11/10 any place that serves gator wine is legendary.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anne Farrell
Overrated and overpriced. We had a reservation for 4. Waiter (Richard aka Ricardo) was more worried about being spiffy and superior than about guest satisfaction. He hovered and pressured on menu choices, always steering toward the high ticket items, talking too fast for anyone to process and seeming irritated with us all along. He asked for our dinner order before drinks came (bar was slow). Salads and shrimp apps good. Trout was drowned in sauce and one diner wasnt even asked about temp for filet mignon after server pushed it (>$50 entree). Risotto flavorless and drowning in cheese. Rich/Ricardo turned nasty and even more condescending ❗️ when we confused a “service charge” with tip and were unsure if the $80 reservation charge was included. We were totally polite and respectful. He huffed away as if we were philistines. His attitude is exactly what REAL people hate about the artsy fartsy set in Marfa. Makes us look bad. Maybe the kitchen had an off night? But I have a sneaking feeling that Rich/Ricardo really believes he’s above us all. (Other staff seemed nice but he stepped all over them.) If this server typifies the attitude and culture of the place, good heavens, stay away. That sure does not taste good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Johnny Urias
First of all, the service was so good. Our waitress was so professional yet very friendly and personable. We didn't get her name but she did tell us her mother is from Oaxaca, Mexico. Very beautiful woman. Then the food was very delicious. My wife got the bison mole and I got the mesquite grilled steak. Both were so damn good! Then the owner /executive chef, Alexandra Gates came to our table to greet us and gave us a whole loaf of her artisan bread. Beautiful! What a beautiful experience all the way around. We loved it! What a blessing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nathan Clemens
Phenomenal experience. Had the chef's menu and every course was outstanding. Worth every penny. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim Bennett
Don’t bother. Ordered a white wine which was served warm. No vintages on the list - but this was a 2019. Clearly past its prime. To their credit, the bottle was replaced after the chef’s intervention, but no credible fine diner would serve warm old white wine when it’s 37 deg outside. Food was expensive and bland. Service was non-existent. Not even a top of water glass after being seated. And then a tip requested after a 20% service charge. Go to Margrett’s - great service, tasty food, half the price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
L S
Do not go. Read the bad reviews and it will be the same experience I had. Food is terrible. Prices are outrageous. Delivery time is laughable. Go somewhere else. Long wait for table. Tiny restaurant. Needs new chef and new manager. I hope someone else take it over.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Maria Gillcoat
Had better customer service at Dairy Queen. This is a skip.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Margot Smith
We came in with pretty high hopes! Reviews seem mostly positive, but this experience was a major miss. Like, borderline pretty terrible.
It took us 17 minutes after our reservation time of 6:30 (which we were seated at 6:26) to see a server. We shot everything at him, because why wouldn’t we with 17 minutes to review the menus? Drinks took another 12 minutes to come, our first of three appetizers came nearly 70 minutes after we were seated. The gemischter salat was fine. Nothing inspirational and definitely a little lacking for $17.
Next came the croquettes which were actually horrible. You should seriously consider removing this from the menu. It was closer to a hush puppy with only a single shred of mushroom in one of the three fried balls. Disgusting, bland, and a misleading menu item if you were expecting mushrooms.
We ordered the escargot after hearing it was the best thing on the menu. Our server forgot to put it in. So it never came.
Our entrees came, and they were fine. Frankly, after the time we’d spent waiting and munching on less than satisfying apps, I would’ve eaten anything. I am really not a harsh critic. At all.
But your mushroom risotto is among the least inspired I’ve eaten. I make better in my instant pot each month. A mess of an emulsion, drenched in olive oil. The mushrooms need to be cooked much more conservatively in significantly less oil, otherwise it just tastes vaguely umami. They are lost in the richness (read: oiliness of the risotto itself) which mostly just tasted like vegetable stock and onions. Please consider a better textural experience.
The trout was fine. Crispy as expected with flash fried fish, the sauce was up to par. A (maybe bright) vegetable side is desperately needed for this one to break up a mostly neutral fishy experience.
The service was slow, awkward, and also just downright bad. Forgotten, tucked away in a corner, items left in his brain and not on our table. Just a very bad experience.
Overall, I would not recommend to anyone I care about, and I will not be back. Almost two and a half hours, and $200 for an extremely underwhelming experience is sorely disappointing.
Absolutely do not make a reservation here if you think you’re going to do anything afterwards. You will be stuck waiting for your $40 entree.
Marina Arreguy
If a meal for two is going to cost $214.00, I expect amazing. This was not the case. My very expensive fish was dry, and it had a few sprinkles of fried artichoke, and a tasteless green sauce, but no sides. We ordered the mushroom appetizer that came with 3 hush puppy like balls of mushroom mush, also tasteless. Our desserts were small, but good. My husband had the also very expensive small sliced steak, which was delicious, but small, served withe 2 small potatoes. You did not have a choice on gratuity, because that was included, so we paid $35 for average service. You can command high prices, if you deliver with taste.
gail tang
We were a table for 4. No where does it say a 20% gratuity was included. When we paid and got to the tip page of the handheld payment machine, the server didn’t tell us the gratuity was already included. He watched us overpay for the worst cocktails we’ve ever had and bland food. $127 for one appetizer, 3 cocktails and one NA drink (that was the same price as the cocktails). The Paloma had a red oil on it. We thought it looked like a dirty dish in the sink! The Buck tasted like water. We ordered the croquettes which had absolutely no flavor. We wanted to get more food and more drinks, but it was so unpalatable we had to leave and get food and drinks elsewhere.
The food was great and the atmosphere really nice. I'd definitely recommend eating here and if fact will go back myself again the next time I'm in the area. But they should improve service practices...
...when they brought the bill it was only the little square device, no itemized printout, so I was not aware and they didn't tell me that they included a 20% service fee (even though I was dining alone) and I tipped on top of that. So mildly infuriating to see that when I looked at the emailed receipt. Even if the service fee was listed on the menu, good practice is to remind diners when bringing the bill.
John Mjoseth
We celebrated my birthday at this James Beard awardee during a week-long stay in Marfa. We'd intended to sit inside but given the mild temps and serenity of the courtyard--in contrast to the thumping music in the dining room--we elected to dine al fresco.
Based on reviews, we kicked things off with cocktails and a quarter-loaf of Cochineal's highly-regarded bread. Our mains were delicious--the trout for my wife, the locally-raised beef for me. Without a doubt, one of the highlights was the gracious service by Dallas. She coached me through selecting a terrific sotol, guided us through the entrees and checked back in appropriately.
All in all, a very pleasant evening.
Justin Elliot
Amazing tasting menu
Dave M
Cochineal is a gorgeous restaurant. You enter through a courtyard that is like a rock garden. The interior is comfortable, perfectly dark, and the music set at the right volume.
We started with the house made bread with butter and confit garlic. The Gemishter salad was a deconstructed salad and was very nice.
The steak was good, a cut that I was not familiar with. Escargot were massive, plump and tender.
Our waiter was completely aloof all night. He never cleared a plate nor a glass without us asking. When he walked by our table to deliver items to other tables, he would turn around and head to the kitchen without ever looking to see if we needed our water glasses refilled or plates removed. Another waiter offered to clear, as he could tell our table was getting overwhelmed.
When he presented the bill, he mentioned a 20% service charge was added, but it was shared and he would only see a small portion of it. I reluctantly added $10. I’ve never encountered this situation after eating out for decades.
Justina Lopez
We had an excellent dining experience. We had a party of 8 with 4 children. We did not make reservations but they accommodated our party in the private casita room. We highly recommend the chefs tasting with 6 courses. The drinks were fantastic. The very expensive loafs of bread are pricy but so worth it!
11/10 any place that serves gator wine is legendary.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Overrated and overpriced. We had a reservation for 4. Waiter (Richard aka Ricardo) was more worried about being spiffy and superior than about guest satisfaction. He hovered and pressured on menu choices, always steering toward the high ticket items, talking too fast for anyone to process and seeming irritated with us all along.
He asked for our dinner order before drinks came (bar was slow). Salads and shrimp apps good. Trout was drowned in sauce and one diner wasnt even asked about temp for filet mignon after server pushed it (>$50 entree). Risotto flavorless and drowning in cheese. Rich/Ricardo turned nasty and even more condescending ❗️ when we confused a “service charge” with tip and were unsure if the $80 reservation charge was included. We were totally polite and respectful. He huffed away as if we were philistines. His attitude is exactly what REAL people hate about the artsy fartsy set in Marfa. Makes us look bad.
Maybe the kitchen had an off night? But I have a sneaking feeling that Rich/Ricardo really believes he’s above us all. (Other staff seemed nice but he stepped all over them.) If this server typifies the attitude and culture of the place, good heavens, stay away. That sure does not taste good.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
First of all, the service was so good. Our waitress was so professional yet very friendly and personable. We didn't get her name but she did tell us her mother is from Oaxaca, Mexico. Very beautiful woman. Then the food was very delicious. My wife got the bison mole and I got the mesquite grilled steak. Both were so damn good! Then the owner /executive chef, Alexandra Gates came to our table to greet us and gave us a whole loaf of her artisan bread. Beautiful! What a beautiful experience all the way around. We loved it! What a blessing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal experience. Had the chef's menu and every course was outstanding. Worth every penny. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t bother.
Ordered a white wine which was served warm. No vintages on the list - but this was a 2019. Clearly past its prime. To their credit, the bottle was replaced after the chef’s intervention, but no credible fine diner would serve warm old white wine when it’s 37 deg outside.
Food was expensive and bland. Service was non-existent. Not even a top of water glass after being seated.
And then a tip requested after a 20% service charge.
Go to Margrett’s - great service, tasty food, half the price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Do not go. Read the bad reviews and it will be the same experience I had. Food is terrible. Prices are outrageous. Delivery time is laughable. Go somewhere else. Long wait for table. Tiny restaurant. Needs new chef and new manager. I hope someone else take it over.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Had better customer service at Dairy Queen. This is a skip.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
We came in with pretty high hopes! Reviews seem mostly positive, but this experience was a major miss. Like, borderline pretty terrible.
It took us 17 minutes after our reservation time of 6:30 (which we were seated at 6:26) to see a server. We shot everything at him, because why wouldn’t we with 17 minutes to review the menus? Drinks took another 12 minutes to come, our first of three appetizers came nearly 70 minutes after we were seated. The gemischter salat was fine. Nothing inspirational and definitely a little lacking for $17.
Next came the croquettes which were actually horrible. You should seriously consider removing this from the menu. It was closer to a hush puppy with only a single shred of mushroom in one of the three fried balls. Disgusting, bland, and a misleading menu item if you were expecting mushrooms.
We ordered the escargot after hearing it was the best thing on the menu. Our server forgot to put it in. So it never came.
Our entrees came, and they were fine. Frankly, after the time we’d spent waiting and munching on less than satisfying apps, I would’ve eaten anything. I am really not a harsh critic. At all.
But your mushroom risotto is among the least inspired I’ve eaten. I make better in my instant pot each month. A mess of an emulsion, drenched in olive oil. The mushrooms need to be cooked much more conservatively in significantly less oil, otherwise it just tastes vaguely umami. They are lost in the richness (read: oiliness of the risotto itself) which mostly just tasted like vegetable stock and onions. Please consider a better textural experience.
The trout was fine. Crispy as expected with flash fried fish, the sauce was up to par. A (maybe bright) vegetable side is desperately needed for this one to break up a mostly neutral fishy experience.
The service was slow, awkward, and also just downright bad. Forgotten, tucked away in a corner, items left in his brain and not on our table. Just a very bad experience.
Overall, I would not recommend to anyone I care about, and I will not be back. Almost two and a half hours, and $200 for an extremely underwhelming experience is sorely disappointing.
Absolutely do not make a reservation here if you think you’re going to do anything afterwards. You will be stuck waiting for your $40 entree.
If a meal for two is going to cost $214.00, I expect amazing. This was not the case. My very expensive fish was dry, and it had a few sprinkles of fried artichoke, and a tasteless green sauce, but no sides. We ordered the mushroom appetizer that came with 3 hush puppy like balls of mushroom mush, also tasteless. Our desserts were small, but good. My husband had the also very expensive small sliced steak, which was delicious, but small, served withe 2 small potatoes. You did not have a choice on gratuity, because that was included, so we paid $35 for average service. You can command high prices, if you deliver with taste.
We were a table for 4. No where does it say a 20% gratuity was included. When we paid and got to the tip page of the handheld payment machine, the server didn’t tell us the gratuity was already included. He watched us overpay for the worst cocktails we’ve ever had and bland food. $127 for one appetizer, 3 cocktails and one NA drink (that was the same price as the cocktails). The Paloma had a red oil on it. We thought it looked like a dirty dish in the sink! The Buck tasted like water. We ordered the croquettes which had absolutely no flavor. We wanted to get more food and more drinks, but it was so unpalatable we had to leave and get food and drinks elsewhere.
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was great and the atmosphere really nice. I'd definitely recommend eating here and if fact will go back myself again the next time I'm in the area. But they should improve service practices...
...when they brought the bill it was only the little square device, no itemized printout, so I was not aware and they didn't tell me that they included a 20% service fee (even though I was dining alone) and I tipped on top of that. So mildly infuriating to see that when I looked at the emailed receipt. Even if the service fee was listed on the menu, good practice is to remind diners when bringing the bill.
We celebrated my birthday at this James Beard awardee during a week-long stay in Marfa. We'd intended to sit inside but given the mild temps and serenity of the courtyard--in contrast to the thumping music in the dining room--we elected to dine al fresco.
Based on reviews, we kicked things off with cocktails and a quarter-loaf of Cochineal's highly-regarded bread. Our mains were delicious--the trout for my wife, the locally-raised beef for me. Without a doubt, one of the highlights was the gracious service by Dallas. She coached me through selecting a terrific sotol, guided us through the entrees and checked back in appropriately.
All in all, a very pleasant evening.
Amazing tasting menu
Cochineal is a gorgeous restaurant. You enter through a courtyard that is like a rock garden. The interior is comfortable, perfectly dark, and the music set at the right volume.
We started with the house made bread with butter and confit garlic. The Gemishter salad was a deconstructed salad and was very nice.
The steak was good, a cut that I was not familiar with. Escargot were massive, plump and tender.
Our waiter was completely aloof all night. He never cleared a plate nor a glass without us asking. When he walked by our table to deliver items to other tables, he would turn around and head to the kitchen without ever looking to see if we needed our water glasses refilled or plates removed. Another waiter offered to clear, as he could tell our table was getting overwhelmed.
When he presented the bill, he mentioned a 20% service charge was added, but it was shared and he would only see a small portion of it. I reluctantly added $10. I’ve never encountered this situation after eating out for decades.
We had an excellent dining experience. We had a party of 8 with 4 children. We did not make reservations but they accommodated our party in the private casita room. We highly recommend the chefs tasting with 6 courses. The drinks were fantastic. The very expensive loafs of bread are pricy but so worth it!
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