CuGino arrived in Lafayette in October 2025 with Venetian plaster walls, a glass-enclosed wine display, and a menu rooted in the kind of Sicilian cooking that takes generations to get right. The name is both a play on founder Gene Todaro's name and the Italian word for cousin, a fitting tribute for a restaurant built on the idea of dining with family. Todaro co-founded Marcello's in Lafayette in 1981, and partner Hunter Moody brings his own deep Louisiana hospitality roots to the table. Marais Studios manages CuGino's Instagram presence with a focus on building brand awareness through content that lives at the intersection of warmth and elegance. Classic Sicilian dishes, thoughtfully curated wines, cocktails that reward your attention, and copy that never shouts.