Cocoa Tree - Panampilly Nagar — Restaurant in Kerala

Whenever my sis asks me to drive her around the city for one thing or another I make sure I get something in return, usually as a treat. This time was no different and ended up in Cocoa Tree mainly because Karthik Murali mentioned they serve the best waffles( Did a short review on it a week or so back, if you missed it you can find it here or in my insta handle ) but ended up having our dinner there too..

Grilled Tenderloin Beef Steak(Chef's special) - 555

One of nicest plated steak I've been served. Presentation was spot on. Grilled Tenderloin pillowed on some thinly sliced veggies served along with mashed pumpkin puree and strings of fried onions. The steak was cooked a bit more than I'd prefer, should have gone with medium rare but it was still good..insides being juicy. The sliced veggies were fresh and had great texture with it's cut. I was skeptical about the mashed pumpkin taking place of the usual mashed potatoes but I gotta admit it worked well. Had a slight sweet ring to it. The best part were those string onions.. they were fabulous! Simple but elegant. The only let down was the quantity of the steak, it was barely enough for me..also, slightly high price.

Verdict - 8.2

Route 66 - 290

A single beef patty burger. This burger was a huge bummer. The meat was left bland without any flavouring, didn't have the usual sauces that goes inside the burger & neither did I see a good cheese layer. But worst of all? The beef was too darn dry! Make sure you get a drink to go along with this. Sure, it looks like a gourmet burger but by no means is it one.. wouldn't recommend this. It comes with a side of fries too..

Verdict - 5.5

Chicken Parmigiana - 395

A huge piece of Chicken blanketed in a gorgeous amount of cheese with some wedges n veggies. I honestly thought it'd taste great but was a let down; average. The chicken wasn't as crispy as I hoped and lacked flavours. Felt more like a KFC burger Patty but I'd say that would be better than this. The wedges were nice. Didn't get the idea of a negligible amount of sauce that came in the plate..

Verdict - 7.2

Guava & Lime Lemonade - 95

What a stunner drink! The guava flavour pops out and you can taste that zesty lemony flavour from the lime as well. I really loved this drink. Do try it out!

Verdict - 9.3

Peach, Mint & Lime Lemonade - 100

Another fabulous drink. The flavours work together so well in this too! Really refreshing as well.

Verdict - 9.2

Overall I was pretty satisfied and the waffle was indeed extraordinary as Karthik has mentioned definitely give that a try!

P.S: Would y'all prefer these long reviews or mini reviews of each dish separate? Drop by in the comments. . . . . . . . Until next...

Cocoa Tree in Kochi is a popular and highly-rated café, well-known for its inviting ambiance, variety of desserts, and excellent coffee. It’s a favorite spot for both locals and visitors, frequently praised for its friendly service, stylish interiors, and remarkable food offerings.

Atmosphere and Ambience The café features a modern and cozy decor, creating a soothing environment suitable for everything from casual meetings and solo time to catching up with friends or family. The seating is ample and comfortable, with thoughtful touches like potted plants and chalkboard walls, making it inviting for longer stays. The ambience is often described as relaxing and perfect for unwinding or getting some work done over a cup of coffee.

Food and Drinks Cocoa Tree’s menu spans a diverse range of options, but it particularly excels at cakes, pastries, and coffee. Many rave about the bakery selections such as red velvet cheesecake, Nutella crepe, and crème brûlée. Hot chocolate, gourmet burgers, salads, sandwiches, and continental dishes round out the main offerings.

The coffee is considered among the best in Kochi, made with arabica beans and expertly brewed. Savory dishes like fish and chips, mushroom Swiss burger, salads, and lasagna are recommended by frequent patrons. Desserts are often singled out as a highlight, especially the bread and butter pudding, cheesecakes, and Nutella crepe.

Service and Staff Service at Cocoa Tree is frequently described as quick, warm, and attentive. Staff are willing to accommodate requests even close to closing hours and are helpful with recommendations. Customer interactions are generally friendly, contributing to the café’s welcoming reputation.

Price and Value While some reviewers mention that prices can be on the higher side, most agree that the quality of food, ambience, and service offer good value for money. Desserts and drinks are considered especially worth the price.

Additional Features Free WiFi for guests, making it a great spot to relax or work. Ample options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten-free preferences[1]. The café is centrally located, making it easily accessible for people coming from different parts of Kochi.

Overall Experience Cocoa Tree is a must-visit in Kochi for those looking for great coffee, delicious desserts, and a stylish place to unwind. The consistently positive reviews for its food, service, and relaxed environment make it one of the top-rated cafés in the city.

Would highly recommend Cocoa Tree for anyone seeking both a cozy café experience and quality...

Almost missed this place eventhough reached right at the entrance, the café is situated on the 1st floor which is not what I had in mind having spent a major portion of my college days in their first store on MG road, almost 2 decades ago and I expected a similarly grandeur store, but they're not comparable in that aspect of overall ambience, but nevertheless a welcoming store with plenty of comfortable seating, both chairs and cushioned couches, decent decor with ambient lighting that allows us to relax over a cup of coffee. Although this is perfect café ambience, they have a good menu with sandwiches, pastas, rice & sides, amongst other things.

I was here along with my wife just to try out the place and decided to have an espresso for myself and a masala chai for my wife. The menu mentions that they use 100% arabic beans and there is nothing I enjoy more than a well roasted & pressed espresso shot. The espresso was served promptly along with the tea, my wife liked the tea although she mentioned that the masala flavor was very subtle and the tea almost felt like normal tea (chaaya) without any projections of the masalas incorporated.

My espresso didn't stand out in terms of flavor or aroma or taste, but nevertheless it was a pleasant caffiene experience that allowed me to indulge in banter with my wife about the mundaneness of life.

An hour passed by quickly and we ordered the lemon honey tea, the host expressed his apologies in letting us know that they were out of the normal tea leaves used for lemon tea and instead would be using regular black tea and would serve it with lemon wedges & honey, which in all honesty both of us thoroughly enjoyed.

Plenty of pastries on display, something I really liked was that they have cakes in 1 kg size, much smaller 250-300 grams and pastry slices which is a good gesture given that not everybody needs a 1 kg cake for celebrations, this would greatly reduce food wastage and also save money. Good move 👏

Overall a great place with above average customer service.

Definitely worth...