Coucou West Hollywood

If not for the charming, well-heated patio and decent hors d’oeuvres, we wouldn’t necessarily give this new West Hollywood bistro our stamp of approval. That being said, the second location of this Venice cocktail joint fills a solid niche within the upscale neighborhood—a stylish date night spot with excellent drinks, decent, not-too-expensive bar bites and weekend brunch service. It all makes for an easy slide from drinks into dinner at Coucou, where Bouchon Vegas alum Jacob Wetherington offers a cheese-covered “l’haute” dog, a vegan-friendly French dip made with king oyster mushrooms and a straightforward steak tartare that gets the job done. Our suggestion? Skip the mains, go all in on appetizers and order Coucou’s popular soft-serve for dessert—it comes with a delicious housemade chocolate magic shell.