Openings

Coco Laurent Sashays Into Downtown

Beef tartare at Coco Laurent
Beef tartare at Coco Laurent Photo: Bryson K. Igarta

A burnished new French restaurant called Coco Laurent opened its doors to Downtown’s Grand Avenue on Monday, on the corner of swinging Seventh Street across from Bottega Louie. According to Brigham Yen, the concept comes from Vincent Terzian, one-time owner of the neighborhood’s Crocker Club**, with chef Guillaume Jouvet preparing standards like steak frites, salmon beurre blanc, beef tartare, French onion soup, nineteen dollar hamburgers, nicoise with ahi, beef bourgogne, and ile flottante in a somewhat austere space of imported chandeliers, leather chairs, floral mouldings, and a hotel vibe that accommodates 300 guests inside and on an outdoor patio.

In addition to lunch and dinner, Coco will also offer Downtowners happy hour prices on its cocktails, wine, and beer during evenings, as well as late-night dining and weekend brunch once it gets settled. The restaurant also has a deli-concept of sorts starting at 7:00 A.M. on weekdays and 9:00 A.M. on weekends, providing tartines and pastries for the early birds.

Coco Laurent joins other Downtown-based Frenchies as Kendall’s Brasserie, Church & State, The Perch, and Industriel in trying to lure your lucre away in exchange for some escargot.

Coco Laurent, 707 S. Grand Ave. Downtown; 213-623-0008.

**This post has been updated to reflect that Terzian is the former owner of Crocker Club.

Coco Laurent Sashays Into Downtown