Is new Dublin restaurant Entrecôte connected to the French originals?
- Lisa Cope
- 53 minutes ago
- 7 min read
A few weeks ago this Instagram page appeared, announcing a "world famous French bistro" was coming to Dublin. Ears were pricked, and questions abounded about exactly which "Entrecôte" was coming to Ireland (many people seem to be under the impression that there is just one French restaurant called 'Entrecôte', when there are at least four).
Some background
The restaurant ‘Le Relais de Venise: Son Entrecôte’ was opened by Paul Ginsete de Saurs in 1959 in Paris, serving a fixed menu of steak-frites with his "secret green sauce" that set the restaurant apart from other bistros. There was a starter of green salad with walnuts, and a main of slices of entrecôte steak and fries, with a butter sauce that had a secret combination of herbs and spices. The only choice given to customers was how they want their steak cooked, and the restaurant took no reservations, so you had to queue. The founder passed away in 1966, and the concept was split into three very similar restaurant groups by his three children.
There's Le Relais de L'Entrecôte, from daughter Marie-Paule Burrus, with locations now in France and Switzerland.
There's the more modern looking L'Entrecôte from son Henri Ginsete de Saurs, with locations across France and one in Barcelona.
And then there's the most international of the three, Le Relais de Venise: "Son Entrecôte" from daughter Helene Godillot, with locations in Paris, Monaco, New-York City, London, and Mexico City.
And to confuse things further, there is a FOURTH restaurant in Paris with Entrecôte in the name - L'Entrecôte de Paris, which has no connection to the other three.
But if we were getting a Dublin outpost connected to one of these these groups, why didn't they specify which one, and why was the branding for the Irish one different?
Media coverage
The day before opening, the Instagram page Dublin Social posted a preview stating that the "world famous steak frites culinary institution Entrecôte" was opening in Dublin this week. Lovin' Dublin immediately jumped on the bandwagon stating that "Beloved French restaurant Entrecôte are opening a Dublin restaurant TOMORROW". No one thought to ask "which Entrecôte?"
Neither of these platforms are known for their scrupulous fact-checking, but most people wouldn't expect the Irish Independent, Irish Times and Business Post to publish the same unchecked story on their website (as well as Radio Nova, Breakingnews.ie, Evoke.ie, FM104 and more).
None of these outlets appear to have looked into which "Entrecôte" restaurant group this Dublin opening was part of, even while commenters on the various Instagram posts were chiming in with comments like "this doesn't look like the original, the sauce isn't even the right colour", and "It's a rip off". The absence of the famous green sauce has particularly riled those who have visited one of the three French brands.
Other comments on their first Instagram post made it clear that few people know there are different Entrecôte restaurants across France, presuming they are all one and the same.
"We queued for 2 hours to try the one in Bordeaux last year! It was amazing 😍😍 delighted its in dublin."
"Epic!!! This is so cool. Hope the queues aren’t as crazy as Paris 😅Can’t wait to check it out! 🥩🍟🍷"
"One of my favourite spots in Toulouse and Lyon. Delighted 😍"
The press release
We got our hands on the press release issued from the restaurant's PR company, which hadn't been directly sent to us. These are some of its contents:
"Beloved French institution Entrecôte today announced it will open a Dublin restaurant tomorrow on Clarendon Street, Dublin 2. Since its inception in 1962 in Toulouse (this was L'Entrecôte), inspired by the original Le Relais de Venise in Paris, this classic French brasserie concept has expanded to cities like Paris, Tokyo, London and New York and now Dublin marks the group’s next opening." (Only Le Relais de Venise: L’Entrecôte has expanded to London and New York, and there is no Entrecôte restaurant that we can find a record of in Tokyo).
"... the Entrecôte group has become a firm favourite among food lovers worldwide thanks to its no-menu approach and signature secret sauce. Traditionally, the group operates with exactly the same set menu wherever it goes, but Dublin will mark a notable twist ... setting it apart from every other Entrecôte restaurant globally, with a touch of the best of Ireland ... we’re adding a uniquely Irish chapter to the Entrecôte story.”
"In keeping with the group’s global format, the Dublin restaurant will operate on a first come first served basis with walk-ins only, which honours the brand’s trademark queues of eager diners spilling out onto the street."
Looking for answers
It's pretty clear right? The French restaurant group Entrecôte is coming to Dublin. But which one? We put this question to the PR company and this was their response:
"Paul McGlade (one of the owners) has struck a deal with the Entrecôte guys - I know he was flying over and back for it."
Again we asked, which one? There are three separate restaurant groups and a fourth standalone restaurant. And why is the branding unlike any of them?
"So I believe that's all part of it... Different branding etc... But all share the same format and same 'secret sauce', etc that they're so loved for. Paul has just asked if you can please give him a bell and he'll explain?"
We politely declined the option of a phone call and asked for written clarification of what exactly the link was to which Entrecôte restaurant. The PR team repeatedly refused, saying that the owners would only speak on the phone, and then in person, and were unwilling to put anything in writing. If they've licensed the format from one of the French groups, what's the big secret?
We looked through Entrecôte Dublin's official press pack and found this image of Le Relais de L'Entrecôte in Paris in there, so mystery solved? But this is not the group that has expanded to London and New York, that's Le Relais de Venise: "Son Entrecôte". Confused yet?
Le Relais de L'Entrecôte (pictured above) have confirmed to All The Food that they have nothing to do with this new Dublin opening, saying "It is not one of ours! We are informing our competent team."
Okay so maybe it's international Le Relais de Venise: "Son Entrecôte" and they got the image wrong? Nope. They told us: "We do not have any operation in Ireland so no it is not from our group. It is a copy place if it pretends to be us."
Could it be connected to the international Le Relais de Venise restaurants? The London operator told us "It isn't connected to us."
There's only one left - L'Entrecôte, founded in Toulouse in 1962. The press release says "Since its inception in 1962 in Toulouse", so this checks out right? Unfortunately not. They said "I confirm that this restaurant does not belong to our management.
We are located in TOULOUSE, MONTPELLIER, NANTES, BORDEAUX, LYON and BARCELONA."
This isn't the first time that incorrect information has been published about the restaurant group behind Entrecôte Dublin. Their "Strawberry & Co" summer pop up was widely reported as being a temporary pop up from the Borough Market stall that went viral for cups of strawberries covered in melted chocolate. The stall in question is Turnips, which has no connection to the Dublin pop up, but that didn't stop RTE from writing "London's most viral food spot has opened a pop-up in Dublin". The article reads: "Strawberry & Co, a longtime seller from London's iconic Borough Market ... has just opened a temporary pop-up in Dublin at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre." There is no Strawberry & Co at London's Borough Market, and a correction of the piece was not sought.
Their Powerscourt Pizza restaurant Little Pyg is continuously described on their website, social channels and in press communications as "Michelin guide pizza". The claim comes from their hiring of consultant chef Enzo Coccia to help create the menu. The renowned pizza chef is based in Naples, but travels around the world consulting for and opening new restaurants. He was last reported to be heading stateside. Coccia's Naples restaurant La Notizia 53 is Michelin-recommended. Little Pyg is not. (Although that didn't stop the Irish Independent stating otherwise at the end of this article)
So is the Dublin Entrecôte connected to a French restaurant with the same name? We can't find any proof that it is, but will update this article if new information comes to light.
This potentially misleading opening is one thing, but the bigger question lies in the the fact that not one national or local publication (apart from us) found the time to check that the big claim they were printing was correct.
If you also like your news to be factual instead of copied and pasted press releases, maybe you'll consider supporting independent Irish journalism, instead of another mass appeal steakhouse.
As of publishing, and after we started questioning the story on Instagram, the Irish Times has edited their article removing the connections to the French chains, and the Irish Independent has removed their article completely. Many other articles linking Entrecôte Dublin to the French restaurant groups remain live.
