Le Coq Hardi - Écully

I was travelling alone on business and staying at the Valpre in Ecully. Le Coq Hardi was one of their recommended restaurants. I popped over for lunch 15 mins before 2PM and they were busy, a friendly English-speaking waiter seated me right away. Le Coq Hardi is in the center of quaint little town of Ecully, just an easy 20 minute stroll from my hotel. The food is superb: I had the calymars en persillade and it was absolutely the best, most tender and tasty calamari dish I have ever had. The salad was delicious too. I will definitely be going back for dinner. Note: The place now seems to go by the name: La Table D'a Cote Paul Offroy. There is a small sign inside that says Le Coq Hardi, but everything else says La Table ... Restaurant Bistronomique

I am not sure why you would find yourself in Ecully – a leafy upmarket suburb north of Lyon – but, if you do, then the place to eat is Le Coq Hardi. Do not be put off by the unprepossessing outside - down some steps opposite a car park.The straightforward menu will give you relatively few choices, but every dish is good. Three of us had moules frites – with an enormous helping of mussels; tiny ravioli in a delicious creamy sauce, followed by duck breast with delicate mashed potato; and scallops with mushrooms on a salad followed by white river fish also with mash. Doesn’t sound much on paper but the presentation was impeccable and the tastes delicious. I especially appreciated being asked how I liked my duck cooked - I like it better cooked, not red and it came just as I wanted it.Don’t expect an English menu or for the waiter to speak English – this is a place for locals – but as a foreigner you will still be made welcome – probably best to book, as it was full even on a wet Tuesday evening. The service is exactly right – not too fast or too slow or obsequious. There’s a reasonable wine list – or have the traditional cider with your mussels. The set menu is around EUR 35 and in all we paid EUR 105 for 2 courses each plus a shared pudding including a glass of wine plus mineral water.