Tucked away in Northeast Baltimore City is an iconic yellow building @Harford and Weaver Ave's., that houses KOCO's Bar/Pub. A staple in the community for many years and.... Claiming to be yet another "VOTED Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore", So, I finally took the trip to visit KOCO's. Enterered by way of the side door and waited for my order to finish. Ordered the (11 oz) crab cake with fries and a quart of Maryland crab soup. I first noticed the long bar at the front of the establishment, separated by a small dining room to the rear. Clean with a very cool atmosphere. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. If you dine in reservations are required !!!! The dining area is small, so no groups larger than 8. Ok, so now onto the Food. Crab Cake = 11 ounces of Maryland JUMBO LUMP, with just enough binding to hold it together. WOW Absolutely delicious ! Not Baltimore's best IMO. But damn good. The crab soup was also delicious. Packed with veggies and Maryland JUMBO LUMP crab meat. Spiced with JO and NOT Old Bay. You just gotta go to Koco's at least once in your life. Live a little bit and GETCHASOME !!!!
Parking: Parking sucks at KOCO'S. I suggest going for lunch. At night, Park as close to the business as humanly possible. This is Baltimore City. Great Job Koco's. See you soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crabcake and Fries, Coleslaw
Ron Jones
Just spent $90 for crab cakes. 2 platters not the same as they used to be. Where's the jumbo lump? Crabcakes are not the same.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Yomi Shakir
The crab cakes were awesome! šš½šš½
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
Wesley Turner-Harris
Was in town for a quick couple of days and wanted to try a legit spot for crab cakes. Have had an amazing crab cake at Timbuktu, so I was looking for something close. I found great reviews for Dudas and Kocoās and ended up here because it looked like Dudas had fried vs broiled. I wanted broiled. Also the pictures of the restaurant were more inviting, both small restaurants but this one was more āgramable. The crab cake was amazing, so good that I packaged it up, got on a plane, gave it to my wife, and she said it was heavenly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Lillian Lee
I went to this establishment extremely excited because of the rave reviews I had received about the crab cakes. Upon arrival, I was told there was no waiting area, so I could go down the street to Maggieās Farm and wait until space became available. I was a bit confusedā¦For over 25 years I lived in Houston Texas, which is very well known for its fine dining and NEVER ONCE was I asked to wait at another restaurant to get a call for seating at the original restaurant. I was more than a bit taken aback.
Out of fairness, I will say it was Friday night at 6 PM. But also out of fairness I first went into this establishment Wednesday of the same week around 4 PM which was prior to opening. The door was open and my car was being serviced across the street. They were nice enough to let me use the restroom and told me they were not open yet. The opening hours were told to me to be 4:30 but I was asked to come back closer to 4:50 instead. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BIT ODD.The environment appeared to be warm and inviting but I knew my car would be ready before that time so I told them if I did not come back that day, I would be back later that week.
AT NO TIME WAS I TOLD about the lack of a waiting room or making a reservation. I did notice a sign that said something about wanting to serve only ānice peopleā and now I think I know why.
I took a crab cake to go, and did go down the street to Maggieās Farmā¦I am a regular patron there and I enjoyed my meal and drink. The next day I ate the crab cake and it LACKED SEASONING although the size was adequate. It was also overpriced.
I am also a ānice personā who in the future will drive out of my neighborhood to get my crab cake fix fulfilled. Customer service is number one for me and although the greeter was very polite when she told me of their policies, as a consumer who gets to write a review on this restaurant and gets to choose where to spend my money, I am encouraging Kocoās to be more transparent about how to best serve customers. Instead of posting a sign about welcoming ānice peopleā why not encourage making a reservation or provide seating instead. You lost a resident who owns a house less than two blocks away who dines out quite often at both Maggieās Farm and Silver Queen Cafe, who by the way donāt ask you to go to another restaurant to wait and be called back!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
Sheila
This review is about sustainability only!
As a Baltimore native, your restaurant is one of my absolute favorites in the city. But I must admit it makes me sad to see the amount of plastic trash created with each meal. Especially when the food that you serve comes from the water, and is dependent on healthy waters.
By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The plastics that we create and dispose of today breakdown into micro plastics that are making us sick, and over 95% of the plastic that we consume does not actually get recycled. Instead, it goes off to landfills, incinerators, and of course, our waterways.
It seems that you do have some infrastructure in place to wash dishes, as some of your dishes offered are reusable. If that is true, I wonder if you would be able to transition to condiment bowls instead of these plastic containers. I also wonder if you could stop offering plastic straws to your customers. That seems like a very easy win in lessening the intensity of plastics put into our waterways.
Perhaps even there are condiment container options that are compostable, and you could have a composting receptacle on site.
I appreciate you listening to my concerns, and I hope you can see the connection between plastics produced and wasted here at your restaurant, and the overall health of the ocean that your food supply depends on.
Plastics are killing us, and it is up to both the customer and the vendor to help lesson or limit their presence at every level possible.
Thank you again for the wonderful food and service and atmosphere, and for being such a prominent part of the Baltimore experience. āŗļø
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
Bryan Rixham
I don't have to say it, but great crab cakes, you gotta pay though. $37 maybe. Parking is on street and can be tough sometimes. Better get a reservation, sometimes even the seats at the bar are reserved. Been there forever for a reason
Wheelchair accessibility: Single floor building, the main entrance has a problematic vestibule. Inside is tight
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, Cream of Crab Soup, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
zina
The best crabcakes within a 100 mile radius!! Delicious!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ira Murray
Very nice and helpful bartenders wait staff
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, Wings
Michelle Dyson
Koco's was very busy, and no seats were available for dine in, so we decided to take our food home why Koco's charged us a carryout fee. REALLY, when your prices are all ready high. A carryout fee. Just list two customers.
Kid-friendliness: NO
Wheelchair accessibility: NO
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz, Salad
Definitely a great crab cake. One of the best Iāve had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
Barbara Dixon
Prices are ridiculous! Crab cakes are filled with bread and/or crackers; they have no taste! Should offer samples. Seating should be comfortable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Lance Miller
The crab cake was definitely worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
J Lynn
Cute, vibrant corner place. Limited seating. Most ordered takeout. The Crabcake Platter for $41 was adequately priced for the 11 oz. sized Crabcake. Came with fries (fresh & hot), beefsteak tomato and 1 Romaine leaf of lettuce sprinkled with a touch of Old Bay (it IS Baltimore!) Crabcake was full of jumbo lumps BUT filled with the crab butter that we detest! Cooked beautifully on the outside but under in the middle, which made the inside more disgusting. They may have used a smidgen of Saltines and a hint of mayo to bind but very little and that's it. It's definitely ALL crab, which it should be at this price. The Grilled Chicken sandwich with Onion Rings was perfection! Pounded to the right thickness (1/4), seasoned, good Cheddar and nice, fresh beefsteak tomato, red onions and lettuce. The Tarter Sauce is EVERYTHING! Cocktail sauce is good to but more standard. Overall, would try again but for the lunch special 6oz size and less cost. Worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Christopher Rudisill
Great atmosphere, awesome service, and incredible food! We had the two crab cake platter and crab dip. Highly recommend. Best crab cakes!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
Tucked away in Northeast Baltimore City is an iconic yellow building @Harford and Weaver Ave's., that houses KOCO's Bar/Pub.
A staple in the community for many years and....
Claiming to be yet another "VOTED Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore",
So, I finally took the trip to visit KOCO's.
Enterered by way of the side door and waited for my order to finish.
Ordered the (11 oz) crab cake with fries and a quart of Maryland crab soup.
I first noticed the long bar at the front of the establishment, separated by a small dining room to the rear.
Clean with a very cool atmosphere.
Staff was very friendly and accommodating.
If you dine in reservations are required !!!! The dining area is small, so no groups larger than 8.
Ok, so now onto the Food.
Crab Cake = 11 ounces of Maryland JUMBO LUMP, with just enough binding to hold it together.
WOW Absolutely delicious ! Not Baltimore's best IMO. But damn good.
The crab soup was also delicious. Packed with veggies and Maryland JUMBO LUMP crab meat. Spiced with JO and NOT Old Bay.
You just gotta go to Koco's at least once in your life.
Live a little bit and GETCHASOME !!!!
Parking: Parking sucks at KOCO'S. I suggest going for lunch.
At night, Park as close to the business as humanly possible.
This is Baltimore City.
Great Job Koco's.
See you soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crabcake and Fries, Coleslaw
Just spent $90 for crab cakes. 2 platters not the same as they used to be. Where's the jumbo lump? Crabcakes are not the same.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
The crab cakes were awesome! šš½šš½
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
Was in town for a quick couple of days and wanted to try a legit spot for crab cakes. Have had an amazing crab cake at Timbuktu, so I was looking for something close. I found great reviews for Dudas and Kocoās and ended up here because it looked like Dudas had fried vs broiled. I wanted broiled. Also the pictures of the restaurant were more inviting, both small restaurants but this one was more āgramable. The crab cake was amazing, so good that I packaged it up, got on a plane, gave it to my wife, and she said it was heavenly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I went to this establishment extremely excited because of the rave reviews I had received about the crab cakes. Upon arrival, I was told there was no waiting area, so I could go down the street to Maggieās Farm and wait until space became available. I was a bit confusedā¦For over 25 years I lived in Houston Texas, which is very well known for its fine dining and NEVER ONCE was I asked to wait at another restaurant to get a call for seating at the original restaurant. I was more than a bit taken aback.
Out of fairness, I will say it was Friday night at 6 PM. But also out of fairness I first went into this establishment Wednesday of the same week around 4 PM which was prior to opening. The door was open and my car was being serviced across the street. They were nice enough to let me use the restroom and told me they were not open yet. The opening hours were told to me to be 4:30 but I was asked to come back closer to 4:50 instead. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BIT ODD.The environment appeared to be warm and inviting but I knew my car would be ready before that time so I told them if I did not come back that day, I would be back later that week.
AT NO TIME WAS I TOLD about the lack of a waiting room or making a reservation. I did notice a sign that said something about wanting to serve only ānice peopleā and now I think I know why.
I took a crab cake to go, and did go down the street to Maggieās Farmā¦I am a regular patron there and I enjoyed my meal and drink.
The next day I ate the crab cake and it LACKED SEASONING although the size was adequate. It was also overpriced.
I am also a ānice personā who in the future will drive out of my neighborhood to get my crab cake fix fulfilled. Customer service is number one for me and although the greeter was very polite when she told me of their policies, as a consumer who gets to write a review on this restaurant and gets to choose where to spend my money, I am encouraging Kocoās to be more transparent about how to best serve customers. Instead of posting a sign about welcoming ānice peopleā why not encourage making a reservation or provide seating instead. You lost a resident who owns a house less than two blocks away who dines out quite often at both Maggieās Farm and Silver Queen Cafe, who by the way donāt ask you to go to another restaurant to wait and be called back!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
This review is about sustainability only!
As a Baltimore native, your restaurant is one of my absolute favorites in the city. But I must admit it makes me sad to see the amount of plastic trash created with each meal. Especially when the food that you serve comes from the water, and is dependent on healthy waters.
By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. The plastics that we create and dispose of today breakdown into micro plastics that are making us sick, and over 95% of the plastic that we consume does not actually get recycled. Instead, it goes off to landfills, incinerators, and of course, our waterways.
It seems that you do have some infrastructure in place to wash dishes, as some of your dishes offered are reusable. If that is true, I wonder if you would be able to transition to condiment bowls instead of these plastic containers. I also wonder if you could stop offering plastic straws to your customers. That seems like a very easy win in lessening the intensity of plastics put into our waterways.
Perhaps even there are condiment container options that are compostable, and you could have a composting receptacle on site.
I appreciate you listening to my concerns, and I hope you can see the connection between plastics produced and wasted here at your restaurant, and the overall health of the ocean that your food supply depends on.
Plastics are killing us, and it is up to both the customer and the vendor to help lesson or limit their presence at every level possible.
Thank you again for the wonderful food and service and atmosphere, and for being such a prominent part of the Baltimore experience. āŗļø
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
I don't have to say it, but great crab cakes, you gotta pay though. $37 maybe. Parking is on street and can be tough sometimes. Better get a reservation, sometimes even the seats at the bar are reserved. Been there forever for a reason
Wheelchair accessibility: Single floor building, the main entrance has a problematic vestibule. Inside is tight
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, Cream of Crab Soup, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
The best crabcakes within a 100 mile radius!! Delicious!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very nice and helpful bartenders wait staff
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, Wings
Koco's was very busy, and no seats were available for dine in, so we decided to take our food home why Koco's charged us a carryout fee. REALLY, when your prices are all ready high. A carryout fee. Just list two customers.
Kid-friendliness: NO
Wheelchair accessibility: NO
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz, Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Definitely a great crab cake. One of the best Iāve had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
Prices are ridiculous! Crab cakes are filled with bread and/or crackers; they have no taste! Should offer samples.
Seating should be comfortable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
The crab cake was definitely worth it.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes
Cute, vibrant corner place. Limited seating. Most ordered takeout.
The Crabcake Platter for $41 was adequately priced for the 11 oz. sized Crabcake. Came with fries (fresh & hot), beefsteak tomato and 1 Romaine leaf of lettuce sprinkled with a touch of Old Bay (it IS Baltimore!)
Crabcake was full of jumbo lumps BUT filled with the crab butter that we detest! Cooked beautifully on the outside but under in the middle, which made the inside more disgusting. They may have used a smidgen of Saltines and a hint of mayo to bind but very little and that's it. It's definitely ALL crab, which it should be at this price.
The Grilled Chicken sandwich with Onion Rings was perfection! Pounded to the right thickness (1/4), seasoned, good Cheddar and nice, fresh beefsteak tomato, red onions and lettuce.
The Tarter Sauce is EVERYTHING! Cocktail sauce is good to but more standard.
Overall, would try again but for the lunch special 6oz size and less cost.
Worth the visit.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great atmosphere, awesome service, and incredible food! We had the two crab cake platter and crab dip. Highly recommend. Best crab cakes!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cakes, The Original Crab Cake Platter 11oz
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