If you have ever visited an all-you-can-eat buffet, imagine the vast arrays of food available, multiply the variety by ten, and then add a spectacular seven-tiered lobster fountain. That is precisely what Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne, southern France, provides to its guests. It holds the title of the world's largest all-you-can-eat restaurant and has evolved into an essential culinary destination for food enthusiasts with a bucket list.
A Culinary Institution Since 1989
Les Grands Buffets first opened its doors in 1989 under the leadership of founders Louis and Jane Privat. Since then, it has drawn visitors from across the globe, becoming a renowned spot for gastronomic indulgence. Diners pay a fixed price of €65.90 (approximately £56.86), but planning ahead is crucial as reservations are typically made months in advance. The BBC reports that the restaurant receives a staggering 3.5 million enquiries annually, highlighting its immense popularity.
An Impressive Array of Food Options
The restaurant, nestled in the small French town of Narbonne along the Canal de la Robine, boasts a population of around 57,000. It offers an extensive selection of 150 entrees, main courses, and desserts, ensuring there is ample food for everyone. The website details various buffets included in the set price, such as seafood, foie gras, pâté en croûte, and cooked meats with terrines.
For those captivated by luxurious offerings, Les Grands Buffets features a seven-tier lobster fountain and a world-record-breaking cheese selection with 111 varieties, the most available in any restaurant worldwide. Additionally, diners can choose from nine varieties of foie gras and enjoy truffles, which were added to the menu last year. Remarkably, this establishment is the only all-you-can-eat venue to offer truffles, complete with a dedicated truffle station.
Honouring Auguste Escoffier
The restaurant proudly claims to be the first eatery in the world dedicated to Auguste Escoffier, known as the father of modern cooking. In honour of Escoffier, Les Grands Buffets focuses on preserving 19th-century French cuisine. Louis Privat expressed his deep attachment to traditional cuisine, telling the BBC, 'So I asked our chefs to focus on classic dishes: tripe, daube, snails.' He added, 'One day, I realised that all the recipes we were working with were recorded in Auguste Escoffier's Le Guide Culinaire.'
Dining Experience and Settings
Guests dine at set times, with lunch served from 12pm to 4.30pm and dinner from 7pm until midnight. The restaurant features four themed dining rooms separate from the main service area, where customers are seated at elegant white tableclothed settings. Each table is adorned with shining cutlery and glasses, enhancing the civilised atmosphere.
Customer Volume and Waste Management
An impressive 400,000 customers dine at Les Grands Buffets each year, and the restaurant has garnered thousands of online reviews. Given the mountains of food served daily in such variety, concerns about waste might arise. Surprisingly, waste is minimal. Louis has calculated it to be around 10kg per day, which, with approximately 1,000 customers daily, translates to just 10g of waste per person.
In summary, Les Grands Buffets offers an unparalleled all-you-can-eat experience with its vast food selections, luxurious items like truffles and lobster fountains, and a commitment to traditional French cuisine, making it a must-visit for food lovers worldwide.
