Comptoir des Colonies Restaurant - Why I Went There
As a traveler who spends long periods abroad, sometimes I get a hankering for food just a tad more exotic than the traditional fare. But seldom do I stray to foods I can get in California, like Chinese, Thai, or even Burmese. Usually, that leaves few choices.But France has had a few exotic colonies, most notably in the Far East and Africa. And there's no doubt that people here can cook. Take some exotic meats like antelope and ostrich, some zesty African spice combos, and put them in the hands of competent cooks, and you might come up with Le Comptoir des Colonies, a fine African restaurant and Lounge in the heart of Old Strasbourg near the Place Guttenberg.
Le Comptoir des Colonies has a very interesting menu that starts with selections of entrees (starters) under the categories of "Zanzibar" or "Yaoundé" and moving on to Plats (main courses or plates) of chicken, ostrich, kangaroo, antelope, or a variety of fishes. You can also select from a variety of side dishes and sauces, creating a meal exactly as you'd like.
Comptoir des Colonies Restaurant - The Food
Martha then chose the Nile Pike, while I chowed down on three chunks of marinated and grilled antelope. Now, I suppose that my choice of meats isn't politically correct, but it was on the menu at just over € 17, and I'd never had it before; so I ate it--and it was tender, free of visible fat, and quite good. The rice that came with it was steamed and spiced with a dry mixture I would have bought in a second if it had been offered.
We drank fresh fruit juices from a vast selection; I had lichee while Martha chose papaya.
After, Martha couldn't resist a scoop of ginger sorbet and a tea from a long list of teas with African origins, while I stuck with an Ethiopian coffee.
All this food left us with a pretty hefty lunch bill of €63, but there are some specials offered at lunch that will reduce the pain. You can get the "Menu des Nomades" that includes one starter, the plat du jour, a drink and a coffee for €13.90. Remember that the price in France includes tax and service, so you only have to leave a few coins at the table for the wait staff if they did their jobs well.
Le Comptoir des Colonies Bottom Line
Great food, well presented and perfectly prepared. Most of the staff didn't speak English, but that didn't hamper us much, as the menu is pretty understandable, if a bit long offering a plethora of choices.Le Comptoir des Colonies
1 rue de l'épine
67000 Strasbourg, France
Telephone: 03 88 32 38 62
Web: Le Comptoir des Colonies.
