What to Order at Le Coucou

Le Coucou is chef Daniel Rose and restaurateur Stephen Starr's French dining room at the 11 Howard hotel in SoHo, and the two orders that define it are the pike quenelle and the lobster au poivre.

What should you order at Le Coucou?

Order the quenelle de brochet, the lobster au poivre, and, if your table can commit, the whole rabbit. The restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2018, The Infatuation's Kenny Yang scored it a 7.8, and the menu reads as old-school French executed at full seriousness.

1. Quenelle de brochet. The signature: a Lyonnaise pike mousse under a sauce built on cream, brandy, and lobster stock. Reviews single out this dish as the reason the restaurant exists.

2. Lobster au poivre. Yang calls it the best thing here, tender lobster in a cognac cream and peppercorn sauce. If you order one luxury, order this one.

3. Tout le lapin. The kitchen serves the whole rabbit three ways, from stewed to mustard-sauced legs. Diner reviews describe it as tender and not gamey, and it is the menu's most distinctive commitment.

4. The duck. Diner reviews rank the canard among the best in the city. A safer landing than the rabbit for tables splitting the difference between adventure and comfort.

5. Leeks with toasted hazelnuts. Yang's review flags this sherry-vinaigrette starter, and it plays the classic French opener against the rich mains to come.

What should you skip at Le Coucou?

Skip nothing for quality, but order with the check in mind. The Infatuation describes a room of candles, white tablecloths, grand chandeliers, and diners in designer clothing, and the wine list climbs fast. The quenelle and one shared luxury main deliver the experience without the maximal bill.

How do you get a reservation at Le Coucou?

Le Coucou books on Resy 28 days out at 10 AM per booking guides, and prime dinner slots go early in the window. Parties of 7 to 10 move to prix-fixe group dining instead of the public books. For short-notice dates, cancellations are the realistic door, and lunch books easier than dinner.

Frequently asked questions

Does Le Coucou have a Michelin star?

Yes. Le Coucou has held one Michelin star since 2018, and it won the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in 2017.

Who is the chef at Le Coucou?

Daniel Rose, the American chef who made his name in Paris with Spring, runs it with restaurateur Stephen Starr. The restaurant opened in 2016 at the 11 Howard hotel on Lafayette Street.

How expensive is Le Coucou?

Expect fine-dining prices: this is a special-occasion French room with white tablecloths and a serious wine list. The quenelle and the lobster au poivre anchor most tables, and the bill scales with the wine.

Getting the table is the harder half of the plan. DinnerElite tracks when Le Coucou releases reservations and how far ahead it books, and it emails you the moment a cancellation opens up. Start from DinnerElite's Le Coucou page.