Review on Comptoir Café and Wine
Having successfully established Blandford Comptoir in Marylebone, and Cabotte which he opened with fellow master sommelier Gearoid Devaney, Xavier Rousset launched his third venue, Comptoir Café and Wine in Mayfair. Tucked away on the corner of Gilbert Street and Weighhouse Street, it's just a short walk from Bond Street tube. Laid out over two floors with a basement wine shop with over 2000 wines and an elegant tasting room, the cosy interiors have been created by acclaimed London-based B3 Designers.
Beautiful arched windows bath the ground floor dining room with lots of natural light, while the pewter counter top with an antiqued timber front takes centre stage. Timber tables with deep leather banquettes and simple dining chairs are set on rustic oak parquet flooring inlaid with pretty tiles. Exposed brick walls have been painted white and a Wedgwood blue and the area is illuminated by suspended large white globe lighting.
It's a relaxed, easy-going place that starts the ball rolling with breakfast and works it's way through lunches, to an intimate wine bar in the evening serving tasty small plates. Executive chef Ben Mellor has devised a crowd-pleasing menu along the lines of tuna tartare, mango, red chilli and croutons or for meat-lovers steak tartare, egg yolk, capers, cornichons and toast. Other options would be to choose a selection of cheeses from the La Fromagerie, finishing on a sweet note with a blueberry and lemon posset and almond crumble.
There's an extensive wine list with lots of options available by the glass, and guests can also buy a bottle from their wine shop, which can be drunk in the café for a £10 corkage fee.
Cuisine
Mediterranean / Wine Bar
Chef
Ben Mellor
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 8.00am (10.00am Sat) through
Lunch: until
Dinner: 10.00pm Mon-Wed (11.00pm Thu-Sat)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express