A couple of our friends brought us here for a late birthday celebration for me. I'm so glad they did. They told us that this is their go-to place when celebrating something special. We had a reservation and were greeted/seated right away. It was a weeknight so they weren't too busy except for a party of 8 or 10 sitting in the same area. Still only a couple of empty tables. Really friendly staff and they took turns checking on us (even the owner). My partner and I were pleasantly surprised when we saw their menu. They really have a lot to offer and the prices are really not that bad. Compared to other fine restaurants, I would say that they charge about 15-20% less and portions are bigger. And wait till you taste the food! Not a single item that we did not enjoy. We all ordered something different. Rib eye steak, lobster, braised short ribs, seafood wellington, french onion soup, and clam chowder. Not really a french onion fan but my friend recommended that we try it and really enjoyed it. Only thing was it filled up that I barely touched my short ribs. Took most of it to go and got two meals out of it. I think it even tasted better after reheating the next day. Then we ordered special dessert that's not even on the menu... Cherries Jubilee. The owner himself made it for us and the process was such a treat. Why only 4 s? If it was just for the food, definitely 5 but have to rate the whole experience. Nothing against the wonderful staff, but service during our visit was a bit slow. Even our friends said so and that they're usually right on top of things. We're thinking we caught them on a day when they were short-staffed which would explain why owner was hands-on all around. It was still a pleasant experience overall... great company and good conversation kept us preoccupied. It's just that we still noticed that wait time and I guess it didn't help that we all came hungry. I've lived in the area for almost 30' years and have driven by this place almost every week but have never even looked them up. I'm so glad we finally tried them out and will definitely be in our rotation for special occasions! read more

Papillon is located along a busy main street, but part of the quietler side. They have a small lot, but it was a big awkward to navigate and it was a bit busy even for a weeknight. The employees were friendly, but the service was pretty poor, just due to how slow everything was, even with a reservation. We arrived promptly for our reservation and it still took awhile (at least 15+ minutes) to get seated after checking in; it took awhile for us to get our server back to take our order (probably another 15 minutes or so); when we ordered our appetizers / food, it took a good 30 - 45 minutes to get our appetizers and probably another 15 - 20 minutes to get our entrees. We tried the caesar salad, french onion soup, frog legs, ribeye, and salmon. The duck breast was intriging though. Food came out very slow with a big gap in between the soup / salad, appetizer, and actual entrees that it was a bit ridiculous, but at least we had time to converse more. Salad was like any other salad and soup was alright - a bit on the saltier side. Frog legs were tasty just too much breading than meat. The ribeye was a bit bouncy - just decent and the salmon was a bit on the overcooked side. Overall, food is maybe 2 - 2.5 stars, but our server seemed friendly and it was not his fault that everything took so long, so bumped it up to an overall 3 stars. read more

Excellent ambience, clean, and great service. The food is amazing even better than the food I tried in France. It is definitely a favorite Fremont restaurant! read more

Recently, I was honoured to be in attendance at the 75th birthday bash of a very dear friend that I have known for 63 years. The celebration was held here at Papillon. The subtle elegance of their banquet room comfortably accommodated all 20 of us where we were pampered by the most attentive waitstaff. And most of all, the cuisine met the approval of all of the attendees. The Coconut Prawns that were absolutely delicious. There were many choices on the menu but I chose the French Onion Soup to be followed by the American Kobe Short Ribs with Horseradish Mash Potatoes and Veggies. Everything delighted my palate and met my expectations. A great time was had by all. Thanks once again Harry and the staff of Papillon for a very memorable evening. read more

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Had a wonderful time here with my family. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I got the halibut with crab and it was great. Sides were fresh veggies and you can substitute your house salad with an upgrade. I got the upgrade onion soup and it hit the spot. The house salads were huge and looked great. The appetizer sampler with escargot, crab cake, and lobster ravioli was delicious. I'd probably just get that as a meal for myself next time. There's lots of good options here and everyone was happy, so I would come back here if I want a well done meal. There were lots of amazing looking options. The restaurant itself is stunning. Servers know what they are doing and again, we had a great time. read more

Foods were very good. We ordered BEEF SHORT RIB, CHICKEN CORDON BLEU, Panko Encrusted Wild Caught Halibut and Braised Bone-in Short Rib. Very tasty dessert. We had Brown Sugar Crème Brûlée and Peach Bread Pudding. Excellent service. Nice setting. read more

Amazing food and service from a local family restaurant. We have been coming to Papillon for years and have always been impressed by the food, drinks and hospitality. Our must-haves are the lobster raviolis, the Brussels sprouts and the Thai Bouillabaisse, with a glass of wine or martini. The vibe is classic and a little fancy, perfect for a random Tuesday night or for something special. The service is stellar and keeps us coming back -- we absolutely love Channah, who is equal parts professional and super friendly. If you haven't tried this local gem, definitely do. You won't be disappointed! read more

I love everything I have ordered since 1995. I love all Wellington's, I love the steak, I love the salmon, I love the soups, I love the pastas, I love the chicken cordon blue, salads, and desserts. I love the bar and love my glass of Green & Red Zinfandel. read more

Me and my wife celebrated our wedding anniversary at Papillon. We booked our dinner online and made our reservation at 5:30 am. They have ample parking space and you'll not miss the big sign in front of their restaurant. Once we checked in, we were immediately seated at our table. The place is nostalgic and the ambiance is quiet and pleasant for a romantic dinner. Since they just opened, we saw only a few patrons. The menu has a lot of options and this place is very famous for its steak, fillet mignon, classic beef Wellington, ribeye, rack of lamb, short ribs, salmon, etc. All of the items from their menu are highly recommendable. For starters, we ordered their crispy tempura calamari and their house salad. We also had their Blue Paradise Margarita and Tequila Sunrise. For our main course, we ordered the Grilled ANGUS RIBEYE in Marinade of Olive Oil, Roasted Peppers, Basil, and Roasted Garlic Puree, served with Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms and Grilled ATLANTIC SALMON with Hero Potato Puree, Warm Spinach, and Cranberry Reduction. While waiting for our orders, we were served with their warm bread. The calamari was fresh and good. The salad was just served right and the dressing was good. The margarita and Tequiela were the perfect alcohol for the night. And finally, the main course was perfect. The ribeye was soft and tender and the Salmon was fresh and delicious. The portions were huge and were cooked the way we wanted. The meal was so huge that we didn't have any more space for desserts. However, when they found out that we were celebrating our anniversary, they presented us with a nice piece of cake with all the trimmings around a plate with an anniversary message. They were so thoughtful and made our anniversary special. The owner, Charlie, approached our table and greeted us on our anniversary. He told us the story of how the restaurant started and how long they've been in the business. With the great service they provided and the excellent food they provided, I would see them prospering for another decade. This was not our first time celebrating our anniversary here and we see ourselves celebrating more anniversary at this place. read more

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The wife and I has been going to Papillon for 35 years never had a bad experience or a bad meal. The staff is the best.

As soon as we walked up to the front door, there was a very strong sewer-like odor. I assumed it might be temporary, but the smell continued throughout the restaurant and became even worse when I stepped into the bathroom. The odor was overwhelming and honestly shocking for a place serving food. At that point, I should have left, but we had already been seated and decided to give it a chance. The food did not improve the experience. I ordered the French onion soup, which great. The lobster ravioli was completely inedible, the pasta tasted undercooked and the filling was off, to the point where I couldn't eat it. The steak was extremely chewy and tough, and the vegetables were overcooked and lacked any flavor. The tap water left a gross taste in my mouth. Between the unpleasant environment and the poor-quality food, the entire meal felt uncomfortable and unenjoyable. This was not a case of one small issue it was problem after problem, starting with the smell and ending with food that was simply not good. Overall, this was a very disappointing dining experience, and unfortunately not one I would ever return for or recommend to others. read more

Service is always great here and the food is good. They could definitely use an update on the interior and I think it would do wonders for the ambiance. For the prices they charge I feel like some effort could go into make some updates and changes. Last time we were in there the whole place smelled old and little mildewy. read more

Great food. Had a three course meal. Try the chocolate cake, with hard chocolate shell and pistachio. You won't forget it. It's one of the best I've ever had. read more

There was an unpleasant odor when we first walked in, which made the overall dining experience a bit less enjoyable. The food was okay, and service was a little slow for a mid-week visit. The bathroom could also use some maintenance since a both the ladies and men's stalls were backed up. Hopefully they address these issues. read more

It is an excellent place for food! The owner is so thoughtful and skilled! As a family owned business that does a great job we both highly recommend this restaurant! Old school ambiance and excellent flavors! read more

Wow this place is a real Hidden gem in Fremont.Loved the atmosphere and the food was excellent!!!The bread they served was delicious and soft. I do not have pictures of the snail dish but that was yummy too,Make sure you like garlic though as it has tons of it. Our server was Sam and he was very attentive and friendly and helpful while we were deciding on the entrees. Going there again for sure read more

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Papillon never disappoints. They offer convenient parking, a comfortable bar area, and a lovely dining room. The service is consistently great, and we always enjoy the food. read more

Beef Wellington. That is all you need to know to make your way to this historic, fine dining restaurant located just off Mission Boulevard. Family owned since the 70's, Papillon ("butterfly" in French) serves up some delicious classics and new experiences for those who haven't had a chance to taste exquisite dishes like escargot, crab cakes, pâté, or their signature beef Wellington. Aside from the beef Wellington, there are a variety of entrees made with seafood, pasta, and lamb. You're bound to find something you'll enjoy; their kitchen crafts very tasty and hearty dishes. Their menu is quite extensive and they may also have a specials menu for the evening. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to taste the pâté as they were out but we did order a good number of items to try. They also serve a side of bread that goes well with the saucy dishes and you can request to be refilled (they didn't really offer to have it refilled without prompting). The bread unfortunately is not warmed but it is very soft! Btw the appetizer combination comes with their most populate dishes: escargot, lobster ravioli and crab cakes. Escargot - served in a buttery herb sauce and eaten with special tools (a clamp and a long pointed fork), this dish is unique and and is a must get if it's your first time here. The sea snails are served in shell and retains a bit of heat when you dig into them. Comes with 6 pieces. Lobster ravioli - meaty flesh encased in a thin wrap and served with a robust cream sauce. Crab cake - crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside. The crab mix gives a good texture to each bite and goes well with the sauce it's paired with. Baked Brie - puff pastry encasing delicious, melted Brie cheese. Served with a fruity jam and arugula salad. Mushroom ravioli - mushroom packed morsels mixed with melted cheese and cream sauce make this dish a hearty addition to your meal, as an appetizer or a main course (for light eaters). French onion soup puff pastry - most entrees will have the option to upgrade to the French onion soup over the house salad. Do it. You will not regret it. The French onion soup is delicious - hearty onion pieces with cheese and puff pastry with every bite. You might want to get another; it's that good! Seafood Wellington - delicious take on a seafood variation of the classic Wellington. A mix of crab, prawns and lobster encased in a puff pastry was delicious Beef Wellington - this is the highlight of the meal. Tender beef encased in a thin mushroom layer and then encased in a puff pastry. *Chef's kiss* The food is delicious. The service has some room for improvement. Front desk was decent but didn't have much enthusiasm seating us. Waiter service was okay however they didn't introduce themselves so we weren't really sure how to address them. We also noticed they were a bit slow to clear tables although the restaurant was pretty vacant when we went. And perhaps it was just unfortunate timing but the men's restroom had no toilet paper on any of the rolls. All in all, I would have expected better amenities for a fine dining restaurant but at the end of the day, I came here for the food. They also have a full bar but we didn't get to experience that this time around. They're only open for dinner service so be prepared to plan ahead and make reservations if possible if you have a larger group. The parking lot gets a bit dark and there's no protected entry from the main street, Mission Boulevard. Therefore, take extra care turning in and out of the lot. Overall, Papillon is the perfect place to take family, friends and business partners for a nice sit down to experience beef Wellington at its finest. You'll enjoy the other food as well while perhaps soaking in a bit of Fremont history. read more

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One of my favorite places to celebrate my birthday or special occasions! The food , ambiance and service is great! One of my favorite appetizers is the escargot, which I order every time I come here. I love the ribeye steak and lobster. I also love the seafood. And definitely save some room for one of their delicious desserts! read more

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Welove the service. It's quiet , formal dining which there are so few of in Fremont. We have never been disappointed with any of our meals here. Nice selection of food to meet everyone's needs. Great cocktails! read more

I highly recommend this restaurant The food was very delicious and they were very generous with the portions were. The service was from the host - Jose - until the end, everyone made me feel like celebrating our special day: Wedding Anniversary. They also gave us a special delicious dessert. What else can I ask for? The ambiance was very comfortable AC cold enough, pleasant I'd say and they play soft music. You can actually talk and there was no need to scream. read more

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Great food. Good music, feels very welcoming. I had great experience on my birthday dinner. Conner is very wonderful with his customer service. Definitely coming back.! read more

Came here for an anniversary dinner, service was a little slower because it was busy but the servers were really nice. We got placed in a quiet room where it was only us two which was a little awkward, we heard other people behind us hidden, which made us feel like we had to whisper. The food was great, we had a lot of what everyone gets here such as the escargot, french onion soup, the beef wellington and got a crème brûlée for dessert which was the best one we've ever had. We want to come back again and try some other things! read more

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We went there to celebrate our mom's birthday. The service is flawless. The food is always delicious with fresh ingredients. I'm so in love with their Escargot Highly recommend! read more

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Great food, service and the ambiance was excellent!!! The meal, drinks and desserts were great!!!! read more

Papillon - French Near Me - Fremont, California

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Food - Lobster Ravioli 3/5 - bland, mushy lobster paste inside a dumpling wrapper. Shaped like and tasted like a "lobster" pot sticker. Sauce was like a lobster tomato bisque. Not a lot of flavor. - Escargot 3.5/5 - flavorful garlic and herb butter / oil but garlic flavor was a little too raw for me. - Duck liver pate 4/5 - great pate flavor that paired well with the cornichons and pickled onions. Toast was too toasty, very hard and felt like it was gonna cut the roof of my mouth. Tried the pate with their untoasted bread, and could taste the pate flavor more. Mixed greens unnecessary imo - Seabass 3/5 - fish was buttery and flakey but miso flavor did not come through. Not a fan of the orzo and broth which were bland - Lamb Chops 4/5 - lamb cooked nicely and medium rare to medium, curry(?) Sauce was great and flavorful. Creme brulee 4/5- was a little deflated and was not a smooth custard. Tasted good though! Raspberry sorbet 4/5 - great sorbet, salted caramel was interesting. Service was great and ambience was nice and quiet. read more

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We have been dining there for over 50 years. It continues to be the best place in Fremont. LOCATION SERVICE AND FOOD IS SUPERB!!

First of all I have been here several times as a local and the moldy smell always hits me the minute I walk in. Went with my girlfriend and spent $400 for drinks and beef Wellington along with bananas foster. The place is so outdated and really bad ambiance. It feels like a moldy old people's home. On top of spending $$$ I was really sick that night with food poisoning!! Avoid at all cost!!! read more

I came here for a drug company dinner as the restaurant has a good size private dining room at the back of the restaurant that's perfect for educational events. Service was very attentive throughout the entire event. We had crab cakes and coconut prawns as the first course. Both were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The crab cakes were stuffed with crab meat (highly recommend) and the portion size was very reasonable. The coconut prawns were huge and fried perfectly. Next course was mixed field greens with the Gorgonzola vinaigrette. This salad was surprisingly delicious so if you can find this on the regular menu, I would recommend ordering it. I got the miso glazed Chilean sea bass for the main course but it was a disappointment. Fish was under seasoned and I found a few bones left in the fish. The portion of the fish was big though. The orzo didn't go well with the sea bass so maybe it's best they switch out some of the ingredients in the future. Tempura beans were over cooked and soggy (probably bc it was drenched in the sauce). For dessert, I got the affogado with a shot of espresso. This was a bit too sweet for my taste but the espresso helped balance out some of the sweetness. The restaurant has a good size parking lot but depending on how packed the restaurant is, spots maybe hard to find. I will probably not return until they switch out some of their ingredients for certain dishes. read more

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Husband and I go to Papillon on special occasions, and one was to reveal the gender our my pregnancy. The crème brûlée is my only go to for dessert and it is always on point! Papillon always asks if we are celebrating anything and this was one way to be surprised after a really good and satisfying meal. Thank you Papillon! read more

Papillon - Brown Sugar Creme Brulee - French Near Me - Fremont, California

Service was excellent, ambiance good but unfortunately the food was severely subpar. The Chilean sea bass and orzo was so under seasoned...there was no flavor to the fish...the tempura green bean was hard and became mushy in the sauce...the carrots tasted like they were boiled and put on the plate...would not order this again.. Crème brûlée was good and so the 1 star... read more

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We just had the most amazing dinner and service at Papillon. My husband and I treated our 2 children and their significant others to the most delicious dishes and stellar service from Frances and Sam. Our kids wanted to eat at Papillon before returning to college. It was so nice that Charlie remembered us as he seated us at our favorite table. As always, we enjoyed the warm and friendly atmosphere and hospitality. We will return soon to celebrate birthdays. Can't wait. read more

Such a lovely place to have a beautiful dinner, drinks and dessert in. I absolutely love the Chicken Cordon Bleu. My husband and I went for Valentine's Day. We so enjoyed it. read more

Papillon - Chicken cordon bleu and filet mignon. - French Near Me - Fremont, California

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Fantastic service, delicious food and quiet ambiance (until a loud group entered and talked so loudly at the bar it was as if they were at our table yelling.) My husband was hesitant about going when he saw the menu. The peppercorn sauce was to perfection- ribeye flambé. I had the filet mignon which I had had years ago. My husband is still raving about the spinach salad - 3 days later. We were celebrating my birthday and my cheese cake with a message was a great way to finish the evening. read more

Papillon is absolutely our favorite restaurant! The staff and service is above and beyond! The food is always delicious and in a comfortable environment. We recommend it to all our friends and when people are visiting we take them there every time. read more

Phenomenal dining experience!! Great food and service. Bread was soft and good, almost like a Dutch crunch. Calamari appetizer was a little small but was excellent with the lobster bisque. Lobster ravioli were like dumplings filled with chunks of lobster meat and covered with lobster bisque as a sauce. Caesar salad was great, definitely could tell dressing was fresh and made in house. Beef short rib was great. Scallops were cooked to perfection. Petrale sole, fish special was excellent. All food was just fantastic. The server was on point and kept us informed, even though the kitchen got backed up. Everything was otherwise excellent. read more

Papillon - Final bill - French Near Me - Fremont, California

The French onion soup and the bread they give you was phenomenal. I would come back just for those two items. The entrees were also good. My only Comment is this is a long dining experience, don't come if you are in a rush. read more

I appreciate your consistent assistance as always. Although it's not particularly a place for children, they usually treat us very well and accommodate us nicely! We gave the children a presentation of the desert. My children were overjoyed. What a stunning treasure in Fremont. This review is long overdue; we are regulars. We never have any problems getting Kobe beef. We also added crab cakes to our list of favorites. French onion soup is a must. The salad tastes amazing. For a local fine dining experience, we adore coming here. Thank you again for the wonderful service we will see you soon again read more

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The service and food is always 10 out of 10! The raviolis as appetizer are a perfect start. The tough part is sharing! This gem is the best! read more

Papillon - Moms favorite place, celebrated her 80th with Housemade Lobster Ravioli Roasted French Onion Soup American Kobe Beef Short Rib. - French Near Me - Fremont, California

Wow..... not in a good way We were celebrating our 30th anniversary yesterday and decided to go to Papillon in Fremont. We have heard so many good things and it's been a staple in Niles/Fremont for many years. The facility opened in 1978. I think the carpet (significant odor), drapes, furniture and wall decor are all original. Again that's not good. I ordered a bottle of wine from their extensive wine list (many pages and fair pricing). The waiter brought my selection, a Rombauer Zin. It was supposed to be one of their single vineyards and was highly rated. All they had and the waiter said it's all they ever have was the basic Rombauer Zin. Again not a bad bottle, but nothing close to what was on the list. The food was good. But at this price point it should be good/exceptional. The restaurant was not very busy. It was a Tuesday night. We were very much looking forward to spending an evening in Fremont and finding a restaurant that could be a repeatable one. This was amazingly similar to Massimo's or Spin a Yarn. All are 20+ years past the "sell by" date. Our service staff was fine, no issues. Sadly even with good (not great) food, the atmosphere, decor, bathrooms, parking lot and bar were so tired and dated we would never consider going back. We were at LB Steak in Santana Row recently and spent the same amount and had a wonderful experience. Note not the LB in Bishop Ranch. Very disappointed read more