Pouring rain and turned away from a restaurant next door. Who knew a Wednesday night off-season…read moremight be tough! Instead, we were treated to a delicious pair of tagines here, one chicken and preserved lemon, the other, grilled octopus and vegetables. We paired those with our first ever Moroccan red wine! Delicious! Dessert was an unusual take on the standard creme brulee. The custard was infused with pistachio, rendering it a beautiful pale green, hiding under the perfect burnt sugar crust!

Great atmosphere, We found this hidden gem on the corner of…read morea street, they were open for only 3 days, the place was packed, we had no reservation. But the couple who owns this place gave us a warm welcome! Great cocktails, great decoration, great ambiance and nice playlist choice (chill, electronica) The food direction is really inspiring, makes you want to try everything. Definitely a good spot for the Lyon food/drink scene!

I cannot even express to you how incredible Alyssaar is. You really just need to go to experience…read moreit. All my other dining experiences in France (and probably even in America) pale in comparison. By "Mediterranean," Yelp means to say "Syrian." I had never had Syrian food before, but after my trip to France, I had had it twice (both times at Alyssaar) and enjoyed both times immensely. My five friends and I came to Alyssaar after seeing that it had good reviews on Yelp, but we couldn't possibly have expected how attached we would get after just one trip. We were first greeted at the door by Abboud, the one man serving tables who was genuinely excited to meet us. One couldn't possibly fake his friendliness and hospitality. He is absolutely a pleasure (très charmant!) and went out of his way to make everyone feel comfortable, despite having only learned English from movies. He started out by explaining to us that this meal would be an experience of discovery, which it most certainly was in the most enjoyable way possible. Everything I tried here was incredible. I suggest coming with a friend (or a large group of friends) and ordering one of the fixed-price menus, because you'll be able to share with each other. Abboud paired our group up and taught each pair what order we should share our appetizers in to maximize the pleasure in our meals. Each appetizer was wonderfully flavorful. All the main courses we tried were phenomenal, but the one that especially stood out to me was the "boeuf à la cerise" (beef cooked in a cherry sauce, wrapped with herbs--subtle flavor, just the right amount of sweet and tart and savory). But really, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. It's perfect. Same with the desserts, although if you want to try something you've never had (and probably never will again), try the Syrian cheese dish--it's this lovely, soft cheese served with cream and a sweet sauce. Amazing. The baklawa also puts all other baklava I've ever had to shame. After dinner, try the house digestif--again, absolutely lovely. Expect to spend three hours here and to enjoy every second of it! I certainly did.

This place is wonderful! Warm and inviting plus delicious food. What more can I say? The host is…read morefriendly, helpful and funny. As the only one working the busy tables, I don't know how he keeps up with everything and do it with such charm! I was lucky enough to go with a Syrian friend who recommended various things to me so my experience was extra special. Highly recommended.