Le Relais de l'Entrecôte

Le Relais de l'Entrecôte is a steak-frites restaurant at Rue Pierre-Fatio 6 in the Rive district of Geneva, Switzerland, close to the Halle de Rive and the lakefront shopping streets. The concept is a French one, built on a single set menu rather than a long carte. Diners begin with a green salad dressed with walnuts, then receive sliced entrecôte steak in the house sauce, served in two helpings with French fries, so the second portion arrives hot after the first has been eaten. The sauce is the emblem of the house, and the formula is the reason people queue: there are no decisions beyond choosing how the steak is cooked and what to drink. Dessert is typically a choice of classics, with profiteroles among the best-known. The dining room is a lively brasserie with close-set tables, quick service and a steady buzz, and it is noisy at peak times. Dress is casual to smart-casual. The wine list is built around straightforward French reds and house wines by the glass or bottle, which suit the steak. Prices are mid-to-upper range for Geneva (rated $$$), though the fixed menu makes the cost predictable. The restaurant is typically open daily for lunch and dinner, around 12 PM to 2:30 PM and 7 PM to 11 PM, but hours should be confirmed. Reservations are usually not taken, with seating first come, first served, so a queue forms at 7 PM to 8 PM on popular evenings; arriving early or later in the evening shortens the wait. The Rive location makes it a convenient stop after shopping or a walk along the Rue du Rhône and the lake.