Ryan F.
Yelp
Grabbed some food at COOP on a Thursday evening. I ordered the Deviled Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuit, and the "Lil Hottie" Chicken Sandwich.
Quality
COOP definitely seems a little out of place in the St. Roch Market. In a food hall dominated by healthy and trendy cuisine, Southern barbecue is a major departure. But as someone a little less concerned with calories and a little more concerned with taste, COOP sounded like a great option for an early dinner. I started by meal with the Deviled Eggs. And it was a rough start because they just were nothing special. A little dried out and a poor use of bacon bits I would avoid this dish. I was much happier with my next item, the Buttermilk Biscuit. It was very fresh and came with a nice spread of bacon butter. But the best item I tried, was the "Lil Hottie" Chicken Sandwich. Fried chicken slathered in a buffalo-style sauce, covered in cilantro slaw, homemade pickles, and served on a soft bun, it was a very good chicken sandwich. It came with a side of fresh baked barbecue chips and a delightful sauce. Overall, a decent sandwich, but one that did not justify its cost.
Quantity
The portions were all on the small side. The Deviled Eggs come with four half slices, the Buttermilk Biscuit was not very substantial, and the Chicken Sandwich, while tasty, only took a few bites to devour.
Value
My biggest issue with Coop was the prices. The set of four small Deviled Eggs was $9, and a few bacon bits did not help me stomach the cost. Meanwhile, the "Lil Hottie" Chicken Sandwich at $13 was also way to high considering the size. Realistically, I can't imagine people regularly paying those prices even though the food itself is decent.
Ambiance
COOP is located in the beautiful St. Roch Market, which sits in the Palm Court of the Design District. It is one of the dozen or so stands that makes up this trendy food hall. I believe the market requires each stand to keep things toned down, as such the individual stations have very little personality. The menus, color scheme, and simple design, make it hard to differentiate from its contemporaries. And while the sterile and modern style works well for some of the places, I think it diminishes the interest in such a personality driven cuisine such as barbecue. Once you order you can grab a seat anywhere in the food hall and they will bring the food over to you. So lots of high-tops are available as well as a few standard tables outside. The music playing across the hall was a mix of tropical and deep house. Great for a bar, less perfect for an early dinner.
Crowd
The market was busy, but far from packed on Thursday evening. However, it was clear that some of the stands had already garnered a healthy following. Meanwhile COOP, one of the higher calorie options, did not seem to be a very popular choice. I was one of only two or three people that stopped in during my visit.
Service
The cashier was friendly and despite being a small operation, the food came out quick. I also appreciated that they came over to check on me halfway through the meal. This personal service definitely sets them apart from other stands in the food hall.
Parking
With the opening of several garages in the Design District, parking is very easy. There is also the option to valet and at only $5 it is a relatively affordable choice.
Extra
The food at COOP is good, but it is the high cost that makes it impossible to justify. It is just not a great situation when you are presented with a $13 chicken sandwich, which won't even suffice as a full meal. Unfortunately, I just don't see myself returning to this spot.