Sa sauce inegalee en a fait la renommee. That quote which is their trademark roughly translates to the fact that the place is renowned due to it's unequalled sauce. Well being finely tuned carnivores with voracious appetites, off we trooped for what our scout had declared was the "real thing" and not simply a serenading tourist trap.

Sauntering down the Champs-Elysees one couldn't miss it a droit as the lingo goes. It didn't take us more then seconds to know that we wanted the House special with lashings of the famous sauce and eat as much as you like Frites Alumettes also known as chips.

But make no mistake, the Frites Alumettes are almost worth the price of the meal on their own. These are the best Fries one has ever come across, and to be able to indulge in as many as you like is almost too good to be true. In the delirium over the fabulous alumettes (matchsticks) one almost forgets the main feast which is the sliced beef sautéed in the wonderful Bernaise sauce.

One is transformed to a plain closer to the creator upon tucking into the first mouthful and that state of oblivion lasts until the last drop of sauce has been shamelessly sponged off the platter with a remaining piece of bread!

You have to understand, the spectre of returning to our more rustic part of the world where such pleasures can only be dreamt about haunts us with every single passing mouthful. Soon it will be back to the land of dressing up and queuing up to get into Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sigh.

Incidentally, the meal at L'Entrecote is very reasonable clocking well under 100 Francs per person for the House Special enclusive of a decent salad as well. Go on, be entraced by that divine sauce, and those chips to die for. However, it has to be said. Given the choice, I would much rather have a steak and sauce from Peter Luger's over this, simply because the quality of meat and whatever they do to it at Luger's was something extraordinary on its own. L'Entrecote is a poor mans alternative for those who don't have access to a Luger. But do beware of the highly mediocre service which can take much of the gloss off the meal....so make your presence felt and also make sure you demand your refill of chips and sauce as you are entitled to as otherwise you may not be offered any extras. Other than the dismal service....a place to visit when in Paris