Cocorico — Restaurant in Ashland

During my visit to Ashland, I was searching for the perfect cozy restaurant to take my newlywed friends to, and I couldn’t have made a better choice than Cocorico. I initially made a mistake with my reservation, booking a table for two instead of three. Just 10 minutes before our scheduled time, I realized the error and informed the restaurant. Despite being fully booked for the evening, they went above and beyond to accommodate us, which was just the beginning of an extraordinary experience.

I work in the luxury hospitality industry, opening five-star hotels for a living, and I have dined at countless top-rated restaurants worldwide. Yet, this meal at Cocorico was truly one of the best I’ve ever had—not just because of the outstanding food, but also because of the warmth and passion of the people running this place.

We started with warm olives, gently heated in olive oil, garlic, and fresh lemon—such a simple yet elegant and unique dish. Next came clams and shrimp with orzo and fresh tomatoes, perfectly balanced in flavor and cooked to perfection. The deviled eggs, which I never imagined could be elevated to such a refined dish, were absolutely delightful—flawlessly creamy and well-seasoned.

For the main course, we indulged in:

Duck pasta – A masterpiece with homemade pasta cooked to perfection, topped with fresh greens that added a refreshing contrast to the rich, juicy duck, packed with deep, savory flavors.

Lamb shank – A showstopper. Huge, beautifully presented, and braised to perfection, the meat fell right off the bone and melted in my mouth. The fermented lemon skin added a bright and unexpected twist, while the mashed potatoes were luxuriously creamy.

Trout with goat cheese and grape leaf – The highlight of the night! This dish was not only visually stunning but also an explosion of flavors. The crispy grape leaf wrapping added a beautiful texture, while the creamy, fresh goat cheese inside perfectly complemented the tender, juicy trout. Served with rice and pickled cauliflower, this dish was simply out of this world.

Dessert was just as spectacular:

Tiramisu – So incredibly creamy and well-balanced in sweetness that we had to order a second one!

Crème brûlée – Perfectly caramelized on top, with a silky, delicate custard underneath—absolutely divine.

Beyond the incredible food, the hospitality at Cocorico is what truly sets it apart. The manager was incredibly knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations. Grace, our host, was an absolute gem—so warm, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about ensuring a memorable experience. And her husband, Ned, is nothing short of a culinary genius, crafting the best meal I’ve had in a long time.

Cocorico is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience. If you are in Ashland, don’t think twice—this is...

What a gem! Everything was 10/10: food, service, ambiance, cocktails, dessert, (company, if I may say so myself).

I always love finding great restaurants in Southern Oregon, and Ashland needed something young but elevated - Cocorico is just that! It was a full house when we went on a Thursday night. I recommend making a reservation. We sat on the back covered patio which was just the right mix of indoor/outdoor. Their website made it sound like the patio would be loud, but we found it just right- energetic but not blaring loud.

I went with a majority vegetarian party and there were so many options to choose from, which we find is a rarity at nice dinner spots.

All the flavors were incredible. Their menu looks seasonal so get these while you still can, a selection of favorites from the night:

Shishito peppers - so simple, so good Deviled eggs - amazing flavor and presentation with crunchy chips! Smoked sardine salad - the salty, sweet, crunchiness was perfection and incredibly unique Fried corn - a unique take that was a creamy spicy flavor bomb! Braised lamb - fall off the bone, decadent Chicken - one of the best roast chickens Ive ever had, in a super flavorful sauce with crispy potatoes Summer campanelle pasta - vegetarian, creamy corn sauce, was everyone’s favorite item from dinner in terms of flavor Chickpea tagine with halloumi - also delicious, vegan except for the cheese (which we wish there were 2 slices of instead of 1) Creme brulee - classic and a perfect end

Not to mention their cocktail menu was fabulous! I tried two gin cocktails, the one with yellow chartreuse (recommended by the waitress) was a winner; refreshingly sour with just the right amount of sweetness. The creme de violet one was also tasty (and boozy!). The rest of my damily had a variety of beers they all enjoyed (included Athletic’s non alcoholic beer!).

The hostess, waiter, and wait staff were very friendly and engaging. They took time to come over and talk to us throughout the night, make sure we were enjoying ourselves and the food. It was a nice added touch you don’t see very often.

My family decided this will be the restaurant we go to for all future occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, etc. So do yourself a favor and...

We were visiting Ashland mid week on a road trip through Oregon and from the moment we arrived the experience at cocorico was 5 stars. Grace, the front of house co-owner, is a delight to interact with and made us feel like the whole experience was there for us. We had dinner on a Wednesday night and the place was full, so highly recommend making reservations in advance.

We elected to sit on the back patio it was one of the nicest patios we had seen. The lighting, art and overall feel of both the indoor and patio of this place are so warm. It feels upscale but also neighborhoodly.

We ordered cocktails, bread (Meg, our server clued us into this as it wasn’t on the menu but was so good) the beet salad, sardine and blackberry frise, apple and arugula salad, the mushroom bolognese, as well as the trout special which was wrapped in grape leaves. Everything was phenomenal, they had two special fish and honestly don’t think we could have gone wrong with anything. The beet appetizer was a standout and should be a must order. Meg was so friendly and knowledgeable and made the whole experience that much better.

The wine list, unique drinks, friendly and knowledgeable staff. and food make this place an easy 5 stars for us. I would recommend this to anybody in Ashland and immediately texted my sister (who is a foodie) to make a trip from Portland to go here. Can’t...