Sarah De Winne Narbonne is famous for its Roman heritage, lively indoor market and imposing Gothic cathedral. Yet the city is also home to one of France’s most talked-about culinary experiences. Hidden in an unlikely setting, Les Grands Buffets is a legendary high-end all-you-can-eat buffet that has earned an international reputation among food lovers visiting Narbonne.
With such a strong reputation, expectations were high. We had heard locals talking about Les Grands Buffets Narbonne for years but had never found the right occasion to visit. This year, we finally decided to book a table to celebrate my birthday and see for ourselves whether Les Grands Buffets really lived up to the hype.
Getting a Reservation at Les Grands Buffets
To experience Les Grands Buffets Narbonne, it is essential to plan ahead. This is not a place you can just walk into. Reservations must be made in advance and can only be made through the restaurant’s website. After submitting your email, you’ll receive a link to choose your table and date.
The restaurant offers a choice of five beautifully decorated spaces:
- La salle Max Le Verrier (Art Deco style)
- La salle Ann Carrington
- La Tente d’Aaparat Jean Baptiste Nolin
- Le Salon Doré Jean de la Fontaine
- Le Jardin Hervé di Rosa
PERSONAL TIP: In advance of making your reservation, we recommend that you research the different dining rooms available at Les Grands Buffets.
Each room has its own character, so choosing the right one can add a special touch to your visit. For my birthday celebration, we opted for La salle Max Le Verrier. This set the tone perfectly for the lavish experience to come.
The restaurant is open 365 days a year, but it has set service times. For lunch, guests are welcomed between 12:00 and 13:30, with the restaurant closing at 16:30. In the evening, service runs from 19:15 to 21:15, and the restaurant closes at 00:00.
PERSONAL TIP: Your choice of booking time is important. It affects how long you have to enjoy the unique experience of eating at Les Grands Buffets. We’d strongly recommend booking the earliest time slot available to maximise your visit!
First Impressions
At first, the venue didn’t really seem to match the reputation of Les Grands Buffets Narbonne. We were surprised that such a lavish restaurant is tucked away in a leisure complex. When we arrived, school groups were waiting outside for swimming lessons, and other visitors were heading in for bowling and ice skating!
However, once inside, all of that is forgotten! The interior is surprisingly cosy, with intimate dining rooms and elegant décor that immediately make you feel that you’re somewhere special. Despite the unusual exterior, the atmosphere quickly immerses you in the experience, and the bustle of the leisure complex outside fades into the background.
PERSONAL TIP: There is a large free car park at Les Grands Buffets. However, you’re sharing it with other leisure centre visitors. For a relaxed experience, arrive early and enjoy a drink at the Private Bowling Pub bar.
The Buffet Experience
Visually, Les Grands Buffets makes an immediate impression. The menu alone is enormous and sets the tone for the experience to come. Polished wooden panels, Art Deco touches, sparkling crystal glassware and tables laid with multiple sets of silverware all add to the sense of occasion.
At its heart, Les Grands Buffets is still a buffet. However, it feels more like a lavish French banquet than a traditional all-you-can-eat restaurant.
There are towering displays of lobster, oysters mounted on silver platters, enormous cuts of meat waiting to be carved, mountains of cheese and a dedicated foie gras station. All of this creates an immediate sense of abundance and decadence. But of course, the real question is whether the food lives up to the spectacle!
The Entrées
For us, the starters were one of the highlights of the meal. It was a real treat to sample different varieties of foie gras and the seafood selection.
In particular, the crevettes and salmon were excellent. The lobster, however, was slightly disappointing. It was a little dry, which felt like a shame given that it is one of the restaurant’s signature luxuries.
Main Courses
As you would expect, there is lots of choice for the main courses. You can eat as much as you want from a menu that includes a wide selection of rotisserie meats, fish and Chef’s suggestions.
Live cooking stations for the main course add plenty of atmosphere. Watching the Chefs prepare enormous cuts of meat to order is impressive, although it does mean queueing while your food is cooked. Whilst some of the meats were very good, a few lacked the depth of flavour we had expected.
Cheese and Desserts
Where the restaurant truly excelled for us was the cheese selection. The variety and quality of the 111 cheeses were outstanding. It’s easy to see why the famous cheese room has a Guiness World Record and is such an iconic part of the experience. The desserts were also beautifully presented and provided a fittingly indulgent finish.
Be Aware of Section Closing Times!
When we made our booking, we did not realise that each section of the buffet closes at different times!
During lunch service, starters are available until 15:00, main courses until 15:30 and cheese and desserts until 16:15. Although we ate more than enough, we felt that these staggered closing times influenced the enjoyment and rhythm of our meal. Having chosen a 13:30 sitting, we felt were were a little rushed and conscious of the clock.
PERSONAL TIP: For a leisurely eating experience, book your table as early as possible!
How Much Does Les Grands Buffets Cost?
The current price of Les Grands Buffets is €65.90 per person. A deposit is required at the time of booking and the remaining balance is paid in advance of your visit. Cancellation conditions apply, but these are made very clear at the time of booking. We really appreciated the transparent communication when we booked and in subsequent email reminders.
It is worth noting that drinks are not included in the price of the buffet. They are an additional cost which you pay for on the day. However, the good news is that all wine and champagne served in the restaurant are charged at producer’s prices!
PERSONAL TIP: An additional perk of eating at Les Grands Buffets is that you can purchase bottles of wine and champagne at producer’s prices to take home. Furthermore, if you drank the same bottle of wine or champagne during your meal, it will be deducted from your final bill!
Is Les Grands Buffets Worth It?
For us, yes – Les Grands Buffets is absolutely worth experiencing at least once! However, it is important to understand exactly what you are paying for. Les Grands Buffets is a high-end buffet experience rather than a quiet, intimate restaurant meal.
What stands out most about Les Grands Buffets is the spectacle of it all. From the theatrical presentation of the food to the sheer variety on offer. Les Grands Buffets is a visually impressive experience from start to finish. Even before you begin eating, the scale and presentation make it feel like something quite unique.
Like most buffets, wine is served at the table, but you collect your own food. Even though there is an impressive amount of choice of food for the price, there is still a natural limit to how much you can realistically eat and enjoy in one sitting!
Perhaps the most unusual aspect, though, is its location. It is slightly surprising to find such an elaborate dining experience set within a leisure complex, alongside bowling, ice skating and swimming facilities. However, once you step inside the restaurant itself, that outside world quickly disappears.
So, Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne may not be a traditional fine dining experience, but it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it offers something different – a unique dining experience that is indulgent, abundant and memorable. For that reason alone, we felt it was well worth the visit, especially as part of a special occasion or a visit to Narbonne.
