by Eileen T. on My husband and I ate at this restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner. Everything we ordered was exquisitely flavored. The service was very good, and the atmosphere pleasant. There was only one strange part of the evening - the upstairs club - which I will explain below. We started with Plantain Chips and Salsa. The chips were wonderfully crisp and thin (although we would have liked to have had more of them in the little bag they came in) and the three sauces - mango, mild avocado-based with chili, and spicy - were very flavorful. We started with Margaritas. There are several dozen tequilas to choose from, and the 'rita was made with fresh lime juice. It was excellent. Southwestern Corn Bisque came with a tender prawn at the bottom of the (quite lovely) bowl and was flavored with smoked paprika; the flavors were deliciously layered and balanced. It was so amazing that we ordered a second bowl. The beef tamale was delicious with a generous amount of meat. There were three types of tamales on the menu that night; we ordered only one variety. The tamale came opened, with the meat cascading out of the husk. The meat (and probably other filling varieties) was added after the tamale was cooked, which was actually a delicious way to present it. The masa was moist and there was a generous amount of it. The Filet Mignon (a special that evening that looked so good when it was served to the neighboring diners that we ordered it in spite of already having had the beef tamale) was cooked exactly as we ordered it and the potato and spinach sides were properly cooked and well-seasoned; the au jus with just a hint of chile was a tasty complement. Crab cakes were moist and full of crabmeat, and the orange-accented sauce and coconut salad was very good. We ordered two desserts: a chocolate-banana trifle, which was good but not amazing; and a flan flavored with orange that was the best flan I have ever had - dense and rich and not overwhelmed by the caramel. Coffee was very good, and it was hot when it was served. Now, about the club - after dinner we peeked upstairs at the club, which had a dj that night. It was hip-hop stuff, which seemed oddly discordant with the restaurant's southwestern theme. We didn't stay. Overall, the experience was a delight, and we wil go back.
by Terrell Lukaskiewicz on I have a lot of love for Cafe Cocomo. Let me count the ways... 1) Venue: Big dance area on the ground floor, 2nd floor with seating and prime place to people watch. Nice outdoor patio when you need to cool off between dances. Ample free parking. 2) Music: Great live bands every Thursday and Saturday. But most importantly... 3) **The People**: There's a great vibe at Cocomo - people are friendly and most everyone plays nice. (As opposed to other places where people have 'tude and/or it is mostly couples.) The crowd is extremely diverse - age, race, salsa levels, attire, etc. The beginners come earlier for the lesson and the "serious" salsa dancers bring it later in the evening. I usually like to get there in between when it is not as crowded but I can catch the band's first set. It's time to leave when it is so crowded that my feet are getting stomped on. A note for the ladies: Cocomo is a good place to go solo. You'll feel comfortable and trust me you won't be off the dance floor for long. See you on the dance floor!
