L’Escargot is London’s oldest French restaurant, housed in a magnificent Georgian townhouse at 48 Greek Street in Soho. The building dates back to 1741 and was previously the private residence of the Duke of Portland.
The restaurant’s history began in 1896 when Georges Gaudin established a restaurant called Le Bienvenue at the bottom end of Greek Street. Gaudin became famous for his snails and was reportedly the first restaurateur in England to serve this French delicacy.
In 1927, Gaudin moved to larger premises at 48 Greek Street, where L’Escargot remains today. His customers urged him to rename the restaurant after his most popular dish, so he changed the name to “L’Escargot Bienvenue”. A notable feature of the early restaurant was Gaudin’s snail farm in the basement, which became quite a talking point. A plaster bust of Gaudin riding a snail with the motto “slow but sure” is still displayed outside the restaurant today.
 
interesting fact.... 
Throughout its history, L’Escargot has hosted many celebrities including Coco Chanel, General de Gaulle, Elton John, Dame Judi Dench, the Kray twins, Princess Margaret, and was reportedly a favorite restaurant of Princess Diana.
The restaurant is adorned with original artworks by renowned artists such as Miro, Warhol, and Picasso.