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Harden's survey result
Summary
London’s oldest French restaurant (est 1927) has been beautifully maintained over the decades and is a charming relic of old Soho. It inspired diverging views this year though: recommended for top gastronomy by some but “rather average” or “a bit of a tourist trap” to others. A fair middle-ground report is as follows: “I have to admit that I had completely forgotten it existed, and it was actually very good. Seems impossible to imagine how well-regarded it was in its time, but still a perfectly decent place to go”.
Summary
“A beautiful interior from another era and a lovely, unhurried, relaxing experience” underpin the period appeal of Brian Clivaz and George Pell’s Soho veteran – London’s oldest French restaurant, they say (est 1927). The introduction of a sushi and cocktail menu is a recent innovation, alongside a French menu the charm of which is its traditional style: snails in garlic butter, lobster bisque, chateaubriand…. It doesn’t attract as many reports as once it did, but fans say “a romantic evening spent here is utter perfection”. (For those up Aldeburgh way, it now has a country sibling too, L’Escargot sur Mer).
Summary
“Beautiful, old-fashioned surroundings” imbue this “classy” Gallic favourite (est 1927) with a “lovely old-school atmosphere”, and – if you’re looking for a “classic” French meal (Chateaubriand, coq au vin, tournedos Rossini, boeuf bourguignon, profiteroles) in the heart of Soho, it has few rivals nowadays. Its rating slipped a fraction in the last survey, though, on the back of a couple of less wholehearted endorsements: “mainly good, but not as exceptional as your last review implied”.
Summary
“Beautiful, old-fashioned surroundings” imbue this “classy” Gallic favourite (est 1927) with a “lovely old-school atmosphere”, and – if you’re looking for a “classic” French meal (Chateaubriand, coq au vin, tournedos Rossini, boeuf bourguignon, profiteroles) in the heart of Soho, it has few rivals nowadays. Its rating slipped a fraction this year, though, on the back of a couple of less wholehearted endorsements: “mainly good, but not as exceptional as your last review implied”.
For 32 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
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Restaurant details
L’Escargot Restaurant Diner Reviews
"We went for a pre-theatre dinner and were completely wowed by the service and ambiance. The food was standard pre theatre - pate followed by a steak and frites. Nothing special there but the service was of a much higher level, that you would expect at a top flight restaurant. Very attentive and, surprisingly all British which must be the post Brexit effect. No shortage of staff. The atmosphere was great. Buzzy and dark but not too dark lighting. Great experience. much exceeded expectations."
"This could be a lot better. The food is standard 1980s French bistro, ok but nothing gastronomic. Decent wine list though short. The oddity is the place…it ought to be so much nicer but somehow little decor additions have harmed it…and we had to ask twice for the music to be turned down in a nearly empty restaurant."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £18.00 | £22.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £18.00 | £61.50 | £9.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £37.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £4.50 |
| Service | 10.00% |
48 Greek Street, London, W1D 4EF
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