We had a chance to try le coq a few times lately since it’s been newly opened. Once for my bday; and once out with friends.

Le coq is located in downtown la jolla, where herringbone used to be - minus the olive trees and puffer fish.

Herringbone was started by brian malarkey (of top chef fame); who later sold the concept. Last year he bought the property back, and while I wish he had returned herringbone to it’s former glory (it was one of our long time date night favs); it wasn’t to be.

The restaurant was gutted, and restructured to create an upscale french restaurant.

Like any new restaurant, we go in with an open eye and palate. Most kinks aren’t worked out for the first six months or so. So we anticipate returning and trying it again in several months.

Le coq in general, definitely has potential… but if I can be candid, there are a few changes to be made if it’s to last.

La Jolla, for us locals, is an inherently casual town. And le coq is just a little too formal. It’s also not a fine dinning destination, when you look at san diego as a whole. So in order for a restaurant to last it has to appeal to us locals.

And what appeals most are shareable bites, seasonal dish changes, and a casual atmosphere.

Le coq has the apps game down pat. By far the best part of our meals. I just wish there were more of them. Mains needed a little work. Drinks are a little steep if you want to hang out in the bar for a bit.

Again, I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring to the table in several months. But for now, here are our first impressions.

Not gonna lie. I’m obsessed with this version of a french 75. There’s nothing not to like about it.

Beer is meh - drinkable, but there are only two choices here. A pilsner and this ipa, so not too many choices. But at least one of the choices is an ipa.

Now this is a brilliant idea. You get a baguette with your choice of butter: pamplie (that salty french deliciousness), seaweed, chicken skin, house jam, or caviar.

Not gonna lie. I want to sample them all.

But the chicken skin is so good, that I haven’t been able to stop myself from just ordering it.

So, it was clearly obvious that the kitchen got a fresh blue fin tuna.

There was this appetizer special and there was a dinner special. Oh, and also? Our server said so.

So this app was perfect. Fresh. Delicious. All the fresh things that you would want with a raw fish appetizer. Also, Im obsessed with watermelon cucumbers, so there is that.

So much yes to everything that is in this dish. The tuna, the caviar, the pickled gooseberries. Every bite was perfect.

I would order this again, and again. And then I’d come back and have it again.

The fish was so delicate, the creme fraiche not over powering. The herb oil added the perfect pop, of both color and flavor.

Like I said, the app game is on point.

Another perfect app.

This onion tart is the perfect savory starter. I mean what isn’t to love about onions and short ribs. Especially when served over a delicious au jus.

Absolutely nothing is the answer.

Perfect sparkling rose. Not too sweet and full of flavor.

This one missed the mark.

I was so looking foward to the rib-eye, as it’s one of my favorite cuts. Unfortunately it was a little tough.

And both the sauce and the fries were overly salty. And your girl loves salt. But this was so much salt that the fries were basically inedible. Especially not good for those in our party on blood pressure meds.

The flavors were there, so I’m hoping to give it another go in a few months… but definitely wasn’t one I’d jump on for a while.

Unfortunately as much as we love a pork chop, this was not that great.

The meat was overly tough, hard to cut with a fork, and the fat had not rendered out enough making for a very chewy bite.

The jus was incredibly flavorful, lending the dish to great promise. Which is hard, because you can easily envision how good the dish would be had it been properly executed.

This was our favorite main that we tried. But we’ve had better. This isn’t the place I’d go back to for a steakhouse experience, now that we’ve tried it. At least not for the immediate future. There are better spots in la jolla for tastier cuts of meat.

What we did enjoy was the sauce sampler. Although we were led to believe it was included with the filet.

But I loved being able to try all the sauces. All of which were excellent, the bordelaise and the bearnaise being crowd favorites.

I enjoyed this side. I love anything with a mixable yolk. Creates a creaminess you just can’t duplicate.

I liked the fried onions paired with the heaviness of the mushrooms.

Jamie was not a fan. He didn’t like the type of mushroom, found it too tough. And while he loves a yolk in tartare, he didn’t think it paired well here.

But to each their own. I’d get it again.

This was the star side, right here.

Never thought to pair cucumbers with green beans - but it was brilliant. Especially with the addition of pickled cucumbers as well.

The shallots worked, as did (what I assume was) the chicken skin to bring everything together, in the most unexpected, but welcomed way.

This might just be personal preference, but the pomme purée was just too puréed for me. Almost to the point of watery.

I love a good puréed potato, but I still want there to be some sort of denseness to the potato. I want it to feel like a side, and not a soup.

Flavor was excellent though.

I could come back solely just for this dessert. The pastry was perfect. Crispy on the outside, soft in the inside, without being doughy.

And the pistachio filling? Yes please.

All in all, we’ve already decided that a night out in the bar with a more casual atmosphere for shared apps is definitely in our future.

And that as a new restaurant, based on the promise, we will definitely be back for main dining in a few months.

After all, we hated herringbone our first try when it was first opened… and a year later it was one of our top go-to date night spots. Which makes this the perfect full-circle moment.