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This was our first time out to Cochon. I found this restaurant to be almost perfect. While looking at all the reviews, I thought everything was going to be outstanding - and it was. We got the alligator, which was like delicate little fried pieces of heaven. The pork cheeks were absolutely delightful, the "gulf fish" was perfectly cooked & had the perfect amount of seasoning on it. The ham hock, while i thought it was expensive was quite the surprise - it was amazing!! It fell right off the bone & had some sweet potatoes that really complimented it quite nicely.
Service I found to be quite interesting. Our server was quite unconventional. He had a huge red bushy beard, however, he was extremely nice & very knowledgeable. He gave us excellent recommendations & made our dining experience!!
Kudos to Cochon!!
Thank you for giving me this platform to express my thoughts & feelings.
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Boo-Ya!!!!!
I griped a lot about my trip to New Orleans. Most people asked me about how my trip was and while I didn't enjoy the Big Easy overall, the meal here is one of the true redeeming factors.
I had wanted to try something other than begniets and po-boys, so for one of the last nights in town, I decided to go here based on some of the Yelp reviews. The restaurant was fairly crowded, so my friends and I sat at the bar for our meal. We ordered drinks (I partook of something I believe was called "Joy Juice" made from moonshine and vinegar) and proceeded to peruse the menu.
Sadly, one of my friends is an incredibly fastidious eater, and there wasn't much on the menu he would try. We agonized over the options for a while. Cochon has a number of small, tapas-like options to choose from. Eventually we ordered a number of dishes and passed them around as people would try them.
This is where I need to rave about having eaten then best thing I've ever had in my life. Bar none. No hyperbole. Zero exceptions. Cochon basically means "pig meat". On the menu: pork cheeks, something I'd heard was a true delicacy. I tried them and was honestly bowled over by just how.....incredible they were. I can only describe them as a million times better than the best pot roast you've ever had. Tender as possible, and contained in a very light breading. I'm drooling right now as I write this. It was truly one of the best things I've ever consumed.
So after that, we also had alligator, okra, cucumbers, and their mac and cheese. All of them were also exceptionally good, but nothing even came close to the cheeks. The entire meal was just amazing and it was certainly the best food I had while in New Orleans. If you're looking for an exceptional meal and especially if you like pork, I highly suggest giving Cochon a try.
Rule #8, FRY THE HELL OUT OF IT!
Looked at the menu online and this place doesn't waste flour and oil... and WOW is it good!
1st place I went to when I got to N.O.L.A. and ordered half the menu. The fried gator is awesome, the ribs were great, the fish was supurb, and the bourbon medley was a great finisher!
Service was very attentive and knowledgeable as well!
Well worth the triple bypass in 30 years.
I am bummed out because my experience here was tainted by the fact that I was sufferering from an unexplained (assuming exhaustion/dehydration) ill feeling and didn't enjoy the experience half as much as I know I would have were I in top condition.
My boyfriend made the exceptionally good point that all the slatted benches and light wood made the place feel like we were in a sauna...but aside from that...the room is huge, with amazing high ceilings and a chef's table at the back. A small bar sits up front where you can order from an expansive drink list.
Boyfriend got the Rabbit and Dumplings and I went for braised beef. My beef was very fatty (as it's supposed to be - I just didn't realize) so I wasn't keen on eating it with my tummy ache, but I nibbled on the horseradish potato salad as best I could. I would come back here to try again in a second and wished I had been feeling better to really savor the unique menu (alligator appetizers anyone?) and soak up the atmosphere.
This place wrapped up our weekend dining experience in New Orleans. Not to mention all the great food we had at Jazz Fest! A small party of 4 this time enjoyed a smart casual early dinner at this lovely little place! We went completely local with our dinner choices this evening, from alligator to rabbit, ham hocks to catfish. Delicious! We had an inside connection with one of the chef's. .. makes for an even more delightful experience! Cochon, a definite must for a trip to the big easy!
This is the first place I take all my out-of-town guests when they say they want Louisiana food. Or hell, even if they don't. Basically, if they say they want a nice, good meal, this is where we go.
See, the funny thing about that is... I'm a pescatarian. This restaurant is named after pig meat. I can't even eat the majority of the things on their menu. But I cannot sing their praises enough. And every single person (all of them meat eaters) I've taken there has LOVED it.
Because I'm a little limited in my selection, I get the same thing every time I'm there: the "oven-roasted gulf fish 'fisherman's style'". And for a restaurant that specializes in pig, they sure know how to do their fish right. It is by far one of the best fish dishes in this city.
They have a lot of sides that I can eat (if you've got meat issues, ask the waitress -- they're happy to tell you what's safe or not), and I mix it up there. They're all delicious. Mac n cheese? Yes sir!
Also: the moonshine! Delicious. I'd had moonshine once before, straight from the mountain and served in a film canister. It was awful. Cochon's is FANTASTIC. It's what I have for dessert.
The chairs could stand to be more comfortable, sure. But the decor is otherwise quite lovely.
Go! You will not be sorry you did.
Dining experience - 10/26 Lunch
Not impressed!
Cochon came highly recommended, so it was one of my top restaurant choices during my recent visit to NOLA. Unfortunately, the food just did not live up to the hype. I was sadly disappointed. Luckily, I made the right decision to go during lunch, so I still had dinner to make up for the shortfall.
I ordered the ham hock with sweet potatoes, pickled greens, and black eyed pea ham broth. I should have known not to order a meal that is for the most part, a family tradition in my house hold. Especially around the holidays. That said, I had really high expectations. The ham hock did not offer enough flavor. The sweet potatoes lacked something, perhaps brown sugar, vanilla, or butter. I'm really not sure, but I was sorely disappointed.
On a positive note, the service was wonderful. My server was very knowledgeable and accommodating.
In my opinion, Cochon is overrated and overpriced. I would definitely not go back.
I admit that my palate has been spoiled by the bounty of San Francisco's culinary establishments. If Cochon were here in the Bay, it would just be average. However, for New Orleans, I can see this being a four star place.
The decor was pretty chic, dark with lots of modernmonochromatic wood paneling. The service was super accomodating - my friend was late coming from surgery (as the doctor not he patient) and they let me sit at the table for an hour without any scathing looks.
I had to order the pigs ears and they were pretty dang good. How can you go wrong with salty deep fried food? It wasn't an "exotic" dish by any means. Remember I'm Chinese and we eat cow's brains like it is spaghetti. Since I'd never had alligator, I had to give that a try and my friend was right: It tastes like chicken.
The most memorable thing was the dessert - pineapple cornmeal upside down cake with coconut lime sorbet. The cake was moist and it was the perfect way to end the dinner.
Ooooohhh baby! What a fantastic experience. I tried many dishes I'd never tried before and wouldn't even know where to get those dishes even if I knew about them.
Interested in pig ears? Hell no! But we we were all curious and asked our very friendly and knowledgeable waiter. He said it was like fried calamari - SOLD. It was better than calamari - crispier and juicer. I'll never be able to eat calamari without hoping I was eating pig ears. It's a perfect dish to share.
For my own appetizer I had the ribs. No quite fall-off-the-bone but quite close. Very tasty and easy to eat without getting messy.
Another dish I was introduced to was the ham hocks which I highly recommend. It's on the bone and so tender. If I was a dog or if I was alone I would of brought the bone home and I'd be lickin' it right now.
I always thought that "moonshine" meant homemade liquor but now I know it is a legit liquor. This is the first time I've ever seen it on a menu so of course ordered it. Not bad - it's like a VERY sweet whiskey.
Our waiter really made this a great experience he was patient and had a lot of energy. Sadly, we had another waitress takeover close to the end of the meal - man, was she a downer.
If there weren't so many amazing restaurants in this city to explore, I'd come back here the next time I visited.
Wowser!
So much to choose from here and all of it is good. Mac n Cheese, variety of salty pig choices, twice baked potato, shrimp and grits just to name a few of my favorite things! Honestly the best was the CAKE! It was the most buttery delicious concoction I have tasted and would fly to New Orleans right now for some!
I was visiting New Orleans for the first time on business and staying in the French Quarter. Though there were tons of places to eat, the French Quarter was full of tourists and I wanted to try a local restaurant.
So, I went to Yelp as usual for some ideas and tips. Chochon came up as a restaurant with great reviews. I ended up walking there, took only 15-20 minutes, and got to see some less touristy spots of New Orleans but with cool local bars and restaurants.
The food was amazing. We ordered okra and alligator to start, then my colleague had the rabbit and dumpling dish while I had a yummy catfish entree. The place was packed and we didn't call ahead for reservations, definitely need to do on Fridays and weekends. We were lucky and got a couple of seats at the bar and that was good too. The bar was exposed to the restaurant but you still had a nice intimate setting.
Would recommend to anyone who wants to get away from all the tourists and see where the locals hang out. Just make sure to make reservations for the weekend.
For all the hype, we were underwhelmed here. The food was hit-or-miss. I strongly recommend you dine at Luke instead.
The decor, drinks and service here are lovely. My ham hock with sweet potatoes was very good, as were the eggplant with shrimp dressing, the mac & cheese and the pork cheeks.
The "fisherman's style" gulf fish was okay... but halfway through the huge piece it got very boring. The non-distinct oyster & shrimp sandwich could have been served at Hard Rock or Margartiaville to the same effect. Our Texas friends were very excited for us to love friend okra, but this was merely "fine" in their experience.
Of all the gumbo we had in NoLa, this was the worst. It tasted an awful lot like brown gravy. Also stay away from the fried alligator - the sauce is tasty, but the meat tastes like reheated orange chicken from a Chinese takeout joint.
Love, love, love it! The charcuterie plate is amazing, as were the fresh cracklins with Steen's cane syrup to dip them in. The bartender is on his/her job, too. (We had our first taste of Firefly Sweet Tea vodka here about a year ago..mmmm!) Great selection.
Everytime we go, we end up around the corner at the Cochon Butcher for something to take home. All of house made charcuterie items are for sale at the Butcher location.
Never disappointed! It is a must try if you are in the New Orleans area.
One of my favorites in the city. Nice atmosphere in a good area, great, well-executed food, charming service, a nice selection of beers, wines, and spirits (moonshine anyone?). Sit at the kitchen bar so you can drool over plates going out from the immaculate stainless kitchen service counter and watch the cooks at work: this may help you narrow things down as the menu is yummy top to bottom. And you may get a little amuse-bouche (housemade head cheese for me mmmmm).
Delicious food that is great to share with friends.
We shared four small plates, one boucherie plate, and two desserts among four people for a Friday (10/16/09) lunch. The food is delicious, the beer/wine/bourbon list is superb, and the service was spot-on.
Cochon is a must-do for me every time I am in New Orleans. I have been twice and have enjoyed both experiences.
YUM! We had a huge selection of food. Starters: Boudin Balls (AWESOME!), fried alligator in chili sauce, iceberg lettuce wedge. hog's head cheese (didn't touch it. I have limits). Entrees: ribs, crab cakes. Dessert: peach cobbler.
I am so full. I am having trouble breathing. The boudin balls were my favorite. The service was insanely good, very friendly & never missed a beat.
This was one of the tastiest and most memorable meals I have had in quite a while. We couldn't get a reservation so we ended up sitting at the chef's bar. I would actually really recommend this, it was a lot of fun to see the mastery going on in the kitchen. The decor is simple and unassuming with wood panelling covering most of the interior with an exposed brick wall on one side. Anyway we sampled the fried aligator, wood-flame roasted oysters, grits, shrimp, and the red fish [of the day]. Every bite was like "wow" and I've heard the pork cheeks are also amazing. Price-wise it is surprisingly a value for the quality you are getting. If you are in New Orleans, you already know what it is...
great food, reasonable prices, casual atmosphere - perfect anytime, no need to get gussied up.
service is very friendly and on point, save for the fact that they dropped the check while we were eating dessert. yes, i know you need to turn the table. this wasn't enough to kill the 5th star though.
decor is warm and inviting with lots of wood, including a personal favorite: end grain bamboo patterns. look for the light up pig at the bar, it's adorable.
the partially open kitchen is fun, and not overwhelming. they must have a very good ventilation system.
the food! if you like pork, you must go. we started with the pig cheeks, perfectly tender and delicious, and the oyster and meat pie, which had just the right amount of spice.
my husband had the louisiana cochon de lait, and can't stop raving about it. i had a panéed pork special prepared with mustard and baked apples over a bed of dirty rice and beans. it was very juicy and tender and extremely filling.
that didn't stop me from attempting dessert. i got most of the way through the pineapple upside down cake with lime sorbet, which was fantastic. my husband had the mississippi mud pie, which is very rich and made with dark chocolate. don't order it unless you've plenty of room left!
this would be an excellent restaurant for a group reservation!
Perfect for lunch. Delicious unusual flavors (pork ribs with watermon pickle) and a lovely ambience. The miniature bread rolls were terrific, the service was pleasant, and the ambience refreshingly pleasant.
stunningly good.
i wish i had a second stomach so i could enjoy more of the menu in one sitting.
we arrived without reservations, and were ushered to the chef's table/bar. we got free head cheese which was excellent, and proceeded to enjoy an odyssey of flavor and texture that leaves my mouth watering to this day.
i would drive to new orleans from austin just to eat here.
highly recommended.
my favorite are the in-house cured meats on the charcuterie plate. the ham hock is the biggest taste explosion of ham ever, and they have a nice selection of beers.
watching them lovingly prepare the food over the counter helped me understand why the food was so amazing. these guys and girls not only know their way around a kitchen, but they imbue every bite with a little bit of creole love.
This was our best meal in our week of feasts in New Orleans.
When i order brisket, i prefer it served on a plate instead of in a small tapas bowl.
I have tried this place twice now and just can NOT jump on board.
In no way am i saying the menu isnt extremely innovative or the execution isnt impressive, but the menu (just as the cochon butcer) is very limited...and by limited in this case, i mean fried/heavy. I should note that my friend got a nice piece of fish that in no way was heavy, but she was having difficulty deciding what to order because of all the weird twists to each particular dish.
I also dont dig the price:portion ratio. I paid $25 for a 4 slices of brisket and one scoop of horseradish potato salad. The brisket was a B- and the horseradish potato salad about the same. The joint could give you double the portion and the same quality for $10. Basically, i think you are paying for the swanky seats and the innovative menu.
I will say that the "drenched butter rolls" were delicious.
This place just isn't for me, but i respect it.
Came upon this restaurant by accident. Wasn't sure at first but looked inside and saw that it was packed...which usually means, great food!
So we all tried it and were Very pleased!
I had the oven-roasted gulf fish "Fisherman Style", lots of great spices on the fillet, and the fish was so moist it was unbelievable. My husband had smoked beef brisket with horseradish potato salad. He said it was pretty dam good very moist and with every bite lots of flavor. I do have to say that if your not a fan of horseradish then you probably don't want this dish...the horseradish did have a bite back.
Also, you must order your sides separate. My husband and I both shared the twice baked potato, which I have to say was the only thing that came out of the kitchen that was dry and hard. We also ordered the mac-n-cheese..that we both loved!
Ohhh and we also had the fried alligator with chili garlic aioli...that is a must very good! Something definitely different than what you can get her in Cali.
If you do go remember it's downtown.
The food is great! I highly recommend the fried pig ears to start. They are shaped like french fries and come with a mustard dipping sauce.
Better yet, start with the pig cheeks. The pig cheeks small plate was the best tasting dish of the entire night.
I had the gulf fish "fisherman style" as an entree. Fisherman style means they discard the head and tail, skin one side and leave the other side with the skin and scales on. The result? The moistest fish I have ever tasted.
Finished dinner with Catdaddy moonshine - so sweet, so good! My friend got the White Lightning moonshine which was the exact opposite of Catdaddy. It was really potent and had that rubbing alcohol scent that is so familiar with straight up hard liquour.
The only complaint was from my brother who said that they don't change the menu at all.
Every time I've eaten here the service and food have been impeccable.
The rabbit livers are a standout, but really everything I've had from their menu is fabulous. I hated head cheese until I found Cochon.
I finally have a reason to leave the Quarter.
I love you, Cochon. I will be back next paycheck, and every paycheck thereafter. The ultimate food lover's dining experience in New Orleans. They deserve every award and accolade they receive.
Went here with a party of 7 people. The food was fabulous and the ambience was a perfect compliment to the food. Our waitress told us we really couldn't go wrong with anything. She was right.
You order everything at once, so the chef can time your meal, and trust me, it's better this way.
Some of what we ordered: paneed pork cheeks with onion gravy, fig, and goat cheese, fried alligator with chili garlic aioli, fried rabbit livers with pepper jelly toast, pork & black eyed pea gumbo with greens, roasted shrimp with ham, chilis, satsumas & cornbread cake, fried heirloom tomatoes...and that's only the starters.
Our waitress told us to get the Cochon. Rather than have every person at the table order it - I got the ham hock with sweet potatoes, pickled greens & black eyed pea ham broth - OUT OF THIS WORLD. I know what you're thinking...ham hock? Gross. Not so. And I don't even like ham usually.
Don't listen to the people saying it's small portions, fried/heavy. Honestly, they don't know what they are talking about.
So go, try it for yourself, and save room for the pineapple upside down cake or the chocolate and chicory custard with the cayenne pepper.
Cocktail recommendation - Cooter's Bog. Refreshing and the perfect complement to this type of food.
I wanted it to be better than it was.
The service was great. The food OK...only OK.
I guess they have had a very good publicist forme to have read and seen as much as I have, about this place.
Oh well.
Awesome food, great service and Big Daddy Rabbit!
Cannot wait to get back - top dining experience in months...
What a disappointment. Giada DeLaurentis - are you smoking crack?
I couldn't wait to try this place after seeing it on Food TV. My two girlfriends and I cabbed it over, and took our reserved table. Ambiance - nice. I love the french rustic vibe. Waiter walks over about 1 minute after we sat down and asked if we were ready to order....um, no.
He comes back about 2 mintues later to check on beverages - we asked him for a bottle of Chardonnay (on their standing menu, mind you - and $45). He leaves...and returns a minute later to tell us they were 'out' of that bottle. Are you kidding? One of your ONLY 2 bottles of Chardonnay under $50 on your STANDING menu, and you're out? It was a Saturday night, 8pm. Of course, to add insult to injury, they had ONE selection of Chardonnay that you could buy by the glass.....ONE. (BTW, it was crap and tasted more like a Sauv Blanc.)
We ordered the fried alligator in chili sauce - but were all turned off by the mint leaves they dress it with - just an odd flavor combo which ended up being a theme for the night.
I had the roasted fish, which came with (I think) a side of pickled onion?? And I also ordered the greens - which ended up tasting like collards cooked in pure vinegar and sugar. I guess considering the place was called, "PORK", Id get savory greens slow roasted with ham hocks....instead, it was the most acidic, sweet, weird side dish Ive ever had - well, next to the pickled onions -- did not eat either. The fish was severly underseasoned, although, it was roasted perfectly. I had to add salt and pepper, but it was still very bland in flavor.
Oh ya....we finished our glass of wine by the time our entree's came and the waiter never asked if we'd like another beverage or glass...um. Really?
My friend had the brisket and potato salad (both good), but her side of lima beans were not even room temperature and had to be sent back. Our other friend had the shrimp, and peppercorn salad. Both unmemorable. The shrimp (shocking I know) was absolutely covered with a pile of pickled relish. What is up with all the vinegar???
Dessert was....odd. A flourless chocolate cake (about 1/2 inch thick) with about a 1 inch, thick, layer of sour cream custard that completely overpowered the cake. That, coupled with a roasted peach sauce left us thinking - why?
We had about three waiters revolving and serving us - which I find annoying. The end of our experience was topped off with a group of 7 young assholes cat-calling us from another table. What is this, Denny's???
The ONLY saving grace was the help of the Manager who proceeded to discount half of our bill. She told the table to shut the f*ck up and have some respect. She was pretty baddass and very, very apologetic. She promised they were usually on point - and comped us a round of Moonshine. So to her - Thank You, much appreciated. I may actually come back to give her another chance - for her service and attitude about the entire thing, I gave an extra star.
It was really a bummer - we were on a girls weekend vacation, and were all really looking forward to ending it with a nice dinner at Cochon. But, unfortunately, it left us feeling underwhelmed and regretfull for going there.
Well, it doesn't take a biologist to figure out the theme of this restaurant - "Cochon" is French for "pig," and upon entry, you can see paintings and t-shirts boasting the same motif. The atmosphere is hip but humble, a good place for a mid-twenties birthday party, a casual date, or in our case, dinner for a family of five riding in from the airport in airport clothes. The place gets busy, so make reservations to be safe. Service is friendly and casual, a good match for the ambience.
The menu is adventurous and interesting, and we tried a few things we'd never tried before. Even so, the overall presentation was homey and unpretentious. The food wasn't mind-blowing, but it was pretty good.
The bread was of the soft tear-apart variety, much like Hawaiian bread, but with a great, salty, yeasty flavor. For our appetizers we ordered the fried alligator with chili garlic aioli, the fried pig ears with cane syrup mustard, the wood-fired oyster roast, and a hen and andouille gumbo. Alligator was a first for all of us, and while I was happy to check that off my list, I wasn't terribly impressed. It really did taste like tough chicken, and the aioli overwhelmed the already artery-clogging dish with mayo. The pig ears, another first, were much better. They were surprisingly tender, and I enjoyed the fry-like presentation in a paper cone with yummy mustard sauce. The oyster roast was great, very flavorful with good texture. I love raw oysters, but these were different and not inferior. The gumbo was good, though certainly not the best of our trip. It was very salty with a dark roux.
For our entrees, we tried the smoked beef brisket with horseradish potato salad, the Louisiana cochon with turnips, cabbage, and cracklins, the ham hock with sweet potatoes, pickled greens, and black eyed peas with ham broth, the rabbit and dumplings, and a deep-fried soft-shelled crab special. We also got a side of creamy grits. The ham hock was the clear winner with flavorful meat accompanied by creamy sweet potato and a nice tang from the pickled greens. The cochon, in comparison, lacked juiciness. The rabbit and dumplings came in a lovely, comforting stew, and the dumplings became progressively more toothsome as they soaked in the liquid. The beef brisket was disappointing - the potatoes were cold and tasted like potato salad from a plastic tub. The worst of the bunch was the soft-shelled crab. It was enormously greasy, and all the succulence of crab got deep-fried into oblivion. The grits were tasty, though the near-full plate at the end of our meal meant we had all decided they weren't worth the calories.
We weren't particularly impressed by the entrees, but we decided to indulge in dessert with good results. Don't waste your time with the root bear float, which you can literally duplicate at home, but the peach cobbler with creme fraiche ice cream hits all the right notes. The creme fraiche ice cream actually managed to convey the sweet tang of creme fraiche, a feat that I have seen attempted and failed on various occasions, and it elevated this rustic dessert with a trendy twist. The cobbler was presented with gooey-soft sliced peaches and crumbly buttery biscuits on top. It took restraint not to lick the bowl. The homemade strawberry fig ice cream was also good, if a bit icy and not on the same level as the cobbler.
After trying the better half of the Cochon menu, I can say that I enjoyed myself and tried several new things, but that the wow factor was missing from most of the dishes. Still, it was a good time and I would recommend the place to those in search of a little novelty.
very very delicious restaurant. YUM!
started with teh fried alligator, corn cakes and bean soup. the fried alligator was perfectly prepared -- very dense in a nice sweet/hot sauce. The corn cakes again had a nice sweet delicate flavor topped with the most delicious tomatoes and basil i've had so late in the season. I was stuffed! The mac and cheese was too salty and dense for me but the eggplant stuffing was yummy.
Will say that the service was slow but our server was incredibly knowledgeable and made great recos. The atmosphere is very relaxed but still hip. Very good restaurant choice for dining with a large group of friends.
Delish!!!!
We had the pleasure of trying just about everything on the menu, really!
Alligator, oysters, boudin balls, artichoke crab, rabbit and dumplings, signature Louisiana pork, greens, eggplant dressing and craw fish casserole.. I probably forgot a couple because we finished our meal with some amazing MOONSHINE!
Our entire experience was wonderful. Our server was knowledgeable and it looked as if the whole staff worked as a team.
Way to go Stephen!
On a sweltering June day in the NO, my party of two dined on the following:
- roasted oysters with garlic sauce -- perfection; I usually prefer raw oysters but I would return to New Orleans just for these oysters!
- fried alligator cheeks - good but didn't stand out
- pork belly - tender and tasty special of the day
- fried green tomato and crawfish - side dish we could have passed on
- BBQ pork ribs - too much sauce; wasn't impressed with the flavor
Pluses:
Great little space - rustic/modern (yes, it was an odd mix but it worked); open space; trendy (make a reservation!)
Minuses:
The service was spotty (he forgot to tell us the specials, and we only were able to order the pork belly upon hearing the server at the table next to us tell other patrons what the specials were).
To sum up:
I really would return to New Orleans for those oysters. And I don't live anywhere close to here!
"You should have called ahead, as you probably know from being a vegetarian"
Actually I think I should know what it is like to being a vegetarian as I have been one for 16 years ago this lent. In that knowledge I could tell you I have NEVER been so rudely dismissed by not just the waiter but by the manager in my entire 16 years as a vegetarian.
The James Beard award winning chef apparently has not taught his staff anything about 5 star service.
Ok, so here's the scene. Picture it, a temperate Monday at 12:30, the lunch room is half empty, the outside has a table open. We take it.
The restaurant has come highly recommended to us for its oyster sandwich. I tell the waiter "I am not your target demographic" of his pig and fish full menu. "I am a vegetarian, what can you do for me"
"Not really anything" said my waiter.
"Usually the chef can make some alterations but not today, just too busy"
He sends out the manager who tells me the same BS w/the money line "you should have called ahead, as you probably should know being a vegetarian" Yeah buddy, I've been a vegetarian for 15 plus years. I think I know how to live the lifestyle and calling ahead is not part of it. It is, in 2009, expecting that every menu has some type of vegetarian option so that people who rely on my for directions on great food in cities around the country don't end up feeling like assholes because they are eating and I am looking at a tiny plate of wilted greens and calling your salad lunch.
"Lima Beans?" no cooked w/bacon, no exceptions
"Double baked potatoes?" not them either so they brought me the salad and the side of mac n cheese. You would think they would have given me a larger portion of mac n cheese knowing that is all I would eat said my companion but ensuring I leave satiated was never their concern.
Cochon convinced me that it is FAR easier to be a vegetarian in Buenos Aires than New Orleans
Cochon, after one night of dining there, is now one of my all-time favorite restaurants.
Since I worship at the temple of pork and pork-related foods, there really isn't a better concept for a restaurant than to have on centered around that very thing. So when I knew I was coming out to New Orleans, this restaurant became a top priority.
I'm so glad I ate here.
Our first meal, however, was not pork. It was fried alligator with chili-garlic aioli. I've had alligator before, and it wavers between delicious and rubber. This night's alligator was firmly in the middle. The sauce was spectacular, though, despite the overly chewy (even for gator) nature of the dish.
The second dish was healthier, as I wanted something fresh to counteract the utter destruction of my body that was to follow. To my delight, the dish, cucumbers with herbs and vinegar, was simple, refreshing and sublime.
Next came our first pork venture, barbecue ribs with watermelon pickles. What else can I say? Perfection. Great sauce, the rib meat was falling off the bone, and the pickles added a sweet and sour kick to the already tangy and sweet barbeque sauce. A winner.
Next, deep fried boudin with fresh mustard and hot peppers. Boudin already rocks on its own, so to deep fry those suckers is to create one of the most delicious plates I've had in awhile. Pure awesomeness.
The next dish was ham hocks with sweet potato, pickled greens and black eyed peas. The ham hocks came in their own jus, which made me happy. The flavors were really beyond description, a truly perfect blend of sweet, salty, and sour - all my favorite things, especially with pork.
And then came the namesake dish of the restaurant - cochon with cracklins and turnips. Juicy and delicious, it truly knocked my socks off. And when cracklins (pork rinds) are just accompaniments for an already porky fabulous dish, you know you're in hog heaven.
We finished with a root-beer parfait that was a nice, refreshing palate cleanser after the porky apocalypse that my stomach was subjected to.
You know how you have that list of foods when you're a little kid that's like, "EEEW! Why do grown-ups eat that kinda crap. Just give me a grilled cheese, please." There were several things on Cochon's menu that I hadn't even thought of putting on that list (alligator, pork cheeks) until I got there. If you still have that list, throw it away before you go here because you'll be missing out on some rad food if you don't.
I would call the food southern style gourmet. We had fried alligator with a mint creme sauce(awesome by the way), ham hock (that fell off the bone) and lentils, and beef brisket with sweet potatoes. All were artfully, not stuffily, presented. I finished off the meal with a slice of flourless chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. When I die, I want to go to New Orleans. I have definitely not found food like this in Southern California, nor do I plan on finding it here.
Luckily, we did not have to wait hours as some of the other reviewers have noted. However, when we got there, the hostess asked if we had reservations, and when we responded "no," she seemed a bit perturbed. That is thee only complaint I have about this place. It is definitely a must if you go to NOLA.
P.S. I have always respected cultures that use EVERY part of the animal they kill in some way. Cochon buy whole pigs and uses every part in some sort of dish. Hence the pork cheeks.
We've all had this situation: friends in visiting for JazzFest, and you want them to experience something a little different. So, what could possibly be bad about eating past 9:30PM?
Even with reservations, a 45-minute wait, for starters. No apologies, no nothing. The service industry member of our party asked about sitting outside, and the hostess told us a 9:00PM was waiting for the table! My heart sank with anticippointment.
Alligator? It was fried, and looked cute on the plate. Tasted like cute - bland, inoffensive, harmless. Pork Cheeks. These dark brown fried death balls came to the table. Some liked it. Me? Not so much. I had the fisherman style catch of the day, and it was cooked to perfection, but the seasonings were too bland for me. None of the aforementioned chili flakes could be seen on the fish, let alone taste them. We passed on any sides and dessert, as we waited too long to sit down to eat.
The wine list was great, and all of those choices were wonderful. The service? Started strangely shaky, and since at least three different people waited on us, we weren't quite sure who our server really was. I just think they wanted their night to be over. Mine certainly was.
Was there for dinner last night - had 2 great starters, one was the special fig/potato skillet & the other was the wood fired oysters. both were to die for. had the pulled pork entree & the green tomato crawfish side - these were good but not as great at the starters. had the blueberry crumble for dessert & really enjoyed it.
loved the ambience, my kinda modern, clean feel to it.
service was mixed - had one really nice server but the other was tart & strange
i'd go back there again anytime :)
This place is supposed to be one of the hottest restaurants to watch (http://www.nytimes.com... . To be honest, I wasn't terribly impressed. However, I've got to note that we went with 25 people. It must've been a nightmare to try to get all of our plates out in some kind of synchronous fashion. While some dishes fell flat, some of the other rib dishes were absolutely divine. (it better if their namesake is cochon).
PS. the website is cochonrestaurant not http://cochon.com (very different)
I meant to give Cochon 4.5/5 Stars... this place is simply the BEST. A friend in New Orleans recommended it & I salute the chef. Very adventurous & interesting menu, i wish i can try all of them in 1 seating but alas, even a pig needs a break...
We started with fried alligator & fried rabbit livers, OMG they were unbelievable, the flavors were like explosion in my mouth, just remind me of the food back home in Malaysia, full of flavors & spices... as for entree, of course i tried their specialty, the cochon, which was ok coz the appetizers were so good & domineering in terms of taste, they pretty much made the evening meals special already...
Very contemporary interior, love the bar stools, great ambiance & crowds. Services were immaculate too, so, overall this place is TOP on my list for Best US Restaurant (besides da Marco) so far. However, as you will see, i dont normally give out 5 stars easily... so, maybe some day!
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
New Orleans, LA
Category: French
New Orleans, LA
Category: American (New)
New Orleans, LA
Category: Cajun/Creole
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