Les Coquelicots

After nearly 50 years of eating in France, we can say without a doubt that in Les Coquelicots you eat superbly every time, whatever you choose, and with excellent service. We first started using the hotel as a stopover night en route to the South, and again on the way back. But once we discovered how wonderful the food was, we started coming here even though it was actually way off our route! And now we stay two nights, just to have two lots of the fabulous food served up by Madame Laurence, whose husband runs front-of-house most charmingly. We just book the ferry a day earlier so we can eat here two days running. The food is out-of-this-world. Wonderful. I am writing this while in my room, noting there's just 55 minutes to go to dinner, and my mouth is watering ... For first course shall I have the Salmon prepared 3 ways, or the Foie-gras mi-cuit served with a tiny foie-gras icecream? All home made, of course. And then melt-in-the-mouth Pièce de bœuf, or the Coquilles Saint Jacques? And the home-made desserts... And I wonder what the surprise Amuse-bouche will be? And the Mignardises they bring at the end, after your dessert? I can hardly wait!

Marvellous! Our usual hotel stop in this part of the country en route to Roussillon has closed down, sadly. But this is more than an adequate replacement, it's a superb stopping off place. Just 2km from the A20, on a quiet country road, this is a purpose built hotel in the style of a 50's US motel. The building is basically U shaped, with the reception and dining/kitchen area on the short side and the rooms in the two wings. Each room is a separate entity, with a locked door on the outside, and french windows with shutters leading onto the grassy area with the small pool. The rooms are large, the bed is a huge 2 metres wide. Large bathroom with 2 washbasins and a separate WC. Good quality pillows and bedding, ample wardrobe space. But the cherry on the cake here is the cooking. The hotel is family owned and run. Monsieur Bergaud does front of house, his wife Laurence is the chef and what a chef she is! whilst their son Clement, as well as running his own brasserie in nearby Brive, does patisseries and fills in as an extra hand in table service when there is a rush. You need to reserve well in advance to get in for dinner, which is an exquisite experience, I can assure you. Absolutely exquisite! First some amuse bouche i think it was goat's cheese ice cream with tiny cheese biscuits. All home made, of course. Then we both had the Trio de Foie Gras scrumptious. Followed by Magret de Canard for one of us and Coquilles Saint Jacques for the other. Between these two courses there was a sorbet home made of coconut with liqueur to cleanse your palate. Then came the cheese . . . Couldn't manage cheese? How about a little pot of fromage blanc with home made raspberry coulis? That will just slip down without noticing! Then a chocolate pudding, a little praline mousse with a tiny madeleine cake with your coffee, and staggering off to bed. Excellent service, friendly welcome from Monsieur on arrival who likes to think that he is multilingual, so will greet you in a multitude of langues. A wonderful afternoon, evening and night. We have already booked a return stay. P.S. There is even a kettle a KETTLE! in the bedroom to make a cuppa! .

We ate here as we were staying at the hotel. We took the 30 euro menu, and the main course of a filet mignon de porc was well cooked and presented. The 'amuses bouches ' were instantly forgettable, and one felt that the chef had the ability to do a lot better. The desserts were also below par. The wine list however, was well chosen, and with a good choice across all price ranges. In summary, a good dinner, but not a memorable one.

Marvellous!Our usual hotel stop in this part of the country en route to Roussillon has closed down, sadly. But this is more than an adequate replacement, it's a superb stopping-off place.Just 2km from the A20, on a quiet country road, this is a purpose-built hotel in the style of a 50's US motel. The building is basically U-shaped, with the reception and dining/kitchen area on the short side and the rooms in the two wings. Each room is a separate entity, with a locked door on the outside, and french windows with shutters leading onto the grassy area with the small pool.The rooms are large, the bed is a huge 2 metres wide. Large bathroom with 2 washbasins and a separate WC. Good quality pillows and bedding, ample wardrobe space.But the cherry on the cake here is the cooking.The hotel is family-owned and run. Monsieur Bergaud does front of house, his wife Laurence is the chef - and what a chef she is! - whilst their son Clement, as well as running his own brasserie in nearby Brive, does patisseries and fills in as an extra hand in table service when there is a rush.You need to reserve well in advance to get in for dinner, which is an exquisite experience, I can assure you.Absolutely exquisite!First some amuse-bouche - i think it was goat's cheese ice-cream with tiny cheese biscuits. All home made, of course. Then we both had the Trio de Foie Gras - scrumptious. Followed by Magret de Canard for one of us and Coquilles Saint Jacques for the other. Between these two courses there was a sorbet - home made - of coconut with liqueur to cleanse your palate. Then came the cheese . . .Couldn't manage cheese? How about a little pot of fromage blanc with home-made raspberry coulis? That will just slip down without noticing!Then a chocolate pudding, a little praline mousse with a tiny madeleine cake with your coffee, and staggering off to bed.Excellent service, friendly welcome from Monsieur on arrival who likes to think that he is multilingual, so will greet you in a multitude of langues.A wonderful afternoon, evening and night. We have already booked a return stay.P.S. There is even a kettle - a KETTLE! - in the bedroom to make a cuppa!.

Rabit with thyme, foie gras all food excellent a joy to sit at this table everything done from making sure sunshine does not hurt your eyes