The gauntlet was laid down in a NOLA.com article quoting the editor of a national food magazine: Cochon Butcher serves up New Orleans’ best muffuletta.
Well, Central Grocery gets the publicity and deserves the title based on longevity alone, so I had to find out for myself who was the best — or at least the best between the several I’ve tasted.
Between Cochon Butcher and Central Grocery, there is no comparison: Cochon Butcher wins hands down.
The sandwich was a manageable size. Some versions are so huge that they can be split two, three or even four ways. I managed to eat CB’s sandwich myself, but some of my companions split their’s.
CB’s bread has a delicate crust to it, and a light and buttery flavor inside. The green olive oil spread was tasty and light, not a drippy, overpowering mess.
And the meats — pastrami, salami, ham and house meats — were what you would expect from an authentic butcher shop: tasty and plentiful. Some muffulettas will come with more meat, but none will come with better tasting meat.
I paired mine with Cajun potato salad, which was wonderful. It was like a German potato salad, but featured Creole mustard. My friends ordered coleslaw — also good — and the Pancetta mac and cheese, which was worthy of the trip by itself. If you have to, split the mac and cheese with a friend or take the leftovers with you.
Cochon Butcher also offers a full bar — this is New Orleans, after all — with plenty of wine and local brews. The sandwich, side and Abita beer cost me less then $20.
If you’re a New Orleans tourist, Central Grocery, located along Decatur street at one edge of the French Quarter, will be easier to find.
Cochon Butcher is located two blocks from the World War II museum, which is about a mile from Canal Street. The museum is easily reached via the St. Charles streetcar and then a short walk. The museum is another attraction that should not be missed and worthy of most of a day.
Cochon Butcher’s address is listed as 930 Tchouplitoulas St., although that is actually the address for the companion restaurant, Cochon Restaurant. To reach Cochon Butcher, keep going down Higgins Drive for one more door.
It has just a few indoor tables and bar seating, along with a few more sidewalk tables. We arrived just after noon one weekday, and we grabbed a table, but the place filled up fast.
The muffuletta, a unique New Orleans sandwich, can be found at many restaurants around town, but I doubt you’ll find one that’s better than the one at Cochon Butcher.
in the deed 
Hey Mark. We just came back from NOLA. While we were there, we managed to have a couple of Muffs. I agree that the Central Grocery is overrated, and not worth the wait. We had one at the Napoleon House that was pretty good. We came home with a jar of olive salad, which is a key ingredient. The sandwiches we’ve made at home aren’t the same, but with the olive salad, they do in a pinch. All the best, James
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Yes, I watched your posts on NOLA with interest, knowing we were heading there in just a few days. I will have to add Napoleon House to my bucket list.
Check back in the next couple days for posts on the music of New Orleans and some other photos I shot on our recent visit.
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We’ve been wanting to try Cochon Butcher, and this gives us one more reason to on our next visit in May. I would also give a shout out to Napoleon House – ever since I tried their hot muffaletta that’s one of my go-to places. Thanks for the delicious description!
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You are the second recommendation for the muffalettas at Napoleon House, so it is definitely going on my bucket list for the next trip! Here’s my bucket list: https://inthedeed.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=381&action=edit
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Ah, great list, and many that we hope to get to as well. We’ve been six times and (as you know) there’s so much to see and do and eat! I also wrote about one of your picks, Adolfo’s, from our last visit. http://eatdrinkculture.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/new-orleans-restaurant-roundup/
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