Coya is a Peruvian restaurant and bar (and Member’s Lounge) recently launched in the heart of Piccadilly by Arjan Waney, of Zuma, The Arts Club and La Petite Maison. I went there for lunch a short while back and will repeat my visit next week – this one is definitely on my list of great places to eat out in in London. It’s perfect at lunchtime for business lunches and girls’ day out lunches as well, and in the evening expect a strong Latin vibe.
Coya’s Head chef is Sanjay Dwivedi, who has not only cooked for The Rolling Stones on their world tour but has appeared on TV's Iron Chef. In preparation for taking over the kitchen at Coya he spent a year travelling around South America and worked at Astrid Y Gaston in Lima.
There are three open kitchens at Coya, The Ceviche Bar, the Charcoal Grill and the Central Kitchen but to me the most important elements were the delicious food, the excellent service and the attractive atmosphere. Everything we tried was extremely tasty and different. Don’t come here if you only like the traditional, but if you like trying unique flavours from far off lands as I do you’ll feel very much at home.
Voted by Zagat as One of the 10 Hottest Restaurants in the World - for anyone who likes to eat something other than standard European/Mediterranean cooking, to sample dishes they may well not have come across before in an authentic atmosphere and of course to try somewhere new this is well worth a visit.
Just a note – they offer a set lunch menu which we were not immediately offered when we arrived there. So ask for it – it’s excellent, more food than you can eat, and well worth the price with the added benefit that your bank manager won’t be after you for ordering a la carte where, although everything looks utterly delicious, you can spend a small fortune. Of course if you’re being entertained you’re not going to worry………
Coya Restaurant; 118 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NW Phone:020 7042 7118
