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| - The better half and I tried out KOKO for dinner on Friday night, and unfortunately I can only give the experience 3 stars. I have to admit, this was a one time experience, so perhaps they were simply having a bad night, but to echo a previous yelp-er, it was overall pretty underwhelming.
Maybe because it was Friday of the Hallowe'en weekend, and they couldn't find enough people to staff the restaurant? Maybe it was just our bad luck? But at 7:30 or so with only two other tables, we waited 45+ for our appy. And we were pretty disappointed when it arrived - the soft shelled crab was rather overly breaded/crusted before deep-frying, and it was barely warm. Not sure if it sat out for a long time, but the waitresses (yes, two of them, for one table of two eating, one table of two waiting (us!), and one table of two just arrived), were not swamped! Waitresses were friendly and eager, so not sure where the ball dropped....
Main dishes were better, hot and tasty. We had the black cod and short ribs. Flavours and textures were wonderful, the restaurant's saving grace! Small point: I was a little irked by the asparagus that came with the cod: 4 stringy, ice-cold pieces. Not sure it was a garnish (but they looked very sad: limp, charred, soggy)... but it was my first time leaving asparagus behind!
The menu appeared to consist of pretty run of the mill Japanese OR Korean foods, not a modern fusion twist which I had expected. Drinks list showed inventive cocktails and martinis... Oh, and share bar, means family style, sharing the plates. Sizes are significantly bigger than tapas! Decor and ambiance were lovely, hip, modern, cool.
The meal came to $70 for quickie dinner of one appy, one beer, two mains, taxes. Keep in mind we brought small appetites to the restuarant (one of us came from happy hour). I know it's Yorkville location adds a premium, but given our experience, not sure if we will be returning. Might come back to try cocktails.... might be a fun place for someone to bring a date....
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