It took awhile for us to get a reservation here, and I now under the hype. The whole experience was excellent. We were greeted and seated immediately. Our table was near the bar, which was packed. I assume this is why the room was very loud - so loud it was hard to hear the person across the table. That was our only negative note of the evening. Our server acknowledged us almost immediately and was attentive but not intrusive throughout the evening.We ordered drinks which were served surprisingly quickly considering how busy the bar was. We accepted the offer of bread, which was an outstanding focaccia. We started with the crudo - it changes and was yellowtail that night. It was super fresh, perfectly sliced and trimmed (no icky bits), and simply dressed with lemon, olive oil, salt and crushed pink peppercorns. I had a mista salad, which was great, but my husband's Caesar stole the show. The dressing was clearly house made and the best we've had in a long time. I ordered the pork cheeks, and they were tender, very rich and flavorful. I was pleasantly surprised that the polenta was delectable in its own right and not just a bland base. The portion size was huge. My husband ordered the special, a white puttanesca with shrimp. It was deliciously complex and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. We took dessert to go - tiramisu and a cannoli. Both were superb. One of the owners checked in with us, which is a practice that's become much less common but is always appreciated. His pride in the establishment and pleasure at our enjoyment were apparent. I can see why this place is so popular and I'm sure it will become a part of our rotation. read more

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The first thing I noticed was how loud it was. There are metal wine racks, some in the middle of the room that bounce the sounds of people yelling to be heard over the cacophony. Usually an Italian restaurant will have an abundance of excellent bread to start but not here. Four lady finger sized pieces of what looked like grilled Texas toast was all to be had. The cook refused to prepare the piccata without wine (I am alcohol intolerant) so I ordered the spaghetti bolognese. A tiny, overpriced ($12!) Caesar salad was serviceable. The bolognese was chunky and overcooked, served over boxed noodles. The Brussels sprouts were the highlight of my meal. My wife had meatballs which were baseball sized but reminiscent of school cafeteria fare. The risotto was bland and undercooked. At $220 for four people without drinks (we all had water) I'd say save your money and go to Olive Garden. read more

All outstanding! Unique. Nothing else like this between here and New Orleans. Food? 5 Star! Service? 5 more stars. Ambiance 5 more. Why? Because you can't give 6! read more

Atmosphere was terrible. There was a table near that was very loud. Very obnoxious. So bad that I couldn't enjoy my meal. Turns out I wasn't missing much. I got Veal Norma. Sauce tasted like it came from a jar. Waiter was very inattentive. At one point I had to ask someone to find him for us. Then it took a very long time for him to bring the check. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Will not go back. read more

We've been attempting to book a reservation since CuGino's opened but they have but booked up. We finally got a reservation booked at 9. We were a little worried it would be too late because they closed at 9:30. However, when we arrived we realized the restaurant was slammed. When we opened the door, we were greeted with friendly smiles and escorted to our table. The atmosphere's lighting was gentle, almost conspiratorial. Not dim, just... considerate. Each table held a small lantern with a soft radiance of warmth, casting round pools of invitation. Tables are close enough for whispered conversations but spaced so every couple feels like they've carved out a private nook in the world. Our waiter was very accommodating even considering how many tables he was covering. The food was worth the wait. We were a little disappointed that the two main dishes we wanted to order ran out. However, it's because those dishes are apparently amazing so maybe next time if we're lucky.. What we did order was great though! Part-owner, Mr. Hunter, introduced himself and thanked us personally. You can see he has pride in his establishment, truly cares to be great, and wants his guests to have a positive memorable experience. Thank you CuGino's and Mr. Hunter for a great first time experience, we'll see you again. read more

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They would not answer their phone to tell anyone that their entire restaurant was not taking walk ins. We wasted our time, coming from 45 minutes out of town, to get told they were all reserved tables. They could have had the curiously to pick the phone up and let people know this useful information. We were excited to try this place but now, I'll stick to my Lafonda where we are treated like their favorite customers! read more

Everything is AMAZING! The chicken piccata, pasta alla vodka and pork cheeks reign supreme. Tiramisu is a must!

Buckle up. This is a long one. My husband and I's first experience at CuGino was 10/31/2024, sometime within their opening week. We came for our anniversary (only engaged at the time) and had an unforgettable experience. One of the owners, Mr. Gino, personally welcomed us with so much warmth and went out of his way to ensure we had an immaculate experience. The bartender/manager, Hannah (pictured), made me a perfect French 75 and my husband an equally perfect Gin martini. As we're both very experienced in the service industry up to managerial level, we were very impressed with Hannah's menu and cocktail knowledge, personality, and overall confidence as she navigated a packed bar. For dinner, we shared the calamari, which turned out to be the best calamari we've ever had. We can say the same for our entrees: I had Cacio e Pepe with shrimp added, and my husband had the Veal Norma. The tiramisu was also heavenly. I unfortunately do not remember the name of our server at the time, but we do remember his service was a 10/10. In the following months, we came back a few more times, always dining at the bar. Hannah took care of us every time with even more impressive service we noticed during our first visit. We ordered several of the drink specials on their menu that she created, all of which were absolutely delicious. Mr. Gino welcomed us each time as if we were family. We also finally got to meet the other owner, Mr. Hunter, who was very kind and noticed in action how well he ran the restaurant. All of this ultimately led to us choosing CuGino for our post wedding ceremony dinner. That process was remarkable: we toured the private room which consists of a fireplace, big windows overlooking fairy-lit trees, and tons of space that more than accommodated our intimate dinner. Hannah specifically helped us by highlighting and writing out all of the gluten/dairy free options on the menu (which were plenty) to accommodate my sister, who has severe allergens. The dinner itself was like a dream. We requested Hannah, which was the best decision we could've made. For dinner, I got the Cacio e Pepe again (pictured), this time with their crab cake special for the night. My husband got the Pork Cheek Ragu, which is my new favorite menu item. My sister got the Shrimp Amatriciana with gluten free pasta, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone else pretty much got something different, all of them rating their meals 10/10. I must note that my husband is Italian, so when his family is impressed by Italian food, that says A LOT! Finally, I want to say thank you to the entire team: Mr. Gino, Mr. Hunter, Hannah, the chefs, and everyone who serviced us, ultimately making this entire experience one we will keep and tell of for the rest of our lives. My only critique is to myself; I failed to get the names of the chefs and Hannah's assistants. I also failed to get a picture with Mr. Gino, who gifted us generously at the dinner with honeymoon champagne. read more

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Everything from the food, to the service, timely, and options of food and wine was tremendous. It's worth trying to get a reservation! read more

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First time there. The food, service and ambiance were all terrific! I can't wait return!!

Delicious standards and Gene Todara magic! Incredible service. Wonderful ambiance. Look forward to returning for the official opening! read more

Friendly atmosphere with impeccable food and service! Love the Italian Classic Music and feel.

First of all it was freezing cold in there. Every lady in our area was eating dinner with their coats on. I asked very politely if it would possible to token the AC up a little. They possibly turned it up a degree, but it was still uncomfortably cold. It took an hour for our Calamari appetizer to come out which was raw(terribly undercooked). Plus it was so greasy we didn't eat more than pieces. The bottom of the platter was full of oil. Meatballs and spaghetti was just ok. The Cannoli was strange. I've had many in my life and this again was not edible. We will not be back. read more

Worth the wait!!! Took us a week or so to get a reservation and the food is absolutely amazing. These people are passionate about Italian food and their service is top notch. My wife and I started with the burrata salad and it was very well done. Do not be afraid of the beets it's really an extremely appetizing combination. Well balanced dish with great flavor. For entree's we had the pork cheek and the veal Norma and a side of broccolini. Two outstanding dishes! The pork is cooked perfectly and the ragu with the polenta is a wonderful combination. As for the veal it was cooked perfectly and the sauce served with it with the eggplant in it is rich and hearty. Both very satisfying dishes. They have a nice wine list and great cocktails from the bar. If you haven't gone you should ... this place is an absolute hit. We are fortunate to have rustic yet refined Italian like this in Lafayette. Gene and Hunter have created something very special. read more

Cu Gino - Veal Norma - Sicilian Near Me - Lafayette, Louisiana

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Always an amazing experience! Hunter, Gene and their team have knocked it out of the park with this one. The food, the drinks and the atmosphere are all incredible, and it's truly the perfect spot for date night. 10000/10 must go! read more

Superb cuisine and service! Best arancini we've ever tasted .. anywhere. The Todaro magic continues.

Made a reservation a month before for five people and requested main dining room. The day before confirmed the reservation. Arrived for the reservation and we were seated in the bar. We asked to sit in the dining room and they tried to squeeze us into a very small table for four in a corner and put a chair at the end of the table. We went back to the bar area. The bar is extremely loud. We had to talk very loud to have a conversation over dinner. I did not go here for a bar dining experience. We had to ask for someone to come get our drink order. The manager did come by and apologize. Then another came by after we had drinks and had ordered and said they could now move us. We stayed in the bar. The food was good. Once we got service, the service was as good too. I don't think any of us will be going back. If you make a reservation there, I suggest you confirm, get the name, and confirm again. This shouldn't happen. Ruined what should have been a nice evening to visit among friends. read more