Papillon Restaurant

Blesilda Carmona

The last time I was in Papillon Restaurant in the Niles District of Fremont, California was 13 years ago for my 39th birthday dinner, with my Dad, Mom, sister, etc. I remember it as a posh place, if a bit frayed at the edges even then. But I did remember that the food was good, the ambience classy, the charm old-world. Now that I have my husband as main partner-in-crime in food forays, we decided to splurge on a no-special-occasion-just-trippin' dinner date. Although we were about 10 minutes late for our reservation (reservations are REQUIRED), we were still graciously & quickly ushered to our table by the covered patio side. For starters, hubby simply loved the house salad & I cherished my French onion soup with the crunchy pastry overlay! Our steaks were done to perfection & the roasted vegetables were crisp & flavorful. Of course we were heathens in that we didn't order from their extensive wine selection (a thick menu of it) but we had our plain iced sodas & our water was thoughtfully replenished from time to time without our having to ask. Little touches like these make Papillon still a great family-owned fine-dining place all these years. The overall decor sure could use an upgrade, but in terms of superb food, attentive service, & intimate ambience, Papillon Restaurant still has it! Thank you.

GIGI GRIFFIN

The Bay Area is full of dining choices but if you are looking for old school Continental cuisine, consider Papillon in Fremont. We dined there yesterday and went classic from start to finish: escargot, French onion soup topped with puff pastry, Beef Wellington and strawberries flambee! Note: the strawberries flambee are not on the dessert menu but can be requested (cherry is also available). The price is $35 but it is dessert and a show! You can also advance request banana flambee but you have to do that before coming to the restaurant. For wine, we had a Bordeaux that went very well. Everything was exactly as I had hoped it would be.

Sarai Judge

Me and my partner definitely loved our dining experience here. The food was absolutely delicious, and the service was above and beyond. We will definitely be eating here again!

Annie West

They have a nice Nice wine list and strong cocktails. The appetizers are yummy. We tried crab cakes, ahi tuna, baked brie and brussel sprouts. For our mains we tried the ribs but the mashed potatoes were cold. We asked for a hot serving but it never came. The filets were perfectly cooked medium rare and the veggies were crisp and fresh tasting. The beef wellington was great only it got a little soggy. Probably sat in the gravy too long or had been frozen. The gravy was delightful and the bread soaked it up so you could savor the flavors. The tiramisu was what we believe homemade with love. The creme brule fell flat with a good custard consistency but no flavor and sugar on top too thick to bite. We will come back as the food was good, even with a few minor let downs. Servers were happy and friendly. Perfect for a romantic evening or a birthday celebration or just a night out with you significant other. I'm trying the fish next time!