It was a bit of a shocker when I first found that most Michelin starred restaurants in Paris were going to take the week off immediately after the Summer Olympics. At that point on, I knew it was time to focus on another list of restaurants I have put away for a while – a list of some of the oldest restaurants in Paris.
Famous for its escargots (actually frog legs too), L'Escargot Montorgueil first opened its doors back in 1832. Today, it continues to be a popular dining spot for locals and tourists alike.
Adorned with a prominent large golden snail perched above its entrance, it serves as an iconic symbol of the restaurant's long-standing heritage and commitment to this quintessentially French specialty.
Snails, traditional recipe (€12 per six pieces) – L'Escargot Montorgueil offers its snails in different and interesting versions including with cheese & walnut, black truffle, foie gras, and soft chili. But when it comes to snails, we were all purists so the traditional recipe of serving them with parsley butter and garlic was a no-brainer for us.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
The butter toast was the perfect companion to use up the remaining parsley butter and garlic as a delectable dip.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
Pan-fried foie gras (€24) – By far, the best dish of the night along with the snails.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
The seared foie gras delivered the perfect melt-in-the-mouth sensation and I love the chutney made with fig and apricot too, creating a harmonious bond with the foie gras and brioche.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
Oysters l'Étoile N°3 (€22) – These came with a hint of hazelnut but the taste really paled in comparison to the ones we had at Le Tout Paris yesterday.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
Beef tartare (€19) – It was seasoned with a blend of chili, shallot and chives for some additional flavors and textures.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
Aspic of salmon (€26) – Like its snails, L'Escargot Montorgueil's cold salmon was poached in a court bouillon and wrapped in a thin sheet of seaweed reminiscent of a sushi. The dish was finished off with fresh basil mayonnaise, slices of grapefruit and a pretty light tomato sauce. Thought it was fairly decent.
.JPG "L'Escargot Montorgueil (Paris, FRANCE) - Century old restaurant specialized in traditional French snails from 1832")
Had it not been for the unexpected summer closures of some of my favorite dining establishments (Kei, Plénitude, and Restaurant Le Gabriel), L'Escargot might not have found its way onto our itinerary this time around. However, everyone, including Madame Taekwondo, who flew in from the UK last night, was just delighted to finally check this century-old culinary stalwart off our list.
Food Rating: 5.9/10
Price: €€€
Address: 38 Rue Montorgueil, 75001 Paris, France
Closest Metro Station: Étienne Marcel / Les Halles
Tel: +33 (0)1 4236-8351
Website: www.escargotmontorgueil.com
Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 12:00am daily
Post a Comment
Please tell us what you think