I decided to try the Coop Chicken House simply because it was one of the few restaurants open on a Sunday night. It is clearly popular as there was a constant flow of diners trickling in right up until they stopped serving food at 8. The location is ideal as it is right next to Central Station, therefore it’s easily accessible by metro and parking is available close by. Of course, another selling-point is that it’s surrounded by bars, pubs and clubs, just in case you wanted to make a night of it.
The atmosphere is very laid back. It is decorated as a simple diner, with some unique quirks such as a pile of chopped logs in the corner and metal pipes running along the ceiling to give the place a rustic vibe. It works. The dress code is casual; this is a no frills restaurant.
"here is an extensive choice of sauces (I would guess about 30!), ranging in spice. I played it safe with a fantastically flavoursome garlic and ginger sticky sauce"
I have to say the menu is similar to Nando’s, however there are some added extras. All the ingredients down to the sauces are sourced from independent, local producers. There is an extensive choice of sauces (I would guess about 30!), ranging in spice. I played it safe with a fantastically flavoursome garlic and ginger sticky sauce.
Coop Chicken House boasts ‘simple food done well with a laid back, non-fussy approach’ and we certainly found this to be true. The food is chicken, it’s as simple as that, but if you’re a lover of chicken you will fall head over heels with this restaurant. They cook it to perfection; wood-fired over a flame pit so that it is crispy and charred on the outside yet succulent on the inside. It was lip-smackingly good. You can order a quarter, half or whole chicken and it is served in portioned pieces so you do not have to carve it yourself; you can just dive straight in. I should mention they offer a veggie option, so do not be put off if you’re dining with someone who does not love chicken quite as much as you do!
The sides offered include two of my personal faves; charred buttery corn-on-the-cob and sweet potato fries, amongst others. For desert my boyfriend and I shared (although I wish we hadn’t!) a peanut butter slab, which was to die for! Imagine a thick layer of crunchy peanut butter coated in solid chocolate, topped off with a ginormous scoop of vanilla-seed ice cream. It was naughty but delicious. With an extensive beer and wine selection to wash all of this down, this restaurant is very high on my list and I will definitely be returning.
"Imagine a thick layer of crunchy peanut butter coated in solid chocolate, topped off with a ginormous scoop of vanilla-seed ice cream. It was naughty but delicious"
The service couldn’t be faulted and the food came in just over five minutes- we’d barely taken our coats off! The only thing I would say is that by the time you have paid for the chicken, a side, a sauce and a glass of wine, you are paying slightly more than I would expect for a restaurant as casual as this one. However, don’t let this put you off, as on Mondays they offer 20% off the food bill and a refillable soft drink with a valid student card.
Foody Foddy could not recommend the Coop Chicken House more highly for those who are looking to enjoy a casual meal out and, well, chicken. It is cooked to perfection and the sauces served in shot glasses add a little something extra to spice up the meal. If you’re feeling peckish (I’m sorry, even I’m cringing!) give this one a go.
