A real Lyonnais bouchon experience where trying all the classics won't break the bank!…read more Hidden on a little side street amidst other restaurants tailored to locals, chez George really delivers that's authentic Bonchon experience you've been looking for. You can expect the classical checkered table clothes, a tight seating arrangement where the person sitting next to you is a complete stranger (that you'll get to chat and know along the evening) and a boisterous chef that welcomes you and comes to check on you many times during the meal. The menu has all the classics and you can even afford to try them all in one sitting without exploding the bank. However, if you eat everything, your tummy might explode ;) Given it was our last night, we went for 'la totale'. The plate of cold cuts was packed tightly with generous servings of terrine, pate de foie gras, saucisson. The quenelle was so fluffy and well souffled that it was like a pillow in your mouth. The tripes although not for everyone, satisfied our desire for offals. The andouillette was crispy on the outside and served with a well flavoured mustard sauce. All in all, for four hearty dishes, 2 glasses of kir and a 46cl bottle of wine, the total came up to 78€! Reservations highly recommended :)

We arrived a little late for our reservation at 7.30, I had thought I had booked 8pm but apparently…read moremy res was at 7.15pm. My mistake, I apologized. We were abruptly told by a little rude waiter that we were late, he made such a fuss I thought he was going to say he couldn't seat us but then he gave us a table in the corner outside! The table was uncomfortably small (we are not big people) it was cramped! We ordered some drinks and apps and within about 20 mins I had water dripping down my back and on my arms which I thought was raindrops! I realized that actually it was water leaking from the apartment drains above. The water was also hitting the table and going in our food! We asked to be moved indoor where there were tables but we were promptly told to shift to the table next to ours outside. We did so but realized more water coming down on the food! When I complained and said it's unacceptable, the waiter asked do we want a table inside? Lol, so now you have space but before you didn't! The waiter just shrugged and said it's normal when you have apartments above! Absolutely disgusting attitude and rude treatment of paying customers! We left without finishing our contaminated food! We paid for it but there was no compensation or apology! Don't bother going here, most other restaurants we went to we received excellent service and pleasant people!

Just had the risotto lunch special along with a couple glasses of white "Le Tendre". Was very…read moretasty, Good portion size left me feeling like I had eaten enough (even though gluttonous side wanted more), and very reasonably priced. Will definitely come back for another lunch "en terrasse" !

Amazing beer, great ambiance, and super friendly staff! All their beers come from lyon and are…read moredelcious. There are descriptions of the beer with alcohol % and the prices on chalkboards along the wall. The beers are extremely cheap in comparison to most places in Lyon where you automatically pay 7 € for a pint of Leffe. They have a super cute patio out back as well and when we went there was live music! Also, you can take your pint glass home with you for only 1 €!

From the owner: Bières artisanales et régionales, vins biologiques et biodynamiques, cuisine de saison et produits…read morelocaux, flammekueche (tartes flambées) au feu de bois, jardin, chill et concerts

Pic may well be the best restaurant in the World. Now, there's a bold statement, but you'd be hard…read morepressed to identify a finer place. Pic is my pick for the best there is, anywhere. I urge you to bust the piggy bank and pick Pic too. Be advised that dinner will deliciously last 4 1/2 hours. Settle in the bar and do your stomach stretching exercises. Before your wiggle into your elegant wing back chair a tiny Shrimp Papaya Tart, Peanut Marshmallows, Vegi-chips and a few Yuzu Bon Bons shows up. To call these bar nibbles is sacrilegious. Push the handmade linen cocktail napkin under your Aperitif, nibble away and wait for your table which will be ready when you are. (Topped off, I was ready for the check by the last Yuzu crumb). You will be ushered to your table by a phalanx of staff. The tables are far enough apart to park your Maybach between them and there is no rock loop of Francis Cabral's Greatest to interrupt the professional servers waiting to wait on you. They are standing by, hands on cloches, ready to uncloche in unison and reveal the Veal or whatever the next course of magic will be. Pic is in the same league at The French Laundry and even though TFL is arguably the best in the USA (and it is) Pic makes it seem like the French Laundromat. Pic is what you'll find at the end of the rainbow. Leaf through the Menu cards that describe what's coming. There is professional cover girl photo of each dish as if it were a Japanese food stall in Tokyo Station. There are 3 set menus from Petit to Superhero. (See my bib, shovel and expando shorts? I am Food Man). Read the menu. Four years at the Sorbonne and three years at the Langley Language Immersion Program won't fully describe what you're about to have. An Amuse-Bouche of micro curls of Carrots and Beets settled into a Carrot Puree opens the door to culinary paradise. It resembled a beautiful Best of Show flower. And, each plate is made especially for each dish. Aren't yours at home? After your Champagne (Pic's own Billecart-Salmon Brut), the Somm and a helper will bring the Wine List. Remember to lift with your legs as it weighs as much as a bag of bowling balls. It is daunting at over 100 pages which is more than I read in 7 years of graduate work. At home I open the fridge, twist the spigot on the carton and, voila, the wine drips into my Dixie Cup. I suggest you smile at the Somm and say in your best pidgin French."Fais moi, s'il vous plait". Even though your menu has a menu-ette of courses the Chef will send out surprises such as a lovely Brie D'Maux with Vanilla (a ramekin of melted Brie Soup with a savory Tuile). Oooh baby was that spiritual just like you was at the Pope's own High Mass. Say a small prayer that you can finish. Never mind, just enjoy the bottomless basket of rolls and breads. Lemon Bread, Coffee Bread, Gluten Free Bread for the Californians, and mini Baguettes all served with cultured butter from a willing neighborhood cow laced with Madagascar Pepper and Tonka Beans. By now, your stomach will have stretched to the size of Goodyear Blimp or the cow that gave it up for you. Half way through the meal out comes the Chinese White Tea to energize the taste buds. Now that those babies are perky again, out comes a meat course. Then you get another palate CPR dish. A cold Plum in Rose Sauce with Meringue. Think of this as the ultimate honeymoon where you want to take your time and savor everything. 1. Assorted Baby (seedless) Tomatoes (how'd they do that?), Murcott Mandarins, Chloe Berry, Sage Consumme, with Olive Oil Ice Cream. Tomato haters, I defy you to hate this dish. 2. Berlingots (mini pasta purses) stuffed with Smoked Banon (local cheese) which could have been Julia Child's last request...or mine. 3. Langoustine, Dashi, Honey, Kerorima (Ethiopian Grains of Paradise), Angelica Pepper, with Yuzu Zest. You'll never order Walnut Shrimp in Mayo at Man Fook Lo again. 4. Oysters with Coffee, Whiskey and Rhubarb Compote sounds like a nasty child made it up but it is truly divine. The sauce is made table side and then goes to the kitchen where it is transformed into it's final stage like having the neighbor kid put your IKEA dresser together. 5. John Dory with Abalone, Sage, Lemon Balm, Leeks, and Cream. Yup...it's the Balm. 6. Blue Lobster (probably the water was cold) with Smoked Dashi, Raspberry-Barberry Chutney and Lavender (from the Amenity basket in the room?) 7. Smoked Squab, Vanilla, Roasted Barley, Phuc Ouoc Pepper was as complicated as a Breguet Tourbillon. 8. Sweetbread Medallions Sauteed in Coffee, Gruyere Caramel, Baby Artichoke and Fried Capers. 9. Lamb with a hedgerow of Artichokes. 10. A Cheese Cart the size of a school bus filled with artery clogging wonders. And to my Internist I say "Bite Me". 11. Chocolate Honeycomb fit for a Queen Bee. 12. Raspberry with Cinnamon, Chocolate, and Coffee Cream. You'll scream. 13. Bilge Pump and EMT's. Pic is my pick.

Currently one of only a handful of Michelin 3* Female Chefs in the world, the second in her…read morebloodline to achieve the red guide's highest award at the restaurant and hotel bearing her name within the town of Valence, Anne-Sophie Pic needs little introduction to those in tune to world class cuisine, and yet with all of her accolades and restaurants soon to be opened in New York the flagship Maison still seems somewhat underrated when compared to her male contemporaries, an oversight from every angle when taking into account the creativity and quality delivered during a three and a half hour meal that left me smiling and contemplative after each and every plate. Cited by some as being a bit 'too' stuffy, and in fact one of the most serious dining rooms ever visited whether in Europe or back home in the States, the experience at Maison Pic begins the moment one opens the doors, and from the colorful unicorn in the foyer to Lalique crystals and mirrors everywhere the feeling is undoubtedly feminine, though touches such as rich wood bar stocked with several vintages of Scotch and chest of cigars seen en route through the lobby show signs of refinement for all who enter to enjoy. Seated at a plush two-top that could easily have handled four in less elegant environs it was but moments after settling in that a young man arrived offering aperitifs, a selection of Alain Milliat's Apricot nectar proving a pleasant palate refresher throughout a meal during which flavors traversed a wide range, at times simple and pure while others were so complex that index-carded menu sharing the chef's process proved 'required reading' just to grasp what was occurring on the plate. Opting for the Essentials menu, a 320€ journey that would prove by far the most expensive tasting of the trip, it was with a trio of exotically spiced canapés that the scope of influences was introduced and progressing to Sophie's signature foie gras custard beneath a dollop of fragrant green apples the oft-riffed dish spoke volumes in both texture and nuance, the crackling top a light kiss of sweetness amidst the unctuous liver while sours from the cream lingered on the lips long after the small dish was scraped clean. Treated to several types of bread from a basket that arrived warm alongside the sort of butter that makes one want to give up their citizenship and move to a dairy farm in rural France, it was perhaps thirty minutes after seating that the tasting officially kicked off and with each course sauced tableside for both effect and the maximization of taste, texture, and temperature the opening volley of tomatoes surrounding smoky cheese with floral topnotes was delicious prologue to all that was to come. Truly a 'journey,' in that the menu unfolds as a story rather than just presenting a number of synchronous plates to showboat the skills of the staff, suffice it to say that with Chef Pic's words presented alongside each plate one would be foolish to attempt to reinterpret the meaning behind each, and as such unfair to attempt to dissect each dish one is instead coaxed to simply embrace the beauty and execution, a situation only marred by the sort of formal yet entirely impersonal service that makes it seem as though the diner's awe has gone unnoticed - a mere "Merci" quietly uttered to admiration induced by the beautiful carrots with the same response given as I sat stunned by the kitchen's use of coffee to accent oysters as well as the most voluptuous sweetbreads I've tasted to this day. Showcasing a list of vegetables, spices, and proteins sourced from locations spanning just down the road to the far reaches of the world it was perhaps a bit of a surprise that when it finally came time for cheese the options were mostly limited to those hailing from France, and although a nearly thirty-minute delay in service before the Brie de Meaux was unapologetically brushed aside as an 'error in the kitchen' one would be hard pressed to find any flaw in the age or novelty of the several varieties presented, not to mention the complementary bread dotted with golden raisins that spoke of Sauternes despite being tinged with a mixture of Cotes du Rhone and something described as being 'like Port.' Nearing 22:30, and admittedly a bit 'long' for a solo diner considering the sterility of the experience, it was with a wide smile that M. Pic emerged from the kitchen to greet her guests before dessert was served and with surprisingly good English paired with perfect manners and a smile the time spent at each table easily spanned five minutes, her jovial spirit breathing a bit of life into the end of the evening that culminated with a small bergamot meringue over chilled cherry soup followed by mignardises and a pure white cube that shattered in layers to the fork, the flavors beneath unraveling first as sweet and floral before dissipating as vanilla with the slightest hints of pine.

A must-try when in Lyon!…read more What a cool restaurant in the heart of Lyon surrounded by many other fine establishments. This one stands out for its commitment to great service and outstanding sandwiches (tartines/toast) hot and cold. The decor here is beautiful with the stonework inside with quite a few tables as well as tables outside. Our server was outstanding, we ordered wine, cider, foie gras and egg salad tartines, and a couple of desserts. The toasts were excellent. The raspberry dessert was too mushy and the coconut dessert too dry. But we will be back for more tartines and to try their burgers.

One of my favorite meals in Lyon! Lyon is apparently known for their tartines and this place was…read moreperfect. Super quaint (albeit hot in mid-July because no A/C), and delicious. Only one waitress spoke English, and she wasn't serving us - however she did explain about the different specials of the day. Our actual waiter was super nice and patient as we ordered and the food was amazing. We chose one tartine each (party of 3) and cut them into thirds so we could each sample everything. - Tomato burrata tartine with balsamic: very fresh, pretty much what you would expect from a tomato/mozz sandwich - The special that I ordered was pork with polenta and olives. It was amazing!!!!! - Croque Monsieur was also tasty - ham with tomato and cheese. We shared potatoes gratin and a bottle of wine. Really nice meal in a traditional Lyonnaise cafe. Cobblestone streets and adorable awnings - so picturesque!

Ambiance was charming, service agreeable, plates could have been done better…read more La mère jean was my first bouchon expérience in Lyon and it was very nice. However I knew it would not be my only bouchon dinner after trying the typical dishes of eggs in red wine sauce and fish dumplings. I had never had these food before but I know how to cook so I knew something was off. The red wine sauce was thin and watery and the fish dumplings dense and pale. It was a Monday evening so perhaps the best chef had the night off. The wine was very good and the atmosphere was perfectly lyonnaise.

As the name implies, this restaurant is not going to score any points on decor or presentation. It…read moreoffers regional dishes like tripe and fish dumplings. I had the later. The execution was on point. The dumplings totally had pike/fish flavor but so light and delicate. However the star is what lies beneath it. The lobster bisque was insanely good and brought added dimension to the dumpling. It was served with scalloped potatoes. I started with the cheese and salad. I never had cottage cheese so fresh and light. No comparison to the one you get in the market. It was whipped with herbs and olive oil with a wonderful mouth feel. The dessert was a let down. A praline tart. I should have gone with the cheese plate, but I wanted to end with something different.

At Le Comptoir du Vin there are no printed menus - whatever the chef feels like cooking that day is…read morescrawled on a chalkboard on the wall. The only other staff was a friendly older waiter who patiently explained some of the dishes to us in English, but who, when not waiting tables, was busy peeling potatoes behind the bar. Five minutes after the waiter explained the menu, the chef stuck his head out of the little window from the kitchen and shouted across the room to us to see if we'd chosen what we wanted. We both ordered salads for the starter and two different mains. As soon as our salads were placed under our faces, we realized that we'd made a big mistake: these salads were massive; big enough, in fact, to be meals in their own right. Mine came with mixed greens with shrimp and smoked salmon in a kind of thick, eggy dressing, which - very importantly - came with a generous helping of chopped cilantro. This almost had a slight Asian tinge to it. My wife ordered a salad with chunks of chicken liver, which was quite good and made from super good quality, velvety chicken liver. Our apparent error in ordering both starters and mains was confirmed when a group of locals sat next to us and only ordered the "plat du jour" and nothing else. Live and learn! For the main, I had the "plat du jour", which on that day was braised beef served with potatoes in a "curry" sauce. I put "curry" in quotation marks because it was far too mild to be considered a real curry, but it was still really good, given that it was loaded with garlic and flat-leaf parsley. Unlike many restaurants we'd encountered up in Paris, this guy clearly understands the importance of things like garlic and herbs in cuisine, and he apparently uses them with gusto. It was cool to see how just those fresh parsley leaves alone really helped tie the dish together. And the potatoes were roasted to perfection - nice and crispy on the outside. No, this wasn't a life-altering dish, but it was a good and honest plate of food made by a guy who clearly knows what he's doing. My wife had the andouillette sausage, which, as it turned out, is a French specialty that's stuffed with pork or veal innards. The waiter simply told her it was a local speciality, so she went for it without realizing that it was full of innards. Fortunately, my wife and I obviously have no problem eating innards, and she dug the sausage. Still, it was fun to watch her discover that it was made from innards when she was dissecting it, pulling out what looked like bits of tubing and whatnot. I thought the dish tasted rather sweet, which may have been due to the sauce it was served in. Needless to say, after those huge salads, neither of us could finish our plates. The chef seemed to enjoy sticking his head out his window and shouting random things into the dining area, especially when someone he appeared to know came in. When the waiter took our order, he asked us where we were from. When we said California - but living in Slovakia - he told us the chef is currently in love with a girl from New York. As we were leaving, the chef came out and shook our hands and kept shouting things like "Vive la France" and "something something [couldn't make it out, exactly] California!" This guy may not be on the cutting edge of current culinary trends, but I think he'll serve you some good, well-prepared, honest food, and the overall vibe will make for a truly memorable experience.

This was the best meal we had in France! I had something like a salad (can't remember what they…read morecalled it in French) but it included deliciously roasted potatoes, bleu cheese, and arugula with prosciutto draped on top. The bf had the daily special of pork in cream which also had those amazing potatoes in it. Bread was freshly sliced with a great crust, a bottle of wine for 12 euros, and very friendly service--you really can't ask for more. The price of the meal was a great value at about 13 euros for each plat considering the portions are huge. I only wished we'd gone earlier. No reservations necessary either--it's a great neighborhood joint with amazing food.

If you want to do the lunch wine tasting, make reservations!! The lunch area is quite small. As…read morewe didn't make a rezzie, we just sat at the bar to tray some wines. The 2012 La Petite Chapelle Hermitage was our favorite glass...we also tried the cote rotie. I wish we had more time to try more wines here. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the wines in Hermitage or Croze Hermitage. Just absolutely delish syrah wines!

From the owner: Pièce de boeuf charolais à la fourme d'ambert tête de veau…read morecuisses de grenouilles ris de veau aux morilles ou aux cèpes truite de saint genest l'enfant et son crumble truffade sur commande ....