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For security reasons, user contributed notes have been disabled.
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.
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| 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 |
| |||||
| 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 | CLOSED |
| 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 |
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| 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 |
| |||||
| City | Restaurant | Address | Contact | Hours | Note |
| Elko | Biltoki | 405 Silver St. | (775) 738-9691 | 4:30-10 Th-Tu | CLOSED |
| Elko | Nevada Dinner House | 351 Silver St. | (775) 738-8485 | 5-10 Tu-Sn | CLOSED |
| 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 | CLOSED |
| Winnemucca | Winnemucca Hotel "Since 1863" |
95 Bridge St. | (775) 623-2908 | 12-1 M-Sa 6:15-9 M-Sa |
"Since 1863", now CLOSED |
| |||||
| 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 |
|
| |||||
| 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 |
|
| |||||
| 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 |
|
Please report any problems or suggestions to Blas. Eskerrik asko! |
