Coco’s Cantina

After reading (countless) favourable reviews and driving past ‘Coco Cantina’ admirably everyday, I finally dined at this fabulous, vibrant restaurant over the weekend. We were a party of 7 people and the space was crammed full of humans both inside & out. The noise level was also cranking with ‘happy’ conversations and ‘café’ music. All the wait staff were super friendly and informative about the wine list. I decided on the pork belly, others had the scotch or chicken. Due to a packed restaurant we waited about an hour for mains, however the food met expectation. Mains around $ 30-​$ 35. Everything at Coco Cantina has a community/​family-​like feel with photos attached to pillars, paper covering the red & white checked tablecloths, quotes on the wall about being nice, paper menus and a sense of familiarity. Dessert was tiramisu that had something missing I thought — possibly berry coulis would work well. Desserts $ 14. Overall — great, wholesome, tasty food served with a smile. Parking can be a challenge — try the side streets, Ponsonby Rd side works. Thumbs up!

Was pleasantly surprised with the food. The polenta chips were quite possibly the best I’ve ever had worldwide!!! We were one vegetarian and two carnivores. For mains we ordered the lemon and ricotta ravioli, grilled lamb and char grilled scotch. All was amazing. Dessert had the vanilla panacotta with fruit and the cannoli with blueberries that were on their specials — unfortunately this was not on par with the cannolis I’ve had before. Good selection of wine and good coffee also available. All in all a great dinner at a great location with good honest service and quality food at a non-​pretentious establishment. Love their handwritten ‘straight up’ menus too. Would def recommend.

This review is for the service only: I came to Coco’s on a rainy Wednesday at 6:15pm. «Table for two for dinner please». The waitress told us to wait at the bar while she sorted our table out. She then pointed us to the table: the table was towards the back, under some sort of ventilation fan, and felt very dark and unappealing. We polity asked the waitress if there was another table, and she said NO. And when I asked her why we could not sit at the tables that were free she told us that those were for 4 people (interesting enough dingy table was also for 4 people)!!! So in her exact words «It is this table or nothing». Besides having great mean girl attitude this waitress was also well versed in dishing out empty threats. So we picked «the nothing» and went next door for an excellent dinner.

Jamie Oliver would love this place! It’s a funky little casual diner that offers a rustic selection of Italian fare! Lol, I haven’t actually sampled any of it yet! The owners were away in Italy when I visited, last week! WAIT, I didn’t break in and raid the pantry — but someone else did! It was all legit! The owners were kind enough to let their friends from Judge Bao and the Pie Piper do a mini pop-​up takeover, while they were away on holiday! How cool is that?!
Our ‘Viva la Revolution’ experience began with complimentary steamed buns that were light as a feather! These were served with a selection of dipping sauces and Asian pickled vegetables — nice touch.
The menu was as funky as the space! Small plates included dishes like the Dirty Bird which was a take on American paper bag fried chicken and Guangzhou street chicken. I tried the meatballs with brisket and bone marrow which I believe was a take on Coco’s very own meatballs creation. Lovely flavours but there was nothing to soak up the sauce. I could have ordered a side of Jasmine rice but that just doesn’t work with meatballs — not for me anyways!
The big plates were great for sharing. The Black Sticky Icky Ribs sounded amazing but my Vegetarian friends were more interested in the Sloppy Po which they claimed had more of a kick than usual. It seemed to work really well with a side of Jasmine rice and creamed spinach!
Dessert was revolutionary! The sweet potato and black sesame pie was silky smooth and the plum pie with orange infused cream, the real deal!
I wonder what these guys have in store for us next?! A Tri Nations pop-​up, perhaps!!?

Cocos cantina is unlike other restaurants. It cuts through all the pretensious regurgitated modernisms about saving the planet and how great they are for using organic produce. Their unfussy menu is straightforward and refreshing. The proof is in the pudding as you can taste quality through lovingly prepared meals.
Overwhelmed with choice of from today’s specials, all time classics and some very interesting sounding meals. I thought I’d test an Italian family favourite. I am far from Italian, but the spaghetti and meatballs I ate were up their with the first generation Nonno’s. A rich tomato sauce, packed full of flavour and herbs, at least four dedacent meatballs, crunchy parmesan pieces and just enough pasta — it’s a masterpiece.
If that is just a classic spaghetti and meatballs, I have no doubt everything else that they create is of the same calibre! Coco Cantina is definitely a winner!

At Coco’s Cantina, the staff are the loveliest, quick thinking professionals you could want in a restaurant. I love their system of writing your names on a chalk board rather than on a pad — good to see they are saving trees. When it was our turn to be seated we were shown with lightning speed our table. The barman and the waiter were friendly and efficient. I certainly couldn’t fault them.
We started the night with shared bruschetta as there’s plenty for two as an entrée — gently chargrilled so the lingering taste was reminiscent of a campfire — topped with mozzarella, mushrooms and pesto. It was a lovely way to start the night and great with my Pinot Gris.
My only problem was to do with the main and it seems a review the Herald wrote 3 years ago said that the Chef over salted the food and I have to agree when it came to my main. He either has a salty palette or he didn’t taste. Being that I had Pork and that’s already a salty meat (although cooked perfectly with a lovely crackle) the lentils were too salty that I couldn’t finish it. I was having such a good time with my friend and the wine was flowing, she had a good fish dish so I didn’t have the heart to say anything as a typical kiwi doesn’t.
We were full enough that we couldn’t fit in dessert but then there wasn’t anything amazing on the menu that I wanted to try if I had the space.
I would go again with good company and try something that might not have the chance of being salty. I hope the Chef can be less heavy handed on the salt. Watch this space.

Easily one of the best restaurants in town and definitely the place to go if you like a great steak and perfect fries! It’s a casual affair here (they don’t take bookings) but you can always grab a drink at the bar while you wait for a table. The service is always great and really friendly — it’s a true blue family restaurant. They use great local produce and you can really tell. Highly recommended

The polenta chips from this place are to die for.
Friendly staff. Good place to have s drink after work.

The yummiest food, best service, and quirky location! We have been going here for a ehe now and never disappointed with the delicious food!

Wow. This place has it. I’ve been dying to go here and we rocked up on a Tues at 830 and managed to get a table. It was busy and bustling but in a laid back carefree manner.
The wine was delicious, staff knowledgeable and just cool, and of course what we all go for, the food. The food!!! Prawn linguine was hands down the best pasta I’ve had. There was just no way I wouldn’t of eaten every last bite. A pricier night out but well worth every cent. See you soon cocos!

The only discomfort I experienced at Coco’s was emotional. The food was great. Bruchetta with asparagus and truffle oil and Arancini for starters, both extremely good. Pork belly: maybe the best in Auckland. The prawn linguine with chilli and garlic seared itself into my wife’s memory. She keeps twitching and talking about getting it again like an addict with an interrupted supply line. This place sells some of the greatest meals in the city, and you don’t have to dress up fancy to get them.
Only the signs made me scared. One on a wall above my table said something like ‘This is a nice place for nice people. If you aren’t nice this is not the place for you’. On the bathroom wall was a message telling customers that people who are dicks to serving staff are dicks all the time.
How we treat serving staff is important. It shows something about our character. But I also believe in the old proverb: he who smelt it dealt it. I started to wonder whether there could be an undercurrent of anger beneath the signs, an acre of hurt, carved out over a host of bad past experiences with drunk middle-​aged diners. I asked myself: am I doing something that would make these people upset?
The waitress seemed truly lovely and helpful. But I was worried. ‘Did I just interrupt her?’ I would think. Oh no. ‘Maybe I sounded abrupt with my wine order’. Shit. The sign glowed angrily above like a passive-​aggressive note on the flat fridge.
In the end it turned out I was an idiot. The bill came back. It had our table name. They’d personalised the heading. It said ‘cool couple’. Thank the lord. I’ll be back.

Best tiramisu I’ve had in quite some time. The raviolis were delectable. The pork belly scrumptious.
Our waiter, an import from Los Angeles, was charming and attentive.
The staff allowed us to take our time and dine without a rush. Every course was perfectly timed.
The ice cream brand was Kohu Road. Need I say more?

Yes, yes, yes.
Coco’s is definitely one of my favourites. Gosh, do these folk know food. And service. And atmosphere.
I rate the potato ravioli as one of the best things I have eaten, ever. When we were there last, I branched out and ordered the prawn linguine — also totally incredible. Relatively simple in terms of number of ingredients and flavours, but holy moley do they get it just right.
I’m always impressed by the staff — equal parts friendly and professional, and generally having a good time.
Yes, it gets busy, and yes, you’ll probably have to wait, particularly if you’re more than a group of two, but it’s really all part of it. Sit at the bar and chat to the barstaff, and enjoy the chatter around you. The wait has never been too too long when we’ve been.
Amazing work, Coco’s.

I went to Coco’s for a birthday dinner recently. For groups of 10+ there is one table per night which can be pre-​booked, with a set menu, which we were at. I understand this will soon change though as Cocos Baretta next door is becoming a bookable dining room. The service was great, the atmostphere fantastic, and the food was glorious.
The polenta chips were as good as had been promised, and grissini with goats cheese tasty tasty. The pork belly was crispy skin and tender meat and a real hit around the table. The highlight for me though was the pea and mint Ravioli with pangrattato and grana padano. When I found out that pangrattato was just a fancy word for breadcrumb I was a little less enthused, however the crunch of the breadcrumb with the soft fresh pasta and tasty filling really sent the dish over the edge. Amazing.
Overall just a wonderful place which hopefully will stick around for a long long time

Coco’s Cantina ticks all the boxes in terms of a dining experience for me and is my boyfriend’s fave restaurant in Auckland. Always busy, option to sit inside or out (unless SUPER busy and you don’t have the option to be choosey), amazing drinks and a simple, ever-​changing menu full of delicious treats.
You CANNOT go past the chicken liver parfait which is a great option to share as an entrée.
Mains I have tried and have had amazing food experiences with: pork belly, chicken thighs, and steak. All amazing food experiences. The only main that hasn’t quite hit the mark for me is the veal, however, the menu is often tweaked and updated. The desserts are the perfect end to a good meal.
Coco’s can get quite busy later in the week but they do not take bookings so go on in and put your name down and enjoy a few drinks while you wait… the table never takes as long as they say it will!
The Sangria is quite different but very tasty and very popular.
Happy hour between 5−7pm $ 6 drinks!!!

Hands down one of my favourite restaurants in AKL. Coco’s absolutely nails that cosy, neighbourhood vibe making it appropriate for so many occasions — dinner with friends, a first date, a post-​dinner night cap, even meeting the in-​laws.
Althought the menu changes on the reg, if it features pork belly, order it. It’s always beautifully cooked and incredibly succulent. Also not to be missed are the polenta fries. Ordinarily, i’m not that into polenta but these bad boys are epic — crunchy, salty deliciousness.
Their wine list isn’t overly long but always has some interesting options. If you’re not sure, ask you waiter for a recommendation or a taster — they are incredibly helpful. They also do a killer espresso martini and have a cute little plate of small treats — worth checking out.
Be warned, this eatery is incredibly popular so bank of there being a wait. My suggestion: Go early, put your name down and saunter next door for an apéritif — your table will be ready before you know it!

I love love love Coco’s, to the extent I neglect other restaurants in order to keep going back.
It’s a cosy wee restaurant with heaps of atmosphere on K Road, with simple and delightful Italian-​inspired food. Every time I go the service is spot-​on.
I last went on Saturday night with my boyfriend (who is also a huge fan).
You can’t book so we showed up around 7.30 and sat at the bar as they said the wait would be up to half hour (it ended up being just 10 minutes). While there, the barman was attentive and friendly and gave us a few samples of red wine until we chose a bottle of tasty French stuff. We also ordered a bowl of polenta chips to stave off hunger (you haven’t experienced Coco’s until you’ve tasted these oblongs of salty fried goodness).
Our mains were great too — my boyfriend had the pork belly and I had the fish of the day, kingfish. Coco’s have recently started serving only sustainable seafood which is in line with the rest of their free-​range local produce. The only quibble I had was one of the dishes was under-​seasoned and the other over, but no biggie.
We were too full for pudding this time round, but from experience I highly recommend the affogato.
Coco’s pays attention to little details — on one visit a year ago, I noticed on the back of the loo door a pink sheet of paper saying ‘Love going free’ with tear-​off bits (like when advertising ‘flat for rent’) which said ‘Love’. Found mine in the bottom of my handbag a few days ago.
I get extraordinarily happy each time I visit Coco’s — and you can’t ask for more than that in a dining experience, can you?!

Whatever you do, make sure someone orders the polenta chips. That is my only requirement of a visit to Coco’s. In fact, I have been known to travel to Coco’s Cantina specifically for a bowl of the things, and that is all. They are salty, crunchy and delicious. You will have no regrets if you order these.
The rest of the menu is pretty damn good. It changes every now and then. The ravioli is great. Jonny had the fish — said it was perfect. Tom finished his and mine (he eats a lot) and was pronounced satisfied. We had cocktails too — they do a tasty mojito.
The only issue I have with Coco’s is that sometimes you have to wait forever to get a table because you can’t book. They’ve opened a bar next door to give you a place to while away the time, but if you’re in a rush, don’t bother, especially from Thursday — Saturday.
Bonus: It’s on K-​Rd and there are outdoor tables — prime people viewing, especially on a Friday night from 9:30pm onwards. Look out.

Yum Coco’s Cantina, yum. I went here after an invite from a friend’s family, and have been trying to find an excuse to go back ever since. We go there at about 6.30, and put our name on the list for a table. There was some room on the tables out front so we sat and had a few drinks and people-​watched while waiting.
When our table was ready we were lead inside into the rich romantic décor. Service was very attentive and helped out with indecisive orderers. I ordered the venison, which i don’t think I have ever ordered before (I was in a weird mood). And holy moly it was delicious! I can actually still remember the tomatoes. So juicy and natural. Everyone on the table seemed to rave about the simple but amazing ingredients. Fresh veggies, home made pasta, perfect meat and amazing sauces.
The menu isn’t huge but it is clear why — Coco’s Catina values quality ingredients and doing everything well rather than spreading themselves too thin. There is definitely something for everyone.
Cocktails were yum and the wine list is great.

Are you hungry? Are you hungry right now? Then Coco’s should not be your first choice, sorry. Coco’s Cantina is a bustling and extremely busy restaurant on Auckland’s K’Road that is absolutely fabulous… if you can get a table.
On the night I went there, we got in the queue for a table and were told it was to be about 30 minutes. One hour and 25 minutes later, as we began to consider eating our forearms and wine glasses for sustenance, we were seated. No amount of wine could have prepared us for how starving we were by the time we even got to gander at what we might eat. My advice — get there before 6pm. Or eat beforehand. Pack some scroggin. Anything.
When dinner is served, it is a sight to behold. Maybe that was just our bellies talking, but the food that was brought to us was truly stunning. The pea, ricotta and mint ravioli was to die (of hunger?) for, and the slow roasted pork belly went down with moans of delight.
Next time I’ll make sure I’m more punctual.