Jennifer L.
Yelp
The COUP is located on trendy 17th avenue SW right across from the new luxury George condos and they're a vegetarian restaurant with an intimate atmosphere that serves fresh, whole, organic and local drink and food.
They've been around for a while but I haven't really had a reason to visit. I've heard good things but I love my meat. Recently, some friends on different occasions have been telling me they want to cut down on meat or even cut it out completely...I found it to be odd that within 1 week, 4 friends have mentioned this to me and I thought to myself "WHAT'S GOING ON, YA'LL CRAY!!!!!!!!" Anyway, out of the 4 friends, one was my BFF and her birthday happen to be right around the corner so we decided to try The Coup.
It was a Wednesday just after 6PM - we got a parking spot right in front of the resto on the street for free. When we entered, we were greeted right away and sat at the two top literally right beside the entrance. Initially I was a little bummed because there was another side that seem to be more intimate and bumpin' but our seats were fine. I couldn't scope out much of the restaurant but there was an open concept bar right when you enter. Our server quickly gave us menus and brought a glass bottle of water. There was a feature special which was a quinoa and carrot burger with your choice of side. I couldn't make up my mind (as per usual) on what I wanted for a main, so we ordered a couple appies - eggplant sleeping bags and tandoori cauliflower wings which we were told is their best seller.
Our server was great, I asked for some recommendations because I wanted something sufficient so I wouldn't leave hungry but nothing seemed to stand out for me. Appetizers came quick and to be honest at first look I wasn't impressed with the eggplant sleeping bags because they were tiny! The eggplant sleeping bags is fresh herbs & spicy cashew pesto wrapped in grilled and chilled eggplant - they packed a lot of flavor in those tiny rolls, the cashew bits added some crunch which was nice - wouldn't order again though. The cauliflower 'wings' were super tasty - cauliflower rolled in chickpea flour, baked, sauced and served with a side of chermoula. The coating was super light and the sauce had Indian curry spices which was great. The chermoula is green sauce that's a blend of many different herbs and spices that was refreshing.
I FINALLY decided on my main and went the Magic Dragon Bowl which allowed me to 'choose my own adventure'. Choice of either: tofu, chickpeas, lentils then a base of organic wild rice or quinoa and lastly, the sauce: tahini miso topped with seeds or spicy almond topped with slivered almonds. All of this came with steamed and sautéed season vegetables and kale. I went with tofu, wild rice aaaaaaand AGAIN I couldn't make up my mind for the sauce so our server suggested have both on the side. BFF went with the featured special with soup.
Mains came out at a decent time and they looked awesome! BFF's burger was open faced with spring and micro greens on one pattie and the quinoa carrot burger with some kind of cheese, house made guacamole, cilantro and onions on the other pattie. The soup was spicy roasted red pepper. My dragon bowl was in a huge ceramic bowl with the sauces on the side. The tahini miso sauce had a punch and was served cold while the spicy almond sauce was warm, oily but absolutely DELICIOUS - you have to give it a good stir but it naturally separates. It wasn't spicy at all, more of a satay paste...I could drink it. I'm so glad she brought out both because I was originally going to go with the tahini and I didn't love it - strong tahini flavor with the miso punch. The almond sauce went so well with my bowl, I was very impressed. Fresh sautéed vegetables with cubes of tofu and rice - YUM! BFF really enjoyed her burger, she mentioned it was moist, packed a lot of flavor and the guacamole really brought everything together. She wasn't a big fan of the soup as it was spicier than she anticipated. We finished with the woodland for dessert: maple graham cake layered with salted dark chocolate ganache, toasted house marshmallow, cherry bark, smoked birch-walnut caramel sap, balsam fir camp fire. Presentation was interesting, they had a little fire on the plate that naturally went out. It looked different than I envisioned - I didn't have any but BFF said that the texture was similar to a dense date bar and it was really rich. She liked it but she wouldn't order it again.
Overall, our experience was great! I didn't have high expectations but I was pleasantly surprised. Service was wonderful, attentive and very kind. Prices are reasonable. Food was really great, we found everything to be very well seasoned and sufficient for not having any meat. We left very satisfied and happy. I am now a BELIEVER that vegetarian food can be fun, hearty and tasty. I will return!