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.

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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.		NEW ADDRESS
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	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
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ytcbill at hotmail dot com 30-Apr-2008 17:20 #7400 I recently called the number listed for Brenda's in the Overland Hotel in Fallon NV and was told Brenda is no longer there and that the owners of the Hotel have taken it back and is now called The Overland Hotel. We haven't gotten there yet but have heard that they are turning out real Basque food.
hortzorde at hotmail dot com 16-Apr-2008 0:58 #7322 There is a fairly new place that opened in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle called "Txori". It serves San Sebastian style pintxos that are very good and well priced. A must to check out for any Basque in the area or someone interested in good cuisine. Agur.
julenpradera at hotmail dot com 12-Jan-2008 20:45 #6746 No Basque restaurants in Colorado to my knowledge but in Denver there is an Argentine Restaurant named Buenos Aires Grille and the Head Chef is a lifelong friend of mine, Cruz Imaz who is from Gipuzkoa. There is a little basque food on the menu. Also at Z Cuisine restaurant I believe there might be some basque food on the menu due to the owner and chef having lived in the french basque country for a short time. This is where the Colorado Euskal Etxea tends to have dinner parties as well.
stressfree at mchsi dot com 20-Dec-2007 17:00 #6615 Tenth Street Vineyard Cafe in San Miguel, CA is great traditional Basque dining. Very authentic with excellent food. It takes a while to get through 9 courses. The menu is set for each day. Call for reservations to ensure you are able to get in, and check what time to be there. They do not accept credit cards - this is the only thing that may cause you some heartburn. Not a problem if you are aware ahead of time. Like most good Basque restaurants, it's not cheap (apx. $25 each). Well worth the cost, and makes for a great evening out after wine tasting in the Paso Robles wine country. http://www.tenthstreetvineyardcafe.com/ (805)467-3141
nevadachuck at aol dot com 08-Dec-2007 17:44 #6548 Just returned to Reno from Winnemucca and Elko. Had a great dinner at Ormachea's. Highly recommend them. Also, had three wonderful meals at The Star in Elko. I can't say enough good things about this establishment. You won't be disappointed. In response to andresfilippini@hotmail.com recent post: We would not be disappointed if you were to open another Basque restaurant here in Reno. If it's good, you would definitely get our business. Good luck wherever you open.
esbmd at yahoo dot com 05-Dec-2007 15:24 #6534 Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco- the phone number prefix has changed from 415 to 650. They are still in business. Chalet Basque in Los Banos, CA- they are CLOSED.
andresfilippini at hotmail dot com 22-Nov-2007 20:09 #6473 I'm a chef from the Basque Country and i'd like to start with a basque restaurant in USA Agur bero bat
edg at greenberg dot org 17-Aug-2007 20:56 #5857 None in Washington State?
pams3men at hotmail dot com 10-Aug-2007 17:43 #5814 Kaiso My son will be attending Johnson & Wales University, Denver Colorado to become a chef. We are basque and would love to know if there are any restaurants in the area. He has had the great experience of not only eating at Centro Vasco in Chino, CA.offen but the gran pleasure of Monique's talent in the kitchen of teaching him to prepare Oxtails. And I would love for him to know some Basque Restaurants in the Denver area. Agur
henryenterprises at netscape dot com 05-Jul-2007 11:02 #5590 Hi, We are Boco & Robin Henry from Jordan Valley Oregon. We Have taken over business at the Old Basque Inn in Jordan Valley Oregon sinse August of 2006. We would like to invite you to come experience our Fine Basque and American Dining. We would love to have you come experience our Restaurant and see for yourself. for Reservations call: 541-586-2800. Thank you, Boco and Robin
PINPARIN at AOL dot COM 30-Jun-2007 1:10 #5556 Hi All! Little FYI from Bakersfield. The area code here is 661 so in case you are to call one of the Basque Restaurants listed above don't use 805, use 661. Also, another insight. Only 3 of the restaurants listed above are owned by the original owners who are Basque, Noriegas, Benji's, and Wool Growers. The rest are non-Basque owned. I will say they are the best, too! AUPA EUSKALDUNAK! Just wanted to give you a little more information. Thanks and enjoy!
msarasqueta at yahoo dot com 29-Jun-2007 13:07 #5552 The Gooding Basque Association dinners are every first friday of the month from 6pm-8pm, with the exception of July when there is no dinner because of the club picnic. The address is 285 Euskadi Lane, Gooding.ID.
ajclemons at global dot t-bird dot edu 30-May-2007 14:33 #5282 Any further tips from this crowd on eating Basque in Oregon? Harney/Malheur Counties, of course. Burns has a Basque Festival every summer, but no established restaurants that I can find. I spose we could drive 137 miles to Jordan Valley, but my toddler might object.
christy at cpepalis at msn dot com 27-May-2007 22:47 #5260 Are there any Basque restaurants in the Colorado Springs, Co area?
likefrieswitdat at hotmail dot com 23-May-2007 2:06 #5236 Mmmmm Leku Ona... So. Good. It's hard to walk after you stuff yourself.
dhisashi at yahoo dot com dot sg 09-Apr-2007 1:40 #4945 Los Banos (Merced County) Chalet Basque 1639 E. Pacheco Blvd. (Hwy. 152) is CLOSED
Noriega Hotel Ph# Change 27-Mar-2007 14:54 #4854 FYI the number for the Noriega Hotel is (661)322-8419.
nevadachuck at aol dot com 25-Feb-2007 11:50 #4663 The Star has always been my favorite when visiting Elko but my last visit I found it so crowded that there would be an extremely long wait and I was hungry. So, I went down the street to Biltoki's and went right in for dinner. The soup and salad were great. The sides were good and I had beef tongue smothered with a wonderful sauce. Very tender. I highly recommend it if you visit there. Can't wait till my next trip in a couple of weeks.
jessiegaffen at hotmail dot com 26-Dec-2006 23:52 #4272 CASA VASCA IN NEWARK NEW JERSEY.
aaron at wntconline dot com 16-Nov-2006 15:00 #3981 NADUCCI's!!!! Best place to play shows
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Last updated: Sat, 10 May 2008 - 15:56:34

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