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Cochineal
Category: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
115 W San Antonio StMarfa, TX 79843
(432) 729-3300
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
60 reviews for Cochineal
Review Highlights
"Finished with the best date pudding I've ever had."
(in 13 reviews)
"As for breakfast, hard to beat the sour cream pancakes."
(in 3 reviews)
"appreciated the self-serve coffee."
(in 3 reviews)
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60 reviews in English
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Review from Molly c.
9/26/2011
matching marfa courtyard - expected.
uber-hipster / photographer / rhodes scholar / artist waitstaff - interesting
super dim interior - refreshingly glamorous
pricepoint - a little tableshock
wine list - generous and complex, comprehensive
menu selection - varied, inspiring, concise
service - friendly, attentive, professional
in our romantic environment, we sipped our portuguese wine, anticipating the pork tenderloins we ordered ... butternut lettuce salad ...
the meal was really delicious. i am still thinking about those tenderloins.
we retired to the courtyard for wine and the flourless chocolate torte with molten chocolate on top under the west texas starry sky.
it was my early birthday dinner ... it was really choice.
will return. -
Review from ella j.
Austin, TX
9/16/2011
Over the course of our meal we had mussels, duck, and quail- all of them were equally delicious. And the date pudding was AMAZING.
Perfect place for a date or birthday dinner- and I hear they serve up a good breakfast, too! -
Review from Quinn S.
1/7/2012
Closed at noon on a Saturday? No posted hours on the building - nobody answers the phone -no voicemail to share the hours of operation or make reservation - being told it's just the Marfa way doesn't cut it.
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Review from Ullrich M.
Greensboro, GA
1/2/2012
They will close until sometime in Feb 2012 for renovation. Sadly, we missed by a day.
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Review from Doug P.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2011
How best to describe Cochineal? After spending an evening there, I'd say it's a beautiful space, staffed with well-meaning and talented folks trying to replicate a New York fine dining experience in a tiny West Texas town. But not quite succeeding.
And why would they want to in the first place?
The room is beautiful, but we could have been eating at any number of restaurants in any number of big American cities. Better to snag a table outside in the courtyard, where you at least feel connected to the West Texas locale.
The food itself was thoughtfully conceived and well executed (although my Salade Lyonnaise would have benefited from more acid). Do go on the early side, however, as they seem to run out of food. And while the wine list is deep, the staff's familiarity with it isn't.
I think the place is a real gem if you're a local (and you can afford it). It is without question the best restaurant in Marfa. But visiting from San Francisco, my wife and I and our friends had more enjoyable meals at other places in town where the menus and overall vibe better reflected the region. Maiya's and Miniature Rooster would top that list. And honestly, we were talking about Food Shark and Pizza Foundation on the plane ride home, not Cochineal. -
Review from Mr G.
TX
7/27/2011
Giving it a 4 star because
a) it was open! ... which seems to be a real problem in this town
b) the food was good.. and nearing very good
c) the place is run professionally, with good vibe
I had the lamb, which I felt was good, but not NEARLY worth the $34 price tag. Dining partner got the fettuccine w/ shrimp which we both felt was very good and worth it. She got the mushroom soup also, which we both felt was exceptional..
The service folks were kind, but missed a few marks... drink refills, timing on the appetizers vs. meal (15 minute gap there).. but the weather was amazing, the overall vibe was nice, well designed.
We did hear the owner and his compadre's who were sitting next to us gossipping about some of the other establishments here in town. The comments were 'can't believe people even stay there.. (el cosmico) .. it's a trailer park, right?' and 'somebody in this town is making money, but it sure ain't us' .. etc etc. It was kind of funny, really..
But yeah, this place has my vote overall... I will say that, at 40 years old, we were the youngest people in the place.. whatever that means. -
Review from Jay K.
Carrollton, TX
4/17/2011
Cohineal was ok. The food was good, but not outstanding and when a meal costs more than $100 with only one glass of wine, it should be outstanding.
The most negative thing I have to say it it was almost impossible to find. The house (the restaurant is in a converted house) wasn't marked with the name of the restaurant and it doesn't look like the pictures on the web site - at least not from the street view. We only found it because we saw the tiny courtyard where there were tables set up. We were on our way back to Maiya's and decided to walk in and ask - we were actually in the right place.
I thought the place was a bit pretentious, trying to be elegant but underscored by simplicity of the decor. The salads were the best part of the meal, and the dessert was a close second. I had the pork loin for dinner, and it was overcooked - dry and almost bordering on tough. The bread that was served with the salads were excellent. We also had the gnocchi and my wife said it was very good, some of the best she's had.
Overall and compared to other restaurants in the area, I think it's a bit pricey for what you get. Would I go back? I would probably try to talk the dinner crew into going to Maiya's first, but I would go again. -
Review from Jason D.
San Angelo, TX
6/27/2011
Echoing some of the other reviews, Cochineal seems to aspire to be something memorable but somehow comes up short.
The space and service left nothing to be desired. Our waitress was attentive, answered our questions, and thankfully suggested we place our chocolate souffle order early enough for preparation. The dining room was comfortable without being crowded and was a pleasant respite from the 105 degree heat outside.
What kept me from giving Cochineal an additional star or two was the inconsistency of the menu. While that night's lamb was especially good, I didn't think the cheese souffle and the chef's take on chilequiles lived up to my expectations. Not that either of these dishes were bad, I just felt they fell short of being anything above average.
All in all, if my bill was $25 less I might give Cochineal an additional star. -
Review from Josh H.
Austin, TX
7/17/2011
I hadn't been to Marfa in four years and was more than surprised to see a nice restaurant pop up in the meantime. The short review is this place is awesome! My girlfriend and I split the gravlax (smoked salmon) appetizer. All their veggies are grown in their garden out back and they'll be the freshest thing you eat all day. The salmon was flavorful and the avocados were delicious and perfectly salted and seasoned.
For the main course we had the 8 oz ribeye medium rare and cooked to perfection. Despite every seat in the restaurant being full, our meal never sat in the window and service was fast and friendly. Our waiter helpfully suggested the appetizer and offered to let us try their rosè before we committed to buying a carafe. The only criticism I can offer is the ribeye was seasoned with slightly too much pepper. That may be personal taste however, and I'd definitely get it again.
Their menu changes almost daily and I can't wait to see what they have on my next visit. -
Review from Lauren A.
Los Angeles, CA
8/9/2011
My dad and I had a bad breakfast experience here while we were in Marfa. His omelette was overcooked and upset his stomach later in the day. We sat outside in the front and flies were swarming around us the whole time. It was driving me crazy!
The other items on the menu looked amazing and I regret not trying something more interesting than oatmeal. -
Review from AMY D.
1/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Before starting the road trip to Marfa I reconciled that there will be no sushi in my diet for the next 4 days.
Then for dinner on our last night stay, we discovered the Uchi of Marfa. Beautiful modern decor, great service, lovely food, overall the perfect dining experience. Cochineal has an extensive wine list, mouth watering appetizers, amazing entrees and to die for desserts. Listening to others order, the Japanese Kajiki (blue marlin), duck confit and the baked to order date pudding were popular menu items.
I started off with a nice bottle Cotes du Rhone and ordered the walu (Escolar). The walu was topped with fresh pico de gallo, served with a side of lime mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. The walu was lightly peppered and was hands down THE best walu I have ever had. The citrusy mashed potatoes were also fabulous.
I usually take my desert in the form of a glass however I had to find out what the rave was on Cochineal's date pudding. I had met several locals and read many reviews and everyone seems to have an adoration for the date pudding. This enticing desert is baked to order, served floating in a river of caramel rum sauce and a delightful side of whipped cream. It is one of those deserts where you leave the restaurant smiling in a blissful food induced coma.
Cochineal has a dinner menu that somewhat changes daily, this is likely why it is impossible to find their menu on line. However the waitress assured me that the date pudding is a staple on the menu.Listed in: Out of Town Best, Road Trip to Marfa
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Review from Jennie C.
Austin, TX
12/24/2010
I was treated to dinner here by a firm out of Houston. The meal was fantastic, but what I cannot forget is the sticky toffee date pudding. This was on of the best executed desserts I have ever, ever, ever, ever had. Sticky toffee date pudding isn't overly complicated. It didn't have 45 different flavors and textures, but what it did have was perfection.
Get here. Have a meal. Order a bottle of wine. Eat the dessert. Or else you'll have to be content that your life is only half-lived. -
Review from Dawn G.
Austin, TX
8/17/2011
Okay, Wesley, I promised your service and restaurant a glowing review....here goes....
We arrived here as a party of five and no reservation. Big mistake in a restaurant of this caliber, but we must have misunderstood when calling a couple of weeks before arriving on our trip and thought no reservations were needed. But the host stepped up and along with our waiter, Wesley, pushed a few tables together with front row seats to the kitchen.
Tight quarters, and a bit warm, we were thrilled to be seated and loved our little kitchen space. Now for the food.
Everything, and I mean everything was fabulous. We started with a chilled soup and a stunning mushroom/sage soup that I've since tried to replicate at home.
Perfect steak, lamb, quail and fish were topped off with two great desserts --a bread pudding with figs (or dates) and molten lava torte.
Cochineal is a can't miss if out in West Texas. -
Review from dave m.
Dallas, TX
7/5/2011
Went a few years ago during a long road trip out west. Marfa seems highly overblown (not according to my artist bud, but to me eh). Cochineal was really nice though. The food was superb, service was excellent, and the price was right on with what I'd expect for what they promise. Though the Marfa part of our trip left a little to be desired, dinner at Cochineal was a high point. Maybe go there after spending a week in Big Bend-the contrast was startling.
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Review from Karen P.
Dallas, TX
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Texas. Won't you please open a branch in Dallas a la Reata in Ft. Worth?
I've been here twice. Both times, the food has been absolutely phenomenal, the service friendly and welcoming. The Sig O says it's one of the best restaurants he's ever eaten at. The first time I was here, Sig O and I practically licked the bowl trying to finish off our gnocchi in tomato basil cream sauce. We stuffed ourselves on the freshly baked crusty bread, moppping up extra sauce. Most recently, we tried tripe and oxtail. I'm not a tripe fan in general, but this was delicious. The oxtail I could have eaten all night.
Stuff yourself silly, but DO. NOT. MISS. the date pudding with fresh cream. Wow - to die for. I would drive the 9 hours from Dallas for this alone. Sig O and I also tried the chocolate souffle. Luscious and delicious, but overshadowed by its fig menu buddy.
The only disappointing thing to me is the wine list. Other reviews suggest it's extensive. It is, I suppose, but extensive doesn't necessarily mean reasonable. There were no US cabs below $100. That's disappointing to me. We found a satisfactory Cotes du Rhone for ~ $50, but it should be easy to find a California/Washington cab priced well below $100.
Bottom line: If you are in Marfa, Texas, you must eat here. You do yourself a disservice if you miss it. -
Review from Melissa B.
Houston, TX
1/6/2011
Inspired by Marfa and Donald Judd this review will be sparse & minimalist.
Food* =Pure Flavors & Well Executed / Wine List= Well thought out & Comprehensive / Ambiance = Pleasing /Overall assessment =Worth the 10 +hour drive .
*Flourless Chocolate Souffle made to order (with hand whisked egg whites in a copper bowl) was the last thing I ate in 2010 . I couldn't have asked for a better thing to close out an amazing year.
If you go to Marfa, you need to eat here. -
Review from Dave F.
Austin, TX
1/15/2011
I had breakfast here last time I was in Marfa. Stand out item: the bacon, which was exquisite. Seriously, if you can have a man-crush on bacon, then I have one on the bacon they serve.
The design of the building is modern and minimalist, which I liked. I also liked the design of the gravel courtyard (where we sat while we ate) quite a lot. And, or course, the service was very friendly. -
Review from Justin C.
Richardson, TX
10/6/2010
I had my 30th birthday dinner here, and spent a lot of money. I had to buy my own birthday dinner, not because I'm a loser, but because I insisted on eating at such a freakishly expensive restaurant. Two years ago we had eaten at the Blue Javelina in Marfa and was hoping Cochineal would be as good. It wasnt, but it was really close.
The restaurant is tiny and the staff is extraordinary. The decor is modern but somewhat minimalist. They have outdoor seating, but we sat inside. The bugs were insane. They provided "Off" spray, thoughtfully, and most everyone else sat outside.
We all decided on steak and soup, but evidently the menu changes often as it appeared to have been freshly printed. The steak was a bit over-salted, and the french fries that came with it were under-salted. That would by my only complaint about the food, which was otherwise remarkable. A delicate soup of vegetables and swiss chard precedeed the main course.
Dessert is ordered before the meal and is baked during.
There wasnt the social atmosphere here that I expect at a Marfa restaurant, there was a lack of ambience in the "guffaws and hollerin'" department that Texas is so fond of, even in its swankier digs. I felt like I was in a restaurant on Ninth Avenue in Manhattan rather than in a small West Texas town. I sucked in my gut and tried to keep the conversation pedantic. A good time was had by all. -
Review from Shelly L.
5/30/2010 1 photo
Cochineal is delicious - but be prepared to pay a price for it. At first, places like this make me uncomfortable. I mean, I'm used to cheap Austin trailers. Here, the portions are small and the prices are high.
BUT - my entire attitude changed when I saw how awesome the service was...I could tell how important it was that all customers left happy. One of our dishes was brought out late - so it was on the house...as well as two of their delicious desserts. Yum!
I wish at least some of their menu stayed the same so I could give you recommendations. If you're there on a day they have gnocchi or date pudding, DO IT. I promise you no regrets.
Bottom line - thanks Cochineal. We all left verrrry happy.Listed in: Best Customer Service Everrrr
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Review from Erica M.
Midland, TX
10/2/2010
We recently had a rave worthy meal at Cochineal. We started with two appetizers, the bleu cheese souffle, and gnocchi with a butter and sage sauce. Perfection.
My husband had the ribeye with sides of broccolini and the thinnest, crispiest, saltiest, most delicious onion rings I have ever tasted. I had the crab cake appetizer because I wanted to save room for date pudding with fresh cream that has everyone buzzing. The dessert was well worth the buzz. It was warm, light and creamy and was complimented perfectly by the port that our server suggested.
There is also an extensive wine list that serves mid-range to upper end bottles, as well as wines by the glass and the quartino.
Cochineal managed to give us the best meal that I have had since my last trip to San Francisco. Who knew? They really know how to cook in Marfa!Listed in: Marfa, Texas
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Review from weecho v.
College Station, TX
1/13/2011
Dang. Everyone else has it right. This place is f-ing amazing. Well worth the price I paid for the meal. I went with my picky, non-foodie lady-friend and walked out with her saying AND I QUOTE, "If I knew food could be this good, I'd be as crazy about it as you are."
BOOM. Yeah. That good.
* Beautiful interior.
* Friendly staff; owner walked around and talked to everyone
* $75, 2 entrees + desert.
Oh, also, get the date pudding for desert, and you enter through the side. -
Review from stephen s.
Philadelphia, PA
5/25/2010
Went here for a breakfast and a dinner during our stay in Marfa last week.
Breakfast: All four of us loved the food, the courtyard was cute. The pomegranate mimosa was decent and the Big Bend Coffee was (of course) delish.
Dinner: Real bummed there wasn't a vegetarian entree...Second night in a row (the previous night being Blue Javelina) I had to get multiple sides/apps instead. Once again, though, great food.
I liked the way water was served (see the pictures people have uploaded). -
Review from Robin C.
Austin, TX
7/13/2008
I'm guessing at the address, so if you decide to head over to Cochineal (and you should), look for the Brown Recluse...Cochineal is two doors down on the right.
Thanks to Anna at Galleri Urbane, we got the lowdown on the latest and greatest fine dining experience in Marfa. Known by the locals as "Tom and Toshi's", Cochineal is the perfect place to splurge. The setting is very warm, yet minimal...extremely intimate, despite the close proximity of the tables surrounding you. The staff is incredible...very hospitable and completely unpretentious. Take Anna's advice and make a reservation to ensure you get a table because this place is already in high demand.
I had the chilaquiles--a Mexican chicken tortilla casserole--served in its own clay pot, this dish with just the right amount of heat was paired with a light avocado salad. Both were comforting and delicious. My husband had a grilled flank steak (surely local) that was perfectly cooked and served atop swiss chard from the garden and a perfect pile of light onion rings. The steak appeared to be melt-in-your mouth good, and Jeb agreed it was so.
For dessert, we took our waiter's suggestions and ordered the warm date bread pudding with rum caramel sauce and the ginger-something-pot de creme. The custard was very light and fresh...my date cake was todiefor. It was truly perfect and I could not have been more delighted.
It was my birthday dinner so I had high expectations...Cochineal did not disappoint, and dining here felt like quite the gift. -
Review from Phil D.
South Pasadena, CA
1/2/2009
If Cochineal were in any "foodie" city in the country - be it San Francisco or New York - it would not only be comparable to the best those cities have to offer, but it towers above some that are considered among the best. The fact that a restaurant of this caliber and creativity is in Marfa is fitting to sort of randomness the town embodies.
During my three week stay in Marfa I probably ate at Cochineal 7 times. With a menu that changes everyday (with some returning favorites) and one of the most beautifully designed spaces I have encountered in recent memory - you will immediately be transported out of the high desert of West Texas and into a high class but extremely comfortable and warm dining experience.
Almost every dish I had was nothing short of profound, and the Chicken Chilaquiles - served in a clay pot with delicious cheesy goodness - was maybe one of my favorite dishes ever. Overwelmingly good to the point where it literally made me smile with surprise and delight over how wonderful it was. Also they get their fish shipped in roughly 12-14 hours after its caught - and the freshness is very apparent.
Tom and Toshi were great and very much appreciated my return business - but not as much as I enjoyed the food. If you go to Marfa you must eat at Cochineal.
One important detail that isn't listed here is that they are, as of now, only open Friday-Tuesday. -
Review from bramanda l.
Mission, KS
9/14/2010
There we were in Marfa, TX with empty bellies and a search for the best eats in town. Few restaurants are open on Wednesday nights in Marfa, and our trailer neighbors (at the El Cosmico) said it was open for business. We checked it out. The contemporary and hip restaurant is welcoming with its dark red colors and clean designed furniture. Our server was polite and was eager to answer our question where the name, "Cochineal" was derived.
My wife ordered the pork loin. It was cooked perfectly and came with complementary side dishes. I tried not to order meat, but the menu lacks a solid vegetarian entree. The chocolate soufflé was flaky on top, and a texture of whipped-pudding in the middle.
The dinner and atmosphere was good enough to bring us back less than 12 hours later for their breakfast. The huevos rancheros are the best of West Texas. The Mexican-American chef makes the green ranchero sauce from scratch every morning. The delightfully spicy and aromatic chilies went perfectly atop of the yolky eggs. If you are looking for a sweeter morning breakfast, go with the sour cream pancakes. They have a thin crispy shell of sweetness and fluffy middle that make the real maple tree syrup shine in the Texas morning sun. Wash it down with fresh squeezed orange juice (when our server brought out the OJ, I thought it was oddly darker orange. That is because it is real OJ--not a fabricated high fructose corn syrup version). -
Review from Kevin T.
Houston, TX
Updated - 6/19/2010
This is a review for Cochineal's breakfast service. It's almost two separate restaurants.
It was amazing that after the $70.00 dinner, we went back for breakfast the next morning. The breakfast cost around $10.00. The food itself was very good. I had biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon. They were homemade drop biscuits and were very yummy.
The big difference between the morning and evening was the service. It looks like they only had high school students as the wait staff. To start with, the tea selection was not very good. They had some non-labelled tea bags, but the waitress couldn't tell me what it was. They had a mix up on one of the sides that they gave us and then charged us for two when we had only requested on.
It was strange to have such bad service for breakfast when the dinner was excellent.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2010
This review is for Cochineal's dinner. I reviewed the breakfast in another place.
Went there with… Read more »
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Review from Ed H.
1/21/2009 3 photos
A foodie gem in the middle of nowhere (well, an art town) that would be packed if it were in any other city. I had not anticipated on going to the restaurant coming back into the city a little after 9, but they were still open and I was ecstatic to try the restaurant.
I didn't have a complete meal since I had eaten an earlier dinner, so this was a late snack for me. It consisted of a basic, but very tasty, pasta with sausages followed by an amazing poached pear with a almond biscuit topped off with chocolate and red wine and a gingerbread cake with just whipped cream...like cream just whipped...not the canned stuff. What made the desserts so awesome (and what I tend to believe makes an amazing dessert) is the reliance on the natural flavors of the ingredients rather than loading it up with sugar that so many cheap desserts depend on. The poached pear also had a complex flavor that mixed really well....I actually liked the bites that had the orange zest on it.
Service is really attentive and Tom personally came by to strike up a conversation with us which I thought was a nice touch.
Net net, anyone who appreciates food will thoroughly enjoy this restaurant, so go try it out! The space is minimal yet very warm. -
Review from david k.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2009 1 photo
I had a very short stay in Marfa. First night ate a great burger at Mandos at the end of town.
For morning though, straight to Cochineal for some ranchos huevos. I was among the early raisers, but everybody was enjoying themselves. Reading, sipping coffee, meeting friends and eating breakfast.
They have a beautiful outside dinning area with trees and pebble gravel. Very open area, great since the weather is perfect during the warm seasons. Its very easy to spend all day there; complimentary coffee, lots of eats. It gets pretty busy as the morning wears.
Being that breakfast was so good, I had to try dinner. I got there pretty late after touring all day at Chinati galleries. The restaurant was busy with many out of towners, large groups. I rolled in there by myself and got seated outside. The menu is excellent, lots of tasty titles. I settled on the pesto rack of lamb on beans / spinach/ roast tomato...it was great. They grilled it to perfection, kept the spices simple. Devoured it, sorry I'm not a refined eater. The Australian red wine offered was excellent, hit the spot. Because I was dinning alone they treated me to a dessert cake made from dates accompanied with creme fraiche.
The staff was helpful and friendly; I really enjoyed the atmosphere they have created for visitors / dinners. If new in town, Cochineal is a sure bet for good food. Returning, hell ya. -
Review from Mr C.
Houston, TX
5/15/2011
Love the setting, the vibe, the food. But please, enough with the servers who seem so put out to be doing the job? Had a nice experience on Saturday night but Sunday brunch was a different story. Either suck it up that you chose to be a server or go work in a toll booth. Maybe she lacked training. Who knows. But with such good food and atmosphere,
It is a shame to blow it on poor attitude. Great shrimp n grits, biscuits, bacon. Go there. -
Review from Bert H.
Austin, TX
Updated - 6/7/2010
Why did I give this four stars the first time around? Last time, I only ate breakfast. This time, I got to eat breakfast and dinner. Dinner - amazing. The desserts are overrated (like most restaurants). But the actual dinner was incredible. Best quail I ever had.
As for breakfast, hard to beat the sour cream pancakes. Owners claim that it is a secret recipe.
This restaurant is just amazing in the middle of nowhere.
Living in Texas is pretty boring (with the exception of Austin). If you live in Dallas, San Antonio, or Houston, you should be here in Marfa and Marathon every couple of months. You have nothing better to do!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/7/2009
Only had breakfast here. And it was great. Very fresh food and original recipes. So it makes me… Read more »
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Review from Arthur O.
Oakland, CA
11/28/2010
This is quite a wonderful restaurant, better than most you would find in L.A, New York or San Francisco, and besides the food, it is beautifully designed with a great atmosphere. A must for this wonderful town.
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Review from wendy k.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2010
I recently had a trip to west Texas and visited Marfa on my way to Big Bend NP. I have to say Marfa as a town didn't interest me very much, but the dinner at Cochineal completely changed my impression of the town.
The restaurant is a bit difficult to find because the name was somewhat hidden. I drove by a couple of times and didn't see it, but I called them and they gave me direction just right. They are the third house in the block.
We started our meal with an appetizer quail which was absolutely amazing!! it was cooked to brown on the skin and extremely juicy inside. Quail has such small bones and we both tried to eat gracefully with forks and knives, but it was so good that we started to put the bones in our mouths and spit out the bones. My boyfriend literally tried to lick the plate after we finished it. For the entrees, we had a shrimp risotto and a chicken fried pork loin, both very tasty. The risotto was very flavorful, the pork loin was fried just right, and the potatoes that come with the pork was delicious. We finished our meal with a chocolate soufflé that totally melted me. It was made to order and still hot when it was served. Perfectly fluffy and delicious. I loved it so much I tried to eat every single crust that was left on the cup.
We paid around $80 including tips, a little pricey but it was well worth it. We were both so happy after the meal and it certainly brightened our bad day. Service was great too, we changed our dessert to the soufflé that we should have ordered earlier, but they didn't give us any hard time at all, always very friendly and courteous. I have to say because of Cochineal, I would have to give my rating to Marfa a 3 star. -
Review from A N.
Austin, TX
6/26/2011
We went for breakfast, which I understand is a radically different experience than dinner. I was with two longtime food servers, who are generally sympathetic to harried servers.
The problem was not just the appallingly slow service; it was the complete indifference. After about 15 minutes of zero attention, my friend asked for menus. There was no acknowledgment of "Oh, I'm sorry!," just an aloof shrugging of shoulders. The multiple servers (two youngish women; one was more of a busser) we had expressed absolutely no friendliness, and still took forever to do anything, even after the rush subsided. We also had to ask for silverware.
My friend never got coffee from the self-serve bar; even after he asked them to brew another pot they ran out before he could get any. Similarly, when I mentioned the cream was cashed, they gave me a sort of alien look (though they did refill it, eventually).
We're not high-maintenance customers -- we're three young, lowkey guys who sympathize with waiters. But the complete lack of interest or concern for the customers (and we weren't the only ones who seemed to be fighting for meager attention) was out of the ordinary. I can't remember the last time I left a tip under 20%, but I left exactly 15% this morning, no more. And that was generous.
The food was pretty good, and decently priced for the more trendy environs. But it wasn't worth the aggravation and absurdly long time it took to order, eat, pay, etc. At least I didn't drop $80 for the experience. -
Review from nathalie f.
4/6/2009
It's not hard to miss Cochineal. It is located in part of a house, and it doesn't have a big flashy sign outside. However, the inside is lovely. Very minimalist design, without it feeling sterile. The acoustics were perfect and there was no music playing. It doesn't need it.
We shared an English cheese souffle, which totally blew us away. It was perfectly fluffy and balanced. A real treat. The appetizer was followed by steak with Belgian style double fried fries, which were absolutely amazing. brown and crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, and perfectly grilled salmon on a bed of very flavourful saffron rice.
The perfect ending to this meal was the date pudding with fresh cream.
The food was truly outstanding and the service was absolutely top notch.
The next morning we went back for breakfast. Eggs benedict, poached eggs and home fries. The eggs were perfectly done and the potatoes were delicious (though might be a tad too spicy for people who don't like spicy foods). Though the breakfast was good and very reasonably priced, it didn't come close to the experience we had the night before. Only for this reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of the 5 I would have given for dinner alone.
All in all, I can highly recommend Cochineal and would love to go back. -
Review from Regan E.
Austin, TX
1/4/2010
We went there recently on a trip to Marfa and had breakfast and dinner.
Breakfast food: good, not great.
Breakfast service: bad. My friend got hot tea at the self-serve coffee table and when they asked for honey was told "you didn't see any, did you?"
Dinner food: good, not great. We got 2 chocolate souffles and one was over-cooked.
Dinner service: great....loved Molly. Happy to give her a great tip.
Wine policy: a bit over-the-top. We asked about bringing in our own and they said it would be a $50 corkage fee per bottle. To be honest, I didn't order any of the wine we had at the table, but the prices are moderate to high for a restaurant in Marfa. -
Review from Nicholas L.
Denver, CO
11/9/2010
Best damn breakfast I've ever had. Perfect Marfa experience. Ambiance is stunning, service was fantastic, and the homemade drop biscuits to die for. Go. Now.
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Review from Angela M.
Dallas, TX
5/15/2009
West Texas food isn't always the freshest. That's why Cochineal really surprised me during a recent visit to Marfa.
We only ate breakfast here, but it was by far the best meal I had on the trip.
Don't miss out on this place. -
Review from CW T.
Austin, TX
After hearing of the demise of the Brown Recluse I was happy to hear of Cochineal, which has replaced the Recluse as the "go to" place for breakfast. This quaint and hip restaurant is two doors down from the former Recluse and sits back a bit from the street. The low profile and poor signage made it kinda tricky to find from my car, but honestly what was I doing driving in Marfa?
The decor is gorgeous and subdued, and the food and service are terrific. Breakfast items include the typical fare (eggs, migas, etc), but also feature some unique items like sour cream pancakes, baked eggs in cream with bacon, and the Marfa omelet. The baked eggs in cream is, perhaps, one of the best breakfast meals I've ever had. I added a full order of waffles (which were surprisingly light), and I was happy and full all day.
The dinner menu is just as delightful, with rack of lamb, seafood, and vegetarian options. Since the menu changes daily it's hard to say what you might have while you're there. I'd bet money it'll be good.
My only complaint is that some items were a bit over-priced. Yet, the decor and service are certainly worth paying for.
Since writing this review the owner was kind enough to contact me privately and address some of the prices on the breakfast menu. I was delighted and impressed to read that they reconsidered some of the prices and adjusted as necessary. Very classy, very considerate. -
Review from t. o.
Chicago, IL
1/4/2011
great wine, fantastic service, wonderful atmosphere, stellar chow. Everything I was led to believe, and more. I go to Marfa as often as I can, and now I have two restaurants I have to visit. This could get expensive...
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Review from William D.
Midland, TX
Updated - 2/21/2011 2 photos
about 18 months has passed since last dining at Cochineal and I am happy to report that Cochineal is better than ever !! I had a wonderful serving of meatloaf which doesn't sound thrilling but I can tell you it was spectacular; the wine list has expanded considerably; our table had a wonderful Malbec; the service was attentive; also the chocolate souffle and homemade walnut ice cream was a pleasant denouement;
go to Cochineal;1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/8/2009
I have been meaning to visit Cochineal for a while now; I have heard many great things about this… Read more »
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