GREAT EATS HAWAII: RESTAURANT LE COCO'S

RESTAURANT LE COCO'S

PK 13,200, PUNA'AUIA 98703

FRENCH POLYNESIA

+689 40 58 21 08

HOURS: Tuesday thru Sunday 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM / 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Closed Monday

www.lecocostahiti.com/?lang=en

www.facebook.com/lecocostahiti/

www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297572-d1539267-Reviews-Le_Coco_s-Punaauia_Tahiti_Society_Islands.html

So happy the concierge at our hotel in Tahiti recommended Le Coco's for our last dinner in Tahiti. We did not know anything about the restaurant except that it served French food on the ocean. That was good enough for me to go ahead and make a reservation. We took a short taxi ride from our hotel to Le Coco's which is located on the waterfront in a kind of mixed use area where there are homes and businesses. The weathered entrance in all white was very simple but when we entered it was like being in another world. Wow....simply beautiful. I had to stop and just stare for a moment because the images of the dining room, patio and ocean were amazing. While my Wife and Daughter were seated at a table directly in front of the crashing waves, I drifted left and right just taking it all in. When I got to our table my girls were already taking photos of themselves in front of the ocean. Hey-what about me I thought. As the sun set we were all in amazement of the beauty and atmosphere of this place. Reminded me of the One and Only Club in the Bahamas. Simple, clean, elegant with an amazing view. As the waitress took our drink order we enjoyed the waves crashing on the beach. The sound is so loud and clear here because there is no other sound around. While enjoying our drinks which was wine for me and juice for my girls, both my Wife and Daughter raved about their fresh juice of Pineapple and Mango and Pineapple and Orange. They were fresh squeezed and the best juices that they have tasted in French Polynesia. I knew they were not kidding because both their glasses were emptied in seconds. Our beautiful and elegant Polynesian waitress showed us a menu on and iPad type device while standing by our table. The image of her standing with the sun setting and sound of waves crashing was cool and blurry (see photo below) because I did not turn on my flash. She explained the menu options which are basically three set menus created daily by the Chef. They ask if you have any food allergies and/or likes/dislikes and explain that the Chef will create your menu. The cost is between $90 and $150 depending on the number of courses. We went with the 7 course menu which was around $130 plus another $60 for the wine pairing. Not cheap by any means but nothing is in French Polynesia. After a small appetizer was served at our outside table we were moved to the small dining room on the left side of the restaurant. This room is simple and elegant with paintings of a surfer riding waves adorning the walls. It is open to the breezes of Polynesia, the waves are crashing and I am loving it. Bread is served but with not butter which is probably good because we have all put on weight during our visit to Polynesia. Our first course of a Ravioli arrives and we all go into a sort of culinary heaven and enjoy each and every bite. My Daughter is hungry and loving the food so much that she wipes her plate clean with a piece of bread. Looked like a new plate when she was finished. The next dish was a Scallop served over Quinoa. I hate Quinoa but somehow the Chef made it delicious on this plate. The Scallop was cooked and seasoned perfectly and everything on the plate was excellent. The Local Fresh Fish was just that. Very fresh. Simply prepared with a butter sauce and asparagus. Loved it. The Filet of Lamb was also perfectly prepared and delicious. We were served three different desserts and they were all good. Service here was perfect, atmosphere perfect, food perfect. Does not get much better than this!