Melanie, you are extremely accommodating and lovely. Vibes are high at this place!! Can't wait to come back.

Great dinner. Alan is fantastic! Mussels and truffle fries were great. Outdoor vibes were great!

We had an amazing birthday dinner here last week. Everything was delicious and the service was great! The vesper martinis were also excellent. The French onion soup was the best ever. Can't wait to go again and try more read more

Food and vibes were amazing. Great cocktails, steak frites, and fantastic service! Especially Melanie. Great date night spot

Great food and service! Thank you Alan!! Made it a great dinner. Delicious drinks and the short rib was so yum

I went to dinner with a group of 5. Service was slow and uninformed. We waited about 10 minutes for our drinks and only 3 were brought out. The other two came after another 5 minutes. The fried olives were delicious. The steak frite was just ok. At the end we saw the 20 percent surcharge and asked the server what it covered. She seemed clueless and said she doesn't see any of it. I wish they would just charge more. Then you're encouraged to tip on the total with the surcharge. The whole experience was disappointing. Restaurant is loud and tables are close together. Won't go back. So many better places in LA and once the actual price is clear, it's super pricey read more

Food quality and excellent presentation Service was professional and friendly Ambiance was giving elegant adult life. Im a fan for sure will be back. read more

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The food and service was amazing! The vibe was very cool and chic! Can't wait to return to this little tucked away gem!

Happy hour is a great deal! We love Melanie - she's the best. Also, saw Noah Beck!!!!!!!

The place is cute. The 20 per cent surcharge which is automatically added to the bill and is not a tip is not. I asked "oh cool so this is autogratuity then?" The bartender said no. It is absolutely not a tip. I asked again if the money goes to the staff or the business. It goes to the business. I asked if the surcharge could be taken off the bill and instead we tip that amount. She said we are not allowed to do that. So basically on one drink we were tipping 40 per cent. We only stayed for one drink instead of four because of the surcharge and most definitely won't return. read more

I have been meaning to try Coucou restaurant for awhile and tonight decided to stop in at your Venice location. I probably had one of worst restaurant experiences I have ever had a restaurant. I got there and the bartender/server was already not welcoming or friendly to me. I decided to let it be, the place was busy and ordered the steak frites. When I got the food, it was not good and the steak was very tough. I told the bartender and she argued with me about it and then said she would talk to the matrie d. After a long discussion, she came back and said they would make me a new one. No apology, felt like I was bothering her. After about a 45 min wait I finally got my food, which this time was burnt. At this point, I tried to eat it, but couldn't. Again not a word from the bartender about anything and checking on me. I started honestly feeling very uncomfortable in the restaurant and questioned why was I even there. I got the check, and left eating barely any of the food and now down $65 for extremely rude service, bad food and a very uncomfortable experience. read more

Alan was great! he checked in often and the food was great! they also had some amazing soft serve

The service was very good and the food was impeccable. We sat inside and it was packed. The ambience was great, a beautiful restaurant. As patrons finished up and left, it was much easier to carry on a conversation... acoustics. Can't wait to go back, it was that good. Thank you Coucou! read more

We had a drink and appetizer at CouCou on Sunday afternoon and the vibes did not disappoint. Griffin, our bartender, thoroughly explained the flavor profile of the drink options helping us select the perfect cocktail to cap off our weekend. read more

Coucou - Tuna Tartare and Bonnie & Clyde - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Came to celebrate Bastille Day w some girlfriends and it was the perfect setting! The sweet hostess sat us down without reservations and gave us a Sezanne tote as a gift for the celebrations. The restaurant is typical of a french bistro w the dishes to complement! We started w the fried olives, salad, whipped cheese and steak tartare which were all so beautifully plated! Followed by the chicken paillard and steak frites. We ended with their only dessert- an ice cream sundae which was delicious too! Will definitely come back for date night :) read more

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food and service was amazing! cocktails and wine were delicious too. shout out to our amazing server melanie for taking such good care of our large group! read more

An all-around excellent experience. From the hostess to the server to the cocktails to the food it was all excellent. I can't wait to return. read more

I decided to stop by for dinner over the weekend with a girlfriend. I had made reservations for indoor seating, and when I got there, I quickly regretted it. It was so loud I couldn't even hear my own thoughts. My friend suggested that maybe we just relocate to the restaurant across the street instead, but I really wanted to try this restaurant out. We were politely declined outdoor seating instead, which I totally understand because the restaurant is pretty small. We decided to relocate to the bar seating instead. While it wasn't great, I was able to make out, about 75% of what my friend was saying. Maybe I just came on a bad night, but from this experience, I would not recommend this ambience for a first date, or any time you really want to catch up with someone. Overall, the ambience is cute, trendy; it was pricey for conservative portions. We shared the zucchini beignets, steak tartare, whitefish, and completed the meal with the soft serve. The staff was really friendly and the food was good. I may make my way back to try it out again and try some of the other things I didn't get- either with outdoor seating or on a slower night. read more

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Great vibe, nice ambience but terrible service took us having to ask for the waitress after 30 minutes with our drinks to put in our food order and took 1.5 hours to get our entrees!! - we literally had to ask 3x if it was still coming !! Food was great tho! So as long as you don't mind bad slow service and being ignored for good food and vibe this is a spot! read more

Coucou - Soft serve - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

Coucou is a cozy, dimly lit little French Bistro in Venice. By cozy, I mean small with the tables all packed closed together, more like communal seating. Otherwise, it was a pretty cute restaurant. The selections on the menu are what you would expect in a French bistro. I got the steak frites and my friend had the Dorado Grille, both were pretty decent. The steak had a nice charred exterior but still pretty tender and juicy on the inside, when cooked medium rare. The fries were crisp and thick, not at all soggy. The waitstaff was attentive but I felt bad for them having to navigate such small spaces during the dinner service. Parking in this area can be a little tricky especially during peak times. I found a metered lot a few blocks away. read more

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Natasha was so attentive and kind! amazing food & drinks as well as amazing service. can't wait to come back!

We were greeted by the most pleasant host. We sat at the bar, and the bartender was lovely. The drinks were amazing, the food delicious. We will definitely be returning. read more

Such yummy food and great service. I love the mix and match happy hour but all of the food is bomb. Thank you to Ciara for making my group feel so special and welcome! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant on the Westside! A perfect, quaint French spot in the middle of main street. It is cozy, charming, and every single thing on the menu is delicious! Cutest vibe for date night or girls night. read more

Had a delicious dinner here this week. The entrees were wonderful, the haute dog, burger and salmon and our apps the grilled shrimp were also super tasty. We had sides of the grilled fennel and the perfectly seasoned brussel sprouts. We ended with the lovely chocolate mousse. Our server was terrific and just attentive enough to help but not hovering. It is on the pricey side for sure and they had some items that i wanted to try but i'm allergic to some of the ingredients. I think the wine selection was okay that was one area they could improve for the price points of the glasses. The cocktail we tried was delicious. I would say try them for apertif hour and enjoy the food and wine and if you are looking for the charm of a small french bistro vibe on main street this place is it! read more

Coucou - The burger he said was perfectly cooked to his request. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Venice, California

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Came here on a whim after picking up my friends wedding dress from down the block! Sat at the bar. Had fantastic cocktails and amazing service by Gloria! 10/10 would recommend! read more

Me and my girlfriends went to happy hour tonight and had SUCH a nice time. Griffin was our server and he was so great. Suggested the best apps - and this happy hour is amazing. 3 for 33!? And oysters are on the menu?? Bomb. Coming back asap read more

Love this small spot on main street. The burger exceptional, the shrimp exceptional, and the service is exceptional. The happy hour is really nice, the mocktails that Natasha makes are excellent. Make sure you get her to fix your drink up. 10/10 will be back read more

Coucou is the new trendy restaurant in Venice! A Must Go To place for a new take on French cuisine! The restaurant is cozy and intimate. Such good positive energy! Love the Ambiance and setting, especially the fresh Pink Cherry Blossom and Eucalyptus arrangement! Alexis at the bar is so nice, friendly and attentive! The bar has a nice selection too! Appetizers were unique and delicious! Zucchini Beignets were sweet, hot and crunchy! The Shrimp were sweet & grilled perfectly! My Hangar Steak was cooked medium rare as requested! The Dorade Grill was Fantastic! Fresh and seasoned perfectly! Definitely a "Must have" when you go! Very generous portions to satisfy your appetite! Excellent Customer Service! Be sure to make a reservation! read more

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It was our first time here and we loved it! Our server Andi was so helpful and gave us great recommendations. She recommended I get the Bonnie & Clyde drink and I thought it was delicious. Good romantic date spot! read more

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

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Food was good, but not good enough for a special trip. A little dark but good for some IG snaps. We waited about 15-20 minutes after our reserve time to be seated, and that bled into the meal - it felt like drinks took awhile to order and get to us, and the same happened with our meals. Food | Everything tasted good, but nothing wowed us. Ceviche was good (felt like it had some Asian inspiration tbh) and the zucchini beignets tasted better than they looked. Steak frites was really good but nothing I would write home about. Burger and mussels were also popular throughout the restaurant. Portions seemed reasonable. Drinks were okay (pretty but tasted just fine), I'd skip and get the wine instead. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, but all of the tables are pretty small - I would recommend only coming with one other person as they only have a few tables that can fit more than two people. read more

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Coucou is the similar to ça va an informal version of bonjour in french meaning 'Hi!' Located on Main Street in Santa Monica, this restaurant and bar opened 4 weeks ago. On opening week, reservations available via Resy. It's a known fact that Resy is NOT reliable and has so many glitches, and evidently it didn't book my reservation. Three weeks ago, after a morning of hiking and driving with my convertible top down I wanted to stop and visit this restaurant and decided to just walk in. The restaurant just opened and was totally empty. I was greeted by a male staffer, who informed Me that all seating inside were NOT available, only bar seating and a table in the very back of the restaurant :( I pointed out all the empty chairs, but he tells Me the seats were all reserved and would be filled within 10 minutes. My iphone happened to be on video mode taking views of the interior and happened to record this conversation with the staffer. I turned off the vidi mode when I noticed it was still on. There were 2 other male staffers present and was asked why I was taking pictures, to which I replied, for my review which will eventually write and post for the public to read. They just stood there as I was about to walk out, I overheard one staffer recognize Me. I noticed two table seating outside and asked about them...behold all of a sudden seating anywhere I wanted was available now?! To avoid the uncomfortable feeling of the initial conversation, I sat outside. I already reviewed the menu and ordered immediately. The menu on their website showed fresh oysters from Morrow Bay but this menu was different and offered oysters from Tomales Bay an inlet in Marine County up north. These oysters were so small and unlike posted pics of larger oysters, not worth it. The menu of selections mostly offers a la carte and french style foods. The ceviche was the best tasting with exotic flavors and visual presentation was enticing, definitely a must with a side of french fries. This ceviche tastes better than Cobi's (a south East Asian food restaurant further up on Main Street), Coucou's version deserves 5 stars alone. One of the male staffers and who also is the GM, Derek was apologetic and tried to mitigate the uncomfortable confrontation earlier by offering a drink for Me and a bowl of water for my furbaby. I must have stayed longer than I wanted but was there for about an hour. And it turns out the 'reserved' tables and seats inside I wanted remained empty! Sometimes I feel that restaurant staffer thinks that a sole diner will not order enough to merit a seat.m or more tip and It's unfortunate that thinking is flawed. In my case, usually I order lots of dishes to try an assortment of foods, it's $$$$ spendy and I know lots of other some diners who are the same, so sole diners should be treated respectfully. Shortly thereafter, I was also approached by a female staffer who happens to be the co-owner Hailey, who also was apologetic and listened to my concerns and suggestions. This area is very casual, bohemian earthy, not really fancy like Beverly Hills. I thought a meal at at new restaurant in this area was perfect after a morning of hiking, but I was wrong. I felt I was judged because I was a sole diner dressed sporty casually with wind blown hair (blame my convertible). I did read a review of a diner who had a reservation for 10 and 2 additional diner showed up and received such bad service and posted a one star review. The restaurant owner's response was nonsensical. I am disappointed that management seems to be off on their seating policy. Coucou should be flexible and welcome everyone cordially. If I was not recognized later as a reviewer, perhaps the negative treatment would have continued, although I would NOT have stayed/accepted or tolerated it, as nobody should. Perhaps you can brave a hostile greeting and dining experience. Despite their efforts to apologize, the casual french greeting 'coucou' being greeted with hostility plus negativity left a lingering bad aftertaste feeling, the antithesis of a welcomed greeting, I cannot recommend. read more

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I ate here with a good friend who lives in the area. It's not a big place. But, it's intimate and comfortable. The service is excellent. The food is even better. We shared several wonderful dishes. We started with oysters, which were from Washington, and served with mignonette. A great start. Next was a whipped farmers cheese with four little dollops of salmon with dill and onions. I loved this. We then had wood-fired prawn cocktail, which was served with a charred lemon and a delightful creamy sauce. Very creative and very good. Steak tartare was next and it was excellent. We finished with moulle frites. My friend loved the fries and ate all of them. I had not a bite. The mussels were perfectly cooked and seasoned. This is an excellent and creative French bistro. The food is creative and well prepared. The service is spot on. They have a small, but creative and balanced, wine/beer/craft cocktail selection. It's simply delightful. read more

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Food, service and ambiance are great. Reminds me of bistros in NYC. I always have a good experience here. read more

food and vibes were amazing ! can't wait to come back. shoutout Alan, did a great job taking care of us !!

Overall not worth the price. I had been excited to try this place for a long time so was thrilled when my girlfriend told me she had made a reservation for us! She booked a table for 7 PM for "heated outside", but what we didn't realize was the table was on the sidewalk... not the greatest ambience for a date, with pedestrians, dogs, skateboarders, homeless, etc. walking right next to the table the entire meal. I get that it's like a French bistro and we're going for the Parisian dining experience, but West Los Angeles is not really known for its "beautiful sidewalks." I've been to Paris, and perhaps this approach would be better suited to a nicer part of town. As for the service if you're gonna auto grat 20%, you need to do a better job. If I order a drink when I sit down, I would expect that to be the first thing to arrive. Better yet if my food arrives at the table first (before my drink even), I should already have silverware at the table to dig in. My date and I really shouldn't have to wait for silverware to eat the food that's already been served to me. I've worked in restaurants a long time - that's service 101! Normally I wouldn't make a big deal out of this, but if you're gonna charge 20% off the bat as a service fee, it should be top tier service. As for the food, we had the onion soup, brussels sprouts, burger, and the steak frites. Everything was very tasty and meat cooked to order, but the portions were very small... surprisingly small... disappointingly small. If you're gonna charge $27 for a burger, I would hope it's one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life and we didn't even include the addition of cheese for four (4) dollars! And no it doesn't come with a side. Add fries for $11? No thanks. I don't mean to be cheap but those are probably the most expensive fries in the city. If there were any highlights the drinks were pretty good. We had three cocktails at ~$20 apiece, which to anyone not familiar with West LA probably sounds absurd, but it's pretty par for the course for cocktails in Santa Monica now. The highlight was the Sea, Sun and Sex cocktail. Perhaps I would return for happy hour when the drinks are (hopefully?) cheaper and I wouldn't be sitting down for a full meal otherwise, I don't think it's worth returning here and wouldn't recommend it. read more

Got the fish and soft serve, was amazing. Sat at the bar and Gloria the bartender was super friendly and gave great service!

Had the Steak Frites and it was exactly what I wanted out of a French bistro. Lean cut of steak with grilled perfectly with sweet carmaized onions and crispy fries. The sauce it is served with is a sweet balsamic glaze that should be used to taste. Cocktails had flavor and fun. Natasha was a great bartender and made sure even though we were the first patrons there we felt like that we were the last they never wanted to leave. read more

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We were exploring local restaurants for a company holiday dinner. We certainly enjoyed the food and service at Coucou; however, the 20% mandatory surcharge on the bill turned us off. Subsequent to the dinner, I read some of the other Yelp diners' concerns about the surcharge and also management's responses that "tips are NEVER required" and "To clarify, we do NOT ask guests to tip on top of the surcharge. We are a tipping NOT required restaurant"; however, on our bill "this is not a tip" was called out in light blue with a highlighter and we were verbally informed the 20% surcharge "was not a tip". Like other diners have reported, we felt compelled, albeit reluctantly, to provide an additional tip. We were seriously considering having our holiday dinner at Coucou, but we could not justify ~40% surcharge/tip. read more

Updated Review () I left a 1-star review at first because I felt misled. But to the restaurant's credit, the owner reached out personally after reading my feedback. She was incredibly gracious, acknowledged the issue, and fixed my concerns. That kind of response is rare -- and truly appreciated. Mistakes happen, but the way Coucou handled it was thoughtful, transparent, and professional. I'm happy to update this to a 5-star review because they genuinely cared about making things right. We'd definitely give Coucou another try -- not just because of the food and ambiance, but because of the integrity behind how they treat their guests. We will also try the West Hollywood location. read more