food was really good! service was super welcoming and environments is chill, Melanie is the best server!!

Absolutely cuckoo about Coucou! Stopped by this hidden gem, upscale vintage diner for their famous Happy Hour (5-6 PM everyday), and it was absolutely a blast! You can get any 3 items on their happy hour menu for $33, including an impressive selection of their cocktail and appetizer menu. Our waitress recommended the zucchini beignets, which were so unique and reminded me of a zucchini-based falafel. From the happy hour menu, we also got the oysters, which were so FRESH and delicately sweet, and the shrimp cocktail, which came with 4 jumbo grilled shrimp and a unique aioli. We also opted for their iconic soft serve, which consists of a simple, milk-based ice cream, and chocolate, nuts, and blackberry sauce that you pour over, and this was easily one of the BEST desserts I've had lately! Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the Santa Monica area, and checking out their amazing happy hour specials! read more

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Food here is delicious: burger is made perfect, the French fries are perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the truffle Brussels are just right- crispy and yummy!! * I would skip the steak however since it was pretty tough and kind of pricey Service is very quick and they share the specials and favorite cocktails / dishes. Smaller romantic style restaurant! Definitely make a reservation read more

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We had a reservation for this evening and came in excited, in a great mood, and genuinely looking forward to trying this place since it's been on our list for a while. Unfortunately, the entire experience went downhill quickly. Our server was very soft-spoken, so much so that we could barely hear him. We started with a glass of Beaujolais, which came in a Coucou glass, but the pour was shockingly small. We mentioned this to the server and asked how many ounces they typically serve. He initially wasn't sure and pointed vaguely to the lettering on the glass. When he returned, he said it was a 5 oz pour, but it was still, without question, the smallest glass of wine we've ever been served. From that point on, things only got more frustrating. I had a clear view of the bar and noticed the bartender was not measuring pours at all. A couple seated next to us ordered wine shortly after, and their glasses were noticeably more generous than ours. To make matters worse, that same couple accidentally spilled some of their wine, not much, and clearly their own mistake, yet their server immediately offered a full replacement glass without hesitation. Meanwhile, we had raised a legitimate concern about our pour from the start and were offered absolutely nothing. Any server with basic awareness should have simply corrected the situation from the beginning and ensured we received a proper glass so we didn't start the meal on such a negative note. Unfortunately, our server seemed too aloof to notice or care. We were polite throughout, never rude, yet no one made any effort to acknowledge or correct the situation. It left a really bad impression. My husband ended up ordering a beer just to make up for the disappointing wine experience. Then the food arrived. We ordered the burger Americaine and the Steak frites, both medium rare. The steak was severely overcooked, more like well done, wet, chewy, and completely lacking flavor. Honestly, one of the worst steaks I've had. I was hungry and didn't want to deal with sending it back due to the long Wait, but it was a huge letdown given the hype. The burger wasn't much better, it looked good but the brioche bun was dry, and the coleslaw inside was bland and forgettable. Overall, very underwhelming. What made things worse was the lack of any real service recovery. Despite our earlier comments about the wine, our server never once offered to make things right, not even a small gesture. When he asked how everything was at the end, I mentioned the steak was overcooked. He simply said "sorry" and left it at that. No follow-up, no adjustment, nothing. We had originally planned to order more wine and dessert, but by that point, the experience had already been ruined. We just asked for the check and left. I understand that not everything has to be perfect, but when guests give feedback during their visit and nothing is done, that's a clear service failure. For a no-tipping establishment, you would expect a higher level of attentiveness and accountability, but that was definitely not the case here. This experience completely ruined our night. We won't be returning, and I would strongly caution others before dining here. read more

Coucou - Receipt - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Our family went to Coucou for a birthday celebration. Based on the reviews, we thought we'd have a better experience. The fish was overcooked. For the price, a garnish would have been nice. Steak frites, alas, was no better. It was small, not tender. Almost 40 bucks for a burger and fries, quality was just not there. The place is cramped and super loud to the point that they missed one entrée in our order. For a quality French meal, you might want to consider Electric Bleu, in Mar Vista. Service/ staff were friendly but the quality of the ingredients dont seem to match the price point. read more

Cou cou club! Brilliant menu. First thing I feel people should be aware of is that YOUR BILL WILL HAVE 20% GRATUITY AUTOMATICALLY. But this is in the best way possible though. Tipping after that is optional but (I assume) they want to actually pay their workers fair wages and they do that by making sure the menu, flavors, quality, and prices reflect that. And they are very open and upfront about it on the bill. You couldn't ask for a better way to go about it. I'm ok with it. Now. We came for the burgers since our favorite spot, Ponio, permanently closed. The burger did not disappoint! It's wagyu. Light. Perfectly cooked at medium. The lettuce was frisée (pretty cool lol) and the cognac sauce is a unique creation! I got it on the side and dumped the whole thing on my burger lol. What I was not expecting, was to not enjoy the cheese. I think because it's fondue style? It's like it changes not only the texture but the flavor (kind of puffy and chalky?). It was interesting. I honestly would go with no cheese next time and order as is with the cognac sauce on it. The fries were great. The aioli that came with them, also great. The stuffed olives though....not sure where the lamb was. And slightly over breaded but anything breaded and deep fried in going to eat lol. Overall please. Nice light burger but still feeling. You can taste the quality and uniqueness. I'd like to come back and try other items! read more

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I've been hearing so many good things about this place and was so happy that I finally got to try it! It's a pretty small restaurant in Venice so I'd recommend booking a table on resy before you go. I went for a Sunday dinner and everything was delicious!! We started off with oysters, and bib lettuce salad. I'm usually not a fan of goat cheese but this salad was so delicious bc they threw in a lot of picked onions to cut the goat cheese flavor! Ofc i had to get the infamous burger and it definitely lived up to the hype!! I ordered medium but it came out medium well I think so maybe order a bit on a rarer side next time. The aioli for the fries are also sooooo yummy! As I was getting so full, my waitress convinced me to get the soft serve ice cream and wooowww I was so happy I listened to her!!! It was likely on of the best soft serve I've had in LA!!! 10/10 for this place!!! Can't wait to be back and try the HH menu as well!!! read more

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We went here on a Sunday evening for a birthday and were overjoyed at the experience. It felt like a casual French restaurant where the food and experience were elevated. I would definitely go back. We enjoyed the Zucchini Beignet, the Bib Lettuce (big portion and fresh!), some oysters, and the salmon and steak frites and burger along with the recommended Cauliflower and the soft serve sundae. We were stuffed but very happy! read more

Went to Coucou the other night and found it to be the most unwelcoming experience for a new restaurant in town. The Hostess was obviously totally inexperienced and not gracious. We wanted to have drinks and oysters and had to ask several times what kind of oysters were being served that night, as nobody behind the bar had a clue? $54 for a dozen is the going rate but I've never been served oysters that were that minute! I think this certainly is a one and done for us and it's really unfortunate the owner has not taken more time to train his staff. read more

My boyfriend and I popped into Coucou last night for an impromptu dinner and honestly, the vibe is so cute. It's a small, cozy spot that feels perfect for a chill date night. I wasn't drinking, so I ordered their margarita mocktail and it was actually pretty good! We started with the French onion soup and the bib lettuce salad. Both were tasty, but the soup wasn't super hot when it got to the table. The salad was fresh and simple, but the lettuce pieces were HUGE -- why do so many restaurants do this? I don't want to work that hard just to take a bite. For mains, we split the burger, fries, and the truffle Brussels sprouts. The burger was pretty solid with a little kick from the peppers. The fries were great (the aioli was the best part), and the Brussels sprouts... fine. Not bad, just not as mind-blowing as the reviews made them sound. But the real MVP? The vanilla soft-serve sundae. OMG. It comes with hardened chocolate, cherries, and nuts, and it was honestly one of the best desserts I've had in forever. I would come back JUST for that. I've also heard they make an amazing dirty martini, so I'll definitely be returning on a night when I'm drinking again. And yes, I'll be getting that sundae every single time. read more

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I had high expectations for this place and I will say confidently it did meet my expectations. The food was absolutely delicious. We got the ceviche to start, which was unique as they serve it with potato chips. We also got the fries to share, and I got the burger. Very rich burger but so yummy. My only note is that the portions are very small for the price, but that is expected at a more up scale restaurant. This place would be perfect for a date night, or a special occasion dinner with friends. The vibe is very romantic and warm. Highly recommend- I want to come back for lunch. read more

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Came here for a work happy hour and got the opportunity to try so many items on the menu. Each one of them was so delicious. I would say the truffle brussels sprouts were actually one of my favorites and I really enjoyed the ceviche and steak and fritters as well. The servers are really nice and attentive here. And the chocolate mousse is really light and fluffy, but it's also pretty rich. read more

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I live very close by in MDR and have already tried all the other French restaurants in LA so I was really excited to try this one. The TLDR is the food taste and quality is high, but the pricing and size of the restaurant are big negatives. The tables are so close together that it's not the sort of place to have a private conversation or first date and the prices are really too high. There is also a 30% service charge added on to your bill, which does not include tip even though tip is suggested after the 30% is added on, which is insane. As mentioned it's very small on the inside and gives me more of a bar/lounge vibe than a full functioning restaurant. The bar takes up about half of the restaurant and the handful of tables make up the rest. There is just enough space to squeeze in between each table so you can hear all the conversations around you and others can hear yours as well, which I was not a fan of. Our waitress was very polite, but it took over 45 mins for our entrées to come out after our appetizers were finished. They also have a very limited nonalcoholic drink menu so if you're not drinking alcohol or water, your options will be very limited. There is not a dedicated parking lot so it will be metered street parking however because I'm a local I just took a Waymo over. As mentioned the food taste is really great, even though the prices aren't. I started off with the Steak Tartare and this was my second favorite dish of the night. It had very deep, rich flavors. I especially liked the grain mustard mixed in and thought it really made the dish special. Next came the Zucchini Beignets and I was not a fan of these. I'm not sure what the flavor was, but there was something in it that I just did not like. Also beignet is a bit misleading because I was thinking something light and fluffy, but rather it was almost like a hush puppy. I would not recommend. We followed that with the French Onion Soup and thought this one was fantastic. It was a light broth, not the thicker burgundy broth, which is my preference. I love the light broth a lot more and think it adds a lot more flavoring so this one was a great dish that I would highly recommend. For my entree I chose the Dorade and this was my favorite dish of the night. It was perfectly cooked fish and the lemon caper sauce that it was sitting in really added to the flavoring. It was also a very good sized portion. Finally for dessert we had the Soft Serve Sundae which was very good although a bit overpriced for $16. I also ordered a Coke for $6 so it just kind of shows you that the pricing here is very skewed. Overall we had a nice experience, but due to the pricing and other competition very close by I don't plan to be back in the future. If the pricing was more reasonable, I would definitely recommend and be back, but until that happens, I can't recommend. read more

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This place is fantastic. We'd been trying to go for some time to the one in WeHo and happily stumbled upon the one in Venice. The beef was succulent and delicious. The carrots so soft and well made. The brussel sprouts were so good too. The fire prawns were fire. Save their sauce for the beef. This was a total mouthgasm and we loved it. Great service, ambiance, and taste. Monsieur in Farmers market has serious comp in this place. Cou Cou CouCou! read more

Coucou - Fire Prawn - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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I came here with my parents who were visiting from out of town. I'd never been before, but I often run by it. The restaurant is a cute, small place right on Main Street. There's actually a lot of free parking nearby as well. Overall, the ambiance was nice. Darkly lit, cozy, intimate. We arrived during happy hour, and immediately began with the cheese plate. Nothing really stood out about it presentation wise but it was good. Next week tried the ceviche which was very fresh. My mom isn't usually a fan of fish, but she actually liked this version. The French fries were crispy and they came with an herb aioli sauce which I really liked. The fried zucchini fritters had loads of flavor. The French onion soup was good, but I thought the presentation was better. The haute dog was a table favorite. The sausage was perfectly cooked, and the sauce on top was great. I didn't like how big the bun was in ratio to the meat though. Our server was readily available and very nice. Overall, it was a nice experience but a 20% charge (not gratuity) is enough to prevent me from keeping this place on the back burner. read more

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One of those restaurants where your friend who picked the place profusely apologizes after and vows to let you pick going forward. Walked in excited to try a new spot. Had a reso at the bar and were seated immediately. Service was a bit, casual... Like a friend you haven't seen in a while and then remember why you stopped hanging out. Below is what was tried: Scallops Rockefeller - 2 1/2 stars. Love oysters Rockefeller, did not enjoy this. The flavor of the scallop is too delicate for the seasoning and gets lost. Bibb Lettuce - 2 1/2 stars. It's not good when your friend has to ask the waitress/bartender "Is this actually Bibb?!" Pretty forgettable, and nothing special. Farmers Cheese - 1 1/2 stars. Gorgeous presentation, awful spreadable cheese like something you'd pick up from a grocery last minute for a summer party, but then the cheese sat in the car and the host still used it cause they felt guilty you brought it at all. (No one touched your cheese, ok?!) Zucchini Beignet - 3 1/2 stars. Here we have the best dish of the night. This was more soft zucchini latke than beignet, but let's not get into semantics. Could have had more crisp to the exterior and a creamy ranch would have complemented this perfectly. (Was not a fan of their aioli) Mussels Mariniere - 3 stars. Forgettable, like what did I just have?! Pommes Frites - 4 stars. A win! A French restaurant that can do French Fries, groundbreaking! There were some major service issues and no time to get into them all. I will say, a Sancerre is NOT a dessert wine and should not be offered as such since it is simply not that! The next issue is where I really have a problem. As our bill arrives "Natasha" (our bartender/waitress) lets us know that 20% is added to every bill, and that it's "absolutely not a tip." So I say "Oy, that's awkward. I used to wait tables in college, what is it for then?!" When she responded with "It's added to every bill, but not a tip" I was done - and now, I'm done! read more

Coucou - Farmers cheese, 1 1/2 stars. Beautiful presentation, tasted like cheap grocery store cheese, Boursin from Albertsons could score higher. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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Very great! Everything was delicious. The vibe in there is dark and moody with great music. The service was great, very helpful and quick. Highly recommend checking this place out read more

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My wife and I came in for an early dinner last night. I didn't know that that there is a happy hour menu from 5-6 that we were able to order from. From cocktails to wine and food, it offers a great variety of options. We both enjoyed our meals (steak frites and salmon). Our server, Isaiah, was excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

Updating my review, since they responded so rapidly and kindly to explain the 20% surcharge, explaining it goes to their staff, so they can earn a proper wage and any extra tips also go to their people; thus my updating the rating. Since the food and drinks were super and this is a neighborhood gem. Here's what I wrote previously about the food & drinks with a new rating: Stopped in on Bastile Day and nabbed seats at the bar for a bite and a cocktail with a friend. The room felt warm, softly lit and had a comforting energy, We shared the $22 five piece wood fired shrimp which were delicious. The $11 Truffle Brussel sprouts were fried and flavorful, albeit kinda salty. Soft serve sundae for $16 was simply, fun, although I'd pass on that, since it's just some soft serve with couple toppings and a lot of calories. My friend and I both LOVED our cocktails and it would have been very easy to have had another had we not already had delightful Lillet Spritz. The bartender and servers were super attentive & friendly! Oddly this works equally well for date night, dinner with friends, family or (calm) girls night out. read more

Business owner actually messaged me and confirmed that it was a no tipping establishment and that the message should have been displayed. When the server dropped off the bill, he just pointed me to read the bottom of the receipt, which states that there is a service fee and that the fee does not include a tip yet (and tip can still be added). I wasnt told or catch anywhere that said it was a no tipping establishment, although that can just be my fault. With that being said, the service was really nice, the owner was very friendly and accommodating, and the food was good! read more

Amazing burger and steak frites.. hostess was so pleasant as was our waitress which always either as your experience or takes it away. fun vibes, small atmosphere. I decorating with the mussels then each get a burger..20% gratuity is adding to check so no need to do math at the end.. will come back for sure. read more

Coucou - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Lovely meal - great food and fun ambience. Great martinis! And our server Melanie was fantastic

Came here yesterday and generally enjoyed our experience. The ambiance is nice and artful. The service was prompt and kind. The food itself was all good but nothing extraordinary. My favorite dish was the fennel. The straus soft serve dessert was good but a little bit overhyped (I hate to say it)... read more

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Wish I had a photo but I ate it too fast! As a frequent traveler to Paris, I can tell you this place hits it right on the mark! We had grilled fennel and the OUTSTANDING burger and then FRIES for dessert;) I will absolutely be working my way down the menu and Coucou is going to be on the short list of places I frequent! Special shout out to GLORIA, our lovely bartender and server. Amazing service and recommendations! A bientot! read more

Reservation was @ 8 pm but they were packed so had to wait for a table to open up. Sierra was very nice and made the whole experience chill. Food & Drinks were amazing, everything came out great read more

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Had a wonderful experience for my first time here. The zucchini bengeits were delicious flavor bombs. Atmosphere was chill and the bartender was wonderful. Gloria Is the best. Will be coming back soon read more

I really want to like this place I just find it underwhelming overall. The seats are uncomfortable if you're on the shorter side, my feet dangled the whole dinner. The bartender forgot to make my drink so after seeing her not make it after 5 mins of her not being busy I got up and asked my waiter where it was. I had already got two appetizers before my drink came which is a pet peeve of mine. The food was just ok. I wouldn't crave it again. The best part was the ice cream sundae. The steak was burnt and overpriced for the size of it. The fries came out last.. we just got the steak on its own lol when it's steak frites then the fries 10 mins later when I asked where they were. The shrimp appetizer was good but the lemon they serve it with was scolding hot you can't even use it. read more

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Melanie is the best ever!!!!! She made our night was memorable with great service and good energy!

Love happy hour here but wow was our service terrible tonight. We sat outside at a lovely table but our waitress couldn't have cared less. Terrible service. After waiting 15 minutes for our wines, we spotted her leaving the restaurant on her break! No smiles, no checking in, no desire to elevate the experience. What has been a local favorite seems to have slowly deteriorated given the low bar they hold their severs to. read more

Everything was lots of fun and a real French bistro. Good food and service. Will be back soon read more

Incredible meal. The steak was cooked to perfection. The truffled brussels were divine and of course the soft serve was so tasty. Service was a tad slow but it was very busy. read more

My partner and I came to CouCou with another couple to celebrate his birthday, and Melanie took such great care of us. She was super sweet, attentive, and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable. She paid attention to the little details and made sure everything was just right. It's clear she really cares about her clients and the quality of her work. If you're going to CouCou, definitely try to book with Melanie -- she helped make our visit feel special. read more

Amazing restaurant and ambiance overall. I came with my girlfriend for a 5pm resevation and immediately was greeted by some of the most lovely staff on this side of los angeles. We started off with a shrimp cocktail with amazing sauce, and finished off with the burger (shown in the picture below). All thanks to our amazing server Alan, who i had to specifically shout out here due to his absolute professional, being so interested in his patrons, and providing the upmost and best service! If you go here, make sure to ask for Alan. Top tier employee! read more

Coucou - So good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

I rarely write reviews here. But I feel I have to commend the very fine team at CouCou. This comfy, tasteful spot in the heart of Venice, does it right. We've tried most of what's on the menu and we've never been disappointed. Standouts include the incredible onion soup, the tasty tuna tartare appetizer and the delicious chicken. CouCou brings a taste of Paris to the shores of California, and they do it right. As you would expect, the pomme frites are not to be missed. If you like a good martini, theirs is delightful. And, although we have not ordered it, there's a sumptuous soft-serve ice cream dessert, that looks superb, if you have roomfor it. Bon appetit! read more

Last night, I celebrated my husband's birthday at Cou Cou. We had a wonderful experience! We sat at the bar and were served by a great bartender named Natasha. Some highlights: - The white stallion and the Bonnie and Clyde cocktails! - The ceviche and the tuna tartare - The beef, short ribs and the veggie French dip - And of course, the brussels sprouts! What a little gem in Venice! read more

You have arrived. We spent an early New Years Eve at a little french bistro in Venice, CA. I knew the hood but had not been to this restaurant before. The location is not too congested like other areas in Venice. The food was delicious. Excellent choices of appetizers as well as sides. We had some oysters, shared a bowl of french onion soup, some french beignets and enjoyed some signature cocktails from the bar. Good wine mix of Californian and French blends. The entres covered all the food groups. Fish (which I had), chicken, filet mignon (great peppercorn sauce) and of course steak frites. You can't put the word "Bistro" on your menu without a good steak frites. There are vegetarian options as well although we did not order any. The ambience reflected a neighborhood vibe. Very chill and friendly. Music played in the background. Not too loud but not too quiet. The whole place had a great communal feel to it. There was a family next to us with a mess of kids. All finishing up their soft-serve ice cream sundaes which of course we adopted for our dessert along with the chocolate mousse. When to food is good those children will behave! We have been looking for a good french bistro. I think we found it! Bon Appetit! read more

i was looking forward to dining here. it was hard to enjoy the meal because the acoustics are so terrible. the space amplifies all voices around us, yet i am barely able to hear my guest across the table it was a uncomfortable experience read more

Food and service was great! Brussels sprouts were amazing. Only thing I'd note is that I'd recommend sitting inside because the outdoor seating does have foot traffic from pedestrians/noise from on coming cars. read more

Coucou - Food - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Solid French food in Venice. I got the steak frites and it was delicious, rich, and cooked just right. The sauce it came with was also great. I wish the fries came with something to dip in though. The cheese and broccoli appetizers were highlights, but the ice cream sundae dessert stole the show read more

Steak frites done simply and well. The steak was tender and cooked just right, and the fries were crispy and golden. The sauce ties everything together without overpowering the dish. Cozy French bistro vibes make it a great spot for a relaxed, satisfying meal. read more