New Dublin restaurant to offer two-course steak menu for under €30

Ellen O'Donoghue

A new restaurant is opening in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre this week.

Entrecôte, with locations in Paris, London, New York, and Tokyo, is to open its doors at 13 Clarendon St in Dublin 2 on Thursday, September 25th.

The restaurant is renowned worldwide for its famous secret sauce and bottomless homemade fries, and will serve award-winning Irish steak in Dublin.

Diners will enjoy a green salad starter with pickled onions, Irish sourdough bread with local butter and Achill Island seaweed salt, followed by two servings of Tipperary beef steak drenched in Entrecôte’s world-famous secret sauce, accompanied by bottomless hand-cut crispy French fries made with Irish potatoes for just €29.95.

In a rare move for the capital, the restaurant will operate on a walk-in-only basis, with no bookings.

Since its inception in 1962 in Toulouse, inspired by the original Le Relais de Venise in Paris, the classic French brasserie concept has expanded to cities worldwide, with Entrecôte's latest opening in Dublin being brought by businessman Paul McGlade Jnr.

McGlade Jnr says he did a "huge amount of research and travel" in researching the project.

"I realised it was one of the best concepts globally and I wanted to bring it to Dublin," he says. "I counted hundreds of people queuing for a table at their restaurant in Toulouse, on a random Tuesday, and I thought… Dublin needs this".

"It's such a great product at a great price. I think what we’re offering is excellent value and half the price of what people are paying in the city at the moment. For us, the quality is what’s most important," he says.

The Entrecôte group became popular with food lovers worldwide thanks to its no-menu approach and signature secret sauce.

Traditionally, the group operates with the same set menu wherever it goes, but Dublin will mark a notable twist. In a move designed to showcase the best of Irish produce, Entrecôte Dublin is to serve Tipperary beef and potatoes harvested in Co Donegal exclusively.

"We believe in quality and simplicity, and that’s the entire concept, really. By making this small but important change, we’re adding a uniquely Irish chapter to the Entrecôte story," McGlade Jnr says.

In keeping with the group's global format, the Dublin restaurant will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with walk-ins only, honouring the brand's trademark queues of eager diners spilling out onto the street.

For those with room for more after their two-course meal, Entrecôte Dublin has enlisted French pastry chef Ludovic Lantier, who will offer patrons a selection of desserts for €10.

The desserts include apple tart, profiteroles, chocolate mousse and Irish coffee.

The restaurant will also offer a wine list curated by manager and sommelier Tanguy Gros Daillon.

Entrecôte Dublin will open Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, and Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 10pm.

For more information, visit entrecotedublin.com.