The Verdict
There is no menu to read. Le Relais de Venise serves a single meal — a walnut salad, then sliced entrecote under its secret green-butter sauce with as many frites as you can eat — for £33, no reservations, the way it has since Paul Gineste de Saurs opened the first Relais de Venise in Paris in 1959.
The Kitchen
Le Relais de Venise was the creation of Paul Gineste de Saurs, a Gaillac winemaker who opened the original L'Entrecote at Porte Maillot in Paris in 1959. The London branch at 120 Marylebone Lane, the family's first outside Paris, opened in 2005 and is still run by his descendants. By design there is no head chef and no a la carte.
Every diner gets the same contre-filet, carved and served in two waves so the second half stays warm, dressed in a herb-and-butter sauce whose recipe the family has never published, with a walnut-and-mustard salad to start and unlimited matchstick fries alongside. The set meal is £33 a head. It is a one-dish institution, not an awarded kitchen, and it makes no Michelin claim.
The Room
The Marylebone room is a brisk Parisian brasserie in miniature: black-and-white tiling, mirrors, close-set tables and waistcoated servers who take your steak temperature and your wine order and little else. It is loud, fast and convivial, and dress is smart-casual. The branch closed for a renovation in early 2026, so confirm it has reopened before you join the no-booking queue on Marylebone Lane.
Best for First Date
Queue here for a first date because the no-choice menu kills decision anxiety, the £33 set bill is clear from the start, and the two-course rhythm keeps the table moving without dragging. Examples: an early-evening first meeting, a low-key catch-up, a pre-theatre bite near Oxford Street that leaves time for a walk afterwards.
Not For
Not for vegetarians or anyone who wants choice. There is one steak menu and no substitutions, and the no-reservations policy means a queue at peak times, so skip it for a quiet, leisurely dinner.
Common Questions
What's on the menu at Le Relais de Venise?
One set meal: a green salad with walnuts to start, then sliced entrecote (contre-filet) steak served in two helpings under the house's secret herb-butter sauce, with unlimited French fries. There is no a la carte, and dessert and wine are ordered separately.
How much does Le Relais de Venise cost?
The set meal is £33 per person as of 2026, with a minimum charge of £33 a head. Wine, dessert and an optional service charge are extra. There are no choices to price up, so everyone pays the same for the single entrecote menu.
Does Le Relais de Venise take reservations?
No. The Marylebone branch at 120 Marylebone Lane does not take bookings, and you queue at busy times, especially weekends. It is best for early or off-peak visits. The branch underwent a renovation in early 2026, so check it has reopened before visiting.
Where is Le Relais de Venise in London?
At 120 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QG, in Marylebone Village a short walk from Oxford Street and Bond Street. Opened in 2005, it was the first Relais de Venise L'Entrecote outside Paris, where the family-run concept began in 1959.
Is there a head chef at Le Relais de Venise?
Not in the usual sense. The restaurant serves one unchanging set menu created when Paul Gineste de Saurs opened the original in 1959, so there is no rotating chef's menu or a la carte. The kitchen's job is to cook the same entrecote and sauce consistently every night.
Also in London
See the full London restaurant guide for Marylebone and beyond across every occasion.