Le Comptoir

We had a wonderful evening at Le Comptoir! It feels like you’re dining in someone’s home — cozy, personal, and full of warmth. The owners recited the menu from memory, shared stories, and made us feel like old friends. The food was exquisite — beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We went once on a casual Thursday evening and again for my birthday, and it was perfect for both. It’s rare to find a place that’s both relaxed and refined, that has high standards without any stuffiness. Highly recommend!

Merci Beaucoup, Stefan and Company! Delicious French cuisine! We got the pre fixe menu ($70/pp) and had no regrets! Would recommend for the adventurous eaters who appreciate high quality eats. Flavors had variety and depth, while honoring local in-season produce. Could tell with each bite that the quality of ingredients were some of the best. Wine bottle selection is “pick your own” from the shop next door, which offers a fun, interactive experience. Highly recommend. Can’t believe we waited this long! Great for a special occasion. Staff are playful and fun - with that classic French hospitality. Bon Appetit!

A casual French restaurant with seriously good food. Tonight I was with a party and from the starters through salmon, melt-in-your mouth pork loin and chicken surrounded by small potatoes and then a fruit galette and ice cream in a chocolate topped puff pastry, it couldn’t have been better. I was so busy talking and eating I only took a photo at the start. And the acoustics were surprisingly good so we could hear each other.

Very tasty French food in a relaxed, casual, yet contemporary atmosphere. Attentive, professional service. I ordered the salmon which was delicious.

Like going to your French aunts house for dinner. Warm, delicious, and comfortable.

The food was delicious, and the house wine was good, but we didn’t appreciate the lack of a paper menu. The proprietor rattles off the dishes so quickly in his lovely accent, it’s hard to even catch words, let alone decide what to eat. The cost was quite high also. But worth it for the excellent cuisine.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Le Comptoir last night. I had the beet salad and my entree was the salmon. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and served on a bed of tasty vegetables. My daughter's fiancee had the mixed greens salad, the hangar steak, and a chocolate brulee. He thoroughly enjoyed everything along with some wine suggested by Stefan. The staff was very attentive and checked on us often. It was a delightful evening and we plan to return again very soon.

Le Comptoir is an absolute gem among plenty of mediocrity in Marin. Food is between great to amazing with the menu somewhat limited for a small venue. The chef makes every day a different experience based on what is available local and fresh. Wines selection is incredible from the attached retail shop. Value is very good considering prices are medium to medium high, ranging from $20+ burgers to $60 multi-course pre-fix experiences. Please try this place out in support of local business owners we desperately want to sustain in our community.

Food was delicious! Service was great. Picking a wine from the store next door was super fun. We will definitely come back!

Pissed off at no prices anywhere! I decided to try it after walking down 4 th st , I saw a French bistro , and on Yelp I saw prices ( thought ok, bistro portions are smaller) and didn't have time to read reviews as he skirted us in., when Yogi the waiter said no no! We have a different menu tonight.. my friend and I ordered the beet salad to start. It was little squares of chopped beets. Nothing more.For entrees we had the hanger steak, which was so under seasoned but tender , and the salmon with ratatouille. No ratatouille, a weird pilaf with the fish. Everything was meh , except the wine. The crème brûlée was runny but good. I was shocked at the bill..this is NOT bistro pricing .. it could be improved upon if they cared. Get a chalkboard and write the daily menu ! ... with prices, and have a plat du jour that will bring people in. I don't like leaving unpleasant reviews but people need to be aware.

Well, I suppose all restaurants die... often not gracefully. This one was once quite decent, even if the proprietor gave off serious French mafia vibes, which he seemingly to mistook for boyish charm. And those were the good days! Sadly, the pandemic seems to have pushed this place over the edge. In the beginning they were packaging food to go and doing their best. More recently, they seemed to have lost their will to go on yet keep going anyway. In pandemic times the back corner of the restaurant had become a dead, catch all space for empty boxes and random restaurant detritus. Five years later in 2025, that back corner vibe seems to have infected the entire restaurant. The reception kiosk is sparse and uninviting, as is the bar with its shelves of dusty Chimay glasses. Tonight, in spite of the seemingly low vibes, we decided to try it again, truly hoping they had pulled it together. The proprietor is now behind the line cooking, instead of intimidating customers with his Marseille "charm." Unfortunately hasn't helped matters. We had a green salad, a tomato salad, salmon with ratatouille, and pork loin with braised red cabbage. The salad and cabbage were over peppered and under salted. The salmon was gray and fishy tasting and the pork was overcooked, gray, dry, and rubbery. Our service was oddly tentative and unsure, which had the effect of dragging our unremarkable dinner out long past our tolerance limit. At the end of the meal we were asked how things were, to which I replied calmly and honestly. Nothing was removed or discounted from our bill. And so I guess that's that. They seem content with where they've landed and I'll be content to never return. All restaurants do die. This one has done so in some sort of excruciatingly slow and insidious way, a car crash on slow motion, likely a reflection of whomever is at the helm, a testament to human struggle, trauma, and dysfunction... a true "kitchen confidential."

Wonderful couple who own and run the place and the food was delicious. You cannot be a whiney, nouveau Marin elite, like "no n." And "Al R." Why Yelp doesn't make people actually use their names is beyond me. It was a lovely, human place with warmth and delicious food. We will return!

Overpriced - charged me $10 for veggie substitute without letting me know - they gave me water and I didn't know it was a $10 bottle - I just wanted regular water - food was so disappointing and not cheap - I seriously don't get this place

Just making sure ppl are aware of the pricing scam! Please read other reviews , not a singular experience!

Outstanding food, nice wine and great atmosphere! My husband and I celebrated our anniversary on a slow Wednesday night. We did not mention to anyone about the special date but the evening was made certainly special. Our tasting menu was exquisite- every bite was flavourful and fresh. Wine was wonderful! Stefan, the owner, was very attentive and delightful. He knows his wines and food. We look forward to our next meal at this very great restaurant. Delicious!

If you're after a traditional sit down with a menu presented on paper in front of you and an extensive drink list presented then maybe this place isn't for you. The Owner Stephan has had extensive experience in the industry and at one point owned a number of restaurants. He knows his stuff and it's important that you trust his intuition. Wine or beer, no fancy cocktails here but trust Stefan's nose... in fact ask for whatever he is drinking, you won't be disappointed! The food is pretty phenomenal and you can either go a la carte or do the tasting menu ($70). Tell him what food you're thinking about and he'll work his magic. The chef certainly knows his stuff (I dare you to ask for fish and chips!) and the sticky toffee pudding was another level! Go with an open mind and ready for a culinary adventure otherwise this ain't for you! We'll be back for sure!

What a special place. I've gone several times to the marketplace and their recommendations, cheese and meat are always phenomenal. Such friendly people too. We usually get the Livarot, Tomme St. George and Deaux-Sevres cheeses, give them a try!

I'm a tough critic when it comes to French food due to traveling to France often. But their steak tartare and rillette and some of the best I've ever had. The wine selection is excellent with many interesting wines priced well. The owner is fantastic. This will be part of my weekly dining out routine from now on.

My dad, stepmom, our friend Sonja and I often enjoyed dining at Le Comptoir together following a SF Symphony concert. Although those concert-going days with my beloved elders are now past, I've since returned to Le Comptoir a number of times with friends to delight in this amazing eatery's wonderful French bistrot cuisine and atmosphere. Our most recent dining there took place on Friday, June 9 in celebration of the school semester's ending. The grilled salmon featured on that evening was perfectly prepared, crisply seared on the surface, medium rare inside, deliciously spiced with rare Espelette red pepper from the Pyrénées and served with an onion-leek reduction. Here I will also extol the joy of the accompanying basket of fresh bread and butter. It was a Friday evening; though an electric blues band was performing live on Fourth Street just beyond Le Comptoir's street-facing glass exterior, the music's volume level allowed enough headroom for quiet conversation. The chocolate Crème Brûlée we ordered for dessert was equally first-rate, with its paper-thin top layer of sucre caramelisé and creamy chocolate custard below, though the evening's other dessert offerings, warm Apple Tarte Tatin and Mousse au Chocolat, had made it hard to choose. Our host Stephan was gracious and lovely. Equally awesome is Le Comptoir's market section, replete with French products. Just before leaving to catch a cinema screening, I invested in a new tin of Flavigny anise-seed and violet-flavored pastilles, favorite mints discovered during my long-ago year in Paris. Thanks to San Rafael's Le Comptoir, Paris truly is, as Ernest Hemingway titled it, A Moveable Feast!

The website says the "epicerie" and bistro takeout are open continuously from noon through 6 or 8 respectively. It was locked at 5:15 but I knocked and someone came to the door to tell me brusquely (hey they're French) it opens at 5:30. Finally they let us in and I made the mistake of ordering takeout without a written menu. A roast chicken, 2 orders of risotto and 4 "little gem" salads (just lettuce and dressing) = $140. Would not return even if it were great, which is wasn't, but shame on me for not asking the price.

If you give Stephen a weeks notice, he will have pork bellies for you and they are delicious

Went to shop for some French ingredients. The owner was so incredibly grumpy and rude. I will never go into that place ever again. I've lived in San Rafael 17 years and have no clue how they stay in business. The duck is grossly sweet and not cooked properly (I've had it twice. Forgot about the first time I had it). Awful. And I'm a caterer. I know my food. But I also know how a customer should feel when giving their money to a local shoppe. Forget it!

Excellent customer service! We stopped by Le Comptoir in San Rafael the other day on a quest for some French wine. We've been to the store a few times over the years but this was the first time back since the pandemic. We entered through the restaurant where we found the staff having their lunch at one of the tables. The manager hopped up right away to greet us and asked what we needed. We told him we were looking for some well-priced everyday drinking wine. He left his meal behind without hesitation and took us to the wine store section adjacent to the restaurant. We told him he didn't have to stop having lunch but he insisted. He pointed out a variety of French wine options and suggested a few that he really liked. We ended up buying several different wines based on his recommendations. It was a fun and safe experience. I totally recommend taking a browse through their store if you're in the area. There's a great variety of fantastic, imported wines that you can only find here. Lots of other imported products too. Lovely store and experience.

Oh, where do I even begin with Le Comptoir - aka the subpar (en)counter? If it were possible to give zero stars, I would, but unfortunately, that option doesn't exist. Let me preface this scathing review by saying that I am a staunch believer in supporting local businesses, even the ones that occasionally stumble, but dear reader, this restaurant didn't just stumble; it face-planted and then rolled down a hill of despair. My other half and I ventured out on a Friday night, eager to embrace the culinary delights of our neighborhood. After a brief stroll in downtown San Rafael, we decided to give Le Comptoir a try. The location seemed promising, nestled at the corner of 4th and C St., and a bustling wine shop attached to it. Little did we know, the only thing attached to this place was disappointment. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted with the warmth and hospitality of an iceberg. We stood around for a good five minutes, which, in restaurant time, feels like an eternity, especially when the place was nearly empty. Eventually, the owner, who should win an award for the worst first impression, emerged from the wine shop. He grunted, "Table or high-top," and when we chose a high-top, he pointed vaguely and muttered, "Sit anywhere." So much for a gracious welcome. We sat there, twiddling our thumbs for an additional 10 minutes before I had to semaphore our desire for attention. By the time the owner graced us with his presence, it was painfully clear that he had seen better days. Disheveled, toothless, and emitting the aroma of a frat party, he slurred his words like a drunken sailor. In an attempt to make pleasant conversation, we introduced ourselves and expressed our desire to support a local establishment. He responded with a total disregard for our existence and bluntly offered us the choice of a $70 per person set menu or ordering à la carte. When we asked for a menu, we were ignored and curtly told, "You can go with the option for $70 per person or à la carte." How kind. Reluctantly, we chose the $70 per person option, and our inebriated captain sauntered away, muttering "we." It took another trek to the bar for us to secure water and a wine list. His offer of "red or white" was met with a weary "red," to which he retorted, "Merlot or Bordeaux." My husband, defeated and drained of all enthusiasm, sighed and said, "Bordeaux." I secretly yearned for a Cote du Rhone, so I mustered the courage to ask for it, along with a Pepsi or coke, at which point I was met with condescending laughter and the insipid remark, "Why, you don't like wine?" I had to explain, "No, I don't drink alcohol," to which he giggled again and declared, "Wine or water, that's what we have." I reluctantly opted for water. When the food eventually arrived (a torturous 15 minutes later), it was lukewarm and as visually appealing as a pile of wet cardboard. The dishes were a mishmash of meats, raw fish, and fatty, undercooked fare. There were no vegetables to speak of, and grains were as scarce as a mirage in the desert. By the time we trudged through the main courses, we contemplated skipping dessert, but we thought, "How bad can dessert be?" Well, dear reader, it was worse. The Creme Brulee was undercooked and runny, while the apple tart had the texture of a fossilized relic. Our bill, a whopping $212.00, left us questioning our life choices. We could have been ecstatically munching on Big Macs at McDonald's or savoring the delights of any of the genuinely remarkable local restaurants in the area. To summarize, Le Comptoir delivered subpar service, served up poor-quality, unappetizing food, and presented an ambiance that could only be described as tragic. There was no sign outside to indicate the restaurant's name, and the walls inside were as barren as the promises of an unreliable friend. It's painfully evident that this place is teetering on the brink of culinary extinction, and the owner's drowning his sorrows in alcohol while masquerading as the French Laundry. Consider these glaring red flags before you even think of darkening their doorstep: * NO SIGNAGE: If you can't find the place, it's doing you a favor. * 5-MINUTE WAIT: In an empty restaurant? It's like they were auditioning for a comedy show. * 10-MINUTE WAIT: For the privilege of being ignored? Hard pass. * NO MENU: Who needs choices, right? * RUDE SERVICE: If you enjoy being treated like a bothersome fly, by all means, go ahead. * BARE WALLS: Because apparently, they're too busy not serving good food to decorate. In conclusion, save your taste buds, your time, and your money. There are far better options in town, and you won't have to endure the sorry spectacle of Le Comptoir. Bon appétit - elsewhere!

We are in the process of moving to San Rafael so my husband and I along with another couple decided to check out the downtown dining scene. While our hubbies were parking the cars, my friend and I popped in here to check it out after the place where we had originally planned to dine was packed. We asked the gentleman who greeted us (turned out to be the owner) if we could see a menu. He smiled and pointed to his head saying that the menu changes daily as they only serve the freshest food. I was loving the French/Euro vibe right out of the gate. He rattled off a list of starters and entrees that sounded appealing so we decided to give it a go. They were able to accommodate the 4 of us right away at a spacious table at the front window. We were greeted right away by the owner who asked if we wanted something to drink. I asked for a wine list by the glass and he again smiled and asked my friend and I kind of wine we like. We told him and he returned with two glasses that hit the mark with both of us. Our hubbies opted for a beer which turns out is a local brewery who distributes weekly. They both enjoyed their beers as much as we enjoyed the wine. Now onto the food! A few of the dishes the owner originally shared were sold out by the time we went to order. No biggie as there were a number of delicious sounding other options and I love the fact that they serve very fresh food and when it's gone it's gone. We ordered two salads - beet and mixed greens. They were both delicious. My husband and I shared the flatiron steak and frites which was delicious. It comes pretty rare which my husband loved. I prefer mine a tad more cooked (med rare) but have to say the flavors were delicious and the steak was fork tender. Our friends had the burger which they declared the best they've had in a while and would make a trek back just to get another burger alone. We finished with a corn creme brûlée which we also enjoyed. Admittedly while we loved the food and overall experience we were a little nervous to get the bill since we had no idea what the prices were for anything! The bill came to roughly $200 /$50 a head for 2 salads, 2 entrees, 1 desert, 4 glasses of wine and 2 beers. We all thought it was a very fair and reasonable price for the quality of the food and drink. My husband I recently spent $75 for one pizza and 2 drinks so we felt this was a bargain in comparison. All in all it was a very pleasant experience. We will be back soon!

I brought in my own wine and the owner immediately told me if it is for some reason corked, went bad they would still charge me. I said fine even though I didn't like his attitude, rudeness, and delivery. When I sat down the waiter woman started giving me a dirty look, the side eye for some odd reason. I think her name is Gina, she happens to have a special needs daughter who is very nice, not the mother, a bitter unhappy individual. Great food, horrible stereotypical, cultural attitude, don't need it. This place isn't worth your time. Thank you have a great day.

food was poorly prepared, small portions, poor quality. Way overpriced. Menu was not presented. it's surprising this restaurant is in business.

Awful awful awful! Can't believe they are still in business. I've walked by regularly over the last year and a half and always wondered why they are either closed or mostly empty. No more. We arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night to 3 tables taken. The owner was seated at the entrance with a couple and couldn't care less if we were there or not. He proceeded to insult my partner as if joking and told us to sit wherever. We sat and sat and sat and 5 minutes later, flagged the lone server ask asked for water. We then waited another 5 minutes to no menus or service before we had to flag him again and asked for a menu. He proceeded to tell us the owner would come over and discuss the dinner with us. Weird. The server had to go speak to the owner to come talk to us, and he eventually did, only to tell us he would decide what wine he thought we would like and walked back to his friends. The server poured us two glasses of red with no explanation and then brought us the bottle to show us what he had poured, after we asked. A Sonoma red. LOL. Another 5 minutes go by, no menu, no explanation. We were so uncomfortable by this point, we upped and left. Perhaps the owner thinks himself genius and his food world class but as far as I was concerned, I wasn't going to wait two hours to find out.

It's so hard to review because I think the owner gets in his own way of good reviews . He lacks hospitality care in how he greets and serves guests both in the shop and the restaurant. Menu items here really are in shorter supply than before pandemic closures & items seems to be contingent on what the owner feels like serving that day. It use to be our go to place. I, like others who reviewed experienced a long wait after being seated to be noticed or given water & even when only 3 tables were filled- rest empty the owner didn't care that we were there. Twice they were out of items without any apologies the owner didn't even care or explain other items they were out of. They do not have the complete menu - like before. Poor service from the owner himself. The shop next door --/same thing I came in to buy French cheeses and the owner was behind the counter tasting wine with two of his friends never asking if I needed help, not even caring after 5 minutes of me standing by the cheese refrigerator waiting for help that I just left! I love French food wine and the culinary delights they sell and would hate to see them close but I'll only go back when someone else takes over or manages and shows care for their patrons dining and shopping experience.

Stefan and his team are truly outstanding. Le Comptoir in Marin stands out among restaurants, offering exquisite food and a delightful ambiance. A definite treat. 5 stars.

This is such a unique dining experience! Don't expect a quick meal, it is all about having a glass of wine (or two) and enjoying a leisurely meal, with several delicious courses. The menu changes weekly and is delivered by word from your server, often the charismatic owner. He is enthusiastic to share his creations so be ready for a treat. Also, grab some unique cheeses from the accompanying shop to try for another time. Cheers!

We just discovered Le Comptoir in San Rafael; where we lived for 30 years before moving to Sonoma 8 years ago. The food is fantastic and the French wine selection is equally inspired. You really see the pride of ownership from owners Stephen and Susannah who pour themselves into this happy eatery and French food store. We were intrigued to try Stephen's gazpacho and he made us a special batch (with some advanced notice)... just superb and and more complex than a traditional Spanish style. They source the very best local ingredients and the prices are very reasonable. Ask for wine pairings with your dinner. Enjoy!

There is no other chance as to confirm my five star review that's already out there. They do anything just right. From the friendly welcome, to the good atmosphere you just feel good and always looking forward to a nice dinner. We started with the charcuterie board mixed with outstanding cheese. I mean I have to stop and just say it once: the quality of the item that land on your plate are always top. I'll take it from there and let you k ow that my hubby had the tiger prawn special ravioli with ! Sea urchin sauce (yes, not with sea urchins, but with a puréed urchin cream sauce!). Then he had the mussels, and he almost asked for a straw cause the broth was so delicious. My second course was the beef tartar, and as the main I had two (!) servings of the basil pesto ravioli. Those little tiny sized ravioli are filled with cheese and a big amount of taste. Then I had the profiteroles. While the vanilla ice was good (housemade) the chocolate sauce was delicious, for me the dough was just to dry. But that is what a profiterole should be. It's just not my favorite :). To finish the Valentin dinner I had a cup of perfect cappuccino and my loved one had a port. All in all perfect! Thanks mama! Lol.

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

Wine - 5 Stars Really good and varied selections of various types of wine. Pleasantly surprised each time by how tasty everything is and looking to try more. Food - 3 Stars There is a ton of mussels and merguez sausages in the Les Moules but the broth was a bit less thick and rich (but more clear) than is my personal preference. Of the Grilled Hanger Steak, the frites are really very tasty but the steak incredibly tough. And didn't feel the roasted bone marrow was worth adding. It looked delicious, but it came cold and I felt it was inedible. My friend enjoyed Le Burger but felt it more a typical burger than something unique.

Fantastic experience, I reserved a table for two on Valentine's Day. The dinning area at the time we walked in was full of costumers with few seats to grab. Our waiter was attentive and polite. Portions are really really small. We order liver mousse as hor d'oeuvre. For Main course , we decide to order steak and frites, which were absolutely tender and juicy, but they were not grass feed meat for sure. It was a nice experience.

Worst dining experience ever... I want to preface this by saying I never ever leave a review.... We choose this spot for our date night to support a local restaurant that is struggling due to the pandemic. With amazing reviews and what seemed like a promising menu, we were excited! Obviously things turned sour when we were actually seated to eat. They have the owner serving tables and one other person busing. We waited 20 minutes at the table with no menu before we were served... when we asked for a menu he joked "I am the menu" and rattled off the 10 or so options they had (like I would remember). He explained a "tasting menu" for 65 a person that is 3 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts...the portions were tiny and made with cheap quality food. Other than the apps (avocado toast w/ smoked salmon and this tomato soup/ paste that was pretty good) the food was not good.. at all. The portions were super small and to top it off.. we were charged $65 EACH... we were at the restaurant for 2.5 hours - not by choice. I ordered wine that I never received.. the waiter/ owner would intentionally not look over at us.. and he was weird and creepy and rude. We are the easiest people to serve with usually no complaints. My boyfriend works in the service industry so we are always patient, understanding, and respectful. And we always tip well.. except this time. For the first time ever we didn't even leave a tip. Save your time and money and support a different local spot. This one is truly not it. $170 tab and we barely ate anything.

I will confess that we are regulars at this shop for the great wines and goodies from France. Recently we popped in as we were planning a special dinner with duck confit. We asked Stephan for some wine pairing recommendations. He suggested two amazing medium priced wines that still have our guests gushing about them. There isn't anything in that shop that Stephan hasn't experienced himself. Thank you!

Came here to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday last week! I'm always down for a cozy French bistro with good food at a below-average price, and I feel like Le Comptoir fit the bill for an upscale evening that didn't break the bank. Handsome Hubby and I arrived considerably later than the rest of the party, but as soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by our server (thick French accent, which I take as a reputable sign). Whenever I see duck on a menu, I must order it. Consider it a compulsion. Le Comptoir offers a delicious Rotisserie Duck Leg with lots of meat and a savory-yet-sweet port and red wine reduction that brings out the saltiness of the duck. Complementing the duck leg are a mound of black rice and ripe broccolini, which makes for a colorful and truly balanced plate (and a hearty meal) for under $30. I was able to sneak some fries and aioli from my husband, and I regret nothing; the fries have just the right amount of crispiness, and yet they feel light. I think I'll come back on a date night to enjoy the ambiance, the wine list (which looks extensive), and meander around the accompanying gift shop. For now, I'm relishing in the memory of the good food and warm service. What To Eat: Rotisserie Duck Leg, Frites with Aioli, Creme Brûlée

What a wonderfu Francais gemme (French Gem) right here in San Rafael. I was out running errands when I decided to stop by. Reasonable priced French food and wine. I wish I remember my College French language lessons.

I'm out. We have been 4 times in the past few weeks. The food is beyond excellent. Great wine selection. Nice clean establishment. The staff and owner are top knotch. The owner is clearly a very talented and charming restauranteur but... They refuse to provide any kind of menu. You have absolutely no idea what anything coats. We ordered very similar dinners two weeks in a row. One week was $120 then the next time was $200+. I don't get it. I don't understand why this is a thing. It just causes anxiety and distrust. I'm not willing to play bill lottery anymore. If he had a menu and consistant prices. I would be there at least once a week. ***The two stars are ONLY for the menu/pricing issue.*** Otherwise I think it's in the top 5 in Marin. I wish them well.

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.

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!!!

For some reason this place feels like it could be on some forgettable avenue in a mid-size French town, let's say Lyon since we're talking about food here. Not a touristy view spot or something trying for a michelin star, just a nice bistro where locals drop in for croque monsieur at 3 pm. Maybe in a word, understated. No photos of vineyards or old cobblestone streets here, or at least none I noticed. Nor is there a sign outside telling you the name of the place, which is also something not uncommon in France where you might not even see the building's street number. So we called for a reservation at 7 pm only 2 hours ahead, and were seated at the coziest table in the place in back on the right. There was a roomful but we had no problem getting seated, served and otherwise attended to. Our dinner was light, mussels, brocollini, sweetbreads and white bean ragout and there was nothing left at the end, not even room for profiteroles au chocolate which look incredible. Maybe even better than the high quality of it all was that none of it was overly salt, seemingly an increasing problem in restaurants today, or is it just me? We didn't feel like having wine, but the restaurant has an adjoining food and wine shop which we browsed on the way out. The Le Comptoir wine list is quite good, mainly French and representing all the major regions, reasonable prices. But the wine shop next door has an even better selection which is understandable since a restaurant is limited to servicing only as many wines as its space allows. So it occurred to me to ask if one could buy wine in the store to have with your meal. The hostess said this could be done, provided of course that there is an appropriate upcharge on the retail price which would be a reasonable thing to do. So on my next visit here, that's what I'm going to do. All in all, this is a very fine place for dinner. Just think of San Rafael as like being in Lyon.

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!

Yay! They're finally open again!!! Le Comptoir is back with a BANG! We had the tasting menu - everything was delicious, creative, and obviously made with love Salmon rilletes Golden beet salad Hamachi with ratatouille Octopus with chorizo and potatoes Hangar steak Pork chop with great great great grandma's creamy mustard sauce Lemon tart Chocolate mousse... hand made! Awesome vibe and best customer service

This is a delightful, relaxing, fun place with fantastic food and wine served by friendly and professional staff. We were greeted by Stephan, who is charming while efficiently managing a crowd at the door, and shown to our table (reservations are required for the dining tables, while the high tops and bar are saved for walk-ins). Our servers were quick with water, wine, and the best bread. We tried the smoked salmon (I am still dreaming about it, it is that good), the greens with goat cheese (amazing mustard vinaigrette), and the wild boar stew (melts in your mouth). Everything was fantastic. We chatted with the guests at the next table and they were equally delighted with the mussels, leg of lamb, and roast chicken. Our one observation is that almost everything comes with a lot of potatoes. Next time we'll ask for a substitution, as there were so many potatoes. Super market filled with amazing wines, sausages, sweets, spices, and other delectables next door that is well worth a visit while dining or anytime.

It's not easy to happily serve a group of 7 women who love to ask for exactly what they want. It gets a bit tedious so one has to roll with it...and so they did, with a fun attitude! Sarah was our server, BJ was our sommelier. BJ listened to the one who wanted a "chewy, earthy red that wasn't fruit forward" and the one who loves a "sweeter" red and found a nice wine that satisfied all who were drinking at our price point. Sarah knew the dishes well and encouraged great choices. I had reviews from friends and clients who both loved and only kind of liked this restaurant. I'd definitely go back on my own or in a group. Fun, lively, light bistro type atmosphere. Not too noisy at the larger table we had off to the side nor could we bother others. And on a cold night, we were warm and comfy. Other pros: I loved the Quenelle (a bit rich with a beautiful brie-like cheese and shrimp bisque over a steamed whitefish cake), Mussels (not too heavy), Hangar Steak and Bone Marrow. Others had the Salmon and Porchetta which I heard were delicious. The Burger meat is ground in-house. The pomme frites were plentiful and good. Some cons: We didn't have room for dessert! A definite con. The food takes awhile. For me the Beef Tartar had too much of a sweet pickle relish taste to it but my friend enjoyed it. The cauliflower was ok but it's just a Roasted Cauliflower so it lived up to its name. The Little Gem Salad was little but was dressed nicely with a light vinaigrette. See you soon! As soon as I recover from all the lovely creaminess...

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.

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!

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.

- The owner (weird, creepy and rude, just as another reviewer says) sat us at our table and then repeatedly refused to bring us a menu. Instead, he kept insisting on our trying the "tasting menu" at $70 per person. No matter how many times we asked, he would not tell us what was on this mysterious menu. He thought he was being charming. I found him to be pushy and it felt like they were trying to make their money on a slow night - The dishes served as part of this tasing menu were 95% meat - pork, raw tuna, salmon, octopus, lamb and bacon all in one sitting? No vegetables, barely any grains. Were they just trying to empty the fridge? Maybe other people are ok with this, but I don't prefer every dish to be meat . Cheap quality ingredients and not particularly well-prepared. - Most of the dishes were tiny - not enough to split between the three of us dining that night. I had to stop eating at a certain point because i couldn't stomach any more meat. So I left there hungry - after each of us had dropped over $100 on this "meal" - I will not be patronizing this place again!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.