Richmond is a lovely place for a North Yorkshire day trip, thanks to its gorgeous walks, castle and variety of independent shops and eateries. And one of the top spots to try on your next visit is The Little Drummer Boy Cocina. It offers a blend of Mediterranean and Yorkshire cuisine, giving you the best of both worlds in one place!
We were invited along to try the restaurant out, so take a look at this post to find out what we thought, as well as all the details you need for booking.
Where is The Little Drummer Boy Cocina?
You’ll find The Little Drummer Boy Cocina at 7 Rosemary Lane, Richmond, DL10 4DP. If you need a place to park, there’s a handy short stay less than a minute’s walk away (Victoria Road short stay, DL10 4DW), which would be the most accessible option. You can also try your luck at parking in the town centre and walking 2 minutes to the restaurant.
When is the restaurant open?
This Richmond restaurant is open Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 9pm. Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 10pm, with food orders taken up to 9pm. Plus, Bank Holidays from 12 noon to 4pm – 5pm to 9pm. There is a lunch menu for day time bookings and an evening menu, so there’s something for everyone.
What kind of food do they serve?
The Little Drummer Boy Cocina is all about bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to the heart of Richmond. This means they’ve got a fantastic range of tapas dishes to choose from, including classics and new twists. You can also enjoy charcuterie boards, which would pair up perfectly with a bottle of wine and good company. At lunch time, you can try the soup, sandwiches, egg dishes, bruschetta and so much more. They really aren’t short of choice!
My review of The Little Drummer Boy Cocina
We headed to the restaurant for our 6:30pm booking and found the spot with total ease. We managed to park up in the short stay (which is free after 6pm, bonus!) and walk to the restaurant, which took no time at all. Despite arriving about 10 minutes early, there was no problem and we were shown to our table straight away. Our first impressions were that it was a small, intimate and cosy place with around 5 or 6 tables downstairs, and an upstairs space. There was soft music playing and candles on each table, so it really felt like we were in the Med!
We started off our meal with some bread with olive oil and balsamic, which was brought to the table incredibly quickly. The bread slices were so thick and they made for the perfect sharing appetiser. The olive bread was my favourite, studded with little pockets of saltiness – just delicious!
Then it was time for the main event – the scrumptious tapas! The menu had over 30 dishes to choose from, so there were plenty of options. We were advised that the restaurant recommends two or three dishes per person, but of course, you can go wild, if you want. We went for three each and this is what we chose:
- Torreznos y Lombarda a a Madrilèna – slow cooked belly pork with red cabbage and apples
- Croquetas del dia – crispy croquettes of the day with Mojo sauce
- Tortilla Espanola – Spanish omelette with potato and onions
- Queso frito – fried Manchego and brie cheese with onion chutney
- Chorizo al Jerez – chorizo in sherry with melting onions
- Dip de hummus con pitta – Hummus dip with pitta
We also thought the migas (fried bread tossed with bacon, chorizo and black pudding, topped with a fried egg) and calamares a la sal y pimienta con alioli (salt and pepper squid with garlic mayonnaise) sounded amazing too! There were also plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, so The Little Drummer Boy Cocina caters for all.
We didn’t have to wait long for our chosen dishes to be brought to the table and we were so chuffed with the spread. Everything came in its own little dish, each was fresh and all the hot dishes were piping hot. It was perfect! Each dish was placed on the table and named by our fantastic waiter too, which was a great touch.
The first thing I tried was the chorizo with melting onions. You definitely can’t have tapas without chorizo and these little bitesize pieces were utterly beautiful! The meat had only the mildest spice, which is spot on for me, and the onions were so soft. The only thing that made this dish even better was having a bite of Spanish omelette alongside it. This was a great start to the meal!
Another huge standout to me was the belly pork… in fact, this was probably my top favourite of the evening. If you were to ask me what I recommend from Cocina, it’s this! The pork was cooked perfectly and just melted in the mouth. And some of the pieces had the crispiest crackling on top. With the bed of red cabbage and apple, you got a good mix of sweet with the savoury pork. It was simply divine.
The croquettes of the day on our trip were ham and cheese, and they were so delightfully gooey. The outside was crisp, but the centre was molten cheese. And speaking of cheese, the queso frito was a total hit too. You can’t go wrong with breaded and fried cheese, and the Brie wedge was especially oozy. It also paired up deliciously with the red onion chutney!
And last, but certainly not least, the pitta and hummus was a lovely little side dish. The hummus was gorgeous and tasted so fresh. It was sensationally savoury with just a slight tang, and the slices of pitta were ideal for scooping it up.
All together, this was a brilliant variety of dishes and there wasn’t a single one that we thought needed improving. Honestly, it was some of the best tapas that we’ve had in a long time! From the bread at the start of our meal to the final bite of belly pork, it was an amazing evening out and we’re already talking about going back.
The Little Drummer Boy Cocina staff also need a shout out. They were all so friendly and welcoming, and didn’t mind me asking questions. They were happy to make suggestions and tell me their favourites. All them were total stars!
How can I book a table?
If you like what you’ve heard about The Little Drummer Boy Cocina, then why not book a table? Call the restaurant on 01748 826576 or send them an email to info@thelittledrummerboycocina.co.uk. They’ll be happy to get you sorted!
Thank you so much to The Little Drummer Boy Cocina for a brilliant evening and we’ll definitely be back again. Which of the dishes would you pick from our selection?
This meal was gifted to me by The Little Drummer Boy Cocina in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.