Cocotte @ James Pharmacy

First time dining here was on Mother’s Day. The food is outstanding- French style brunch dishes. I had a Shitake mushroom omelette that a tasty toasted baguette and hash browns on the side. We made reservations since it was a holiday. We also got things from the patisserie to go - macarons and a pecan tart which were all delicious as well. Will definitely be returning.

Greatful we were able to have one last brunch at Cocotte, on their last day, definitely was a unique experience the times we visited and I really hope to find them soon with a new restaurant. You will clearly be missed by many. Best of luck where it may find you.

Lovely shop. The owner is talented, putting out French bistro classics that are delicious.. They offer very beautiful pastries as well as a variety of French goods to shop from... my biggest complaint is that it is an hour away lol. Worth the drive.

This place is unbelievably delicious. The cocottes are amazing, and the croissants are best of the best. You’re in good hands here. I try anything here and it always comes out far better than ever imagined.

Really cool brunch place. Very French menu specializing in Cocotte, an egg dish en casserole. Omelettes are perfection. Wonderful daily additions from Pain Perdue to Escargot. Beautiful pastries, don’t miss their almond croissants. Casual, friendly service.

Worth a drive to enjoy their fabulous variety of eggs en cocotte (baked in a flame proof deep cup with bread and additions like carmelized onions or lardons of bacon) served with toasted baguette and heavenly potatoes. The croissants and other pastries are wonderful, and there’s a shop offering exquisite patisserie and all sorts of lovely giftware and sweets, including gelato. The pharmacy itself is a beautiful antique gem that remains unspoiled and homey. The coffee is fabulous too.

One of the best chocolate croissants I have ever had! We also tried an egg Cocotte for the first time, which was delicious! Not only was the food and coffee delicious, but the staff was also super welcoming. Hope to be able to return one day! If you are in the area I would absolutely recommend!

Hands down the best breakfast &coffee in Saybrook! If you enjoy authentic cuisine with real ingredients, you will not be disappointed! I can't say enough about the chefs ability to combine refined simplicity and presentation.

For those who may not know, Cocotte is having to close its doors at the end of August, despite being a thriving business. Completely unique, it was a place where you could stop in for a light meal prepared by a world-class chef in a lovely historically significant building. With many regular customers returning weekly, Cocotte was a meeting place, a community, a casual yet special restaurant to meet old friends, to make new ones, and to enjoy a chat with Chef. The food was exceptional, prepared with an intolerance for anything less than the highest of standards, with an abiding and generous love for delicious cuisine. Nowhere else on the shoreline will one find tartiflette, escargot, and raclette together on the menu alongside delicious cocottes, omelettes, and perfect French salads, to be followed by a gorgeous selection of desserts. The finest French teas, lavender lemonade, robust New Orleans coffee, and gelato in flavors like blood orange or amaretto cherry. The chef and his wife sought to offer a place that was unique and special to the region, including traditional French pantry items, cook's tools, and other beautiful merchandise. Several customers were known to travel from afar for their almond croissants. Local residents will be hard-pressed to find such a place with its relaxed atmosphere, paying homage to its history, appreciating its original lovely antique architectural details, where the diner would never be rushed, in a world where most of our dining choices value the bottom line far more than relationships and a traditional dining experience. It is these very special characteristics that made Cocotte completely beloved and valued by its discerning and cultured clientele, who packed into the restaurant during its last weeks, wanting to experience Cocotte for one last time, express their appreciation, and to say goodbye. 323 Main Street, with so many lives and histories held within your time-worn, dignified and softly age-mellowed walls, surely the story of Cocotte will be one of your favorite memories.

The most fantastic place we ate visiting Old Saybrook CT. Everything we ordered at Brunch and every lil dessert we took to-go was made to perfection. The atmosphere is great and simply raining French Patisserie vibes- felt like we were visiting Paris. Service was amazing and the chef came out to check and say hi. It is so refreshing to find such a gem and we look forward to visiting again!

Just came here for Mother's Day brunch and so glad we came. Their selection of breakfast foods is a nice change from all the other offerings in the area. I went with the Croque Cajun which was absolutely delicious. The sauce on the toast had so much flavor and it went perfectly with the shrimp. We also had to try their desserts. We got 3 macarons and wow they were incredible. Really light and crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside. Would come back just to get some more of those!

Absolutely adorable excellent service and we will definitely return. Clean and homely feel to the restaurant which I loved. The Chief was friendly and food was amazing.

A friend had been eyeing this place for a while so we decided to check it out! We made reservations for Sunday at 11, which I highly recommend. Small parking lot, 10 or so tables. A two top without reservations came in just before us, which they were able to seat but only by chance! We were a group of four and got a great table in the back! I would say anymore than 4 people this place might be too tight. We ordered iced coffees, French press pour, and a peach nectar which was apparently really good! For food we got an omelette and the rest of us got cocoetts - delicious! I got the Cajun which had a good amount of shrimp and was well seasoned. It came with a nice piece of toast and potatoes. It was a good amount of food - not overwhelming but left you feeling full. The biggest mistake was not ordering pastries before our meal! When we sat there were plenty of croissants, but by the time we got back there were only a handful. We were able to get a loaf of olive bread, a lemon blueberry treat, a "dessert croissant", and some macaroons. Service was good! I think there were about 3 people. You could tell they were busy but did their best to keep things moving. After brunch we walked downtown Old Saybrook and did some window shopping. It was a great day all around!

Adorable French bakery and cafe with delicious brunch options, fresh-made breads and pastries, and beautiful desserts. Pro tip: shop the bakery before sitting for brunch, things sell out fast! They will hold your bakery items for you behind the counter while you indulge in delicious eggs, meats, and cheeses cooked to perfection in cocotte dishes. Fresh coffee in your own individual French press. French jams, cooking utensils, and decor displayed and for sale throughout. Everything is fresh, seasonal menu crafted with care. Small but cozy inside and out, in a historic home and former pharmacy. Would recommend calling ahead for a reservation.

Amazing breakfast and pastries! The breakfast salad is incredible and my sister loved the French omelette. We come back constantly for the almond croissant!

The best breakfast place in the universe! It is better than what I had in Paris, and until now, Paris was my best breakfast ever. The inside is awesome - it looks like a Parisian shop and sold many French goods. The service was excellent! The chef made anything there AMAZING! We have tried - Omelettes Quiches Salads Cocottes Pastina Lemonades Pastries Gelato All of it tastes even better the more you go! They have the actual Orangina like they do in Europe in glass bottles. It's way better than the American fake stuff! Try to get to Cocotte if you can - it's near Mystic or Mohegan Sun.

Lovely little brunch place for a spot of European cuisine! Great food. Tiny seating area and tables crammed tightly together which may or may not be comfortable for you. It was also freezing cold (minus a star). Service was great, if a little frenzied. The place is always busy and if you don't have a reservation it's likely you won't get a table as a walk-in, so plan and call ahead so you're not disappointed. Lots of really good European chocolates and other foodie treats to buy as well - great place for gifts for foodie friends!

My Wife and I stopped by during a recent stay in Saybrook to get some items from the pastry case and a quiche to go. The food was AMAZING and the service at the restaurant could not have been better! The last time I was in James Pharmacy was with my Grandmother in 1986 for an ice cream sundae - while the fare available was different it was just as delicious as the sundae I had almost 40 years ago! Looking forward to dining in at Cocotte on our next trip out!

My MIL picked this spot out and she did a terrific job. The place was crowded and there's no space inside to wait- however- the food is the closest thing to a Parisian cafe you will find in Connecticut. The owner and the manager took fantastic care of us despite it being busy and them being down staff members. The food was more than worth a little standing room-people not leaving chaos. The manager is fantastic and was totally comfortable letting loafers know they couldn't continue to linger into other people's reservations. I love her. Do not miss this place. And don't sleep on the Parisian gifts. I was charmed to find an Hermes pop up book of all things. Bravo to these folks. We will be back soon.

Great menu for breakfast/brunch. Everything was excellent. Service is weird and a bit slow, but still worth visiting

Today, I went to Cocotte, and I got some amazing gelato (I picked French vanilla, chocolate, and Oreo, and the person serving me managed to fit an even amount of all three flavors in one cup, which was impressive) and I also bought macaroons to have for later in the day (they were delicious when I had them). I found it welcoming when I went in and liked their selection of desserts. It was busy and the staff were pleasant. I also have had other desserts in the past that others have given me on other occasions and enjoyed those as well, but today is the only time I got to go in person myself. It is too bad they closed because it was clearly a popular and well-loved place.

Second time coming here and the food was still delicious. I got the Cocette Nordique and it was very flavorful. The waiter was kind of and very try thoughtful. Also got some delicious gelato. It feels like a mom and pop restaurant and it definitely is very comfortable.

Absolutely delicious! Loved lunch today. Get the XL on the Main menu So good I got the one without the egg and my 2 friends got the xl All were happy

The food is amazing BUT the prices add up a tab really quick. Given the price I say try the place but if you can't see value, don't be surprised. They do take reservations, which is getting more rare in the area. The servers are fantastic and definitely deserve all accolades.

I love cocotte! Call and make a reservation in advance as they are busy for breakfast/brunch. They have some delicious specials but I am always drawn to the cocotte dishes that could with crispy buttery potatoes and a slide of crunchy bread. They have some delicious pastries and desserts at the front register. If you're looking to take something home they have some great culinary-related gifts that would be a splendor for anyone to receive. The space has retained its old world charm from when the building was initially built as a pharmacy. The staff are very friendly and helpful and I love the energy in this space. I'd recommend for anyone!

Service was curt with a general attitude of couldn't be bothered. The lady taking orders hadn't tried and did not know the items in the display case. She was snooty and imperious about describing the unlabeled pastries. The chef greeted me with a grimace born out of a lifetime of never smiling. I also watched him sample food bare handed as he was plating other people. The desserts were beautiful but bland. The quality of the ingredients was dubious at best - they hide the quality of their ingredients with the amount of sugar they put in. We drove 1 hour out of our way on the weight of high reviews to try this french bakery and left sorely disappointed. Hard pass- the high reviews could only be from those comparing against Panera Bread.

This place is ALWAYS amazing! The chef-owner, Jeffery, takes such pride in his work and it shows in every bite. All the offerings are seasonal as he only uses fresh ingredients. The staff is as amazing as the food.... Kaitlyn is a delight, she quick, friendly and knows the food as well as she knows her customers! While you dine, feast your eyes on the amazing and rare selections of foods, snacks and gifts all around you. The treasures they bring in can't be found anywhere else, and will delight your palate and enhance your home decor. Come sit inside or out and enjoy a pleasant experience for the mind, body and soul!

Hidden gem for lunch/brunch just off I-95. Exquisite French pastries, adorable country store, and a delicious menu. You need to make a res and parking can get tight. The menu design is a little confusing- my party of 3 missed the entire lunch menu which was on the backside. Wish they were open more!

First visit but not our last. Charming French restaurant/bakery in the spot of our former favorite dinner restaurant. Different time of day but same top quality. From the coffee to the dessert everything was perfect. Relaxing atmosphere and friendly service made for a memorable meal. Was difficult to choose just one of the beautiful pastries so more visits planned.

Cocotte is both (1) a French cafe serving brunch items like quiche, egg dishes with Lyonnaise potatoes, Croques, Salads and Tartines, and (2) a bakery with great croissants, tasty macarons, beautiful desserts and bread. This review focusses exclusively on the bakery side, although the brunch menu looks awesome. Cocotte is located on the less busy part of Main Street in Old Saybrook. I assume the building used to house the "James Pharmacy" because that reference comes up in my reading. The inside is small and cute, and the bakery is adjacent to the dining area. The bakery displayed beautiful desserts, croissants and pastries. I tried an almond croissant, macarons and an ornate dessert that featured a sort of gourmet hard chocolate cookie type base, and a chocolate mousse, sheltered by a beautiful soft, red, knobby topping. This dessert is way cooler than I'm describing it. I'll defer to my pic. It was also crowned with Gold Leaf. If this dessert has a formal name, I don't know it. It was delicious though. The almond croissant is in the top tier of CT almond croissants I've tried. Terrific flaky texture and delicious almond flavor. The macarons were fresh, attractive and tasty. The flavors were on point. I was impressed with the bakery side of Cocotte. I'll definitely be back for a Croque at some point too. Five Stars

Cocotte has become one of my all-time favorite restaurants. A member of our party today referred to the chef as a miracle worker. And, he is. One is immediately transported to France with the inimitable cuisine. Cocottes to die for, served with perfectly done potatoes and buttery toasted French bread. Crunchy green salad dressed with a secret vinaigrette. A light as air tart with carmelized onions, mushrooms and melted gruyere. A must visit for brunch. Not open for dinner and reservations a must.

Food was amazing!! So well prepared, and great flavor! Service was excellent. Will define back for more!

The food was amazing and chef came out and sat with us for a bit - very cool guy and obviously, very talented. The place is adorable as well.

OMG. Initially we were disappointed that they were sold out of croissants, but the Danish I ordered instead--at the waitperson's suggestion--was amazing and even better (if you can imagine that) than a croissant. My guy's blueberry muffin was delicious as well. This is such a cute space--I'd been here when it was a Moroccan restaurant. It's bistro-ish/ice cream parlor-ish. Very charming!

What a gem!!! French cuisine with a variety of egg dishes for brunch... Omelettes and Quiches, many salads and specials. If it's still on offer don't miss the Watermelon Gazpacho! And by all means leave room for the Gelatos, home made and amazing. Plenty of VEGAN options too. Portions are small, prices reasonable, the 200+ year old property so very quaint and the service friendly and quick. Their baked goods are also not to be missed, from traditional baguette to picture perfect pastries

Authentic and very good! I've had lunches and bought many specialty pastries and everything has been .

What a gem! Whenever I have friends visit, Cocotte is our go-to place for a memorable, picture-perfect, French brunch! There's not a dish here that won't please, but some of my favorites are the Omelette aux Champignons and the Cocotte Normande. The eggs are cooked beautifully, but I also love these dishes because of the lyonnaise potatoes. Their potatoes are what breakfast dreams are made of-- uber crispy on the outside with creamy insides. I could have Cocotte's lyonnaise potatoes every day. The bakery counter, filled with too-pretty-to-eat petit fours and golden-brown pastries, will have you drooling and dreaming of Paris as well. Cocotte's quaint breakfast nook is easily one of the best parts of Old Saybrook!

Cute restaurant. Delicious food. Great place for lunch. Drove 3 hours to get there. Well worth it.

I stopped by on St Patricks day and bought a couple of Irish soda bread and it was awesome. The case was full of great looking pastry. Its very convenient right next to James drug on main street in Old Saybrook

Delicious breakfasts of egg cocottes and omelets, and plenty of fresh viennoiserie to choose from (croissants etc.) I had the cocotte with carmelized onions- it came piping hot in a mini casserole with a side of super potatoes and a toasted slab of baguette. My date had the truffle omelet. Both were scrumptious and accompanied by filter coffee. We bought a couple of beautiful pastries on the way out. The place is in a delightful antique building that once housed a pharmacy and the sell French delicacies and kitchen items as well. Servers are local you g men- they aim to please but are not pros. Only suggestion is that they turn up the heat- it's chilly in there in the winter!

Great service in a historic location, and the most delicious Almond Croissant I have ever tasted!!

Fantastic French Bakery. I was looking for somewhere to get a coffee (much to my good fortune, as it turned out, Starbucks has been closing at 4 PM). I came across Cocotte located at the old James' Pharmacy. I went in and had a slice of their Opera Cake, I have never tried it before. The owners told me it is their favorite dessert. So I had to try it. Absolutely fantastic! Had it with some of their iced coffee which was also remarkable. Can't wait to go back and check out some of their other items. {They also told me they have lunch on Fridays and brunch on the weekend days - would love to try that as well}.

Delicious food, great service, nice ambiance. It is a nice quaint place to sit, relax and enjoy!

I visited Cocotte on their opening weekend to grab a cup of gelato and to check out how the owners had transformed James Pharmacy. If you don't know the history of the pharmacy it's worth the research, Lafayette also visited the building back in 1824! The main reason I am docking stars from my review is the customer service. The staff was clearly overwhelmed with about only half the dining room full. Upon entering we were not greeted and when we finally caught the eye of one of the owners we let her know we were looking for gelato and without uttering a word she pointed at the gelato bar and continued on with what she was doing. A young employee motioned to the sign with available flavors, there was a pretty good variety to select from. Their card reader/receipt printer were both broken so I assume this is what was adding to the stress and took away from the customer focus. Trying to give the benefit of the doubt here. Our gelato was okay, we both ordered pistachio which unfortunately had some ice crystals but the flavor was nice. There were not any pieces of pistachio in the gelato, I don't know if this was on purpose or just the scoops we had. Having been to Paris and being an overall bread lover, I was super excited to try their baguettes. To my dismay, it was clearly impacted by the humidity. I don't know if the hot day was particularly brutal on this one loaf or if it was not fresh baked that day but I was pretty bummed out. The flavor was good but couldn't get past the hard texture. As a fan of French cuisine and Old Saybrook native, I am rooting for Cocotte's success. The food on other folks table looked good and the inside is very well appointed. I will definitely be stopping by again once they have been open for a while and have worked out any kinks with the kitchen and service. I will update my review at that time.

As soon as I discovered cocotte on social media I had to go and try the place especially when knowing the place is French and that the owner/chef has worked with some very talented chef's I admire like Jean Georges-Vongerichten. Very cute cozy place. The menu is just the right size with just the right amount portion and very reasonable prize. I had ordered two dishes as I could not decide! I ordered The Omelette with roasted potatoes served with bread and French toast which I didn't finish and had the remainder for lunch :) I really enjoyed my breakfast. I could not wait to tell everyone about this great gem of a place in Old Saybrook. You can tell the owners are very passionate with what they do. The ingredients are all fresh quality ingredients which makes such a huge difference. Coffee is excellent & I love how when you order coffee you are given a French press! Please, Do not judge this place based on any bad reviews. There is always two sides to every story. Support small businesses especially new businesses. It is a tough time for many restaurants especially with staffing. Mindfulness & kindness goes a long way. The young gentleman who served us was very nice & accommodating. Highly highly recommend this place! It's going to be my regular spot

Excellent food, ambiance and service. French onion soup was so delicious and so were eggs. A wonderful little place.

The atmosphere is so quaint and French! Like you're in Paris stopping for a delicious lunch at a sidewalk cafe! The pastries are a Must!!!

This amazing place was hindered by Town zoning as far as signage. We have many more ugly places including my bank on Route 1. Skippers has ugly signage and so does the new tap place for vitamins through IV. This was a class establishment and should have been allowed to advertise even though they are on the historic Route. As a result Our Town loses because they are going out of business and leaving.

Outstanding food, ambiance and pastries. Cozy seating. Recommend weekend reservations

Adorable spot. Was there for breakfast with friends and our kids. Food was delicious, coffee was even better (seriously good coffee), and the service was friendly, attentive and fast. Several of us had omelettes, which were light and perfectly seasoned. The kids were happy with their choices; one had the pastini, the others omelettes and croissants. After eating, we spent way too much money on take home goodies from the bakery side. Also a good spot to find unique gifts for the foodie in your life; I could definitely see myself putting together a nice gift basket with some of the jams, jellies, sauces, spices, and cute kitchen accessories they sell.

Indeed, I did not see the sign re being seated. Mea culpa. The restaurant was empty and my gaze was on you as you walked past me. Beyond that, your reply is inaccurate. Anyone who has been here knows that a server never immediately attends the tables. I waited a good 5 minutes until she turned up. I ended up at 3 top because *some* of the tables had reserved signs. I took a table without a sign. Again, in an empty restaurant. I was not offered a seat at 1:30. That's absurd--and implies my conversation with the server was longer than the succinct, "we're fully booked." No suggestion that I get something to go from the dessert case -- in the empty restaurant. Just the very clear message that I should leave. Gate crashing. Really? How is that? One person in an empty restaurant, unaware of your reservations list is a gate crasher? Boy are you churlish. Literally an hour later, there were still empty spots in the tiny parking lot out front. I have eaten at the restaurant before. I had no idea you took reservations. Indeed, I've recommended it to numerous others. My rating was for the experience and is accurate.

Love this little gem! Great pastries and all sorts of friends foods, mustards and stocking stuffers. Owner is so pleasant

Gorgeous quaint spot for breakfast and brunch, cocotte,bakery and French Cajun lunch. Potato's are off the hook. Wonderfully prepared with home warm service.

Cozy brunch of delectable, artfully plated French-inspired egg-related dishes, served piping hot by friendly and efficient staff. Good portion size and fair prices. We perused the French cuisine items for sale along the walls after eating. Also bought pastries and bread fresh from the OUTSTANDING bakery at the heart of the offerings. A Francophile's paradise! We'll DEFINITELY go back!

Beautiful place with a Parisian atmosphere When we firstly came, I immediately felt in love with this place and their owners! Food is great, service is great and experience all together is terrific. If you want to visit during the weekend -- reserve the table. Also as a note: kitchen works till 2pm, so make your plan accordingly

For those who love and appreciate authentic French culinary creations, this cafe is a true gem in Old Saybrook and all of CT! It sits peacefully near the end of Main Street and is beautifully adorned with tagine cookware, ramekins, carafes, Cafe Du Monde's beignet mix, coffee, tea, other table top goods, and an inviting collection of books. My boyfriend and I visited on a Sunday morning, and were impressed with the offering of Brunch Wednesdays through Sundays, so we'll definitely keep Cocotte in mind for quality breakfast mid-late weekdays--a rarity in CT. There's seating outside, but we dined indoors to take advantage of the hot menu items. We started out with delicious and flaky plain and chocolate croissants paired with fresh squeezed orange juice (sans pulp) and the bright and smooth Chicory French Press coffee from NOLA's Cafe Du Monde. Our main course consisted of Pain Perdu with a touch of orangey citrus notes and quality maple syrup, Scrambled Eggs en Cocotte made to perfection with a pillowy soft but solid soufflé like consistency, a slice of buttered French baguette toast, and a side of hardwood smoked bacon (will have to come back to try the maple syrup version). We were so stuffed, we forgot the coffee cake we ordered, so that's also on the list for our next visit. Looking forward to trying more of the baked goods for the upcoming holidays!

Great little French bistro for brunch. Stopped in on way to shore. We had the Cocotte Piperade and Cocotte Parisienne which were both delicious. In addition we had the Pain Perdu which was extremely tasty. Crusty sourdough soaked overnight in cream custard with touch of orange. Will be back again.