L'Avant Comptoir de la Terre

Overview

Don't bother rocking up to Yves Camdeborde's Le Comptoir du Relais for dinner without a reservation; this high-profile bistro is one of the hardest to score a table in Paris. However, Camdeborde had a novel solution to his popularity: opening Avant Comptoir de la Terre ('Before the Earth counter").

This standing-room-only, low-fuss alternative takes pride in sharing good food with a crowd. Devised as a 'hors d'oeuvres bar,' it serves crepes, sandwiches, oysters, and waffles alongside local wines poured by the glass for as little as €3.50.

Images: Luis Andrei Muñoz, Kirk K, Meg Zimbeck via Flickr