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L'Escargot

4.4 (288 reviews)
PriceyFrench
Closed • 5:00 pm - 7:30 PM
Updated 3 months ago

L'Escargot Photos

L'ESCARGOT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Intimate
Romantic
Quiet
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - L'Escargot

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Duckling
Caly T.

This cozy dinner spot was delicious and courses well paced with attentive service. The escargot was complimented well with the herb butter and the french onion soup was comforting and hearty. The duckling was great - tender and cooked to the ask, but the veggie side was a little mushy. The scallop special was nicely cooked and the risotto had perfect texture - the fried capers and asparagus bites paired well. The warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream was a perfect end to the meal!

Ryan F.

I have eaten at this establishment twice before. I am in Carmel this weekend, wanted to try but the restaurant does not take reservations for 1 person. I called and spoke to someone at the restaurant. He assured me it is a mistake on open table but it is not. The restaurant clearly has policy of not taking less than 2 people. I must say their policy is pretty discriminating and they assume a party of 1 always spend less than 2 people.

Beef Wellington
Johny L.

They were on point with service and kind to our dog. It was a great outdoor setting. Food, Caesar salad was perfect and the special beef Wellington was not tend, chewy.

Had an absolutely wonderful experience. The food and service was worth every dollar spent. It is also dog friendly. We had their namesake escargot and lobster risotto and of course pomme frites for appetizers. For, the main course two of the evening's specials diver scallops and the coq au vin, followed by the caramel tart and the cheesecake. The cheesecake recipe is a family recipe from one of the employees mom. Sean our server was outstanding, very personable and made you feel at home. In Carmel venture away from Ocean Ave and discover this excellent gem 4 blocks off the beaten path.

Table service of flounder almondine.

This restaurant is amazing. Not only was the food great, the service was top notch. Our waiter was excellent and the chef/owner as well. Very friendly and even let our kids help with a table service on one of our dishes. If you are ever in Carmel I would highly recommend L 'escargot.

Beef wellington.
Pryo H.

My found this amazing small French restaurant in Carmel last week. The service from the 1st moment you step in to the end is very friendly and amazing. I wish I can remember his name, but he can describe every single dish in the menu. My favorite is (everything that I order that noght) escargot, highly suggest that you get the one with mushrooms caps. Don't forget to order French onion soup. For entrée: beef wellington if they have it (not many restaurant serve this dish). The chicken breast dijonaise also great. Don't forget to safe room for dessert.

Eric T.

Nestled in the heart Carmel-By-The-Bay in a residential area (meaning parking can be challenging), "L'Escargot" transports diners on a culinary voyage of French cuisine. From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in an ambiance that evokes the romance and sophistication of the French capital, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. The moment we were seated, we were greeted warmly by the staff, who exuded the elegance and hospitality synonymous with French culture. The restaurant's intimate setting, adorned with subtle decorations, created an atmosphere that was both inviting and refined. For the apps, one standout was the escargot, served in a garlic and herb butter sauce. The snails were tender and succulent, with each bite offering a burst of flavor that lingered on the palate. The Duck Leg and Foie Gras was equally impressive, although we would've preferred more bread than just two small corner pieces. The French Onion soup is a must try. The caramelized onions, lovingly sautéed to perfection, impart a depth of flavor that is both sweet and savory, setting the stage for a culinary journey like no other. For the main course, our favorite (in order) was their Beef Wellington, Duck two way, Seared Scallop Risotto and the shredded rabbit pasta. I've had Gordon Ramsay version of Beef Wellington, but what's different about this one is the golden pastry shell that enrobes it, providing a crisp, flaky exterior that gives way to tender perfection with each bite that's not too salty. The Seared Scallop Risotto was a bit of a miss with the Risotto as it was missing the crunch, but the Scallop was seared to perfection that melts in your mouth. No French meal would be complete without a decadent dessert. Our favorite was the Lemon Tart, follow by the warm Apple Crisp with a scoop of ice cream, and a home made cheesecake. The service was, with attentive waitstaff ensuring that our sparkling water glasses were never empty and our needs were always met with a smile.

Simple menu
Ewa U.

Wow.. I will preface my review by saying that this is a must try spot .. even if you're not into French food. This little culinary haven operates only for a couple dinner hours, so the attention and food quality you'll experience is quite special and intimate. It was my first time trying the coveted 'beef Wellington' and let me tell you - I felt the gaze of the entire team looking for positive reinforcement during my first bite.. it was a success! Perfectly cooked when cut in half. Well done team! The true winner though was the lamb. (How do you do it?! No words) Everything else was delicate and well portioned. Make sure to pair w/ a bold red. Bonus: the off the menu cheese cake (ask for it!) was made of a farmers cheese-- so definitely not your 'cream cheese delight' type deal. Enjoy

Rabbit pasta special
Ashley C.

Wouldn't come back again. Decent food, but just isn't worth the prices they charge. I ordered the escargot since it was thats its namesake. Not a fan of food that doesn't taste good unless it's doused in sauce. I also got a rabbit spaghetti special, which seemed popular that day considering I heard the waitress telling another table that they only had two more servings of it. The rabbit was too lean and tough for me. As for my companion, he got a lamb entree for their regular menu. Honestly the lamb impressed me more than the escargot and the rabbit special combined. The service was excellent. The bread and butter were also good. I just wish the food that wasn't bread matched.

Alexis M.

Came here for our anniversary dinner and wow! Everything was cooked perfectly. I ordered: -Escargot stuffed mushroom cups (5/5) So glad we opted for this over the one in the classic shell. Much more flavorful in my opinion. -Beef Wellington (4.5/5) I have never tried a beef Wellington made professionally before so I definitely wanted to try this. The mushroom duxelles had truffle in it which made it delicious. Definitely worth a try if you've never tried beef Wellington before! -Duck prepared two ways (4/5) Duck was cooked to perfection. Good but I enjoyed the other dishes more. The restaurant was very romantic. I would say it is perfect for date night or an anniversary dinner. Servers were also very attentive. I had a great experience here!

Two Way Duckling

The presentation of the food was beautiful and food was tasty. We ate indoors and enjoyed the atmosphere. While we were here, there were a few other parties in the room and it was quiet for the most part.

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2 years ago

A true gem. Food service and ambience were all on point. We had the escargot, frog legs, lamb and scallops. Delicious!

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3 years ago

First rate traditional French cuisine in a nice setting. Excellent service. We'll be back!

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L'Escargot Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - L'Escargot

Are you serving indoors?

Yes, they have both indoor and outdoor seating available.

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What a lovely little gem. The atmosphere was romantic yet simple -- softly lit, relaxed, and…read moreunderstated in the best way. It felt elegant without being pretentious, the kind of place where you instantly settle in and enjoy your evening. The staff was incredibly warm and welcoming, and the service throughout the meal was attentive and thoughtful. The baked goods were especially wonderful -- fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully prepared. I really appreciated the subdued atmosphere. It made the whole experience feel calm, intimate, and comfortable. A perfect spot for a quiet dinner, a date night, or simply enjoying good food with good company. Definitely a place I'd happily return to. Five stars.

I returned to Patiserrie Boissiere in Carmel over the weekend. I do think this is a great spot for…read morelunch. I don't think they still have the special with half salad and soup, unfortunately, but I got a sandwich with a side of the French onion soup. The soup is seriously amazing with all the cheese melted on top, and it's very flavorful! My sandwich, the chicken en brioche was really good, though it was a little messy to eat since the slices of bread were huge! My mom got the calamari sandwich and said it was great. Very good service and food came out quickly. This is a cute little place, with lots of pictures of France.

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Casanova - C A N N E L L O N I | ig: thesimplefoodlife

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We went here for our anniversary dinner, and it was amazing! We saw recommendations of this place…read moreon TikTok and in several guides when planning our trip to Carmel, and it definitely exceeded our expectations. We ordered the seafood pasta and lasagna, both of which were amazing and packed full of flavor. We paired it with a lovely Chardonnay as recommended by our waitress. The ambiance of the place is very old-world Italian villa vibes, and it is in a great location tucked away from the main street of Carmel. Would definitely come back here for a lovely local date night dinner!

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Casanova - Part of the indoor seating

Part of the indoor seating

Casanova - ESCARGOT DE BOURGOGNE: GARLIC BUTTER, BAGUETTE.

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Le Soufflé is like being in Paris without leaving Carmel! I had lunch there this afternoon with my…read morehusband and everything was perfection. The space is beautiful, calm and chic. They use only the finest ingredients. Each of the three courses was excellent. It is such a refreshing change from all of the tourist food in Carmel by the Sea. It is an authentic soufflé experience. I would highly recommend and I know we will be regulars going forward.

WOW! I can't remember how I stumbled upon Le Souffle but so glad I did!!…read more I remember going on their website and finding one slot open for a Friday reservation so I snatched it for my husband and I. We were approached by the co owner who was incredibly sweet and accommodating (I was 26 weeks pregnant at the time & she made sure I was as comfortable as possible in my seat). She's knowledgeable with their menu and drinks which is great! They change their menu often so our options were a bit more seasonal. Everything was baked to perfection and so delicious! Hats off to the chef!! My husband and I loved the non traditional limited seating as it felt more of a personable and intimate experience with the 3 course meal. Everything we both had was delicious!! Nearby, another couple was telling the owner that it was their second time coming back - says a lot! If you get lucky to snatch a reservation, do it! You'll walk away happy you went with a full belly!

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Le Souffle - Interior decor

Interior decor

Le Souffle - Grilled Nectarine Salad with Mizuna Greens, Fromage Bleu & Toasted Pecans

Grilled Nectarine Salad with Mizuna Greens, Fromage Bleu & Toasted Pecans

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Dametra Cafe

4.5(4.8k reviews)
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Dametra Cafe - Inside

Inside

Dametra Cafe - Istanbul Kabab $36.95 .skewed charbroiled ground beef mixed with tomato and seasoned with Turkish spices . Greek salad

Istanbul Kabab $36.95 .skewed charbroiled ground beef mixed with tomato and seasoned with Turkish spices . Greek salad

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Little Napoli - Outside the restaurant

Outside the restaurant

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L'Escargot - french - Updated May 2026

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