Good food doesn’t have to be complicated.
It doesn’t require intricate cooking techniques or rare ingredients. It doesn’t need classical training or multiple courses.
For one Charleston restaurant, good food just needs fresh, local ingredients, seasonal produce and balanced flavors.
That’s according to breakfast and lunch restaurant Coco’s Kitchen + Cafe.
“Our goal is simple—Use seasonal ingredients to create healthy food that’s nourishing, delicious and makes you feel great,” reads the website. “Guests can enjoy simple, seasonal and delightful dishes in our casual, relaxed environment.”
Jesse Lyons, co-owner and chef at Coco’s, brings that goal to life along with co-owner Chasity Thomas.
“Everything is made from scratch,” Lyons said. “We make our dressings, we bake our own breads, we cut our own meat. We spend time on each component. That attention to detail sets us apart.”
The respect for ingredients is evidenced in menu items like the Coco’s Bowls:
- ALOHA BOWL – sushi rice served with avocado, cucumber, roasted carrots, mukimame, green onions, toasted sesame seed, sweet soy sauce and sriracha mayo
- FALAFEL BOWL – toasted couscous and fresh greens topped with falafel, hummus, tomato cucumber salad, and feta cheese served with lemon tahini dressing
- VIETNAMESE NOODLE BOWL – vermicelli rice noodles served with fresh greens, cucumbers, pickled carrot & radish, bell peppers, basil & cilantro, crispy wonton strios, nuoc cham (Thai lime sauce) and peanut sauce
Lyons’ focus on fresh food is clear throughout the rest of the menu, such as in Coco’s Salads and Handhelds, which can be served with a tomato and cucumber salad or sweet corn pasta salad:
- TEX-MEX SHRIMP SALAD – mixed greens with sautéed shrimp, avocado, pineapple pico de gallo, white cheddar and crispies served with a chipotle ranch
- CAPRESE MELT – house focaccia, Gritt’s Farm tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pesto, DiTrapano olive oil, and balsamic glaze
- TUNA SALAD HANDHELD – house tuna salad with fresh greens and tomato on either toasted house focaccia or a grilled whole-wheat wrap
With influences from Hawaii, Mexico, the Mediterranean and Asia as noted above, Coco’s menu doesn’t lack in creativity or delicious flavors through its eclectic mix of food – but simplicity remains at the heart of each meal.
By stripping away unnecessary complexity, simplicity allows the true character of ingredients to shine through, creating an authentic, satisfying all-around experience.
“Everything is homemade, and people know the difference. Our food is affordable, and it is quality. People can feel and taste that it’s made by hand and made with the heart,” Lyons said.
“It’s not just the food – it’s the atmosphere, it’s that sense of community, it’s all that stuff that is hard to put into words, but ‘simple’ sums it up.”
Coco’s Kitchen + Cafe is located at 233 Hale Street, Charleston, West Virginia 25301. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch service begins at 10:30 a.m. It is closed Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant can be reached at 304-343-6420. For more information, visit https://www.cocoswv.com/.
