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    Cochineal

    3.7 (128 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Cochineal Photos

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    Entrance at night
    Stephanie W.

    I found this place when googling nice spots in Marfa, TX. It's a really interesting restaurant; seems it was built inside an old house? It's for a very Texas upscale vibe tho, I liked the ambiance quite a bit! They had a lot of tables outside with heat lamps because it does get cool in the evenings, and they had regular tables and bar seating inside. We didn't have a reservation bc I wasn't sure what time we'd be arriving, but luckily they were able to seat us immediately at the bar since all the other tables were taken (wait for a table was almost an hour and a half). Our waitress (her name was Dallas) was super sweet and attentive and clearly knew the menu well. It's not a very long menu and the portion sizes were a little small for the price, hence 4/5 stars. But the flavors were excellent! My dad and I both got the risotto which had a little more to the portion, and my mom got the trout which was admittedly very small for like $35ish. But as I said, excellent flavor there! She also got a cocktail for like $16ish that they made off menu because she likes sweeter drinks and all the main menu drinks were pretty dry. I spent like $170 in total for all our food plus tax and tip I think? Objectively not terrible, but again for the price - it was a little high. Will also mention they had a single stall restroom, it was immaculate! And there was a good bit of street parking just around the corner from the place in front of a church, so even though there's no lot you can find a place to park.

    Melissa P.

    We read reviews that the tasting menu could take a really long time, and some reviewers said it had improved. Unfortunately, our experience was it didn't improve. We asked the waitress, how long it would take and she said it would take 1.5 hours. We were there for 3.5 hours! Our first indication of the slow service was after we ordered drinks, they came 50 minutes later. They were pretty watery so we wondered if they were sitting at the bar for a while. The food was delicious though took a very long time between the courses. The variety of food was great from white asparagus to rabbit to delicious bison ribs. It's too bad the service took so long, this could have been a wonderful experience.

    The trout. The crispy artichoke leaves were addictive!
    John M.

    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 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.

    Desert!  Chocolate mousse
    Susan K.

    A hidden gem. Yes! There is a great restaurant hidden beside some houses. What a great time. Sat at the bar and Benjamin was our main server/bartender but really everyone chipped in with a smile. We just ate appetizers...and desert. Had their house red which wasn't expensive yet the best red I've had on my trip so far. And from a winery in Lubbock no less. The bread is to die for! And we had the salad, escargot and the most amazing mushroom croquettes. Plan your visit around their hours. As they are closed Sunday to Wednesday.

    Bread and whipped herb butter
    Sophie G.

    A must visit for a dinner in Marfa. Quality food and great service. If you're not down for the chef tasting menu you can make a reservation for their a la carte menu which I highly recommend! Parking - it's Marfa, was able to find street parking very close no problem. Service - I made a 5pm reservation for the bar / a la carte menu and was the first/only one in for a while. Bartender and staff were all friendly. Ambiance - I sat inside at the bar and the overall interior had a charming feel. They also have a large outdoor patio. Food - I'm glad I read the reviews and got the bread to start. The bread was incredible but the star of the show was the whipped herb butter / garlic olive oil - SO good. I got the mushroom risotto for my main and it was delicious. I unfortunately did not save room for dessert but all options looked amazing. Would recommend to anyone stopping through town for a quality meal.

    Texas Buck
    Royce S.

    Went here for our anniversary dinner. Wow, our server was fantastic, her service was wonderful as right off the bathroom she brought 2 glasses of wine on the house and said Happy Anniversary. I started, after the wine, with a Texas Buck. A different drink but refreshing and delicious. I then started with the half/small Salade Vinaigrette, light and I enjoyed the dressing. My main course was the Mesquite Grilled Steak Grilled medium rare which was perfect and left enough room for dessert which was the Raspberry Torte, light and delicious. Yes there is upscale dining in Marfa and it was on par with anany big city upscale restaurant. I will return

    Toshi's Date Pudding with Rum Caramel and Fresh Cream
    Sandy R.

    From a segment in a break from my Substack memoir: I started back on San Antonio toward the Paisano. About a block-and-a-half down the street I found Cochineal, a nearly hidden restaurant with an enticing courtyard. I decided to check it out. The maître-d' seated me at the bar. The bartender--was it Jeff?*--was busy but willing to converse a bit. I looked at the dessert menu and was immediately hooked by the "Toshi's Date Pudding with Rum Caramel and Fresh Cream" entry--a $16 offering. I bit. I texted ML to meet me there and within a few minutes he was sitting next to me at the bar. I offered to treat him to a "Toshi's" and he happily accepted. We sat there scooping tiny spoonsful of this decadent confection, trying hard not to let it disappear too rapidly. Soon we were swiping the dishes with our fingers; it was that good. Blood sugars skyrocketing, we made for the Paisano. *Recent communication with Cochineal manager(?): it was "Bill." And...further info on the origin of the name of restaurant (but not why) : The cochineal is a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the natural dye carmine is derived. A primarily sessile parasite native to tropical and subtropical South America through North America, this insect lives on cacti in the genus Opuntia, feeding on plant moisture and nutrients. https://lbsandyrock.substack.com/p/texas-trek-part-2

    Margarita
    Paul L.

    I've been here before so my expectations were very high. Again, Cochineal met the challenge. This is my favorite restaurant in Marfa. I could have eaten the bread all night long; the butter and oil accompaniments were very flavorful. The vegetable fritters balanced well with the aoli mustard sauce. The trout was the over-the-top surprise: truly memorable. The apple panna cotta was a fun finish to a perfect dining experience. I love this restaurant and I look forward to a visit again soon.

    "Sip of Gazpacho", omg, this was so good!
    Jeff B.

    What a fantastic experience! Wifey n' I in town for a quick anniversary getaway, and with just arrivin' from the long drive (our messy timetable) we stumbled in without a reservation and hoped for the best. Granted, it was an oddball "not peak" time, so the crowd was thankfully thin and they got us in. I'm not really up on the fancy restaurant guidelines and terms etc., but we put ourselves in the server's hands for suggestions, etc., and it was fun, delicious and so unique. It was my first time trying some foods that were familar as food terms, but we've just never put ourselves in a spot to try them, such as caviar, boar, and gazpachio soup, and some others. We LOVED it all! We got a "Prix Fixe", which was a number of courses (check out the pic I took of that part of the menu). Not sure how relevant it will be to people reading this review in the sense it surely rotates greatly depending on what they have going on day-by-day. It's all very "chef-ie", and fluctuates depending, I think. And our server (I think her name's Melissa) was so sweet, attentive, and humored our green-ness, she's great. I got a few pics, I wish I got some of everything and did the items justice, but I hope they communicate well. As for how much it sets you back $$$, I would describe this as not inexpensive, but considering "where" this restaurant is set geographically, the unbelievable artistry, expertise, assortment, flavors, freshness, presentation, atmosphere, finishing touches, staff, comfort,... it was VERY worth it. Not someplace we could come regularly, but wow, one of the best places we've ever eaten and experienced ever. If you have the opportunity to ever visit here, wow, WOW, go for it! (just do bettet than us and make those reservations if you can).

    Overpriced menur
    Pavel T.

    After visiting a big band national Park, I decide pay a visit to Marfaand I find this fine dining restaurant. Since I didn't have a reservation, I took a seat on a bar. The bartender wasn't really talkative. It was the last day of the Japanese cuisine to pay respect the previous Japanese owner. The current owner Andy was out of the restaurant. I don't know if the quality of the food or the service have something to do with it, but that's how it was. I order a charcuterie board with bread, butter, and some dipping sauce. The sauce was excellent. One of the bread was old and hard.Another item that I had was pork cutlet with some cabbage then some chicken bites. My main course was a Ramen and then I have some chocolate mousse dessert. The service took long in between the plates and honestly the food was not what I expected specially for the prices. I'm a foodie. I've been around the world, and I was very disappointed with this place when I asked the bartender to give me a check, he just told me the amount I gave him a credit card and I add 15% to my bill since I was not happy. Than I find out that 20% was already included on my bill which I was not informed ( Automatically adding 20% for service for party of one sitting on bar ??? , Who the F... you think you are ? Soo rude. I end up paying 35 % off of my bill for disappointing service and disappointing food. I should've choose the Marfa burrito instead of this place , I'm never coming back. You guys should be ashamed of yourself. I also tried to call the establishment after I find out what happened I left them a message. Nobody ever get back to me. You don't really care about your reputation you . What a shame, I've been in Japan and what you serving there have nothing to do with it maybe the Ramen was close to it but not for $50.Stay away from this greedy people.

    Dessert from the SAMPLE PRIX FIXE MENU

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    LaVenture - Pepperoni Pizza

    LaVenture

    3.5(129 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$

    La Venture is one of my favorite restaurants in these United States. The atmosphere is gorgeous,…read morewith art lining the walls and beautiful booths and tables in an intimate setting. The waitstaff is terrific, from the friendly bartender (you can purchase almost the entire menu for 1/2 price at the bar!), to the professional waiters. The food choices are diverse and international. I love the dumplings and the bao; they transport you right to China. The glazed shrimp appetizer is to die for, and the pizza, best in Marfa. But the real piece de resistance is the steak, especially ribeye special. It's huge, and cooked just right (I love mine medium rare). Shout out to the ramen, unlike any you've ever had, and the wide variety of drink specials provide a number of whimsical choices that should please every taste bud. The chef here is terrific, as is the service. You can eat here 5 times and never have the same international fare. It's shocking in West Texas to discover a restaurant so accommodating, and the prices mean the entire family can enjoy the experience. Don't miss this incredible restaurant!

    Stopped into LaVenture after a long day on the road, and while it checked the "convenient" box, it…read moredidn't quite rise to memorable. We started with the salad, which was a solid opener--fresh, generous portion, and overall enjoyable. Nothing that really stood out, but definitely not a miss. The pizza was... okay. You can tell it's fire oven cooked, which is usually a win, but ours came out a bit too toasty--borderline burnt on one side. It also wasn't cut properly, which made things a little awkward. Some slices weren't cut through at all (had to ask for a knife), and others were uneven--ranging from oversized wedges to tiny slivers. Service was a little scattered, but to be fair, we came in toward the end of the night and our server mentioned it had been a hectic evening. No real complaints there--just felt a bit rushed and disorganized. A couple of downsides: they close at 9:30, which isn't ideal if you're looking for a late-night bite or drink, and there's no room service--you have to head down to order. Overall, it's a convenient spot if you're staying at the hotel and need something easy, but it's not necessarily a destination meal. Convenient? Yes. Notable? Meh.

    Photos
    LaVenture - Margherita Pizza

    Margherita Pizza

    LaVenture
    LaVenture - Filet Mignon with Duck Fat Potato Galette, Asparagus, and Spinach

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    Filet Mignon with Duck Fat Potato Galette, Asparagus, and Spinach

    The Water Stop - Spicy chicken sandwich

    The Water Stop

    3.9(294 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Short - we will go back. Pleasant atmosphere, nice waitstaff, good food & cold beer. Hallelujah…read more Long - stopped in on a random Wednesday - - they were packed! It's always a good sign when the parking lot is full in the middle of the week. Got a seat inside and waited. Then waited some more. The hostess seated a 14-top and we decided that we would leave if their orders went in first. BUT finally - a waitress. Friendly, though obviously harried by the unexpected mid-week bonanza. Drinks & food order in!! Margarita for me, Dos Equis for him, chili con queso, spicy chicken sandwich as shared plates. $22 marg was ABSOLUTELY worth it. Queso was SO good, with hefty chips made just right. Spice in the chicken - yes please. Did we wait, yes. Did we mind, NO. BEST PART - the people watching was PRIME. We could've passed another round & been entertained until closing but folks were waiting for tables and i was just buzzed enough on the ONE marg. Looking forward to tomorrow when we try a burger & cheesecake.

    The Water Stop? More like a quick stop for water -- because that's about all we stayed for. As one…read moreof only a handful of larger restaurants in Marfa, we expected a much more welcoming experience, especially considering the prices geared toward tourists. Unfortunately, this establishment did not feel family friendly or kid friendly despite presenting itself that way. After waiting around 10 minutes just for someone in our party to grab menus, we were eventually served water and later had our orders taken. However, the overall attitude and repeated glares from the waitress/bartender, Gary Jean, made the experience uncomfortable and unwelcoming. Good service goes a long way, and basic kindness shouldn't feel like too much to ask. It became clear that receiving decent service was going to be more effort than it should have been, so we decided to leave before our food even arrived. To management: supporting your staff better may help improve the customer experience overall. A little hospitality can make a big difference.

    Photos
    The Water Stop - Dining area

    Dining area

    The Water Stop - Pasta Rossa. 2.16.2025

    Pasta Rossa. 2.16.2025

    The Water Stop - Pickle berry shot

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    Pickle berry shot

    Jett's Grill - Tequila, lime chicken on a bed of cilantro rice

    Jett's Grill

    3.3(263 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Jett is a character in the movie Giant, which was filmed in the Marfa area, and the stars stayed at…read morethe Hotel Paisano where the restaurant is located. If you have never heard of the movie, that is a lot of their problem. The hotel and restaurant are resting on their laurels from a movie from the 1950s. If you took a date to see Giant when it first came out, you probably need food you can gum. We were here two years ago and had a good experience so we came back and were sorely disappointed. Service was appallingly slow because there was one waitress (who was great) for the entire restaurant and patio. There was one bartender. Very short-staffed. We had drinks and chips and salsa on the patio before moving inside for dinner. Entrees on the menu were chicken and veggie burgers (no beef?) and chicken was out. The other entrees were the pistachio-crusted steak (basically fancy chicken fried steak) and a ribeye. They were out of the pistachio-crusted steak. So, it was a veggie burger or a ribeye. No chicken dishes, no fish, no pasta. A frozen veggie burger or a $45 ribeye. We started with a a charcuterie board which was tasty but not very generous. The ribeyes were served on mashed potatoes and very good, but there was no vegetable, no bread - just steak and potatoes. I don't mind the price of the steak but part of that price is service and if there is one server for an entire restaurant and the patio, the service is not going to be that good, and it wasn't. Drinks were not refilled, dessert wasn't offered (they might have been out!), so it was eat and run. So, staffing issues, inventory management issues and a restaurant that had a number of customers to serve so they should do better. Much better.

    Paired with the historic Hotel Paisano, Jett's doesn't quite rise to the occasion. Striving for the…read morerefined rustic setting of the hotel, the restaurant's ambience feels more dated than decorative. The staff is friendly, but twice during our dinner the host interrupted our group's conversation with incidental small talk. The host also took photos of our table for the "night manager to see how busy we are". The host did this without asking for permission. Our server was more engaged than intrusive, friendly and helpful. The kitchen and bar were on the slow side, and unfortunately the food/drinks were not exceptional enough to offset the delays. Though remote, Marfa has an eclectic food scene, and there's better options that Jett's.

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    Jett's Grill - Lounging area in front of Jetts

    Lounging area in front of Jetts

    Jett's Grill - Pecan salmon with white rice and a side of green beans

    Pecan salmon with white rice and a side of green beans

    Jett's Grill

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    Blue Mountain Bar & Grill

    Blue Mountain Bar & Grill

    3.4(233 reviews)
    20.8 mi
    $$

    Fort Davis is a quaint little town a few miles north of Alpine. The Blue Mountain Bar & Grill is…read morenext door to the Limpia Hotel. There is a decent size dining room, a nice bar area with high top tables, and tables outside on the patio. We stopped there to grab something to eat on the way to the Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. Not being very hungry, we split the Rio Grande Brisket Taco while sitting at the bar. The brisket was flavorful and plentiful; delicious. The bartender was busy, yet still attentive. The food orders we saw all looked good and plentiful. I wish we could have stayed a while longer, but we had a 20 minute drive to the observatory. Unfortunately, cloud cover pretty much ruined the Star Party, however, we were pleasantly surprised that a refund was offered. I highly recommend a stop at the Blue Mountain and check-out Fort Davis.

    We stoped in after a long days of work. It's a rainy summer Friday, we decided to give Blue…read moreMountain Bar & Grill a try. This place is nice, cozy atmosphere, attentive staff, and great food. They have a dinning room or you can order to go at the bar. We used the scan code to order off the new updated menu, I didn't mind at all. Once order was placed, our food arrived promptly. Of course I ordered the Old Fashioned. 7 out 10. Not bad. For dinner my dad and I had the Chicken Fried Chicken and my nephew had the double cheeseburger. We cleaned out plates. Food was great. All in all I will definitely recommend and will be returning.

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    Blue Mountain Bar & Grill
    Blue Mountain Bar & Grill - Fresh crispy dinner salad

    Fresh crispy dinner salad

    Blue Mountain Bar & Grill - Outdoor Patio

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    Outdoor Patio

    Reata Restaurant  - Cup of Tortilla Soup

    Reata Restaurant

    4.0(468 reviews)
    21.7 mi
    $$

    We were looking for a nice place to have dinner while staying in Alpine, TX. This fit the bill!…read more The restaurant is in a yellow house with an "R" at the top. There was an American Flag and a Texas flag flying out front. We walked in and waited for someone to greet us and seat us. After we were at our table, drink orders were taken. When our water was brought out, we were also given some Honey Pecan Biscuits with butter. They were warm and I liked the pecans in it! Hubby & I shared everything. We started with a cup of Jalapeño and Cilantro Soup. It's a cream based soup. I couldn't detect much of any heat from the Jalapeños and the cilantro was pretty much hidden. Maybe a sprinkling of fresh cilantro on top would have made it more pronounced. It also needed to be served hot. We then got the 14oz Ribeye which came with mashed potatoes & green beans. This was a great plate of food! It came out hot! The person who brought it out waited until we cut into it to see if it was acceptable. We've never had any staff person do that for us before! It was a little under done on one side, but the other was perfect. We almost finished the plate. It was delicious! Lastly, we got the Chocolate Bread Pudding Tamale. It comes wrapped in a corn husk that it is cooked in. You remove it and eat the bread pudding. It was gummy in a good way, as hubby described it. It needed the fresh strawberries & ice cream that came on the plate. We really enjoyed our dinner! Our server, Jordan, was very efficient & made it a nice experience! We probably won't travel this way again, but if we did, we would definitely return!

    Reata is a cute spot -- it's in a charming old house and has a cozy, historic feel. I ate in the…read morebar area and loved the log cabin vibe inside. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup and the smoked quail. The soup was served with the garnishes in the bowl and the broth poured from a kettle at the table, which was a fun presentation. The quail was also well plated and tasty. Overall, I enjoyed both the food and the presentation. If you're in Alpine or passing through (like I was on the way back from Big Bend NP), this is a great place to stop and grab a meal.

    Photos
    Reata Restaurant  - Bar Area

    Bar Area

    Reata Restaurant  - Tortilla Soup

    Tortilla Soup

    Reata Restaurant  - Outside

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    Outside

    Cochineal - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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