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After nearly 2 yrs and 4 months of waiting since moving here,
my all-time favourite restaurant from Dubai - Cocos Restaurant & Bakery - has
finally opened up in Riyadh. The best bit was that it opened in the Olaya area
on Tahaliya street, but the worst bit is I no longer live in that area, otherwise
at every opportunity I would be dining there.
In any case atleast it’s arrived. Cocos Riyadh opened its
doors beginning of April and being their ardent fan, I simply had to visit them
(we went there on 10 April 2012...yup I’m a bit late in writing this review),
not so much to see what they are like but if they are as good as they are in
Dubai. And, least to say I was impressed. Everything was simply perfect – the food,
the ambience, the service. We went in just about Isha time, and no surprise the
restaurant was practically empty. The restaurant is set-up very nicely with dim
purple lights, perfect spacious cabins for Saudi style family privacy with
sliding doors, and just like Dubai, they have the bakery in the restaurant
itself. Oh! how excited I was from the moment I walked in. When they handed us
the menu and tried to explain the top favourites, I announced to them how I was
no newcomer to Cocos and how very fond I am of them since my Dubai days. I mean
literally every twice a month, me and my friends would dine at Cocos in Dubai.
They have 3 branches there – Sheikh Zayed Road, Deira City Centre and JBR – and
I’ve been to all 3 of them. They serve all kinds of cuisine - Mexican, Italian, Indian, Chinese and much more. Anyways coming back to Riyadh, both me and my
husband ordered our below all-time favourites:
Appetiser:
Cheese Nachos (SR 53) – oh how absolutely perfect these
were.
Main Course:
Tortilla Crusted Chicken (SR 59) – served with mashed potato/fries,
veggies and black beans. It was as perfect, crispy, tender, and delicious as
can be (exact taste like Dubai, no wonder both my husband and I ordered the
same dish). The dish also comes with a free treat - soup of the day or salad.
Yet again both hubby and I ordered our favourite Creamy Broccoli soup.
Cajun Chicken Sandwich (SR 40)– served with fries
The portions are so big that it would be tough to finish
everything on the plate in one go. That said I did try my best :) By the end of it, we
were so full that we just couldn’t have any dessert. During our meals, the Chef
paid us a visit and told us how he got trained at Cocos in Dubai to perfect the
menu for Riyadh. Not to mention even some of the servers/waiters had also got
trained by Dubai-based staff. And, it shows.
I’m just so glad that they lived up to my very high expectations.
Other than the above, in Dubai I’ve tried, and recommend their Fajitas,
Quesadillas, Pastas etc. I’m sure they will be ditto in taste here.
I wish the Cocos Riyadh team the very best. I’m sure we’ll
have more of Cocos branches all over the kingdom soon.
For all you diners, make sure you pay Cocos Restaurant in
Riyadh a visit...you won’t regret it.
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