so thrilled to find this place. we were thrilled to discover this amazing restaurant last night. i eat gluten-free and lowish-carb and my dining companion is vegetarian, and not only were they able to accommodate us, they did so brilliantly. if you have any kind of dietary/allergy issue, you may find yourself in heaven in this restaurant. for once, it was abundantly clear that they are knowledgeable and careful. the waitress explained that whenever anyone mentions an allergy, they have a system in place that ensures they avoid giving you the allergen. the system she described sounds excellent to me. i only wish other restaurants took so much care.
but even apart from the gluten-free issue, this is the best restaurant i have eaten at in raleigh and surrounding areas, and i have eaten at many. i am a cordon bleu cook myself and am rarely impressed. as i said to the waitress, this chef can cook.
my walnut-encrusted salmon with shallot soubise, carrots, roast yellow beets, cured salmon, and horseradish cream was to die for. exquisite. my mouth is watering as i remember the exquisite combination of flavors, the subtlety, the artistry, the care and attention to detail. the rest of the menu looks exciting and delicious too. whoever created this menu is clearly a real foodie. i am surprised that the two other reviews here are not more enthusiastic. but perhaps if outback is your preferred kind of dining experience (and i'm not knocking it -- they have a gluten-free menu and we gluten-free folk need all the gluten-free friendly places we can get) coquette might not be your taste. it is a brasserie, not a steakhouse (though they do serve filet mignon etc, note.)
the prices are so much better than those of a number of other highly-rated restaurants in the area, and that was a nice surprise too. outstanding value for money. and the service was excellent -- friendly, kind and unobtrusive. not at all condescending, and very attentive.
the ambiance was romantic and peaceful. the tables seemed perfectly large enough to me, and are nicely spaced, not crammed in like they are in some other (more expensive!) restaurants. an ideal place to take a date with a passion for fine dining, and larger parties are also in evidence too.
i am trying to think of a "con" to balance all the above "pros", and the only thing i can think of is that they did not have a montana sauvignon blanc available. perhaps i should have looked at the wine list to see what they do offer, but i didn't.
i really highly recommend this place. i will definitely be going back there often.
update:
we have been here several times now, and i must admit that i was very disappointed in the breakfast i had there. i had expected it to be up to the usual standard but my smoked salmon omelette was dry and rubbery. no french restaurant would have served that. and it is so very easy to make a good omelette! i do get the impression that there is someone who really really can cook there, but others who really don't have the same skill level. it is a bit inconsistent. on a good day it is still my favorite restaurant in raleigh. on a bad day, it is a disappointment.