Le Relais De Venise L'Entrecote
Restaurants in London
120 Marylebone Lane
London
Greater London
W1U 2QG
Contact Numbers
Reviews
Going Downhill Fast
Times are obviously hard at this franchise steak place.Went there for Sunday Lunch and was very dissappointed.Standards have dropped considerably since my last visit.The first bizarre experience came when we asked for some butter with our bread. We were told in no uncertain terms that this was “not possible†I expressed surprise that a restaurant didn't have any butter in the kitchen and got a shrug from a waitress who didn't seem to know the answer to this. I asked to see the manageress who explained that, yes there was butter on the premises, but it was only served with bread to those who had cheese after the meal. I asked her politely if she could maybe bend the rules for a valued customer and sneak some out to us. She told us in a very serious manner that these were instructions from Head Office in Paris and there was nothing she could do.I realised then that the “UK Jobsworth of the year†award was in the bag, and here we were only a few days into May. We know that the standard French repost to consumer complaints is to shrug and say “…I am only obeying ordersâ€, but given that this lady was East European does say something about how well trained she was in the ways of corporate intransigence.Our second problem was the wine. We ordered a half bottle of the house red (a Chateau de Lardiley Bordeaux). The waitress poured it out without letting either of us try it and scurried off. It wasn't the best house plonk I'd ever had, and on examining my glass I found out why. Swirls of purple sediment were gyrating madly round and round. A bad bottle ? No problem – it can happen and isn't the end of the world.I called another waitress over and showed her my glass. She nodded knowingly. “Ah yes, we know†she said. I asked her about her apparent clairvoyant powers, and she explained that the restaurant had had this problem with the half bottles of house red for over a month. “I can replace your bottle for you, but it will probably be the same†she said rather unhelpfully. I didn't want a full bottle or half a white so was forced (as she didn't offer to let us have half a whole bottle – the sensible customer calming option) to try another.It was the same as the first one. Clouds of sediment. A bitter taste.I jokingly asked her if there was any blotting paper back in the kitchen alongside the butter, but she shrugged and poured a glugful of wine into an empty spare glass saying “That should take care of most of the bits†and took it away with her.Problem three was the main event. The meat. I know times are hard, but if the two halves of my steak weighed more than 5 ounces in total I would have been very surprised. Slicing a small (sorry, tiny) piece of meat very thinly, spreading it out in the pattern of a large fan and covering it in a mound of chips does not make it any larger. This is basic physics. Another law of physics is that re-cooking chips that are already perfectly cooked does not make them taste better. The chips that came with our second half meat were so overcooked that you could have used them as cocktail sticks. Useful for picking bits of sediment out of one's teeth, thoughStick to Cafe Rouge for good value tasty steaksI have written to the owner/md (Mr Dine).It will be interesting to see if he bothers to reply.If not, I'll be contacting Helene Godilot, in Paris who runs the whole shooting match.
A User - 07/05/2009 | report this review
Le Relais De Venise, Marylebone
I had the misfortune to eat in this restaurant last night (23 February 2009), where staff conduct and behaviour can only be described as disgraceful. On discovering that I was dealing with the manager, shocked me even further. The receipt for our £121.99 meal was banged on the table without request, when our group were only two-thirds through dinner. I presumed the waitress (whom I subsequently discovered is the Manager) had made an error and pointed out that we did not yet have desert and had not requested our bill. The Manager stated we had occupied our table for too long and that others were waiting to be seated, she hotly requested we pay immediately and leave. A ridiculous debate ensued which was; inaccurate in accusation, rude in delivery and very humiliating. Despite attempting to reassure the Manager we had occupied the table for just under two hours and not over three hours - she remained intransigent, stating she expected tables to 'turn around' every 45 minutes. I highly recommend diners avoid Le Relais de Venise. However crossing the street (as we did) to Jurys Clifton Ford Hotel - you are assured more civilised surroundings, where £95 goes a long way and is money far better spent than in Le Relais De Venise for what is after all - steak and chips.
A User - 01/02/2009 | report this review
Overpriced and disappointing
I really wanted to love Le Relais de Venise. It looks fantastic and I'd read some great reviews. It looks every inch an authentic Parisian brasserie. I love the quirky nature of it, there's just one menu choice, salad followed by steak with chips and green sauce all dished up by waitresses in old school uniforms.I've passed it countless times but never went in. This particular time with a friend, we tried and failed to eat a Sunday lunch in The Providores, and subsequently La Fromagerie, so we thought, let's give Le Relais de Venise a go. First impressions on a wet and dreary Sunday were that it was cosy and inviting. We were seated immediately, cosy being the right word, the tables are on top of each other. That didn't bother me too much but my dining partner was uncomfortable. The waitress approached and brusquely asked if we were ok with the menu setup. Within minutes our starter salads arrived with some bread and a half bottle of house Bordeaux. The salad was delicious, nice leaves and vinaigrette with a small amount of walnuts. The wine was very pleasant. The service continued to be abrupt however, they cleared the table while I was still eating which I found a little off and uncomfortable.Shortly after our steak arrived, 4 small slices covered in their trademark green sauce, thrown on to the plate with a mountain of frites. It was very messy, the plate was covered in smudges and sauce, it certainly didn't feel like it was £19 a head. The steak was good, and the frites ok, if a little overcooked. Sometime later they came around with an unexpected steak refill, which I indulged in, but my friend had filled up on frites, so with disappointment, declined. There was no room for dessert, and we really felt like we were being rushed. We had had about 5 different waitresses at this point, all very keen to clear everything as soon as we appeared to be finished, whether we were or not. It definitely felt like a chain (which it is), the staff just didn't care, and we left feeling a little cheated.It's a shame but I found it overpriced and unfriendly and would be reluctant to go back. It just wasn't that special or worth that much. 3* because the food was decent and that vinaigrette was really good, 1* for the service.
A User - 03/12/2008 | report this review
Food Poisoned
I was sick for a week with food poisoning after eating here - the fries were too deep fried and tasted like they were fried in the old, re-used oil, and our steaks were not cooked the way we wanted. The staff are rude and pushy, but I happily expected this at a French restaurant. I thought the idea behind the place was great, with a no-choice menu and a cult status behind the name, but what a nightmare! I wrote them a letter complaining, and they replied saying it wasn't their fault cause no-one else was sick after eating that day. That really pissed me off. Please don't fall for the gimmick. Go to a good French restaurant with choice, and where the chefs aren't feeding the same sludge to cattle and don't care about the food they make or to apologise or refund customers who were made ill by their food.
A User - 07/10/2008 | report this review
Go Once and You'll Go Back!
There's not much to add, really. The only reason I'm keeping one of the stars for myself is their "slightly" high prices. Like I said in my review of their Paris branch, I'd be fooling myself if I disagree with their "come once and you'll come back" tagline.
A User - 08/05/2008 | report this review
Steak & Chips - perfect.
I had been wanting to go to Le Relais De Venise for a long time, but never seemed to be in the right place at the right time. That all changed one evening, when we wanted an early dinner after some shopping on Oxford Street. As it was early we were hopeful we would be able to get a table without too much trouble, as they don't take bookings.We arrived just as they opened (6.30pm on a Fri) and joined the small queue at the door. A short wait and we were in, thankfully being allocated a table at one end of a long banquet - as the tables are so close together it was a bonus to be at the end with some room to move.Service was fast and efficient - this is not the place to linger over your meal. The waitress explained to us that there is no menu, they just serve steak and chips, accompanied by their special green sauce. Fine by us. Just decide how you want your steak cooked (blue, rare, medium, well done) and they will write it on the paper tablecloth next to you, so they know who ordered what. The meal starts with a green salad with walnuts, smothered in mustard dressing. As soon as we finished this our plates were whisked away and the steak appeared. The waitress served up our steak and chips and poured on the secret sauce. Ok, the sauce may be special, but even without it the steak was delicious and the chips were way too moreish. We cleaned our plates and then suddenly the waitress appeared with more meat and a mass of chips. We cleaned our plates again, but waved away the dessert menu.Melt in your mouth steak, perfect chips and a surprisingly decent bottle of house red - this is my kind of meal!
A User - 06/04/2008 | report this review
Very Special Sauce
What a great place. No menu. Just a walnut salad followed by steak and chips with a special sauce.The others have covered the brilliance of the steak, the simplicity of the formula, the efficiency of the staff and the epicurean ambience. I just want to comment on their sauce...We asked the lovely waitress what the sauce is made from and she laughed at us. It's so secret I doubt Adam from Spooks would be able to get hold of it.It's a burnt butter green colour with a similar constistency to pesto and a hint of garlic and mustard. We think there might be some watercress or taragon in here too along with plenty of butter and olive oil. There's also a cheesy bottom note which might be the connection to the pesto consistency - parmesan perhaps?Great place. Very mysterious sauce. If anyone has any further thoughts on what it's made from it would be great to hear them.
A User - 10/12/2007 | report this review
amazing steaks, great value
steak is what they offer and steak is what you get at this wonderful St Marylebonebrasserie. Pluses: great steak, super chips,friendly service, good value. Minuses: can get very full (arrive early); tables close together; no reservations; the most limited menu in London (there really isn't one). I know lots of people who have been there and the word of mouth is very strong. warning: not for vegetarians.
A User - 03/03/2007 | report this review
The Secret is in the Sauce
Le Relais de Venise is part of the Entrecote small chain that was started in Paris. I remember every time going back home having to do a near pilgrimage routine to L'Entrecote. Now that they are here in London my biggest fear is transforming my quarterly pilgrimage to a weekly one. Alright so what is so special about this place? Well first of all the decoration is your typical French Brasserie.. ie wood panelling, brass knobs.. etc.. etc. The menu is dead simple... everyone gets pretty much the same thing. They give you a salad with some nuts and a great vinaigrette, before you are introduced to la piece de resistance... a succulent tender piece of red meat, served with French fries (fries the way they are meant to be: slim and slightly crispy), and finally the secret sauce. This secret sauce is like a magic wand that can transform a frog into a prince. But here you're not eating a frog but a great piece of red meat and yet you still get the magic of this secret sauce. What's in it, who knows but it is incredible. All that is missing is a bottle of red wine and off you go to different levels of gastronomic orgasmic pleasures.
A User - 12/11/2006 | report this review
Typical parisian steak frites
Good meet and excellent french fries.Don't go there with vegetarians, only one menu is served there , meat meat meat
A User - 05/08/2006 | report this review
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