Le Comptoir par Yves Camdeborde - Paris

Without a reservation, we went for an early-ish dinner. Husband had steak tartare and I had poitrine de cochon, which was described as being crunchy and soft. Indeed, it was both, as well as being tasty. It was served on a bed of peas. Delicious.

Summer food is a delight at this Odeon area bistro across from Hibou. The melon with prosciutto was huge and perfect and the Caesar salad came with nice planks of roasted chicken. The house white was tasty. And the bread is superb and arrived warm. We were not lucky enough to snag a sidewalk table, but indoors was fine. Service is dazzlingly quick and helpful.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the World but yes it has lost a step or 2. Most often I dine casually next door now as the the food here is now just ordinary. Which is not to say it is bad it is just not the revelatory gastro bistro love fest Yves developed at La Regalade and continued here. The Hotel is still excellent and we still stay at least once a year.

Le Comptoir has long been one of the great tables in Paris, with a line out front. There wasn 't a line last night, which was surprising, but as the wildly mediocre dinner was served, we understood why. We asked our waitress what had changed. Turns out the chef sold it last summer, and is focusing on his EXCELLENT two tapas bars next door, where we had had a drink first, and were wishing we had stayed. My frisee salad was straight out of a bag, and over vinegary, and the poached egg was hard-boiled. My main, which I imagined to be a plate of beautiful Iberian ham, like you get in Spain, was a mountain of shredded--I mean shredded--low-grade cured ham, with two small spears of grocery-store lettuce. My husband 's scallops were overcooked (I 'm gonna guess microwaved. We gave up after that. The neighbors ' food also looked very unappetizing, and they were picking at it. No one around us finished their plate. And the staff was sweet, but not well trained and not terribly professional--at least, not like French waiters normally are, especially sort that had long worked there. More like college bartenders, if you see what I mean. Scratching Le Comptoir off our list, with a heavy heart. Only going to L 'Avant Comptoir, next door.

Ok this is a small sophisticated restaurant with a well heeled international clientele. Beautifully dressed, well mannered and enjoying the food, as you should, yet nothing formal. The Chef is exotic and intense and the food is delightful. They are busy and bustling and a bit business like but that is ok this is a culinary experience.Go have fun but make a reservation well in advance you can't walk in.