Anyone who has visited Cotton's would have to agree that they are purveyors of fine Caribbean cuisine. There are some remarkable cocktails too, but I'll tell you about those later…

Entering Cotton's you could quite easily forget you are in Chalk Farm. With its wooden panelling, oak décor, and jazz band playing in the corner, Cotton's is more upscale Montego Bay, than NW1. The food is quite impressive; our starters the perfectly formed salted cod cakes, were crisp golden brown, and succulent inside. The accompanying apple sauce provided a great contrast in flavour. We ordered the snapper as a main and although the portion was a little smaller than we had expected, it too was a delicious almost bone-free zone, spicily seasoned and placed on a mound of steaming breadfruit.

Unfortunately service is not a strong point -we were often forgotten about and twice our orders were mixed up with someone else's, but when our waiter did make an appearance he was charming and happy to answer all our questions.

The cocktails here are very good, after downing the fruity rum-based 'Obeah Man' my companion reported seeing three waiters removing the empty glass (although I can assure there was only one).

Diners at Cotton's experience Caribbean classics such as Rice and Peas, Fried Plantain and Jerk Chicken, with a gourmet touch. And if you decide to go for one of the mind-blowing exotic cocktails, you are sure to be in for a fun night.

Your sense of humour however, may be severely tested when you are handed the rather hefty bill with service charge (our dinner for two cost £78). This is definitely the place to go if you want to impress someone with a more discerning palate -the food is irresistible albeit a little pricey.


COTTONS RHUM SHOP BAR & RESTAURANT