Coco's Deep Fried Lobster?

does anyone know anything about this little place on Clark Street just north of Congress Parkway--it has a sign that says "Coco's Deep Fried Lobster." I was driving by today and couldn't stop but was intrigued . . . that's how they prepare lobster down in Rosarito, Baja California Mexico. I am quite curious.

bjt


Coco's Famous Deep Fried Lobster
426 S Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60605
312-786-2070

it's not rockin yet. i've been watching the space for awhile, but nothing to report so far

Off my radar, but quite definitely worth notice. It seems like a winning combination: fried + lob. What is not to like?

I had lunch at this small storefront today.

They were belting out some heavy grease atmosphere when we walked in. Instead of the normal soul food steam table all of the sides are under heat lamps in hotel pans. My dining pal and I split a larger order of fried lobster ($20, small order is $10), two sides ($2 each) fried okra and a couple of drinks. The lobster dinner includes fries, corn bread and a dinkly little cup of slaw).

I did chat up the cashier on how I thought it was illegal for a soul food restuarant to open without the ability to sell sweet tea. They are still working out some of the kinks in the operation....after her third time trying to ring up the order correctly, I think she threw in my Pepsi for free.

The fried lobster was okay, when fresh from the grease. It needs to cool down for almost 20 minutes before I could detect any lobster flavor. I think there was about a dozen pieces of lightly breaded tail (and who doesn't enjoy a nice piece of tail on their lunch hour...bada bing!)

Despite being under the heat lamps, the sides were quite good, we had steam/fried cabbage and sweet yams. The smothered pork chops on the daily special looked pretty good.

I am not in any hurry to get back, mainly because I just can't eat that way at lunch without slipping into the post-lunch coma. However, if I am headed over that way, I just may make a stop. The hamburgers also looked tasty. I think this place may suffer from an identity crises. Is it a shrimp shack with soul sides or a diner/grill that specializes in fried fish...they claim to be famous for the fried lobster, maybe they should concentrate on that until things are running a bit more smoothly.

pd

pdaane wrote:they claim to be famous for the fried lobster, maybe they should concentrate on that until things are running a bit more smoothly.

pd

How can they be famous for anyting if they have just opened?? (Just a rhetorical question.)

Just a rhetorical answer:

Perhap's Coco is famous for fried lobster at another location.
pd

pdaane wrote:Just a rhetorical answer:

Perhap's Coco is famous for fried lobster at another location.
pd

There's a Outback Steakhouse type chain called Coco's, but according to their website, they are only on the West coast. Is that what this location is? I thought it was an independant restaurnat.

pdaane wrote:The fried lobster was okay, when fresh from the grease. It needs to cool down for almost 20 minutes before I could detect any lobster flavor.

Peter,

OK, just ok? You need to get yourself to Woodman's. Fried lobster was way past ok, right in to [deleted sexual reference].

Woodman's
(Top left clockwise. Fried scallop, clam cake, fried clams, fried lobster, onion rings)


I have a Boston post in the works, including Woodman's, Roy Moore for steamed lobster, Sdritz's pick of White's Farm's ice cream, Steve Z's pick of Giacomo's and the Daily Catch.

Enjoy,
Gary

Woodman's of Essex
Main Street
Essex, MA
800-649-1773
http://www.woodmans.com

pdanne wrote:Perhap's Coco is famous for fried lobster at another location.
pd

About a year ago I was on the south side when a window sign proclaiming "Fried Lobster" caught my eye. Not having time to eat I ran in, grabbed a menu and had a brief conversation with the sweet older woman behind the counter. She told me she was indeed famous for fried lobster and that she had sold a ton of it at Chicago fest the previous year.
I can't seem to find a listing but I believe she was on 79th st. east of the Xway possibly near Calumet Av.

For Deep Fried Lobster at the other end of the spectrum I would suggest Port Edwards in Algonquin. I believe the dish is called Lobster Port Edward and it is just excellent. Large chunks of lobster tail in a tempura like coating. Very nice stuff.

S&P lobster, spicy, at Silver Seafood, delivered, with a side of water spinach/yellow bean curd. My failsafe order at a somewhat failure-prone establishment. Damn good.

(I mention it because it's deep-fried; just like S&P shrimp or squid. Cut up in chunks, shell-on. Lobster really benefits from deep frying IMO. My favorite way to eat this fickle shellfish which always seems to be overcooked and bland otherwise.)

I tried to visit Coco's today, but there was a line practically out the door that didn't move for the 10 minutes that I stood in it. There was also a small crowd waiting for the food that they had already paid for. Estimating my eating time at about 3:30, I decided to move on.

I'm looking forward to trying Coco's famous lobster once things settle down a bit.

eatchicago wrote:I tried to visit Coco's today

Brave of you to go, given all that's been said.

I would love to hear this place is a cut above passable.

Hammond

David Hammond wrote:

eatchicago wrote:I tried to visit Coco's today

Brave of you to go, given all that's been said.

Well, all that's been said was pdaane's words which seemed like it was a reasonable enough place for lunch.

Believe me, if you had to spend 5 days a week in the loop, a "passable" lunch spot is something to praise.

Best,
Michael

So fried lobster isn't just something you get at fish fries in Wisconsin? I have never seen it anywhere else before. I'll have to try it at some of these other places.

Another place for deep fried lobster is Southside Shrimp House at 335 W 31st, one of Chicago's better shrimp shacks. The lobster is pretty good but I prefer the shrimp. And don’t forget Mr Shrimp!

JSM wrote: I can't seem to find a listing but I believe she was on 79th st. east of the Xway possibly near Calumet Av.

Might this be Captain Smith's Seafood at 353 E 79th?

Cynthia wrote: So fried lobster isn't just something you get at fish fries in Wisconsin? I have never seen it anywhere else before.

It seems that deep fried lobster has some history in Chicago.

In Great Restaurants of America (1960), Patrick and Spitzer wrote:But good sea food also lends itself to an infinite variety of cookery, and on the Cape Cod menu you will find lobster in twelve different styles; broiled, steamed, baked in the half-shell as follows: Thermidor, Cardinal, Parisienne and Mornay, and served in a chafing dish à la Newburg, a l'Indienne, Tertazzini, Américaine, Bordelaise and Mushroom Cardinal. But, one moment, I forgot to mention a specialty never encountered elsewhere; Imported French-Fried Lobster Dainties. You may call this the final tribute or supreme insult to the sweet monster of the deep, according to your private notions about how he should be eaten.

I don't think this is on the Cape Cod Room's menu any longer. I wonder if they would prepare it given a little advance notice.

In Great Restaurants of America (1960), Patrick and Spitzer wrote:...Imported French-Fried Lobster Dainties.

Is that a euphamism for a lobster's private parts?

Rene G wrote:Might this be Captain Smith's Seafood at 353 E 79th?

Peter,
The menu lived in my van for about a month after my initial visit, was definitly Coco's. Could be Capt. Smith's now, but then I may be wrong on the location

had a cheeseburger at coco's early Thursday eve.--they close at 7. hand-made. nice thickness--bout like a nickle on its side. perfectly cooked--just tiny bit pnk in exact center--with very fresh/crispy lettuce tomato and onion. very tasty-like one night make at home with quality burger-meat--$4.95 with not-great fries. Do Not order the onion rings! they are the minced kind and not good. mac and cheese average. i shudda stuck to Pdanne's suggested sides, but sacrificed by trying something else for good of the forum
by the way, the only person in front of me was a lady picking up 14 orders, mostly chicken wings, which were big and looked darn good

I was pretty disappointed by the fried lobster lunch at Coco's. As pdaane said, it was pretty difficult to detect any lobster flavor. So, what I had were some nuggets of deep-fried seafood of indeterminant origin, a pile of low-grade foodservice-frozen fries, and a tiny cup of slaw. With a drink, over $11.

I'd have felt slightly ripped off at half the price.

I'll return to try their fried catfish and maybe the perch, but I'm done with this famous lobster.

Best,
Michael

shudda had that cheeseburger
I'll try their daily "meat special with two sides" sometime and report.
Btw, Coco's opening seems to have set off a Wing-War with Sharks and other places nearby.

El Panzone wrote:shudda had that cheeseburger
I'll try their daily "meat special with two sides" sometime and report.
Btw, Coco's opening seems to have set off a Wing-War with Sharks and other places nearby.

Yeah, the burger sounds good, but there's no way I was going to walk into "Coco's Famous Fried Lobster" and not have said lobster as my first meal.

Best,
Michael

eatchicago wrote:...there's no way I was going to walk into "Coco's Famous Fried Lobster" and not have said lobster as my first meal.

Doesn't that violate one of Mike G's rules? (something about self-proclaimed famosity...) Are those listed in one place? Are they available on laminated wallet sized cards? I seem to recall one about places known for the view...

Stopped by this afternoon, had 6 chicken wings ($4.95) and an order of hush puppies for $1.45 (I think). Things to know: orders of wings come with fries, straight out of the fryer at about a billion degrees.

I wanted to like the place. Everyone was extremely nice, offering me extra bread for the wings (wheat bread? huh?) and asking how it was. Nothing special, unfortunately. Wings were below average size with a lot of breading. Hush puppies didn't do anything except create a lot of weight in my stomach.

However, the slice of Sweet Potato Bread I got at the Daley Plaza Farmers Market from Belmont Bakery (for a dollar! take that, starbucks!) made up for it. Good stuff.

eatchicago wrote:there's no way I was going to walk into "Coco's Famous Fried Lobster" and not have said lobster as my first meal.

Mom to pre teen G Wiv, "Just because Johnny jumps off a bridge doesn't mean........."

Should have listened to Michael M and P Danne, but no, just had to try fried lobster. Texture was right, friendly counter woman said they use "tail" but I detected no lobster flavor, and just a mere suggestion of the sea.

CoCo's Deep Fried Lobster


Sides were tasty, dressing moist, greens had a bitter edge and clean flavor, mac and cheese a bit bland and not the style I like. Burger was well made on a toasted bun, though the nicely seasoned turkey burger was the clear lunch time winner.

Reasonable prices, aside from fried lobster, reasonably comfortable seating, reasonably friendly though all in all I never need to revisit, but if walking by and hungry I'd opt for the turkey burger.

CoCo's Deep Fried Lobster


Enjoy,
Gary

stevez wrote:

pdaane wrote:they claim to be famous for the fried lobster, maybe they should concentrate on that until things are running a bit more smoothly.

pd

How can they be famous for anyting if they have just opened?? (Just a rhetorical question.)

I fell for the "famous" scam at KFC. Once when I was jonesing for some mashed, I ordered one of their "famous bowls." Sounds good in theory. Mashed potatoes mixed with gravy, pieces of chicken, and corn. It sucked. There wasn't enough gravy in the bowl for even 1/4th of the potatoes and there was hardly any chicken. Famously bad, I think.

Cogito wrote:I fell for the "famous" scam at KFC.

hey I'M FAMOUS too.. :]

...i've had deep fried lobster at a place over on the farrr southeast side of chicago, almost near calumet city... if anyone is over that way it's worth checking out but not worth going out of the way for too much. though relative to the surrounding choices, it's maybe worth a 10 minute drive. he gives you pretty decent chunks of lobster, butter, etc. nice guy to talk to, he's very excited about his products...

Harbour Point Shrimp House Inc
13931 S Torrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60633
(708) 868-9240


...if anyone is ever in detroit though... Sweet Georgia Brown's fried lobster tail (they give you an actual whole tail fried... no, TWO whole tails) is pretty amazing ... a bit of a different animal from the fast food deep frying done above

dddane wrote:...if anyone is ever in detroit though... Sweet Georgia Brown's fried lobster tail (they give you an actual whole tail fried... no, TWO whole tails) is pretty amazing ... a bit of a different animal from the fast food deep frying done above

It is $42. You would hope that it's better then what you get at a fast food stand.

I had deep fried lobster at Restaurant Ava in Melaque, Jal this winter. It was spectacular. Local, warm water, spiny lobster. Had to be careful eating it, but boy was it good. They brought them out and showed them to you and quoted a price based on which one you picked, 200 pesos for the one I grabbed.

gp60004 wrote:

dddane wrote:...if anyone is ever in detroit though... Sweet Georgia Brown's fried lobster tail (they give you an actual whole tail fried... no, TWO whole tails) is pretty amazing ... a bit of a different animal from the fast food deep frying done above

It is $42. You would hope that it's better then what you get at a fast food stand.

where did you come up with that? last time i was there it was in the $35-37 range, and that wasn't more than a year ago. also it's two full size lobster tails with a few sides. plenty of other restaurants charge more than $30 for a single lobster tail entree... i wonder if the duo order can be split between two, at that point it's a good deal even at $42 if that's what it is now

btw, aforementioned fast food establishment was charging very close to $20 for their fried lobster nuggets IIRC. ($17?) ..and it was nuggets too, not whole lobster tails.

in general, if you were only paying $10 for what they call lobster, right there that should be a big clue since lobster isn't cheap. there was some lawsuit with long john silvers over them selling "lobster bites" that weren't really lobster... i think that suit is still unsettled in the supreme court(?) though they've changed their marketing to identify it for what it is... langostino lobster.. not TECHNICALLY lobster; more crab-like than lobster, and much cheaper