Les Grands Buffets - where French cuisine and style create uniqueness

The restaurant's kitchen team of about 90 people is responsible for all stages of preparation in true French style. (Photo: Nguyen Thu Ha/VNA)

Buffet restaurants are not a new form of culinary business, but the choice of hundreds of sophisticated, classy French dishes, created by experienced chefs, in a classic, luxurious environment at a reasonable price is certainly an experience only available at Les Grands Buffets restaurant in the city of Narbonne.

That is the feeling of VNA reporter in France when coming to this restaurant.

Giant blocks of cheese piled high up to the ceiling, mountains of steaming lobsters, trays of golden, fatty foie gras, roast duck drizzled with rich blood pudding sauce, and a tower of chocolate flowing like a brown silk ribbon placed among trays of cakes and fruits of all shapes and colors...

A total of more than 300 dishes of all kinds, from appetizers to main courses to desserts, create a grand feast, just like the restaurant's name: Les Grands Buffets.

Located on the outskirts of Narbonne in the South of France, this unique restaurant captivates diners not only with the variety of menus prepared by the chefs, the traditional flavors of the cuisine and the richness of the wines, but also with the luxurious and sophisticated royal-style space, as well as the attentive and thoughtful service attitude of the staff.

Comparing himself to the ambassador of French cuisine, Mr. Philippe Munoz - the restaurant's chef - identifies the responsibility of the kitchen staff as bringing diners delicious and impressive dishes.

He shared: "Each dish is a story about cuisine and culture. Our specialties are traditional French dishes and holiday dishes, prepared in traditional ways such as foie gras, duck with blood sauce, 36-hour stewed veal head, or grilled lobster with cheese..."

His kitchen team of about 90 people is in charge of all stages from stir-frying, mixing, baking, baking, stuffing sausages, processing seafood... all done in true French style.

The dining rooms are spacious, uniquely decorated, each with a theme and decorated with the works of a famous French artist, creating a unique elegance found nowhere else.

Every detail of the restaurant is carefully and meticulously prepared, bringing diners excitement, making them impressed with an unforgettable party, not only awakening the sense of taste and smell but also the sense of sight, hearing, touch and feeling.

Lucia Lozano, a customer from Spain, was amazed by both the quantity and quality of the food. "The food was amazing, with a wide selection of appetizers, meat, fish, wine and desserts. The restaurant's decor was also beautiful, with a classic, elegant style. Everything was perfect. This is our second time here, the first time was about 7 years ago. It's great to be here again," she shared with a satisfied smile.

As for Ms. Christianne Bellosart, a diner from the Swiss border, this was her first experience at Les Grands Buffets. She said she had heard a lot about the restaurant but booking a table was not easy. She had to book 4 months in advance to get a table to enjoy a party with friends here.

According to her, there are many things that people love about this place, from the hotel's decoration, to the quality of the food, as well as the enthusiastic and dedicated service attitude of the staff... That is the reason she really wants to come back next year.

As for diner Aymet Jacques, because he lives near Narbonne, he and his family often come here during the holidays. "The prices here are very reasonable. The restaurant has a wide and varied selection, from seafood, to meat dishes, to desserts, and even wine. That's why I come here often," he explained.

Over 30 years of building reputation

Les Grands Buffets was founded in 1989 by Jane and Louis Privat in the city of Narbonne, in the Occitanie region, with the desire to bring diners traditional dishes and luxurious service in classic French style.

With over 100 types of cheese introduced daily, Les Grands Buffets has been entered into the Guinness World Records 2021 for having the World's Largest Cheese Plate. (Photo: Nguyen Thu Ha/VNA)

For the past 34 years, the restaurant has been a constant success. Its reputation has spread far beyond the small town of Narbonne, even beyond the borders of France. With only 600 seats, the restaurant is open 365 days a year and welcomes around 370,000 diners each year, with more than 60% of its customers coming from all over France and abroad.

Sharing with VNA reporters in France about the secret to this success, Mr. Louis Privat, owner of Les Grands Buffets restaurant, said: "At first, we were only known in the city of Narbonne and neighboring localities. Gradually, we became famous in the southern region of France, then in the whole of France and now our reputation has crossed borders, reaching Europe and other continents.

Customers come to experience our restaurant because not every restaurant in France offers diners all the colors of traditional cuisine with dishes from popular to royal, from everyday to festive."

Mr. Stéphane Simon, in charge of communications, added that Les Grands Buffets is also known for many records. He said: “We have the world’s largest cheese plate, which was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in 2021. Depending on the season and supply, we present to our guests more than 100 types of cheese every day.

The second record is that we have the world's largest silver plate, which was also recorded in the Guinness Book of Records in 1989. The turnover is always the top among restaurants in France, with an annual figure of 24 million euros, which also creates a record for the restaurant's profit."

Revealing his plans for the near future, owner Louis Privat said he will move Les Grands Buffets restaurant to a more beautiful place, according to modern and luxurious hotel standards, adding other dishes, but still keeping the current reasonable prices so that the public can access it.

In addition, a food store will also be opened with items prepared and introduced by the restaurant's chefs for diners to buy to take away. Les Grands Buffets will also open a cooking school with famous chefs as instructors.

Mr. Louis Privat said: “We do not intend to develop this restaurant chain in France, or anywhere in the world because I only want to maintain a restaurant in Narbonne, which is also my wife and I's hometown, and want it to be the only place where diners all over the world can come to enjoy French cuisine with joy. Therefore, the wish we always send to diners is to wish them a happy meal, not just a good appetite.”./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

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