Coquette
You want a restaurant that has style, and a scene, and also really good food? We know exactly the place: Coquette in the Boston Seaport. Coquette is a super cool spot located in the Omni Hotel, directly across from the convention center. It’s run by the Coji Restaurant Group, which is the same team behind hot spots like Lolita and Yvonne’s. But this is their version of a re-defined French Brasserie. And the place is absolutely gorgeous. I mean, just take a look at this space. It’s big and elegant and chic. There’s beautiful artwork everywhere. They have a custom-built wine unit displaying hundreds of bottles. And I think Coquette has one of the most beautiful bars in all of Boston. They focus on French spirits and cocktails, and above the bar there’s a gigantic mural that’s actually a re-creation of a painting you can find at the Palace of Versailles. So yeah, this place has some pretty serious style.
As for the food, they describe it as “inspired by French cuisine”, but they still keep it fun and approachable. To start, you definitely want to order the “Nonna Buns”. These are warm, fresh-baked garlic-parmesan pull apart rolls, served with sea salt and pink pepper. Just keep in mind, these are not complementary, they cost around ten bucks, but they’re definitely worth the money.
I absolutely love the “Lamb Meatballs” here. I’ve never had a meatball like this anywhere else. They’re served with four juicy meatballs, covered in a sweet orange-date glaze, along with some crushed hazelnuts. And it’s sitting in a pool of caper creme fraiche with drops of harissa chili oil, so it’s as tantalizing as it is delicious.
This appetizer might look like a Chinese egg roll, but it’s full of surprises. This is a Borek Spring Roll, it’s light and crispy on the outside. Stuffed with some Middle Eastern spiced chicken, chopped dates, and gruyere cheese. And it’s served over what they call “Samurai Sauce” for dipping. So this is like a Turkish / Moroccan / Asian fusion dish.
Coquette also offers some creative raw bar items like the Basil Oysters. You gotta love the presentation here, you get a half-dozen fresh-shucked oysters, topped with basil oil and lemon. And if you want to upgrade, you can add on some Russian Ossetra Caviar, for a few extra Rubles.
If you’re looking for something light and easy to share, there’s a section of the menu deviate to what they call Capri-Style Pizza. That just means the crust is ultra-thin and crispy, cooked at a high heat, and it’s topped with super-fresh Fior di Latte mozzarella that’s nice and creamy. So if you’re a cheese lover, get the Four Cheese Pizza that also has fontina, pecorino, and taleggio with a little pomodoro sauce and basil. Or for something a bit richer, check out the Mushroom Bianca Pizza loaded end to end with oyster mushrooms, thyme, garlic, and olive oil.
As for entrees, check out Coquette's mouth-watering Dry Aged Sirloin Steak. This is 10 ounces of buttery, top quality beef, perfectly seasoned with lavender salt and herbs, and it’s served in a rich and satisfying black pepper-brandy sauce.
Another popular choice is the Pork Tomahawk. Just check out this big boy: it’s a 16 ounce Niman Ranch pork chop, served bone-in, but it’s sliced like a Tomahawk Steak. So there’s tons of flavors going on here, with a honeycrisp mostarda on top, and even some puffed wild rice for a little crunch.
There are some delicious sides here as well, you might want to order a la carte. And our top recommendation is the Lobster Mac and Cheese. This is made with rigatoni pasta with a nice wide mouth, so it can hold a lot of sauce. There’s a blend of cheeses, including fontina, taleggio, and provolone, so it’s very gooey and rich. Chunks of fresh-shucked lobster are everywhere. They throw on some pecorino crumbs on top for texture. Keep in mind, this is a side dish that costs over thirty dollars, but honestly you could get this as your entree, and you won’t regret it.
Anytime you’re dining at a French restaurant, you can’t leave your meal without ordering dessert. So at Coquette, you definitely want to stay for the Double Chocolate Torte. They should probably call this a triple or quadruple chocolate torte honestly. It’s made with both a dark and milk chocolate mousse, along with salted halva fudge, praline crunch, and cocoa crumbles. Along with passionfruit sauce and guava ice cream. So there’s a lot going on here, it’s a beauty to look at, it’s big enough to share, and it’s a perfect way to end the meal.
Honestly, I’d come here just for the atmosphere alone. But it’s definitely a good choice for after work drinks or a romantic date night. The food always impresses, the drinks are on point, and they have some of the best artwork in Boston outside of the Museum of Fine Arts, at Coquette in the Seaport.
