New Parisian steak-frites restaurant opening in Vancouver's Gastown next week

Entrecôte's owners set out to recreate the charm of the iconic bistros found throughout the French capital.

There's something refreshing about simplicity. Opening next week at 12 Water St. in Gastown, Entrecôte is built around a simple promise: bringing the timeless Parisian steak-frites experience to Vancouver. The concept comes from owner Florence Doumet, who set out to recreate the charm of the iconic bistros found throughout Paris.

During a preview of the restaurant, Doumet pulled out her phone and showed me a photo of the very first attempt at what would eventually become Entrecôte’s signature sauce. “My husband and I started working on the sauce at home ourselves before hiring a chef,” she says. It was a small but revealing glimpse into the work behind an otherwise beautifully simple concept.

Rather than reinventing French cuisine, Entrecôte is focused on recreating a familiar and enduring dining experience centred around steak, fries and a closely guarded sauce. Stepping inside, the restaurant feels worlds away from the bustle of Gastown. Rich walnut panelling, vintage French s, brass sconces and deep burgundy drapery set the tone, while murals reinforce the feeling of dining in a classic Parisian bistro.

Entrecôte's simple menu mirrors those in France The menu follows the same philosophy. For $44, guests begin with a perfectly dressed butter lettuce salad accented with shaved radish and toasted walnuts before the main event: entrecôte, the classic French pairing of grilled beef, crisp hand-cut fries and the restaurant’s signature secret sauce. The only real decision comes at dessert, where guests can choose from French classics including profiteroles, crème brûlée, chocolate mousse and a seasonal meringue.

My wife and I spent time in Paris this past spring, where some of our favourite meals came from iconic bistros built around this very philosophy. The menus were remarkably simple, often centred almost entirely on steak-frites, with generations of diners returning for the same dish time and again. Seeing that concept arrive in Vancouver feels both familiar and refreshing.

During the preview, Entrecôte demonstrated that it understands what makes these restaurants so enduring. Rather than relying on an extensive menu or elaborate presentation, it focuses on warm hospitality, a comfortable dining room and a well-executed classic experience. For anyone looking to feel a little piece of Paris without leaving Vancouver, Entrecôte is a welcome addition to Gastown.

Christian Alvarez is the founder of Vancouver Chefs and the ICON Dinner Series, platforms that bring together celebrated chefs for immersive, culture driven dining experiences. A graduate of the Northwest Culinary Academy in Vancouver, he blends culinary training with a passion for storytelling, photography and community building. Through curated collaborations, he explores the intersection of food, film, music and art, creating intimate events that celebrate both craft and creativity.

When he is not curating dinners, he runs the Vancouver seawall, spends long hours on the road as an avid cyclist, and explores the world through its food and culture.