The glorious return of Coconut Lagoon

The newly built Coconut Lagoon at 853 St. Laurent Blvd is sleekly modern with beautifully appointed dining areas that are warmly inviting and offer comfortable traffic flow for both customers and servers.

The wine list was selected and delivered by wine consultant and educator Marie-France Champagne and wine director/sommelier Ray Joseph. It is exceedingly well chosen and deserves an award. With just 32 wines (12 by the glass) there is a depth and quality here that I’ve seldom seen in a relatively modest wine menu. Quite exceptional.

This may be traditional Indian cooking but in the hands of chef Thottungal, I was only left thinking “this is how every vegetarian should be treated.” The melange of vegetables and spices whipped to a luxurious consistency was first appealing through the texture. As I finished my first bite the flavours kept evolving and became only deeper and more complex.

You’ll read it here first: Panna Cotta is over. Joe Thottungal has created a dessert that leaves the Italian staple a distant memory. There are many reasons to visit Coconut Lagoon. This baked yogurt dessert is a reason to stay longer and is a strong contender for Dessert of the Year.

The kindness of the man comes through in his cooking. Thank you, Coconut Lagoon.