Coco's Bistro — Restaurant in Sarasota

I had the most incredible lunch and dining experience at Coco's Bistro, a true gem that brings the vibrant flavors of Venezuela to life! From the moment I walked in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere transported me back to Maracaibo. The staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and passionate about sharing their culture through food. The menu is a love letter to Venezuelan cuisine, offering an authentic mix of classics and creative twists. The arepas were perfection--crispy on the outside, stuffed to the brim with mouthwatering fillings like shredded beef (carne mechada) and creamy avocado with cheese. The cachapas, sweet corn pancakes topped with queso de mano, were a revelation--sweet, savory, and utterly addictive. Don't even get me started on the tequeños; those golden, cheesy sticks were pure joy in every bite! The star of the show, though, was the Patacon Llanero beautifully plated masterpiece of tender grilled Picanha, grilled chicken, pico de gallo and queso de Mano with fried sweet plantains that danced on my palate with every forkful. The flavors were bold yet balanced, showcasing the heart and soul of Venezuelan home cooking. Pair it with a refreshing papelón con limón, or frescolita and you're in for a treat that's both nostalgic and refreshing. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the attention to detail in every dish is impeccable. Whether you're a Venezuelan food enthusiast or a first-timer, Coco's Bistro will leave you hungry for more. I'm already counting down the minutes until my next visit--bravo to the entire team for creating such a delightful culinary experience! Special thanks to Miguel and Diana, what...

I took 2 of my co-workers for lunch here as I am always excited to share my culture with people and I have heard good things about this place.. well, the girl in the cashier (did not grab her name, but I asked her where she was from and she said Maracaibo although she grew up in Valencia) really needs a customer service class. My co-worker was ordering empanadas and asked me what sauce was better, and I said garlic sauce is always good so I asked the lady if they had garlic sauce and she said yes, we have coco sauce and chimichurri. Eh, excused me? do you have garlic sauce? and in a very unfriendly way she says GARLIC SAUCE IS COCO SAUCE - how am I supposed to know this? whatever, I ignored it and tell my co-worker, she should try that.

Then she was speaking very fast to my co-worker (sure, it is known that most of us latinos speak fast) and so my co-worker asked her in a very nice way if she could slow down and repeat what she said, and this girl that apparently have no manners, started to talk IN A VERY SLOW, almost mimicking way and I felt so embarrassed. This was supposed to be a fun lunch outing and all of sudden I was very ashamed for he behavior of this lady.

She also insisted "in my country garlic sauce is called tartara sauce". Excused me, what? Either I am not Venezuelan anymore or I am missing something..

Anyway, food was fine, but please have this lady to take a class on how to be more welcoming to customers, this place is not cheap either and we were treated as if she was doing us a favor of...

I've been looking for a good local Venezuelan owned and operated business to patronize and cocos totally hit the nail on the head! The interior is modern and bright but still nails the whole bistro vibe. I took a star off for atmosphere because if it wasn't written on the name you wouldn't even know it was a Venezuelan owned business. I would like to see your nation's flag and more pictures of landmarks/ history of Venezuela.

Walking up outside they had a board with the specials written on it. At the counter, you order fast food style. The menu is written nicely and the woman who served me happily explained the different dishes they serve and was very polite and well spoken. I chose the Pollo Pabellón. The chicken was tender and seasoned perfectly. I had a glass of Chicha, it's a thick rice drink with cinnamon. It was so creamy, absolutely delicious! Definitely try it and you have to drink it from the straw, trust me!

I'll be back, there are over a dozen different arepas to try and the friendly service is definitely worth the repeat business. Much luck in the...