Not every restaurant opening in New York gets the star treatment. However, leave it to the Gracious Hospitality team—they’re behind One MICHELIN Star Cote and Cote Miami—to get everyone from Gen Z icons to the Mayor to their latest opening, Coqodaq. Located on an unassuming stretch on east 22nd street, the haute boîte was packed inside and had a queue wrapping around the street (don’t worry, guests were served chicken broth to stay warm — a riff off the house’s signature dish, fried chicken).
Inside, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame flowed, Petrossian caviar was doled out in bumps, and the raw bar was fresher (and fuller) than the ocean. However, leave it to proprietor and mastermind Simon Kim to up the ante on such lavish offerings. Despite the haute fare, it was the chicken that dominated conversation amongst guests including Gossip Girl 2.0’s Evan Mock, tennis star Reilly Opelka, actor Ronny Chieng, and countless others.
The design mirrors the vibe of Cote featuring louche seating, low lighting, and lots of bar space perfect for bites and tipples. And while chef Seung Kyung Kim’s fare went down with gusto, the evening was capped by heartfelt speeches from the team, and a surprise performance from Busta Rhymes and Spliff Starr.
Hero image: Evan Mock and Simon Kim
Credits: Zach Hilty/BFA.com
