"The ideal Au Comptoir experience is grabbing a seat at the well-worn tin bar facing away from West 4th Ave., and settling down for a leisurely weekday lunch of tarte fine—a perfect square of puff pastry topped with peas, asparagus, and comté. Along with areallygood green salad. This casual but elegant bistro is extremely French in every way, from the classic Parisian food to the chatter between staff, to the occasionally stiff approach: the menu disclaimer that any substitutions and alterations will be politely declined is no joke. But that’s OK, because we like everything the way it is. Especially the Rossini burger with truffled raclette and foie gras available only on Thursdays at dinnertime." - Thalia Stopa