Review Bistro Papillon - Sydney

Came here for a special occasion for lunch today and the service was exceptional. The escargot and French onion soup is a must try! We also had the pork medallions and confit duck legs which were so tender and full of flavour. The crème brûlée was the perfect finisher to our meal, by far the best I’ve had. Our waiter (sorry I didn’t get his name) made our time there special and everything was perfect!

A cozy taste of France with friendly welcoming service. A romantic restaurant serving French classics. The ambience and decor transports you to France. The French onion soup with cheesy bread was flavoursome. The pork medallions was on the dry side while the spaetzle was oily, sauce was rich and creamy. The boullibaise was nice although could have a fishier taste and could have more soup served. Creme brûlée was delicious, smooth and creamy made with vanilla bean with a perfect sugar coating. A number of wines to choose from. This is not an everyday place given the prices, but a taste of Europe while in Sydney. This is a popular place with only a few tables so bookings are recommended.

Beautiful and intimate experience with delicious French cuisine in a small cosy restaurant. Staff were friendly, accommodating and very attentive. The pate and seafood stew were my favourite dishes of the night. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and were greeted with a cute candle with our creme brulee. Thank you so much for the night Bistro Papillon!

An impromptu dinner brought us here tonight, warmly welcomed and attentive service coupled with homey country french food was wonderful! The plat du jour papardelle with duck ragout was outstanding and was thoroughly enjoyed! Everything else was tasty as well! A bit pricey but what the hell! Thank you

A gorgeous traditional French bistro (other than a French-inspired local restaurant). The food was authentic and delicious. Highly recommend ‘confit de canard’. It’s smell so good and the skin is crispy than you expected and the inside is juicy as well.

Been here many times over the years and never disappoints. Classic French food done well and with no pretentiousness. Very friendly staff, quiant and intimate setting. Love this place.

Loved the food here. Service was absolutely phenomenal. Nice and cosy environment, great ambience

Authentic French dining with lovely attentive staff. Took us right back to France! Food was spot-on. Classic French dishes. Love when the bread is crusty and warm! Wonderful evening to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Thank you Bistro Papillon!

I love this restaurant, small, compact, cosy, great atmosphere, (can be a little noisy). Have been several times now and the food is always very very good. Fantastic wine list. The staff are all very friendly , attentive and welcoming. Must have the sorbet with vodka shot, I slept soundly that night! Every time I have been , it has been full (lunch and dinner) which speaks volumes.

One of those hole in the wall places that you visit once by accident, then take ages trying to remember where it was. Finally you stumble back in and re-discover what it was that took your fancy in the first place. Unpretentious menu, good honest, tasty food, wonderful flavours and complementary wines. Dessert is for the hardy and the place is still packed!

Amazing food, some of the best French food I have had. Service was good and prices matched the quality of the food. I would go back for sure!

A great experience from start to finish. Fantastic food, service, menu and wine. It’s such a cute cosy restaurant. We will be back for sure.

Right from the booking we got authenticity with a beautiful french accent which was the best first impression and the food, champagne, service and ambience all lived up to this impression. Escargot and french onion soup for entree (caramelised flavours were delish), rabbit stew and seafood stew for mains. Superb. Perfect service. We will be back.

What I like about the French is there is no Bullshit with the way they do food...why reinvent the wheel when it works perfectly well? Cody little bistro with attentive staff,good food and wine.

Wow! Amazing food and great service. Delectable menu and a great wine list. This is a fantastic restaurant with a cozy and warm atmosphere. Our favourite French restaurant in Sydney. Highly recommended!

Great little bistro with authentic French menu and hearty delicious food.. not for the diet conscious... definitely for the foodie that loves rich flavour! Loved it.

How great is this place?? Great food, good wine, excellent service. Loved it. ���

Best French restaurant in Sydney!! Food is amazing as is the service! Highly recommend �

Everything here was super good.loved it,an absolute plate licker!i had to ask to speak to the chef and his team to let them know how good of a job they're doing!great to see that everyone is french with quality knowlege with really attentive attitudes!

What a fantastic way to spend my birthday. Thank you for such a wonderful night... food was amazing, and the staff were exceptional !!! Found my new fav place .

Love this place for lunch it's like being in France great food, atmosphere and service

Wonderful extensive menu Quality wine selection Attentive & friendly staff Definitely will return here in the near future

Great food - especially the beef - taste superb . As a result the restaurant can be quite noisy at times

Traditional and cozy vibe. Food was perfect in terms of presentation and taste. Was only sad that I didn’t have anymore space in my stomach to try everything else ! Definitely will have to go there again

Reasonable portion, lovely ambience, not too salty taste which is both healthy and delicious.

We booked a table for four about three weeks ago for my mother’s birthday, and requested to reserve a table with booth seats. When we arrived, we were given a small table by the wall which could barely fit my baby’s stroller. I asked whether we could change our table to the booth seats which were available, but the waiter said it was booked. It turned out that the table was not booked and they served it to walk-in customers near the time we finished our meal. The quality of food was mediocre - the seafood bouillabaisse was too salty and fishy, the broth was dark brown and looked unappetizing. The baked snails tasted bland. Other mains were good, we love the confit of duck, the tender boeuf bourguignon and the flammkuchen. However, we were disappointed with their poor communication - they could have called us earlier if the table with booth seats were not available so we could consider booking another restaurant in advance.

A small but good restaurant that serves tasty French food. I can't comment on authenticity but I don't expect it to be 100% authentic, what maters to me are quality ingredients that are always well prepared.<br/>The steak tartare is excellent and is by far my favourite dish. The menu includes many other standout dishes that keep us coming back. They also have a decent wine list and make God cocktails.<br/>The only downside is that it can get a bit noisy

Excellent place for a date on weekends. It was always full of people these recent days, but the food is comforting and even have a blanket for sitting outside! Recommend redroot ravioli!

We had our anniversary there last night<br/>We both had escargots to start and for main my wife had Beouf Bourgignon and I had the Cassolette de Poissons. In between we had the Colonel. a lethal mixture of sorbet and vodka worth every mouthful <br/>We then had a Poire Belle Helene and Profiteroles for dessert<br/><br/>The food and service was excellent and also reasonably priced considering where we were. We will definitely return

This authentic little French gem is quite a find. Its a warm inviting & romantic. The staff are attentive, knowledgeable & very professional. The food is absolutely delicious. We enjoyed every morsel. Do yourself a favor & have the crepe suzette.. it's out of this world.

Traditional, simple and just yum. Love the bread that came out with the escargot and pate, warm and crusty. <br/><br/>Ambience was comfortable, quiet with dim lighting. A perfect place for small group of friends to enjoy some quality food, wine and conversations. <br/><br/>Service was good, attentive and friendly. <br/><br/>Really enjoyed my night here.<br/><br/>

Good service, good simple french food. A bit of Paris in Sydney. The snails with the baguette were delicious. Just a bit disappointed about the fries who were frozen with the steak.

Quaint little French restaurant in the heart of the CBD, with an impressive wine menu and a good range of food choices. The venue feels like a Parisian cafe and would be good for an informal dinner.

If French food is your jam then BISTRO PAPILLON is your digs. Wonderfully bohemian mid 20th Century French in design and atmosphere with traditional food that impresses as much as the waitstaff. I will be returning to this place for more of the decadent cuisine all washed down with even more French wine and martinis.<br/>Full review is now up on Spooning Australia.

This would be no brainer for me. <br/>Great services. Warm ambience. Classic and delicious French dishes. The wine they recommended was good. We will try dessert next time.

The best French restaurant in town, will definitely recommend to my friends. Especially like the desert, I wish I could have been here earlier lol.

Firstly I would like to thank my friend to taking me there it look closed from outside ...but inside ....what I find ...guess...guess...a perfect French food... onion soup , garlic butter..everyone one should try.....😏😏

The restaurant almost looked closed from outside. The ambiance was nice and warm. A tad too dark for my liking and for the quality of photos. <br/><br/>The French onion soup was nice, however the bread came on the side. <br/><br/>The confit of Duck was delightful. And the beef burgundy was also a favourite. <br/><br/>Raclette was a little disappointing. The cheese and the potato lacked salt. Not recommended. <br/><br/>The Creme Brulee was delicious and lovely. A little runny but tasted perfect. Chocolate Bavarois is my absolute favourite. Strongly recommend to anyone. <br/><br/>I will certainly be happy to visit this restaurant again. <br/><br/>

Great ambiance combined with sophisticated retro French tunes in the background. Amazing waitering service. The guy was super helpful and added a couple of suggestions here and there. Amazing French food - The entree Escargot is a must! Overall, would go again!

Awesome, absolutely love this place.<br/>The beef bourguignon was delicious, as was the pork medallions. Salad with goat cheese is great as well.<br/>We started with the snails - it’s a must!<br/>Friendly, attentive service. Do it French style and eat in the sidewalk :-)<br/>

Our visit here was advised by a Chinese blogger who has undoubtedly ate here many many times and advertise this place as a must go if un Sydney. A great date night with my wife and the 3 course meal did not disappoint! Everything about this place such as the food was excellent and the service was great! Will definitely come back next time in Sydney. This should be a michelin star restaurant.

Big things come in small packages. The tiny and cosy bistro on Clarence street was indiscreet as it blends in with the surroundings. A room with a handful of tables and staff facilitates an intimate atmosphere. We chatted away undisturbed while skimming through the modest menu. When staff were looking, the slightest signal will get their attention, then they will come over briskly with a warm smile. <br/><br/>Muscles were fantastic, it had a bold creamy sauce that complimented the tender and umami rich flesh. Next was a delicate pate that was packed full of flavour. Escargot were taken out of their homes and put into the holed chinaware. The herby oil complimented the earthy escargot. For the mains, we agreed on the risotto and tagliatelle to be our favourites, both were cooked al dente and tasty. Meal concluded with desserts, the chocolate bavarois being my favourite. It was light yet had an extremely potent chocolate flavour, that complimented the vanilla ice cream. Tarte tatin had a soggy base, not much more to be said there. Creme brûlée was set too hard, though flavours were on point. Despite the desserts lacking finesse, we enjoyed the meal nevertheless.

Loved the ambience. Very French! The service and food was awesome. We enjoyed both the escargot and especially the paysanne flammkuchen; a thin French pizza with speck and goat cheese. The Duck confit was good but the skin could be crispier. <br/><br/>The piece de resistance was the creme brûlée! It was excellent- crisp burnt sugar crust that was so thin and easily cracked with a gentle tap. Best ever creme brûlée!!

Nice staff and enjoyable lunch here. The beef was great, just met my taste. The sauce was a bit over but still good with pasta. The chicken liver plate was average so there is nothing to say. The whole experience is fantastic.

Organised a group booking for about 15 persons, and the attention to detail in the organisation and the prompt responses to my questions and accommodation of a few items leading up to the event was outstanding.<br/><br/>On arrival the service was spectacular, the food was great, and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. Everyone had a fantastic time and I am very grateful to the whole team.

Very tasty! The restaurant is not big , so Booking is highly recommended ! It’s a good place for dating even though I went there with my bestie ;)

Must go for a cozy romantic dinner . Portions are huge taste is distinct .flavours are rich . They suggest the perfect wines to go with the dishes . My thumbs up to the place . You cannot go wrong with anything .

The service was friendly and attentive.<br/>Other than that, not much to recommend.<br/>Snail was average, sausage was more than ordinary, beef was tender and the red wine sauce was tasty, but for a main course, really tiny portion.<br/>Atmosphere was more than ordinary.<br/>It is a French restaurant indeed, and also it is very much overpriced indeed.<br/>Nothing special about the food. And it took a century to come. Especially for the beef, which was pre made as in slow cooked, such a long wait when the restaurant was not even half full.

Another Lunch visit to the Bistro and they never disappoint, the staff was friendly and the quality of the food is exceptional as usual, definitely will be returning again.

Was craving for some french food for a mate's birthday and it turned out so much better than expected! It's a small shop, with dim lightings, so it could look a little dodgy from the outside. Got in and felt very welcomed by the french wait staff (authenticity right there). For entrees, we got escargots, mussels, and a flat bread with gruyere cheese (which was my fav amongst the three, don't judge too quick!). After which, the pork medallion and beef bourguignon for mains and creme brûlée for dessert. They were absolutely delightful. I can't stress how much I love the flavors of the dishes. Oh, don't be too tight on your pocket and just go for a bottle of wine - you wouldn't regret paying for a good french wine! Will be back!

Great hospitality with sensational french cuisine. Really enjoyed the dining experience and would come back when in Sydney again. Only downfalls to the perfect 5 where the lighting was a bit to dim and the restaurant is fairly small so you would need to make a reservation or hope they can squeeze you in.

Dissapointing! Came recommended but didnt delivered on my expectations, especially their mains didnt do much on flavour or portions for the top $ that you pay. We ended up spending $180 for 2 people for 1 entre, 2 mains, some baguette and 2 glasses of wine and still left hungry. <br/>On the upside, service was very attentive and friendly.<br/>

We came for the Raclette soirée. It was everything I hoped it would be. The entrees to start were great. We had the tarte flambé and the snails. The tarte was scrumptious and filled with delicious french ham and caramelised onions. The snails were buttery little morsels that you can pop easily in your mouth. Then came the main course - delicious melted Raclette cheese with a generous platter of potatoes, meats, onion and pickles. It was decadent and very filling. It was sad that I could not continue to eat the amazing cheese once my tummy reached its limit. I would also recommend taking the paired wine with the meal which was very light and refreshing with the heavy meal. I don't think many people would be able to take dessert after this meal, but we will be sure to try it next time.

Escargot in garlic n parsley 3/5, plump buttery snails, perfect to tickle your appetite. Use the bread to mop up the gravy pls. <br/><br/>Beef tartar w mayo 3.5/5, diced a little 'chunkier' than normal provided good texture, the onion parsley mustard mayo etc were not overwhelming, allowing one to enjoy the beef. <br/><br/>Onion soup 3/5, served piping hot w enough consistency n flavour in the broth. <br/><br/>Salad nicoise w smoked trout 4/5, green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, olives, boiled egg n mustard dressing. My firm fav. Fish, potatoes n eggs served warm, all 3 elements perfectly cooked. Again the amount of dressing was just right n not overpowering the salad. Yolk was on the cusp of being set. A simple elegantly executed dish. <br/><br/>Risotto w chicken 3/5, give me hokkien fried rice instead of risotto any day really. To be fair, risotto was cooked on point, not too mushy nor too grainy. Broth absorbed properly. A sprinkle of black pepper n parmesan, you are good to go. <br/><br/>Duck confit w bean cassoulet n bordelaise sauce 3.25/5, cant do french without duck confit. A slight deviation from the usual french duck confit standing proud among hash/mash n some veg, this one had traditional humble bean cassoulet (minus the sausage/bacon) lending it support, neutralizing the salt n fat with its stew. <br/><br/>Charcuterie, chicken pate, smoked ham, shredded duck pate, saucisson salami 3.75/5. Another fav of mine, it was on the special board so not on their dinner menu. The pate is to die for. <br/><br/>Rabbit casserole w white wine mustard carrots cream mushroom w a side of butter pasta 1.75/5, too much butter, dry rabbit, way too heavy n creamy n the pasta simply worsened the experience. Might have worked with a strong dry red, which we did not order. <br/><br/>Creme brulee 2.75/5, tasted fine but was cold. Candle was a nice touch for the bday girl. Kudos to them for remembering as it was mentioned a week before at the time of reservation. <br/><br/>Service was friendly, attentive but unobtrusive. A noisy intimate venue but a well managed floor. We finished off w a digestif degustation (recommended).

A beautiful little French restaurant in the middle of the CBD serving quality food. Everything we ordered were very tastey. I stayed on the lighter side and ordered the seafood bouillabaisse, which turned out to be quite filling.<br/><br/>Ambiance was very romantic and cosy. We also found the service friendly. However, I thought for the what you get, prices are slightly on the higher end compared to other similar venues. Perhaps it is the CBD rent.

Food was high quality but a little salty. The pate was to die for!! So creamy and flavourful - perfect with their baguettes. The venison ragu was very homely but still had the essence of fine dining. My favourite part of the venison ragu was the handmade pasta - there really is nothing like having handmade pasta. So al dente! <br/><br/>Service was friendly and helpful. The lighting is a bit too dim though and they originally gave me a dodgy chair to sit on (felt like it was going to break). <br/><br/>I would come back for special occasions only as it is quite steep!

hidden gem at cbd! love the atmosphere here.. my fav is escargot for entree, whereas for meal i love chicken cooked with white wine.. what i remember it was on special menu

这家法国菜真心挺推荐的。<br/>前菜的蜗牛味道非常好，鲜嫩多汁，口感丰富。洋葱汤肉汁浓厚，洋葱的味道几乎没有，不爱吃洋葱的宝宝们也不用担心。<br/>主菜是一份鸡肉蘑菇，旁边单独配了份面。说实话这道菜味道一般，不是特别推荐。<br/>第二道主菜是澳洲精选牛排。的确也是名不虚传！首先肉质真的非常好，肥瘦也适中。绝对对得起“精选”一词。厨师的做法也是非常的好，火候恰到好处。口感很好，肉也入味。<br/>最后，点了一杯波尔多的红酒，具体名字不记得了。闻起来就很香，喝进嘴里更是有一种红酒香气特有的回味。<br/>总之就是很推荐这家！

Amazing!<br/>We ordered the duck confit, snails, and the rum ice cream with apple tart. 3 dishes were reeeeally wonderful. We have been to Paris before but I can say this restaurant's dishes are the same as what we had in France.<br/>Additionally, the service is also brilliant. Waiters always cared about us and our eating experience.

Fantastic little place with lovely food and staff. Totally recommend!!!! New menu and warm cosy setting. Very traditional food with extensive wine selection <br/>

This is a very nice restaurant for great French dining experience. Be prepared to splurge but the food is definitely worth it! For starters, definitely order the snails drenched in garlic and parsley butter. For mains, I recommend the fresh egg tagliatelle pasta with seafood or the creamy veal ragout with fresh pasta. For dessert, the simple classic creme brûlée is the way to go. The service staff are very friendly and professional. Just be sure to make a reservation beforehand!

This review is for one of their specialty dinners at Bistro Papillon; the "Soiree Raclette"! For those in the know, this is a special evening that occurs every first Monday of the month and bookings are a must! This evening always sells out pretty fast as it is so authentically Parisienne and for only $55pp for the 2 course menu it is way cheaper than buying a ticket to Paris. For our entree we chose half a dozen escargot baked in garlic and parsley butter served with baguette just to get us in the French mindset! Bon! Then onto the Raclette..... the chef sets up a table in the middle of the room where he heats up the moon shaped raclette cheese and scraps the hot melted cheese over your plate of cured and smoked meat, potatoes, pickles and bread. He does this throughout the evening for all the diners and it is quite a communal affair. Such delicious cuisine and matched with a lovely Chablis made for a very charming evening!

Absolutely love coming to this quaint little hole in the wall French restaurant. The menu is not extensive but that doesn't mean the food is not great. Must say the pan fried quail wrapped in pancetta was absolutely the highlight for me. The quail is cooked to perfection, the sauce is just creamy yet so well seasoned but not overly seasoned. The waiter recommended to put the side of pasta that comes with this dish straight into the sauce and what a great recommendation that was. Absolutely delicious! Also had the ratatouille which was so rustic. <br/>I love this place, I felt like I was in a restaurant in Paris. The service was also friendly and efficient, would definitely come back if I ever want to feel like I'm in Europe again. Highly recommended!

Like many restaurants and cafes, service was excellent. The gratin and creme brûlée were well above average and wonderfully made. As for the coq au vin, the sauce/broth was just right. The red wine was neither overwhelming nor left a bitter aftertaste. However, the chef might consider leaving the chicken in the broth or sauce for 20-30 minutes longer or adding some baking soda so that the chicken meat was not too dry. Nonetheless, it was still above average.

This surprisingly authentic French restaurant in the Sydney CBD is easy to miss if you're not paying attention. In short, this is one of the better restaurants in this part of town that delivers quality in service, atmosphere and flavour that can trick you into thinking you're not dining in a concrete jungle.<br/><br/>First, the choice of entrees and mains (and specials) made ordering a most arduous task, because I can honestly say that I could easily have chosen any of the menu items (based on the descriptions, with the aid of visual confirmation after getting a peek at the meals of other diners).<br/><br/>I ordered the slow cooked beef in a red wine broth with mushrooms and carrots. This humble but tasty dish was tender, delicious and hearty, with the homemade Alsace-style spätzle a really nice touch. This I used towards the end of the meal to soak up my remaining sauce.<br/><br/>This was washed down with a kronenbourg, largely because it was a wet but muggy Sydney evening. I'll return here another time I'm in Sydney to sample the other dishes, particularly as I refrained from partaking in ordering the very tempting profiteroles for dessert...

Had our Xmas eve dinner here.. small and initimate venue, all the waiters with the french accents.. foodwise, it is really good.. ordered the escargot and beef tartare as starters, quail breast and fresh pasta 😍 also duck confit as mains and creme brule as desserts.. yummm

A cozy and nicely designed restaurant, great for date night! We enjoyed the mains although the options are a bit limited for vegetarians. My partner very much enjoyed the sumptuous sausage  special, very rich and delicious. The desserts were absolutely the star of the show and we would go back just for the profiteroles and apple tart! Definitely recommended and we will be back.

Great food and friendly service! Will definitely come back some time in the future. The atmosphere is very nice and romantic. The only thing was that the food came slowly and the waiters were slow to respond to us. Other than that, this place was well worth it. I recommend the lemon-lime gelato+vodka for $8.

Overly pushy male staff, service was very poor - took 30 mins for escargot entree to be served. Dirty cutlery and cork sediments in the wine of my guest. I continuously poured my own water, and we had to sit at the table with dirty plates for 15 mins as they were not cleared. I lived in the north of Paris for 6 months, and did not enjoy the tartare; It was too chewy and not mixed with the appropriate extras. The departure experience was also unprofessional. Waiter suggested I leave a tip and put in $5 for the tip when I paid with my card. (??). Never again.

Came here on a quiet night to try out some delicious French cuisine. We were not dissapointed.<br/><br/>Pâté for entree was an absolutely delight. It was just havenly delicious. The snail dish was creamy and well accompanied with warm bread.<br/><br/>We moved on to mains, the sirloin steak mideum rare was cooked perfectly, red wine onion gravy was spot on. The ocean trout tagliatelle surprised to my partner who was pecastarian; it was a perfect dish for her taste, creamy, flavoursome and well-seasoned.<br/><br/>For dessert, we went for cream brûlée (because why not :) and two scoops of sorbet, one of each flavour. And both didn't disappoint and truely were a great finish for our very delicious dinner. We'll defitely be back for more.<br/><br/>P/s: one comment for our waiter though. We look Asian, that doesn't mean we'd use chopsticks for everything we eat so refrain yourself from asking if we (or any Asian looking customer) need chopsticks.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

nice place. had a weekday eve dins at BPs. had the pizza bread kinda thing to start which was delish. had the quail breast for main, this was even better than the entree. washed the first course down with the chardonnay by the glass, not a great drop. had a glass of the pinot noir with the main, this was better but not that much better. <br/>all in all, cool spot and I would return.<br/> <br/><br/>forgot to mention, the palate cleanser was delicious.

Quaint and intimate, something you'd expect in a small French village rather than the heart of the cbd, the food is great but the prices mean it's a special event venue rather than a everyday thing

Second time to been here. Good place for dating. Reasonable price, suitable portions with warm service. The quail breast with mushroom sauce was excellent. Tartare beef was good. <br/>Nothing bad, definitely worth to go back again.

Took a friend here for her birthday. And the experience was just divine. The waiters were attentive. The star of the night was the rabbit dish. It's a special, so if it's available, I would recommend to get that one.

Outstanding food, take you to another place. The dishes literally melt in your mouth. Dessert was the perfect finishing touch. Services was friendly and open too.

went here for a birthday dinner<br/><br/>the service is okay- really didn't enjoy being upselled on everything- we order 2 mains, 2 entrees  a side and a drink and they were still trying to insist on more drinks and food<br/>the entree pizza was very nicethe coq au vin with spaetzle was nice- however i think you could get the same thing for less elsewhere- there was nothing special about it<br/><br/>cassoulet was dissapointing- there was no noticeable duck flavour, small serving size also shared a side of pommes frites- extremely dissapointed- no seasoning, so sauce and undercooked- macdonald's sells a much better item for much less!<br/><br/>overall it was a nice restaurant however not at all special and overpriced- with uncomfortable pushiness from waiters

A small intimate dining room, simply decorated with a few quirky pieces to make you feel like you stepped into a local restaurant in France. The staff are welcoming, attentive, friendly and very French adding to the authenticity of the venue.<br/><br/>The wine list compliments the food beautifully and is reasonably priced.<br/><br/>The food is fairly rustic, but the simplicity is what makes this restaurant a stand out. For starters we had the prawn cassoulet, chicken liver pate and steak tartare. All were very traditional in appearance and flavour, and most importantly delicious. For mains we had the muscles, steak and lamb casserole. The muscles were swimming in a creamy, buttery sauce... exactly why French food is so divine but so naughty! The lamb casserole was melt in your mouth goodness and the steak juicy and tender. Unfortunately we didn't try the desserts on this occasion as we opted for cocktails at the neighbouring 'Barbershop.'<br/><br/>A delightful evening and one of my favourite places to dine in Sydney.

So we ordered 3 entrees and 3 mains. The entrees were salmon tarte, snails and chicken liver with smoked hams, and they were all very delicious. For mains we had seafood stew, pan fried quails and beef regout. One of the most thing about french is the sauce and the ones i had was absolutely fabulous. However, even though my quails are perfectly cooked, it was still a bit dry. And the veal in the beef ragout just tasted like boiling beef, wasn't as good as I expected. The dishes are in big proportions and very classic french. Overall, it was good, but wasn't very surprised and the price was a bit too expensive.

With all the hype on Bistro Papillion, I was looking forward to dinner all week. The food was nice enough but the restaurant was lacking in ambience. <br/>I wouldn't recommend the confit duck. It was heavy and hard to stomach. The steaks were all very good and cooked to perfection. Although the entrees weren't the best.. the pate and tartare all came out with 4 small pieces of bread between 4 which wasn't anywhere near enough to use up the dishes. Don't get me wrong this restaurant was satisfying but compared to some other French restaurants in Sydney i have been it's not the best.

To be fair - maybe it was expectations, what we ordered or personal preferences. If you're looking for traditional French, this place is it. Starting with the good - the pasta that came with the creamy veal ragout was perfection and the dish itself was well received. The unexpected - the Cassoulet with confit of duck and pork. It was rich and heavy as it should be. However, the smell and taste was too meaty that it was unenjoyable. The duck was also lost which is disappointing as it's the first thing that reads off the dish and the convincing selling point to the order. The price tag doesn't help either.

Bistro papillon is probably one of the more classic and authentic french restaurants in town and really reminds me of bistro dining in Paris. I had the confit de canard, with white bean cassoulet and shallot sauce. The duck was crispy on the outside but moist on the inside, the beans had just the right bite to it and the shallot sauce was light and gently coated the ingredients. Perhaps a bit too much salt but otherwise it was a classic confit de canard. My biggest regret of this meal was not being able to have a glass of wine, as they have a pretty nice selection. Its also a great date place!

We loved our night at Bistro Papillon. Very cosy atmosphere and great service. The food exceeded our high expectations. Can't wait to return

Great restaurant for French cuisine. nice and cozy place, really feels like you are in Framce. booking is essential for this place. This place is definitelg rate more than 4.5, but dont think it is as high as 4.9.

Due to the number of places to eat in Sydney, it’s fairly uncommon for me to go to a restaurant or cafe more than once. Despite this, I have a few ‘favourite’ places (a word I don’t throw around often) which I frequent as much as I can. Bistro Papillon is a traditional French restaurant specialising in Alsace cuisine, which my brother first took me to a few years ago, which I’ve visited time and again for its lovely service, cosy ambience and delicious food.

I don't understand why this place is not hatted! I love the intimate setting of the small dining room. Have been here twice now (also tried on another occasion, but they were fully booked), and both times were a great experience. The place is cozy and the wait staff are friendly which put you at ease and feeling comfortable straight away. The food comes in generous serving portions (struggled to finish all my food). For entree, we had the escargot with baguette to share, the escargot was served in strong garlic butter, perfect with the toasty baguette. For main I had the wagyu rump, which was tender and melt in the mouth smooth. It was accompanied by with fries, salad & a choice of sauce (the sides all came with the meal at no extra cost!).  This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and will definitely be back again.

Must try:Baked snails! champagne! Cozy tiny restaurant in a very easy find location just 5mins walk from wynyard station York st exist. Will go back to eat the snails again. Yum yummmmmmmmmm

I must of been very unlucky, because my food was very underwhelming. I expected much more from a place that charges $40 a meal. Either an off night for the chef or just expect food to taste better than prepared meals ordered online for bodybuilding (as you can imagine they are quite bland and boring, but I would of preferred my meals over this meal). Ended up going home and having dinner after only eating 1/4 of my meal and being told that it was actually dry but the waiter after speaking with the chef, but still having to pay for my meal.

French restaurants aren’t as popular in Sydney as they should be. And I admit, it’s not the first of cuisines to jump at me when I think of a dinner out. Let Bistro Papillon prove to you all (including myself) that French dining is something to accustom yourself with. With the recent opening of French eatery Restaurant Hubert, perhaps Sydney is taking an interest in this cuisine.

Bistro Papillon is absolutely sublime. The food was delicious and I'm sure you could order anything and not go wrong! <br/><br/>Ordered the escargot and beef tartare as entrees to share. Both were very flavorsome and delicious and left us both drooling for more. <br/>In between the entree and mains, we had the palette cleanser, to which the waiter told us we had to shot the remaining vodka if we wanted dessert! The staff here are very friendly and attentive which only made the dining experience here even more great. <br/>The mains were the real winner here and we both ordered the quail and lamb. <br/>For dessert we ordered the creme brûlée and raspberry sorbet, which were absolutely to die for. <br/><br/>Overall, this restaurant deserves nothing but high praise from me! I would definitely recommend this place to friends and family who are after a genuine French experience.

Very delicious food, cosy place for a casual dating night, very friendly service.<br/>The only 2 things surprised me a little bit: a main course on the menu says cassolette, but it came out as a pasta. A serve of 3 pieces of bread served before we ordered is actually not complementary, it's 6 dollars.<br/>I haven't had much experience with French food so just want to note these two things for those who don't know much of French food just like me.<br/>Other than that, I am very happy with the dinner there and will come back.

Solid French fare with French staff French wines and lots of French clients particularly later in the evening. <br/> A little noisy and cramped but good for close friends etc

What works: <br/>Ambience. <br/>Service is professional, courteous, attentive. <br/>Food is lovely. Homemade chicken liver pate is highly recommended. Mussels in white wine sauce is really nicely cooked through and the broth is sweet and light so you can taste the mussels in it. Duck confit, homemade pork sausages, slow cooked lamb are also worth trying. The cooking is lovely as flavours of ingredients are cleverly brought out. <br/>Wine list is not huge but has choices of rare European boutiques. Knowledge of all staff on food and wine is great. They're able to recommend the right boutique wine for the food you've ordered and educate you in the process. A big plus! <br/>Desserts - Must try classic creme brûlée and the rum and raisin ice cream. Gosh it's the best rum and raisin i've ever had! <br/><br/>What doesn't: <br/>N/a. Nothing yet. <br/><br/>Overall: I really liked Bistro Papillon, have been there twice (weekday lunch and weekend dinner) and it hadn't disappointed. It's an ambient and cosy venue that is authentically French... A nice find in the CBD. Will definitely be back again.

A lovely night in Bistro Papillon! Such an elaborately deco cozy french restaurant with about 10 tables, a bar and a semi-open kitchen.  The staffs were excellent and we felt pretty much taken care of. He help us chose beaujolais, which is very light and nice, and kindly gave us helpful recommendations during order.<br/><br/>We had the beef tartare, garlic butter snail and the only two fresh oysters left in the kitchen(so sad, we will can have more! ). All the entrees tasted very nice, compared to the rabbit, today's special, we ordered for the main. The rabbit was well cooked, but lack of characters to catch your flavor, too ordinary and will not think about it again when you came back home.<br/><br/>For the dessert, the brulee was quite a shock at the first taste in my mouth and I immediately fall for it. It is a must have.<br/><br/>Overall, Bistro papillon is a place I'll go for many times when i stay in Sydney. Not to mention the raclette night i'm very much looking forward to.

Really nice cozy little French restaurant in the CBD. Went here for the Soirée Raclette Night and had an amazing time!<br/><br/>The escargot was great, loved the palate cleanser that had a nice kick to it and the raclette was awesome... no way you can go wrong with meat topped off with a layer of golden molten grilled stretchy cheese. <br/><br/>Will definitely be back again to try the other items on the menu!

Intimate little French restaurant with loads of character and atmosphere. Had a lovely dinner with Oscarmoo on a cold and rainy night. We could've been in the middle of Paris as soon as we stepped into the warm cosy bistro.<br/><br/>The food, however, did not stand up to the charming atmosphere. The seafood stew was lacking depth of flavour and intensity. The chicken coq au vin was tasty but not special. The apple tarte tartin was good but too sweet. <br/><br/>The service was very attentive so overall we had a wonderful evening.

Went to there for my best friend's birthday! Food was brilliant with excellent service!👍👍👍however, the area was too crowed~ we bring our cake there and they decorated in a dish~ Nice! And i got my favourite Creme brulee as well~💖💖💖 Service is great!👏👏👏

Had a great dinner on Saturday at Bistro Papillon. We really liked the vibe with the dark walls and interesting posters/wall art. The service was excellent and we felt very well taken care of. <br/><br/>We had the mussels to start and then the seafood stew and veal escalope special for mains--all was excellent. Definitely recommend as a date spot.

Over priced, average quality food . I've been to France plenty of times and I don't think this restaurant is an accurate representation of French cuisine. The wine selection was really impressive. However, the food was mediocre at best and we paid $269 dollars for a dinner of two. I don't think the food was particularly bad, just not worth the money.

Beautiful food, nice people. Would go back in a heart beat .. We had the Oven Roasted Trout with Beurre Blanc sauce and the Duck Confit. Great Dishes

We came last Saturday for my girlfriend birthday, and it was just an amazing experience. <br/>The restaurant is quite small and very cosy. Not noisy at all. <br/>We took some snails (so good !!), pate de caille aux pruneaux a l'armagnac ( I would have loved to get foie gras but with the pruneaux it was yummy) and a trout salad with chèvre. <br/>As a main with had a confit de canard with lentils, which was very well cooked ! And a coq au vin super good ! I had some Bordeaux wine with, good advice from the waiter. <br/>We were quite full after all of this but took a vacherin to finish and had a candle on it which was nice from them. <br/>Everything was very delicious, we had a excellent dinner and I would recommend a lot this place for a typical French lunch or dinner !!

We came here for lunch and as we walked in, we were instantly transported to France. For entrees we shared the snails, mussels and beef tartare. Everything was cooked well but nothing really stood out. For mains we had the grilled hangar steak, the seafood cassoulet, braised lamb and beef. Again, all dishes were well cooked and well presented. We came to dessert and orderes the apple tartine. It was very disappointing. The portion was small and the pastry was dense. Overall it was a satisfying meal.

Étant francais, je crois avoir enfin trouvé mon spot. L'ambiance est simple mais authentique. Les serveurs aux soins. J'ai enfin trouvé paté qui en valait la chandelle, le canard aux lentilles au top (pas de photo disponible) et une tarte tatin pour ponctuer ce super diner. La carte des vins est constituée que de vins francais, pour des prix disons "raisonnables". Petit hic sur le pain. Mais ca ne restr qu'un détail. Merci pour ce bon moment. <br/>

It is one of the most outstanding French bistro I have ever tried. Reasonable price, authentic and impeccable service. It is a must come bistro for me every time I am on holiday in Sydney!

Having walked past this tiny and cute French restaurant before, we made a spontaneous reservation at Bistro Papillon for a special dinner, hoping to experience some authentic French dining. We started with a serve of escargot, and got an extra baguette on the side. The snails were served without their shells, and were in a flower shaped bowl that kept them warm! The snails were delicious and tender, and it was nice not having to worry about de-shelling them. However, we didn’t find the garlic sauce to be as strong and flavourful as we would have liked.

A lovely French restaurant in the heart of Sydney. Excellent and friendly service, Amazing food and drinks and the desserts were to die for! Was cheaper than I expected as well, good value.

Bistro Papillon is a quaint and cosy little French bistro, tucked away in the CBD. It's small but it packs a lot of personality and punch. <br/>Entree of homemade chicken liver pate, served with baguette slices was creamy and delicious, while the specialty dish of "tarte flambee graintee" (a thin and crispy pizza-like base topped with onions and fabulously oozy melted gruyere) was decadent and moreish. <br/>Main of coq au vin (chicken casserole) had a disappointingly small amount of actual chicken meat, but this was compensated by a rich, caramelised sauce which married perfectly with the side of homemade spaetzle (a carby cross between gnocchi and pasta). However, the seafood pastry stole the show, with a dome of flaky puff pastry scattered with an array of seafood, and sitting in a pool of a gloriously creamy white sauce so good that I could have drunk it. This stuff was the stuff of legends, I would've ordered more bread mop up every last drop of it if I had more stomach room!<br/>Dessert of apple tarte tatin wasn't served warm or with the usual dripping caramel as I was expecting, but was still good... however, not as good as the profiteroles, which I would be more than happy to eat every day if I could. These little babies were filled with vanilla ice-cream, drizzled in a rich chocolate sauce and surrounded with a creme anglaise. Yum. Just yum.

Very very nice. Would defo come back again!! The food is amazing considering the price they are charging. Very impressed. Try the snails!! Very tasty!!

Lovely atmosphere, with attentive and knowledgeable staff. Food is good, honest Alsace region French style, would recommend the moules and onglet

Absolutely brilliant atmosphere matched only by the fantastic food that is served. Bistro Papillon is a little gem that distinguishes itself from others offering French cuisine. <br/><br/>Clarence street feels a thousand kilometres away, with the Parisian setting truly encapsulating a cosy French feel.<br/><br/>Staff are top notch, splitting the entree into two portions without any prompting - whilst glasses of water were never left empty.

So grab your loved one and head over for raclette on Monday nights at Bistro Papillon in the city!. I was so sad to miss out on raclette night last winter so I booked in as soon as I heard that Bistro Papillon were doing them again. The evening is $55 per person and gets you an entree and UNLIMITED raclette on your plate of cured meats and potato. You may also choose to add a palate cleanser for $8 and a matching glass of wine for $13.

Incredible French cuisine. Fantastic food & dessert and excellent customer service. I was very impressed and will definitely return the next time I visit Sydney.

Not a fan. Apart from my 10 year old accidently eating one of your urinal cakes and my wife divorcing me somewhere between the appetizers and the mains, this was a smooth night. "Papi's", as I like to call it, gives new meaning to fine dining by being the furthest experience from it! I will be finding a new place to take my Japanese clients for dinner before we retire to our suite at the Grand Hyatt. Hate this place x

A very cosy and romantic bistro. Must order escargot and coq au vin. C'est très bon!

Incroyable - Magnifique - Fantastique!. Bistro Papillon deserves more stars than I can give. <br/>Even in a large group, from being seated, to ordering, to the food being served, every element of the service was timed perfectly. <br/>Between my group we ordered almost everything on the menu, each dish was cooked to perfection and more exquisite than the last. Les Entrées were delectable, the Plats de Résistance were delicious, the Desserts were sublime. <br/>The whole experience was a truly French one, if you have not been to France, you will find a small piece of it here, I cannot urge you strongly enough to visit this ambience abundant, charming Bistro. <br/>Thank you so much to the chef, the staff, the curator of the wine list and especially the owner who was so very gracious and attentive. <br/>It has been a very long time since I have been able to say a restaurant experience was faultless, until now - thank you, for a truly magical and fabulous evening. <br/>Vive la Bistro Papillon!

A lovely place (but a little disappointed). We just went to Bistro Papillon for lunch and asked to order three entrees between the two of us to share. We were told that there is a minimum spend on lunch OR a minimum order of one main each. This was not noted on the menu outside or displayed anywhere that we could see. It is a hot and humid day and the thought of heavy and big meals was a bit too much, but having a few smaller cold dishes between us seemed like a lovely idea.<br/><br/>I understand that they need to make money, and that is probably why they have these rules, but the irony is that we would have spent more per person eating entrees and sipping on their delicious wine than on two mains. <br/><br/>So instead of having a beautiful lunch we left. <br/><br/>That being said, the staff were friendly and accommodating (and apologetic). We will be back, but another day when time, weather and bellies permit.

I’ve never associated French with big portions so I had very low expectations of the quantity, but 5 pieces of tiny quail breasts was probably too small a main dish even for someone with a mini appetite, let alone an epic glutton like me. But Richard was right; quails are tiny and realistically they wouldn’t serve 20 pieces on a plate at a fancier restaurant. It really was an unfortunate choice of a main for me tonight. Thankfully, at least the quality wasn’t disappointing; the dish was enjoyed — for a brief moment.

Bistro Papillon is a wonderfully quaint French restaurant owned by the French duo Xavier and Ludovic. Their intimate layout of the restaurant is furthermore highlighted through the genuine service that was provided throughout the night. The menu has a good range of traditional French dishes as well as some more unconventional French dishes (e.g. pasta), and the wine list has a good concise offering of French wines by the glass.

Bistro Papillon is a cosy and very traditional French restaurant that has real charm and atmosphere. I started with tartare de boeuf - finely chopped raw grass fed beef fillet seasoned with a spicy mayonnaise and condiments, served with toasted baguette and green salad.  It was delicious! 

we shared a braised rabbit papadelle pasta and the roasted quail breast wrapped in pancetta which came with a side of our choice

The chucks of pork belly are unbelievably tender and tasty. The entire dish is a joy to eat...

O & M were loving Bistro Papillon. The lively atmosphere of people enjoying their evenings, foreign accents and French posters on the wall had transported them to Europe.

The confit duck leg was wonderful, crispy skin and tender duck meat which just fell off the bone. The green letil ragout was rich and extremely filling! Unfortunately I didn’t finish all the lentils, it was just too much but the confit duck leg was fantastic!

We had all our time to enjoy our dinner, but I love my Snails so much that I could hardly wait to tuck in once they were brought to me… big mistake: those things were scalding hot and burnt my palate alright (ouch!) Apart from that they were nice, garlicky and buttery, I could easily have eaten a dozen more. More slowly though

It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of new restaurant openings in Sydney , but there's reward in hunting out those that don't still smell of fresh paint; restaurants that have had time to settle and get into their groove. Bistro Papillon might feels like it's been on Clarence Street forever, but in fact it only opened in 2010. Actually I take that back. In Sydney's notoriously unforgiving restaurant scene, four years is forever. ...There's a quaint sense of Parisian escapism to the place. ...Half a dozen Burgundy snails baked in garlic and parsley butter The dinner menu has all your favourite French dishes...

A very enjoyable experience overall that tempts me to return for a lunch time visit to try more of the menu. The Escargots de Bourgogne and Classic Crème Brulée was very good.

Bistro Papillon has been on my list of places to try for a loooong time.... Spotted this chic looking French bistro whilst looking for a parking spot on Clarence Street sometime last year :) When my Melbournian foodie buddy / colleague said she's coming down to Sydney with her family to celebrate her birthday, I thought this will be a good chance to try out this French place ( big group = likely chance of different foods being ordered = more food photos = perfect ! ) Table Glasswares ; Bar Area ; Diners ; Pictures on The Wall Love the ambience in the small bistro, the furniture were of dark warm tones with warm mood lighting, which is perfect for romantic dinner but perhaps not so for blogger lol. I also like the French posters framed and hanged throughout the restaurants. Dita von Teese Perrier Got there earlier than the others, so I just ordered a sparkling water while I wait. Now, I've seen San Pellegrino's collaboration with Missoni but this is the first time I've seen Dita von Tee

As good as french food gets in sydney. I have eaten there many times, and have never been disappointed. I usually have the Beef Fillet. It is always perfect. Tarte Tartin is also a stand out. Wine selection is excellent and service friendly attentive and professional. <br/><br/>A place I know I can go to and always be happy I have. Highly recommended.

Friendly Staff, Cute and Cosy Restaurant and Food is ok.. The staff are very friendly and attentive and the decor of the restaurant is really cute. However, I wouldn't say it is very good value since the food is only ok. I ordered the Cassoulet de Canard ($38), I thought it was a bit salty and was a small portion. This would be a once-in-a-while place for catch up with friends since the ambience and service is good.

Great cosy restaurant with friendly staff. The coq au vin is divine, especially with the fancy French red my waiter suggested!

Comme ci, comme ca... I really wanted to love this place. The staff are charming and attentive, and the decor just lovely. The Riesling I had was absolutely beautiful. However, the food was just good - nothing special. I had the beef tartare for starter which was average. My main was a spatchcock papardelle - huge portion! The flavours were nice, but again it was nothing spectacular. For dessert we shared the creme brulee and bread and butter pudding. Both were pleasing. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience, but won't be rushing back for more anytime soon.

Ah-mazing!. Had escargots for entrée and my partner had the French onion soup. Had duck for mains and it was divine! We've just returned from a month in Europe and bistro papillon was the perfect way to relive Paris!

Tastes just like France (good I mean)

Delicious!. This place is amazing, genuine and extremely tasty! The beef tartar is particularly good, try it!

This restaurant is amazing! I have travelled around regional france and this place holds its own. The French onion soup, so unassuming on the menu, was to die for. The coq au vin - wow! The chicken was so tender and the sauce was so rich and beautiful. The wines were also reasonably priced for the very high standard too.

Délicieux!. Wow, this was a tasty dinner. The escargots in garlic-parsley-butter sauce were divine, the quail was delectable, and the mendiant aux pommes finished the meal off deliciously. My friends equally enjoyed their hanger steak, steak tartare, pork tenderloin and profiteroles. The staff was super friendly, making for an overall great experience. Thanks, you guys. Yum!

Hard to fault this restaurant. Every dish was perfect in every way. Food tastes orgasmic and service was excellent. Perfect date restaurant. It's a pitty we don't live in Sydney because we would come every weekend. Highly recommend to anyone who wants great French food at reasonable prices.

Cosy French food. Went the full three course here for dinner. Tried a tart flambee which was OK. Confit of duck was great and ended with fantastic dessert of the hazelnut ice cream with some cheese as well. Great atmosphere and was able to practise some French with our waitress. A little gem in the CBD.

Great Food, but no tact.. We enjoyed a great meal with good friends and sipped on two bottles of saint emillion Bordeaux blend when the waiter abruptly told us that we have twenty minutes left which is not enough time to order desert and that we should go. Nice way to ended what could have been my favorite dining experience in some time.

So cozy~. Small setting - probably seats ~30ppl. very nice atmosphere, friendly service. the food is great. we had the snails, the assorted entree, duck salad and braised quail. the snails in garlic was done just right and the aroma was fabulous. the assorted entree had a bit of everything. i really like the duck salad - the flavors really come together. the braised quail was tender and the pancetta was soft. will return.

Authentic and affordable French cuisine. One of my favourite French restaurants in Sydney. The atmosphere is dim-lit and cosy, with simple, elegant decor. Excellent service and sensational food. One of the best French restaurants in Sydney.

Very French, Very Friendly. Quite small. sits about 30. Adds to the atmosphere. Food was great. We have been here twice now and liked this place both times. I had Fish Pasta. Wife had Veal Casserole. Nice flavours.

A Special Night. We dined here for our wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful, memorable night, made even more special by the staff who lit a miniature cake to celebrate with us. The food and wine were excellent, the surroundings are cosy, intimate and so very French. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Where to start! Everything about this place is right. Importantly the food is consistently amazing every time. I can't wait to go back. If you've not been yet, you're in for a real fine treat. A real gem.

Luscious Sat Dinner. First time to this little French gem. Great service, and ambience, and of course delicious Bistro type food. Not rushed even though we were in the first seating, really enjoyable

Mind the plastic. Nice food but poor standards and poor service. When I pointed out the plastic in my tarte tatin, the waiter casually took it away, no apology, no deduction off the bill. He admitted it was from the pastry wrapping .... Which I also recognised as prepackaged pastry sheets from a supermarket. So the food prep snt even authentic French! Bad show guys!

Classic French in Sydney. Excellent classic french dishes beautifully cooked in a friendly small classic French bistro. What more can I say? <br/>Recommend highly.<br/>Really appreciated that the wait staff had no problems at all with us dining Family style and sharing the entrees, mains and desserts.

Wonderful little restaurant with very friendly staff abd delicious meals. Very happy to return!

Love this place. It's like Paris in Sydney

Food was beautiful, service was impeccable, a friendly atmosphere. A gem of a French restaurant.

Authentic french food. This place is legit ! <br/>however dessert sux

Brilliant! Had a romantic dinner here with my wife, everything about this place was superb 10/10.

OK French Food. The room is small and somewhat noisy but it is nicely fitted and feels european. The menu is not expansive but the options are well thought out and there should be something to please everyone. <br/><br/>The food is Ok. As you would expect with a "french" restaurant, the sauces and gravies are full of time and flavor. The beef I had was a bit overcooked and dry.

Top-notch!. Was at Bistro Papillon a few weeks ago. <br/><br/>The three of us had three courses each, every single meal we ordered was perfectly cooked and service has been the best we've had in Sydney in a long time. And the bill was very reasonable.

What a treasure. Dined here for the first time this week - what a wonderful little piece of France!<br/>Classic dishes, small menu relying on fresh seasonal produce, impeccable service and a fabulous little wine list which has already prompted me to recommend Bistro Papillon to a number of friends.<br/>The small intimate space is just so good and I didnt want to leave - I'll be back!

One of my favourite places in Sydney. Its like stepping back in France the time of a meal. Intimate and non pretentious. Nice staff. Fine food and perfect portion sizes. Its good to have quails and rabbit and cheese and bread instead of chicken schnitzel or sushi. Spot on for a date. Love it to bits.

This was a real classic find. Such a French restaurant amongst some really quite ordinary fare. This is a great restaurant for romantic dinner or catch up with the boys. The escargots are exquisite. Going back to try the chateau de pap. 10/10.

My pate was sublime. I was a little disappointed in the rabbit but only because it wasn't as good as the pate. The service was prompt without making me feel rushed. Look forward to going back

Love !t. Went here on my birthday, had a very nice chicken liver parfait, followed by braised duck pappardelle pasta with mushrooms and apple and ginger crumble with maple and walnut ice cream. I can't wait to go back and try the other dishes.

Definitely recommended!!. Took the bf here for his birthday. really amazing! the cured meat platter was really really good. especially the liver pate. would suggest a side with the mains. service was good, they even put a candle on the dessert. well priced french wines :) definitely recommended

Comme ci comme ca... Maybe that not an accurate reflection but it's the limitation of my French and pretty close to what I thought. Maybe my expectations were high (thanks to a 94% urbanspoon rating) but I didn't think it warranted such lofty heights. Service was attentive and efficient, venue was small but intimate, and the meals were traditional and satisfying, but just didn't pump my tyres. I introduce my man-date to snails for entree and his skwirmishness provided a few laughs but butter/garlic/herbs was largely all that hit the palate. The pancetta-wrapped quail was nice, as was the French syrah but again left me a little wanting. For a similar price and location I'd bypass this one and go straight to Pendilino or De Vine. Merci and Bon Soir!

Traditional French cuisine together with friendly and attentive service made for a most enjoyable evening. My tarte flambee entree was delicious and the steak mains was cook as requested and was beautifully tender. Tarte tartin for dessert was equally as enjoyable. A small but reasonably priced French wine list is a pleasant surprise and our wine, Chateau Donjon, was excellent. I have wanted to eat at Bistro Papillon for quite a while and can say it was worth the wait and will most definitely return.

Great service, good food and wine. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys more traditional French cuisine at a great price. Will definitely be back!

Lovely place for a romantic meal. Boyfriend and I came here for our second anniversary dinner. We got the escargot and pork rillettes (special) for our entrée, and a glass each of the champagne and the vouvray; everything was really good, and we especially liked the butter mix on the escargot and the chutney that came with the rillettes. My duck confit was a little dry, but my boyfriend's coq au vin was amazing, as was the butter vegetables that came with it (of course). The burgundy was just a touch on the watery side, but still went well with our meals. We got tarte tatin and crème brûlée for dessert; both were lovely, and I thought the crème brûlée had a nice texture. Overall, a nice dinner, very French décor (minimalistic without being boring) and atmosphere. Will definitely return next time we come to Sydney!

The food is absolutely delicious, cooked to perfection. Atmosphere is ideal.

French Fantastic!. Bistro Papillon is the quintessential French bistro. This place has an amazing ambience and the quality of the food and service is simply outstanding. I love this place, and seek to try and eat here everytime I get to Sydney. Bistro Papillon must have a dedicated following of French food lovers. A must try if you are seeking high quality french bistro food!

Amazing rabit linguini! And tart tartin was amazing! :) Highly recommended restaurant!

Beaut. A very nice little French bistro, went here with a friend for his last night in Sydney, great food, he ordered a duck dish & I seafood... they were both delicious, perfect portion sizes and fresh.<br/>Very nice atmosphere, verging on Romantic & a great wine list, which is hard to find.<br/>Look forward to visiting again!

Just lovely. What a lovely bistro ... just what you need on a cold Sydney winter's night when you are far from home at a conference at the oddly lifeless convention centre at Darling Harbour,... and wanting a decent meal that does not include a spruiker at the front door....simple, delicious food, ( so much so that Mr FatCat, who declares that he does not see the point of eating chicken made no effort to conceal the fact that he was mopping up my coq au win leftovers with the bread) good value for money and genuinely friendly service....if only I could take those boys back to Perth - what a pleasure they were! Would not hesitate to go back.

Here again for lunch, great little bistro, good food, friendly staff. I'll be back.

Called on a Thursday to make a reservation for the same day, response was a haughty laugh followed by a "I don't think so". Hmmm hope the service is better once you get through the door!

Better than France. I have been to Papillon several times, for lunch and dinner, and I have even felt comfortable enough to take along a Frenchman and his girlfriend. Every visit has been very good - the food is delicious (as good as Mere Catherine), and the atmosphere is crowded, a bit noisy and fun. The wines are excellent and reasonably priced, the cheeses are very good, although the portions are insufficiently generous. Few restaurants in France match the standards of hospitality set by Bistro Papillon.

Ooh La Laa. Oh my the french onion soup is to die for! Can be noisy during lunch time crowds and boy to people arrive for lunch to this magnificent little sylish bistro. Highly recommended!!!

We've wanted to visit this charming little city bistro for yonks. If a casual Wednesday night feed could always be this delicious. The pate didn't blow our minds but the service was brilliant. We opted f

A step in to France. From the moment you see the sign from the street you are whisked away to a quaint bistro in the middle of France. Stepping inside and you are warmly greeted by the french waiters and sat at one of only about ten table in this cozy restaurant. Even though it is small they have tastefully decorated the walls with pictures and ornaments to really get you in the mood for a devine french meal. The menu is typically french bistro style with all meals very reasonably priced. A wine menu also contains wines from the various regions of France. The meals are very tasty and abundant in flavour. Genrous portions ensure that we had a great experience at this Bistro. Highly recommended if you are in this part of the CBD.