Given all the hype surrounding this place, I was stoked to tuck into a gluttonous meal with my family and slowly waddle home satisfied and overstuffed with pork products but was frankly disappointed. Having made a reservation weeks in advance, we were disappointed to find our table stuck in the furthest darkest back corner of the restaurant underneath a freezing cold air vent. To start we ordered a charcuterie plate which was delicious with thin cuts of house-cured meats spectacularly draped over a pig's skull but the rest of the meal was kinda lousy. I ordered the infamous duck in a can with foie gras, thyme, and cabbage. The duck was tough, the foie gras gelatinous, and the overall dish just a one-note fat-flavoured slop. My boyfriend ordered the foie gras burger which he described as being just a very regular burger, the best thing about it being the in-season tomatoes on top. Our server also goaded him into getting an order of fries to accompany an already mammoth meal that no one ended up eating. My parents both ordered seasonal specials which they both enjoyed, but not enough to justify the price tag. Beyond that my Dad's dish arrived a good 10 minutes after everyone else's which made for a brief bit of awkwardness as we started our meal.
What was supposed to be the one fancy night out for my out-of-town parents ended up being a bit of a bummer. It feels like with all the fame that the restaurant has received they've become a bit uninspired when it comes to churning out their greatest hits but put more effort into their specials that allow for less gimmick and more culinary creativity. As predicted, I did end up waddling home with a full belly but ended up totally disappointed and would not recommend Au Pied de Cochon.