Human beings have been eating snails since prehistoric times. Nowadays it is no less than 16,000 tonnes that can be found on French tables, restaurants and in supermarkets every year. Whether an escargot is good or not depends on the quality of the ingredients and the know-how of the cook. Here is our list of Parisian restaurants at which you can enjoy delicious escargots.
1) Au Doux Raisin
29 rue Descartes, 75005, Paris
At the heart of the 5th district of Paris, this wine bar takes you straight back to the 50s, to the time of Michel Audiard’s movies and Jean Gabin.
On the menu? Platters of cheese and cold cuts, foie gras, hot goat cheese, gratins cooked according to different French recipes, culinary delights from Bourgogne and escargots, of course.
No sophisticated recipes here. Only fresh ingredients, butter, garlic, parsley and a lot of expertise. The food quality is high and you can taste it.
You can enjoy your meal with some traditional white wine or some natural and biodynamic one if you prefer. The selection is rich and each wine has been carefully selected by the owner, who knows his business.
Cheers!
Price: €15 for a dozen escargots.
Ratings:
Google: 4.2/5
Facebook: 4.7/5
Trip Advisor: 4.5/5
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 6pm to 2am
Saturday and Sunday: 11:30am to 2am
http://audouxraisin.com/
(The website is not yet available in English)
2) L’Escargot Montorgueil – €€€
38 rue Montorgueil, 75001, Paris
Established since 1832 at the heart of the Les Halles district, the restaurant with its Second Empire style is an institution which received Marcel Proust, Sacha Guitry and Salvador Dali. Throughout the years it has managed to reinvent itself, without ever forgetting its history, and it now intends to be the guardian of the eponymous radiance of the district.
The magic happens at the very door: the storefront, the ornaments and the ground floor rooms are classified as historic monuments.
The inside is decorated with woodworks, chandeliers, red velvet sofas and spiral staircases. The atmosphere is cosy and makes you feel at ease.
You can satisfy your afternoon craving (the word on the street is that their crêpe Suzette is one of the best in town), enjoy an aperitif or even go for the famous escargots if you are ready for a full meal.
You can have them: traditional, with truffle butter or duck foie gras, 3 Saveurs (garlic, curry, Roquefort) or even stamped with edible 24-carat gold.
If you are accompanied, you can also share a selection of 36 pieces of the different flavours.
The owners will advise you as to which wine goes best with your choice. Bon appétit.
Price: Starting at €12 for 6 escargots.
Ratings:
Google: 3.9/5
Facebook: 4.4/5
Trip Advisor: 4/5
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday: 12am to 11pm
http://www.escargotmontorgueil.com/
(The website is only available in French)
3) Benoit
20 rue Saint Martin, 75004, Paris
Bought in 1912 by the Petit family, the bistro “Benoit” grew quickly and became a staple of Parisian bistros.
It underwent some changes in the 60s when the original owner passed it down to his grandson. In order for the restaurant to be more in tune with the times, a private lounge was created on the 1st floor, the reception room was extended and the kitchen was renovated, as well as the basement in which the wine was bottled according to the Beaujolaise tradition. To this day, you can see the hook with which the barrels were taken downstairs.
The bistro was bought in 2005 by Alain Ducasse Entreprise which managed to preserve the atmosphere of the place while bringing in some much needed modernity. “Benoit” is now the only Parisian bistro with a star from the Michelin Guide.
Velvet sofas, tiled floor, woodworks, copper objects and engraved windows: no effort has been spared to recreate the atmosphere of an old Parisian bistro.
The food is traditional (Chicken combs and kidneys, Lucullus veal tongue, Mille-feuille, etc…) and the portions are generous.
The escargots are also cooked in a traditional fashion (garlic butter and herbs) which does not make them any less than excellent.
The secret is the expertise and “Benoit” has a lot of it.
Price: €22 for 9 escargots.
Ratings:
Google: 4.1/5
Facebook: 4.7/5
Trip Advisor: 4/5
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday: 12am to 2pm and 7:30pm to 10pm
Friday to Sunday: 12am to 2pm and 7pm to 10pm
https://www.benoit-paris.com/en
4) La Maison de l’Escargot
79 rue Fondary, 75015, paris
Founded in 1894, the “Maison de l’Escargot” is renowned throughout France for its high quality products.
It is not a restaurant – you cannot eat on site – but they do sell freshly prepared escargots, as well as canned and frozen ones. All products are home-made. Originally the store was the only one in Paris which re-shelled the gastropods before the eyes of the clients.
The first thing that jumps out at you – or rather at your nose – when you enter the store is the smell of garlic butter.
All the steps (the baking process, the sizing and the buttering of the shells) are made by hand. There is no question of compromising on the quality.
The suppliers of all the ingredients are carefully selected: the butter is from Normandy, the garlic from Billom in Auvergne and the parsley, and all the vegetables for the broth, are from quality greengrocers.
Whether you want them fresh or canned, you can choose the calibre (14 is the smallest size and 5 is the biggest) as well as the species (Helix pomatia or Cornu aspersa) of your escargots.
Empty shells are available at the shop if you go for canned ones, so you can re-shell them at home.
A wide range of snail delicacies are also available: the frozen Croustilles d’Escargots (a shell of crispy crust stuffed with an escargot and garlic butter), the chilled Mini Escargots Bites (puff pastry topped with an escargot and garlic butter) and the Escafine (a pie made of puff pastry and topped with escargots and a smooth leek fondue).
The recipe of the filling may be a secret but its exquisite flavour isn’t one.
Price: starting at €9 for a dozen escargots .
Ratings:
Google: 4.7/5
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 7pm
http://www.maison-escargot.com/
(The website is not yet available in English)
5) Du pain et des idées
34 rue Yves Toudic, 75010, Paris
For the youngsters and the most reluctant palates out there who do not want to taste the real thing, there is still the option of the famous pistachio/chocolate escargot of the “Du Pain et des Idées” bakery. A crispy shell, a creamy centre and tasty as hell: you would not know the difference!
Ratings:
Google: 4.5/5
Facebook: 4.8/5
Trip Advisor: 4.5/5
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:45am to 8pm
http://dupainetdesidees.com/
(The website is both in French and English)
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
