We went to Coco Rio on a gamble. Having walked past it once - it is in a back block behind the main stretch of shops on Bedford place, and in what seems to be a carpark - and noted its "African/Latino" tag, we thought it was a restaurant worth trying. And it certainly is.
Going on nothing but the location, I did lots of googling to try to find out the name of the restaurant (I did not note it down when we walked past). I thought I had a great plan by using google maps. Alas, very few restaurants cropped up on google maps, even though I was well aware the area had a glut of them. Eventually, I found it - I think by just going to a directory website and using "CTRL-FIND" and the street name.
My fellow diners were my partner and some friends visiting the UK. My partner and I emailed each other, coming to the conclusion that the prices were somewhat steep and that we would therefore bully our guests into letting us pay. My partner would do the paying, and I would do the bullying.
When I rang to book, I got a confused garble. I was a little worried when all I had given to book was my name and phone number. The person who answered the phone hung up before I could give further details. Not in a rude way, just in a distracted way. Half an hour later, another woman called me to apologise and ask for time and number of people in the group. She explained that they had just returned from holiday, hence the fluster.
When we arrived, the restaurant was very quiet - but the decor and lighting were lovely, and our hostess most welcoming and attentive. She seemed to be the owner of the restaurant, and probably the second woman that I spoke to, rather than the first.
The menu is an eclectic mix of influences: Mediterranean, African, east Asian. I'm not sure where the Latino came in, but then I am not overly familiar with what constitutes 'Latino'.
For starters, we all shared some grilled haloumi on a spicy pineapple salsa, which reminded me greatly of a favourite Vietnamese dish, char-grilled calamari, baked mushrooms and cayenne dusted calamari. I would have liked the grilled haloumi to myself - but we had decided to share. Both calamari dishes were done magnificently.
My partner had the gumbo, and I had the jerk baked red snapper. One of our co-diners also had the jerk baked red snapper, and the other had lamb chermoulla. I had some of my partner's gumbo and the conclusion was that my snapper was the better choice.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their mains, although the resounding verdict was that we should have ordered more starters and not bothered with mains. Not that the mains were not good - they were very good - but that by eating starters, I can eat so much more delicious food!
At some point - perhaps during our starter - live guitar music started up. The owners are also a little band, playing flamenco and latino guitar tunes.
Coco Rio was a wonderful find: I am pleased that there are little places like, owned by dynamic and creative people. I hope it thrives - I'll do my best to assist by eating there again and widely recommending it!
*****
Coco Rio Restaurant
18a Upper Banister Street
Southampton
SO15 2EF
Tel: 023 80227700
http://www.cocorio.co.uk/
