Le Coucou
French restaurant in New York City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Le Coucou is a French restaurant in the 11 Howard hotel in New York City. Opened in 2016, the restaurant is owned by Stephen Starr, with Daniel Rose as its chef.
| Le Coucou | |
|---|---|
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 The restaurant's exterior in 2024 | |
 Interactive map of Le Coucou | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2016 |
| Owner | Stephen Starr |
| Chef | Daniel Rose |
| Food type | French |
| Dress code | Elegant, Jacket not required |
| Rating |  Michelin Guide |
| Location | 138 Lafayette Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, 10013 |
| Coordinates | 40°43′9″N 74°0′0.5″W |
| Website | lecoucou |
History and menu
History
Before beginning Le Coucou, Rose was a chef in Paris at his own restaurant, Spring.[1] Rose continued to operate Spring after founding Le Coucou.[2] Before formally partnering with Starr, Rose worked briefly in the kitchen of Starr's restaurant Buddakan.[1] Rose has a reputation as a "cerebral" chef, in contrast to Starr's "mass-appeal" restaurants.[1] However, Rose found Starr's existing roster of restaurants comforting as a source of support for Le Coucou.[1]
The restaurant opened in June 2016.[3] Roman and Williams designed the restaurant's interior.[4] The décor includes a mural by artist Dean Barger, inspired by the works of French painter Hubert Robert.[4]
The restaurant was closed for over a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] It reopened in November 2021.[6] Four months were spent preparing for the reopening.[7] Though Le Coucou serves primarily French food, the reworked menu included dishes based on recipes from Spain and Portugal.[7] Rose has said these were included "to give people a sense that there's a big wide world out there, even while travel is still a bit curtailed"[7] due to the pandemic.
Anna Sorokin ate at the restaurant frequently while living in 11 Howard.[8]
Menu and offerings
Rose has said the closed New York City French restaurant Lutèce inspired the menu at Le Coucou.[2]
Beverage program
Wine
The restaurant's wine program is currently overseen by wine director Jerry Cox, an Advanced Sommelier & Master's candidate certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Cox joined Le Coucou after previously working at SAGA, a two-Michelin starred NYC tasting menu restaurant, and has spoken publicly about the restaurant's wine philosophy, emphasizing classical European regions and the pairing of French wines with Daniel Rose's cuisine.[9][10]
Le Coucou's wine program has received continued recognition from Wine Spectator. The restaurant earned the magazine's Best of Award of Excellence in 2026, recognizing wine programs with exceptional breadth, depth, and presentation.[11]
Reviews and accolades
Reviews
The restaurant received three stars from New York Times reviewer Pete Wells.[2] Wells praised the restaurant's ability to downplay the intimidating aspects of haute cuisine while maintaining a sense of formality, writing that the restaurant has "an elegance that is well outside the everyday rumble of New York life but that doesn't have...the off-putting reserve...from the old days."[2] When comparing the restaurant to New York City French mainstay La Grenouille, Wells wrote that Le Coucou was superior in the quality of its food, service, and wine list.[2]
Accolades
Pete Wells placed Le Coucou in fifty-eighth place in his 2023 ranking of the hundred best restaurants in New York City.[12]
The restaurant won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant in 2017.[13]
The restaurant earned Wine Spectator magazine's Best of Award of Excellence in 2026, recognizing wine programs with exceptional breadth, depth, and presentation.[11]