Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Cafe Lafayette in Exeter

4.5 (118) 151 S E St A, Exeter, CA 93221, United States

Categories

Restaurant
Cafe

Location on the map

Exeter, Tulare County, California, US

Phone: +1 559-592-9463
Site: https://cafelafayette.com/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday:11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Thursday:11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Saturday:5:30–8:30 PM
Sunday:10 AM–2 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.5

118 Reviews for Cafe Lafayette 2024:

Review №1

2023-05-12 03:31:10

Me and my husband had an incredible delight to have dinner at Lafayette and now it’s my favorite French restaurant!Starting with atmosphere, outdoor seating is magically beautiful, great music puts you in a right mood and omg the food! Yes prices are on higher end but we live in Los Angeles and tried a lot of expensive restaurants there where we never got to experience such an incredibly kind and attentive service/food and atmosphere, our waitress Ashley was just an angel and even though we were trying this place for the first time we didn’t have much expectation food came out like in the best restaurants in Europe, and we traveled a lot and had many great dinners there, didn’t expect to find such a high quality European experience here.I ordered filet mignon which was made perfectly and mash potato and veggies on the side were all complimenting each other, my martini was perfect and dessert! Wow, this creme brûlée was to die for♥️I would add also that my husband is VEGAN and chef kindly offered couple options that included vegetable gnocchi and garlic French fries and it was just perfectly made and well balanced. And we very much appreciated their attitude about this and making him this delicious food even though it wasn’t on a menu.Overall we truly felt like we are having dinner somewhere in Europe, with great tasting food, nice stuff, music and clean atmosphere. My congregations to the chef ( who is himself French)for creating this beautiful dishes and truly making them with knowledge and love🙏🏻We would be back again and wouldn’t hesitate to drive here from LA for this incredible food.

Review №2

2023-12-07 17:56:52

Very disappointed in the French dip sandwiches. The salad was a wedge of Lettuce with a stinky dressing on it, Roquefort or blue cheese, which I dont like. My fault, I should have asked.French fries were awesome!

Review №3

2021-12-03 04:08:34

The restaurant looks nice and the staff was friendly. Thats pretty much all the praise I can give to this restaurant. For spending $90 per person I would have expected much better tasting food. The bread was home made and was delicious and their french onion was good. The duck was dry and the risotto had way too much asparagus. Escargot was ok. Chicken and potatoes were ok as well, but nothing to justify such a high price. Ive had many $20 meals that were much better than this.

Review №4

2023-11-04 21:32:38

I love this restaurant! Been going here a while.BrunchTheir Croquet Madame and French Toast are my favorites for brunch.AppetizersTheir cheese platter, pork belly and caprese are fabulous appetizers that everyone loves that Ive been with. They have the best French Onion Soup in the valley.DinnerI can never get enough of their chicken cordon bleu but also have enjoyed their Lamb and Ribeye. Fred makes the best filet mignon but its not offered daily.DrinksMy bestie loves their blueberry lavender gimlet. I enjoy most of their red wine selections, especially their Blue Rock Cab and Cristia Red Blend.AtmosphereThe owners are super nice and fun to get to know. The patio has heaters, is dog friendly and just beautiful between the brick, overhead lighting and greenery.EventsI am a wedding planner. Ive also done a couple weddings here (60 guests max). Fantastic price for a venue with fabulous dining experience for the guests.

Review №5

2022-05-23 04:28:38

Something has changed about the place. Our group arrived for sunday brunch, and found the place completely dead. We were one of very few tables at prime bunch time. The menu seemed extremely expensive, $32 for any item, for BREAKFAST food. Sneaky 18% gratuity for 6 or more people added as a “service fee”. $6.50 penalty if you split a meal. Business is clearly going under and these prices and shady fees left a bad taste in our mouths. $150 for two people for brunch?? Sadly used to love the place and everything else was fine, but won’t return under this management.

Review №6

2022-01-08 12:10:58

What a pleasant surprise to have French cuisine in the Central Valley, and cooked by a legitimate Frenchman as well! It was a pleasure to meet the man responsible for such a delicious dinner. My husband and I enjoyed every aspect of the restaurant; atmosphere, service and food! All excellent, a lovely fine dining experience if that is what you are looking for in the quaint little town of Exeter.Merci chef pour la nourriture fantastique, mes compliments à vous et à votre femme pour lexcellent service ! 🇫🇷🍷

Review №7

2023-10-08 23:27:40

Fred the chef made us excellent rack of lamb, so tasty and juicy and tender. Licked every piece of the bones.Loved the French onion soup, the real one. The embedded bread was crunchy and so good. The best.Loved the escargot 🐌, so tasty.The cremolette was excellent.We found our favorite hangout in lovely Exeter.We also had Beaudouex wine 🍷The attendant Chris was very … attentive and kind.It was the best experience.

Review №8

2023-05-29 21:52:43

Great Friendly Service For Brunch. We were a party of 15 and our food was set down hot and delicious. Our waiter was Very Friendly, and very Hospitable even though a few of us move seats and not in the seat they ordered from. I can not wait to stop by for dinner some day and hope I get the same server the did an amazing job with the 15 of us.

Review №9

2023-07-15 05:17:49

Love this place. Nice little secret spot with a great atmosphere

Review №10

2023-04-26 10:52:43

The absolute best Gem you could find around . Most definitely a spot worth traveling to. Food is amazing. Talked to owner . He was trained in France by chefs and bakers for years. High quality taste for sure. Service is so catering and humble. Great place

Review №11

2023-05-20 05:17:26

Went their for my nieces bday and we Waited 3 1/2 hours for mediocre food. My nieces pasta tasted horrible and she let the waitress know but no compensation or discount was even offered considering she did not even eat any of her pasta and they even charge for refills. The waiter and waitress were nice but the wait was far too long and being charged for every little thing was ridiculous. We got there at 6:30 and we didn’t get our food until 9 pm and they close at 8:30pm so maybe find a better restaurant.

Review №12

2023-03-16 21:14:30

Visited for New Years Eve, & my husband & I both ordered the Beef Wellington. Such an amazing meal! Every time weve visited, its been memorable & always delicious!

Review №13

2023-09-01 21:58:55

Lunch on Patio was relaxing and the day was just right temp. Food was great and so was service.

Review №14

2021-05-06 02:35:17

Celebrating a birthday and an anniversary, food wonderful as usual. My rosemary crusted rack of lamb was yummy.

Review №15

2023-05-26 21:12:07

Was very hopeful based on Yelp reviews. Talk about disappointment. Prices do NOT reflect the quality of the food. The service was the only redeeming factor to this place. Save your time and go elsewhere.

Review №16

2022-05-14 05:08:16

Cafe Lafayette serves American and French style cuisine in a pleasant atmosphere. You can dine inside or outdoors in their open patio with brickwork and umbrellas. The menu is divided into appetizers and entrees, and seems to rotate. The food is well-prepared overall: the grilled prawns with garlic is an excellent appetizer, their steaks are good quality and seasoned well. Service is polite. My quibble with Cafe Lafayette - and why I give them three stars, is their pricing. While the portions for the entrees themselves are reasonable, I dont see them as being roughly $50 per person and that is without wine or other beverages. The appetizer, though delicious, should not be $25 for six prawns. Again, the food here is generally very well done and it is nice to have a good quality restaurant here in the Exeter area, but I would not return here based on their pricing.

Review №17

2023-02-18 03:18:00

Was Here for Valentines Day.. didnt even get to try the food The Worst experience due to bad service.. waited over an hr and half and was never asked if I wanted a refill on my drink.. Upon leaving asked to speak to manager informed him we were leaving cause of the delay was never offered refills on our drinks.. his response will he dont offer refills cause theyre not free..service was just out right bad,

Review №18

2016-08-25 05:02:44

Great customer service, great variety of wine and a very cozy place to enjoy a nice dinner.

Review №19

2017-04-19 16:20:11

Great place. Outstanding food. Very friendly. The terrace is a paradise.

Review №20

2019-05-13 05:47:12

My husband made a reservation a week in advance. This place is a house turn into a very charming restaurant. I had a rack of lamb, 4 lamb chops it came with mushed potatoes asparagus and sliced carrots. Everything was perfectly cooked. Absolutely delicious !! The dish itself was $48. My husband had beef stew.. yeah thats probably not the right name is French. My little one had pasta with garlic bread. I had a little bite of everything we had that night it was delicious. The dessert was amazing a crepe with a mix of warm berries and ice cream. French cuisine is pricey but worth of trying. Nice experience!

Review №21

2017-05-30 06:38:27

Delicious! A real culinary gym. The food was delicious with the right amount of seasoning. The host was very attentive and welcoming. And at the end of of our wonderful meal the chef came out to shake our hands which was a nice touch. Will definitely be back

Review №22

2019-12-14 20:26:35

My first visit here for a birthday dinner was great. My visit last night was bad. It took an hour and 30 minutes to get a soup and salad. Our service was average. Our waiter told us the kitchen was backed up when we asked if I could get my salad. I understand kitchens get backed up and there is a que when it comes to preparing food, but cmon. Wanted a nice dinner for me and my girlfriend, did not meet expectations unfortunately. Hopefully management can gain control on whatever happened in the kitchen last night because this place has a cool environment.

Review №23

2018-09-22 04:11:40

Nicely appointed fine dining in a somewhat unexpected location. Well done dishes, perfectly cooked pork tenderloin in my case. Comfortable outside seating was a nice alternative to a pleasant and attractive indoor area. Service was good and attentive, a minor mixup was quickly remedied. I look forward to a return visit.

Review №24

2017-03-17 17:47:50

Not particularly impressed. Outside seating is great! SO pretty. But the waiter was a little casual/mouthy. Im a little old fashioned but slang and just lax language isnt for the work place. Especially a nice restaurant. My order came out wrong and the pasta wasnt even hot. Or very warm. Not enjoyable. Overall, service was a bit lacking and the things that separate ok from great just werent there. And for the price it should be solid. Too bad, I was excited to go there. But Ive heard lunch is better. Doubt Ill try.

Review №25

2019-04-06 22:33:07

Wonderful place!!! Charming courtyard for outdoor seating was wonderful, made the experience of terrific food all the more enjoyable with sun shining through the overhead trees. Service was a little slow, but otherwise perfect with a very nice table side ambiance.

Review №26

2021-10-10 05:09:10

Went to have dinner when every other restaurant in Exeter was packed. We tried this place before but they waiters were very pretentious and didn’t t help at all….but because Monet had no room we decided to give this place another chance. We walked up the restaurant at 7:45. The sign said they closed at 8:30. The waiter told us the kitchen was closed even thought they were just bringing dinner out to some people we know. Said they were slow so we’re closing up early. Sorry we will never be back to experience you. Guess there is a reason every other place in Exeter is packed and you had no customers. Really irritating.

Review №27

2017-11-17 20:08:05

Excellent meal. We just happened across this place on our drive to Los Angeles from the Sequoia National Park. I had the Chinese Chicken Salad and it was a huge portion. I had to take half of it with me. It was so yummy. My husband had the clam chowder and it was better than what we had in San Francisco.

Review №28

2020-03-06 06:48:04

A great place for an excellent meal in a quaint setting. I was part of a dinner gathering in one of the private rooms. We had great service and could visit easily. Pricing is a bit higher than typical for the area, but the dining experience was very nice.

Review №29

2019-06-07 22:20:14

The service was great but the Chinese chicken salad was almost uneatable. It was way to salty. All you could taste was soy sauce. My husbands Washington burger was excellent.

Review №30

2018-02-15 13:40:03

Excellent food! While my visit was on Valentines Day andvthey were packed, it took 75 minutes to bring our appetizer. But after that everything was simply awesome. Thus chef kniws what he is doing! If not for tge initial wait Id give them 5 stars. Maybe next time when its not Valentines Day.

Review №31

2021-04-30 22:51:28

The service was very good but the food wasnt. Weve been here in the past and the food was pretty good. Im not sure if they have new cooks or if something else has changed but we were very disappointed.

Review №32

2017-07-28 05:13:14

Great food. Love brunch menu and cheese plate. I would rate 5 stars but some of the staff is a little to stuck up and makes you feel uncomfortable. Now, not all are like that, most a really great.

Review №33

2019-03-16 07:08:23

Ive only been here a couple of times but my experience has been great! The food is excellent and the variety is impressive. It is pretty expensive but well worth it. The staff is courteous and take care of you.

Review №34

2020-02-24 00:04:31

Excellent! Best Eggs Benedicte in the entire Valley. Best Hollandaise sauce Ive tasted in a very long time. Service was friendly and prompt. Escargot was tasty - could have been served with a slice of toast. Creme Brule was good. Will be back.

Review №35

2022-09-25 00:30:23

Took my beautiful niece for her birthday lunch today. Absolutely delicious & great service from Jessica. The owner Fred even came by my table to introduce himself. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Review №36

2018-01-01 02:28:32

Unfortunately you wont find any dinner entrees under $28 here. Most of the entrees were +$35. The beef burgundy tasted like 3-day-old stew because the meat was hard and dry. I liked the puff pastry-wrapped salmon and thought it was worth $37. The desserts were no better. The pecan pie was a speciality dessert for the evening, but it was underwhelming and clunky. It was a thin flat tart, with untoasted, raw pecans and a thick layer of glaze on top. I could only taste the thick glaze and raw pecans. Besides my salmon, I thought the charcuterie plate was worthwile, because the pate and cherry compote were complex and flavorful. Dont come here expecting all your dishes to be standouts and you should be okay. Its a quiet restaurant with a clean decor, perfect for special evenings. Too bad theres only two dishes I thought were good.

Review №37

2019-05-24 18:51:33

I really enjoy this place. Price is kinda pricey, but well worth it.

Review №38

2017-09-01 02:43:55

The food is amazing and the portions are hearty. I actually prefer this restaurant to Visalias Vintage Press. It is more intimate and has all the charm of the French Quarter in New Orleans. The Service was first class.

Review №39

2019-03-09 06:10:50

Food was nothing to jump up and down about, very small portions and outrageous prices. I only ordered chicken cordon blue and a mixed drink... It was 60$. Food was OK but I do wish they had a bigger menu.

Review №40

2018-11-08 05:08:41

Excellent meal and our server was so attentive and professional. Outstanding dining atmosphere. Great outdoor patio seating.

Review №41

2015-07-25 16:42:18

Having traveled a great deal in my life and dinned in many fine restaurants I can easley rate Cafe Lafayette as one of the best! Who would guess that in this little Central CA town of Exeter I would stumble across such a great little French Cafe with excellent ambiance, service and food?Completely enjoyed this restaurant, as did my guests!Would recommend to anyone wants a true French dinning experience with excellent food!

Review №42

2020-08-01 22:41:36

Great place delicious food!👍👍

Review №43

2023-10-21 05:16:35

Awesome environment, food and service

Review №44

2021-05-07 05:33:25

The place is the best in Exeter !!! Love the food, the staff is very friendly and accommodating to any of your needs! I will definitely recommend this place for brunch and dinner!

Review №45

2017-12-31 17:16:41

Super yummy went on a Saturday they had live music which was a plus ...everyone that worked there was really nice ..Lucas our waiter was very funny friendly helpful made our first time eating there more enjoyable .. definitely going back

Review №46

2021-04-04 23:31:14

A fabulous nibble, in this beautiful Courtyard of Cafe Lafayette!

Review №47

2022-12-12 15:36:03

Very nice restaurant for a business Christmas party.... server was very good....

Review №48

2018-11-17 17:15:40

Absolutely great restaurant ... somewhat off the grid, but well worth the short drive. A must for a fabulous meal.

Review №49

2018-11-16 08:58:51

My daughterhad her wedding and reception there this past sunday on the 11th.the night before while setting up,moving tables etc,lil before closing they came to us and asked if we wantedsome coffee if not they were just gonna throw it out,so we took it then they billed my son in law for the coffee.long story short, they have a red headed waitress there that should be fired extremely rude and disrespectful to every one.very snotty attitude.food and alcohol overpriced .10 dollars glass of wine.$ 30 for a plate with atri tip sandwich ( bread and meat ).about 10 frenchfries.and a glass of water..rediculous..not one time did anyone come to the tables to see if everything was ok, if we needed anything,nothing.without a duubt the worst dining experience ive ever seen.the owner was there apperantly doesnt care.they sent out grilled cheese sandwiches that the bread was black burnt.i dont call that much of a chef .stay away the place sucks.

Review №50

2017-10-26 17:49:41

Great food everything made from scratch. Went on a Sunday day for mimosas, price is a little more than average but well worth it.

Review №51

2022-04-17 17:57:09

Delicious California cuisine with a french flare located in the heart of picturesque downtown Exeter.

Review №52

2019-12-18 14:23:43

Always a pleasant experience, staff is attentive, & meals wether lunch or dinner are excellent. The French onion soup is my favorite.

Review №53

2017-06-26 23:22:22

Love this restaurant. Great menu, cool bar. First class operations. I highly recommend to my guests.

Review №54

2018-04-01 05:56:08

We went to listen to Marc and George on Jazz Night... And found excellent food. Charming Cafe. Great service.

Review №55

2017-08-24 01:33:29

Very delicious food. Kinda pricey, but worth it. Wait staff very polite, knowledgeable, and helpful.

Review №56

2018-07-21 03:41:08

Excellent food, diverse menu, great service. Perhaps the best restaurant in Tulare County.

Review №57

2016-07-10 04:48:42

Wonderful food. Amazing music, great service. If you got the $$, go here!!

Review №58

2021-06-12 05:43:13

Lovely Cafe with beautiful al fresco dining, varied but elegant menu and fine service.

Review №59

2019-07-26 00:07:48

Bon appetit very good swanky, get dressed up take your Lady Love out. From this Little 🐦 Bird from Texas.

Review №60

2017-06-30 00:00:58

A pleasant surprise. A well prepared steak, simple, nicely presented charcuterie and cheese plates, nice wine.

Review №61

2018-03-12 02:58:43

Beautiful place, cozy atmosphere, friendly service, delicious foods and great wine - most enjoyable!

Review №62

2021-04-30 02:15:16

Excellent food and atmosphere, especially out on the front patio.

Review №63

2022-04-16 22:41:50

Love this restaurant. Such a nice place to eat in Exeter.

Review №64

2019-09-26 21:53:23

Food was so good. Service was awesome and the place looks so pretty .

Review №65

2019-05-06 05:22:48

This is a super cute little French cafe. The food is great and the service is good.

Review №66

2020-05-27 18:17:49

Expensive at times, but worth it. Just a world class operation in a fantastic location with memorable meals.

Review №67

2019-12-22 00:26:25

Super cute place, yummy food and drinks, and a really nice host/server.

Review №68

2016-07-06 07:54:26

First time experience was beyond amazing. Everything was perfect, from the delicious food to the excellent service.

Review №69

2019-08-10 04:18:09

Great food, drinks and fun... Birthday party had a blast !!

Review №70

2018-09-05 20:48:40

Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. I love this place.

Review №71

2019-03-11 22:49:00

OMG amazing seafood pasta!!! And the host/waiter was 5 STAR ALL ON HIS OWN!

Review №72

2020-01-04 03:07:34

Fabulous, relaxing, great food, hospitality, and service is great. Recommend it to all.

Review №73

2018-03-23 03:32:32

Best restaurant in Tulare county. Hands down. No question.

Review №74

2021-03-19 15:16:49

Good service and lovely setting but disappointed in the food.

Review №75

2020-10-02 10:49:01

Nice patio. Wonderful food. Friendly service.

Review №76

2018-02-25 20:04:34

We had an amazing night here! Food and drinks were perfect

Review №77

2015-04-16 21:12:48

Excellent service from the staff. Great food for lunch menu.

Review №78

2018-11-05 02:06:53

Wonderful Sunday brunch. Great food selections.

Review №79

2018-03-02 07:31:18

Great food, wonderful atmosphere, good service

Review №80

2022-05-22 13:08:30

Great food! Friendly staff!

Review №81

2016-10-09 03:46:09

Excellent experience, high class and the food was very good.

Review №82

2023-01-10 07:51:43

Was great with all my co workers

Review №83

2020-10-02 21:30:52

Nice place, great waitress and delicious food.

Review №84

2018-01-01 18:39:21

Fantastic service, ambiance and food. A true nugget in the central valley!

Review №85

2017-06-19 03:43:09

Great food wont have to drive to Visalia for great food. Great duck!

Review №86

2020-10-21 21:24:11

Service was horrible, food was ok. Would not go back.

Review №87

2018-05-06 03:45:45

The service was excellent. Food sublime.

Review №88

2017-11-20 21:16:55

Great food, atmosphere, music and service

Review №89

2018-08-06 19:05:29

Pricey. Almost $100 for brunch for two people.

Review №90

2017-08-12 18:34:40

A bit pricey, but food was delicious

Review №91

2019-10-20 20:55:37

Unlimited MIMOSAS on Sunday! Montecristo delicious and potatoes delicious!

Review №92

2019-04-01 21:07:19

Good food, fun place, cute town.

Review №93

2018-04-15 12:56:05

Great FORD dealership and nice local people.

Review №94

2018-06-22 01:43:39

Awesome service and delicious food!

Review №95

2021-06-10 22:38:47

A great place to take friends for dinner.

Review №96

2018-12-14 02:35:37

Great food, super service. 🙂

Review №97

2019-02-22 00:09:15

Nice atmosphere and wonderful cuisine.

Review №98

2020-09-20 11:27:38

Great food, nice view

Review №99

2020-02-16 05:18:51

Never heard of the joint! My phone is screwing up!!😂

Review №100

2017-06-08 04:02:42

Brunch lunch and dinner best in town

Review №101

2020-07-28 23:12:09

Great cocktails and dinner spot

Review №102

2018-05-30 00:38:59

Never been hear But hear lot good things about this place

Review №103

2019-03-04 03:51:05

Food is always amazing!

Review №104

2020-01-26 21:13:52

A lasseiz faire experience to take in, worth it.

Review №105

2020-02-16 23:02:01

Great Sunday Brunch!

Review №106

2020-03-04 04:20:22

Visalia areas finest restaurant.

Review №107

2018-07-07 20:04:13

Good food

Review №108

2018-06-12 15:58:00

Good food and service.

Review №109

2020-08-07 00:12:23

Not a huge menu

Review №110

2021-01-07 02:18:22

Its okay

Review №111

2023-03-10 21:19:50

Delicious 😋

Review №112

2019-05-05 02:21:37

Beautiful place!

Review №113

2019-09-10 21:39:00

Great

Review №114

2020-09-08 01:48:57

Family friendly

Review №115

2019-03-05 22:20:37

Terrific spot

Review №116

2019-03-31 02:56:58

Fabulous!!!

Review №117

2017-10-05 17:34:33

Great place

Review №118

2019-05-19 10:49:38

Very good cuisine