L’Avant Comptoir

Crêpes up front and pork (Ibaïona) in the rear. It’s standing room only at Yves Camdeborde’s tapas and wine bar, a hit since it opened in fall of 2009. Go during the off hours or be prepared to be get to know the person next to you very, very well.

Practical information

Address: 3 Carrefour de l’Odéon, 75006
Nearest transport: Odéon (4,10)
Hours: Open every day
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: no phone

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Average price for lunch: Less than 10€
Average price for dinner: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: French, Basque, Small Plates & Tapas
Special attributes: vegetarian options, small plates, prestige ingredients, renowned chef, good for solo dining, eat at the bar, late night bites, continuous all-day service, open Sunday, open Monday
Type of crowd: suits, foodies, bobos, neighborhood locals
Interior: bare bones & minimal
Atmosphere: bustling

Reviews of interest

• Aaron Ayscough (2011) “I should say that I actually liked the place well enough.** The deal is it’s a quality-conscious, natural-wine, Bordier butter establishment that nevertheless is standing-room only, with self-service bread and condiments, and no plates.”
• Dorie Greenspan (2009) “Not to be missed: Iberian ham croquettes (once fried, the ham dissolves inside its crispy shell — too bad I just used the word voluptuous, it would be perfect here, too)…”
• Barbra Austin (2009) “In our glasses, a juicy Morgon from Lapierre.  In our mouths, piping hot, creamy ham croquettes.  In the corner, a candy apple red, hand-cranked slicer.  Above that, all manner of cured pork waiting for a turn on that shiny machine.  From a stranger, a ruffle of jambon. Along the wall, a list of names, a Pantheon of food sources…
• Emmanuel Rubin for Le Figaro (2009)  ”Quelques mètres carrés de néogouaille orchestrés par un Camdeborde toujours aussi fameux à faire trinquer mémoire et moderne…”
• Meg Zimbeck (2009) “…I should mention that this place is only a bar with standing room for about 12 people. You’ll start as strangers, but hours of pressing close and tasting one another’s ham will likely turn you into friends…”
• Alexander Lobrano for T Magazine (2009) “…This short, narrow, standing-room-only space with white tile walls, a broad pewter counter and an open kitchen is what Camdeborde calls an “hors d’oeuvres bar,” and it serves up an array of delicious small-plate Basque- and Béarnais-inspired nibbles…”
• John Talbott (12/09) “The entire Bayonne rugby team was celebrating; they were very drunk, very into jumping in unison on the fragile floor-boards, chanting/singing Basque fight songs, smoking and drinking much more…”
• The Paris Notebook (2009) “Claustrophobics might want to abstain as it’s standing room only at the zinc bar laden with a communal bread basket, a tub of Bordier butter, white jars of pickles and peppers meant to be shared amongst your neighbors…”

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