While Woolgrowers is our usual basque spot, we decided to come to Benji's instead, I think because we needed to eat on a Sunday and Woolgrowers is closed on Sundays. It was nice to try Benjis and change things up after not having been there for a while. One of the biggest differences at Benji's is that their set up does not include spaghetti, so it needs to be ordered separately. That's one of my favorite parts of the set up so it's a must for me! Otherwise, the menu is pretty much the same. They seem to have a few more entree options to add on that at Woolgrower's but most of our party tends to stick to the set up or add on a few scampis. Overall, solid spot. If you're in Bakersfield, eating at a Basque restaurant is just such a must. It's such a unique experience and so delicious! read more

Raised in Bakersfield and live in Yorba LInda, I usually pick up a pound of pickled toungue when I drive thru town at Caesers 2.. however they close at 6... called Benjis and was told they have it... picked it up, kept on ice until I got home.. was the worst PICKLED tongue I ever had and paid $28 for a pound... never again... read more

I haven't been to Benji's since high school! Meaning, it's been about 20 years! My how time flies! Thursday evening, dinner hour, we had reservation for a group of 9. The restaurant seemed pretty full but service was quick and friendly. I don't know why, but I wanted to try the duck. I have never in my life had duck and I am a very picky person when it comes to meat. There were two options for the duck: orange sauce or a yellow peppercorn. I asked the waitress for her input for a first timer and she said bith are good and both are ordered often. I went with her favorite which was the orange. I have to say, I was very pleased with it! The sauce had a nice, sweet, citrus flavor and it wasn't too overpowering. I had always heard that duck was an oily meat but I didn't feel like it was too oily or greasy at all. The flavor was like the dark meat on a Thanksgiving turkey. I was too excited to try it and forgot to take a photo of the whole meal, so that's why my picture of my food is half gone already. When I go back to Benji's, I will definitely try the peppercorned duck. It was definitely worth it. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Roasted duck with orange sauce - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I am sad to give a low review for Benji's. They used to be top notch We went there for my husband's birthday. Great service. The food was oddly bland. Except for the fries. Those were still amazing! read more

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Went there with my mom for Mother's Day and I know this review is late but the service and food were wonderful! And I had to review because I still keep thinking about my mom's shrimp spaghetti dish! I am coming back just for it! read more

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Set up is as always good. We love the soup the salad the beans salsa tomato and green beans. But the main entry doesn't have steady quality. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Lamb chop kind of disappointed - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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This is still one of my favorite basque places in town. I love their filet of sole because of how light and creamy their sauce is. The fish is always cooked to perfection and i love how there are some crispy edges. The service is always quick. The setup always gets served right away with drinks and is always so filling and delicious. This restaurant has plenty of seating and has a great ambiance for a dinner date or a group celebration. read more

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Very disappointed with some things here. The food taste really good, the waiters are amazing and this guy Luis he's definitely a great guy, so fast, so helpful. They really care about customers. But who really disappoints is the owner. He seems so nice going to say hi to every customer and they he gets so mean and rude with his own workers. That kinda doesn't make sense why do you even treat people who works for you like that? In front of customers? He was being so rude and mean with some of the workers the day I was there. Just in front of us, with totally no reason. read more

Absolutely terrible. Charging for refills and $26 for my child who was not going to eat any of the set up (and she did not). Overpriced rip off. Never going back. Wish I could give 0 stars. read more

What a great experience and meal! We were soooo full and very satisfied with our meals. We only didn't get what we just ordered for our meal but we got so much more. Meals included salad and soup w beans, french fries, corn and bread; all included before you get your main meal! Wow! The menu was full of great choices. We definitely need to come back several times to try other items in the menu that we didn't get to try. Service by Kenji was enjoyable and perfect and made our experience pleasant and memorable! Very friendly and made sure our glass were always full. Looking forward to coming back when we are back in town. Very busy during dinner but we were seated immediately. Plenty of room and several party going on but the ambience was still enjoyable for a nice conversation for two. Thank you again Kenji. read more

The food was out of this world!!!! Highly recommend! The service too was outstanding and ambience lovely.

It's Father Day today, A very busy restaurant day. The hospitality here is always great. Benji dropped by the table to say hello. This is such a great touch of recognition in a busy restaurant . Rebecca was our server today. We were able to order quickly. She and her partner were so pleasant, prompt and polite. The service is consistently good here. We always come in a large group and are well taken care of. As always the setup of beans, soup & bread were brought out immediately, then the green salad and marinated tomatoes. The green beans and French fries accompanied our entrees. But a heads up the pickled tongue is no longer included in the set up. Our meals were delicious. Benji's is French Basque and great place to dine if you have a small or large group. We have never been disappointed. It is my favorite Basque restaurant in Bakersfield. read more

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Stopped by to have a drink in the lounge area. Holly was GREAT! I didn't really know what I was in the mood for. She suggested an espresso martini. I loved it! So yummy and presentation was perfect! Holly was bubbly, sweet and friendly! Bar was neat and very clean. Glad I stopped by. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Espresso Martini - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Business practices matter...a lot. Today I noticed that my invoice had tip suggestions expressed in both percents and dollars. BEWARE, Benji's has adopted the unconventional practice of presenting tips based on (total food + beverage + TAX). TAXES already too high and to pay tip on the tax (for which staff did nothing), is just silly. Furthermore, tips are traditionally and etiquette-wise based on the pre-tax subtotal (food + beverage). BENJI's needs to fix this forthwith and stop abusing the generosity of their customers. Food wise, my lamb dip sandwich was excellent, the salad was amazing, and tbe bread and salsa were quitedood. The fries needed another minute in the deep frier, but were ok as served. My guest had the chicken kabob and reported it being very good, particularly the sauce. read more

In restaurant dining is worth 5 stars. I got tongue to go. Tasted old. In house always tastes fresh. Not sure what happens with to go orders

I feel that the female bartender Cam was rude and unsophisticated. She does not have well manners and as soon as a bigger crowd came in you can tell by the look on her face that she was annoyed and doesn't work well under pressure. She treated my mom and I poorly. Please consider to hire someone other then her that knows hospitality. read more

Was just here the other night to celebrate a birthday and we had a great time with great food! The "set up" was super tasty and everything was very fresh. I do wish they would serve the bread warm but it still tastes amazing. We ordered two orange roughy plates and it was very fresh and light. We also had a filet mignon with peppercorn cognac sauce (this was mine) and as usual you can't beat the tenderness and the flavor. My favorite place to get a steak! It was quite busy inside but it was pleasant, the owner came around and checked on us and was very nice. The staff was very friendly. It's the perfect place for a family meal or for a date and we always enjoy coming! read more

We are done with Benji's. It's been in the Bakersfield Basque food restaurant rotation for our family forever. But they crazy. My brother is severely allergic to dairy, He can't have most items on most menus, and of course can't have garlic butter, because he can't have butter. As most know, the steaks at Benji's come with garlic butter...but tonight, as he has done in the past, he simply asked them for fresh chopped garlic with his steak (no butter). He also told our server that it wasn't a preference, but was an allergy as he is allergic to dairy products, and that included butter. In response to his fresh garlic substitution request, she pushed back, as she has in past visits (my brother said he had been served by her before and it's a pattern), told him no, actually TOLD HIM NO THEY COULDN'T CHOP UP SOME GARLIC FOR HIM, so he kindly clarified that they couldn't just chop him some garlic?, and she said "fine, that will be like $5 bucks then." Huh?? It was very obvious she randomly made up a price off the top of her head. My brother agreed because at this point he just wants some garlic for his steak like he likes, and like everyone else has the opportunity to have. And as she said she would, she sure did charge us $5 for three cloves of garlic for a steak that comes with garlic anyway. A $400 meal and she got annoyed (but, at what!?!?) so arbitrarily charged us $5 for the cook to chop this garlic. So so terrible. So bye Benji....and Ericka. Woolgrowers and Pyrenees have better food and clearly much better service anyway. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We had a party of 6 adults and we all thought the food, service, and atmosphere were excellent. We had the setup orange roughy, lamb, steak and shrimp and everyone was very happy. The price was what I expected. read more

Very different food, not the normal French food. They have large banquets room and table that can be accompanied large party. read more

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Great food. Good people. Benji still makes sure your having a nice time. Than you benji. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - New sign. Looks good. - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Fast friendly service and Benji himself was very engaging and worth every penny ! It was the best Lobster I've ever had and it was HUGE ! I highly recommend! read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - The best Lobster I've ever had in my life and it was larger than my hand , HUGE ! - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I went for my whole family for Easter and my food took significantly longer then everyone else's. My cousins "tritip" was only sauce and barely any meat for 15 dollars. My other cousin got fried chicken and he got 2 pieces for 17 bucks. One of the pieces had ribs on it somehow. And my "marinara sauce" was really just salsa. Spaghetti was okay though. 2 star read more

I'm thrilled to write a happy review after seeing several recent negative reviews! My family and I were able to make reservations for a large birthday lunch. I had read some of the reviews ahead of time and was a little nervous, but this trip had exceeded my expectations and I now have a new favorite basque spot! The dining area was neatly decorated and the table was setup in advance. Our 2 servers were extremely accommodating, kind, and very knowledgeable. I ordered the grilled chicken with mushroom sauce and was SHOCKED, I've never had a mushroom sauce be so creamy and have such deep flavor!! It was absolutely delicious I could practically drink it haha. The chicken was grilled perfectly and wasn't dry! The lunch entree came with bread, salsa, salad, and French fries. The salad has a robust flavorful dressing that didn't disappoint at all. From the grilled chicken, to the salmon, to even the children's grilled cheese all items I tried were absolutely delicious! The only downside I would mention about this trip is the charge for refills on soda, other than that the food was extremely delicious and the servers were super friendly. I will definitely be back again! read more

Our server, Tonya was the sweetest And very attentive to our needs. The ambience is cozy, giving warm home vibes with Italian decor. The food was utterly delicious, everything is a must try. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We had dinner at Benji's after a long stint in an Arizona food desert. We saw mixed reviews, and I'll just say the negative reviews reflect the diner's lack of experience with this cuisine. Everything was perfectly prepared and fresh. Service by Kenji was spot on, and he was a delight. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable. We did opt for a wine we had with us over the wine list offerings. $17 corkage was fine. We started with the traditional picon punch. Cabbage soup was so comforting and nourishing, we ate it all. Salad was perfectly dressed with a light creamy vinaigrette that also graced the tongue that was thinly sliced and tender. Beans, marinated tomato, and warm salsa accompanied the salad to mix and match at your discretion. Do put beans over your salad for the traditional experience. The roasted lamb was good, and veal medallions were excellent. Accompanied by perfectly stewed green beans, the entrees were nicely sized, not wastefully huge. And the Grand Marniere souffle... I have no words for this light, decadent fluff with plenty of creme anglaise. Don't let the tourons deter you. If you're looking for a delicious, comforting family-style meal in the true French Basque style, you'll love Benji's. read more

Food was amazing the bread was fresh everything seasoned great! Highly recommend to bring your family to dinner here

Took our grandsons and family for dinner. Great food, service and love the basque way.

Benji's is by far my favorite basque food I have had. Their soup and set up items are always the best, and I love that they have so many unique entree choices. My favorite entree is the boneless skinless chicken breast with the basque tomato sauce and we also love their ribeye steak. The service is always great but be sure to make a reservation especially on a weekend as they do get pretty packed. There is ample parking though so don't worry about that and you can always have a drink in the bar while waiting for a table. It is a great spot for families and also a romantic date night. Make sure you come hungry! read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Menu - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Got in very quickly for a Friday night at 5:30pm. Service was very quick-we received the soup for setup before even requesting as entrees include it. Wine selection was also on point. Wine glass was dirty but quickly rectified when pointed out. They don't serve pasta like other restaurants and tongue is extra but worth it. Overall entrees were good not great. Would come back for the experience. We love basque. read more

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This place is a hidden gem! The service was excellent and the staff is on their "A" game at all times. I'm not sure why the overall rating on this place isn't 4 - 4.5 stars, but I'm guessing it's because Bakersfield isn't the type of place where people like escargot or genuine Basque flavours. If you're not adventurous with food you can always order a beef dip or a burger with fries. The pickled tongue is served cold with a savoury white sauce and the meat texture is unique to say the least. I'm not crazy about it because of the tangy pickle aftertaste, but I also do t like pickles. I have it a try and it's not for me. The escargot was excellent! I really enjoyed the savoury gravy and how it complimented the mushrooms and enhanced the earthy flavour of the escargot. I ordered the pepper duck and devoured every piece of meat off the bone. The salad, soup, and beans are great, but i wools hold off unless you're really hungry. I was stuffed after lunch and regretted eating all the appetiser plates This place isn't fancy, but the food is absolutely legit and the staff is great. I'm only here for a couple days, but I'll squeeze in one more meal before I leave. A hidden gem. read more

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Went for lunch. Service was good. Food was cold - room temperature cold. Ordered a side of pickled tongue. The tongue was overcooked and grainy. What was the white sauce on it? There was no vinegar taste at all. It was our first time to dine there. read more

3.5 stars I liked Benji's, however, I felt entirely ignored throughout my meal, which is unfortunate because I thought the food was quite good. My waitress bypassed our table several times and deflected our questions/ requests. Had other diners had the same dismissive service, then okay, however everyone else seemed to have no problem flagging down a server. Shame on them for such shitty service that I don't feel compelled to ever return. No thanks. Conceptually Beni's has the full Basque service complete with something they call "the Setup." When you order an entree, you get something called "The Setup." It comes with a French roll, butter, salsa, soup, beans, green salad, fresh marinated tomatoes, French fries, and veggies - I think it has something to do with the basque tradition of communal sharing, but in any case, it's a whole heap of fun sides for no additional cost. read more

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While looking for a place we found on Yelp (the directions took us in a continual loop) We came across Benji's. Tam remembered the place from years ago so we decided this was the place for lunch. We were seated immediately and greeted as we sat at a table with clear plastic table covering over the linen table cloth...okay save a buck. I deleted the rest of my review, mom said if you can't say anything nice...well. It's not my kind of place, I'm 63, I don't need to be reminded of it when I go out to eat, enough said enjoy your meal Foodguy-martin read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - da dining room - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

We were on the way to hotel for the night. The word "basque" caught my eyes and we went in for dinner. They were busy full of customers but still able to give us a table. Basque is the region bordering France and Spain that lamb must be a key item on the menu. They have a set menu system, which includes soup, salad. Items can be ordered ala carte too. Soup and tossed salad came in large bowls, enough for at least 2 servings each. Lamb can be ordered in rack or sliced. It came in pretty large servings with mushroom sauce on top. A bottle of red wine was reasonably priced. A great dinner. read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Lamb slices - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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The waitress was not around much. The food was not as good as last time we were here. The only thing that made me smile was the company I was with. read more

When considering a basque restaurant just go to Pyrenees. The salsa at this restaurant is thin and soupy, Pyrenees salsa is thicker and more spreadable. The bread at Pyrenees tastes better as well. The salad at Pyrenees actually has vegetables in it not just arugula like this place. The soup provided at Pyrenees is better. Pyrenees includes a pasta dish as well with the setup. The prices are lower at Pyrenees and the food tastes better with larger portions. In addition to this considering it is a basque restaurant I was expecting to have more food than I could eat so I ordered an entree for my girlfriend and I too share. Once I got my check I was told they didn't do sharing and charged a full setup I never ordered on my bill. If I would've known I would have just ordered 2 entrees instead. The prices are not a problem, the lack of honesty and transparency is the issue. Just go to Pyrenees instead. This place is so dishonest and mischievous and I think its because they don't think people will come back regardless read more

Benji's French Basque Restaurant - Basque Near Me - Bakersfield, California

If I could rate negative stars, I would. This place is dog shit. The food is mid as hell and the customer service was TERRIBLE, and the most important part of my extremely negative review about this place is the fact that they are not transparent, and they are extremely dishonest. After going in with the party, I got my shared receipt that was split off with another person from a bigger party. Nobody told us going into it that if we were to split an entrée (with a set-up), we would be charged for an extra set up (not to mention the fat that we ordered and split the shrimp scampi, which just came with five shrimp and some sauce). After getting the receipt, we noticed that they impose an 18% tip on the total charge, which is understandable given that it was a bigger party, but the problem is the lack of integrity and transparency, as well as their extreme dishonesty that was illustrated by what occurred today. When we walked up to the front desk to ask why there was a seperate set up charge on our receipt, I said nothing before she came up to ME to explain why it was on my receipt before I had mentioned anything about why I was up there. So quick to come up to me without me saying anything, but couldn't be that quick to mention it prior to serving us the food? And then proceeded to say that this is done at all basque restaurants like this (actually only done here and that's with having been to a couple in town and even the ones that may charge at least they are honest and transparent about it rather than literally being purposely misleading, which is clear by the fact that she came up to me to explain why my receipt looked the way I did before I even said anything)! And even if restaurants (basque) like these do this (i've never experienced this in my life at any other basque restaurant, even high quality places with better food in town and out of town - Bakersfield), at least have the decency to put it on your menu and mention it to your customers prior to them being served. That is just common courtesy, at least if you are a reputable, honest, transparent, and well-wished local restaurant spot that Bakersfield locals have known a long time. The attitude of the likely manager was also just ridiculous and it's just a HORRIBLE overall first impression to give to your customers, especially those of a big party of 20+ people. None of us will be going back! There's a reason why this restaurant is so empty midday on a Saturday, don't even waste your time with this place. Just go to Pyrenees instead! read more

Fried chicken is buns never order it. The white meat was dry as shit and the dark meat was greasy and fatty.

My family was ignored here. If you are not a local or look like someone from out of town, you'll be the 2nd or 3rd option here. I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. read more