‘Comptoir’ is French for counter, and is often associated with fancy little canapes at a casual bar scene. However, Comptoir 102 has nothing to do with late-night drinking. On the contrary, this groovy little nook on Jumeirah Beach Road is all about healthful, nutritionally sound eating.
Using the finest of organic ingredients, Comptoir 102 whips up a delicious, home-style fare. Best of all, the menu changes every so often as it is totally dependent on seasonal produce. Check their website for daily menu updates.
‘Comptoir 102’ sounds like an expensive perfume. Think cult favorite ‘Chanel No. 5’ for instance! Pairing a French word with a number is tres chic. In this case, the ‘102’ stands for the villa number where the cafe is located; Villa 102 on Jumeirah Beach Road to be precise 🙂
We found ourselves in Comptoir for breakfast last week, and I fell in love with the casual, laid-back vibes as soon as I stepped into the premises. When you walk in from the main door, you will find yourself in the Comptoir store. Here, they sell everything from unique fashion accessories to home decor and furniture. You can even buy the furniture used for the restaurant’s set-up if you like!
We decided to sit out on the front porch of Comptoir 102. I love the thatched roofing of this space; it looks so cosy and inviting, and so unlike anything you would be likely to come across in this part of the world.
And how gorgeous is the antique-style silver table top?! It made my areal shot of our breakfast table all the more stunning.
We started off our Comptoir 102 breakfast with their very sought-after sugar and dairy free smoothies.
Hubby tried their Coffee Shake, a shot of coffee blended with almond milk, almond butter, maca, a pinch of cardamom and dates for sweetness. With a list of ingredients like this, you know you’re doing your body a favor for a change! Where else would you find a coffee shake that is actually good for you?!
I had Comptoir 102’s Heaven on Earth smoothie. Apparently this is their most ordered drink, and I can see why! This thick, satiating smoothie is loaded with the sweetness of banana and dates, the full bodied decadence of raw cacao, the nutty goodness of crushed almonds and almond milk, and laced with the characteristic spicy heat of cinnamon. With no sugar or dairy added to the mix, this is one decadent sip your body will thank you for!
Hubby decided he wanted to have pancakes for breakfast. At Comptoir 102, they do a mean feat with their buckwheat pancakes! It is served with scrambled eggs and avocado, the perfect accompaniments for a hearty start to the day.
I tried Comptoir 102’s much-loved Avocado Crocini. This is a platter of gently toasted bread topped with Comptoir 102’s special macadamia sauce, guacamole, cucumber slices and a whole pile of alfalfa sprouts. I love how creamy and full of flavor the topping is, and how the softness is a sharp contrast to the crispness of the bread.
The only tricky part is eating this daintily. Cutlery doesn’t cut it with the toasted bread, and lifting up the slices is a balancing act with all that alfalfa fluff!
We shared a bowl of Chia Pudding on the side. It came topped with sliced banana and dates, and I liked how the consistency was spot on, and not overly set. The staff tell us the secret is to use both coconut milk ad coconut water for setting the chia.
We ended our breakfast at Comptoir 102 on a sweet, healthful note. Below is their divinely delicious Chocolate Petit Pot.
It has the rich smoothness of a decadent ganache, is brimming with chocolate goodness, and you can really taste the roasted hazelnuts in every spoonful. But here’s the best part of all… this little pot has no added sugar, no milk, no butter, no eggs, and no flour! Comptoir 102 is not giving their secret away, so I’ll have to be back for more and keep up with my guess work. Can someone please figure this one out for me? I need a pot of this every day in my life!
We sipped on warm Lemon Ginger Tea to prolong our time at Comptoir 102. The ambiance is one of leisurely peace akin to the cafe life of Europe. The tea was warm, soothing and refreshingly lemon; it was the perfect ending to a laid-back, idle morning. We need more mornings like these in the week!
Head to Comptoir 102. They are located in Villa 102 on Jumeirah Beach Road (Dubai), and are open from 7.30 am to 9 pm daily. Look up their website for their updated menu options. At Comptoir 102, eating out is a health-enhancing treat!
The Tezzy Files 