Through the thick red curtain swaying in the entrance of El Cocotero lies a cozy cantina in Chelsea made up of traditional Venezuelan cuisine. Its low lit and adorned with the national flag, palm trees, ceramic, and Venezuelan trinkets celebrating the pride of a Latin spirit. A tight space filled with rustic wooden tables and faux-hacienda roof hovering over the service counter, gives way to friendly service that is highlighted by owner Luis "Lucho" Quintero. This happy man buzzes around the room, laughing and chatting with strangers.
El Cocotero refers to a coconut tree, which is native to Venezuela, yet it's the steam table is where you’ll want to be at. It’s located in a room surrounded by the scents of arepas, beans, and spices flowing through the air as candles flicker on the table and couples converse. It’s hard to find a person that's not being taken care of and smiling- El Cocotero's staff are like hosts with the most-and the food isn’t bad either!
When you think of Venezuelan cuisine, you think arepas, maybe empanadas, but that's the tip of the iceberg of what El Cocotero dishes out. You'll do great with the cachapas, a spongy sweet corn pancake oozing with luscious white cheese. The menu is a little overwhelming, in a good way. El Cocotero's specialities feature pabellon criollo, halaca, and the camerones cocotero among others, a smorgasbord of Latin flavors and treats that you have to taste to believe.
El Cocotero's camarones cocotero comes on a welcoming plate of perfectly sauteed shrimp, an earthy pesto, which seemed out of place, but fitted in nicely after the first bite, and crunchy tostones that make you feel like shouting ay carumba! Try the churrasco, a beefy pleasure of succulence and yucca mash. Then there’s the pastelitos, a fried pastry filled with beef, cheese, ham or potato. How could that be terrible? Ensaladadas, sopas, platos tradicionales, and antojitos flood the menu. The variety and assortment of flavor is too much to mention.
Don't look over and forget about El Cocotero’s arepas and patacones! They come as a myriad of flavors and colors, aptly named "delights.” Go for the “Dayana Mendoza,” named after Venezulean's favorite daughter, Miss Universe of 2008, who frequents El Cocotero at least once a week. Her dish is stuffed with juicy shredded beef, grated cheese, and tajada- a crown of a meal. Savor it with a traditional drink, a shot of Pampero Rum and a Lemon Chaser. The lemon is crusted with papelon (raw hardened sugar) on one side, and coffee grounds on the other. Needless to say, guests always walk out feeling satisfied.
El Cocotero is worth a visit for so many reasons..... Live the vida loca!
