FOODIE FANS, the King Street revolution continues unabated. First Jamie and now Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecote.
Yep, Paris is on the way.
Despite the economy, after a good year in 2011 for openings it appears that 2012 isn't fighting shy either.
Here's the official press release about a late April opening.
'Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte, the epitome of French charm and a true Parisian bistro in style, is set to open on King Street in Spring 2012.
'When Monsieur Gineste de Saurs founded the original Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte in Paris 52 years ago, little did he know that his Parisian eatery would be replicated in London, New York and now Manchester.
'This convivial restaurant boasts a distinctive dining experience in that there is no menu and a no reservations policy. Diners are invited to come and enjoy one simple dish – a green salad starter tossed with mustard vinaigrette and sprinkled with walnuts, followed by the restaurant’s signature steak-frites, with an accompanying secret sauce.
The menu (the salad and steak-frites) has a fixed price of £21 which includes VAT.
'The steak, which is cooked blue/rare/medium or well done, is brought to the table in two stages (with one half held back to keep it warm) so it can be enjoyed at its best and is served with more freshly prepared frites, hand chipped in-house to the identical dimensions as those in Paris.
'A small selection of hand-picked wines accompany the meal and there is a selection of cheeses and a dessert list with profiteroles, meringue and other ice cream confections, all freshly made on the premises.
'Customers can be in and out within the hour – perfect for lunch time diners – and although you might find a queue at busier times, the queue never lasts long and is all part of the restaurant’s unique dining experience.
'The interior echoes every aspect of the original Paris venue, with the same classic French brasserie interior including banquette seating, cheerful paintings of Venetian market scenes, closely spaced wooden tables covered in colourful cloths and topped with white paper, mirrored walls and low lighting.
'The menu (the salad and steak-frites) has a fixed price of £21 which includes VAT.
'The key to the success of Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is the quality of the ingredients and the great care that is taken in its consistent preparation and service. The steaks are carefully sourced from British suppliers specialising in grass fed, traditionally matured beef reared by farmers who care about their animals. The meat is aged for a minimum of four weeks before cooking.'
Opening Hours (the final time is for last orders): Mon–Thurs: lunch noon–2.30pm; dinner 6pm–10.45pm. Fri: lunch noon–2.45pm; dinner 6pm–10.45pm. Sat: lunch 12.30pm–3.30pm; dinner 6.30pm–10.45pm. Sun: lunch 12.30pm–3.30pm; dinner 6.30pm–10.30pm
Address: 84-86 King Street, Manchester, M2 4WQ, www.relaisdevenise.com
84-86 King Street
The building that will host L'Entrecote was built in 1841-2 to the designs of Richard Lane for the Manchester and Salford Savings Bank.
It was partly rebuilt in 1904 by Charles Heathcote for Sun Insurance Co. Recently it was an Armani outlet. There are some lovely details including laurel wreaths in the frieze up high.
A word on Richard Lane. He was the tutor of Alfred Waterhouse who would become one of Manchester's greatest architects designing the Town Hall.
Lane has several buildings surviving in the central metropolitan area including The Friends Meeting House and the old Salford Town
You can follow Jonathan Schofield on Twitter here @JonathSchofield
L'Entrecote's Lovely King Street Building
The sort of interior Manchester can expect
The Meal
