Tiny Urban Kitchen

Exploring Food from Boston to Hong Kong and Beyond

  • About
    • About Me
    • Tiny Urban Kitchen’s Favorite Equipment
    • Press
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Asian
      • Chinese
      • Taiwanese
      • Thai
      • Malaysian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
    • Appetizers
    • Soups
    • Salad
    • Pasta
    • Noodles
    • Rice
    • Vegetarian
    • Meat
    • Sweets
      • Baking
      • Ice cream
      • Cookies
    • Misc
    • Kawaii (Cute)
  • Travel / Restaurants
    • United States
      • Boston
        • Jen’s Picks
        • Boston
          • Allston
          • Back Bay
          • Brighton
          • North End
          • South End
        • Cambridge
          • Kendall Square
          • Inman Square
          • Central Square
          • Harvard Square
          • Porter Square
          • North Cambridge
        • Somerville
          • Davis Square
          • Union Square
        • Greater Boston
          • Brookline
          • Arlington
          • Belmont
          • Watertown
          • Newton
          • Lexington
          • Concord
          • Burlington
          • Natick
        • Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Berkshires
      • Vermont
      • Maine
      • New York
      • Washington DC
      • Philadelphia
      • Orlando
      • Chicago
      • Las Vegas
      • California
        • Los Angeles
        • San Francisco
        • Napa
        • Sonoma
      • Seattle
      • Hawaii
    • Canada
      • Montreal
      • Canadian Rockies
      • Toronto
    • Argentina
    • Europe
      • United Kingdom
        • London
        • Oxford
      • Italy
        • Rome
        • Piedmont
      • France
        • Paris
        • Bordeaux
      • Spain
        • Madrid
        • Barcelona
        • Catalonia / San Sebastian / Girona
      • Germany
      • Belgium
        • Brussels
      • Switzerland
      • Greece
      • Finland
      • Norway
      • Denmark
    • Japan
      • Japan Guide
      • Tokyo
      • Osaka
      • Kyoto
    • China (Mainland)
      • Beijing
      • Chengdu
      • Shanghai
      • Shaanxi
      • Shenzhen
      • Xiamen
      • Yunnan
    • Singapore
    • Hong Kong
    • Malaysia
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Australia/New Zealand
  • Michelin
    • Formerly had a star
    • Michelin Recommended
    • 1 Star
    • 2 Stars
    • 3 Stars
  • Jen’s Eating Guides!
    • Boston Restaurants
    • Boston Dishes
    • Tokyo
    • Hong Kong
    • Las Vegas
    • Napa / Sonoma
    • Taiwan (night markets)
    • Taiwanese (casual eats)
    • Street Foods of Bangkok (Part I)
    • Street Foods of Bangkok (Part II)
    • Kitchen Equipment
  • Trip Reports
    • All trip reports
    • New England
    • New York
    • Washington DC
    • Las Vegas
    • California
    • Canada
    • Europe
    • Florida
    • Japan
    • China

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte

August 2, 2016 by Jennifer Che 9 Comments

D4C4116.jpg
This is the twentieth post in the Around the World Birthday Extravaganza Series. Please scroll to the bottom to see all the other posts in this series.

You know that a restaurant has perfected a dish if it only serves one thing, and it’s been serving the same exact thing for the past 50+ years.

Le Relais de L’Entrecote is a family-owned restaurant in Paris that is iconic for its steak frites. People go crazy over their secret, signature butter-herb sauce that comes with the steaks. In fact, they don’t serve any other main dishes. It’s steak, steak, steak. The only question is how you want your steak cooked.

Originally opened in 1959, Le Relais de L’Entrecote has grown into several locations throughout France and globally, all run by various family members. All of the restaurants have the same concept: the meals start with a walnut frisee salad before moving onto steak and fries, served in two portions. Dessert is the only course with optionality.

There is always a line out the door. Expect to wait before being seated unless if you show up right at opening.DSC4844.jpg
We started with the lettuce, frisée, and walnut salad tossed in a mustard vinaigrette. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the dressing was boldly flavored and delicious. 
Once we finished our salads, the servers brought over the first portion of steak (about 5-8 oz) along with a pile of fries. The steak smells incredible, partly because of that delicious secret herb-butter sauce.
DSC4846.jpg
Years ago, a Paris newspaper disclosed that the secret sauce’s ingredients included chicken liver, cream, thyme, white dijon mustard, cream, salt, and pepper. The family claimed the recipe was inaccurate, so thus we do not know for certain what that secret formula really is . . .

In any event, it is really, really good.
DSC4848.jpg
The steak was cooked perfectly.

After you finish your first portion, the servers come by offering you a second round. I didn’t have room, but Bryan was happy to take his second portion.
D4C4110.jpg DSC4857.jpg
So. good.
DSC4845.jpg D4C4114.jpg
The only choices that exist in the restaurant are drinks and dessert.
DSC4851.jpg
We chose to to with some simple profiteroles, which were quite good. It’s no surprise that the quality of chocolate in France is quite high.
DSC4852.jpg DSC4853.jpg\

We finished with some simple espressos to top off the night.

It was a really, really fun evening. I originally had not planned to come to this restaurant since I had been to the one in New York City (yes, there’s one there!), but Bryan was intrigued by the concept and wanted to try it. We purposely showed up before opening in order to get a good spot in the line out the door. On any other normal day, the lines would have been crazy long.

However, we were visiting Paris just a week after the November 2015 terrorist attacks, and many tourists had withdrawn from Paris. We found ourselves third place in a line that did not grow much longer within the half hour we spent waiting. When the restaurant opened and let everyone in, I noticed there were still a lot of empty seats remaining.

Our suspicions were confirmed when we asked a server whether the short line was normal. She said that business had become super slow after the Paris attacks, and many local businesses, especially those that catered to tourists, were really struggling.

We were glad to be there to show our support, especially during this difficult time.

The food at Relais d’Entrecote is delicious and definitely worth trying at least once, if nothing else for the unique, authentic, and historic experience. The steak is delicious, and the secret sauce is unforgettable. If you don’t want to head all the way to Paris for the meal, you can visit the one in New York City. The folks there have tried very hard to recreate the Parisian experience, and I personally think they’ve done a good job of it.

Relais d’Entrecote
20 Rue Saint-Benoît
75006 Paris, France

All Posts In This Series
Around the World Birthday Extravaganza
Alba White Truffle Fair
Osteria Dei Sognatori – A Traditional Piedmontese Dinner
Italy Wine Tour – Barbaresco
Lunch at Donna Selvatica in Neive, Italy
Dinner at a Truffle Hunter’s Inn – Tra Art e Querce
G.D.Vajra Winery
Trattoria Della Posta in Montfort D’Alba
Nighttime Truffle Hunting with a Dog in Alba
Osteria della Arco – last dinner in Alba
Stunning Images of La Morra and Barolo, Italy
First Day In Bordeaux, France – Une Cuisine en Ville
Chateau Haut-Brion Tour in Bordeaux France
Restaurant Le St. James
Touring Bordeaux Wineries – Day 1 – Left Bank
La Tupina, Bordeaux (traditional French dinner)
Cos d’Estournel Tour
Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages
Chateau Cordeillan-Bages
A Different Paris

Filed Under: France, Paris, Restaurant, Review, World Travel

« Giveaway – Battle of the Burger 2016
Pirouette Paris »

Recent Posts

  • L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong January 18, 2021
  • Nostalgic Reminders of Home: Five Guys Hong Kong January 6, 2021
  • Elementary Hong Kong January 5, 2021
  • Happy New Year 2021! A Look Back at 2020 January 1, 2021
  • Restaurant Le George Paris December 29, 2020
  • Nice Yakiniku and Fine Wine Hong Kong December 28, 2020
  • Merry Christmas 2020 December 25, 2020
  • Sushi Shikon Autumn 2020 December 24, 2020

Latest Chinese recipes!

Comments

  1. ChannonD says

    August 3, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I have been trying to find this place but could not recall the name. Our group ate there in 2007, when we were sent to France for an Environmental Award. My mouth still water when I think of that meal.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Le Relais de l’Entrecôte – Boston Metro Bugle says:
    August 3, 2016 at 1:43 am

    […] by jennifer che • August 2, 2016 • 0 Comments Read the full article […]

    Reply
  2. L'Arpege Paris - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    August 12, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie […]

    Reply
  3. Florilege Tokyo - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    October 4, 2016 at 8:44 am

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in […]

    Reply
  4. Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori (中目黒いぐち) - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    October 26, 2016 at 9:36 am

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi […]

    Reply
  5. Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory - Totoro Cream Puff - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    October 31, 2016 at 11:45 am

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi Harutaka […]

    Reply
  6. Fu Sing Seafood Restaurant Hong Kong - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    November 27, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi Harutaka […]

    Reply
  7. Din Tai Fung Hong Kong - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    November 30, 2016 at 12:27 am

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi Harutaka […]

    Reply
  8. Sushi Ya Tokyo (すし家) - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    May 19, 2018 at 10:34 am

    […] Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages Chateau Cordeillan-Bages A Different Paris Le Relais de l’Entrecote Pirouette Paris L’Ambroisie Paris Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi Harutaka […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to Tiny Urban Kitchen!

JenChe

Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am a Boston to Hong Kong transplant, born and raised in Ohio with parents from Taiwan. Feel free to head on over to the About page if you want to learn more about me, or just explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Archives

Categories

Awards

Saveur
PFB

BostonGlobe

Most Recent Posts

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Hong Kong

Five Guys Hong  Kong

Nostalgic Reminders of Home: Five Guys Hong Kong

Elementary HK

Elementary Hong Kong

Happy New Year 2021! A Look Back at 2020

Restaurant Le George Paris

Restaurant Le George Paris

Great Yakiniku and Fine Wine

Nice Yakiniku and Fine Wine Hong Kong

Merry Christmas 2020

Sushi Shikon Autumn 2020

Foodhallen + Amsterdam Eats and Museums

4850 Restaurant Amsterdam

4850 Amsterdam – Nordic Inspired Creative Food

France!

Yam'Tcha Paris
David Toutain Paris
Divellec Paris
Breizh Cafe Paris
Clamato Paris

Kawaii! (Cute)

Norway!

Food Advertising by logo

Chinese Recipes

Okra with Chicken
Food Advertising by logo

Shop & Support us!

Spain!

Girona Spain
Amelia San Sebastian

Japan!

Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin
Sukiyaki Imafuku Tokyo
Sushi Ishimaya Tokyo
Disney Sea Tokyo
Tempura Fukamachi Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen

Cambridge restaurants

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress