hot tip: follow up your meal at Le Relais de Venise with dessert at Marylebone Creperie

In October last year, we went to San Francisco and I had the absolute pleasure of dining at The House of Prime Rib. And actually I just want to end this blog post right now, because really, there is no life after The House of Prime Rib.

But sadly, there is.

The House of Prime Rib was such a surreal experience, and not in the least because they wheel entire cow torsos (cooked) out and carve straight from the rib onto your plate. But the actual quality of the food, the globules of melting fat, the service and how they “spin” your salad at your table. It all adds up to being the most spectacular steak experience I have ever had.

Back in Londontown, I was recommended Le Relais de Venise as being potentially on par with The House of Prime Rib, namely because they too don’t have a menu – the only decision you make is how you want your steak done, every thing else is standard fare.

I was excited to go, though I knew it was always destined to disappoint. But surprisingly, it wasn’t the food that disappointed – despite the snotty green “special sauce”, the food was great.

What let me down was the portion size. Tiny. Teeny tiny.I’m teeny tiny and I was still left hungry.

*sigh*

Anyway. The food.

We all start with a salad of lettuce and walnuts, tossed in a great horseradish sauce, which had a kick so perfect that you’d confidently inhale mouthfuls but be just a tiny little bit scared that one day, one of these mouthfuls is going to burn holes in your nostrils. Thankfully, not this time they didn’t.

The salad was followed up by the steak and fries and the snotty green “special sauce”, which was something herby and definitely tasty. We had our steaks rare because they “don’t do medium rares, it’s rare or it’s medium”, which was a great choice anyway because look how amazing the slices of steak are. Red, succulent, mouthwatering, goodness.

Rating the actual steak was a no brainer. So good, so very good. And even though after you finish your first portion, they come around to serve you “seconds”, there just plain and simply wasn’t enough of the good stuff and to be perfectly honest, I don’t think my appetite is that big.

Is it?

Anyway, whether it is or it isn’t, if you like a bit of good steak (quality over quantity) and find too many choices on the menu intimidating, then Le Relais de Venise is quite possibly a match made in heaven for you. But be warned – they don’t take reservations and the queue is literally around the block, so go early or go very very late. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Now, back to me and my appetite. We wrapped up at Le Relais de Venise sans dessert mainly because everything looked pretty ordinary, and as we ducked out into the pouring rain, like an oasis presenting itself in desert haze, Marylebone Crêperie revealed itself to us, directly across the road, warm and ever so inviting.

Now this, this is dessert.

Not ever sharing anything delicious with each other (hey at least we’re honest enough to know that ok, we like each other but no, we are not sharing a dessert) Panu and I ignored each other and ordered our own slice of sweet crepe heaven.

I chose a crepe with Belgian white chocolate and fresh strawberries which was amazing, but so sweet I honestly had a toothache right there on the spot. Panu had a walnut and banana crepe, drenched in syrup and icing sugar. I think it was good. It didn’t last very long.

The crepes are so fresh that the edges are still crispy, and where seabass sashimi is good crispy (don’t ask), crepes are fawking awesome with a crispy edge.

With the crepes in our bellies, we were painfully full, but that’s not a bad thing for a Saturday night.

We rolled home and curled up in all our fatness on the couch, re-watching American History X because Edward Norton, he’s so awesome (and HOT) as a bad ass.

Le Relais de Venise
120 Marylebone Lane
Marylebone, W1U 2QG
0207 486 0878
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