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!!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

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.