Le Comptoir

Nate Wooding

Very intimate, family establishment. The chef clearly has a passion for what he does. Sous chef wasn't there when I went but the 3 person team still managed to plate what was effectively 3 different 6 course menus (vegetarian, meat supplements, and there were some vegans as well). I didn't get any of the meats, and I don't regret it. Meat dishes looked fine but this place is about the veggies. I did get the cheese though, which was delicious. Wife got the wine pairing, which she liked. It ended up being $460 for the two of us. For that price it's not a great value but it was a fun experience and the food was delicious. Almost all of the courses had an interesting, dynamic flavor profile, cool textures, and creative ingredients. Plating was simple but well done. I don't think I'll be back any time soon but I'm glad I went.

Jazz Harper

I went into Petite Comptoir on a Saturday morning on a whim, as I've lived right around the corner and had RARELY seen anyone inside. When I walked by to go to work one morning, there were people eating! I went in and got something small, a slice of Brown Butter cake. It was HEAVENLY. I've never had true butter cake, only Jeni's Gooey Butter Cake, and these two were vastly different and the same. This Butter cake was perfectly moist, with a toothsome crispier crust on the bottom from browning on the cake pan. The top was this soft, slightly subtle vanilla tasting buttery goodness and I ate it very fast. I will be coming back to try the eggs and espresso. EDIT: went in to try an egg dish and was blown away! Soft French style scrambled egg texture, salty prosciutto, semi sweet, nutty emmentaler cheese on fried sourdough with fresh dill and chives garnished on top. A cappuccino finished off my breakfast and the whole thing was lovely! This place has definitely become my favorite place to eat on Saturday mornings when I'm home alone. Chef Gary Menes is so nice, and I love his interactions with guests.

Jennifer Huang

Wow. The best 1 Michelin star I’ve been to, even better than some 2 stars. The story telling and seeing the chef and apprentices cook and plate a few feet away from me was amazing. Service was excellent. My favorites were the corn soup, the lobster (supplement), truffle pasta (supplement), the beef (supplement), and the cheese. Their supplements were actually better than their vegetable mains. If you’re going with +1, I recommend that you choose different dishes between the two of you so to taste everything. Wine pairing was also fantastic. I shared a pairing with my partner. Most guests were wearing smart casual such as button down and jeans for guys or blouses for the ladies.

Ambrielle Army

We were absolutely blown away by Le Comptoir. We're trying to work our way through the newly-minted Michelin list in Los Angeles and were excited to try a place we hadn't heard of before. The ambiance is amazing, with a counter seating around 8 people right in front of the small kitchen where you can see the care put into each course. The menu is very focused around fresh produce, and several specials that depend on what is fresh and delicious that day (we really loved this aspect and how much the team cared about each ingredient). While some might be offput by the mostly vegetarian menu, you will not be disappointed by the masterful preparation and quality. We did find that the meat dishes were not quite as finessed as the vegetables (which is their specialty so that makes sense) but they were still very solid. We had such a great time talking with the team throughout the meal, and opted for the very generous and reasonably priced wine pairing which was full of very interesting picks we enjoyed a lot. One of the best meals we've had in a long time also happens to be one of the most affordable high quality tasting menus in LA, which makes this an absolute can't-miss in my mind. The price can drive up if you choose a lot of supplements, but after trying all of them with sharing, the main menu is where the star dishes are anyway - so you won't be missing out if you stick to the book in my opinion. Reservations can be tough to get, so plan in advance - you won't regret it!

Thomaz Elias

If you like fine dining and vegetables there is no better option in LA. The meal was amazing but the show was just as good. Getting to watch chef cook and plate every dish specially the fruit and vegetable plate was a really awesome experience

Jack Dolan

Le Comptoir was amazing. It’s a very small place, but that increases the intimacy of the whole evening. The experience of getting to meet Chef Gary and his apprentice, and having them walk you through the menu, course by course, made for a great dinner. If you are looking to celebrate, or want to try a tasting menu which highly showcases the veggies, then Le Comptoir is worth checking out.

Victoria Cartagena (Adore You)

Me and my fiance visiting and we stumbled upon Le Comptoir and I just can’t say enough great things about chef Craig and Allan! The food was so amazing, delicious and the experience… don’t even get me started!! Great company, great food, great ambiance overall.. you have to come here and try their breakfast menu .. I’m gonna recommend anyone and everyone here forever! Such a great place and impression!

Jennifer Evans

One of the best dining experiences I've had. Chef Gary and his team were so welcoming.

Cal Wong

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal tonight, would come again when we're in LA next if there's space.

Dave Parker

A vegan tasting menu with non-vegan substitutions (this is course #3, the fruit and vegetable tasting plate). The Apollonian vision of an excellent chef.

Wonderful food, the corn chowder starter and the steak sauce were delicious. The risotto with truffles was exquisite. You all sit at a counter, and can watch everything the chef is doing A unique and spectacular dining experience.

Amazing culinary performance by Chef Gary Menes and assistants. Completely unlike (and arguably superior to) most fine dining experiences in its ambiance and focus. By foregrounding vegetables alongside the optional meat dishes, it's as though Menes is making a case that the veggies can hold their own. We were convinced!

My recent visit to Le Comptoir was nothing short of magical. The restaurant's ambiance is a delightful blend of rustic charm and elegance, making you feel like you've stepped into a charming French countryside inn. The service was impeccable; the staff was attentive and gracious throughout the evening. The food, oh la la! Every dish was a masterpiece. The escargot, rich and buttery, was a true delight. The service was prompt, and our sommelier recommended the perfect wine to complement our meal. Le Comptoir is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking an authentic French experience.

Top 3 vegetarian experiences in my life. Very personal setting with just a counter and about 5 guests our night. Wine pairings were also the best we’ve had. Preparations brought out the best taste of the vegetables. There were non vegetarian options as well.

Phil Brown

Wonderful food, the corn chowder starter and the steak sauce were delicious. The risotto with truffles was exquisite. You all sit at a counter, and can watch everything the chef is doing A unique and spectacular dining experience.

Luke Yarbrough

Amazing culinary performance by Chef Gary Menes and assistants. Completely unlike (and arguably superior to) most fine dining experiences in its ambiance and focus. By foregrounding vegetables alongside the optional meat dishes, it's as though Menes is making a case that the veggies can hold their own. We were convinced!

Bron Zoy

My recent visit to Le Comptoir was nothing short of magical. The restaurant's ambiance is a delightful blend of rustic charm and elegance, making you feel like you've stepped into a charming French countryside inn. The service was impeccable; the staff was attentive and gracious throughout the evening. The food, oh la la! Every dish was a masterpiece. The escargot, rich and buttery, was a true delight. The service was prompt, and our sommelier recommended the perfect wine to complement our meal. Le Comptoir is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking an authentic French experience.

Jan Kwak

Lovely little restaurant with terrific atmosphere. The wines are paired beautifully with 7 courses of very high end dishes. Gary the chef focuses on preparing dishes based on what is in season at the time and does a terrific job, even cooks it right in front of you, a bit Japanese style. The staff are very hospitable and make it a very enjoyable evening.

Amazing experience. Chef is super friendly as well. For the high price point, I thought quality of the egg and meat should be better, especially since that’s only protein provided throughout the evening. Otherwise, amazing experience and food. Mostly vegetables.

A special experience for a not very special menu. Seven vegetables and fruits mixed dishes are well prepared and not letting down although the ingredients were simple. The main course was disappointing small especially compared with the fruit and veggies plate second course. It was less than most side disk in normal menu. The donut desert was not impressive. The scallop and beef supplement added a balance flavor to the standard menu and replaced the weak main course.

K C

A special experience for a not very special menu. Seven vegetables and fruits mixed dishes are well prepared and not letting down although the ingredients were simple. The main course was disappointing small especially compared with the fruit and veggies plate second course. It was less than most side disk in normal menu. The donut desert was not impressive. The scallop and beef supplement added a balance flavor to the standard menu and replaced the weak main course.

Such a great experience! Chef Gary and his team provided one of the most memorable dining experiences. The intimate 10 person setting, watching the team at work and conversation before and after dinner was incredible. The tasting menu is vegetarian with a few supplemental options, so you feel good about the food you are eating.

Only recommend their basic vegetarian dishes. The chefs' confidence and pitch did not meet my expectations, and the add-ons were rather quite basic. My partner and I tried one full course without add-ons and one with all the add-ons, but we both much preferred the vegetarian options. Few comments.. They will not take the initiative to explain the menu unless you paid for the extra. For the course four and five they basically used the same sauce. Regarding wine, unless you do a pairing, they will choose a bottle for you to try, but without much description and will simply ask you to say yes or no to it, which felt a bit odd. I left with mixed feelings. I’ve dined at many michelin but never felt like I wanted to leave a review before. Also will have to wait like 15-20mins to be seated from your reservation time without much explanation again.. And was also confused why they were playing kpop half the time. Maybe cuz its in ktown? I think you will enjoy it if you can vibe with them!

Jayne

Only recommend their basic vegetarian dishes. The chefs' confidence and pitch did not meet my expectations, and the add-ons were rather quite basic. My partner and I tried one full course without add-ons and one with all the add-ons, but we both much preferred the vegetarian options. Few comments.. They will not take the initiative to explain the menu unless you paid for the extra. For the course four and five they basically used the same sauce. Regarding wine, unless you do a pairing, they will choose a bottle for you to try, but without much description and will simply ask you to say yes or no to it, which felt a bit odd. I left with mixed feelings. I’ve dined at many michelin but never felt like I wanted to leave a review before. Also will have to wait like 15-20mins to be seated from your reservation time without much explanation again.. And was also confused why they were playing kpop half the time. Maybe cuz its in ktown? I think you will enjoy it if you can vibe with them!

Michael Cook

Such a great experience! Chef Gary and his team provided one of the most memorable dining experiences. The intimate 10 person setting, watching the team at work and conversation before and after dinner was incredible. The tasting menu is vegetarian with a few supplemental options, so you feel good about the food you are eating.

Small and quaint place inside Hotel Normandie. The food was fine, expected more for how much it cost. It became a bit repetitive at some point and I was still hungry afterwards. Without any add-ons, it seemed to be a fully vegetarian menu.

Nicole A

Small and quaint place inside Hotel Normandie. The food was fine, expected more for how much it cost. It became a bit repetitive at some point and I was still hungry afterwards. Without any add-ons, it seemed to be a fully vegetarian menu.

Le Comptoir, a very charming Michelin restaurant for only ten diners per night. Chef Menes briefly introduced his staff and the menu. There are few menu items that could be substituted for a completely different plate (it is not adding the protein to the plate, it is a completely different plate). I personally like the corn veloute, vegetable and fruit (great job preparing this one) and heirloom farm egg. Good but I expected more innovation: the alternative plate butter poached lobster. Disappointed in the rest of the menu and in the wine pairing. Wine pairing does not matter if you chose an alternative plate that they will serve you exactly the same wine as expected in that round. Something that I notice in the bill is that the charge you the tip and then the tax you that tip too. More info about arriving to the restaurant. No parking on premise, go with extra time, it is not easy to park in Korean Town. The entrance to the restaurant in through the hotel lobby.

Jose Tizon

Le Comptoir, a very charming Michelin restaurant for only ten diners per night. Chef Menes briefly introduced his staff and the menu. There are few menu items that could be substituted for a completely different plate (it is not adding the protein to the plate, it is a completely different plate). I personally like the corn veloute, vegetable and fruit (great job preparing this one) and heirloom farm egg. Good but I expected more innovation: the alternative plate butter poached lobster. Disappointed in the rest of the menu and in the wine pairing. Wine pairing does not matter if you chose an alternative plate that they will serve you exactly the same wine as expected in that round. Something that I notice in the bill is that the charge you the tip and then the tax you that tip too. More info about arriving to the restaurant. No parking on premise, go with extra time, it is not easy to park in Korean Town. The entrance to the restaurant in through the hotel lobby.

Paolo Fezzi

Dinner started great with chef Menes introducing himself, the "apprentices" and the courses. Started with a superior veloute matching the chef status (and so later the lobster, the only two dishes worth the chef and the star). Fruit and vegetables plate was good but the rest of the dinner was not worthwhile. The Michelin star egg was disappointing (yolk could have been more flavorful), meat definitely not worth it (I hope it was just the piece I ate!) and so the truffle and the pasta itself. I would strongly suggest to avoid the common cheeses. I should have asked why the 27 year old sourdough had to be served charred both times. Overall, Interesting fresh flavors but not much complexity and definitely not above the rest for the money ($350+ per person all included but without the wine pairing). Note that the wine bottles for the pairings came already opened and previously utilized. The "apprentices" were great, very courteous and knowledgeable but chef Menes disappeared and barely stayed thru dinner. Maybe it was just an odd night for him. Otherwise, I am not sure why create such a setting if interactions with the guest is not much part of the intimate experience I assume he wants to create...