Is Relais de l'Entrecôte worth it?
Worth it if…Underrated · +29No-menu, no-booking steak-frites institution: walnut salad, sliced steak in secret sauce, two servings
Worth it, with conditions. 4.2 across 8,613 Google reviews; most say the steak and sauce justify the wait, with a minority calling it a tourist trap.
Hype31How famous and hyped it is
Reality60Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.2 ★ Google · 8,613 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Relais de l'Entrecôte? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 first-timers vote
A reliable, classic Paris steak-frites at a fair price, if you queue before opening.
Why Reality is 60
Lives up to its fame4/54.2 across 8,613 Google reviews; most say the steak and sauce justify the wait, with a minority calling it a tourist trap.
Value for money4/5About €40 with dessert for salad, two servings of steak-frites and a famous sauce is good value for Saint-Germain.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5The formula is distinctive, but it runs at four Paris branches, and the 1959 original lives on at Le Relais de Venise at Porte Maillot.
Easy to do2/5No reservations; queues of 40 minutes to 1.5 hours are commonly reported unless you line up before opening.
What people loved
The secret sauce, steak and fries are consistently praised, and the second helping makes it feel generousNo decisions: just say how you want your steak; fast, efficient and funModerate price for a full steak-frites meal in Saint-GermainPlenty of French diners, so it feels less touristy than its fame suggestsWhat wore them down
No reservations: lines form before opening and waits can exceed 1.5 hoursNoisy and tightly packed tables; not a lingering or romantic mealSome diners find the steak thin, the sauce greasy or call it a tourist trapParties may wait even when seats are free, as groups are seated by sizeKnow before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No reservations. Arrive 20–30 minutes before the 12:00 or 6:30 p.m. opening to make the first seating.
MenuOne formula: green salad with walnuts, then sliced contre-filet with the house sauce and fries, served in two rounds; you choose only the doneness. Desserts and drinks extraSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Price (reported)Around €40 per person including dessert, per a 2026 diner; the restaurant publishes no prices onlineSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026
ReservationNo reservations; queue outside, ideally before openingSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HoursWeekdays 12:00–2:30 p.m. and 6:30–11:00 p.m.; weekends and holidays 12:00–3:00 p.m. and 6:30–11:00 p.m.Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HistoryFormula created in 1959 by Paul Gineste de Saurs at Porte Maillot; his daughter opened the Relais de l'Entrecôte restaurantsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Other Paris branchesMarbeuf (8th), Montparnasse (6th) and Marché Saint-Honoré (1st), same hoursSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time neededAbout 1 hour to eat, plus 20 min–1.5 hours in lineSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting thereMetro 4 Saint-Germain-des-Prés, 2 min walk; ~10 min from Châtelet on Line 4Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Tuesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Wednesday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Thursday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Friday: 12:00 – 2:30 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 6:30 – 11:00 PM
In their words
“We arrived 30 minutes before opening, and there were already around 60 people ahead of us.”
“It's always packed and quite noisy, so I wouldn't recommend it for an elegant date”
“If you arrive earlier, you can get in quickly, otherwise you'll wait for more than 1.5 hours.”
“Also, many of the guests were French, which made it feel less touristy than expected.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
Can you book Le Relais de l'Entrecôte?
No. It does not take reservations; join the queue before opening (12:00 or 6:30 p.m.).
What is on the menu at Le Relais de l'Entrecôte?
A single formula: walnut green salad, then contre-filet steak with the secret sauce and fries, served twice. Desserts and drinks are extra.
How much does Le Relais de l'Entrecôte cost?
Prices aren't published online; a 2026 diner reported about €40 per person including dessert.
How long is the wait at Le Relais de l'Entrecôte?
Reviewers report 40–50 minutes even arriving 30 minutes early at busy times, and over 1.5 hours if you arrive after opening.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Le Relais de l'Entrecôte — official site (hours, addresses, history)
- Le Relais de l'Entrecôte — menu
- Paris by Mouth — Le Relais de l'Entrecôte (updated 2022, comments to 2024)
- Bonjour Paris — Best traditional steak-frites in Paris (2011)
- Google Maps — Le Relais de l'Entrecôte Saint-Benoît