Review of Kuco's Pub
Originally published February 24, 2025 on Eats by Liwen.
Warm exterior of Koco's Pub
Kuco's Pub is the type of place you bring someone after telling them, "Trust me, I know a spot." Just 10 minutes north of campus, on Harford Road, you'll find a welcoming pub. You can't miss its bright yellow and blue walls, funny-shaped windows, and the Scarlet Macaw Parrot sculpture swinging on their sign (which is modeled after a real, though now retired, parrot).
My friend and I came with a reservation, which they recommended because there was a wait even when we came an hour before closing. The ambiance was goldilocks perfect. Kocu's was rowdy such that it was upbeat, but conversations could still be carried out at normal volume; tables were tightly packed such that it was cozy but not claustrophobic; the service was friendly and chatty in a way that made you comfortable but didn't require you to put on a mask of forced cheerfulness.
The menu was the embodiment of Maryland, where the word "crab" occupied a significant portion of the word count. Though the choices were straightforward, we decided to let the expert decide for us. Our waiter, who'd been working here for more than a decade, recommended anything made fresh, and she said, "For those, we've been using the same recipe for 40 years." It was clear that this establishment was powered by regulars, so no other statement could have brought me more confidence.
Cup of the Cream of Crab Soup
We warmed up with the Cream of Crab Soup. As someone who grew up eating the tubs of the Crab & Corn Chowder from Costco, my baseline was extremely low, which could explain my obsession with this dish. The natural crab flavor was strong and irresistibly decadent[LT1] , and the lump crab meat was plentiful, though we expected this for a $10 cup of soup.
For our second appetizer, we ordered the Koconut Shrimp, which consisted of six pieces of shrimp wrapped in a thick layer of coconut and fried until a deep shade of brown. I'm hesitant to recommend this because, for $17, my expectations fell short. The pieces were small, the texture was too crunchy, and the coconut flavor could have been stronger. Don't get me wrong, I'm just nitpicking because, despite this, my dining partner and I agreed that it's worth recommending for its raspberry-jalapeño sauce, which charmed us with its sweet and spicy kick.
[LT1]confusing use of yet
The big piece of salmon that comes with the The Salmon BLT Burger
The Salmon BLT Burger was $21, an absolute steal for the giant slab of salmon we received, which I would have even ordered if it was a dish on its own. On top were thick slices of bacon with lettuce and tomato. Though simple, it excelled through perfect execution, letting the distinct flavor of each ingredient speak for itself. The salmon was so rich and buttery that you hardly can notice the absence of sauce.
The "Original Crab Cake Platter" is filled with giant pieces of lump crab meat
Our mood got even brighter when the "Original Crab Cake Platter" was served. The ginormous softball-sized crab cake was 99% tender crab meat and 1% filler. We were in a trance, finishing the crab cake long before we had taken a second bite out of the salmon burger. We suddenly understood the $41 price tag.
When we had finished everything, we were all smiles. The whole experience felt like a warm hug from your long-lost family members whose love language is food, and it's only a call and 10 minutes away.
The Space: Colorful corner pub with funky décor. Bar, tables, high-top, and outdoor seating are available.
The Crowd: Lively, cheerful, and chatty. American rock music playing softly contributes to the upbeat energy.
The Bar: Cocktails and many local beers are available. Daily rotation of beer draft of the day, cocktail of the day, and wine of the day.
The Bill: Appetizers, 17, Entrees, 41. Cocktails, 12. Beer, 8.
What We Liked: Cream of Crab Soup; "Original Crab Cake Platter;" Salmon BLT Sandwichdd more fun
Linked from Food Blog