Unmatched Culinary Artistry, World-Class Hospitality, and True Inspiration We visited Le Coq in La Jolla last night for the Bluefin Tuna Experience, and it exceeded every expectation--not just as an exceptional meal, but as an unforgettable, inspiring evening. Watching Chef Tara break down and prepare a massive 100+ pound bluefin tuna right on the dining floor was pure culinary theater. But the real highlight went far beyond the spectacle: my niece is an aspiring chef, and I brought her specifically to see a top-caliber female chef operating at the highest level of this industry. Representation matters, and seeing someone you identify with excel at this standard is powerful. What truly blew us away was Chef Tara's generosity. She took roughly 15 minutes out of her night to speak one-on-one with my niece, offering thoughtful guidance, mentorship, and encouragement. That level of world-class care extended to the entire team: Bryan, our server: Absolutely phenomenal--warm, attentive, and took the time to share great industry insights and advice with my niece throughout our meal. The Maître D': Capped off the evening by inviting my niece on a tour of the kitchen--a gesture that meant the world to all of us. The Food: We ordered the 3-Course Bluefin Tuna Tasting, and it was exceptional. Some of the freshest, most flavorful tuna I've ever tasted, with each course executed with precision and balance. Simply put: world-class service, incredible food, and hospitality with genuine heart. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough. read more

Le Coq - The Chef at work! - French Near Me - La Jolla, California

You came for the Tuna cutting? Don't believe the hype on social media. Gimmicky with tons of disappointment I reserved a table booth more than a month in advance to watch the tuna fish cutting event they have there on Thursday night at 6:30pm. The table I wanted they told me when I arrived was for a VIP member and was no longer mine. I was given a booth to the far left and I could see the table ok, but when it was time for the cutting all the people walked up blocking my view. Just defeated the whole purpose of coming here on a date night for the dinner experience they advertise on social media. BTW - The VIP member showed up late to the cutting and missed the whole thing. SMH We had the tuna fixed menu they advertise with the.... i guess you could call it the show. Food was meh, wasn't terrible but waasn't memorable either. Althought the Mussell white wine and blue cheese was pretty good. The craft cocktails were bland, nothing to rave about. Our server was very friendly, but the service was very slow. Getting food was slow and getting the check was even slower. If you didnt get free parking and had to pay for parking I recommend getting 2 hours. Thats how slow they are. When I received the bill, I also noticed a 5% surcharge they tacked on. They have a small little sign, tucked away by the host in the front door. Only way you'd know is after you eat and asked about it for them to show you. Very deceiving. After spending about $280, On the way home I couldn't stop thinknig about the nats I had to waive my hand over the table to stay off my food and how uncomforatble the air temperature was like a staggering 80 degrees at like 7:30pm. read more

For a $400 dollar bill, this place was very mid. Our service was very slow, our drinks took forever, the food was nothing special, and I don't plan on returning anytime soon. We received our food before we got our drinks. And then when we got our $21 dollar drinks, they were gone in a few sips...I almost forgot to mention they charge $6 for "more butter" for your bread. read more

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The atmosphere is definitely the highlight of this place. The interior is beautiful, with lots of character and unique design details that make it feel stylish and inviting. It's a nice spot for a relaxed dinner or drinks. The food was good but fairly standard, and the service was friendly and efficient throughout our visit. Overall, everything was enjoyable, even if nothing was particularly outstanding. read more

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This review is from Thursday tuna night which we all loved! Really cool ambience and bar area is inviting. Parking always sucks in LJ esp in summer- that is what it is. Interesting menu and I was skeptical that the sauce with the katsu tuna would be good but it was excellent. I had the seared tuna and it was perfect and meaty with delicious veg. I could have eaten more veg but the tuna portion was very generous. The tuna crudo appetizer was also fresh and tasty-loved that. People really liked their cocktails. I had a NA drink which was honestly not impressive. It basically tasted like lemon juice diluted over a big ice cube. No hints of matcha and the NA gin lent nothing to flavor. Watching the chef break down the tuna was so fascinating and having the fisherman there who caught it was a great touch and interesting to talk with him. Dessert was just good. Corn ice cream was nice but nothing special and honestly didn't seem to fit with the tuna theme. All in all, we really enjoyed it. Glancing at the regular menu, I didn't really see anything that excited me except a wagyu burger. But this tuna trip was worth it and enjoyed by all of us. read more

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My fav. HH right now!!! Sun/Tue/Wed/Thurs 5-close + Sat/Sun 5-6 + 10-11:30. The Happy meal is $20 and includes, burger, fries and a glass of bubbles. On top of that they do a Date night menu for $98 which feeds 2 and includes a main, side, salad, dessert. Now they also have Thursday night Tuna night with a pre fix tuna menu and Chef is set up on display cutting up (not sure what the technical term is) that beautiful tuna!! I haven't eaten in the dining room yet but I have ordered off the regular menu in the bar....there are 2 booths in the bar area and we have come with a small group and some want HH and others want reg. menu. service is stellar decor and vibe is stellar. food is stellar. Bravo... read more

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The service was great, came here after an engagement to celebrate in front of House was very attentive. The ambience was very sexy and intimate. I personally enjoyed the chicken skin butter with the House sourdough bread. read more

Le Coq - Bathroom entrance - French Near Me - La Jolla, California

So good! I got the Denver steak and my husband got the filet and we split them. Delicious! Diet comes in a bottle- not fountain, which is a bummer- potatoes and green beans were amazing as well as the starter bread. Service was wonderful, nice atmosphere , reservations recommended. Definitely will be back. read more

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Came here for my birthday on saturday night, we had reservations for 7:45pm. We were sat pretty quickly maybe 5-10 mins after checking in, Honestly, the experience started very strong we enjoyed the ambiance and decor it was a nice setting. The first man who greeted us had amazing energy, we were then handed off to our server and she was made aware of us celebrating my birthday. Our waters were never left empty, however that was not due to the server, they do have two people going around ensuring water is refilled at all times. We began with the baguette and chicken skin butter. We loved the warm baguette, so hard to go wrong with warm bread. The chicken skin butter was good nothing amazing, very forward chicken flavor slightly salty but just had to use smaller amounts on the bread. We then ordered our apps which was the onion tart and tuna tare tare. Both came out fairly quickly. The tuna tare tare was wonderful. It had different flavors that paired really well together, We both agreed it was our favorite dish of the night. The onion tart was good as well however it was just very rich and needed to be cut. I wish we had saved our bread to eat it with because it was just so strong on its own. But we were able to finish it. So overall, pretty impressed at this point. Until the mains came out. We got the steak frites and the gnocchi. We began with the steak frites and we tried the sauce and immediately thought it was overly salty. We ordered our steak medium and thought the temperature was on point it was pretty tender but again the sauce was just pretty salty and it was drenched in it so couldn't really enjoy the steak too much, the fries helped a bit with the saltiness. We then tried the gnocchi and I'll preface by saying we both really enjoy gnocchi, however when we tried it we both just gave each other a look. For 35$ we were just really not big fans. The portion looked very little as well so we didn't want to eat too much of it and we even debated to just put up with it and just finish it. We agreed to tell the server though and just eat the steak frites in the meantime before ordering a different main we wanted to try. Well, we finish the entire plate of steak frites and maybe 15-20 mins go by before she checks in on us to ask how it's going. So we inform her we were not fans of the dish and she asks if we want to switch it out and apologizes that she didn't come sooner so we'll give her that, but at that point we ate the whole steak plate and weren't too hungry so she offered us dessert. Now I saw many reviews that people get complimentary mousse for birthdays as expected of most upscale restaurants to offer a little free dessert with a candle for your birthday. I figured it was a great opportunity to make up for the mains not being good and we order the cheesecake. I fully didn't mind to pay for it either, so while waiting our server brought us the check informed us no rush. The gnocchi was removed of course and we were charged the cheesecake which again we didn't mind because we already felt bad sending back the gnocchi. We pay the bill she tells us have a great night and we continue to wait for the dessert. The dessert comes out again maybe 10-15 minutes later, but no candle, so was a little disappointed. Your birthday is just once a year and I feel like you want to be a little picky with where you decide to pick it because it's a special day. So watching other tables get a little candle with their desserts was a little disappointing and our server again was never seen again after handing off the bill. I am pretty emotional so I did tear up a bit because again it was my 30th birthday and I was just sad it didn't go great. Don't mind if the food wasn't that good but I was really hoping the service would be way better. Overall, was not impressed by this place. Weve been to animae and had really amazing food there and thought we would experience the same here. But nope, we drove 30 mins away to la jolla for super mid food and mediocre service. Definitely agree that we just wouldn't come back here again, just not worth the price and service didn't make up for it. I was being generous giving two stars because again the tare tare and bread were both good but again we've had way better in general. read more

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**review is only for happy hour experience** I was in between 3 and 4 stars for this. On the one hand, they removed the calamari side from their adult happy meal ($20) but price stayed the same. On the other hand, the burger and fries were REALLY good. The burger was cooked very well and it was juicy and flavorful, fries were seasoned well and the aioli they give u is great. I think they should reconsider adding a side because similar adult happy meals do come with an additional side, justifying the $20 price tag. The champagne is fun but a side like a salad or some additional item would make this a competitive and compelling deal when compared to other happy hour specials in SD. The inside is beautiful and staff was a little hard to get ahold of but kind when they did show up. I would come back and likely try their other menu items read more

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Overall my friend and I had a phenomenal time at Le Coq. We shared all the dishes, but every single dish was on point. For starters, we ordered the bread with chicken skin butter. The butter melted alongside the bread and the chicken skin gave it a crispy texture. I also highly recommend the bluefin tuna tartare, very refreshing and delicious, can't go wrong with that. For entree, we had the Denver steak and rose snapper along with sides including green beans and caulilini. The snapper was very fresh and the Denver steak has a wagyu texture to it, probably because it was sous vide. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate mousse, which was served at table side. I'm not a mousse person, but all the toppings that went along with it was very well put together in terms of the flavor profile. I would undoubtedly order that again. The service was very prompt despite being a very busy night. Our server was very attentive and made sure all of our orders are served on time. The overall ambiance is very versatile. It is a great place for a casual hangout or a formal date. Parking in La Jolla is very difficult and limited. There are no parking lots around this place and your best bet is street parking. But don't let this discourage you from coming here because the dishes here are worth the hassle of finding a parking. read more

I've been here twice now. The first time was with friends when they first opened. The second time was to celebrate a birthday! We shared a lot of bites the first time around. It was a really fun night with caviar bumps and hanging out. My friend had been wanting to check this spot out, so we dined here for dinner to celebrate her birthday. On this occasion, we ordered the steak frites, lamb chops, tuna tartare, and a couple of drinks. Everything was pretty good, except for the lamb chops. They were undercooked and too gamey for us. For dessert, they brought a complimentary chocolate mousse with a candle! Overall, the the vibes are fun and restaurant has very beautiful decor. read more

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I love Le Coq. Got introduced via the happy meal a few months ago and it's been a constant craving since. For $20 you're getting a large burger, bunch of fries, and some prosecco. You will likely be full by the end of that, but they have such a yummy menu you will likely want to order more. The service is professional but the bar gets busy so it's not a place for people in a hurry. The vibes are great in the restaurant- upscale art deco. Chefs kiss read more

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I had been looking forward to trying Le Coq, especially Tuna Thursday, with my boyfriend but unfortunately the service made for a disappointing experience. When we arrived, we were seated at one of the large center tables that could accommodate a party of five, despite being just the two of us. Meanwhile, every couple that arrived after us was seated in one of the more intimate booths, which immediately made the experience feel less welcoming. The drink service got off to a rough start. We were deciding between two cocktails, but our server told us one wasn't available because they were transitioning menus and all of the cocktails were pre-batched. When we asked about another cocktail, the explanation we received was simply, "Well, it's mezcal, so it's smoky..." without any additional guidance. Since the current menu only offered three cocktails despite what appeared to be a full bar, we asked if they could make anything from a previous menu. Our server said it was only her second shift and she couldn't make any recommendations, but she'd ask the bartender. About 15 minutes later, she returned with just one suggestion: an Aperol Spritz. Unfortunately, the service continued to decline from there. Our server walked past our table several times without checking in or asking if we were ready to order food. We even commented to each other that maybe it was best not to order because the experience had already been so underwhelming. Throughout this time, we noticed the manager stopping by and speaking with multiple other tables, but ours was never acknowledged. Nearly 40 minutes after being seated, around 7:40 p.m., our server finally returned to take our food order. At that point, we decided to order just one appetizer--the tuna tartare--to see if it would change our minds about staying. To the kitchen's credit, the tuna tartare was excellent. It was incredibly fresh, well-balanced, and easily the highlight of the evening. While the food showed real promise, the level of service simply didn't match the prices or the experience I'd expect from a restaurant in this category. I don't mind paying premium prices for great hospitality, but attentive service is part of what you're paying for. I hope this was just an off night, because the kitchen certainly deserves better than the front-of-house experience we received. It's disappointing because the kitchen delivered a great dish, but the front-of-house experience overshadowed it. As a result, I probably won't return to Le Coq or its sister restaurants. read more

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Husband and I celebrated our Anniversary here, first time. He made the reservation online. Parking is limited and compact. Although there are more across the streets. There are also metered parking in front of the restaurant. Arrived 15 minutes early and was greeted nicely. Bar section on the left as you walk in. I liked the area where we're seated. Drinks: Husband- had the "Cha" it's a Japanese whisky, matcha, lemon grass, Yuzu, like leaf. Very good drink and smooth. Recommended by our server Emiliano. My drink was Tres Desole- aperol, hibiscus, mango, coconut, sparkling. If you like coconut liquor this one is for you. I enjoyed it even though I'm not a fan of coconut, I think the balance is good. Baguette with chicken skin butter- we both enjoyed it. Different twist on the chicken skin butter as it was on the salty side but good pairing on the baguette. Mussels- definitely unforgettable. Really good. Smart to dip the half baguette. Good amount of mussels. Swiss Chard Gnocchi- this is my favorite. Found out it's made of ricotta cheese and flour instead of potatoes. Parmesan reggiano cream is divine. So light and not heavy. I hope they don't stop serving this because I will get it again on next visit. Char sui pork collar- I wouldn't say this stands out, because it doesn't. It was okay, tender. Shareable for sure. Desserts: Tableside chocolate mousse- so silky and elegant. Highly recommended. Pistachio Paris-Brest almost like a cream puff. I can't tell if the pistachio is there. Service is amazing, thank you Emiliano for all the recommendations. Tip: Lighting is low and dim that requires a cellphone flashlight. That might've been the 2nd downside besides the compact limited parking. You can however ask for a book light but it doesn't make a difference. read more

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PHENOMENAL start to finish! we went here for an anniversary dinner and boy did we feel loved & special by the staff. we were surprised with some bubbles. Ordered the Spring Fling for $98 (3 courses to share). Charred Snap Pea salad was delicious with the perfect crunch & amt of dressing. Baguette paired beautifully. We added the Onion Tart & WOW just may be my new favorite dish ever. It's basically a deconstructed French onion soup. Following, Denver steak & Seared tuna for our entrée, cooked to perfection. For dessert, we had chocolate mousse, and another one on the house to help us celebrate more. Moose had a beautiful silky texture. Chefs kiss. Palette cleanser was some lemon flavored gelatin candies. I cannot recommend this place enough, and when I'm back in San Diego, I plan on visiting other restaurants in this group well done! And our server was a delight, all staff was! read more

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The service was exceptional, and every dish was outstanding. We started with the baguette served with chicken skin butter--a must-try. The Bluefin tuna tartare and hamachi crudo were incredibly fresh and flavorful, while the stuffed chicken wing was perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. For entrées, the rose snapper was cooked beautifully, and the steak frites were simply amazing. To finish, the pistachio Paris-Brest practically melted in our mouths, and the blueberry mochi Basque cheesecake was the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. An outstanding dining experience from start to finish. We can't wait to return! read more

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Went on date night on a weekday to celebrate our anniversary. The ambiance and space were lovely and inviting. Notes of maximalism were evident and cohesive; music wasn't too loud or distracting which we loved. Service was wonderful. Upon entry, we were greeted politely and seated promptly. Our server was so pleasant and informative when she answered our questions; great listener and attentive as well. We had the following: - baguette with chicken skin butter (loved that saltiness) - mussels à la Paris (with white wine and blue cheese) (really good!!!) - beet salad (more tart than sweet) - chicken cafe de Paris (has a savory, curry flavor) - steak frites (the quintessential) - pomme puree to pair with chicken and steak - Solero (a very tart passionfruit cocktail; helped balanced everything I ate) All dishes were equally delicious. We loved that the flavors were intense, but not overwhelming. They aimed to truly highlight what was proposed in the menu and have certainly achieved it. Favorites were the mussels, chicken, and steak. We'd skip the baguette since the mussel dish already had one (just a lot of bread than what we're used to) but we used it to soak up as much broth as we could. (Would've possibly have drank it all if no one was looking.) We ended the night with a complimentary dessert from the server who wanted to celebrate us. Again, she was so nice! She treated us with a chocolate mousse with blackberries. Such a delightful treat; the chocolate was rich and didn't taste artificial or too sweet. Highly recommend for the food and experience! One of our favorite date nights in San Diego for sure! read more

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Could of been a 5 start restaurant but service was not it for us. Our server fr looked and sounded like he doesn't want to be there and hate his life. The food there was exceptional though everything we got was delicious and would definitely come back for the food if we got a better waiter. We heard other waiters/ waitresses around us and they seem lovely and energetic and welcoming and wanting to share the menu specials with us. Idk maybe our server was having a bad day but our waiter fr just wanted us in and out of there. We just felt very unwelcomed. read more

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The award winning chef, Tara, brings forth an innovative, flavorful and elegant menu. It was a Filipino, French and Californian fusion restaurant. The salmon rillette, was fantastic with the bean bread. The surf and turf dinner for two is a great value with appetizer, entree and dessert. The steak was so tender, it tasted like wagyu. The drinks and cocktails like the green tea old fashion is uniquely innovative and tasty. Service here is top notch and friendly. The restaurant is warm, welcoming, spacious and perfectly set for an elegant, fun evening dining experience. It's no surprise their chef is a James Beard Award winner for best California cuisine. read more

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What a great time we had at Le Coq. After hours and happy hour at 10 pm was great!! Enjoyed at music. I do wish the dance floor was bigger and we had more space to dance. Service was amazing and the food was delicious!!! Totally enjoyed the food, the drinks and the dancings. Great time friends. read more

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Came here with friends on a Saturday night for their After Hours 2000s Hip Hop theme. It was such a fun vibe! They rotate different themes every Saturday, which makes it even better. We sat in a booth near the DJ booth, and there was a small dance area for anyone who wanted to dance. We had a great time eating, drinking, and dancing all night. They offer a Happy Hour menu with great deals starting at 10pm. I tried two cocktails: the Tres Desole (4/5) and the Cosmopolitan (5/5), which was excellent. I also sampled my friend's burger and fries (4/5). It was slightly on the salty side but still very good. The Celery Salad (5/5) was really good. It was super fresh with a delicious vinaigrette. Our server was very friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be back for dinner to try more dishes! read more

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This place pops up a lot on good places to eat in La Jolla so I was glad to finally take a chance to try it. All Of the food was really good. We got the Caesar salad to start and it was pretty good. I also really enjoyed. The star of my meal was the snapper though. I was hesitant to get the snapper instead of steak or chicken but I'm glad I did. It was really flavorful and cooked perfectly. read more

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FOOD: My friend and I shared the date night which was $98 for: Salmon rillette (5/5): It's a french-style spread made with salmon. Bing bread (5/5): Warm, flakey, buttery, and fluffy bread. Wish I had it all to myself. It was really good. Denver steak & 2 prawns (4.5/5): Steak was cooked medium and it came out the way we wanted it. 2 prawns were big but wish we had 2 more of the prawns to fill us up. Mashed potatoes & green beans (5/5): Mashed potatoes were very smooth and full of flavor and the green beans were crunchy and delicious! Chocolate mousse (5/5): Very rich and chocolatey. It had whipped cream and some kind of toffee crunch on top. SERVICE: Our server and the people who helped her were friendly and attentive. They refilled our water glasses without us asking for a refill, and they gave us cute purse holders so that our purses were not on the floor. AMBIANCE: The place has a chic, moody vibe with dim lighting, red velvet booths, and industrial brick walls. I will definitely come back for their all day HH that they offer on certain days. read more

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Hors d'Oeuvres 1. Baguette - very soft, very good 2. Chicken Skin Butter - eh, nothing special 3. Tuna Tartare - great mix of everything if you like poke 4. Onion Tart - hearty goodness, would recommend 5. Mussels a la Paris - i'm not a mussels fan, but one was good Les Plats 1. Swiss Chard Gnocchi - this was my order & jam. gnocchi is a favorite of mine. the chewy softness. the swiss chard blended into a creamy cheesy goodness added to the enjoyment. 2. Duck Confit - tender, but salty? i think that goes with the syle of the cuisine though. Les Viandes 1. Filet - very tender, but undercooked for medium rare. Service - great, always accomodating Environment - the music was a little too loud to carry out a conversation without yelling. Wouldn't bring a toddler here :) read more

We came for the happy meal since we saw it being advertised all over IG and also bc we've dined at Animae and loved the menu. The aesthetic and vibe is pretty chic and loved everything about it. For a quick second I thought we were going to be underdressed but I'm like We're in La Jolla!? Once we got sat, didn't have any qualms about it and the server was super nice. Loved the concept of the whole place. We got a few drinks - I want to say the Army Navy on the HH menu was so goooood. The bartender was also our server. The happy meal was good! I would say the smashburger was a little salty, but overall everything was decently priced and we talked about coming another time to try out the rest of the menu. read more

My fiancé and I walked around La Jolla Cove and luckily, Le Coq, was able to accommodate us without a reservation! This is our second time coming to the restaurant where last time we did the date night for two on a Wednesday night. We had a great experience and decided to come back. So we did the logical thing, and got the date night for two on the menu. It is a total of $98 per couple and you get all of the images that I have shared pull up. This includes bread, freshly baked and steaming, an entrée, and a salad. Bonus part was we got chocolate pudding for dessert. The staff was all very friendly and tentative, with someone wiping down our table between every course. I appreciated the attention to detail during the plating and making this a wonderful experience. read more

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The service was horrendous and the food does not compensate for that. We got sat at 7:30pm, our waitress finally approached us at 7:50. We placed our order for apps and main no later than 8pm and we got our entrees at 8:45pm. When we asked our waitress about the status of our food, she was not apologetic, she just said it was coming. The table to the left of us sat after we did, got their food faster, and finished by the time we got our main course. We did get to meet Chef Tara and watch some of the tune breakdown. She was friendly and easy to approach. This was the highlight of our experience. The rest is nothing to write home about. read more

Wonderfulness all around! We decided to celebrate our 25th anniversary at one of the most amazing restaurants we've tried in a long time, and it did not disappoint. From the moment we walked in, our waitress Sophia made our experience exceptional--she was authentic, welcoming, and truly added to the joy of our evening. The ambience was incredible, the drinks were perfect, and every dish was delicious. The star of the night was the entrée of prawns served with unbelievably smooth potatoes--absolutely unforgettable! We were delighted to spend our evening here, surrounded by a modern take on vintage French-Asian fusion. Highly recommend to anyone looking to enjoy a wonderful, memorable night out. read more

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The worst place I've ever been to in my life. A huge space with beautiful decor. We were there for 2.5 hrs. Took 30 minutes in between drinks. Maybe an hour for food. Missed an app. Ignored. Said i was getting a birthday dessert and was set up then wasn't. I understand they were busy so I don't blame the server. The operation as a whole just needs quite a bit of refinement. Ordered gnocchi with duck and brought out veggie gnocchi bc they said they were out. I'm grateful to have a story with the gals though. So I don't regret it. read more

My husband and I went to Le Coq for their Thursday cutting Tuna experience and we had a lot of fun. When we arrived to the restaurant we were greeted by the host right away and she put us right behind the tuna table so we could see the whole experience clearly. We enjoyed the ambiance as it has that New York industrial vibe. Our server Brian is very attentive and thoughtful, he explained the menu very well. I had the tuna 3-course meal while my husband ordered their onion tart and gnocchi. Every food item came at a very reasonable time and everything was delicious! The portions were big and we got full. We also got their Cha and Old fashioned cocktails , they were very flavorful. We will definitely come back again and try their other dishes! read more

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Le Coq is an elegant and classy french restaurant in the heart of La Jolla. Drinks were good and we ordered the Le Coq Gin Martini, Tres Desole, and Monte Carlo. For food we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse, Onion Tart, Duck Confit, and the Tomahawk Pork Chop. The food was beautifully prepared and the appetizers were delicious but we were less impressed with the entrees. The duck confit was lacking in flavor and we did not enjoy the pork chop. 75% of the pork chop was fat and it was difficult to find any actual bites of meat in the cut. Service was excellent from start to finish but we were disappointed with the food and we were hoping for a more elevated dining experience. read more

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Grabbed a seat at the bar at the beginning of happy hour. You get a full meal, burger, fries, shrimp, and a cocktail. So it's a great deal. Since the bar has limited seating you may have a hard time finding a place if you get there towards the middle/end of HH. Parking in La Jolla is obviously not the greatest but there is a paid lot a few feet from the restaurant. read more

Le Coq - Happy hour meal - French Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This is one of my favorite places to celebrate!!! Food is truly fantastic - I trust anything Chef Tara does, and Le Coq is no exception. The setting is romantic, intimate, and beautiful! We first came here after our engagement and were floored by the service. Everyone made us feel special. We LOVED the chicken and onion tart. For a more casual outing - no better way to feast than the elevated adult happy meal! My PERFECT Happy Hour! A burger, fries, 3 large shrimps, and a glass of champagne? Every bit is perfect. For those wanting to mix/match - there are a few other items and drinks on the menu. Le Coq will be a frequently visited spot for us for hopefully many years/celebrations! read more

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I grew up in La Jolla, so I have been to many different restaurants that have been in this location. Prior to this it was Brian Malarkey's other restaurant Herringbone, with a giant tree in the center. I was a big fan of that so I was sad to see it close. This new restaurant Le Coq is also owned by Brian Malarkey and I would say leans more toward a French steakhouse, although there is also a large bar component as well. They really did a good job with the redesign on the inside although I really do miss the tree. There isn't a dedicated parking lot except pay lots on the side and across the street. Otherwise street parking is pretty difficult to find in La Jolla in general. Our server was polite, however the hostess was not very polite. Aside from that everyone else we encountered was. I started off with a Steak Tartare and really enjoyed it. The cornichons were a great flavor component mixing with the steak. For my entrée I chose the Steak Frites and really enjoyed it. I especially like Au Poivre sauce and thought the steak was cooked perfectly. I also was a huge fan of their iced tea and was happy to see it comes with multiple refills. Overall, I would recommend this place especially for a date, but it is also great for friends or family. read more

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Le Coq is a total La Jolla gem - stunning interior design, classy, and elegant. I had the filet with bordelaise sauce, green beans, and mashed potatoes - perfectly cooked and full of flavor. You can taste the quality in every bite. Service was on the slower side (they were slammed that night), but the staff stayed friendly and professional. If you're not in a rush, this is the perfect spot to sip some wine and enjoy a top-notch French meal. That filet? Chef's kiss. read more

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We came on Saturday w rsvp and was seated right away. Service was quick and prompt right before the dessert course. It took over 30 minutes for them to clear the table n give us dessert. It was a packed restaurant so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. We came for the new date night menu when I saw it on SD Mag. It did not disappoint. We enjoyed everything but the steak. It was on the tough side. I prefer a tender piece of steak. The decor is very dark and music is really loud. It was a bit hard to hear each other. read more

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Celebrated our anniversary here, and everything was spectacular! For cocktails, I had the Cha, which was a Japanese whiskey + green tea concoction. I really enjoyed it, and ordered another. My wife had the Neuf Connection which was refreshing, but switched to the Langlois Rose later. We started with the Tuna Tartare and Fried Oysters, both fantastic. Fried Oysters were more like a tempura, which I love. For entrees we shared the popular Steak Frites, which lived up to the hype, and splurged on the Miyazaki A5 strip which melted in the mouth. We ordered the Pave as a side based on the server recommendation, and it was like a delicious hash brown. Pistachio for dessert which was good but nothing special. The service was exceptional. At one point Pinay Chef Tara Monsod herself came out to serve it, and that was incredible. She was super nice, and even took the time to get a picture with us. The restaurant was beautiful, in a refurbished old car dealership. Wish we had one of the booths with more space, as our table was very tight right next to tables next to us - that part I did not like. Overall we enjoyed our anniversary night and would go back here again. I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

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Checked out Le Coq with a group of 4 to celebrate our friends' birthdays! We made a reservation for around 6pm on a weekday and there seemed to still be a lot of tables open by the time our dinner ended. I hear this place can get very busy so I recommend making reservations regardless. The place is intimate which makes it a great place for celebrations. Parking: This place shares a similar problem along with any other business in downtown La Jolla and that is *parking*. Make sure to allot for time searching for street parking. I believe there might be some paid lots around as well. Service: Great service by Randall! He explained everything well and gave us a few suggestions. Our food came out in a timely manner. Food: We ordered family style which I believe was the best way to try out many different dishes. By the end of our dinner, we were all pretty full and even had left overs. -Jus d'Ete ($17) drink: calamansi cocktail -Baguette with chicken skin butter ($12): served with a small baguette, perfect to share with a party of 4. -Steak Tartare ($23): served with fresh potato chips and was very flavorful. -Onion Tart ($18): short rib with caramelized onions. The waiter poured sauce around the tart. Loved this dish. -Spinach Gnocchi ($36): great flavor, looked small but filling. I would agree with some of the reviews that the gnocchi was a little too soft -Duck Confit ($38): this dish is one of my top duck confit dishes! -Green Beans ($14): served with shallot and garlic . -10oz Denver Steak ($62) comes with a sauce of your choice: our server suggested with Au Poivre sauce and it complemented the meat so well -Pistachio Paris-Brest ($18): I enjoyed this dessert! Our friends received complimentary chocolate mousse for their birthdays. Overall: Our party had a great time at Le Coq. Enjoyed the environment, service, and food. Next time, I'd like to try out their happy hour menu. read more

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I'm a fan of Animae, so when I heard Chef Tara had this other restaurant venture, it was immediately on my list of places to try. - PARKING - Pretty tough finding a spot in La Jolla, but there are several side streets were you can try your luck and take a stroll if anything. - SERVICE/ENVIRONMENT - Beautiful interior, with a gorgeous bar right when you walk in. The inner dining area is big and also just as aesthetically pleasing as the front. Staff here is very welcoming and friendly, and were very patient as we enjoyed our meal. Always checked in to see how we were doing and removed any plates we weren't still scraping the sauce off of! - FOOD - Baguette w/ Chicken Skin Butter ($12.00): Nice crisp crust and fluffy inside of the baguette. The Chicken Skin butter was unique and together with the bread, was a great start to our meal. Steak Tartare ($23.00): Well-seasoned and fresh beef. Another favorite appetizer for us. Onion Tart ($18.00): Nice warm hug in a tart! This was one of our waiter's top picks and we saw why after trying it. Spring Spinach Gnocchi ($36.00): Not the best gnocchi I've had, but still tasty nonetheless. I felt like maybe the spinach made the gnocchi a bit mushier than I usually like it to be. Duck Confit ($38.00): This might be one of the best ducks I've had! Crisp skin, but SUPER tender duck meat. I'm not a huge fan of beans but the flavoring on the Butter Beans was nice. Denver Steak ($62.00): Cooked perfectly medium rare! The au poivre sauce was absolutely delicious as well. We really wanted to try the Pomme Pave, but unfortunately they no longer serve it! We opted for fries on the side and they were a good accompaniment to our meal. - OVERALL - Another great restaurant to try in La Jolla! Definitely bring friends to try out more of the menu! read more

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