A GOURMET steak restaurant has scored top marks in its food hygiene inspection after it moved from a van to a dine-in restaurant.

Gourdans Steak Frites opened a restaurant at 49 St Clement’s Street in October last year.

Established in 2015, the business, run by Matt Jeffery and his wife Tina, first started out in a van serving gourmet steak and chips and competing with the city centre kebab vans.

Now, in addition to the mobile kitchen, the couple have made their dream of owning a restaurant come true and made a place for foodies to dine in.

Currently Gourdans Steak Frites has closed its doors to diners and is operating as a takeaway due to the pandemic – but it is still proving to be successful.

The restaurant had an unannounced visit from Oxford City Council’s food hygiene inspectors on February 10 where the eatery was given top marks for all three categories including food hygiene and safety, structural compliance, and confidence in management.

The business has expanded since it served steak from a van in Oxford and across the UK, which became even more successful during the pandemic.

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Now the French-style restaurant offers 'classic dishes' using 'well sourced produce'.

And there is more than just steak and chips available: the owners bake their own bread every day and there is day boat fish from the south coast available.

They also offer a variety of plant-based plates with European influences, which are prepared on hot coals 'to provide a subtle and distinctive flavour'.

The couple said they considered their environmental impact and aimed to manage their waste when designing the menu.

Although the restaurant opened in uncertain times, it has had good reviews – and has made the couple's dreams come true.

Tina spoke to magazine Ox in a Box in October and said: “It’s been a dream of ours, bricks and mortar, even though we were very successful in the mobile catering world. We always knew where we wanted to take this, and it gave us something to focus on. Opening our own independent restaurant was a natural progression really.”

When the restaurant first opened, customers left good reviews.

One happy diner said: “Great steak and atmosphere. Variety of sides and sauces. Wonderful and friendly service. Very happy with our visit.”

Another left a review on Google and said: “Lovely laid-back restaurant, the food was sensational and the service great.

“The menu is simple yet executed perfectly; cheese, cold meats tasted fresh and had wonderful taste, our chips were piping hot and steak sauces delicious, last but not least our steak (the 2/3-person sharer) had been cooked to perfection with beautiful flavour.”

The restaurant is open for takeaway Wednesday to Sunday 5pm to 9pm and it is available on Just Eat and Deliveroo.