The Place
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Once known as a rowdy bar street, Yongkang Lu has shed its reputation as full of foreigner drinking holes and matured into a family-friend street with trendy cafes, boutiques and quaint restaurants. After opening quietly in April, Le Coquin still flies under the radar despite its high quality food with minimal pretentiousness – you could walk past the Robin’s egg blue façade a dozen times without realizing a sensational dining experience awaits inside.
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The Food
Le Coquin, which means The Rascal, features a French haute cuisine menu characterized by an intense level of preparation, intricate presentation and high price point. This is food that’s meant to be experienced slowly and with all five senses.
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Starting a French meal with oysters should be mandatory, and the Oyster Platter (RMB368) is a combination of three briny WBS oysters and three French Oysters – with caviar, for extra indulgence. These avocado-texture oysters may confuse your palate with their sweetness, making you understand why they are called ‘fruits of the sea.’
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The Beef Filet Tartare (RMB88) is paired with homemade chips that caused our biggest disappointment of the meal... not being able to take home a bag for later.
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Just in time for winter, the Clear Chicken Soup (RMB58) is prepped for eight hours, resulting in a chicken consume with shrimp ravioli that contains no oil, allowing people to enjoy a concentrated chicken flavored-broth sans any greasy residues.
Eggplant Mozza Mille-Feuilles (RMB88), Image by KimiStudios
Image by KimiStudios
Moving onto the mains, the Seafood Spaghetti (RMB158) features a half-dozen different sea creatures nestled in a bowl of homemade noodles – mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, scallops and prawns are all invited to this under-the-sea party.
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The embodiment of haute cuisine is served in the form of Duck Breast (RMB148), a delicately plated, fragrant piece of tender meat encrusted with expertly-executed crispy, salty skin that contrasts the sweet peach marinade – a true feast for the senses.
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Named after the Italian opera composer, Gioachino Rossini, the Tournedos Rossini (RMB268) are edible decadence composed of fillet mignon topped with pan-fried foie gras and black truffle.
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French dessert is a must, and whether you choose the Matcha Cheesecake (RMB68), Chocolat Fondant (RMB78), Crème Brûlée (RMB68) or get cheeky and ask for the secret menu dessert, you can’t go wrong.
Food Verdict: 2.75/3
The Vibe
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Despite the high-end menu, Le Coquin is laid back. Trading out a four-string quartet for French pop-ballads, you’ll find yourself singing along to songs you recognize, sung in the ‘language of love.’ From the modern downstairs bar to an intimate dining room to the airy terrace, comfy leather chairs and wooden furniture, Le Coquin resembles a hunting lodge rather than the modern French bistro it is.
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Vibe Verdict: 1.5/2
Total Verdict: 4.25/5
Price: RMB250-600
Who’s Going: Francophiles, Haute cuisine gourmands, special occasion celebrators
Good For: Eccentric food, cozy-French vibes, impressing others
Book your reservation at Le Coquin by calling 182 2111 1248.
See a listing for Le Coquin. Read more Shanghai Restaurant Reviews.
[Cover Image by KimiStudios]
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