Pyrenees Cafe

Basque restaurant · Bakersfield

Pyrenees Cafe

Basque restaurant · Bakersfield

1

601 Sumner St, Bakersfield, CA 93305

Photos

Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null
Pyrenees Cafe by null

Highlights

Basque & American fare with great patio, friendly staff, & delicious food  

Placeholder
Placeholder

601 Sumner St, Bakersfield, CA 93305 Get directions

thepyreneescafe.com

$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

601 Sumner St, Bakersfield, CA 93305 Get directions

+1 661 323 0053
thepyreneescafe.com

$$ · Menu

Features

dine in
takeout
payment credit card
Tap to pay
reservations
wifi
outdoor seating

Last updated

Aug 27, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@postcardnews

Part saloon, part Basque dining room in Old Town Kern, this rambunctious hangout does garlic fried chicken, live music, and the traditional setup. As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, it’s a lively slice of local culture.

https://thepyreneescafe.com/
Things to Do in Bakersfield (2025)
View Postcard for Pyrenees Cafe

Cheryl Minshew-Morrison

Google
This little restaurant is what I call a hidden treasure seriously. When you start to go to this restaurant, it's going to be very misleading. Driving to go to a questionable area you may begin to question your choice. Keep going!!! Now you see what looks to be an old building or warehouse. Going to go through a creepy little door you may wonder if you're actually at a speak easy. The main door leads straight into a bar. Don't be discouraged to keep going. Now look right; you're going to see the most adorable little restaurant that looks like it came right out of the old west. Now go out the side door to the patio and whoa. The cutest patio ever. I seriously would have an event here. There's a stage and big fans to keep it cool and tons of lights and trees. The food was fabulous. The dessert was fabulous. And the service was outstanding. Don't overlook this hidden treasure. Just make sure you take a friend with you.

Ying Liang

Google
Never tried Basque food before so swung by for a break in the middle of my road trip. The entrance is easy to miss. Outside is a little dingy, but lots of street parking available. Seems like a popular local hangout with a restaurant and bar attached. I got dinner with the basque style setup and wound up with a Stella Artois box-full of takeout containers—definitely a first, lugging that giant box back to the car! It was pricey but more than enough food for two and averaged out well with large portions. Everything was delicious (and strongly flavored). Personally loved the cabbage soup and penne pasta. Pickled tongue was different, but pretty good and something I’m glad I got to try. I don’t know what magic they used to make the salad—I literally kept poking at it between bites—but it was so good! Beans and banana peppers I guess? Who knew. Pyrenees has good food that packs a punch, stop by if you get the chance.

Janet De Jesus

Google
Ordered for delivery. The food arrived cold. The garlic chicken was cooked in old oil, hardly any visible garlic. My order was supposed to include pickled tongue and was omitted. I called and said same, lady who answered placed me on hold then hung up on me. I paid $150 dollars for 3 meals and one would expect better quality food.

Lawrence Salcido

Google
Update 3/20/24: Prices on Google seem to be accurate now. Disclaimer: The prices on Google currently are not accurate. Those make it seem like it's significantly cheaper. The price of the sauteed mushrooms on Google were like $7 and now they're about $12. Most entrees run upper $20 to mid $30s as well. Despite all that, the food itself was amazing. My jaw almost dropped when I first tried those mushrooms. Service was kind and consistent. I do unfortunately feel that, for the price, the entree was a bit lackluster. The atmosphere is nice if you're into a mix of rustic and modern. It's not for me, but maybe I should have utilized the outdoor patio area. I'm not sure I'll return again at these prices but it might be nice for a special occasion.

Mike Williams

Google
Recommended to come here by Natalie, Tammy and Dalania presented the smoked old fashion. Rack of lamb was amazing.

rhonda n

Google
Amazing everytime we go! The Bloody Mary's are absolutely delicious. The steaks, pasta, sandwiches, and Lamb pops are personal favorites. They are keeping the history of our Basque food. It's usually pretty busy in evenings and weekends, and they sometimes have live music. Be prepared for a lot of food done family style. And the servers are really awesome, and can recommend some great options. This is my Birthday spot! Love it and highly recommend it! 🤗

Daniel Navarro

Google
Went for the first time last week expecting good food. We were sat first out of 4-5 groups that showed up after us and for some odd reason our order was taken last. Waited a little over an hour for a food and they ended up forgetting to place one of our orders so had to wait another 15 minutes for that. One of the groups our waitress was helping out seemed like they knew each other personally so they had great service while I had to ask several times for refills on my coffee. Most likely wont be going back

Corina Calsing

Google
An amazing experience all around. Great value, amazing food, and friendly, efficient service. It's hard to tell which door to use to get in and there are no windows at street level, so it's nice and dim inside. You know you are in a good bar when there are happy groups of drinkers at 11:30 a.m. on a Tuesday rather than just sad loners at the bar. We could have sat there all afternoon eating housemade pork rinds and drinking, but we had to run other errands. Sad face emoji. Best friend chicken since I left the South. I'm sad we didn't find this place earlier in our Kern County sojourn. Hope to go back soon.
google avatar

Albert M.

Yelp
This is a local gem, finally get to go there with a friend for a proper review. Three place to sit, the super fun old school bar, indoor restaurant, or outdoor patio. The patio is my favorite, a rustic courtyard with brick wall, string lights and red umbrellas. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. The food is the legendary Bakersfield basque food with modern presentation. The garlic fries and shrimp appetizers were amazing. My main course was ribeye, nicely marbled, perfectly prepared, nicely seasoned. Every dish had great attention to details. Very satisfied and I will always return here.
google avatar

Nanette K.

Yelp
Where do I start. It's located in a sketchy part of downtown Bakersfield. You enter into the bar area. The dining area seemed unwelcoming. Booths along the sides and long tables down the middle. Not for handicapped patrons. We sat in a booth ordered water and tea. Looked at menu and decided not to order The Basque food because it was very expensive. Ordered 3 sandwiches. Pastrami, lamb french dip and BTLA. Was not good. Too salty. fries and onion rings were over fried. Typical bar food. Ugh! I will probably not go back. Service was slow and we went at 5:00 which was pretty empty in the dining area. Seemed like it was more of a bar party place. I was very disappointed.
google avatar

Mike L.

Yelp
Breakfast is always good here and a Bloody Mary is a nice way to start your day! Food is always hot and portions are large. Cant go wrong with anything on the menu. This a fun place to get together with friends.
google avatar

Mark T.

Yelp
Yikes. $33 for breakfast, tip and a drink? Chicken fried steaks at our table were just not that good. The meat did not taste or feel fresh (frozen and not highest quality?)- but the ranch potatoes were pretty decent. Service was good and polite. Maybe I just caught them on a bad day?
google avatar

Bert G.

Yelp
So my first time eating there and we were a rather large group. It understandably took us a while to get drinks but the one waitress we had did a pretty good job trying to keep up. The hot pastrami looked great but once I bit into it, it was pretty salty In my opinion. The pastrami instead was a bit over cooked, almost bacon like texture. Fries were salty to . The NY steak sandwich was also a bit salty and wish the steak had been cut into slices vs just a whole steak slapped in a bun. Would have made it easier to eat. Firecracker shrimp was tasty. Had a good crunch and flavor reminiscent of some Panda Express type sauce. Wish it was spicier though. Had a few michelada modelos as well. They were served in a glass half full of mix with the bottle on the side for you to pour in. They weren't bad but I prefer mine with a bit more of a kick. What can I say. I like spicy food.
google avatar

Gabriela R.

Yelp
Love that this is a staple with so much history but definitely needs a remodel on their service. I was party of a larger party and of course not one person is going to pay for 20 people so it would make sense to be prepared to separate the checks. Well that's not done here which is a huge inconvenience for the guests. The service was average, waters were refilled only if we asked all the food came out at different times which is uncomfortable for everyone. Over all the food was average. Probably would not come for breakfast lunch or dinner with so much competition surrounding it.
google avatar

Nancyann E.

Yelp
1st time eating this type of food. It was very tasty (great) food. Everyone is friendly. Forget the other restaurants in Bakersfield, this one is awesome

Emily S.

Yelp
I love Pyrenees! There is an amazing server, Fawn and she has treated myself and my family so well. I look forward to the pastrami and hopefully Fawn being there. We have been coming for more than a decade and we will continue to come back.
google avatar

Jennifer O.

Yelp
I ordered the garlic chicken panini with fries , it was so good ! The garlic sauce inside was so creamy . It was pretty crowded here and yet our waitress gave us amazing service and she was really sweet .
google avatar

Christine W.

Yelp
Loved everything about this place ! Food was the best we snacked at the bar had some soup and firecracker shrimp. Nicest bartender ever!! We will go back next time we are in town

Ty B.

Yelp
Visited on a Sunday morning and were greeted immediately and invited to sit anywhere. Then we sat and sat and sat, with no wait staff ever coming to our table. No menus, no drinks. Finally got up and went to the bar to order drinks, but was ignored at the bar. Returned to the dining area to get my wife and we left. Had a wonderful breakfast at the nearby Arizona Cafe. I recommend everyone give them a try. Great Bloody Marys and fantastic Mexican breakfast. Best chile verde I have ever eaten.
google avatar

Alison H.

Yelp
Our usual Basque restaurants were closed for a week of vacation (Woolgrowers and Benji's). We decided to try Pyrenees. We got our soup and beans. Both were cold. By the time we got a hold of a waiter to let him know we didn't get our bread or salsa, we were almost done. The garlic chicken was very dry. No one cared for the pasta which was also cold. Very small portions and the waiter didn't ask if we wanted more. We paid a lot of money for 2 setups and 2 entrees and we were very disappointed. The green beans and New York steak were amazing though. My daughter also enjoyed the salad.
google avatar

Steph H.

Yelp
First time here, which is shocking. Came for some mid day Saturday, friends birthday drinks. Sat on the patio, which was sooooo nice! Between two buildings with some overhead and just chill vibes. Drinks were quick and priced right! Short review, but would definitely come back!

Jess J.

Yelp
Never have I come across such a cheap person in my life. The owner who happened to be there that day. I ordered coffee I did not care for the smell of the coffee it smelled old so I didn't want to drink it. I asked her to refund me just for the coffee because I had not drank it she refused. She responded by saying some obnoxious smart a ss sh tty remark. We were just in shock. We had ordered breakfast almost $70 before tip. Not returning.

Jon I.

Yelp
I ate here on a Monday night, except there was a table of 18 and only one waitress on duty. The bartender did the best he could trying to fill-in. I didn't think my meal was anything to brag about. I had a lamb shank set on top a tomato sauce base. The sauce was so strong from reduction I couldn't taste the shank over the overpowering sauce. The accompaniments came 10 to 15 minutes later comprising of a small cup of penne pasta and then fries. The salad was by far the best thing I had in front of me. Anyway, hopefully this isn't just a one off kind of experience. Somebody tell the bartender to never plunge an empty glass into the ice bin. This explains why: https://vinepair.com/articles/rookie-bartending-mistakes/#:~:text="Glass%20should%20absolutely%20never%20enter,while%20submerged%20in%20the%20ice.
google avatar

Lanze A.

Yelp
I visited this place because my friend and I wanted to try Basque food for the first time. All I knew about Basque food was that beef tongue is a delicacy in their menu. Very much piqued my interest as an adventurous eater. We were greeted by Chris and Cynthia, the nicest servers I might have ever met. Upon telling them that it is our first time they made sure we enjoyed it the right way and explained how their dinner set would be served. They checked on us constantly which might not be good to some but for me it made me feel comfortable. I also ordered the rack of lamb which comes with an amazing jus. Best service in Bakersfield, very kind staff. Will come back.
google avatar

Victoria T.

Yelp
We have been meaning to come down to Pyrenees Cafe for quite sometime. We came around 11am on a Saturday. The bar was quite full but we were seated in the dining area quickly. The place has a lot of charm. Pictures of Bakersfield from back in the day. The staff was very friendly and did check on us frequently. The food though, WOW. So good! My eggs a la reyna were so good. The Chile verde was well seasoned. My husband order the breakfast sliders and he said they were the best biscuit sandwiches he ever had. The biscuits were amazing and the sausage patty was very tender. We look forward to coming back and trying some other items on the menu. My one note was, we did wait awhile for the food to arrive but we came after a party of 13 had been seated so it was to be expected.
google avatar

Joey H.

Yelp
Food was amazing tasted great. Huge portions bring with you friends lol. Service provided by young woman also amazing and informative. For sure will visit again very soon !
google avatar

Jennifer F.

Yelp
This is a BAR! Obviously a great favorite with the locals. Lots of folks having a great time. Good food too. Had the half tequila lime chicken salad--huge and delicious. He had the tuna melt equally good. Neighborhood a bit sketchy but there's hired security. Excellent wait staff. It was big fun!
google avatar

Dan M.

Yelp
Overpriced for what you get. A waffle, almost literally one egg, and bacon for $18.00 . The wait for our food was like 30 minutes but I heard this before hand. On the plus side our waitress was patient with my picky brother and attentive. Wish I knew her name to give her kudos.

Chris P.

Yelp
Took my daughter there a couple weeks ago. They have changed from the "Family Style Dinner". They bring out small individual size soup, bread, and all other portions. If you ask for more, they tell you it's $3.50. Even after they charged $24.50 for just the set up. My daughter asked for blue cheese crumbles on her salad and they charged $8.95. I had the cheapest steak on the menu and she had just the set up. The bill was $96. Won't be going back.
google avatar

Shay J.

Yelp
Great food and great service most times I have patronize. The oxtail stew is amazing and the food portions are great.
google avatar

Cari B.

Yelp
Been to Pyrenees a few times and the environment is always mellow yet fun. It's a family feel type of place which makes it easy to kick back and enjoy the atmosphere. The service is on point and the staff have great personalities, as well as people skills. The food & drink prices are very reasonable, which makes everything more worthwhile!

Travis S.

Yelp
Pyrenees cafe on Summer St. Not recommended unless you like dog butthole on your table. I visited for a celebration of life on 1/21/24, and at approx 7:40pm, the staff (which was amazing and awesome until this point) let an incoming patron place a small breed dog on the main bar. The dog did not possess a certified Service or emotional support animal placard. Even if it did, allowing the dog to lay on the bar/service counter would be a violation. I understand the need for service aninals, but letting them rest on the bartop wher food is dispensed poses a significant health hazard. If they allow this, then one can only imagine how the manage the rest of the facility
google avatar

Penny C.

Yelp
I did give a good review for Pyrenees prior to this one but, we had only eaten breakfast there. Breakfast was good but, then decided to return to try their Basque food. It was not very good, my husband got the fried chicken and it was soggy not crispy at all. Soup was Luke warm the whole meal was disappointing. Don't mind paying the expensive prices if the food was good. Felt ripped off at the end of the meal. We went at lunch time so the did not serve the meal family style which I thought was strange. Service seemed okay waitress was friendly. I do like setting in the back room away from the bar. I feel there are better Basque restaurants in Bakersfield. Won't be returning to this establishment.
google avatar

Heidi B.

Yelp
The only times I go here is when I manage to find the time to get my oil changed at Clerou. I've been here only twice so far and every time it's been a good experience. This is the place to go to if you are an extrovert. Just sit your pretty behind on their stools and make random conversation with the people around you. This place probably had the highest percentage of being the show Cheers, especially now that Cheers, the local bar, is no longer open. Rest in peace. Do not, I repeat, do not go here if you are on tight schedule. The people who work here do their best to get to everyone, but it gets really packed really fast. Your food is going to come out fresh and piping hot, but it's going to get to you when it gets to you. Get a drink, make a friend, and enjoy the atmosphere. A new goal in life is to go through most if not all of their menu items at least once. They have some Basque food items, but it's a bit of everything now. The first time I was there, I had their tequila chicken salad something, I can't tell you what's in it, but it was delicious. This last time, I got their Chile Verde with a side of biscuits and gravy. Why biscuits and gravy? Because they were freshly baked that very day and I'm an American. Also, my mom loves it so I make to point to always bring some home if I see it. Everything was so freaking good and came out hot on arrival. Chile verde had a lot of flavor and low to medium spice, which I liked. Portions are large so I managed to make a second meal out of it later that day. Sometimes you gotta go where everybody knows your name, no one knows my name there but I like to feel like I apart of something whenever I stop by. They will definitely see me again.
google avatar

Dawn W.

Yelp
Showed up on a Saturday at 845am for breakfast . We have never had there food. I was told we needed to sit on the patio because I had a dog. I said he was medical alert service, she states yes that we could sit in the patio only. It's 45 degrees outside. I stated by ADA law she was not allowed to sit me outside. She said that is there rule for dogs. If the owner is reading this please teach your employees that medical alert dogs are not pets, they are there to keep safe and alive. You are not allowed to discriminate against us by ada law. My dog is trained to go under the table while I eat. We left to go to a restaurant where we were welcomed. I can't comment on the food but heard it was good.
google avatar

Benjamin K.

Yelp
l Iove the history of the classic old Town Kern area. Woolgrower's, Narducci's, Luigi's and Pyrenees all make for great eating. On a recent Tuesday morning my dad and I stopped by Pyrenees for brunch. We sat in the outdoor patio area, which may have been a mistake because we were slow to be brought menus. There weren't many fellow diners out there. Eventually our server presented us with the menus and we immediately noticed there's been a price hike. I chose the bacon avocado cheeseburger ($21.95!) and my pop went with the chicken fried steak. We each had a beer as well. Our food showed up about 30 minutes later, and while it was tasty, the $60+ price tag left us with a bit of sticker shock and we both felt the slow service could be improved upon. This is a fun atmosphere with good food but don't come here if you're in a hurry.

Patricia L.

Yelp
Fun atmosphere, cheery staff and delicious food! The fried zucchini is one of my favorite appetizers. Their fried chicken and tri tip are also delicious.
google avatar

John A.

Yelp
Great local hangout with a friendly atmosphere, great service and heavy pours. Their menu has something for everyone and the lamb lollipops, pickled tongue and/or firecracker shrimp are a must for appetizers

Elgin P.

Yelp
Breakfast? Juevos Rancheros with pinto beans, hash browns and 2 pieces of hard bacon. Food was room temp. Coupled with a $3.75 cup of bad diner coffee with too many caffeineated refills, I was $24 in the hole when done. Service was outstanding. I should have had a few Bloody Marys.

Jalina H.

Yelp
Can't Even rate it.... worst restaurant EVER ,you want FOOD POISONING COME HERE , if not don't come here! RUDE Customer service people EVER IN MY LIFE .the atmosphere let's just say this KILL THE flies EVERYWHERE IN THE RESTAURANT.... and NO it's not because the door is open it's because how cold and nasty the food taste...and let's just say bring something to kill the flies because it will try to be all over the food... the health department might as well shut them down I've gone to other places that have the doors open and not have flies at all
google avatar

Cody B.

Yelp
Okay people it all depends on what you order. This time I had the best Turkey dip sandwich I've ever had in my life hand down!!! The BEST I tell you. This picture doesn't show how much meat was in it but it was loaded with 1.5-2" of thin sliced Turkey. It was so good, it melted in my mouth and was super juicy even without the au jus dipping sauce. There was a very slight spice to the spread on it as well which added to the awesomeness, but don't worry it's not spicy. Then there's the fries that were perfect today. IMHO You should give this sandwich a try.

Judy N.

Yelp
Pyrenees is a well known and long appreciated restaurant in Bakersfield. A group of old friends planned to meet to celebrate a birthday recently. I was not able to join them but wanted to do something special for the birthday girl. I called the restaurant to see what could be arranged. A lovely woman answered and when I explained my wish, she told me about the amazing sounding desserts and I made my selections, put them on my card and thanked her for being so helpful and kind. When my friends arrived they were ushered to a table set with a pretty bouquet of a variety of garden roses and wished the birthday girl a special day. She took pictures as well. Of course it goes without saying that dinner was the usual excellent Basque family style food and the desserts got rave reviews. For me the best part of the experience was the kind, efficient and very thoughtful staff person who assisted me and then went the extra mile adding the beautiful roses. Now Pyrenees will forever be my favorite of the excellent Basque food restaurants in Bakersfield.
google avatar

Bradley C.

Yelp
Had to revise my poor prior rating in all fairness. Arrived early at about 5. Had picons in the lively bar. The bartender was friendly and excited about his upcoming trip to the Basque area of Spain. Went into the dining room and was greeted by , I presume, the owner who warmly greeted and seated us. We ordered the fried chicken with garlic. First came the soup with a bowl of beans for the soup. Then a delicious salad. Next a Hugh helping of pickled tongue which was perfect. Next a serving of pasta with a great meat sauc, e. The chicken then arrived. 3 large pieces fried to perfection smothered in garlic. Also French fries on the plate and then a plate of green beans in tomato sauce arrived. When we started to go out the door a young employee insisted on walking my wife and me to our car. He said there were unsavory men hanging around the street. I suggest parking your car on the side of the restaurant. There is a front door on Sumner street, but the one that is used is on the side.
google avatar

Gelia R.

Yelp
First time visiting with my brother, I had really high expectations since I've heard it's a classic here in town but it wasn't as great, the salad was bland and the beans taste like canned beans the New York steak was good but the shrimp were flavorless, the green beans were ok, the pasta was nasty, on the other hand the cabbage soup was delicious and the firecracker shrimp appetizer was delicious, I might give it another chance to taste other things on the menu

Martin M.

Yelp
Have eaten there a couple times and the feel is that of a clubhouse... if your part of the gang you get all sorts of attention, if your not, "we'll get to you when we get to you." The food is meh, nothing to recommend if you're recommending basque food. The area is sketchy and I always feel I have to go check on my car half way through my meal. I also detected some attitude, that was less than welcoming, from the patrons towards a family that was not culturally similar to the rest of the patrons. 50s racial attitudes.
google avatar

Michael S.

Yelp
Every dish is fabulous and the staff are practically family. My to go place. The prices go with the quality of the food. Be prepared to enjoy.
google avatar

Timothy M.

Yelp
Yum! Breakfast here (and dinner too) is so amazing! Make sure to stop by. It's well worth it.

concepcion s.

Yelp
Jessee always makes us feel welcomed and comfortable! He makes sure you are taken care of at all times. Will definitely be back!

Ann H.

Yelp
Breakfast at the Pyrenees Cafe was amazing. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and it was the best I've ever ordered. So flavorful, great presentation, served hot and timely. The service was friendly, often coming to our table to see if we needed anything. The ambiance was awesome. We ate in the bar area. Low lighting, romantic for us. Although this was our first visit we were greeted as friends. We definitely recommend eating here.
google avatar

Estrella S.

Yelp
Eggs a la Reyna. Hash browns. Chille Verde. Cheese and 2 over east eggs. With toast on the side. This was a great meal. It is something you don't see on a regular menu. I would try it. I loved it. It's different. It was a great savory meal especially if you like chille Verde.
google avatar

Dexter D.

Yelp
We usually spend one night in Bakersfield while on our way to Las Vegas, Barstow or even Los Angeles. It's a little out of the way sometimes but we've enjoyed eating at Noriega's, The Woolgrowers and Hungry Hunter. For years, we'd been wanting to try Pyrenees Cafe but we would always heed the call for Noriega's or The Woolgrowers. Alas, the original Noriega's is no more and the new owners of the new Noriega's are facing a steep learning curve as they try to get the restaurant going again. Back in April, on our way to Death Valley, we finally hit Hungry Hunter. OMG, it reminded me so much of the meals that I had eaten in Pleasanton for nearly 30 years. So finally, we made it into Pyrenees. The layout is bar in front, dining room in back and banquet hall on the side. Although the address is on Sumner Street, the entrance is actually around the corner on Kern Street. We were greeted once when we walked in, asking for a table for two. The bartender said she'd be right back and went to clear a table for us. While she was gone, a server came by and greeted us again. Way to go on teamwork! Once we were seated, menus were presented as were drinks. We were hungry and ready to dive right in. If you have never eaten in a Basque restaurant "Basque" style, it's like eating at luau in Hawaii. You don't dine until you're full. You eat until you're tired. And then take the leftovers home. The way the menu works is that you choose an entree. Then you get to choose American or Basque style set-up. Go Basque! You can look at the menu and see the difference between the styles. It's about quantity and variety. What'd we get? I ordered Garlic Fried Chicken, which I was told they were out of. So then I chose Shrimp Scampi which came with some pasta hidden under the sauce. The shrimp were perfectly cleaned and cooked. Yes, I ate the pasta. No, I didn't drink the sauce! Food Score - 5. She ordered the Rack of Lamb and it was indeed a full rack. She ate some, I ate one and we had leftovers. They too, were delicious! Food Score - 5. We both ordered Basque Style so we got lots of goodies presented Family Style to share. Vegetable Soup - 5 - A simple, flavorful, vegetable soup. Beans - 5 - Cooked to tenderness with a lovely flavor. Salsa - 5 - Our server said that this salsa was milder than their usual but they hadn't been able to get a delivery. I found it plenty spicy enough without being overwhelming. Experienced diners will mix these three dishes together in their bowl to get a heartier soup with some zip. Salad - 5- An excellent Salad that is already dressed and comes with a cornucopia of deliciousness. Lettuce, Red Onions, Pepperoncini, Corn, Grape Tomatos, Croutons, Cheese, Cucumber and Olives. Bread and Butter - 2 - Bread was hard; Butter was harder. Not that it wasn't fresh, just very dense. French Fries - 4 - Great flavor but they got soggy over time. Too may to finish and too messy to take home. Marinated Beef Tongue - 5 - Tender. Juicy. Delicious. If they didn't tell you that it was tongue, you'd think that it was just sliced beef. Pasta - 5 - I rarely meet a pasta in red sauce that I dont' like. Green Beans -5 - Very flavorful, with some bell peppers and spices. Cottage Cheese - 5 - I hate Cottage Cheese. I NEVER eat it. It looks like it's already been eaten and then...well, you know what I mean. This Cottage Cheese was delicious! I'm not sure what all they did to it but eat it, I did! Creme Brulee - 5 - We were there for dinner the night before my companions b'day. The Creme Brulee was large enough for the both of us. Our server was Arielle. She was great. She answered all of our questions. The ones that she didn't know the answers to, she went to the kitchen and asked. The level of customer service she gave is the kind that every manager would love all of their employees to exhibit. There was enough food left over that we had to take it with us. Next time, we'll probably negotiate on which Entree we want to share and then just order a second Basque Style set-up for about $17.
google avatar

Jeff Y.

Yelp
On the way back from Sequoia National Park, we decided to stop in Bakersfield for dinner, and opted for some Basque food. I had been to Woolgrowers in the past, but since it was closed, we decided to check out Pyrenees Cafe. The interior is massive, with many different sections (bar, indoor, and outdoor dining). Our waitress was friendly and attentive throughout the meal. We decided to have oxtail plus the famous Coquilles St. Jacques, and added the dinner setup. The portions (especially with the added setup) were massive, and we had a ton of leftovers. Overall, the food was tasty, but the flavors not quite as polished and prices definitely higher than I remember (granted, my last time having Basque food in Bakersfield was several years ago).
google avatar

Austen G.

Yelp
Fun vibe on a Saturday afternoon. Good service and great food. Food was full of flavor and delivered on the menu descriptions. So many more items we want to try. We will definitely be back! Don't miss the turkey dip and the chefs special-if you like sea food!
google avatar

Rene O.

Yelp
We've been to this place before and the food was really good. This time we went with some friends and everyone was not happy with it. The food was waaaaay overpriced for what you get and it did not taste all that well and the soup was cold and the French bread was stale. The drinks we ordered cost more from the server than if you were to order it at the bar and give the bartender a tip. You better take cash too because they are not willing to split the check between the couples at the table. Definitely will not be going back. Its sad to see places drop the quality of their food but yet they will charge you more for less.
google avatar

Carolyn P.

Yelp
I just hate to give a review that is less than flattering, but we just did not have a good experience tonight. Very poor service. Our original server was very pleasant but then just disappeared for quite a length of time. She took our food order, but never came back for a drink order. We went to the bar for our drinks. When our order was taken we were not informed that some of the items we ordered were not available. She came back much later to inform us. We flagged down another server who helped us for a while. Each time a server came to our table nothing was cleared away. We stacked the dirty dishes & utensils at the service end of the table for their convenience, nothing was removed until we were almost finished dining. The table was crowded and uncomfortable with this mess. To me that speaks of a lack of service training. Service 101, always remove empty dishes each time you visit the table. I think perhaps they were understaffed as well. I personally prefer to be informed if that's the case so that I can adjust my expectations but we were not. We sat out on the patio area. It's very appealing with a tree growing in the space and lots of potted trees. The walls are exposed brick with tarps for shade. High String lights give a bit of romantic ambiance. On a warm day they have heavy duty fans and misters. It can be a bit loud when the fans are on , but I enjoy outdoor dining so the noise is just background to me. Eventually we got our food. All of the food was delicious. Had we been served in a timely fashion and had a cleared table, we could have had a very pleasant dining experience. I have heard that there has been a recent change in ownership. If that is the case I hope they can work the bugs out soon.
google avatar

Greg C.

Yelp
WOW My partner and I have been in the food distribution business for a combined over 50 years and been in 1,000s of restaurants and the meal at the Pyrenees Cage as the BEST Meal we ever enjoyed . Each course was HOME MADE , the old fashioned way . With LOVE . The Entree we desired was the Garlic Chicken but hardly ate any of that because we were FULL by the time we got to it . The Soup had HUGE VEGETABLES in a luscious , and a very unique Addition used like a garnish An especially tasty pasta course . The delectable skin on coated potatoes is not suggested the faint of heart And the lived up to its Name : GARLIC CHICKEN Mmmm, Good
google avatar

Carri F.

Yelp
Delicious food, great joint for drinks, the staff is incredible. This is a must, now, like now! Get in your car and hit this place up for lunch or dinner ( my fav) and yessss the prime rib is awesome and so is the clam chowder on Fridays!!!! You will not be sorry!!