Relais de Venise – City of London Branch brings a Parisian steak frites tradition to 5 Throgmorton Street, close to the heart of the financial district. The concept has remained deliberately focused since 1959, exchanging a long list of choices for a lively bistro atmosphere and a meal that guests know before they sit down.
The fixed menu begins with a crisp green salad dressed with mustard vinaigrette and scattered with walnuts. Grilled entrecote steak then arrives with golden pommes allumettes and the restaurant’s famous secret sauce, a rich accompaniment whose closely guarded recipe has become central to the Relais de Venise identity.
With the main course decided, attention turns to the cooking of the beef, the generous flow of service and the contrast between tender steak, savoury sauce and very thin fries. This streamlined format suits business lunches, informal dinners and diners who value a specialist restaurant built around doing one classic dish consistently.
A compact selection of French wine is chosen to accompany the beef, with bottles offered at approachable bistro prices. Desserts restore variety at the end of the meal through choices such as profiteroles, pastries and other traditional French sweets, rounding out an experience that feels both efficient and indulgent.
Address: 5 Throgmorton Street, City of London EC2N 2AD, United Kingdom