COCO500

It's date night again and I'm sure you're all looking for the perfect first date restaurant. Well I've found it. COCO500 at the corner of 4th Street and Brannan is the latest incarnation of a restaurant I knew fondly as Bizou. The owners have renovated the space into a lovely modern bistro. The tables are a bit tight. I almost knocked over the next tables drinks while trying to exit my own. Think Parisienne bistro, and you've got the idea.

We ate our dinner next to a first date couple. We studiously tried not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but it's hard to block out at such close range. There was the requisite, "So what do you do?" sort of thing. They seemed to be getting on well though, so hopefully it was a love connection. All the world loves a lover, right?

I know they fell in love with the fried green bean appetizer we ordered. Fashion Guy had the roasted chicken (and I do mean the whole chicken!) with pink lady apple stuffing. It was savory and a bit sweet (the apples), and it would have fed us both. I ordered the squash blossom pan bread. Think pizza only thinner. The cheese was oily, and there was a bit too much sea salt, but the squash blossoms made a gorgeous display. Besides I got to feel virtuous for ordering something veggie, a thing I rarely do. We had to skip dessert though as the combination of appetizers and entrees was enough to feed a small army. We actually packed up about half our meal and had a "do over" at lunch the next day. It all heats up great, so order your own entree and take the doggy bag.

The restaurant has a small bar where you can wait for your dining companions. Drinks are high end (read: $10 or more), but the non-alcoholic options ($4.50) are quite good. I had the jasmine limeade and would definitely order it again. In fact, I'm thinking I may try to recreate it in Fashion Girl test kitchen. :-)