In January people were able to get their first glimpse inside Coventry’s newest hotel – with the promise of a new restaurant soon to follow.
Hotel Indigo Coventry, housing Cogs Restaurant & Bar, in Friargate, is a stunning new-build boutique property from the IHG Luxury & lifestyle portfolio which celebrates the area’s culture, character and history.
Cogs takes it a step further by championing the local growers and producers through a series of carefully curated menus overseen by Head Chef Marek Jani, whose experience spans branded and boutique hotels as well as multi-outlet catering.
First impressions of Cogs on our Friday evening visit were of an extremely stylish and contemporary space that succeeded in setting high expectations for what’s to come. And the open and fully integrated kitchen was another sign that this team of chefs were proud of their culinary creativity.
While there is a shift towards smaller plates on the A La Carte Menu with a variety of ‘Sharers,’ Grazers’ and ‘Starters,’ the Mains offer up a tempting enough selection of classic dishes - from Lamb Rump (with pearl barley, black berries, jus and courgette cake); Braised Pulled Beef (with celeriac and salsify puree, heirloom carrots and beetroot, horseradish and marrow bone) and Steak or Buttermilk Chicken Burgers, through to Sea Bream (with chorizo, cannellini beans, cherry tomato, shallots, peppers and squash); Pork Loin Medallions Salad (with pickled red cabbage, tender stem broccoli, smoked heritage potatoes and spring onion dressing) and Haddock and Chips. There is also a good choice of steaks from the Grill Menu, including Free Range Pork Tomahawk with house rub.
Prices range from £6 to £13 for the smaller plates and £8 (Bread Board) to £18 (Baked Camembert) for the Sharers. A small selection of (mainly) potato-based side dishes are also available for £5.
Be sure to leave room for dessert if you come here (sacrifice starters if you have to) because this menu of sweet treats is one of the best around. Steering myself away from a perennial favourite, Sticky Toffee Pudding, I also forwent the Coconut Panna Cotta, Mascaporne Tiramisu; and Salted Caramel Sundae in favour of the Belgian Chocolate Pear. (All £8) And – apart from the calories - I had zero regrets! Speciality Cheese Selection and Ice creams and sorbets also available.
Cogs also offers a Sunday Lunch Menu (two courses for £28 or three courses for £36) as well as a Sandwich menu and Kids’ Menu. Visitors can also take advantage of their hotel Breakfast/Brunch Menu between 6.30-10.30am.
The team behind Cogs claim the restaurant sets out to ‘invite you to be part of their story where every dish is a chapter.’ It is indeed a welcome new chapter for Coventry, helping to bring more foodies to this, perhaps, overlooked, corner of the city centre, by the railway station.
The décor and atmosphere is welcoming and attractive, the staff extremely friendly and efficient and, most importantly, plates of food that are both creative, distinctive and plain delicious. I will be back.
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Amanda is a journalist of 30 years and now runs an award-winning PR agency based in Warwickshire. When she's not writing about her own clients she loves to help spotlight the great work of other pubs, restaurants and hotels around the country.
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