Le Relais de L’Entrecôte: The Legendary Steak-Frites Place in Paris
If you’re in Paris and craving a classic French meal, Le Relais de L’Entrecôte is the place to be. Located in the 17th arrondissement near Porte Maillot, this iconic restaurant has been serving steak-frites since 1959. Tourists and locals line up outside its doors for a taste of its simple, high-quality menu.
The menu at Le Relais de L’Entrecôte is straightforward. Guests start with a simple green salad topped with walnuts and a mustard vinaigrette. The main course is steak-frites served with a special butter-based sauce.
This sauce is a well-guarded secret and is key to the restaurant’s fame. Though reports have mentioned ingredients like chicken liver, thyme, and mustard, the exact recipe remains undisclosed. Customers get two servings, a surprise for first-timers.
Vibe and Experience
The atmosphere plays an important role at Le Relais de L’Entrecôte. Each restaurant has classic French brasserie decor with wood panelling, wall mirrors, and closely spaced tables. The original Paris location has early 20th-century posters and red upholstered benches.
Servers wear traditional uniforms with aprons, enhancing the classic look. The restaurant’s no-reservation policy means long lines are common, but for many, the wait is worth it.
The restaurant has a no-frills approach. There’s no menu to browse, you’re here for one dish: steak-frites. When you sit down, the server will ask one question – how do you like your steak cooked? Follows the green salad. The best part: you get a second serving of steak and fries, a pleasant surprise for first-time diners.
The restaurant also has a classic selection of French desserts to finish your meal include profiteroles filled with ice cream and topped with rich chocolate sauce, creamy crème brûlée with a caramelized top, their own vacherin, and fruit tarts.
A Family Legacy
The Relais de l’Entrecôte’s story began when Gineste de Saurs purchased Le Relais de Venise near Porte Maillot in the 17th arrondissement (that location still bears the inital name today). The original Italian menu was replaced with a French bistro-style steak and fries meal.
Le Relais de L’Entrecôte’s concept spread through the Gineste de Saurs family. After Paul’s death in 1966, his daughter Hélène Godillot took over the original Porte Maillot location.
Another daughter, Marie-Paule Burrus, opened the Le Relais de l’Entrecôte group, which includes three Paris locations and one in Geneva. Paul’s son, Henri, started the L’Entrecôte group with locations in Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes, Montpellier, and Lyon.
Today, there are licensed locations in London, New York, and Mexico. The concept even reached places as far as Hong Kong, Dubai, and Riyadh, among others. Each branch sticks to the original formula of salad, steak-frites, and a limited dessert menu.
Despite each group of restaurants being run by different descendants of Paul Gineste de Saurs under various names, they all stay true to his original concept. The signature meal remains the same: a starter of lettuce-and-walnut salad, followed by steak-frites with the distinctive butter sauce, served in two rounds.
The dessert selection is also consistent. And in Paris and Geneva, the wine list includes selections from the family’s own Château de Saurs vineyard, which maintains a link to the restaurant’s roots.
The Other Paris Locations
While the original Le Relais de L’Entrecôte near Porte Maillot holds a special place in many hearts, there are two more Paris locations that follow the same formula. L’Entrecôte Saint-Germain on Rue Saint-Benoît attracts a lively crowd in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. The third Paris location is in Montparnasse.
Original location: 271 Boulevard Pereire, 17è. Website
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