Paris dining: Relais de l'Entrecote

We arrived in Paris on Saturday. After a dreadfully uncomfortable flight on American Airlines (I believe in naming the guilty!), we arrived tired, grumpy, hot, dehydrated and minus one suitcase (it showed up later that afternoon). Once we checked into our hotel we napped for a couple of hours. By then it was time to have dinner.

I had decided that what we really needed to boost our energy was steak frites which is basically steak and fries. Ok, so what is special about steak and fries when you can get it in any town in America at Golden Corral? Well, first of all, the French invented steak and fries. Secondly, the meat is a gorgeous, high quality cut. Thirdly, the fries are made from fresh potatoes not frozen white lumps that were potatoes in 1987.

Finally, the most excellent example of steak frites can be had at a Paris establishment called Relais de l'Entrecote located on the rue Marbeuf off of the Champs Elysee. These people have their own entry in Wikipedia! The only thing on their menu is steak frites preceded by a salad with walnuts and a Dijon mustard, vinegar, oil dressing and a choice of desserts.

I wish I'd taken pictures. The steak came sliced with a mountain of fries and sitting in a "secret sauce" that was loaded with butter and possibly a hint of rosemary.

For dessert, I ordered profiteroles which are baby cream puffs filled with ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. My parents had 3 scoops of ice cream--vanilla, coffee, and almond--with a caramel sauce. Both desserts were wonderful. The chocolate sauce on the profiteroles was made with dark, rich chocolate. The caramel sauce on the ice cream was pure butter.

After dinner we walked down the Champs Elysee back to Place de la Concorde where we took the metro to our hotel. It was a perfect evening! Especially since the sun didn't set until well after 11pm.