Let me begin this week’s review with the statement: The
best French Onion soup I have had all year! Honestly, it was that good.
French Onion soup is one of the things at which the French excel, and I will
go to Coco’s again, just for the soup.
Enough hyperbole, down to the serious business of review. Coco’s Bistro has
been under the watchful eyes of Phil Graham and Richard Burk (previously of
the Amor restaurant) for the past six months. Both professional
restaurateurs, they have taken this restaurant and embarked on a promotional
campaign only outdone by George Dubbya Bush’s promotion of a certain war in
the Middle East. Coco’s Bistro does not make its presence felt by tentative
word of mouth, Coco’s gets in there, boots and all, with a bewildering range
of specials, and even a special offer for the readers of this review (see
the end of this article)!
The venue is colorful with red tablecloths, blue place mats and white
upholstered swivel chairs. There is seating for around 40 people downstairs,
with a function area of similar size upstairs. There is also a coffee lounge
area downstairs, popular with local business people needing a quiet place to
relax.
We tried the house white wine while perusing the menu, and also the
different specials, and it is worth your while to do this. Order another
house wine if needs be, it is distinctly quaffable. In addition to the Euro
items, CoCo’s also has Thai dishes.
The menu begins with assorted breakfasts from B. 99 to a
full English with the lot at B.295. They also do a range of buttermilk
pancakes ranging from B. 85. Many sandwiches follow (B. 125-195) including
an egg salad with mayo, lettuce and tomato, onion and sweet pickles.
There is a range of gourmet burgers (B. 180-285), followed by starters and
snacks (B. 60-195) including spring rolls and baked garlic prawns.
The menu is extensive and runs through on to salads (B. 110-275). These are
followed by grilled items with beef ranging in size between 200-400 gm and
in price between B. 275-595.
Home style favorites (B. 150-450) includes hot pots, pies, stroganoff, three
egg omelets and even bangers and mash. Seafood is represented by John Dory
and Atlantic cod loin and Norwegian salmon (B. 225-375).
There are eight examples of pastas (B. 175-260) and finally 16 Thai-Chinese
dishes, with most around B. 150. As an excellent touch, the Thai menu is
written in Thai script. A good bit of marketing!
Beverages include the local beers (B. 70-90), and wines with house red and
white (Italian Merlot and Italian Pinot Grigio) at B. 125 a glass.
I ordered the French Onion soup (B. 175) and followed up with a John Dory
(B. 225), pan-fried, with mashed potatoes. Madame ordered the deep-fried
mozzarella with spicy salsa (B. 115) and the Woon Sen seafood salad (B.
180).
The soup was a full bowl of hot soup (not just dampness in the bottom of the
bowl, which I have experienced), and it was wonderful.
Madame’s Mozzarella was an excellent starter, and by then
on our second glass of wine, we allowed the first courses to settle before
attacking the mains. The John Dory was correctly cooked and I loved the
mashed potatoes. However, Madame’s Thai dish was judged as being authentic
central cuisine and she was very complimentary to the chef.
At Richard’s insistence we shared a lemon meringue pie, being too full for a
serving each. It was good, but really too much by that stage!
Did we enjoy ourselves at Coco’s? Yes we did. The food is good (and the
French Onion soup outstanding) and the prices are quite reasonable. We do
recommend you try. You will not be disappointed.
Now to the ‘special offer’. Mention Pattaya Mail when you go to have a meal
at Coco’s and you will receive a voucher for a 20 percent discount next time
you dine in. That certainly makes the price of the newspaper a real culinary
bargain!
Coco’s Bistro, Chaiyapruek 1 (50 meters from Sukhumvit Road), open seven
days, 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., on street parking and behind the restaurant, tel
038 074 675.
