It's so comforting to know that San Jose still has some amazing dining experiences. This place had been on my list for a while and I'm so glad I finally went. We had the tasting menu- and it did not disappoint! Each course really built on the last and there were no duds!

Went here to celebrate my sister's birthday dinner and we had an excellent experience! The ambiance was very intimate with soft lighting with whiten linen tablecloths, comfortable seats and tasteful smooth music. We sat close to the restroom and in the corner. We munched on some sliced bread with butter, an amuse bouche and hors d'oeuvre. We both ordered the 6 item Tasting menu ($170 per person): 1)Alaskan spot prawn crudo- It was very savory and creamy with a slight hint of tart. I enjoyed the kumquat and caviar on top 2)Davenport abalone-Good texture! Abalone was a little too chewy but the sauce was smooth and palatable 3)Seared scallops- Flavorful, cooked well. I enjoyed the caramelized fennel but I did not really care for the black lime puree 4)Chicken breast- Scrumptious with black truffle, chestnut cappelletti, madeira jus 5)Loin of veal- Delectable, cooked perfectly. Was served with golden chanterelles, shallot boudin blanc, sweetbread fritter 6)Souffle grandmarnier- toothsome dessert! The berries were a nice touch. The cream was very smooth but the soufflé tasted very eggy and too sweet. We were not able to finish it Bee's knees cocktail $16: I could not decide on my drink order so I listened to my server's recommendation and it was an excellent choice! It was delightful and not too sweet Cafe mocha $5 (chocolatey and very pleasant) The overall night was great! The servers were very nice and attentive. After we finished each dish a server would come by to collect our empty plates and replaced our used silverware. We had someone always coming around refilling our water. It is on a pricy side but it is for the quality, service and experience.

Le Papillon catered my wedding and I could not have been more impressed or happy with the team from start to finish. My mom, sister & I came into the restaurant for our tasting which was the most fun and special experience and they really set the stage for the level of service they would continue to provide. On my wedding day, I kept hearing so many compliments on the food and still am hearing how amazing the hors devours & dinner was. Not to mention the service was top notch and they somehow made sure everyone's steak and shrimp were perfect & served warm. Phenomenal experience and couldn't recommend le papillon more! Thank you so much Tamera & team!

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

I had a wonderful time at Le Papillon celebrating my partner's birthday. The restaurant is in a smaller plaza that can be easy to miss, but once entering the ambiance is lovely and feels very homey. Starters: - slow poached lobster - my favorite dish of the night. Lobster was cooked perfectly and paired well with the maltaise sauce - crab soufflé - beautifully presented with a good amount of caviar on top Second course: - baby lettuce salad with figs: this dish wasn't the best for me. Don't get me wrong it was still delicious and presented well, but the flavor was too sweet for me Main courses: - Alaskan halibut: the fish was crispy on the outside, flaky and soft inside, and came with a leek bread pudding. Loved this! - rack of lamb: I didn't notice much of a lamb flavor, strange as that sounds. Taste was very mild, but still beautifully presented Dessert: - chocolate terrine: I love chocolate and this dessert was rich and dense. No regrets here Service was attentive and our server was so cheery and friendly. She also brought out several complimentary bites, including a white chocolate with passion fruit at the end of the meal. A very memorable dinner and so glad I finally was able to try it.

I have lost count the number of time we have visited this place. Everytime the experience has been amazing. From service to food to getting surprised with small samplers , Le Papillon is one of the best French restaurant, a must try

Doesn't look like much from the outside (is next door to a liquor store and across the street from a gas station), but this restaurant is a hidden gem in the area. The inside has a cozy old victorian vibe and despite other people sitting near us, it was very quiet (think of a library setting). The menu has two options and you really can't go wrong either way. We went with the prix fixe, but the tasting menu looked good too. Each dish was rich in flavor and most had a hint of sweetness as well. There were several amuse-bouche dishes served at the beginning of the meal that were a nice surprise. Service was friendly and courteous, and it was definitely an upscale experience.

Le papillon (not to be confused with Papillon in Fremont) is white table cloth French fare, offering seasonal food with an extensive and well priced wine list perfect for any special occasion or celebration in Silicon Valley. Upon entry, Le Papillon greets its patrons in a formal and dimly lit entryway, indicative of a more intimate and romantic dining experience. As the evening continued, we found the ambiance build up to that of a very lively buzz that reminded me more of a neighborhood restaurant. Upon seating our server Diego greeted us warmly and offered the wine list and menu. Not long after, he reappeared when noticing we had put them down. This level of attention and detail was one we found consistent throughout the evening, even as the restaurant filled up. Since it was our first visit here, we were not aware of the portion size here which is very generous. Luckily we had not ordered the tasting menu, but even the 4 course option provided us plenty of food. The number of choices for each course also gave us plenty of opportunity to mix up our menus and allow for us to try more dishes. All the amuse bouches were great. In particular we enjoyed the bite with the terrine and brioche which bursted with flavor. Of the appetizers, my wife enjoyed the lobster, the kanpachi was very different as it was reminiscent of Thai Tom Kha soup which the chef alluded to perfectly. Moving onto the soups, these were tasty but nothing special. The parsnip soup had a very pronounced truffle aroma and the corn chowder was as good as any we've had but with a bit more refinement in texture. For our mains, the sea bass turned out to be my favorite. While the flavor profile wasn't new or innovative, it was executed perfectly as far as the seasoning level and the accompaniments. The highlight of the beef was definitely the demi glace. Although it was cooked perfectly the beef itself，although tender, was not particularly the best cut I've ever had, although the portions were large. Dessert was highlighted by the soufflé. This was cooked perfectly all the way through. But admittedly we were too full to finish it all at this point. Although not pictured, we also ordered some coffee between dessert and the main course. Not sure which blend they use but it was very aromatic and tasty, and a perfect accompaniment with the dessert as well. Having finished this meal, we understood why this place has so many returning customers. The level of service and quality of food is as impressive, maybe even better than places we've been to in recent memory who have the covered Michelin star (makes you really question the whole rating system to begin with). While I don't think I could be a neighborhood regular here, I do hope and look forward to trying the other items we didn't get a chance to in the near future.

This place is very traditional fancy and so is the crowd. It's quite small and quaint. This place is a very good spot for a small party to celebrate any special occasion. I loved every dish here and there was a great amount of amuse bouche to transition to every dish. Service was also pretty good! I loved the lobster dish, the fish, and everything on the menu. I would say their food is more on the heavier side so you will leave feeling super full. I would come back to enjoy their other items on the menu.

Me and the wifey came here for our anniversary dinner and we were thrilled to be here. There was a lot of seating in the main dining area and also there was a patio where you could sit outside. We opted to go big with the 5 course meal and we were glad that we did! If your going to go big might as well! I loved how they space out the meals and time everything. Since we were drinking we wanted to take our time to enjoy the meal. The dishes were everything we imagine to be. All well prepared and aesthetically pleasing. The dishes we tried were pate, some boujee avocado toast, creamy lobster, filet, duck breast, and a few more I cannot remember at the top of my head. Our server was on point. Very attentive and always made sure that our wines were poured. The service is on par to other Michelin stars restaurants that I have been to. Everyone is true professional and seems to be enjoy what they do. Overall I think the experience was grand and I would love to come back. I would recommend this place for any special occasion or celebration.

Came to Le Papillon with my boyfriend for a celebration dinner and was obviously very excited! Service was good, but unfortunately we were seated next to a large party with loud children so it took away from enjoying a nice romantic dinner. That's nobody's fault though! For my first course I chose the eggplant and my boyfriend got the dungeness crab. The eggplant was delicious! Such a good mix of some tartness from the gooseberries. Honestly this was probably the best thing from both my boyfriend and my courses from the whole night. The dungeness crab was good but not mindblowing of any sort. For main I got a fish with some mango curry. Unfortunately the fish was soo dry!! :( I was so sad it honestly tasted like something I could've eaten at a cheaper seafood restaurant. I don't think I finished the fish. The rack of lambs my boyfriend got was pretty good! But again, not sure if it was worth an additional $15 for it. For dessert I got the mango curd and again this was pretty good but did not make me go "wow!". The souffle that my boyfriend got for an additional $3 tasted sooo off! I'm not sure if this particular one was made wrong but we could not finish that souffle because of the weird taste - almost like a wet towel? Eggplant was definitely the highlight of this meal - and the wine. We both definitely still left the restaurant feeling full but just not as satisfied as we wanted to be considering the price of the meal. I'm not sure if we chose the wrong menu items?

Crab soufflé- 4/5 Tomato soup- 4/5 Roasted duck- 2/5 Peach clafoutis- 1/5 Table bread- 1/5 Butter- 1/5 Crab soufflé - the crab in this soufflé was absolutely delicious-- fresh and abundant, but the issue is... the entire soufflé itself was a bit overcooked and bland. The sauce it came on was divine, making each soufflé bite a thousand times more flavorful. Tomato soup - comte croutons were so delicious and texture was perfect. These croutons had cheesy flavor with dense layers of bread. Only complaint was that the soup tasted a bit too sweet after finishing half the bowl. Roasted breast of duck - duck was gamey and felt overly fibrous. The skin was also quite rough. Was hoping the extra fat would help with flavor but overall, dish was excessively salty. Green beans were nothing remarkable. Peach clafoutis -nothing special. I'd pass on this one. Service 4/5- servers were attentive and kind, always around to check on us (my glass was always filled ) Ambience- 5/5 romantic, intimate, and a bit more formal than I was expecting

This is an interesting French dining experience. All the dishes are creative and beautiful. The combination of flavors is amazing. They have complementary small snack in between. We chose 4 courses for $140. The service was extremely professional. It was an interesting fine dining experience.

Our 30th anniversary dinner at Le Papillon was absolutely wonderful. The romantic ambiance, delicious food, and impeccable service made it a night to remember. We're so grateful to the staff for making our celebration special. Highly recommend!!!

Service and ambiance excellent...dungenous crab soufflé with real crab chunks was the star of the dinner...omg...so good...the beef tenderloin was so juicy and tender...melt in your mouth yummy...I didn't like the grand marnier soufflé bc the liquor sauce was too strong that it gave the dessert a slight bitter taste...overall the meal was delicious...will definitely come back for the crab soufflé situation...

Wow! I've always passed by this establishment but never really considered going until I attended an event for work. The ambiance transport you to a luxurious vibe. The food definitely matched the high class decor. The food was excellent, we did the fixed menu so I started off with the sashimi, got the salad with crisp pears, the steak which was perfectly medium, and ended with their chocolate dessert. The servers were attentive and respectful, especially because we were there for a work conference. Parking is a little tough but isn't unbearable. I'd definitely come back and try this establishment again!!!

Amuse bouche...a generous 3 of them. They were all beautiful, but none were anything overly impressive taste-wise. My app was the kanpachi, which was lovely. My dining partner had the agnolotti. She said they were fine, but she didn't care for the burgundy snails. I tried one and agreed with her...they were an unappetizing mushy texture. My entree was the veal with chanterelles and a boudin blanc. Excellent! The veg were 2 simply cooked baby zucchini...boring. I'd asked for a sub of potato gratin. Unimpressive...grated (vs. thinly sliced) and not much flavor. My friend has the tenderloin, which she was happy with. Same comments as mine about the zucchini & gratin. Both of those items really brought the excellent entrees down. Dessert for me was the apricot clafoutis. Delish! Could have been even better with an almond or vanilla ice cream, vs. the Sauternes ice cream. Partner had the chocolate terrine. It was one note and the olive oil cake had a very odd texture, and was dry. Service was absolutely stellar! Overall, a nice dinner, but not outstanding. Considering the price, it was a bit of a disappointment.

The entire Staff at La Papillon always make our experience one to remember. We frequent this restaurant at least once a month and have never had a bad experience. Chef is an outstanding and inventive creator of culinary experiences and his pairing of flavors is spot on. Feel like dining in Europe right in our little town, this is the place. Thank you to everyone at La Papillon you are truly appreciated

I've loved this restaurant for the past 20 years, unfortunately tonight(2.14.24) because of Valentine's Day you padded your menus by 50% no I'm sorry it was padded by 100% to the pp cost for the same menu that you would normally pay approx, $135 for and let us down severely with the service. I have never minded paying for what I order but even with a $50 corkage fee so I can pour my own wine was a. Bit ridiculous. I am a 40% tipper but tonight I could not. When I have to ask for Water, when I have to ask for Bread, when I have to ask for wine glasses for the bottle of wine that I paid a corkage fee for. Also makes no sense It's been approx. 6 months since we've been in and it will be along while before we return if we do. My wife was embarrassed for you. Your servers were much more polished before..... Don't ask me to pay $275 per person and give me a banquet server. It's unfortunate that I can get this type of service at Le Forret or Alexander which is embarrassing to say. We come to this restaurant because of the service that we don't have a problem paying for. My thoughts if you didn't have the personnel to pull off a Valentine's Day you shouldn't of opened and not give second rate service You definitely know your not that type of restaurant. You should be embarrassed. I should have sat at the bar! Unfortunate. Sam & Nora Hernandez

We dined here for my father's birthday celebration. Kendra was our waitress and did a great job. I would come back here, but would choose different items. What I ordered: -crab soufflé: I had higher expectations for this dish. I actually found a couple of crab shells in my soufflé, and the soufflé itself was a bit dry. The whole dish was a bit underwhelming for my liking. Presentation was amazing though. -asparagus and prosciutto salad: per usual, presentation was excellent. Asparagus was cooked to perfection and chilled so that it was a perfect temperature for a warm spring/summer day. That said, the chilled salad dressing was a bit weird for me, texture-wise. Flavors did not blow me away. -beef tenderloin: this was my second favorite dish! The flavors were outstanding. The dish itself is pretty traditional, so it isn't the most creative when it comes to presentation or flavors. That said, the flavor is completely on point, and creativity can definitely be on the back burner for this one. The mushrooms were excellent, and I kind of wish that they had more mushrooms and more sauce :-) -Grand Marnier soufflé: wow. My dad ordered this one for his birthday and I had a couple of bites. Honestly, I wish I would've ordered this for dessert and forwent the crab soufflé. This place knows how to make desserts. -Chocolate pistachio dessert: I forget the actual name of this dessert, but it was also outstanding. Next time, I would lean towards the main entrée and desserts, and then I suppose I would choose another appetizer, but the entrées and desserts truly shine here. Ambiance: We sat outside, because I have a two month old, and you just never know when they will need a diaper change for when they decide that they want to start crying lol. They did a great job with a little space that they have outdoors. They have a panel of succulents and other garden decor. I like that they have several heat lamps to accommodate cooler evening temperatures. There was another table with a three-year-old, so basically if you have kids, you can still enjoy fine dining experience - outside :-) OK, let's talk about the location of this place. It is not in the most ideal of locations. Imagine sitting outside, hearing sirens go by (hope the people were okay!) Imagine parking at the restaurant only to get the view of cars with no license plates sitting right across and creepy men looking over at you as you breastfeed your infant. Location, location, location. That's what they say. With the exception of that, this place is pretty stellar.

We had an intimate reception for our wedding here at Le Papillon, and everything from reservations, to waitstaff, to food was absolutely impeccable and perfect. We had such a good time that night. Thank you for the delicious meal and the wonderful service!

We went to celebrate a birthday, and for two people, we spent over $300 for three courses. The restaurant gave us some complimentary appetizers and desserts. The food was decent but pricey. I was looking for excellent service and experience but they didn't even refill our water.

Crazy to say this but the last time I came here was probably 20 years ago with my parents. I remember thinking the food was amazing and one of the best meals I had at that time. Not sure why I haven't been back since but I was looking for a nearby place to get a last minute reservation to celebrate an anniversary and this popped up. Surprisingly just two days before and I could pick any time for Friday night dinner so makes me wonder how well their business is these days. I would say though the interior looks like it probably hasn't been updated in the 20 years and perhaps a bit dated. We got the 4 course prix fixe ($130). Overall food and service were just fair so nothing that stood out to me as being memorable. A few examples of the service is we were told to use our spoon to eat one of the amuse bouche then they took it away but didn't replace it so when we were served our first course, I had to ask them for spoons and wait. Another one is I had hot water in a teapot but it was empty and I had to ask for someone to fill it since no one had checked on it to see if I had any water. If it's fine dining I would have expected a bit more. Now for the food. It was mostly good but what made the overall experience bad was my favorite dish the Dungeness crab soufflé had 6 pieces of shell! I couldn't believe it and even though the flavors were good, I didn't like chewing and expecting soft crab only to hit something hard six times then have to pick it out of my mouth!! Honestly very disappointed by that. For my main I got the beef tenderloin and while the steak was made well, it was very salty in the sauce and the potato gratin. One more complaint is the knife we had to cut the steak was extremely dull. Seemed like just a normal table knife and I had to saw back and forth a bit to cut through it so I also got a little tired. I realized this late and should have asked if we were supposed to get steak knives that they forgot? I feel like I'm complaining about a lot but it was a let down after having such fond memories of my previous meal. I'm definitely not planning on returning since there's so many other great restaurants in the Bay Area.

Amazing food !:) can't wait to visit San Jose again to go here to eat . No wait for seated quick . Yummy European food

My husband and I received a gift certificate for our birthdays to this restaurant and finally found time to dine in. I used Yelp reservation to book our reservation for last weekend. I had to book our dinner out about 2 weeks out due to our schedules and the availability. We were pleasantly surprised to see the restaurant full, but not overcrowded. We were able to relax and enjoy our meals without any hassle or rush. On to the main part -- the food! My husband and I each ordered a 4-course meal, which included an appetizer, soup/salad, main entree, and dessert. There were also 3 kinds of breads (white, wheat, and olive?) served as well as several amuse bouches. Each of the dishes and the amuse bouches were perfect in their own way. My husband and I enjoyed the freshness of the ingredients, and how the flavors and textures really added another dimension to appreciate for each dish. Between the Alaskan halibut and the Chilean sea bass, we definitely recommend the latter. The food came out at a steady, consistent pace. The staff was very courteous and attentive throughout our meal. Neither glass of water was empty at any time. Parking is free and available. We didn't have any issues finding parking since our reservation was for the earliest dinner time available (5pm). The main parking goes around the restaurant, but also extends toward some of the other shops in that small shopping strip (liquor store, hair salon, etc).

Came here for a friend's birthday and it was such a nice atmosphere. I've always driven past the restaurant so we finally decided to try it. We reserved a table for 2 through Yelp. There are a couple options like the tasting menu, special events menu (think Valentines day, New Years Eve, etc), and the Prix Fixe: Three Courses $95, Four Courses $110. My friend and I went for the Three courses where we got to decide any combination of First Course, Soup and Salad, Main Course, and Dessert. We both got different things so we could try multiple items on the menu. Plus they gave us an additional birthday dessert which was so nice :) The menu consistently changes so the items we got are most likely different. Overall I really enjoyed each item.

My friend and I both ordered the four course meal for dinner which was $110 per person. Apart from the four courses we selected, we also received 3 complimentary small plates throughout our dinner. Overall, the price we paid was so worth! I ordered the dungeness crab soufflé for my first course, the parsnip soup with truffle for my second, Chilean sea bass for the main course, and the chocolate marjolaine for dessert. I loved the first three courses - the flavors, textures, portion sizes, presentation, everything was amazing!! The dessert on the other hand was a bit disappointing because it was incredibly dry. I'm not sure if that's just how this type of dessert was supposed to be (it was my first time trying it), but it was definitely not my personal preference and it was unfortunately the course I had to end on. My friend had ordered the duck breast for her main course and the soufflé grand marnier ($3 supplement) for her dessert. We both thought the taste of the duck breast was really offputting, the flavor wasn't "bad", but it didn't taste like duck at all. It tasted just like sausage. However, the soufflé grand marnier was super moist and came with a lot of fresh berries which we definitely enjoyed! The best part about my dining experience here was definitely the service. Each server was super attentive and friendly and had great pacing throughout the night. When I asked if my cocktail could have more lemon juice (it was initially way too strong for me), they were also able to accommodate me and it tasted amazing after!