Le Comptoir du Vin

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.

Le Comptoir du Vin is located in this cozy Maryland Avenue space with charm and chalkboard menus out the wazoo, but it’s what co-owners Will Mester and Rosemary Liss have created out of seemingly simple concepts that’s made it last. The bowl of French lentils (with curry and labneh) is a revelation. The house sourdough bread (credited to sous Kelsey Martin) and delicate chicken liver pate with red wine shallots is addictive.

Hidden away in a sliver of a rowhouse on a ramshackle Station North street, walking into Le Comptoir is like stumbling upon a sudden portal to Aix-en-Provence. Rosemary Liss and Will Mester have created a French-ish bistro and wine bar that feels at once upscale and familial, as if your Gallic grandparents had been secretly trained in the classics. Bottles of wine line the walls, the menu is chalked on a blackboard, and the dishes—ever-changing rustic takes on countryside food that are both unconventional and unexpected—come on mismatched china.

A few other places that received at least two or more mentions in my responses: Alma Cocina Latina, Attman’s Delicatessen, Big Bad Wolf’s House of Barbeque, Blacksauce Kitchen, BRD, Cafe 1908, Chef Bobby D, Chiyo Sushi, Taquería El Sabor del Parque, Frazier’s on the Avenue (“I do eat at Frazier’s 10x a month,” wrote one commenter), Gunther and Co., Himalayan House, iBar, JBGB’s, Joe Squared, Le Comptoir du Vin and The Local Fry (which someone says offers “a dish for everyone. Simple. Quick. Delicious”).

Le Comptoir Du Vin is a French-inspired bistro in Baltimore's Station North, offering a charming, intimate space for wine lovers and food enthusiasts. The restaurant serves a rotating menu that changes weekly, focusing on French cuisine with a touch of Japanese influence. Pair your meal with selections from their thoughtfully curated wine list, which features French wines, or explore their variety of sake, beer, and cocktails for a well-rounded dining experience.

This unassuming townhouse next to a tattoo parlor in Station North houses one of Baltimore’s hidden gems. It’s run by Will Mester and Rosemary Liss, who met years ago while working at the now shuttered Bottega. Aptly named “the wine counter,” Le Comptoir du Vin is a pint-sized natural wine bar and bistro open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday with coveted reservations available up to two weeks in advance via Resy.

Wine bottles are everywhere at Charles North’s Le Comptoir du Vin: gathered on bookcases, lined in windows, stowed under seating, and clustered on tables among candles and glassware. The dimly lit space resembles someone’s cellar, where treasures can be found if you know where to hunt. Our server seemed excited to be that person, rummaging through a mental catalog to best suit the food and the mood.

Station North gained two new restaurants: Orto, from a former partner of the Food Market, and Le Comptoir du Vin. New al fresco options include Ouzo Beach, the Fadensonnen beer garden, and the patio at Broadway Market. There have been recently some notable closures, too, including Bottega, Wit & Wisdom in the Four Seasons, Brewers Hill Mediterranean spot Gnocco, and vegetable-centric Encantada.

Tucked away in Station North, this French bistro is like that friend who studied abroad for a semester and came back with an accent. But unlike that friend, Le Comptoir du Vin's Gallic pretensions are actually charming. The rustic dishes here – think braised lentils with fatty goose liver – are served up in a space so intimate you'll be eavesdropping on your neighbor's life story.

A block from Foraged, four-year-old Le Comptoir du Vin has garnered acclaim for its simple French dishes that change daily and its otherworldly sourdough. Other noteworthy independent restaurants include the two-year-old eclectic comfort food spot, Sally O's, from Top Chef alum Jesse Sandlin, and CookHouse, which opened in a historic brownstone just before the pandemic hit.

This French-inspired bistro in Station North, in the Arts and Entertainment district, offers a cozy atmosphere and a menu featuring classic dishes with a modern twist. Le Comptoir du Vin is a Baltimore restaurant that’s celebrated for its thoughtful wine selection and commitment to locally sourced ingredients. It’s small, but each meal packs a flavorful punch.

1729 Maryland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201443-297-7384 Visit Website. Located across the interstate from the prestigious Maryland Institute College of Art in Barclay, Le Comptoir du Vin is a charming and intimate wine bar and French dinner bistro. The rustic chic decor features exposed brick walls, wood furniture, and old-timey, mismatched art lining the walls.

Le Comptoir du Vin is one of the charming French-inspired Baltimore restaurants, offering intimate atmosphere, and various best food in Baltimore. It also boasts a seasonal menu, which tipically includes around 15 items, from starters to desserts. Grilled octopus sandwiches and onglet steak are Le Comptoir du Vin’s signature dishes.

Ranked at No. 18 is Baltimore's new French eatery Le Comptoir du Vin. Equire called it the "sexiest third-date spot in America." This isn't its first accolade — the restaurant was also ranked among the top 10 best new eateries in the United States for 2019 by Bon Appétit, which put Le Comptoir du Vin on its "Hot 10" list.

Tuck into this super cozy wine bar and restaurant that has a rotating menu of share plates. The dining room turns into a patio in the warmer months, so you and your date can enjoy this spot no matter the weather. Pick up a bottle to go from the wine shop so that you can continue your successful first date at home.

Le Comptoir du Vin is a restaurant in Baltimore with at least 30% natural wine, a selection of organic and biodynamic wines vinified naturally.