Cochon BYOB

A friend & I went to Cochon last nite for a casual dinner & we couldn't have been happier. The atmosphere/decor is definitely minimalist, but very tasteful & quaint. Service was prompt & informative. We shared the gnocchi appetizer, which was adequate. Tho I think we would've liked to have ventured & tried the pigs feet app too, but we wanted to make sure there was plenty of room for dinner. I had the duck breast over sweet potato hash - this was only my 2nd time to have duck breast & I loved every bite of it, esp in combination w/the sweet potato! My friend opted for a pan fried pork chop w/fennel sausage bread pudding & brussel sprouts. The pork chop was so tender he didn't even need a knife to cut it! Presentation on both plates was gorgeous (& I used to date a gourmet chef, so I'm well aware of the importance of presentation). For dessert, we shared what I think was called poor man's pudding, served warm in a little crock, with a maple/bacon ice cream. The dessert was delectable - not too sweet, literally melt-in-your-mouth delicious. My only regret was that we only brought one bottle of wine, where we would've been perfectly content to sit & enjoy the food & atmosphere & down two! more

Cochon's exterior is warm and inviting, brightly lit with a string of lights, it is reminiscent of the cafes that liter Europe! It set the tone for a romantic and quiet evening!\r My husband and I were seated promptly for our 8pm reservation. The restaurant was bubbly with chatter upon entering. The restaurant was furnished in dark wood, with simple votive candles on the table to set the mood. All things pig filled the space tastefully!\r We started with the Escargot and Pappadelle. The Escargot was a flavorful blend of butter garlic crispy pancetta bits, pea shoots, some tomatoes and escargot! The taste was rich and decadent, it made my eyes roll to the back of my head! My husband was loving the pasta, no sooner was it set in front of him, did it disappear into his belly and unfortunately I was not able to study it more carefully. The bread took a little while to reach the table, but since it was fresh out of the oven, we couldn't complain.\r For entrees, we order the Magret Duck and Berkshire Pork Chop!! The duck was divine as the first course, a beautifully cooked, medium rare! The crisp skin really brought out the flavor of the cut, the cherry reduction was a wonderful compliment, the sweet potato puree was a bit bland, thankfully it was not the star of the dish! The Chop was massive! It consumed the entire plate! He normally doesn't care for pork chops, but he was delighted with his choice! The breading on the chop was fluffy which segway into a juice white meaty center, the sides made for the 'perfect bite' We were not able to have dessert but the coffee was a great ending to our meal before the food coma set in!\r \r We had a wonderful dining experience at Cochon. It's a bit of a detour from the hustle and bustle off of South Street , but well worth the trip!! We will definitely be back again! \r more

Food, decor and service are all terribly unimpressive. Most of the entrees sound interesting and delicious but fail to deliver. The roasted pork belly, while tender, was severely underseasoned and the lentils were undercooked to the point of being crunchy. Sloppy presentation on the dish. Cons: Food, service and ambience more

I am in love with Cochon! I thought there could be nothing better than the scallops appetizer, but then I tried basically every other entree that my table ordered and each was more delicious than the last. I may have to make it a weekly visit!!\r \r GO! more

My boyfriend and I spotted this place while walking the dog one Saturday morning and decided we wanted to try it out for dinner that night. We weren't sure we'd be able to get a table without reservations, but the hostess/waitress found us a table for two around 7:00 pm with little problem despite the fact that they were pretty full. My boyfriend had fried oysters and the steak; I had a salad and the duck. Everything we ordered was delicious with the wine we brought, and the berry cheesecake from Darling's was a perfect finish to the meal. I was full, almost-stuffed-but-not-quite-there, when we left Cochon. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic, not at all pretentious, and decorated with personality (check out the knickknacks on the shelf on your way to bathroom). If I had any complaint, it might be that the service was a little slow, but that's what you get for dropping in without a reservation... and anyway it prolonged our wonderful experience. I'm bringing my parents there this weekend when they come to visit so I can show them why I love eating out in Philly so much! Pros: FOOD, atomosphere, neighborhood Cons: french food is fattening? more

To be truthful, I was not really looking forward to dining here because I was a little ?afraid? of the menu - too ?Country French? for my taste. I shouldn?t have been. There were 6 of us and everyone really enjoyed what was ordered. The appetizers, including Escargot with shitake mushrooms; Crispy Chicken Livers with balsamic vinegar, and a special, Braised pork belly, were excellent. All of the entrees were just as successful ? these included the Grilled Pork Chop; the Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder; the Steak Frites ; as well as the Free Range Duck with white bean ragout.\r \r The room had a very warm feeling and the Staff were all very friendly. We will make a point of returning. With tax & tip, figure around $90 a couple. (Remember, it?s a BYO ? Cash Only)\r \r Pros: Great Food - Nice Staff Cons: Parking more

My fiance and I went to dinner last night after reading Craig LeBan's review. We had already decided on our entree based on his descriptions. My fiance wanted the pork shoulder and I wanted the duck. \r \r After waiting 5 minutes to be seated, the waitress arrived to tell us the specials and imform us that the pork shoulder was already sold out. We figured this may happen given that it was 9:30 on Friday night. So my fiance ordered to chicken livers as appetizers and a wild boar dish special. I ordered a cauliflower soup special and the duck entree. The food was very good to even excellent at times. The duck with its crispy skin was the best of the dishes we ordered. \r \r We were thoroughly enjoying our dinner when my fiance noticed that the table next to us was given a pork shoulder entree. They were seated and ordered 20 minutes after us. We asked our waitress why we were told it was unavailable. She said she would check with the kitchen. When she returned, she did not offer an explanation. When she returned the second time, we presssed her again for a reason. She said that she wasn't sure. She was told the pork shoulder entree was not available, but we should call in advance next time to reserve it if that's the entree we wanted! \r \r I am truely disappointed in the service at Cochon. The food is very good. The atomsphere is relaxed. The prices are reasonable. It is a place we would have revisited had it not been for what transpired the last 10 minutes. I don't understand how a kitchen can be so arrogant as to dictate the availability of what it serves on a whim. I also wish that our waitress had treated us with a little more respect by being more forthcoming. We left with a sour taste in our mouth which is unfortunate because it started out being a very good night. We will not be back, but those who may want to try Cochon be advised of their finicky kitchen and don't be surprised if other tables are given food you were told was sold out! Pros: food, ambience Cons: SERVICE, Tempermental kitchen more