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Situated just off the main drag in Southport (Stanley Street), La Cocina has been around for about 20 years apparently and has built a good reputation but I've only started going since the new owner, Max Pemebrton took over last Autumn.
The name of the restaurant is now being re-branded ... Read review
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Advantages: Quality food, great prices, super atmosphere Disadvantages: None actually!
...drag in Southport (Stanley Street), La Cocina has been around for about 20 years apparently and has built a good reputation but I've only started going since the new owner, Max Pemebrton took over last Autumn.
The name of the restaurant is now being re-branded to Maxicano's to underpin the number of differences that the new owner and indeed the new chef (the well respected John Roper) have brought to the place.
Let ... .../>
Maxicano's / La Cocina is a pretty small restaurant with about 10 tables. 2/3 of the floorspace is the restaurant with the other 1/3 being the bar. I think it's a nice feauture of the place that people come in just to have a couple of drinks at the bar and maybe some tortilla chips because it always makes the place seem busy and vibrant. The place gets a late license, often up till 2am, for these reasons although food stops being served ... more
UPDATE...PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS RESTAURANT HAS NOW CHANGED IT'S NAME TO MAXICANO'S...EVERYTHING ELSE IS EXACTLY THE SAME!!!
I wouldn't typically say that Mexican food is number one on my list of meals but the convergence of a really good atmosphere, intimate dining, authentic, tasty cuisine and low prices makes this restuarant one of my personal favourites.
Situated just off the main drag in Southport (Stanley Street), La Cocina has been around for about 20 years apparently and has built a good reputation but I've only started going since the new owner, Max Pemebrton took over last Autumn.
The name of the restaurant is now being re-branded to Maxicano's to underpin the number of differences that the new owner and indeed the new chef (the well respected John Roper) have brought to the place.
Let me walk you through the gaff:
Location ------------
Well, it's in easy walking distance from most of the touristy spots in Southport be it the promenade, the shopping areas, the gardens etc and is a fairly short walk from the main train station (0.3 miles).
There is no dedicated parking at the restaurant but parking is readily available outside and there are numerous other parking sites within close distance. As the restaurant is only open in the evenings, getting parked even on a weekend has never proved difficult and I have never had to work more than about 25 yards.
Maxicano's / La Cocina is a pretty small restaurant with about 10 tables. 2/3 of the floorspace is the restaurant with the other 1/3 being the bar. I think it's a nice feauture of the place that people come in just to have a couple of drinks at the bar and maybe some tortilla chips because it always makes the place seem busy and vibrant. The place gets a late license, often up till 2am, for these reasons although food stops being served after about 11.30pm - midnight I think. I've been there a few times when we've finished food late, been having a drink at the bar and ended getting up to dance in the restaurant table with all the other diners after they've moved all the tables back and its turned into a real party.
The decor is simple but good, typically authentic Mexican stuff I guess. They have candles burning everywhere in there which adds to the intimate atmosphere.
Tables / chairs are pretty simple too, I think they've purposely tried to make it an unpretentious environment and it works; you always feel comfortable from the second you walk in through the door.
Menu & Food ------------------
The menu has recently been changed /updated in line with the new chef that I mentioned earlier. Aside from an array of new dishes and the introduction of tapas style options to the menu, he has overhauled / updated the old favourites that the place is known for.
Theres a real choice on the menu with plenty of starters, main courses and desserts to suit most tastes. Plenty of modular extras too. They are keen to stress that they will cook a dish to your precise taste and will add / remove ingredients to your specification or even cook a specific dish not on the menu for you. That underpinned by a number of changing daily specials means that you're always going to be able to find something you like even if you're not a big fan of Mexican fayre.
Unlike many restauarants I frequent regularly where I tend to have a favoured dish, at this restaurant I have been slowly working my way through the whole menu and have yet to find a dish that has not excelled the previous!
The wine list is selected and produced for them carefully by Oddbins so there is obviously a good choice of professionally selected wines to suit all tastes and all dishes.
Food is well presented, more than ample and even though the place gets really busy, the staff and cooking crew ensure that you never have to wait ages for your food like you do in many other places. I guess that must be a sign of a well organised operation which from a business point of view I respect.
Service ----------
The service at the place is one of its best features. It's neither stuck up nor falsley over-pleasant which is a difficult balance to get right. The owner has been there every time I have visited and takes an active role in serving customers, making cocktails etc, he's only in his late twenties but his family ran some of the largest food and drink operations in the North West and having worked for them all his life and having their support he has a good pedigree and a very affable manner. All the staff there are excellent and it's always nice to be recognised when you walk in somewhere and have people remember your preferences.
I judge service by what I tip and I tend to leave about 25% when I go there which is high for me, I usually go for about 10%.
Prices ---------
The prices are emminently reasonable, main courses are priced between £7 and £15, starters up to about £5 and drinks are cheap too - large glass of wine £2.50, bottled beers like Sol, San Miguel, Becks etc all £2 and cheap branded spirits. They make fantastic cocktails with many obviously tequilla based .
General Information ----------------------------
The place has reasonable Disabled Access as they have a ramp to help wheelchairs up a step between the bar and restaurant sections but I would say that the double doored entrance through no fault of the owners is perhaps difficult to navigate without help.
Music is played throughout the night and is a blend of well selected non-cheesy Mexican music although later in the night you'll hear the rather non Mexican Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra etc!
I think they're open every night bar one in the early part of the week and bookings are taken for about 6.30pm onwards.
They cater well for parties and will go out of their way to make it a special night, for example; we went on News Year Eve which was my fiancees birthday and they surprised us with a really nice cake and music etc.
In terms of competition, there is another Mexican restaurant actually quite near caleld Fuegos but it lacks both the atmosphere and fresh, authentic food so although it's ok, I much prefer this place.
There is outside seating planned ready for the summer and they are going to develop the rear of the restaurant for this purpose.
Hygiene in the restaurant is really good, you can see into the kitchen if you want to and it's immaculate as are the toilets and eveywhere else.
They take all major credit cards and the details of the location are:
Maxicanos / La Cocina 21a, Stanley Street Southport Merseyside PR9 0BS
BladeRunner2003 04.03.2004 (04.03.2004)
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Review of La Cocina Mexican Restaurant (Southport)
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