Social Profile: 
✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
… View more
Upscale, elegant circa-1977 eatery pairing a contemporary French menu with more than 500 wines.
Hours
| Friday | 5:30–9 PM |
| Saturday | 5–9 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 5:30–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 5:30–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5:30–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 410 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129
Phone: (408) 296-3730
Website: http://www.lepapillon.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: lepapillon.com
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Le Papillon
Le Papillon fine French Restaurant and Cateriing in the San Francisco Bay Area located in in San Jose, CA.
Le Papillon | San Jose CA – Facebook
In San Jose, the fine-dining gem Le Papillon impresses with its elegant French-inspired tasting menus, featuring kanpachi tartare, grilled beef tenderloin, …
Le Papillon | Visit San Jose
Owner Mike Mashayekh was driven by a single goal – to create one of the finest restaurants in the Bay Area. The restaurant quickly flourished, building a loyal …
Reviews
Angela Chetina (Psychology and sexology)
Le Papillon in San Jose offers a wonderful fine dining experience that combines excellent service, beautifully prepared dishes, and a warm, elegant atmosphere. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome and comfortable. They were attentive without ever being intrusive, striking just the right balance between professionalism and friendliness. It set the stage for a truly enjoyable evening.
The food itself was fantastic. Every dish was presented with care and precision, and the flavors were both refined and memorable. The rack of lamb stood out as one of the highlights — tender, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly as it should be. Each bite was rich and satisfying. For dessert, we tried the Grand Marnier soufflé, and it was absolutely delightful: light, airy, and paired perfectly with fresh berries and cream. It was a beautiful way to end the meal and one that I would happily order again on my next visit.
The atmosphere inside Le Papillon is intimate and inviting. It feels special without being pretentious, making it a great choice for celebrating an occasion or simply enjoying a high-quality meal. The dining room is elegant and quiet, which added to the overall sense of ease and comfort.
Overall, Le Papillon deserves every bit of its strong reputation. With exceptional food, attentive service, and a charming setting, it easily earns five stars. I would gladly recommend it to anyone looking for a fine dining experience in the Bay Area.
… moreThe food itself was fantastic. Every dish was presented with care and precision, and the flavors were both refined and memorable. The rack of lamb stood out as one of the highlights — tender, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly as it should be. Each bite was rich and satisfying. For dessert, we tried the Grand Marnier soufflé, and it was absolutely delightful: light, airy, and paired perfectly with fresh berries and cream. It was a beautiful way to end the meal and one that I would happily order again on my next visit.
The atmosphere inside Le Papillon is intimate and inviting. It feels special without being pretentious, making it a great choice for celebrating an occasion or simply enjoying a high-quality meal. The dining room is elegant and quiet, which added to the overall sense of ease and comfort.
Overall, Le Papillon deserves every bit of its strong reputation. With exceptional food, attentive service, and a charming setting, it easily earns five stars. I would gladly recommend it to anyone looking for a fine dining experience in the Bay Area.
Stephanie Lovell
Had a wonderful mid-week dinner at Le Papillon with Nicky and Kristen. We ordered the tasting menu, which came with a few extra bites from the kitchen.
The highlights:
• Chilled poached lobster with corn custard, kumquat, and caviar – silky and balanced.
• Maryland soft shelled crab – crisp, delicate, and flavorful.
• Rabbit terrine – my personal favorite, though Kristen’s least, earthy and refined.
• Breast of pheasant with confit fig, pine nut, and Madeira jus – a great balance of sweet and savory.
• Tenderloin of bison with green peppercorns and tempura enoki mushrooms – bold, tender, and beautifully presented.
Service was attentive without being intrusive, and the pacing of the menu made the evening feel relaxed and special. Overall, a thoughtful seasonal menu and a great spot for a fine dining experience in San Jose.
… moreThe highlights:
• Chilled poached lobster with corn custard, kumquat, and caviar – silky and balanced.
• Maryland soft shelled crab – crisp, delicate, and flavorful.
• Rabbit terrine – my personal favorite, though Kristen’s least, earthy and refined.
• Breast of pheasant with confit fig, pine nut, and Madeira jus – a great balance of sweet and savory.
• Tenderloin of bison with green peppercorns and tempura enoki mushrooms – bold, tender, and beautifully presented.
Service was attentive without being intrusive, and the pacing of the menu made the evening feel relaxed and special. Overall, a thoughtful seasonal menu and a great spot for a fine dining experience in San Jose.
Kailiang Huang
French fine dinning in the heart of Silicon Valley.
You have 3 options: 3 course, 4 course and the tasting menu.
Food and services are great.
… moreYou have 3 options: 3 course, 4 course and the tasting menu.
Food and services are great.
Jeff Kao
I first came here in Y2K. The tech giant we were working with wanted to come here. I didn’t know the area nor the caliber of the restaurant. Fortunately for me our company paid for the meal.
We have returned to Le Papillon on and off all these years. They do not change the menu much. We went with one 3 course and one 4 course prix fixe. Don’t let the number fool you. We were both stuffed by the time we were done. Service, as it should be, was top notch. Unfortunately the halibut was really bland. It felt as if they forgot to season the fish. Sea bass was excellent. Make sure you order the souffle.
They do not allow mixing prix fixe with tasting. I don’t understand why. Perhaps I am not at the level to understand the reason behind it. Wouldn’t it make sense to let patrons taste as many of the restaurant’s creations to ‘expand our horizon?’ While I know tasting menu typically takes much longer to go through, if the guests are going to share the food, I think there are ways to pace it for the table. Perhaps I’m a bit naive on how they operate in the back.
… moreWe have returned to Le Papillon on and off all these years. They do not change the menu much. We went with one 3 course and one 4 course prix fixe. Don’t let the number fool you. We were both stuffed by the time we were done. Service, as it should be, was top notch. Unfortunately the halibut was really bland. It felt as if they forgot to season the fish. Sea bass was excellent. Make sure you order the souffle.
They do not allow mixing prix fixe with tasting. I don’t understand why. Perhaps I am not at the level to understand the reason behind it. Wouldn’t it make sense to let patrons taste as many of the restaurant’s creations to ‘expand our horizon?’ While I know tasting menu typically takes much longer to go through, if the guests are going to share the food, I think there are ways to pace it for the table. Perhaps I’m a bit naive on how they operate in the back.
Andrew Krainin
We had the tasting menu, and food service and ambience were all exquisite. Not sure why Papillion is not Michelin rated, it should be.
… moreJennifer Alwyn
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!
… moreThe 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!
Thunder Zeus
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!
… moreThe 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!
Sandra G
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.
… moreMichelle Huang
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!
… moreMichal Ashby
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.
… more