Che Bon Restaurant Ballina

This is my favorite place when I am coming to Ballina for the weekend. I wouldn’t miss a dinner there for nothing! I also like to take away the chocolate cake to bring it home, it is so yummy:) After all these years, I have never been disappointed by the meal nor the service. This touch of France so far away is delightful. Thank you guys.

I recently had the unfortunate experience of visiting Che Bon Restaurant, and I must say that it was truly appalling. From the moment I walked in, it was clear that this establishment is not a safe space for BIPOC individuals, as previously noted by another reviewer.

Firstly, the service was absolutely abysmal. The staff demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism and courtesy. When I asked simple questions about the menu, I was met with hostility and a dismissive attitude. It was as if they couldn't be bothered to provide any assistance or give me the information I needed.

Furthermore, the food itself was nothing more than mediocre. Considering the reputation of Che Bon, I expected a dining experience that would leave me impressed. However, the dishes I ordered were bland and uninspiring. It was evident that little effort was put into the preparation and presentation of the food.

What was even more disheartening was the condescending manner in which the staff responded when I politely asked them to speak with respect. This kind of microaggression is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any establishment.

After enduring such a distressing experience, I can confidently say that I will never set foot in Che Bon Restaurant again. I strongly urge BIPOC individuals to avoid this place, as it is clearly an unsafe space where microaggressions go unchecked. There are plenty of other establishments where you can spend your hard-earned money and feel respected and valued as a customer.

I cannot recommend Che Bon Restaurant to anyone, especially BIPOC individuals. The appalling service, mediocre food, and hostile environment make it clear that this establishment is not deserving of your patronage.

We have fallen in love with this restaurant. Normally only have lunch there and have taken many friends, and not one complaint. It never disappoints.
If you want great food at good prices then you should give them a try.

Loved this place, we had a great evening on our last night in the Byron Shire/Ballina - our group of 5 loved every dish we had and service and atmosphere were above what one would expect. Loved the Escargot

Dont try to get a table here unless you book at least 2 weeks in advance.and even if you do book they do not get back to you to say you are unsuccessful.must be that French arrogance we know so well

My partner and I had a wonderful experience here. The food is top quality with generous servings and ridiculously good value for money. The servers were all lovely and helpful. Would highly recommend!

Fantastic food, and yes the French know how to cook! I was a little apprehensive, the philistines with me wanted burnt steak!
However chef came good and obviously hid his distaste,
By delivering a perfect meal, if you’re lucky on a Fri sat night you could get swooned by a French ladies voice……oh l’ala.très magnifique

Second visit to Che Bon. Everything was up to standard (or even better) than my first visit. The staff are amazing.
Will definitely be more visits.

Excellent experience, must be the best steak I’ve had! My fiancé had the duck and thought it was delightful. Very impressed

We recently had the privilege of dining at Che Bon, a French restaurant tucked away in the charming town of Ballina, and it was an experience that transcended the ordinary. From the moment we walked in, we were enveloped in an atmosphere reminiscent of a quaint Parisian bistro, complete with the warm, inviting ambiance that is so quintessentially French.

The food at Che Bon is a celebration of French gastronomy. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared with the freshest ingredients, and the menu is a delightful fusion of traditional French staples and innovative culinary explorations. The Steak au Poivre was a revelation, the beef tender and succulent, bathed in a rich, peppery sauce that was a symphony of flavors. The Stuffed Peppers, a vibrant medley of bell peppers filled with a savory stuffing, were cooked to perfection, each ingredient retaining its unique flavor while contributing to the overall harmony of the dish.

However, the standout was the Seafood Platter. This dish, featuring fresh Prawns and Mussels, was an extraordinary experience. The seafood was fresh and succulent, the accompanying sauces aromatic and flavorful, and the presentation was simply stunning. It was, in essence, a taste of the French seaside served on a platter.

The service at Che Bon was equally impressive. The staff was attentive without being intrusive, striking the perfect balance. They were knowledgeable about the menu, offering insightful recommendations that enhanced our dining experience. Their passion for their work was evident in their attention to detail, from the beautifully set tables to the perfectly timed course transitions.

To conclude the meal, we indulged in the Crème Brûlée. This classic French dessert was a delight, with a perfectly caramelized top giving way to a creamy, vanilla-infused custard. It was a sweet ending to a truly memorable meal.

In conclusion, Che Bon is a must-try in the heart of Ballina. It offers an authentic French dining experience, complete with excellent food and extraordinary service. Whether you're a lover of French cuisine or simply a food enthusiast looking for a memorable dining experience, Che Bon is a must-visit. Bon Appétit!

Had prawn salad. Good number of prawns which were shelled, with head & tail attached. Very easy for my elderly friend to shell.
Excellent service, very friendly.
Loved the lychee martini.

Food was amazing, staff were so friendly and helpful. Thank you Pascale for indulging me with my rather rusty French. Next time we are in Ballina we will definitely be making another visit to Che Bon!

Updating my review, the food remains Fantastic!
Just like being in a restaurant in France, set menu, set prices. The menu has something for everyone.
What a pleasure the staff are! So wonderful to be assisted by experience wait staff who are happy in their work and proud of the food they serve.
Sadly no photos, as I am always too excited to eat the glorious food at Che Bon. Ballina is so lucky to have such a wonderful restaurant.
Thank you to all the Che Bon staff.

Such a wonderful place, we went when they were in Tintenbar, we have had this as take away and dinned in for a long over due date a couple of nights ago. The food is just supreme. I don't know why any would pay $26 for a parmy when you can have divine two course meal for $52, fat stakes and melt in the mouth, huge portions of swordfish. Everything is made from scratch, using sensational products, paired beautifully. Nothing is to hard and two courses always see us stuffed.

Owner needs to spend a bit of time with the presentation of the front of the restaurant. But the steak was nice.

We discovered this little gem on our travels north & would highly recommend it for a beautiful dinner. Staff attentive, food delicious, we will be backx

Not enough choices for Vegetarians,! A bit pricy my cheesecake desert cami in a.jar, 3 spoonfuls and it was all gone. Not visiting again for a while, betterchoices elsewhere

This little French restaurant in Ballina is so so good, the moment we walked through the doors of the che bon it had this amazing vibe, it was super homely. You could tell it was a family run business, first of all it was 11: 30am we came here for lunch however that was not going to stop me from having a lychee martini! I had the pulled beef bun, it was full of flavour it had Swiss cheese on it also with a side of salad, my partner had the ham and pickle baguette with a side of salad, the waiter said we must try the home Made fries, they where hands down the best chips iv ever had and the vegan aioli is next level. We shared the grand mothers crème brûlée, it was not overly sweet like I have had in the past it was well balanced! My partner looks at me with his puppy dog eyes and said let come here for dinner, so we booked for 7: 30, we walked into the restaurant it was busy and still had an amazing vibe, we had 6 fresh oysters to share, now dinner menus are 2 course or 3 course,
We got the two course at first we had the duck pâté it was so amazing, second entree was the escargot it was so yummy full of butter garlic and parsley!

For the mains I chose the steak it was cooked to perfection and it was good quality beef! The mushroom sauce was so yummy!
My partner choose the duck confit it was quiet nice, the gravy was quite a unique taste with orange through it. It also was delicious.
The waiter came over and said any more space.we couldn’t say no. The food was so amazing that we had to have another dessert we had the the mocha Grenache it was rich was good to share! What this chef is doing should not be missed. There is also a little shop inside to that sells French stuff most of its home made like pate, James, wines and lots more. Support this family run business it’s amazing! There home made salad dressing is fantastic we ended up buying a bottle to take back to Melbourne with us) can not wait to come back here again!

Very rustic, authentic, down to earth, good portioned country French food! None of the pretentiousness you see in 90% of French restaurants these days! Highly rate the duck meatball sandwich.

Che Bon serves the most delicious French cuisine. My partner & I enjoyed the Patè, soup, house made bread, pork, duck, crème brûlée & the chocolate bomb. All dishes were perfect in size, flavour & presentation. The staff were lovely & all had a passion for the food they were serving. We will be back again & again.