Papillon Restaurant

This restraint has much vintage and elegant charm. The owner/manager Charlie is so very warm, genuinely kind and followed with us to check everything went well. The host Glen and our server Connor were both so amicable and helpful. The food was delicious, we had Rack of Lamb and the chilean sea bass and both dishes were Sep hilar especially the sea bass. We had the Brussels sprouts and crab cakes and they were so tasty as starters. Finally the desserts were very decedent, especially the flourless chocolate torte. They were kind enough to send out a little special plate for us as well for our anniversary. If you’re looking for a charming, friendly and delicious dining experience this could be your place. It’s very much not stuffy or overpriced for the quality of food either. Thank you to the entire staff at Papillon!

Dinner on a Saturday at 5:30. Wonderful experience all around! Food was very delicious and the portions were large. Flavors were perfectly balanced and we could tell the food was prepared by caring chefs. We never had to flag anyone down for anything. Our waters were constantly refilled. Wine was good and priced surprisingly low. Will be back and highly recommend.

I recently ate at Papillon and am happy I discovered this restaurant. I love the interior design, even before entering there is a welcoming feeling to the structure and inside, is warm and intricately decorated from ceiling to floor. My favorite part of the atmosphere is the "lived in" feel of Papillon. It feels like somewhere I can easily sink into their chairs and enjoy a nice meal, at someone's home, in essence, and that is something that can only come with years of operation. Loved it. Further, the food was excellent. The baked brie had a delicious jam served alongside it, and the beef wellington and lamb shank both had a fantastic savoriness, only further emboldened by a wonderful au jus. Each bite was excellent; the filet was a perfect medium rare and lamb shank tender enough to cut with a fork. And you absolutely must treat yourself to the delicious French onion soup. Savored every bite, thank you.

Quality of food was good. Meats were very tasty. More "traditional" style as many plates were quite rich. The shrimp cocktail was...meh. Shrimp was not firm and tasted somewhat bland. Martinis were disappointing: none were ice-cold. And they do not have Botanist gin!!! Site appears to be striving to be higher-end. Very few folk on site so it was quiet. Parking easy but lot was a bit dark and somewhat unkempt.

We had the Lobster Ravioli to start, for salads we ordered the Caesar & their House salad, all delicious and the thinly sliced apples & walnuts in the house salad were so good! sorry no photos of the salads! For our entree we had their Classic beef wellington med.rare & their special a Thai inspired Bouillabaise w/ scallops, mussels and shrimp. The wellington was very tasty but the pastry was a little soggy. The Thai Bouillabaise was very flavorful but the Scallops seemed a little overcooked and only 2 medallion sized ones. Also meal comes with bread & butter but no baguette it was american style bread. Overall food was pretty good, we brought our own wine and they have a $20 corking fee. Servers were nice and attentive.

We t there for our anniversary. Service was excellent and the owner made it a point to come talk to us and make sure we were happy. We had their fish and lamb shank and escargo for appetizers. All were excellent. Great restaurant in Fremont if you want a more elegant experience.

TL;DR Food is nothing but average: too much garlic and overcooked. Service is average and nothing better. I got to get this out of the way first, out server was SO ANNOYING. Every single time he came up to our table, he would ask us if we were celebrating something. Every time we'd say no. Every time he kept asking. It clearly shows inattentiveness. We ordered a bunch of dishes. We ordered oysters Rockefeller, escargot and frog legs for starters. The oysters were very good, but the escargot and frog legs had WAY too much garlic. I'm typing this hours later and still have the taste of garlic in my mouth from these two freaking dishes. You literally couldn't taste anything but garlic. Many of us subbed the house salad for our entree for the onion soup. The onion soup is very good here as many have pointed out. I can confirm that it is very good. I got the salmon, and the rest of the people in my party got the rack of lamb, halibut and chicken cordon Bleu. The salmon was okay. The cranberry topping you could barely taste. As a result the salmon was quite bland and it was also slightly overcooked. The mashed potatoes were decent: they were silky smooth. The rack of lab was clearly way over cooked from the photos. It was definitely medium well instead of medium rare. The portion size was good, but it definitely wasn't salted enough and tasted a little gamey, when I tried it. I was told the halibut was good, but the chicken cordon Bleu wasn't worth finishing. We threw all our leftovers away as we didn't think anything was worthwhile saving.

Never have had a bad meal or bad experience while going here for decades. The staff is always polite and professional towards everyone. Everything offered on their on the menu is nothing short of outstanding. Hands down must try is the lobster ravioli. I have never had another version that has surpassed their quality. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy with their fine dining experience. This is a great place to go for a nice dinner with a small or large party. I cannot wait for my next dinner here!

Had a wonderful time here with my family. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I got the halibut with crab and it was great. Sides were fresh veggies and you can substitute your house salad with an upgrade. I got the upgrade onion soup and it hit the spot. The house salads were huge and looked great. The appetizer sampler with escargot, crab cake, and lobster ravioli was delicious. I'd probably just get that as a meal for myself next time. There's lots of good options here and everyone was happy, so I would come back here if I want a well done meal. There were lots of amazing looking options. The restaurant itself is stunning. Servers know what they are doing and again, we had a great time.

A couple of our friends brought us here for a late birthday celebration for me. I'm so glad they did. They told us that this is their go-to place when celebrating something special. We had a reservation and were greeted/seated right away. It was a weeknight so they weren't too busy except for a party of 8 or 10 sitting in the same area. Still only a couple of empty tables. Really friendly staff and they took turns checking on us (even the owner). My partner and I were pleasantly surprised when we saw their menu. They really have a lot to offer and the prices are really not that bad. Compared to other fine restaurants, I would say that they charge about 15-20% less and portions are bigger. And wait till you taste the food! Not a single item that we did not enjoy. We all ordered something different. Rib eye steak, lobster, braised short ribs, seafood wellington, french onion soup, and clam chowder. Not really a french onion fan but my friend recommended that we try it and really enjoyed it. Only thing was it filled up that I barely touched my short ribs. Took most of it to go and got two meals out of it. I think it even tasted better after reheating the next day. Then we ordered special dessert that's not even on the menu... Cherries Jubilee. The owner himself made it for us and the process was such a treat. Why only 4 s? If it was just for the food, definitely 5 but have to rate the whole experience. Nothing against the wonderful staff, but service during our visit was a bit slow. Even our friends said so and that they're usually right on top of things. We're thinking we caught them on a day when they were short-staffed which would explain why owner was hands-on all around. It was still a pleasant experience overall... great company and good conversation kept us preoccupied. It's just that we still noticed that wait time and I guess it didn't help that we all came hungry. I've lived in the area for almost 30' years and have driven by this place almost every week but have never even looked them up. I'm so glad we finally tried them out and will definitely be in our rotation for special occasions!

Unexpected Gem on Mission Blvd - A Wonderful French Dining Experience. RESERVE this for your next special occasion dinner. They won't disappoint you at all. We stopped by this restaurant last minute for a family dinner. We've passed by it many times over the years on Mission Blvd but never thought to try it. To our surprise, they were able to accommodate our party of eight right away at 7 PM. The moment we stepped inside, we were impressed by the spacious interior and charming decor. It's a family-owned restaurant, and that personal touch can be seen by their personalized pictures with celebrities on the walls. Owner explained the history of this restaurant how his father started the business and he took over. It's also a perfect spot to do holiday gatherings. The French onion soup was absolutely incredible flavorful, rich, and not overly salty. I never liked onion soups because they are always so salty. The desserts were very impressive, beautifully crafted and delicious. Honestly, you could go just for the desserts and coffee and leave happy. Everything on the menu was thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The service was top-notch, friendly, and attentive. Highly recommend this spot if you're looking for a cozy, authentic French dining experience in the area!

The lobster ravioli and crab cake pulled this rating from 4 to 5. Ravioli has actual lobster tail and crab cake was full of real crabs. And of course, they were delightful. Everything we ordered was delicious, the lamb shank was tender, the sauce on wellington is like a creamier version of a lobster bisque. The red velvet creme brulee was decadent. Service was great! This is an old reataurant and it would be safe to say they can do a little fixing.

We went to Papillon for my birthday. The waiter greeted us and asked whether we were celebrating any occasion when we were seated. We ordered salmon and beef Wellington. Both came with homemade salads as appetizers. The salmon was topped with creamy sauce. Salmon was fresh and the skin was crispy despite the sauce. For beef Wellington , we chose medium rare beef. It was super tender! The puff pastry was thin yet crispy. For dessert, we got cheese cake. I loved their little decoration of butterflies and "Happy Birthday" on the plate. The cheesecake was heavy but the strawberry sauce on it balanced out the sweetness. When we got the check, we were told by our waiter that our neighbor table, a couple who left before us, gave us $50 gift card credit! We were surprised by the warmth of the strangers (thank you!). It really made my day. Overall, food was great and service was excellent. It's a nice place for special occasions.

This was my second time dining at Papillon--two decades after my first visit. That might sound like a bad start, as if the restaurant wasn't worth returning to sooner. But let me be clear: Papillon serves some of the best food, period. I've always wanted to come back, but between life and the constant wave of new restaurants around, it just never happened. Plus, with young kids, the more traditional ambiance may not have been as appealing to them. That said, I do hope the owner considers refreshing the dining area and the façade maybe. While the traditional, old-world charm is part of its identity, a subtle update could breathe new life into the space without losing its character. Despite the dated decor, the food and service are outstanding--and more than make up for it. I highly recommend Papillon to anyone who values a truly memorable meal.

I've seen and passed by Papillon so many times throughout my childhood and adult life. I actually didn't know it was a legit restaurant because it seemed closed all the time but I guess it's because they're only open for dinner. Makes sense. But yes, we were finally curious to see what it was all about and since we were celebrating, we decided, sure let's do it. Overall, the interior a bit dated, but has it's charm to it. The food was ok and the service very attentive and friendly! L O C A T I O N Papillon is located on Mission Blvd close to the Niles Downtown area. They have a parking lot, but this was all full when we came and we ended up on the dirt lot on the left side. I N S I D E They have a few dining areas. It's like being transported in time. I don't know what time but definitely not the 2020s. It's charming actually. There were a few folks already dining when we arrived. M E N U They had some specials, but in general...would I call it French food? I don't know, but they did have a lot of standards like escargot, frog legs, french onion soup, steak, lobster, etc. They also had a variety of drinks from cocktails to wine. We opted for a couple of appetizers, a couple of entrees, and couple of wines. They had nice fresh bread with butter. Each entree came with a house salad. ~ Escargot de Bourgogne - $15.50 ~ Drenched in garlic and butter. I was going to pay for this in terms of my digestion. Well cooked and nice chew to the snails. I don't think we'd get this again but if you're looking to try some escargot, it's a good one to order. ~ Housemade Lobster Ravioli - $19.50 ~ This was chunky. With nice chunks of lobster inside the raviolis. It was just okay. I don't think we'd get this again. ~ Class Beef Wellington - $53.00 ~ If you like a big hunk of meat, like a thick one, then this is good. I guess I realized after getting this dish, I like my steak a little more on the thinner side. It was just tough to chew. I don't think we'd get this again. But it was cooked to our preference. ~ Pistachio Encrusted Wild Caught Halibut - $43.50 ~ That lobster sauce and crab compote was delicious beside the actual halibut which was nicely crusted and flaky. Definitely glad we got this dish. ~ Housemade Tiramisu - $11.50 ~ We decided for dessert to get the tiramisu and it was definitely worth it! Creamy and delicious. Would get this again for sure! S E R V I C E Top notch. They were quite attentive from the service staff to the front host. We enjoyed our leisurely ~3 hour dinner. They even covered the dessert as we were celebrating a special occasion. O V E R A L L We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our time at Papillon. With outstanding service and a good variety of food choices, there's something for everyone. Make sure to get reservations and make sure to also block out a few hours so that you can fully enjoy the experience and meal.

*LOCATION* This restaurant is a a stand-alone establishment located off of Mission Blvd. It's apparently been here for many years but I actually didn't discover it until recently! There is a decent size parking lot but I had to loop several times since they were very busy the day I went. *WAIT TIME* I dined here for an event so there was no wait as a room had already been reserved for us. However, the restaurant was pretty packed for a random Tuesday ~7pm and it looked like there were several other events/parties at the same time (since it was middle of the holiday season). *FOOD* -Mixed field greens: refreshing vinaigrette, portion was a lil on the smaller side -Grilled Angus Ribeye (med rare): dry and tough meat imo, side veggies were bland -Tiramisu: fluffy and creamy, just the way I like it :) *SERVICE* I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant because of all of its great reviews but I felt that the servers were not very attentive and the food came out wayyy too slow. The first course was served pretty much AFTER the speaker was already done talking (~40 minutes later). I understand the restaurant was busy but our menu had a pre-set salad as our first course.... then, we had to wait another 30 minutes for our entree. They also forgot to serve one person at our table so she had to wait even longer to get her entree after we reminded them. *AMBIENCE* This restaurant gives old classic romantic vibes. I might need to come back on a less busy day to give them another chance... Their yelp page has a lot of good reviews so a lot of other people seem to like it here!

I got to host a birthday dinner here and it was a very fine dining experience indeed! Surprised I've never been here despite living not too far away - the restaurant is sort of tucked in a side lot on a random street, so it can be easy to miss. However, I've heard that Papillon has been around for quite some time. If you're coming with a large party like I was, you can reserve the banquet room, which is a private dining area off to the side of the restaurant. It was like dining in someone's fancy manor, and service fit the theme well. We were able to order a variety of appetizers to share, including escargot, Brussel sprouts, crab cakes, and lobster ravioli. If you're more into vegetables, the salads are calling your name. The soup of the day was delicious and they even wrote happy birthday in it - first time I've seen that done. Despite the restaurant specializing in primarily French cuisine, I had to order the Beef Wellington since I've never had it and heard that it can be difficult to assemble at home (not that I've ever tried). It's basically steak cooked in a golden pastry - very rich and flavorful! I would recommend trying at least once. Our server was very nice and patient - despite handling a large party, he got everyone's orders right and the food was plated and served with an elegant touch. Not a casual dinner by any means (and the price reflects it) but makes for a memorable experience befitting of any special occasion!

We made reservations (a birthday). We were seated immediately upon arrival. The table was in a quiet corner (as requested). Restaurant filled well for a Sunday. We ordered cocktails, snails, onion soup, and classic beef Wellington. All were excellent. Portion sizes were large. Very satisfying. Compliments to the kitchen. Service and wait staff were very good. We didn't feel rushed or neglected. Very relaxed atmosphere. Dessert was also excellent. We enjoyed the evening.

We had a great time there, good food, great service, friendly staffs and good vibe. We ordered appetizers escargots, mushroom ravioli and frog legs, all were great except the frog legs was a bit soggy. For entrée, we had Chicken Cordon Bleu, it was very flavorful with crab sauce. Their house salad was awesome with green apple and walnut. We wrapped up our day with the special dessert liquored cherries with vanilla ice cream. It's a pleasant meal.

Been to this place many times throughout my life here in the Bay Area, but finally getting to a review. Had not been here in a while. Decided to have a nice family get together to celebrate my daughter's, husband's, and uncle's birthday. Food is always delicious per usual, and the ambiance is nice and intimate. Staff has always been friendly, and our server Glen did an amazing job of being considerate and timely. Busser was very polite and attentive to our table. My daughter is quite the picky eater, so I brought food for her in advance, but we were delightfully surprised when the staff came out with her own dessert! It was such an incredibly sweet gesture, and it made everyone's night-- especially hers. She got to blow out her candle and everything. Thank you for the many years of service, Papillion! It has definitely reached another generation in my family.

Husband and I go to Papillon on special occasions, and one was to reveal the gender our my pregnancy. The crème brûlée is my only go to for dessert and it is always on point! Papillon always asks if we are celebrating anything and this was one way to be surprised after a really good and satisfying meal. Thank you Papillon!

Amazing food and service from a local family restaurant. We have been coming to Papillon for years and have always been impressed by the food, drinks and hospitality. Our must-haves are the lobster raviolis, the Brussels sprouts and the Thai Bouillabaisse, with a glass of wine or martini. The vibe is classic and a little fancy, perfect for a random Tuesday night or for something special. The service is stellar and keeps us coming back -- we absolutely love Channah, who is equal parts professional and super friendly. If you haven't tried this local gem, definitely do. You won't be disappointed!

Fantastic service, delicious food and quiet ambiance (until a loud group entered and talked so loudly at the bar it was as if they were at our table yelling.) My husband was hesitant about going when he saw the menu. The peppercorn sauce was to perfection- ribeye flambé. I had the filet mignon which I had had years ago. My husband is still raving about the spinach salad - 3 days later. We were celebrating my birthday and my cheese cake with a message was a great way to finish the evening.

It is an excellent place for food! The owner is so thoughtful and skilled! As a family owned business that does a great job we both highly recommend this restaurant! Old school ambiance and excellent flavors!

Papillon is located along a busy main street, but part of the quietler side. They have a small lot, but it was a big awkward to navigate and it was a bit busy even for a weeknight. The employees were friendly, but the service was pretty poor, just due to how slow everything was, even with a reservation. We arrived promptly for our reservation and it still took awhile (at least 15+ minutes) to get seated after checking in; it took awhile for us to get our server back to take our order (probably another 15 minutes or so); when we ordered our appetizers / food, it took a good 30 - 45 minutes to get our appetizers and probably another 15 - 20 minutes to get our entrees. We tried the caesar salad, french onion soup, frog legs, ribeye, and salmon. The duck breast was intriging though. Food came out very slow with a big gap in between the soup / salad, appetizer, and actual entrees that it was a bit ridiculous, but at least we had time to converse more. Salad was like any other salad and soup was alright - a bit on the saltier side. Frog legs were tasty just too much breading than meat. The ribeye was a bit bouncy - just decent and the salmon was a bit on the overcooked side. Overall, food is maybe 2 - 2.5 stars, but our server seemed friendly and it was not his fault that everything took so long, so bumped it up to an overall 3 stars.

This was always on my radar, from hearing about it from friends and coworkers. I'm so glad I was finally able to make it here! My wife surprised me by taking me here. They are participating in "Restaurant Week, March 22nd - March 31st, 2024 and offer a Prix Fixe menu. The restaurant has that old school charm. There is a full bar as you enter the restaurant. They have 3 separate dining areas (main dining, greenhouse/enclosed outside, and banquet). The service is nice, attentive, and polite. It didn't disappoint. Our meals also came with a house salad that was good. Fresh, healthy, with a tasty dressing. My wife chose the... FRENCH ONION SOUP: Baked with Natural Swiss Cheese. We both really enjoyed the presentation of the Puff Pastry on top and the Swiss cheese underneath. The soup was flavorful, rich, and savory. SAUTÉED SLICE FILET MIGNON: with mushrooms, peppercorn sauce, served on a Puff Pastry Shell (4/5). The dish was boldly rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The filet slices were tender, maybe cooked to a medium. I couldn't see under all that delicious sauce. The vegetables helped break up the richness of this dish. I decided on... DUCK MOUSSE PATE: served with Pickled Red Onions, Cornichons, and Toast. The pate was chilled, earthly, and creamy and was delicious on the toast with all the ingredients. ANGEL HAIR PASTA: with Artichoke Hearts, Squash, in Tomato Broth or Crème Sauce with Grilled Chicken or with Grilled Prawns. My choice was the grilled prawns and creme sauce. If you like creme sauce, this won't disappoint. There were four large grilled prawns in this dish. This is definitely a nice place to take a date, significant other, or celebrate a special occasion. We will be back!

Papillon is absolutely our favorite restaurant! The staff and service is above and beyond! The food is always delicious and in a comfortable environment. We recommend it to all our friends and when people are visiting we take them there every time.

Me and my wife celebrated our wedding anniversary at Papillon. We booked our dinner online and made our reservation at 5:30 am. They have ample parking space and you'll not miss the big sign in front of their restaurant. Once we checked in, we were immediately seated at our table. The place is nostalgic and the ambiance is quiet and pleasant for a romantic dinner. Since they just opened, we saw only a few patrons. The menu has a lot of options and this place is very famous for its steak, fillet mignon, classic beef Wellington, ribeye, rack of lamb, short ribs, salmon, etc. All of the items from their menu are highly recommendable. For starters, we ordered their crispy tempura calamari and their house salad. We also had their Blue Paradise Margarita and Tequila Sunrise. For our main course, we ordered the Grilled ANGUS RIBEYE in Marinade of Olive Oil, Roasted Peppers, Basil, and Roasted Garlic Puree, served with Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms and Grilled ATLANTIC SALMON with Hero Potato Puree, Warm Spinach, and Cranberry Reduction. While waiting for our orders, we were served with their warm bread. The calamari was fresh and good. The salad was just served right and the dressing was good. The margarita and Tequiela were the perfect alcohol for the night. And finally, the main course was perfect. The ribeye was soft and tender and the Salmon was fresh and delicious. The portions were huge and were cooked the way we wanted. The meal was so huge that we didn't have any more space for desserts. However, when they found out that we were celebrating our anniversary, they presented us with a nice piece of cake with all the trimmings around a plate with an anniversary message. They were so thoughtful and made our anniversary special. The owner, Charlie, approached our table and greeted us on our anniversary. He told us the story of how the restaurant started and how long they've been in the business. With the great service they provided and the excellent food they provided, I would see them prospering for another decade. This was not our first time celebrating our anniversary here and we see ourselves celebrating more anniversary at this place.

Recently, I was honoured to be in attendance at the 75th birthday bash of a very dear friend that I have known for 63 years. The celebration was held here at Papillon. The subtle elegance of their banquet room comfortably accommodated all 20 of us where we were pampered by the most attentive waitstaff. And most of all, the cuisine met the approval of all of the attendees. The Coconut Prawns that were absolutely delicious. There were many choices on the menu but I chose the French Onion Soup to be followed by the American Kobe Short Ribs with Horseradish Mash Potatoes and Veggies. Everything delighted my palate and met my expectations. A great time was had by all. Thanks once again Harry and the staff of Papillon for a very memorable evening.

Wow this place is a real Hidden gem in Fremont.Loved the atmosphere and the food was excellent!!!The bread they served was delicious and soft. I do not have pictures of the snail dish but that was yummy too,Make sure you like garlic though as it has tons of it. Our server was Sam and he was very attentive and friendly and helpful while we were deciding on the entrees. Going there again for sure

Wow..... not in a good way We were celebrating our 30th anniversary yesterday and decided to go to Papillon in Fremont. We have heard so many good things and it's been a staple in Niles/Fremont for many years. The facility opened in 1978. I think the carpet (significant odor), drapes, furniture and wall decor are all original. Again that's not good. I ordered a bottle of wine from their extensive wine list (many pages and fair pricing). The waiter brought my selection, a Rombauer Zin. It was supposed to be one of their single vineyards and was highly rated. All they had and the waiter said it's all they ever have was the basic Rombauer Zin. Again not a bad bottle, but nothing close to what was on the list. The food was good. But at this price point it should be good/exceptional. The restaurant was not very busy. It was a Tuesday night. We were very much looking forward to spending an evening in Fremont and finding a restaurant that could be a repeatable one. This was amazingly similar to Massimo's or Spin a Yarn. All are 20+ years past the "sell by" date. Our service staff was fine, no issues. Sadly even with good (not great) food, the atmosphere, decor, bathrooms, parking lot and bar were so tired and dated we would never consider going back. We were at LB Steak in Santana Row recently and spent the same amount and had a wonderful experience. Note not the LB in Bishop Ranch. Very disappointed

One of my favorite places to celebrate my birthday or special occasions! The food , ambiance and service is great! One of my favorite appetizers is the escargot, which I order every time I come here. I love the ribeye steak and lobster. I also love the seafood. And definitely save some room for one of their delicious desserts!

I highly recommend this restaurant The food was very delicious and they were very generous with the portions were. The service was from the host - Jose - until the end, everyone made me feel like celebrating our special day: Wedding Anniversary. They also gave us a special delicious dessert. What else can I ask for? The ambiance was very comfortable AC cold enough, pleasant I'd say and they play soft music. You can actually talk and there was no need to scream.

I'm giving a 2 cuz the food is rather disappointing. The beef wellington is covered with wet puff pastry and has an odd fishy smell. And perhaps I didn't read the menu carefully, but the linguini arrived with thai sauce, which is quite unexpected in a FRENCH restaurant.

Came here for an anniversary dinner, service was a little slower because it was busy but the servers were really nice. We got placed in a quiet room where it was only us two which was a little awkward, we heard other people behind us hidden, which made us feel like we had to whisper. The food was great, we had a lot of what everyone gets here such as the escargot, french onion soup, the beef wellington and got a crème brûlée for dessert which was the best one we've ever had. We want to come back again and try some other things!

We went there to celebrate our mom's birthday. The service is flawless. The food is always delicious with fresh ingredients. I'm so in love with their Escargot Highly recommend!

Overpriced and tasteless. My french wife was not impressed and neither was I. On the flipside, my dog was happy with the unfinished (& expensive) steak I gave him after coming home.

First of all I have been here several times as a local and the moldy smell always hits me the minute I walk in. Went with my girlfriend and spent $400 for drinks and beef Wellington along with bananas foster. The place is so outdated and really bad ambiance. It feels like a moldy old people's home. On top of spending $$$ I was really sick that night with food poisoning!! Avoid at all cost!!!

Gray Food and great service! Ordered the beef Wellington and halibut and both taste delicious! We celebrated occasions here several times like pin work anniversary , Valentine's Day and wedding anniversary and they make it special for you.

Beef Wellington. That is all you need to know to make your way to this historic, fine dining restaurant located just off Mission Boulevard. Family owned since the 70's, Papillon ("butterfly" in French) serves up some delicious classics and new experiences for those who haven't had a chance to taste exquisite dishes like escargot, crab cakes, pâté, or their signature beef Wellington. Aside from the beef Wellington, there are a variety of entrees made with seafood, pasta, and lamb. You're bound to find something you'll enjoy; their kitchen crafts very tasty and hearty dishes. Their menu is quite extensive and they may also have a specials menu for the evening. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to taste the pâté as they were out but we did order a good number of items to try. They also serve a side of bread that goes well with the saucy dishes and you can request to be refilled (they didn't really offer to have it refilled without prompting). The bread unfortunately is not warmed but it is very soft! Btw the appetizer combination comes with their most populate dishes: escargot, lobster ravioli and crab cakes. Escargot - served in a buttery herb sauce and eaten with special tools (a clamp and a long pointed fork), this dish is unique and and is a must get if it's your first time here. The sea snails are served in shell and retains a bit of heat when you dig into them. Comes with 6 pieces. Lobster ravioli - meaty flesh encased in a thin wrap and served with a robust cream sauce. Crab cake - crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside. The crab mix gives a good texture to each bite and goes well with the sauce it's paired with. Baked Brie - puff pastry encasing delicious, melted Brie cheese. Served with a fruity jam and arugula salad. Mushroom ravioli - mushroom packed morsels mixed with melted cheese and cream sauce make this dish a hearty addition to your meal, as an appetizer or a main course (for light eaters). French onion soup puff pastry - most entrees will have the option to upgrade to the French onion soup over the house salad. Do it. You will not regret it. The French onion soup is delicious - hearty onion pieces with cheese and puff pastry with every bite. You might want to get another; it's that good! Seafood Wellington - delicious take on a seafood variation of the classic Wellington. A mix of crab, prawns and lobster encased in a puff pastry was delicious Beef Wellington - this is the highlight of the meal. Tender beef encased in a thin mushroom layer and then encased in a puff pastry. *Chef's kiss* The food is delicious. The service has some room for improvement. Front desk was decent but didn't have much enthusiasm seating us. Waiter service was okay however they didn't introduce themselves so we weren't really sure how to address them. We also noticed they were a bit slow to clear tables although the restaurant was pretty vacant when we went. And perhaps it was just unfortunate timing but the men's restroom had no toilet paper on any of the rolls. All in all, I would have expected better amenities for a fine dining restaurant but at the end of the day, I came here for the food. They also have a full bar but we didn't get to experience that this time around. They're only open for dinner service so be prepared to plan ahead and make reservations if possible if you have a larger group. The parking lot gets a bit dark and there's no protected entry from the main street, Mission Boulevard. Therefore, take extra care turning in and out of the lot. Overall, Papillon is the perfect place to take family, friends and business partners for a nice sit down to experience beef Wellington at its finest. You'll enjoy the other food as well while perhaps soaking in a bit of Fremont history.

Such a lovely place to have a beautiful dinner, drinks and dessert in. I absolutely love the Chicken Cordon Bleu. My husband and I went for Valentine's Day. We so enjoyed it.

Phenomenal dining experience!! Great food and service. Bread was soft and good, almost like a Dutch crunch. Calamari appetizer was a little small but was excellent with the lobster bisque. Lobster ravioli were like dumplings filled with chunks of lobster meat and covered with lobster bisque as a sauce. Caesar salad was great, definitely could tell dressing was fresh and made in house. Beef short rib was great. Scallops were cooked to perfection. Petrale sole, fish special was excellent. All food was just fantastic. The server was on point and kept us informed, even though the kitchen got backed up. Everything was otherwise excellent.

The French onion soup and the bread they give you was phenomenal. I would come back just for those two items. The entrees were also good. My only Comment is this is a long dining experience, don't come if you are in a rush.

The service and food is always 10 out of 10! The raviolis as appetizer are a perfect start. The tough part is sharing! This gem is the best!

Wonderful atmosphere, super delucious food, amazing serverwe had no idea this restaurant is so close to us. Will be repeat customers for sure. We had the Crispy Brussel Sprouts (a must), French Onion soup (so good), Beef Wellington (we decided we didn't wanna share our dish this time & glad we could enjoy our fill of this delicious tender fillet) portions were quite large, but we had to have Creme Brûlée & the Cheesescake for dessert & so glad we did!

Dinner at Papillon was wonderful from being greeted at the door to the last delicious bite of food. Top quality and food. There were three of us dining and three different entrees: rib eye steak; salmon; and sole. All were prepared to perfection and were wonderful. Service was impeccable. Looking forward to returning soon.

This is my favorite French restaurant in the Bay Area! The atmosphere is charming and incredibly romantic, and the service is always top-notch. The food is fantastic--especially the escargot, which I order every time. I can't wait to visit again!

We celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary here today and I was surprised to learn my hubby who has been in Fremont for many years has never been here before! My last visit was probably in the 1990's. We were served amazing dishes and service by Conner who added a special touch with a personalized message on our yummy creme brûlée dessert and did a great job capturing our dinner photo. I highly recommend this location for a nice romantic setting. We will definitely be back for the same experience.

I had the Rack of Lamb, last night, and it was so tough I could hardly cut it with a steak knife. Very disappointing. Same thing happened to me with a different protein last time.

Wow, I love this place and it is so close to my home, but I forget about it when we're looking for a place to celebrate a wonderful day or just for wonderful and delicious food! Great variety of delicious choices from appetizers, steaks, seafood and Lamb Chops to desserts. When looking for seafood or a steak place, then why drive miles when it's right here in town! It's In Niles and I live so close by Quarry Lakes area and was born and raised In Niles and this restaurant has been a staple in Niles on Mission Blvd for decades. The steak was delicious, oysters Rockefeller fabulous, the escargot superb and the French onion soup, well what can I say just yummy! My daughter had seafood Wellington and it was outstanding! Also the service was excellent as well and friendly, they make sure your well taken care of. Take it from this Nile's native it is a wonderful restaurant and we need to keep and support our original Fremont restaurants. All I can say is Enjoy!

Amazing food! Great service! Perfect birthday dinner for my aunt and foody kids. Left overs for tomarrow

I Had the beef Wellington it was perfectly made like usual this is the only place in the whole Bay Area that seems to get it right. The restaurant itself is a little outdated. It could use a facelift, but the food is amazing and the service is just as good.

The French food here is truly amazing. Compared to other French places I have eaten it is one of the best in terms of portion and price for the quality. The service is great. The biggest issue is that the furniture is old and the place is musty, so does not feel or smell as clean as other places making me give it 4 stars.

Amazing, fine dinning restaurant in Fremont, CA. Great food options with excellent flavor at reasonable prices. This place is a gem and I love celebrating special events here and enjoying a night out dinning for family dinners. Highly recommend this restaurant!

One of the BEST restaurants in the Bay Area. If you love French Onion Soup, you have to try this...I have been to SF and this is better quality, I just can't say enough great things about it!! But it's just the beginning, omg... I had scallops and thought I was going to die, they were so delicious. Every single one was PERFECT. I let the wait person pick the wine (which I never drink, so I had no idea) and it tasted like butter and oak...so incredibly delicious with the scallops. I wanted dessert but didn't have any room...dang!! But we "shared" the Moulten Lava Cake" and I died of happiness one again. The ambience is romantic, small and cozy. The service is personal, there when you want them and gone when you want to be alone, basically PERFECT. If I could give them a BILLION gold stars, consider it done. Thank you for taking my mind off the difficult times we're having and for the perfect service and dinner. I appreciate you SO much. It was worth it and more.

Food - Lobster Ravioli 3/5 - bland, mushy lobster paste inside a dumpling wrapper. Shaped like and tasted like a "lobster" pot sticker. Sauce was like a lobster tomato bisque. Not a lot of flavor. - Escargot 3.5/5 - flavorful garlic and herb butter / oil but garlic flavor was a little too raw for me. - Duck liver pate 4/5 - great pate flavor that paired well with the cornichons and pickled onions. Toast was too toasty, very hard and felt like it was gonna cut the roof of my mouth. Tried the pate with their untoasted bread, and could taste the pate flavor more. Mixed greens unnecessary imo - Seabass 3/5 - fish was buttery and flakey but miso flavor did not come through. Not a fan of the orzo and broth which were bland - Lamb Chops 4/5 - lamb cooked nicely and medium rare to medium, curry(?) Sauce was great and flavorful. Creme brulee 4/5- was a little deflated and was not a smooth custard. Tasted good though! Raspberry sorbet 4/5 - great sorbet, salted caramel was interesting. Service was great and ambience was nice and quiet.

I appreciate your consistent assistance as always. Although it's not particularly a place for children, they usually treat us very well and accommodate us nicely! We gave the children a presentation of the desert. My children were overjoyed. What a stunning treasure in Fremont. This review is long overdue; we are regulars. We never have any problems getting Kobe beef. We also added crab cakes to our list of favorites. French onion soup is a must. The salad tastes amazing. For a local fine dining experience, we adore coming here. Thank you again for the wonderful service we will see you soon again