Coco La Ti Da
Coco La Ti Da opened! Fabulous! Amore!
Sue McCowan, owner and head chef, created a wonderful little space of tables and an even more hip and casual side room with moveable mirrored tables and couches (not so moveable). Her designers did an amazing job with the space and murals (especially considering that they are a tad bit gothic, but can not be removed, as the Loveless Building, which houses Coco, as well as Joe Bar, Massage Sanctuary, other shops and a slew of apartments, is a historic landmark, and thus, the murals must stay). Fabulous background music, great atmosphere, and one of those places that works dressed down and dressed up, for a date or with a group or by yourself.
Asra and I - both super excited - went the day after opening. The menu is arranged beautifully, with multiple small dishes that allow combinations and sharing (there are usually two or three entree specials). We began with cheese - jasper farms cows milk, a goat cheese and semi-firm cow cheese. Next, we enjoyed savory lollipops, which as implied by the name, were savory bites on sticks. A slice of baked apple, a warm fig stuffed with goat cheese and a warm date stuffed with cheese and wrapped with pancetta. We also split a plate of curried lamb skewers. And finally, for dessert, we shared four dessert lollipops, slices of cake on sticks. "The Loveless", chocoate cake layered with strawberry buttercream (my favorite, and more on this in another blog), "The Exit", chocolate, caramel, sea salt and dried pears, "Sweet Relief", lemon cake and meringue and "Tomboy", spice cake with cream cheese frosting. I also had a glass of Sangiovese (ok) and a glass of pinot (much better). The mixed drink menu looked absolutely scrumptious.
For San Francisco friends, this place is similar to my beloved Citizen Cake, but different enough that it doesn't really draw comparisons. Coco La Ti Da is certainly a sexy little dessert lounge, and I have a feeling, will become an expensive little habit in my life, along with Sun Liquor and Cafe Venus.