Le Comptoir du Vin
Wine bar · Baltimore ·
Creative French bistro with natural wine & chalkboard menu
Creative French bistro with natural wine & chalkboard menu
"If you’re not looking for it, you might miss this unassuming, candlelit European bistro in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District, adorned with hundreds of bottles of natural wine and centered on comfort, outstanding ingredients, and thoughtful attention. A weekly rotating menu is handwritten on a board; start with sourdough bread and Normandy butter, then the Castelfranco salad tossed in a peppery house-made Caesar dressing. If available, you must try the Cheddar + Green Onion Toasty, a melty grilled cheese with sharp cheddar and peppery green onions, or the Chicken, Leek + Morel Pie, a golden brown chicken pot pie with shredded chicken, mushrooms, and veggies. Their beef cheeks dish is among my favorite entrées I’ve had in Baltimore—tender, savory, and rich." - Simone Phillips
"The first few times we tried going to Le Comptoir Du Vin, we kept missing the front door—walking up the stairs and into a tiny foyer, you’re not sure if you’re about to enter a restaurant or someone’s apartment. But once inside, you’ll find a low-lit French restaurant that’s good for a special occasion or just a weeknight dinner of small plates with a date. The chalkboard menu changes regularly, and one of our favorite pastimes is checking the restaurant’s Instagram story for their daily updates. (Also, is it possible to fall in love with someone through their handwriting? Asking for a friend.) For dinner, order anything with the focaccia—we consistently dream of the jamon buerre—and save room for dessert." - michele berry
"In Baltimore, chef Will Mester frequently features a steamed fish entrée on an ever-changing chalkboard menu; his preparations—like a marbled sea trout crowned with Devon double cream and fresh horseradish or a sticky-rich bone-in skate wing with a chunky olive salsa—use steaming to create vibrant contrasts between perfectly cooked proteins and bold accoutrements. Mester favors the technique for its ability to highlight simplicity and brightness of flavor, achieving a prized lightness that draws attention to the ingredient itself." - ByAmiel Stanek
"This European bistro showcases French-leaning dishes with a compact, rotating menu scrawled and updated on a chalkboard. Take a seat in the intimate dining room or in the cozy, heated outdoor area for dishes like classic pub toasties, jarred pâté, poached ox tongue or smoked haddock pie, pistachio pavlova, and natural wine." - Jess Mayhugh
"The first few times we tried Le Comptoir Du Vin in Baltimore, we kept missing the front door. As you walk up the stairs and into a tiny foyer, it feels like you're about to walk into someone's apartment rather than a restaurant. But once inside, you’ll find a low-lit French spot that’s good for a special occasion or just a weeknight dinner of small plates with a date. The chalkboard menu changes regularly, and one of our favorite pastimes is checking the restaurant’s Instagram story for updates and intel about upcoming live music nights on their back patio. For dinner, order anything with the focaccia—we consistently dream of the jamon buerre—and save room for dessert." - anne cruz