Coquette Brasserie, North Hills: Where we go to get our French on!

I walked in the door at Coquette Brasserie in North Hills, across the black and white checkered tiles, through a dining room that can only be described as Parisian, threw my jacket on the back of the leather-covered highchair and stood at the opened bay windows bordered by flowering plants.

I turned to my girls, and said, “Welcome to France.” Coquette Brasserie is a true French brasserie on North Hills Street, and is famous for its top-notch food, hip surroundings, and classic French flair.

Whether you’re looking to try traditional Brasserie meals, enjoy classic French cocktails after a hard day’s work, or looking to dine somewhere with an Instagram-worthy backdrop, you will find all this and more at Coquette Brasserie.

About Coquette Brasserie

Coquette Brasserie is one of the Urban Food Group’s restaurants, owned by long-time restaurant owners, Stacey and Kevin Jennings who have been opening restaurants in Raleigh since 1998.

Coquette is their second restaurant in North Hills, with their first being the Tuscan inspired restaurant, Vivace. And Coquette Brasserie is one of our favorite restaurants in North Hills, Raleigh.

The Coquette Brasserie ambiance

Coquette has a sophisticated and authentic French brasserie feel. A stylish and inviting long bar sits at the entrance area with a large French flag draped out over the back bar. 

On either side are marble-topped tables of all styles – high tops, red-leather booths and banquettes, petite curving tables and chairs. Fabric-covered ceilings look over the white and black tiled floor, all of it oozing French sophistication. 

The ideal spot are the two-person tables tucked into the large French doors that open to bustling sidewalks. If you’re dining at this Raleigh restaurant on a date, you will be happy not just with its romantic ambiance, but that Coquette in French means flirtatious woman. You have permission. 

Let’s talk about the French food

The food in a word – Délicieux! That’s French for delicious. And you’re in Paris, so I suggest you order more than one course. This is the kind of restaurant where FOMO is real. 

On the menu you’ll find many of your French brasserie favorites: steak pomme frites, mussel frites, Quiches, croque monsieur and madame, French onion soup, and Escargot. The dinner menu will invite Seared New Bedford Scallops, NC Trout, Tuna Nicoise, and Chicken Confit to the table. 

You can make your decision the French way – over bread that servers will bring to your table upon seating. Anyone who has been to France, or a country it had its colonizing hand in, will understand how good a piece of bread can taste. 

And if you need longer, then choose a drink from their extensive and exclusively French wine list or a classic French cocktail made from scratch at the bar. 

One look at bartender Ashton mixing and shaking our Espresso Martini lets you know he’s a master of the craft. With its unique and creamy addition of Bailey’s and Frangelico, it was definitely one of the best espresso martinis in Raleigh. 

The menu is split into the various French course servings which you can choose from: Les Hors D’oeuvres, Les Salades, Les Soups, Les Crepes, Les Sandwiches, Les Ouefs, Les Frites and Les Petit Plats.

This time for our appetizers (Les Hors D’oeuvres, Les Soups). We chose one of my favorite dishes, fried brussel sprouts, made even tastier by the French version topped with bacon lardons, pearl onions, orange sherry vinaigrette, crème fraîche (gluten free). This is a seasonal dish so it may not be on the menu when you visit.

Craig ordered a bowl of the French onion soup dripping with melted gruyère. This is a staple starter on the menu for lunch, brunch, and dinner.

Previously at Coquette, we have enjoyed escargots (French for snails) cooked in garlic herb butter with roasted mushrooms. When in Paris. And the most heavenly charcuterie board with cheese, meat, pickles, and toast. The charcuterie board pairs nicely with a Kiss Francais Cocktail: vodka, raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice, champagne.

For mains, we opted for the Les Petit Plats (small plates) choosing the rich and hearty, melt-in-your-mouth Boeuf Bourguignon with bacon, mushrooms, onions, carrots, pomme purée, and the light Pan-Roasted Salmon with pan roasted vegetables and roasted tomato butter.  (both gluten free!)

Our normal chicken nuggets eater Savannah, intoxicated by the Parisian vibes, risked it all with her poulet grille selection from the children’s menu. Simply grilled chicken breast with strict instructions for the pomme puree (mashed potato) to be served on a separate plate! 

Kalyra decided to enjoy a fresh and sweet shrimp cocktail appetizer and then skip straight to le dessert. 

Most diners can’t go past ending their meal with chocolate profiteroles filled with ice cream and paired with a jug of chocolate sauce you can pour over yourself. It’s one of the most memorable desserts in Raleigh. It was one of those rare moments a tear shed from my eye with regret that I am (forced) gluten free.

But never fear, there’s vanilla bean creme brulee for gluten free eaters like me, which has been my favorite dessert by default since my life changing diagnosis! It was creamy, rich, and perfectly caramelized on top. 

This is the course where Savannah shone most. A plate of four macarons of assorted flavors, and with the server’s gentle persuasion, decided to taste the green matcha flavor, and loved it. Needless to say, dining here is one of our favorite things to do in North Hills with kids.

Don’t worry if you’re struggling to find room for dessert. On the Coquette Raleigh menu, like their sister venue, Vivace, have dessert minis which range from red velvet cheesecake to chocolate espresso pot de creme.

Excellent Service

If you like more traditional service with waiters buttoned up in suave black uniforms, you will love Coquette Brasserie. Our server was helpful with suggestions on signature dishes, but also his favorites. Service was prompt, efficient, and friendly and both occasions we have dined here. Both times we had different servers.

Would we recommend Coquette Brasserie?

We jumped at the chance to have lunch with our daughters during their spring break at Coquette Brasserie in North Hills. Having dined there before on a lunch date, Craig and I knew it was an exceptional dining experience in Raleigh that transforms you to the Left Bank in Paris. 

We wanted to inspire our kids for their trip to Paris, which we were going to take a few months after our visit, so we knew Coquette Brasserie was going to give them the best experience of France before actually going.

Coquette in Raleigh is the type of restaurant that can be for a special romantic occasion, to celebrate with friends, or inspire that dream family trip to Paris. It’s also one of our favorite brunch spots in Raleigh. It was a great starting point to prepare us for the soon-to-be cultural immersion into the Parisian way of life.

Overall, Coquette Brasserie is an amazing restaurant that deserves all the love it gets. There are reasons why it’s won several Best of the Triangle awards. The food is deilcioux, the ambiance is charming and romantic, and the staff is top-notch.

If you’re looking for a French restaurant in Raleigh that will transport you to Paris, we highly recommend Coquette Brasserie – featured in our North Hills spring guide for their patio and menu!

Opening Hours

Coquette Brasserie offers lunch, dinner, and Sunday Brunch – which is high on our list to try. Hours are as follows:

• Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00am – 9:30pm
• Sunday: 9:30am – 9:00pm

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a brasserie and a bistro?

Important to note, even though commonly heard in our English language and restaurant world, these two terms are French in origin – as is cafe. 

Brassiere comes from the word “brewerie” and so traditionally it was a place where they brewed beer. Some have kept this tradition, but mostly the focus is on wine instead of beer. Like bistros, brassieres specialize in classic French favorites, but they have a much larger set menu and are typically large rooms that are lively and noisy. 

A bistro is a casual, unpretentious neighborhood place to drink and eat traditional, much-loved French dishes at affordable prices. Think simple, rustic and homestyle. Bistros are small, intimate, and low-key.

And for good measure, a cafe is where you go to hang out and grab a drink (coffee or alcoholic drink) and maybe eat something light, simple and casual like a sandwich or salad. Cafes are popular for aperitifs before dinner.

Final thoughts

With the growing diversity of its global cuisines, Raleigh gives plenty of opportunities to bring the destination to you! We’re all tempted and persuaded by food – and one crunch of a macaroon or profiterole dripping in chocolate will inspire your children to get excited for far-flung adventures.

We elevated this family dining experience at Coquette from a good munch out to a cultural education. Throughout the meal, we spoke about the difference between brasserie and bistro, all of which we learned on our lunch visit while madly googling for clarification.

We spoke about French eating customs – a slice of bread with jam and coffee for breakfast, or of course, a croissant; a much larger meal for lunch – the lingering kind with a glass of wine (not for the kids of course), an aperitivo in the evening, followed by a lighter evening meal. 

The afternoon snack usually consists of a crepe – savory or sweet – which Savannah promised to religiously follow each day in Paris. And we practiced a few French words, spoke about experiences we wanted to savor in Paris, and of course, what foods we could not wait to try. 

We put it all to the test with a long lingering lunch at Coquette Raleigh – the French way. 

Side note: My daughter and I recently dined at Wilmington’s version of Coquette. Or, in fact its the other way round. Owned by the same Urban Food Group, Brasserie du Soleil, is said to have come first and many of the dishes in Coquette inspired by them. Either way, we recommend it as one of the best restaurants in Wilmington!

Are you planning to visit Coquette Brassiere in North Hills? Let us know what you’re most excited about in the comments! Discover more French restaurants in Raleigh.