Cocotte celebrates tenth anniversary with new executive chef Santo Pate and revamped French menu

11th September 2026

London rotisserie group Cocotte is marking its tenth anniversary this September with the appointment of Santo Pate as executive chef, a role that means he will oversee the food offering across all five of the company’s restaurants in the capital. The appointment coincides with a revision of the menu intended to strengthen the group’s French culinary roots as it enters its second decade.

Pate began working in kitchens at the age of 14 in his uncle’s restaurant, later training in Michelin-starred establishments. He subsequently moved to London, where he held senior positions at Chotto Matte and Norma. Both roles, according to the company, involved a focus on heritage recipes and regional cooking that informed his approach to classical technique and seasonal produce.

Under Pate, the menu retains the ingredient-led style the group has become know for since opening, while placing greater emphasis on seasonal produce and classic French methods. The central dish remains Cocotte’s rotisserie-style poulet, slow roasted with Provençal herbs, garlic and lemon. Other options include an Oeuf Cocotte, Comté and Rosemary Croquettes and a Poulet Escalope served crispy with a fried egg. Dishes are accompanied by salads and sides such as creamed spinach, Truffle Pommes Purée and the restaurant’s own version of a salade niçoise.

“What attracted me to Cocotte is its clear identity and confidence in simplicity. This is the beauty of the cooking I fell in love with and that has guided me throughout my career. When the ingredients are great and the cooking is precise, the result feels effortless and genuine. My focus will be on nurturing an even deeper sense of care, seasonality and refinement throughout the menu, while remaining true to the food people already love at Cocotte. The opportunities ahead are incredibly exciting,” said Pate.

Romain Bourrillon, of Cocotte, said the recruitment process had been guided by continuity rather than reinvention. “We weren’t looking for someone to change Cocotte, we were looking for someone who understood what people already love about it,” he explained. “We’ve spent ten years building something that we’re proud of and Santo understands what makes it work. We’re excited to see where he takes it next.”

Cocotte opened its first site a decade ago and now operates five restaurants in London, located in Notting Hill, South Kensington, Richmond, Shoreditch and Parsons Green. The group specialises in rotisserie chicken alongside a range of French-influenced small plates, salads and side dishes. The anniversary and the change of chef represent the most significant development for the business since its expansion across west, south-west and east London, and the revised menu is now in place at all five sites.

Food Desk

For further information or to book a table at a branch of Cocotte, visit the group’s website here.