(212) 206-8930

228 W 18th St (nr. Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY 10011 40.7414 -73.9987

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

COCOTERO-RESTAURANT.COM

Hours:

Mon- Sat 11am-11pm

Sun 11am-9pm

Price:

$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Breakfast, Family-Friendly Dining, Brunch, Lunch Spot, Food Delivery, Cheap Eats

General Info:

Open 7 Days

Cuisine:

Spanish, Tapas / Small Plates, Latin American, Venezuelan, Mexican

What People Are Saying About El Cocotero

Featured Review

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

In Short – Blue walls, green palms, terra cotta floors, and languid ceiling fans conjure the leisurely cafes of Caracas while the menu's specialties pay homage to Venezuela's unique culinary legacy. Everyone here is eating the arepas, savory corn cakes stuffed with everything from flank steak to panella cheese and anise seed. Other homespun specialties include hearty pabellon, a plate of stewed meat, rice, beans, plantains; yucca fries with sour cream; and tequenones, savory cheese pastry sticks.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
In addition to fresh juices like tamarind, passionfruit and papaya, beer and wine is on offer.
The Extras:
Try the hallacas, Venezuela's traditional tamale-like Christmas dish, during the holiday season.
ambiance
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. Great food, ambiance and friendly service.
  2. love the music and the family friendly atmosphere.
  3. The prices are affordable; the restaurant is immaculate and has a great atmosphere you could take anyone to.
  4. The environment is fun yet chilled.
  5. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
  6. This restaurant is tucked away on a pretty lonely street and the ambience isn't much to write home about BUT the food is amazing.
  7. Good food and cozy ambience
  8. The ambiance is not particularly inviting.
  9. Not the cheapest latin food, nor the most expensive; but the clean flavors and pleasant decor made it an experience to be repeated.
  10. The ambiance was nice as well.
  11. had been to other venezuelan places downtown, but I definitely stay in Chelsea where the great food and atmosphere really touches my belly and heart.
  12. The decor was also very charming and added to the whole meal.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. It came in a beautiful assorted set of small colorful dishes with four or five different toppings so we could made our own interpretation of those spongy & crispy delicius corn cakes.
  2. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
  2. Good food, super-friendly service, terrific coffee
  3. Startig our meal with a few tropical drinks : a refreshing limeade call papelon, watermelon juice,mango and a banana shakes.
  4. Great juice drinks too.
  5. The waiter tried his best to push drinks on us, and my friend ordered a delicious guarapito.
  6. Try coffee Negro and enjoy the great black stuff for it's own taste.
  7. also enjoyed a potent drink made with dark rum and passionfruit and mango juices.
food quality
94.82999801635742% positive
  1. Good food and cozy ambience
  2. My fiancee and I make it a point to dine there once every few weeks just to enjoy the food and service.
  3. Everything was delicious.
  4. really good food, but service is lacking!
  5. It's a delicious experience.
  6. Slow service, decent food
  7. El Cocotero serves excellent tasty and authentic Venezuelan food at very good prices.
  8. Not only is the service TERRIBLE here, the food is NOT even that good.
  9. the arepas and entrees are delicious.
  10. I'd go back to order a sandwich for takeout, but as for a satisfying dining experience, eh.
  11. The food here is fantastic!
  12. Then we moved to our main and generous portion size main dishes; our best favorites were the tamal, wrapped in banana leaf & sauted shrimp in a cilantro vinagrette sauce.
  13. This restaurant is tucked away on a pretty lonely street and the ambience isn't much to write home about BUT the food is amazing.
  14. Not the cheapest latin food, nor the most expensive; but the clean flavors and pleasant decor made it an experience to be repeated.
  15. had been to other venezuelan places downtown, but I definitely stay in Chelsea where the great food and atmosphere really touches my belly and heart.
  16. was incredibly impressed with the friendliness of the waiters and the owner, who came by to see how our food was - you can tell it is a family-run business where the food is authentic and the people take pride in their service.
  17. The food is very tasty, you will not be dissappointed by the portions sizes, try the areapas, very good.
  18. Our food was cold and if you're eating meat and beans that just kills it.
  19. Personally when I think cheap, I think of getting stuffed with good food for $10 or less.
  20. the food at el cocotero is sooo good.
  21. Awesome arepas -- exactly how you would find them in Venezuelan (just a tad more pricey :-) Nevertheless, great food.
  22. The food was served hot, with fresh ingredients and served by a waitstaff that was friendly and attentive.
  23. The calamari salad I ordered was not up to par, the dressing was tasty, but the calamari were few in number and burnt.
  24. Great food, ambiance and friendly service.
  25. The food was great!
  26. it is a best service good food too
  27. Great food, rude server
  28. have never been to Venezuela but after experiencing the amazing cuisine at El Cocotero I feel like I have traveled to Caracas or perhaps a little village nearby.
  29. The pork was dressed with a clean tasting onion/pepper relish, the beans tasty.
  30. My arepa was honestly tasty, but we didn't want to order anything else from these people.
  31. Yes, its a people's place, chill, relax, not uptight, good authentic Venezuelan food, fresh!
  32. the best food.
  33. She ordered a pernil sandwich which was delish and I ordered the Pollo al Horno, which was very average with almost no mojo flavor - and it was the thigh and the leg of the chicken!
  34. Great food!
  35. am actually going today and although i'm eating a yummy lunch I am looking forward to it!
  36. I'd highly recommend El Cocotero for the delicious Venezuealn food that I recently enjoyed there.
  37. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
  38. Good food, super-friendly service, terrific coffee
  39. The waiter tried his best to push drinks on us, and my friend ordered a delicious guarapito.
  40. The food is always fresh & delicious and the staff is friendly and welcoming.
  41. The decor was also very charming and added to the whole meal.
  42. The arepas de pollo mechado are delicious and my father thought the cuban sandwich was the best he'd ever had.
  43. Rude, unprofessional service will NOT bring me back even if the food is decent, but it isn't, so there really is no reason to go back.
  44. Startig our meal with a few tropical drinks : a refreshing limeade call papelon, watermelon juice,mango and a banana shakes.
  45. Great customer service, good food and a homey environment
  46. More importantly, the food was delicious.
  47. Arepas with steak were terrific.
  48. It came in a beautiful assorted set of small colorful dishes with four or five different toppings so we could made our own interpretation of those spongy & crispy delicius corn cakes.
  49. The food is CLEAN, not greasy.
  50. The rice and beans with beef or chicken or pork is outstanding.
  51. The food was good (but not great) and considering the price, I would only eat here if I was in the area and in the mood for some Venezuelan food.
  52. You get excellent food for what you pay.
  53. great service, great food, great price
  54. We enjoyed hte food so much we took the res tof the family back for dinner on a later date.
  55. beef and it was delicious.
  56. It had the most delicious shredded steak ever!
  57. love the arepas - chicken or pork sandwich with Plaintain bread.
  58. You have more options than you can handle in one meal, and because of the importance of making your dinning experience as amazing as possible they will change or offer you choices that suit your taste.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. You have more options than you can handle in one meal, and because of the importance of making your dinning experience as amazing as possible they will change or offer you choices that suit your taste.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Tucked away on 18th St., El Cocotero is my wife's and my favorite restaurant.
  2. The staff was so nice, we felt like kissing them good-bye when we left the place.
  3. highly recommend this great restaurant!
  4. It's a great place to share.
  5. Our favorite restaurant!
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. I'd go back to order a sandwich for takeout, but as for a satisfying dining experience, eh.
  2. Rude, unprofessional service will NOT bring me back even if the food is decent, but it isn't, so there really is no reason to go back.
service
73.43999862670898% positive
  1. My fiancee and I make it a point to dine there once every few weeks just to enjoy the food and service.
  2. Terrible service!
  3. Good food, super-friendly service, terrific coffee
  4. The waitress was very helpful with her recommendations and the owner was also helpful and very friendly.
  5. great service, great food, great price
  6. My arepa was honestly tasty, but we didn't want to order anything else from these people.
  7. Now can you imagine what the service would be like if the owner wasnt there?
  8. Great customer service, good food and a homey environment
  9. The staff is so friendly that it feels like you've known them for years.
  10. Rude, unprofessional service will NOT bring me back even if the food is decent, but it isn't, so there really is no reason to go back.
  11. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
  12. Great food, ambiance and friendly service.
  13. The food was served hot, with fresh ingredients and served by a waitstaff that was friendly and attentive.
  14. it is a best service good food too
  15. The waiter tried his best to push drinks on us, and my friend ordered a delicious guarapito.
  16. Rude staff.
  17. friend and I were one of two sets of patrons, yet we received abysmal service: the waitress just couldn't be bothered.
  18. Not only is the service TERRIBLE here, the food is NOT even that good.
  19. She was completely inappropriate, seemed resentful, and her behavior was the epitome of poor service.
  20. By the way, the owner was there entertaining some people.
  21. There was no host on duty, but the one waiter who was busily working the floor greeted me in a friendly manner and with a warm smile.
  22. really good food, but service is lacking!
  23. Yes, its a people's place, chill, relax, not uptight, good authentic Venezuelan food, fresh!
  24. Great food, rude server
  25. Slow service, decent food
  26. as much as i love it, the bad service is a huge turnoff and makes me rethink going there every time.
  27. The food is always fresh & delicious and the staff is friendly and welcoming.
  28. This restaurant had the worst service I've ever experienced.
  29. The waitress was flat-out rude and seemed to think it was funny that I actually asked a question about the arepa filling.
  30. love the music and the family friendly atmosphere.
  31. was incredibly impressed with the friendliness of the waiters and the owner, who came by to see how our food was - you can tell it is a family-run business where the food is authentic and the people take pride in their service.
  32. The staff was so nice, we felt like kissing them good-bye when we left the place.
value
96.14999771118164% positive
  1. great service, great food, great price
  2. The food was good (but not great) and considering the price, I would only eat here if I was in the area and in the mood for some Venezuelan food.
  3. The food is very tasty, you will not be dissappointed by the portions sizes, try the areapas, very good.
  4. as much as i love it, the bad service is a huge turnoff and makes me rethink going there every time.
  5. Personally when I think cheap, I think of getting stuffed with good food for $10 or less.
  6. Not the cheapest latin food, nor the most expensive; but the clean flavors and pleasant decor made it an experience to be repeated.
  7. Everything about this place is great, the atmosphere, the music, the service, the prices, and of course the food, from the drinks to the appetizers to the dinners and then the coffee and desserts, especially the tres leches cake!
  8. The price was very reasonable and the tres leche is to die for.
  9. The prices are affordable; the restaurant is immaculate and has a great atmosphere you could take anyone to.
  10. El Cocotero serves excellent tasty and authentic Venezuelan food at very good prices.
  11. Awesome arepas -- exactly how you would find them in Venezuelan (just a tad more pricey :-) Nevertheless, great food.
  12. The dinner portions were right in line with the moderate prices and the flavor was great.
  13. Then we moved to our main and generous portion size main dishes; our best favorites were the tamal, wrapped in banana leaf & sauted shrimp in a cilantro vinagrette sauce.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/19/10

LOVED IT!

by agoldin

We all had patacones. They were dee-licious. Prices very reasonable. But what was best was the atmosphere. The two waiters were the friendliest, most attentive wait-persons I think I've ever met. They both took turns taking care of us. It was like going to a party at their house and they made sure everyone in there was having a good time. I think anyone who said the service was lousy probably went in there with a pissy attitude to begin with, 'cause we thought this place was a DELIGHT and can't wait to go back!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/22/10

Excelente Venezuelen food!

by rosablanca5

I have gone to Cocotero quite a few times and everytime I have a great time. I was warned the very first time I was taken there that sometimes the service was not the greatest but the food made up for it. So my expectation was set. I always go when I have time to enjoy and I really do enjoy.

I always get a cheese empanada, an arepa (my preference carne mechada) and an avocado salad. I accompany it with a pitcher of sangria for the table.

In the past, I've had the mandocas maracuchas, churrasco, and green plantain crostini. I've loved it all! I am actually going today and although i'm eating a yummy lunch I am looking forward to it!

  • Pros: Sangria is always yummy and food is always good
  • Cons: service slow at times
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/17/09

Best Arepas in NYC

by Moni112

We walked by this place one late night, saw the menu and finally went a few weeks later. We were upset that we hadn't gone sooner because it was GREAT. the arepas and entrees are delicious. The staff is so friendly that it feels like you've known them for years. The environment is fun yet chilled. The owner has been there the 2 times we've been in the last 3 weeks; and the 2nd time- he was our server! We decided it's a favorite restauarnt of ours and a place we'll take our out of town visitors. Try the mango juice w/milk; the Miss Venezuela arepa, el pepito, tres leches dessert, and the shrimp entree. That's what I've had so far and all was sooooo goooood

  • Pros: friendly staff (like family); delicious food; easy on the $$
  • Cons: None!
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/20/08

Good food, super-friendly service, terrific coffee

by eat_club

This Venezuelan food was BETTER than I had in Venezuela. The Arepas were more like latkas!

And friendly??? The staff was so nice, we felt like kissing them good-bye when we left the place.

You should start with an arepas appetizer, then go to the steak... thin sliced mildly spiced. I had the mechada (chewed? mechanized?) beef and it was delicious. Polar beer is served bien calliente. After get the coffee. Try coffee Negro and enjoy the great black stuff for it's own taste. And the staff?? Kiss 'em for me when you go! --Eat Club is a roving group of NYC gluttons

  • Pros: super-friendly staff, good food, terrific coffee
  • Cons: don't expect spicey! That ain't Venezuelan
4 Star Rating: Recommended

09/15/08

El Cocotero is El Cocotero

by eva_cuarse

El Cocotero is what it is people. Yes, its a people's place, chill, relax, not uptight, good authentic Venezuelan food, fresh! Yes you have to wait sometimes, yes sometimes its understaffed. Who cares? You get excellent food for what you pay. Go there if you are not in a hurry or in a bad/diva mood. One of the few restaurants left in the city with the "european attitude" where they DO NOT rush you out or stuff your bill down your throat right after the dessert.

El Cocotero serves excellent tasty and authentic Venezuelan food at very good prices. Dont expect "Le Cirque" or by any chance "Cirque du Soleil." Sit there, order, chat with your waiter, wait for your food, eat it slowly, chew it, ask for the bill and pay whenever you want. I like it!

  • Pros: Great AUTHENTIC Venezuelan food. Fresh!
  • Cons: A bit slow in service (this is not a fast food rest). Understaffed sometimes.

The Details on El Cocotero

Place Categories:

  • good service good food
  • worst service
  • terrific arepas
  • rude staff
  • great place
  • great price
  • great family friendly atmosphere
  • authentic venezuelan food
  • good el cocotero
  • favorite great restaurant
  • helpful owner
  • nice ambiance
  • amazing music
  • amazing venezuelan cuisine
  • great everything
  • delicious dining experience
  • very helpful waitress
  • tasteless arrepas
  • great flavor
  • attentive waitstaff
  • borderline entire dining experience
  • enjoy great black stuff
  • very charming decor
  • outstanding beans
  • fun homey environment
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