Le Vieux Comptoir

The waiter sat down with us to take our order. We felt cozy and welcomed from the start. The ambiance struck the right balance between being rustic and refined. The chicory and pear salad was incredible — the crisp chicory, subtle sweetness of the thinly sliced pear, crunch and bitterness of the walnuts, and the softness and saltiness of the blue cheese, all cut by a perfect dressing. The interplay of textures and flavours was spot on. My friends had the foie gras and fish soup, and both of them were amazing as well. Duck confit was fall-off-the-bone tender, and the fat had an intense umami flavour. So yummy without being greasy or overly rich. We ended the night with some apple pie and crème brûlée, which were all perfect as well. Overall, it was an experience I will rave about for a long time. £80 per person — we had starters, mains, dessert, and two bottles of wine for five.

11 months ago · via Google

I have been here a few times now and hopefully I can render a very honest review of the place. Lorenzo is an amazing host, and the wine collection is rich and full of great options. Food is good and affordable, which does not tend to be the case for most French restaurants abroad. The restaurant seats are nice, with different rooms where the atmosphere is always smooth.

3 months ago · via Google

Le Vieux Comptoir occupies a quietly tucked-away spot off Marylebone High Street, and on a weekday early evening it has the feel of a place still finding its audience. We arrived at six and were comfortably seated by attentive, genuinely warm staff — the service throughout was the evening's most consistent pleasure. The menu leaned towards French bistro classics, and we both chose the courgette quiche with salad. The portion was generously sized, which one appreciates, but the flavour was disappointingly muted. It arrived at the table piping hot and cooled with unusual speed, which did little to suggest it had been prepared to order. I left a good deal of mine untouched. Happily, the desserts redeemed the kitchen's reputation. A crème brûlée, flambéed tableside with Armagnac, was exactly what it should be — richly caramelised and properly theatrical. My companion's tarte tatin was equally well received. The coffee, it must be said, did not quite match these heights. Where Le Vieux Comptoir truly distinguishes itself is the wine list, which is exceptional. We began with a glass of rosé Champagne apiece before moving on to a very fine Sancerre — the kind of list that rewards those who take the time to explore it. The bill came to £155 for two, which reflects those choices rather than the food alone. The room itself is a little dim, and on the evening we visited it was notably quiet, though we were on the early side. It lacks a certain warmth of atmosphere that the staff themselves more than compensate for. With some attention to the cooking, this could be a very good neighbourhood restaurant. As it stands, it is a pleasant, if uneven, experience, carried largely by its cellar, its crème brûlée, and its people.

5 months ago · via Google

The French onion soup and the escargot are excellent! These were so good that I could have ordered them twice instead of the main course. The entrance is a little confusing. It is not through a door at ground level, which seems to be the main one, but go down stairs beside it and you can find a correct door! The atmosphere in the restaurant was also good. I would like to go back to eat there again.

2 years ago · via Google