Au Coq Hardi — Restaurant in Narbonne

We dined at Au Coq Hardi for lunch. The proprietor was friendly and accommodating, switching between French and English as it suited my limited abilities.

The menu of the day featured a small, focused assortment of regional specialties: cassoulet, coq au vin, and a hearty vegetable soup topped with duck confit. The carte had a selection of sandwiches and salads -- clearly, this restaurant does not offer a dish unless they can guarantee it will be fresh and high-quality.

I ordered the cassoulet, which was superb: a generous leg of confit, two kinds of sausage, and a splendid white-bean and bacon gravy, all topped with breadcrumbs and finished under a broiler. My companion had the coq au vin, made with actual rooster meat stewed in a hearty sauce, redolent with flavors of thyme, red wine and cognac. We ordered a dry rosé wine that went very well with both of our dishes.

Given the modest prices, friendly service and outstanding food, I'll gladly return here whenever I...

Absolutely terrible from start to finish.

We had a wobbly table that she offered to fix and then didn't. The food took forever. We were offered dessert and coffee before we had been given our main course. We were tutted at for asking for salt and this was thrown at us in a bread basket. The aubergine starter needed another hour in the oven.

I eat out a lot. I've worked in restaurants. This was as bad as it gets.

When I went for the bill I told her that it was not good. She asked why, I then explained. She told me she wasn't the manager and actually ripped the cash out of my hands that I was holding for the bill.

She gave me my change and strutted off.

We were the first ones in, after booking a table so they knew we were...

We wanted real, traditional food and we founded it! it was not in the city center, but just a short walk in the old city. The chef is Italian and that makes for a very interesting and diverse dinner- lunch menu. We chose the cassoulet with confit duck leg and the coq au vin, both were exquisite, if I had any more space I would go for the homemade gnocchi. We had an interesting chat with the chef and guests seated outside on the patio, this is the kind of place you just don't want to leave, chatting and sipping rose wine til closing time. Our waitress, Nadege, was very pleasant, inviting, and full of great suggestions and stories. A truly enjoyable experience with great food and great people, we will come back if in...