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Coco Rio, Southampton
I RAVED about Coco Rio,
a wonderful Latin influenced
restaurant with a friendly atmosphere
and great food, when it first
opened around 18 months ago.
Since then I have been a fairly
regular diner. It's the place we often
choose to take visiting friends who
now insist on a meal there each time
they're in town. It's the place we chose
for my partner's 30th birthday banquet
late last year and it's the place I often
recommend if asked where to dine in
Southampton.
Basically it's our favourite
restaurant. But we hadn't visited in a
while and thought it was time to given
the place another go.
Despite being just a two-minute stroll
from lively Bedford Place, Coco Rio is
tucked away on Upper Bannister
Street. But regulars have obviously
been trumpeting about the
restaurant as much as me as there's
always a good buzz inside and it's
rarely quiet.
Head chef and co-owner Ian Baker
has done wonders with an imaginative
menu with an Afro Latino twist.
His excellent choices are heavily
influenced by the finest fresh cuisine
on offer from the Cape to Rio.
It's a family affair with Ian's mum
Debbie Kruit the smiling face running
the front of house. You can find
Debbie's husband Martin entertaining
diners with his fantastic acoustic repertoire
of Latin and Jazz music.
Thankfully my favourites remained
on an ever-changing menu so I opted
to share the Chargrilled Halloumi
Cheese with pineapple salsa and the
Malawi Spiced Chicken skewers with
a macadamia nut satay with a friend.
Both were fantastic, and wonderfully
fitting dips to accompany each dish
are the perfect finishing touch.
My old favourite the Botswana Fillet
Steak with a fresh peppercorn sauce,
hand cut chips and roasted vegetables
followed soon after.
I would go as far as saying these
are the best steaks I have ever
tasted, always cooked to perfection
to my exact medium rare liking and
again with the perfect accompaniments.
My companions were particularly
enamoured with the Chermoulla
Roasted Loin of Lamb and a fairly new
addition to the menu a simple Spicy
Beef Chilli.
If you're feeling a little more
adventurous, the menu also features
crocodile and kangaroo, or a giant
mixed grill, if you're feeling really
brave.
A meal for five, including wine, plus a
memorable night of music and
conversation, came to under £150.
■ Coco Rio Restaurant, 18a Upper
Banister Street, Southampton,
SO15 2EF. Tel: 023 8022 7700
Web: cocorio.co.uk
1:54pm Friday 11th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: PJ, Eastleigh on 4:03pm Sun 11 May 08
We've been a few times and food was really good and nice to have live music. Was better to sit upstairs as music was a good level there. I would like more veggie options although the veggie curry they do is lovely.
We've been a few times and food was really good and nice to have live music. Was better to sit upstairs as music was a good level there. I would like more veggie options although the veggie curry they do is lovely.
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