By Paul Lesigne
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“I’ve always been passionate about catering, and I’ve always said to myself that when I turn 40 or 50, I’ll drop everything and open a restaurant,” smiles Pierre Soetaert. He didn’t wait that long after all.
On Friday September 2, 2022, he and his family will open Le Bistrot du Comptoir, “the haunt of friends and bon vivants”. This restaurant will be located on the first floor of the Comptoir du Bec d’or, the grocery store opened by the Soetaerts in Orbec in December 2019.
“No frills”
This new establishment, which can accommodate up to 55 people, will offer “really a bistro offer, with traditional, “simple” cuisine, but based on excellent products, without fuss”, announces Pierre Soetaert:
“It can range from meat with fries, to veal with morels. There will be really good things. Customers already know the quality of the products via the grocery store. »
Visitors will find “a small map, but very lively slates, with new things every day”.
Le Bistrot du Comptoir will be open “from Wednesday noon to Sunday evening”, with “wide hours”: “On Saturday and Sunday we want to work continuously, from late morning until late in the evening, until midnight or 1 a.m. . “Thanks to the License IV “to make a bar”, it will be possible to “start an aperitif a little earlier, share boards with friends and go to dinner”.
“Share a great time”
The works began in February with, “as for the store, a work of really noble materials, between the stone on the ground, the wood of the frameworks, the metal…”. All to give a warm atmosphere to the place, and “a desire to be like in bistros and brasseries”: The goal is to sympathize with the table next door, share a very good time, not necessarily in calm or intimacy”, smiles Pierre Soetaert, who has recruited “three people in the kitchen and three people in the dining room”.
For him, the opening of the restaurant represents “a logical development” in the wake of the grocery store, where success is at the rendezvous with “a beautiful, demanding clientele who trusts us”: “For 3 years, at strength of requests from our customers and our desire to revitalize our company and our territory, we have developed the activity. »
It had started with the charcuterie and cheese platters, “which were very popular”: “We were asked more and more to taste them on the spot. I thought to myself, why not develop the concept. And then I said to myself that something was still missing. I didn’t want the clientele to get tired of the trays, even if they are renewed. This is why we wanted to create a real catering offer. »
Burgers and a food truck
At the same time, since this summer, the Comptoir du Bec d’or has also launched its food-truck, with daily specials and burgers, to be enjoyed under the apple trees or to take away. Burgers made with “bread from our baker, Black Angus ground beef, homemade sauces, cheeses from the store, and a blend that can only be good,” smiles Pierre Soetaert. This offer will continue and is intended to complement the future restaurant.
The food-truck can be privatized for events: “We have a lot of requests for the days after weddings, birthdays, etc. We can travel to provide a service on site, only tailor-made. »
La Livraye to Orbec, on the edge of the D519. Contact: 06.61.67.96.97 or 02.31.63.08.21. Opening of the restaurant on Friday, September 2.
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