This is a real London's Timeless French Gem L'Escargot is one of those rare London dining institutions that manages to feel both historic and effortlessly current. Nestled in the heart of Soho, this iconic French restaurant delivers an experience that blends old-world charm, warm hospitality, and exceptional cuisine--all under one beautifully preserved roof. From the moment you walk in, you're met with an atmosphere that is classic yet inviting. The interiors are elegant without being pretentious: rich wood, tasteful artwork, warm lighting, and that unmistakable Parisian brasserie feel. You can sense the restaurant's long legacy, but everything feels impeccably maintained and thoughtfully curated. Service is a standout. The staff strike the perfect balance between professionalism and genuine warmth. They're attentive without hovering, knowledgeable about every corner of the menu, and quick to make recommendations that truly elevate your meal. It's the kind of hospitality that makes you feel looked after from start to finish. Now, the food--absolutely exceptional. As the name promises, the escargots are a must-order: tender, perfectly seasoned, and served with the classic garlic-herb butter that begs for extra bread. The menu is a celebration of French cooking done right--deeply flavorful, balanced, and beautifully presented. Whether you're ordering a traditional dish or something more contemporary, you can count on precision and consistency. The wine list is extensive and thoughtfully curated, making it easy to find the perfect pairing regardless of your meal choices. Staff are ready with spot-on suggestions if you're torn between bottles or regions. Throughout the evening, the ambiance remains lively yet relaxed--ideal for a romantic date, a celebratory dinner, or a refined night out with friends. It manages to feel both intimate and vibrant, which is not an easy balance. Overall, L'Escargot is one of London's most reliable and rewarding dining experiences. It's a restaurant with history and heart, offering exceptional food, impeccable service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer. A true Soho treasure and absolutely worth a visit. The fact that is next to the theaters is a real plus .... read more

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Came here for dinner with a couple of friends of mine for two reason. 1) I read this was one of the oldest restaurants (buildings) in London and I have a thing for old buildings. 2) my friends have never tried French food and the menu looked really good. My friends were absolutely in awe of this place. As an introduction to French food, they set the bar really high. The restaurant is very elegant and has a very elevated feel to it. And every dish we got was amazing. My friends even tried the escargot and liked it. Personally that was my favorite dish. The sauce was absolutely amazing and they were cooked perfectly. My second favorite was actually the croque monsieur. The bread was perfectly crunchy on the outside with a perfect cheese to ham ratio. The arancini were so good that we all forgot to dip it in the sauce. We tried the sauce after and it was also very good. The other dishes were all delicious as well. We had absolutely zero complaints about both the food and the service! 10/10 read more

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This was a lovely dining experience! We got there a bit early because we were seeing a show. The staff was super friendly, the kitchen wasn't open yet but they said we can stay and have a drink. We opted to walk around the hood, but it was a great offer. We had: - Escargot - how could we not? It was delicious - Rice ball (it wasn't called that, but that is what it was) - very good - Croquet Monsieur - good - Chateaubriand for two - delicious​ (we stretched it to three) - Mashed potatoes - very good - Glazed Carrots - the hubby liked - Pistachio Souffle - delicious The restaurant had an old school ambiance and the staff was really great. Overall a great dining experience. read more

Fantastic! Great service, great ambiance and delicious food. The Escargot is necessary. I had the fish as a main course and wife had the risotto. Will be back. Recommend. read more

L'Escargot - Menu - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Onion soup was amazing. Chateaubriand also great. Three stars because we told the waitress when we ordered we had a show at 7 and we wanted the soufflé. We finished dinner and she told us they would start the soufflé now and it would be 20 minutes. I've been to far less pricey restaurants where they know to watch your meal and time the soufflé to coincide with your finishing dinner. We had to cancel the soufflé and the manager checked on us and didn't apologize or comp our other desserts which would have been appropriate. First world problem, I know. read more

Loved it. Service very good and atmosphere was great. Loved the Soho area. Food was good, lobster and avacado salad not bad, Cod was good, bread fantastic. read more

Basically there is not a lot to add to the other reviews, except to confirm that this is the classic French dining experience, with excellent food and impeccable service - with both sommeliers and bread waiters. What I particularly like is that they always have a decent vegetarian option, so mixed groups which include a veggie can enjoy a high class French dining experience (something not always possible in France). A good way to experience L'Escargot without breaking the bank is to go for the daily set menu, at £15 for 2 courses or £18 for 3 courses, available at lunch times (12-14:30), pre theatre (17:30-19:00) and post theatre (22:00-23:15). Service charge is 12.5%. read more

So here is the story of how I ended up dining in L'Escargot one night last month. A friend and I had gotten all dressed up 1950's style for a fancy dress in a nearby venue only to find out on arrival that we had got the date mixed up. So there we were all dressed up and nowhere to go, my friend suggested we go for a really posh dinner to make up for the blunder and what better place to go for a posh dinner than L'Escargot. As we walked in the hall we were greeted by a lady sitting behind a desk who took our coats. We got a table no problem as it was mid week so it wasn't very busy (there was one other couple and four business men) Our waitress walked us to our seats and handed us menus, she even put our napkins on our laps. I had the avocado and crab meat starter which was delicious and for mains I had steak washed down with a nice full bodied red wine. The interior is art deco style, cream and white walls with Miro and Matisse prints hung all around the dining room. The service was great, food delectable, all in all a memorable evening. I think I could get used to fine dining more often. read more

L'Escargot - French Near Me - London, XGL

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Fabulous dining experience in this classy French restaurant. Foods price can be a bit up to the market but worth to try, they also do prix fixe menu from 12pm to 7pm which certainly cost less. It is about £19 for three courses meal. Restaurant has a classy nice decoration with red curtains and wall paper create a nice and warm atmosphere. The chandeliers hanging on the ceiling which reflected by mirror walls look like one of main feature for the interior. Food wise we ordered French onion soup and lobster bisque as starter...all taste good. For main we ordered Poached sea trout and beef bourguinon and fish goujon..it is all taste good. This restaurant is good places to hanging out with friends for lunch and dinner. It is just right in Greek street Soho. read more

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Ran across this place by accident. We were in London for a convention and wanted to eat in Soho. All the main restaurants were full and had 1+ hour wait times. We walked by and one of our clients mentioned that since I am French we should try the place. We went in way under dressed and had an exceptional meal. A gentleman named Marco waited on us and it was amazing. We stayed about 3 hours, never felt rushed, they gave us the best table, and like I said we were very under dressed for this restaurant (shorts and t-shirts). Wine selection was excellent. Appetizers were amazing. And even my vegetarian co-worker had to try the meats we all had. It was that good. Have sent other friends visiting London to hit the place up for a truly great French meal. The only thing we didn't get to do is visit the upstairs. But since we are not members and were not properly dressed, we didn't press our luck. read more

L'Escargot is an institution in Soho, standing for good quality classical French cooking. The menu will consist of words like roulade, terrine and croustillant. However, don't worry as the staff are friendly and will help you with any explanations as required. There is actually 2 restaurants on this site - the posher Picasso Room and the cheaper (relatively!) Ground Floor Restaurant. My sister and I took a friend to the ground Floor restaurant recently It's certainly a dressy place though ties and jackets aren't compulsory. The decor is very clean and crisp in keeping with the best traditions of the food Of the starters, I think I enjoyed my tian of crab and avocado best with the lightest dressing enhancing the sweet crab. The escargots en coquille Bordelaise was nice but I don't think sauce Bordelaise is the favourite of my French sauces. The roulade of Scottish smoked salmon, beetroot and apple salad was a nice combination of ingredients and flavours For mains, my roasted guinea fowl a la Forestiere had a lovely gamey flavour - I always think it's a waste to eat chicken when dining out but game birds are a different kettle of fish. Sis had the duck breast and pak choi with ruby chard - this was cooked perfectly. Our friend had the ribeye steak - cooked medium, it was a tender piece of meat. For dessert, I persuaded my dining companions to help me with a treacle tart with clotted cream parfait and honeycomb. Nice to see an English pudding creep onto the menu and very delicious it was too. It won't be a cheap meal but you certainly feel like you've had a fine dining experience here read more

L'Escargot stands apart from everything else on Greek St as a fancy restaurant. It looks like it used to be a house in the West End which has been converted into a restaurant. We were welcomed by the friendly staff and taken to a corner booth for two: the best restaurant seating arrangement! The restaurant was surprisingly empty, but it may have been because this was the Monday of a long weekend. We were well looked after by the staff, whom I found to be friendly and attentive. It sounds funny to write this, but if the restaurant were closer to full, I feel it would have been a better atmosphere and experience. We had a main, sides, dessert and a drink each. We also got complimentary breads and unexpected petits fours with our bill. The total bill was just over £100, which felt a little on the high side, but still within the range you would expect for this kind of restaurant. I enjoyed my main course of beef with foie gras and spinach - it was very tasty and satisfying. My wife got the lobster linguine, which tasted nice, but seemed like it could be easily replicated at home. I got the tarte tartin for dessert, which is one of my trusted favourites, and I was happy with this. The petits fours were ok, but one of them tasted a bit funny. On the whole, there were good parts which were offset by some average parts. This is why I have given a 3-star rating. read more

For all the hype surrounding Marco Pierre White, I've never been to one of his restaurants before. Last week, a friend suggested we go to L'Escargot, and I'm glad as I feel I now understand why he has such a fanboy-like following within the British press (well, the food critics anyway...). Tucked inside a beautiful marble entrance hall, we went to the first of two restaurants on site. The one on the ground floor is an interesting mix of Parisian design, bright yellow walls and Mediterranean décor. I sat in the corner and admired the place as a smiling waiter poured me some water and I waited. I was hardly dressed for the occasion (don't tell my mother I wore sandals and an army shirt to a Michelin-starred restaurant), but hey, we were in the middle of Soho and it looked like the staff were used to it. Menu-qise, even though I was practically bullied into three courses, I just had a main and a dessert. I went for this (hooray for PDF menus on the website!): Confit of Gressingham Duck Leg, Morteaux Sausage, Choucroute, Ratte Potatoes, Jus Genièvre. It was very nice, the meat fell of the bone and I barely had to cut it, though it was a little salty for my liking. Afterwards, I had an orange tart. I've never had an orange tart, but it was served with a blackcurrant sorbet that kicked my taste-buds into shape and tasted like summer itself. Gorgeous. Great espresso and service that didn't exactly impress, but didn't irritate either. This goes on my 'perfect for a long lunch and a chat' list. Menu du jour at £15 for two and £19 for three courses as well, so a decent price to boot. read more

I've been going to this high end eatery for years, although back in those days it was always on a nice fancy company expense account. However, of all the places I was able to go to, I always said, and have since proved, it was the one I'd spend my own money at. Although the days of 'Nouvelle Cuisine' are long gone, thank god even before my time, it's a sort of standing joke when you go to some places and find the portion size can be somewhat on the small size. What annoys me the most is that you go to a restaurant and order steak or fish or whatever and if you want more than just a piece of, admittedly, well cooked meat, you have to order side dishes of everything else to avoid coming out and racing off to the nearest McD's. So how delighted was I when I first went there and found you not only got a high end dining experience, appetisers anyone? But you could still get a well presented meal with the additions included automatically. OK so you still get things piled on top of each other but hey if you want things too plain eat at home. But once finished you feel full without being bloated and without a cheque to cripple small countries. OK, so the wine list does range from the acceptable to the eye watering, but then I see this as really just catering to all sides. The surroundings are lovely and definitely make you feel like you're eating somewhere special. Plus the best thing, go for lunch or pre-theatre menu's and you can get some very reasonable prices. I love this place and now having written this feel rather hungry :) read more

Ever since I read Marco Pierre White's autobiography, "The Devil In The Kitchen" and learned he was the not only the youngest to ever receive 3 Michelin stars, but the first to achieve this victory three times, I was hell bent on experiencing his culinary talents. Mr. White, as I understand it, is now a restauranteur proper and has long since stepped away from his kitchens (in the chef sense), however I figured if he was going to keep his name on something, it must be up to his award winning (and notoriously impossible to achieve) standards, right? When we walked into what seemed like it was once a private residence, we were greeted by two pleasant hostesses who sat us at our table in the rear dining room straight away. The decor where we were seated (there is a more casual seating area in the front of restaurant near the bar) had a very late 90's art nouveau feel and reminded me a lot of the restaurant in American Psycho where a visibly irritated Christian Bale dumps his girlfriend whilst sketching an image of a murder he's just committed. This I liked. For our starters we ordered the frogs legs which arrived with the standard green sauce and of course the escargot (when in Rome) accompanied by a half bottle of Veuve. In both cases the dishes were anticlimactic at best, but could have potentially been great had they not forgotten to season them and/or leave some salt at the table should we prefer a little more flavor. Our entrees were okay (lamb and filet) - but nothing I wouldn't be able to achieve at home as again, they were generally just lacking the flavor and extra oomph you can't get on your own stove top. We ordered a bottle of Bordeaux to accompany this course. I will say that the food here is priced affordable (providing you don't order wine by the bottle(s)), but the service leaves a little to be desired as we waited nearly ten minutes for them to clear our appetizer plates away. The staff for the most part is very young and perhaps not as experienced as one would expect. I wouldn't recommend or return to L'Escargot for dinner, but I would give it another shot for a late, casual lunch and would certainly give any other MPW place it's day in court. read more

I eat around Soho quite a lot, but never noticed this restaurant until my friend made a booking. I was excited to try it, but the experience was a bit underwhelming. Judging by the name, I thought it was a French restaurant, but I found fish pie on the menu, which screamed British. Not that I have any problem with it, just a bit unexpected. We ordered the name sake dish escargot and foie gras to share. They were good, but nothing special. I had a hard time picking my main, not because there are too many dishes that I wanted to try, but because none of dishes jumped out at me. At last, I ordered sea bass with fennel. It was cooked in parchment paper which a cooking method I really like. The fish was good and the sauce played really well with the taste of fennel. The service was not very attentive. Considering all the choices in Soho area, I will not come back here. read more

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Two stars based on disappointment rather than quality. The food just didn't cut it. If it weren't for a special offer we all had, this wouldn't have been worth the money by a long shot. Still good just. Not £55-per-person-without-wine good. Oh. And what's up with the disco dinosaur head? read more

At the top end of the league table, L'Escargot is a more formal destination for excellent French food. First opened in the 1920s its been a Soho landmark ever since. The likes of Jancis Robinson & Marco Pierre-White have contributed to the restaurants success over the years, Attentive service, attention to detail, classic French table service (Sommelier etc.) this is definitely a special occasion destination. I've been lucky enough to visit several times and have experienced the main restaurant, a small private room & the top floor "Barrell Vault" private area. Everytime the service & food has been outstanding, but you'd expect nothing less for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Expect the highest quality terrines, foie gras, escargot to start with roast duck, pork or lamb for main course. All rounded off with tarts, souffles or brulees. A pre-theatre menu lets you dine out on 3 courses for less than £25 which is excellent value. read more

My mum took me and my sisters here on Saturday to celebrate my step-father's 70th. We could not have been better looked after from breadbasket to bill. It was just the right ambience with a light hubble bubble of conversation, stunning modern art and a smart, international crowd. The French waiters add to the authenticity, the food was immaculately prepared, the flavours there but not overpowering. Drinks pricey but hey this is Soho. A pudding and candle prompted the whole restaurant to sing happy birthday to Julian. Bravo L'Escargot read more

Came here for a business dinner last week and tried the lower dining room rather than its Michelin starred sister upstairs. Despite the white table cloth set up the ambiance was relaxed & unstuffy (loved the art-deco feel) and the place was buzzing even at 7pm. We had the crab & avocado starter (layered, terrine style) and I had the wild mushroom & artichoke strudel for main, both of which were very good full of flavour and surprisingly light (was concerned the strudel might smack of the Cornish pasty but not a bit of it). My companion had the chicken with artichoke and parma ham, which looked great, and on checking out the next door table I'll be ordering the scallops & lamb next time around. Took a while to navigate the menu (all for authenticity but when you can't understand the staff enough to tell your oeufs from your moules it can get a bit frustrating) but overall the service was excellent and our waiter think young Gerard Depardieu with a sprinkling of Jean Reno gave us extra petite fortes so we left happy! Sucker moi? The (heavenly) wine list is bible sized fabulous if you're a real connoisseur, not so fabulous if you're a mere mortal wanting to order before next Christmas so request the edited version if this is an issue. Or ask the sommelier for help v. approachable and there's nothing that man doesn't know about grapes. At around £8-12 for a starter and £15-25 for a main, this is a great way to try out one of Soho's grande dames without breaking the bank. read more

This is a lovely french restuarant. I went many years ago when I worked in Soho Square and recently my husband took me back in October. The food is obviously french and you will obviously find snails on the menu but there is a wide varied choice. I did not think that the food was overly expensive especially for London. The wine list was huge and there were some good choices that wont break the bank. A lovely atomosphere - intimiate and excellent service. I would go back again. read more

Visited L'Escargot for a second time recently. It didn't fail to impress me once again. Delicious, decadent food that will tantalise your tastebuds, excellent staff, attentive service. Relaxed atmosphere and there is a very talented pianist on Fridays. I had the rich lobster bisque (I have been assured it's the best you can get in town) and the bouillabaisse. A friend had the lobster which was to die for, lots of organic butter and parsley. Sadly, no room left for their amazing sounding dessert. Highly recommended if you want to experience the taste of France in the heart of Soho. read more

Had a lovely meal here before seeing a show in the West End. The food was excellent. Prices were as expected, reasonable for the quality of the food. The service was fine, typical for what I would expect in the UK. read more

I'm french) and after several months spent in England, I missed my home food. Thanks to l'escargot, I know where to go!!! The inside is aesthetic and graceful, it was maybe a bit too much. Every restaurants are not like that in France but I understand that they want to provide a french experience. The service is remarkable. Our waiter was the best . What's about the wine list? Massive and the sommelier will advice you in your wine choice. We asked some specific questions and he was very glad to answer. He knows what he's talking about and they have some very good wines. The food is absolutely delightful. The best of France is in this restaurant. read more

Excellent food and service. Would go back and recommend to others. Love the escargot and pistachio soufflé.

Really classy and great French food. Perfect place to take your parents or a posh dinner date! Service is immaculate too. There are no surprises here, it's just all very reliable and comfortable Rrench classic food. Well-priced wine list with Oh, and the lunch and pre theatre menus are amazing value. read more

Being a scummy peasant (and a greedy bastard), I must say I was apprehensive about the whole "fine dining" experience. I was, however, thoroughly impressed by L'Escargot. Feeling adventurous, I tried snails for the first time, which I felt slightly guilty about since I used to keep them as pets (R.I.P. Gary). The garlic and parsley sauce they came in was so nice I'd have licked it off a homeless man's ballsack. Swear down. Going on, I had the confit of duck. The way in which the meat fell off the bone would've put Jeffrey Dahmer to shame. I actually wanted to eat the bone, but apparently that's "uncouth". Plus, they splinter, and lord knows my arsehole doesn't need any more trauma. I didn't have a dessert because I'm tight, but the shit hot waiter, whom I ordained as "Steve", gave me some truffles "just in case". Top bloke. All in all, it was brill. Can't say I felt full, but extremely satisfied. Plus, the kebab I had on the way home kept malnutrition at bay. read more

This restaurant was very peaceful and quite. The decor was pretty different with a T Rex head skeleton with a gold finish and Crystal like teeth. It was huge but eye appealing. The waiters where very friendly and very tentative with filling our glasses with water and wine. The escargot was yummy. More buttery here than Switzerland and France. I also had a regular salad which was not so ordinary. I also had the Duck breast with Fig. Omg that was so juicy. I made myself finish my plate and just passed on finishing my wine and dessert. There was also a prefix lunch and dinner that was real affordable and decent. read more

Food tasted great but I got violently ill about 30 minutes after I ate there. Since I shared my meal it is really hard to say what exactly made me sick but my guess was the lobster bisque soup or the escargot. I am really sorry I ate there last night. read more

Meh is right Food was average at best. I expect more than edible for £60 a head and I having just having been to a Michelin started restaurant also in London, I was shocked this place had ever had one. The oysters were not very nice and my fish main (sole) might as well have been frozen fish sticks with some asparagus. My husband agreed on the oysters, though enjoyed his lamb. The dessert was nice, but that was about it. The service was good the the golden tyranosaurus rex with crystal teeth interesting. read more

I was invited here for a birthday dinner and, unfortunately, I either selected my appetizer and main poorly or the food is just substandard. I had the French onion soup and it was far too cloyingly sweet and thick. It was like a caramelized onion chutney. I could not finish it and have had far better elsewhere. The duck confit was incredibly dry in too many places and I nearly choked on a piece. So dry I had to wash it down with my beverage. Could not believe how much the food cost for the quality. The dessert, however, was extremely good (tarte tatin). The decor in the restaurant is very soothing and lush, though. read more

A group of 5 went here before the theatre. We ate in the downstairs dining room, which is very attractive. Everyone but I chose to do the 2- or 3-course prix fixe. I wanted to have the namesake dish. The snails were good but honestly I have had them pretty much the same way anywhere else, so if you have had this basic French dish there is no need to go out of your way to come here. I had a mushroom pasta dish for my main, others had lamb or fish. Everyone enjoyed their meals, found the food well prepared and tasty. Is it super-special? No. Is it a nice place for a pre-theatre dinner, that is not loud and brassy and Bubba Gump? Oh yes, yes it is. read more

We had a lovely dinner for two here following a show at the nearby theaters. The food was amazing and the service excellent. We came in late and were not rushed or ignored. Highly recommend. Nice ambiance as well! read more

Presentation and service was great, but the food doesn't really live up to expectations, which made the whole experience seem way overpriced. Quite disappointing. read more

Fantasic french restaurant! Worth every pence!

L'Escargot serves excellent French dishes, the food is classic, delicious, beautifully presented and authentic.Even a French colleague told me it was one of the best French restaurant he had ever been too.The staff is very polite and attentive, the interior is really impressive,worth coming on a special occasion. read more

Had Christmas Eve Dinner here and it was brilliant! They did a nice twist on the traditional turkey dinner. Service could have been a tad better, but oh well we had a great time. read more

A classy French restaurant, not cheap but worth the lay out. On the night we went there was a problem with the card machine and they could only take cash which left us scrimping around to pay them(they didn't inform us of this until after we'd eaten!) .However the food was exquisite, quite divine! read more

I went here when my friends and I were looking for a cheap meal before a night out. We popped our heads in but decided against it, however the door staff offered us the option of the 'theatre menu' of 3 courses for £15, though obviously the wine pushes the price up. I must commend I had a mushroom gnocchi for my main and i didnt know gnocchi could taste that good. The food was pretty good and will try and go back for a full priced meal as i suspect it will be much better. read more

I wish I could give aL'Escargot a better rating given its attractive and comfortable interior and it's welcoming host, but alas the food was very disappointing and the service, while not terrible, wasn't great and the check for my party of two came with a 15% mandatory gratuity added. I had the Lobster Bisque to start. It tasted off and an aftertaste lingered, so I abandoned it after a few spoonfuls. Actually, none of the staff asked me if the food was ok at any point during the meal. If I were a waiter I should think to inquire whether my diner was enjoying the food or not if I noticed that he/she had a full bowl of soup still when I cleared the table. I tried the Pea Risotto with Asparagus for my main course. It was mushy and bland. The lemon tart for dessert was good with a carmelized top, but I've definitely had better pastry. We were the first table sat in the dining room and we ordered before four other tables but our food consistently came last and that irritated me. Having worked as a waiter in the past I understand that that happens sometimes for a variety of reasons but in those situations it's best for the waiter to inform the dining guest that even though the meal is delayed the waiter has not forgotten the patron and possibly offer the customer something, like bread or water. I enjoyed the setting very much but the food and service let me down. read more