It's refreshing to sit down for a meal you know you won't have to hurry through and that you know wasn't put together in a hurry by those who prepared it.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes for the Quill
It's refreshing to sit down for a meal you know you won't have to hurry through and that you know wasn't put together in a hurry by those who prepared it.
At Coconuts on the public square in Monmouth you can have that sort of experience.
Nestled next to John Kesinger's Maple City Candy, Coconuts has the perfect mix of good home cooking and Caribbean ambience that has made it a pleasure to visit since the doors opened June 3, 2002.
Coconuts' success is due, in a large part, to Kesinger bringing his brother, Harvey, along for the ride.
Formerly famous at Monmouth's now defunct Filling Station #3, Harvey continues to produce not only those wonderful pies, both meringue and fruit, but culinary delights for the lunch and dinner menus that keep Coconuts' kitchen staff hopping no matter how hot the summer day becomes.
"The tenderloins are always a big seller," John said. "Harvey brought them with him as well as his pies. We sell tons of pies."
Small wonder.
Harvey's pies come in a wide selection of flavor sensations, from coconut meringue to peach crumb. The slices are generous in size and substantial in content.
I tried the rhubarb crumb, which was a nice surprise. The sweetened crumb topping struck a good balance with the tart and tangy rhubarb. Rhubarb pie the way it was intended to be enjoyed.
Dinner entrees include salad and bread, usually the vegetable of the day and appropriate starch.
Popular items include the honey glazed, pecan crusted chicken and the coconut breaded walleye.
Harvey said steaks, too, have been selling well of late, and the ribeye in particular.
It's refreshing to enjoy a good steak prepared the way you ordered it, and my sirloin that came as part of the mixed grill I ordered was just that.
I ordered it well done and it was, with no seeping red juices and still allowing the special seasonings to rally my taste buds.
The Colossal Shrimp that came with it were flavorful, too, and the baked potato even had a personality of its own that made it worth the trip.
Coconuts menu also offers several stand alone shrimp dinners, as well as catfish, kabobs, two pasta selections and pork and chicken dishes.
Sandwiches, salads and soups are available as a lighter option.
With so many tempting selections from which to choose, it's easy to see why Coconuts remains the measure of all things culinary.
Coconuts has available seating for about 70 guests inside and offers carryout service at 734-8999.
But most of the restaurant's business is sit-down, John said, with 80 percent of business coming from outside the immediate area.
Decor is thematic with subdued lighting to allow for that special dining out experience to be all the more intimate.
Lunch prices range from $5 to $7 on average, with dinner selections running slightly higher.
Coconuts is open for business from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays.
Servers Marcy Collel and Jenna Randolph look over menu selections for the day prior to greeting a weekday lunchtime crowd at Coconuts. -photo by David Grimes/