Federal Bern – The Legendary Entrecôte Café de Paris in the Heart of Bern

Wondering if the legendary Entrecôte Café de Paris at Federal Bern is really that good? We’ve taken a closer look at this Bernese institution! In our honest review, you’ll find out what to expect.

The Entrecôte Café de Paris Experience Step by Step

The Entrecôte Café de Paris at Restaurant Entrecôte Fédérale Bern is arguably the most famous signature dish in the city of Bern. Enjoying this house specialty follows a consistent ritual, which is why we’re dedicating a separate section to this experience.

On the menu, this specialty is listed as:

Pommes allumettes, market salad with walnuts

The guest chooses the “Entrecôte Café de Paris” dish. They also need to decide on a size of meat. You can order the “Ladies Cut” at 140g, the standard 200g size, or the large 250g portion. As a hearty eater, I always go for the 200g, while my daughter chooses the 140g entrecôte and my son the 250g large portion.

Next, the guest tells the service staff their preferred doneness. Connoisseurs can refer to one of the standard scales:

Alongside the meal, guests also order drinks. A wine pairing is recommended with the entrecôte.

After ordering, the salad is soon served. It is brought in a bowl, normally one bowl for two guests, a smaller bowl for one. The bottom contains the French salad dressing. On top of the dressing sits the salad made from various green leaves. It is garnished with walnuts, a few cherry tomatoes, fine carrot strips, and microgreens. Fresh, airy baguette is brought to the table at the same time as the salad.

Typically, the waitress or waiter explains that the salad needs to be mixed before eating. One guest mixes the salad thoroughly and then distributes it to their table companions. The preliminary stage of enjoyment begins with consuming the salad.

3. The Entrecôte Café de Paris

After finishing the salad, the bowl and plates are cleared. Then, hopefully after not too long, the centerpiece of the culinary experience arrives: the signature dish Entrecôte Café de Paris. It sits on a frothy, creamy Café de Paris sauce and is already sliced.

Now the next level of flavor experience begins. A piece of perfectly cooked entrecôte with this sauce made from butter, herbs, and other ingredients tastes absolutely fantastic! The pommes allumettes also contribute their part to this sumptuous meal.

4. Dessert, Anyone?

When clearing the main course, the service staff will ask if guests would like dessert. A legendary choice would certainly be the Mousse au Chocolat with Crème Gruyère. This mousse is airy in texture, but after a somewhat heavy meal it might be too much for some guests. Various ice cream flavors are also an option.

Last visited June 1, 2025. This report is significantly more detailed than the previous version, with a focus on the process of enjoying the signature dish.