Michelin Madness: How a French Restaurant Stole a Cowboy's Soul For my birthday, my sister and I decided to celebrate in proper California fashion: by surrendering ourselves to a Michelin-recommended French restaurant where every plate arrives looking like it should be insured by Lloyd's of London. We bravely ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu with the accompanying wine pairing, fully expecting to leave two hours later and immediately detour to the nearest drive-thru for a double cheeseburger and perhaps a pepperoni pizza "for medicinal purposes." Reader... it never happened. Something extraordinary occurred. The evening began innocently enough with Ayu, peach, shiso salad and cherry. I have no earthly idea how peaches, cherries and fish negotiated such a successful peace treaty, but diplomats from around the world should study this dish. Next arrived a shrimp dumpling with Swarnadwipa spices, fennel and tamarind. One bite and I briefly considered apologizing to every shrimp I'd ever underestimated. The burrata with asparagus, white peach and pistachio cracker was so outrageously creamy that I nearly stood up and applauded. My sister actually looked offended that cheese had achieved such perfection without consulting her first. Then came the Jidori egg with lemongrass, miso spinach and pine nuts. Somewhere, every breakfast egg I've ever eaten quietly filed for early retirement. Just when I thought the kitchen had reached cruising altitude, out floated Hirame sashimi with strawberry, umeboshi and mint. This dish had no business being that elegant. It was like Fred Astaire wearing scuba gear. The Mount Lassen trout in dashi broth with broccoli arrived looking calm and understated... rather like someone who knows they're the smartest person in the room and doesn't need to mention it. Then the evening entered dangerous territory. The white corn tortelloni with morel mushrooms and truffle emulsion was so good that conversation at the table ceased entirely. There are moments in life when words fail. This was one of them. We simply nodded at each other as though participating in an ancient French religious ceremony. Finally, the dry-aged Flannery rib-eye with charred onion and arugula pesto arrived to remind everyone that civilization peaked sometime around the invention of perfectly aged beef. Now, let's discuss the wine pairings. Each glass appeared exactly when needed, as though summoned telepathically by the kitchen. And then there was the sommelier. Good heavens. The fellow arrived with a confident smile and a dramatic shock of hair perpetually falling across one eye like he'd wandered in from the cover of French Sommeliers Monthly. My poor sister was hanging on every word while trying very hard to remember how breathing worked. Every time he poured another wine she looked as though she'd just spotted George Clooney carrying a Bordeaux. I'm reasonably certain she was prepared to order another bottle simply to watch him describe it. The grand finale was a strawberry mousse accompanied by lemon vanilla ice cream, which tasted suspiciously like happiness wearing a beret. Now here's the shocking part. Normally, after one of these fancy-schmancy tasting menus featuring portions carefully measured with what I assume is laboratory equipment, an old cowpoke like me would be halfway to In-N-Out or hunting down a large meat-lover's pizza before the valet had even brought the car around. Not this time. Somehow these delightful culinary magicians had pulled off the impossible. I drove home... completely satisfied. No cheeseburger. No pizza. No emergency beef intervention. I fear the diagnosis is clear. Against all odds, I am slowly turning into one of those suspiciously happy French food lovers. Mon Dieu. Merci beaucoup, ya little rascals. read more

Les Petites Canailles is one of those restaurants that reminds you French cooking is perfectly capable of having a little fun. Somewhere along the way, Chef Julien figured out that Paso Robles doesn't need another restaurant pretending it's in Paris. It already has Paris. What it needed was French technique with a California passport, and that's exactly what you get. The dining room sets the mood before the first plate ever lands. Contemporary without feeling cold, polished without feeling precious, warm wood, soft lighting, and just enough conversation floating around the room to remind you that people are genuinely enjoying themselves. Nobody looked like they were trying to impress Instagram. That's becoming surprisingly refreshing. We decided on the tasting menu because, honestly, that's the closest thing you can do to saying, "Chef, you've got the keys. Don't hit anything expensive." The summer gazpacho immediately announced that this wasn't going to be a lesson in classical French cuisine. Bright heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, fresh vegetables, and what felt like a ricotta ice cream somehow found themselves sharing the same bowl without anyone arguing about it. It was cool, refreshing, and just strange enough to make you smile. Every spoonful seemed to wander off in a slightly different direction before somehow finding its way back home. The diver scallop disappeared embarrassingly fast. There are certain bites where conversation simply stops because everyone's brain quietly says, "Hang on... let's deal with this first." This was one of those moments. Then came the raviolo, one oversized pillow sitting in a parsley sauce so fragrant I briefly wondered if someone had hidden a garden underneath the table. Rich cheese filled the center while the sauce kept everything bright and fresh. It managed to feel elegant without becoming the sort of food that makes you afraid to use your fork. The biggest surprise of the night was probably the pork. If someone had secretly switched my plate and told me it was beef, I probably would've believed them. It carried itself like steak, wore a beautiful crust, stayed wonderfully juicy inside, and completely ignored every expectation I brought with me. Pork having an identity crisis has never tasted so good. The lamb neck carried exactly the rich flavor you'd expect from the cut, balanced by a sauce that knew its job was to help instead of interrupt. That's something this kitchen seems to understand remarkably well. Nothing on the plate ever felt like it was competing for attention. Everyone simply got along. Dessert may have been my favorite course of the evening. Imagine someone took a custard, turned it inside out, gave it a silkier personality, then introduced pineapple and fresh fruit to keep everything lively. It wasn't trying to knock you unconscious with sugar. It simply ended the evening with a quiet little reminder that subtlety can still steal the show. The wine list deserves some attention, too. Local Paso Robles bottles sit comfortably beside classic French selections, and somehow neither feels out of place. It's less of a competition and more like two old friends agreeing that life's too short to argue over accents. Then there's Allie. Every good restaurant has someone who quietly keeps the whole evening moving without making it look like work. She has that gift. Friendly, relaxed, genuinely personable, and somehow always arriving about ten seconds before you realize you needed something. I never once felt interrupted, and I never once felt forgotten. That's a harder trick than most people realize. What I appreciated most about Les Petites Canailles is that it never takes itself too seriously, even though it easily could. The technique is there. The talent is obvious. But instead of asking you to admire how clever everything is, the restaurant simply invites you to enjoy yourself. That's a surprisingly rare quality these days. We walked out talking less about individual dishes and more about how much fun we'd had. Looking back, that may be the highest compliment I can give. Great food fills your stomach. Great restaurants somehow manage to fill the whole evening. read more

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What a fantastic spot. The ambiance is very intimate and the whole experience feels thoughtfully put together from the moment you walk in. We decided to go family style and ordered a bunch of dishes for the table to share and every single item blew me away. From the loaded tots to the wagyu hanger steak to the desserts, everything was fantastic and executed perfectly. The service was unreal as well. We brought a few bottles to pair with different parts of dinner and asked if we could taste them side by side. Not only were they happy to accommodate it, they brought out three different styles of glasses along with two different decanters because some of the wines needed a little more time to open up. I honestly can't remember the last time I experienced that level of detail and hospitality at a restaurant. Even though we brought our own wine, I still took a peek at their wine list and it was honestly one of the wildest, in the best way possible, lists I've seen for a restaurant of that size. You can tell they genuinely care about the experience from start to finish. Will 100% be coming back. read more

Les Petites Canailles - Loaded Tots - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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My wife and I enjoyed a very nice dinner at Les Petites Canailles. A local told us this place had the best steak in town, so of course we had to check it out. The steak in fact was incredible. The hanger steak was cooked perfectly, and the peppercorn source was a perfect accompaniment. The frites were crispy and delicious. The servers were super helpful and recommended a wonderful local wine that paired well with the steak. This is a nice, elegant restaurant that's fancy but not snooty. read more

Les Petites Canailles - Steak au Poive and mushrooms - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California

Before traveling to Wine Country, I reached out to Mike and Delia W., on recommendations for restaurants. I made reservations at Les Petites Canailles (French cuisine) and I am glad I did. The Prix Fixe menu is known as the Chef's "Trust Us" Menu ... $190 for two. Add Wine Pairing for $90 per person. The restaurant had two Sommeliers making the rounds to each table to provide details on the wines. NOTE: Most restaurants do not have a Sommelier on staff, two was our good fortune! FIRST COURSE: Morris Bay Oysters with Lime was chilled and tasty (not slimy as I have had with other raw oysters). Paired with Peter Laurr Riesling, which was well-balanced, not "sweet" like most Rieslings). SECOND COURSE: Asparagus Salad with Honey Truffle dressing. Paired with a German Silvaner wine. It was light and perfect. THIRD COURSE : Bluefin Tuna Crudo with Watermelon Cubes. A chilled carafe of watermelon puree was poured over the dish. Very creative and delicious. This was paired a White Blend from Brookdale Bradbourne of Paarl in South Africa. It was a great choice and something different that I would have overlooked. FOURTH COURSE: Spinach Cavatelli (my favorite of the evening), a Duck and Pork dish in a savory jus and Kale. Paired with an Italian Rose Tenuta del Terre Nere wine. FIFTH COURSE: Grilled Iberico Presa (Wagyu pork shoulder). Paired with red wine Lopez de Heredia. SIXTH COURSE: Rum cake with Bruleed Bananas and Candied Pecans with a Caramel Swirl and a Chocolate Mousse with whipped cream. For the finale, we were served a Port wine, Warre's Otima 10 year Tawny, served chilled. Our wonderful and engaging server was Nikki. The Sommeliers were Dayton and Alex. We were also attended to by Mack who has been at this location for five years and completed culinary school, he is a great addition to the Chef's team. It was 5 stars in every category. It was spectacular to leave it to the "experts" to select the meal and finest wines to accompany each dish. Sincerely, Rosemary read more

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Opened in November of 2019 Les Petites Canailles sees former Guy Savoy Chef Julien Asseo and his wife Courtney operating under their own rules, white tablecloths replaced by a more casual sort of spot where the Food and service are still exceptional at a modest price point. Part of a growing collection of locally-driven eateries on Spring Street, downtown Paso Robles nearly so charming as Asseo's hometown in Southern France, the Restaurant named after his "little rascals" actually represents something of a homecoming for the Chef whose father helped pioneer local winemaking at L'Aventure. Trained outside Bordeaux before returning to work with the likes of Rick Moonen, Joel Robuchon and Guy Savoy in Las Vegas, Julien's considerable skill-set on full display at Les Petites Canailles, guests are invited to dine a la carte or to "Trust Us" with a 6-course tasting for $125. "Fancy-casual" per the husband and wife team, a collection of Wines ranging from Krug to locally made Caliza Grenache earning distinction from Wine Specator, dinner begins with properly made Gougeres followed by one-bite Canapes including an Oyster with Kumquat and Pea Tartelette crowned in Caviar. Adding a few daily specials, "Bougie Tots" the very definition of fancy-casual, Steak Tartare features a fine grind and traditional flavors while Tarte Flambée emerges from the oven Cracker thin and with all the tang of Fromage Blanc to make it feel like a trip to Paris. Clearly taking notes from his mentors, Pomme Purée a la Robuchon an eponymous homage served with Gravy, in the know diners will not miss "Peas All Around" cribbed from Guy Savoy with even more nuance while Leeks à la Plancha are an Asseo-original worthy of signature status. Sticking more to Appetizers on this visit to maximize variety, though Mussels with a kiss of Calabrian Sausage proved too compelling to miss, Escargot Risotto is generously portioned and faultless in texture before finishing with Desserts including "Strawberries & Pistachio" that remind guests that Julien started out in Pastry. read more

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Impeccably trained staff -- charming, polite, and observant. The food is thoughtful and provokes a lot of memory. Highly recommend. Finally a place that does things right. read more

I don't know where to start - the food? exceptional. the service? outstanding. the wine list? war and peace is a shorter read. Steak tartare to start -- Wagyu hanger steak, confit egg yolk, grilled Wayward bread -- followed by a 33-oz "tomahawk" pork chop and puréed potatoes that clearly chose butter over restraint. We closed with an apple tarte Tatin, smoked apple cider caramel, and house-made vanilla ice cream, paired beautifully with a 2023 Le Clos du Caillou Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Rhône. read more

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Based on all the rave reviews and the chef's pedigree, we were quite excited to try this place out while visiting friends for a weekend. Perhaps it was an off night, but things feel short in a variety of ways. Allie was our server and was lovely. I'm hopeful that the super long delay in nearly every part of service was not due to her, but to the kitchen being backed up for whatever reason. We did receive a sampling of the tasting menu soup as an amuse bouche, as our bread and butter took forever, and then the bread and butter was comped. It took far longer than normal; Allie explained that it was because it was frozen and they needed to thaw and heat it. Not quite the fresh bread we were hoping for. The massive wine list was being used, so we talked to one of the somms to pick a wine for us. It sounded like we had what the wanted, a right bank bordeaux in our price point. Then he came over and said he thought the left bank nordeaux would serve us better. It didn't. It was very singular and just ok, but everything took so long, that we just sucked it up and drank it. We probaly should have sent it back. For the food, the Dry Aged Duck Breast was good, but quite pricey at $50. The Hangar au Poivre was tough and chewy and not very good, especially at $48. Ultimately, we left less than satisfied with our meal, despite paying close to $400. I wouldn't rush back when visiting Paso. read more

Updating based on our third visit, which was a much later reservation than normal for us; about 8pm on a Saturday night in February. The place was packed. There was no wine list until after we'd met the Somme and had our wine open. We brought friends for the wines and food, and were recommended a 2021 bourdeaux in our price-range which was unimpressive to most in our party, had no finish. The food was fine to most, but not as great as our last two visits, which were early in the evening. Most importantly, it did not show what LPC is capable of; excellence. The kitchen was overloaded, food was delayed quite a bit. Our server provided complementary celerac soup as a consolation, which was appreciated and tasty. I hate to provide a negative update after my previous 5-star review, but feel my new 4-star reflects the lack of consistency we experienced at LPC recentrly. It's a tough time to be in the restaurant business, and unfortunately the combination of decisions and factors caught up with them during our last visit. I still recommend LPC as a "must try at least once" for all locals, with an astounding wine list and some good food, with good service. But I recommend an early reservation. We did try "competitor" BL Brasserie recently and had a great experience. Perhaps try both! read more

**Overall: 4.5 Stars** Les Petites Canailles (or LPC, as locals call it) is a French bistro that has a small menu of individual items and a chef's tasting menu that they call "Trust Us". My partner chose to 'trust them', and I had no choice (haha), but to go with what my eyes fell in love with when I first looked at the menu: the IBERICO PORK PRESA with blistered peppers and tomatoes on a bed of corn polenta! Could eyeballs elicit my mouth to salivate? Well it did! The server allowed us to split our order (usually the entire table is required to have the Chef's Tasting Menu), so I could have my pork entree. We just came from 2 wineries, so we were all "wined out" unfortunately, otherwise pairing our meal with Italian wine would have been the way to go. The server suggested that I receive my dish on my partner's 3rd tasting dish since his first two dishes "were going to be fast". Once they arrived, I had to bite my lips so I didn't let out a giggle because I realized what they meant by "fast". Each dish was plated BEAUTIFULLY, like art.... However, they were no more than one teaspoon of food. I was told they were delicious. Lots of layers of flavor. Obviously there was a lot of thought put into each bite, I mean, plate. The only reason I am docking half a star is the main entree of the Chef's Tasting Menu was just average and the interior of the restaurant had minimal decor. We expected the restaurant to have a little more vibe, considering it was a nice French restaurant. The service was impeccable, and to be honest, that was the most impressive part for me. We loved our server. She was both quick-witted and informative as she was gregarious and warm. The rest of the staff moved around like dolphins dancing in the ocean: with synchronous ease and precision. We rarely had to wait long between dishes, as if we were the only patrons in the restaurant -- yet LPC was always packed. Oh, the other small negative is the hard wood bench seating is not comfortable. The hostess offered a cushion to each guest upon seating, but it seemed out of her way, so the People Pleaser part of me will always say "no thank you", as I noticed everyone else said as well. Not one person on the bench used a cushion, and dinner was no shorter than 2 hours. ***TIPS*** - LPC is a must try restaurant if you are in the area. - Know that the "Trust Us"/Chef's Tasting Menu will have mostly one bite plates, order this only if you aren't very hungry. - If you are hungry or are there with 3 or more people, I suggest sharing individual plates and skipping the Chef's Tasting Menu. - The atmosphere is bright and simple, so it's good for families and friends; it is not a romantic date place. - LPC has an extensive wine list, so come with a stomach for wine! - If IBERICO PORK PRESA is on the menu, get it. You won't be disappointed. It is delicious. I've never had pork like this before! read more

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We like to check out a farm to table restaurants. My husband found this restaurant and read that they are a FTT, so naturally, he booked us a dinner spot here. Despite a very busy Friday night, we were seated reasonably quick (~10min before our reservation). We were greeted by the maitre d' with a pleasant confirmation of our reservation. Our server, Timothy, was delightful! I am so glad he mentioned that they had scallops that day which wasn't part of their menu. So naturally, I just had to get that! And oh boy!!! Was I super glad to have the last order! Great birthday dinner!! My scallops were pillowy soft and well seasoned. My husband ordered their venison and he could not stop raving about them during our entire trip! Overall, we are definitely coming back here the next time we're back in town. read more

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My friend and I were celebrating our belated birthdays at Les Petites Canailles, and we were warmly welcomed with a sweet birthday card signed by all the employees, and later surprised with chocolate mousse and cheesecake to end the meal. For appetizers, the four of us shared the olives, bread and butter, and the very bougie tots. They were fun to try, but probably not something we'd order again--especially at $48, even with caviar on top! For our mains, we went with the sirloin steak and the sea bass for two. The food was tasty overall, though the menu felt more like a French-American fusion than French food. We skipped the wine pairings since we had already spent the day wine tasting around Paso. Overall, we had a lovely dinner with friendly service and a great atmosphere. read more

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This place came highly recommended but our experience fell short, honestly quite disappointing and upsetting. We reserved 8:30pm on a Sunday evening for party of 4, and we all did the Trust Us tasting menu. Brought two bottles of wine and bought their house sake. Walking in we were warmly greeted by the wine director and seated right away towards the front middle of the room. Two in our group had allergic restrictions to fish/shellfish, so we appreciate the staff trying to accommodate. However, the substitution was lacking - instead of the oyster our friends said they received what might have been the sauce used to top it, and that was dish #1. The rest of the meal went down hill pretty quickly after as they took a very long time to bring out our courses - between the oyster and salad (course 2) we were starving waiting for more, and ordered bread while we waited what felt like an hour for following courses. We brought this up to our server, who sent the maître d' (I believe) to talk to us, who sounded very annoyed at us and said "we could just pay and leave" if we wanted to. He finally offered us a risotto on the house as the next course while we waited for the remaining dishes. All other tables next to us were taken care of quite well - and their dishes came out faster. The wine director was then sent back to talk to us, and he did a much better job, explaining that he had also talked to the kitchen to pass forward our feedback. He also waived a corkage fee and comped the duck dish (tiny portion). Our favorites were the risotto and beef dish (not pictured), everything else was just ok. Left hungry, and quite upset. At some point the wait staff were seen waiting in line to pick up food from the kitchen, which was obviously backed up (see pic attached), so I also emphasize with our server who also agreed with the feedback we provided. Would I come back? No, and I would not recommend this place to friends just for their inconsistency, I don't know if they are going for a Michelin star one day but I hope they address these issues for future guests and can offer better experiences. Oh and their tasting menu is $125 (4 for $500), not the $118 listed on their site/menu. Or maybe they just charged us more. Even though our service lacked, we still left a nice tip because most of the issues seem to stem from the kitchen itself. If you're in Paso, go to Grace and Rose. Far better experience, and incredible food. read more

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If in Paso this is a MUST VISIT! The locals call this place LPC. There is no reason for this to have a rating below a 5. What an intentional experience. I can't believe they do not have a Michelin star. From each dish's taste texture and presentation and the server truly trying to understand our preferences and going the extra mile to ensure we were satisfied, to the le fromage check and the complimentary gummies. I very much loved this place and it is clear that everyone takes pride in what they offer. As they should! The WINE LIST is out of this world. I have never seen so many organized options. It had me looking in the back to see where on earth they could be storing all of it. What a great selection wow! The LPCAESAR salad is the best I have ever had. How good can salad be you may ask? Well LPC has the answer! We also had a reconstructed pea salad which was amazing and a leek appetizer. Everything was perfect the only thing that was just great was the leek dish. All the meat and pork dishes we tried were also amazing. The meat was perfectly tender and the pork which I generally don't like due to the more gamey flavor tasted more like a perfectly cooked steak to me. All the sauces are clearly freshly pureed. Even the house made fries with the bearnaise was amazing. As someone who doesn't eat egg based sauces this was too fresh that I could not resist. I will definitely be back to do their 5 course Tasting menu with the wine pairings. Because this place has gained my trust and I know they will do a better job then I ever could. I would actually cancel a wine tasting and do this experience instead. The menu is seasonal however so expect some changes. As a picky eater I can say this is one of my favorite restaurants. What a great take on French cuisine, which I hate to admit that I am generally not the biggest fan of. From the hand signed birthday card to the cleverly placed curtains at the front of the restaurant no detail was missed. LPC made me feel like a member of the family with such a homey and personalized experience. This should 100% be a destination in Paso Robles. read more

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Incredible Dinner! Amber took GREAT care of us with recommendations on food and wine. She really made us feel welcome and excited about the menu! The spacing of the food items was also spot on! We truly got to enjoy each course without feeling rushed or worried that the next item would get cold. Seating and ambiance was very comfortable and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves. But let's talk food: The Caesar Salad was the BEST I've ever had and must! The right amount of dressing and crunch and lemon in each bite. The Pea Salad was incredible. The presentation was so elegant and again each bite had the perfect distribution of flavors. Very fun and flavorful! Leek appetizer was good. I enjoyed the pine nut flavor but not this dish was not as flavorful. It was mild on the palette with a beautiful presentation. Steak and fries! Simply incredible! Steak was cooked perfectly, the sauce was very complimentary and not overpowering. The fries were crisp, delicate and the sauce was so fresh. The pork was such a wonderful surprise. The consistency was very steak-like but with a mind pork flavor. Once again the sauce was very complimentary and it was cooked to perfection! Highly recommend trying this one too. Honestly this was the most perfect meal I've ever had! Flavor, elegance, and exception delivery! We didn't have room for dessert but the apricot tea was beautiful! MUST try this restaurant if you're in town! read more

Les Petites Canailles - Steak and fries - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California

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We visited for a birthday dinner and were excited for about Michelin recommended spot. It was a bit disappointing to be given a table with direct line of site to the bathroom for a special occasion. Service was okay. The sommelier was fantastic, and the wine pairings for the tasting menu were a delightful surprise as they included some varieties from less common areas. The food was also okay. The lettuce soup was the favorite dish for both of us. It was full of color and flavor, and so nicely seasoned. Some of the other dishes just didn't have the wow factor we were expecting. We'd like to revisit when in the area and order off of the regular menu since it's different than anything we tried on the tasting menu. read more

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My friend and I had a lovely dinner here. We did the wine pairing with the tasting menu. It was spectacular.

I have heard great things about this place, We went last night (Mon night) had a reservation for 7pm. The place was packed. We were politely greeted by a nice young lady. Upon sitting Tim got us waters right away. It's a small place but quite a few people can fit into the restaurant. Very intimate. Our 7 top was front and center right when you walk in. It is loud in the restaurant since there are no buffers to help with the noise. Kirby was our waitress. She was polite and friendly. Told us the specials of the night and got her ur orders in. It took a bit to get the starters but it was packed. We had bread and steak tartare for the starters. The bread was just bread and butter. The steak tartare was great. There was some citrus and the egg drops on top were silky. Great flavors and highlight of the meal. Then came our entrees. I got the Steak Au Poivre, which is an Australian Wagyu steak with French fries, I had it medium. It was tough and chewy. Nothing that you would expect a high end restaurant to serve. Plus the fries were over salted. Not worth the $48 it cost. I've had better at a cheaper price! My BF got the Spring Lamb Two Ways. The pork belly was just okay. The lamb loin was tender but both lacked flavor. And wish the veggies were more. Again not worth the $48. The kids got the burger special which was the Iberia ham and steak blended patty with onion rings. There was a funky sauce that I felt overtook the burger flavors. There were mixed reviews with the table but majority were not into it. Another got the mussels. Again the funky sauce took away from the mussels in my opinion but others liked the sauce and not the mussels. The service during the meal was just okay. Majority of the table didn't have waters for over 20-30 minutes which for a high end restaurant is unacceptable. We had to ask to get more water. She came and checked on us two bites into it but then felt we never checked on us again. Unfortunately most of us will not want to go back as we felt was not worth it. But there were a couple that liked it and will be back. read more

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My sister heard of this place from one of her patients who also recommended we make reservations well in advance since it's always packed! With that said, the crew was back in Paso Robles for the weekend and had made dinner reservations (a month prior) for our party of six. We were welcomed by the friendly hostess and seated as soon as we walked in. This charming resto had ample tables and seating inside including at the bar. Sorry, allow me to digress... I just had to Google the English translation of 'Le Petite Canailles' (The Little Rascal) and figured that was why we saw several random monkey decor throughout the resto if you look hard enough. LOL. Okay, back to my humble review... Our kind server was helpful in explaining the details of the menu to us, but it was pretty much unanimous that most of us ordered the Steak Au Poivre (Australian Wagyu Hanger Steak with a side of their homemade fries). I ordered mine medium rare which came out perfectly tender and succulent. My sister had ordered their Moules-Frites Hortense (mussles with their homemade fries), which she enjoyed just as much. The "frites" were crisp on the outside and soft inside, which helped sop up all the delicious sauce in both the steak, and the mussle dishes...next level umami! Forgot to mention we had started off with the LPCaesar salad, the boquerones were the highlight! Yum! Finally, we ordered Mamoune's Crème Brûlée, and the Winter Citrus Olive Oil Cake, which was a perfect ending to our fancy meal. Thanks, LPC! CHEERS and happy eating till next time... read more

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Came here on a girls trip for my 50th Birthday dinner. Everyone was friendly and the service was excellent. We first started off with the Bougie Tots with Caviar and my Steak Au Poivre was cooked to perfection. We also got the Escargot Risotto that was also fantastic. 10/10 with service. What a great touch that they gave a birthday card that was signed by the workers at the restaurant. Would definitely come back here again when in Paso Robles. read more

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We did the "Trust Us" menu, which was fun but actually didn't feel very much like French food. Overall, everything was at least good or great, but nothing felt *perfectly* executed. And while service was extremely friendly and attentive (I got a hook for my bag as well as a nice squishy cushion for the concrete bench), we sat around a lot between courses -- we probably only spent 1/3 of our 2 hour dinner with food in front of us. I think a complimentary basket of bread would have kept us occupied between each dish. - Pea soup: refreshing, light, and a perfect embodiment of Spring. A strong start! - Halibut crudo: gorgeous dish but the tarragon creme coating everything really dried out my mouth and ended up having an unpleasant mouth feel. The fish itself with the roe though was fantastic -- more bite than other raw fish I've had which I really enjoyed. - Prawns: the prawns were INCREDIBLE!! Beautifully cooked. The squash on the plate though were very bland and took away from the overall dish. - Savory French toast: loved loved loved this concept! So fun and well executed. I just didn't enjoy the texture of the "toast" -- it felt like a stale, slightly soggy unseasoned crouton. - Lamb: while the babaganoush added great flavor and moisture, the lamb itself was just begging for some salt and was much more tough than I would've liked. The tempura eggplant was super cute, impressively crisp, and surprisingly still piping hot inside. The black garlic also added lovely depth without the sharp pungency of regular garlic. - Matcha pot de creme: I thoroughly enjoyed the tart rhubarb jam and the crisp feuillettine, but the rose water-infused cream was too perfumy for my preference. read more

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I went back and forth about writing this review and what to rate them, part of me wanted to wait to give this place another shot before sharing, and the other wanted to leave 3 stars after our underwhelming and very expensive meal. Ultimately I decided on 4 stars - if you aren't doing the tasting menu. My boyfriend and I had been wanting to come here for about 2 years by the time we finally did. People throughout Paso continuously raved about how amazing LPC was, and how great their tasting menu is. So when we came here for a special occasion, we were beyond excited to dig into the tasting menu. We were hesitant to do the wine pairing, but after hearing how it is a must from someone at our favorite winery, we decided to do one to share - it's a little more expensive than if one person were to do it, but you each get a glass and get a little more wine than one tasting, but less wine than if you each did your own. A great option if you've been wine tasting all day and don't want to have that much wine. Onto the food - the tasting menu had 6 courses, with the last being dessert. The first course of potatoes was cold and bland, a very disappointing first bite, especially since we had been told how good their bougie potatoes were. The next course was beef tartare, the highlight of this dish was the squid ink chips, but the tartare fell short for both of us. Course 3 was the pickled mussels, and probably the favorite for both of us. I've never liked mussels before, but l really liked these. Course 4 was Burgundy escargot risotto, which I really enjoyed, but was undercooked for my boyfriend. Course 5 & 6, the beef cheeks and dessert were both good. We thought the wine pairing was okay, we liked that it showcased wines from all over the world and that it included a Paso wine, but our favorite wine of all was one we could buy a bottle of for $25 at a wine store. Seeing that was a little disappointing since the pairing wasn't cheap. We would skip this next time and opt for a glass of something we know we'll like. For the most part the food was good, but just under half of the dishes for me, and half for my bf didn't meet the mark. This was very disappointing having spent almost $500 on the meal. At that price you expect to walk away wowed, not mad that you spent that much. Since some of the dishes were really good, I would come back and do a la carte dining and order the things I know I enjoyed, but definitely would not gamble with the tasting menu and hope I like more than half of it. My boyfriend on the other hand, not so sure he'll want to, but maybe after some time passes. The service was really great, we were celebrating a birthday and they had a birthday card signed by all the staff that they gave us when we arrived - a very thoughtful gesture. Our server was also very happy to answer any questions, chit chat, and share in depth about the menu and options. read more

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Two amazing meals my past two trips to Paso, I'll be coming back every time I'm in town. read more

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LPC is always a go to for us when we're in Paso Robles. They are consistently good with food, service and beverage. The steak au poivre was cooked perfectly to medium rare as ordered and the sauce was divine .Hubby had the grilled venison striploin and said it had amazing flavors. It was cooked to medium and he def prefers his venison medium rare, but he didn't ask for that specific cook on the meat and the server never asked. He said it hardly mattered though because the taste was so delicious. They have a terrific wine list along with cocktails and mocktails. It's not too loud inside so you can enjoy conversations. Be sure to make a reservation as it's not the biggest restaurant and they fill up fast...for good reason. Highly recommend. read more

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I love locally owned restaurants and patronize those whenever possible. We were looking forward to enjoying dinner at Les Petites Canelles. It started out ok, with the server explaining the menu. They state on their website that the entire table has to get the prix fixe. My husband doesn't like fish, so I assumed we both would order off the a la carte which was fine. The server however, had other ideas. She really, really pushed the prix fixe option and said they were willing to change the courses to not include any fish for my husband (essentially eliminate the salmon roe and scallop). He wasn't interested. But then, a hard sale approach started as it appeared she really wanted to sell the prix fixe option. I said I couldn't eat lamb neck that was the main protein and she said that it could be changed out for same hanger steak entre my husband was having. I said lets go for it. As the unbelievably small courses came, they were good, but not remarkable. The one thing the 6 courses all had in common was that they were tiny. I have had many prix fixe dinners at very fine restaurants and never came across courses that were so tiny...a few in glass containers that were no larger than maybe a double shot glass. The diver scallop course was 1 medium sized scallop. The mushroom raviolo was 1 ravioli about 3" across with very little stuffing. It was way undercooked and literally hard and chewy. When the hangar steak course came it was literally 1/4 to 1/3 the size of my husband's. He said his was really good, but my first few bites were unchewable and had to be discarded. It was only during this course that the server said the steak would not be a full serving. Had I known, I never would have gotten the prix fixe option. I also had asked if the french fries could be changed out for broccolini like she had offered the couple sitting next to us. She said that it could not be changed....however, several other things were changed. YIKES!! When the dessert came...again in a tiny cup, it wasn't sweet at all, in fact, it was salty. I mentioned this to the server and she had some explanation that made zero sense since it was a dessert. All in all, a very, very disappointing and expensive experience. As a senior, I don't eat much. I came away hungry and had even had a couple of pieces of bread that you have to pay extra for. There were a couple of other things that the couple sitting next to us were offered, that were not offered to us. It was offensive. They need to rethink a lot of things. read more

Great experience from beginning to end. It's a big staff so there's always someone there to attend to your needs. The food was well cooked and flavorful. We were celebrating my wife's birthday and the staff had created a birthday card with all their well wishes which made the night feel extra special. read more

Les Petites Canailles - Mont Blanc traditional dessert and it tasted as good as it looked. - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California

We came to this restaurant because of its eclectic menu and great reviews. We tried a few different items; the branzino was excellent! Cooked to perfection, very tasty. The moules (mussels) were decent but not great. The LP ceasar salad with the boquerones was very good! As far as dessert is concerned, we chose the dark chocolate mousse which was epic! The service was above average. One thing I like about this restaurant was that they had paid attention to how loud the music was; it was just loud enough to listen it now too loud where you Would have to raise your voice which would have resulted in a very loud atmosphere. It was a decent experience, I wouldn't say it was exceptional (like the total bill was ). Would I go back? Perhaps, once more but I would not say this is a must return for multiple times. read more

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Les Petites Canailles is a very busy spot -- reservations are a must. The service was attentive and on point throughout the night. We both ordered the Steak au Poivre, cooked perfectly rare with beautiful charred grill marks and bold flavor. Dipping it in the au jus took it up another level. The steak came with crispy home fries, making it a complete and satisfying dish. Pairing it with their recommended Syrah was the right call -- it balanced the richness perfectly. Overall, the food and wine experience were great. read more

First of all, thank you so much for being open on a Monday. It's really hard to find a good spot to eat in downtown Paso Robles that day! Everything we had was absolutely good, especially the steak tartare and Caesar salad both were so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The restaurant has such a warm and welcoming vibe, and the service was excellent. The staff checked in with us several times to make sure everything was great, which made the experience even better. If I could offer one little suggestion, I felt the lighting was a bit too bright and the AC a little too cold. But aside from that, everything was truly 10/10. Thank you again for the wonderful service and amazing food. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town! read more

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This is the second time I have had the tasting menu and it always has fun surprises in store. The wine pairing is a must to truly maximize your experience. The staff is crazy knowledgeable and quick. The best service I have ever had at a restaurant. I love the small intimate feel of the restaurant too. read more

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Definition of elevated dining in Paso Robles! Les Petites Canailles is a must! My husband and I love spending birthdays or anniversary dinners here. Their wine list is extensive and their staff is very attentive. read more

I've had some good experiences in Paso, but this my friends, ranks up there with the very best. My party of 4 had the premium table right by the streetside window, perfect. Fairly small and very charming, it is indeed very French. Step right in, and voila. The menu, wine and food, is not large. But I wanted each and every item on it. We had a nice first-time selection of grub, and it gave me a good insight towards all -- beautifully presented, artful, tremendous flavors. I shared BEET SALADE 4.0 (with my lady, and my own glass of wine!) -- gorgeously presented BABY beets, beet hummus, chevre, toasted pepitas [$20, 4.5 stars]; absolute perfection -- Steak au poivre (Australian Wagyu hanger steak, homemade frites, green peppercorn sauce [$48, 5.0 stars], and with the table, we LIVED (not just breathed) with 3 desserts -- Mamoune's Crème Brûlée [$15, 4.0 stars], MOUSSE AU CHOCOLAT [$15, 5.0 stars], Winter Citrus Olive oil Cake [$15, 4.5 stars]. If the food wasn't enough, the whole experience was heightened with superb service by Nikki in both knowledge and fun. The whole thing was awesome, and I wholeheartedly recommend. read more

Fantastic service, very good attention to details, and a tremendous dish made it a perfect choice to celebrate our anniversary weekend. Strong menu but we opted for the off menu, highly recommended full chicken & had no regrets! For atmosphere, fun & lively-- do not expect a quiet, dark, romantic French restaurant. Julien hits it out of the park with LPC! Will return again. read more

I would give it a 3.5 star if I could. Service was very good. Very attentive. Gave my wife and I a card that the staff all signed. We did the trust us menu. Liked the first few courses. The onion tartlet was good. I like that it was different take on onion soup. The fish carpaccio was tasty. The cabbage roll was the best course. Very good! Did not care for the sweetbteads, but that is on me. However the lamb was tough. Had a fibrous cap that was difficult to remove. Even with removal, meat was still tough and chewy. Dessert was very good. Meringue was excellent. Overall was good, would give it another try. read more

Amazing food. Even better service. They accommodated all our dietary requests and made our wedding anniversary really special. Loved loved loved this place! Must visit! We'll be back just for the chocolate mousse! read more

Les Petites Canailles - Vegetarian leeks dish. The craft on this one is breathtaking - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California

It's not often that a restaurant lives up to its hype and, as we say in NorCal, there's hella hype around LPC. LPC delivered. Our group of four decided to go with the tasting menu which is amusingly called trust us. And you should trust them. We started with an amuse bouche which was a mini ice cream cone filled with tuna and delightful spices. Yum one bite. Next up was a BLT salad. You read that right -- heirloom tomatoes, crispy bacon, and field greens with a delicate lemony dressing. Two for two so far. Third was a perfectly cooked scallop. Such a simple dish but one of our favorites. Then a meatball wrapped in an onion. Actually our server told us the chef doesn't like to called a meatball but I can't remember the official name ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fine, but the only dish that wasn't exemplary. For our main, we had an Australian wagyu -- oh my! Tender and flavorful. For dessert we gobbled down the included almond tart and somehow managed to share a chocolate mouse. We had excellent service from Eric and great advice on wine from Chris and Dayton. This is anything but a stuffy Michelin starred restaurant. The walls and bathrooms are littered with avant garde art and as they get close to closing time the music becomes decidedly upbeat. Counting down the days until I get to return. read more

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Hard to make this review. What is there to say? Everything about this place is exceptional in my eyes. The service, always great. The food, dreamy. The wine, don't make me laugh. Sure, I'm biased from being a La'Venture member. But I am BECAUSE of this restaurant as well. Took a couple friends this time. Some enjoyed some items over the other. It all worked out so everyone got more of what they enjoyed more. I enjoyed everything luckily. Get the pomme purée. And the pomme frites. Per usual, they win the ambiance award for natural lighting. But space is intimate and not stuffy. Oh and ask about the monkeys in the restaurant if you're new! read more

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Seriously, the best restaurant in Paso Robles, I think in all of the San Luis Obispo County. I came here for our birthdays and our anniversaries. Everything is always above and beyond what you expect and the service is impeccable. read more

Service was amazing--our first time here and we felt really well taken care of by both our server and the sommelier. The wine pairings were spot-on and the wine list is unreal. For food, we went with the "Trust Us" menu, but honestly would've been happier ordering à la carte. Oysters were fine, crudo didn't have much flavor, but the ravioli and pork loin were fantastic. Dessert felt like it was trying too hard. We'd come back, but probably stick to choosing our own dishes. read more

Les Petites Canailles - French Near Me - Paso Robles, California