We had friends in from out of town this week and we let them choose the restaurants and they hit two home runs, but unfortunately, one major strike-out.
Bayona was a hit. I have some issues with Susan Spicer's taste, but her touch is perfect. What I mean by that, are things like her Garlic Soup, which is really best described as a garlic infused roux, and her insistence on maintaining that awful-sounding duck jelly sandwich thing. One of our group had the Garlic Soup and liked it--nobody had the duck jelly samich, thankfully, but those are the issues of taste that I just don't get. Her touch with food is impeccable, though. Everything was done perfectly. It was just in her signature simple style. I did have the best sweetbreads I ever had--without any doubt--the best. Don't forget this place the next time you have a craving for sweetbreads. Her new pastry chef is awesome, too. The deserts were really exceptional. Excellent service. Good, boisterous Mardi Gras crowd.
Lilette was fabulouso. I love the variety and range of the menu--very ambitious. We probably shared six or seven appetizers between four of us, just because we they sounded irresistible. The only thing I didn't like on the menu were the oysters, flown in from the West Coast. I just prefer the local freshness, so we passed on those, but everything else we shared was over-the-top good. The entrees varied between seafood dishes and duck, nothing but good things to report. Deserts and wine all excellent. We didn't have a miss in the entire meal, from beginning to end. Great service, casual but prompt. This place is on my favorite few, for sho.
Cochon was a complete disappointment. We even left a bad tip, which we never do, unless the service stinks, which that service really did. Cochon is operating at a notch above Shoney's, right now. Truly, it was just plain atrocious. We had to constantly ask for everything, a glass, bread, water, ask for a dessert menu, then ask for coffee when the desserts arrived, because the waiter ran off for the dessert without inquiring about coffee...None of us could really believe a place like that could survive, much less prosper. If you've been stuck in Des Moines for a year, then Cochon might pass as OK, but if you have options, try someplace else, any place else.
Big Week Bayona/ Lilette/ Cochon reports
Re: Big Week Bayona/ Lilette/ Cochon reports
Cochon a surprise. I haven't been there for a year (I live in Reno) but on previous visits their service was good broching on overly attentive. Water never got lower that 1" below glass rim, silverware replaced when soiled. Must be a (particular) personnel problem? 
As John Wayne once said: "Life's tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid."
Re: Big Week Bayona/ Lilette/ Cochon reports
Well, it was very busy, I'll give them that much. But if they seated the people, they should be able to operate at optimum levels.
And I did not even mention the food, but let me say this much, anyone who rates Cochon on the same level as the other two I mentioned here, are just nuts--it is not in the same category of sophistication.
And I did not even mention the food, but let me say this much, anyone who rates Cochon on the same level as the other two I mentioned here, are just nuts--it is not in the same category of sophistication.
Re: Big Week Bayona/ Lilette/ Cochon reports
I agree with this in principle, but during Mardi Gras, all bets are off.ratcheese wrote:Well, it was very busy, I'll give them that much. But if they seated the people, they should be able to operate at optimum levels.