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Summary
This Gallic treasure (est. 1927, but ultimately dating back to 1896) is London’s oldest French restaurant and – complete with its snail carpet – remains a Soho landmark. Its standards under owner Brian Clivaz have held up well over the years, and its ratings continued to be solid in this slightly turbulent year (which saw the establishment close from February to May 2023 to allow for a financial restructuring). The fairly classic menu is appealing and mixes affordable entry-level dishes (croque monsieur at £12) with more luxurious options (such as baked lobster with garlic butter, or fillet of beef ‘Rossini’, both at £54). Top Tip – superb-value prix fixe at lunch and early evening: two courses £19, three courses £24.
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”.
For 33 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).
Have you eaten at L’Escargot?
48 Greek Street, London, W1D 4EF
Restaurant details
L’Escargot Restaurant Diner Reviews
"We had visited some months ago for a pre theatre visit and were most impressed, especially with the service. This time the service was good but not special and the food was quite average. Still a great atmosphere although the restaurant was far from full."
"“Solid” classic French cooking in the heart of Soho. "
"A real gem - the cooking is wonderful, service fantastic and it is just a treat to be there"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £27.00 | £32.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Veggies | Pudding |
|---|---|---|---|
| £17.00 | £44.00 | £12.00 | £12.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £36.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £5.00 |
| Service | 15.00% |
48 Greek Street, London, W1D 4EF
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑5 pm |
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