Cocotte has restaurants in Queen’s Park, Shoreditch and Notting Hill and specialises in casual all-day dining centring around healthy, rotisserie-cooked birds.
On a Tuesday early evening, the Salusbury Road branch was super cosy with exposed brickwork, low lighting, and rounds of cocktails being served up from the bar.
Cocotte serves up spritzes, classic cocktails and prosecco based drinks. (Image: Cocktails) It’s convivial yet you can hear yourself speak – as we ordered a Sassy handcrafted cider, and a fresh-tasting La Vie En Rose spritz with sweet-sour pomegranate liquor, rose, sparkling wine and a twist of mint.
Cocotte has a range of classic cocktails, spritz and prosecco-based tipples which are very tempting at £12 for two Monday to Friday from 5-7pm.
Indeed there was a merry post work supper going on at the next table as we tucked into our starters.
You can choose from the likes of chicken popcorn, chicken soup and croquettes, but the Oeuf Cocotte caught our eye.
At Cocotte you can order a quarter, half or full rotisserie cooked chicken with sides, sauces and salads. (Image: Cocotte) A soft baked egg in a creamy leek and mushroom sauce with plenty of sourdough to dip into your yolk was just the ticket for a March evening.
We followed it with half a chicken, which is marinaded for 24 hours in a blend of herbs and spices before cooking. It’s moist and delicious – you can choose from several home made sauces but the house gravy was perfect for dunking our extra crispy fries and hunks of the succulent meat.
Alternative carbs include truffle mash, roast potatoes or mac and cheese. You should also order one of the delicious sounding salads – from kale and roasted peppers to cauli, apricots and beets.
My celeriac remoulade slaw could have done with a little more mustard zing, but the Cocotte Caesar was a nice blend of creamy dressing, crunchy croutons, crisp lettuce and parmesan shavings.
My partner’s idea of comfort food is a beefburger and he made short work of his juicy cheese and bacon burger with ‘supra sauce’ and fries washed down with a glass of Malbec.
There are also signature chicken burgers – including one with pickled chilis.
Sadly the apple and caramel tart was off – but we happily subbed it with a buttery pear and almond tart, and a dollop of vanilla ice-cream.
Cocotte is pitched as a relaxed, casual dining spot, but they still managed to make our midweek supper feel special – and we boxed up the leftovers for next day’s lunch.
Best of all they are currently running a Monday to Friday set menu (12-7pm) of two courses for £20 of a starter, ¼ chicken, a side and a sauce, or three courses including dessert for £24.
Also check out their ‘Cheeky’ lunch box’ of ¼ chicken, two sides or salads and two sauces for £16.
Cocotte is at 79, Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park.