I love the food at L'Escargot! It's the ONE high end place in Carmel-by-the-Sea that is NOT a tourist rip off. It actually has great food. There are two but the other one is not in Carmel by the Sea but in the barnyard in Carmel. L'Escargot is French and has food I dream about. Just not trusting other people enough to go out to eat yet. read more

Our server told us this is the oldest continually-operating eatery in Carmel - dating back to the 50s, and in its current location since 1961. An interesting feature is a quiet side of the restaurant opposite a more convivial side, with the quiet room counterintuitively being the more brightly lit of the two. Dinner was very good - foie gras, beef Wellington (including...foie gras), and veal. Because we dined on "Wino Wednesday," bottles were offered at half-price, allowing us to enjoy a wine we probably wouldn't have ordered otherwise. A fine poached pear was a dessert highlight. read more

Their French foods and customer services at the restaurant is excellent. It was just a great hassle of making the appointment for dinner. I hope they improve the process of setting an appointment in the future. I still rate this 5 stars and will come back to enjoy their high quality and tasty French courses. read more

terrible dining experience! celebrating our 61st wedding anniversairy with our son ...we were married in dijon, france and thought this would remind us of our superbe dinner in gevrey chamberin! i remarked on the overall cleanliness...specially the restroom...and a quick glance at the small kitchen...my son 's rack of lamb was "so_so" , (his comment), the duck preparation on the dry side, my husband thought the escargots had an off taste...i liked my sweet bread dish, the pate appetizer,thin slice with a few olives , cornichons,half a cherry tomato, a dab of mustard was very disappointing...the cheese cake , made by the mother of an employee was very good .....caution..watch your step as you approach the enrance: the sidewalk needs repairs! read more

Recently, L'Escargot opened for lunch, Wednesday-Sunday. They have created a lovely outdoor dining space off the street (a plus in Carmel where currently many restaurants are serving meals in spaces created on the streets because of Covid restrictions). We enjoyed the crab and shrimp sandwich, pate, and goat cheese tart. The lemon tart was a nice way to end the meal. L'Escargot is open for dinner as well with outdoor heaters. read more

This restaurants food is classically amazing! With outdoor dining this is a plus in a city that did away with parklets. Thanks I am a local and refuse to eat indoors! read more

In town to stay with my dad who comes to Carmel for the month of August. Sunday night 5:30 got a reservation for 2 at 7:15. Was here last year in August for my birthday. Place is in a old house set back from the street behind a law office. Street parking but it's not too bad on Sunday. Dim lights, lots of tables in 2 rooms, soft music, dress is office casual with some sport costs. I'm wearing a dress shirt and black jeans. Seated immediately, waiter introduced himself, tells us the specials and says he'll return with water. Dad checks the wine list and the menu. I order escargot classic and the duck. Dad orders the 3 course meal which was soup of the day (cream of asparagus) Chicken Provence and ice cream with raspberries, and a Chateau Montrachet $$$. Food is wonderful, service is snappy, water refilled frequently, the owner/manager comes by to check on us. What's not to like? About $130 without wine, before tip. read more

Best escargot we've had west of Paris so far! Sitting outside in the cute courtyard added to the ambiance. Great lamb and duck. Can't go wrong. Eat here. read more

The service was excellent but I got sick off their food when I got home so not sure I can give a good review unfortunately! My bf and I got dinner vouchers for this place because we stayed at Svennsgard Inn for Valentine's Day. We came here because I had never tried Escargot and we read reviews that this place had excellent food. The food did taste amazing and I did try Escargot for the first time. It definitely was an experience to remember. It tasted good but I probably won't eat it again just because eating snails does kinda freak me out! The service was excellent and we were served quickly and by friendly staff. However, after my bf and I walked home, I started getting sick. My bf never got sick but I was up all night with the "runs." I'll spare you all the details and just leave it at that.... I'm sorry I hate giving bad reviews but something made me sick there. I had bread, butter, escargot, and a shepard's pie main course. read more

Discovered L' Escargot on Yelp and decided to try it based on the reviews. The location is well off the beaten path and looks charming from the outside BUT the interior is dark and dated (not in a good way). The main room was full. So, we were seated in the corner in side room with a LARGE party of 10 of so also in it. I had a view of 2 very old and yellowed French Champagne regional maps on the wall from my seat ; one of which was askew that I got up to straighten because I HATE looking a crooked pictures. Not that it matters but the waiter said it always goes crooked when he saw me straightening it. We were the only other couple in the room and the large party was (of course) very noisy which did not lend itself to the quite and romantic dinner that we were looking forward to sharing this evening. The prices on the menu were quite high (even high by SF standards, which I am use to). However, given the seating we were given next to the noisy party, we decided to just have a quick dinner and get out of there ASAP. So, we went w/the fixed prixe 3 course menu (soup/salad, entree and desert) for "only" $30 each. My GF had a French (I assume) "minestrone" bean soup and I had a very ordinary green salad. The soup was ok but too rich for my taste that evening. I then had the roast chicken (which was fine) and my GF had some fish (forget which but it really wasn't worth remembering). The meal ended w/two servings of vanilla ice cream served w/a cherry (?) sauce. This was a good value BUT I think we would have done much better ordering ala carte from the menu AND would have done so if we did not find the seating we got (with the loud party) so unappealing. The waiter did a reasonable job of paying attention to us despite being overwhelmed by the large party that he also had to serve. Service would have been better if he did not have this group to deal with. I gave L' Escargot an "ok" rating despite a generally unsatisfying experience.. I will give the restaurant another chance when I visit Carmel again when I'll wait for a table in the main room and order from the menu instead to see what the kitchen can really do. read more

FOOD: L'escargot is great value for the money (in Carmel). The cuisine is country French, which initially made me freak out because I thought it would be too heavy and creamy. Fortunately, there are some lighter options on the menu (the fish special is usually a good option). If you can really let loose then try the duck cooked two ways or the chicken and cream! Don't come here and not have the creme brulee. I don't care how long you have to spend on the stairmaster, this stuff is not to be missed! PRICE: They have recently added a three-course fixed price menu for $29, which is an excellent value. The wine-by-the glass selection isn't huge, but every option is excellent, and the wine prices by both the bottle and the glass are very reasonable. Two 3-course meals, two glasses of champagne, two glasses of wine, two coffees, tax and tip: $130. MOOD: My favorite thing about l'escargot is the ambiance. It's warm and friendly (I'm convinced that "country" french is code for nice French people and "traditional" french is code for mean French people), the staff are unobtrusive and professional. This would be a great place to go for a quiet birthday celebration with your family, or a romantic dinner with your sweetie. LOGISTICS: Leave plenty for time for parking as it's on the dark Carmel streets and can be difficult to find. If you're bringing grandma you may even want to bring a flashlight. Here's a parking tip: you'll probably be going to l'escargot by driving down Ocean and taking a right on Mission. Pass the restaurant (on the left) and drive past 4th street up the hill. Right at the top of Mission, go past the Tradewinds Hotel on your right and there's a few parking spots at the top of the street. Then you just walk down the block to the restaurant. Reservations, naturellement! read more

The overall 4 1/2 Stars brought me here, but, it was so good, that I went back for dinner again the next day! The place is cozy and unpretentious. Feels like you're dining in a neighborhood bistro in Europe. The enticing smells coming from the kitchen really sets the stage for a great meal to come! Appetizers... Sweetbreads in a Madeira Cream Sauce with puff pastry are to die for! Just perfect! Escargot with mushroom caps were expertly done, a bit garlicky with just a slight hint of Pernod. The Potato Leek Soup was light, smooth and flavorful. And fantastic warm French Bread and Sweet Butter come to the table right from the start! Entrees... A beautiful Beef Wellington, with a perfectly cooked, medium-rare filet mignon in the center. This was topped with duxelle (mushrooms & onions) and foie gras, and encased in a golden pastry crust! Braised Short Ribs were very rich and flavorful in a very French style sauce. The Organic Roasted Chicken was expertly prepared, and tasted as you would want your chicken to taste... fresh with a hint of Provence Herbs. Duck prepared two ways was stellar! The leg/thigh was confit, and the breast was pan roasted and was accompanied by a cherry sauce. Desserts... Their chevre cheesecake was a good selection and was not overly sweet, with the goat cheese adding a bit of earthiness to the dessert. Our service was outstanding on both occasions. Jeremy on our first night and Dino on our second. Both gentlemen knew their menus inside out and were most helpful in assisting us with our selections. They each had very warm and friendly personalities and made sure that our dining experience was a pleasurable one! So... the Yelp reviews told the story as it is, and now my review will join the others who also felt that this is one restaurant well worth visiting! Thanks L'Escargot... we'll be back! read more

Absolutely delicious. Went there for Thanksgiving dinner and could not have asked for a better holiday experience with the family. Book far in advance to get a table and you will not be disappointed. Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious! read more

Rather mixed review but definitely more than 3 star, and distinctly not a five. Sweetbreads appetizer was outstanding. Good escargot but not the best I've had by far. Butter lettuce salad was really delightful. White bean soup was very homey with nice spice, but nothing I couldn't make at home. The leg of lamb special was good, but not even close to the best we've had. It wasn't tender enough to allow the diner to focus on any nuances of the sauce. The stuffed quail special was the worst of the meal, Cooked medium rare so it was difficult to get off the bone. Dessert moved back into really nice territory with the chèvre cheesecake served too cold for good texture, but with excellent flavor. Really nice presentation on all dishes, we enjoyed the unpretentious atmosphere, and very cohesive service. read more

See all

Just ok. The prix fix meal was so average. In this economy, this is the draw to get people in and know the restaurant. The goat tart was the best part, other food boring and on the cheap. Vanilla ice cream and a cookie?? is this the best French they can do??? The French food was uninteresting and cliché. They need to up their game and wow us with the dishes. They are in a bad physical location. They need every repeat they can get. I would not return. SF has many of these small French eateries, but do it with flair and fusion foods. The service was friendly, but slow. 25-30 minutes for the first course, and we had to ask for bread. Oh, the bread was good..... read more

We went here for our anniversary. The service was good. The waiter was very friendly and the food was served efficiently. The butternut squash soup was to die for. Absolutely delicious, creamy and decadent. We also had the goat cheese/onion tort. It was very tasty. According to my husband, the pate' was on par with what we had while we were in Paris. I didn't like it but that's probably b/c I'm not a big fan of pate'! We were very curious about everything so we ordered three entrees. The duck, hubby loved, me not so much. The ribeye, cooked perfectly, the flavor was yummy but I've had better. The lamb shank, tender, falling apart and very tasty. I think I tasted a little star anise flavor in the gravy. Desserts were unremarkable, ice cream and brownie. Overall, it was a decent experience. I probably would go back occasionally if I lived there but since I don't, I'll definitely be trying a different place next time. For the price, I was expecting more. read more

We went here because of all the great reviews, and of course, because we love French cuisine. Our waiter Jeremy was fantastic. Very relaxed, answered all my questions and gave me great suggestions. Food is like everyone else is saying here, very French, very strong taste and some dishes are just exceptional. On the other hand, both of our dishes ( I had fish and my husband meat) had identical vegetable medley on the plate, and I am pretty sure that they were not fresh, but bought in a bag. There are two rooms at this place, one look cozier, and the other one looks very empty. There are four or five tables and they are set up right next to the walls and middle of the room is totally empty. Very strange setting. Definitely not my favorite French restaurant in Carmel, but happy we came here for dinner and had a good time. read more

Amazing! The meal was superb! Our server described each entree with precision. Yet very friendly and accommodating. read more

Surprisingly warm and friendly restaurant. Dino immediately makes you feel welcomed and remains engaged and available to discuss, describe, and talk. This place makes you feel like a longtime guest and friend very quickly. I had the sea bass which was exquisitely light, tasty, and well executed. The wine selection complements the food perfectly, and the restaurant is just the right mix of classy and comfortable. I could see coming here on a date, with friends, or alone just to have dinner again. It's well rounded and confident in its abilities. I am eager to try some of the dishes that are available in the winter season. read more

Very good French fare, cooked the way you'd want it in the French countryside. The ambiance is understated, rustic, yet classic and elegant. A snail motif--surprise--reigns in the wooden and statuary ornamentation, but in a way that is not tacky at all. That should tell you something about the quality of the food, too. The creme brulee has something in it--my partner and I just cannot figure it out--that puts it above almost all creme brulee you've probably ever had. And great music selection. Loungey world/techno/Gotan Project-like melange that soothes the soul and palate along with the food here. The prix fixe is a great value and available through the dinner hours. I am definitely returning sometime. A la prochaine! read more

What a treasure. We planned for a great evening of fine dining with exceptional food and service - with such high expectations, we were not disappointed. Loved their traditional approach to French dining as though we were in France. We will be back next time we are in Carmel. read more

Who ever thought a little slimy snail tucked away in a hard covered shell could be so rich, delectable and oh so good. (Makes me wonder who the first human was to taste such a creature slugging through the French Countryside...whoever he/she was, I applaud him/her). This tasty snail is known as L'escargot and I ate at this place to celebrate my Birthday. Situated just outside the main drag of Downtown Carmel, L'escargot looks like a small cottage from the outside. The space is warm and inviting, with French relics adorned throughout the space, low-lit lights and a table bar in the middle of the dining area. The space is small and quaint, sitting about 50 people, equipped with a private room for small parties. I was able to make same-day reservations on a Friday night. They don't take online reservations so to secure a table, I highly recommend calling the restaurant in advance. They have a "Bistro Menu" that changes from time to time and the price of this menu can range anywhere between $29-$36--a pretty reasonable price considering you get a full three course meal. The escargot plate is not included in the Prix Fixe meal and there are absolutely no substitutions. The place is called L'escargot so it would only be appropriate to order a plate of escargot. Needless to say the escargot was delicious! Every little bite was a juicy, buttery, garlicky bite of French heaven. This is definitely the place to go if you want to give escargot a try for the first time. A great introduction to the evening. For their prix fixe meal I ordered the Pate made country style, prime rib served medium rare and topped it off with a brownie a la mode. Started off with the pate--a great start to an excellent meal. Served around a small portion of mustard, olives, pickles and lettuce all sides compliment the slice of pate enhancing each bite to it's last. Next was the prime rib served with frits. This serving is one hefty serving of meat. Unlike other French cuisine where you need 18 courses to fill your hunger, this piece of meat covers the entire plate, topped with melted butter, seasoned just right and served with a hefty serving of frits. Last came -the Brownie Sundae or in French terms Brownie A La Mode. Okay, so this is your typical brownie sundae, nothing out of the ordinary, but a good way to end my birthday night in Carmel, nonetheless. Definitely give L'escargot a try if you're looking for a quaint French restaurant in Carmel and make sure you order their mascot (you won't be disappointed. read more

This was my first time dining at this lovely little restaurant and it definitely won't be my last. The appetizer I chose was the goat cheese tart, a lovely combination of flaky phyllo, cheese and caramelized onions - the pairing with the salad greens and olives was perfect. My entree was the Monterey Sand Dabs - which were also delicious and the home made tartar sauce was just right! Dessert was a let-down. I am a creme brûlée fan; love to make it, and love to eat it even more. L'Escargot's version was three very small egg-shaped portions. The beauty of a good creme brûlée is the silky texture of the custard off-set with the caramelized sugar coating. Sadly, the sugar coated dollops on my plate didn't come close. This dish, in my opinion was not a good interpretation of my favorite dessert. I was jealous of my daughter's brownie dessert, however, and she said that was scrumptious. Our waiter, Dino was great and helpful with the wine selection and gave us a little history on the restaurant. We'll return soon to try out the other selections on their menu! read more

This is a really cute restaurant with excellent service. We came in early with our kids and they took really good care of us. I love French food for a nice dinner out, and this restaurant has a solid reputation. But here is the thing...its just kind of safe. There wasn't anything on the menu that stood out as exciting. The escargot and the pate were ok. My husbands lamb was good, but we have lamb a lot and he would have loved some sort of wild game. And my rabbit pasta was good but really rich without any wow factor. If you haven't been here and like French food, this is a good choice. But there are so many nice restaurants in Carmel that this will be one we probably just mark off our list. read more

Carmel, my "homevillage", is a twilight-zone of sorts, where all kinds of unacceptable activities thrive, like restaurants that stay in business even through your food is really circling 'round in a microwave in back.... All to niftily separate tourists from their dollars... So let us be very, very clear that L'Escargot is NOT one of those places, but instead a true labor of love by a chef-owner that makes traditional French fare the traditional way. Those delicious, lip-smaking French sauces? Made from meat bones (a two day process)! The cassoulet? Epic.... as are the lamb, the sand-dabs, the famous chicken, the french onion soup.... well, everything really. And the creme brule? Just you wait! The atmosphere is pleasantly Carmel, a little cute, a little batty, and the service is warm. They mix great drinks. So please... don't go to that other (terrible, overrated, disgusting, near-by) Carmel restaurant.... You'll find an interesting mix of locals, tourists, Europeans and Texans at L'Escargot, all lifting their glasses to the best restaurant in Carmel..... Sante! read more

This place looks like a little cottage in the English countryside. Enter through the wooden door and sit at one of the handful of tables inside. The mirror on the wall makes the place look bigger, but it stil has that cozy quaint feel with only about 10 tables. Our server wasn't particulary nice or knowledgeable, but the white tablecloths and low lighting was very romantic. I thought the food was good, maybe not great, but good. Of course we had to get the escargot, which was just okay. I'm not sure that was worth it...The goat cheese tart was my favorite appetizer. Flaky crust and good flavor. I had the coq au vin next, and the chicken was juicy and very tender. The mushrooms in the sauce were very tasty as well! My husband had the steak, which was done perfectly, and came with a cone of very thin french fries. Those things were endless. The dessert wasn't anything great. We had ice cream with raspberry coulis and a brownie a la mode. The fixed price menu was pretty much the only way to go. I think it was $29 for 3 courses. read more

Had an amazing experience, service was fantastic. Jeremy was our server, it was our first time there, first time ever having French food and he made it a great time. Food was phenomenal, he went over all the specials with great detail and made them sound tremendously appetizing, and which they were because we went with the Rack of Lamb and Scallops and risotto. We also tried frog legs and escargot for the first time, also fantastic. This is a great restaurant. We will definitely be back. It was a wonderful way to spend our one year wedding anniversary. I highly recommend this restaurant to anybody. read more

L'Escargot - Amazing mid rare rack of lamb - French Near Me - Carmel, California

See all

I hadn't been to this particular restaurant in at least 8 years, but my memory had catapulted it to a very special spot in my mind and I was determined to return. My date was initially sceptical, not being an avid french foodie like myself but was soon won over by this magical little gem. Let me note that the interior has not been spruced up or changed in the 8 years since I had been here last, so it was a tad shabby. But not shabby in a BAD way, shabby in an our food is good enough for you not to worry about the decorations. We started our meal with a nice bottle of Chateau Nuf De Pap, which they decanted at our table. Very yummy. I will admit that I was a TAD dissapointed that they didn't have more french wine on the wine list, this is a french restaurant NO?! But I digress, our bottle was quite good and reasonabley priced. We then ventured on to the onion soup and escargote, fabulous! They were both excellent and we switched plates half way through so that we could both enjoy the appetizers. Lucky girl! My date had the rack of lamb and I had the chicken in cream with truffles. GEEZ, talk about home runs, both of our dinners were excellent. And because we couldn't let that bottle go to waste, we capped off our meal with the creme brulee as every good girl should. Yummy, surrounded by fresh fruit, this was an amazing dessert. I have to admit, that normally I would give this place four stars, what with the semi-meager wine list and the out of date interior. BUT it is just so damn cute in here, the vibe is exceedingly romantic and, well, my company was spectacular. Five stars!! read more

Amazing restaurant, the most delicious food...try the pâté and Beef Wellington. The service was incredible and the cocktails were amazing as well. Highly recommend. read more

THE best experience we've had in Carmel, ever. Delightful service, orgasmic food, ambience for days. Thank you.

AMAZING!! I can't tell you how wonderful it was planning my Grandmothers 80th birthday dinner for 20 people here. The owner helped me create a fabulous 3 course menu with 3 selections in each course plus a kids menu. Everyone in my family can't stop talking about how amazing the food was. My husband almost spent the night on the couch for licking his mussel plate. Here's the thing that made this restaurant one of the best experience in service. I planned our dinner for a Friday night and at the last minute communicated to the owner that it was Saturday night. When all 20 of us showed up on Friday and I realized my mistake I was mortified. The owner was so accommodating and it only took a short while to get our private room ready. While I tried to recover from my mild panic attack at the inconvenience I caused the restaurant and having to watch my relatives wait for the table to be ready, I was offered a cocktail to relax and within no time at all my family was seated and taken care of. We don't travel to Carmel often, but you better believe I will be back. read more

What a pleasant, off-the beaten path restaurant. The Boeuf Wellington was superb. The service was perfect. What a pleasant surprise.

One of our favorite places to eat in the area! Love the food, ambiance and the knowledgeable staff!

We lucked into a table last minute because another party cancelled. A more sensible fan of French food is encouraged to make a reservation. This restaurant is off the beaten path, doesn't advertise, and doesn't have to. They are killing it. The wait staff was amazing. They were courteous, entertaining, and very helpful with strong recommendations. We enjoyed the goat cheese tart, classic escargot, a scallops specialty, and duck two ways. Everything was perfectly executed. I think the winner was the duck - the breast was the best preparation of duck I have ever enjoyed. Crime brûlée and a flourless cake finished the dinner. Both were winners and we found it difficult to pick a winner. read more

Tried to come here tonight, as we are in Carmel on our anniversary trip, to find they were closed. It says on yelp that they are open today, why I planned on coming here. Very upset as I wore heels and we walked here, to only have to walk across town to go to another French restaurant. read more

I was looking for a great French restaurant and this was it! I was very impressed with the atmosphere, the staff was very attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and fun! The owner went well out of his way to make my boyfriend's birthday special. He actually picked up his cake himself. When I thanked him he said, "of course I want you to enjoy your experience." The food though, wow! Every bite was delectable, the food was so good it was like an art. Beautifully presented and savory to the very last morel. If you're looking for great atmosphere and spectacular food, this is the place! read more

Great food and good ambiance! L'Escargot is a little hard to find, but once you do, you wont be disappointed. The restaurant is in a small cottage-like building 1-2 blocks outside of the main downtown area. Aside from the food, which I'll get to, what I liked about this place is that its a nice restaurant without being pretentious. I highly recommend the Chicken in a Black Truffle-Madeira Cream Sauce and the Carmelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tart to start. Just thinking about this meal makes my mouth water! read more

Apparently this is the oldest restaurant operating in Carmel, chef owned since '58. Service: we were served by Dino, I think he is a GM or front of the house manager. He made great conversation and directed us towards some great food and drink. The service is definitely of the French variety, but not extremely formal. Drinks were never left empty and place settings were efficient. All his recommendations were great. Food: we had the first cheese tart for an app, it was rich the carmalized onions were very rich and the playing was well done. For entrees we had the duck off the menu and a beef wellington special. The duck was great, very soft and flavorful, cooked just right. The wellington was executed extremely well. Wellington is generally a labor of love because it is very time and labor intensive to make, but l'escargo executed this flawlessly. The filet was a perfect mid rare (if you're cut it in half when you get it the cooking will slow/stop, if you want it more on the week side, just start eating from one side). It was a decadent dish but very worth it. The vegetables were nothing to write home about, pretty average steamed veggies with the entrees. The salad that came with the app was great though! Drink: Dino recommended a boete cab sauv that was not a tannin heavy wine so it paired up well with both the duck and wellington and was a reasonably priced local wine. They have a small selection of liquors, though they are mostly good and should satisfy most needs. Decor: the decor is a bit austre, could use some warmth but that feeling changed when the dinner rush came. Riding the fine line between fine dining and a homey asthetic. Noise: the walls are hard with lots of right angles so the noise reflections were fairly pronounced, but it was not to bad. I would have to say this is about normal for most places in the area. Dress: for men I would recommend a long sleeve button up shirt. I showed up with a polo shirt and was treated well and still received great service, but most of the other men were dressed up a little more than I was. Pros: the service and execution of a fine dining restaurant without the pretentions that can go along with it. I felt right at home with the professional and friendly staff. The meat and starches were top notch. It was truly awesome to have a single serving beef wellington the came out perfect. Very few establishments even try to pull that off, and most fail to stick landing. The staff were friendly and helpful, but did not interfere with the dining experience. Cons: noise could get louder on busy nights, you probably need a reservation to eat here, the veggies with the entrees were average. Nothing stuck out to me as being under par. Thank you Dino for a wonderful evening, I will be back! read more

Authentic and delicious French cuisine Servicer was without a doubt as professional, efficient, knowledgeable and engaging as any server I have ever had. read more

Wonderful food and atmosphere. Had the Beef Wellington and a really amazing Dover Sole. Worth it to get a reservation here.