For my birthday, my husband and I decided to try out La Coop, the new French bistro downtown. We were blown away by the authenticity and quality of our food as well as the relaxed dining atmosphere.
Located in the former 732 Social space at the front of the Green Building, La Coop offers authentic French cuisine with a modern twist. The recipes by Chef Bobby Benjamin include comforting items such as Coq Au Vin, Duck Cassoulet and Steak Frites.
Walking into the restaurant, I was immediately transformed to Paris. Everything from the striped booths to the rustic metal lampshades took me across the pond. You can watch the chefs working which caters to the open and friendly atmosphere. The dim lights and dark brown decor help create a relaxed space perfect for enjoying an extended European style dinner.
We started our meal by ordering some of their signature drinks. I had a Vins Maison, the house made fortified wine, featuring a Rose infused with cherry. My husband order a Kir Petillant with ginger (sparkling wine infused with a liqueur.)
We then enjoyed the Charcuterie Du Jour which was an aged salami flavored with garlic and white pepper. Along with the meat, we ordered the Salade Aux Lardons Et Oeuf Poche which consisted of pea tendrils, frisee, bacon, brown butter croutons with a poached egg and house vinaigrette. Both dishes were absolutely delicious.
For entrees my husband had the Travers De Boeuf, short ribs with grits and onion confit. The meat fell off the bone and the grits were creamy and flavorful. I ordered the special which was Alaskan Halibut on a bed of creamed corn with cornbread fried in duck fat and champagne grapes. I admit I was skeptical of the combination of flavors but I went with the servers suggestion because she spoke so highly of the dish. I was pleasantly surprised how the corn and fish complimented each other with the grapes adding the perfect touch of sweetness to the meal. For dessert we ordered the Pistachio Creme Brulee.
My husband and I shared the appetizers and dessert and ended up with more than enough food. The prices are reasonable and much more affordable than I expected. Our drinks were $8, the appetizers around $7-10, and our entrees were $18-20, with $20 being the most expensive item. Everything was delicious and I can't wait to go back and try the Escargot and Duck Cassoulet.
La Coop Bistro a Vins is located at 732 East Market Street.
http://coopbistro.com
Photos courtesy of La Coop
