On a recent trip to Paris, my husband and I stopped in here for a quick lunch. Do it! L'Avant Comptoir is a tiny wine bar in the 6th arrondissement which serves an assortment of small plates. The menu changes daily, and every item is fantastic! Beautifully plated, quality ingredients, imaginative choices, warm welcome, fast service. Top notch. read more

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Unfortunately the young girl wasn't friendly like Anthony Bourdain said. No English menu which was fine, but they can't really help on describing. She was also rough slamming utensils and dishes which was wild. Squid Ink Croquettes was very good in my opinion. Lots of ink and chunks of squid. Good flavor. Shrimp Ravioli in Seaweed Soup was more like a dim sum dish... A glass of white wine was €10 which is high. Butter was very good though as expected. read more

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First time visiting this charming bistro/tapas bar while staying in St. Germain area of Paris! it was Christmas week so the restaurant as well as the neighborhood were very festively decorated! We had just arrived in the city so wanted to start off with light tapas and some wine! This place was the perfect spot for a light meal before moving to other spots! We tried some standard French red wine along with delicious onion soup and some amazing scallops! It's definitely a 5 out of 5 for food, ambiance and the vibe! We will certainly return on the next trip read more

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This place is awesome. I came here twice when I was in Paris and the food, wine, and service are top notch. I love the fact they play American hits for music as well. read more

I'm staying in the area and was sitting at a cafe looking for a place for dinner and saw my old CM Blue A was here and gave it a good review. So I said to my husband...this is where we go tonight. Thank you Blue... it's still great!!! This isn't my first time in Paris, but my first time staying on the Left Bank. This place s amazing. It's small, unpretentious, and packed with neighborhood regulars drinking good wine and eating good food. We sat at the bar and the bartender was excellent. He poured us a really nice red wine and suggested some of the more popular dishes. While we're we're waiting for our tapas they served fresh hot bread with fresh churned real butter. That with the wine was a perfect start. The first plate was Chipirons... I learned quickly... it's sautéed squid. This dish warmed my soul... it was so good with a little chorizo and sautéed tomatoes that added so much flavor. Dumplings came 2 to the order and were freshly made and steamed. They were so good we ordered a second dish. Ceviche was a nice mix of fresh fish. The flavors just popped with every bite. This was our first night in Paris and an amazing meal. read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Hanging signs of the specials - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

I can't help but share my incredible experience at L'Avant Comptoir - it was so nice that I visited twice during my stay in Paris. This charming stand-up, bar has everything you could hope for in a dining experience. Well, except for white cloth tables and seats. The staff at L'Avant Comptoir is simply amazing - they're not only friendly but also incredibly attentive to every need. They went above and beyond to customize our food options to perfection. It felt like dining with friends who genuinely cared about making our meal exceptional. One thing you can expect at L'Avant Comptoir is an abundance of bread and butter - a simple pleasure! The butter mounds are HUGE!!! Now, let's talk about the food! The foie gras with cherries was a revelation - a symphony of flavors that left my taste buds dancing. And when they say the beef special is massive, they mean it. It was enough to satisfy a party of four, and every bite was pure delight. The duck confit hot dog (enjoyed on my second visit) was a unique and tasty twist, showcasing the chef's creativity and skill. For dessert, the chocolate mousse was the perfect sweet ending to our meal. It was indulgent, rich, and oh-so-satisfying. What sets L'Avant Comptoir apart is the personal touch. The chef himself came out to chat with us, and his friendliness and welcoming smile made us feel like honored guests. It's not every day you get to interact with the person behind the culinary magic. L'Avant Comptoir is a must-visit for anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience. With its attentive staff, delectable dishes, and a chef who treats you like family, it's a place that goes above and beyond. I'll be dreaming about the foie gras and that warm, welcoming smile until my next visit! Oh yeah. Other people come to L'Avant Comptoir for the all day snack and wine all day. They will pair a nice bottle/glass to their fantastic food. read more

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AMAZING SMALL PLATES: This is a great place for enjoying some small plates with one or two friends. The execution of the dishes is outstanding. The prices are also very reasonable given the quality of the food. But the good value draws a crowd and you might have to wait a while for a couple bar stools to open up. There are two sides to this restaurant. The left side specializes in seafood plates and the right side specializes in meat plates. The good news is you can order from both sides and enjoy them together. There are so many good choices on the menu that it's hard to highlight just a few. I definitely will return here on my next visit to Paris! read more

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Nice little place but for the smallest pourss of wine there you ever did see. Maybe our fault for being tourists? But was disappointed because we went there first after loving it in another trip, and felt very poorly treated with such a small pour. So something to be aware of! read more

Cute standing tapas bar. Pictures of menu items hung from the wall. Our first meal in Paris & everything was amazing!! read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

The service was great and the servers were amicable. We ordered the mac n cheese, niçoise salad, and french onion soup. All 3 were delicious! Also, the ambiance is nice with most tables filled in a busy but not too busy area. Would recommend to a friend. read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Nicoise salad - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

This is an amazing bar style restaurant. The service was great! So friendly! Look at the big butter! They have good food gras. The dessert cheese was great. Easy to find. read more

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5 stars for the langoustine - so good that we ordered a 2nd round 4 stars for the pate, squid, and fried shrimp 3 stars for the seared tuna and mussels (super tiny) read more

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Came here based on the overall positive Yelp review. There are two sides, seafood or meat side. We went to the seafood side since the wait was shorter there. You can also order food from the meat side and they will bring them over to you. Unless other reviewers, we has a great experience even though we were obviously tourists. There was only 1 lady working the whole bar and she was magnificent in keeping everyone drunk and fed!! Amazing. The oysters were super fresh and delicious - didn't even need the lemon wedges. Besides the photos, we also had the fresh sardines, ceviche, and lots of bread & butter (bread & butter complimentary). We are not heavy drinkers so only had one glass of wine each but was hydrated with water carafe (just ask). Great food, great atmosphere. Come check it out! read more

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Awesome place. Took the recommendation of Bourdain. Very glad I did. Staff was awesome. I don't speak French so they were very accommodating and kind. Poured me some excellent wine! Would love to go back. read more

there is no other place in the universe that offers what l'avant comtoire offers. stand there and order and appreciate every bite.the view is impeccable as are the offerings. dont forget to hit the Picasso museum on your way in and out. read more

Two locations - one that serves meat tapas and the other fish. I went to both because one, I loved the vibe and two I needed to try the blood sausage macaroon. First time here , I met a lovely mother and son traveling Europe together that bridge my lack of French speaking which isn't always an issue but I would say that the waiters aren't as nice in general in Paris if you don't speak French so it was nice to feel more comfortable abs really it changed my trip . I was borderline ready to fly back to NY bc I hated paris my first few days and this place and people helped me stay and enjoy the rest of my trip . A lot of American people here so if you are traveling and don't speak much French and want awesome tapas with a side of wine ; this is the place to visit . read more

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Fun little French food tapas bar with a great selection of wines ready to go. Small, but lively. The bartender was great, she walked us through several wines to match our small plates. Gets packed quickly, but never was too loud. Right near metro and bus lines, so very easy to get to. Lots of choices on the tapas menu, and everything is single serving, read more

Anthony Bourdain made this place famous but it just hasn't been up kept well. This used to be one of our fav spots to stop by in Paris but I think we have exhausted our visits. It may be that after they split the restaurant up into 2 separate restaurants, one for meat and one for seafood, but I couldn't find too many menu items that I liked from the meat side. They no longer pickle their own pickles, and the bathroom was just horrid. There's only one and we were literally the first customers for that night and there was no soap and just dirty. Thank goodness we had hand sanitizers... I mean kudoos for one chef and one server that keeps the whole place afloat but also didn't like that the server kept coughing. read more

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This review is for the Seafood or "de La Mer" restaurant and I cannot recommend this place highly enough as it became one of my favorite Parisian restaurants! You cannot miss this place! It is quite hidden from the outside and you'd have to go through a decorative plastic curtain to get into De La Mer. It might also be difficult to get a seat so make sure you go before 6pm! We ordered the grilled squid with a sauce that reminds me of a sweet tahini sauce. It was the best grilled squid I have tasted in my life! We also ordered the tempura prawn, fried rice balls, black squid ink stew, green beans, and oyster&clams stew. My least favorite was the Herring because it was just too salty for my taste. This restaurant became my favorite so much that we ate 3 dinners here in a week stay in Paris! 100% recommend! read more

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A tradition upon arrival... We have stayed at Hotel Relais Saint Germaine a couple of times, and one of the bonuses of the hotel are it's on-site restaurants. This time we visited L'Avant Comptoir for a planche of lovely charcuterie and a couple of glasses of wine to get the vacation started. Always friendly service. Get there early to mid afternoon if you want a seat at the counter, or later if you want to get in on the lively action. read more

Very delicious and service was amazing! I had the hot dog and my husband had the beef sandwich. Sooo good! Make sure you don't get t confused with the place next door. read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Beef sandwich - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

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We stumbled upon this gorgeous bar and had to go in. The service staff were incredibly gracious and welcoming. The ambiance is refined and posh. The drinks were delicious. The owner has his favorite books available for you to read while you're there, what a wonderful experience. read more

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Crowded, raucous, tight, standing room only an filled with a young crowd enjoying fine wine and small plates of insanely good food. Foie gras on beef tenderloin seared in front of you? Why not. Moscow mule served with a spiced rum? Two please. Left with head spinning from the thumping music and aforementioned mules and wondering how soon until I can get back. Or maybe L'Avant Comptoir de la Mer next door for outrageous seafood. read more

I wish I had the room to eat when we came here, but with the little bit of space I had I tried the blood pudding sausage macaroon and i loved it!! I also tried the bread and famous butter! It was amazing read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Blood pudding/macaroon - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

If you're ever in Paris, you must pay a visit here. This has got to be, our favorite restaurant in Paris. We ate at many places but their Tapas and excellent seafood selections and service are simply the best. Our waitress was outstanding, and all of her suggestions were excellent and delicious. Just a heads up - their menu is up in the ceiling. Hahah.... Just look up to order. Also, they have two other locations. We dined in at their seafood location, but I did order a couple of meat next door and they were so kind to deliver to our table. We will return for more for our next visit. Cheers! read more

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Paris is a place where food held at a high standard. But one should not expect a high price for such standards in this city. While various restaurants with longevity usually have items that are the popular attractions, there are some that just have a full encompassing menu that exceeds ones expectation. This place is fabulous. You'll get amazing eats via tapa style at affordable prices. From what I was told, they have various wine shipped in and only sell what is available from local vineyards. You'll have quite a variety to choose from with every visit which is nice. Of course, sampling is a must. If you are not satisfied with your tasting, they will uncork another. Service here is splendid. You'll be greeted and serviced full sincerity. This makes the entire experience so wonderful. As for the food, take a gander at the pictures. You'll be delighted to see the popular ones over and over again. Some dishes, we even ordered two because of the addiction level. A word of caution is the size of the establishment. During peak hours, may get a bit packed and hard to render service. Just be patient and one of the friendly staff will get to you. Cheers and enjoy! I look forward to trying their new selections on the next visit. read more

Family and I revisiting in Paris I found this place with high reviews and wanted to come take a look. When I arrived at the place, I thought I arrived at the wrong spot given that it's a very tiny place to eat you basically eat at a walk up bar. At first wasn't sure if I would stay but based on the reviews stuck it out I am so happy that we stayed. The food was excellent. The service was great. Got to try a lot of different foods. Everything delicious my wife and daughter love the place. We had the croquettes, the sausage and mashed potatoes the pork belly all of which were great as our main course we ended up sharing a steak. It was it was kilo filling cooked excellent definitely worth coming back to again. read more

5 stars for the food, but knocking off one star for the unpleasant staff. This place is quite small, and everyone eats at the bar and shares a communal giant slab of butter for their bread. There is no menu, as it's all the tapas options were hanging from the ceiling which I thought was cool. However, the guy behind the bar was really obnoxious. He ignored everyone except this group of chatty girls, kept going outside to take smoke breaks and basically left the restaurant unattended, and was eating/drinking behind the bar while working which I thought was a little weird and unhygienic. The food was all excellent though. I noticed there was only one guy working in the kitchen and he was cranking out delicious tapas for everyone. What a superstar! We ordered: -beef sandwich -seared foie gras -ham croquettes -pork "macaron" -beef carpaccio -pork belly It's honestly all delicious but my favorite was definitely the seared foie gras which melted in my mouth and beef sandwich. Overall, as long as you can overlook the hiccups with the staff, this place is a great place to come with friends or for date night to try some innovative tapas. read more

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After reading all the great reviews about this place I had to check it out for myself. My boyfriend and I came for dinner on a thursday night, this tapas restaurant is divided into two sides, meat and seafood. the meat side was slammed so we decided to start on the seafood side then come to the meat one after and it worked out perfectly for us. The seafood side was less busy yet service was slower. We ordered sparkling wine, about $12 euros each and it was excellent. The squid ink croquettes, squid chorizo and the tuna tartare and oh em gee everything was so fresh and delicious. I did notice the seafood side had only seafood options but the meat side had both menus, probably why people decide it's a better idea to eat on the meat side. After, we walked over to the meat side of the restaurant we were able to get some spots at the bar, this side was standing only and was more lively, louder music, people etc. We tried the cheese croquettes, beef, and spanish sausages nothing was bad but I can definitely say the seafood dishes were a bigger hit. Oh and how can I forget the bread and butter... outstanding. read more

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The food is awesome here! Just be sure to go during "non-peak" hours. The first time we ate here on a weekend evening and it was jam packed. Not very enjoyable trying to eat and drink in the middle of a room so crowded it brought me back to my clubbing days. I didn't have enough hands to hold my food and drink while being pushed around! The second time, we went right at opening. We pretty much had the place to ourselves and were able to eat and drink in peace at one of the coveted counter seats. Go early to eat and drink up! read more

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We really enjoyed having lunch here and the selection of tapas was delicious. The crispy pig ear had crunch, a caramel like chew and unctuousness all in one bite. The blood sausage macaron was a fun twist that was unexpected. The wine selection to go along with it was also good, and the waiter there had excellent knowledge of alternatives for selections they may not have had. To comment on service, it was perfectly fine for us. However, we are comfortable ordering in French and have done extensive research on culture. We also have had suggestions from friends in France on navigating some of the differences. I will say, there were only two people running the place while there. They are busy, and have a job to do -- so don't expect chit chat and expect a level of directness. Again, perfectly fine by us. Overall, this felt like one of the more special places on our visit to Paris and we will be back. read more

A fun place to grab small bites. We originally saw this reviewed by Anthony Bourdain and it lived up to the hype. The menu hung from the ceiling and small bites are meant to be shared with your party. They have some of the best butter we tasted in Paris, salty and rich with excellent bread. We sat at the bar and there was lots to watch going on around us, a fun atmosphere for a night out. read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

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The restaurant is small with only counter seating and a stand up counter top. The menu are signs with photos and pricing hanging from the ceiling. The mainstay seemed to be pork sausages which are made in different dishes. Our favorite was the croque queue de boeuf. The sauce in the hot dog was delicious as well. Prices are really reasonable at about 5-10 euros per item. read more

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French MasterChef Yves Camdeborde invented 'bistronomy' bistro and gastronomy. This place specializes in counter service standing-room only in a modest setting. Chef Camdeborde owns all three of the Comptoir restaurants. The three different locations of this restaurant can be confusing even to Parisians. I don't read French but I do read google translate so here's my attempt to figure out which location is what: North location: 'De La Mer' translates to 'of the sea' most the items here and middle location range around €10-€15 Middle location: 'De La Terre' translates to 'of the earth' FYI the word 'Terra' is used as the scientific Latin name for planet earth. That's is why on Starship Troopers the movie our government was called the Terran Federation. South location: 'Le Comptoir' is the full service sit down restaurant next to the Le Relais Saint Germain Hôtel. We visited on a Friday afternoon around 17:00 with no wait. The server said it gets busy after 20:00. Both servers/chefs spoke little English but friendly. There was no English menu when I asked but you can look at pictures and point at what you like. It's kind of a guessing game so be open about food and culture which is what gastronomy is suppose to be. bon appétit! read more

I'm Spanish and was very excited to try a tapas bar in Paris. Now this is very very expensive for tapas. Also usually you get a slightly bigger portion in Spain. We were disappointed in that we spent a lot at this bar but were nowhere near full and had to go eat somewhere else for "second dinner". Now the food was good but nothing life changing to merit the prices. The bar counter wasn't that clean and they still had a lot of shared items with other guests like the butter knife that made me uncomfortable during a pandemic. I liked going to experience a different take on Spanish food but I wouldn't recommend it for others unless they don't mind spending an exorbitant amount to get full from a meal. There are much more cost effective meals in Paris. read more

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L'Avant Comptoir was the first food and wine experience I had after landing in Paris and let me say it was a good one. Our group put our names down at the restaurant next door, and they suggested popping in to L'Avant Comptoir for wine since the wait for a party of 4 was 40 minutes. Twist my arm, why don't ya, to walk into this cozy wine bar that greets you with friendly bartenders and a giant ball of Beurre. Yes, that is correct. As our bartender asked us about the wines we enjoyed he pointed to a giant ball of butter covered in salt crystals. He told us with pride that this was the best butter in all of France. Truth be told, I had had no butter in France so I certainly was in for a delight. He paired this butter with piping hot bread. OH BOY. Leave me here at L'Avant Comptoir with bread and butter and I am a happy gal- but then you add the wine and my red carpet to heaven was rolled out. I like easy drinking reds, like pinot noirs etc. He had me sample a few - some of which I did not like at all. He was a sport tho, and found one that I loved. The bar itself is rather small, so you get cozy with your neighbors. Overall, it's a great place to grab a vin and enjoy some bites. read more

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Old school rap on the sound system. No seats. Just the counter. It will be nuts to butts crowded. The menu is on cards hanging from the ceiling that you mostly can't see. The best bread I have EVER eaten in my life. The best beef sandwich I have EVER eaten in my life. Giant, shared domes of butter and jars of cornichons. Dig in, peasants. Killer wines. Crazy good charcuterie plates. Reasonable prices. Get here right when they open it be prepared to wait forever. It's worth it. Some of the best value I've experienced anywhere. Every single thing we had was incredible and didn't break the bank. read more

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They managed to accommodate a picky kid while I was enjoying my "adult food". Not to mention the bread with butter deserve a separate award read more

L'Avant Comptoir - Escargot, tuna tartare and kids penne with Parmesan cheese - Tapas Bars Near Me - Paris, 75

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I love trying little tapas and dishes so I knew this was the place for me. When you walk in, you can sit/stand anywhere and order with the bartender (don't forget that you get free bread and can grab butter from the huge ball of butter). I'd suggest you remember the dishes you order if you're not sitting at the bar because once the dishes are ready, the bartender will shout out your dish's name in hopes to get your attention. The menu is on the ceiling so prepare your neck for a beating. I tried the chicken hearts, ham croquette, beef carpaccio, fried chicken, and beef and carrots. This cost about 50 euros with drinks. I'd say definitely get the ham croquette and beef carpaccio. My boyfriend really enjoyed the fried chicken, but it was OK to me. The chicken hearts lacked flavor and the beef and carrots are better elsewhere. Overall, L'Avant Comptoir was a really great place to visit at least once. read more

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L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre was our first meal in Paris. Because we were jet lagged and a little weary from travel, our experience actually started a few doors down in the adjacent hotel Le Relais where we chatted with the lovely Croatian front desk lady. She explained the difference between the various L'Avant restaurants (land, sea, market, original) let us sit and wait in the lobby before the restaurant opened. Interestingly, the main sit down restaurant had a line of patrons waiting for lunch at noon. L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre and de la Mer did not. The counter person was very friendly and welcomed us warmly. He took our order and spoke English. We sat near the legendary mound of butter and it was all that I imagined... delicious! We ordered the following 4 dishes (despite being charged for 5): Foie and cherries (4/5) perfectly cooked with a smattering of tarte cherries. The foie wasn't cleaned as well as I prefer but overall tasty Jamon croquette (3/5) goey in the middle with a smattering of jamon Tomatoes and cheese (3/5) tasted like something I typically make at home so it wasn't all that impressive. The person working at the counter was eating this dish and highly recommended it so we ordered it... pass Artichoke waffles and jamon (5/5) I really liked this dish! Somehow the slightly tart artichokes cooked into a waffle and topped with slices of jamon work together like magic! This is a must order! A basket of crusty bread is served and patrons can grab the gigantic mound of butter for slathering onto the bread as well as help themselves to the large jar of cornichons (baby French pickles). There were also cooked artichokes at the bar which apparently are also for random munching while waiting for your food. Since we don't really drink much, the natural wine menu did not appeal to us. But a patron next to us gushed about the selection. Be forewarned this is a tiny bar with counter seats only. If you want a proper table, go next door to the sister restaurant. Despite being charged incorrectly for an extra dish, we were overall very happy to experience L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre. The food was yummy and the experience all that I wanted. read more

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