Restaurant Cochineal

My boyfriend surprised me with this dinner for my birthday and wow! Nothing left to be desired, loved the wine pairing and all the food is perfect. You will leave full and happy. 😊 visited December 22 2023.

Excellent food and service. We had a reservation and switch our table to accommodate incoming wedding party. Staff was so kinda and helpful. Kudos to Mo.

Food was incredible and wine pairing perfect.

Art and decor inspiration

Fantastic experience, magical food oasis in the desert! We did the a la carte option and ordered all vegetarian dishes: grilled artichoke in a green vinaigrette, house bread with sage salt butter and herb olive oil, and beet carpaccio with horseradish cream. Each was innovative and delicious in its own way. I can’t wait to bring others here next time we’re in west Texas. It’s worth planning your trip around this spot!

Came here for dinner and we enjoyed the Prix Fixe Menu very much, we were super stuffed when left, very generous portion I have to say! They have some very unique ingredients and most of the ingredients are locally sourced, Love it ! It was truly a delightful experience for us. Great dining environment with attentive staff, value for money! I’d definitely recommend this restaurant to my friends.

Utterly fantastic experience, from greeting to service to pairings to food. Andrew, our service professional, was clearly one of the best, replacing utensils and clearing plates almost invisibly. That said, Andrew also provided just the right amount of info about the dishes and pairings, as well as area recommendations. Food was largely local and preparation sublime. Generous portions for both meal and pairings, no one leaves hungry.

A tour de force of what can be achieved in Texas cuisine! Bravo for the precision and artistry that is Cochineal!

Haiku for the weekend from the chef, paired perfectly with the meal:

opaque shadow cast
nocturnal veil of darkness
bits of flint shining

Fantastic experience fine dining in Marfa! My family and I came here for my dad’s 65th birthday dinner tonight. The food was excellent, and they continue to produce at a very high level. Our waiter was super friendly, and they were even accommodating to a specific dietary request for a member of our party. I’ll look forward to coming back to Cochineal anytime I am around! We love the food! Given the whole experience of the prix-fixe menu, value for money was spot on!

Excellent experience of fine dining in Marfa! Our group had multiple food allergies and preferences, but we provided advanced notice they were able to accommodate us beautifully. Great service and creative dishes. We especially liked the natural wine and the game meat.

Some room to improve on the cocktails, none of them quite hit the mark for me.

We had recently on accident saw two online/tv profiles on owner chef Alexandra. We watched "Giant" and had never been to Marfa. We booked the Rock Hudson Suite at the Paisano Hotel and had pre-made all of our reservations and side trips going to West Texas. The center-piece was New Years Eve at Cochineal. On the 30th we simply snuck our head in to see it for ourselves and got the tingles. Exactly what we thought and it furthered our excitement for the 31st. It was exquisite the various scratch preparations were creative and full of taste. They paired everything with wine, so at some point we were in such extasy I could not remeber what number we were on. Lobster, Dove, Marrow just to name a few. We were presently surprised when we learned they collaborate with McPherson Cellars. We were very excited to get away. We are so blessed to be working as much as we do, to have this meal be the pinnacle of New Years weekend was amazing. We'll be back and continue to scream from the mountain tops as top fans.

Maybe I could say today is the most momentous day I have ever had as a newcomer to Marfa. Through the help of a friend, I met this beautiful lady, inside and out, the owner of the cochineal restaurant. As we all know, that thanksgiving is the number one (1) holiday celebrated by Americans. Thanksgiving is the day we remember our blessings, and sometimes we remind others how blessed we are. Through the help of Cochineal Restaurant and St. Mary's Catholic Church, thanksgiving was celebrated and done in a unique and got-moving way. Cochineal and the whole staff put their effort together to feed many hungry tummies with their well-prepared and top-of-the-line dish. Thanks to the owner and staff of cochineal, Genevieve, and St. Mary's Catholic Church for doing such heart-melting kindness to the community of Marfa. The meal and the dessert was so delicious for it was prepared with dedication and a lot of love. Many thanks and Blessings to you all.

This place was amazing! We started with the artichoke, the vegan board, and the bread with roasted garlic and oil, we didn't leave a single piece. I had the Hunter's Schnitzel which was so crisp and tasty! The arugula was a nice touch. Finished with th Catalan creme, which blew my mind. I can't wait to come back!

A fantastic dinning experience. Fresh ingredients and thoughtful meals. Staff is patient and attentive. If you have the opportunity to try the Curated Prix Fixe Dinner I certainly recommend it, although you will have to make reservations in advance. Wine pairings are a must.

Exquisito....! Had the prefix menu with the pairing wines. Una experiencia fascinante.
Celebrated my birthday last night at the beautiful patio. They accommodated to please me and I am very grateful. A must visit at Marfa!

Phenomenal dinner here. Favorite part was the super kind and funny host. Didn’t catch their name, but loved their minimalist grandpa vibe.

Just an amazing experience overall! Did not have reservations but showed up right at 5pm and got a table outside under the late afternoon sun. A bit windy but a beautiful setting. The food we ordered came out in waves and was delightful! The fresh baked bread was so good we got a loaf to go(so kind 💜). The drinks were super tasty as well and of course the dessert was a perfect ending. Our waitress was awesome and very helpful guiding us on our choices. Can’t wait to go back!

Chef Alexandra Gates is a culinary artist and genius. Cochineal is her masterpiece. My husband and I ate there last night and it was, hands down, one of the best dining experiences we've ever had. We live in Chicago and travel a good deal and have been fortunate to eat at many outstanding restaurants over the years. Cochineal sets a whole new standard. We had the prix fixe with wine pairings and every course and every pairing, without exception, was exquisite. Unique, delicious, artful, and inspiring. Brava Chef Gates! And our server Mollie was truly top notch. Personable, knowledgeable, accommodating, and passionate about the food. We look forward to returning next year.

10/10 fine dining experience! drink was amazing, service was awesome, and not even mentioned the food... so delicious! will definitely come back again!

Lucky to get a table and that they were accommodating of our dietary needs. Delicious prix fixe menu and I did the pairings. Can really see and taste the attention to detail.

Everything tasted great and they were also able to make adjustments for my gluten allergy.

Amazing staff, fantastic food! On the heels of an extremely rough day (1 dead battery, 2 blown out tires, and 2 restless kiddos aged 3 and 6) we stopped in for dinner at the end of a long weekend road trip. Moli was our server and she was awesome! She and the staff at Cochineal made our night! 10/10 would recommend.