Coquette Café
316 N. Milwaukee St.
(414) 291-2655
Hours: Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fri.: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sat.: 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
A brand new chef and a new direction are the latest additions to hit the menu at Sandy and Angie D'Amato's Coquette Café.
It was two years ago this past February that the Coquette first opened its doors and brought a classy, comfortable and affordable French bistro to the city with the same attention to detail that has filled the Sanford wall with a litany of national accolades.
Comfort is the key here. The expansive restaurant wanders full circle around an active bar, and the alcoves provide intimacy with a deceptively large seating capacity. A wall of picture windows affords a view of the Third Ward. The back room is cozy and more private, and you can control your destiny on the type of experience that you are after.
Chef Brack May has assumed the helm of the kitchen and comes to the Coquette well-qualified after spending time working for Chefs Ben and Karen Barker at the Magnolia in Durham, N.C. Recommended appetizers include oven-roasted mussels with white wine and shallot cream, and Flammekueche, a great Alsatian flatbread pizza topped with fresh cheese, bacon and onion. Sandwiches include a bistro burger with Gruyere cheese with onion, thyme relish and classic pomme frites. The croque monsieure puts a French accent to a great grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Main course options include grilled lamb chops, boeuf Bourgeoisie, coq au vin, grilled salmon and a great pan seared duck breast pressed with cracked pepper and served with wilted mustard greens and celeriac puree.
While D'Amato is in the kitchen one night a week, it is clear that the kitchen belongs to May. Watch the menu continue to evolve once he gets settled in and confidence grows.
Moderate.
A great selection of moderately priced French wine and area microbrews.
