L'Escargot

Restaurant/cafe

48 Greek Street
W1D 4EF London
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7439 7474

Website: http://www.lescargotrestaurant.co.uk

Opening times:
Mon 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Tue 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Wed 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Thu 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Fri 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm


Soho Landmark since 1927

Greek Street is probably the heart of Soho and L'Escargot Restaurant is surely the heart of Greek Street, one of London's most fashionable and well-established eateries.

L'Escargot (originally called L'Escargot Beinvenue) was opened in 1927 by M. George Gaudin who conceived the notion of raising his own supply of snails by faming them in the basement kitchen, famously making this the first restaurant in England to serve fresh snails. A plaster bust of M Gaudin riding a snail with the motto "slow but sure" is displayed outside the restaurant.

After his retirement L'Escargot had several owners, all carrying on the famous reputation but the restaurant only became seriously fashionable when taken over by Jancis Robinson, the wine writer and her husband Nick Lander, in the early 1980's.

The first floor private room was then known as Elena's after the renouned manageress Elena Salvoni - a great Soho character. With Elena's formidable personality behind it the room became the most famous in London, the place to be seen with the stars of stage and screen who adopted this as their local.

In 1992 the recession hit London restaurants, Soho declined as a dining area and amid much media interest L'Escargot closed down. Mr Jimmy Lahoud took over despite stiff competition and in April 1994 relaunched the property with 2 michelin starred chefs - David Cavalier and Garry Hollihead.

L'Escargot was completely refurbished in 1998 housing Mr Lahoud's art collection which include Miro, Chagall, Picasso sketches and ceramics, Matisse and Warhol. In 2000 the ground floor restaurant was madeover by David Collins to Relauch the unique charm and atmosphere L'Escargot currently still holds.

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