Latest opening: Cocotte
What: A third outpost for French “farm-to-table rotisserie” restaurant Cocotte in Shoreditch. It joins the brand’s original Notting Hill location and a delivery-only site in Battersea.
Who: Cocotte was founded by a group of Parisian friends. Romain Bourrillon - whose CV includes the Michelin-starred Villa Lauraine in Belgium - heads up the food side of the business. The front of house team is predominantly made up of French-accented servers with excellent wine knowledge, which lends a little authenticity to the ambience.
The vibe: Cocotte is on the former site of much-loved restaurant 8 Hoxton Square. The space now has a bright, white-painted terrace that contrasts with the darker, ivy-covered two storey interior. The restaurant offers brunch, lunch and dinner options, and the front terrace overlooking Hoxton square doubles as both a dining space and a drinking area.
The food: Cocotte’s focus is its rotisserie chicken, which is free range and imported from a farm in France’s Loire Valley. It is marinated for 24 hours in a blend of herbs and spices, before being cooked on a rotisserie spit. Available to order either as a whole (£23), a half (£13), or a quarter (£8), the chicken comes with a selection of sauces and condiments, including garlic and truffle mayonnaise; Cocotte mustard; chicken gravy; spicy sauce; and barbecue. Side dishes to accompany the main event comprise a variety of salads; mashed potato; roasted baby potatoes; truffle mac and cheese; ratatouille; and roasted carrots and butternut squash. Naturally, a cheeseboard of French imported cheeses is available, alongside a dessert menu that strays away from the European with a selection of Asian-inspired ice cream-filled mocha balls.
The drinks: Alongside a short but considered list of French wines, Cocotte offers a cocktail menu and a list of ‘spritzes’, including the Cocotte Spritz made with Belsazar rosé, grapefruit, sparkling wine, slim tonic water; and the Riviera Spritz made with peach, Belsazar white, rose wine, angostura and lime juice.
And another thing: In French, the word ‘cocotte’ has several different meanings. Traditionally, it used to refer to a casserole pot, but is also the word that children might use to describe a chicken. Lastly, it is a term of endearment, the French equivalent of ‘darling’, that partners use as pet names for each other.
