Couqley French Brasserie Downtown Dubai — Restaurant in Dubai

I must mention that the overall experience at the Couqley Downtown branch was excellent as this was my first time there. My eye was instantly drawn to the restaurant's design. Although the JLT branch is closer to my house, I think I'll start going to this one instead. Contrary to the original branch, which is darker and dimly lit, the ambiance in downtown is quite cool, with bright lighting that provides a colorful mood. We chose to sit on the enclosed terrace because it is a smoking area. I must also mention that Couqley was able to set the ideal AC temperature. Chapeau. I don't know how they achieved it.

I think the restaurant was understaffed. Laila, our server, was clearly overworked because she had a large number of tables to deal with. The restaurant's interior was quite quiet, and most of the clients were sitting on the terrace. The waiters inside had it easier as a result, but poor Laila had to work hard to meet the needs of her tables. Our own table was 12 people, adding to the challenge. Despite the circumstances, I praise Laila for her unwavering hospitality, sense of humor, and professionalism. Many other servers would have crumbled under such pressure, but Laila remained strong, we were even the last ones to leave the restaurant, well past midnight and she kept her humor till the last second. For starters, we decided to share a few dishes: Poêlée de Champignons 76AED (9/10). It consisted of sautéed wild mushrooms in a creamy sauce, served in a freshly baked puff pastry. Then I got the Foie Gras 159AED (10/10). This French delicacy was simply exquisite. It was served with strawberry coulis and toasted pain de figues. The toasted bread alone was delicious. The third starter I tasted that night was the Calamars Frits 83AED (8/10) the calamari was nice but I would have enjoyed a more creative batter. The dipping sauce was delicious. I was so hungry that I completely forgot to capture any pictures of the starters, but I highly recommend trying the Foie Gras. In a previous visit to the JLT branch, I also tasted their delicious Salade de Chèvre Chaud which I highly recommend as well. I ordered the Couqley's Steak Frites (10/10) for 139 AED as my main dish, but I upgraded to the larger quantity for an additional 38 AED so that I could have a 280g butterfly-cut tenderloin rather than the standard 180g. It was a fantastic decision, and the Couqleys' signature dish did not disappoint with the tenderloin's flawless cooking and flavorful explosion.

Despite the staffing problem, I had an amazing time at Couqley Downtown. The setting and design were impressive, and our server Laila deserves special recognition for her exceptional service....

I would like to drop my rating to a three, after three visits or more. I’m starting to realize that the food quality is a hit or miss. Some items are really good, but some other is not so much, I think the steak and fries is not good. Consistently it has been lacking flavor, probably not the best cut of meat. I did not try the premium one. I don’t like how they present the fish in the aluminum foil, I understand that it’s a fish in aluminum foil, but at least it could have a nice presentation. I could eat this at home if I wanted to, it doesn’t come with any sides. This time, I also tried the moules and frites, funny the fries that came with my friends burger were different than my fries and we’re much better, the mussles were not tasty at all . Again appetizers can be very good like the snail, the heirloom tomato salad, and the endives salad. Yesterday, for example we had to return the skillet cookie, it was sorry to say that, but disgusting. It tasted more like egg omelette, then like a brownie. We returned it and got the pain perdu instead, it was edible.

Will I come back yes because the price is right and the atmosphere is nice but now I know what to order. Their burger is decent.

My previous review;

It's a decent bistrot.. The ambiance is nice and the crowd is less show off and excentric compared to the DIFC one.. Families, professionals etc.. Of course it's in a hotel, but you don't have to walk in cavernous corridors to reach it.. It's just there in the lobby, so quiet convenient and you don't feel you are getting into a hotel which is honestly good..

The food is varied; the usual Dubai classical menu (Waguy, Burrata, tartares etc.. items that can be sold at a premium) plus few extras.. such as moules, escargots etc..

We sampled a LOT of stuff. The escargots are very good and nicely priced honestly. The burrata (yes that one) salad was excellent. The steak tartare was closer to arabic raw meat than the nicely chopped tartare and lacked taste; room to improve there guys.

Tuna and Salmon tartares were good..

I also had the "steak and frites". The steak is small at 180g, you can pay more for the larger cut.. It's tasty (I don't believe it's US Black Angus) and the sauce is rich but not as good as the typical French S&F sauce..

Desserts were excellent.

Service was ok.. we were six and I felt they were slow.. they would leave my plate full of consumed escargots on the table for 30 minutes and I had to ask for a clean plate in order to taste the rest of the apps.. They can be more proactive.

There is a nice seating outside but the...

Date Night Steak Cravings + Bubbles = Perfection!

Dubai is all about new experiences, and every corner offers something unique. So, let me take you through my little French getaway tucked in the heart of Business Bay.

Food & The Menu: What can I say? Whoever's running the kitchen is a genius! The menu is simple but elevated with such finesse that you can tell it’s been carefully curated. From the classic French favorites to the must-try recommendations (which I’ll definitely be coming back for!), it’s a true treat for the senses.

But let's be real—our cravings led us straight to the ultimate combo: steak & frites with a side of perfectly cooked fillet. The doneness was spot-on, and the spinach crème and glazed asparagus? Pure magic. Oh, and to top it all off, we went with the bubbles—La Perlente Brut (not sure about the spelling, but who’s counting when the food feels like a French kiss?! 😘).

Price: As far as Dubai goes, it’s pretty much the sweet spot. Not too overpriced but definitely enough to impress your date without breaking the bank. Win-win!

Ambiance: Okay, I'm not a design expert, but this place? Gorgeous. The vibe is all Parisian chic—think cozy, intimate, but still with that ‘wow’ factor. There's a long bar table that overlooks the entrance, and it does make you feel like you're about to strut down the runway for your date. 😂😍

Service: Hands down, my favorite part! Who knew the perfect French service could come with a Filipino heart? Big shoutout to the lovely Amy and Julie, who made us feel like royalty. You’ve officially shattered every snobby French stereotype (not my words, I swear! 😆).

This spot? It's definitely a gem on the map. Catch you again soon,...