Le Relais de Venise, French restaurant in 17th arrondissement, Paris, France
Le Relais de Venise is a restaurant in the 17th arrondissement of Paris that focuses on a simple concept: entrecote steak served with fries and a green butter sauce. The menu offers essentially one main dish, with fries provided in generous and unlimited portions throughout the meal.
The restaurant was established in 1959 when Paul Gineste de Saurs purchased an existing Italian establishment and kept its name while introducing a radically new menu concept featuring only one main dish. This decision to focus on a single specialized offering shaped the place into what it remains today.
Staff members wear traditional French service uniforms and follow a distinctive routine of bringing the steak on a heated plate before serving generous portions of fries in two separate visits to each table. This formal and choreographed style of service has become part of the restaurant's identity and appeal to regulars.
The restaurant operates without reservations on Boulevard Pereire, which means waiting lines typically form before opening hours, especially during peak dining times. Arriving early or being prepared for a wait is essential if you want to dine here without disappointment.
The green butter sauce served with the steak contains a secret blend that includes chicken liver and fresh herbs, a combination that has remained largely unchanged since the restaurant's founding. This unexpected ingredient in a classic French sauce creates a flavor profile that regular customers consider their reason for returning.
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