The Place Switzerland is one of my favourite countries in the world, and it is admittedly difficult to find an authentic Swiss restaurant in Singapore. I was excited to check out Coucou Authentic Swiss Restaurant and Bar located along Craig Road in the buzzing Duxton enclave, run by the same team behind the now defunct Senso Ristorante & Bar. The first sight upon entering the restaurant is the lovely courtyard dining area, great for al fresco moments though not ideal if you have a low threshold for heat.

The indoor dining area spots a contemporary look, with some hints of the alpine country like the cuckoo clock hanging on the walls.

Interestingly, the name Coucou literally means hello in French, and it is also used to refer to the cuckoo clock which resonates with the Swiss cuisine.

The Food The Head Chef of the restaurant is a Swiss, so you can expect an authentic Swiss menu. The menu offers a good range of options, without trying to be too ambitious. One interesting aspect I noticed from the menu is that most dishes are inspired from the various cantons in Switzerland, which can be thought of the different states in the country. For a fact, there are 26 Cantons in Switzerland and what’s also interesting is that each Canton is influenced by different cultures such as French, Italian and German.

Another noteworthy mention is the wine list, which include some exclusive rare Swiss wines. I started off trying some of the wines like the White Petite Arvine Primus Classicus 2018, Cave Orsat, Martigny VS (S$18/glass) and the White Sauvignon Blanc Trésor 2019, La Cave de Genève, Satigny GE (S$16/glass).

For a start, the Malakoff et Salade Coucou (S$14) is delicious. This is the traditional Gruyere Cheese Recipe served with Curly Salad.

A dish from the Canton of Vaud, this ball of fried cheese has its origins from Russia and it is definitely well-balanced with the curly salad.

The other starter I had was the Tartare de Filet de Truite (S$30). The fresh flavour of the Trout Tartare here is prepared with Dill, Sour Cream and Green Chilis.

Rosti is big in Switzerland, and it is no exception on the menu at Coucou. There are a few rosti options, and I went for the Rosti Zermatt (S$28). The potato rosti here is topped with melted Swiss raclette cheese and ham, a dish inspired from the Canton of Valais. Served in a hot metal pan, the edges of the rosti is fried to a nice golden brown texture so this is the best crisp part. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the melted cheese and ham along with the rosti.

For mains, I had the Filet Mignon de Porc aux Morilles (S$38), pork tenderloin with morels mushroom sauce, a dish from the Canton of Geneva. I am usually used to beef tenderloin instead of pork tenderloin, and the pork here is relatively tender and flavourful along with the rich morels sauce, albeit a tad too salty for me.

Each main dish comes with a side dish of your choice, and I couldn’t resist getting the Pommes Allumettes, thinly sliced matchstick-sized cut of potatoes. The fries are freshly prepared to order, which makes it incredibly delicious.

Dessert wise, there are a couple of options and I was recommended the Meringues & Double Creme de la Gruyere (S$18). It is essentially Swiss Meringues served with red fruits and Gruyere double cream. From the Canton of Fribourg, I was surprised to find myself digging into the meringue, which I am usually not fond of. This version of Swiss meringue spots a fresh flavour and yet not too sweet. I finished it all, a rare feat for me.

Rants The price point is slightly on a high side. For the unacquainted, especially the many whom may not be familiar with Swiss food, the price point may be a deterring factor.

Will I Return Again? I like the cosy ambience of Coucou and it is attractive for the fact that Swiss cuisine is hard to come by in Singapore. Given that I will not be travelling to Switzerland any time soon, I will definitely return for the Swiss dishes.

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.

Make your reservations instantly at Coucou here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

Coucou Authentic Swiss Restaurant and Bar
9 Craig Road
Singapore 089669
Tel: +65 6226 0060

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30am to 2:30pm; 6:00pm to 9:30pm

Ranted by The Ranter