Along with frog legs and foie gras, snails are perhaps the most exquisite French delicacy. Love for shellfish in the country originated in the Renaissance. If you decide to try the most delicious snails in Paris and do not know where you can get them, we have selected the best places in Paris where you can get snails prepared according to various recipes.
Where can I try snails in Paris? Here are the 10 best restaurants in Paris where you can try snails.
- Les Papilles
- Café de Mars
- L’Escargot Montorgueil
- Chez Fernand Christine
- Allard
- Le Hide
- Le Bouillon Chartier
- Bistrot Richelieu
- Le Bar à Huîtres
- Le Grand Colbert
And, of course, the prices — how much does escargot cost in Paris? A dozen of escargots in a restaurant or a café costs from 18 to 40 euros, depending on the type and status of the restaurant, with 25 euros being the average price. A dozen of escargots in the supermarket in Paris will cost only 10 euros.
10 Best Restaurants Where You Can Try Escargot in Paris — Where Can I Find Escargot Snails In Paris?
Les Papilles Restaurant
Restaurant address: 30 Rue Gay-Lussac, 75005 Paris, France
Working hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 12:00 to 22:00, Sunday-Monday: closed
Website: http://www.lespapillesparis.fr/
Phone: +33 1 43 25 20 79
Les Papilles Restaurant is located in the Luxembourg Gardens area. Here you will be surprised with their recipe for cooking snails and other dishes. The restaurant is not on the tourist route, but you won’t have to look for it for a long time. The pleasant environment will allow you to enjoy your meal. One serving of snails will cost 19 euros.
Café de Mars
Restaurant address: 11 Rue Augereau, 75007 Paris, France
Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 12:00 to 23:00, Monday-Sunday: closed
Website: http://www.cafedemars.com/
Phone: +33 1 45 50 10 90
This cozy and inexpensive establishment will offer you delicious snails for the price of 7.5 euros. There is a cozy atmosphere here and calm music in the evenings. The specialty of this restaurant is Burgundy snails, which are served with wine. The cafe is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, not far from the Eiffel Tower.
Before deciding where to eat snails in Paris, you need to remember a few nuances. If the price is indicated in the menu, but the quantity is not, then by default the chef will prepare 6 snails. Such a portion will be quite enough to understand whether the delicacy will be to your taste. The French eat 12-18 snails at a time.
L’Escargot Montorgueil
Restaurant address: 38 Rue Montorgueil, 75001 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 12:00 to 23:00
Website: http://escargotmontorgueil.com/
Phone: +33 1 42 36 83 51
The French bistro L’Escargot has been preparing delicious snails for a long time. Here you can taste traditional French cuisine and get the most out of it. The famous escargot consists of 12 Burgundy snails. The menu includes not only classic escargots but also snails with truffle oil, duck foie gras and even edible gold. The price per serving reaches 45 €. Book a table in advance, the restaurant is always packed with visitors. The restaurant is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.
Chez Fernand Christine
Restaurant address: 9 Rue Christine, 75006 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 12:00 to 23:00
Website: http://www.chezfernand.fr/
Phone: +33 1 43 25 18 55
Chez Fernand Christine is a cozy and picturesque place not far from Notre Dame Cathedral, which serves quite tasty snails. This small establishment is located in a quiet street. Book tables in advance, there are always many people who want to try exquisite escargot. A dozen of escargots will cost around 25 euros.
Allard
Restaurant address: 41 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00
Website: https://www.restaurant-allard.fr/
Phone: +33 1 43 26 48 23
Allard Restaurant has been around since 1931, and to this day, they prepare snails and other dishes for their customers. They serve delicious snails in oil with parsley. According to tourists, rare fish and many other unique dishes are also prepared here, but the prices are truly European. A dozen of snails will cost about 35 euros. Allard restaurant is trendy, so book your table in advance. The restaurant is located near the Saint-Michel bridge.
Le Hide
Restaurant address: 10 Rue du Général Lanrezac, 75017 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Saturday from 18:00 to 23:00, Sunday: closed
Website: http://le-hide.business.site/
Phone: +33 1 45 74 15 81
If you find yourself close to the Arc de Triomphe, stop by for a delicious snail snack. This place is perfect for a romantic dinner. Parisians and guests of the capital dine here. Book a table in advance, the restaurant is small, and there are never empty seats. The prices for escargots vary depending on the dish, but you can get a dozen of snails for 15-20 euros.
Le Bouillon Chartier
Restaurant address: 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 11:30 to 9:00
Website: https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/
Phone: +33 1 47 70 86 29
Le bouillon Chartier is a small restaurant opened in Paris in 1896. For 120 years, it has served over 50 million customers. Despite the affordable prices (6 snails will cost only 7.3 €), the service is very high-quality. The waiters are friendly, speak English and are ready to give individual recommendations on the choice of the dish.
Bistrot Richelieu
Restaurant address: 45 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Saturday from 11:00 to 10:00, Sunday: closed
Website: https://en.bistrotrichelieu.com
Phone: +33 1 42 60 19 16
Le Bar à Huîtres
Restaurant address: 33 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 12 to 12
Website: https://www.instagram.com/lebarahuitresparis/?hl=en
Phone: +33 1 44 07 27 37
The restaurant is located just 10 minutes’ walk from the famous Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. Paris is especially fond of this place because only local natural ingredients are used for cooking. Six large wine snails with garlic sauce at Le Bar à Huîtres cost 12 €, which is not a lot for France’s capital.
Le Grand Colbert
Restaurant address: 2 Rue Vivienne, 75002 Paris, France
Working hours: Monday-Sunday from 12:00 to 21:00
Website: https://www.legrandcolbert.fr/en/
Phone: +33 1 42 86 87 88
Le Grand Colbert is an excellent choice for tourists looking to enjoy a meal close to the main attractions of Paris. And even if the restaurant does not have Michelin stars, this does not prevent it from getting into reputable guidebooks. A clear advantage of the lack of stars is that the restaurant is available to tourists with an average budget: 6 large Burgundy snails can be tried here for just11.90 €.
Escargot is usually served on a flat plate, tray, or special board. Additionally, waiters will give you tongs and a fork with two thin prongs. The shells are very hot, so you shouldn’t take them with your hands. With your left hand, you need to take special tongs and grab the shell with them, and with your right hand, get the meat out of it with a fork.
Less often, snails in Paris are served in special ceramic cocotte bowls, divided into separate cells. With this option, the mollusks are eaten with an ordinary fork. And the sauce remaining in the cocotte makers can be soaked with a piece of baguette.
To understand what kind of shellfish you are offered in cafes and restaurants in Paris, you need to pay attention to the menu. For example, Escargot bulots indicates that ssnails will be served with garlic mayonnaise, while Escargot cargolades are cooked on a cast iron grill rack and eaten with aioli sauce — this option is especially common in the south of France.
As for the drinks for escargot, opt for white regional varieties. Burgundy snails will go with noble Burgundy Grand cru (Charmes-Chambertin, Montrachet) or Premier cru (Chablis, Nuits-Saint-Georges), Provencal snails will go with AOC Cassis, Côtes de Provence and others.
The texture of the flesh of the snail is similar to that of an oyster and shrimp at the same time. The meat is very tender, but it still needs to be chewed. It is allowed to add a little salt, but it is better to refuse to use pepper: it can destroy the taste.
In addition to the original taste, escargots are famous for their nutritional value. Snail meat is rich in iron, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin E. Doctors say that regular consumption of snails improves mood. This effect is achieved by tryptophan, a compound responsible for the production of the joy hormone serotonin. In addition, snail meat is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
