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Why didn't Cochon survive in Lafayette?
Posted on 10/18/14 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 10/18/14 at 5:52 pm
This has probably been talked about on here but I am new to this board so I was just getting your thoughts. I read a press release that stated that selling upscale cajun food to cajuns just didn't work. I'm not really buying that cause I'm fairly sure there are plenty of upscale Italian restaurants that cater to Italians and survive. I'd love to see Link give this side of the state (Lake Charles) another chance one day, even if it is a place like Butcher, but I doubt that will ever happen.
11
Posted on 10/18/14 at 6:43 pm to cassopher
How well was it managed? Did it have great service? Was the food up to snuff? Any of these could have been a factor.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 7:03 pm to cassopher
I went once during a visit out there and I really liked it. It was in a great location, as well. Had a lot of people dining there when I was there. Seemed like it was doing well. I don't know what happened.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 7:38 pm to cassopher
quote:
m not really buying that cause I'm fairly sure there are plenty of upscale Italian restaurants that cater to Italians and survive.
That's not a reasonable comparison.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 8:15 pm to cassopher
I ate there probably a dozen times and never had a bad meal. I think the location hurt them in that they had a huge build in probably the most expensive location in town. I thought the food was good, the wine list was short but well edited, but people I know in town preferred Bonefish Grill to Cochon. They said it was expensive and the portions were small, but I didn't find either of those things to be true. I really don't get it.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 9:22 pm to cassopher
The best boudin and cracklins USUALLY (a few exceptions) comes from butcher shops or meat markets. So in my experience upscale usually means they'll charge you more for something that isn't any better or even worse than what you can get elsewhere.
Just using examples by the way
Just using examples by the way
This post was edited on 10/18/14 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 10/18/14 at 10:19 pm to cassopher
quote:
I'm not really buying that cause I'm fairly sure there are plenty of upscale Italian restaurants that cater to Italians and survive.
Ironically, an Italian/ steakhouse hybrid restaurant seems to now be thriving in the same location selling to Cajuns
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:11 pm to cassopher
Let's just be honest...The residents of Lafayette were not remotely ready for a restaurant of this quality. ..With quality in this case came smaller portions and innovation. ..I.e. no crab platter for 21.99 or tilapia. It is what it is.
I say this as a firm Lafayette lover. At least a weekend a year my wife and I have a great food trip there...but there is a reason there are no boucherie's or ancora's or maurepas' there.
I say this as a firm Lafayette lover. At least a weekend a year my wife and I have a great food trip there...but there is a reason there are no boucherie's or ancora's or maurepas' there.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:16 pm to jennyjones
3 bad meals the one in B.R....thankfully I didn't pay for two of them. It seems like a good fit for a non-traditional can restaurant in Lafayette...upscale chain feel, big portions, average food.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:53 pm to Tiger Attorney
Appreciate you giving Laffy the love, considering you live in our "sister" city, NOLA......for those of us foodies and drinkies who travel.
If I recall correctly, the food at Cochon here was good, but they lacked the real signature dishes that attracted customers at night, like a few steak dishes, pasta dishes, fish dishes. It all lacked the pop and pizazz that Ruffino's executes so well in the same location.
Cochon in NOLA seems to be a different story than here. We have eaten at the NOLA location and it seems to be plugging along just fine for what they want to do in NOLA.
If I recall correctly, the food at Cochon here was good, but they lacked the real signature dishes that attracted customers at night, like a few steak dishes, pasta dishes, fish dishes. It all lacked the pop and pizazz that Ruffino's executes so well in the same location.
Cochon in NOLA seems to be a different story than here. We have eaten at the NOLA location and it seems to be plugging along just fine for what they want to do in NOLA.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 12:24 am to G Vice
At the end of the day, say whatever you want; but Lafayette is just not accepting of anything other than the typical "Lafayette" cajun menu (that is good enough to make it the 2nd best food city in La and good enough for me to want to travel there).
It is what is. Cochon can exist is one of two cities...nola, NYC (maybe houston)...just like there are plenty great NYC restaurants that would fail here.
It is what is. Cochon can exist is one of two cities...nola, NYC (maybe houston)...just like there are plenty great NYC restaurants that would fail here.
This post was edited on 10/19/14 at 12:30 am
Posted on 10/19/14 at 7:39 am to cassopher
Because it wasn't that good
Nothing like the one in New Orleans
Nothing like the one in New Orleans
Posted on 10/19/14 at 8:02 am to cassopher
Lafayette is a fickle market to jump in to. The expectation, I believe, was that dishes would be more rustic and portions would be larger.
I ate there several times, many of my family and friends went there a lot. The service was good, the food was always on par with what you would expect from a high end, "Cajun Nouveau" style menu.
The concept however, was difficult to translate to the masses. In New Orleans, it's easier to present this concept because New Orleans diners are expecting this higher level of experience.
In the end, the food, service and style of Cochon were all fine, it's just that it didn't translate well in the Acadiana market.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 8:28 am to bdevill
quote:
In the end, the food, service and style of Cochon were all fine, it's just that it didn't translate well in the Acadiana market.
Yeah. I went to the Laffy shop 2 or 3 times and always had a nice meal. At least one trip was for a special crawfish dinner they were having, and it was excellent.
They faced several issues, but a large portion of Laffy upscale diners prefer steakhouse/Italian when they dine out. I know it was mentioned earlier that the wine menu was limited. That's because they sold more Crown & Cokes at the Laffy store than all of the other Link stores combined. This was relayed to me by the CFO of Link Industries. I would think in a generation, Cochon in Laffy will be viable. I think the youth of Laffy will thirst for a NOLA style dining scene and will attract chefs that can execute similar cuisine.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 9:12 am to Oenophile Brah
quote:
the youth of Laffy will thirst for a NOLA style dining scene and will attract chefs that can execute similar cuisine
As long as it's not Cajun. Cajuns are very particular about their traditional Cajun food and culture. They will except and are notorious for excepting no substitutions or reinventions..
I'll also say this, Donald Link is not from Lafayette. He's from Lake Charles and even though he's a James Beard award winning chef, like I've said before, it's hard to judge, predict and break in to the Lafayette market. Given the type of niche restaurant that Cochon is, it was a very big risk.
I think the reason Ruffino's is packing em in, is that's it's a safe bet. There's no guess work. It's traditional Italian fare.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 9:18 am to bdevill
quote:
I think the reason Ruffino's is packing em in, is that's it's a safe bet. There's no guess work. It's traditional Italian fare.
That and it's just a better restaurant than what link brought to Lafayette.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 11:10 am to yellowfin
Dinner for 2 @ Cochon: $80
OR
1 Affliction Shirt: $80
When residents of Lafayette are faced with decisions like these, it is more than obvious why they didn't survive.
OR
1 Affliction Shirt: $80
When residents of Lafayette are faced with decisions like these, it is more than obvious why they didn't survive.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 11:20 am to CSB
Plus , they didnt have jäger at the lafayette location
Posted on 10/19/14 at 11:34 am to CSB
quote:
Dinner for 2 @ Cochon: $80
OR
1 Affliction Shirt: $80
When residents of Lafayette are faced with decisions like these, it is more than obvious why they didn't survive.
thanks, I just spit my coffee (Community, not Mellow Joy) all over my laptop
Posted on 10/19/14 at 12:08 pm to Lloyd Christmas
For everyone saying that Lafayette can't handle a high end restaurant, you're just wrong. French Press is substantially more high end than Cochon ever was. The difference is that French Press offers One or two standard dishes that anyone could enjoy. In a group of 6 people in Lafayette, there is usually one who isn't very adventurous and they veto a place like Cochon because there is nothing there for them.
I enjoyed the food, but the service definitely sucked. Ignoring the fact that they were dressed in blue jeans, they told our table that we couldn't order a fee apps and entrees to share while we got drinks. There were maybe 2 other tables sated in the place. The host was so mad that we left.
It was just a poorly planned and poorly run restaurant with good food.
I enjoyed the food, but the service definitely sucked. Ignoring the fact that they were dressed in blue jeans, they told our table that we couldn't order a fee apps and entrees to share while we got drinks. There were maybe 2 other tables sated in the place. The host was so mad that we left.
It was just a poorly planned and poorly run restaurant with good food.
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