L'Escargot

Entire dining experience was amazing! The entire staff were welcoming and kind from the hostess at the front door to our server Freddy and all of the wonderful people in between. Menu options were great, so many wonderful specials it was hard to decide. We ordered starters off of the specials of lobster risotto and blue cheese, stuffed dates wrapped with prosciutto- both were delicious.  For our dinner entrée we ordered the whole Dover Sole that our server Freddy served right at the table (which included deboning the fish, etc.) so we didn't have to do any of the hard work. Excellent as well. Our dessert was delicious peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream and two cappuccinos. This is at least our second or third visit to L'Escargot in Carmel and we plan to return during our visits to Carmel :-) 

I always come here when ever I visit Carmel. The food is amazing and service is very personable. I can not praise this restaurant enough. Simple authentic menus. Everything is a superior dish. No disappointments .

Great food in a compact and easy to choose menu. Specialties are always the best. The escargots are exquisite. A must while in Carmel

Sean was our server. He was excellent as usual. We had the Dover Sole and it was perfect. Thanks for a lovely dining experience.

Quintessential Old Carmel! Every time the specials are so divine, it is hard to try the menu. Pom Frittes to start are a must. Bon Appetit!

This place is a hidden gem in Carmel. The food and service are outstanding. You feel transported to a simpler time. Simple, high quality ingredients and excellent execution.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Be patient... it's busy for a reason...you can't rush delectable perfection. Freddy the server was so friendly, super experienced and helpful with specials and wine pairings! We savored every bite from escargot stuffed mushroom caps, frog legs, French onion soup, homemade baguette, beef Wellington, sole and cherry cobbler! I ran out of room halfway through this incredible dinner but kept eating! Perfect splurge to celebrate 25 years of marriage! Trés magnifique!!! Merci Beaucoup to the Chef Extraordinaire!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The service was outstanding and almost everything we ordered was perfect. Mushroom soup to start was excellent, hubby ordered the beef wellington, which he said was awesome. I ordered the sand dabs with panko crust and it was overcooked and too crunchy. But, we finished with the cheesecake, which was an old family recipe from NYC and it was excellent as well.

Food and service was very good. Pleasant atmosphere and quality service. Based on my experience, overpriced for the market. $50 corkage was excessive especially with a limited wine list.

The food is sublime. We had the lamb chops and left nothing but bone and the rosemary garnish. The cheesecake is THE BEST - creamy and flavorful. The scallop dish as an appetizer is the perfect start to the meal. The service is top tier. Sean and Freddy are professionals and know their wine and food pairings. It would not be a vacation in Carmel without dinner at Le escargot

It's always a very nice dining experience each time we go. The food is exceptional and the service is good.

One of the best restaurants in Carmel by the Sea. Classic French food prepared nearly perfectly. They've really upp-ed their bread game and improved their French fries. I'm partial to their duck two ways.

L'Escargot was the standout dinner of our Carmel Babymoon. We requested to sit outside so we can't comment on noise level inside of the restaurant, but we really enjoyed the evening ambiance outside. The escargot in mushroom caps were delicious, but our favorite dish was the off-menu mussels entree with chorizo and fries. They were the best mussels we have ever had. The wait staff was also very attentive considering that we were outside. Great restaurant for couples but I would highly recommend to everybody. We'll dine here again if we are ever back in Carmel.

I absolutely love escargot—when it's prepared correctly. We used to frequent The Whaling Station in Monterey, California, until they unfortunately mishandled my escargot order. That prompted me to search for a new spot, and I discovered L'Escargot in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Since it was my birthday and I had the privilege of choosing the restaurant, L'Escargot was my top pick.

A quick heads-up: Carmel-by-the-Sea is a popular tourist destination, and parking can be challenging. If your reservation is at 6:00 PM, I recommend arriving by 5:30 PM to allow time to find legal parking. Avoid blocking driveways and be sure to read parking signs carefully.

Now, on to the food: I give it 10 stars—yes, I know Google only allows five, but I’m doubling it. Our server, Freddy, was incredibly attentive, the rack of lamb was perfectly cooked, and the escargot was absolutely sublime.

You can order the escargot classic in the shell or stuffed in mushroom caps. As a traditionalist, I chose the classic version. We also sampled the lobster risotto, which featured shaved lobster tail, tender asparagus, and delicate slivers of Parmesan cheese—rich, flavorful, and beautifully balanced.

To complement the meal, I enjoyed a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, which perfectly enhanced the flavor of the lamb chops.

One final note: if you're looking for mint jelly, be aware that in France its use is considered outdated, so it's unlikely to be offered. While I do enjoy mint jelly with lamb chops, the rack of lamb with garlic, rosemary, and a Cabernet reduction was a complete game changer—absolutely phenomenal.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lovely, will come back if I visit Carmel again.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee, Risotto, Steak Frites, French Fries