 |
|
 |
buber.net > Basque > Food > Basque Restaurants of the United States
See bottom of page for user contributed notes.
Basque Restaurants of the United States
by Charles L. Shaffer
If you have never been to a Basque restaurant then you have
missed something special. In the United States, these are little-
known places that you will have to seek out, but the delicious
food is well worth the effort. It is hoped that this list will
help you find one near you or make it possible for you to visit
one on a future trip. Help keep these restaurants in business!
Note: It is strongly recommended that you telephone before
planning a visit to verify current hours and days of operation,
and to confirm that they are still in fact serving Basque
dinners.
Meals are typically served family style. Occasionally you may be
seated at a long table with others; this is most likely to occur
at the historic hotels. Dinner will be delivered in courses:
soup and bread, salad, beans, french fries, and a meat entree.
Lamb is popular, but so are beef, pork, and chicken, and
occasionally seafood is available. Sometimes you will have a
choice among two or three entrees, but everything else will just
arrive at your table. A dessert of ice cream will probably be
included.
There will be plenty of food; this is not a light meal. The meal
check will be moderate, but you will be full! You may find that
the hearty food at typical Basque restaurants reminds you
somewhat of other southern European cuisines. It should be
mentioned that a very few Basque restaurants in urban areas of
the West Coast may serve meals more resembling that of fancy
French restaurants.
A house red table wine usually accompanies the meal, typically
chilled and slightly off-dry. To sample the national drink,
order a picon punch before or after dinner.
Basque restaurants are most likely to be located in areas where
many sheep were once grazed on the open range. This is generally
the Great Basin of northern Nevada, the Central Valley of
California, and the Snake River Plain of Idaho. Early Basque
immigrants to America were for the most part single men who came
seeking sheepherding work. Many arrived by railroad, with little
or no English language skills. For this reason Basque hotels and
their restaurants were frequently located near the train station,
and some of them still are.
With thanks to Deke Castleman (Nevada Handbook, Moon
Publications, Inc.), Sunset Magazine, the late California
Magazine, and the Winnemucca Hotel.
This list is also available on the Internet. I am grateful to
Blas Pedro Uberuaga for posting it on his Basque page on the
World Wide Web at:
http://www.buber.net/Basque/
The restaurants are listed by state and city. Please help keep
this list up-to-date by sending all additions, corrections, or
deletions to: Charles L. Shaffer, 3120 N.E. 80th St., Seattle,
WA 98115-4740.
A note from Blas: several of these restaurants have closed since originally being listed on this page. I'm keeping them listed here for their "historical" value. It should be evident which restaurants are closed by the coloring.
Arizona |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
Tacna (40 mi. E. of Yuma on I-8) |
Basque Etchea
|
8575 S. Avenue 40 E. (Exit 42 from I-8) |
(520) 785-4027 |
11a-10p Tu-Sa 12 Noon-10p Sn |
Limited Basque menu |
| Yuma |
Chateau Basque |
4340 E. U.S. Hwy. 80 |
(520) 341-9776 |
4-10 Tu-Sn |
CLOSED |
California |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
Alturas (Modoc County, 42 mi. S. of Oregon border on U.S. 395) |
Brass Rail |
Lakeview Hwy. (N. end of town on E. side of U.S. 395) |
(916) 233-2906 |
5:30-10 Tu-Sn |
|
| Bakersfield |
Benji's |
4001 Rosedale Hwy. |
(661) 328-0400 |
11:30-2 W-M 5:30-9:30 W-M |
|
| Bakersfield |
Chalet Basque |
200 Oak St. (1 blk. E. of Hwy. 99 between Brundage & California) |
(661) 327-2915 |
11:30-2:30 Tu-Sa 5:30-9:30 Tu-Sa |
Now owned by Asians; food not so Basque now. |
| Bakersfield |
Chateau Basque |
101 Union Ave. (1 blk. N. of Hwy. 58 Fwy.) |
(661) 325-1316 (805) 395-9323 |
11:30-2 Tu-Sa 5:30-9:30 Tu-Th 5:30-10 F-Sa 1-9:30 Sn & Hol |
CLOSED |
| Bakersfield |
Maitia's Basque Cafe |
4420 Coffee Rd Ste A |
(661) 587-9055. |
|
CLOSED |
| Bakersfield |
Narduccis Cafe |
622 E. 21st St |
(661) 324-2961 |
Monday through Saturday 5 to 9 p.m. |
|
| Bakersfield |
Noriega's |
525 Sumner St. |
(661) 322-8419 |
7a-9a Tu-Sn 12 Noon sharp only Tu-Sn 7:00p sharp only Tu-Sn |
Reservations highly recommended |
| Bakersfield |
Pyrenees Cafe |
601 Sumner St. (E. of Union at Kern & 21st) |
(661) 323-0053 |
11:30-1:30 M-Sa 6:30-8 M-Th 6:30-8:30 F-Sa |
|
| Bakersfield |
Wool Growers |
620 E. 19th St. (1/2 blk. W. of Baker) |
(661) 327-9584 |
11-2 M-Sa 6-9:30 M-Sa |
|
Chico (Butte County, 41 mi. S. of Red Bluff on Hwy. 99) |
Basque Norte |
3355 Esplanade |
(530) 891-5205 |
5:30-? W-Sa, 5-9 Sn |
|
Chino (San Bernardino County, 5 mi. S.E. of Pomona) |
Centro Basco |
13432 Central Ave. (between Chino Ave. & Schaefer) |
(909) 628-9014 (909) 628-1331 |
11-2 Tu-F 5-9:30 Tu-Sa 4-9 Sn |
|
| Chino |
Pyrenees |
13390 Central Ave. |
(909) 628-6500 |
11-2 M-Sa 5-9:30 M-Sa |
CLOSED
|
Firebaugh (Fresno County, 30 mi. S.E. of Los Banos on Hwy. 33) |
Leku Ona |
1641 N St. |
(209) 659-3994 |
11a-9p M-Sn |
|
| Fresno |
Basque Hotel |
1102 F St. |
(209) 233-2286 |
11:30-2 Tu-Sn 4:30-9 Tu-Sn |
|
| Fresno |
Santa Fe Basque Restaurant and Bar |
3011 N Maroa Ave |
Phone 559.226.7499 Cell 559.226.3646 |
Lunch served everyday 11:00 - 2:00
Dinner served 5-9 Mon.-Sat.
4:30 - 8 on Sunday |
Web Site |
Hanford (Kings County, 34 mi. S. of Fresno) |
Justo's |
129 W. 7th St. |
(209) 583-7713 |
11-2 M-Sa 5-9 M-Th & Sn, 5-10 F-Sa also "to go" |
CLOSED |
La Puente (Los Angeles County, 12 mi. W. of Pomona) |
Le Chalet Basque |
119 S. 2nd St. |
(626) 330-9033 |
Lunch & Dinner M-Sa |
|
Los Banos (Merced County) |
Chalet Basque |
1639 E. Pacheco Blvd. (Hwy. 152) |
(209) 826-1400 |
11:30-2 M-Sn 5:30-9:30 M-Th 5:30-10 F-Sa 4:30-9 Sn |
CLOSED |
| Los Banos |
Wool Growers |
609 H St. |
(209) 826-4593 |
11:30-2 Tu-Sn 5-9 Tu-S |
|
Maxwell (Colusa County, 11 mi. N. of Williams on I-5) |
Chateau Basque |
Hwy. 99W & Oak |
(916) 438-2800 |
Breakfast Sa-Sn 10a-10p W-Su |
CLOSED |
Northstar-at-Tahoe (Placer County, 6 mi. S.E. of Truckee on Hwy. 267) |
Basque Club |
Hwy. 267 & Northstar Dr. (near golf course) |
(916) 562-2460 (916) 587-0 |
Dinner - ski season only |
|
Rosamond (Kern County, 12 mi. N. of Lancaster) |
Villa Basque |
4417 W. Rosamond Blvd. |
(805) 256-4182 |
11:30-1:30 Tu-Sa 6-9:30 Tu-Sa, 5-9:30 Sn |
CLOSED |
| San Francisco |
Iluna Basque |
701 Union Street (at Powell) |
415-402-0011 |
Sunday to Thursday, 5:30pm - 10:30pm Friday to Saturday, 5:30pm - 11:30pm |
website |
| San Francisco |
Piperade |
1015 Battery St |
415-391-2555 |
Lunch hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30am - 3:00pm
Dinner hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:30pm - 10:30pm
Closed on Sunday |
website |
| San Francisco |
Basque Hotel |
15 Romolo Pl. (uphill alley off Broadway between Columbus & Kearny) |
(415) 788-9404 |
5-9:30 Tu-F 5-10 Sa-Sn |
CLOSED |
| San Francisco |
Des Alpes |
732 Broadway |
(415) 391-4249 (415) 788-9900 |
5:30-10 Tu-Sn |
CLOSED |
| San Juan Bautista |
Matxain Etxea |
206 4th St |
(831)623-4472 1-888-4basque |
|
website |
| San Miguel |
Tenth Street Cafe |
|
|
|
Fixed price meals at $25 |
San Rafael (Marin County) |
Cafe Villa Basque |
1600 Lincoln Ave. |
(415) 459-6161 |
11-2 M-Sa 5-9:30 M-Sa |
|
| San Rafael |
Le Chalet Basque |
405 N. San Pedro Rd. |
(415) 479-1070 |
11:30-2 Tu-F & Sn 5-10 Tu-Sn |
|
Sausalito (Marin County) |
Guernica |
2009 Bridgeway |
(415) 332-1512 |
5-9 M-Th & Sn 5-9:30 F-Sa |
|
South San Francisco (San Mateo County) |
Basque Cultural Center |
599 Railroad Ave. |
(650) 583-8091 |
11:30-2 Tu-F 5:30-9:15 Tu-Sa 5-9 Sn |
|
Winters (Yolo County, 13 mi. N. of Vacaville on I-505, near Lake
Berryessa) |
Arnaud's |
1123 Grant Ave. (Hwy. 128) |
(916) 795-3404 |
5-9 F-Sn |
NO LONGER BASQUE |
Idaho |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
| Boise |
Gernika |
202 S. Capitol Blvd. |
??? |
??? |
Owned by Dan Ansotegui |
| Boise |
Leku Ona |
117 S. 6th St |
(208) 345-6665 |
|
In the heart of Boise's Basque Block! Owned by Joe and Miren Artiach |
Garden City (suburb of Boise) |
Onati (attached to Ranch Club) |
3544 Chinden Blvd. (Exit 49 from I-84, then follow signs to Garden City) |
(208) 343-6464 |
11:30-2 M-F 5:30-10 M-Sa |
CLOSED
|
| Gooding |
The Gooding Idaho Basque Association |
??? |
??? |
Has a dinner open to the public on the first
Friday of each month, 6:00 to 9:00 PM. |
website |
| Meridian |
Epi's Basque Restaurant |
1115 N. Main St. |
(208) 884-0142 |
??? |
Owned by Chris Ansotegui and Gina Urquidi |
| Mountain Home |
Joe's Club |
185 S. 2nd E. |
(208) 587-5055 |
11-2 W-F 5-10 M-Sa |
CLOSED |
| Twin Falls |
The Basque Kitchen |
360 Main Avenue North |
(208)733-9231 |
12-10 m-F 7-10 Sa |
CLOSED |
Nevada |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
| Elko |
Biltoki |
405 Silver St. |
(775) 738-9691 |
4:30-10 Th-Tu |
|
| Elko |
Nevada Dinner House |
351 Silver St. |
(775) 738-8485 |
5-10 Tu-Sn |
|
| Elko |
Star Hotel |
246 Silver St. |
(775) 738-9925 (775) 753-8696 |
11:30-2 M-F 5-9:30 M-Sa |
|
| Elko |
Toki Ona |
1550 Idaho St. |
(775) 738-3214 |
6a-9:30p M-Sn |
|
| Fallon |
Brenda's Basque Dining |
125 E. Center Street |
775-423-8987 |
4:00 - 9:00 Tuesday-Saturday |
Open for special occasions and parties any day or time. |
|
| Fallon |
Overland Hotel |
125 E. Center Street |
(775) 423-2719 |
|
website |
Gardnerville (18 mi. S. of Carson City on U.S. 395) |
Carson Valley Country Club |
1029 Riverview Dr. (2 mi. S. of town on U.S. 395) |
(775) 265-3715 |
6-9 M & W-F 5:30-9 Sa 5-8 Sn |
|
| Gardnerville |
J & T |
1426 S. Main St. |
(775) 782-2074 |
11:30-2 M-Sa 5:30-9 M-Sa |
|
| Gardnerville |
Overland Hotel |
691 S. Main St. (U.S. 395) |
(775) 782-2138 |
12-2 Tu-Sn 4:45-9:30 Tu-Sn |
|
| Reno |
Louis' Basque Corner |
301 E. 4th St. |
(775) 323-7203 |
11-2 Tu-Sa 5-9:30 M-Sn |
|
| Reno |
Santa Fe Hotel |
235 N. Lake St. |
(775) 323-1891 |
12:30-2 W-F 6-9 M-Sn |
|
| Winnemucca |
Martin Hotel |
W. Railroad & Melarkey |
(775) 623-3197 |
11-2 M-F 5-9:30 M-Sn |
|
| Winnemucca |
Ormachea's Dinner House |
180 Melarkey |
(775) 623-3455 |
4:30-10 Tu-Sn |
|
| Winnemucca |
Restaurante San Fermin |
485 W. Winnemucca Blvd. |
(775) 625-2555 |
5-10 Th-Tu |
|
| Winnemucca |
Winnemucca Hotel "Since 1863" |
95 Bridge St. |
(775) 623-2908 |
12-1 M-Sa 6:15-9 M-Sa |
"Since 1863" |
New Jersey |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
| Dover |
Jai-Alai |
73 W Blackwell St |
Tel:(973) 989-0916 |
|
website |
| Newark |
Casa Vasca |
141 Elm St |
Tel:(973) 465-1350 |
Mon-Sat: 11:00 AM-10:00 PM Sun: 11:00 AM-11:00 PM |
|
New York |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
| New York City |
Marichu |
342 east 46th street (between 1st and 2nd avenues)
Of course, right around the corner from The United Nations |
Tel:(212)370-1866 |
??? |
CLOSED |
| New York City |
Pintxos |
510 Greenwich St |
Tel:(212) 343-9923 |
Lunch: M-F 11:30-3:30 Dinner: M-Th: 11:30AM-10PM, F: 11:30AM-11PM, Sat: 4PM-11PM |
|
Oregon |
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
Jordan Valley (near Idaho border; 60 mi. S. of Caldwell, Idaho
on U.S. 95) |
The Old Basque Inn |
306 W. Wroten St. (on W. side of U.S. Hwy. 95 just N. of right-angle turn) |
(541) 586-2800 FAX: 541-586-2899 email: basqueinn@m-hip.com |
4pm to 10pm, Wed thru Sun |
Now Open Owners: Boco & Robin Henry website |
User Contributed Notes /Basque/Food/charley.html |
add a note
|
Total number of notes for this page: 104
Currently viewing page 1 of 6 pages of notes next page | |
Juddmail at yahoo dot com 19-Jul-2011 1:44 |
#12195
|
| Hey all!! Just got home (Las Vegas) from Elko from a two day trade show...ate basque both dinners there...first was BilToki which was the best Lamb I've ever had the honor to put into my gullet...service was the best I'd seen in forever and food was truly top shelf!! Next was the Star which was great food as well but came in short on their steak.. I ordered medium rare and got completely white inside and dry, luckily the company made up for it. Overall both experiences were awesome and I enjoy'd the atmosphere in both places. I only wish we had a place in Vegas to fill the bill. |
|
storman113 at gmail dot com 07-Jul-2011 2:35 |
#12183
|
| Noted last time at Louis in Reno that the regulars spooned their beans on the salad. At WoolGrowers, they spoon it into the soup. Both are great ways to add extra flavor to the food. Give it a try, you'll love both ways! |
|
storman113 at gmail dot com 07-Jul-2011 2:30 |
#12182
|
Dinner tonite at Leku Ona in Boise. If they have the cabbage/sausage soup, skip the dinner and just get the biggest bowl you can!
I had the lamb loin chops, just excellent! The waitress Katie put the left over soup in a go box for me, plus she made sure it was full to the top. What a good girl.
Not the cheapest place for dinner, but worth it.
Owner Joe was in the bar where I had dinner(was 100 outside), he came over and thanked me for coming to his place. Don't get that very often.
BTW: A little Tabasco in the soup makes it more than perfect! |
|
marymckercher at gmail dot com 13-Jun-2011 10:44 |
#12162
|
I live in Idaho and know that Epi's in Meridian opens at 5PM and is T-SA only...I do not remenber the closing time.
Bar Gernika is open for lunch (and has excellent croquetta's!) it hours are:
Monday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-12 a.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
and has excellend tongue on Sat! |
|
nevadachuck at aol dot com 12-Feb-2011 21:44 |
#11946
|
| Superbowl weekend was sheer delight and gluttony. Four of us started off at The Star in Elko for HUGE lobster tail and all the trimmings. Picon's too. If that wasn't enough we all did steaks at Ormachea's in Winnemucca Saturday night. Picon's again. We attended Ormachea's Superbowl party Sunday for the 10th or 11th time. Great fun, great people, excellent food. Gotta hit the diet now so I can go back for more!!! |
|
michaelabuck at live dot com 06-Nov-2010 9:25 |
#11679
|
Can anyone tell me who the waitresses are at the Sante Fe in Reno ...it was a weekly stop when I lived there.
|
|
storman113 at msn dot com 03-Oct-2010 1:31 |
#11561
|
| Was at Louis' Basque Corner in Reno last Thursday for lunch. GREAT food! The gravy on the lamb was to die for! Others at the table had the oxtail and pork chops, there comments were the same as mine. Visit my nephew in Los Banos all the time, he thinks its because I like him! I haven't told him its because of Wool Growers!!! |
|
jenandhermen at yahoo dot com 13-May-2010 22:34 |
#11127
|
| I wasn't born in Bakersfield, but both my parents were and I have lived there and visisted there all my life. Love Basque food and missing it like crazy. What I wouldn't give for pickled tongue and beans right now. Took my kids to Woolgrower's last year on vacation. Wish Basque food wasn't so hard to find. |
|
shellyquist at yahoo dot com 25-Apr-2010 17:25 |
#11065
|
| are there any good Basque places in Portland Or. |
|
ibafiregal at AllTel dot BlackBerry dot com 03-Apr-2010 16:31 |
#10978
|
| I have had the pleasure of dining at the Brass Rail-Alturas (oh so good steak); Onati-Boise (fabulous sponge cake dessert); Louies-Reno (yummy beef tongue); Gerneka-Boise (succulent potato tortillas); Leku Ona-Boise (melt in your mouth croquettes);Epies-Meridian (soloma and rice pudding still make me salivate) Star-Elko (love the salads); Hotel Winnamucca-Winnamucca (everything was delicious) and Santa Fe-Reno (I can taste the soup now). Each of these are places I have and will take friends and family for a wonderful Basque meal!! |
|
tiger_lilly8805 at yahoo dot com 26-Jan-2010 18:20 |
#10745
|
Someone should add to the list:
Villa Basque Deli & Cafe
730 Basque Way
Carson City, NV 89706-7936
(775) 884-4451
My cousin Pete makes the best chorizo!!! |
|
bszim at aol dot com 27-Nov-2009 17:25 |
#10498
|
| WE'RE GOING TO TRY BISTRO BASQUE in Milford, Ct. The first time trying Basque food |
|
aniknight at turbousa dot com 19-Nov-2009 22:18 |
#10473
|
| Toki Ona in Elko was excellent. Converted my non-lamb loving boyfriend into a fan of lamb chops. |
|
dinamasu At gmail Dot com 24-Aug-2009 23:07 |
#10094
|
| Toki Ona has reopened in Elko, NV |
|
dinamasu at gmail dot com 18-Jun-2009 19:18 |
#9795
|
| The Leku Ona in Firebaugh, CA is now a Mexican Restaurant |
|
maui9bill at yahoo dot com 15-May-2009 21:39 |
#9602
|
| Just ate at Epi's in Meridian. Typical expierence, really great people having really great fun eating really really great Basque food. |
|
heather_westenzweig at yahoo dot com 10-May-2009 14:12 |
#9567
|
| Leku Ona in Boise is a fabulous restaurant - food is fantastic and service is superb! Ordered the squid in ink; wait staff gave me the full story of the harvesting and making of the squid dish, along with family tales of visiting the Basque Region. Entrance is through a bar; visited the bar with spouse and other family on another occassion- had a great time! Highly recommend. |
|
eggrub at yahoo dot com 08-Apr-2009 16:44 |
#9411
|
| Carson City, Nevada has the Villa Basque Deli. I have never eaten at the restaurant but I have driven from Reno several times to buy their chorizo - 30 pounds at a time - and will say it's well worth the drive. |
|
nevadachuck at aol dot com 27-Jan-2009 21:05 |
#9049
|
| I would love to hear of any first hand experiences at the Brass Rail in Alturas, CA. Good, bad, or indifferent, any comments are appreciated. I may be spending some time there. Thanks all. |
|
aenglema at yahoo dot com 20-Jan-2009 21:31 |
#9017
|
| The Star in Elko Nevada. The Fillet Mignon there is the best. I have eaten at other basque resturaunts in Nevada (Elko, Winnemucca, Reno, Gardnerville) many times and they are all great, but the fillet at the Star is by far the best. Lots of garlic. The soup, salad and fries are also great. |
|
add a note
|
| Last updated: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 - 0:03:13 |
|
This page is part of Buber's Basque Page and is maintained by Blas Uberuaga.
Please report any problems or suggestions to Blas.
Eskerrik asko!
|
|
 |