SOHO, MANHATTAN
Le Coucou
Daniel Rose's candlelit French dining room in the 11 Howard hotel — pike quenelle, white linen, and service that makes an evening feel like an occasion.
See current Google rating & reviews ↗Candles, white tablecloths and big chandeliers on the ground floor of the 11 Howard hotel, with an open kitchen on show at the back of the room. Le Coucou is Stephen Starr's French restaurant with chef Daniel Rose, and it has the kind of grace a dining room either has or doesn't. People dress for it, and the service is among the most polished in the city.
The menu is unapologetically French. Start with the gourmandises — the pike quenelle in lobster sauce is the classic — then a main like lamb with braised neck and young carrots, or whatever the kitchen is doing with lobster that season. Leave room for dessert. Save it for an anniversary, or for the evening you want to feel the city put on its good clothes.
Editor’s tip
Book a later table on a weeknight and order a couple of gourmandises for the table before mains.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
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Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 14, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.