Cou Cou Rachou — Restaurant in Charlottesville

My wife and I have fond memories of working at the University of Virginia (UVA) and living in Charlottesville a few years ago. We often return to visit the campus, which remains a vibrant hub of activity and beauty. During our visits, we’ve explored many local spots, but one culinary gem stands out: Cou Cou Rachou.

Having traveled to France several times, we appreciate the unique charm of French cafés and bistros. Cou Cou Rachou captures that essence beautifully, offering an authentic bakery experience that rivals any we’ve encountered abroad. Every item we’ve tried has been nothing short of delicious, making it a must-visit for anyone in the area.

Pastries and Coffee The pastries are undoubtedly the star of the show at Cou Cou Rachou. From flaky croissants to decadent tarts, each bite transports you to a Parisian café. In addition to their pastries, they serve excellent coffee that perfectly complements the treats. A personal favorite is the Sourdough English Muffin *, which is perfect to take home for later—trust me, you won’t regret it!

In summary, if you find yourself in Charlottesville, make sure to visit Cou Cou Rachou for an exceptional bakery experience. Whether you’re reminiscing about your time at UVA or simply enjoying a day in this charming city, this café is a delightful stop that will leave you...

Coucou rachou makes some impressive pastries, especially love their cardamom braid and their rotating beignets, which you cannot find anywhere else in Charlottesville. For that reason I definitely think coucou is the best bakery in town with no competition that even comes close. Only 1 pastry at Marie Bette (brioche feuillete?) even comes close. Unfortunately Coucou’s espresso drinks service just falls flat and has been falling flat for years at this point. They should just entirely abandon their espresso drinks and just do black coffee, and do it right. Most times I’ve gone there, the espresso drinks are tasteless like tap water and arrive 15 minutes after you pick up your pastry. Clearly they have a problem training baristas and that’s understandable and ok, but don’t make me spend high quality coffee money for this. I’d skip the espresso drinks entirely or go in with the thought that it will be a hit or miss and surely will arrive late. This time I got a cappuccino that looks like the attached picture after waiting for 20 mins. The milk wasn’t even steamed.

In contrast, look at the great ice cream I got another...

We arrived a few minutes before opening time on a Saturday and scored some hot-off-the-oven croissants that we ate on the spot and took a couple of boxes of savory and sweet goodies. Here is my take on what we tried: The onion croissant is the perfect mild savory treat. The onions are caramelized and the puff pastry is so light and flaky. The almond croissant has orange peel or flavoring that enhances the real almond mix inside the pastry. It’s a huge portion that we couldn’t finish in one setting. It is an award worthy pastry. The quiche changes based on seasonal or even daily ingredients. We got the one with the sweat peas. It was too mild for my taste but still better than most quichesI have had at other restaurants.

The mocha with oat milk was made with dark chocolate powder. It was good but not the best I had (that distinction remains with Blue Bottle).

For our next visit we want to try some of the panna cotta and strawberry or peach pastries.

The service was good.

One star off for not having a restroom for their customers to use. They have a few tables outside but that’s where their...