This Buffet Is so Big It Has a 7-Month Waitlist and People Need a Map to Get Around
Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne has turned abundance into an art form. The restaurant recreates the experience of a traditional French feast on an industrial scale with lobster, foie gras, roast meats, and a cheese selection unmatched anywhere in France. The dishes follow classic recipes and are prepared with the precision of haute cuisine. There’s a reason people cross borders and wait months just to get a table here.
First Things First: A Map and a Wait Time
When you arrive at Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne, France, you’re handed a map of the layout. One review notes the complex is so vast and full of separate food zones that without some help, you might wander indefinitely. The place welcomes around 400k guests annually, or roughly 600 diners at both lunch and dinner every day. With that volume, lining up ahead is far from optional.
Many tables here are reserved months in advance, sometimes as far as six to seven months. That wait-time tag lifts this from “casual buffet” to “event you plan for.”
Once you get through the doors, you’ll find 150+ dishes, some of which trace back to French master chef Auguste Escoffier, including foie gras, wild boar stew, a fountain of chocolate, and lobster towers. For cheese lovers, the venue holds the Guinness World Record for the most cheese varieties in a restaurant: 111 types.
The Smart Approach
The setting really pushes the concept of a “buffet.” One dining room alone features detailing with 18K gold leaves and décor designed by artisans who worked on the Palace of Versailles. Given the extravagance, the price remains surprisingly moderate, ranging from €57.90 to €65.90 per adult (drinks are not included, of course).
Because the place is vast and the offerings are endless, going without a plan is a risky proposition. Aim to sample one standout station at a time, the foie gras counter, then the rotisserie room, and work your way to the cheese section. You’ll enjoy more, waste less, and actually feel the full effect of this place’s scale. The map you receive is essential.