A charming bistro and bar located on Main Street in Venice, Coucou brings an exciting new restaurant to an already bustling neighborhood. Coucou’s tightly curated menu offers Californian takes on classic French dishes. When I visited the restaurant on a Thursday night for dinner, the bar and restaurant areas were both quite busy, which fostered a lively atmosphere. With its stark combination of exposed brick and banquettes made of soft leather, Coucou’s interior feels sleek and casual at the same time.
Founded by husband-wife team Hayley and Jesse Feldman, Coucou opened in March 2023. Previously, Coucou’s space was occupied by Chez Tex, which was also owned by the Feldmans. While I did not have a chance to visit Chez Tex when it was open, if the food quality, excellent service, and impressive design were anywhere near the level of Coucou’s, I am sure I would have been a regular customer.
At Coucou, my friend and I ordered the Fried Olives and Market Crudités as appetizers, both of which were delicious. I’d especially recommend the fried olives, which I hadn’t tried prior to dining at Coucou. We then ordered the Mussels Mariniere (with a side of Pommes Frites, of course) and the Bibb Lettuce Salad as our main dishes. Once again, the main courses were outstanding.
Although we felt too full to order dessert, Coucou’s food did not feel heavy at all. Their entire menu offers a much lighter take on traditional French cuisine, which I appreciated. Speaking of dessert, Coucou offers only one sweet option: their swirly vanilla soft serve, which recently went viral on TikTok. When I visit the Coucou next, I’m saving room for this dessert, which has truly become a social media sensation.
Address: 218 Main Street, Venice, CA 90291
Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM; Friday-Saturday from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Reservations: Via Resy