La Bourgogne French Restaurant — Restaurant in Hawaii

I ate here 28 years ago, when I first moved to the Big Island, and hadn’t returned till a week ago. It was my birthday celebration and my kids picked this restaurant. I’m so glad they did. It was great to try a restaurant we don’t frequent. The inside is small, quaint and cozy. Very nicely decorated. I believe only 7-8 seating areas. The menu is a set price which includes your choice of entree, main course and a dessert. We did not pair the wine as we aren’t wine drinkers. I had the escargot for my appetizer. It came on a dish which had indentations for each escargot which were in a butter sauce. Crouton (very dry and crunchy) bread was on top. The escargot were soft and delicious. I dipped my bread in the sauce to soften the texture. Due to a dietary restriction, I only ate one of the croutons and shared the rest. My main course was the filet minoin. It was cooked med/rare with the Cabernet sauce. I asked to substitute rice for the potatoes and there was a side of green beans. Everything was cooked to perfection! My dessert choice was the crème brûlée, very good. My family ordered other dishes so we could all take a bite from each other. Two of my favorites were the onion soup and the lavender rabbit. I highly recommend for a special event...

On March 28, 2025, I attempted to have dinner at La Bourgogne. They didn’t answer the phone, and when I arrived at 8:15 PM, they informed me that the kitchen was already closed—despite advertising a 10 PM closing time. The new owners are not French; the original owners sold the property around 2018. The restaurant itself has a plain atmosphere that doesn’t evoke France at all. The older woman working there has been trained in French cuisine, while the younger owner, her son, has an interest in painting. They suggested I return the next evening, but the only available time was 6:30 PM. Instead, I chose to dine at The Fish Hopper, which required no reservation and was significantly cheaper than La Bourgogne, where a three-course meal costs $125 before drinks. In hindsight, I should have read more reviews, as several former patrons had expressed disappointment with the new ownership, particularly regarding food and service. When I first arrived, I spoke some French—since I was raised in France—but quickly realized they don’t speak French. Ultimately, it’s up to you if you want to give it a try. I rated it four stars because that’s the standard, though I didn’t actually dine there. However, I gave just one star for service and atmosphere since both...

A true French dining experience without being fussy-fancy-pants. Take your time and savor every bite. Don't you dare rush! This is a calorie rich treat, make it worth it.

Every ingredient was treated with care and cooked to perfection. The semi-annual cassoulet shows how divine a simple ingredient like beans can be with proper cookery, and the house-made duck confit could stand on its own.

Each protein we tried was cooked precisely to the doneness we requested, and most if not all offer a choice of sauces. Unsurprisingly, the sauces are sumptuous and mate with their meats splendidly; it is French food after all.

Save room for dessert. One member of your party must order the chocolate souffle - it takes awhile so you have to order it before the end of your meal. Just do it at the start so you don't forget. The creme brulee has a crisp crust and velvety custard.

I can't imagine that there is anything less than spectacular on the menu, but sadly a single stomach can't afford to try everything, even if a bottomless wallet could.

Savor your meal and your company at La Bourgogne. It is pricey but worth...