At The Bar with Entrecôte’s Jason M Jones.

Restaurateur Jason M Jones brings a hint of his French restaurant Entrecôte to the Australian Open in 2025 food and beverage program; think baguettes and steak frites that has made his iconic Greville St a slice of Parisian heaven on the strip.

Mr Jones spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.

Ahh. Glorious Melbourne. I love her gridded streets, European laneways, the Arts precinct and coffee obsession. Four Seasons in one day has never worried me, in fact I embrace it.

FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY

Di Stasio St Kilda – Wild Boar braised in white wine with sweet chestnuts and radicchio – still to this day one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in the world.

FAVOURITE BAR

To sit at the bar and order a Campari, Grapefruit and Soda at Il Bacaro in the CBD reminds me of how I felt so sophisticated as a country boy coming down from Gippsland when it opened in the mid 1990’s. I still do it now and it brings back wonderful memories – it transports me to Venice.

DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU

Midori and Milk – very unpredictable.

BEST HANGOVER CURE

Vegemite toast with lashings of butter.

BEST INTERSTATE BAR

I just Love Neil Perry’s ‘Bobbies’ in Double Bay, Sydney – underground, clubby, great DJs in the  afternoon ’til late, and of course snacks done by Perry including the Waldorf chicken sandwich points – heaven.

A HOT TIP FOR AN OVERSEAS BAR

Au Petit Fer A Cheval means “little horseshoe” in French. The inside bar is shaped like a horseshoe. The place is petite – so petite you stand at the bar and order a terrific Vin de Maison and eat crisps – there is a tiny dining room around the back that seats maybe 12 people – it’s the best ‘flaneur’ watching ever in Paris!

Burgundy, Red. Any time of the day.

FAVOURITE WINERY

Narkoojee in Trafalgar, Gippsland.  I have known the family for over 30 years and launched several of their wines over the years at different restaurants I have owned. They are a wonderful family who make the most terrific Chardonnay and Pinot and they are just like family to me.

Tell us about the latest Australian Open 2025 collaboration

Every year I have gone to the AO for as long as I can remember. My grandmother, great grandmother and I came up from Gippsland every year to attend. It was a real treat and it was a very special time we shared together. They would be so proud to think that I now have a little ‘piece’ of the puzzle that make up this wonderful tournament – serving the attendees a little bit of our Entrecôte magic.

What your dish says about you and what you do

Our Mitraillette is our restaurant all wrapped up in a Baguette! We are also serving our signature Steak Frites with our secret herb butter sauce.

What you’re most looking forward to at AO food and drink program

 I love Martin Benn’s food and Vicky Wild’s hospitality so I am very much looking forward to their collaboration this year.