NEW RESTAURANT: Bistrot Le Coucou Offers Fresh Take On Traditional French Bistro Fare

When I think of French food, I immediately conjure the holy trinity of butter, cheese and bread—plus wine, of course. So I’m delighted to discover that the spanking new Bistrot Le Coucou offers copious amounts of all of the above. Situated on the second floor view deck of One Bonifacio High Street in BGC, this white-tableclothed casual dining spot opened only last Valentine’s Day but has been fully booked every day since then. Whether for lunch or dinner, diners can get their French food fix with classics like French Onion Soup, Duck Confit, Ratatouille, Tarte Tatin and so much more.

Bistrot Le Coucou | Photo: Bistrot Le Coucou on Instagram

Opened by the Nikkei Group, Bistrot Le Coucou is its first French restaurant venture. And it so happens that it’s a Spanish chef, Luis Martinez (the culinary talent behind the restaurant group’s popular Terraza Martinez, Sala Martinez and Alma) who heads the kitchen. While he may not be French, he is very familiar with the cuisine. Growing up in Valencia, Spain, he remembers summer trips to France every year with his family, and enjoyed home-cooked French food as well. Those early memories translate to a menu that is clearly French, but without trying to be too purist. “I want to have the room to innovate and to make different things. I don’t want to offend the French community,” laughs Chef Luis when I asked him about his “French-ness.”

Chef Luis Martinez with his kitchen crew | Photo: Bistrot Le Coucou on Instagram

Simplicity and indulgence

While Bistrot Le Coucou is no facsimile of a traditional French bistro, it is clearly inspired by its values. “First of all, simplicity. Second, we give a lot of value to the ingredients that we use,” Chef Luis explains. Case in point: the chef’s favorite Duck Confit is cooked sous-vide for 30 hours then fried in duck fat, just like it’s done in France. He is also partial to his Melted Cheese appetizer, a celebration of French Beillevaire cheese paired with figs, caramelized shallots and roasted cashews. New on the menu, Oeuf Mayo with Truffle features hard-boiled eggs filled with black truffle and homemade truffled mayonnaise, a luxurious upgrade to a fairly commonplace dish. Another new menu item, Foie Gras Terrine is obviously super rich, smooth and creamy, but not overly heavy, with a hint of sweetness to balance the fattiness. This dish brings together everything I love about French food—its unapologetic richness yet simplicity, bound by the quality of its ingredients.

Ouef Mayo with Truffle (left) and Foie Gras Terrine | Photos: Paul del Rosario 

Bistro standouts

While many Filipinos are familiar with standard bistro dishes found on the Le Coucou menu like Chicken Liver Pâté, Niçoise Salad, Entrecôte and Frites (aka steak frites), Profiteroles, there are other classics that are harder to come by locally. So I’m extra happy that Chef Luis is introducing these “deep cuts” from the bistro repertoire to his menu. One example is Escargots or snails stuffed with garlic, butter and parsley and then oven baked until bubbly. Another is Beef Tartare, a patty of raw ground beef with egg and a special Le Coucou sauce. Sounds scary, but trust the chef and his team to prepare it properly and safely using only the freshest quality ingredients. As an alternative to traditional steak frites, Steak au Poivre is a lesser known French steak dish featuring beef tenderloin in a black pepper sauce and accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes. 

Steak au Poivre | Photo: Paul del Rosario 

Beyond borders

While the French bistro hits are on the menu, Chef Luis also likes to wander beyond the bistro’s classic confines. He is Spanish after all, and can’t help adding olive oil to his Fresh Clams with White Wine traditionally cooked with garlic, shallots, parsley and butter. He also gives standard Pommes Frites (essentially French fries) a twist, adding grated Parmesan and dollops of herring caviar. His Burrata Flatbread brims with Italian burrata, mortadella and pesto. The famous Ratatouille gets a tinge of Spanish flavor with a roasted red pepper sauce to punch up the layers of eggplant and zucchini. A lovely Salmon in Riesling Sauce offers a side of Italian gnocchi, but its sauce is made with Riesling wine prevalent in Germany’s cooler climes. From across the Atlantic Ocean, there’s also a very American Le Coucou Wagyu Burger, as well as a Latin-inspired Scallops Ceviche.

Fresh Clams with White Wine (left) and Salmon in Riesling Sauce | Photos: Paul del Rosario

Wine on demand

If there’s one thing that any self-respecting French bistro has to offer, it’s an honest-to-goodness wine list. Le Coucou doesn’t disappoint with its well-curated selection of French reds, whites and sparkling wines, plus a smattering from Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia and the United States. What I most appreciate is the extensive choices of wines by the glass, four whites and four reds, plus one rosé, a Château La Grave Expression from Bordeaux, which I opted for as a crisp and refreshing option to go with the meal. Aside from the wines, Le Coucou also boasts classic and signature cocktails prepared at its beautiful bar counter.

Bistrot Le Coucou's bar | Photo: Bistrot Le Coucou on Instagram

That BGC vibe

Bistrot Le Coucou may be inspired by the legendary bistros of Paris, but it is no copycat. Instead, it exudes its own BGC-centric vibe—warm, vibrant, urban, casual yet upscale. The Friday evening crowd is mixed: couples out on dates, friends hanging out, multi-generational families. The menu reflects this eclectic scene, offering good value meals with a few mains under P1,000 and even a weekday lunch set menu of four courses for just P1,880+. But Le Coucou has luxury offerings for those looking to splurge: fresh Fines de Claire Oysters, Oscietra Caviar with blinis, Lobster Linguini, Braised Pigeon, among other pricier options. The wines also demonstrate this range, from bottles starting at a reasonably priced P2,000, all the way to a 1994 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley that goes for P16,500.

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just having a regular lunch or dinner out, Bistrot Le Coucou can offer a friendly place to enjoy a meal, just like a typical French bistro. After all, “coucou” in French is a term of endearment, a casual way to say “hello” or “hi” to friends or family. Perhaps that’s the essence of this charming new BGC bistro: to offer a warm welcome to everyone who enters with a comfy setting, quality French and European fare, overflowing wine, and gracious and attentive service. 

Bistrot Le Coucou | 2/F View Deck, One Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City | Call (0954) 356-2965 | Instagram @lecoucou.mnl | To book a table, click here.