Discovering Europe's Best Buffet: Les Grands Buffets
Narbonne may not be the largest of towns, but it has an undeniable charm. Its winding Roman streets, the captivating Gothic beauty of the Cathedral of Saint-Just and Saint-Pasteur, the regal Archbishop's Palace and the picturesque Robine canal, which runs through the old town, all add to its unique allure. Then there's the modernist market, full of those delicious French delicacies you won't find anywhere else.
But what really sets Narbonne apart is the culinary phenomenon that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists - Les Grands Buffets. This is where gastronomic dreams come to life, an experience so exceptional that it transforms this picturesque town into a 'must visit' destination.
The restaurant Les Grands Buffets embodies a historic French tradition in the form of the so-called French service or buffet. Since the Middle Ages, members of the royal family and the French aristocracy have held their grand banquets in this way. Unlike English or Russian service, French service consists of the simultaneous serving of all dishes in the form of a buffet, allowing guests to choose the menu according to their tastes and preferences.
how it all started
Les Grands Buffets was born in 1989, thanks to a man called Louis Privat. He used to be an actor, believe it or not! His big idea was to create a restaurant that was fancy but also welcoming to everyone. He wanted to serve up quality French cuisine in a classic style.
His dream has come true! Today, it's the largest restaurant in France when you look at the amount of business it does. It feeds around 350 000 people a year, generates 14.9 million € in revenue and employs a team of 140 people to keep things running smoothly.
But here's the best part - around 1 000 people come into the restaurant every day (it's open 365 days a year for lunch and dinner). Half of them come from all over France and 10% from abroad. If you want to get in, you'll need to book at least 3 months in advance. So book your table and get ready to enjoy!
As you drive up to the restaurant, you may be surprised to find it in an unremarkable spot between McDonald's and KFC. But once inside, it's like stepping back in time! The wooden panelling, elegant tables and golden lamps with soft light will quickly take you out of reality. You'll be immersed in the here and now, filled with the sounds of sizzling food and the intoxicating aromas of thousands of flavours.
How to eat not to burst at Les Grands Buffets
To begin your culinary journey, I suggest you explore Google Photos and browse through the myriad of mouth-watering dishes that await you. Take a moment to consider whether you would like to indulge in a variety of culinary creations or perhaps have your heart set on something as exquisite as a perfectly grilled steak or briny oysters. Depending on your preference, you can choose from an extensive wine list with a remarkable selection of 70 varietals, many of which are available by the glass, giving you the opportunity to try more than one.
We recommend that you start your gastronomic adventure with the starters. Take your time to browse through the entire range and let your eyes explore the abundance of seafood, meat and vegetable delicacies, including pâtés that will leave your taste buds tingling with anticipation. Remember, you are not here to "eat", but to enjoy and experience a symphony of flavours, textures and aromas...
As you gaze at the impressive Lobster Falls overlooking Le Plateau Royal, you'll discover a cornucopia of seafood treasures beckoning your eyes. There is a wide selection of seafood, including luxury oysters (from the Mediterranean and Atlantic), spider crabs, plump prawns and an impressive array of Norwegian salmon. Nearby, the Pâté Area showcases tantalising terrines with no less than nine varieties of foie gras and a tempting selection of hams.
As you progress from the appetisers, the main course beckons, and here's a sage piece of advice: for better digestion, it's better to favour one type of protein. But if you want to try several main dishes, choose portions of no more than 100g.
Beyond the culinary canvas of the open table at the heart of the restaurant is a colossal panoramic spit where dishes are cooked to order, showcasing the timeless treasures of French cuisine: Cassoulet, a stew of local beans; Coquille Saint-Jacques, or Scallops Au Gratin; Vol-au-vent, veal with mushrooms; Tournedo, veal with foie; Tartar steak with horse meat.
Another tip: remember that you have desserts and the world's largest collection of cheeses ahead of you. So leave room in your stomach for this unique occasion!
Cheeses
Undoubtedly, it was the cheese section that left an unforgettable impression on me! This place is the holy grail for cheese connoisseurs and is proudly listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its staggering collection of 111 varieties of cheese, artfully displayed in a magnificent 30 metre long showcase.
Les Grands Buffets et le Fromage in numbers...
- 111 different cheeses on a 30 metre cheese board
- 4 employees dedicated exclusively to cheese
- 500kg of cheese on the tray daily
- 35,000kg of cheese ordered for 2019
- Annual budget: €400,000 for cheese ordering in 2019
- Consumption in 2019: 100 g of cheese per customer
- 23 cheeses from Europe
- 11 cheese-making regions of France are represented
Desserts
For those with a sweet tooth, Les Grands Buffets is a kind of ascent to Olympus and descent into hell after a helpless fall into sin. The bakery is huge, with more than 100 types of desserts, prepared by a team of professional pastry chefs with admirable skill and in a constant rhythm. They bake for six hours every day! The classics are the Saint-Honoré cake, the crown of Paris-Brest, eclairs with all sorts of fillings, macarons in all sorts of flavours, mousses, ice creams.... The proposal is obscene and irresistible and ends with a dip in a big chocolate fountain!
The buffet costs 52.90€ per person (excluding drinks) and 26.40€ for children under 10.
Children under the age of 5 are free.
How to get there
Les Grands Buffets restaurant is located in the French town of Narbonne, which is much closer than it seems as it is only 2 hours from Barcelona by Renfe-SNCF high speed trains. The fare starts at 33€ one way.
