Les Grands Buffets

Les Grands Buffets is a buffet restaurant located in Narbonne, France, inspired by the 19th-century classical French cuisine of Auguste Escoffier, with many recipes drawn from or inspired by the 1907 edition of his book, Le Guide Culinaire. ^[1]

Unlike most buffets, Les Grands Buffets focuses on French cuisine rather than dishes from around the world. The 150 dishes include a selection of foie gras in pâté en croûte and terrine form, such as Oreiller de la Belle Aurore, or English, Aurora's Pillow, a pâté prepared from over 10 different meats. There is also a wide selection of charcuterie, along with a seafood buffet featuring a seven-tiered lobster tower.^[2] Along with pre-prepared items, over 30 larger dishes are made to order, such as "le canard au sang", or in other words, pressed duck, prepared in the same way as La Tour d'Argent. Other dishes include a traditional form of cassoulet from Castelnaudary, as well as many other classical French dishes such as Tournedos Rossini, a mix of filet mignon and foie gras with a Madeira wine sauce, and more traditional French bistro dishes. Dessert selections include cakes such as St. Honore, their "Palais de Glaces," or ice cream parlor, Île Flottante, or floating island, and prepared desserts such as Crêpe Suzette. The restaurant also holds a Guinness World Record for the most available cheeses, with over 110.^[3]

In 2020, the wine list, which specializes in wine from Languedoc-Roussillon, was awarded a Special Jury Prize from Terre de Vins magazine for the best selection by the glass.^[4] There are also aperitifs and digestifs, as well as dishes containing alcohol, such as trou normand, a mix of calvados and apple as a palate cleanser.

The buffet seats 500 people in each of its four seatings (two for lunch and two for dinner) across four large rooms, each with a different style, such as one inspired by Louis XIV. Guests typically spend between 2 and 4 hours at the buffet. Reservations are made solely on their website and are notoriously difficult to obtain, often taking several months. ^[5] The restaurant, as of 2025, costs 65.90 Euros per person, not including wine or other drinks.