Steak & unlimited fries: La Vache! serves timeless Parisian steak frites, hidden in a CBD back alley

Are you a steak lover, and also a fries enthusiast? 

Those crunchy strips of golden-brown potatoes are just so dang addictive and you just can’t stop popping them into your mouth, am I right? 

If you feel the same, strong way towards fries, then you’d adore the newest steakhouse that opened at Gemmill Lane: La Vache!

The swanky new outfit is hidden in a back alley near Amoy Street, but despite the clandestine location, you won’t miss it — even from a mile away.

La Vache’s facade is marked by an eye-catching neon sign that’s cast in the silhouette of a cow and burns fiery scarlett — the same hue as its awning.

These bold reds are set against a dark brown wall, and pop with contrast against the stark whites of the Gemmill Lane alley.

Inside, guests are treated to more of that timeless Parisian sophistication — the floors are a swathe of clay-hued tiles and the walls are plastered with rustic, off-white wallpaper.

At the same time, chic checkered tablecloths line every table, while wooden accents add to the elegance.

We can say this with confidence: La Vache is a proper date-spot where you can impress a special someone with proper steaks.

La Vache’s steak

One interesting tidbit about La Vache is that it’s opened by the same team behind viral gelato bar Messina.

The La Vache brand already exists in Hong Kong, but this will be its maiden outlet in Singapore.

It pays homage to the iconic bistros of Paris — unlike many other modern steakhouses that focus on a range of curated, premium cuts, these bistros specialises in one cut, and one cut only.

That’s exactly how it is at La Vache, too — each guest that comes in through the door will be served the same steak frites (S$68 for 280g) menu.

The pride and joy of La Vache uses a 60-day wet-aged USDA double gold ribeye, which is accompanied by unlimited frites that’s decadently cooked in beef tallow.

But before that, La Vache looks to ease guests into the meal with two smaller plates to whet the appetite.

First, the bread: Fresh, crunchy baguette, sporting a bit of firmness, and served with fragrant French butter.

The opening act is then succeeded by a plate of dainty organic greens salad, tossed in a moreish mustard vinaigrette that jazzes things up with a bright tanginess and a mild sharp zing.

Walnuts punctuate each bite, adding layers of earthy, nutty aroma to give it some complexity — it’s not your average salad, that’s for sure.

Then it’s time for the main event: 280g of steak is brought to the table, boasting a tantalising browning on the outside, and slides to reveal a gorgeous, roseated centre on each slice of beef.

La Vache delivers on the medium rare, here. Each piece comes perfectly succulent and buttery — slightly fatty, but not too unctuous, as a good ribeye should be.

The steak is flanked by a boat of La Vache’s house-made bearnaise sauce. Before you smother your steak with it, though, be warned that it’s done in the classic French style, which is unapologetically rich, and might not suit Singaporean palates that lean towards the milder end. 

Honestly, we think the steak is fabulous as-is!

Throughout the meal, the La Vache staff will also pay frequent visits to your tables, huge metal bowls in hand, to top up your fries — you won’t run low on these freshly fried golden morsels.

That satisfying light crunch of each piece, plus the richness of the seasoning and tallow-fry, make these just as much of a highlight as La Vache’s steak.

Getting lost in the dessert trolley

While La Vache’s menu is superlatively simple and stripped-down when it comes to its savoury items, guests have plenty of options when it comes to sweets.

Post-meal, the staff will wheel a trolley to your table — one that is gloriously stocked up with three shelves of desserts for your consideration.

The dessert trolley features an assortment of French classics, such as raspberry millefeuille (S$16) and ice cream, along with some digestifs to help the heavy meal go down more smoothly.

Given all the options, what should you order?

We say: Make a beeline for the profiteroles (S$16) — La Vache’s rendition of the classic cream-filled choux pastry is as solid as it comes.

Soft and airy choux pastry, stuffed with fragrant cream, then finished with thick, decadent chocolate? Simple, but absolutely delicious.

However, if the stomach calls out for something sharp to cut the richness of the meal, the lemon meringue tart (S$16) won’t fail you either.

Silky and vivacious lemon custard, underscored by dainty meringue and a crumbly tart base — a great postscript to a heavy meal.

No matter if you’re a lover of steak, fries, or dessert, or just someone looking for a new date-spot, we’d recommend a visit to La Vache.

You might regret it, though — only because you’ll find yourself utterly preoccupied with stuffing your face with fries.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on Macau’s most golden food haunts and the opening of the largest Hawkers’ Street yet in Singapore!