Coquette No Menu Tuesday - Review

Coquette is my favorite restaurant in New Orleans, so I was really excited to try the No Menu Tuesday offering that they have going on right now. It's $45 for 4-5 courses, and as the name implies, you don't get to order off of the menu. You get what you get, and ya don't pitch a fit. LOL

When we arrived for our 8:30 pm reservation, we were seated by the front window. I hate this spot. Being seated in the window with the glaring lights from the street light, and the Smoothie King sign somehow ruin the atmosphere for me. But they were a full house, so no asking to be moved.

We were told that the theme of the evening was Summer squash.

Neither of us were drinking, so the waitress said they were offering a lemonade drink. My friend ordered that. Neither of us cared for it. It was too sour.

First we were brought out small nibbles of zucchini bread, and a piece of squash filled with catfish. Both were delicious. We're off to a good start!

Our first course was a roast squash soup. It was a cold soup, which I've never been a big fan of. I just really love hot food. Even though it's not my jam, the flavor of the soup was still good.

Next course was squash latke with lump crabmeat and a pear Remoulade. This was very good. It was my favorite course.

Next up was a squash and potato porridge. It really wasn't like porridge to me. It was room temperature chopped up marinated vegetables and what looked like lentils. It was o.k.

By this point I'm dying for some hot food.

Next was the main course, which was listed on the menu as a Summer squash steak and lamb croquette. What it was, was about half a piece of grilled squash, and a square piece of breaded lamb the size of a marshmallow. Both were atop a honey mustard type dressing. I didn't like this dish at all. The flavors didn't work for me. The lamb was dry, and again...this dish wasn't hot. It was room temperature.

The dessert was zucchini beignet with vanilla ice cream, raisins, and cane syrup. I'm not a sweets person, but this dessert was delicious.

When we received our bill, we were shocked to see that the lemonade was $6.50. Nuts.

One thing that rubbed me slightly wrong was that in the middle of the meal I told my waitress that my stomach was a little upset and asked if she could bring me some soda water with a splash of bitters in it. I got charged $2.50 for it.

At the end, both of us felt really unsatisfied. From the lack of any hot dishes, to the one square of protein, it just didn't do it. I felt that $45 was high for this meal, especially since they were advertising it as being similar to their $70 chef's tasting menu. And I wanted to cry thinking of the pictures I'd seen from previous No Menu Tuesdays...to include a shrimp and crab boil one night, and sweetbreads on another.

Some other friends of mine that dined earlier that evening gave the exact same feedback regarding no hot food, and ridiculous protein serving size.

Sorry for lack of pictures. They all look horrible due to the street light coming in through the window.