where jess ate

If you want a reservation at Le Comptoir for a weekday dinner, you’re going to have to book well in advance…I’m talking months in advance! Not realizing this until it was too late, Mike and I dropped by for lunch instead since it’s first come first serve first serve for lunch and weekends.

Their weekday dinners feature an “affordable” prix-fixe for around 60€ (but don’t quite me on that). As I mentioned, they don’t take reservations for lunch or on the weekends. You just show up and wait in the long line like everyone else.

If you’re impatient like myself, I recommend coming by for a late lunch or getting here well before they open at noon. We arrived at 3pm and were immediately seated.

The restaurant, located in the Hôtel Relais Saint-Germain, is owned by Yves Camdeborde who also owns the standing-room only L’Avant Comptoir next door.  The space is decorated like a typical French bistro. And like most bistros in Paris, the tables are really packed into the space. Elbow-to-elbow dining!

For lunch and weekends, you order off their extensive a la carte menu. The large menu is only in French but our server was happy to answer any questions we had.

After narrowing it down, I finally decided on the Cochon de Lait Braisé et Roti – lentilles en ragout (26€) which consisted of braised suckling pig meat served on a lentil ragout. Presentation-wise, it wasn’t the most appetizing dish with the various shades of brown. But it tasted a lot better than it looked.

Although the pork was a touch on the salty side, it was very moist, tender and delicious. Was it a good dish? Absolutely. Was it worth the steep price tag (around $35 Canadian)? No.

Mike opted for the Daube de Joue de Boeuf – coquillettes et carrottes (18€) which was essentially a beef cheek stew. Like my pork dish, this was another hearty dish which may be better suited for cold weather.

The large chunks of beef were melt-in-your-mouth tender and the carrots and macaroni absorbed all the flavours from the stew, giving them an extra bit of oomph. It was a really fantastic dish and much better value in comparison to the pork.

For dessert, we decided on the Pot de Crème – caramel beurre salé (6€). They also offer the pot de crème in chocolate and vanilla bourbon but I’m a sucker for salted caramel.

The dessert came with two madeleines which weren’t anything to write home about. Thankfully the pot de crème itself knocked it out of the park. I just wish there was a little bit more of it…

Overall, we had an enjoyable lunch at Le Comptoir. Next time, I’ll be sure to make a reservation well in advance for their famous weekday prix-fixe dinner!

At a glance:
• Prix-fixe menu for around 60€ on weekday nights; must book months in advance
• No reservations for lunch and weekends; first come, first serve
• Notorious for long lines; come early before opening (they open at noon) or a late lunch
• Same owner as L’Avant Comptoir next door
• Located in the Hôtel Relais Saint-Germain; 6th arrondissement
• Extensive menu of Brasserie fare
• Higlights: Daube de joue de boeuf (beef cheek stew) and pot de crème

Ratings (out of 5):
• Food: 4 stars
• Service: 3 stars
• Atmosphere: 3 stars