Flare - well executed industrial retro chic interior, seats are a little too low for the table however Friendliness - servers were training at the opening of brunch on Saturday, all really kind and attentive Flavor - deviled eggs with crispy chicken skin (5/5) Completely different flavor take than we've had anywhere else burger (5/5) Great. Juicy. Flavorful beef. Fries were perfect. chicken and waffles with maple butter (4.5/5) Perfect amount of chicken to waffle ratio. Dining partner's only commentary was that either the waffles or the syrup be served warmer. read more

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Stopped in at about 4:00 for an early dinner. We chose this restaurant due to Yelp ratings (4 stars with several hundred reviews) and convenience to the interstate....we had been on the road for approximately 12 hours & were only 30 minutes from our hotel. Wanted something good & fairly quick, and we found it. We were immediately impressed with the rustic decor of the older building. August (our waiter) offered several suggestions which were very good. My wife had Shrimp and grits which was good but a little spicy for her tastes. I had the Creole blackened catfish with cheese grits...excellent & the fish was perfectly prepared, not over or under cooked, just right! We also ordered biscuits with cane butter & apricot jam....perfect! We are just passing through but if we lived near by we would come often. read more

The food here was great! There was a glitch with the dough rising for my biscuit, which was sorely disappointing since I've seen so many reviews saying how good they are. We travel here often for family, so perhaps we'll give it another go when we're back in town at some point. Otherwise, the chicken was great, as were the other dishes per the rest of our guests. read more

Crawfish pasta dish was wonderful. Biscuits and deviled eggs were also great. Service was prompt and friendly. Ambiance was outstanding. Loved the old section of the city. Loved the bare brick walls and lots of dark wood.will definitely return when on town again. read more

Highly recommend! I ordered the shrimp and grits, and BLT salad wedge. Deviled eggs for appetizer. Amazing! read more

Cotton - Shrimp and grits - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

I like the duck wraps , honeysuckle lemonade, and the pear rosemary shot. The ambience is great! Has a lot of historical background too. read more

Cotton - Por Braised Pork Cheeks - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

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I've always been a fan of Planters (the bar upstairs), and I've walked by the event space every time I've been there, so when it came time to plan a surprise graduation party for my girlfriend, Cotton was the natural choice. The staff was excellent, extremely attentive and polite, the food was great and the space was beautifully set up for our event. I didn't catch anyone's names but the two staff members working our party were so nice and friendly, they're very good at what they do. I was given a list of menu options beforehand to choose from for the buffet and it was a good mix of classic foods and some more adventurous stuff. I was especially happy with the deviled eggs, I had mentioned to the event coordinator that my girlfriend's father really loves deviled eggs so we would need to make sure there were plenty and he made sure that detail was covered. Overall, if you've got an event you want to host in the Monroe area and want to impress your guests, this is the place to do it. I am very happy with my experience with Cotton and would happily book another party with them. read more

Jessica needs a raise! I had a large party of 8, 5 adults and 3 children. My family and I came for the ulm homecoming weekend and wanted to do brunch. The host had a warm greeting and Jessica made it so easy for us to order. She was polite knowledgeable about the menu and patient! The mimosa were very good and kept coming right on time.! The food also was good and a nice size portion. I had the shrimp and grits with the cinnamon roll. We all enjoyed our food and time there. I would def recommend doing brunch here again read more

Cotton - Half of my party. We had a great time dinning at cottons - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

This place has been a favorite of mine every year when I come home to Monroe for the holidays. Two years ago Cotton was great food, but the staff seemed to be unhappy with the owner("an out of touch dentist") and his menu choices. Awkward. ‍ Fast forward two years and the staff contains all new (unhappy)faces, the menu hasn't changed a bit, and the quality of the food has gone down with most of the dishes the wife and I grubbed down on with our bottle of wine. The duck wraps($12) and the blue crab gnocchi($14) from the appetizer menu are great - the duck wraps are like bacon wrapped shrimp - but with duck. Not too heavy of a game flavor & consistently good year after year. The Venison Schnitzel was my pick for the main course and a disappointment all around this go-round. The meat was so thin and tough, it tasted like cube steak and I couldn't even chew threw half of the 2 pieces. The crust was the best part of this meal, and it's just not worth $1 let alone it's $27 price tag. My wife ordered a cheeseburger($15) after being let down our last trip by the carpetbagger last visit. Not bad, but not good considering the quality Cotton is suppose to represent. Wasn't asked how she wanted the meat cooked, and it came out well done or worse. ‍ We ordered a bottle of wine and ordered salads to-go for later, and realized once they came out that the egg is over easy. Maybe it's me, but who wants an over easy egg and runny egg yolk in their salad? $13 + the up charge for chicken. The salad was also ALL spinach + 1 sliced strawberry + pecan halves. It's basically a side salad overpriced. Avoid. All in all, this was a decent place and great food, now it's a subpar spot with mediocre food at best. Shame because Monroe needs good food and this is the best of them all but it's still only a 5/10 at best! read more

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The occasion was sad (My Father's Passing) I picked the restaurant for our celebration dinner for my father. I met August and he was such a pleasant person and awesome mixologist ( I didn't have to tell him how to make a New York Sour) I felt this was the right location. August introduce me to Nick who manages the establishment and we went over the details and set the date,, that easy. For the occasion we had a private spread of Fried Chicken, Charbroiled Oysters, Red Beans and Rice, Crawfish Two Ways, Green Been, Black-eyed Peas, Biscuits with Honey Jam, and to start a Green Salad and Tomato Bisque. With a Private Open Bar to my guess and dedicated Bartenders. The night was awesome, great Ambiance, the food was remarkable and the drinks exceptional. It was so good, we came back after the funeral for brunch. Best Southern culture food establishment in Monroe.... read more

Great food, great atmosphere, and the drinks are delicious. Don't miss the meatloaf! 10/10

I had high hopes for this place when I looked it up on Yelp, however I was very disappointed. I didn't like any of my food. First off the biscuits were cold and the flavored butter tasted almost just like regular butter. My shrimp and grits were made with brown sugar which was very strange and it didn't have much flavor. The bacon wrapped duck didn't have much flavor, it was just sweet. The chargrilled oysters ($18 for a half dozen) we had seemed to be baked and were full of cheese. The boudin balls also didn't have much flavor. The yardbird that my wife had as a replacement for her shrimp and grits was the only thing that actually had flavor and tasted good. Also I feel that the food here is way over priced for what you get in quality and quantity compared to similar restaurants that I've been to. The decor of this place is beautiful and I was impressed, it has an vintage upscale feel to it. read more

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Probably one of the best meals I have ever eaten! Everything was so good! We had the duck wrap appetizer. It was delicious. Only complaint on that was that there were only 4 small pieces and it was pretty expensive. We also had the Nashville hot chicken and the meatloaf which were both some of the best I have ever had. We also had the gas station fried chicken and the burger and those were also good. read more

The deer camp meatloaf and the duck wrap appetizers were wonderful! My favorite that always brings me back are the awesome biscuits with cinnamon butter and apricot jelly! I have eaten a lot of biscuits at different restaurants and even make my own and these are hands down the BEST!!! Perfect texture and flavor! Nick, the manager/chef, stopped by our table and we had the best visit with him. He shared some history and very interesting stories about the location. Totally enjoyed our visit with him. Our waitress, Jess, was wonderful and very attentive also. We will definitely be making many return trips! read more

This place has the best of two worlds. Southern Style meets Gourmet. You place this place in San Francisco, Atlanta, or New York and it will compete with any high-end place. Loved it. I travel for work. This week I was in Manhattan, Newark, Atlanta and ended in Monroe. This was the BEST meal I had the entire week and I paid only $42 for everything!!! I recommend the fried chicken. They call it the Bus Station Chicken. It was crispy on the outside yet tender inside. Loved it. Very nice flavor. The creamed corn that comes with it was delicious. It was Gourmet flavored and it has a nice texture to it. I substituted the mashed potatoes for Duck fries; just to try them. They were very nice. I know the name is interesting so don't let that discourage you. They fry the french fries in duck fat. They were very nice and crispy. Overall, the Wedge salad was my favorite! Fresh, crispy, high quality bacon and blue cheese. PLEASE TRY THE CRAMBULEÉ! read more

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Passing through Monroe on a Sunday and decided to try Cotton. Fantastic decision! Cotton is in downtown Monroe is beautifully restored building. We were served a basket of fresh biscuits when we sat down. I tried for all of 10 seconds not to eat one but they were just too pretty and once I tasted it I knew I had to eat an entire biscuit! We started with bloody Mary's & the bacon wrapped duck. For entrees shrimp & grits and a BLT wedge. My husband loved the shrimp & grits. They were the perfect texture and flavor with a tiny such of heat. The duck & our entrees were great. I would love to stop back by when we come back through Monroe. read more

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Well today was not a good day for one of my favorite restaurants. Ordered the chicken that arrived at our table raw; we sent it back and later received the replacement chicken that was more raw and bloody than the first batch. The acting manager apologized and did the best she could under the circumstances. read more

Cotton - Raw chicken with blood in it. - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

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We happened upon this delightful restaurant quite by accident on a rainy Saturday afternoon. WOW. The food was absolutely amazing and yummy. My favorites were the chicken biscuit and the Planter Punch cocktail. Our server Jessica was so helpful and sweet and kept the food and drinks coming. Definitely a must when in Monroe! read more

Cotton - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Awesome place. Very nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Unique dining experience in downtown Monroe. Upstairs was very cool as well. Definitely will be back. read more

Really enjoyed the food I got! Not pictured but the duck wraps and duck fat fries which I love! Got the fish and it was really yummy! read more

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Beware POC- This establishment name itself is a red flag (Cotton) and some of the food menu names confirms it. I would have given zero if it was available. I'm African American from Los Angeles and was visiting my cousin in Monroe. When we entered the restaurant there were several staff conversing in the dining area and never acknowledged our presence. My cousin then asked one of the employees if they were open for business and if so why weren't we greeted and offered an table. The staff said" I thought you guys were admiring the establishment ". What a bullshit answer. Who would enter a food establishment to admire their decor ????? If you're a POC avoid this establishment like a deadly disease. Later my cousin called and spoke with the manager and inquired about the lack of service and his excuse was even more absurd. The manager said that he thought that we came from upstairs to admire the downstairs decor. read more

We had the duck wraps, the burger, and the catfish with shrimp in delta sauce and a couple other dishes. While the burger was delicious everything else were too greasy. There was more sugar and oil in the fried sprouts than sprouts. As others mentioned, the duck wraps are steeped. I understand because duck is expensive but to my surprise, the was little or no duck at all. One of the wraps I had only had bacon. $18 for 4 pcs of fried bacon? The side salad for $4 (or $6 I don't recall exactly) had like 10 tiny pieces of baby lettuce and a watery dressing. Price to quality ratio is way off sadly. read more

Came to Cotton on our first night in town. I was really excited to check out the menu and enjoy a nice evening. The only disappointing item was my blue crab gnocchi. The gnocchi was so over cooked if liquified, making it more a thick soup than anything. Still tasted good, but was NOT gnocchi. read more

Cotton - Gnocchi - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

The restaurant is beautiful but i fell as if its not worth the hype. My toast was burnt and the brussel sprouts was also burnt. I got the Nashville hot chicken and the chicken was bland and it wasnt spicy at all. My boyfriend got the chicken and waffles and he loved it but he said the syrup was so sweet it was hurting his teeth so he ate it without the syrup. Overall i wouldnt come back the first time was enough for me read more

Cotton - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Cotton is the real deal! Walking in, you see a stylish setting with high ceilings and comfortable table/booth arrangements. There's also a bar. They serve a brunch/lunch menu until 2:30, and then they also have a dinner service. We tried lunch. We had the duck fat fries and Muscovy duck wraps as appetizers. Both things were amazing! The fries are addicting--beware! Order two of the duck wraps if that's the only thing you're getting, because the five that comes in an order are not very big and y'all will fight over them! I tried the eggs Benedict dish featuring house made boudin. It was pretty good, although I have a feeling I didn't get any hollandaise sauce on it now that I look back at the pictures. I sprinkled some of the bacon salt from the duck fat fries on and it worked to bring lots of flavor in its place. My mom and sister both tried the Cotton Burger, which I'll get next time! I has bacon jam on it! Suggestion--don't get mustard on it. Use the black pepper aioli that comes with the fries. The prices weren't bad at all for such a nice place. I can't wait to go back and try dessert! read more

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Excellent service, beautiful restaurant, and seriously good food. Would recommend to everyone!

Ok second time to this outstanding restaurant!! And I had the most amazing meatloaf I have ever had! If your in. Monroe you must check them out. Perfectly done over mashed potatoes with Brussels sprouts that are cooked in an outstanding sweet yet salty sauce! read more

Cotton - Deer Camp Meatloaf! Outstanding - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Great appetizer. Okay entrees and dessert. Why do reviews have to be at least 30 words long? read more

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The perfect setting for a casual drink or low key date night. The food was phenomenal. We started our evening with the the duck wraps, 10/10. For our entrees we both had the Steakhouse Filet, with corn macque choux and duck fat fries, 10/10. We finished the date with the good old fashioned skillet cookie, 10/10. It seems to be very rare do you eat at a restaurant for the first time and would love to have everything you ordered again. We even ordered an order of scratch biscuits to take home for breakfast the next day. As far as the service goes, we interacted with a handful of people and it was all very pleasant. We definitely recommend this to anyone in the Monroe area and looking forward to make this a regular stop. read more

A girlfriend and I met for a long overdue lunch today. The waitstaff/bartender, August, was attentive and just amazing! I recommend his rosemary pear martini! My friend and I will be back very soon! read more

My first time in Louisiana this restaurant is amazing the food and service was beyond excellent. Mouth watering starter the Muscovy duck wraps and duck fat fries are a must try!! read more

Cotton - Southern Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

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We stumbled across this place and boy we were lucky. The food was delicious !! We ordered the meatloaf and the fried chicken. Both meals were out of this world. In fact we returned the next day. Make sure you order the deviled eggs and the biscuits. The servers are some of the best I have ever encountered. Guarantee you won't be disappointed!! read more

Delicious! My husband and I are very selective. This is a beautiful establishment with food and drinks that do not disappoint. We shared the deviled eggs, PERFECT BLEND of savory and sweet flavor. Then our entrees... shrimp & grits and chicken & waffles. AMAZING the ROUX, shrimp was plump, tender, savory and the grits balanced the entire dish. I had the best chicken & waffles I've ever tasted. Thin, juicy, lightly battered, fried chicken and light fluffy waffles. I'd be remiss to leave out the honey/cinnamon butter. Great experience. read more

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Gotta say this is the best restaurant I've experienced in Monroe. That might not be saying much but the cleanliness, the decor, the presentation was spot on!!! I'll definitely eat here again! I was visiting for the weekend to watch my son's baseball team play ULM and this was my last meal. Wow was it good! read more

Delicious southern food with a great ambiance in downtown Monroe along the Ouachita river a must dine when you're in town! Great grits and salads for those non meat eaters not much GF / Vegan options but salads are large portions! read more

Severely disappointed. My ole fashion had so much orange bitters in it I couldn't even taste the bourbon. Ordered shrimp and grits for $24 and got 1/2 cup of grits with 4 extremely overcooked shrimp. The only reason I'm giving 2 stars is because of the atmosphere. read more

The food was exceptional and the was right on point. The atmosphere was warm and inviting .

Wonderful ambiance, amazing food! Try the duck wraps and the fries! All of the fish dishes I've had were cooked to perfection. The gas station chicken is to die for! The strawberry salad is delicious as well. The creme brûlée is incredible! read more

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Delicious food. Great atmosphere. But the service was super slow. We were there for close to three hours. It was a set menu for new years weekend. Apps were deviled eggs, duck and shrimp rolls, and duck fat fries. All were tasty. Two in our party had shrimp and grits which they said were delicious. I had the redfish, which was delicious. Strangely, there were no vegetables offered. No salad. No vegetable side. Just grits. I would have loved some kind of vegetable. Turtle cheesecake for dessert which was decadent and yummy. read more

Our first visit and we were not disappointed. Our server, Jessica was very informative, attentive and helpful. Started with a wedge that was spot on. I had the venison schnitzel (quite good) and Susan had a filet topped with blue crab (awesome). BTW, the crispy cubes potatoes are amazing. We will be back. read more