Wow. This little place is so worth visiting. I was blown away by the food and the service. Literally the only negative is that some of the tables are close together, which is literally only a problem when you're seated next to someone annoying (which they can not help). So basically - of the things they can control, they are doing fantastic. First, let me start with our waitress. She was attentive but not like overbearing. She was so nice and enthusiastic. Second, the food was good. Also the fact that they have cheese available was the highlight of my night. You can pick individual cheeses or you can have them with meats. The assiette de charcuterie with the added cheese is the perfect starter. It has meats (which I did not eat but they looked good), pickles, mustard (which was amazing), and amazing cheese. The hard bread/crackers were not great because they were so hard to bite into but otherwise a fantastic app. Note - the goat cheese is amazing. I had the ravioli (which I was warned is super creamy and let me tell you, it was super creamy). It was amazing. They were mini raviolis and they were the business. I also got the side of broccolini which I ate with the ravioli and loved. They were sautéed to perfection. ALSO, their special was bell peppers filled with cheese. I almost got this, but really wanted the pasta. But anyways just have to give props for having a special that's vegetarian. First time that has ever happened and I was so happy to have the choice of getting the special. My boyfriend got the burger. It came with the largest mountain of fries I have ever seen given. He said it was good. We were also talked into getting dessert of profiterole - which is literally like an ice cream sandwich with chocolate on top. It was good. We were obviously so full so I'm not sure why we ordered this but I can not say we were disappointed. Basically - 10/10 would recommend. Will go back. read more

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This review is for the Epicerie. Echoing another reviewer, I was profiled and made to feel very unwelcome by the middle-aged white proprietress in this establishment. Note I have shopped here before for odds-and-ends and wine. On this occasion I was "dressed down" -- olive green karate pants and a Smiths T-shirt. I was peppered with questions like, "Are you shopping for yourself?" "Are you from San Rafael?" "Have you been here before?" to the point of me telling her that she was making me uncomfortable, at which time I turned and left. Note: Middle-aged white gay male here, and, yes, I live in San Rafael and own my home. Take your business elsewhere. read more

Owner insulted me as I walked in ("this guy looks like a complainer") but I brushed it off as a joke. Got sat down in the mostly-empty restaurant and not presented a menu. Waiter said the owner would explain. He came by 5 minutes later (which seems like an eternity when you're trying to figure out what's happening) and asked what type of wine we wanted ("red, white, rose, bubbles .. what do you want?"). I was so turned off by this time I just wanted to leave. He brought 2 glasses of crap red from Sonoma (I'm thinking a French restaurant would advocate for French wines..) and we left. The WORST experience I have ever had at a restaurant. Avoid at all cost!!! read more

Unfortunately, Le Comptoir has gone downhill. Only a verbal menu and VERY limited. The salad and wrapped prosciutto appetizers were very, very salt. Burger was a miss and roast chicken was good. Their SF restaurant is closed and I fear the SR won't be far behind. Used to love this place! read more

We enjoyed a lovely French meal and wines with excellent service. The restaurant has a true bistrot feel. We will return.

A disclaimer! This review is JUST for the shop - we've actually eaten at the restaurant and it was excellent, particularly the Poulet Roti (Rotisserie Chicken) and potatoes that catch the drippings. You also can't find sweetbreads anywhere in Marin, beyond Chalet Basque off San Pedro Road, and Beef Tartar is another favorite. The shop has been, for us, where the magic always happens. There simply is nothing to compare to it in terms of a French-themed store in the whole North Bay. Specifically, the cheese, which covers the gamut of really amazing stuff - yes, you can find properly aged Epoisses and Brie, but then (depending on what's available by season and so on) there's Livarot, and Gruyere (the French one - distinct from Swiss and others), Emmental (not your hole-y typical Swiss - this is the real thing, raw and amazing), and then several others that I won't even mention because most of us in the US, unless we've been to France, will not experience these anywhere else. Yes, I know Woodlands Market and its AMAZING cheese guru Octavio, and they have no equal in terms of a diverse cheese array that is unequal to others. But for French cheese that somehow we lucked into having in Marin County, given the almost impossible task of getting anything that isn't flabby and overly-pasteurized and just plain boring, you WILL be transformed by what's here. Even in Canada, where I could "get the good stuff" due to looser restrictions, Le Comptoir's selection is stored, aged and served to perfection. Simply put, there is no local purveyor of this quality and diversity in the area - maybe Northern California - maybe in all the state. Heck, I couldn't even find better French cheese in New York, and if it exists, it's probably not being sold to the general public. My two cents: you need to visit here if you obsess about cheese and also want to immerse yourself in French food culture, you can - whether you eat at the restaurant (and you should), or buy amazing food for your own party. And the owner and shopkeeper will always lead you to what you want, or need, or just salivate over. I love this place. read more

The place felt Parisian the minute we walked in when Sasha, the friendly Frenchman manager, greeted us with a warm 'bonsoir'. He had a great sense of humor and exhibited none of the stiffness or haughtiness one might associate with a snobby French restaurant. Yeah, Le Comptoir was unmistakably French albeit lacking the finesse of high end fine dining. Granted, it was not a 5-star heaven, but neither were the prices up in the clouds! The ambiance was cozy and intimate and the décor was simple yet elegant. Straight ahead against the left back wall was a handsome looking rotisserie and to the right, the nerve center of the open kitchen. Given the unseasonable cold snap we were having, a hot crock of French Onion Gratinee ($9) was irresistible. It was a hearty combination of caramelized onions in a beefy broth topped with gooey Gruyere. The visuals might be lacking. I couldn't see the melting Gruyere cascade over the sides of the crock. Regardless, that was good stuff, soothing and satisfying. I didn't even care if it was artery clogging! (4/5) Ahi Tuna Mi-Cuit ($12.50) intrigued me as it reminded me of a sushi bar's Tuna Tataki. This would make a light yet flavorful appetizer to start a meal. Tuna was thinly sliced Japanese style and pan seared. The French used lemongrass, citrus, ginger and soy marinade with a side of wasabi aioli. Interestingly, the sliced tuna was garnished with small segments of blood orange and each piece was separated by a piece of crispy brioche. This dish was wonderful except the tuna could have been fresher. (3/5) Got steamed mussels? As far as I am concerned, that's a given considering mussels are ubiquitous in every French restaurant! Moules Mariniere ($16.50) were immersed in a buttery broth of garlic, shallots and white wine. Although I was forewarned by my server that the mussels were not plump but on the smaller side, I was crazy enough to order them anyway. Surprisingly, the mussels tasted better than expected. The dining tables were tight fits with barely enough elbowroom for me to pluck the miniscule sized mussels out of their broken shells without bumping into my neighbor! The basket of bread was the best part for dipping and sopping up the rich broth. (4/5) Le Comptoir knows their rotisserie. Poulet Roti ($19.50) was the quintessential French style chicken, roasted to a succulent golden brown. By slow roasting the free-range chicken, the skin remained crispy and savory. I am convinced the best aroma came from the crackling skin. The chef nailed the roasting technique well using precise timing and without overcooking the bird. Even the breast meat that usually dried up first remained moist and luscious. However, I could have been a lot happier if I were given a choice of some kind of roasted veggies like cauliflower, broccoli or spinach to accompany my Poulet Roti instead of a shitload of French Fries. It would be a refreshing compliment to the warm, comforting roast chicken plus adding the much-needed fiber to my diet. (3.5/5) The music played was old school French. I thought I heard Edith Piaf belt out some old French classics that made the atmosphere so much more authentic and enjoyable. The dinner overall was good though not stellar. Service made up for it and was particularly memorable thanks to our warm and attentive server Natalie and the funny Sasha pushing the rating to 4 stars. read more

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The wine was good, but the service was horrible. A glass of wine was $16 and when my mother-in-law inquired about the name of the wine the waiter refused to share. He said, "Well, I guess you will need to come back." However, he was willing to sell us the bottle of wine. read more

Stephan and his team put at least 3-7 days of prep into every dish that you get at the restaurant. Wether it's the bread, the sauce on your plate or more importantly the prep of the protein! Just ask Steph how he preps every meal (foodies will crave this part as he will show you his passion!!!$ and you will be surprised! If you are lucky you can get into his personal cheese cave in the shop!!! Only for the knowledgeable! read more

We received a gift certificate to Le Comptoir and decided to use it tonight. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was excellent. The website had only the hours of the retail shop and not the restaurant, which was a bit confusing, so we called and found out that they were opening for dinner within the hour. We went in and had a simple Gem Salad with the most delicious lemon/mustard dressing and the steak & roast potatoes and the Lamb and polenta. Everything was melt in your mouth delicious. Apparently they are trying to get the on line information corrected because this restaurant should not be missed. Prices were very reasonable and there appeared to be extensive wine options although we did not try any. Best of Luck Le Comptoir! Hope to come in again soon. read more

My husband surprised me with a birthday dinner here and it was the perfect choice for someone who loves all things French. The bustling European vibe with a long bar and big windows facing the street, red decor accents, and legit French speaking servers. The energy is thoroughly francaise. Casual but sexy. The menu is pretty classic with simple, hearty dishes like moules mariniere, beef tartar, grilled duck breast and the BEST BURGER I've had in a long long time. Comes with gruyere, bacon and carmelized onions on a brioche bun. They even split it on two plates for us, so we didn't have to fight over bites. Le burger... get it! Love the choice of different sauces with the rotisserie meats, and the wine list was pretty affordable too. The only buzzkill was the bathroom - bright lights and sterile white walls with zero TLC put into it. Kinda kills the sexy vibe. Be sure to check out the epicerie (marketplace) next door, with products you can only find in France. Tons of delicious gift ideas. read more

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The worse restaraunt I've been to. We were met by a smelling alcohol gentleman gentleman (maybe the owner or manager?) . There was no menu (no hard copy or online), no prices or wine list . All information is delivered to you by this very strange behaving owner. He said - "He is the menu". We did not get any idea how much it costs, what each dish includes. And then we were waiting an hour to be served. The food is ok. Will never come back and would not recommend it. read more

Amazing food and amazing wine. The owner was wonderful. He had the entire menu memorized which captivated the whole experience. He asked what type of wine we would like and we told him. He got it perfectly well. The menu changed weekly and we cannot wait to go back! Kids loved this place as well. The staff was lovely. The decor and setting were perfect. read more

During our visit to San Rafael, we decided to try this French restaurant as it was close-by and had the most reviews in the area. We arrived at the restaurant as a party of 3 at 6:30 PM. There were about 4-5 other parties at the restaurant and it was pretty empty. The waiter promptly too our order within the first 10 minutes. My bf and his brother ordered the onion soup as a starter. It took them about 40 minutes until the soup arrived. We flagged the waiter to ask him how long it would take for our entrees to come out and he kept saying soon (within a few minutes). Unfortunately, it took 65 minutes (over an hour) before our burger, duck leg, and hanger steak came out. When I got my hanger steak, it was literally 6-7 bite-sized steak pieces (not even cooked as medium as requested) with a boat load of fries. I was disappointed by the entree overall. It's not worth $25! I was not full after the meal. The cheese on the burger wasn't even melted. The only OK meal was the duck leg. All in all, we will not be coming back. The waiter didn't even apologize for the lack of quality service. When we asked for our check, the waiter saw us and immediately turned his back on us and never showed up until another 15 minutes. This is not the way to treat customers for the amount of money we spent on food... disappointing. read more

Le Comptoir - Hanger steak with fries - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

If you live in San Rafael, or not.....whether you made a reservation, or not....whether you like a fun and tantalizing wine list, or not.....and whether you think the French are snobby, or not.....you MUST come experience the relaxed and unpretentious dining of Le Comptoir! Let me back up this foodie bus and explain something. First, I quite by chance tripped into the little 'French foods shop' just before Xmas. The various pates, mustards, wines, and fresh baked baguettes led me to believe I had stepped into a dream. You know the one. The dream that you and your love have been romanticizing for years...yeah, THAT one! I was in a side street no name market in France now. Surrounded by foods that my cholesterol warned me about. It didn't matter. A few bottles of those St Esteph or Chateaux Margeaux could repair with resplendent sips of yummy. Yes, yummy. The menu was perfectly poised for my ADD or ADHD, or whatever it is that makes decisions making impossible. I chose the bone marrow for starters and a sea bass straight out of SF Bay. My dinner partner had the same, and we couldn't have enjoyed our delicacies more. I won't pretend to know how it was prepared or what ingredients wrapped into its exquisite yumminess (yes, I said it again), but it was REALLY YUMMY!!! The family owned restaurant not only 'exuded' warmth, but was filled with laughter from their very own. I tried hard to focus on my friend's story, but was so taken with the family enjoying each others' stories....NO CELL PHONES WERE ON THE TABLE....a child's voice. I was in Heaven. Another time altogether. Thank you, merci....to you have given us the little piece of a life so out of character...so much needed here in our rushed American life. Bon Apetite! Carla read more

I'm new to the French food game but Le Comptoir makes some delicious plates. The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere. Fun and lively, and classy at the same time. Some of the tables in the middle can be in close proximity to each other, but the food and service makes up for sitting next to a loud group. My boyfriend and I tried the roast duck breast and flatiron steak and we'd recommend both! More high praise for the roast duck because it's unique and has a lot of flavor. Flatiron steak and fries are good but because it's so simple, I'd like to come back and try the more "exotic" dishes. We ordered the bone marrow as an addition to the flatiron steak but they forgot to make it/bring it out and started to make the dish after we reminded them. They were nice enough to comp the bone marrow for us, thanks! Nice quick service. Everyone here seems to be having a good time and enjoying their meals. read more

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Great food ! Good selection of delicatessen. My place to go to feel like I am in France. Stéphane the owner is very friendly. read more

We went here last night for our anniversary. I can't believe we have not been there before! Everything was great. We ended up sharing the sweetbreads, mussels, rotisserie pork loin and duck leg. The real standouts were the duck leg and the sweetbreads, but the pork loin and mussels were also very flavorful. The only knock is that the mussels were a tad overcooked, but the broth was savory and delicious. They have a great selection of French wines that are reasonably priced, and the staff and proprietors could not have been more accompanying. We will definitely return. Attached is also a great little French Market with great wines and cheeses, as well as various other items you can't find in most stores around. read more

We were actually headed to another restaurant with friends in from Europe when we stopped to admire Le Comptoir. A little chat with the engaging owner and we were in. French food isn't my go-to first choice, but WOW - what a great meal. Fun, elegant atmosphere, a nice unpretentious waitress and full support staff (we were attended to by at least 4 different folks). My three companions had the Duck which they raved about, I had the steak which was just right and a roquefort sauce that was over-the-top delicious. The big winner of the night though was the liver pate - a mousse that was absolutely the best I've ever had, anywhere (including Paris). Their wine list is exceptional and the cheeses? Ahhhh..... Happy we wandered in, happy to say we will be back. read more

Le Comptoir - The magnificent Duck ... the photo can't do it justice. - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I've been waiting for a French restaurant in San Rafael and based on how busy it was a few nights ago, Le Comptoir will probably do well. A few uncomfortable mis-steps, however, have made me uninterested in returning. We made a reservation since it was a Friday night, even though it was for an early enough time that we probably didn't need one. You know, gotta be home in time to watch The Wheel. Well, not really, but I did need to put my 9 month old (Grandma was babysitting) to bed, so we chose an embarrassingly provincial time for our reservation. I tend to expect that if you actually make a reservation, the front of the house will seat you at a decent table. Maybe they were going to be booked for the rest of the evening, but for whatever reason, we were seated in the worst table in the house. You know, that one in the corner at the very back against the bathroom wall. We ordered a gem lettuce salad, which was good, but as other yelpers have noted, was served in a bowl that made cutting the large leaves (the only way to really eat it) difficult. But the dressing was good. I had the steak frites, which was very good. I loved the sauce. My husband had the salmon. The portions were on the small side, particularly the salmon. Like two bites small. Which is understandable if you're eating some like 500 year old herb at Manresa, but not when you're eating bistro food. My husband ordered a second glass of wine when his dinner came out--but it didn't arrive until after our plates had been cleared, another mis-step that maybe a more experienced restaurant wouldn't have made. So here's the really awkward part. It was my birthday. We were seated next to a couple also celebrating a birthday. We chatted a little about it and the server joked about it being "birthday corner." The other couple were about 15 minutes ahead of us in their seating. After they declined dessert, the kitchen sent out two complimentary ports with birthday wishes to them. The server then took our dessert order. It did come out with a candle, and we were charged for the dessert. Which is fine. I mean, that's perfectly normal. It just felt really uncomfortable that 15 minutes beforehand, the man next to me got something complimentary from the kitchen with birthday wishes and I didn't. The unevenness of treatment just made me feel...weird. And awkward. So awkward I won't return. read more

We need more restaurants like this to move into downtown San Rafael... An honest to goodness French restaurant...on 4th street. No...really. Theres also a connected french market with lots of French items for your home. The food is approachable...yet still so very french. My favorite dish so far was the "Ravioles de Royans", a speciality from the Rhône Alpes in France: Small square pasta stuffed with cheese and herbs in a pesto based cream sauce...you can get the addition of 24-month aged Comté cheese for $3.50...trust me, just do it. We've been here 3-4 times and liked everything we've tried to date...add to that great service and a community table for those without reservations and you really cannot go wrong going to Le Comptoir. read more

I've wanted to eat here for a while now. I liked the food but it wasn't great. The extra star is for excellent wine, service, and ambiance. We started with the fried Camembert. It was cold inside - somehow that didn't seem right. Shouldn't it be warm and somewhat melty? Then we tried the Petrale Sole, the poulet roti, and the burger. It was all okay. The chicken was the best. We didn't have anything we didn't like but nothing we were dying over. read more

We came in for a late dinner at 8:30 or so on a Monday evening. The place is actually really cute and there is an attached small store that sells French wines and cheeses and fun stuff. It was not open but it was cute! On to the food...we started with the tartare and sweetbreads (as recommended here) and both did not disappoint! The sweetbreads were luscious in a porcini sauce and the tartate, though heavy on mustard, was also quite good and the portion was generous! We also had the wild boar stew and stuffed pork loin. While the boar was a bit tough, the flavor shone through. The pork loin was very good and moist. We had a nice bottle of wine (nice wine list with both French and California wines) and Stephan, the owner was our server and was super nice. We will have to try the sister restaurant in SF soon. Overall, nice dinner and we will be back for sure! read more

I've visited Le Comptoir a number of times, and it's now my favorite restaurant in San Rafael. The dining room itself is open and beautiful, and the staff have always been friendly and accommodating. Some of my favorite dishes, though they have a rotating menu: Hors d'Oeuvres . Onion soup gratinee. Get this with a glass of Cotes du Rhone. Really good. . Beef tartar. Yum. . Bone marrow. Also yum, super-savory, kind of gelatin-y. . Charcuterie and cheese (smoked duck breast is outstanding) . I tried the House Duo, which was good, but I was confused because one of the items was supposed to be lardo, but was instead a house-made bacon; it was tasty, but it absolutely wasn't lardo. Mains . Hanger steak: my kids get this with the sauce on the side and love it . Rotisserie porchetta: I was stunned to see porchetta on the menu, only having had it in Italy, but this was very good, though it was a little heavy on the cumin . Roast duck: also very good . Ravioles de Royans: normally very good, but at our last meal, many of the tiny ravioli were undercooked and inedible Definitely get a reservation, though if there are just two of you, you might be able to slip in somewhere. read more

I was lucky enough to get invited to the soft opening. I've enjoyed going to Stephen and Suzanna's restaurant in San Francisco, Gamine, for years. Not only because they are amazing people and have hired a great staff, but because the food is amazing and not something that I can get in Southern California, or anywhere that I'm aware of in the US.. I want to say "they pulled it off" but that's not strong enough. Le Comptoir (The Counter) maintains the quaint feel of Gamine while being more open, larger and a bit more approachable than a typical Bistro. The menu is simple but refined. There's not a bad choice on the menu and there are lighter options, like the fresh salmon, cooked with 7 spices, 6 of which will likely never be disclosed. The dishes that are on the richer side, like the flat-iron steak with green peppercorn (cream) sauce are amazing and well balanced, not rich for the sake of it but well flavored. Prices are reasonable and even more so when you realize the quality that you get. The wine list fits an appropriate budget for your mood, if you want to go big, it's certainly an option but they have excellent and diverse wine at the right price as well. If you are your local to San Rafael, this is going to be a go-to. For me, it's a stop whenever I find myself driving by the exit. I'll be back. Soon. read more

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Slightly disappointed after all the hype. Being local and craving authentic French bistro food, I was really looking forward to this. A good welcome and our 8pm reservations were spot on. Atmosphere was good and lively. Place was hopping pretty good on a Tuesday night and people were enjoying themselves. Bad start was the bread. It had good flavor and you could tell it was exceptional at one time in its former life, but when served to us it was VERY chewy and stale and with zero crustiness. Good bread is one of the highlights of French fare and this was a real let-down. I ordered the roasted bone marrow as an appetizer which I enjoyed (good portion) but would have preferred it with just salt and black pepper, and without the herbs. The accompanying toasted bread was of a different variety and seasoned with herbs like rosemary or something, was again extremely chewy with zero crustiness.Toast should have some crisp! Bone marrow and toast can stand on their own as an amazing combination, but these extra herbs seem too fancy and distracting for a simple invention of the Paysans. My date said she had the bread before, and it had been great. Tonight she returned her bread but again it was just plain stale. Maybe Tuesday night is not the night for fresh breads? The Steak Tartar with quail egg was premium and the best I have tasted. Maybe a tad sweet?, but really very good. Also had the Ahi a-la sushimi tuna with Wasabi and a delightful sauce. That was truly delicious and refreshing. Nice comeback. I try to judge with simpler things like steak au frites, or the Moules Marinere (Mussels) with fries, and those were pretty good, The broth frankly too garlicky. Could not really taste the shellfish itself. The fries, which were better than average in texture, but again over-spiced leaving little to no potato taste. I had to ask for bread twice hoping for better freshness and also to dip in the broth, and again it was stale. Also had to ask for water. I don't care about asking for water but did I mention the bread was stale? The recommended house red, a Cote de Rhone was just right, and the crisp white for the mussels was also good (forgot the vineyard). Obviously just by looking behind the bar, this place has a great variety of wine which we just didn't feel like indulging in on this night. BTW they have a cool little side room with a store and get this, a real refrigerated cheese room. This night the area was reserved but that is good news for local cheese freaks and people like me who love rillettes! We finished by sharing a fantastic apricot tart which had a good tartiness without being too sweet. Great pastry. The coffee ice cream was also very nice. Not as creamy as Hagen Daas, but better in flavor. My overall impression is all delicate flavors were over-seasoned. My guess is the French Chefs were absent and the sous-chefs just don't have that artistic touch to know when to pull back on the garlic. Believe me I love garlic, but only as an enhancer, not as a highlight.That's a star deduction. The bread was stale. I think they were not able to acquire fresh bread since the AM, which would not cut it in any French Bistro no matter the price point. That's another star deduction. The Ahi and Steak Tartar were excellent, as was the dessert. Hosting was friendly and wait staff good. Add a half star. Prices were higher than a real French Bistro, but Marin reasonable at $114 with 3 glasses of wine and no cocktails or coffee. Plus $24 tip. We got a glass of decent port on the house. A good Bistro style restaurant in San Rafael is a dream come true for me considering I live 6 minutes away, so I'll be back for another chance hoping to add some stars maybe on a different night. I want to try the beef and rotisserie meats. Mon dieu that was a long review! 3.5 stars for us. C'etait correct mais pas plus. read more

Le Comptoir - Roasted bone marrow and steak tartar. - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

It wasn't as good as I was expecting. I ordered the hanger steak (medium). It was medium rare which is better than overcooking the meat. The blue cheese sauce was tasty. The portion was small. It wasn't anything special. The rest of the plate was covered with fries. It seemed a bit pricey to me. The ambience gave me the feel of eating out in SF. Our server was friendly and efficient. It's worth checking out if you haven't been here. read more

So happy Le Comptoir is open ! Wonderful, charming, and Fabulous French cuisine. You have to try the mussel's, they are die for. read more

Amazing spot. The food is unbelievably delicious. The restaurant itself is intimate and the staff is amazing. Looking forward to returning.

Unfortunately, our last two experiences here have been unsatisfactory. We loved this place when it first opened, but our last meal there this Saturday WAS our last meal there. First bad sign--the bread was mediocre. Not crusty, not fresh, not even close to real French bread. It was a Safeway bakery level of quality (Note: the bread in the store is nice and crusty). Why can't they serve the nice bread at the restaurant? The butter with the bread had a hint of refrigerator. (Note, they had the same blah bread at our previous visit in July, so not a one-time thing). We had the duck dish over mashed potatoes--both the duck AND the potatoes were a failure. The duck fat wasn't properly rendered, but the potatoes were inedible. I didn't think it was possible to screw up mashed potatoes--but they did. The potatoes had some strong acrid spice (similar to heavy-handed rosemary). Horrible flavor, and anyway the potato texture was grainy (overboiled?) and had no creaminess at all. We'd already sent back the soggy frites, so didn't feel comfortable sending this dish back too. This review is two star because the little gem salad was nice, the moules were fine, and the staff was friendly. I recommend you take the time to drive to San Anselmo and go to L'Appart Resto instead. read more

Le Comptoir gets high marks for its Gallic ambiance and friendly accueil. The wine list has quite a few interesting wines by the glass -- some with prices in the (high) single digits. I ordered a vouvray demi-sec, and then a saumur champigny; I liked both of those wines. Although the dinner menu looked promising, the food that I ordered was at the 2 1/2-star level. The Mixed Organic Greens Salad included a lot of large crunchy greens that reminded me of the "braising mix" that you often see in bins next to the micro-greens that are used for salad. I felt that the burger was ruined by the melted raclette atop the meat; pretty much any other cheese would have tasted better. The fries tasted funky to me as well. My 3-star rating reflects the positive qualities that were mentioned at the beginning of this review, as well as the possibility that I was simply having an off night as a taster. I'd be willing to return for another dinner. read more

Went last night and noticed they changed the menu. The awesome waiter we had said they had a new chef. Not sure if that is the problem or if they are "cutting corners" but unfortunately the food was just so so. It was excellent several months ago and I wrote a rave review. However last nights meal was a let down which is a shame since the wine, ambiance and waitstaff were perfection. We had Pork belly that was very fatty and under cooked...it had to go back. Halibut was over cooked, the onion soup was bland, the hanger steak was small and under seasoned and the pommes frites were unevenly cooked so some were crispy while others were soft:( read more

My dearly departed French mother-in-law would have proudly sat at the counter (comptoir is French for counter) of Le Comptoir and declared to the bartender, "I am French!" Furthermore, she would have been pleased with the menu as several of the dishes are dishes that she cooked such as the French onion soup, endive salad, and the mussels. Simone would have approved of the food that we ate although I am not sure she would have ordered the bone marrow, as I did. It was rich and full of herbs and garlic. I wanted to pick up the leg bone it came in and gnaw on it, but refrained. Simone would have enjoyed the choice of wines as well. The staff was friendly and attentive. On the second anniversary of Simone's passing, my wife and I paid homage at the perfect spot. read more

Best food in town! Stef and his staff make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The shop has wonderful wine, desserts, and the frozen croissants are awesome read more

I was so excited to see a real French Bistro in SanRafael However: I was quite disappointed with my duck leg from the rotisserie It was tough. It should have been falling off the bone, but it was even hard to cut. Our salad was delicious as was the onion tart. The service was also right on.... but none of our party of 4 thought much of the entrees. I don't think I will return read more

Authentic French bistro food made by French people. If you don't like it, it's because you've never been to France or you ate hotel food while you were there. The shop next door is amazing and I was thrilled to see Amora mustard (of course it was $6 per jar, and it being the 'French's mustard of France, is typically a buck back in the home country.) The restaurant is great, good service, great wines and delicious food. We have eaten there several times and always look forward to a return. read more

Sorry to say the food was a let down all the way around. Had strolled last this place several times in previous visits and thought we'd give it a go. Appetizer (one tuna salad lump and another raw fish, steelhead I think, w baguette) was weird. Liked the steelhead but the other lump was gross. BF has hamburger, it was fine he said (looked dry to me ;) I had French onion which left me wanting broth and flavour. We ordered a dessert to hopefully end on a good note. If you'd like a bowl of mushy hot berries order their current berry item. Nasty. It was like a dessert a toddler would make. Service was very nice as was the environment. Will not be back. read more

Small, modern, and delightfully authentic A small menu done well insures that no matter what you order, the food will be amazing. Great food, excellent service, Bon appétit! read more

This was a good dining experience- except for one very tacky thing. See the tiny table tucked away in the corner? This was the table our hostess tried to pawn off on us when we showed up for our reservations. We declined. We then saw the hostess try to give the table to two other couples, both of whom also declined. When there are MANY other tables available, why not save this most horrible table for last???? read more

Le Comptoir - French Near Me - San Rafael, California

Made a bee-line to have dinner at Le Comptoir last night, as we've always wanted to dine here. I have to say ALL the servers and hostesses were terrific. They were able to get us a table without a reservation, squeeze us in if you will. While we were waiting outside for a table, three different waitstaff checked in on us, which was really appreciated. Thank you! The restaurant is completely full and hopping on a Friday night. I liked the décor and ambiance. Once we ordered, the food came out so fast I commented that the food must have been pre-made! We started with delicious bread and butter, and moved on to French onion soup. The soup had too much cheese and bread to our liking, with very little broth. It did have a good enough flavor though. I thought the hamburger and fries were just ok, nothing to write home about. I was expecting a more elevated experience with the bacon, raclette, carmelized onion. The large portion of crispy frites made up for any mild disappointment I had in the burger. A larger portion of the aioli would have been appreciated, as it was miniscule. The home made liver mousse was delectable. You could really taste that it was home made, and the little "extras" (cornichons, crostini, and even the mustard!) really worked to make this dish special. Many of my friends recommend this restaurant, with some even saying it is one of their favorites. We will be back to try some other entrees, more adventurous on future visits. read more