Coco La Ti Da

We checked out Sue McCown's new restaurant-meets-dessert-bar, Coco La Ti Da, last Saturday. I was disappointed a few months ago when Fork unfortunately closed, so we were eager to see what the new place was like. Fortunately, we encountered a restaurant that teems with energy, friendly staff, cozy tables, and really, really good desserts.

Coco transformed the dark, brown interior of Fork into a brighter, more whimsical space. While the mural on the walls is preserved, new lighting has been added, and some of the furniture has a more retro-modern bent. The far room has become a sort of lounge, with three couches, small tables, and curtained walls and ceiling. In front of the kitchen is the dessert bar, displaying some of Coco's recent creations for to-go customers.

After a few minutes' wait, we were seated in the far room and were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter. I counted no less than 6 staff (not including Sue) present on Saturday night, each buzzing around, describing dishes to customers in a friendly manner or making order suggestions. The staff seemed quite knowledgeable about the dishes, and were eager to answer questions about the menu.

While the place does serve many savory dishes, we went straight for the sweets. They come in three varieties: plated versions (centerpiece desserts with sauces and powders that surround it on the plate), baby cakes on a stick (just what they sound like), and mini parfaits (tall shot glasses of layered goodness). We ordered a small French Press coffee, a plated Coco La Ti Da (their namesake), and a couple of the mini parfaits.

The pastries are not large, but they make up for their size in creativity, flavor, and richness. You're getting a fairly gourmet experience here: the desserts are creative, the ingredients are unique, the presentation is attended to, and the overall balance of flavors and textures is certainly considered. And, with a large enough party, you can sample many sweets and not fill up too terribly much.

Service was pretty spot-on; we didn't see any mistaken orders delivered around us, and there was only one mix-up at our table (they accidentally brought two Coco La Ti Da's - I now curse myself for rejecting them).

As for price and atmosphere, Coco is somewhere in between everyday place and special occasion. It's a great weekend-evening-after-the-movie-or-show kind of place, but you don't have to get all dressed up to go. We were quite comfy in our jeans, and many others were as well.

So, I'm sad Fork's gone, but I'm happy with what filled its place. Go visit Coco, talk to Sue, and enjoy her culinary creations.