If you’re a fan of rustic lasagna, silky cacio e pepe, tender steaks or homemade cannoli that melts in your mouth, Lafayette’s newest Italian restaurant has a seat for you.
However, it’s best to reserve it ahead of time.
Cugino, a restaurant focused on classic Sicilian-Italian dishes, opened in the former Tchoup’s Midcity Restaurant a month ago after a full renovation of the bar and dining spaces. The result is an intimate, high-end dining experience that fills up quickly for lunch or dinner. After all, Lafayette has known for decades now that when it comes to food from Gene Todaro, it’s best to sit up and pay attention.
Todaro founded another local Italian restaurant, Marcello’s, more than 40 years ago. That experiment in high-end dining — led with chef-crafted dishes and expert sommeliers — remains one of Lafayette’s top nights out, where every detail is crafted with quality in mind.
Todaro, with partner Hunter Moody, has created similar vibes at Cugino. After years of opening restaurants in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, the Lafayette native (by way of Sicily) wanted to return home and take on another challenge. He sold Marcello’s Lafayette to local restaurant group Southern Hospitality Kitchens in 2021, and felt it was time to make a new mark on Lafayette’s celebrated dining scene…