If you hadn't taken note already, these delicious gastropods are turning up on menus all over the city, from classic restaurants to brand new openings. If you love them, then here's where to find them.
Hundred-layer heritage snail and ox cheek lasagna at Sael
St James - 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QQ
One of a whole series of new Jason Atherton restaurants is Sael, which has a particular focus on British produce. As such, snails are definitely on the list and feature front and centre in this signature lasagna, bringing a touch of umami to the dish.
Wild garlic ‘escargots’ with green chilli, Thai basil & roti at Koyn Thai
Mayfair - 38 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4QA
The downstairs restaurant at Koyn was recently converted into a new Thai restaurant (with not an inconsiderable amount of flambeeing involved). While there are more traditional dishes on the menu, we loved this very different take on garlic escargots, giving them a much more (and welcome) spicy kick.
Grilled snails, green garlic, veal rice at Henri
Covent Garden - 14-15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QH
Jackson Boxer's restaurant at the Henrietta Experimental hotel in Covent Garden is a very French bistro that embraces the owners' French nationality. That meant snails had to be on the menu but Jackson has added them in a particularly innovative way. Just take the snails off the skewer and mix them with the deeply flavoured veal rice for a particularly intense dish that's a must-have on the menu.
Prime rib, bone marrow and escargots at Café Francois
Borough Yards - 14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
Much like the original Maison Francois (see below) the café offshoot also does a good line in snails. You can get them on their own but the best way is clearly to pair them with this huge prime rib.
Snail bon bons at 64 Goodge Street
Fitzrovia - 64 Goodge St, London W1T 4NF
If you want to try snails for the first time, these are a good route. Here the snails are blended in with Bayonne ham, bacon, almonds and lots of garlic butter before being deep-fried. So you'll get the umami taste of the snails inside these fried delights.
Snails bourguignon at Midland Grand Dining Room
King's Cross - St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Rd, London NW1 2AR
Perched on a bed of straw potatoes and draped with lardo, Patrick Powell's contribution to the Entente Cordiale is an intense dish that's so rich you'll need a wee bit of a lie down afterwards.
Snail flatbread at Maison Francois
St James - 36 Duke Street, London SW1Y 6DF
Every year Maison Francois celebrates Bastille Day with a snail race (along with loads of baguettes topped with snails). But their escargot fascination isn't just a one-off. All year round they serve snails on top of a flatbread with lardons and bone marrow.
Photo by @lingwants
Snail bolognaise on toast at Story Cellar
Covent Garden - 17 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9D
It's one of the signature dishes at Tom Sellers' Covent Garden bistro; we were blown away by this snail bolognaise on toast which comes with a scoop of wild garlic butter melting down slowly over those snails.
Snails in garlic butter at L'escargot
Soho - 48 Greek St, London W1D 4EF
There are two ways to enjoy snails at the restaurant named for them - there's a snail, mushroom and Roquefort pie or you can opt for the classic serving of half a dozen or more Herefordshire snails drowned in garlic butter.
Peppered snail at Enish
299 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6DT
Snails aren't just to be found on the menus at French restaurants in London. They're also a Nigerian delicacy too and one of the best places to try this spicy treat is Enish on the Finchley Road.
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